Learning Curve

Too much magic

2009-11-10T11:10:00.002-06:00

My friend Kevin Kaiser meditates on why your fiction can't have aliens that turn into vampires: Too much magic

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Best Mann: This can only end badly

2009-11-09T05:29:00.001-06:00

Best Mann For The Job #35: You might have wondered whether we forgot about those desperate fugitives ... on the run from the law, needing medical attention ... now driving through the unsuspecting town of Hope Falls ...

Best Mann For The Job stars Grace Mann, a woman with a complicated past who returns home to become sheriff of Hope Falls, Tennessee. This serial drama aspires to the style of the classic serial comic strips, with the crime-bustin' chops of a rural Dick Tracy, the small-town charm of Gasoline Alley, and the emotional touches of The Heart of Juliet Jones. (Or if you prefer, imagine if T.J. Hooker became the new sheriff of Mayberry.) Latest strip exclusive at TitleTrakk.com.

Read the story from the beginning at StudioWell.com
Become a fan on Facebook
More free online comics at StudioWell.com/Comics

BEST MANN FOR THE JOB Teaser/Trailer

Previously:
Best Mann: The cows figured out the difference
Best Mann: It's 'lectric!
Best Mann: You're that new lady sheriff aint'cha?
Vote for your favorite fictional sheriff!
Best Mann: Bigfoot, Kryptonite, and Mogo-Pogo

The Buzz (Nov 6)

2009-11-06T08:00:00.004-06:00

The links getting the most hits this week at Learning Curve ...

01. Castle: "Space Cowboy" (Firefly/Serenity)
02. Best Mann: The cows figured out the difference
03. The problem of writing 'when the spirit moves you'
04. Vote for your favorite fictional sheriff!
05. [Castle ABC] Save Castle... Again! How To Save A Show [The Fray]
06. Mr. Monk is Online
07. MONK final season
08. Mystery TV Themes: NBC MYSTERY MOVIE
09. Who knew the Starsky and Hutch theme had words?
10. eBooks: Traditional Publishing Vs. Self Publishing
11. James Patterson signed for 17 books through 2010
12. 'Twilight' author steals 'Breaking Dawn'?
13. Mystery TV Themes: HARDY BOYS / NANCY DREW
14. Watch WALLANDER online
15. Are you "Monkish"?
16. Mystery TV Themes: IT TAKES A THIEF
17. How To Write a Cozy Mystery
18. Mystery TV Themes: PETER GUNN
19. TV Themes: THE AVENGERS (w/ THE NEW AVENGERS)
20. Shalhoub on MONK: 'Everything does come to an end'

Who knew the Starsky and Hutch theme had words?

2009-11-04T09:00:00.003-06:00

Apparently in some parts of the world there are words to the theme for '70s cop show Starsky & Hutch. Listen:

You can watch the more familiar opening credits here:
Mystery TV Themes: STARSKY & HUTCH

More classic TV opening credits here:
NBC MYSTERY MOVIE
HARDY BOYS / NANCY DREW
THE AVENGERS (plus THE NEW AVENGERS)
MONK
MANNIX

Best Mann: The cows figured out the difference

2009-11-02T08:16:00.002-06:00

Best Mann For The Job #34: You're not going to believe this, but the whole thing with the cows is inspired by my boyhood on the farm. (Although, while cityboy here says it's because the cows "figured out" the difference, the unspoken truth here is that cows are too dumb to trick. And the real-life farmer I'm thinking of never seemed to understand that.)

Best Mann For The Job stars Grace Mann, a woman with a complicated past who returns home to become sheriff of Hope Falls, Tennessee. This serial drama aspires to the style of the classic serial comic strips, with the crime-bustin' chops of a rural Dick Tracy, the small-town charm of Gasoline Alley, and the emotional touches of The Heart of Juliet Jones. (Or if you prefer, imagine if T.J. Hooker became the new sheriff of Mayberry.) Latest strip exclusive at TitleTrakk.com.

