Tag: royalene doyle

Conversations with a Self-Publishing Writer, Royalene Speaks, Uncategorized

Conversations: 7/8/2016

WISE COUNSEL—WITH MUSCLE II

Writer! Published Author! PR Specialist? Marketing Coach? Book Signing Scheduler? Connection Coordinator for Radio/TV Interviews? Website, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat Refresher?

WHAT? No! Not me. I’m the writer. I poured my life-blood into this book and everyone who has read it (3 friends, my Mom and spouse) loved it. When it hits Amazon, it will certainly be a best seller!

Well, Mr. Writer, I’m right there with you. I wrote my “bestseller” in 2015 and the initial sales were okay. Today, I’m deep into the work of a second book—enjoying every hair-pulling moment—while sales of that first book are floundering. It is time to admit that I’m not Super-Author who can write all day and market all night. There are simply not enough hours in the day to do both jobs well.  SO I’ve begun my search for HELP!

help wanted

As Writers and Published Authors our needs are specific…

  • to the genre of the book,
  • to the main topic and/or perspective
  • to the audience the book is written for,
  • and to the unique goals each author sets.

The goal every writer/author hopes for can be stated in just one word: BESTSELLER. Thank goodness there are multiple Bestseller lists—most according to genre—that can fulfill that goal. However, it takes physical work to climb that trail and strategic planning to reach every Reader who is a potential buyer. This is why we need to search for the right Marketing Assistant for us, for our book(s) and for this book-buying season.

When at a Writers Conference, one of the Website presenters gave us some questions to ask ourselves before setting up our websites. Since then, I see the wisdom of answering these queries as I begin looking for Marketing help.

  • Who are your Customers? Backgrounds? Likes? Dislikes?
  • What would they be searching for on the Internet that would lead them to your book?
  • What would you say to them if you met?
  • What visual illustrations would attract your Readers?

Answering these questions as completely as possible before talking with prospective Assistants will help them understand the expectations you have in their work.

Next, develop questions you may ask when interviewing the Marketing Assistants whether in person or by phone or even email. I’ve come up with a short list. As you read them you may think of others.

  • What is it about marketing books that you enjoy?
  • Why do you feel qualified to market in the Children’s Books genre (or Sci-Fi, or Faith/Ministry, or…)?
  • Have you experienced marketing mistakes? What did you learn from them?
  • Describe how you’ve marketed similar books in the past and what success you’ve had.
  • What marketing strategies do you consider useful for my/this book?
  • Will you require me to sign a contract with you? What is your fee schedule?

This last question is the one we all want to avoid. We know we cannot do an excellent marketing job for ourselves and yet it is often a major stretch in our budget to hire someone to help us.  Consider this: If we save the money, attempt to do the marketing, then have few (or no) sales, we’ve lost all that time and effort and $$ in writing and publishing. Wise counsel suggests that we invest in our work one more time and sign on with the Marketing Assistant who support us in reaching our goals. ⚓︎

RoyaleneABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene has been writing something since before kindergarten days and continues to love the process. Through her small business—DOYLE WRITING SERVICES—she brings more than 40 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their projects. This is a nice fit as she develops these blogs for Outskirts Press (OP) a leading self-publisher, and occasionally accepts a ghostwriting project from one of their clients. Her recent book release (with OP) titled FIREPROOF PROVERBS, A Writer’s Study of Words, is already receiving excellent reviews including several professional writer’s endorsements given on the book’s back cover.  

Royalene’s writing experience grew through a wide variety of positions from Office Manager and Administrative Assistant to Teacher of Literature and Advanced Writing courses and editor/writer for an International Christian ministry. Her willingness to listen to struggling authors, learn their goals and expectations and discern their writing voice has brought many manuscripts into the published books arena.
Conversations with a Self-Publishing Writer, Royalene Speaks, Uncategorized

Conversations: 7/1/2016

WISE COUNSEL—WITH MUSCLE I

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Writers write because they have to.” If you’re reading this blog, I know you’ve not only heard this statement, you’re feeling it right now. So it is that the world will never be without writers and the works they produce. Sadly, however, too many of these excellent and noteworthy pieces may never reach the hands of the Readers who will enjoy them and/or benefit from them. Why?  Because we’re writers not publishers or marketing experts.

Not long ago, I was talking with a friend about my newly self-published book which took me nine (9) years to finish. He asked me for my business card so he could remember the title and purchase it online. Business card? I wrote the title on a sticky note and we parted as he congratulated me on completing such an extensive project. Today, I have a business card showing the cover of my book on one side, the title and my contact info on the other side.

