We see stories through a series of visual images, and when a writer creates a disconnect in any given image, he reduces the effectiveness of his story. When an act occurs, and then the actor appears in the scene, we have that disconnect....

http://lanediamond.com/2011/09/infinite-verb-phrases-give-readers-an-act-without...
 

I’ve been seeing quite a few heated conversations on the internet lately. Of course, certain subjects lend themselves to such warfare more than do others, as do certain venues. Nonetheless, I’ve been surprised by a few of them.........

http://lanediamond.com/2011/09/why-are-so-many-snarks-circling-the-internet-wate...
 

Tony Hooper, protagonist from my novel, FORGIVE ME, ALEX, stopped by my website to offer a piece of his most intimate self.

What do you fear?

You can read Tony's thoughts here:
http://lanediamond.com/2011/09/guest-blog-tony-hooper-3/
 

Indie author and blogger L.M. Stull has graciously interviewed me regarding our Evolved Publishing venture.

If you're an indie author, or an aspiring one, you might find it interesting.

http://lmstull.com/2011/09/14/interview-with-evolved-publishing/
 

If you're self-publishing your work as an eBook, don't shoot yourself in the foot before you've even left the starting blocks.

http://lanediamond.com/2011/09/quality-counts-when-publishing-ebooks/
 

Kimberly Kinrade's debut novel, a YA Paranormal Thriller (with a touch of Romance) named Forbidden Mind, edited by yours truly, is now available as an eBook through our Evolved Publishing group.

Links available at: http://lanediamond.com/2011/09/forbidden-mind-by-kimberly-kinrade-a-ya-paranorma...

Be sure to check out the Evolved Publishing Short Story Contest. You still have about 2 weeks to enter your submission.

For details, see WDC item: "Evolved Publishing Short Story Contest 1" 

Or just go to our website at: http://www.EvolvedPub.com/. Click on the CONTEST tab at the top of the page for complete submission guidelines.
 

If you're an aspiring writer, or one that recently began your career, wouldn't you love to nudge your way onto that coveted list most readers keep: Favorite Authors? How do you go about joining those elite artists?

Here's my take on it:
http://lanediamond.com/2011/09/favorite-authors/
 

Tony Hooper, protagonist from my novel, FORGIVE ME, ALEX, stopped by and offered another blog post at my website.

You can read it here:
http://lanediamond.com/2011/08/guest-blog-tony-hooper-2/
 

When readers get to know the people in your story, when they come to like them, even love them, then you have succeeded wildly.

What makes for great characterization?
http://lanediamond.com/2011/08/compelling-characters-great-books-are-all-about-t...

 

It's simple, really: a like-minded team of professionals, well-coordinated and dedicated to helping each other achieve success, will beat the individual every time.

Such a basic philosophy, yet so powerful.

Evolved Publishing, still in its infancy, now has a rock-solid team of 6 Editors in place. We also have 4 well-trained, professional Cover Artists. And we're about to add a group of qualified Beta Readers to assist with essential story elements -- plot, charaterization, setting.

Add to that a fundamental commitment to quality and marketing, a fun but professional team atmosphere, and a business model that doesn't abuse the author, but rather focuses all activities around the author, and you have the formula for success.

If you're an aspiring author, you needn't go it alone. Nor do you need to give up control of your destiny, or excessive rights to your work. It's YOUR WORK!

Stop in and take a look:
http://www.EvolvedPub.com/
 

Do you struggle to interweave dialogue and action in your stories? If the entries to our "Evolved Publishing Short Story Contest 1"  are any indication, many writers do.

If you'd like some examples of how to improve your dialogue by cutting away most of those clunky, heavy, burdensome tags, using action leads and inserts instead, start at the blog post linked below, which will ultimately guiide you to two online articles on the subject.

http://lanediamond.com/2011/07/dialogue-tags/

I hope you find those articles helpful.
 

I asked Tony Hooper, the protagonist in my novel, FORGIVE ME, ALEX, to stop by and post a guest blog at my website.

He was kind enough to oblige. You can read it here:
http://lanediamond.com/2011/08/meet-tony-hooper/
 

You can now read the first 5 chapters of my debut novel, a psychological thriller called FORGIVE ME, ALEX, at my website:
http://www.LaneDiamond.com/novel-forgive-me-alex/

If you do, please leave a comment at the end to let me know what you think.

The complete novel will be available in all eBook formats in October 2011, as part of our Evolved Publishing fall launch.
 

Be sure to check out the Evolved Publishing Short Story Contest.

For details, see: "Evolved Publishing Short Story Contest 1" 

Or just go to: http://www.EvolvedPub.com/ and click on the CONTEST tab at the top of the page.