Read the story from the beginning at StudioWell.com
Become a fan on Facebook
More free online comics at StudioWell.com/Comics

BEST MANN FOR THE JOB Teaser/Trailer

Previously:
Best Mann: It's 'lectric!
Best Mann: You're that new lady sheriff aint'cha?
Vote for your favorite fictional sheriff!
Best Mann: Bigfoot, Kryptonite, and Mogo-Pogo
Best Mann: "What IS this place?"

The Buzz (Oct 30): CASTLE vs. FIREFLY

2009-10-30T08:00:00.003-05:00

The most hits this week at Learning Curve ...

01. Castle: "Space Cowboy" (Firefly/Serenity)
02.[Castle ABC] Save Castle... Again! How To Save A Show [The Fray]
03. Best Mann: It's 'lectric!
04. Vote for your favorite fictional sheriff!
05. The problem of writing 'when the spirit moves you'
06. eBooks: Traditional Publishing Vs. Self Publishing
07. Mr. Monk is Online
08. Best Mann: You're that new lady sheriff aint'cha?
09. Everybody's got an opinion
10. James Patterson signed for 17 books through 2010
11. Best Mann: Bigfoot, Kryptonite, and Mogo-Pogo
12. 'Twilight' author steals 'Breaking Dawn'?
13. Donald Westlake: Gone, Not Forgotten
14. How To Write a Cozy Mystery
15. Mystery TV Themes: NBC MYSTERY MOVIE
16. Mystery TV Themes: HARDY BOYS / NANCY DREW
17. Watch WALLANDER online
18. Are you "Monkish"?
19. (TIE) Mystery TV Themes: PETER GUNN
19. (TIE) Mystery TV Themes: THE SAINT

[Castle ABC] Save Castle... Again! How To Save A Show [The Fray]

2009-10-28T05:00:00.011-05:00

You don't want Castle canceled, so you're probably wondering... how to save a show?

[Castle ABC] Save Castle... Again! How To Save A Show [The Fray]

Related links:
Castle: "Space Cowboy" (Firefly/Serenity)
Watch CASTLE on ABC
Publishing news (July 10) (ABC's fictional sleuth Richard Castle writes a book, a long-lost whodunit by Graham Greene, and Wonder Woman vs. domestic violence)

Watch CASTLE free on Hulu!

Castle: "Space Cowboy" (Firefly/Serenity)

2009-10-27T14:37:00.003-05:00

Well, these are a hoot for fans of actor Nathan Fillion and writer/producer Joss Whedon ...

Castle: "Space Cowboy" (Firefly/Serenity)

[Castle ABC] Sneak Peek at 2x06 "Vampire Weekend:" It's Just A Theory! [Oct 26 2009]

Related links:
Watch CASTLE on ABC
Publishing news (July 10) (ABC's fictional sleuth Richard Castle writes a book, a long-lost whodunit by Graham Greene, and Wonder Woman vs. domestic violence)

The Buzz (Oct 23)

2009-10-23T05:00:00.000-05:00

The most hits this week at Learning Curve ...

01. Best Mann: It's 'lectric!
02. Mystery TV Themes: NBC MYSTERY MOVIE
03. Watch WALLANDER online
04. eBooks: Traditional Publishing Vs. Self Publishing
05. Mr. Monk is Online
06. Best Mann: You're that new lady sheriff aint'cha?
07. Vote for your favorite fictional sheriff!
08. Everybody's got an opinion
09. James Patterson signed for 17 books through 2010
10. Best Mann: Bigfoot, Kryptonite, and Mogo-Pogo
11. Are you "Monkish"?
12. TV Themes: THE AVENGERS (w/ THE NEW AVENGERS)
13. Next Time on CASTLE (Mar 23)
14. More from Mr. Monk
15. TV Themes: MONK
16. Watch CASTLE on ABC
17. How To Write a Cozy Mystery
18. Dr. Whodunit
19. TV Themes: MANNIX
20. Write Fast, Edit Slow

eBooks: Traditional Publishing Vs. Self Publishing

2009-10-21T15:30:00.000-05:00

As the publishing industry continues to wrestle with the challenges of the changing marketplace and the new media, mystery novelist Joe Konrath has been blogging for weeks about his experiments with e-book publishing. Now he compares his royalty statements and comes up with some interesting conclusions: Kindle Numbers: Traditional Publishing Vs. Self Publishing.

