Posted on by Alexie Linn

Guess Who Crashed Dinner… For a Free Book…

Guess Who Crashed Dinner for a free book!

Yesterday morning I rolled out of bed and promptly added my flannel shirt, thermal undies, and cozy socks before even considering making coffee.

This morning I rolled out of bed and added nothing to my lightweight nighty. Why? Because it was still 74° in my tiny house at 2 am!

Did you guess who crashed dinner for a free book?

If you guessed good old dependable Sol, you are correct! What did you win? A free e book or paperback review copy of Book 6 in the Sally the Loner Series.

What else do you have to do to get the book?

Follow my blog on alexielinnauthor.com and Email me your address of where to ship or cyber-send your book and whether you want a large print paperback or e book when it makes its debut in the next few weeks. It’s that simple.

Why am I doing this?

Besides what else can you do when it’s 98° in the shade on April 10, 2023, it’s one step in the launch process of publication.

One step in several, depending on how focused you are on sales and promotion.

This particular publication process started with the pre order sale on Amazon. You can receive all pre-publication sale notices by following me, Alexie Linn, on Amazon.

The launch of the pre-order sale commits me to a stop editing, start formatting timeline to get the completed manuscript uploaded. And it’s free advertising for us writers. Why the heck wouldn’t I do that first?

After the final edits and gazillion formats are finished, I upload the manuscript to Amazon. Then move on to D2D to supply all the other favorite retailers and library services with the story.

The final step is to add the book and more details to my website then share it to social media.

And that’s where Guess Who Crashed Dinner For a Free Book barges in…

From my Alexie Linn Author website, I can spread the word even further.

But why will I give you, on my dollar, a chance to read about Sally’s latest mysterious misadventure? I want to know what you, my peer, liked (or didn’t like) about the story, including the cover.

And, in case you missed the memo, Sally the Loner is an 87-year-old spunky woman who lives in an igloo in the desert. Things just happen to Sally.

All she really wants is to be in control of her own daily life. But is she?

In Book 6, The Sourdough Bakeoff, Sally gets roped into being the named contestant for Bobby, the sourdough kid. As with any good cozy mystery, bodies appear. And a slew of good – and not so good – characters throw wrenches – or is it sourdough — into the contest.

Learn more about The Sourdough Bakeoff here.

But if sourdough is not your thing… see all the Sally the Loner Series titles here.

There are several links to follow Alexie Linn listed below. Opt in to never miss out on what she’s up to in the publishing world.

Your like and share clicks are greatly appreciated. Yet another reason to give you a free quality read.

Happy Publishing,

Alexie Linn, et al

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

10 Words Never Used

10 Words Never Used in Alexie Linn Books

Words are the verbal windows to the world. And I am an extremely literal person. One would think I have to use each and every word in the dictionary to tell the story precisely. But I don’t. Why not?

alexielinnauthor.com

There are several reasons I don’t use every word in the dictionary to tell a story. How many do you agree with? How many do you apply to your own writing style?

  • Alexie Linn books are written for all ages and backgrounds to enjoy. No dictionary or doctorate is required to live the tale.
  • Each character chooses their own dialogue and dialect. At this writing, none of my characters have had a need to flaunt their ability to read, remember and share jargon or vulgarities. But you never know. One might bully his or her way in when an obnoxious antagonist is called for.
  • Parlance (jargon), without a reason, can detract from the moral of the tale being told. I consider jargony and rarely used words the same as links in webpages that carry you off to the dark unknown… never to return.
alexielinnauthor.com

Does this mean I never use a word that will stretch a reader’s vocabulary? Not at all! If an idiom is the best word for the situation, it appears. Have fun with it.

And here are the 10 words never used in Alexie Linn books… Yet.

Agelast – One who never laughs

alexielinnauthor.com

Atrate – Dressed in black

Callipygian – Having large, round, succulent buttocks

Caruncle – The triangular pink areas at the corner of your eye

Limerence – The state of being infatuated with someone

Metanoia – Spiritual transformation

Minimus — Your tiny toe or finger

Osculator – One who loves or one who is loved

Oxter – Armpit

Pauciloquent – Concise

Vallecula – a groove. An anatomical depression or crevice, as between the hemispheres of the brain.

