Posted on by Alexie Linn

Behind the Scenes of a Productive Author

Behind the Scenes of a Productive Author

Does this happen to you? It happens to me.

Each time I decide what I want to be when I grow up, a picture comes into my head. The picture invariably is of me (and my team) with the shiny finished product with throngs of people lined up to buy or use that gorgeous piece I’ve created. Cash is flowing. People are jubilant and crying for more…

But is it that simple?

Hmm. Not so much.

I’ve flipped career paths several times over the years simply because of the behind the scenes demands.

Demands like:

  • Graveyard shifts because I’m a morning person. I turn into a pumpkin at sundown.
  • Working with a redneck crew that shun and torment a woman in their midst.
  • Micro managers that must give permission for a bathroom break when it will affect no one else on the floor.

It’s easy to block out the details of what goes into the production of a product. Especially when you have no clue until you get there; having leapt smack into the bubbling pot of goo.

So, in preparation of your leap into becoming a productive author, here’s a peak at what goes on behind the scenes to get a book from thought to publication at Alexie Linn, Author.
  1. The Inspiration:
    • Ask the question. Define the problem that needs a solution. (The reason for writing the book)
    • Who are the characters that have the problem? What is each character’s quirk?Does the protagonist need a sidekick?
    • Make the antagonist 3 dimensional. Why are they so darned antagonistic?
  2. Outline the story — make a gazillion decisions:
    • How does the story begin?
    • What led to the problem?
    • Where is the problem happening? Research places.
    • What are the options to fix the problem?
    • Refine the options with what happens along the way
    • Research the options for suitable fixes
    • Attempt to fix the problem
    • Keep working the fixes until one clicks.
    • Will the chosen venue work?
    • Tie up all the loose ends… or leave them dangle?
  3. Write the story:
    • How much material have you to work with?
    • What’s the slant? What are you selling to whom?
    • Who will be reading it? A pre-schooler or a scholar?
    • Average 5-letter words or 20-letter words?
    • How many chapters? About how many words per chapter?
    • How many total words?
      • Is it a:short story (1,500-30,000 words);
      • a novella (18.000-40,000 words);
      • a novel (40,000-150,000 words);
      • a flash fiction (300-1,500 words); or
      • a nonfiction (25,000-150,000 words)
    • Decide whether to start at the beginning, middle, or end.
    • Look for a publisher (write and submit a proposal) or indie publish (write the proposal for yourself or just skip it)?
  4. Publish the Book
    • Prepare the manuscript for indie publication
    • Write or rewrite the description
    • Select key words or phrases for search engines to snag —  
    • Design the cover
    • Write and arrange for Pre-order ads
    • Run the editing gambit (See Publishing Checklist)
    • Publish to the website with available when date
    • Format the MS for E-book and Print versions
    • Upload to the server(s) – Phew! — Almost done…
    • Prepare the narrator’s version of the manuscript
      • Remove photos and anything else that the narrator should not read or describe.
      • Compile an audition script; including character ages and voice inflections like a stutter, lisp, or an accent.Select a narratorNegotiate a contract with the narrator
      • Upload the narrator version of the manuscript
  5. Promote, promote, promote
    • Order author copies of print versions for promotion and gig sales
    • Schedule book signing and sales gigs
    • Post the new book to social media servers from the website often and frequently
    • Write the blog
  6. Repeat steps 1 through 5

And there you have it. A nutshell peek at behind the scenes of Alexie Linn, Author.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this behind-the-scenes journey and are now more prepared to dive into the very busy life of authorship.

The inspiration, outline, write, and publish process takes about 30-days for this author. Promotion never ends.

I’ve seen books promising you can do it all in 7-days. And I just opened an email from a homesteading blogger that her 85,000-word book is finally done. Her project took 5-years.

We each work at the speed that best suits us… or that providence allows. The most important step is to keep plugging away at it. Artificial intelligence does it faster. But it will never do it better than you. Strive for perfection, but keep going to the end.

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Posted on by Alexie Linn

Here’s 7 Things You Don’t Know About Alexie Linn Books…

7 Things You Don’t Know About Alexie Linn Books…

Or do you?

After about 40 books and a few years, Alexie Linn has her own special routine of idiosyncrasies to produce a quality read. Relatively fast and easy… so to speak.

When she was puzzling out her own quirks, she wondered how much do you really know about the author of the books you read? How do you picture your reading material being written?

Is the author hunched over a monster desktop computer on an antique oak desk in a windowless den? Or is he or she perched at a folding picnic table under the tall pines talking to the squirrels between bits of copy?

Where does the next revelation come from? Is there a method to the writing obsession?

Like any other business, authors set methods and policies to turning out their prose. Although they may not be aware of it for the first dozen, or so, books. But, with time and experience, a modus operandi emerges and a professional is born.

