Tag: Writers Tools

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Writers Chat

Writers Chat Recap for January Part 1

Writers Chat Recap

Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Brandy Brow, is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!

“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.”

Featuring:

Resources and Tools for Writers

Jean Wise and Johnnie Alexander host our first episode of 2023. Johnnie confesses to her Luddite tendencies while Jean keeps us firmly planted in the 21st century by talking about AI possibilities. Johnnie opens up Evernote and an Excel worksheet to show how to keep track of a to-do list and other essentials of the writing business. Jeanie gives examples of AI generated answers to specific questions and shared how AI can spark story/article ideas, plots, characters, etc. Patricia Tiffany Morris gave a spontaneous demonstration of BoredHuman.com.

Watch the January 3rd Replay

Writers Chat Wish List for 2023

Our wish list contains 5Cs ~ Caring, Challenge, Community, Creativity, Curiosity. How can you, as a writer, be inspired to grow in these areas during the upcoming year? What practical steps can you take to care for yourself and others, engage in various challenges (such as writing a haiku a day), participate in community (and make new friends!), enhance your creativity, and follow your curiosity? The Writers Chat team shares ideas and resources that will enhance your writing journey. Start off the New Year with plans and goals for living a 5C lifestyle.

Watch the January 10th replay.

Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET
on Zoom. The permanent Zoom room link is: http://zoom.us/j/4074198133

Categories
Platform and Branding

5 Questions Your About Page Must Answer

One of the four must-have features of a website is the About page, but it’s overlooked by many writers. It can be uncomfortable to write about ourselves, and so we often slap together a short bio, upload a headshot, and go back to our projects. But a high percentage of first-time visitors to your site click on your About page, so consider the questions a newcomer would ask.

Platforming - blank manWho are you?

Introduce yourself in a few sentences and include a recent headshot. Don’t be afraid to add some interesting or unexpected facts (and pictures) about yourself.

What do you write about?

Describe your writing niche. Is it historical fiction? Technical articles? Devotions? If you’ve published a book(s), share a brief synopsis with a link to purchase or download.

Let visitors know what they can expect to find when they visit your site. Share a couple of “teasers” with links to your most popular posts. Linking within your site not only highlights some of your best writing, but it also helps boost SEO.

When can they expect updates?

Tell how often you post, even if it’s infrequently, and ask readers to subscribe. Direct them to your sidebar subscription section or include a link/code within the body of your text. If you have a newsletter, explain how it differs from your posts, how it benefits them, and ask them to subscribe.

Where can they find you? 

Platforming - social media

Add links to your social media networks and invite visitors to connect with you there. You can insert these links in the body of your text, but also consider adding a widget or gadget to your sidebar so they’ll be visible from multiple pages.

Include a contact form or tell them how to contact you by email. To cut down on spam, thwart bots by breaking up the address: yourname {at} domain {dot} com

Why should they follow you?

Platforming - question markWith millions of blogs and personal websites on the Internet, remember that you offer a unique voice and message. How does your writing benefit your readers? Add a couple of testimonial quotes pulled from reader comments (get permission first) or ask a couple of fellow writers for a short endorsement.

Review and update your About page at least every six months, and monitor your site’s analytics to see how many hits this page receives. As Michael Hyatt advises, don’t think of this page as an obligation but as an opportunity.

YOUR TURN: What would you add to this list?

Shareables:

About-page image bordered

 

[bctt tweet=”A writer’s About page isn’t an obligation but an opportunity, via @A3forme @susanrstilwell” via=”no”]

[bctt tweet=”Does your About page engage or dismiss 1st time visitors? Tips via @A3forme @susanrstilwell ” via=”no”]

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Where Do Writers Find Free Pictures?

Links to sites that contain high-quality, free pictures available on the web. Great resource for your next writing project.

It’s a struggle authors frequently have. We write an article or blog post, and then comes the dreaded question, “Where do I find a picture for my piece?”

The unspoken hope is that the image will not only be free but also interesting and of high quality. Oh, and could we could make this whole process easy? Absolutely. Today’s post will tell you how.

Here are two ways to get great pictures for your writing:

#1 Create Your Own

Programs like Canva and PicMonkey are fairly easy to learn and will let you create an image from scratch or modify a picture you already have. Both are free, although each has paid elements that may be useful.

  • Canva.com – This program has both free and paid picture options. Pay pictures are clearly marked and are usually only $1. Canva’s text overlays are pre-formatted in interesting styles, allowing the using to simply add their own words.
  • PicMonkey.com – Pay features allow you access to a larger number of fonts and editing features, although the base features are quite extensive. Note: PicMonkey does not provide basic pictures but does allow you to use shapes, textures, and graphics to create a background image for text to be placed on the top.
  • For examples of what can be created with both of these programs, check out fellow A3 writer Meaghan Burnett’s article Creating Free Graphics or Memes for Authors.

