Christine Kohler

May 01, 2016 6:35 PM EDT

These are very good tips! I'd add that you might want to be prepared to do a little acting. It feels strange and unnatural to those of us not in the modeling trade, but once you warm up to your photographer, those staged poses he or she might ask for can become the best shots. I had fun when I got the pictures trying to match the poses to the photo. In which one was I supposed to be acting like I was bored in a grocery line? In which one was I dreaming of a far-away place?

- Anonymous

May 01, 2016 7:11 PM EDT

Great suggestion! This is an interesting concept I hadn't thought of or tried. (I took drama classes only for the playwriting part and disliked when my college drama teacher made me do warm-up acting parts.) You've got me thinking of things I haven't done, though. For example, maybe before a photo shoot the person could practice expressions and poses in a mirror. Also, perhaps the person could clip poses and expressions she or he likes (pinterest?) prior to the photo shoot.

- Christine Kohler

Mar 22, 2016 12:09 PM EDT

In the UK the Welcome Library has made the historical images which it owns available free - http://wellcomeimages.org/ for more information. Otherwise I use Wikimedia Commons.

- Jane Wickenden

Mar 22, 2016 12:28 PM EDT

You can use anything I have for free. :-D

- Doris Kelly

Mar 22, 2016 12:35 PM EDT

Good to know, Jane! Thank you for this info.

- Christine Kohler

Mar 22, 2016 12:38 PM EDT

That is generous of you, Doris. I'll especially keep it in mind if I need Mackinac Island photos (i.e. lighthouse, lake, floral, etc.) You are a beautiful photographer. You'd probably have fun with Pixabay.com even if you don't need photos for a website. I think I'm addicted to it already.

- Christine Kohler

Mar 22, 2016 7:40 PM EDT

I'm a bit confused about Pixabay--I guess I never saw the notice that I had to upload pictures to use their pictures. I've recently started using them. I'm going to have to go back and do some research!!! I also use morguefile.com. Also creative commons pictures.

- Susan Uhlig Ford

Mar 22, 2016 7:54 PM EDT

Susan, I saw something about morguefile.com the other day when I was searching for a garden gnome to illustrate my next writing article about naysayers (tbr April 2). That's when I stumbled upon Pixabay. I haven't had time to read all the Pixabay rules yet, but I saw where if you upload 10 photos, approved, then it's ad free. That part confused me. But once I was looking into signing up for another service that was a swap, and it was more confusing and complicated with a chit and point system. The point is, authors like us are dealing with very few photos. Consider that I try to only write one craft article a month, and the AG site template only permits one photo per article. So it's possible I use only 12 illustrative graphics a year, not counting photos I take of book events. So it is definitely not worth it to invest in a service or have to do something that takes a lot of time ore effort, or any money. It would be different if I was still doing PR and needed to do whole publications every month.

- Christine Kohler

Mar 22, 2016 8:04 PM EDT

I just want to add that Pixabay appeals to the photographer in me. I have worked as a photojournalist. But I do not have all the expensive equipment I had before digital photography. (My skills really deteriorated using digital and on automatic settings.) Pixabay may be the jumpstart I need to photograph more again and work at improving. The bar is certainly high for their photographers, and I'm competitive enough to enjoy the committee ratings. I've only been on it two days and it's already addictive, and making me use a critical eye again at what is in my files. (Notice that my thorn photo here was rejected. Yet it made an eye-catching photo-illustration to go with my title "thorny issue.") Otherwise, for a blogger who only needs that 12 illustrations a year, it may not be worth the time and effort of contributing to the site.

- Christine Kohler

May 18, 2018 12:32 AM EDT

Not all images on Pixabay are actually copyright free. They've been called out before for having art uploaded (and then used for commercial purposes) that the uploader had no permission to share.

- Tamara Green

May 18, 2018 3:58 AM EDT

I wasn't aware of this Tamara. Thanks for the info. Question: How would a blogger know if the artwork was uploaded illegally? Authors and illustrators (my audience) do not want to violate copyright. We understand firsthand the detriment financially with this type of theft.

