Ellen Mulholland––writer, dreamer

3 Best Social Media Platforms for Writers

11/5/2022

0 Comments

Let me begin this post by saying, these are the platforms that work for me. Everyone will have an opinion. All are valid. This post is how I decided where to put my energy (for now).

1. Twitter. Yes, we have some changes at top, and those might cause me to leave at one point. Not yet. The writing community has built strong bonds. There are many great folks who share amazing and useful tips about the publishing industry. If you stay, be sure to follow: Jeni Chappelle, Victoria Strauss, One Stop for Writers.

2. Instagram. I use this platform to promote my 'brand' and introduce myself as a person to readers and the writing community. I follow my favorite authors to learn more about them and books coming out. It isn't the best for interaction--certainly not the robust kind you get on Twitter--but it is a mostly positive place. If you are there, be sure to follow: your favorite authors, publishers, and bakers (lol, or is that just me?).

3. Mastodon. This is new for me. I just joined a writers exchange, and so far, everyone is lovely. Don't be intimidated by the push to CHOOSE YOUR SERVER. Search for 'writing community' or another term or phrase. Honestly, from what I understand, the server you join will not limit your interaction. If you do join, find me!

I would love to hear where you find your people online. Let's connect, share resources, and support each other!

Thanks for stopping by.
Write on!

0 Comments

Defining a Good Critique Partner

8/27/2022

0 Comments

What makes a good critique partner? More importantly, why do you need one? I mean, you read your words, your mom read them, and your dog, too. Everyone thinks you’re a genius. So why ask for more opinions?

Remember when you wore that new shirt, and your mom said it looked awesome? Then you saw a photo and decided to never seek her opinion again. Mom and your pet believe in you and think the world of you. Your critique partner simply wants your story to be its best. Critique partners--good honest ones--rarely lie to make you feel better.

First, a few terms:

Beta reader: a reader who reads a story before it is published and helps find errors or makes suggestions for improvement; works for free; can be a friend or stranger

Critique partner: a writer who provides feedback on your story; usually, you critique each other’s work; works for free; not a friend (yet!) or relative

Mom: a person who raised you, loves you, and will say your writing is flawless so as not to hurt your feelings (on the contrary, some parents will only find your flaws--boo!) works for love; not reliable

A critique partner (CP) can provide:

1. Objectivity: your CP is not invested in your story as is. They are trying to understand it, locate plot holes, and tell you what needs fixing.

2. Expertise: your CP is a writer, too. That means they know what to look for in a story. They are familiar with story arcs, character development, genres, etc.

3. Suggestions: your CP has written, edited, and revised stories. They have their own bag of tricks for how to handle story problems. They may have resources you have not heard of.

A good critique partner is someone who:

1. Writes in a similar genre as you
2. Has a flexible schedule or one that works with yours (so you can meet IRL or online)
3. Gets your writing
4. Is near your level of writing and can provide feedback that will help you improve
5. You get along with

How to find a critique partner:
1. Twitter often has ‘events’ for writers to tweet and connect
2. Check out your local library or community center’s ‘boards’
3. Children’s writers can join SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) where they have a CritConnect to find other writers

My mother always said, “Safety in numbers.” What she really meant was it’s more fun to work with others. Find your people, grow, and learn.

If you enjoyed this blog post, find me on Twitter, and let’s connect!
linktr.ee/Emulholland

0 Comments

How to Create Comp Titles

4/15/2022

0 Comments

If you’ve ever been in a reading slump and dragged yourself to the library or bookstore to find THE PERFECT BOOK to raise the zombie reader within, chances are you have played the comp game.

Say, you last read an amazing atmospheric horror, and now you’re hungering for that setting, but make it less scary. Maybe a gothic romance, maybe a moody mystery.
Say, you loved the passion of a character as they righted the wrongs of the world, but you wish it had a love interest. Maybe an adult literary novel, maybe a women’s detective series.

The point is, you comp books all the time to your reading interests in the moment. You can do that with your book.

Sometimes, I start with comp titles that pair up a book I would love to read. Once I tried writing Charlotte’s Web x Stand By Me. I wanted a kid who cared about animals but got caught up in a murder mystery. (Spoiler: I wrote the book and revised it so much, those comp titles don’t work anymore.)

For most writers, you create comp titles AFTER you’ve finished your story and when you’re ready to query it to agents or editors. So here are a few tips/formulas for finding the ones that fit your story.

If you like (TITLE or BOOKS BY [AUTHOR]}, you will love (YOUR BOOK TITLE).

A setting with all the vibes of (TITLE) but with more (WHATEVER YOUR STORY HAS THAT'S DIFFERENT).

(TITLE/POPULAR OR KNOWN CHARACTER) meets (CONCEPT or ANOTHER TITLE?CHARACTER) in (YOUR BOOK TITLE).

Try one or all of these. If you are looking for the books to fill in those parentheses, start with your own past reading list. That’s likely where you got the seed for your ideas. Another great place to find comp titles is your local library or bookstore. Just go up to an employee and say: “Hey, I’m writing a mystery for teens but the main character is a total mess. Plus there is lots of ‘almost’ kissing and gender identity questioning. Oh, and a super annoying dog that won’t stop barking.”