Related links:
Now, THIS is how you do a blog tour
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR WRITERS

Best Mann: It's 'lectric!

2009-10-20T21:35:00.000-05:00

Best Mann For The Job #33: While our desperate fugitives seek medical attention, the new sheriff is reminded that law enforcement is not all gun play and fisticuffs ...

Best Mann For The Job stars Grace Mann, a woman with a complicated past who returns home to become sheriff of Hope Falls, Tennessee. This serial drama aspires to the style of the classic serial comic strips, with the crime-bustin' chops of a rural Dick Tracy, the small-town charm of Gasoline Alley, and the emotional touches of The Heart of Juliet Jones. (Or if you prefer, imagine if T.J. Hooker became the new sheriff of Mayberry.)

Latest strip exclusive at TitleTrakk.com
Read the story from the beginning at StudioWell.com

Become a fan on Facebook
More free online comics at StudioWell.com/Comics

BEST MANN FOR THE JOB Teaser/Trailer

Previously:
Best Mann: You're that new lady sheriff aint'cha?
Vote for your favorite fictional sheriff!
Best Mann: Bigfoot, Kryptonite, and Mogo-Pogo
Best Mann: "What IS this place?"
Best Mann: Seriously, the town is small

Mr. Monk is Online

2009-10-19T07:53:00.004-05:00

Earlier this month, novelist/TV writer Lee Goldberg and MONK writer/producer/director David Breckman participated in an interactive live interview webcast, where fans were allowed to question them about the adventures of TV detective Adrian Monk on screen and in print.

Here are all three parts of the interview from YouTube, available in one handy playlist. Recorded live Oct 4, 2009:

LEE GOLDBERG MONK WEBCAST

Related links:
MONK final season begins tonight
Mr. Monk and Season Seven on DVD
Shalhoub on MONK: 'Everything does come to an end'
Mr. Monk and the Finished Manuscript
ADRIAN MONK: The face of OCD
Mr. Monk And The Continuity Police
Mystery TV Themes: MONK
Q&A: LEE GOLDBERG (Monk, Diagnosis Murder)

Best Mann: You're that new lady sheriff aint'cha?

2009-10-12T12:16:00.007-05:00

Best Mann For The Job #32: Even as our desperate fugitives drive through Hope Falls seeking medical attention, the new sheriff meets one of her constituents.

Best Mann For The Job stars Grace Mann, a woman with a complicated past who returns home to become sheriff of Hope Falls, Tennessee. This serial drama aspires to the style of the classic serial comic strips, with the crime-bustin' chops of a rural Dick Tracy, the small-town charm of Gasoline Alley, and the emotional touches of The Heart of Juliet Jones. (Or if you prefer, imagine if T.J. Hooker became the new sheriff of Mayberry.)

Latest strip exclusive at TitleTrakk.com
Read the story from the beginning at StudioWell.com

Watch the trailer on YouTube at Channel StudioWell
Become a fan on Facebook
More free online comics at StudioWell.com/Comics

BEST MANN FOR THE JOB (Teaser Trailer) 00:15

BEST MANN FOR THE JOB (Official Trailer) 1:59

Previously:
Best Mann: Bigfoot, Kryptonite, and Mogo-Pogo
Best Mann: "What IS this place?"
Best Mann: Seriously, the town is small
Best Mann: "Any word on those bank robbers?"
Best Mann: KA-BOOM ("Mann Vs. Superman")
Best Mann: "The tank's cracking!"

Vote for your favorite fictional sheriff!

2009-09-22T09:30:00.004-05:00

Over on the official Facebook page for Best Mann For The Job, we've started a poll that asks for your favorite fictional sheriff. (But to be fair - and not weird - Sheriff Grace Mann is not eligible.)