Now that I’ve listed these ten words never used, I might find a reason to use them. Will you?

Enjoy the Journey,

Alexie Linn

The afterthought…

Thank you to The Language Nerds for helping out with this post.

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

How Many is Enough?

How Many is Enough?

How many published books does it take to declare ‘That’s Enough!’?

That depends. What’s your criteria to be met?

Is it …

  • Your pen name being a household word?
  • Selling a certain number of books?
  • Publishing a certain number of books?

Not too long ago, I asked myself, “How many published books will take me over the top so I can relax and sit at the big kid table?”.

I asked Google how many books a few of my pretend mentors have published. Here’s what I found:

  • James Patterson has published more than 200 books, according to Wikipedia. He’s a household word in my book.
  • Erle Stanley Gardner – my all-time favorite pretend mentor – wrote upwards of 150 books, according to Wikipedia.
  • Dianne Harman – my Cozy Mystery pretend mentor – has published 153+. She’s a household word in my head.
  • John Grisham has published at least 31. Huh?

How many books have I published? About 35. John Grisham, what’s your secret?

Is my pen name a household word? Yes! In a select few superb households.

How many books have I sold? I don’t know. If I’m counting how many books I’ve sold, I’m not writing the one that will put me over the top.

How much promoting do I do? What? I have to promote?

Because if I’m promoting, I’m not writing the one that will put me over the top.

Is that the answer to ‘You know you’re a writer when…..’? When I’m writing the one that will move my name to the big kids’ table takes precedence over sales?

But how will I know I’ve done it if I’m still swimming in a fine kettle of fish?

So, back to the original question…

How many is enough?

For me, it’s when I say it is.

Where’s my pencil and paper…

Happy Trails and Tales

Alexie Linn

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

The Checklist

The Checklist?

As an indie publisher one’s hats multiply like dustbunnies. Not only must you, the author, think of the book, write it, and edit it; but you must perform or cause cover creation and precise formatting for publication to happen. And you, the all-knowing author, are the head-hauncho of it all. You will take red hot poker heat for even one egads.

As for my experience, there’s nothing quite as embarrassing as forgetting to paginate or not catching misspelled words. Why? Because Daddy would have me jailed in my room for that. And Grandpa would be the jailer.

Why does it happen? Because I get in a hurry and zip over what I think I have down pat. I do. I confess. When I’m overwhelmed my mind turns to gloppy oatmeal. When the oatmeal oozes, important details go on an adventure.

But when it comes to publishing a new book, zero mistakes is better.

To reduce the risk or prevent embarrassing and time-consuming mistakes altogether, I now use a pre-publish checklist.

It looks like this:

  • First edit – for tightening, flow-test, spelling, punctuation, and …
  • Second edit – into Hemingway (one chapter at a time) for grade level, adverb overuse, passive, lazy actions, and confusing sentences… like this one.
  • Third edit – for reading experience details like titling, consistency, table of contents, pagination, copyright, and credits.
  • Fourth edit – After the cool-down period. For page-turning prose and spelling. The final step before preparing the manuscript for specific formats.

I format for *E book, **Print, and ***Narrating. Sometimes for ****Serializing.

Different Book Formats Require Different Formats — Add to the Checklist:

Note: My experience is with Amazon Kindle and D2D.

*E Books

The original manuscript is for E books. All other formats are ‘save as’ from this original manuscript.

I go through all four edits completely before copying for different formats because… wait for it…

If you change even one period anywhere after the reproductions are made, you have to remember to change the period in all the others… It’s a time consuming and hair-pulling affair.

So, before I replicate the original manuscript for other formats, I go through one more time. This time to confirm that:

  1. All the chapters are listed in proper numeric order within the Table of Contents. No chapter numbers are missing or out of order.
  2. Each chapter fits on one line of the Table of Contents.
  3. No words are misspelled unless I intend them to be.

It’s time to format.

*E-book – No changes to the original manuscript.