- Christine Kohler

Jan 04, 2016 1:10 AM EST

Great blog. For writers who are Christian, there is also the American Christian Fiction Writers. On the national level the resources are endless for many of the types of groups you mentioned. There are also many local chapters which provide social contact. Always great to associate with those who "get" you.

- Jenny McLeod Carlisle

Jan 04, 2016 3:53 AM EST

Thanks for adding this ACFW resource, Jenny. It's a great organization. I attended a national Christian writing conference at Mt. Hermon, CA, one year and found the format to be one of the best because it allowed for accessibility to editors and agents. Everyone was very candid, too, and friendly. Glad you've been able to tap into this group. Best wishes on your writing this year.

- Christine Kohler

Dec 01, 2015 5:23 PM EST

I agree!!!
I tried to make my book effort (part of a series) fit into the Nano format one year. With great struggle, it worked. At the end of the month I had no more useful manuscript art and writing than if I'd just worked on my own schedule.
Nanowrimo doesn't intrigue me anymore.

- Ruth Barshaw

Dec 01, 2015 5:41 PM EST

Thanks for sharing your experience, Ruth. btw, I'm a fan of your books and artwork!

I've heard testimonies where it does work for some writers. But as a former writing instructor for nearly a decade, I'm concerned about all of the frustrated writers who feel like failures, as if this is the BIG TEST to becoming a professional (i.e. published and paid) writer. Nonsense! One month doesn't make or break a long-term career writing. And, in my experience, November through January are the worst months to put this pressure on writers and families.

- Christine Kohler

Dec 02, 2015 6:34 AM EST

Thank you, Christine. :)
You're right. Nano is not a true test of ability to manage the writing life.
Now, if they came up with a five month revisions challenge, that's something I could get behind.

- Ruth Barshaw

Dec 02, 2015 7:12 AM EST

Ruth, if you hear of a five-month revision challenge, let me know. I'll sign up for that one, too.

- Christine Kohler

Oct 02, 2015 4:57 PM EDT

This was a great post, Christine. I am an author and I write middle grade fantasy. I write with a bit of a twist in that I also aim to educate as I entertain. Some of the animals in my stories are endangered animals of Australia. At the back of the books there is a glossary that provided tidbits of information about the flora and fauna mentioned within the story.

My inspiration comes from the land down under, but such wonderful authors as, Kipling, Beatrix Potter, and Brian Jacques, also played an important part.
http://bit.ly/TGoSprint

Thanks again! I enjoyed your post.
Jeanne

- Jeanne E. Rogers

Oct 02, 2015 5:21 PM EDT

Thank you, Jeanne! I looked at your website http://warriorechidna.blogspot.com and Facebook book page https://www.facebook.com/AustralianFantasyAdventures/ and you have stunning photos and illustrations of Australian creatures. Are you the illustrator, too? Marvelous artwork!

I have never written stories with non-humans as the main characters; it must be quite challenging. When I used to teach writing for the Institute of Children's Literature (ICL) I advised students writing animal characters to still use behaviors inherent to those animals/birds/creatures. So I hope my article is helpful to all who write non-human characters.

- Christine Kohler

Oct 04, 2015 4:18 AM EDT

Hi, Christine, my illustrator is located in London, England. His Name is Guy Atherfold, and he is brilliant. He knows exactly what I'm envisioning for my animals, and depicts them in personality flawlessly. http://www.guyatherfold.co.uk
My animals are very 'human.' They have human flaws and strengths just like people.

- Jeanne E. Rogers

Sep 04, 2015 9:00 AM EDT

thanks for the mention! It so good to read/think about the deeper matter of writing. Especially when working on something new.

- Arthur Slade

Sep 04, 2015 9:32 AM EDT

Art, I'm a big fan of your work. And MEGIDDO'S SHADOW, a WWI novel, was a perfect book to use for a study of objective correlative. You hit all the right cords and high notes in that book, that left me in tears. This study, using your book, helped me to think deeper about my own writing, and how to touch readers on an emotional level. Thank you!

- Christine Kohler