D. Wallace Peach has posted a step-by-step process by which you can make a professional book trailer. Click on her link and see how easy it can be to make a trailer for your book.
Brad explains what Public Domain is, and also provides us with an Excel spreadsheet listing works of art (movies, books, etc.) which are now free of copyright.
Before you use a phrase from a book, song or movie. Find out if it was released on “Public Domain Day” on January 1, 2019. Do your research.
Want more info? Watch this short video by Steve Shives that explains more. Steve also gives us a list of some old favorites that are now part of the Public Domain. Who knows, something might just spark your imagination.
Tell me, have you thought about using an older piece of work in something new?
Have you used a quote and wondered if it were free of copyright?
What about photos?
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AND STOP BY JEAN’S WRITING ANYTIME, I’LL LEAVE A LIGHT ON.
A name is very important to your reader. Names, first and last, define a character enabling the reader to envision the character.
Do you struggle with selecting a cool name?
I do! Every time I sit down to develop a new character, I struggle.
This isn’t the first time I’ve written about selecting the best name. I’ve tried name generators and had mixed results. On rare occasions, a name comes to me and just fits. You know what I mean?
Other times as with the antagonist in my current WIP, selecting a name is a major pain in my ass. I’ve changed her name a dozen times or so it seems. Her name still doesn’t work for me. At times I’ve called her Madame X just so I could get a scene down. Come to think of it Madame X, hmm. No, definitely not.
I recently received a newsletter with a video about this very subject. And as usual, I learned something new. This video is so good, I watched it three times. So I decided to share.
Here are the tips I gleaned from Chris Fox.
Start with an adjective that describes the character.
Short or tall?
Fat or slim?
Little/small?
Rugged or polished?
Young/old?
Next, add color.
Black, or white?
Pale or tanned?
Red
Dark /light
Combine these attributes with a noun that describes temperament or appearance. Such as…
Beard
Hair
Eyes
Mad
Hateful
Funny
Humble
Or combinewith social status.
Baker
Politician
Doctor
Lawyer
Knight
Farmer
Blacksmith
Social climber
Or combine with the region they’re from. A city, wealthy, and well-educated or a person from Europe, may have a longer first name. If they are from a small town their name is more often as not a shortened version or nickname.
City (highrise, small apartment)
Small town (suburban house)
Farm
Northern city/town
Southern city/town
Swamp
Mountains/beach
France
Africa
Italy
Ireland
A name comes from 4 primary categories.
Patronymic: a name derived from that of the father or a paternal ancestor usually by the addition of an affix
Locative: If a person from a certain region, or country, you may want to anglicize a name or translate to a different language. Google translate is great for this.
Socioeconomic/Job title/status: of, relating to or involving a combination of social and economic factors
Nicknames: a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place, or thing, for affection or ridicule
Looks, behavior often attributed to this name.
My tip:What finally helped me select the perfect name for my antagonist?
Google! After using these suggestions I came up with two or three I liked. Then I Googled the meanings of each. Voila!Found what I needed.
At last, I settled on Margo Richardson for my troublemaker.
Want proof?Just look at the romance genre. Sales continue to climb. I’m not talking just about erotica (smut novels per my daughter.)
Want to write a bestselling novel?
Add romance to the formula.
Whether you self-publish or traditional, write mysteries, women’s fiction, dystopian, YA, LGBT fiction, horror, or thriller, add a little romance and you’ve got a bestseller on your hands.
Why?
Because everyone loves a good love story.
Still not convinced? Check out the top Amazon 100 ebooksor the NYT Best Seller list and see for yourself. Read some of the book blurbs, I bet you’ll see lots of references to love. Even one of the hottest new YA futuristic book, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline mentions a love connection.
So tell me—
Could your current work in progress use a little romance?
Have you given much thought to how hot the romance genre is?
That’s it for today. Short and sweet because I’ve got a big romantic evening to plan.
So go curl up with a good romantic movie or book and get your groove on.
Want proof? 
Jean's Writing 