**Print – Paperback and Hardback – Change the paper size (or margins) to ½ inch smaller than the size of the finished book. For instance… a 6”x 9” book needs a 5 ½”x 8 ½” paper size.

Scroll the entire manuscript for visual issues and blank pages. Double check the Table of Contents for one chapter per line. Shorten chapter titles and/or reduce the font-size within the Table to make it fit – one line per chapter.

If PDF is the preferred file type, be sure to open the ‘options’; check ‘PDF-a Compliant’ to embed the fonts. Without this step, you will get an error message about embedding fonts. And it takes a lot longer to process your book for previewing. A bunch longer!

***Narrating

Put yourself in the storyteller’s shoes. Remove anything that your talented, oh so valuable, narrator cannot read… like:

  • Pictures
  • Drawings

Then it’s good to go.

Simplify web links. Instead of ‘https://www.alexielinnauthor.com’, make it ‘alexielinnauthor.com’. Make it easy for the narrator to read. And easy for the listener to hear clearly.

****Serializing

Change the ‘Chapter…’ to ‘Episode…’ at the logical ‘Episode’ divisions.

And that’s about it. Unless I’ve forgotten something.

Happy Publishing…

Alexie Linn

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

Smash Writer’s Block! Now!

Smash Writer’s Block

I have Writer’s Block as I write this. There are several causes of Writer’s Block. Here are four of them:

  • Hurry-Up-and-Wait Syndrome
  • Being overwhelmed
  • Interruptions
  • Boredom

Hurry-Up-and-Wait Syndrome

It happens when I’m waiting to run the final edit on the latest book. I’m afraid to start the next book because I’ll have to stop to run the final edit or listen to the audiobooks that are in process.

I know I should be using this time to blog about the writing process… but I don’t know what to blog about. I have writer’s block.

Being Overwhelmed

When I know I have only 45 minutes before the chaos begins around me. And my ‘do-today’ list has at least five critical items on it.

Interruptions

When one of my characters has their finger in the dyke, but the phone squawks. There stands my character. Waiting for me to write down what they’re saying besides ‘Help!’. By the time I get back to them, they forgot what they were going to do to save themselves – and the town below.

Boredom

When it seems like my characters are spending too much time sitting down, standing up, or pouring their 25th mug of coffee since climbing out of bed. Why are they there? Why isn’t something happening to struggle their way out of?

How-to Smash Writer’s Block
  • Read a Plot-Builder’s book like Plots Unlimited or Plotto or…
  • Ask your search engine for writing prompts.  Open one… any one of the 84,500,000 results and feed your plot brain.
  • Take a walk and clear your head
  • Have there be a knock on the door. But your finger’s in the dyke and the door is locked. Bellowing ‘Come in’ is not an option.
  • Go down memory lane with your own life experience. Pick an event that made you smile, laugh, cry, or screech. Work it in. Let your characters have their way with it.
  • Call cousin April.
  • Prepare your taxes.

Only you and your proteges can decide what’s next. And all it takes is a look, a word, or a knock on the door.

And have fun! No matter what!

Just one more thing.

Tell me how you smash Writer’s Block.

Email me here at alexielinn@gmail.com.

Oh my! Look at the time! Chaos will begin in 5,4,3,2,1….

The End Stuff

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

Can AI Write Your Book?

Can AI Write Your Book?

I confess! I tried it! I gave collaborating with AI (Artificial Intelligence) a test run. I named her Beulah. Here’s what happened:

Beulah asked me for a topic. I told her to solve an old mystery with three ghosts with three women and two men.

She thought a bit. Then flashed me the ‘writing’ card. Within a couple of minutes she displayed her 1311 word short story.

She had me hooked with the first paragraph. Here it is:

‘The three ghosts were sitting around the table in the old, dusty house. They had been there for years, ever since the murder happened. They were waiting for someone to solve the mystery so they could rest in peace.’

The second through sixth paragraphs weren’t half bad for collaborating with artificial intelligence either:

‘The three women were also sitting around the table. They were the sisters of the murdered woman. They had never been able to find out who killed their sister, and they were hoping that the ghosts would be able to help them.


