Category: from the archives

from the archives, Kelly Speaks, NaNoWriMo, Uncategorized

From the Archives: “6 Ways to Keep Up the NanoWriMo Momentum”

Welcome back to our Tuesday segment, where we’ll be revisiting some of our most popular posts from the last few years.  What’s stayed the same?  And what’s changed?  We’ll be updating you on the facts, and taking a new (and hopefully refreshing) angle on a few timeless classics of Self Publishing Advisor.

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[ Originally posted: November 5th, 2012 ]

The first few days of NanoWriMo are now behind you. If you are like most writers, you probably started out enthusiastically and determined to reach your goal, but as the days go by, you may start to lose motivation and focus. You are not alone. If you want to ensure that you finish the first draft during NanoWriMo, consider these six tips.

1. Accept that it won’t be perfect. NanoWriMo more is about writing a 50,000 word novel in a month, but no  one ever said it has to be a perfect, ready to publish novel. This is a first draft, and like all first drafts, it will need work later. Right now, focus on finishing the 50,000 words. You can go back and make changes after the challenge.

2. Set daily goals. It can be overwhelming to think about writing 50,000 words in a month. Instead, focus on how many words you will write each day or during each writing session. This will help you break up the project into manageable steps and will keep you from feeling overwhelmed.

3. Check out Write or Die. This is great software for self-publishing authors who are struggling to meet their goals. This creative software lets you enter a time or word count goal, and encourages you to accomplish it without letting your inner editor take over. After you’ve meet your goal, you’re praised by the sound of trumpets.

4. Turn off the internet! Email and social media sites are major time-suckers that distract from your writing. During writing sessions, do not let yourself use the internet. If you can’t resist the urge, consider software that blocks the internet during your writing sessions.

5. Set a timer. Instead of focusing on word count, let yourself freely write for a set period of time, but don’t focus on the time. Instead, set a timer and forget about it. Write without interruption until that timer goes off. Then, take a break before writing again.

6. Become a morning person. Writing in the morning is great because the stresses and excitements of the day haven’t taken over yet. Your mind is clearest in the morning, and there are fewer distractions. Some writers like to wake up early and write until their brains get tired. Then, they allow themselves to enjoy the rest of the day however they wish. If you find that you’re having a hard time completing your writing goals because your to-do list grows throughout the day, writing in the morning may be the perfect solution.

I’d love to know, what are you doing to keep the writing momentum going?

– by Wendy Statina

nanowrimo 2016

50,000 words.

Let that sink in for a minute:

50,000 words!

(That’s a lot of words.)

There are so many pitfalls awaiting the eager author, whether participating in NaNoWriMo or just slaving away at the mines on some other project outside of the NaNo-verse, and a lot of the advice you’re going to read out there about how to move past Writer’s Block and so forth is going to sound canned. At this point in your journey, you’re past the point where trite pep talks land with any sort of impact; you know what works for you and what doesn’t, and looking to others for insight just strikes you as … derivative. Everybody’s doing it, and that kind of takes away from its power.

Or does it?

I would caution our readers here at SPA from becoming disenchanted the way I have become disenchanted after so many years, and so many writing marathons. I caution against this because, ultimately, losing hope is the only thing that will truly ruin your November—losing faith that you can do it, and that there’s wisdom to be picked up from those others who have passed through this process.

And while I would be the first to admit that any list, including our old list of ideas from 2012, is bound to be incomplete … well, I would also be the first to stand by the efficacy of the points contained therein, the points tested and verified by the experiences of so many authors.

Don’t give up! Don’t lose hope! And don’t lose your faith in others … as well as yourself.

You’ve got this, dear reader. You’ve got this.

Thanks for reading.  If you have any other ideas, I’d love to hear them.  Drop me a line in the comments section below and I’ll respond as quickly as I can.  ♠

Kelly

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, kellyschuknecht.com.
from the archives, Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized, Writing

From the Archives: “5 Online Tasks for Self Publishing Authors to Complete Before NanoWriMo”

Welcome back to our Tuesday segment, where we’ll be revisiting some of our most popular posts from the last few years.  What’s stayed the same?  And what’s changed?  We’ll be updating you on the facts, and taking a new (and hopefully refreshing) angle on a few timeless classics of Self Publishing Advisor.

