Category: Uncategorized

Categories
Uncategorized

Some Interesting Facts and a Statue of Classic Author, Charles Dickens

History in the making

Did you know Charles Dickens’ full name was Charles John Huffam Dickens? I didn’t, and Dickens is one of my favorite authors. His classic stories of life in England in the 1800s were full of wonderful characters, some of which the stories were named after – Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickelby, and David Copperfield to name a few. But, there is also Pip, Miss Havisham, Fagin, and many more, including Little Nell.

Little Nell is the beloved little girl in Dickens’ novel, The Old Curiosity Shop. Charles Dickens published a weekly serial in 1840-1841, called Master Humphrey’s Clock. In it, he published two novels, one of which was The Old Curiosity Shop, along with short stories. The Old Curiosity Shop was such a popular feature of Master Humphrey’s Clock, that readers in New York stormed the wharf when the ship bringing the final installment arrived in 1841. Then The Old Curiosity Shop was published in book form later in 1841.

Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England. Dickens’ novels tell of the injustices of the times he lived in, often featuring the brutal treatment of the poor in a society that was divided by levels of wealth.

Dickens’ family also faced poverty and Charles was forced out of school at twelve years of age to take a job in Warren’s Blacking Warehouse, a shoe-polish factory. He was treated badly by the other boys working there. Then his father was imprisoned for debt. The humiliation of these two circumstances hurt Dickens profoundly and became his deepest secret. However, they obviously provided an unacknowledged foundation for his fiction.

Charles Dickens published 15 novels, one of which was left unfinished at his death, The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

I would like to call your attention back to Little Nell because there are three statues of Charles Dickens in existence – one in Sydney, Australia, one in his hometown of Portsmouth, England, and one in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The one in Philadelphia is the oldest of the three. It was created in 1890, and is the only one that also depicts one of his characters, Little Nell from The Old Curiosity Shop. Before it was moved to Philadelphia, this statue won two gold medals at the Chicago’s World Fair of 1893 and crossed the Atlantic Ocean twice. It was sculpted by Francis Edwin Ewell, who was the one to send it to Philadelphia.

There are two interesting things about the statue being placed in Philadelphia: 1) Charles Dickens, in his will, stated he did not want any memorials, and 2) the fact that the statue is in Philadelphia, a city that Dickens disliked. He said, of Philadelphia, “it is dull and out of spirits.”

Funny that, despite Dickens dislike of Philadelphia, the statue has become a symbol of the neighborhood, and both, Nell and Dickens are crowned with flower wreaths frequently, including each year on Dickens’ birthday, when a party is held and there are readings and dancing.

If you are a Dickens’ fan, like me, I also highly recommend the movie, “The Man Who Invented Christmas” from 2017, and I’d love to know which of his classic novels is your favorite.

Kelly F. Barr lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She is married and has three sons. She writes historical romance. She has also been a blogger for ten years, and every Friday, you can find her Flash Fiction stories posted for your reading pleasure. She loves her family, including the family dog, books, walks, and chai lattes.

You can find her online at:

Website: kellyfbarr.com

MeWe: KellyBarr8

Categories
Uncategorized

How to Grow Your Audience Using ONline Workshops: Part Six

We’ve almost finished preparations for our online workshop! If you’re just joining us, you may wonder, “Why bother with a live webinar? Can’t I just send that information in an email series?”

Yes, you can, but a live webinar is about more than transferring information. It’s about new and established audience members engaging not only with you…live…but with each other.

And in this, our final segment, we’ll talk about when and what to send in both your pre-launch and post-webinar email series.

Here’s our breakdown of this series so far…

In Part One, we chose our topic.

In Part Two, we identified and researched various title resources.  

In Part Three, we chose our title (it’s a dandy!).

In Part Four, we discussed priming our audience for our upcoming webinar using what’s called “pre-launch” emails.

In Part Five, we confirmed our goal and our plan to reach it.

This “live” component is more powerful than it appears. Your readers will also experience community. YOUR community. While learning information they have sought from YOU. Boom!

They’ll learn. They’ll laugh. They’ll value you. They’ll want more. Voila! Your audience has just grown! Now, serve them well, and as Christ leads, periodically promote a paid product or service. Do that once a month or once a year–whatever your marketing plan is–and you’ll have a larger, loyal following. (Hint: That’s a good thing.) 🙂

The last step before our online webinar is our launch email series.

This is a group of emails (usually) created ahead of time and scheduled for release pre-webinar. It’s imperative that readers understand the benefit your free webinar offers, as that will help them choose to attend. It’s up to you to tell them in both your title (Survive These 3 Treacherous Ice-Fishing Dangers)  and your email’s content (below).

First email: Send your Webinar Announcement email 14-30 days out. You want to give your audience time to adjust their schedule if necessary. Better yet, sharing the date early will prevent conflicts altogether. Include all the normal information: date, time, location, topic, and your event’s URL, along with a clear benefit.  

These days most of us present on Zoom. You can set your webinar up in your Zoom account weeks in advance and share the details in your announcement email.

You don’t have to include your Zoom link in this first email, but it’s a good idea because some readers are meticulous about details. You don’t know who those readers are, so go ahead and send the full details in this email and plan to add them to subsequent emails as well, for those readers who’ll wait till the last minute to take note of them. It happens. 🙂

Second email: Send a Webinar Reminder email 7 days out. Simple. Clear.Almost a duplicate of your Announcement email, adding another benefit for those who attend. Consider placing your webinar’s URL, date, day, time, and so on in your postscript instead of the body this time, as scanners will read a postscript (a P.S.) when they won’t read anything else.

Third and Fourth emails: One day before your webinar begins, and a final reminder email 30 minutes before your webinar begins. Isn’t that too many? No. We all get busy and miss important meetings without gentle reminders. You’ll be doing them a favor with these last two emails. Add one more benefit, please, or repeat the benefits you mentioned in your previous emails.

Fifth email: Send a Thanks for Joining Me! email within two hours after the webinar is over. (Another  reason you want to create this simple email series ahead of time.)

Share a recap of the webinar’s content and its benefits. Offer a limited-time replay link if that’s part of your marketing strategy.  

It’s over! Serve your new readers as well as you’ve served your current readers. Offer them life-changing content that will draw them to your message and to Christ.

Create new webinars as you desire, and watch your audience grow. Offer your knowledge for free or via paid products or services and reach more people for Christ around the world!

Categories
Uncategorized

How to Grow Your Audience Using Online Workshops: Part Four

Marketing sense

Want to grow your audience faster? Online workshops (also called webinars) are a great option. In this series, we’re using an out-of-the-ordinary topic (ice fishing!) so you can follow the process step-by-step no matter which topic you offer. Learn the sequence then apply it to your message.

In Part One, we chose our topic.

In Part Two, we identified and researched various title resources.  

In Part Three, we chose our title (it’s a dandy!).

This month, in Part Four, we’ll discuss how to warm up your current email readers, so they’ll be interested in your (as yet undisclosed) online workshop when you’re ready to market it.

Some call these “pre-launch” emails. Some call them “seeding” or “pre-webinar” emails. All are correct.

In this example, our audience is ice fishermen. I know, I know, unusual to say the least, but the goal is to learn the process. Grasp that, and you can use it for any content you want to offer, either to your established audience or those (in this case) ice fishermen who don’t yet know you can help them.

So…back to your email series.

You’re regularly sending emails related to your overall topic, right?

Since our workshop’s content teaches how to eliminate or survive ice-fishing dangers, we want to bring this concept into our pre-webinar emails. Indirectly. Why? Because we’re not yet ready to market our webinar.