Your candidates:

Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith Show)
Elroy P. Lobo (The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo)
Dan Rhodes (Sheriff Dan Rhodes Mysteries)
Roscoe P. Coltrane (Dukes Of Hazzard)
Jack Carter (Eureka)
J.W. Pepper (James Bond films)
Joe Dalton (Metropolis Mystery Series)
Amos Tupper (Murder She Wrote)
Mort Metzger (Murder She Wrote)
Jimmy Brock (Picket Fences)
Quick Draw McGraw
William O. "Bill" Gillespie (In The Heat of the Night)

So click on over and vote! Democracy doesn't work unless you go to the polls!

Everybody's got an opinion

2009-09-09T09:20:00.010-05:00

Over the summer, the blog Original Books reviewed my first three novels, Forgiving Solomon Long (2005), Deliver Us From Evelyn (2006), and Tribulation House (2007). They inducted Trib House into their "Elite List," but were not so kind to the first two:

FORGIVING SOLOMON LONG (2.5 stars): "Everything about this book was just average for me. It was neither good nor bad, as it is with most debut novels."

DELIVER US FROM EVELYN (1.5 stars): "This book is really lame as a whole, and the stupid end and stupid romance don't help. It's basically a waste of your time."

TRIBULATION HOUSE (4.5 stars): "This is the only book Chris Well should have ever written. An excellent read."

Anyway, some people liked all three books. If you want to buy a signed copy, order it from Mysteries & More. Supplies are limited! (Sample chapters and plot info are available on my site.)

My website also has a preview of my 2010 book, the 3-in-1 whodunit collection The Kentucky Geezers Mysteries.

Publishing news: Patterson signed for 17 books through 2010

2009-09-08T14:30:00.006-05:00

The prolific fiction team captained by James Patterson has promised 17 books to publisher Hachette through 2012. According to Publishers Weekly, the deal includes new entries for Patterson's three detective series, starring Alex Cross, the Women's Murder Club, and detective Michael Bennett. There will also be young adult titles, summer thrillers, nonfiction books, and "other surprises."

Related:
Patterson on ABC's CASTLE
James Patterson: He's everywhere, he's everywhere

More publishing news:
‘The Lost Symbol’ to Lead Fall Book Sales (LA Times)
Disney to Buy Marvel and Its 5000 Characters for $4 Billion (NY Times)
Breaking Down Disney's Acquisition of Marvel (PW)
Warner Bros. creates DC Entertainment (Press Release)
Web to Print and Back Again (PW)

Are you the next Ted Dekker? (KevinKaiser.com)
How To Get Noticed By Agents (KevinKaiser.com)
How an Author should Think about Money (ChipMacGregor.com)
A Strategy for Books and Marketing (ChipMacGregor.com)
Book Marketing with an Outside Publicist (ChipMacGregor.com)
The Great Ebook Experiment (A Newbie's Guide To Publishing)
The State of Book Promotion (Publishing Perspectives)
As Deadline Passes, NWU, Consumer Watchdog Join Google Books Objectors (PW)

Best Mann: Bigfoot, Kryptonite, and Mogo-Pogo

2009-09-01T16:37:00.004-05:00

Best Mann For The Job #27: One of our desperate fugitives discovers a little more about the gas station and museum of oddities. As we mentioned before, the GAS -- FOOD -- MUSEUM OF ODDITIES comes from the original novel detailing Grace's former life as an unhappy lady pro wrestler.

Best Mann For The Job stars Grace Mann, a woman with a complicated past who returns home to become sheriff of Hope Falls, Tennessee. This serial drama aspires to the style of the classic serial comic strips, with the crime-bustin' chops of a rural Dick Tracy, the small-town charm of Gasoline Alley, and the emotional touches of The Heart of Juliet Jones. (Or if you prefer, imagine if T.J. Hooker became the new sheriff of Mayberry.)

