Take 30

~ sharon ~ Leave a comment

Characters always need something to do. Here are six ideas for things you might have a character do that lead right into interesting plot twists.
For example, what happens to the grandmother who decides to try to save $1,000 a month? What challenges does she face? Can she succeed on a limited income? What happens if she makes it? Or if she doesn’t?
(And on a more prosaic note, if you’re thinking about NaNoWriMo and you don’t write every day, now might be a good time for your 30-day warm-up challenge.)

Six 30-Day Challenges to Help You Learn More and Form Lasting Habits
http://lifehacker.com/six-30-day-challenges-to-help-your-learn-more-and-form-1614583798/all

Walk it up

~ sharon ~ Leave a comment

One of my favorite professors in college took a run most days before he came to campus. He was pretty productive and creative.
Activity is good for the head. And now, apparently, science concurs.
No matter what time, pick your two o’clock to “walk up” your brain … if not for yourself, for a character.

Science Says You Should Leave Work at 2 p.m. and Go for a Walk | Mother Jones

http://m.motherjones.com/environment/2014/08/inquiring-minds-barbara-oakley-learning-neuroscience

Must-have publishing assistance

~ sharon ~ Leave a comment

Making the choice to go indie doesn’t mean going it entirely alone in publishing. Writers I know have opted to share what they’ve learned from publishing their books — both  traditionally and independently — by becoming publishers themselves.
Consider this alternative from The Militant Writer: hire an editor and a publicist.

Book Publicist Wanted: But not just ANY book publicist | The Militant Writer
http://maryww.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/book-publicist-wanted-but-not-just-any-book-publicist/