During this, our warm-up or pre-launch phase, we want to help readers (ice fishermen, remember?) begin thinking about how dangerous ice fishing can be. That way, they’re more likely to be interested when we market our webinar on surviving those dangers. Get it?

Of course, they all know it can be dangerous, but they push that fact to the back of their mind, or they believe they already take every necessary precaution to stay safe. We want to challenge that notion without challenging them.

Increase the pressure on a potential problem bit by bit then offer your solution to that problem, and readers will want your offer.

There are many ways to introduce this topic without being pushy, abrasive, or an alarmist. I’ll list a few, then you can take it from there.

You might research various past or current news stories to mention in your email(s), highlighting what the victim(s) could have done differently. If you choose this path, be sure not to “steal” your workshop’s content. Simply point out a poor decision or, going in the other direction, share (perhaps for the umpteenth time) how to check the ice’s depth before stepping on to it or driving over it.

Whatever your topic, it’s always appropriate to review the basics from as many angles as possible.

You might suggest a book or magazine article (that you’ve read) that highlights this subject, but again, not anything that will cover what you plan to cover in your workshop.

You might interview someone who had a harrowing experience while ice fishing. The goal isn’t to scare your reader or cry, “Wolf!” It’s to bring this topic up in your regular email correspondence with them so that when you market your workshop (that solves this specific problem), they’re already warmed up to the topic. You’re not starting “cold.” Meaning they’re more likely to respond to a workshop related to how to eliminate or avoid the dangers of ice fishing.

Begin sending these pre-launch or warm-up emails 60 days before you begin marketing your webinar. If that sounds like a lot of emails, it’s not. One email a week (if you send emails out weekly) is only eight emails in two months. No more than you’d normally send.

Next month we’ll discuss ideas for your launch emails and beyond.

This process applies to anything you want to offer, whether free or paid. It’s not necessary to use this sequence of activities and emails, but if you do, it will be a smoother, easier, and hopefully, profitable process for both you and your readers.

See you then!

Patricia Durgin

Patricia Durgin is an Online Marketing Coach and Facebook Live Expert. She trains Christian writers and speakers exclusively, helping them develop their messaging, marketing funnels, conversational emails, and Facebook Live programs. Patricia hosted 505 (60-minute) Facebook Live programs from 2018-2020. That program is on indefinite hiatus. She’s also a regular faculty member at Christian writers and speakers conferences around the country.

Website: marketersonamission.com
Facebook: MarketersOnAMission

Categories
A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life Uncategorized

Pray and Submit

lighter look at a writer's life

The text came while my wife and I were traveling home from an out-of-town doctor’s appointment.

“I’m doing a new book, and, for the first time, I am open to submissions from men. Submit something!”

My friend has edited a series of books about “Warrior Women,” focusing on various aspects of Christian life. I had heard about them and seen pictures of the covers but had never considered writing for one of the books, as the previous editions had been stories about women, by women.

My friend proceeded to give me the theme and the deadline, and I told her I would think and pray about it and try to submit something. Over the next few weeks, I got caught up in the busyness of life—work, church commitments, etc.—and forgot about the project.

I finally remembered . . . on deadline day. I got home from a long, hard day at my job and thought about how I would word a message to my friend, telling her I was not going to be able to submit anything. I hate disappointing people, but I did not see any other choice. How could I put something together this late in the process? When I need to do some serious thinking or praying, I take a walk in my neighborhood.

I set off on the windy country road and started talking to God. As I walked and talked, an idea came to mind, like an instant download from above. By the time I reached the end of the road and turned around to head home, the ideas were firmly in my mind. I hurried home, grabbed my laptop, and hammered out a story with the “Warrior Woman” theme.

Like most any writer would do, I finished and then walked away for a while, letting the story stew in my mind, going back to it for a quick revision after a while. At the zero hour, I clicked “send” on the submission to my friend. She was thrilled and even asked for photos to accompany the story.

The moral to the story? Never say never on a project until you talk to God. Prayer sharpened my focus and gave me the final push for an idea and to finish the piece. Is prayer a “magic pill” or a “free pass” to writing? Absolutely not. But, if I am pursuing God and talking to Him regularly, my writing will flow from that communication.

Carlton

Carlton Hughes, represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary, wears many hats. By day, he is a professor of communication. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he serves as a children’s pastor. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer. Carlton is an empty-nesting dad and devoted husband who likes long walks on the beach, old sitcoms, and chocolate–all chocolate. His work has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul; The Dating Game, The Wonders of Nature, Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. His latest book is Adventures in Fatherhood, co-authored with Holland Webb.

Categories
Uncategorized

Clarity is the Key to Great Writing

Craft Essentials

“You can solve most of your writing problems if you stop after every sentence and ask: what does the reader need to know next?”

William Zinsser, On Writing Well

As a reader, how long are you willing to struggle to make sense of an article or book that doesn’t seem to make sense? It may lack sufficient description or information – which deprives the reader of clarity. When that happens, I often believe the story existed in the writer’s mind but missed the transfer to the page. The reader is lost and often the work is abandoned. While this is a challenge for some, putting additional words on the page to clarify and connect the dots is easier than discarding those with whom you’ve already fallen in love.

The greater challenge – the opposite scenario – is also true. Have you experienced a highly anticipated book with a great premise but discover the author’s style features sentences the length of the Gettysburg Address? By the time you reach the end of the paragraph, the topic is muddled, and the reader is lost. The story line has taken a detour and the reader flips back several pages in an attempt to solve the riddle. The results are similar to those above. Frustration, and the book is abandoned. You may leave it on the nightstand to protect the wood from the water ring. But you’ve left it behind.

My favorite writing guru, Professor William Zinsser addressed the issue often with his students. “Clutter is the disease of American writing.”

As a writing coach, I’m often asked to review books for potential publication. Writers are hesitant to submit the work without a professional assessment. I provide this level of support and insight when working with an aspiring author. But when a writing hopeful has worked without coaching, mentoring, or input from a critique partner or group, anxiety about this next step toward publication is common.

Even in what I consider high-potential work, there’s often vital improvement that must be done before it’s submission ready. Routinely I find one of the two issues described in the opening paragraphs.

The “story” never made it to the page – at least not enough for the reader to be swept in.

  • Transitions are missing or insufficient.
  • Descriptions are sparse if they exist at all.

Far more often the problem is the in-depth description that sends the reader on a scavenger hunt for the plotline.

  • The elaborately detailed scene or section would have been improved had it been done in 1/3 of the time.
  • The reader is worn out and confused by the non-essential information which found its’ way to the page.

We do fall in love with the words we’ve written.

At times the words flow onto the page with little effort, plucked from the heavenlies, inspired by the moment or the muse. These are magical but elusive experiences.

More often we struggle and the word fairy mocks us. When the right words appear, we celebrate, energized to press on. The suggestion to remove even a few is akin to plucking out one’s eye.

But it’s not about us. It’s always about the reader.

“Hard writing makes easy reading. Easy writing makes hard reading.”

William Zinsser

Which of these scenarios – too little or too much – are challenging you?

Deb DeArmond

Deborah DeArmond is a recognized leader in the fields of performance development, facilitation. She is a certified writing coach as well as an executive business coach. She is also an award-winning author.

Deb’s the author of Related by Chance, Family by Choice, I Choose You Today, and Don’t Go to Bed Angry. Stay Up and Fight! All three books focus on relationship dynamics, communication, and conflict resolution. Her humorous devotional entitled Bumper Sticker Be-Attitudes was published in late 2019. Her newest release, We May Be Done But We’re Not Finished: Making the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life was released in July. She has published more than 200 articles in print and online, including a monthly column, now in her 7th year for Lifeway Magazine with an international circulation of 300,000.

