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!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

Profanity in Your Prose – Character Builder? Or Cop-Out?

Profanity in Your Prose – Character Builder? Or Cop-Out?

Do trash-mouthed characters move a story forward? In what way? What do we learn (or teach) from people who seem unable to make a statement or tell a story without vulgarities spewed throughout?

But a tale told without antagonists to spark action is boring to say the least. Not every character in life or fiction is polite, respectful, or happy.

What’s a writer to do?

How can an author build a foul-mouthed, mean, miserable character without spewing offensive expletives throughout the dialogue?

That is the mission of this post… To help you create characters with mind-blowing flaws but make the story reader-friendly and increase your readership base by doing it. It’s all part of the art of emotion-filled prose, my dear.

Do this: Use actions in place of words to build smutty, profanity spewing characters.

Can you love a character who trips handicapped people with their walking stick, cuts full school busses off in traffic, or bullies their way into the front of the line?

He made a fist, his forehead smooshed, he opened his mouth and I quit listening to his story… but trottted away to escape the hot air he spewed.

How about a character who flaunts their wealth while smirking in needy, fire-ravaged or tornado-flattened neighborhoods?

How lovable is a person who spits on the sidewalk in front of you?

What’s the character of a person who tosses litter (or puppies or people) out the door or window?

These are just a few of the ways to build a nasty character without ever having them waste valuable words that move the story forward every step of the way.

What action stabs your instant reject button for an individual in real life?

There is so much more to a person (or character) than the size of their vocabulary… If profanity is required to tell the story… is it a story or a rant?

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

A Day-to-Write?

A Day-to-Write?

At last! A day off the Tilt-a-Whirl called a summer job to get my latest wip (work in progress) past the first 3 paragraphs and the initial characters built…

The laptop is open and booted; the 5 email accounts have been addressed and emails deleted; my website stats are foreboding because there’s been no time to promote and sell either. Word is open. The Description, Cast of Characters, and Chapter One stare back at me. Now what?

My eyes gaze out the window at the tall pine forest that house the pointy-eared squirrels and jays I perch among. I toss a handful of peanuts in the shell out the gaping door for them to snack on and entertain me.

I add to my list of what I must do today – my only day-to-write before the 4th of July celebrators converge in full force.

What was I thinking? Where’s the time to write while I’m working?

I’m in it. The time is now. Right this minute. I switch gears to have a chinwag with myself, ‘This is not your first rodeo. With 30 odd books up and running – at least 80% written and published while working a fulltime managerial position – you can do this!’

Realizing this is my only ‘day-to-write’, I put this blog post on hold and switch to the Description page. Here’s the nutshell description:

Auctionhouse Murders – Description

Sally’s mother came for tea – 20 years after her death. The reason for the visit? To charge Sally with the task of clearing her mother (Sally’s Grandma Lydia) of three murders.

Then continuing with the ‘day-to-write’ attitude, here’s the opening chapter:

Sally the Loner Cracks the Case of the Auctionhouse Murders

“It’s true, Joany. She sat right there and ordered me to go solve those 75-year-old murders!” Sally leaned on the broom she was torturing with vigorous sweeping. “It makes no sense! But, my mama, the drama queen and director, will have her way.” She choked the broom handle and attacked the dust-free tile again, muttering.

“Auntie! You’re 87-years-old! The scene of the crimes is 1,800 miles away! The witnesses – if there were any – are long since dead.” She shook her head, her mouth gaping at her spunky aunt. “How do you plan to fulfill her wishes? Better yet, what will happen if you just let it go?”

Sally leaned on the abused broom again, “Hmmph! Oh, Joany girl.” She spoke succinctly, “She’s my mother. She WILL have her way.”

Joan threw her hands up into the air, “Alright then. What’s the plan? I’m not letting you get into this alone.”

Sally leaned the broom into the corner, plonked on the chair next to Joan, smiling. “Good girl.” Yanking a notepad and pencil out of her apron pocket, “Here’s what I was thinking…”

What do you think? A bestseller that you can’t wait to pre-order?

