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The Intentional Writer

Do You Need a Press Kit?

The intentional writer

A press kit may sound like something that only celebrities and big-time authors need, but that’s not true. Everyone who has a book, blog, or ministry to share with others can benefit from creating a press kit. It’s really not that difficult.

Here’s why you want to have one, and what you need to include:

Why do I need a press kit?

A press kit is a collection of information that helps others quickly and conveniently find key things about you and your work. It’s created to help media professionals and others, by providing them with the kind of information they need in one easy-to-find place.  

A press kit helps you in several ways:

  • Makes it easy for journalists to find you and see what you’re about
  • Provides consistent and correct information for others
  • Helps you describe yourself and your work/ministry in a concise way
  • Helps interviews go more smoothly
  • Shows that you act like a professional

Who is a press kit for?

  • New media, from your local paper or radio to national TV
  • Event planners (Especially if speaking is part of your ministry)
  • Podcast hosts
  • Book Bloggers, BookTubers, etc.
  • Book clubs
  • Teachers (Anyone interested in school visits?)
  • Others who might want to interview for any reason

What items should I include?

Press kits come in all shapes and sizes, but these basic elements are all you need to get started.

Images

  • A high-res author photo. A professional-quality photograph. You want to include a high-resolution version (300 dpi) for print use in print media (newspapers or event fliers). If you have more than one, you may include several options.
  • A low-res author photo. The same photo in a lower resolution version for internet or social media use, when people want an image with a smaller file size.  
  • High-quality images of your book covers or other key products. If you have lots of titles, choose the newest or most important ones.

Text

  • A brief author bio. Two to three sentences that provide a brief introduction to you and your writing or ministry. Don’t forget to mention your website.
  • Suggested interview questions. These help journalists, podcasters, and bloggers ask you key questions that will allow you to get your message out. They also give interested parties a better idea of what you’re about and if you’re the right person for their article, podcast, or event.
  • Contact information. Always make it easy for potential interviewers to contact you! If they can’t easily contact you, they may skip to the next person.

Optional things to add

  • An extended bio.
  • A list of awards you have received
  • Links to recent articles or interviews that feature you
  • Audio or video of you speaking or teaching. This proves to event planners that you are a proficient speaker.  
  • Links to download relevant pdfs. For example, a pdf version of your press release, or a pdf version of a book for interviewers to access.  
  • A list of your books with key info.

Where do I put my press kit?

If you have a website, create a press kit page. Include links to your press kit page in your About page, and on the footer, plus anywhere else that makes sense.

It’s also a good idea to create a pdf version of your kit, which potential interviewers can download. You can store your press kit in a dropbox or similar accessible place so users can easily download it any time.

Your Turn!

That’s all there is to it. Make it easy for people to find the correct information about who you are and what you do by creating a simple press kit.  Do you have a press kit? If not, why don’t you begin creating one today.

If you want to see an example, you can check out my press kit here.

Lisa E Betz

An engineer-turned-mystery-writer, Lisa E. Betz infuses her novels with authentic characters who thrive on solving tricky problems. Her debut novel, Death and a Crocodile, won several awards, including Golden Scroll Novel of the Year (2021). Her second novel, Fountains and Secrets released January 2022, from Redemption Press.

Lisa combines her love of research with her quirky imagination to bring the world of the early church to life. She and her husband reside outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Scallywag, their rambunctious cat—the inspiration for Nemesis, resident mischief maker in the Livia Aemilia Mysteries. Lisa sorts book donations at the library, directs church dramas, eats too much chocolate, and experiments with ancient Roman recipes.

In addition to writing novels, Lisa blogs about living with authenticity and purpose. Visit her website: Quietly Unconventional. Or visit her social media: Facebook , Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads.

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The Intentional Writer

Tips to Look and Sound Professional on Video

The intentional writer

Like it or not, most of us are spending time in front of a webcam. With the sudden onset of virtual everything due to the pandemic, many writers have been thrust into using video technology with little or no training.