Deb helps clients achieve success in becoming the coach others desire to work through through her engaging inquiry, humor, and straightforward approach. Her clients have described Deb as “candid but kind” and skilled at asking the questions that help “guide others to discover their answers and solutions to success.”

Categories
Uncategorized

Christmas Greetings

Categories
Fantasy-Sci-Fi Uncategorized

Unlocking Science Fiction, the Secret You Need to Know

There’s something about a good sci-fi story that pulls me in and doesn’t let me go. In those moments, I’m completely satisfied as a passive observer, forgetting all the rules of how we should write active characters, strong plots, and keep the story moving.

I just want to be drawn in (passive), forget the rules (what?!) and let the story take me where it will.

What is it about truly great stories that draw me in this way? There’s a key answer to this question. As writers, if we realize what details in a story bring us to the point where we’re willing to become passive readers—simply for the sake of engaging in the story—it will make us better, active writers.

Here’s the key—find the science in the fiction.

Stories that focus on believability (however unbelievable the plot may be in real life) allow readers the safety net of realism. When realism is built into a story, the fiction aspects can stand on their own.

For instance, take the book Maze Runner.

The situation is something that would (hopefully) never happen in real life: put a bunch of kids in a walled garden, or glade as they call it, and watch them fend for themselves as they try to survive alongside creepy monsters.

There’s nothing relatable about that fiction. The fiction can’t stand on its own because we, as readers, have this thought in the back of our minds: It’s so far-fetched, that would never happen.

But throw some science into the story. Watch them figure out the details of the day and how to survive alongside other teenagers they would never be friends with in whatever used to be their day-to-day lives. The author draws on the psychology of humanity, of teens, and then uses that to drive the plot.

At its core, Maze Runner is a survival story.

What goes into survival? Science. Grab your psychology textbook from freshman year and in it you’ll find Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. It’s a simple pyramid structure showing what we need as individuals, from a basic need for food and water, all the way up to self-actualization.

Maze Runner focuses on the second level—safety needs.

Adding relatable, scientifically proven aspects to a science-fiction book goes a long way in helping readers engage with the story.

We’ve all felt the desire to be safe.

So, when we turn the page and monsters come out of the maze, attacking our favorite characters, we don’t mentally stop to think, would they really want to be safe from monsters though?

No way! The author already established the credibility of his work, basing it in actual science. When the fictional aspects come along, we’re already drawn into the story.

The fiction stands on its own, because it’s rooted in science.

That’s what makes great science-fiction.

That’s believable.

And believable sells.

Sarah Rexford is a Marketing Content Writer, working with brands to grow their audience reach. She studied Strategic Communications at Cornerstone University and focused on writing during her time there, completing two full-length manuscripts while a full-time student. Currently she trains under best-selling author Jerry Jenkins in his Your Novel Blueprint course and is actively seeking publication for two books.

Instagram: @sarahjrexford
Twitter: @sarahjrexford
Web: itssarahrexford.com

Categories
Book Proposals Uncategorized

Book Proposals for Different Genres?

Cherrilynn Bisbano is an award-winning writer. She founded The Write Proposal after reading hundreds of book proposals with avoidable errors. These errors cost the author a contract or representation. As a submission reader and junior literary agent, Cherrilynn wants you to succeed. Her desire is to help you present a professional and memorable proposal. She has written proposals for Paws for Effect, a Hollywood movie company, and helped edit many proposals. As the managing editor of Almost an Author, she helped the website earn the #6 spot on the Top 100 best writing websites for 2018 by The Write Life and Top 101 Websites for writers with Writers Digest.

Cherrilynn can be reached at editor@thewriteproposal.com
For more information about the Write Proposal visit www.thewriteproposal.com

Categories
Uncategorized

If You Give a Writer a Deadline

If you give a writer a deadline, he is going to open a document to start typing.

Once he opens the document, he will remember he needs to check social media to make sure he hasn’t missed something important.

While on social media, the writer will find a British comedy clip. He will watch the video, laugh, and then wonder who that actor was in the background. He will do a search and go through several websites to find out the actor starred in a movie the writer had seen as a teenager.

Thinking about his teen years, he will wonder about one of his former classmates. The writer will go back to social media to look up his old friend.

The writer will see an ad for food and realize he is hungry. He will leave the keyboard to go to the kitchen for a snack. While preparing his snack, he will see his lunch bag and remember he needs to pack his lunch for his day job the next day. He will look around the kitchen for something to include.

While he is looking for something for lunch, the writer will notice he is running out of different foods. He will grab paper and pen and make a store list. He will forget about packing lunch and grab his snack.

Since he doesn’t want to get food on his keyboard, the writer will turn on the television to watch a quick episode of a classic sitcom. When the show goes off, the writer will wonder how many years the show lasted and will get on the internet. While typing in the search engine, he will remember his deadline.

The writer will go back to his document and begin typing again. He will write a few paragraphs and decide he hates what he has written. He will wonder what the weather is going to be like the next day, so he will check his weather app and then plan his clothes for the next day.

Back at the keyboard, the writer will open another document and start over after saving the horrible piece, because he never knows when he will want to go back to it to improve it.

He will get inspired with the new document and write words, words, and more words. He will take a break to check his email. He will open an email from his editor, reminding him of his deadline. The writer will go back to his document and write more words, words, and words.

If you give a writer a deadline, he will finish. Eventually.

Carlton Hughes wears many hats. By day, he’s a professor of communication at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he does object lessons and songs with motions as Children’s Pastor of Lynch Church of God. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Chicken Soup for the Soul and several devotional books from Worthy Publishing—Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. Carlton and his wife Kathy have two college-age sons, Noah and Ethan, whom he loved reading to when they were younger. He is on the planning committee for Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and is a year-round volunteer for Operation Christmas child. Carlton is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency.

Categories
Uncategorized

The Heartbeat of Your Villain

Every story needs a villain. Without one, your hero would have no reason to grow or change. But what makes a good villain? It’s all about the backstory. 

Continue reading “The Heartbeat of Your Villain”
Categories
Uncategorized

3 Sure Fire Ways To Find Your Audience

When I started blogging, I researched examples online. I came across a blogger who posted one paragraph a day. I wondered if this was the norm. I thought there had to be more to blogging than writing a single paragraph. Is this how I find an audience for my blog?

Posting

After a few minutes, I discarded the idea of writing so few words. Instead, I chose to create blogs ranging from 400 – 700 words, depending on the topic. But what I failed to realize from the blogger I discovered was the concept of consistency. Posting daily created a body of work which helped him be found by search engines. 365 paragraphs to be exact. At 120 words on average, the total equals 43,800 words. His body of work all posted on the internet. A library of sorts, if you will. Each post with its own topic.

My sister-in-law had started a blog before me. She had consistently posted over the years creating her own body of work. When she shared my website with her followers, several of them started following me. Her consistency and sheer volume of work helped me to start finding my audience.

As a new blogger decide how often you want to post and stay consistent. At first, I posted weekly. Now, my schedule as a special needs mom, author, columnist, and social media instructor allows me to post on my own blog monthly.

How much should you post just starting out? How do you create your own body of work in a short amount of time?  One way is to join this year’s NANOWRIMO which is an acronym for National Novel Writing Month.

Sure Fire Tip: Find your audience by posting quality content, 2-3 times a week. Posting once a week or once a month can still gain you an audience but at a slower rate. You may also want to guest post to help your audience find you. Read more here.

