From FYI to WTF....

I've recently come across an article by Adrian Magson in Writers' Magazine with the rather ambiguous title of "Spell it Out". "Make sure readers know exactly what you are talking about," says he. 

OMG (= Oh my God) that's so true it isn't even funny. I mean, using acronyms in twitter may be a useful way to fit the word limit, but anywhere else (and sometimes there, too) it's worth the time spent on explaining what you mean. Not everybody is up on the lingo, so to speak. You can't expect your readers to know everything, especially if you're aiming to market your book internationally. What a reader from the US understands without question doesn't necessarily hold any meaning for someone from Spain, or Greece, or Russia. Or worse, it might mean something completely different. That holds true on other levels, but let's stick with acronyms for now. 

Here's a couple I use that are probably understandable: 

FYI

OMG

ROFL

LOL

CIA

FBI

NSA

TGIF

ELTB

SSDD

ASAP

SYL

I think I'd feel safe enough using any of those in a story, should it fit the context, but mostly I'd do as Mr Magson advises and make sure the reader knows what I'm talking about. 

What do you use regularly and  have you come across any strange ones that you had to look up? How much explaining do you think one should do when writing, and how much can you just imply and trust the reader will understand?

ps. spot the acronym I smuggled into the list... *grins*

And Alex has done it again!!!

It's a very special week we have right now...it's almost time for Alex J Cavanaugh's long awaited third book in the Cassa series!!

Alex, who is also the founder of the Insecure Writers' Support Group (see tab up above), has once again outdone himself. He also gave his loyal followers an opportunity to ask questions, and I'm not going to withhold his answer... 

(to clarify: one of the questions asked by someone before me involved transparent pants....) 

My question was the following: 

What is courage? Although the transparent pants sound interesting, too...

and here's what Alex said: 

Courage is not being afraid to wear transparent pants in public!

Real courage is doing what is right and what needs to be done whether you feel up to it or not. It’s taking a leap of faith.

Alex certainly took a leap of faith, sharing his work with the rest of the world (in fact, I think it probably feels a bit like wearing transparent pants in public...)- and I'm heartily glad he did! Here's the blurb for the third volume in the Cassa series... check it out and see how Byron shows his courage! 

CassaStorm

By Alex J Cavanaugh

From the Amazon Best Selling Series!

A storm gathers across the galaxy…

Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.

After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.

Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…

“CassaStorM is a touching and mesmerizing space opera full of action and emotion with strong characters and a cosmic mystery.” – Edi’s Book Lighhouse

“Cavanaugh creates such an unforgettable world, and these characters will stay with you long after their story is over.” 
- Cassie Mae, author of Friday Night Alibi and How to Date a Nerd

Find CassaStorm:

Barnes and Noble 

Amazon 

Amazon Kindle - 

Goodreads  

And you can find Alex here: 

Website

Twitter 

Goodreads 

I hope you have fun reading!!

All the best,



More book facts:

$16.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 268 pages, Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.

Science fiction/adventure and science fiction/space opera

Print ISBN 9781939844002 
eBook ISBN 9781939844019

$4.99 EBook available in all formats

It's the Fourth of September, and the Insecure Writers turn Two!!

Today's a very special day - not only is it the fourth of September (which means most people's summer holidays are over and gone), but it's the two-year anniversary of Alex J Cavanaugh's wonderful invention, the

Today's posts are hosted by Alex and his faithful group of co-hosts,

Chemist Ken

SL Hennessey

Michelle Wallace

and

Joylene Nowell Butler

and the group is more than THREE HUNDRED STRONG!!! 

(imagine fireworks right about now, please)

Let me take this opportunity to say thank you. 

1. THANK YOU to Alex for coming up with this idea. 
2. THANK YOU to Alex's co-hosts for helping him implement it. 
3. THANK YOU to all the other insecure writers for baring their writerly souls once every month and showing everyone else that no, we're not alone. 
4. THANK YOU to everyone who takes the time to comment on other people's posts (mine in particular), even for those of us who don't always have time to return the favour. For me, every comment I get puts a smile on my face even on the worst of days. 
5. THANK YOU, again, to Alex, who somehow always manages to pop in on my blog and say hi. You've made lots of my days that much more fun. 

And for once I'm not going to rant about my writing problems, but just leave the post like this, and leave you with a question - is there anyone in particular you'd like to thank for supporting your writing? 

ps. on that note, THANK YOU to my Book Bunny friends, for being there to support my writerly soul. *HUGZ*