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[ Originally posted: October 22nd, 2012 ]

There is a little more than a week until NanoWriMo begins! If you’re like many self publishing authors, you’ve been spending the month of October preparing for the challenge. You’ve probably started brainstorming and outline and cleaning off your desk, but there are a few online tasks that you should complete before the official beginning of NanoWriMo. Here is your to-do list.

1) Make sure you are registered.

Before you start all the fun tasks below, make sure you are registered for the event. You can do so by visiting NanoWriMo.org. This will ensure that you have access to all the benefits and resources the challenge has to offer.

2) Create social media pages.

Social media is a great way to market yourself and your book, and many readers, agents, and publishers expect you to take advantage of this marketing tool. You could create social media pages for yourself, your book, or your characters. Be creative, and have fun with social media. This is also a great time to start a blog.

3) Connect with other authors.

Of the greatest benefits of  NanoWriMo is the opportunity to connect with other authors. They can encourage and support you during this project. You can connect with authors by visiting the NanoWriMo website as well as by searching social media sites for people who are participating.

4) Download some music.

Music is a great way to become inspired. Download a few songs that you can listen to when you need some inspiration. Listen to songs that your characters would be interested, or search for music that reminds you of your setting or plot.

5) Play on Pinterest.

Pinterest is a great way to find inspiration as well as promote your book. Create boards for your characters, setting, or plot. Be creative, and have fun with this. What outfits would your character wear? What food would your character eat?

I’d love to know, what are you doing to prepare for NanoWriMo?

– by Wendy Statina

Most of the time, we like writing.

Or don’t we?

Sometimes, writing feels like writing. And sometimes—not just because of Halloween, but for other reasons too—writing feels like one long protracted scream into the void. (My scream? “WHY ARE WRITING OUTLINES SO DARN HARD??” Yours might be different.) It’s realistic to expect that at some point during an intensive writing spree—whether you’re doing NaNoWriMo or not—you’ll face insurmountable obstacles and unstoppable forces and immovable objects. Or at least, you’ll face challenges that seem like all of the above: Writer’s Block, characters gone haywire, plot holes, inconsistencies, and that one thing you really really want to edit but shouldn’t yet because it’ll totally torch your forward momentum. You know, those things.

nanowrimo inkygirl will write for chocolate

If I’ve learned anything from my many attempts at NaNoWriMo—mostly unsuccessful insofar as word count is concerned—it’s that preparation and a little foresight goes a long way towards keeping November (or, again, any intensive writing spree—especially if you have to meet some sort of deadline) fun. Thus, I thought it worth reviving Wendy’s wonderful 2012 blog for both your benefit and mine. Her suggestions still hold true today, four years and many gray hairs later, even though social media and even relationship-building is a moving target (So long, Vine. You’ll be missed*sob*).

Better still, the principle underlying Wendy’s post holds true:

Think ahead.

Spend a day or two setting yourself up for success and you’ll not need to spend thirty-odd days obsessing over the details. Look for your inspiration and put together that inspiration board on Pinterest. Spend a few hours building an architecture for your piece. Take a moment to either hop on social media and give warning that you’ll be scaling back your presence to help with focus—or to lay the groundwork for increased involvement, predicated on the knowledge that doing this thing in community is so much nicer than doing it solo. Register with NaNoWriMo if you think that might give you a little extra motivation, or register with a local writer’s club for something in your own backyard. Swing on by your libraries for writing sprints! (Those things are wonderful.)

Whatever you do, don’t wait to do it! This post goes live the morning that NaNoWriMo gets started, but it’s worth doing all these things even if it takes away from one day’s word total. After all, you’re laying the groundwork for everything that follows.

Thanks for reading.  If you have any other ideas, I’d love to hear them.  Drop me a line in the comments section below and I’ll respond as quickly as I can.  ♠

Kelly

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, kellyschuknecht.com.
from the archives, NaNoWriMo, Uncategorized

From the Archives: “Last Minute To-Dos for Self Publishing Authors Participating in NanoWriMo”

Welcome back to our Tuesday segment, where we’ll be revisiting some of our most popular posts from the last few years.  What’s stayed the same?  And what’s changed?  We’ll be updating you on the facts, and taking a new (and hopefully refreshing) angle on a few timeless classics of Self Publishing Advisor.

