My Top Ten Tweets for #writers

My Top Ten Tweets

 

I love to write, but with writing comes marketing, the bane of my existence. I began gathering tips about writing and marketing from various blogs for easier reference. One day I thought why not share? So here we go. Follow me on Twitter @roxannesmolen for more tips.

Books to Film: The Option Versus The Shopping Agreement | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/3dVGij6 #writingcommunity #indieauthors

Writing Software: How To Use ProWritingAid To Improve Your Writing And Self-Edit Your Book https://buff.ly/3bsTyeg #writingcommunity #amediting

The Skills Required to Copyedit and Proofread https://buff.ly/34pYFb0 #writingcommunity #writerslife

What You Need to Know About Self-Editing https://buff.ly/2GaiU2w #writingcommunity #writingadvice

How to Build an Author Website in a Day – Author Media https://buff.ly/2NX4Ptg #writingcommunity #writerslife

How to Sell More Books With the Right Kindle Metadata — Well-Storied. https://buff.ly/3gnPi26 #writingcommunity #bookmarketing #selfpublishing

How to Use Email to Engage with Your Audience https://buff.ly/3gCIaPx #writingcommunity #bookmarketing

Writing a Quotable Book https://buff.ly/3iqk6kw #writers #writingadvice #bookmarketing

How to Write the Perfect Villain https://buff.ly/38pjeYC #writingcommunity #writetip

How A Timeline Helps You Plot A Novel | Writers Write https://buff.ly/3f7rMWA #writingcommunity #writingtips

Bonus: In the Age of COVID

6 Tips to Create a Memorable Virtual Book Launch | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/2CdihH3 #writingcommunity #lockdown #WFH #booklaunch

Marathons, Sprints, and Pounces: 3-Tiered Approach to Book Launches | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/2BV8Xre #writingcommunity #selfpublishing

My Top Ten Tweets for #writers

My Top Ten Tweets

 

I love to write, but with writing comes marketing, the bane of my existence. I began gathering tips about writing and marketing from various blogs for easier reference. One day I thought why not share? So here we go. Follow me on Twitter @roxannesmolen for more tips.

 

Creating Emotion in the Reader https://buff.ly/2DaTVxD #writingcommunity #writetip

The 10-Step Checklist to Writing an Above-Average Novel – Helping Writers Become Authors https://buff.ly/2UwCwnK #writers #writetip

9 mistakes new authors make when self-publishing their books https://buff.ly/3dKDncC #writers #indieauthors

How to Improve Writing Skills in 15 Easy Steps https://buff.ly/2FsoAmS #writers #writetip

Where can you buy books online besides Amazon? – Build Book Buzz https://buff.ly/31I9tUl #writerscommunity #indieauthors

Books to Film: The Option Versus The Shopping Agreement | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/3dVGij6 #writingcommunity #indieauthors

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Books on your Author Website — Alliance of Independent Authors: Self-Publishing Advice Center https://buff.ly/2WrcNPc #indieauthors #bookmarketing

You Win This Round Comma | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/3ewNweb #writingcommunity #writingtips

How to Improve Our Story with Action Beats | Jami Gold, Paranormal Author https://buff.ly/2WxM43F #writingcommunity #writingtips

A Beginner’s Guide to Literary Magazine Submissions — Well-Storied. https://buff.ly/2Vk1Kb1 #writers #indieauthors

 

Bonus: Working from Home

Stop Staring at a Blank Page: 4 (Not So) Silly Writing Tips to Get Words on Paper | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/37fKAju #writingcommunity #writersblock #WFH

Writing, Pitching & Promoting in the Age of the Coronavirus | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/3edINyc #writers #bookmarketing #WFH

9 Ways to Break Through Writer’s Block https://buff.ly/2BEde27 #writers #writersblock

Book Review – ShockWaves

ShockWaves by Suzanna Williams

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

ShockWaves by Suzanna Williams is about Jack and Paige, two teenaged orphans who are linked telepathically. They can see what the other sees and feel what they feel through what they call shockwaves. The story picks up when Paige is kidnapped and Jack tries to save her. The action is well written and kept me turning the page.

Yet, the story is not without its flaws. No explanation is given as to why these complete strangers were mentally linked. I expected to read that they were twins separated at birth, or that they were together when a laboratory blew up and spewed a chemical cocktail into the air. But there was nothing.

There is a telepathic police officer in the story, but he wears glasses to block his special powers. You could remove his telepathy from his character and not change the story at all. Yes, he mentally tells Jack how to find a room he’s looking for, but Jack would have found it on his own.

