Author, Editor, Publisher, Coach
I’m pleased to say that my novel is now available as a softcover through Create Space, and within a couple of days through Amazon, at $13.99 + shipping.
Additionally, I’ll be offering signed copies in the near future through the publisher’s website at www.EvolvedPub.com, for $25.00, which includes safe packaging and shipment via USPS Media Mail.
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In a fiction narrative, monologue (often referred to as silent dialogue) can be a great way to get inside a character’s head, and without sharing his thoughts with the other characters in the scene. That’s the key difference between monologue and dialogue: the former is a secret for the readers only, kept from the other characters, whereas the latter is a regular part of the obvious character interactions.
Monologue, like its first cousin dialogue, provides an intimacy for readers that straight narrative simply can’t achieve. I think many writers fail to take full advantage of this tool. I also believe some writers use this tool as if they’re attempting to remove a tangled wire from a kitten’s paw with a sledgehammer.
Like all tools in the Writer’s Toolbox, we must use monologue sparingly, and only where it perfectly suits the task at hand.
As a simple example, a character is in a crowded room, full of old ladies and wee children, where polite discourse is not just expected, but demanded. Then he… oh… drops that sledgehammer (don’t ask; I’m trying to make a point here) on his toe. He wants to curse up a storm at that point, but he grunts and swallows his words, because he has a responsibility to those old ladies and toddlers. Shit! Yep, that simple one-word bit of monologue works quite well, thank you.
Some scenes lend themselves to monologue better than others. In my novel, Forgive Me, Alex, as an example, I have three or four scenes that beg for monologue, those oh-crap-what-do-I-do-now moments where the character must remain silent. I use monologue several times within those scenes. During the rest of the book, monologue appears only occasionally, and only in small clusters, often a single word or sentence.
Allow me to provide an example from my novel of where a single short line of monologue works perfectly:
Oh, that grin. For seventeen years it has taunted me, punished me for my indecision, my incompetence. I missed my chance to kill him in 1978, to remove his damned head—simple, as if cutting a sheet of paper. It would have been a fitting end for a monster.
Why did I let him live?
Like whispers in a storm, those memories only tease at me now, here at this obscene and maddening event. I’m trying not to relive every moment of 1978. Every time I do, I feel as if swimming in quicksand, anchored by my constant companions—sorrow and guilt. I’m too damned tired; can’t shake the confusion, the dread. I fear surrendering to fear.
If you examine that line of monologue above, and how I proceeded into the next paragraph, you’ll see that had I made it simple narrative (a couple different ways to do so), I’d have lost some of the power of that moment.
So take advantage of this great writer’s tool… but take it easy. If you overdo it, you’ll sap the mechanism of its power.
Three things to remember about monologue in your manuscript:
1) Italicize the text, including related punctuation, and don’t use quotation marks to signify monologue.
2) Set up the mechanism early in the book (just once or twice), alerting the reader to the fact that italicized segments represent monologue, and then let it do its own heavy lifting. E.g. Holy crap, I thought, she can’t be serious. I realize this is redundant structure, but again, it’s only to set up the mechanism the first time; at least, that’s my preference.
3) Monologue, like dialogue, occurs in the moment. People talk to their selves in Present Tense, so don’t fall into the trap of writing monologue as if it were straight narrative. Use Past Tense only if the character would do so when talking to his self.
Gosh, I sure hope writers find this article helpful.
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Amazon decided to discount my novel, Forgive Me, Alex, this week, offering $1.00 OFF. I have no idea how long it will last, so you may want to take advantage of it sooner rather than later. (Click on cover below for Amazon link.)
Forgive Me, Alex is now officially nominated for a Global eBook Award in the Thriller Fiction category. Wish me luck!
"Forgive Me, Alex" by Lane Diamond - Thriller Fiction Nominee
Reviews continue to trickle in, and to be strong (4.7-Star Average). It picked up a 4 and two 5s in the last couple weeks. I’m always thrilled to hear readers are enjoying it. Makes it all worthwhile.
If you’re a fan of thrillers, and you’re a book blogger who posts reviews at both Amazon and Goodreads, contact me with your links, and I may provide you a free eBook copy in return for your reviewing consideration.
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The word “like” is quite possibly the most misused and abused word in the English language. Who amongst us hasn’t heard a teenager toss out a gem like this when speaking?
“Like, have you guys like seen that like totally like amazing movie about like gladiators?”
So what, right? Teenagers have always done their own thing. Where’s the harm?