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[ Originally posted: October 29th, 2012 ]

There are only a few more days until NanoWriMo begins. To help you prepare, I’ve prepared a last minute to-do list for all self-publishing authors participating in NanoWriMo. Check it out below.

  • Read a few pep talks, which are available on the NanoWriMo website. They are sure to give you the motivation you need to succeed.
  • Add a web badge to your website. Not only will you help promote the event, but it is a fun way to let everyone know that you are taking the challenge.
  • Get inspired. Spend some time before the writing begins listening to music, watching strangers, drinking coffee, reading books, or doing any other activity that gets your creative juices flowing.
  • Relax. The next month is going to be hectic, so prepare your mind and body by practicing relaxation techniques such as exercising or meditation.
  • Remind your friends and family. You will need they their support during this process, so remind them of your goals and writing schedule.
  • Have fun. NanoWriMo is a fun process, so just enjoy it.

Good luck to all of the self-publishing authors who are participating in NanoWriMo. I can’t wait to see your books in print!

I’d love to know, what is on your last minute to-do list?

– by Wendy Statina

There’s no improving upon Wendy’s list from 2012, to be perfectly honest. (It’s perfect!) Like many of her fellow SPA contributors (including me!) she has participated in past NaNoWriMos, so she really knows what she’s talking about. Or she knew, at the very least, back in 2012 when she wrote her timeless recommendations–recommendations which are relevant, frankly, for every writer, no matter when you decide to plug away at your next novel.

As you’ll probably be beginning to realize, given the trend of several of our most recent posts here on SPA, we’re going to be writing our way through NaNoWriMo again this year, and we invite you to join with us. This isn’t just a vanity project for those of us who actually intend on participating in the event; this is us making a serious attempt to tackle many of the thorniest issues related to writing and authorship, specifically as self-publishing authors, that emerge when we settle into a long and sustained attempt to generate material. These issue include (but are not limited to) finding inspiration, maintaining motivation, vanquishing writer’s block, and navigating our complicated relationships to editing. (Do we do it before, during, or after we write? Or all of the above? Stay tuned to find out!) NaNoWriMo is simply the experiment–or the thought experiment, for those of you not participating this year, which is more than fine!–which helps us examine the issues.

Watch this spot–and our blog in general–over the coming weeks as we dive into November with our pens and notebooks at the ready!

last minute rush nanowrimo

Thanks for reading.  If you have any other ideas, I’d love to hear them.  Drop me a line in the comments section below and I’ll respond as quickly as I can.  ♠

Kelly

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, kellyschuknecht.com.
from the archives, Kelly Speaks, NaNoWriMo, Uncategorized

From the Archives: “8 Reasons Not to Participate in NanoWriMo”

Welcome back to our Tuesday segment, where we’ll be revisiting some of our most popular posts from the last few years.  What’s stayed the same?  And what’s changed?  We’ll be updating you on the facts, and taking a new (and hopefully refreshing) angle on a few timeless classics of Self Publishing Advisor.

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[ Originally posted: October 17th, 2012 ]

Lately, there is a lot of buzz in the writing community about NanoWriMo. Many writers are gearing up for the challenge, while others are still dragging their feet on signing up. Working with self-publishing authors, I hear many different excuses for why writers decide not to participate in NanoWriMo. Here are the top eight excuses I frequently hear and my response to each of them.

1.) You don’t feel inspired. Inspiration is a classic writing myth. Serious writers don’t wait until they feel inspired to write. They write every day, no matter what. You can create the inspiration to write by changing your daily habits; you shouldn’t wait for inspiration to strike.

2.) You’re scared. This should be a reason to participate, not an excuse not to. Tackling your fears is part of growing as a writer, and it can lead to unbelievable change.

3.) You don’t have any ideas. Everyone has ideas. You just have to take the time to find them. There are plenty of books and websites dedicated to helping writers generate ideas. Even if it seems corny, complete some writing exercises to get your juices flowing. Look for ideas in your everyday world: the newspaper, books, tv shows. Be sure to keep track of all your ideas in a notebook.

