15 July 2012 - CHARACTER PERSONALITIES

Quote of the day:

"Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune."

William James

Writing tip of the day:

 G'day guys,

Characters are the key to our stories, but how do you describe them? Today I will provide a check list that might help. I once read a thick paperback by a famous author. At one stage she described a character for five pages before the story continued. Annoyed, I had to flip back to find out where the story was before her insane description began. The most important issue is that the character she described never appeared in the story again. So, why waste so many pages on him. That's my point.

Naturally, your main character is vital to your story so make sure you add little bits about him / her as you write. Don't drop a five-page clanger description like a bombshell and expect the reader to recall every item of information. Use what I call the drip-feed process ... slowly, slowly. Your main characters will no doubt experience a variety of emotions, thoughts and feelings as the story unfolds. Deal with each moment as it happens and make your characters believable.

Here are some points to consider:

AGE? GENDER?

LOOKS: PRETTY?  HANDSOME?  PLAIN? COLOUR OF HAIR? STYLE OF HAIR? BALD?
TAXI-DOOR EARS? PIXIE EARS?

SCARS?

LIMP? TALL? SHORT?

SLANG? SHY? COCKY? CONFIDENT? SMART ASS?

PREJUDICES?

WHAT’S HE LIKE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING?

HOW DOES HE HANDLE AN ARGUMENT – SUBMISSIVE, BELLIGERANT, ARGUMENTATIVE? GOOD DEBATER?

GOOD WORK ETHIC?

DECENT PERSON OR SHIFTY?

WHAT ARE HIS DREAMS?

WILL HE ACHIEVE HIS DREAMS?

IF NOT, WHAT STOPS HIM FROM ACHIEVING HIS DREAMS?

DOES HE LIKE HIS OWN COMPANY?

IS HE HUMBLE OR A SMART ASS, COCKY, CONFIDENT, SHY ETC?

WHAT DRIVES HIM?

WHAT ANNOYS HIM?

IS HE A PEOPLE PERSON?

WHAT’S HIS FAVOURITE COLOUR

WHAT’S HIS BIGGEST FEAR? – FAILURE? ABONDONMENT? BEING BROKE? NOT FINDING LOVE?

WHAT MAKES HIM HAPPY? SAD?

WHAT ARE HIS HABITS? – GOOD AND BAD?

HOW DOES HE SHOW AFFECTION OR … IS HE COLD?

WHAT MAKES HIM ANGRY, HAPPY AND SAD? – HOW DOES HE REACT?

IS HE COMPETITIVE? AMBITIOUS?

WHAT DOES HE FEAR MOST?

WHAT DOES HE THINK DEEPLY ABOUT? – POVERTY? SEX? SUCCESS?

WHAT IS HIS LIFETIME AMBITION? DOES HE HAVE ONE?

WHAT IS HE PREPARED TO GIVE UP TO REACH HIS GOALS?

WHAT MUSIC DOES HE LOVE? DOES HE LIKE GARDENING? HAVE A HOBBY? ETC

WHAT IDIOSYNCRASIES DOES HE HAVE?

Keep writing!

Don't be shy ... leave a comment or send me an email: clancy_tucker@hotmail.com

Thanks for listening.

I'm Clancy Tucker

www.clancytucker.com.au

14 July 2012 - SEEKING ADVICE

Quote of the day:

"Life sucks, but don't let it suck you in."

Clancy Tucker

Writing tip of the day:

G'day guys,

I've always had a fairly simple rule in regard to writing, 'Don't show it to your mum or your dog'. Your dog will lick you and your mum will praise it. Never give it to someone who will tell you what you want to hear. That will get you nowhere fast, and certainly not improve your writing. Give it to someone who knows what their about. Cop it on the chin and be prepared for some tough love. So, what do you do with your beautifully crafted piece of work? Here's a few ideas.

1. I write young adult fiction. Over the years I have gathered a collection of wonderful young readers who read my work and complete a simple questionnaire. They are kids from 8-16 years-of-age, Aboriginal, Christian, Muslim, male and female, and many come from broken homes. They are avid readers who love the challenge. Why do I seek their advice? Easy. They are my clients and, in this ever-changing world, they are more switched onto technology, kid-speak, issues etc. One of the questions asks the kids to rate my manuscript out of ten. Mm ... one I received from a great reader gave me 9.5. In brackets she wrote, 'I'd have given you ten but one of the dogs died.'

I post my manuscripts and questionnaires to their homes and they devour them. They also receive a self-addressed envelope to return the questionnaire. There are side benefits for me.

a. I'm the only writer they know.

b. I'm probably the only adult who asks them to be rated out of ten. Think about it. Kids are always told what to do by adults.

c. I bet I am the only one to send them mail, other than birthday cards from Nan and Pop.

Benefits for me? My readers keep me focused on real issues that concern them. They also give me interesting slants on how I can improve my work. I love receiving their questionnaires. Without fail, I rip the envelope open and read their notes before I walk inside the house smiling. However, when I receive a rejection letter, I walk inside, rip the envelope open, read the ever so brief 'NO!', leave it on the kitchen table and head back to my study to continue working. Hence, if you look inside 'Gunnedah Hero', you will find a stack of names - my readers. Thanks guys. Love ya work!

2. Find yourself a damn good editor. I did - Julie Jay - www.rebuspress.com.au Julie and Fiona Sievers are brilliant. Julie handles the manuscript, whilst Fiona does great work on poetry. Both are published authors. I've tried several other editors but didn't find them satisfactory. Why do I prefer Julie's work? Simple, she cut's to the chase, asks the right questions, points out obvious mistakes and makes great suggestions. So, it's all about finding someone you can work with - someone who will enhance your work - a partnership.

However, just because someone has qualifications does not mean you can work with them or, that they are any good. Suggestion: give them a short story first and check out their comments.

Be careful: This will make you laugh. I didn't. The first contract offered to me for 'Gunnedah Hero' was by an Australian publisher. However, they wanted me to pay $368.00 to an independent editor to asess the manuscript. I said okay and sent the manuscript, chapter summary and brief story synopsis with a cheque. Ten days later I received half an A4 page assessment which was atrocious. Three things were obvious:

a. The editor had only read the chapter summary and synopsis.

b. The story was all about DROUGHT - dry, parched land with no water, cattle dying etc. Well, the editor tried to write that word twice and both times it was written as DRAUGHT! She also got the dates seriously wrong ... 1850, not 1910. Helloooooooooooooooooooo.

c. It was the easiest $368.00 she had ever made.