At one point, the person will hold up their hand. Then they’ll lead you to a shelf or two and pull out some books. Librarians and book store clerks are magic!

Good luck. Think of the adventure for comps like Sherlock Holmes x Serendipity. If you’re meant to find it, it’s destiny. If you find it, it’s because of your skills at deduction.

Write on!

0 Comments

How to Build a World

1/31/2021

0 Comments

Full disclosure: I did not enjoy Lord of the Rings. There was too much world I didn’t understand. There was so much to keep track of. In the book. Somehow, the movies brought it all to life for me, and I was able to follow more than when I was reading and doing the work.

Because I’m not a reader of stories with intricate world-building, I don’t write stories with intricate world-building.

That doesn’t mean I don’t craft my stories’ worlds before I write them. My worlds are just closer to the real world I live in than they are to the fantasy worlds of stories like Harry Potter, Hunger Games, or LOTR.

I write light fantasy, sometimes known as portal fantasies, where the characters live in the real world, but they are quickly immersed in a magical adventure. Either they step through a portal or they discover something ‘not of’ this world.
If this sounds like the stories you write or want to write, I have three simple tips for getting started on crafting your worlds.

Know what distinguishes the real world from the magical parts. Think language, transportation, culture, etc. I usually pick two or three features to develop in my story. However, I often have more extensive notes about the magical or supernatural elements that never make their way into the book.
Collect images that will evoke visual details to help you create images for your readers. I like Pinterest for this. Every story of mine has a folder in my Pinterest (which I mostly keep private just because). I search for images that help me visualize the setting, characters, and the magical or supernatural elements. Here’s the board for my contemporary MG, Let the Stars Guide You Home.
Surround yourself in sensory details. Find or create a soundtrack to write to. Burn candles or collect faux aromas you identify with the world. Get a box and fill it with textures. If the world is in the desert, find sand. If it’s in the country, get grass. Real sand. Real grass.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. Even if you are writing a contemporary story, you need to build the world for that fictional place. Even if you are writing historical fiction, gathering sensory details can help you as the writer be more honest for the reader.

I hope these tips help you get going. I’d love to hear what you do to build the worlds of your stories.

Write on!

0 Comments

How to win #NaNoWriMo

12/6/2020

0 Comments

The deets: Winning NaNoWriMo requires completing a novel draft of at least 50,000 words during November.

Spoiler: There is no ONE way to win. However, if you do want that winning caché of goodies--otherwise known as bragging rights and fun badges--here are my tips that have helped me win EIGHT times. For those of you unfamiliar with this torturous task, NaNoWriMo is a nonprofit collective that supports and encourages ALL writers and is also known as National Novel Writing Month. I joined a few years back where I found a tribe of writers and a team of support.

Here are five tips to complete the 50,000 words in thirty days. Yes, that is how you WIN.
1. Commit. Announce your project on the site and within any other social media platforms you use.
2. Prepare your space. Choose a time, place, process for writing. This year, since I am teaching from home and not commuting, I was able to get up a little early each day and write for one hour. I type on Scrivener at my writing desk.
3. Gather support. I let people in my writing circles know I've committed, and I seek out those who will encourage me and who I can support. This can be formal social media and Slack type groups, or it can be critique partners who you communicate with daily or weekly.
4. Forgive yourself for failing. This should really be #1 because it is to me so important to let myself fail. Whether that is not meeting a daily goal (1,667 words) or writing crappy words (which is a given), you need to let yourself fall and tell yourself, IT'S OKAY!
5. Celebrate your successes. Some writers fear celebrating their own successes because they worry it's flaunting achievements. Hey, it isn't. Be proud. We're proud of you. Writing is hard, and when we reach goals or feel good about our story, we need to tell the world because, otherwise, it sounds like we are never finding joy.

Those are my five NaNo tips, but they are also my own daily tips. I am lucky to have the space and time to work on my stories everyday. When I return to campus, things may change, or, I might manage to keep up my daily habit. As I say to my students, you do you. Find what works for you, and let it be okay. I'd love to hear about your successes and challenges during this shelter in writing place.

Drop them below, and, as ever, write on!

0 Comments

#SecretProject2020, surveys, and more

12/25/2019

4 Comments

It's been a while, and I'd like to reconnect with all the writers out there. As you know, writing takes time and energy. Creativity doesn't simply come when you call. Then there are all the LIFE things to tend to. For these reasons, I don't spend the time I'd like crafting blog posts.

A new year gives us the chance to try it again. So...

What's new with me? I'm on submission with two middle grade fantasies. I've finished a contemporary MG told in multiple POVs, and I'm revising an undersea fantasy with a poignant message about plastic pollution.

Soon, I hope to have a little down time. And that means I have time to venture onto my #secretproject2020.

Before I share (come back in January), I ask that you respond to my survey so I can gather who you are and provide the content you want or need.

It will only take a moment.

Click this link to take the survey.

