Author Archives: Steve Hooley

About Steve Hooley

Steve Hooley is the author of seven short stories published in four anthologies, a Vella serial fiction, and is currently working on the Mad River Magic series – a fantasy adventure series for advanced middle-grade to adults. More details available at: https://stevehooleywriter.com/mad-river-magic/

Reader and Writer Friday: The Beginning-Ending-Beginning Cycle

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The saying, “All good things must come to an end,” is attributed to Geoffrey Chaucer, 1374 (Random House Dictionary). The phrase was originally “Everything has an end.”

Another quote, “Good things come to those who wait,” is from Lady Mary Montgomerie Currie, who wrote under her pseudonym, Violet Fane.

So, which is it? Do all good things end? Or do good things begin if we wait?

How about both? And how about relating that to our reading and our writing?

Mickey Spillane said, “The first chapter sells the book; the last chapter sells the next book.”

Maybe we could say, Good beginnings lead to good endings lead to good beginnings?

The archives here at TKZ are loaded with discussions of both beginnings and endings. Just use the search box.

Today, let’s keep the assignment simple.

For Readers: What techniques or content in the ending or last chapter of a book are most likely to make you look for another book by the same author?

 For Writers: What tricks and techniques do you use in your endings to capture the reader and make them want to read your next book?

***

A thank you to readers and participants:

After several years of blogging here at TKZ, I am stepping down because of family responsibilities. This has been an incredible opportunity, and I wish to express my appreciation to all the TKZ writers who have made this possible. I also want to thank those of you who have read and commented on my blogs. Your participation has made this a high point in my writing life.

I will continue to send a monthly newsletter/blog post to those who wish to follow my writing and pen making. You can sign up on the home page of my website – https://stevehooleywriter.com/ – The newsletter will contain a Bookfunnel link to a free book, Bolt’s Story, a prequel to my Mad River Magic series, and will also provide regular opportunities to sign up for drawings to win one of my hand-crafted, legacy pens, made with antique wood.

Pushing the Envelope – Lighting Your World

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“Pushing the envelope means testing limits and trying out new, often radical ideas. The expression comes originally from mathematics and engineering, where an envelope is a boundary, but was popularized by test pilots.” (Termium Plus)

It has been said that Thomas Edison tested 10,000 different materials before finding the right filament. In reality, “Edison tested sixteen hundred different filaments—everything from coconut fiber to human hair—before settling on carbonized bamboo fiber.” (theartof.com)

Throughout history, it has been creative efforts and experimentation that have brought us all the great new inventions. By definition, all creative endeavors involve creation – definition – “the action or process of bringing something into existence.” (Oxford Language Dictionary)

Writing fiction is no exception. In the beginning of Jack Bickham’s book, Scene and Structure, the author summarizes the history of changes in the structure of fiction from epic poetry, to personal letters, to journal or diary entries, to a personal “conversational” structure, and finally a sequence of scenes played in the here and now as if they were taking place as the reader reads and imagines them.

We sometimes forget that most inventions continue to change and improve. Just look at your personal experience, especially with computers and telecommunication, from the time you started a job to the present.

Readers change, and books have changed. As writers, we are involved in a creative occupation, and it is good (Dare I say our responsibility?) to continue to experiment, to learn what works, and discover what doesn’t. Maybe even try something truly different.

We must learn the rules before we try to break them, but never stop pushing the envelope. Never stop testing the boundaries. Never stop learning!

Questions:

  1. What major changes (inventions) have occurred in your occupation prior to becoming a writer?
  2. What do you think are the most significant creations/inventions in story telling?
  3. What experiments have you done (or do) to create improved ways to serve up a story for your readers?

Reader Friday – Fiction is Better than Reality

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“Truth is Stranger than Fiction” may be the case, but “Fiction is Better than Reality” is quickly becoming evident as we look at the world scene. It is hard to think of a time in history when there were as many hot spots of chaos and disaster as there are now.

It is comforting to find a fictional story world where problems are solved, justice is served, and the good guys win. When we’ve found such a world, it’s hard to return to reality.

Today, let’s share the books we’ve read (or are reading) that have provided shelter from the storm, a place where the barrage of news or world events cannot reach us or drain us of happiness.

Here is your opportunity to promote your own books or tell us about another author whose books have provided a refuge.

What books have you read (or are reading) that you have found to be a healthy escape from the chaos that surrounds us? Promote your own books or tell us about a favorite author’s book(s).