Whether you are using video to attend meetings, teach a virtual workshop, or produce webinars for profit, you should do all you can to look and sound your best. These tips will help. The good news is that you can accomplish most of these tips without purchasing expensive technology.

Optimize your background and lighting

The number one way to improve your on-camera professionalism is to make yourself look good. Which means avoiding these common mistakes:

  • The wrong camera angle. A low camera angle isn’t flattering. Everyone looks better when the camera is at eye level or slightly above. You can use a tripod to accomplish this, but a stack of books or a cardboard box will also do the trick.
  • Windows in the background. The glare from sunlight behind you is annoying for viewers and it also means your face is in shadow.
  • Using a busy background. Avoid backgrounds that are messy or distracting. If it’s practical, you can set up a corner of the house to be your private filming studio, with an on-brand set. For the rest of us, a blank section of wall is best.
  • Lighting that is too bright, too dim, or uneven. Ideally you want to avoid direct sunlight, and provide warm lighting from several angles to avoid harsh shadows while illuminating your face well. You may have to experiment with portable lamps to get the right lighting. Or invest in a ring light.

A simple trick: You can figure out how to improve all of these considerations by turning your phone on selfie mode. Experiment with different locations and lighting to find out what looks best.

Other things to consider

  • Don’t use a virtual background unless you’ve practiced with it and know how to keep yourself looking good while using it. If you move a lot, a virtual background is probably not the way to go.
  • Remember to frame yourself properly. Keeping your head and shoulders visible and centered in the frame is best.
  • Be aware of doors. Allowing a door to be visible in the background opens up the possibility of someone accidentally interrupting your video. It’s better to keep doors off camera so you can see intruders and stop them before they become visible to viewers.

Optimize your audio

  • Know the limitations of your mic. If you are using the microphone on your device, stay close enough for it to pick up your voice. If you move too far away, your voice will become faint or garbled to listeners. The microphone that comes with earbuds is often an improvement over using your device mic.
  • If you plan to teach on video, or regularly do something like Facebook live, invest in a microphone. Two options are a clip-on lavalier mic or a tripod-mounted mic that sits on the floor or desk in front of you.
  • Pay attention to background noise. If at all possible, avoid recording when someone is mowing the lawn, or when a noisy appliance like the washer is running. Also be aware of fans. Too much moving air near the mic can create odd noises for listeners.
  • Avoid unwanted beeps. Turn off all notifications on your device. Silence your phone. Check the room for anything else that could make an unwanted noise.

Improve your delivery

  • In a live situation, a presenter makes eye contact with the audience. In a video, a presenter makes virtual eye contact by looking directly at the camera. This can feel awkward, because your eyes want to look at the slide, or at other viewers pictured on your screen. Pro tip: put a sticky note near the webcam to remind yourself where to look.
  • In a similar vein, video presenters should avoid looking down to read. It’s much better to look sideways, so find a way to position your notes at eye level and to the side of your camera rather than on a table in front of you.
  • Plan your outfit. Solid colors work best on camera. Also consider the evergreen quality. If this video will be viewed year-round, select an outfit that could be suitable for any season rather than a sleeveless shirt or bulky sweater.
  • Practice, practice, practice. Get used to the software controls and how to switch from one view to another, so you aren’t stumbling when the video goes live.
  • Open your presentation to the first slide before you begin the video session. That way you can click right into the presentation without delay.
  • Don’t forget to adjust the camera so you center yourself in the frame.

Don’t neglect technical details.

  • Consider bandwidth. To avoid frozen screens, garbled audio, and other problems, make sure you have sufficient internet bandwidth. Every device in the house is competing for bandwidth, so turn off everything you can. This is not the ideal time for someone else to be streaming a movie or playing online games.
  • Also be aware that WiFi signal varies throughout the house. Choose a location where you have a strong signal.
  • Close all extra tabs to keep background programs to a minimum.
  • Clear the cache. A full cache can bog down your speed, so it’s a good practice to restart your device before recording. (Just leave yourself sufficient time in case your computer decides to do a backup without warning you.)
  • Do at least one solo recording session, including any visuals you plan to use, to make sure everything looks and sounds good.
  • Make sure your battery is fully charged before the session begins.
  • Join the meeting a few minutes early to make sure everything is working.

