Author Inspiration and This Week’s Writing Links

The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.

Ciao, amici! The three-day weekend has me all turned around. I’m not sure why, since I worked through the holiday, but I’m muddled all the same. Days off, whether I take them or not, always make the rest of the week hard for me. I never know what day it is, and my plans all fall apart.

Enough about that, though. A bunch of weird stuff happened this week. Family things. Weather things. (I’m seriously considering building an ark.) Work things. At first, I thought I’d incorporate some of these oddities into my WIP (or a future work) because they were just so bizarre, they needed to be shared. Then I realized it was pointless. No one would believe some of this stuff. Which brings me to these wise words by Tom Clancy:

The difference between fiction and reality?
Fiction has to make sense. 

And isn’t that that truth? Just because something is fascinating doesn’t mean it’ll make good fiction. Then again, if we construct our stories well, that odd thing that interests us won’t only fit seamlessly into our work, it’ll shine.

What do you think? Are you working on a project with something so bizarre in it, you fear readers won’t believe it? Or did you work it in so it’s the highlight of your story? In my WIP, I’ve got something cool with an alien. I don’t want to give anything juicy away, but there’s a neat Star Wars reference that (I hope) will make people wonder and think until the answer is revealed. It’s definitely unique, but I think it works. (Actually, I think it’s better than just working. I think it’s kind of awesome.) Your turn to share—what’s in your story that’s almost too “out there” to be believed?

And now, this week’s writing links:

Posts by me, about my work, or at sites I contribute to:

Me

Story Empire

Posts by others in the industry:

To make you smile:

And when you’re done with these links, don’t forget to check out the sidebar, where you’ll find more links to some of my favorite sites.

Have a great week! Arrivederci!

54 thoughts on “Author Inspiration and This Week’s Writing Links”

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  2. Pingback: Hidebound Hump Day — Fiona Fights Back | Teagan's Books

  4. I’m intrigued, Staci. Go you! 🙂 I’m in catchup mode this week… again. Yikes!
    Thanks so much for sharing my post along with so many awesome topics. Your roundups are the best. Wishing you a joyful week ahead. Cheers! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. Love that quote! Mostly because it is so true … Still trying to catch up (I feel like I am perpetually behind). Great links (they are always great links, but this week there are a couple that are particularly interesting).

    Been watching the news and always think about you when they talk about AR. Hope you are out of the path of most damage!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. I’m always behind, too. Don’t feel bad.

      Thanks for thinking of us. The worst of the flooding is a little south of me, but we keep getting slammed with nasty storms. I’m considering a house boat.

      Liked by 1 person

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  7. Staci I love the quote! Then after reading your post, I see that we seem to be in parallel. A particular real Teagan-life situation makes no sense. You’re right — it would need to make more sense to put in a book. However, in venting to a couple of friends, their responses tickled me so much that I made a vignette of it. That will be my midweek post. But I’m shameless.
    Wishing you a week that makes a lot more sense — but only in good ways. Hugs on the wing.

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. Reblogged this on The Write Stuff and commented:

    Time for another great weekly update from Staci Troilo. Super quote this week, and lots of wonderful links for you to check out and pass along. Thanks! And a special thanks to Staci for making it easier for me to keep up. 😀 ❤

    Liked by 2 people

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  9. “I never know what day it is, and my plans all fall apart.”
    Sounds like me, pretty much every day! 😀

    Great quote this week, Staci, and so damn true! Real life never makes sense to me anymore. 😯
    Thanks for all the great links, and I hope your week settles down for you. 🙂 ❤

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. What a great quote, Staci! Yes, I am working on a short story with a Voodoo ritual in it. The things that follow are going to be difficult for the reader to believe but I’m hoping will be entertained by. 🙂

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  11. Ha, that’s a great quote and ain’t it the truth. I met a guy with THE BEST mystery/thriller detective name… but it’s almost too good… like, who in fiction would possibly have that name?
    The name, btw, is Chippy Riviera. Ain’t that the best?

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Change, add, or remove a vowel or consonant and make it your own.

      • Pippy Rivera
      • Flip Guevara
      • Chops Ramirez (and before you say Chops isn’t a name, I should tell you in the town I grew up in, there was a beloved basketball coach with that name… I mean, it was a nickname, but that’s what he went by)

      Write a strong character, and I’ll believe the name. And I know you can do it.