Latest strip exclusive at TitleTrakk.com
Read the story from the beginning at StudioWell.com

Watch the trailer on YouTube at Channel StudioWell

Become a fan on Facebook

More comics by Chris and Erica at StudioWell.com/Comics

BEST MANN FOR THE JOB (Teaser Trailer) 00:15

BEST MANN FOR THE JOB (Official Trailer) 1:59

Previously:
Best Mann: "What IS this place?"
Best Mann: Seriously, the town is small
Best Mann: "Any word on those bank robbers?"
Best Mann: KA-BOOM ("Mann Vs. Superman")
Best Mann: "The tank's cracking!"

Best Mann: "What IS this place?"

2009-08-26T10:05:00.005-05:00

Best Mann For The Job #26: As the desperate fugitives reach the outskirts of Hope Falls, they come across one of the small town's more, er, "colorful" attractions, the gas station and museum of oddities. In the next strip, readers will begin to get a sense of how bizarre -- and, frankly, low-rent -- the place is.

The GAS -- FOOD -- MUSEUM OF ODDITIES comes from the original novel detailing Grace's former life as an unhappy lady pro wrestler. Of course, you haven't read the novel yet, but we hope to change that soon. (Don't worry, we'll keep you posted as details become available.)

Best Mann For The Job stars Grace Mann, a woman with a complicated past who returns home to become sheriff of Hope Falls, Tennessee. This serial drama aspires to the style of the classic continuity comic strips, with the crime-bustin' chops of a rural Dick Tracy, the small-town charm of Gasoline Alley, and the emotional touches of The Heart of Juliet Jones. (Or if you prefer, think of it as a cross between T.J. Hooker and Northern Exposure.)

Latest strip exclusive at TitleTrakk.com
Missed an episode? Catch up at StudioWell.com

Watch the trailer on YouTube at Channel StudioWell

Become a fan on Facebook

More comics by Chris and Erica at StudioWell.com/Comics

BEST MANN FOR THE JOB (Teaser Trailer) 00:15

BEST MANN FOR THE JOB (Official Trailer) 1:59

Previously:
Best Mann: Seriously, the town is small
Best Mann: "Any word on those bank robbers?"
Best Mann: KA-BOOM ("Mann Vs. Superman")
Best Mann: "The tank's cracking!"
Best Mann 1.20: "Consider them armed and dangerous!" (Honoring Osamu Tezuka)

Sorry for the delay

2009-08-21T18:28:00.004-05:00

If you've noted the lack of posts the past couple of weeks, I've been busy nursing a painful injury, and then this week I spent four days at the hospital. No worries - I'm (probably) fine. I've got medicine, am home resting, and will be seeing a couple of different doctors in the coming weeks.

All of which is to say, I've not had much time for email or the Internet. (This week, it wasn't even available to me.)

But I'm at home and on the mend. Onward!

Publishing news (Aug 8)

2009-08-08T00:01:00.009-05:00

Finger Lickin' Fifteen author Janet Evanovich tops the list, Twilight author Stephanie Meyer fights charges of plagiarism, Dewey author Vicki Myron gets a million bucks, and Mr. Monk And The Dirty Cop author Lee Goldberg publishes another book on Amazon's Kindle.

Janet Evanovich's 'Finger Lickin' Fifteen' Most Downloaded Book From Library List (Market Wire/press release)
Evanovich formula still finger lickin' good (Boston Globe)
10 Questions for Janet Evanovich (TIME)

'Dewey' Author Gets Million-Dollar Deal at Dutton (Publishers Weekly)
'Annie' Strip Celebrates Its 85th Birthday (Editor & Publisher)
Writers Remember Director John Hughes (GalleyCat)
Senate Confirms Perry Mason Fan (GalleyCat)

Rosenfelt's 'New Tricks' is a mystery lover's treat (USA Today)
August 2009 Mystery Book New Releases (Cozy Mystery List)
Marvel Releases Free Prisoner Comic Preview (GalleyCat)

Publishing Sales Flat at Marvel (Publishers Weekly)
Sony to Cut E-Book Prices and Offer New Readers (New York Times)
I'm Going Kindle Crazy (A Writer's Life)
The End of The Critic (A Newbie's Guide to Publishing)
HarperTeen's Amanda Project Web Site Goes Live (Publishers Weekly)

