IWSG: Cover Designs

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. You can also join us on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG, or on the Facebook page.

Now, IWSG hosts have changed up the format in an effort to make it more fun and interactive. Every month, they will announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Don’t forget to visit others that day to see their answers. Want to join, or learn more? Visit our - Sign-up List.

FEBRUARY QUESTION - If you are an Indie author, do you make your own covers or purchase them? If you publish trad, how much input do you have about what goes on your cover?

MY ANSWER - The only two experiences I've had with self-publishing included my short story "Broken Angel" in 2016 and an anthology called Fly Away in 2022. "Broken Angel" had previously been published in Rope and Wire magazine. In 2016 self-publishing was becoming a craze and I was simply curious about the process, so I used Amazon's Createspace, uploaded a photograph I had recently taken, and then used their suggested formatting for the cover. Fly Away is an anthology put together by the high school writers' group I sponsor. We held an art contest where students submitted potential cover designs. Once we had a winning entry, we again used Amazon's suggested formatting for the cover. Everything else I have published has been through an established press that had their own designers to create the cover.

How about you? If you are an Indie author, do you make your own covers or purchase them? If you publish trad, how much input do you have about what goes on your cover?

Blogiversary and Giveaways

It's official! I have now been a part of the blogging world for SEVEN years!

To celebrate, I am offering a few FREE READS:

1) Anyone who wants a FREE copy of my short story "Broken Angel" can receive a pdf version by leaving a comment below, or you can also email me at: writinginwonderland(at)gmail(dot)com. Simply let me know where to send your copy. This promotion is good through November 1st.
2) Madame Tooshkas Spell - Halloween short story (romance) about 800 words.

ALSO...

Dancing Lemur Press is running a special all October - buy one audio book, get one free.
Buy any of the eleven Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. audio books in October 2017 from either iTunes, Amazon, or Audible. Send a copy of your receipt (less any payment info) along with your 1st and 2nd choice of free audio book to inquiriesATdancinglemurpressllc.com. You will receive a code for a free audio book download. You can choose your free book from these ten titles: 
He Gave Me Barn Cats by Maria Santomasso-Hyde, The Remnant by William Michael Davidson, Tornado Warning by Tamara Hart Heiner, CassaStar by Alex J. Cavanaugh, CassaFire by Alex J. Cavanaugh, CassaStorm by Alex J. Cavanaugh, Bloodwalker by L.X. Cain, Matowak: Woman Who Cries by Joylene Nowell Butler, Under a Purple Moon by Beverly Stowe McClure, and Dragon of the Stars by Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Crafting the Villain

It's confession time. I've been guilty of ignoring the bad guy.

A few years ago I realized why I wasn't happy with my fiction. I had been guilty of creating flat villains. They were simply in the story so the hero/heroine had an enemy. However, there wasn't a whole lot to them. They were boring, cardboard creations for my protagonists to react to. That's it.

There's an old saying that actors would much rather play the bad guy than the good. Why? Because they can be just as, if not more, interesting and in depth than the hero. The same can certainly be said of writing stories as well.

I began reading specifically to study villains. I soon realized there were three types of antagonists I found the most interesting.

1) The villain as the complete opposite of the hero - this could be in looks, experiences, preferences, or abilities.
2) A villain who is just like the hero except with one major difference. This shows how easily the protagonist could have become the villain, or how close the antagonist came to being the hero.
3) The hero and villain is one character. "Every villain is a hero of his or her own story" - Christopher Vogler in The Writer's Journey.

I tried to keep all of this in mind when I created my short story "Broken Angel." I was so pleased with the outcome that I've dedicated myself to crafting better villains. I'm revisiting old manuscripts that I felt were weak so that I can flesh out the villains side of the tale.

I have a few ideas for new stories as well, and it's difficult to focus on one at a time. However, I'm too excited about the possibilities now to give up. So, I'm diving into villainy to save my manuscripts.

How about you? Have you been guilty of ignoring your villain? Who are some of your favorite villains?

8 Free Writing E-courses for 2017

Not all of us can afford the cost, or time, to attend classes, workshops, or conferences. Fortunately, there are a number of great alternatives. These eight FREE e-courses allow you to stay home and study at your own pace.

1. Start Writing Fiction (starts on 4/24/2017)

2. Scribble: Writing for New Writers (anytime)

3. The Creative Writer’s Toolkit: Writing a Character Study (anytime)

4. Adventures in Writing (anytime)

5. Writing for the Web (started on 3/19/2017 – more coming soon)

6. Secret Sauce of Great Writing (anytime)

7. Advanced Fiction Writing Techniques (anytime)

8. Introduction to Journalism (date tba)

I hope these help, and I hope you’ll join me this April for the “A to Z Challenge.”  As a thank-you to the blogging community, and to celebrate one year since its publication, I am offering FREE e-pub copies of my western short story “Broken Angel” from now through April 30. If you would like to receive a copy, simply email me at writinginwonderland(at)gmail(dot)com 

And the Winner is...

Today we are announcing the winner of last weeks game on Crystal Collier's blog.

Game - I shared two truths and a lie. Today, we tell you which was the lie. Everyone who got the answer correct over the course of the week was put into a drawing for the prize.

Giveaway - One winner has been selected to receive a FREE ebook copy of my western short story "Broken Angel".

Click the link above to see which choice was the lie, and who won the prize.

Crystal actually hosts this same game every Wednesday on her blog. It's a great way to meet new authors, and show some blog support/love. So, if you have time, come play the game and then check back each week for the correct answer, the announced prize winner, and a chance to play with a new writer.

Guest, Game, and Giveaway

Today I'm a guest on Crystal Collier's blog.

Game - I have shared two truths and a lie. Leave a comment guessing which one is the lie. Everyone who gets the answer correct over the course of the next week will be put into a drawing for the prize.

Giveaway - One winner will be selected next Wednesday to receive a FREE ebook copy of my western short story "Broken Angel".

Crystal actually hosts this same game every Wednesday on her blog. It's a great way to meet new authors, and show some blog support/love. So, if you have time, come play the game and then check back each week for the correct answer, the announced prize winner, and a chance to play with a new writer.