It’s the old slippery slope argument. When people have heard it used improperly 50 times, 130 times, 42,649 times, they lose track of what’s proper and what’s improper. In the stories that I read online, writers use the word “like” improperly in half or more of the instances. Indeed, I’ve been told by a couple of authors that the like the way “like” sounds better than the proper alternative. Oh boy.
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The following example is not an aberration; it has become the norm: “I stood over him like I was eight feet tall.”
The author uses the word “like” improperly here. The sentence should read: “I stood over him as if I were eight feet tall.”
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Another recent example: “It’s not like I had any choice in the matter.”
The proper version: “It’s not as though I had any choice in the matter.”
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The simple rule is this: “Like” governs nouns and pronouns. When modifying verbs, adverbs, adjectives, etc, replace “like” with “as,” “as if,” or “as though.” If you can’t replace the word “like” in your text with “such as” or “similar to,” you’ve probably used it improperly.
I’ve read more than one article in which the author (specifically an editor or agent) said that the improper use of “like” is one of the first tip-offs that she’s dealing with an amateur, and therefore less likely to be interested.
Two Exceptions:
A) Narrative dialect or colloquialisms
B) Dialogue
So, like search your document for like every instance of that like nasty word, and like make sure you have it right before like submitting your piece for like publication, like it’s your job or something.
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When I think back to my childhood, some of my fondest memories are of my summer baseball teams, my school baseball and basketball teams, even my golf team (damn knees kept me out of football). When I was with my teammates, competing against another team, I enjoyed a sense of camaraderie and support. We worked together, providing each individual on the team a chance at success that he couldn’t achieve on his own. When we failed, we commiserated together, and supported one another, vowing to work harder and do better next time.
It’s true that when you go it alone, you get to keep all the fruits of your success to yourself. Yep, you can sit at your desk in the corner, put on your party hat, pop the cork on the champagne, and celebrate… all by your lonesome. Fun. Of course, when you fail, you shoulder that burden alone, too.
And why did you fail? Might you have needed some help, a supportive group to lift you over the top? Might a team have been the potential key to your success?
Look, I’ve always enjoyed a certain amount of autonomy. I like to control my own life to the greatest extent possible. I love freedom—in life, in work, in play. Yet a properly constructed team allows a significant amount of that. Indeed, for a team to achieve maximum success, each member of that team must perform at his best.
Now, whether your team is in sports, or at work, or in a charity group, or any other environment, no two individuals will perform exactly alike. We recognize top performers for their unique set of skills, and, yes, we cut loose those who simply can’t do it. Give any ten individuals the exact same opportunity, and you’ll see ten varying levels of success… or failure.
Welcome to life.
Yet those who struggle can become fair, those who are fair can become good, and those who are already good can achieve greatness, when a team is in their corner, fighting on their behalf.
I like to think of myself as a good teammate precisely because I don’t expect everyone to be great; that’s just not realistic. I expect my teammates to be pretty good, of course, but mostly I expect them to give it their best. Period. If you give me your willingness to work at it, your positive attitude, your desire to work with the team in a cohesive manner, I’ll give you a loyal teammate who will do all he can to help you succeed.
So what does all of this have to do with writing, one of the most solitary pursuits on the planet? Simple: writing is only step one. Eventually, if you’re a professional, you need to take your product to market. You need to get your books into the hands of lots and lots of readers.
Of course, before you can do that, you may need one or all of the following: beta readers to help you plug up some gaps in your story; a qualified editor to help you polish your manuscript to a fine sheen; a talented artist to create a professional cover for your book; and a marketing plan and sales strategy to sell your brand.
What is your brand?
If you self-publish, your brand is your name, and perhaps the name of a series (by title or primary character) you’re writing. Period.
If you publish with a team, you enjoy the benefits of an additional brand, a reputable name that provides quality products across a broad spectrum of genres, from a group of authors with varying styles and voices, supported by talented editors and artists.
And that is why my partner, D.T. Conklin, and I formed Evolved Publishing. We didn’t want to self-publish because we didn’t want to go it alone. We thought the power of a dedicated and well-coordinated team would improve our chances of success. Our early teammates—7 more authors and counting, 4 more editors and counting, 4 artists and counting—joined us for those reasons, as well.
Do you like the idea of having a team in your corner? If so, stop by the Evolved Publishing website and browse around. At worst, you’ll lose a few minutes of your life. At best, your life and career will take on a whole new prospect.
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This is the second in a 2-part interview series by podcaster and aspiring author Timothy C. Ward, who was kind enough to sit down and talk to us about our business, about our authors and books, about why we do what we do.