Are Publishers Getting Serious About Authors’ Deadlines (Observer)
Questions about Fiction Proposals (ChipMacGregor.com)
Can Sobriety Change a Writing Career? (GalleyCat)

THE BUZZ The most hits this week at Learning Curve ...
01. 'Twilight' author steals 'Breaking Dawn'?
02. Janet Evanovich brings Alex Barnaby to comics
03. Universal Press merges with Uclick
04. Best Mann: Seriously, the town is small
05. Watch WALLANDER online
06. Publishing news (Aug 1)
07. 2009 Thriller Awards Winners
08. The problem of writing 'when the spirit moves you'
09. Mystery TV Themes: NBC MYSTERY MOVIE
10. MONK final season begins
11. Donald Westlake: Gone, Not Forgotten
12. Crime TV on DVD (Jul 28)
13. Classic comics: BRINGING UP FATHER
14. The return of Charlie Chan
15. Dr. Whodunit
16. Mr. Monk and Season Seven on DVD
17. Best Mann: KA-BOOM (SWIPE FILE: Action Comics #1)
18. T.J. Hooker: "Vengeance is Mine" (Minisode) Special guest: Leonard Nimoy!
19. Three queens of crime (Sue Grafton, Faye Kellerman, and Tess Gerritsen)
20. Mysteries, Models, and Murder! (Marvel's Models, Inc.)

MONK final season begins tonight

2009-08-07T06:01:00.002-05:00

From USA Network:

EIGHTH AND FINAL SEASON OF MONK PREMIERES FRIDAY AUGUST 7
Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG award winner Tony Shalhoub returns August 7 as the obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk in the 8th and final season of the hit comedy series Monk. With 16 brand-new laugh-inducing episodes, the final season promises to be a memorable one for all Monk fans. So tune in to USA Network Friday, August 7 at 9/8C and watch one of the most successful series in basic cable history give its final farewell.

TONIGHT'S EPISODE: When an attempt is made on the life of a former child star who recently published a tell-all biography, Monk is thrilled to act as her bodyguard -- until he learns exactly how different she is from her TV alter ego. Elizabeth Perkins and Rena Sofer guest star in "Mr. Monk's Favorite Show" tonight at 9/8C only on USA Network.

WATCH LAST SEASON'S FINAL FIVE EPISODES ONLINE!

More crime TV news:
Crime TV on DVD (Jul 28)
Mr. Monk and Season Seven on DVD
Shalhoub on MONK: 'Everything does come to an end'
T.J. Hooker: "Terror At The Academy" (Minisode)
T.J. Hooker: "Vengeance is Mine" (Minisode) (Leonard Nimoy!)
'Monk' returns for final season Aug 7
Mr. Monk and the Final Season
Crime TV on DVD (Jun 4)
The next 'Level' of thriller fiction
Watch WALLANDER online

'Twilight' author steals 'Breaking Dawn'?

2009-08-06T17:13:00.003-05:00

Twilight author Stephanie Meyer has been accused of stealing one of her blockbuster vampire stories:

‘Twilight’ Author Accused of Plagiarism (Reuters)
'Twilight' Author Accused of Plagiarism (New York Times)
Meyer faces plagiarism claim (thebookseller.com)
Did Stephenie Meyer Rip Off Breaking Dawn? (E! Online)

Related:
Neil Gaiman: Why vampires should go back underground (EW's Shelf Life)
Adventures in Publishing: 'Twilight' publisher asked the book's editor, 'Are you crazy?' (EW's Shelf Life)

More from the world of publishing:
Publishing news (Aug 1)
The return of Charlie Chan
Janet Evanovich brings Alex Barnaby to comics
Publishing news (July 17)
Mysteries, Models, and Murder!
2009 Thriller Awards Winners
Publishing news (July 10)
Universal Press merges with Uclick
Publishing news: Digital Media Edition! (Jun 26)
The BookScan problem

The problem of writing 'when the spirit moves you'

2009-08-06T12:12:00.006-05:00

For writers trying to find the energy to write today (like, for example, me) I'm passing along this helpful pep-talk from Randy Ingermanson's The Advanced Fiction Writing E-zine (reprinted with permission):

Organizing: Writing When the Spirit Moves You

"I write when the spirit moves me," William Faulkner
once said. "And the spirit moves me every day."