And how are you coming with your own bestseller? Grab the time. Hi-jack the moment. And get ‘er done!

Plus! In case you missed it…

Did you get the memo on ‘Adventures in Retort Canning’? Did you know you always wanted to know about that? Check it out!

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

Oops! Did I do that? Website Frenzy Exposed

Oops! Did I do that? Website Frenzy Exposed

Apparently, I did. Because nobody else is responsible for my website. What did I do? Or not do as this case may be…

Your Website is your storefront…

I posted a book with no link to learn more and buy it. Kind of like placing the can of cat’s food in their bowl without opening it – then leaving for two days.

I have lots of excuses – including ‘senior moment’ – but it doesn’t matter. I embarrassed myself and frustrated possible readers by not finishing the business at hand. Maintaining my website.

Your website is your store front.

Your website needs to:

  • Be focused on what you’re selling – as an author, your books are your bells and whistles. Not the attention grabbers that will snag your visitors and pull them off your site.
  • Be attention grabbing without bribes. If you distract your buyers with an abundance of free stuff for signing up, you’ll get sign-ups for the freebies. And that’s it. Setting up and maintaining a mailing list is great. But consider these three things first:
    • The time and energy required to write and put into play the freebies.
    • The time and energy to continually feed your email list posts of more freebies.
    • The time and energy to keep your email list viable. The people who actually want to know about your new book – and will buy it. The number of ‘clickers’ makes all the difference in ranking. Non-clickers must be eliminated for better rankings across the board. There are other ways to keep bona fide readers informed. See the P.S. below for other ways…
  • Be easy to find – Keep your domain name simple, easy to remember, and easy to type into a browser. It should match your author name or something that appears on each and every book you write.
  • Be easy to maintain — Post a book cover; link it to the description page; include the link to BUY NOW. Simple – if you don’t get distracted.
  • Be affordable – I don’t affiliate with even one website provider. The reason? So far, in my tenure as a several websites owner/maintainer/operator, only one gave me the real cost up front of owning/renting the site. And they don’t offer affiliate links. It’s this one… the simplicity of WordPress.com for my simple (?) little AlexieLinnAuthor.com business. Find the real and true cost of a website before you build it just to get a gut punching surprise at every billing cycle.

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

Writing is Fun and Easy! Is there More To It?

Writing is the Fun and Easy Part! But Is There More To It?

If my treasured coffee mug wasn’t ‘Joan’s Dazzling Mug’, it would be the ‘I’d Rather Be Writing’ mug.

Writing engulfs, excites, and challenges my brain. The other steps of being a professional in my craft irritates and frustrates me. But it must be done if my creations are to entertain and fill a need in someone else’s life.

What’s the process when the current book has passed its almost final edit? Is it time to succumb to the call of the chaise lounge and bon-bons? Hmm… not quite. There’s still a few chores to complete before I can say ‘finis!’. So, onward with the to-do list of what this indie publisher does just before and when the writing is done…

First, remind yourself that ‘Writing is Fun and Easy’!

  • Share the news that a new read is on the way through social media and your email list (at least 3 times).
  • Final edit and format the manuscript for the intended market (Ebook, print, screen…)
  • Write the description – a long one and a short one.
  • Design and build a cover – I use Canva but there are others to choose from, including hiring others. Ask Google for a million leads.
  • Share the news that a new book is on the way again.
  • Upload to the marketplace(s) – currently Amazon and Draft 2 Digital for me.
  • Post the news that a new book is up and running.
  • Set-up the advertising you choose to get your book in the face of prospective readers – Amazon ‘Sponsored’ for one.
  • Write the narration version for the audiobook, don’t forget the minimum 1-minute to maximum 5-minute retail sample after ‘The End’.

Say again that ‘Writing is Fun and Easy!’

  • Be sure Goodreads has picked it up (set-up your Goodreads account if you haven’t already done so) and set the giveaways to run.
  • Collect the ‘additional categories’ your book should be listed in if Amazon Kindle is one of your marketplaces. I use Publisher Rocket (Competition Analyzer then Unleash the Categories) for this to save myself 62 hours of research headache.
  • Request (in Amazon Author Central) that your book be added to the additional categories you collected. Please be sure the additional categories are applicable to your book.
  • Post your book to the Audiobook service you use to get it narrated. My choice is ACX, but there are others.