Finally: Do you have a backup plan? Imagine you are in the middle of a live workshop and your internet goes out. What will you do? If you plan to do live video, make sure you have a hotspot as a backup in case the internet fails you.

I hope these tips help you look and sound awesome in your next video session.

Lisa E. Betz worked as an engineer, substitute teacher, and play director before becoming an award-winning mystery writer. She brings her analytical mind, quirky humor, and positive outlook to all she writes. She draws inspiration from thirty-five years of leading Bible studies to create entertaining mysteries set in the world of the early church, and then she fills that world with eccentric characters, independent females, and an occasional sausage-snatching cat. Her first novel, Death and a Crocodile, releases February 9.

In addition to writing novels, Lisa blogs about living with authenticity and purpose. Visit her at www.lisaebetz.com. Facebook LisaEBetzWriter Twitter @LisaEBetz and Pinterest Lisa E Betz Intentional Living.

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The Intentional Writer

How to Face A Critique

The intentional writer

Does the word critique fill you with dread? It shouldn’t.

I have learned most of what I know about writing by receiving critiques. It started in school, when teachers graded my first early efforts. It continues today every time I seek the input and feedback of others.

All artists need feedback in order to improve their craft. Consider a piano student. Each week she goes to her instructor and receive a lesson, which consists primarily of a critique on whatever skill she is trying to master. The same goes for an athlete and her coach.

Critiques should be welcomed as a writer’s best tool for improvement. Here are some suggestions for making the most of critique sessions.

Tips for facing a critique

  • Attitude is key. Start with a teachable spirit. If you are not open to feedback and willing to learn then there is no point in asking for a critique.
  • Remember a critique is not an attack on you or your worth. It may feel painful, but a good critique will always help you grow rather than tear you down.
  • Think of the person giving the critique as a teammate or coach, not an adversary.
  • Remember, a critique is not a contest. There are no winners or losers. You are not at war and you don’t need to defend yourself.
  • Listen to everything politely and without interrupting. Listening silently does not mean you are being passive, or that you agree with what is said.
  • Expect to learn something. Approach every critique session with the attitude: What can I learn from this discussion?
  • Even if you disagree with a critiquer’s opinions, you can still learn something. For example, you might learn that some readers will not understand a paragraph the way you meant it to be understood. That is valuable feedback.
  • A good critique will cite specific examples of what is being criticized. If examples are not cited, ask for some. Example: “You say my writing is choppy. Can you show me what you mean by that?”
  • When it’s practical, ask the critiquer for suggestions on how to improve. You can learn much from someone who points out a writing weakness and then shows you how to make it better.
  • There are two main kind of information you gain from a critique. A) How well am I mastering my craft? and B) How well am I communicating what I am trying to say? You need feedback in both areas.
  • You do not need to follow all advice you receive in a critique session. Use your best judgment. (If you receive similar feedback from several sources, you should take a good hard look at the issue. If you don’t agree, begin to ask why they think what they do and see if you can get to the root of the problem.)
  • When you consider how much weight to put behind a critique, consider the critiquer’s experience, skill, and familiarity with the genre and today’s publishing realities.

Unfortunately, we have all experienced critiques that did more damage than good. It happens. Here are some suggestions to avoid non-constructive critiques and mitigate the problems they create.

Tips for protecting yourself against malicious or unhelpful critiques.

  • Be suspect of any critique that is 100% praise.
  • Do not expect expert advice from beginning writers.
  • Do not expect good writing advice from those who don’t write and rarely read.
  • Realize that someone who does not enjoy your genre will probably not enjoy your manuscript. This does not mean their critique is unhelpful, but you might need to guide them to look past the genre to specific things. For example, ask them: “Can you picture my setting?” or “Can you follow my main character’s logic?” 
  • Don’t expect a helpful critique from someone with an axe to grind against you or the topic of your manuscript.
  •  Learn who not to ask! When someone rips your writing to shreds, choose not to open yourself up to that pain by asking them again. Like anything in life, we need to keep wise boundaries.