What did I do? Steaming, I rang the publishing editor and calmly told her about the expensive assessment, major spelling mistakes and wrong dates. She apologised profusely. That was one of the reasons why I did not sign their contract. 

3. Join a writers group, attend writer's functions and seek a writing soulmate, one who is switched on. Share your work and be honest. Again, do not seek someone who will stroke your ego. This is a tough, competitive game. You are competing with people with passion and talent. So, if you ain't got it, find another hobby. Now, go look at the quote of the day. Sometimes life does suck - big time!

Keep writing!

Don't be shy ... leave a comment or send me an email: clancy_tucker@hotmail.com

Thanks for listening.

I'm Clancy Tucker.

www.clancytucker.com.au

13 July 2012 - STORY IDEAS

Quote of the day:

"Laugh at yourself first,

before anyone else can!"

Elsa Maxwell

Writing tip of the day:

G'day guys,

Everyone works differently. Many writers get up early to write, and some
work late into the night. I've always advised aspiring writers to find their
own space and their own method of doing things. It's all about what works best
for you. I've read much about writing on blogs, writer's sites and in books,
and some of the advice I've disagreed with. Many times I've read that it is
essential for you to have a journal; one you write in every day. That's fine if
it works for you. Mm ... not this black duck. I've just written notes and filed
them away in manila folders with suitable titles for later reference.

Storing ideas:

So, having organised your space, coffee and favourite time to write, how
do you dream up themes for stories? Me? I have no idea. They just pop into my
head at the oddest time, but I immediately write them on a scrap of paper and file them in a
folder that is currently jammed pack with ideas ... maybe 400 of them.
Sometimes an idea will occur when you are driving or lying in bed with a good
book. Great, but make sure you write it down before you lose it. I have adopted
the same attitude as a photographer, 'Stop the car now and take the shot!'
Occasionally I read through those scraps of paper and gain ideas for the story
I am currently writing.

I live in a pristine rural area and, whilst driving to town one day, I thought of a holocaust story. Why? Who knows and who cares? What did I do? I pulled over, surrounded by green pastures, cows and trees and wrote one word on one of my tiny pads: holocaust. Months later, I write a short story (28,000 words) called, 'A Rose for Anna'. Having visited four concentration camps in Europe in the early 70's gave me great background knowledge for this story. Amazing, eh? Listen to your inner self and act on your gut feelings.

What's topical:

Mm ... great question, but not easy to answer. I wrote 'Gunnedah Hero'
(story of an Australian drover in a drought in 1910) in the middle of Australia's
biggest drought and it has won two awards in the Australian National Literary Awards.
'KY!' (story of a young Muslim refugee girl who wore a hijab, glasses, loved
to read and was bullied for being different) was written several years ago when the front page of every newspaper in the country was dealing with refugees, boat people and detention centres. It also won an award in the National Literary Awards. However, just because a subject is topical, doesn't mean that publishers will pick it up - even give it
a sniff. Trust me. Go with your gut. Be in touch with yourself and you will write stuff that surprises you.

Example:

Due to the controversy about global warming, I wanted to write an
environmental story. Two words immediately came to mind: dirty water. So, I
pencilled those words on a manila folder which sat on a lounge chair for some
weeks. Then, I began writing and the name changed to 'Mister Rainbow' - story
of two young kids who loved fishing; a girl and a boy. The story is based on
Marysville, the beautiful country town that was obliterated during Black
Saturday. Why Marysville, because I lived there for ten years and fished every
stream. I guess I sometimes went to places man has never been and, being a
photographer, I took some sensational shots. The cover for the book is a
photograph I took a year later. I saw a rainbow and followed it until I found
the end of it. How cool is that, eh? Mind you, 'Mister Rainbow' is about a
whopping rainbow trout - not the colourful phenomenon we see in the sky. Hey,
check out my photo gallery and you'll see that rainbow.

I guess my best piece of advice is to find something you're passionate about and write passionately about it - Quote: Clancy Tucker - 'Kids Magazine', 8th February 2005. Not only but also, listen to your inner self, allow yourself to be confident and let it rip.

Keep writing!

Don't be shy ... leave a comment or send me an email: clancy_tucker@hotmail.com

Thanks for listening.

I'm Clancy Tucker

www.clancytucker.com.au

 

 

 

12 July 2012 - Writing the first chapter

Quote of the day:

"In the game of life, nothing
is less important than the score at half time!"

Writing tip of the day - Writing the first chapter.

G'day guys,

I have always recalled the opening sentence in 'The Day of The Jackal' by Frederick Forsyth:

"It is cold at six-forty in the morning of a March day in Paris, and seems even colder when a man is about to be executed by firing squad."

Why have I recalled it, because it is what I call a 'clanger opening' ... or 'hook'. It provides you with information: time, morning, Paris, firing squad and man. It also makes the reader ask questions. Who is being executed? Why is he being executed? Who is executing? Why in Paris? Why then? It also encourages the reader to read on and find out the answers to those questions.  Many books, even those written by famous authors, do not have clanger openings, but I love them! They seduce readers.

Here  are some opening lines I have used in my stories:

'Wirra Danson was worried.' - A Drover's Blanket

'Goose bumps rippled down his arms when he saw the old house - the very home where a successful career in music had begun two decades before.' -  A Famous Guitar

'Last night I cried myself to sleep' - Pa Joe's Place

'Sayad Ali grabbed his precious diary, ready to make another important entry.' -  Tyrrany to Detention. 

Okay, you get the idea. However, here are a few points that might help you to write the first page or chapter of a novel:

1. Seduce the reader and make it interesting.

2. Be punchy.

3. Introduce your main character promptly. If you want your readers to love or despise him / her - just do it! Don't fluff around.

4. Set the scene for the reader and ask yourself, 'Is this a sad, funny or dramatic story?'

5. Action always grabs the reader. Don't be dull and boring.

6. Let your reader know why your main character is your main character. Cut to the chase.

7. I love conflict - resolution, conflict - resolution. Then, when you think your story needs to step up the pace, send in some more sharks.