That conversation really got me motivated to get my book marketing plan on track. But, of course, first I had to develop one! I did a quick google search, and found this illustration. I’m one of those visual/tactical learners, so this picture of what I needed to do has really helped me. I hope it will give you some focus, too.

Immediately, my eye went to the circled word: SUCCESS. Yep, that’s a main goal I’m reaching for. And the next word I noticed is the underlined word strategy. Okay, I know the definition of the word—to develop a plan, or approach. However, my writer’s idea box about just how to go about doing that was empty. And all those other words listed on this illustration intimidate me even more—except for the word PEOPLE. A definite goal of mine is to introduce this book to everyone!

marketing

Reviewing the remaining words, I took a yellow notepad and started making a list. Media. Promotion. Campaign. Advertisement. Branding. Communication. Business/Profit/Budget. Research. Sales. Customers. When I reached the word SOLUTION, I realized that I was not the solution to my marketing dilemma. Even if I went back to school and took hours of marketing classes, I realized that marketing is not my natural gift. I needed specialized assistance and I needed it now. Then I recalled a conversation I’d had with my publishing consultant when self-published my book. She told me that she could help me connect with one of their Marketing Specialist! Why I hadn’t thought of that before, I don’t know. But I was already feeling a big sense of relief.

I am now happily back to work on my next book. No longer am I anxious about spending all my time plotting and planning the ways and means of promoting my book. Plus, with everything my Marketing Assistant—and new friend—is doing, I’m learning more about being an Author Entrepreneur. Much like my neighbor, who is a photography artist, I’m now showcasing my work in multiple unique book galleries. Those PEOPLE I was hoping to connect with are now reading my book. Being a writer/author has become fun again. ⚓︎

RoyaleneABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene has been writing something since before kindergarten days and continues to love the process. Through her small business—DOYLE WRITING SERVICES—she brings more than 40 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their projects. This is a nice fit as she develops these blogs for Outskirts Press (OP) a leading self-publisher, and occasionally accepts a ghostwriting project from one of their clients. Her recent book release (with OP) titled FIREPROOF PROVERBS, A Writer’s Study of Words, is already receiving excellent reviews including several professional writer’s endorsements given on the book’s back cover.  

Royalene’s writing experience grew through a wide variety of positions from Office Manager and Administrative Assistant to Teacher of Literature and Advanced Writing courses and editor/writer for an International Christian ministry. Her willingness to listen to struggling authors, learn their goals and expectations and discern their writing voice has brought many manuscripts into the published books arena.
Conversations with a Self-Publishing Writer, Royalene Speaks, Uncategorized

Conversations: 6/24/2016

JUNE IS BUSTING OUT ALL OVER

The Season for Short Stories

(Part IV)

Have you heard these statements about writers?

“We don’t choose to become a writer. We’re just born that way.”

“A writer is a mysterious creature, fired by inspiration with his head in the clouds.”

“A writer believes in truth and sees the world not as a place but as WORDS that reveal truth.”

A few years ago—well many years ago—when I was teaching a World Literature class for sophomore students, we read an intriguing story about a “stolen” ribbon. The evidence of the theft was the ribbon being found in someone’s pocket. However, the circumstances of how it got there were not accepted as “truth.” You see, the person who was found with the ribbon—and arrested—had seen it fall from the owner’s hand. By the time he’d recovered it from the ground, the owner was nowhere to be found and no one was around to help. So the ribbon was placed safely in his pocket until he could return it to the owner. The conundrum that my students and I discussed was this: HOW does anyone prove they’re not guilty of an accusation without witnesses? Let me assure you, the conversations were lively. And this short story played a major role in helping these young people (and this older one) practice what is known as logical thinking.

Author, Arthur Conan Doyle, was a master in creating webs of intrigue in both short-story and novels. Many do not know that Doyle was medically trained and his practical experience as a doctor (on land and sea) was the foundation for Sherlock Holmes’ methods of deductive reasoning. Doyle turned his personal skills and abilities into mystery writing and the practice of logical thinking that aimed to find the truth for millions of readers.

While the writings of other authors can inspire us to write on any variety of topics, the Season of Spring is also something magical and miraculous—happening all around us. So it is that I encourage us to consider researching what it is that boosts our energy and makes us smile each and every springtime—then, write about it.