4.) It’s holiday season. Sure, November is known for kicking off the holiday season, but that doesn’t mean you have to put your dreams on hold. In fact, writing can be a great way to relieve some holiday stress.

5.) You’re anti-social and hate events. Many writers prefer being left alone when they are working on a book, but there are many benefits to participating in events such as NaNoWriMo. All of the information and support makes your task of writing easier. Plus, you can choose how much you interact with the other writers.

6.) You don’t believe it’s possible to accomplish. There are plenty of writers who don’t think it is possible to write a novel in 30 days, but the truth is the process works for many people. In fact, more than 90 published novels began as NaNoWriMo projects.

7.) You don’t have time. Writers always use this excuse, but the truth is, there is always time, if you make time.

8.) You have too many other responsibilities. We all have responsibilities besides writing, although many of us dream of a life where we have nothing else do except read, write, and drink coffee. The real problem is that many of us don’t know how to ask for help. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Learn to delegate and free up time to pursue your writing dreams.

So, what’s keeping you from participating in NaNoWriMo this year?

– by Kelly Schuknecht

Many things have changed in the years between 2012 and 2016, but one thing that hasn’t changed is … how much I love NaNoWriMo. In fact, this year we’ll be setting aside several blog posts to talk about the event and how you can benefit as an author–even if you don’t buy in to the whole notion of producing an entire novel in a month, or like signing on to yet another institution.

nanowrimo writing

I think what’s special to me about my original post about this matter–all the way back in years of yore, in 2012–and that keeps bringing me back is the problem–every author’s problem, at some point or another–of finding excuses not to write. Here’s what I think of excuses:

They’re telling you something.

I mean, technically they’re telling everybody something. But against the advice of a friend who happens to be a forensic psychologist, I’m going to dip into a little psychoanalysis here and postulate that we make up excuses not to write in order to justify a truth that our bodies and our minds know on some uncommunicable level: we’re not ready. Either we’re burnt out and exhausted from other things, or we haven’t planned as well as we’d like, or maybe we’re suffering from some chronic ailment (known or unknown). And furthermore, I postulate that we can’t be our best selves much less the best writers we can be without first addressing these underlying issues–head on.

So this November, instead of challenging you to see which excuses you’re coming up with not to participate in NaNoWriMo, I challenge you to try and figure out what’s underlying your excuses. Once you know the root causes, you have three options, right?

  • Do nothing, and let sleeping dogs lie (however uneasily) and run the risk of facing writer’s block forever as a result;
  • Deal with them to the fullest extent possible and find a solution that allows you to write; and
  • Manage them in balance with other major ongoing concerns to an extent that allows you some freedom to write.

Understandably, I’m going to lobby for everyone to manage or solve their excuse-inducing-problems because I want all of you to feel unshackled and fully able to write … but I do understand that you have a life outside of writing. We all do. Sometimes that life is going to intrude upon your process as a writer, and that’s okay. It really is. Maybe this is not the year to try and hurry yourself into making NaNoWriMo work. And maybe it is. Either way, we’re here for you at SPA to support you in making the best possible decision to fit your own life and needs. Stay strong!

Thanks for reading.  If you have any other ideas, I’d love to hear them.  Drop me a line in the comments section below and I’ll respond as quickly as I can.  ♠

Kelly

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, kellyschuknecht.com.
from the archives, Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

From the Archives: “Self Publishing for the Eco-Conscious”

Welcome back to our Tuesday segment, where we’ll be revisiting some of our most popular posts from the last few years.  What’s stayed the same?  And what’s changed?  We’ll be updating you on the facts, and taking a new (and hopefully refreshing) angle on a few timeless classics of Self Publishing Advisor.

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[ Originally posted: December 6th, 2011 ]

As our society becomes more concerned with environmental issues such as climate changes, pollution and land use, many authors want to know how they can publish a book that fits their environmental values. These authors want to know about the practices of the companies they publish with as well information about the materials used to print their books. If sustainability and conservation are important to you, here are a few things to consider before publishing your book.