One more time… ‘Writing is Fun and Easy!’

  • Post the book and description and purchasing links to your website.
  • Blog about the book.
  • Respond to any comments or requests that arrive.
  • Check your website stats to see what is getting attention through what source and expand on what’s working.
  • Learn more about promoting and selling, including a You Tube book trailer video. Here’s an example.
  • Take a breath… Ahhhh…
  • Start your next book if you haven’t already.

And there ya’ are. Done! Bring on the chaise lounge and bon-bons! I’m pooped.

But remember that ‘Writing is Fun and Easy!’

Next!

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.

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

Holy Tornados, Batman! Where’d the Time-to-Write Go?

Holy Tornados, Batman! Where’d the time go?

Does this ever happen to you?

I climbed out of bed 5-minutes ago; got dressed for productive writing; started the coffee; booted the laptop; lit Mr. Heater… No wait… I climbed out of bed 32-minutes ago…

The good news is that the coffee is brewed; Word is updating; Wifi gigs have been added; and I’m staring at this blog post template… wondering what inspiring prose I’m going to share about time management.

Snagging time-to-write is a feat to be conquered daily. Thirty-some books later, here’s what I’ve learned:

  1. Nobody’s going to do it for you
  2. Nobody’s going to do it for you
  3. And, in case you missed the memo; Nobody’s going to do it for you

You get to decide:

Make Time-To-Write
  • When your most productive time to string words on paper is
    • Morning
    • Afternoon
    • Evening
    • Night
  • Where you’re the most productive word stringer
    • At a desk
    • Poolside
    • In bed
  • How your tale goes together
    • Beginning; Middle; or End first
    • From an outline (skeleton or detailed)
    • Description first then fill in the blanks
  • And your most productive writing style
    • Word-by-word; line-by-line; editing as you go
    • 5,000 words a day of gibberish that you then edit, edit, edit
    • A chapter a day… maybe two or three…

Then follow through with what works for you.

The key to my time-to-write productivity is:

  • 2-8 AM. It’s dark and the only interruptions are the mechanics of computer and internet; the wind flapping a tarp; and the rain pelting or whispering on the roof. Okay, maybe a coyote howling or dogs barking at something out of place. But the long-term persona breakers of people, telephones, and outside activity is quelled.
  • At a desk (or kitchen table).
  • From a skeleton outline – then a description.
  • 1k to 2k words a day with rough edits along the way.

It’s on me to make this time and place available. If I have to get snippy to do it, then so be it. Creating stories that teach, give a laugh, and entertain is fulfilling a critically important purpose in my life. And everyone else’s I can touch through my books.

Ditto for you and your publishing endeavors.

Don’t let anybody (including your own thoughts) through their words or actions, tell you your time-to-write isn’t important.

This doesn’t mean I’m a drill Sargent, although I’ve been accused of being one when it comes to my time-to-write (and a few other things). But I get more growls than salutes while those barger-inners succumb to my wishes.

Of course, there are days I don’t boot the computer or write a word. But not many. And when I’m between books, I tend to the business of being an author… promoting; writing blogs; researching; paying the bills. But I still start the day with a pot of fresh, hot coffee. And the written in stone determination is the same. I’m a writer! Prove it!

On that note… Whether you’re writing Your Fascinating Family History or The Scarecrow Who Was Afraid of Birds, making the time to get it done is paramount to you and your readers. Just do it! 😊

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.

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

Serials Are Not Cereals

The Serial – That’s Serial, Not Cereal

Serials have been making a snail’s pace comeback. What’s a Serial?

A Serial is like a TV soap opera that you read. But it can move faster and have an end before the next millennium.

alexielinnauthor
A Serial to read with your Cereal

Serials are touted as entertainment on the run because you buy and read one episode at a time.

Vella serials are particularly suited to read on a smartphone and accessed through an App. Vellas cannot be downloaded to an E-reader like Kindle.