The man was the detective who was working on the case. He had been investigating it for years, but he had never been able to find any solid evidence. He was hoping that the ghosts would be able to help him solve the case.


The detective asked the ghosts what happened on the night of the murder. The ghosts told him that they saw a woman come into the house and kill the woman. The detective asked the ghosts to describe the woman.


The ghosts said that she was tall and thin, and she had dark hair. The detective asked the women if they knew anyone who fit that description. One of the women said that she knew someone who fit that description.


The detective asked the woman to take him to the person she knew. The woman took him to a house down the street. The detective knocked on the door.’

But then Beulah showed her true abilities. The remaining paragraphs to this short-short were, in essence, a repeat of this:

‘A woman answered the door. The detective asked her if her name was Mary. The woman said that her name was not Mary. The detective asked the woman if she knew anyone who fit the description of the woman who the ghosts had seen.


The woman said that she did not know anyone who fit that description. The detective thanked the woman and left….’

The poor detective continued to ask the ghosts for more details. Then knock on a door to hear ‘no’ to his questions.

Beulah, my artificial intelligence collaborator, was not able to solve the murder.

Then I asked Beulah to write this blog post. She did a fine job of researching and writing about writing. There was only one thing missing from her oratory. Can you guess what it is?

Okay, I’ll tell you.

Beulah lacked personality. Dimension. Resourcefulness. Ingenuity. She got stuck in an endless loop of knocking on doors; asking the same questions and expecting a different answer. But the end result was always the same. No solution.

At least she didn’t forget to include the peanut butter in the peanut butter oatmeal bar recipe included in ‘The Auctionhouse Murders‘. Neither did she forget to add the page numbers to the book. And not even Beulah knows how many of the now Collector’s Edition copies with errors are out there. Beulah is programmed to do it right the first time, every time. As I said. No personality. No dimension. Just the facts.

In summary. If I ever resort to expose’ blogging or writing for Dragnet, I’ll set Beulah to the task. We’ll be a blur in getting the job done. But as far as publishing an action-packed, people clashing adventure? I might let Beulah help out with a plot twist now and again.

Or… have I managed to add personality and dimension to Beulah’s program? Who really wrote this piece?

Mua ha ha ha ha

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

How-To Train a New Computer

How-to Train a New Computer. Ugh!

Do you dread changing your phone and computer? Do you think you have better things to do than to crack the whip on yet another electronic device?

Me, too. That’s why step one is written in stone. Here it is, chiseled out on my new laptop…

Step One – Don’t fling it across the room!

Take a breath. Sit down calmly and play the game its way. Its maker wrote all the rules. It will play the way it was taught (programmed) until you discover its buttons and tweak it to play your way. You can do it!

When my old laptop took longer to start, open programs, and shutdown than it takes for me to write two chapters, I knew I had to replace it. It’s six+ years old. It had written and published a gazillion words with me.

It’s time for a new computer.

And it was a challenge. A mind-boggling challenge. I’m a writer. I know just enough about computers (and cars) to get myself in deep do-do.

Add technology that has raced in and flew out since I’d bought and trained my last laptop. …Size, prices, operating systems… too many and too much to slog through with confidence.

With books on the fire and deadlines to meet, I couldn’t ease into it.

Here’s what I did:

I made myself go to Walmart and snag the best Microsoft laptop deal from their shelf. I chose Walmart because I could return it fast and easy if it was defective. I wouldn’t waste days and weeks fussing with it.

Next is to spend at least one day learning the machine and its software.  