Critiques are important and powerful tools for improving our craft and honing our manuscripts. May you face them with confidence and utilize them wisely.

Award-winning writer Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a unique story to tell the world. She loves inspiring fellow writers to be more intentional about developing their craft and courageous in sharing their words. Lisa shares her words through speaking, leading Bible studies, writing historical mysteries, and blogging about living intentionally.

You can find her on Facebook  LisaEBetzWriter Twitter @LisaEBetz and Pinterest Lisa E Betz Intentional Living.

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The Intentional Writer

How to Help Your Creativity Thrive

The intentional writer

Creativity doesn’t just happen. It’s not some inherent talent that some are blessed with and others are not. Creativity can be developed. It can also be neglected, or hindered by bad habits.

We writers need to take good care of our creative abilities. If we neglect the care and feeding of our creative selves we will never reach our creative potential.

What can we do to help creativity thrive?

Creativity thrives when we:

  • Give ourselves the freedom to make mistakes. Mistakes are part of learning and growing. Writers who are afraid to make mistakes will limit themselves to what they are already good instead of experimenting with new things that might lead to failure (but also might lead to breakthroughs).
  • Take creative risks. Muscles don’t strengthen unless we challenge them. In the same way, our creative muscles need to be challenged in order to grow. We don’t know what we are capable of unless we try.
  • Make lots of art. Studies show that artists who produce lots of works are also the ones who produce the best, most creative works. In the process they also produce many mediocre works, but that is OK. Without all the not-so-great art to experiment with, they would never have developed the truly brilliant ones.  
  • Seek wide and varied inputs from all areas of life. This includes exposure to excellent art in a wide variety of forms as well as an attitude of life-long learning in other areas. The more good material our brain has to play with, the better.  
  • Embrace challenges and discomfort, because we know they will force us to grow and adapt. Bad stuff happens in life. We can use those things as an excuse to quit or we can work despite the challenges. The most creative ideas tend to come out of the most severe constraints.
  • Welcome a little bit of mess. It turns out a little chaos is good for the creative process. Don’t stress over the mess so long as you can still find what you need. Additionally, get your hands dirty now and then doing something creative. Creativity is enhanced when we interact with our messy world.
  • Have the courage to dig deep into our souls and explore dark and uncomfortable places. Staying on the surface feels safer, but it won’t lead us to our most inspired work.
  • Find encouragement and feedback from writers and non-writers. Creative work is not easy. We all need support along the way. We also need honest, useful feedback to help us improve. How intentional are you about developing your creative support network? About encouraging your fellow creatives?

11 ideas to encourage and stretch your creative thinking

  1. Go to an art exhibit. Pay attention to the moods and thoughts the art evokes. Can you figure out why?
  2. Read a highly rated book in a genre you don’t normally read. Pay attention to how the author uses his craft.
  3. Learn something new. Take a cooking class, sign up for dancing lessons, study a new language. Anything that engages the brain in a new way is good for overall creative function.
  4. Get together with a non-writer and discuss a subject that interests you or a topic tangentially related to your story. (Philosophy, medical breakthroughs, ancient history, psychology, a hobby…)
  5. Watch the director’s commentary on a movie you’ve seen before and appreciate all the kinds of art that happen behind the scenes. What do you learn about good storytelling?
  6. Make something with your hands. A picture, a birdhouse, a fancy cake. Creating stuff is good for the soul. It also builds new neural pathways while giving the language processing areas time to relax.  
  7. Write something in a different genre. A poem. A few scenes of a fantasy. A radio drama. It doesn’t matter how good it is, what matters is that you climbed outside your box.
  8. Experiment with different kinds of background music while you write. Notice how different types of music affect your mood and your writing.
  9. Attend an event your main character would enjoy, such as a wine tasting, a car show, or a political rally. The more it takes you outside your box, the better.
  10. Make up distinct voices for your primary characters and read scenes aloud. Better yet, hold verbal conversations with your characters (but maybe not in public).
  11. Take a virtual shopping trip. Pretend you are one of your characters and shop for things that character would buy that you wouldn’t. For best results, don’t just browse the internet but actually go to a store and handle the objects.