You don’t have to be writing a novel to join this challenge in November. Another writer who joined last year used the opportunity to write a blog post each day of the challenge. This year, I plan to create a blog every day in November. Once completed, I will use the body of work created as a backlog of pre-prepared blogs. With consistent posting, this could also boost my SEO (Search Engine Optimization) helping me to grow my audience. You can sign up for NANOWRIMO here

Titles/Descriptions

As an author, I know how important it is to have an attention-grabbing, gotta read it, give it to me now title. From the title of your blog to your meta-description, creating interest for your audience is key.

Use a great title generator to help you craft the perfect title. I use coschedule.com’s headline analyzer. This title generator ranks your title on a scale up to 100. Don’t fret, I’ve never received a 100 on any of my titles, but I am happy to see my title go green (above 70.)

Sure Fire Tip: Use this headline analyzer to create your titles with a score of 70 or above.

The title I intended to use for this blog post was Blog Basics For Beginners. Kinda rolls off your tongue, doesn’t it? Though it seemed like a catchy title to me, it received a headline score of 40.

How did I get my score up? I downloaded a list of emotional words:

I added Sure Fire which is an emotional word found on the list and changed the title to 3 Sure Fire Ways To Find Your Audience.

The title of this blog received a score of 71. Your score color is green when scoring over 70.

Focus Keyword

When I want to search for topics about memoirs, I type the word memoir in my google search bar. Or, in my particular area of interest, I type, medical memoirs. The first return under this topic is Popular Medical Memoirs Books by Goodreads.

If I type in my son’s diagnosis using this string of words: Thanatophoric Dwarfism Survivors, the second result is an article I wrote for The Mighty.com. The 8th result is a blog I wrote on my website. (The Mighty.com has a much larger body of work than my blog; hence, higher on the list.)

The word or string of words searched for in the Google search bar are focus keywords your audience will use to find results for a topic. And hopefully, they will find you.

TIPS

Tip 1: When crafting your blog, think about how your audience would search for your topic/blog.

Tip 2: Before writing, search your topic in Google. What words did you use to search? Chances are, this will be your keyword or keywords. Did your search return any results? If so, peruse the results and decide if you want to narrow your topic. If no results appeared, your topic may be just what your audience wants to know.

Tip 3: Still need help finding a keyword(s)? You can find suggestions for a keyword by using Yoast suggest.

Write your article/blog with your keyword or keywords in mind. Naturally add these words in your title, article headings, picture tags, meta-description and in the body of your content. (Read Part 2 of Sure Fire Ways To Find Your Audience next month for further discussion of headings, tags, and meta-description.)

Sure Fire Tip: Use Yoast Suggest to find a fit for your keyword(s).

For this article, I searched for Grow Your Audience in Google. Potential focus keywords returned were:

  • grow your blog audience
  • how to grow your audience
  • how to find grow your audience

Based on this list and the content of my blog, I would select “grow your blog audience” as my keywords. This should help my ideal audience find this blog post when searching using these words.

Sure Fire Tip: Use Yoast suggest to find your keyword(s) for your blog.

Have you used any of the above websites when creating your blog post? Do you use other websites to craft your blog and help find your audience? Share in the comments below. Let’s help each other grow.

Evelyn Mann is a mother of a miracle and her story has been featured on WFLA Channel 8, Fox35 Orlando, Inspirational Radio and the Catholic News Agency. A special interview with her son on the Facebook Page, Special Books by Special Kids, has received 1.4M views. Along with giving Samuel lots of hugs and kisses, Evelyn enjoys hot tea, sushi and writing. Visit her at miraclemann.com.

Categories
Uncategorized

Deadlines and Follow-up for Freelance Writers

If you want to impress an editor as freelance writer, I’ll let you in on a little writer secret. Meet your deadline with excellent writing. While it sounds too simple, writers are notoriously late to meet their deadlines. If you meet or even deliver the  article ahead of the deadline with excellent writing, you will stand out from the other writers.

In the “old” days, writers used to be able to fudge a little on the deadline. Without an internet, we had to mail our articles on disks to the editor. When the editor asked about the article, you could say, “My article is in the mail” and sometimes gain an extra couple of days to deliver the piece. Now with high-speed broadband, those excuses do not work. The editor expects the freelancer to send their material on time.

 Excellent Writing Is Appreciated

Editors have been trained to recognize excellent writing for their publication. Does your article have a great beginning paragraph that draws me into the article? Does it have a solid middle with detailed information targeted to the reader? Does it end with a single point or takeaway for the reader? If you can answer each of these questions with “yes” then you have probably written a solid article for the publication.

Also make sure you write your article several days before it is due, then you can leave  the article and return to it with fresh eyes. Pick up a pencil as you read the article fresh and make any adjustments that is needed.

Follow-up Is Important

In our tech driven world, we have grown dependent on email for our communication. Yet email doesn’t always get through or get answered. Today I remembered an article I had turned in for a publication yet the editor never responded. It had been 10 days with no response—which is long enough for that editor to have been on vacation and be back at their desk. I sent a short follow-up email with the article to make sure they got it. You can follow this same pattern if you don’t hear from the editor. A simple reminder asking if they got the submission is professional and acknowledging that things get missed in the process. It also shows the editor you want to deliver excellent work in a timely fashion. The key with your follow-up is to ask straightforward and polite questions with short emails. Editors spend a lot of time answering emails so in general the short emails get answered.

 

As you meet the editor’s deadlines with excellent writing, you will become a part of their stable of writers. These writers have proven their dependability and are the go-to people that the editor uses when they need to assign a feature or special writing  assignment. It’s a select group and you want to be part of this elite group.

To write for Christian magazines, you need to be pitching ideas through query letters and writing full length articles then reaching out and connecting with new editors and new markets. As you take consistent action to meet deadlines with quality writing, you will be published in multiple publications.

Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing, lives in Colorado. A former magazine editor, Whalin has written for more than 50 publications including Christianity Today and Writer’s Digest. Terry is the author of How to Succeed As An Article Writer which you can get at: http://writeamagazinearticle.com/. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. His latest book is Billy Graham, A Biography of America’s Greatest Evangelist and the book website is at: http://BillyGrahamBio.com Watch the short book trailer for Billy Graham at: http://bit.ly/BillyGrahamBT His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com. Follow him on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/terrywhalin

Categories
Uncategorized

WE LOVE YOUR COMMENTS

Over the last three years, Almost an Author has had hundreds of comments on different posts. Certain posts generate more comments than others.

We thought it would be interesting to share a few comments we’ve received, both in the beginning, and more recently.

FIRST COMMENT ON A3:

Great post! I’m definitely a dabbler at this point in my life. I write stories for my own personal enjoyment. I’d like to become more committed and see my writing as more than a hobby one day, but it’s just hard right now because I’m so busy with college and life. I guess I just feel like the important thing for me right now is to make sure I keep writing, even if it’s just for me. After all, writing is never done in vain. What doesn’t get published is still great practice. 🙂

Ashley commented on “Committed Writer or Dabbler.”

POST WITH MOST COMMENTS:

Souls Perish from Procrastination in Writing, by Jake McCandless. Published on August 7, 2015. There were 17, yes seventeen comments on it. The only other post that had more was about our first Blue Seal Contests. That had 21.

Here’s a sampling of those 17 comments:

Leigh Ann Thomas: Wow, thanks Jake! Now THAT’S motivation!

Cherrilynn Bisbano: Jake, this is an amazing article. My blog post this week is about procrastination. God must be telling His children to stop dragging their feet. I would love you to read it and let me know what you think. http://pelicanpromise.blogspot.com.

