Welcome to the August Installment of the Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG) blog http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com
The awesome and invigorating online support group was initiated by Ninja Alex Cavanaugh. Be certain to pay homage by reading and commenting on his blog www.alexjcavanaugh.com. He digs movies and writes sci-fi. Further, he supports everyone everywhere, including on Twitter… so we all need to return the favor. Please honor the following IWSG Blog co-hosts with a look and a comment – including me, please: PJ Colando https://www.pjcolando.com/ Cathrina Constantine http://cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.com PK Hrezo http://www.pkhrezo.com/blog Kim Lajevardi http://kimlajevardi.com/, and Sandra Cox http://sandracox.blogspot.com/
On the first Wednesday of each month we self-selected seekers of support – over 100 at last count – are invited to answer a question, though it’s optional. August 4 question – What is your favorite writing craft book? Think of a book that every time you read it you learn something or you are inspired to write or try the new technique. And why?
My go-to writing craft book was written by Jeff Lyons. He’s a former screenwriter who’s gone beyond to teach the masses how to improve their novel or script. My writing bible/map his book, The Anatomy of a Premise Line. When I began writing as a hobby, I was taught to start with a logline, so that my imaginative ramblings of characters and plots could be corralled and contained, movie-ready, within 25-30 words. I’ve used this system to write a series of books about Midwestern small town-and farms country. I’ve titled the series, Faith, Family, Frenzy!. Each book is a hoot – because I write funny!
This writing strategy suits my white-pager mentality. I am neither a pantser or a plotter, you see. I call myself a plodder. Jeff’s book, The Anatomy of a Premise Line, is more than an outline. A four-paragraph premise line contains the main character and his/her emotional journey along with the book’s theme.
Bazinga! I promise that the process is worth the ardor required.
Beyond this vaunted and valuable craft book, I prize the writing of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Pat Conroy, and James Lee Burke, who I regard as America’s greatest living writer. He writes evocative descriptions, so that the locale is a character, and his characters are so deftly-realized that emoting with all of them is easy-peasy, despite their violence.
I dare to compare/contrast one of his books, The Lost Get-Back Boogie, with my book, The Jailbird’s Jackpot. Each book is absolute fiction and features a parolee as protagonist, but the similarities end there. Burke’s protagonist doesn’t win a lottery or seek revenge, and he earns his way back to redemption. Bad-Ass Amy gains her redemption, as well as her long-sought revenge, without need to fuel the revenge with her 1/2 billion dollar lottery win.
Each protagonist achieves the best reward that humankind can offer: family and friendships that never end. Bazinga!
Both are available on all online but sites, as well as brick-and-mortar bookstores, if you are fortunate to have one in business near you.
Thanks so much for co-hosting today and for sharing your go-to book on writing.
You’re welcome and thanks for stopping by –
I’ll have to check this one out. Thanks for co-hosting! @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
The trifecta of books mentioned are available on all online buy sites and in bookstores, if you can find one –
You definitely sound like a fun writer, PJ. I need to use the word Bazinga (thank you, Sheldon) more often. It is so evocative.
Thanks and Bazinga back to you, Jacqui! See you next month!
That sounds like a great book!
Thanks for co-hosting today!
The Jailbird’s Jackpot is great (says the humble author) – and Jeff’s premise line strategy helped to make it so!
Thank you for co-hosting the IWSG blog hop today!
The Anatomy of a Premise Line sounds like an interesting craft book. Thanks for sharing!
The Jailbird’s Jackpot – a great title and cover + humor… sounds like a great book.
Thanks for the cover compliment, Michelle. The logline of the story inside: “Amy Breeden has a problem, but becoming an instant millionaire isn’t it. Will she stick to her intention to take down the dude who double-crossed her or decide ‘living well is the best revenge?”
Whaddayathink?
I think that the best way to learn the craft of writing is to read great fiction. All the genres, but the genres you write in are crucial. I write speculative fiction, and most of what I know about it comes not from craft books but from my favorite writers of speculative fiction.
I agree and I cited several of my favorites: James Lee Burke, Pat Conroy, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
I’ll check out your recommendation. We’re always looking for more inspiration. Happy IWSG Day, and thank you for co-hosting!
All smiles – see you next month!
If you ever need a little extra frenzy, most of my family are in a box marked “FREE” by the side of the road. Happy IWSG day. Thank you for co-hosting.
Ooh, Karen Lynn – what an evocative remark! It invites “tell me more”-
I appreciated learning which books your refer to and why. Thanks for co-hosting our August IWSG blog hop.