If you’ve read or listened to several Alexie Linn books, you may have picked up on these characteristics of her books. Is this article one of those subtle… or not so subtle… take aways?

Here are the 7 Alexie Linn idiosyncrasies for your learning or affirmation lessons.
  1. The stories are inspired from real events. Because so many stories are told within the stories, it takes a passel of real events to write even one complete book.
  2. Characters are inspired by real people. You could easily recognize bits of yourself or someone you know in the characters that materialize when they appear on the scene. Do you?
  3. 100% of writing is done between the hours of 2 AM and 8 AM. These are the hours when the Alexie Linn brain is in a churning granny gear. The rest of the world is quiet. It’s dark. Intrusions are minimal or not at all.
  4. Every book is a cozy. Alexie Linn believes her purpose is to bring warmth, comfort, and relaxation to you, the reader. Whether you’re stuck in traffic or unwinding in a quiet corner, Alexie promotes upbeat, light hearted optimism for you in every book she writes. But don’t misunderstand. Bad things still happen to unsuspecting characters. Have you lived a mysterious misadventure with Sally the Loner yet?
  5. Every story has at least one subtle… or not so subtle… take away message. Because every story is a learning experience. It might be confirmation that you are not alone. Or poignant situations that you aren’t dealing with at the moment. And the reminder that your own egads moment could always be worse.
  6. Facts are researched for accuracy before they are allowed into a story. As in Book 9 of the Sally the Loner Series, Alexie went on a fact-finding mission to convey accurate protocol of how lawsuits are generally handled. Is that another subtle lesson? Is that information that you can pull out and use in real life… should you find yourself wanting to sue someone – or are being sued.
  7. Methods of getting out of pickles have to pass a ‘possible’ and ‘logical’ test. The most memorable instance that Alexie can recall is the time the protagonist stopped at a convenience store on her way to investigate a hiking trail. The heroine bought a cup of coffee, a snack, and an umbrella stand. She carried the umbrella stand with her out into the woods. When the antagonist appeared, she heaved the umbrella stand at him to knock him out. Really? Hmm. (FYI… not in an Alexie Linn book)

And there you have it. 7 things you didn’t know about Alexie Linn. And now you do. How can you apply these things in your own life? Have you snagged a copy of Sally vs The Marauders: The Case for the Defense?

Cheers,

Aaralyn Rae

An alter ego of Alexie Linn

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

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog with your email address.

The next easiest way is to click here to follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

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!

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.

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.

And just one more thing…

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.

Posted on by Alexie Linn

9 out of 10 Aspiring American Authors Don’t Publish. Are You One of Them?

9 out of 10 Aspiring American Authors Don’t Publish. Are You One of Them?

If you are…

Here are 8 tips from one who has published. About 40 times over if you’re counting. Her pseudonym is Alexie Linn. A Bing search will pop-up with 807,000 results of where to find Alexie Linn books. It all began with the first one. Then the next. And the next. And so on, and so on, and so on.

But first these 8 arguments had to be quashed. They could have been recorded from her own self-talk sessions that kept her down. Try them out on yourself. Winning them will get you over the hump and into the world of published authors.

Here are the biggest arguments why authors don’t publish with some doable answers:
  • I don’t have time!
    • Block out the time. Stand your ground with yourself and others. Gift yourself during the time of the day when you do your best brainwork.
  • It’s all been done!
    • So what? Times change. Attitudes change. There’s always room for another perspective… yours. What you have to say and how you say it could be just what that reader needs to move forward in their own endeavors.
  • What if I can’t do it? Who am I to stick my nose into other people’s business?
    • You can do it. Find your mindset that tells you your knowledge and experiences are valuable. You are not sticking your nose into other people’s business. You are sharing another way to conquer the problem.
  • I can’t commit. It makes me feel imprisoned.
    • So… answer this question. Do you really want to be a published author? Or is it like diving to the Titanic? It’s fun to think about. Not to actually do.
  • There’s too much drama in my life.
    • Block the drama during the time you’ve blocked for writing. It will do the drama good to step aside for a while. Unless, of course, the drama in your life is your source for your prose. Then use it! Give it to a character to work through. That’s what this writer does. Just look at all the drama Sally the Loner has worked out…
  • I don’t have anybody to give me feedback. Is my story any good?
    • Find somebody to mentor with! But until you do, use Hemingway or another AI editing program to dissect your work. Then let it cool so you can read it with fresh eyes. It’s amazing what you will see… sometimes gibberish. But not always. If it pulls you through, you’ve got it. If you stumble… so will your reader. Fix it. And test again.
  • What if my writing is rejected?
    • Know that rejections are part of life. It will happen. Is the rejection valid? Is it an editing issue? Or just not their cup of tea? If it’s an editing issue, fix it. Work it through to a cohesive flow. If it’s the wrong brand of tea, serve it to a different customer. But don’t give up. Figure it out. You can do it.
  • My writing is dull and boring.
    • Fix it! Get out your Thesaurus and show the story with action verbs. Do your characters have personality and quirks? Throw a wrench into the picture that’s not expected. It’s your story. Make it jitterbug, not lollygag on the sidelines.  