8. Introduce your other characters in a timely way. Readers do not need a head full of names to remember in the first few pages. Let the story unfold easily.

9. Let the story flow. Do not confuse the reader. If a character takes a minor part in your story, give him / her an appropriate allocation of words / space.

10. Make your main character a winner; someone with a strong voice.

11. If you are writing a chapter, try to leave a page flipper at the end, so the reader will want to continue reading to find out what happens next.

12. Concentrate, but enjoy your work. The world has billions of books so make yours one that a reader wants to read.

Keep writing!

Don't be shy ... head to the top of the page and leave a comment, or send me an email: clancy_tucker@hotmail.com

Thanks for listening.

I'm Clancy Tucker.

www.clancytucker.com.au

11-July-2012 - SELF PUBLISHING

Quote of the day:

"The brightest future will
always be based on a forgotten past,

you can’t go on well with
life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born,
you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

Live your life so that
when you die, you’re the one who is smiling

and everyone around you is crying!"

Writing tip of the day - SELF-PUBLISHING:

G'day guys,

as mentioned in my last post, self-publishing is becoming increasingly popular far a variety of reasons. Having been down this path myself, I have collated a series of points that should be addressed. These relate to Australians, but I'm sure many of the points will be worthwhile for those of you who do not live Downunder. Hope they help.

Note Bene: Self-published books are seriously shunned by mainstream publishers. Why? Their biggest comment is that many self-published books have not been edited by a professional. Often they are right, so approach a good editor and have your work assessed. It will cost money, but is worth it. Having said that, I've seen some books produced by mainstream publishers that were shabby.

CHECKLIST
FOR BOOK PRODUCTION

Clancy Tucker (c) - January 2012

          Arrange manuscript for printing company (Word doc.). Allow for page numbers to begin on correct page. ie page five is really 1, not page one which will be the cover. Make sure document is accurate and laid out the way you want it. I’ve used an unusual font. It’s easy to read: Abadi MT Condensed Light – font size 12. If you are a photographer like me, use your own photographs, and make sure the cover photograph reflects the story contained within.

 Arrange cover as one document. Don’t forget to include the spine and to mention awards you’ve won across bottom of front cover.

1. Centre justify text for manuscript.


2. Apply for ISBN number first - through: http://www.thorpe.com.au/ about five days
   wait. A separate ISBN number is required for eBooks.


3. You need an ISBN number before applying for a CIP number via The National Library:  http://www.nla.gov.au/cip about five days wait. NB: E-books do not need to be registered with the National Library or your state library, except in WA.


4. Place barcode and ISBN (combined) on back cover - right side, bottom.


5.  Place QR (Quick Response logo) bottom left side of back cover. Make sure it is
   designed to go straight to your website.


6. Don’t forget to place relevant publishing details on inside cover of book ... CIP,
   ABN, ISBN numbers etc. Also add your own logo.


7. Make sure printer sends you a fully bound copy to check before approving the printing. Check it thoroughly, make  any changes to the original word.doc and return to printer for printing.


8. I suggest a matching bookmark to go with book. Ensure your name, website or email
   address is at the top and bottom of each side – good advertising, eh?


9. When published, a copy of the book must be sent to your state library and also to
   the National Library. They will acknowledge receipt.


10. Register your book with:

  Nielsens: http://www.nielsenbookdata.com.au/controller.php?page=140

Bowkerlink: http://www.thorpe.com.au/bowkerlink/

James Bennett
(Library supplier): http://www.bennett.com.au/

Dennis Jones and
Associates: http://dennisjones.com.au/

     13. Register for PLR: (public lending rights) and ELR: (educational lending rights) for each book. You must register separately as author and publisher, if you are self-published. www.arts.gov.au/literature/lending_rights

     14. Mention your book on your website and blog with a big fanfare. Maybe put some
testimonials there from those who love ya work.

     15.  Join Authors Australia and advise them so that your book is on their website.

     16.  Join the Copyright Agency Limited (CAL): http://www.copyright.com.au/  You can apply for grants up to $5000.00 from CAL. They have what they call a Cultural Fund.

     17. I’d suggest you also make an eBook. Simple: www is the biggest marketplace in the
world – why miss out on it? You will need to send them a word.doc because PDF’s
are too difficult to work with.

      18.  Maybe place a Youtube video on the Net – an interview with the author, answering some personal questions that are not answered in the book – who, why, when and where? Make it brief – no more than 3 minutes.

       19. Make an audio book.

        20. Issue a press release.

        21. Organise a blog tour and offer a free copy of your eBook to the hosts in appreciation. Do interviews with local radio stations and newspapers etc. Whether you have a publisher or are self-published, it is your job to sell yourself.

        22.  Flog ya book and meet me in Thailand.

Keep writing!

Don't be shy ... head to the top of the page and leave a comment, make a suggestion, bitch or snarl. Or, send me an email: clancy_tucker@hotmail.com

Thanks for listening.

I'm Clancy Tucker

www.clancytucker.com.au

10-July-2012 - IndiePENdent publishers

Quote of the day:

"Love begins with a smile,
grows with a kiss and ends with a tear."

Writing tip of the day:

G'day guys,

Like it or not, the world is changing. So is the publishing industry. Now more than ever, authors are self-publishing, mostly out of frustration, but also because it is easy to do and reasonably cheap. Here are some great sites for those of you who have self-published and want to expose your book for free. The people behind these sites are genuine and do a great job. Here is an example of where my first book was recently promoted. I provided the information and they did the rest. SUPPORT THEM!

http://wonderworld-variety.blogspot.fr/2012/07/award-winning-book-gunnedah-hero-by.html

 Here are some other other sites to visit:

http://wonderworld-variety.blogspot.fr/

http://www.wisegreyowl.co.uk/php/content.php?PageName=Home&Books=Promotion&P=B

http://inwriters.webs.com/

http://www.indiependents.org/index.html

http://writersweb.com.au/

If you do hook up with them, be nice and thank them. Also, place their link on your blog or website.

Keep writing!

Don't be shy ... head to the top of the page and make a comment, give me some feedback or just growl or whinge. Or, send me an email clancy_tucker@hotmail.com or visit my website www.clancytucker.com.au

Thanks for listening.