National Be Nasty Day

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Your Choice of Vehicle: Steam or Purple Prose

I spent two days this week preparing for my meeting with my tax accountant. Those are my two least favorite days of the year. To make it worse, my wife and I changed banks between March and June of last year. So, with a farm account and a business account, I had four sets of documents to organize. By the end of the first evening I was ready to tear my hair out. But, with my wife’s patience and a good night’s sleep, I made it through.

I did decide that I should use that pain in my writing, or at least for this post, something along the lines of over-the-top purple prose to describe the old fat Mr. Taxagain N. Again. I thought some of you might enjoy venting your simmering contempt for the old geezer.

Then I looked at the National Days calendar and discovered that March 8th is National “Be Nasty Day,” a time to pull no punches and say what your really want to say to someone who has been less than kind to you. Great! We now have two choices:  a) Let the IRS know what you really think about them, or b) Respond to a former teacher/prof/agent/editor/colleague who told us we had no aptitude for writing, or made unkind remarks about our writing.

So, let’s vent some steam (or purple prose) today . Pick one (or both) of the options below and let it rip. You’ll feel better afterwards.

  1. Describe the old fat IRS Tax collector, Mr. Tax-Until-They-Drop, with as much purple prose as you wish, or just tell us what you really think of him.
  2. Craft a no-holds-barred response to someone who has belittled your writing.

Ah! You should feel better now. And if you don’t, take an aspirin and call me in the morning.

Amazon’s Read Sample – What is your opinion?

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Amazon’s “Read Sample” – Too long or too short? Any potential use as a marketing tool? Any tips on how to change its length?

You’re familiar with Amazon’s “Look Inside” feature that allows you to preview the beginning of the book. KDP calls it the “read sample.” Did you know that the sample is set by default at 10% for eBooks, with the ability to be changed from 5% to 40% in 5% increments. Hard cover and paperbacks are set at 20% by default with the ability to be changed from 10% to 80% in 10% increments. Of course, if you have Kindle Unlimited and are looking at a book that is in Kindle Unlimited, the entire book is free. But, today, let’s look at books that are not in Kindle Unlimited.

N.B. A search on Google for instructions for how to change the read sample length provides instructions for doing it through the KDP bookshelf with editing book details. It doesn’t work. According to a KDP discussion group, it must be done by contacting support and asking them to make the change. However, good luck with contacting Kindle support. I finally reached a person. She didn’t have an answer. Nor did her support have an answer. I was referred back to the page where I had just come from. An eternal loop. Ugh!!!

Now that I have cooled off, here are the questions:

As a Reader: When you are considering a book to purchase on Amazon, how would you rank the importance of the cover vs. the book description vs. the read sample? Do you wish the read sample were longer, or shorter?

As a Writer/Publisher of a book: Do you think the read sample is too long or too short. Do you ever change the length of the read sample for your books. Were you able to do so through the KDP bookshelf, or did you have to contact support? What are the advantages or disadvantages of a long or short sample? And, have you ever thought of using the read sample as marketing tool with a plot twist or cliffhanger at the end of the read sample?

Please give us your opinions: Any and all thoughts on the read sample are invited and appreciated. Also, any thoughts on Kindle support are also welcome.

 

Highway to the Danger Zone – Dark, Dirty, and Dangerous

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Scenes That Grab You and Won’t Let Go

As readers we want scenes that grab us as the MC struggles with the villain and adversity. As writers we want to create scenes that are filled with emotion, rivet the reader to the book, and keep them turning pages, especially on the road to the final battle

So, today, let’s discuss some of the best “approaching-danger” scenes we’ve read or written. Whether it’s conflict building in a dark cluttered alley, an empty warehouse, a haunted house, a bar full of the enemy, a secluded dark country road, a cemetery on a moonlit night, a garbage dump, mob headquarters, or a sky cluttered with enemy jets, show us, or describe in a few paragraphs, a scene you’ve written in one of your books, or a tension-building scene in a book you particularly liked.

And, if you feel extremely creative, you can write one for us today. Here’s some high-energy music to get you in the mood:

Highway to the Danger Zone sound track

 In two or three paragraphs:

  1. Show or describe a tension-building scene in one of your books.
  2. Show or describe one of your favorite tension-building scenes in books you have read.
  3. Write one for us today.