I hope these ideas inspire you to new levels of creativity.

Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a story to tell the world. She loves to encourage fellow writers to be intentional about their craft and courageous in sharing their words with others. Lisa shares her words through dramas, Bible studies, historical mysteries, and her blog about intentional living. You can find her on Facebook  LisaEBetzWriter Twitter @LisaEBetz and Pinterest Lisa E Betz.

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The Intentional Writer

The Benefits of a Writing Ritual

The intentional writer

Writing rituals are something I come across whenever I look into advice for how to be a productive and consistent writer. I never paid them much mind. The basic concept made sense, but they didn’t seem like something I wanted to bother with. Routines and rituals are not what make me tick.

Then I began reading the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. The book explained the why behind rituals (specifically what he calls motivation rituals) and I realized they were more powerful than I had thought.

What is a motivation ritual?

Forming and keeping good habits can be hard. Motivation by itself is not enough to overcome our brain’s natural resistance to creating new habits. People who study habits have come up with various tricks to make it easier for us to succeed. When it comes to motivation rituals, the main concept at work is this:

You can make difficult habits more attractive by training your brain to associate them with a positive experience. A motivation ritual is a way to associate the habit you want to grow (such as clearing your brain to focus on writing) with something you enjoy (a cup of coffee in your special writer’s mug, perhaps). Over time, the ritual becomes your brain’s cue that will help you begin the habit.

In the book, the author describes how during his years as a baseball player, he developed a pregame stretching and warm-up ritual. He intentionally went through the sequence the same way every time. It prepared him physically, but at the same time it prepared him mentally. He goes on to say:

I began to associate my pregame ritual with feeling competitive and focused. Even if I wasn’t motivated beforehand, by the time I was done with my ritual, I was in “game mode.” James Clear in Atomic Habits

Aha! So that’s what a writing ritual is all about. When done correctly, it can help us clear our heads and get into “writer mode.”

How to design a writing ritual

I am not suggesting that you can invent a ritual and it will magically boost your writing focus. I am suggesting a well-designed ritual can help you form and keep a good writing habit. Here are some key points to keep in mind if you want to create a helpful writing ritual.

  • The ritual must associate something you enjoy (like a creative writing prompt) or a series of easy steps (like the baseball warm-up) with the habit of focused writing.
  • The ritual is not likely to work if that action is already associated in your brain with bad habits. (i.e. creative writing prompts = daydream for the next hour)
  • If your current writing space is full of cues that distract you, you may need to change up your environment in order to create a new ritual that will point you to new habits. This could mean choosing a new place in your home or office to do focused writing. Or it could mean creating a ritual where you put certain distracting items away to clear your physical and mental space for focused writing. (Sort of like Mr. Rogers changing his shoes.)
  • The ritual needs to be repeated consistently, and the specific cues in the ritual should be only for that particular habit. The idea is to train your brain to think something like: “when I put on those brown headphones, it’s time to concentrate.” Or “When I put on my favorite writing sweatshirt and sit in my desk chair, I am Lisa-the-writer, not Lisa-the housekeeper or Lisa-the-cat’s-servant or anything else.”
  • Try to adopt a attitude-based mindset instead of a goal-based mindset. The ritual is not about meeting your daily word count. The ritual is about becoming the sort of person who can sit down and focus on writing on both the good days and the bad days.

Ready to give a writing ritual a try?

I am continuing to ponder how I can tap into the power of a writing ritual. How about you? Do you have a writing ritual that helps you get in the zone?

Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a story to tell the world. She loves to encourage fellow writers to be intentional about their craft and courageous in sharing their words with others. Lisa shares her words through dramas, Bible studies, historical mysteries, and her blog about intentional living. You can find her on Facebook  LisaEBetzWriter and Twitter @LisaEBetz