Here’s what I learned about my new computer:

  • OneDrive is set to grab all my work and send it to ‘the cloud’. It was easy to stop it once I realized it was doing it. Google knew how. It was as simple as ‘right-click, unlink’… or something like that.
  • Microsoft wants to control all my downloads. It was easy to tell it to stop. Once I realized it was doing it. Simply remove the S from windows 11. Never mind that the S might stand for ‘Safety’.
  • Word will not autosave if OneDrive isn’t engaged. It’s easy to ‘control S’ myself to save my work. Once I realized it wasn’t saving every few minutes.
  • Yippee! MS Office can still be downloaded and updated to work offline. Without a subscription. That was a long-haul challenge. But it’s done. I’m free of Microsoft sucking my internet gigabytes and wallet dry.
  • Had I disabled OneDrive before I downloaded my files from the old computer, I may have had less hair-pulling issues finding the file I’m looking for. It’s a good thing I have a glut of hair to work with.
  • Browser screen size matters! The first computer I chose had too small of a browser display to preview and approve my new book. Yikes! I have to have a minimum browser display of 1200 x 600. The Lenovo Series 1 maximum size is 1028 x 768. It would not allow me to preview and approve the book for publication.
I’m slowly training my new computer to play my way.

No games, please. Just write, get email, manipulate pictures, start-up and shutdown quickly. Don’t interrupt me with notifications, ads, or draining the battery and my wallet. And keep me out of the cloud!  

In summary, I and the new computer may become friends yet. Before it becomes obsolete and slower than molasses running uphill in January.

Like everything and everybody… it won’t win unless we let it. It’s up to you and me to figure out how. And we can!

Happy Trails and Tales,

Alexie Linn

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channel to not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

Sally’s Character Secrets – Revealed!

Sally’s Character Secrets – Revealed!

Why didn’t I know about Sally’s character secrets? I’m her creator, for crying out loud!

Because, while she came into being through my imagination, I don’t direct her every thought or move. Although I do have to crack the whip to tame her now and again.

Once a character has their own avatar, they take over and tell me who they are, their beliefs, and what they like. And I let them.

Here are a few of Sally’s character secrets that I pried out of her:

  • She wishes she had a greener thumb. Successful gardening is challenge she’s never conquered.
  • A pint of Ben and Jerry’s is her favorite summertime supper… or a pint of red, ripe strawberries dipped in whipped cream.
  • She loves to travel. But hates packing up her van – and unpacking it when she returns.
  • Anticipating a road trip gives her night terrors. She says it would be fine if she could just get in her van and go…
  • Fear of scorpions makes her throw-up. It’s the only creature – so far – that she has to make herself squash instead of relocating it.
  • She has no mirrors under bright lights. Why?
  • She gives pack rats at least a day to move on before she sets the trap to ‘rehome’ them. Then assures them they’ll be happier in their new estate when she sets them free four miles away.
  • She loves living alone. But wants a companion to share experiences with… like the county fair, camping, and making tamales.

Characters grow into their own, if you let them. Each one will speak their own dialogue, if you let them. Even Leon, who has now appeared in two of the Sally the Loner MysAdventures, wrote his own script. He caught me by total surprise when he shape-shifted from a knight-in-shining-armor to a …

I know that there will be more of Sally’s character secrets to reveal as she journeys into her next MysAdventure… and the next… and the next…

But Leon may be done with his shape-shifting stunts… unless…

How are your personas coming along? Are they there yet? Do they ever get there? Only your characters know for sure.

“Mua-ha-ha-ha…”

Happy Trails and Tales,

Alexie Linn

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

Organized Manuscripts – How to Prevent Writer Frazzle

Organized Manuscripts – How to Prevent Writer Frazzle

I don’t know how many books I published before I realized the importance of corralling each work for retrieval. The problem? Disorganized manuscripts were turning me into a frazzled meme.

But when it comes to filing, I can also over file and make the same frazzled meme out of myself just to maintain the system.

Neither under-organized nor over-organized filing works! Both systems were gobbling up valuable writing time.

Finally! I flailed my way to a super simple system for filing each manuscript from moment one of its creation.

Organized manuscripts are happy manuscripts. And prevent frazzled writer syndrome.

Here’s how to kick it off:

Start with a new folder for the new ‘Series’. Next, I open a new folder for each manuscript within the series. Now a specific manuscript within the series is right where I look for it – each and every time.

The cherry on top? It’s fast and easy to save the day’s work to my back-up thumb drive.

It’s working great. It will work even better when (?) I go back to the beginning and whip all my manuscripts in line.

What are the nuts and bolts?