What about you? When do you write? What do you do on
the days when you just don't feel like writing? Do you
write anyway, or do you prefer to do your writing only
on days when you know you'll be good?

I've heard from a lot of writers on this, and the
strong impression I've gotten is that most writers,
most days, don't feel like writing. That's as true of
professional novelists as it is of the newest novices.

In fact, it may be more true for the pros. For a novice
writer, writing is a new and exciting hobby -- a way to
have fun during time stolen from boring Real Life.
Whereas writing is a professional writer's job, every
day, every week, every year.

What makes the professional novelist a professional is
the fact that most professionals, most days, write
their word count. It doesn't matter whether they feel
like it or not. They sit in the chair and type their
quota.

Doesn't sound very sexy, does it? Well . . . it isn't.
Writing fiction is a job. You put in the work. Then you
get paid. If you don't put in the work, you don't get
paid.

If that was all there was to it, then of course we'd
all quit this game and go into something more fun and
less risky, such as lion dentistry.

But the fact is that writing fiction is fun. When
you're fully into the flow and the story is pulsing out
of your fingers onto the page, then you barely notice
time whizzing by. That's fun. When the spirit is truly
moving you, it feels like you're flying.

What isn't fun for me is getting ready to write.
Sitting down at the computer isn't fun. Opening up my
word processor isn't fun. Staring at the blank screen
for the first couple of minutes isn't fun. The fun
starts after the first few minutes, when the screen
isn't blank any longer and the voices in my head start
talking.

Here are three things you can do to get past those
first few horrible minutes when writing isn't fun:

* Daydream about what you're going to write before it's
time to write. Do this when you're supposed to be doing
something else. If you have a day job (most writers do,
even most professional novelists), use any down time to
daydream about your story. Some jobs have more down
time than others, but most have at least a few minutes
during the course of the day. Spend that time wishing
you were writing your novel. When you finally get a
chance to write, you'll be primed for it.

* Get a running start by editing what you wrote
yesterday. It's hard to start typing on a blank screen,
but if you quickly read through what you wrote last
time and fix any small glitches, after a few pages your
head will be fully in the game and you'll be itching to
go. DON'T get so caught up in yesterday's work that you
have no time for today's. Save the real editing for
later. Just use this editing time to get the juices
flowing.

* Make sure you're using the creative style that's
right for you. Last month, I talked in this e-zine
about various options you have for creating your first
draft. Some writers work best by writing "seat of the
pants." Others need to take an "edit as you go"
strategy. Others prefer to map out the high level part
of the story in advance, leaving the details to emerge
in the first draft (using a tool like my Snowflake
Method to guide them). Other writers do best when
they've worked out a full, detailed outline up front.
You are who you are. Use whatever creative style is
best geared for your particular brain.

Writers love being creative. I like to think that being
creative is what makes us human, or keeps us human, or
helps us to fake being human. Whatever. We like being
moved by that pesky spirit.

The trick is to regularly show up in a place where the
spirit can move you. Then hang around long enough for
the spirit to get rolling.

What happens after that is the magic of writing.

Award-winning novelist Randy Ingermanson, "the Snowflake Guy," publishes the Advanced Fiction Writing E-zine, with more than 16,000 readers, every month. If you want to learn the craft and marketing of fiction, AND make your writing more valuable to editors, AND have FUN doing it, visit AdvancedFictionWriting.com.

Download your free Special Report on Tiger Marketing and get a free 5-Day Course in How To Publish a Novel.

Related links:
Endorse this!
For Writers Only: Mad Genius Writer
Three queens of crime
Write fast, edit slow
Crazy enough to write
BRAND VS. VARIETY
The humiliation of revisions
Planning Ahead
"What got you started writing?"

