EK's Lensography For Writers

NaNoWriMo: Write 50,000 Words in 30 Days or Less 

NaNoWriMo: Reaching 50,000 using EelKat's Methods

NaNoWriMo 2009 will be my 5th year at NaNo. So far I've had 4 years and 3 wins and this year I'm going for my fourth win. I failed my first year (2005) ...did like 2,000 before I got bored with my plot. I did 183,000 my second year (2006) ... kind...

Writer's FAQ: Story Length

What defines a short story from a novel? It's length? It's level of detail and development? I have had this question emailed, IMed, and commented to me more times than I can count. My answer for this originally appeared on A Writers Desk | Forum For...

The Top 5 NaNoWriMo Tools

Every November thousands of writers gather together to take part in the world's largest writing contest: The National Novel Writing Month 50,000 Words in 30 Days Contest also known as NaNoWriMo. Myself, I've been doing the contest every year since 20...

On Getting Your Book Published 

The Self-Publishing Manual by Dan Poynter

The Self-Publishing Manual is the most complete book ever written on the art of starting and maintaining a full time career as a self publisher. This is the best book available for anyone seeking to start their own small press publishing house. This...

Publishing Methods

How should you publish your book? Self-Publishing? Vanity Press? Traditional? POD-People? The Big Five? What's the difference? On this lens I explore the different options you have as a writer to get your book published.

How to Start a Publishing Company

How to start a publishing company: I started my own small press publishing company. Here on this lens you will find out what I did and how you can do it too.

A Place To Write 

Create Your Own Writer's Retreat

My life. My garden. How I write, where I write, and look at living with birds, trees, and cats, instead of with Humans. This is where I live. This is where I write. Welcome, to one writer's writing retreat. Some writers need the bustle of the busy c...

Editing: 

Drafts and the Editing Process

I'm making this page about editing because, I am in the middle of editing a book, and today I took a break to go chat on a forum with some fellow writers, a few of whom were also there taking breaks from editing a book and before long we got into the...

Writing Advice? 

Writing Advice Didn't Work for Her (or Me Either!)

While searching for advice for writers, I can across the home page of Patricia A. Duffy, who says that when it comes to writing, "Conventional Advice Wouldn't Work for Me. After reading her article, I have to say that basically, she has said pre...

Writing Tip of the Day

I started blogging in 2004, and since that time one of the features added to my blog was a "Writing Tip of the Day". I never did get around to posting tips daily, but over the years several of them did show up, and a few of them are being compiled to...

Accepting Your Writing Style

I think one of the hardest things for a new writer to do, is to just be themselves. To inspire them, I have reprinted here an article I wrote a few years back. May it inspire you to be yourself and do your own thing. Dare to be different. Dare to b...

Get Motivated!

Some days you just don't feel like writing. (or going to work or doing whatever it is you are supposed to be doing.) Some days it takes a lot of pushing and prodding to motivate you, but other days it may only take reading a motivational quote or lo...

Why Was My Manuscript Rejected?

You have poured your heart and soul into your story. It is perfect. It is wonderful. It is finished at last. Now comes the hard part: publication. But you have no fear, your story is the greatest story ever written, editors will love it, they'll be k...

Random Writing Stuff: 

Where Do You Get Your Ideas?

One of the most commonly asked question a writer hears is: "Where do you get your ideas?" This question seems to baffle and mystify people who don't write and people who want to write but don't know where to start. So, today I am going to take a loo...

How To Become a Better Writer

While all writers are different, they all share one common goal: to become a better writer. For many, becoming a better writer is a goal which they feel is out of their reach. This, simply is not true. Everyone has what it takes to write a story, all...

How to Become a Renegade Writer

Main stream fiction and non-fiction remains as ever, extremely popular, but outside of the main stream lays another form of writing that is not popular: renegade fiction and renegade non-fiction. It is bold, it is in your face, it is often the last...

Characters 

Narration for Writers

Have you ever wondered what's the difference between one type of narration and another? Look no farther, I shall explain them all here.

Need to Kill Writer’s Block? Kill a Character.

Need to Kill Writer’s Block? Kill a Character. Do you find you have a great story going, than suddenly without warning writer’s block stops you dead in your tracks? Writer’s block, that horrible dreaded thing, is a great boon to...

What Genre is My Mermaid Story?

(THIS LENS IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!) Inspired by the most asked question on NaNoWriMo, I now look at the least asked question. If the #1 question out there, is: "What genre is my vampire story?", I think the least asked question is: "What genre...

Creating Character Profiles

A character is a person about whom you write. Every work of fiction (book, screenplay, SCA persona, RPG, LARP, MMORPG, video game, etc.) has characters in it. Question is, do you as a writer, really know as much as you should about your characters? T...

What Genre is My Vampire Story?