I'm Clancy Tucker

www.clancytucker.com.au

9-July-2012 - FAMOUS AUTHORS REJECTED

Quote of the day:

"The happiest people don’t
necessarily have the best of everything;

they just make the most of
everything that comes along their way.

Happiness lies ahead for those who cry, those who hurt,

those who have searched, and those who tried … for
only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives!"

Writing tip of the day - Famous authors who were rejected!

G'day guys,

Here, to follow on from yesterday's blog, is a list of famous authors who were treated disdainfully by many publishers. So, take heart. Buckle up, get stuck into your work and stop whimpering. The revered sage Frank Sinatra once said, "The best revenge is massive success." Bring it on!

1. Stephen King

Mr. King received dozens of rejections for his
first novel, Carrie; he kept them tidily nailed to a spike under a
timber in his bedroom. One of the publishers sent Mr. King's rejection
with these words: 'We are not interested in science fiction which
deals with negative utopias. They do not sell.'

2. William Golding

Mr. Golding's Lord of the Flies was rejected
by 20 publishers.  One denounced the future classic with these words
(which should be inscribed on the hapless publisher's tomb): 'An absurd and uninteresting fantasy which was rubbish and dull.'

3. John le Carré  

After Mr. le Carré submitted his first novel, The Spy Who Came in
From the Cold, one of the publishers sent it along to a
colleague, with this message: 'You’re welcome to le Carré – he hasn’t got any future.'

4. Anne Frank

According to one publisher, The Diary of Anne Frank was scarcely
worth reading: 'The girl doesn't, it seems to me, have a special perception or feeling
which would lift that book above the 'curiosity' level.'  15 publishers (other than this dope) also rejected The Diary of Anne Frank.

Clancy's Comment: I visited Anne Frank's house in Amsterdam in 1973. I then went onto visit four concentration camps in Europe and have been reading about those atrocities ever since.

5. Joseph Heller

In an act of almost unparalled stupidity, one publisher wrote of Mr. Heller's Catch-22: 'I haven’t the foggiest idea about what the man is trying to say… Apparently the author intends it to be funny – possibly even satire – but it is really not funny on any intellectual level.'

6. J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s (later Sorceror’s)
Stone was rejected by a dozen publishers, including biggies like Penguin
and HarperCollins. Bloomsbury, a small London publisher, only took it on at the
behest of the CEO’s eight-year old daughter, who begged her father to print the
book. God bless you, sweetheart.

 7. Ursula K. Le Guin

One publisher sent this helpful little missive to
Ms. Le Guin regarding her novel, The Left Hand of Darkness:

'The book is so endlessly complicated by details of reference and
information, the interim legends become so much of a nuisance despite their
relevance, that the very action of the story seems to be to become hopelessly
bogged down and the book, eventually, unreadable. The whole is so dry and
airless, so lacking in pace, that whatever drama and excitement the novel might
have had is entirely dissipated by what does seem, a great deal of the time, to
be extraneous material. My thanks nonetheless for having thought of us. The
manuscript of The Left Hand of Darkness is returned herewith.'

Clancy's Comment: The Left Hand of Darkness went on to win both the Hugo and the Nebula awards.

8. George Orwell

One publisher rejected Mr. Orwell's submission, Animal Farm, with
these words: 'It is impossible to sell animal stories in the USA.'

9. Tony Hillerman

Mr. Hillerman, now famous for his Navajo Tribal Police mystery novels,
was initially told by publishers to, 'Get rid of all that Indian stuff.'

10. William Faulkner

One publisher exclaimed in the rejection letter for Mr. Faulkner's book,
Sanctuary: 'Good God, I can’t publish this!'

11. John Grisham

Mr. Grisham’s first novel, A Time to Kill, was rejected by a dozen publishers and 16 agents before breaking into print and launching Mr. Grisham's best-selling career.

Clancy's Comment: There ya go, folks. Amazing, eh? Remain steadfast and write your heart out. I rejected four contracts for my first book after consulting a literary lawyer: London, Sydney, Melbourne and New York publishers. Why, because I did not believe they were being being fair and reasonable. Plus, I had great faith in my own work. Why would I 'GIVE' my work to someone who had not contributed one comma or fullstop? I, like you, own the 'C' in the circle. It's called copyright (c)!  So, when that great moment comes for you, slink away to a private place and do what I will do - punch the air and scream, 'Yeeeeeeeeeeeeees!'

Keep writing!

Don't be shy ... head to the top of the page and make a comment, ask a question or disagree with me. I love a debate.

Thanks for listening.

I'm Clancy Tucker

www.clancytucker.com.au

8-July-2012 - Revision

Quote of the day:

"Always put yourself in
other’s shoes.

If you feel it hurts you,

then it probably hurts the
other person too!"

Writing tip of the day - Revision of your work!

G'day guys,

Today's issue is about revision, and the same approach applies to short stories, essays, manuscripts, plays, letters, emails and poetry - any written work.

1. Once I have finished a piece of work I deliberately leave it sitting on my lounge room floor. It's a symbolic gesture I guess, and a constant reminder. What's next? Leave it alone until you are good and ready to tackle it again. You will know when to revisit it. Trust me. With manuscripts, it is usually three months for me. If it's a letter to a politician or a major letter concerning one of my social justice or human rights campaigns, it might be three revisits in 24 hours. Why remove yourself from your work? Well, time gives you the opportunity to be distracted from what you have written. Then, when you tackle it again, you can see obvious flaws, cut, cut, cut, find spelling and grammatical errors and make sentences much simpler. Make it sharper, snappier and more entertaining for your reader.

2. Many writers hate revising a manuscript with a red pen (check out my website and you will find a red pencil and heaps of red). They consider it boring. I don't. Why, because it is part of the journey - how you improve your work. I become so close to my characters I live and breathe everything they say and do and want them to excell - even the baddies! You must accept revision. However, be prepared to cut stuff out that is not contributing to the story. Sure, it might sound good and be written well, but it might be a bloody distraction to the reader and take them on a lovely journey - away from the flow of the story. Stay the course in your writing, and don't forget one of my golden rules: write for your reader, not for yourself.  I removed, slashed, deleted, pillaged and burnt 8,000 words in one of my manuscripts - 'That Sucks!'. Why? It was all very cool and interesting, but it was not adding to the overall story - simple. A good friend of mine, a writer who finds it hard to write more than 1,000 words, was mortified that I could delete so many words. She thought I was crazy.