John Christopher: Jake, that was really good stuff. You wrote it well in a small amount of space, and that is hard to do. And it also convicted me. I have felt that same calling, and I put it off all the time. A few articles were published a few years ago, but then got derailed. I know I need to get back into it. So, I appreciate the encouragement and pointed exhortation to do what I know I should. Keep up the good work.

Marva Atterbury: Thank you so much for that word. I believe that God allowed me to see this website. Every time I try to write I freeze up. After reading this I know that I have to write and believe God that it will bless others. God bless you for your obedience in encouraging others to do the same.

Tessa Emily Hall: This was so good! I think many Christian writers view their craft as a hobby–something they try to squeeze in when they can–rather than a priority, or a ministry. But the enemy will do everything he can to prevent us from putting words to paper and continue furthering our career as a writer. Thank you for this reminder! Tessa Emily Hall www.christiswrite.blogspot.com

RECENT COMMENTS:

Link to post: http://www.almostanauthor.com/focus-on-one-thing-at-a-time/

Elaine Cooper’s post, “Focus on One Thing at a Time,” garnered the most of the most recent comments.

Janet Grunst: Excellent advise, Elaine.

Elaine Cooper – Writer Encouragement: Thanks, Janet. I still have to remind myself, almost daily!

Leslie DeVooght: So needed to hear this today. Thanks

Elaine Cooper – Writer Encouragement: Thanks for the feedback, Leslie. So glad it was helpful. I still need to remind myself most days! May the Lord bless your writing!

Diana Derringer: Wise words, Elaine. Thank you.

Elaine Cooper – Writer Encouragement: You are more than welcome, Diana! Thanks for reading and leaving a comment! 🙂

David F: Now that you explain it that way, it makes so much sense. Looking back, I’ve definitely gotten bogged down due to lack of focus. Sometimes it takes days to start focusing, but that’s a lot of wasted time. All because I didn’t realize focusing was the solution. Thanks!

Elaine Cooper: You’re very welcome, David. I’ve swirled around in the waters of confusion so many times, I have to remind myself to focus on that one important thing: The lifesaver!! Hope this blog helps you.

You never know what will spark a comment on a post. Most posts don’t receive any comments at all. Many of us comment on each other’s posts. That’s always fun. My encouragement: enter into the discussion and We Love Your Comments!

Categories
Uncategorized

Looking for Great Writing Advice?

It’s time for another Third Anniversary Throwback Thursday. Almost an Author features a great advice on a wide variety of topics. Here are a few early posts that resonated with readers.

5 Tips on How to Write Faster  

Many writers spend years attempting to finish their stories, but they never do. Not for lack of desire, but for lack of follow-through. I know from firsthand experience that if I tried to write 2,000 words every day I’d fail. I already have, multiple times. But, if I set aside time to binge write, I can complete project after project. Is it time for you to become a binge writer? Read more.

War of Worldcraft: Two approaches to World Creation

So you want to create a storyworld? It took God six days to complete the one you’re living in, so don’t expect to make yours in one day. Worlds are complicated things, and in order to make one believable, you’ll need to take into consideration a whole host of things from politics to geography. But first, consider your philosophy of world creation: Which is true? From the story, arises the world… or From the world, arises the story… Read more.

4 Steps to Boost Blog Posts

Blog readers are scanners, their eyes skimming the page for interesting information. Problogger reports the average time spent reading a blog post is 96 seconds. With such a small window of opportunity, how do you engage your reader and communicate your message? Read more.

Why This Travel Writing Site Rocks!

Travel writing includes everything from tour guide product description to feature articles. What travel writing niche is best for you? This helpful website will inspire you. Read more.

Poetry from Odd Places

Poetry can morph out of everyday life experiences and from places you’d least expect. The challenge is to find out where your next poem is hiding. The trick is to pay attention to what inspires you even if it seems bizarre at the time. Sometimes a poem was meant to be written despite its ridiculous subject, just because it was fun to write—a break from reality. And that’s all that matters. Read more.

How A Dinosaur Can Help Your Writer’s Voice

Is it possible for a dinosaur of technology to help define your writer’s voice? I say yes and say it with gusto! Recording and listening to my writing has helped me catch many mistakes. New writers in search of their voice will benefit greatly from this practice. Read more.

Dangling Modifiers

Dangling modifiers. They cause lots of confusion. Lots of questions. Lots of laughter. When you start looking for dangling modifiers, you can find them easily, and a lot of times, they make for some funny sentences. Read more.

Categories
Uncategorized

All Writers Need Encouragement

It’s time for another Third Anniversary Throwback Thursday. One of our goals at Almost an Author is to encourage aspiring writers. Writing is a calling, but it can be lonely, frustrating, and wearisome. Writers face rejection, doubt, and discouragement.

This collection of posts was written with those truths in mind.

Come Out Swinging: Fighting Fear as a Writer

The writer’s life is not for the faint of heart. There are moments that are downright scary. That first writer’s conference, critiques, contest entries, appointments with an editor/publisher, the blank page—all potentially terrifying. If you’re like me, you’ve wasted precious writing time paralyzed by fears and insecurities. But enough is enough. Here are three ways to face our fears head-on: Read more.

13 Things that can Steal Your Writing Joy

Writers have a love/hate relationship with putting words on paper. Sometimes it’s difficult because of the process. Other times we sabotage ourselves. Today I’d like to share my list of things that steal your writing joy. Read more.

What if?

Have you ever ignored the Spirit’s nudge? Opted not to put pen to the thought? Bought into the thinking, “Why bother?” Do you realize you could be the favor, the blessing, the encouragement, the hope, the answer to someone’s prayers? Read more.

Dreamers Wanted

Dreaming is not a waste of time, it is a necessity to rescue and redeem our limited time. I challenge you to ask God to awaken the dreams he’s sown into your soul and spirit so long ago. Stop listening to the naysayers and the doomsdayers. Blow off the dust, take it in your hands, hold it close to your heart, and nurture that dream until it becomes all that God says it will be. Read more.

Souls Perish from Procrastination in Writing

What if Queen Esther had procrastinated instead of facing the king? We writers have plenty or reasons to procrastinate. If God has given us something to say, then it is important. It’s our responsibility. Souls hang in the balance. You better get to writing because “who knows but that you have [been given this story or message] for such a time as this.” Read more.

Categories
Uncategorized

Looking Back: Early A3 Posts

Almost an Author is celebrating its third anniversary. Why not take a moment to look back at some of the original posts?

Over the last three years, quite a few talented writers have dropped by Almost an Author to give advice and encouragement. Some have been with Almost an Author from the beginning. Others have joined along the way. Some have moved on to other pursuits.

A few are still writing columns. (Although not necessarily on the original subject.)

Here are a few posts from the early days of Almost an Author by columnists who have stuck around. Their advice is as valid today as it was then. Enjoy.

Hurry! I need patience

Some days feel like Finals Week in Patience 101. Writing and publishing are a major part of this learning experience.  Sometimes I have to step back and remember it was God Who planted this dream of writing and publishing in my heart, and it is God Who will see it come to fruition, in His time and in His way. But, man, I wish He’d hurry! Read more.

The Importance of Emotional Continuity

When actors (or fictional characters) enter a scene, they bring with them a certain attitude and emotional state that is a result of the moment before they appear. We expect continuity between a character’s emotional state in the previous scene and how they behave the next time we meet them.  Read more.

