Kathryn Barrett🌻

For now, Mastodon: @[email protected] Writes books. Lives abroad. Fueled by green tea. Inspired by long walks. One of those annoying morning people.

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

New blog post, about the new book, and the difficulty of writing a book set in the White House.
https://t.co/1NvZAdzSN5 via @KathrynSBarrett

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

Number 3 is especially annoying. I call it the "in your head" syndrome--when the writer KNOWS that a character has a special power, for instance, but it only is revealed at a convenient time. I saw this is the kids I tutored in creative writing a lot, but also in adult fiction!

[Alyssa Matesic @AlyssaMatesic]

Here’s one mistake I see in almost every novel I edit: too much narrative distance, or space between the reader & the characters/events in the story.

Here are three ways you could be creating narrative distance & weakening your manuscript – without even realizing it (a 🧵):

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

I finally tried ChatGPT: Seems like it knows its stuff!

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

Here's an idea for all those one-off character names that are so hard (for me) to come up with. Just name them after American cities. Boston! Chicago! Philly! Chillicothe!

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

Inviting paths. Welford Park, Berkshire

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

Heartbroken to think we're about to lose Jimmy Carter. May his family find peace and grace during this time.

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

"Strafe" is a good word. I can "see" it which makes it great for creating fresh imagery. "He was strafed with conflicting emotions."

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

Like any writer, I'm always searching for slang terms. These came about during WWI--some are quite surprising! 20 Slang Terms From World War I https://t.co/y90INEOyD6 via @Pocket

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

@BarbaraConrey The mysteries of Amazon! (I would def pay that much for your book!)

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

For whatever reason Amazon has lowered the price of my latest novel, True Courage. Regularly $16.99, now $13.08 (yeah, no idea what they want with that 8 cents). https://t.co/J5y0s4Qfeb

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

@BarbaraConrey Thanks, Barbara!

[Barbara Conrey @BarbaraConrey]

I read this book when it was still in the development stage, and I adored it! I’m so happy to see you never gave up ♥️

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

For whatever reason Amazon has lowered the price of my latest novel, True Courage. Regularly $16.99, now $13.08 (yeah, no idea what they want with that 8 cents). https://t.co/J5y0s4Qfeb

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

@behold_corn I read books to learn how to write, both fiction in my genre, other genres, and most helpfully, "how to write" books--lots and lots of them, gaining a bit of knowledge from each one.

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

Please please for the love of god: Don't use the term "brash American". It's a cliche. We are not all brash, I promise. Editors, put this on your cliche list to look for and stop your writers from using it.

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

Who doesn't love good reviews? 😊
Thank you everyone! https://t.co/tMdUV70Jlo

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

It’s a book about exactly the sort of character who rarely gets to star in his own novel: the unreflective bro. https://t.co/jAQLS8aglG via @slate

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

@_BMSimpson Is neither an option?

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

Bookmarked!

[RWA @romancewriters]

We're sorry to hear about the passing of Robin Perini, and our thoughts are with her family and friends.

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

Do me a favor; report this as abuse: https://t.co/Qf7GLk8GlI

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

I do not understand how people can be so gullible, except maybe when something seems to fit their ideology. Then the most idiotic thing can be true. People done lost their minds!

[Kathryn Barrett🌻 @KathrynSBarrett]

So some idiot on Amazon changed their review name to "Duke and Duchess of Sussex" and gave a 5 star review to Spare, while taking digs at Harry and Meghan. Then some idiot in ALLi's Facebook group wanted to know how they could review their own book. 😭