3. Revision for a manuscript takes time - a lot of it. Be patient, look carefully and be brave enough to make appropriate changes. Do not change things for change sake. Change it to make it better. If that means shortening sentences or adding some punchy dialogue, then do it. My first book is 295 pages in length. Yep, I revised it 45 times ... and I freely tell people that there is a spelling mistake on page 102 - even my editor missed it!

4. If you can, try to revise a manuscript piece by piece - not all at once. That is, concentrate purely on dialogue, or sentence formation, or chapter lengths, or opening and finishing of chapters, or length of sentences etc,  without getting distracted by the story. Trust me. It ain't easy, but it helps you to focus on one issue at a time. FOCUS!

5. One thing I always try to do is to make each chapter a solid short story in itself. At the end of each chapter I try to leave a cliffhanger ... one that will seduce the reader to flip the page and keep reading. I call them 'page flippers'.

6. If you are writing a letter or email to seek information, make sure you don't JUST vent your spleen. No, ensure you are actually making a point, then ask the salient questions you need answered. I often summarise my questions in bullet form at the bottom of the letter as a reminder - in dark print! Then, when you send the email, send yourself a copy and store it in what I call my 'Waiting Box'. Then, if they have not replied to your delicious email within a reasonable time, you can forward it to them and ask, 'Did you receive this?' This has worked for me countless times. When it hasn't, I pick up the phone and ring them directly. The Internet and emails are wonderful things, but very impersonal. If people do not wish to answer your email they just press the delete key. Keep them honest, keep pushing your points until they give you satisfactory answers.

7. Keep writing!

Don't be shy ... head to the top of the page and make a comment, ask a question or disagree with me. I love controversy.

Thanks for listening.

I'm Clancy Tucker

www.clancytucker.com.au

7 July 2012 - Rejections!

Quote of the day:

"May you have enough
happiness to make you sweet,

enough trials to make you
strong,

enough sorrow to keep you
human and

enough hope to make you
happy."

Writing tip of the day:

G'day guys,

Today's blog is all about rejections. You know, those cryptic one-liners you receive from publishers. Mm ... if you've just started to write, listen up. Sadly, rejections are part of the journey so toughen up and get used to them. Having said that, don't forget one thing: the views of other people are purely subjective. What you have to do is turn a negative into a positive. Many years ago I would tell people that I had enough rejection letters to wallpaper my toilet. Now I have enough to wallpaper the entire loungeroom; including the floor. So, what do I do about them? Easy, read the rejection letters, smile, file them away, put them down somewhere, burn them or tear them up ... and continue doing what you were doing ... with renewed confidence.

Trust me, getting published is a tough gig. You have to learn to duck the punches. Above all you have to be prepared to march on and send some stuff to another publisher. Don't be shy. If you love writing but are fearful of rejection, then write a personal diary and keep it locked in a steel box under your bed ... or find another career. But, if you are keen to be a serious writer and spread your words to the world, smarten up and be brave. Nothing is more exciting than to receive awards from competitions, when others have given you the big heave-ho!

Okay, so now you are tough, smart and brave. What you also have to do is think smarter, read comments by other authors and consult them, learn and listen to them, suck it in, swallow your pride and write better. Why, because they have already done the hard yards. It is a slow process for some. Many writers will fail because they refuse to accept the hard grind. I do it because I am a born storyteller with a vivid imagination, plus I have many things to say.

We all have what I call a 'hard drive of experiences'; the images, thoughts and experiences collected along the way - some great, some bad. However, if you do not write about them or speak about them, you just keep them locked up - 'unfinished business'. Writing, like speaking, can be very cathartic. Do it! You might feel relieved.

Keep writing ... never give up. I have always been inspired by a quote someone made many years ago, 'So many writers give up ... just before they are published.'

Don't be shy ... head to the top of the page and make a comment, ask a question or disagree with me. I love a good debate.

Thanks for listening.

I'm Clancy Tucker

6 July 2012 - CHOOSING CHARACTERS

Quote of the day:

"Dream what you want to
dream; go where you want to go;

be what you want to be…..

because you have only one
life and….

one chance to do all the
things you want to do!"

Writing tip for the day:

1. How do I create characters? The easiest way is to think of people you know well - men, women, boys, girls, even animals. They might be relatives, friends or associates. Using people you know as characters, allows you to make that character consistent throughout the story.  You will know their facial features, foibles (nose-twitching, frowns, scowls etc) or how they will smile or react to a happy moment. Also, how they will react to a cranky moment when a disaster occurs, how they deal with other people, their sense of humour or lack of it. Do they swear, lose their temper, act passively?

2.  Once I create a character, someone I know well, I give them a name that is relevant to the era and one that might be enjoyed by readers. An example might be 'Boo' in 'Pa Joe's Place' - story of a seven-year-old Thai girl, or 'Smokey Danson' in 'Gunnedah Hero' - story of a fourteen-year-old drover in 1910 in Australia.

3. Maybe I am lucky. Having chosen a character and named him or her, I climb into their head and write their sections of the story as if I was them ... physically feeling their reactions to circumstances within the story. Many writers would not find that easy. I do, and I'm convinced it makes you write clearly and make the character appear more realistic to the reader.

4. Another idea is to collect full page photographs of people in magazines and newspapers. Place them around your office / study / writing place and name them so you can constantly refer to them - inspired to mention their expressions, scars, smiles, hairstyles etc as you write about them.

Don't be shy ... head to the top of the page and leave a comment.

Clancy Tucker

5 July 2012 - MY U3A STUDENTS

Quote of the day:

"There are moments in life when you miss someone so much you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them!"

G'day guys,

Here I sit prepared for another unpaid day in my engine room. But, that's what writing is all about - lots of hard, passionate unpaid time. Yesterday I attended my weekly lecture to our local University of the Third Age (U3A) students. Many are over eighty-years-of-age, but man, are they switched on and motivated. Two of my students are writing stories for young kids, and are doing a top job. Not only can they write, but they also read their stories convincingly, knowing when to sigh or place emphasis on certain points. It's a pleasure to share time with them.