  • The small creek close to home now has a constant flow of water; cricket and frog sounds seem to come from all directions as I come closer. WHY?
  • The cottonwood trees are feathering out with new leaves and children are investigating the trails between them. WHO are these children? What do they hope to discover?
  • The orioles have returned to bird baths, joined by finches and red-winged black birds. WHAT is it about their songs that make people want to sing?
  • HOW does my neighbor find such unusual flowers for his springtime garden? They have names like Fawn Lilies, Chinese hellebore, and Leopard’s Bane. He always knows WHERE to plant each one.
  • WHEN will the spring rain-clouds move away, so I can see the evening sky and the stars and constellations that will shine in the heavens for the next several months? This is a transition that starts in spring. With just a little research a multitude of short stories can be born.

You may have noticed the journalistic tools emphasized in the points above. They are reminders that every writing skill we’ve learned will help us create excellent stories—short or novel length.

summer

By the time you read this last blog entry, we will already have moved into SUMMER (June 20th—6:34 a.m.), but please don’t let that slow the writing that you’ve started this spring! Now is the time to complete those short stories, publish them as a collection and/or use them as outlines for a series of novels. ⚓︎

RoyaleneABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene has been writing something since before kindergarten days and continues to love the process. Through her small business—DOYLE WRITING SERVICES—she brings more than 40 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their projects. This is a nice fit as she develops these blogs for Outskirts Press (OP) a leading self-publisher, and occasionally accepts a ghostwriting project from one of their clients. Her recent book release (with OP) titled FIREPROOF PROVERBS, A Writer’s Study of Words, is already receiving excellent reviews including several professional writer’s endorsements given on the book’s back cover.  

Royalene’s writing experience grew through a wide variety of positions from Office Manager and Administrative Assistant to Teacher of Literature and Advanced Writing courses and editor/writer for an International Christian ministry. Her willingness to listen to struggling authors, learn their goals and expectations and discern their writing voice has brought many manuscripts into the published books arena.
Conversations with a Self-Publishing Writer, Royalene Speaks, Uncategorized

Conversations: 6/17/2016

JUNE IS BUSTING OUT ALL OVER

The Season for Short Stories (Part III)

Within most every month on our calendar there is some type of celebration honoring the men and women who serve our countries in the military. To support, encourage and thank them, children have sent handmade cards to those on active duty. Family and Friend groups have hired local artists to create one-of-a-kind Thank You cards and sent them with personalized messages to thousands of our armed forces around the world. The big-name producers of greeting cards (e.g. Hallmark etc.) have created animated eCards that deliver messages such as: “Spirit, promise, hope. Once a soldier, always a hero,” and “Thanks for being the kind of person our country can depend on.” I love the concept of eCards. Their short messages are like short stories from the heart—much like eBooks.

In a previous blog I mentioned that a collection of short stories can quickly build into a book. One excellent example of this development method combined the author’s love for canine companions with her knowledge of training police and military working dogs. Violetta Kovacs collected multiple short stories about various K9s who exemplify excellence in the daring and often deadly “jobs” they carry out. Then, she published her book: K9 COMMANDO, Police and Army Dogs from New York to Berlin.

k9 commando
k9 commando

YOU, TOO can collect short stories and publish!

  • Are there people in your writing group (s) who’ve written an excellent short story but never did anything with it?
  • Are you in contact with friends who love to tell a good story, but have never written them?
  • Have your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents told you a story that is so vivid in your memory you could write it yourself?

What is stopping you?

  • Are you an art collector of ODD pieces—maybe found in dumpsters or garage sales? Does each individual item TELL you a story?
  • Are you a photographer whose focus is on Mountain Peaks, or Tree Tops, or Valleys, or Meadows? What are the STORIES behind your specific photographic interests?
  • Are you a sculptor of clay or wood who allows the object to inspire the piece AS IF it TELLS you its story as you work?

ARE YOU LISTENING to all these stories?

IF (or when) you find yourself struggling with completing your novel, writing and/or collecting short stories will send you on a whole new adventure! It will give you fresh insights and fresh perspectives that can not only give you a publishable collection, but will loosen your writing flow and provide a boost to the completion of your novel!