1) Ask About the Ink – Some self-publishing companies use non-toxic ink. This is important for many reasons. For instance, it means…

  • Your book can later be recycled or composted without the fear of toxic ink seeping into the soil.
  • Once recycled, the finished product will not have a grayish-yellow appearance like the recycled papers of the ’90s.
  • The ink in your book will pose no threats to those who come in contact with it. (If your two-year-old child decides to nibble on the pages, he or she is perfectly safe.)

2) Ask About the Paper – Some self-publishing companies will print your book on recycled paper. There are also companies that use certified paper products. For instance, Outskirts Press uses bookblock paper that is Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Certified and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Mixed Credit. These practices are important to prevent deforestation, which causes global warming and species endangerment.

3) Ask About Certifications – It is important to find out about the practices and products used by your self-publishing company. One way businesses prove that they use environmentally conscious practices and products is certifications such as SFI Certified and FSC Mixed Credit. Most companies will be more than willing to share this information with you, so ask your publishing company what certifications they have.

4) Ask About Best Practices – There are plenty of ways individuals and businesses can help the environment. Just a few ideas include energy-efficient appliances, telecommuting and recycling. Ask yourself-publishing company what they do to reduce their carbon footprint. Do they value sustainability and conservation? Do they encourage their staff to share their values by taking small, eco-conscious actions?

When choosing a self-publishing company, it is important to find a company that shares your goals and values. Before committing to aself-publishing company, do your research. Find out about their practices and products. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. An honest company will be more than happy to answer them.

– by Cheri Breeding

eco friendly

If we’ve learned anything in the half decade since Cheri first wrote on our blog about the environmentally friendly potential of self-publishing, it’s that the imperative to do what we can to mitigate the damaging effects of our art has only increased. The world is feeling the effects of what we do, and if we have the opportunity to reduce those effects, we have a moral and ethical responsibility to seize upon that opportunity.

Cheri was right, too, to point self-publishing authors towards the questions of paper, certifications, and best practices. Many companies, traditional and indie alike, preach a message of going green–but few enough actually follow through when the chips are down and it’s time for the serious work of publishing your book. Or worse, they offer their promise of being eco-friendly as a lure to get you to commit, and then only offer green options for a pretty price above and beyond the usual.

These days, most “green” schemes in self-publishing focus on choosing better, more environmentally-conscious materials. They preach the values of recycled papers and nontoxic inks. But the materials your books are made up form just one small slice of the larger publishing picture, and the choices you make are surrounded by a looming bulk of practices that can pose significant environmental threats. It’s a balancing act; wise choices on your end often lead to offenses committed during resource acquisition, printing, manufacturing, transport, assembly, packaging, storage, distribution, warehousing, retailing, and disposal–not by you, of course, but by the company you hire to print and distribute your book.

Think about it: we’re talking about companies that, ultimately, have to look after their shareholders and the bottom line. It is every company’s operational imperative to maximize benefits to shareholders and customers alike in order to maintain a steady flow of business, and to minimize expenses so as to reap the greatest possible profit. This isn’t a bad thing–necessarily. But not every company builds in to its framework the understanding that what’s good for the environment is also good for its financial stakeholders, and what’s bad for the environment is also bad (very, very bad) for its (past, present, and future) customers. Recycled materials costs a lot, relatively speaking. It takes energy to collect and process them into their new form, and sometimes there are chemical hazards created as well. It stands to reason that companies would look to make up for the energy-hungry recycling process by scraping a few extra pennies from their customers … assuming those customers have the money to spend and are none the wiser. But this system sets up a world in which self-publishing authors are actually more likely to choose eco-unfriendly options because those are the ones they can afford.

Not good.

Ultimately, the best thing you can do as a self-publishing author interested in pursuing eco-friendly printing and distribution practices is to talk about it.  Talk about it with your Publishing Consultant and with your friends, family, fans, and fellow authors. See what eco-friendly options are available, and whether or not your chosen self-publishing company is interested in rising to a higher standard. Don’t settle for pat lines and shrugs. Hold your industry accountable! The only way forward is to make these practices accessible and sustainable for everyone. You can be a green champion today!

eco friendly

Thanks for reading.  If you have any other ideas, I’d love to hear them.  Drop me a line in the comments section below and I’ll respond as quickly as I can.  ♠

Kelly

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, kellyschuknecht.com.