I think this one is a little more about me as author and editor, and about my novel, Forgive Me, Alex.
We sure appreciate Tim’s taking the time give us this opportunity, and I hope you’ll stop by and enjoy our conversation.
AudioTim 26: Lane Diamond, Author of Forgive Me, Alex
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John Anthony Allen, an Editor at Evolved Publishing, has offered an interesting article on the development of “voice.”
As authors, we tackle this difficult discovery early in our careers, and we work to keep it fresh and dynamic as our careers progress. In fact, a good editor will help your voice grow as an author. Just be careful to keep it YOUR voice, comfortable and natural to you.
As readers, we seek out authors whose voices we find appealing, and our tastes might well change over time. Mine sure did. What I enjoyed reading 30 years ago doesn’t always appeal to me now, and much of what I read now, and LOVE, I would have scoffed at 30 years ago.
Stop over and check it out: God Bless You, Mr. Prokofiev — and join the conversation there. How has your voice changed over the years?
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I’m so excited to announce a new book , DEAD RADIANCE – Book 1 in the Valkyrie Novels, from author T.G. Ayer. This YA Paranormal Fantasy from Evolved Publishing is steeped in Norse mythology, full of Valkyries and Norse gods. Gonna be a fun read!
It’s available now at Amazon
…My fingers uncurled their desperate grip on the rose and it fell, tilting, to drop head first onto the casket, twirling as it descended into the eerie depths. It hit the lid and shattered. Petals flew in all directions and everywhere yellow scraps of the dismembered flower reflected Joshua’s iridescent light….
Short Description for DEAD RADIANCE – Book 1 in the Valkyrie Novels:
For as long as she can recall Bryn Halbrook has seen a golden aura around certain people, and it is only when her new best friend Joshua dies that she understands the glow means death. Bryn struggles to adapt to a new town and a new foster home while trying to deal with the guilt of being unable to save her friend. Until mysterious biker-boy, Aidan Lee arrives.
When Aidan unexpectedly takes off he leaves behind a shattered heart, a ton of unanswered questions and a mysterious book that suggests Bryn is a Valkyrie. Bryn is faced with questions about Aidan’s real identity, the real reason he came to Craven, and that Odin, Freya and Valhalla just might be real.
As if accepting her new wings, new life and new home in Asgard isn’t difficult enough, Bryn is forced to find and return the precious necklace of the Goddess Freya. The only problem is – if she fails, Aidan will die.
The mystery of a Mythology is easy to enjoy. The reality is much harder to accept.
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You can sample the first 3 chapters HERE.
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First, reviews continue to come in for my psychological thriller, Forgive Me, Alex
5/5 Stars: “I walk away with a deep emotional connection to these characters and their plight. They are like old friends, and any time a book can create that bond with characters, I say well done.” – Tim C. Ward (Podcaster and Book Blogger)
5/5 Stars: “Lane gets you into the head of the characters and you feel this bond with them, urging you to read faster to find out what happens next. You know you are reading a great book when you need to stop reading, but keep telling yourself just one more chapter, then one more leads to half the book.” – Jennifer @ Can’t Put It Down (A Book Review Site)
5/5 Stars: “I could not help but think to myself that the storyline was more real than imagined—I could all too often feel myself being pulled into the minds of the characters, especially Tony.” – JesterDev
5/5 Stars: “This thriller hooked me from the very beginning and I found it near impossible to put it aside. I carried my kindle with me everywhere I went and when snatches of time presented itself, I pulled out the Kindle and read.” – Angela Scott, Author of Wanted, Dead or Undead (March 2012)
5/5 Stars: “Lane Diamond has hit a home run with this brilliant, riveting and deeply engaging psychological thriller. Not only is his writing style flawless, his storytelling skills are unparalleled.” – Kimberly Kinrade, Author of National Forward Literature Award-winning book, Forbidden Mind
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I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to see such reviews, and to get emails from people telling me how much they loved my book. What a terrific feeling! I hope you’ll have the same experience.
To encourage you to take that risk, Forgive Me, Alex
Stop over at our Evolved Publishing site, where you can find a list of all the items ON SALE for our group.
Evolved Publishing Special Promotion – 2 DAYS ONLY
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Podcaster and aspiring author Timothy C. Ward was kind enough to sit down and talk to us about our business, about our authors and books, about why we do what we do.
We sure appreciate Tim’s taking the time give us this opportunity, and I hope you’ll stop by and enjoy our conversation.
AudioTim 24: Lane Diamond and D.T. Conklin of Evolved Publishing
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