Author: selfpublishingadvisor

Summer is the perfect time to work on your writing projects and start the self-publishing process. Each week this month, I will offer advice to help you achieve your writing goals this summer. Be sure to check out the last two posts: Kick Off Summer with Self-Publishing and Self-Publishing Authors, Take A Vacation.

This week I’ll share five writing tips to help you achieve your writing goals this season:

1. Read, read, and read some more.

Summer is the perfect time to catch up on your reading wish list and reread some of your favorites. As you sit by the pool or lounge on the beach, be sure to have a stack of books with you. Read a variety of materials over the summer — books in your genre, classic books, books you normally wouldn’t read, newspapers, magazines, even children’s books. Reading is one of the best ways to improve your craft and find inspiration.

2. Browse Pinterest.

Now, you might be thinking that Pinterest is just a way to avoid actually writing, but it can be a great resource for writers. You can use it to collect inspiration for your stories as well as promote yourself and your work. The key is to be strategic in how you spend your time when on the website.

3. Practice writing.

While it’s important to work on your writing project, it’s always fun and smart to take time to just work on the craft of writing. Read a book or blog about improving your craft. Do short writing prompts. Join a writing group. Try writing something in a different genre. All of this “playing” can improve and inspire your writing projects.

4. Try something new.

Novelty is important for writers because the best characters and stories are often inspired by simply living life. This summer take time to try new things. Go to a new restaurant. Visit a museum. Go to a sporting event. Take a class. It doesn’t matter what it is. It just has to be something you’ve never done before.

5. Create a writing space.

Where you work impacts your productivity and creativity. While everyone’s ideal work space is different, it is important to set up an area in your home, or find a place you can go to, that helps you get in the mood to write. Make it clutter free. Hang quotes or photos that are inspirational. Have all of the materials you need in one place. Play some inspiring music.

I’d love to know, what are your doing this summer to improve your writing?

WRITING CONFERENCES II

Confession time.  I’d been looking forward to attending this conference for months!  However, that did not translate into appropriately preparing myself for the journey—both the physical miles to be traveled and my personal mindset.  I’m not only a writer of my own projects, I’m also a ghostwriter critique/consultant who works hard at helping other writers prepare their manuscripts for publication.  SO…I was working on multiple projects right up to the hour before leaving home.  Following are concepts that I strongly advise considering as you prepare yourself to attend—and participate in—any writers conference.

1. REPEAT THE BOYSCOUT MOTTO MULTIPLE TIMES: BE PREPARED.  Last week I mentioned doing the Google research on faculty members—especially those whose workshops you’re planning to take.  NOW prepare your materials (manuscript pages) that you feel represent an example of that Workshop Topic.  For example: If you’re struggling with the development of a character in a specific chapter—and the Workshop Faculty person has been a long-time hero of yours because of the characters they have written—BRING a page or two of your character sketches to share with them.  Will they always be willing to take a look?  Most will, especially if you’re only showing them a SHORT segment…and are respectful in your request for their time.

2. IF YOU HAVE a completed manuscript—carry it with you everywhere while at the conference!  You never know who you’ll be seated next to at breakfast, lunch or dinner.  Remember to be respectful of the person—agent, publisher, editor, radio host, etc.—while having the “story” about your story ready to share.

3. KEEP A NOTE-TAKING device close at hand!  Whatever instrument works for you—yellow note pad, phone note-taker (utilizing voice), mini-recorder, sticky notes—never leave a conversation or workshop without having notes that hold keywords to trigger the main points. Again, ALWAYS be respectful of the speakers and ask their permission to record, unless you are in a class setting where you are expected to record/take notes.

4. PRESENT YOURSELF AS A PROFESSIONAL WRITER! You might be a bit awestruck when being in the company of some well-known authors, but take a deep breath and remind yourself that they were beginning writers once, too, and most of them will acknowledge that they are learning something new about writing every day.  Business-casual attire is always a good image.  Of course, there are the retreat-type conferences where everyone is in blue-jeans and sweatshirts and it is difficult to tell the faculty/speakers from the conference participants.  However, even in that environment every writer can be professional as they practice respect for each other and do more listening than talking.

5. SET TWO MAIN GOALS for yourself.  My always-on-my-mind goals are: (1) Seek the company of those published authors who most closely match my writing style and genre. (2) Stay open to any author who “connects” with me on a mentoring level—whether that person is a well-known author or a recently-published author.

a. There are as many possible goals to set for yourself as there are writers on the planet.  Listen to your writer’s intuition and make sure you have at least four (4) goals before getting to the conference.  THEN be willing to adjust them once your feet are planted on the conference grounds.

Like a bird in flight, fledgling writers have much to learn.  What all writers have within themselves—that push them to become writers in the first place—is the natural ability to fly!  We are born into this world with writing gifts that budding and blooming all the time.  It is a process and I’ll share more conference tips in next week’s blog.  Until then…WRITE!

ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene Doyle is a Ghostwriter with Outskirts Press, bringing more than 35 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their writing projects. She has worked with both experienced and fledgling writers helping complete projects in multiple genres. When a writer brings the passion they have for their work and combines it with Royalene’s passion to see the finished project in print, books are published and the writer’s legacy is passed forward.

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review by Midwest Book Review:

Compass

Erik Hansen

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN:9781432786960

I was impressed with this collection of poems by author Erik Hansen. His words were rich in deep meaning from within. Some of the poems use wild life such as Visitors, the Hummingbird. Others such as “Fear” reach into our own soul. That poem definitely was inspired. I also especially enjoyed the poem “Spring.” Closing my eyes and thinking of the words, I could smell the flowers and see the rainbows. I enjoyed this collection, and I believe you will as well.

As a self-publishing author, you may find it helpful to stay up-to-date on the trends and news related to the self-publishing industry. This will help you make informed decisions before, during and after the self-publishing process, which will lead to a greater self-publishing experience. To help you stay current on self-publishing topics, simply visit our blog every Tuesday to find out the hottest news.

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Self-published author Laura Shumaker shares her self-publishing success story. She discusses the marketing techniques that helped sell out her printed copies and more. This is an inspiring read.

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It is important for self-publishing authors to choose a company that is a good match for them and to use a discerning eye when seeking out assistance. This is a must read for self-publishing authors.

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Indie author Sherban Young urges self-publishers to create and execute a publishing plan. This is an interesting read for all self-publishing authors.

If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Executive Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.

Summer is the perfect time to work on your writing projects and start the self-publishing process. Each week this month, I will offer advice to help you achieve your writing goals this summer. Be sure to check out last week’s post: Kick Off Summer with Self-Publishing.

Here is my advice this week — take a vacation. That’s right. Put aside your work, and take a vacation. It doesn’t matter whether you travel around the world or to the next town over. The key is go somewhere different from your usual routine.

While I encourage you to put work aside while on vacation, I don’t want you to completely forget your writing goals. Keep a camera, notebook, and recordable device with you. Later as you look back through your photos and thoughts you might find something that inspires your writing project.

One of  my favorite quotes is by Ernest Hemingway: “In order to write about life, first you must live life.” Keep this in mind as you enjoy your summer and work on your writing projects.

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 25 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Jodee Thayer can put you on the right path.