Best Mann: Seriously, the town is small

2009-08-03T12:57:00.010-05:00

Best Mann For The Job #24: Our intrepid reporter, sent to Hope Falls to get the real story behind the town's new sheriff, is once again distracted by the town's ... smallness. Meanwhile, the desperate fugitives are coming ever closer! (You have no idea where this story is going.)

As you might have guessed, we introduced a journalist as an excuse to spout a lot of backstory for the benefit of the reader. But with all the crazy bank-robber action to this point, we haven't really had the space.

Best Mann For The Job stars Grace Mann, a woman with a complicated past who returns home to become sheriff of Hope Falls, Tennessee. This serial drama aspires to the style of the classic continuity comic strips, with the crime-bustin' chops of a rural Dick Tracy, the small-town charm of Gasoline Alley, and the emotional touches of The Heart of Juliet Jones. (Or if you prefer, think of it as a cross between T.J. Hooker and Northern Exposure.)

Latest strip exclusive at TitleTrakk.com
Missed an episode? Catch up at StudioWell.com

Watch the trailer on YouTube at Channel StudioWell

Become a fan on Facebook

More comics by Chris and Erica at StudioWell.com/Comics

BEST MANN FOR THE JOB (Teaser Trailer) 00:15

BEST MANN FOR THE JOB (Official Trailer) 1:59

Previously:
Best Mann: "Any word on those bank robbers?"
Best Mann: KA-BOOM ("Mann Vs. Superman")
Best Mann: "The tank's cracking!"
Best Mann 1.20: "Consider them armed and dangerous!" (Honoring Osamu Tezuka)

Publishing news (Aug 1)

2009-08-01T00:01:00.003-05:00

YIKES!!! Isn't Agatha Christie COZY?!?!? (Cozy Mystery List)
The Cozy Mystery Site's Beginning… (Cozy Mystery List)
Martel signs multi-million deal for Life of Pi follow-up (Guardian UK)
T.L. Hines Free Book Download for Uploading Photo (TitleTrakk Book News)
Much Ado About Donald Westlake, Including a Newly Discovered Novel) (Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind)
Nancy Drew’s Granddaughters (New York Times)

Myebook Wants Your E-Book (Publishers Weekly)
'PW' For Sale (Publishers Weekly)
Amazon Sued for Deleting Homework Along with Orwell E-Book (Publishers Weekly)
Barnes & Noble Teams Up With AT&T For Free WiFi (PaidContent.org)

5 Principles of a Great Author Brand (WildFire Marketing)
Get Better, Not Bitter (A Newbie's Guide to Publishing)
From the Grab-bag of Questions (ChipMacGregor.com)
Top Ten Tips For Editing Your Own Book (Publetariat)
"Do"s and "Don't"s for Unsolicited Submissions (The Edit Cafe)
Good News from a Trade Show (ChipMacGregor.com)
Back to Work: Thoughts on ICRS 2009 (ChipMacGregor.com)

THE BUZZ The most hits this week at Learning Curve ...
01. Mystery TV Themes: HARDY BOYS / NANCY DREW
02. Watch WALLANDER online
03. Are you "Monkish"?
04. The Complete Dick Tracy
05. Mr. Monk and the Final Season
06. Shalhoub on MONK: 'Everything does come to an end'
07. Crime TV on DVD (Jul 28)
08. Mr. Monk and Season Seven on DVD
09. T.J. Hooker: "Vengeance is Mine" (Minisode)
10. The Great Debate: Marvel or DC?
11. Donald Westlake: Gone, Not Forgotten
12. Best Mann: "Any word on those bank robbers?"
13. Classic comics: BRINGING UP FATHER
14. The return of Charlie Chan
15. Evanovich brings Alex Barnaby to comics
16. Dr. Whodunit
17. Best Mann: KA-BOOM ("Mann Vs. Superman")
18. T.J. Hooker: "Terror At The Academy" (Minisode)
19. Three queens of crime (Sue Grafton, Faye Kellerman, and Tess Gerritsen)
20. Mysteries, Models, and Murder! (Marvel's Models, Inc.)