Just a Writer

Do you ever feel like “just a writer?” “Just” a wannabe author? “Just” a wordsmith who spends hours inventing characters and hoping someone will read your work? I encourage you to throw out the word “just” from your thinking. Treat it like yesterday’s trash that’s contaminating your mind. You are not “just” a writer. You are “A WRITER!”  Read more.

Storytelling – What Makes a Story Great?

What is it about a story that makes it compelling? Is it the characters? Is it the plot? Is it the element of surprise? Is it the challenges? Is it danger? I submit, it’s all of them, skillfully put together, woven like a tapestry to make an impression on our minds and in our hearts. Read more.

Query Letter Basics

If you want to pitch articles to magazines, you need to know how to write a query letter. The query is your calling card. It is your sales letter that includes the subject of the article, who you are, and why you are qualified to write it. This post reviews the basics of what you need to know to craft a good query. Read more.

Categories
Uncategorized

VOTE FOR ALMOST AN AUTHOR

VOTE FOR ALMOST AN AUTHOR CLICK ON PICTURE, FOLLOW TO FACEBOOK LINK AND VOTE.

Categories
5 For Writing Uncategorized

Vigorous Writing: Throwing a Curve Without Destroying Your Plot by Doug Peterson

By Doug Peterson

My arm felt like it was going to fall off.

I was in my forties at the time, and I was pitching batting practice to a bunch of high school baseball players. In batting practice, my usual goal was just to get the pitch over the plate—nothing fancy. But for some strange reason, on this day I decided to throw my first curveball since my high school days.

Bad choice.

When throwing a curve, you bring your arm down in a twisting motion that is not natural for a normal arm—especially a 40-year-old arm. My elbow ached for hours, and I have never thrown a curveball since.

So what in the world does this have to do with writing?

Writers are always searching for ways to throw a curveball to their readers—ways to give them an unexpected twist that catches them unaware. But, just like in baseball, if you don’t throw a curve at your readers in the correct way, your story will suffer as badly as my elbow did on that day when I pitched batting practice.

If we break down the mechanics of throwing a curveball in baseball, we can learn something about throwing a curve in writing.

Get a grip on your characters. When throwing a curve in baseball, it’s all about the grip. How you position your fingers helps to determine the rotation of the ball.

Similarly, in writing a story, it’s all about getting a good grip on your characters. When you understand your characters—their motivations, their desires, and their fears—you stand a better chance of figuring out a twist in their storyline. The twist will rise up naturally.

Set up your reader for an unexpected curve. A good pitcher mixes it up, so the batter doesn’t know what to expect. Will he be throwing a fastball, slider, curve, or what?

It’s the same with writing. Give your story the freedom to go off in multiple directions that even you do not anticipate. Don’t be locked into one set storyline.

As you think about the many paths that your character might follow, jot them all down. Then ask: Which paths are too obvious? Which path will propel the story in exciting and surprising ways? Which path will create the most tension and conflict?

Be natural. The ending to the classic baseball movie, The Natural, is quite predictable. But the movie does include a nice twist or two leading up to this dramatic (but inevitable) ending.

A good twist is surprising but doesn’t seem artificial or forced. To use the title of the movie, a good twist should feel natural. It should surprise the reader but also leave them thinking, “Oh yeah. I should’ve seen that coming.”

A good twist is logical and organic to the story, while an arbitrary, ineffective curve comes out of left field…or right field…or center field. So think it through. After all, you don’t have another writer warming up in the bullpen to bail you out. The ball is in your hands. So is your story’s plot.

* * *

 5 for Writing

  1. Get writing. Find the time to write. Then do it.
  2. Learn by listening—and doing. Solicit feedback, discern what helps you.
  3. Finish your story. Edit and rewrite, but don’t tinker forever. Reach the finish line.
  4. Thrive on rejection. Get your story out there. Be fearless. Accept rejection.
  5. Become a juggler. After one story is finished, be ready to start another. Consider writing two at once.

 

 

 

Categories
Uncategorized

Self-Care for Writers with April Carpenter

Special guest April Carpenter shares how writers can take care of themselves during the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

https://youtu.be/r-tSBA3nqUEz

Join us!

Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. Participants mute their audio and video during the filming, then we open up the room for anyone who wishes to participate with our guests. The “After Party” is a fifteen-minutes of off-the-record sharing and conversation.

Additionally, you can grow your network and add to the conversation by joining our Facebook Group.

Categories
Uncategorized

CATEGORIES OF CHILDREN’S BOOKS PART 2 By Jean Matthew Hall

Last month we shared Part 1 about the categories assigned to children’s books.

We’ll now share more details about each category. Remember—these are not hard and fast rules. Publishers change these categories to meet the needs of their readers. But they ARE good guidelines for writers.

First Books – Board Books – Concept Books

  • Come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.
  • Often use specialty materials/productions that children can feel, smell, touch, hear, etc.
  • Made to be durable.
  • Often assigned by publishers to one of their own authors/illustrators.
  • Present concepts connected to the young child’s world.
  • Must give the young child an emotional connection to the book.
  • Must evoke feelings in the young child, nurture a young child’s curiosity, engender pride, engage minds and emotions.
  • Deal with universal themes: loss, fear, love, anger, loneliness, joy, curiosity, anxiety, etc.
  • Use literary devices, rhyme, meter, wordplays, imaginary words.
  • Invite the young child to participate in the story. Ask questions. Elevate children’s common experiences into something magical.

Picture Books ages 3 – 6 and 4 – 8

  • Most are 24 or 36 pages (including beginning & ending pages). Sometimes they are 48 pages and written for older readers.
  • Deal with universal themes: loss, fear, love, anger, loneliness, joy, curiosity, anxiety, etc.
  • Use imagination to elevate children’s common experiences into something magical.
  • Tell a simple story (no sub-plots) that presents an MC with a problem. He/She finds their own solution to that problem.
  • 800 words or less.
  • Emphasizes nouns and verbs.
  • PBs are collaborations between author and artist. Words tell less than half of the story. Illustrations tell the rest.
  • NOTE: Rhyming PBs are difficult to write and to sell. The rhyme and rhythm must be perfect. Use of other literary devices is required. The STORY must take precedence over the poetry. Both story and poetry must be outstanding for the book to be publishable.

Easy Readers ages 5 – 9  

  • Usually 1000 – 1500 words. 32 – 64 pages in print.
  • Some have chapters which are actually individual stand-alone stories about the same characters, some don’t.
  • They are written on one of three separate reading levels with its own controlled vocabulary.
  • Format (size of the book, size of the type, amount of white space, etc.) is controlled to assist emerging readers.

Chapter Books ages 7 – 10

  • Most are 1500 – 10,000 words. 40 – 80 pages in print.
  • Usually divided into 8 – 10 chapters which add to one main story.
  • Plots can be a little more complex with simple subplots.
  • Use lots of dialogue.
  • Vocabulary is challenging for target readers but still controlled.
  • Some chapters end with cliff-hangers.

Middle-Grade Novels ages 9 – 12/13

  • Most are 10,000 -16,000 words. 64 – 150 pages in print.
  • Use a wide vocabulary and subplots.
  • Often silly or funny even if they deal with serious themes.
  • They emphasize characters over action.
  • Most chapters end with cliff-hangers.

Young Adult Novels ages 12 and up:

  • This genre is subdivided into Young YAs and Older YAs by subject matter, themes and use of graphic or explicit language.
  • Older YAs deal with almost any subject that adult novels deal with, and use just about any language and depict any scenes that adult novels use, but often to a lesser degree.
  • In Young YAs authors and publishers are more careful to avoid mature subjects, language and references to sex, drugs, alcohol and violence.
  • NOTE: Christian publishers of YAs have different standards for what they will and will not publish in their books. Follow their guidelines exactly if you want them to consider your manuscripts. Read several of the YAs they have published recently before submitting your manuscript.