Writing tip for the day:

'Find something you're passionate about and write passionately about it.'

Don't be shy! Leave a comment ...

Clancy Tucker

Great book review - NSW Writers' Centre

Book Review - NSW Writer's Centre. (Posted: May 30)
'Gunnedah Hero' book review by Michael Hanrahan - May 2012.

This book review came about as a result of me offering my book to the Emerging Writers' Festival's book review initiative. Michael Hanrahan is the Managing Editor of 'Rough Draft', a new publishing house in Melbourne. Sounds like a top bloke! The review can be seen on the NSW Writers' Centre website:

http://www.nswwc.org.au/2012/05/gunnedah-hero-by-clancy-tucker-emerging-writers-festival-joins-us-for-366-days-of-writing/

"Gunnedah Hero by Clancy Tucker: Emerging Writers’ Festival joins us for 366 Days of Writing.

Gunnedah Hero is a highly entertaining young adult  novel set predominantly in the Australian outback. Fourteen-year-old ‘Gunnie’  Danson’s late grandfather left him a box containing a manuscript written by  Gunnie’s great-great-grandfather Smokey Danson, following his cross-country  journey as a fourteen-year-old drover in 1910. Smokey had to venture out alone  in an effort to save his family’s cattle from starvation during a drought.

His  adventures along the way include encounters with snakes and thieves, getting  stuck in a disused dairy, and landing in the middle of a court case. He  negotiates these dramas with the help of his trusty cattle dogs and the new  friends he makes along the way. We also follow the story of Gunnie reading the  manuscript with great enthusiasm in the present day.

Gunnie has a problem of his own to solve, and it turns out the solution is contained in the  box his grandfather left him. From the opening pages this is an engaging  book. Tucker has made his characters highly authentic and the story moves along  quickly. Smokey is adventurous and keen to help his family, but he’s also  daunted by the responsibility that has fallen to him because his father has been  injured. In a sad scene Smokey is highly traumatised by the death of one of his  three cattle dogs, Sam.

In the present day, Gunnie can see trouble brewing in  his family but doesn’t know whether it’s his place to get involved. We jump  seamlessly from Gunnie reading the manuscript in the present day back into the story of Smokey in 1910, as links between the two gradually unfold.

Tucker paints a thoroughly Australian story. The dogs, cattle and horses are central,  as are the countryside and the family cattle station, Wiralee. Done  poorly this ends up with everybody eating meat pies while they drive around in Holdens with their Akubras on, but Tucker doesn’t fall for this trap. The Aussie atmosphere is woven into the story. Gunnedah Hero will also provide an education about the times for its intended young adult market.

The only minor problem with the book is the occasionally poor layout which made reading awkward in places, but this is not uncommon in self-published books. The cover of Gunnedah Hero displays a couple of awards the book has won. They are well deserved.

Review by Michael Hanrahan"

Mm ... oddly, three weeks before this review appeared, I had sent one of my manuscripts to Rough Draft for the first time. It was 'KY!' - story of an Australian Muslim refugee girl who is bullied. This manuscript has also won an award in the Australian National Literary Awards.

Who knows? Let's hope Michael Hanrahan is impressed with my storytelling.

The prayer meeting will now begin.

Clancy

Vale Jimmy Stynes

Sadly, Jimmy Stynes has lost his extraordinary fight with cancer. Wow, what a guy! The world has lost a wonderful human, but he's left us some wonderful inspirations.

Pax vobiscum, Jimmy.

Clancy

2011 National Literary Awards

ANNOUNCEMENT!

'Gunnedah Hero' has just been 'Commended' in the FAW Christina Stead Award - 2011 National Literary Awards. This is the second award granted to 'Gunnedah Hero' by the National Literary Awards. In the 2007 awards it was 'Highly Commended' in the FAW Jim Hamilton Award.

Let's hope some of the other book awards are just as generous. Fingers crossed.

Clancy

Great book review in CBCA magazine

Wow! The latest magazine from the Children's Book Council of Australia, 'Reading Time', contains a review of Gunnedah Hero – Vol 56 No. 1 February 2012. I have entered this book in two categories of the CBCA Awards. Let's hope I crack one, eh? Here is what was said by John Adams:

“**TUCKER, Clancy, 'Gunnedah Hero', Clancy
Tucker Pub, 2011 278pp $35.00 pbk ISBN
9780696557335

A Sydney boy, 14 year old Gunnedah ‘Gunnie’
Danson, inherited from his grandfather a box
of documents which he discovers includes a
journal written by his great-great grandfather,
Smokey ‘Gun’ Danson. There is a letter
attached which he is not to open until he has
read the manuscript. He asks his father to take
him to the family property Wiralee Station in
northern New South Wales managed by his
uncle, Wirra Danson, where he would be in
the right place to read the journal. It is the
time of the recent drought and the journal set
in 1910-11 also dealt with a time of drought.

Smokey Danson’s journal wrote of a major
event, in his life (at the age of 14) on Wiralee
when the drought had crippled the country,
and the only answer was to drove the cattle,
keeping them on the move through the ‘Long
Paddock’, to be sold at Armidale. Smokey’s
father was laid low following a snake bite, and
it was left to young Smokey, well-experienced
despite his youth, to take the cattle on his
own. Smokey describes in his journal the
adventures and misadventures on the way, the
people he met and the townships he passed
through and the life of the time. He has
the devoted help of his horse, Cracker, and
his dogs. Among the people he met was an
Aboriginal drover, Billie, who was to become
head stockman at Wiralee. Smokey found
himself a hero when the dogs led him to a
hidden store of gold in an old shed, put there
by two goldminers who had been murdered for
it - the discovery led to the conviction of the
murderer and to Smokey becoming a celebrity
as the ‘Gunnedah Hero’. At Armidale, the
cattle had arrived in such good condition that
they sold well following the breaking of the
drought, and hero Smokey returns home to
a warm welcome from his family and from
Mollie Swenson, a school friend (who was to
later become his wife).

Gunnie’s weekend at Wiralee was not without
drama also. While his father and uncle were
absent, he overheard his cross-patch aunt
Kate on the phone to a lawyer planning to
divorce her husband and force the sale of
Wiralee. But the letter he could not open
until he had read Smokey’s manuscript helped
here. In those hours Gunnie was able to gain
an understanding of the family heritage of
Wiralee and want to be part of it.