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  13. Our week has felt like a bad case of jetlag. We made a 2500 mile round trip in three days with my mom, who’s wheelchair bound and me (not for behind, lol). I’m trying to motivate myself to work on two stories due this fall, but the sun and flowers are calling my name 🙂

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      1. I’m intrigued with a Star Wars reference, Staci. It’s always a good sign when the author thinks its awesome:) Hope you have a good weekend and improved week. I’m heading back to reality today after a vacation reset:)

        Liked by 1 person

      2. It certainly made me smile, Denise. And I know how it’s going to play out through the whole series, which really delights me.

        I hope you had a great vacation and have an easy transition back home.

        Liked by 1 person

  14. You must have had some week:) Hope next week’s better. I can’t wait to see what you do when the alien meets Landon Thorne. The alien keeps asking for him, and he must have something important to tell him. (I know. I’ve been fiddling with what will happen off and on). And I’m ready for Landon to get back to his original girl so they can work together to save the world. Oops…I’m supposed to have something unusual in my books, huh? I’m coming up empty, but I love your teasers.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Well, you didn’t share anything from your work, but your enthusiasm about mine makes up for that. You really made my day. And, while I won’t tell you about Quinn and Landon, I will say you’ll NEVER guess what’s really going on. 😉

      Thanks, Judi.

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    1. A few of my friends swear by MailerLite. I haven’t made the jump yet, but I suppose it’s time to do so. Or at least to look into it.

      Glad you found the links useful. 🙂

      Like

      Reply

  16. I love it when something works in a story. The funny part is you know it works, which makes it a great experience. Thank you for the link. Twiggy and Lucy send a virtual lick to you. Have a great weekend, Staci.

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  17. I’ve been turned around this week, too. Sometimes when I have a three day weekend the work week actually seems longer. I have no idea why, but I’m glad it’s Friday!

    I included a ton of stuff in my Point Pleasant series that supposedly truly took place—UFO sightings, men in black, the Mothman–all of which required a suspension of disbelief. it was fun writing!

    Can’t wait to see what you’re up to with your aliens!

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. I think paranormal, fantasy, and sci-fi require suspension of belief (a lot more than other genres). You always handle your situations brilliantly. I was thinking more “real life” life than “cryptid-related real life” but that counts, too. I know a lot of freaky stuff happened during the bridge/Mothman era. (If you read my answer to Harmony, you’ll see the kind of things I was thinking about.) You handled Hode’s Hill well, too. I especially loved the lore surrounding Blue Lady and the cemetery protection spirit (I can’t pick a favorite).

      I hope you rest up this weekend before the regular schedule of next week!

      Like

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  18. I’ve been on vacation (staycation) this week, so it’s really thrown me for a loop. Love the Clancy quote and he’s right, fiction has to make sense. Life often doesn’t. Thanks again for sharing my new release this week!

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    1. If you read the answer I wrote to Harmony, you’ll see the lines I was thinking along. But I love your take, too. It’s disappointing when what I expect from the blurb is not what I find in the book.

      And you know I love me some root monsters!

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      1. I came back to check the conversation with Harmony. Some things happen in real life that we could never sell in a book. Interesting how the number three showed up in your funerals though.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Nice callback to your post! (And each of the funerals were three-day events—two days of viewing and the third day the burial service.)

        Three deaths.
        Three families (in our large family).
        Three days.

        That’s kind of creepy.

        Like

  20. Staci, the long weekend definitely causes life to run amok … although the whole of May seems to have been like that for me! 😀 A great quote and I’m smiling at your statement of your own WIP – awesome is brilliant!! Keep flying! I’m currently in the last edits of a children book – and luckily ‘out there’ is the norm! No restrictions but still important to keep tight, yet flowing with a compelling story and rhythm. 😀

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  21. Am laughing here, as my first ever book, The Battle for Brisingamen was full of strange stuff that led brilliantly into a fantasy world. My next book, The Glade, was all about the supernatural but based on actual research I did–as well as my warped imagination, lol. Love the quote, Staci 🙂 Sorry you’ve had such a tough week. Here’s to a more relaxed weekend. Thanks for the links! )

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    1. I think that’s awesome, Harmony. I once had three family deaths back-to-back. The second person died on the day of the first’s funeral. The third died on the day of the second’s funeral. It was all our family, but none of them were related (three different branches of my husband’s family), so it wasn’t the rare-but-possible grief-related death, nor was it a gruesome accident. I always thought it would be a fascinating situation to play with (exploring grief and familial reactions) because by the third death, pretty much all of us shut down. We just couldn’t manage to grieve again. But then I realized no one would believe the premise.

      Have a great weekend!

      Liked by 1 person

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