Suggested reading – The Writer’s Guide to Crafting Stories for Children by Nancy Lamb.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

As a pre-teen, Jean Hall dreamed of being an architect or an interior decorator. As a high school student, she dreamed of being anything BUT a teacher. As a college student, she dreamed of being a vocalist. As an “over-fifty” woman she dreamed of writing stories for children. But, as life unfolded it seemed that none of those dreams would come true.

But,

Jean spent twenty-six years teaching children and teens–and loving it!.Then twenty more years teaching women’s Bible studies. She never designed a house, but she lived in, and decorated on a shoestring, more than a dozen houses. She never performed before thousands, nor recorded any music. But she sang hundreds of times leading people in praise to the LORD. Now, she is working hard and trusting God to lead her down the road to traditional publication.

Sometimes our dreams come true in ways we couldn’t imagine.

It is Jean’s daily prayer that The Christ within her shines through the cracks and broken places of her dreams and that Christ shines through the things she writes to uplift, encourage and inspire others.

Categories
A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life Uncategorized

Yee-Haw, Little Kitties!

I am the children’s pastor at my church, and yesterday was “Kids Day” during the worship service. That means I had to plan the program from top to bottom, including songs with motions for the kids to do, stories, PowerPoints, and a message deep enough for the adults but short enough to appease the children’s flea-size attention spans. Have I mentioned I am not a planner?

It took a lot of preparation and a lot of sweat and prayer to pull it off. Was it easy? No. “No” with a capital “N.” And a capital “O.” Actually a lot of capital “Os.” More like NOOOOOOOOOOO.

Was it worth it?

“Y” to “E” to the “S.”

(See, I told you I was hip and cool.)

Remember that Super Bowl commercial a few years ago about herding cats? That’s EXACTLY what children’s ministry is like. Thinking of the eternal significance of it all, however, keeps me going week to week and makes it all worthwhile.

Does any of this sound familiar, writers? Is writing easy?

No. With a capital “N.” And lots of “Os.”

Writing is hard, coming up with something new every day. I’m currently on deadline with a new assignment that is out of my comfort zone, and it is easy for me to feel overwhelmed. I inadvertently preached to myself during my lesson yesterday.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

I’m learning more and more that God likes it when I’m out of my comfort zone. That’s where His power is most evident, and I have to lean on Him. It’s that way in children’s ministry, and it’s certainly that way in writing—can I get a witness?

Yesterday, God took all of the pieces and all of my brokenness and put it together for a beautiful service. I’m trusting Him to do the same with my latest writing assignment.

So it’s back to the keyboard to “herd some cats.” Anyone with me?

 

Categories
Uncategorized

Be Aware of What You Know

Be Aware
Be Aware

I once heard on Dan Miller’s 48 Days podcast something along the lines of “You already know what you already know.”

Knowledge is Power
Knowledge is Power

Think about it—you’re already in the game. Don’t know a lot about social media? That’s okay. I don’t, either. But I know enough, and I’m always learning. The great thing is, there’s always new stuff to learn in addition to what we already know.

You may think you don’t understand, you don’t get it. What is this Facebook thing? What’s a tweet and how is it done? First, congratulate yourself in knowing those platforms exist. Second, you’re reading this post. Which means you know enough to get online and search. The rest will follow.

The best piece of advice I can give at this time is this: Be Aware.

  • Everything you post online will always stay online, some way, in some form. Even if you delete it, it will somehow haunt the echelons of the internet forever. So be sure, before you submit, that it’s not something you’ll regret in the morning.

Be Aware
Be Aware

  • Know where you’re submitting/what you’re sharing/who you’re messaging. It’s great to post comments and share links but if your primary group of friends on Facebook are foodies, will they really appreciate an article about Harley ridin’ Mamas? They might, if the article includes a review of a really great hole-in-the-wall restaurant.
  • You can’t be everything to everyone all the time. I know this one sounds obvious, but trust me. When the World Wide Web opens its arms and says “Join me!” it’s hard to resist. I want to share the world with my world, but that’s not always feasible (reference Bullet No. 2 above). The best cure for this is to find my niche audience, and write for them. If others come along for the ride, that’s a bonus. I can’t be online 24/7. My audience understands my need to eat, sleep, and dare I say it—pee.
  • Find your platforms. Facebook and Twitter will give you the broadest audience. Instagram is a great place to share your cell phone photos. Google+ and LinkedIn are nice networking resources as well.
  • Ask others for advice. Don’t navigate alone. Read a blog you admire? Check out how it’s powered. Talk to a writer/media specialist? Ask their input. Want to write a killer article but not sure how to submit? Google it.
  • Not everything you read on the internet is true. While researching your article/media/platform set-ups, remember to find what works for you, then make sure it does. Don’t go full force into the first application you hear about, unless you’ve heard about it from a variety of sources. Investigate everything.
  • Be yourself. It’s okay to pattern yourself after other media sites you admire, but people want to know you. So share your voice your And if you don’t what your voice is just yet, that’s okay. Play around. You’ll figure it out.

With a big gulp of Sweet Tea and Social Media,

~Molly Jo

[bctt tweet=”There’s always new stuff to learn in addition to what we already know. @RealMojo68″]

[bctt tweet=”Be Aware: Be sure, before you submit, that it’s not something you’ll regret in the morning. @RealMojo68″]

Categories
5 For Writing Uncategorized

Vigorous Writing: Don’t Let Useless Words Drag You Down

I’m old enough to remember when Olympic sprinters wore baggy shorts. But if you look at the world’s greatest runners today, you’ll see them wearing bodysuits so tight that it must’ve taken an entire coaching staff working all day just to squeeze them into it.

The reason: aerodynamics.

In a field where a hundredth of a second makes all the difference in the world, runners will do anything to cut their times. Switching to bodysuits reduces wind resistance and, therefore, drag—although from what I have read, the improvement is much greater for swimmers than runners.

It also helps with your writing.

However, before you run out and buy a bodysuit to wear while you’re typing on your keyboard, let me make clear that this is a writing metaphor. Just as a little bit of loose material can add drag to a runner or swimmer, excess words can drag down your writing.

As William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White say in their classic book, The Elements of Style, “Vigorous writing is concise.” Therefore, “omit needless words” is elementary principle #13 in their book.

Or, to put it another way…Reduce drag.

Here are just a few examples of needless words and phrases that come from Strunk and White and a couple of other sources:

Instead of writing…                                           Use…

“the question as to whether”                                   “whether” or “the question whether”

“there is no doubt but that”                                    “no doubt” or “doubtless”

“he is a man who”                                                     “he”

“His story is a strange one.”                                    “His story is strange.”

“at the time that” or “at the time when”               “when”

“in the affirmative” or “in the negative”               Just say “no” or “yes.”

“at the present time”                                                “now” or “today”

“inasmuch as”                                                            “because” or “since”

“in regard to”                                                             “about” or “regarding” or “concerning”

I recently encountered a blog entitled “Omit Needless Rules,” which takes a potshot at this guideline from Strunk and White. The writer then offers examples that have little to nothing to do with the guideline, “Omit needless words.”

For instance, he quotes a passage from William Faulkner in which a character’s thoughts keep repeating. He uses this example to argue that if you omitted the repetitive words, the passage would have lost its impact. I agree, but I don’t think Strunk and White were saying that all repeated words are “needless words.” In the context of Faulkner’s story, the repetitions were important, and they helped us to get inside the character’s head.

