Douglas Adams and Knowing your Goal

Link to this episode: http://tinyurl.com/j7yk8bb

As the Second Season closure, The Write Pack celebrates the birthday of Douglas Adams and discusses the third step of Write Pack Radio’s Twelve Steps to Make the Book of Your Heart the Best it Can Be:

Know your goal

• Know yourself--your basic beliefs

• Know where your basic beliefs are taking you in this story

• Have a singular goal--a theme--to aim for

• Know the crisis point, the black moment that fuels the plot and reveals the theme

• Do the research needed to make the setting and tone authentic

Find all our episodes on iTunes and Blog Talk Radio. A new episode every Sunday.

The Shark Tank: Could they make it now?

Link to this episode: http://tinyurl.com/hova8cf

In anticipation of the Missouri Writers Guild Conference’s pitch session, the Write Pack take a series of books, read their opening and vote if they would make it through The Shark Tank.

Find all our episodes on iTunes and Blog Talk Radio. A new episode every Sunday.

Author Etiquette: When Authors Behave Badly

Link to this episode: http://tinyurl.com/j6z6p56

The Write Pack, with special guest M.R. Sellers, explores the topic of Author Etiquette

What are some of the way authors behave badly:

How not to promote your work online;How not to pitch your work on social media;Trapping agents in the bathroom;Trapping published authors in the bathroom stalls;How not to pitch a work to agents who don’t represent your genre;Using “Sock Puppets”;Chase down reviewers;Billboarding people;

Find all our episodes on iTunes and Blog Talk Radio. A new episode every Sunday.

In and Out of Romance: Romance Crossing Other Genres

Link to this episode: http://tinyurl.com/jqldsqg

For valentines, the Write Pack explores how romance, like mystery, is an element in other story genres.

How does the romance genre cross into other genres?What levels of depth does romance bring to the stories in those genres?How does sexual tension add suspense to other stories?Does the romance in the other genres have to follow the rules of the romance genre?Why do the couples get torn apart in a series of stories? (Either broken up or someone is taken away)Is it true that the writer may have one idea and the audience brings something else to it?Which genres lend themselves to romance and which ones don’t?

 

Find all our episodes on iTunes and Blog Talk Radio. A new episode every Sunday.

Octavia E. Butler and Her Rules of Writing

Link to this episode: http://tinyurl.com/gqnkzsz

In this episode, the Write Pack celebrates the life of science fiction author Octavia E. Butler and explores her rules of writing. We also explores Write Pack Radio’s rule number 2 of writing.

Octavia E. Butler (June 22, 1947 – February 24, 2006) was an American science fiction writer. A multiple-recipient of both the Hugo and Nebula awards, Butler was one of the best-known women in the field. In 1995, she became the first science fiction writer to receive the MacArthur Fellowship, which is nicknamed the "Genius Grant".--Wikipedia

What are hooks?What are key mistakes that writers make?Who was Octavia Butler?Why is habit and persistence so critical?What are the other rules or thoughts that came from a powerful author who was determined to write in a field she was told “women couldn’t write in”?

Find all our episodes on iTunes and Blog Talk Radio. A new episode every Sunday.

Fan Fiction: Pros, Cons, and Copyright

Link to this episode: http://tinyurl.com/jm6cwqw

In this episode, the Write Pack explores the tricky aspect of Fan Fiction.

We discuss the lawsuit of Paramount and CBS vs. Axanar ProductionWhat is Fan Fiction?Why does Fan Fiction exist?What are the pros of writing Fan Fiction?What are the dangers of writing Fan Fiction?

Find all our episodes on iTunes and Blog Talk Radio. A new episode every Sunday.

When Authors Kill: Our Fascination with Murder

Link to this episode: http://tinyurl.com/z6v3tvv

In this episode, the Write Pack explores our fascination with murder and authors kill off characters.

Why are we fascinated with the act of murder?Explores murder in mythology and theology.Why is murder more fascinating to explore in fiction than theft or other crimes?What is murder ?What does murder do in fiction, what is it really an exploration of?What about self-sacrifice?How does murder/death carry weight in your story?How you kill characters is important—why?What does it mean to fridge a character?What death in a story about war?

Find all our episodes on iTunes and Blog Talk Radio. A new episode every Sunday.

True Confessions and Goals for the New Year

Link to this episode: http://tinyurl.com/zz5mmlb

In this episode, the Write Pack explores what happened to our writing goals for 2015 and what we see for 2016.

Who made their goals and who didn’t?What did we learn from 2015?What was overcame and what still stands out as stumbling blocks?Kathleen talks about overcoming corporal tunnel.David and Melanie announce their engagement online.What are some apps that can help track your goalsEach of the panel talk about what is coming up.

Find all our episodes on iTunes and Blog Talk Radio. A new episode every Sunday.

Link to this episode: http://tinyurl.com/hp89q6a

In this episode, the Write Pack has a wake for Dame Agatha Christie and explores All characters need and your protagonist MUST 

• Have an inner goal beyond mere desire--something they must have to feel complete--an itch they keep trying to scratch--but can’t quite reach--but make progress toward during the course of the book

• Be riveting-no matter how many evil acts a character might commit, he or she must be lovable enough to make the reader care or compelling enough that readers will continue reading out of pure fascination

• Be believable--have flaws we recognize as human--hold opinions, face problems and challenges common to people so we can identify with the character

• Want something in every scene

• Stand tests of character--weather obstacles in their way and endure pain and grief without losing humanity

• Have an inner goal beyond mere desire--something they must have to feel complete--an itch they keep trying to scratch--but can’t quite reach--but make progress toward during the course of the book

• Be riveting-no matter how many evil acts a character might commit, he or she must be lovable enough to make the reader care or compelling enough that readers will continue reading out of pure fascination

• Be believable--have flaws we recognize as human--hold opinions, face problems and challenges common to people so we can identify with the character

• Want something in every scene

• Stand tests of character--weather obstacles in their way and endure pain and grief without losing humanity

 

Find all our episodes on iTunes and Blog Talk Radio. A new episode every Sunday.

Publishing with Small Presses

Link to this episode: http://tinyurl.com/z8b7vus

In this episode, the Write Pack explores getting published with small presses

What kinds of small press houses are there?

How are they different from vanity press?

How are they different from the big houses?

What should you expect if you land a deal with a small press?

What is the difference between small presses and imprints?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a small press?

How should you research a small press?

How are contracts handled at a small press?

 

Find all our episodes on iTunes and Blog Talk Radio. A new episode every Sunday.