Lynn La Vita @ http://la-vita.us/write/
Sharing is caring may be a cliche, but to we angst-filled writers it means a lot, doesn’t it, Lynn
Thanks for sharing your go-to book. And thanks for cohosting this month.
Hi, Diane! I feel it’s a duty to co-host because of all that I’ve gained from it – see you next month!
Thanks for co-hosting! I’ll have to check out Jeff’s book. Sounds helpful!
Thanks for co-hosting today, and for the book recommendation. I’ve heard of starting a new book with the blurb, but never with the tagline. Interesting idea! I wish you happy writing in August.
Hi Sadira! The logline serves as a container for my wild imagination, though it can be altered if my characters turn the plot another way. It’s a method for me and my ever-restless mind.
Love the cover of your book, and the premise.
Thanks for co-hosting.
Thanks! The cover of my book, The Jailbird’s Jackpot, has received many compliments and the story of Bad-Ass Amy inside… spunky, twisty, and great fun!
Neat! I’ve never heard of this writer, or the logline method, but it sounds very useful. Thank you for the tip, and thanks for co-hosting this month!
I’m glad to have had an opportunity to help – we’re all in this together in the IWSG
Cool book choices! Thanks for co-hosting.
Thanks for the thanks – I regard it as duty and honor to co-host this invaluable blog.
Tell me more about the #A-Z Challenge blog, please – how may I join in the fun?
Thanks for co-hosting, PJ! This book sounds invaluable. Even this ardent avoider of craft books is going to take a look.
Thanks for checking in with me and my views. I hope you will again!
The Anatomy of a Premise Line sounds interesting. I think I’m more of a plodder myself. Thanks for co-hosting this month.
Chemist Ken – we’ve met before via this blog, I think. I’m glad you can relate to my writer type: plodder.
For more reasons than I can count on one hand, you’ve just gained another fan! The Anatomy of a Premise sounds like guidance I could really use these days. Thanks for the tip – and thanks so much for co-hosting!
wowowow – and thanks, Diedre! I look forward to interacting more – see you next month!
I’ll have to check out Jeff Lyons and his writing book. Thanks for the tip! And thanks for co-hosting the IWSG question for this month. All best to you!
Sorry I missed your post! Thanks again for co-hosting.
One must forgive a the boss who’s a Ninja… and please invite me to co-host before Christmas. I have another book coming out, Alex, and relish this group’s support!
I’m a tad late in visiting blogs this month. Thank you for co-hosting. I’m in the midwest as well – nice to meet you. I’ll check out your books. Where did July go, by the way? I can’t believe it is August already.
I don’t know where you live, Diane, but here in California we were all rousting about, having fun and seeing friends we’d missed during the long-long-long quarantine, so yes, July went past fast!
Thanks for Co-hosting the IWSG this month. Your writing bible looks good – I’ll add it to my list of books to read.
Just so you know I have other ‘bibles’ to guide my writing, including all that the other co-hosts mentioned. No size fits all and none all of the time… there’s always another book to buy, to serve our writing addition. (wink)
I hadn’t heard of The Anatomy of a Premise Line, but I’m glad it really helped you. Unlike other authors, especially fiction ones, I didn’t follow any guidelines and just wrote about a chunk of my life for my debut memoir, without ever joining a writing course or following much advice. Then, I had to edit, edit, and edit. I like your idea and process of starting with a logline – this keeps one on track! If I ever write another memoir, I’ll produce more of an outline and stick to a word count before I dive in! Thank you for co-hosting this months, PJ!
Thanks, Liesbet – we’ve ‘met’ before via this blog, so your return visit means a lot.
By the way, I’ve never outlined anything I written. Being a ‘plodder’ works for me and it can work for you…
Thanks for the recommendation and thanks for co-hosting!
You’re welcome and I’m glad I can/could help, Lori
Great post! Thanks for sharing your fave craft book – starting with a log line sounds like an excellent idea. Will add that one to the list! Sorry for the tardy ‘happy IWSG blog day’ – but hope you had a good one all the same 🙂
You’re welcome for the tips – and pass my blog’s way again, Emma! Happy writing –
thank you PJ for hosting the IWSG this month. I love your approach to writing. Plodder instead of plotter ! I think your site title says it all, ‘A Walking exclamation mark’ doesn’t sound like you plod much but go from surprise to amazement, to awe at every turn… all with a pinch of fun… so never at a loss for words or new twists in your ideas. Congratulations on your latest release.
My author website has done its job when you to ‘get’ me and my vibe. I hope that we ‘meet’ again via IWSG blog – new events to be added soon.
All smiles, PJ the Plodder who skips through life (wink)