Grab hold of one (or two or three) of the ideas listed here today, and run with it! You’ll be happily surprised how much FUN you’ll have while becoming a published author! ⚓︎

RoyaleneABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene has been writing something since before kindergarten days and continues to love the process. Through her small business—DOYLE WRITING SERVICES—she brings more than 40 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their projects. This is a nice fit as she develops these blogs for Outskirts Press (OP) a leading self-publisher, and occasionally accepts a ghostwriting project from one of their clients. Her recent book release (with OP) titled FIREPROOF PROVERBS, A Writer’s Study of Words, is already receiving excellent reviews including several professional writer’s endorsements given on the book’s back cover.  

Royalene’s writing experience grew through a wide variety of positions from Office Manager and Administrative Assistant to Teacher of Literature and Advanced Writing courses and editor/writer for an International Christian ministry. Her willingness to listen to struggling authors, learn their goals and expectations and discern their writing voice has brought many manuscripts into the published books arena.
Conversations with a Self-Publishing Writer, Royalene Speaks, Uncategorized

Conversations: 6/10/2016

JUNE IS BUSTING OUT ALL OVER

The Season for Short Stories (Part II)

SO HOW IS YOUR COLLECTION of greeting cards coming along? My February file is filled with Patriotism cards—which I had to research to find—because it includes Lincoln’s birthday, Washington’s birthday and Presidents’ Day (just so all of the other U.S. Presidents don’t feel left out). But the real biggie is VALENTINE’S DAY.

There are numerous short stories from every person’s life that can be told about Valentine’s Day experiences. Some of my personal favorites include:

  • The guy who went to three florists before he found the “perfect” presentation of red roses—in a crystal vase—for his girlfriend. What she actually received was a box of black roses.
  • The friendly neighbor who baked a cherry flavored red cake for the guy next door. The thick layer of icing was topped with peanut “flakes.” When the ambulance arrived and he was carried away, both of them were in tears.
  • The great-grandfather who sent his only great-granddaughter a “magic box.” The secret compartment held the first Valentine’s card he’d given to his wife—75 years earlier.

There are also the legend/historical stories. Many of these relate to people with the surname Valentine and are rarely told these days because the historical accuracy is lacking. However this leaves plenty of room for the fiction writer to imagine characters and events.

  • Christian tradition tells of “Saint Valentine” of Rome who had been thrown in prison for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry. Legend tells us that this “Saint Valentine” healed his jailer’s daughter, and before his execution, he wrote her a letter signed: Your Valentine.
  • About 270 AD there was a priest named Valentine who defied a law of Emperor Claudius II who “cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome.” This Valentine secretly arranged marriages of young men and women who came to him. He was brutally beaten and put to death on February 14th, for his “romantic” efforts.
  • Ancient Rome also honored one of their pagan gods named Juno—the goddess of women and marriage. It was a custom for the names of the Roman girls to be written on slips of paper which were placed in a container. Then each boy drew a name of the girl he would be coupled with for the festival celebrations.

AND, for those who enjoy writing lighter short stories, consider the BIRDS.

  • This IS springtime, and the birds are looking for their mates and/or mating with their lifetime partners. From the Middle Ages until this very day, people have noticed the romantic melodies in the air. This lyric environment encouraged many humans to express their love in poetry, love notes and gifts of the beautiful flowers that begin blooming in this season.

One other event is celebrated in February that can inspire a wide variety of short stories—LEAP YEAR. Have you ever wondered about the complications that can come to someone whose birthday comes along ONLY ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS?

the book of dreams by richard malmros

Today’s look at greeting-card-short-story-development may have focused on the month of February, but I’m hoping these bits of information will inspire many ideas in your writing-heart. One such author, Richard Malmros—who published his book of short stories titled: The Book of Dreams—has given Readers a collection of shorts that are full of life’s adventures. His book is published in both paperback and eBook editions. Is it time for your short stories to be collected in a book—and published? ⚓︎

RoyaleneABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene has been writing something since before kindergarten days and continues to love the process. Through her small business—DOYLE WRITING SERVICES—she brings more than 40 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their projects. This is a nice fit as she develops these blogs for Outskirts Press (OP) a leading self-publisher, and occasionally accepts a ghostwriting project from one of their clients. Her recent book release (with OP) titled FIREPROOF PROVERBS, A Writer’s Study of Words, is already receiving excellent reviews including several professional writer’s endorsements given on the book’s back cover.  

Royalene’s writing experience grew through a wide variety of positions from Office Manager and Administrative Assistant to Teacher of Literature and Advanced Writing courses and editor/writer for an International Christian ministry. Her willingness to listen to struggling authors, learn their goals and expectations and discern their writing voice has brought many manuscripts into the published books arena.