Virtual Friends

I belong to two writing groups where I actually get to meet people in person. One meets monthly and the other one holds a big yearly conference I'll be attending in May. Some of the people in those groups I've known for years. Maybe I should say I met them years ago. But do I know them?

In the last two years or so of blogging, I've made a number of Virtual Friends and an even greater number of Virtual Acquaintances. Those faithful blogging friends might know me better than the writers I've met in person. They certainly are more up to date on where my career is. Writing can be a lonely business but even if all your contacts with other writers in online, you can make some very close Virtual Friends.

Virtual Friends can support you by regular visits to your blog. By liking and commenting on your Facebook posts. By retweeting your tweets. By mentioning your successes on their blogs. Friends who will empathize with your failures and cheer your victories. And you don't have to wait until monthly meetings or yearly conferences. You can 'see' them everyday even when you don't know what they actually look like.

Have you met some Virtual Friends during the A to Z Challenge? Have you joined the IWSG Facebook page where you can find more friends? Do you think Virtual Friends can be as close as face to face friends?

Susan Gourley writes epic fantasy and also writes romance as Susan Kelley. You can read her A to Z posts on world building at Susan Says.

Understanding Tough Times

All of us go through it. No matter what stage of the journey, we’ll encounter struggles. And they can beat the ever-living snot out of us.

How do we deal with it? How do we handle writer’s block, rejections, and crappy reviews?

Here are some things I’ve discovered along the way that help get through those tough times –

It’s a learning process. Sometimes it’s the only way we’ll improve.

It’s natural. There’s and ebb and flow and season for all things.

It makes us stronger and more determined.

It keeps us humble.

It can force us to step back and reevaluate or see the big picture.

It helps us develop a sense of humor!

It can force us onto a better path.

It makes us better writers and often a better person.

What tough times are you facing and how will you handle it?

A to Z Challenge

Titles

Every year, thousands of books are published.

According to a study on consumer behaviour, a potential buyer holds a book in his hands for approximately 3 to 5 seconds. So your title has about 5 seconds to make an impression.

So what makes a great title? The basic rule says that it should be simple, catchy and memorable. A title such as The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test is not really simple, but it is certainly catchy... with regards to it being memorable... *shrugs* but this book is regarded as “an American classic that defined a generation” and the 2003 edition of the book says "over 2 million copies sold"

Here is an opinion, which I tend to agree with, on what makes a memorable title: “It’s something that combines the familiar and the unfamiliar in a way that is both visceral and verbally stimulating. Take, for example, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo — a great title, as it combines these various elements flawlessly. It offers a striking image and has great rhythm.”

Then you get book titles that are an entertainment in themselves. Never mind the content.  Consider this title: The Deluxe Transitive Vampire: The Ultimate Handbook of Grammar for the Innocent, the Eager, and the Doomed, by Karen Elizabeth Gordon. Phew! This conjures all sorts of images. Actually, this is a playful and practical grammar handbook  that addresses classic questions of English usage with wit and the blackest of humour.

Some of the world’s most famous books with great titles include: To Kill A Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby and Lord Of The Flies

As a writer, do you find it difficult to give a title to your book? How do you go about doing this? What is your favourite book title of all time?