The Write Focus

2:48 / Writing Challenge Result / *To Curse the Wyre*

In this episode:: an excerpt from To Curse the Wyre, published March of 2021.

CuWyre grew out of the ideas developed in the April Writing Challenge of 2019 -- which led to this year's daily podcast challenge in April -- and all that was in reaction to my desperate need to write a fantasy as well as develop more titles for this pen name back when I was deep into finishing a series of Regency mysteries.

During the Writing Challenge, To Wield the Wind was born, based on an escapist idea from a title that gave me so much trouble the summer before (for another pen name). I sketched out the bones of a story then set it aside when the other manuscript finally took off.

The ideas that developed during that writing challenge continued to evolve, resulting in To Charm the Wind and To Curse the Wyre, published this year in late January and early March ... and bundled together in early April as Spells of Air.

Now we have a continued celebration of the writing challenge: the audio files for the 1st chapters of each of those novellas. This week we have To Curse the Wyre, the concluding novella of the trilogy.

All three are available individually or as a bundled set called Spells of Air.

Thanks for listening to The Write Focus!

For links for these books, visit www.remiblack.blogspot.com. 

Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com.

If you find value in this podcast, please let us know, either with a contact or a review.

 

 

2:47 / Writing Challenge Result / To Charm the Wind

In this episode:: an excerpt from To Charm the Wind, published January of 2021.

ChWind grew out of the ideas developed in the April Writing Challenge of 2019 -- which led to this year's daily podcast challenge in April -- and all that was in reaction to my desperate need to write a fantasy as well as develop more titles for this pen name back when I was deep into finishing a series of Regency mysteries.

During the Writing Challenge, To Wield the Wind was born, based on an escapist idea from a title that gave me so much trouble the summer before (for another pen name). I sketched out the bones of a story then set it aside when the other manuscript finally took off.

The ideas that developed during that writing challenge continued to evolve, resulting in To Charm the Wind and To Curse the Wyre, published this year in late January and early March ... and bundled together in early April as Spells of Air.

Now we have a continued celebration of the writing challenge: the audio files for the 1st chapters of each of those novellas. This week we have To Charm the Wind.

Next week we have an excerpt from the concluding novella of the trilogy.

All three are available individually or as a bundled set called Spells of Air.

Thanks for listening to The Write Focus!

For links for these books, visit www.remiblack.blogspot.com. 

Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com.

If you find value in this podcast, please let us know, either with a contact or a review.

 

 

2:46 / Writing Challenge Result / 1st chapter *To Wield the Wind*

This episode of The Write Focus presents an excerpt of the result of April's Writing Challenge, the first chapter of To Wield the Wind, a fantasy novella by Remi Black.

Sprites and gobbers, rock trolls and an ice huldra, a sorceress and shape-shifting wyre, all troubles for Orielle, a wizard on a mission into the Wilding.

The next two Wednesdays in May will present the sequels that evolved from To Wield the Wind. Without the writing challenge, no trilogy would exist.

In addition, we have a check-in for the current work in progress, as well as in starting a new WIP.

Thanks for listening!

For links and more, visit thewritefocus.blogspot.com. Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com.

If you find value in this podcast, please let us know, either with a contact or a review.

 

2:45 / Post-Draft Update / Write a Book in a Month

Final check-in :: How did the Writing Challenge Go?

Topics for this Episode

Proof-Plus
* What Is it?
* What Do we Do in Proof-Plus?
(3 Steps)

Blurb / Market Copy
* 3 Rules for Tight Writing
* 4 paragraphs
* Hit the Length.

Plans for Promotions
* After Publishing / After the Trilogy
* Passive vs. Active Promotions
* Updating Websites and Social Media Pages
* Start the Next Work

What’s Next?
* May ~ opening chapters in the trilogy that developed from the writing Challenge

* All Summer ~ Time to explore writing Craft

Thanks for listening to The Write Focus.

For resources and more information, visit thewritefocus.blogspot.com. Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com.

 

2:44 / An End that's not an End / Write a Book in a Month

Last official day of the Writing Challenge –

Rough finished … Draft continuing … Publishing ahead.

Have a Writing Wonderland Mantra. Here’s mine: Dream It. Believe It. Do It.

• Decide your Dream.
• Believe in your Dream.
• Do your Dream. (That sounds weird.)

55 lessons throughout the month.

Thanks for listening!

For resources and links, visit thewritefocus.blogspot.com.

For writing guidebooks from Writers Ink, visit writersinknonfiction.com. Process and productivity and craft is the focus with guidebooks for characters, plot, and more.

Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com

 

2:43 / Writers' Conferences / Write a Book in a Month

Know the difference between a writers’ group and a writers’ conference AND know the difference between a writers’ conference and a readers’ conference.

Investigate beforehand—don’t just take someone’s word—to justify the cost ::

• topics for the programs
• how many programs
• pro writers attending

If those 3 match your writing goals, go conferencing.

Thanks for listening!

For resources and links, visit thewritefocus.blogspot.com.

For writing guidebooks from Writers Ink, visit writersinknonfiction.com. Process and productivity and craft is the focus with guidebooks for characters, plot, and more.

Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com

2:42 / First Celebration / Write a Book in a Month

The ROUGH is done!

The Draft is ahead, already at 45% of projected manuscript.

Tentative publishing plans.

Don’t forget the mini-vacation coming up.

Thanks for listening!

For resources and links, visit thewritefocus.blogspot.com.

For writing guidebooks from Writers Ink, visit writersinknonfiction.com. Process and productivity and craft is the focus with guidebooks for characters, plot, and more.

Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com

2:41 / Writers' Groups / Write a Book in a Month

Writers’ Groups can be a Pandora’s gift box.

• Problems vs. Benefits
• Critiques vs. Criticisms
• Local vs. Regional

Finding a Fit for me … and for you.

Thanks for listening!

For resources and links, visit thewritefocus.blogspot.com. Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com

2:40 / Nose to the Grindstone / Write a Book in a Month

Whether doing a Writing Challenge or working for Daily Writing, what does "Nose to the Grindstone" mean?

* Persistence of the Inchworm

* Planning the Next Book and the Next Projects

* Definition of a writing “hack” doesn't mean those writers are hacks. Do it because you love it, not because you want the gilded lucre or the fame.

Reward comes because you love it, you have joy doing it ... There's no better reason to write.

Thank you for listening to this episode.

For links and resources, visit thewritefocus.blogspot.com. Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com.

2:39 / Carpe Diem for Writers / Write a Book in a Month

Every opportunity is a Carpe Diem for Writers.

Carpe Diem means "Seize the Day." That’s how writers have to operate. Stay ahead of the daily “game”, not behind.

Thank you for listening to this episode.

For links and resources, visit thewritefocus.blogspot.com. Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com.