My presentations at LDStorymakers May 10-11, 2013

ByJohn Brown

I’ll be giving two presentations at LDStorymakers this year.

“Vivid and Clear” — Despite the often repeated 11th commandment for writers—show, don’t tell—writers NEVER show. They can’t. It’s all tell, tell, tell. The trick is to tell in a way that helps your readers imagine the situation (action, thought, dialogue, description, etc.) with such vividness and clarity it triggers an emotional response.  In this hour we’ll explore a number of simple but powerful prose techniques that help you do just that.

“Story Turns” — Story turns–cliffhangers, rugpulls, plot twists, reversals, surprises, revelations (and more)–are a core part of an exciting plot, pacing control, and making a reader want to turn the page. In this workshop we’ll explore the main types of story turns and how they work so you can use them in your writing. (They’ve got me scheduled to give this one twice.)

More importantly, I get to attend some very interesting looking presentations from other writers when I’m not on stage. I had a blast last year.

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  • News: LDStorymakers

    ByJohn Brown

    You want to go to a writing conference dedicated to writing commercial (popular) fiction. Stuff people like to read. You want a conference that actually helps you on the business end, not just with craft. You live in Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Idaho, Colorado, northern Arizona, or maybe a bit farther. What if you could go to one that featured the following:

    1. AUTHOR: Anne Perry. Yes, that Anne Perry, the mega mystery goddess.
    2. LITERARY AGENT: Michael Bourret (Dystel & Goderich Literary Management)
    3. LITERARY AGENT: Hannah Bowman (Liza Dawson Associates)
    4. LITERARY AGENT: Alyssa Henkin (Trident Media)
    5. LITERARY AGENT: Michelle Witte (Mansion Street Literary Management)
    6. EDITOR: Victoria Curan (Harlequin Heartwarming, which is a line that focuses on wholesome contemporary romances that celebrate traditional values, strong communities, family connections and true love)

    Plus lots of other great folks. Including some who are making some nice numbers on Kindle selling independently.

    Geez, John. Sounds fab!

    Yeah. It’s happening May 10-11, 2013 in Provo, UT (a glorious time in Utah). It’s the LDStorymakers conference. There’s not a better conference in the Intermountain area. I presented last year. It was fun and insightful. I’ll be there this year. It’s great for meeting other authors (that includes lots of friendly folks trying to break in). And, obviously, meeting agents and editors.

    The thing is the attendance is capped. Last year they turned folks away.

    If you want in, I suggest you register now.

    See you there! (Really, I hope you come up and say hello.)

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    John guest posts about writing memorable fiction on ReidWrite

    ByJohn Brown

    Luc Reid is the author of, among other things, Talk the Talk: The Slang of 65 American Subcultures.  He is also the lizard king of Codex, which he started and of which I’m so happy to be a member. He’s always starting provocative threads on Codex, making us all think and reexamine the principles of story and the whole writing business. He recently posted some insights about what makes memorable stories. A lot of other fellow Codexians joined in the discussion. Happily, he asked me to share some of my thoughts on his site, ReidWrite. They begin as follows:

    YOU’RE MINE, DEAR READER

     Mwuhahaha.

     Okay, maybe not. But you are wired to be mine. And you wouldn’t have it any other way.

    Let’s back up. Luc wrote about writing memorable. I agree with the idea that the stories that produce a strong emotional reaction are the most memorable. In fact, I believe that triggering of emotion is THE reason why linear narrative that puts us into the trance has lasted so long in so many forms and makes so much money.

    But can writers guide reader emotions? Or is it all just by accident?

    Read the rest here: http://reidwrite.livejournal.com/8331.html.

    BTW, when you’ve finished that, you might want to check out Luc’s new site, WillpowerEngine.com. It’s a place where he shares what he’s found in his research for his current book project, The Willpower Engine, on how self-motivation works. I think you’ll find a number of the posts there very interesting.

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  • New Release Sale for Raveler!

    ByJohn Brown

    RavelerCoverEbookThe War with Mokad Begins!

    Folks, I’m so happy to announce this. First, I love the cover. As you can see, no big-bosomed, bikini-clad, fluff bunnies need apply here. Click on the image to take a gander at what’s reflected in the sword and then the symbol she’s etched into the collar of her armor.

    Next, I get to share Harnock, who was a blast to write. And the woodikin they call Chot. There are revelations, wasp lords, battles, a poignant scene with Argoth I’ve been waiting since Servant to write, plus plenty more.

    To celebrate, we’re putting the book on a huge discount Tuesday and Wednesday.

    Big trade paperback + free ebook: $9.99!

    (normally $18.98 if purchased separately)

    Big paperback edition

    I double-checked the price. When I posted this, it was $9.99 on Amazon. Get it before Amazon dinks with the price.

    Ebook: $.99 cents!