The Case of the Forgotten Files

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No, we’re not discussing politics, classified documents, or dementia. The discussion today is about the forgotten literary treasure (written and then set aside) stashed in boxes in your closet, or tucked away on flash drives, or even CD’s, or even floppy drives. How many years ago would that have been?

I recently glanced back through the files on my Scrivener app as I began to work on my WIP. I noticed a story that I had written a couple years ago as an experiment, to try Kindle’s Vella (serialized fiction). My story was never noticed. I was told that I would need to make a fool of myself on TikTok if I wanted to make any sales. I took down the story, and thought I would publish it as an eBook, then realized I would need a cover. I set the project aside and forgot it.

As I began reading through the Scrivener file, I felt the excitement I had when I first wrote it. I thought, “This isn’t bad.” And I continued to read. I set aside my WIP, began to edit, and have now decided to publish it “properly.” I have my first beta reader reviewing the story, and am setting up a meeting with my cover artist. I wonder how many other experiments are buried on flash drives that are worthy of being reviewed.

So, TKZ community, what literary gold is buried in your boxes and flash drives, CDs, and floppies? What stories excited you in the past and have the kernel of a great idea that needs to be germinated and grown with your expanded toolbox of writing skills?

  1. Do you have any stories you initially set aside, then rewrote/edited and published later?
  2. Do you have any stories that are hiding in your files that deserve to be reworked and published?
  3. Tell us about them.

Creating a Main Character Persona

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Cary Grant

Last weekend I watched a Dyan Cannon interview in which she discussed the new movie, “Archie” (Cary Grant), and her marriage with him. When asked about the Cary Grant film persona, Cannon said that Archie Leach had picked attributes from multiple actors he admired and created the Cary Grant persona, which he perfected to became so famous and successful.

Here’s an article on the subject which confirmed Cannon’s assessment:

https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/a-man-and-his-persona-on-cary-grant-a-brilliant-disguise/

I had planned to start a discussion in March on “creating main characters” for a Friday TKZ post. I thought this would be the perfect time.

There are many excellent books available for new writers on the subject of creating characters. A quick look at my shelves reminded me of three of my favorites: JSB’s Writing Unforgettable Characters, Nancy Kress’s Dynamic Characters, and Nancy Kress’s Characters, Emotion, and Viewpoint.

Today, to help beginning writers and readers, let’s focus on (a) the character attributes we have used in our own characters, or the character traits that are most likely to draw us to characters in someone else’s writing. And, (b) the books we found most helpful in the beginning of our writing careers to create such characters.

Questions:

  1. What character attributes have you used in building main characters?
  2. What main character attributes are most likely to keep you reading?
  3. Which books did you find helpful in the beginning of your writing journey?

Reader Friday and Groundhog Day: Shadows, Superstitions, and Symbolism

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Phil and Chuck Discuss the Weather Forecast

Did your groundhog see his shadow today?

Today is Groundhog Day, the 33rd day of 2024, with 333 days remaining in the year.

The superstition for Groundhog Day is this: If the groundhog sees his shadow on February 2nd, we will have six more weeks of winter. This apparently comes from the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition.

I began looking for other superstitions and symbolism surrounding this humorous day and quickly discovered that the focus was on shadows, a subject rich with superstitions and symbolism, much of which centers around the dark side of human nature and the parts we deem unacceptable.

Groundhog Day, the movie, deals with a related idea, the “groundhog day loop,” which is the experience of realizing we’re stuck and can’t get out of a pattern of repeated behavior and consequences.” (usually negative) (The Guardian)

So, today the subject of our discussion is wide and fuzzy, dark and shady. Take your pick of the questions below, or create your own.

  1. Have you used shadows in your writing? How?
  2. Have you read any books that used shadow superstitions or symbolism effectively?
  3. Any comments on the groundhog day loop?
  4. Do you have any friendly groundhogs who dig holes under your sheds?
  5. Do you wish the subject would go away and come back in six years?

Reader Friday: Books Worth Reading More Than Once

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We’ve all read books that pulled us in, entertained us, inspired us, informed us, enough that we wanted to read the book again, maybe multiple times.

  1. What books have you reread because they were so good?
  2. Do you plan to reread any of them over the coming vacation?
  3. Would you recommend any of them to the rest of us?

 This is my last post for 2023. I wish you and your family a Happy Holiday season and a Wonderful New Year!

I’m off from blogging in January, but I’ll see you in February!