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2022 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 27
For today’s prompt, let’s take something intangible—like an idea—and give it a physical body. Remember: As mentioned yesterday, these prompts are just starting points; you have the freedom to go wherever your flash of inspiration takes you. (Note: If you happen to run into any issues posting, please just send me an e-mail at mrichard@aimmedia.com with the subject line: Flash Fiction Challenge Commenting Issue.) Here’s my attempt at giving physical form to an idea: Our Foxes Sweat rolled down my spine and soaked into the lining of my bra. I regretted asking for an outdoor table. Moving north to Maine […]
Are Brand Mentions Important to Google’s Algorithm? via @sejournal, @martinibuster
Google’s John Mueller answers if brand mentions are important to Google’s algorithm The post Are Brand Mentions Important to Google’s Algorithm? appeared first on Search Engine Journal.
5 Steps for Using Setting to Write Compelling Middle-Grade Narrative Fiction
Middle-grade protagonists and readers have minds hungry to define their worlds. It’s the work of this age group, after all, before they grow into young adults with the angst of determining how they fit, or do not, into the worlds they’ve defined. For this reason, setting is vital to middle-grade narrative. (Why We Should Read Middle Grade Fiction as Adults) I live in Vail, Colorado, where our inclined Rocky Mountain setting is obvious. Many people live or travel here to ski, snowboard, hike, bike, raft, hunt, kayak, Jeep, camp—to interact or recreate with nature. The surrounding peaks’ zig-zag horizons and […]
Green Herring: How to Camouflage a Villain in a Mystery Novel
I can see you frown: “Wait a minute. Green herring? Are you sure? Shouldn’t it be red herring?” Nope! There’s no mistake in the title. The herring in this case is really supposed to be green, and that’s what makes it so much fun for me to write about! But let’s start with a quick refresher on the more familiar red herring. A “red herring” is a form of misdirection, and one of the time-tested ways to create such a misdirection in a mystery story, or in a story that uses mystery elements in its plot. As you probably know, […]
2022 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 26
For today’s prompt, structure your story as a list. Remember: As mentioned yesterday, these prompts are just starting points; you have the freedom to go wherever your flash of inspiration takes you. (Note: If you happen to run into any issues posting, please just send me an e-mail at mrichard@aimmedia.com with the subject line: Flash Fiction Challenge Commenting Issue.) Here’s my attempt at writing a list: Things You Do While Waiting for Your Life to Change 1. Online Shop It starts small. Yoga mats and free weights that you’ll use a handful of times and never again. Maybe a pasta maker […]
How Impression-Based KPIs Drive Campaign Performance via @sejournal, @justinlugbill
Impressions to the right audience has value. Here are multiple indicators you can use to help you determine whether the channel or tactic is effective. The post How Impression-Based KPIs Drive Campaign Performance appeared first on Search Engine Journal.
Rank Math WordPress SEO Plugin Adds IndexNow via @sejournal, @martinibuster
Bing announces that the IndexNow protocol added to Rank Math WordPress SEO Plugin – Hands-on review shows that indexing couldn’t be easier The post Rank Math WordPress SEO Plugin Adds IndexNow appeared first on Search Engine Journal.
How You Can Check The Reputation Of A Book Publisher
One of the most frequent questions new authors ask is about the reputation of a book publisher. With so many publishing options today, and a lot of unsolicited offers, it can be challenging to know who you can trust. A new author can ask questions on social media or blog comments, which can certainly help. But it’s always better to check with more reliable resources before you decide to use a publisher. Checking book publisher reputation Many authors choose to self-publish today. It’s by far the easiest route to take, and you are in complete control of the publishing process. […]
2022 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 25
For today’s prompt, let’s write something that ends with a promise. It could be that a promise is made from one character to another or that your character promises themselves something or is promised something or even that a promise is broken. Remember: As mentioned yesterday, these prompts are just starting points; you have the freedom to go wherever your flash of inspiration takes you. (Note: If you happen to run into any issues posting, please just send me an e-mail at mrichard@aimmedia.com with the subject line: Flash Fiction Challenge Commenting Issue.) Here’s my attempt at ending on a promise: […]
Bring Your Secret Skillsets to the Page
Every person’s life is unique, so why not borrow some of your own eccentricities for your fiction? If “eccentric” is a word you feel you couldn’t ever claim, let me give you another option: Borrow your secret skillsets. Everyone has them. How could yours embolden your storytelling? Whether your goals are to flesh out your protagonist, to intrigue your reader with little known facts sprinkled organically amidst your storyline, or to capture unique character behaviors and non-cliché plot points, leaning into your secret skillsets is one way to ensure you’re writing a story your readers haven’t read hundreds of times […]