Plot and Structure

Hello Hemingwaywantabes. Hope your writing adventures are coming along just dandy. Wanted you to know about a book that has been most helpful to many regarding writing fiction. It is called Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell. Good tips all around including how to create plots and structure guaranteed to assist with your first novel or your latest. Take a look. It’s a winner.

Free Mentoring for Aspiring Authors Available

Yes, Hemingwaywantabes, your loyal book consultant is ready to assist you through “Free Friday” mentoring sessions.

Just this past week, I spent time on the telephone with a woman from Texas who wants to write, but hasn’t a clue as to write about. After hearing her passion for the spiritual world, I suggested she attempt a work of fiction based on the spiritual journey that had led her from the depths of depression to her current state of bliss. The main character may be patterned after her, or another if she chooses, with the plot including how organized religion didn’t quite cut it when too many obstacles were in the way. No matter, the main character, like her, bypasses the traditional route and discovers a path to her God she never knew existed.

If you would like to chat about your book, please check the Literary Consultant page on my website at http://www.markshawbooks.net. Or send me an email at mshawin@yahoo.com to set up a time when we can chat. I’ll be pleased to give you my two cents, based on my experiences in the publishing world, regarding book ideas, storytelling alternatives, book proposal concepts, query letter forms, or even how to find the proper literary agent or publisher for your book.

I love to mentor aspiring authors, whether the genre is fiction or non-fiction, and I look forward to speaking with you.

Blessings,

Mark Shaw

Beware of Scams and More Scams

Hemingwaywantabes, hello and good day. Hope your writing adventures are going well. Keep the faith, one day you will be published!!!

Meanwhile, another warning about the scams out there. Beware of subsidy publishers, literary agents who want to charge you a fee, and most important, all of these people who call themselves, “writing coaches.” Certainly many are legitimate, but check carefully their credentials to see what they have published, and who has been published using their guidance. Regarding their having been published, by this I mean “books,” and books published by reputable publishers, no subsidy publishers, no wacky self-publishing, but real publishing. Check to see sales figures, etc., and check references wherever possible.

Also, most critical, ask for a list of clients who have been published, and who by. Any legitimate “writing coach” will provide this information. If they won’t, run the other way!!!

Blessings and good wishes,

Mark Shaw – http://www.markshawbooks.net.

Discovering Literary Agents

Every aspiring author should strongly consider securing a competent literary agent to assist he or she’s efforts to locate a good publisher for their book. Good sources of information include http://www.publisherslunch.com, the AAR website, and a free media newsletter called mediabistro.com. Here’s one posting from the latter of interest:

Pitching An Agent: The Irene Goodman Literary Agency

Score representation at this shop with a marketable narrative for fiction or non

By M. David Hornbuckle – February 22, 2010

RELATED: Pitching An Agent: ‘Promoting A World Of Culinary Talent’Learn how to polish your book proposal Number of agents: Four. They also have a very active and successful foreign rights agent and a movie agent in L.A. Number of clients: More than 100. Notable clients: Linda Lael Miller, Boyd Morrison, Keri Arthur, Karen Chance, Larissa Ione, Susan Donovan, Celeste Bradley, Lilith Saintcrow, Lauren Destefano. Amount of unsolicited material selected: About 5 percent a year Fiction vs. nonfiction: Approximately 60 percent fiction, 40 percent nonfiction Background: Irene Goodman got the agent bug more than 25 years ago after first breaking through as an editorial assistant at a publishing house. It was while later working at a small, but powerful agency (they represented Stephen King at the time) that she began taking on some of the clients the primary agent didn’t have time for. Within a year, the former medieval studies major was in business for herself . . . Researching agents is a necessary evil toward realizing publishing dreams. So get busy hemingwaywantabes. A good agent is right around the corner.

Keep the Faith, Hemingwaywantabes

Am reading the revised edition of Moveable Feast released late last year that includes much of text cut from the book published after Hemingway’s death. Once again, I am amazed at the writing skill of the master. One great quote of his applies to every writer who has trouble continuing the writer process. It is:

“Do not worry. You have always written before and you will write now. All you have to do is to write one true sentence, and then go on from there.”

Okay, then, when you hit a wall, think of “one true sentence,” one great thought, and continue on.  Most of all, never give up. The writing process is a lengthy one, filled with hills and valleys, but determination will pull you through.

New Website For Journal Writers

Hooray – take a look hemingwaywantabes – a new website specifically for journal writers. Check it out: http://www.IAJW.org. Sounds great and journal writing is a great training ground for aspiring authors and poets.

Hemingway and Emile Zola

Been reading a terrific biography of Emile Zola after having completed a biography of Henry Miller. One connection they have with every author who ever lived – poor reviews. So, Hemingwaywantabes, never let rejection bother you. Certainly learn from criticism, but keep pumping out your words and do your very best to tell the story you want to tell. Revise, revise, revise, and then revise again, but be true to yourself. More tips like this are available free if you download my book, How to Become A Published Author: Idea to Publication, displayed above. Since the new Thomas Merton biography is my twentieth book, I actually know what I am talking about when it comes to the publishing process. Please take a gander and then let me know if there is anything I may do to help you with your book.

Merton Biography Released

Hemingwaywantabes, pleased to report that my new Thomas Merton biography, Beneath the Mask of Holiness, has been released. One nice review thus far:

Mark Shaw’s latest captures a most controversial period of time in the life of a very enigmatic personality, Thomas Merton. Mr. Shaw doesn’t fail to envelop the reader in a fair, honest, provocatively enlightening, and highly entertaining read. Mr. Shaw treats his subject with dignity, sensitivity, and profound reverence. For followers of Merton, this is a must read. For those just now learning about Merton or those barely acquainted with the man and his work, “Beneath the Mask” cannot be more recommended.

That’s from Peter Mursak, a fellow monk of Merton’s. More at http://www.markshawbooks.net. Savings at amazon.com

Thomas Merton Biography

Hello hemingwaywantabes. Hope all is well. Ernest is mentioned prominently in my new Thomas Merton biography, Beneath the Mask of Holiness: Thomas Merton and the Forbidden Love Affair that Set Him Free. It will be published on November 10th by Palgrave Macmillan. More about the book at http://www.markshawbooks.net. A book trailer may be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4l4ID5LqtU.

For you aspiring authors, there is no greater moment in life than when you hold your completed book in your hands. This occurred today and reminded me that all the hard work is worth it. So get busy and one day you will shout to the world, “I am published.”

Hemingway and Vincent Van Gogh

Hey, you Hemingwaywantabes out there. If you want to read the very best in historical biography, don’t miss Lust for Life by Irving Stone. It is the heart-pounding, high-stepping, run-as-fast-as-you-can story of the one of the greatest artists in history, Vincent Van Gogh. What an amazing story, but more to the point, watch how Stone keeps the book going at a fast rate using strong word usage and a flair for the dramatic. Excellent writing all around.