#2 Find Images on Free Picture Websites

Yes, free picture websites with quality images can be found. Some require an acknowledgement for the photographer. Many do not. Be sure to read the FAQ and About sections for each site so you know how it operates.

  • Pixabay.com – This is my go-to site. Pixabay has a wide range of interesting pictures on a variety of topics. When you search for a subject, Shutterstock images appear at the top. These are pay images that are clearly marked. The ones below are the freebies, and there are lots of them. No account is required although it makes it easier to download if you use the site a lot. FYI – If you find a photographer you like, buy him or her a cup of coffee. You’ll be given this option after each download. It’s not necessary—this is a free site—but it’s a nice gesture for their hard work.
  • FreeDigitalPhotos.net – This site offers free photos in small sizes and only requires an attribution be listed. If you need larger photos or ones with high resolution, these can be purchased for a nominal fee.
  • Alegriphotos.com – This is a European website with a small collection of free and public domain photos. Includes pictures of European hotspots like the Colosseum in Rome, yachts anchored of Rhodes, and columns at the Vatican.
  • StockArch.com – Photographers on this site share their photos in exchange for a credit and a link back to their websites. Not a bad deal considering the high-quality pictures available.
  • OpenPhoto.net – Credit to the photographer is required and licensing varies. Some images can be modified for commercial use while others cannot. To check the licensing type, select the desired picture. Then, click on the attribution type. Ways the photo can be used are clearly listed.
  • Unsplash.com – As the site says, these are “free—do whatever you want—high resolution photos.” Ten new photos are added to the site every ten days. Old photos are searchable.

If you’ve struggled to find photos, consider that a thing of the past. So, what are you going to do with all your extra time? Sounds like a writing opportunity–get to it!

[bctt tweet=”8 ways to get free pictures for your writing projects. #AmWriting”]

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Picturing Your Characters

As writers, we do many things to capture what drives our characters. We’ll complete questionnaires detailing their likes and dislikes, create a complete family tree, and of course, analyze their goals, motivations, and conflicts. These are useful tools. However, sometimes we just want to SEE our characters and inhabit their world. When a visual aid is needed, here are three ways for picturing your characters lives:

The Wall Board

This old school method is still quite helpful. Hang a board filled with pictures of your characters and setting(s), and it is constantly before you as you write your piece.

Tips for your wall board:

  • Use foam board instead of poster board. Foam board is stiff and can be leaned against a wall. Poster board will curl over time and fall.
  • Divide your board into sections. In the example below, the top is for main characters while the bottom covers the setting. Remember, to fully capture a character, you need to see them in your story’s environment.

Character Board Layout to help you picture your characters in your story's setting.

  • Look for pictures of your characters in clothing catalogs or fashion magazines. Not only will you capture your character’s style, you’ll also have a nice description of everything they’re wearing. This is great for dressing a character who’s style is not your own. FYI – you can go online to see many companies’ catalogs or request a paper version be sent to your home.

Pinterest Boards

If you’re on Pinterest, you have a ready-made electronic format for researching your characters. Create a board for each of your main characters and pin away with everything that makes them unique.

Tips for your Pinterest boards:

  • Make your character boards secret. You don’t want others to see these wonderful people you’re creating until your story is done.
  • Use Pinterest to research special topics for your story. Beyond boards for your main 2-3 characters, you can also have boards researching a specific location, time period, event, etc. Below is a board I keep on the 1930s. When I look through that board, I not only see information but also the colors, style, and feel of the period.

Pinterest for Writers - Create a secret board dedicated to an time period, event, or setting.

[bctt tweet=”Use Pinterest to research special topics for your story. #HowTo #WritersWrite”]

Bonus: Once your book is sold, you can share your Pinterest Board with the cover artist and marketing group. They’ll immediately have a feel for your characters and the world these people represent.

Scrivener Character Pages

If you’re already using this writing software, Scrivener has a whole section devoted to character research. If you’re unfamiliar with Scrivener, you can see a demonstration video of this software here: www.LiteratureAndLatte.com.

Items of note within Scrivener:

  • This program comes with a basic character template you can customize for your story.
  • You can insert pictures or website links to go along with your notes.
  • Your character profiles stay with your story. When you open your story file, all your character notes open with it. As you write, your can easily reference or update your character notes because everything is with your manuscript document.

Now that you can see your characters, I’m sure there is a lot for them to do. So, get back to writing. Their stories are waiting!

[bctt tweet=”Sometimes we want to SEE our characters and inhabit their world. #AuthorLife #Writing”]