The antagonist is a real nut job, but his reason for abducting Paige is flimsy. If he only wanted to vex the telepathic policeman, any girl would do. And yet he went out of his way to trap and keep Paige as if obsessed with her. I expected the policeman to dream of Paige when he took off his glasses at night, perhaps feeling her plight, but no such connection was made.

Despite its flaws, I enjoyed ShockWaves and recommend it to teen and pre-teen readers.

View all my reviews

Book Review – Vanished

Vanished by Tom Upton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Vanished by Tom Upton is about a snarky, angst-ridden teenager with powers. This girl can do it all. She can talk to the dead, read your mind, move things with her thoughts. If she touches you, she can see your past. I thought it was convenient and a little unfair that she could do everything. But there you have it.

Vanished is a fun read for teens and pre-teens.

View all my reviews

My Top Ten Tweets for #writers

My Top Ten Tweets

 

I love to write, but with writing comes marketing, the bane of my existence. I began gathering tips about writing and marketing from various blogs for easier reference. One day I thought why not share? So here we go. Follow me @roxannesmolen for more tips.

 

Niche Writing: Focus and Fundamentals | Two Drops of Ink: A Literary Blog https://buff.ly/2CqKKcs #writingcommunity #indieauthors

Writing Tips: How To Self-Edit Your Novel With Kris Spisak https://buff.ly/3fqskqp #writingcommunity #writetip

The Importance of Reading Debut Novels https://buff.ly/3hKWzub #writingcommunity #writerslife

Are You Growing as a Writer? — Heather Weidner https://buff.ly/3dkq9mW #writingcommunity #writingadvice

5 Book Marketing Tips for Self-Published Authors https://buff.ly/2QdEAis #writingcommunity #bookmarketing

10 Ways to Make Your Site More Accessible https://buff.ly/3dkApvc #writingcommunity #writerslife

37 Ways To Write About Anger | Writers Write https://buff.ly/3fOtf4j #writingcommunity #writingadvice

Why Confidence is an Important Part of Writing https://buff.ly/2yiCw0N #writingcommunity #writerslife

Congratulations on your First Bad Review! You’re Officially Published Now https://buff.ly/3hRyMZq #writers #writerslife

How To Use All 5 Senses To Unlock Your Fictional World | Writer’s Edit https://buff.ly/32NzWwX #writingcommunity #writingtips

 

Bonus: Working from Home

How to Set Up a Video Recording Studio at Home on a Budget – Later Blog https://buff.ly/3ghNCrE #writers #writingcommunity #WFH

Writing Through Tough Times: Tips And Tricks https://buff.ly/3fERsK6 #writingcommunity #pandemic #SelfIsolation #quarantine #WFH

How to Get Some Writing Done: Discipline vs. Enthusiasm – Helping Writers Become Authors https://buff.ly/2XvFaOo #writers #writingcommunity

 

Book Review – Warbound

Warbound by Larry Correia

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Warbound, book three of the Grimnoir series by Larry Correia, is an alternate reality story that takes place in 1933. It’s about magic — the haves and have-nots — and a space monster that is about to destroy the world.

In Warbound, everyone thinks Faye is dead, so she nips off overseas to learn more about why her magic is different from everyone else’s. In her absence, Jake and the rest of the Grimnoir crew enact a desperate plan to prove that the magical space alien is real and about to murder every human on the planet.

Warbound had me laughing, crying, and biting my nails. I love this series and highly recommend it.

View all my reviews

Book Review – Spellbound

Spellbound by Larry Correia

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Spellbound, book two of the Grimnoir Chronicles by Larry Correia, is an alternate history story that takes place around 1930. It is an age when part of the population has magic, such as the ability to teleport, to turn gravity on its head, or to start a fire with a thought, but the majority of the population does not, leading to distrust and prejudice.

In Spellbound, my favorite character, Faye, returns home to face the demons of her childhood and finds a literal demon who is out to kill her. The demon/villain was chilling, and the climactic battle had me on the edge of my seat.

Spellbound is funny and engrossing. It goes directly to my favorite books shelf. I know I’ll return to it whenever I need a pick-me-up.

View all my reviews

My Top Ten Tweets for #writers

My Top Ten Tweets

 

I love to write, but with writing comes marketing, the bane of my existence. I began gathering tips about writing and marketing from various blogs for easier reference. One day I thought why not share? So here we go. Follow me @roxannesmolen for more tips.