If you can, I'd love for you to leave a comment here saying whether you have or will take the short survey. Those who do respond in the survey will be entered in a raffle for a two-pass query critique (if they desire). Raffle closes January 20.

Thanks 💙for visiting. I wish you all a very joyous new year. See you in 2020!!

4 Comments

Catch up on my Rewrite It Club chat

7/16/2019

0 Comments

Recently, I guest hosted the weekly Rewrite It Club chat. This group sparks weekly conversations on Twitter about anything writing related. Mostly, members discuss struggles and successes with writing.

The group's website states: The Rewrite It Club is an online community that helps encourage writers as they dive into deep and thorough revisions for their stories.

It's run by writers K.J. Harrowick and Jen Davenport.

You can join them for their chats on Twitter every Monday at 2PM PST.

Here's a few snippets from our chat on July 15, 2019:

Chat July 15

0 Comments

Show your PRIDE; Win a copy of Birds on a Wire

6/25/2019

0 Comments

I wrote this book eight years ago, but it is just as relevant today.

Birds on a Wire follows three best friends in the final days of senior year. As the hours unfold, secrets spill. The boys must decide if their friendships can endure what they didn't know about each other.

All the high drama of adolescence plays out in this gripping story of the bonds that bind us and the lies that break us.

Enter the RaffleCopter and leave a comment below to tell me what topics you'd like to see on my blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

0 Comments

I've Joined Writers in Motion!

5/30/2019

0 Comments

Recently, I joined up with a group of adventurous writers to lay out the writing/editing process in stages. It’s called Writers in Motion. Twelve writers will work under the guidance of two amazing editors Jeni Chappelle and Carly Hayward.

During Writer in Motion, you will see my process in action for a 500-word scene. What you won't see is all the behind the scenes of what it looks a little like when I write an entire story It begins with: Research and outline a story using OneStopForWriters’ tools (about a month). Draft the story NaNoWriMo style (about a month). Let it sit and marinate for a month or two (or more). Come back to the rough draft with fresh eyes for a revision. Send it out to my CPs. I work fast because I want to keep the momentum going. I take copious notes constantly rethinking my story, trying to tighten plot, develop characters, and flesh out a message for middle grade readers.

The goal of Writer in Motion is to create a space where readers can see how a writer moves through the drafting, feedback and editing process to create a polished work.

This will be a week-by-week process where the writers draft a short story, revise, rewrite, digest feedback, and blog about our processes as we move from start to finish.

Meet the Dynamic Dozen:

K. J. Harrowick (http://blog.halon-chronicles.com & http://kjharrowick.wordpress.com)
Jen Karner (http://www.SyllablesandSass.com)
H.M. Braverman (http://hmbraverman.com)
J.M. Jinks (www.authorjmjinks.com)
Melissa Bergum (will be posting via KJ’s site)
Thuy Nguyen (http://www.tmnstories.com)
Kristen Howe https://kristenswritingendeavors.wordpress.com/
Kathryn Hewitt https://spinningmyyarns.wordpress.com/
Sean Willson (https://www.seanwillson.com/blog/)
Paulette Wiles (http://www.paulettewiles.com)
Talynn (inkinthebook.blogspot.com)
Ellen Mulholland (www.ellenmulholland.com)

Go here to cheer from the sidelines and observe each painful step along the way.

0 Comments

Secret reveal about a new Emotion Thesaurus

1/20/2019

4 Comments

I have a secret to spill!

For the last month, I've been part of a Street Team for Angela and Becca at Writers Helping Writers, who are launching their new writing book on February 19th. Because they are known for showing, not telling, they decided it would be fun to keep the thesaurus book's topic a secret until the book cover reveal...WHICH IS TODAY!

It's been hard keeping quiet about this, so I am thrilled I can finally announce that The Emotion Thesaurus Second Edition is coming!

Many of you writers know (and possibly use) the original Emotion Thesaurus. It released in 2012 and became a must-have resource for many because it contained lists of body language, thoughts, and visceral sensations for 75 emotions, making the difficult task of showing character emotion on the page much easier. I love it! In fact, I have a print and Kindle copy, so I'm never far from help.

Many people have asked Angela and Becca to add more emotions over the years that they decided to create a second edition. It contains 55 NEW entries, bringing the total to 130 emotions.

This book is almost DOUBLE IN SIZE and there's a lot more new content, so I recommend checking it out. And you can. Right now.

Preorder Alert!
This book is available for preorder, so you can find all the details about this new book's contents by visiting Amazon, Kobo, iBooks, and IndieBound, or swinging by Writers Helping Writers. You can view the full list of emotions included in this new book, too.

Have you tried their other books? Which are your favorites? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for stopping by.

Write on!

4 Comments

<<Previous

3 Best Social Media Platforms for Writers

Defining a Good Critique Partner

How to Create Comp Titles

How to Build a World

How to win #NaNoWriMo

#SecretProject2020, surveys, and more

Catch up on my Rewrite It Club chat

Show your PRIDE; Win a copy of Birds on a Wire

I've Joined Writers in Motion!

Secret reveal about a new Emotion Thesaurus

Archives

Categories

Subscribe to our mailing list

Archives

Categories