There is much to learn and appreciate in this
novel. There are references to bush lore, bush
tucker and medicines, the wild life, the value
of the Bulletin, the postal services, the country
courts, all windows into life one hundred
years ago. Though most names and some
places are fictional, quite a few places are not
and can be found via the Internet, including
Gunnedah which still has its memorial to the
murdered miners. There is a glossary of terms,
a family tree in this absorbing family history,
and a website for reader interaction. This is
a valuable read for ages 10 and over, in fact
for all ages. JDA”

Many thanks to John Adams for taking the time to read my book and review it.

Clancy

'Gunnedah Hero' - paperback and eBook

Gunnedah Hero is available as a paperback or eBook.

Paperback, with matching bookmark: $23.50 including postage and handling.

EBook: $5.20

http://clancytucker.com.au

and http://morrispublishingaustralia.com

Or library suppliers and on-line bookstores. You can find more information on the book and the author at the following Websites:

http://clancytucker.com.au

http://MorrisPublishingAustralia.com

Prime Minister's Literary Awards - a slap in the face to self-published authors.

G'day guys.

The following is one of many letters I have sent to senior politicians and public servants regarding the ineligibility of self-published authors to enter the Prime Minister's Literary Awards. This, like many others, has been addressed to the First Assistant Secretary of the Prime Minister's Department, Sally Busser.

Should any of you agree with my thoughts, start writing to the PM. After all, it is 2012!

"Sally,

Thanks for your reply. I also am pleased that the PM's Award now has a poetry category - an issue I've been lobbying for ages. However, with great respect, you did not answer my question which is on every self-published author's lips. I'm sure one of your staffers prepared your email. But you are the First Assistant Secretary!
Question: would you see a time in the near, or far distant future, when tax-paying self-published authors will be permitted to enter the PM's award?

1. I have spoken to many senior people in the industry in Australia (FAW, ASA, Wheeler Centre, VWC and other writers organisations in Australia; including senior staff in the Prime Minister's office. The latter gave me some fairly poor reasons as to why self-published authors cannot enter the PM's award. Basically, their assumption is that self-published authors write and prepare poor quality books that are not worthy of entry. That is a fallacy. I, like many other serious and professional writers, have worked dilligently to produce a product that is professional in every way - paying professional editors to appraise my work prior to publication. We must be professional because writing, and being accepted as an author, is a tough gig.

2. All books entered in the PM's Award should be judged on their merits. It's that simple. So, if certain entries contain grammatical errors or typographical errors, then let them be judged accordingly - they will not cut it if they are poorly presented. As I pointed out to a very senior member of the PM's office who had a family background in publishing, "If a book looks like a fully bound book, has an ISBN number and CIP number from the National Library, then one can accept it as a book. Manuscripts and documents in plastic folders are clearly not deemed to be a book." 

3. I have recently entered my self-published book in the following major book contests; none of which discriminated against self-published authors:

WA Premier's Book Awards - 2 categories.
Miles Franklin Award - 1 category.
Commonwealth Book Prize - 1 category.
Environment Award for Children's Literature (The Wilderness Society) 1 category.
SA Premier's Award - 3 categories.
Children's Book Council of Australia, Book of The Year Awards - 2 categories.
CAL Waverley Library Award for Literature - 1 category.
2011 National Literary Awards - 2 categories.

In the coming months I will also be entering the 'Age' Book of The Year Award and Victorian, NSW and Queensland Premier's awards.

4. Sally, I would not be the least bit surprised if an author or writer's organisation soon lodges a writ against the PM and her department via the ACCC / National Competition Council and or The Human Rights Commission in the Federal Court, claiming: discrimination, denial of natural justice, restrictive trade practices, unfair practices, restriction of free competition, lack of equal opportunity etc. An inability to enter the PM's Award also infringes upon certain conventions of the Internationl Labour Organisation (ILO). I'm sure a successful OR unsuccessful claim in the Federal Court would not offer the PM's Award any kudos.

5.  I have read the BISG report and summarised the recommendations. However, one of the main issues for authors is that they receive 10% of the RRP of their book. Thus, a $30 book will make the author $3.00. Yet, the distributors and booksellers receive a larger slice of the pie - a pie they did not bake. In short, booksellers and distributors feed off and scavenge from the abilities of authors. Publishers and authors are at the bottom of the food chain. Seems terribly inequitous to me, and others -  as per the comments in recommendation 19 of the Book Industry Strategy Group (BISG) which mentioned two salient points:

a. The low level of remuneration for authors

b. Fluctuations in their remuneration

6. Sally, for a country of 22,000,000 people, we have a plethora of writers and creative people, as we have had since the 26th of January 1788. We, all of us, but especially you guys who are paid to make decisions, must ensure that all forms of creativity are encouraged in this country. In doing so, we will become a world leader in literature - not only in sports. I guess one suggestion would be to establish an Australian Institute for The Arts; similar to the Institute for Sport which pumps heaps of taxpayers dollars into sporting men and women who do very well financially - during and after their careers ... thank you very much.

The fact that self-published authors cannot enter our Prime Minister's Literary Awards is an appalling slap in the face.

I and others who made submissions to the BISG and the National Cultural Policy would be interested to know if these specific points I've raised are a high priority for your department? They certainly are for us.

Thanks for listening.

I'm Clancy Tucker

13-December-2011"

 

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!

G'day guys,

Today is Australia Day, and what a great day to finish a wonderful blog tour – the day our forebears decided to camp on this extraordinary continent. How fitting, that this blog tour has related to a book about our pioneers; people like Smokey ‘Gun’ Danson. Life has changed dramatically since the 26th of January 1788. Happy Australia Day!

Wow, what a blog tour - what a journey. I'd like to thank the participants in the tour who have so freely given of their time. We have been in some great company. At all times I have been frank in my response to questions. That's me. What you see is what you get - a passionate writer.

Check this list of wonderful hosts and interviewers: Tanya McCartney, Jill Smith, Vicki Stanton, Anastasia Gonis (the ultimate questioner!), Carol Warner, Sheryl Gwyther, Kelly McLean, Deb Cullen, Helen Ross and Dee White. A special thanks to Lou Morris and Elaine Ouston of Morris Publishing Australia - www.morrispublishingaustralia.com who organised the blog tour. They are exceptional publishers who work hard for their writers.