The Power of Short Sentences (and white space) https://buff.ly/30vkgQT #writers #writetip

Blogging Tips For New Bloggers: You’ve Started a Blog – Now What? | Coach Your Tribe https://buff.ly/2AZZXR7 #writers #bloggers

A Writer’s Guide to Patience, Practice, and Persistence https://buff.ly/2zPd1s5 #writers #writerslife

Freewrite: How to Write About Traumatic Events Without Adding Trauma https://buff.ly/37sIYmB #writers #writetip

The 10-Novels Rule https://buff.ly/3hsu6cy #writers #indieauthors

Development of Characters: 6 Intriguing Ways we Change | Now Novel https://buff.ly/3fuwYn8 #writers #writetip

Meeting the Muse | Two Drops of Ink: A Literary Blog https://buff.ly/2C1OhO3 #writers #writerslife

How Readers Pick What to Read Next – Written Word Media https://buff.ly/2MXYfCv #writingcommunity #writerslife

Constructive Criticism: Reviewing the Writing or an Assessment of You? | Two Drops of Ink: A Literary Blog https://buff.ly/2UOSD1L #writers #writerslife

How to Write a Series: 5 Fundamental Tips for Expanding Your Story https://buff.ly/2AXxFGK #writers #writingadvice

 

Bonus: Working from Home

10 Writing tips during writing slumps / lockdown #writingtips #amwriting https://buff.ly/2YjP9oE #writingcommunity #lockdown #quarantine #WFH

How Authors Are Approaching Book Promotion During COVID-19 https://buff.ly/3bOgjJJ #writingcommunity #bookmarketing #quarantine #wfh

5 Ways For Authors to Stay Focused During COVID-19 – Written Word Media https://buff.ly/2Y4shL6 #writers #writingcommunity #quarantine #pandemic #wfh

Writing, Pitching & Promoting in the Age of the Coronavirus | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/3edINyc #writingcommunity #quarantine #pandemic #WFH

15 Ways Authors Are Using Instagram to Overcome Physical Distancing Challenges https://buff.ly/2wGsRnk #writingcommunity #bookmarketing #pandemic #quarantine #wfh

How I Hosted a Socially Distanced Book Event | Jane Friedman https://buff.ly/3edqUPR #writingcommunity #indieauthors #quarantine #wfh

Virtual Book Launch Events: 8 Ideas from Authors https://buff.ly/2VNn890 #writingcommunity #indieauthors #quarantine #pandemic #wfh

Book Review – Hard Magic

Hard Magic by Larry Correia

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hard Magic by Larry Correia takes place in an alternate dimension Earth circa 1930 in which a portion of the population can perform varying degrees of magic. Many of the events from our history books occur in this dimension albeit influenced by magic, and it’s fun to anticipate the deviations. In addition, there are cameos by famous people of the time, such as Herbert Hoover, who does not have magic, and Babe Ruth, who does. The story touches on themes of prejudice and redemption, but mostly it’s a rip-roaring race against a space alien who wants to eat all the magic and destroy Earth.

But the best part of the book is the characters. Jake, Lance, Delilah–they’re all funny and heartrendingly believable. But my favorite character, indeed my all-time favorite of any book I’ve ever read, is Sally Faye Vierra. Pure genius. Literally. Yet she is as humble and insecure as anyone could be.

I cannot recommend Hard Magic highly enough, and I’m sure once you read it you will become a fan as well.

View all my reviews

Book Review – Terms of Enlistment

Terms of Enlistment by Marko Kloos

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Terms of Enlistment by Marco Kloos depicts a future Earth of overpopulation, poverty, and violence. The story follows Andrew, a young man who hopes to escape his dismal existence by joining the military and leaving the planet.

I was in the mood for a nice book with lots of space battles. This wasn’t it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad book. But the first half takes place on terra firma. There’s a nice action scene at a riot in Detroit, however, it left some questions unanswered. The protagonist wondered why the opponent was so well-equipped, and I also wanted to know. How did starving ghetto dwellers get their hands on top-of-the-line military-grade weapons and ammunition? Why do they have skilled sharpshooters? Why did they spring a trap against the military at all? It seems the answers to these questions would be part of the plot, but since they went unanswered, the Detroit scene had little purpose in the book. Perhaps future books in the series address the issue.

Finally, he gets to go to space and fight the aliens. These are slow-witted giants who don’t wear clothes. They don’t even have shoes on their three-toed feet regardless of the terrain. They don’t have weapons–they throw rocks. I honestly thought that these were the livestock left behind by an intelligent race while terraforming the planets. They must be intelligent. They are spacefaring. Their ships are indestructible. They can terraform an entire planet in a matter of weeks. So, who are these lumbering dinosaurs that the military battles? Again, the questions go unanswered.

Terms of Enlistment is not a terrible book, but I can’t in good conscience recommend it. I did finish it, which is more than I can say about a lot of books.

View all my reviews