Here’s the simple process for organized manuscripts.

It works whether you write on a computer or on paper, but the terminology here is for a computer:

Start a New Manuscript

Open a new document. Title it ‘___ Manuscript’. Save it in a new folder (within the ‘Series’ folder) just for this manuscript.

In this new folder for this manuscript, I save another new document and title it ‘Cast of Characters’. And here’s three more new documents for the book specific folder:

  • Description
  • Narration Version
  • Audition Script

By inserting the labeled blank documents into the folder at the beginning, I don’t forget to create them while I’m writing the story. Or when I think I’ve finished the book. I’m not finished until the rest of the paperwork is done.

When it’s time to turn the story into an audiobook, I don’t have a panic attack because I forgot to write the ‘Audition Script’ while all those characters were acting out in my mind.

If certain places need research detailed, I add it. And pictures, whether they’re avatars or photos. Outlines and research notes go in, too.

Everything is neat and tidy. And quickly retrievable if I want to change anything or steal from it (I always do!).

Start Another New Manuscript

Now, when I get to Book 12 of the series, I simply open the ‘Cast of Characters’ and shop for the carryover characters (or places) from previous organized manuscripts. Then copy and paste to the new work-in-progress ‘Cast of Characters’, etc. document. Easy-peasy. No frustration or frazzle.

Why did it take me so long to figure this simple system?

Oh. That’s right. I’m human. Bleh!

On that note…

Happy Trails and Tales,

Alexie Linn

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

How To Plot…

How To Plot…

The plot. The actions, egadses, and events that make a story a page-turner. Without plot, you have a book of ants, following the lead ant to wherever it got off to before they were all annihilated. The end.

But the mechanics of plotting can be mind-boggling. In a nutshell, it’s a personal choice. Your choice. Here’s a smattering of options:

  • A plot generator
  • Outline
  • Storyboard
  • Start at beginning, the middle, or the end and tie them altogether
  • Build the characters and let them write the plot

Here’s how to use each option above:

Plot Generator

Google found 131,000,000 plot generators in less than 1 second. The one that I paid money for to experiment with gave me several options of first the kind and size of book I wanted to write.

From there, it broke the book into sections with percentages and boxes to write signpost events into.

The generator included a database to add my characters and offered several templates to build the characters. Some were very detailed, others just the facts, and everything in between. It also included a database of places to build and draw from.

There were print alternatives to turn the outline into a guiding light to the actual writing.

Experimenting with the plot generator was a good experience. But I haven’t used it since I played with it. I’ll tell you why a little later.

Plot an Outline

I have used a basic pen and paper outline several times. And I keep going back to it. Why? Because it organizes my thoughts into a beginning, a middle, and an end. When I can see there’s an actual story to tell, I turn my energies to building memorable new and collecting past characters who can tell the story better than I.

Plot with a Storyboard

For the artistic writer, putting the story into picture format first allows the writer to rearrange, rewrite, and layout the plot. I’m not artistic. My art is words. I write in flow charts … and then this happened…

Start at beginning, the middle, or the end and tie them altogether

Some writers do their best storytelling by writing in sections, independent of each other; then filling in the blanks. If I’ve mastered this, it’s been in my sleep. I’m not aware of it. But if this is how you march, do it. There’s no right or wrong way to plot. The end product is what will make or break the tale.

Build the characters and let them write the plot

Bingo! This is how I plot beyond the one-page outline. Why? Because characters are individuals with their own personalities and quirks. Their actions are usually what gets them into deep do-do. Can they slog their way out? Sometimes yes, but sometimes no. Sometimes they need help from another freaky character that has that kink in their DNA.

And here’s the kicker of why I haven’t used the plot generator after playing with it initially. I let my characters do the plotting. This assures me that I don’t have 20 characters that are actually clones of each other and very boring, indeed.

Is it perfect? Nope. But my books are as jaw-dropping to write as they are to read. And I’m always open to more better ways of doing the job.

What is your most productive way to write? I want to know. Email me here to share your quirky ways of getting the job done.

Happy Trails and Tales,

Alexie Linn

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!