    (normally $3.99)

    Kindle (USA)
    Kindle (outside the USA)
    Nook
    iTunes
    Smashwords
    Kobo

    Happy reading!

    John

    PS To get the free e-book with your paperback, purchase your paperback, then go to the top menu bar and select Shop By Department > Kindle E-Readers & Books > Kindle Books. Click Kindle MatchBook in the left sidebar, and then the Find your Kindle MatchBook titles button. It should list Raveler along with all of the other MatchBooks available to you.

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  • Update on Curse of a Dark God

    ByJohn Brown

    I just turned in a 35 page chapter outline of Curse of a Dark God to my editor. This is the third iteration of the outline since December. Hopefully, at last, we have a story we can all agree on. Keep your fingers crossed.

    Of course, since this back and forth has been a process of write like mad then wait a few weeks then write like mad and wait again, I’ve been working on another project during the waits. It’s a straight-up thriller.

    Leon is ex-Special Forces (or an Army Ranger, but I’m leaning SF). He left the service when a colonel decided it was his job to make Leon’s life hell. He did security and a number of other things. Tried to be a plumber, but fell into bad company and then crime. And then was send to the big house and learned about a whole new theater of war. During his stay, he saw the light. Changed. He shaped up, and despite the swastika tatoos on his feet, flew straight when he got out. He had his odd jobs, but figured it was easiest to avoid all the questions and fuss that arise when you tell a prospective employer that you’re a felon. So he got himself a laundromat. Then another. Then he invested in a car wash. There’s good money in cleaning. And with the proceeds he bought himself a little ranch.

    Leon’s a big man. Knows a lot about guns (although he can’t possess one), security, and crime. He lives in Rock Springs, Wyoming. On occassion, the sheriff is known to ask for his services. On more frequent occassions, the sheriff’s wife keeps trying to set him up with an unending line of women. But he doesn’t know if he’s ready for women. He doesn’t know if he’s ready for his nephew that his sister wants him to reform.

    Then two old buddies from prison show up one night. They’ve got a girl with them. They need a place to stay. But it’s clear the girl isn’t there of her own accord. He figures they’re either holding her for ransom or blackmail. He’s not sure which. He knows these boys are connected to some bad men. Then his nephew breaks her free. The excons get in their car and chase after her. Leon gets in his car and chases after them. And soon he finds himself in the middle of something bigger than he could imagine.

    Or something like that. I should have the chapter outline ready to go as soon as I finish Curse. I can’t wait to write it.

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  • If you liked “From the Clay of His Heart” you can nominate for Hugo

    ByJohn Brown

    You may nominate works for the 2009 Hugo award if you either:

    • were an attending or supporting member of Denvention 3 (the 2008 World Science Fiction Convention); OR
    • are an attending or supporting member of Anticipation (the 2009 World Science Fiction Convention) before January 31, 2009

    If you liked “From the Clay of His Heart” and want to nominate it in the novelette category, all you need to do is go here and fill out this form before Saturday, February 28, 2009. You can nominate up to 5 stories in each category.

    If you want to read it, you can do so online if you have an IGMS vol 8 subscription ($2.50). If you don’t plan on subscribing to that issue, post a comment, and I’ll make sure you get a copy.

    Here are nomination numbers for last year’s awards. What this shows is that 40 nominations puts a novel on the final ballot. 17 nominations put a short story there.

    Best Novel (382 nominating ballots cast):
    65 – Brasyl by Ian McDonald
    58 – The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
    58 – Rollback by Robert J. Sawyer
    41 – The Last Colony by John Scalzi
    40 – Halting State by Charles Stross

    Best Novella (220 nominating ballots cast):
    52 – “Memorare” by Gene Wolfe
    50 – “Recovering Apollo 8” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
    49 – “All Seated on the Ground” by Connie Willis
    39 – “The Fountain of Age” by Nancy Kress
    34 – “Stars Seen Through Stone” by Lucius Shepard

    Best Novelette (243 nominating ballots cast):
    69 – “The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate” by Ted Chiang
    45 – “Dark Integers” by Greg Egan
    24 – “Finisterra” by David Moles
    22 – “The Cambist and Lord Iron” Daniel Abraham

    Best Short Story (270 nominating ballots cast):
    46 – “Tideline” by Elizabeth Bear
    29 – “Last Contact” by Stephen Baster
    28 – “Distant Replay” by Mike Resnick
    25 – “A Small Room in Koboldtown” by Michael Swanwick
    17 – “Who’s Afraid of Wolf 359?” by Ken MacLeod

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4 Comments

  2. Matt,

    Alas, LTUE conflicts with my daughter’s basketball schedule, so I won’t be able to come this year. And I so very much wanted to go. I love LTUE.

  4. Mike,

    All the videos of other presentations have been recorded by other folks who offered up their services. Unfortunately, I have no equipment. However, if the presentations go well maybe I can think about writing up the points here 🙂

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