January 12
Contest & Submission Nitpicks 101: Standard Manuscript Format
January is the month I usually end up writing something about writing contests. The reason? It's when I'm judging for one. Whether you're entering a contest or submitting a piece to a publisher, you need to know SMF.
Psycho Horror Lovers Unite
This one was about confronting those who say people who enjoy horror, whether viewing, reading, or writing, are horrible people. It's especially important to me again right now, because an acquaintance made a comment that bothered me after the Planned Parenthood shooting up the road on Black Friday, basically implying that those who commit these sorts of crimes are the people who watch or read media involving violence. Other than being an ignorant statement, it put me on the defensive wondering how many other people I know view what I do as creating real human monsters? And how many view me as lacking human empathy, simply because I write horror and enjoy some Die Hard? Despite my hard feelings, the post was fun to write, and it showed in its humorous subject matter.
March 2
Author Headshot Tips
In which I give tips for those seeking author headshots. Pretty straight forward.
March 16
Good News & Amazon Central Author Account
This post was about setting up my Amazon Central author account, with information on how to do so for anyone else who needs to.
Diversity vs. Exclusion
Diverse Authors vs. Diverse Characters
Writing Diverse Cultures
This was a series of posts exploring calls for diversity in writing. There were some great discussions here and on my Facebook page in response to the posts, which I enjoyed. It can be a taboo subject, and I was initially afraid of posting anything, but I ended up glad to have done so.
June 8
My Pledge
This was my simple pledge not to attack reviewers, even if they break my heart. It was in response to an author who had a meltdown on Goodreads and stepped over some lines, becoming a joke on the internet.
June 29
Critique Group Panel Discussion
This was a summary of a panel on critique groups I participated in. There was a lot of great information on the panel, with several different types of critique groups touched on.
July 6
Making Your Blog Your Author Website
This was written while I was researching using my blog as an author website, rather than setting up a separate one. I found a lot of great information on what was recommended for author websites, and was able to pass that along.
August 3
New Magazine Release & Magazine Submission Tips
In this post I gave tips on market research, submitting short stories and tracking them.
August 5
Why We Do It & Links
This was an Insecure Writers Support Group post, but it was one of the positive ones, all about why we keep writing and submitting, despite the lows that come with it.
October 12
What's Your Favorite Scare?
This one is all about what scares you, and why.
December 7
Experiments in Writing - Killer Critters
In my goals at the beginning of this month, I mentioned experimenting with my writing. Well, I tried out a new genre last month, and this was about diving into that.
What was your favorite of the posts you put up this year (feel free to link to it!)? Did you have any great conversations on your blog that stuck with you? Have you ever been able to work through something troubling you by posting about it?
May you find your Muse.
Horror - By Roberto Ferrari from Campogalliano
(Modena), Italy (Horror Uploaded by russavia) [CC BY-SA 2.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Community by OCAL, clker.com
26 comments:
Lots of grand tips through out last year indeed. I just write away, not much bothers me. Maybe because I let it all fly? lol
Blog as the website works for me.
Not sure I have a favorite post. The release day post for my book was fun since it linked to so many others who featured fun pictures.
Really like some of the last few posts of 2015 since they drew in 10,000 - 20,000+ viewers each. Need to replicated that!
I dunno what my favorite post was. No deep conversations that I can remember, and I don't work things out on my blog. I do post about what I've discovered after working things out.
When people make the comments that some kind of fictional entertainment, books or movies, inspire violence, I think they must be the kind of person who is easily influenced or a bit wack to believe that of others.
I think I remember all your posts that you mentioned.
Hi Shannon - great idea to list out the posts that most satisfied you ... I'm going to look at your blog and author website ideas ...
Alex has got wonderful figures and stats .. I loved my A-Z posts from last year .. Cornwall all the way!! Cheers Hilary
I love this review of 2015. It's a great idea to share the best post of each month and all of these were great.
Oh... I don't know what my favorite post was. Maybe I'll figure it out when I do my 15/16 post.
It's always interesting to go back and see what you've posted the year before. Fun to find out what was going on in your head at the time.
I'll go with the blog tour I did last year for Salem's Daughters. Those were fun themes, many tailored specifically for the host and their blog.
I think I read most of those. The information (and your sunny personality) are what keeps bringing me back. I don't have a favorite post, just this as a favorite site.
Thank you for all your insights, advice, links, and discussions.
If viewing/writing horror in fiction (or non fiction) makes someone a bad person, then I'd say I'm in good company with you. Being aware of terror and horror doesn't make you a monster yourself. Like anything else you do, if you're good at it.
Cool, some of these contests have a Halloween feel to them:) The headshot link reminded me that I got mine from a professional at a writer's conference a few years back. Another great way to get your professional photo op:)
You have a wonderful blog, very entertaining. Like Donna said, your blog is a favorite.
I am so grateful to you for all your writing!
We should all let it fly!
You definitely do! Now the question is, why did they pull in so many?
Did you have one that was fun to write?
It makes me wonder what their kids are restricted from. Do they let them watch Looney Tunes? Because that cartoon is violent, LOL.
A-to-Z posts are so much fun to do and to read back on!
I'm hoping it will work as a reference for when I'm trying to find an old post, too. :p
15/16 post?
Yes, it's a good year in review. Sometimes I'm surprised because one post felt like it was a lot longer ago.
There were a lot of good ones! I didn't see them all.
And I enjoy your company. Let's be terrible people together. ;) And thank you!
Yes, it's a great place to get your headshot! They frequently discount it there.
Thank you!
Thank you. What a nice thing to say!
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