So the guideline still applies.

Another example offered by this blog writer came from Shakespeare, who wrote, “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day.”

Here, the repetition of “tomorrow” gives the lines rhythm and emphasis. The repetition makes the writing more vigorous, not less.

Again…This is not what Strunk and White are talking about when they say, “Omit needless words.” They’re not taking aim at poetry where words and phrases might be repeated for good reason. They’re taking aim at useless, blah phrases, such as “the fact that…”

Here are a few “fact that” examples to watch out for:

Instead of writing…                               Use…

“owing to the fact that”                                “since” or “because”

“in spite of the fact that”                              “though” or “although”

“I was unaware of the fact that”                 “I was unaware that”

“in actual fact”                                               “actually” (or just drop it)

You get the idea. The phrase “the fact that” is not exactly Shakespearean in its power. It’s not poetry. It’s useless, and the accumulation of such phrases just slows down your writing and drains it of energy—king of like baggy shorts flapping in the breeze.

For the reader, it’s nothing but a drag.

* * *

5 for Writing

  1. Get writing. Find the time to write. Then do it.
  2. Learn by listening—and doing. Solicit feedback, discern what helps you.
  3. Finish your story. Edit and rewrite, but don’t tinker forever. Reach the finish line.
  4. Thrive on rejection. Get your story out there. Be fearless. Accept rejection.
  5. Become a juggler. After one story is finished, be ready to start another. Consider writing two at once.

 

Categories
Uncategorized

5 Steps for Beginning Authors-Heather Kreke

You’ve decided to take your writing from a hobby to a professional level. That’s great, but where do you start?

Here are five steps to help you begin your journey.

  1. Learn:

Most careers require you to take continuing classes, writing is no different. Read books and follow blogs about writing. Interact with other writers as much as you can on social media. Take the courses they offer online or in person whenever possible. Look into classes at your local community college.

Remember to learn about your industry in addition to your craft. Things change in the publishing world often. The topics that agents, editors, and publishers are looking for this year may be different than last. Just as with your fellow writers, look for classes offered by editors, agents, and publishers, interact with them on social media and follow their websites.

  1. Work on your platform:

Start building your platform sooner rather than later. Create a website, blog, and professional social media pages. Agents and editors don’t want to see what you plan to do; they want to see what you are doing.

Post at least once a day on Facebook and two to three times a day on sites like Instagram and Twitter. Focus your platform on giving to your readers. What do they want to see? Follow the 80/20 rule. 80% what they want to see and 20% about you and your writing.

  1. Attend conferences:

Attending a conference can be an invaluable experience. You’ll get the chance to take great classes offered by experts in the field. You’ll also meet other writers. Being around people who think like you can be a great boost to your confidence. Being at a conference may seem intimidating at first. With all of those professional, published writers, all of those agents, editors, and publishers it’s a lot to take in. However, you will find that the majority of people are there to help you, to answer your questions, and to offer you support. Talk to as many different people as you can, you never know who you might meet. But also be sure to take the time to actually learn something about the people you meet.

  1. Find a mentor:

Finding a mentor can be a huge boost to your writing journey. A mentor doesn’t have to be an award winning author, just someone who is more experienced than you, who can help guide and keep you on task. Someone to bounce ideas off and to support your dreams. Someone to pray for you and to listen when you are discouraged.

  1. Write:

Start writing. I know this one sounds easy and obvious, but you’d be amazed at the excuses you can find not to write. Carve out some time every day to get yourself into a chair and writing. Get up early if you have to, go to bed late, write during your lunch break. Form a routine, make it a habit to write at the same time every day. Set a goal for yourself. How many words or pages are you going to write per day? Even if it’s only twenty minutes a day, make sure you are writing something every single day.

While writing does take a lot of learning and work, remember to have fun with it. Writing is most likely your passion so let the words flow.

Heather is a novelist who’s passion lies in showing teens and young adults that they can trust in God’s plan for their lives even through their darkest times.

www.heatherkreke.com

www.facebook.com/hkreke

 

 

Categories
Uncategorized

Some Pieces of the Picture Book Publishing Puzzle By Shannon Anderson

My dream as a kid was to become an elementary teacher and write books for kids. In high school, I had a job at our local public library in the children’s department. It was a great experience for my future careers. I loved processing the new books and being the first to read them. I loved matching kids to the perfect books. I loved seeing the clever ways authors used their words to create a story that touched the heart or sparked an idea.

After college, I taught first grade. Hands-down, my favorite part of the day was read- aloud time. Turning kids on to books, getting a giggle, or seeing the light bulbs turn on  is an amazing opportunity. My chance to be an even bigger part of this magic became a reality when I was awarded a Teacher Creativity Fellowship to pursue a passion of my choice. It wasn’t hard to choose. I decided to use my fellowship to learn all about the children’s book industry and try my hand at writing books. (This opportunity led to the publication of six books so far.)

[bctt tweet=”The first thing I learned, there are a lot of things to learn! ” username=””]As much as I hoped for a short cut or some insider secret, there weren’t any. However, there are a lot of things you can do to get on the right path towards publication. There are so many pieces to this giant puzzle of how to become a published author. For starters, you need to know a lot about the genre you are writing, you need to know the proper way to submit your manuscripts, the roles of the different people in the industry, how to sharpen your craft, your publication options, and your market.

Just as with any new skill or hobby, you have to do your research. I started out by attending conferences, taking online classes, and finding writers and organizations. There is a wonderful group called the SCBWI, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. I joined this organization and began attending their regional and national conferences. With each conference, I learned a few more pieces of the puzzle. There are also many online resources, from blogs to classes that you can take.

Research also includes reading books in your genre. If you want to write humorous picture books, you should be reading any Mo Willems or Jon Scieszka book you can get your hands on. If you want to write nonfiction picture books, you need to read those. Reading in your genre helps you get a feel for the formats, styles, lengths, and content these books possess.

When you get ideas for stories, be sure to write them down. It could be a clever title, a fun character, or a whole story plot. Don’t rely on your memory. Make time to write. It would be hypocritical for me to say write every day, because I have a hard time finding the time to do this, but do make time each week to write something.

Once you have a story that has been through several drafts, seek out a critique group or partner. Having someone else read your story is powerful. When the story comes from your own head, it’s hard to separate your own thoughts from what is actually on the page.[bctt tweet=” Fresh eyes will be able to find spots that need polished or clarified.” username=””] Exchange stories with people in your group. Reading the work of others also helps you become better, as you learn new styles and approaches.

You need to know your market. Find out who publishes books like your story. You can also purchase a Children’s Writing Market Guide to find out about current publishing houses and the types of submissions they are taking. In some cases, you have to have an agent in order to send them something, but there are many houses that will accept un-agented material.

Since we are focusing on picture books, you need to know that if you are not an illustrator, you can still be the author of a picture book. In many publishing houses, the publisher will seek out an illustrator that matches the style of your book. Some publishers have illustrators on staff, some pay an artist a flat fee for hire, and some illustrators will share the royalty split with you when the book comes out. If you are an illustrator, then you have an advantage over those of us who are not. [bctt tweet=”Publishers love to work with authors that can also illustrate their own work!” username=””]

I’m an elementary teacher and children’s book author. As the Regional Advisor for the Indiana Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, I attend and plan many writing conferences. I’m also on the board of directors for the Indiana State Reading Association and the high ability coordinator for my school system for K-5 grade students. I share my home with my husband, Matt, our two daughters, Emily and Madison, and dog, two cats, and a gecko. I enjoy presenting, teaching, writing, traveling, and running very early in the mornings.