What's next for me?

Rather than be stereotyped as a historical fiction writer, I plan to publish a very different book in March / April. It's called 'Pa Joe's Place' and is based on a true story of a beautiful seven-year-old Thai girl named Boo. I met her many years ago in Thailand - where the story is set. It’s probably the most powerful manuscript I've written so far, and I am currently organising to have the book translated into Thai so it will also be available to Thai readers. Why Thailand? Simple: I've lived and worked in South East Asia and I speak Thai. Wait till you see the cover of the book. It is eye-catching, and the photograph is very relevant to the story. I took the photograph some years back, the morning after a famous festival in Thailand - Loy Krathong.

Several Thai people have read the story already. A well-educated and articulate seventeen-year-old Thai student made these comments when he’d finished. His mother, a former senior diplomat with Thai Foreign Affairs, will most probably translate the story into the Thai language:

“I would like to call your story a masterpiece, because it has inspired me very much.”

“In conclusion, I am glad that I have read a wonderful story that deeply touched me”

“Yes, I liked the plot very much because it was quite adventurous and full of surprises.”

“I would give the story a 9.5/10 because rarely has any stories touched me this much, and rarely has any story made me want to keep reading on and on.”

“I would love to read other stories like this one because the message is very powerful and influential.”

“I do not have any dislikes in the story because the story is too inspiring for me to dislike it!”

“This is the first time I’ve read a story which deeply touched me.”

Veerabhatr (Jug)

Bangkok, Thailand
23rd January 2012.

After 'Pa Joe's Place' hits the streets, I will publish the sequel to 'Gunnedah Hero' which I finished three years ago - 'A Drover's Blanket'. I am now working on book three of the ‘Gunnedah Hero’ series, called 'Magic Billie' - story about Smokey 'Gun' Danson's best mate, an Aboriginal drover with a wicked sense of humour and a bucket of integrity. This story will be a powerful tale of life as an Aboriginal in the early 1900's.

Then, hopefully, I will publish one of my favourite manuscripts - 'Ky' – story of a young Muslim refugee who is bullied by two Aussie girls because she wears glasses, a hijab, and loves to read. Like 'Gunnedah Hero', this story won an award in the National Literary Awards in 2006. I did heaps of research on bullying for this story. Here is an interesting tale in that regard.

Whilst visiting our mobile library, I spotted a teen magazine that featured bullying and took it home. I hopped onto a website set up by the magazine and was gob smacked by what I read - heart-wrenching stories written by Aussie kids who were being bullied. I cut and pasted about 30 pages of the comments and placed them in two categories: what happened, and what the bullied kids did about it. It was very moving research. Trust me. I have no doubt it was the first time many of the kids had told anyone about their personal grief. So, stay tuned and read 'Ky' when it is published. It has a great finish and the story line is very different to any other you've read. This is a great story for kids who are bullied.

Not only but also ...

Gunnedah Hero has been entered in eight major book awards, including the Miles Franklin, Commonwealth Book Prize and Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards. It will also be entered in another six prizes in the weeks ahead. Fingers crossed, eh? Other than writing, I am involved in social justice issues, here and overseas - always have been. One of my current projects, other than human rights issues, is to try to change the Prime Minister's Literary Awards categories so that self-published authors can enter. Previously, the award did not have a poetry category but we got that one up. Hooray for all you poets. Seemed odd to me, and disturbing, that a prestigious award like the PM's, did not include a poetry category when one of our most celebrated poets, Andrew Barton 'Banjo' Paterson, is depicted on our ten-dollar note and is the author of Waltzing Matilda.

Finally ... henceforth, hitherto and therefore thereafter ...

If you missed the blog tour, go back and check it out. Here is the schedule. Some of my answers might make you chuckle or, if you’re a writer, make you grin. Don’t forget our special offer and contest. Three blog readers will win a free eBook copy of ‘Gunnedah Hero’.

Clancy Tucker - Gunnedah Hero - Blog Tour Schedule
January 14th http://www.kids-bookreview.com - Author Interview
January 15th http://authorjillsmith.wordpress.com - Book Review
January 16th: www.buzzwordsmagazine.blogspot.com - Article - Writing Historical Fiction
January 17th: http://carolwarner.wordpress.com/ - Author Interview
January 18th: http://elaineoustonauthor.com/ - Review
January 19th: www.buzzwordsmagazine.blogspot.com - Review
January 20th: http://sherylgwyther.wordpress.com - Author interview
January 22nd: https://www.facebook.com/aussiebookreviews - Review
January 23rd: http://www.morrispublishingaustralia.com/news-update-blog.html
January 24th: www.sherfordbear.co.uk - Review
January 25th: http://misshelenwrites.wordpress.com - Author Interview
January 25th: http://content.boomerangbooks.com.au/kids-book-capers-blog/
January 26th: Grand finale - http://www.blogbud.com/clancytucker - What's next for Clancy
GIVE-AWAY: As a part of this blog tour, Morris Publishing Australia and I are giving three eBooks to readers of the blogs. Go to http://morrispublishingaustralia.com and use the form on the Contact Page. Fill in your first name, email address, and put Blog Competition and your preferred eBook format in the message. You and your children will love this heart-warming story. (Choose from ePub, PDF, Kindle) The winners will be drawn on January 31st, 2012. All winners will be notified by email and their eBook will be attached.
Paperback Price Slashed: From 14th to 31st January, the price of the Gunnedah Hero paperback will be slashed to $25. Go to the website http://morrispublishingaustralia.com and choose the Buy Now button under Discount copy text. The usual postage charge will apply. Or from http://clancytucker.com.au.
Gunnedah Hero eBook is available for immediate download from:
Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/114638
Google eBooks, Apple iBookstores, Barnes and Noble, Sony and Kobo.

That's it for now. Again, many thanks to the blog hosts and to my wonderful eBook publishers, Morris Publishing Australia. Love ya work!

Thanks for listening. Don’t be shy. Leave a message in my guestbook.

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!

I'm Clancy Tucker
www.clancytucker.com.au
26th January 2012