You know, I think the #1 question out there, is: What genre is my vampire story? You know what makes me think that? Well, here on the NaNoWriMo forums right now, there are 2 threads asking this question, on the first page of the "Character and...

World Building 

Creating a Fantasy Realm

Are you writing a fantasy novel? Have you joined NaNoWriMo and don't know what to do next? Do you need to know where your characters live? Need help creating that new world? You can find help here! On this lens are some things that I do when creating...

Writing Tips by Gene 

Note These Lenses Are Still Under Construction!

What Is "Non-Genre"?

Does all fiction have a genre? Nope, it does not have to have a genre to be a fiction story. Here are my views on the matter. Created on April 18, 2007 Last updated: May 29, 2008

Writing Tips: Horror

So you want to write horror, or maybe you started writing some other genre but now you think it may have turned into horror. What is horror? How do you know you are writing it? Every year I join the NaNoWriMo Horror Forum and every year it gets bogg...

Writing Tips: Romance

(THIS LENS IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!) What is romance? How do you know you are writing it? Every year I join the NaNoWriMo Romance Forum and every year it gets bogged down with a few dozen threads all titles "Am I writing a romance story?". Well,...

Writing Tips: Science Fiction

(THIS LENS IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!)...this section is being edited and shall return shortly... IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT MY LENSES STARTED IN FALL of 2008: ALL OF THEM SHALL REMAIN UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS! Due to unexpected circ...

Writing Tips: Fantasy

What is fantasy? How do you know you are writing it? Every year I join the NaNoWriMo Fantasy Forum and every year it gets bogged down with a few dozen threads all titles "Am I writing a fantasy story?". Well, I figured, before they get started this,...

What You Read vs What You Write 

What's on My Bookshelf?

A glimpse inside one author's private book collection. Find new books you haven't read before as well as books to help you write. This lens is here to answer the question: What's on your bookshelf?

What do you look for in a book?

Did you ever wonder why readers choose one book or author over another? Looking for more readers to read your own books? Think you might need to improve your writing skills some? Try this writing exercise to improve your own writing skills.

Writing Practice and Writing Exercises 

Overcoming Writer’s Block With Free Writing

Just some of my thoughts on how to go about overcoming writer's block.

Choosing a Topic to Write About: Are You Enthusiastic About the Idea?

Writers are sentimental about their writing, but are they enthusiastic about it? You have found a topic to write about, but you don't know if it's one you really want to write about. How can you tell if you should use it as your next topic? Just ask...

If I were stranded ...

NOTE: This lens is still under construction! Please come back later. Thank You! Here's a fun activity for writers looking for a way around writer's block. If you were "stranded" and could only take 1 book, 1 movie, 1 CD and pick 1 food to...

Writing Exercise: Word of the Day: Panspermia

A writing exercise for those seeking to write a sci-fi story and in need of a jumping off point.

NO! I am not *that person* 

Twilight vs Twighlight

I am making this page about these books because of an odd email I received. An odd email and one that I fear I shall soon see more of, if I do not nip this thing in the bud right here and now. Basically the email said they had been reading my Squido...

Groups For Writers on Squidoo 

Have you got a lens about writing? I've got several groups they can join:

The Happiness Club Headquarters

The Happiness Club The Happiness Club is a group seeking lenses to help you bring laughter and joy into your life. On one of my other lenses I was talking about getting rid of work place stress and it got me to thinking about ways to fill your li...

Rainbow Writers Headquarters

Rainbow Writers This group is for writers of fantasy and fairy tales. We write about happy thoughts. Unicorns and dragon wings. Daydreams and moonbeams. Love, peace, joy! We are The Rainbow Writers! Are you? Our group is for writers and anyone who dre...

EelKat's Lenses For Writers Headquarters

EelKat's Lenses For Writers I have so many lenses about writing that I now need a way to index and catalog them, and I'm starting this group to use as my lensography for them. I'm using it to build the RSS feed to use to promote my lenses on various...

Fantasy Writer's A Nonny Mouse Headquarters

Fantasy Writer's A Nonny Mouse A place for writers of fantasy. Unicorns, fearies, dragons, wizards, daring heros, and epic quests. Our group is for writers and anyone who dreams of becoming a writer. Our specialty is fantasy fiction. The lenses you'...

Horror Writer's A Nonny Mouse Headquarters

Horror Writer's A Nonny Mouse A group for horror writers and general writing advice that applies to the writing of horror and gothic fiction. . Brought to you by The Twighlight Manor Press Graphics from: glitter-graphics.com

EelKat's Lenses For Writers Headquarters

EelKat's Lenses For Writers I have so many lenses about writing that I now need a way to index and catalog them, and I'm starting this group to use as my lensography for them. I'm using it to build the RSS feed to use to promote my lenses on various...