And there ya are. 8 arguments that have you handcuffed and lollygagging on the sidelines. Along with 8 doable fixes to get you and your book into the mix that we call published books. Come on in. The water’s deep and muddy, but fun.

And just one more thing…

Don’t do it for the money unless you’re already a noted celebrity. Do it for the love of writing and sharing. Do it to fulfill an honorable purpose in life. It all starts with one.

Oh! And most of all… Have Fun!

Now make it so… Change your tune. From authors don’t publish to the one out of 10 published author. You can do it. How can I help? Email me here.

In the meantime, have you read Sally the Loner Meets the Sourdough Kid? I need your feedback on it…

Got more arguments you need abolished? Email me here. I’ll take ‘em on with the best answer I can conjure up. And a free E book link is possible if you ask for it.

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Posted on by Alexie Linn

What AI Can Teach You About Writing…

I’ll Say it Again. What AI Can Teach You About Writing Do you fear AI or embrace it? What is there to fear? What is there to embrace?
First, What the heck is AI?
AI, in case you missed the memo, is Artificial Intelligence. It’s computer programs that are written (coded) by human beings. Its capabilities are awesome, to say the least… if it’s used properly.
What AI is NOT
AI is NOT a fact checker. They are deep diving search engines that dive on demand and display their findings as fact in an extremely readable format. The ‘facts‘ that AI discovers does not know if their finds are true. That’s not their job. It’s yours.
The Fear of AI
As a newshound seeking the unbiased truth, I’m aware that ‘the truth’ can be manipulated through familiar talking heads. I take all talking heads with a grain of salt. I take them as a grain of salt because there is always an invisible agenda attached. Statements are given as fact with no bona fide evidence to back up the statement. These are personal opinions – in my opinion 😊. I once saw an episode of ‘The Good Wife’ (if I’m not mistaken) where a certain judge required the attorneys to precede their arguments with ‘in my opinion’. The practice was intense frustration for the lawyers but presented a much more factual presentation. I do not fear AI. I’m aware of its capabilities. And I don’t trust talking heads because I’m aware.
The Embrace of AI
But as a writer, I embrace AI as a stoic collaborator. AI reminds me of Daddy. It’s rational, unexcitable, and to the point. Perhaps that’s why I consider AI a man. He’s Daddy.
What can AI teach you about writing?
AI is currently teaching me to be a better blogger. When ‘Daddy’ responded yesterday to a blog post I was prepping for publication with ‘your post is engaging’, I melted. It didn’t sway my excitement a teensy-weensy bit that he followed it up with ‘but it could be better if …’
The Drawbacks
The only drawback I can see in making use of Artificial Intelligence is if you allow it to write for you; take what it compiles as gospel; or if you include talking head videos in your prose. Talking heads could be fake news that will kill your credibility. Let the writer beware.
The Apps
The AI app that earned my ‘Daddy’ moniker was provided by WordPress. I don’t know who created it. But he was kind, not snobby. Neither did I pick up on any superiority attitude. And I’m learning more about blog posting that gets discovered by search engines. As far as using AI in my book writing process, here’s what I’m using and what I’m experimenting with. Hemingway is an AI application that highlights adverb usage, passive verbiage, hard to read sentences, and so on. It makes suggestions for more clarity. And it’s easy to use. But I’m not an affiliate of Hemingway. I’m just partial to its simplicity. So, Hemingway gets free kudos from me today.  An AI app that I’m experimenting with is Smodin. I’m finding it useful to goose myself out of temporary writer’s block. I get a different perspective on how to say it or what happens next. But I’m not convinced yet of my need for it. AI In Summary I do not fear AI. It was Daddy (or was it Mama?) that instilled the old adage of ‘Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see’ in me at an early age. It’s still there. I embrace AI in my writing. It makes a great story even better through editing suggestions. But as yet, no Artificial Intelligence I’ve experimented with can replace me as a writer of captivating mysteries and adventure… or misadventures in the case of Sally the Loner. I guess one needs emotion to accomplish captivating. But I’ll never stop learning to write even better for your reading and listening pleasure. Thank you, Daddy… oops! Thank you, AI programmers. Happy Reading and Writing with AI from Alexie Linn and friend,
alexielinnauthor.com
And here’s the rest of the story: P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks….. The easiest way to get updates is to follow Alexie Linn with your email address. The next easiest way is to click here to follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊 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! 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. 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. And just one more thing… 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.
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

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…..

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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!