Episodes are purchased with tokens or ‘coins’, depending on the App.

Serials can, at the author’s discretion, become available in ebook and print version 30-days down the road. If you fell in love with a Serial, watch the author’s website and blog; follow the author wherever you can; or, better yet, tell the author you’d like to own it in book form. They’ll love you for it. 😊

Three reasons to indie publish a Serial are:

  1. Test Run – Get the feedback of whether readers are interested in your book’s topic before you compile, edit, and publish 100,000 + or – words.
  2. Build an audience – Perspective readers can ‘try before they buy’ your prose in more expensive and committed formats.
  3. Editing – Vella is my experience. It’s easy-peasy to edit one tiny episode of a Serial; while editing one chapter of a book entails several more steps and rereads of the entire project. The tradeoff is that Serials are uploaded one episode at a time.

Three reasons to read Serials:

  1. Give the author a test run. Do you and their prose click?
  2. Read an episode while you’re eating your cereal – or waiting for the bus – or stuck in traffic.
  3. Read it on your smartphone. No other devices or a book to carry around with you.

Three places to upload your Serial to…

  1. KDP/Vella –an Amazon company. Here’s where to find my latest Serial, Sally the Loner Meets the Sourdough Kid.
  2. Byliner Serials – A Barnes and Noble offering.
  3. Jukepop Serials – An indie publisher.

A Google search will give you 337,000,000 more details and options to choose from.

On that note…

Happy Trails and Tales,

Alexie Linn

P.S. Since this new, finely focused blog is just getting started, 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… 😊

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. 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!

But if you’d like to own this story in book form, send me an email here!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

Plots Rule

Plots Rule!

A story, fact or fiction, is mush without action at every corner. But too much action only makes thicker glop.

Too much action is so much thick Glop…

Whether I’m writing a How-to or a tale, it’s characters and their antics (the plot) that make the read get read.

Say you’re writing a family history. Even Uncle George, twice removed, has a personality. He had an occupation. He had physical and emotional dimension. Turn Uncle George into a character and let him write his own story. But be careful. You’re not remaking Uncle George in your own image. Help him be himself. Here’s how:

  • If he’s short for his age, let him figure out how to reach the paint can on the top shelf; but include the words that identify your imagination at work. Such as:
    • I, being short, can see him sticking a stack of books on a chair to reach the paint can some impish tall person stuck on the top shelf.
    • Short people, especially men, are taunted for their minimal stature. Uncle George was probably teased all his life about being height compromised. His brother, Uncle Jim, could have intentionally placed tools on the top shelf just to make him mad.
    • At 5’4”, Uncle George could fit into tiny places where others could not go.
  • If he was sickly, imagine the frustration he must have lived daily when he couldn’t run out and play with others.
  • If Uncle George was an ornery sort; was married several times; or was never married, use your best guesses as to why he was the way he was. But label it as your best guess. A could be. Unless you want to destroy your credibility, never state fiction – your imagination at work – as fact. Be clear, but make it fun.

Use scenery if it forwards the story. Dense forest, albeit beautiful, is boring unless it slams at least one character with a wall so thick he/she/ or they cannot escape through. Or if a character can use it for cover from their antagonist. OR if the heady, soothing aroma of the pine forest tells the blind person where they are… Get the picture?

Detail the weather if it requires the characters to slog through or hide from. A monsoon storm is just a noisy, dusty, wet storm – until it maroons my children and I with no way out and darkness racing in on us.

Lucky for us, there are several books available to goose the writer’s imagination to build plot. They don’t write the book for you, but they smash through the block when it’s time for action.

Start with search engines for plot generators.

But search engines aren’t your only option.

For those of us who don’t always have Google and other search engines at their fingertips, here’s where you can grab books – even a deck of cards (an affiliate link)– to bust through writer’s block and get more meat into your story. Snag the book or cards now, before you head out to your mountain top retreat with no internet.

On that note…

Happy Trails and Tales,

Alexie Linn

P.S. Since this finely focused blog is just getting started, 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… 😊

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. 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!