Monday, November 6, 2017

3 Tips for Becoming a More Productive Writer

3 Tips for Becoming a More Productive Writer

3 Tips for Becoming a More Productive WriterLet’s face it, we writers are very challenged today in this age of distraction. We often struggle just to find the time and the means to be more productive. As we juggle various commitments, as well as dealing all the usual suspects like self-sabotage and procrastination, it can very quickly feel like we are losing ground.

Readers Expect Authors to Keep Releasing New Books

There are many of us who would love to learn how to become a much more productive writer. This is particularly true for those writers who have the career out of cranking out and writing books. These authors have to be productive and self-driven, and they must keep writing books to maintain and build a fan base.  Whenever a reader finds writers that they really like, they will proceed to read every single that this author has written. And this is exactly what every author wants because they know these fans are waiting for new books – all they need do is keep writing them.

The Real Truth about Productivity

There are many writers out there who make it a point to write every single day – because they feel that they must to be productive. On the other hand, there are yet others who write very sporadically, they may go months without writing anything, for various reasons.

But the hard cold fact is that the number of words you write daily does not correlate with your productivity. It really depends on the purpose and quality of your writing.

There are lots of writers out there who hardly get an hour or two to write each week, yet they manage to crank out lots of books per year – and more so than many authors who write daily. Do not fool yourself by thinking and believing that writing fast means you write more books than writing slow. We are seeing too many cases where it is not true. Remember the tortoise and the hare fable?

Thus, time is not equal to productivity. So let us take a look at three tips for being a more productive writer.

3 Tips to Become a More Productive Writer

Watch out for those excuses. All of us tend to use excuses for not writing. But if we really desire more productivity, we need to assess which of our excuses actually have merit and which are just feeble attempts to procrastinate. All writers will procrastinate occasionally—so don’t feel alone!

Make a list of excuses that you like to use and then challenge them. Now make out a reasonable schedule for your writing – and stick to this schedule.

Work around your self-sabotage. The one thing that negatively impacts lots of writers is having feelings that their work is unacceptable and lousy. This feeling doesn’t stop there – it also leads to worrying too much about what their readers will think, their about all the rejection, about poor reviews, and the list goes on and one. So when we try to write, that little critical devil on our shoulder keeps whispering negative feedback in our ears.

Again, it is time for another list to identify the behaviors that are slowing you down. Then list all the very worst things that could happen and decide how you would deal with them. Congratulations – you just disarmed that little devil on your shoulder.

Determine your best time to write. Our energy goes up and down throughout the day. Thus, we need to understand how our own personal biorhythm behaves. This will tell you exactly the best time for you to be writing. You want to be writing when all your facilities are at their peak levels – this will provide very best of your skills.

Remember that 1000 words written during your peak time is more valuable than 5000 words written at any other time. Why? Because 5000 poorly written words can make your readers close your book and move on to someone else’s book – especially if those words are in the beginning of your book.

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Friday, November 3, 2017

Gain Publicity in Marketing your Book – 3 Ways to Get Book Publicity

Gain Publicity in Marketing your Book - 3 Ways to Get Book Publicity

Gain Publicity in Marketing your Book - 3 Ways to Get Book PublicityMany writers and authors are seeking to gain publicity in marketing their books, and they believe this is the ultimate way to acquire book publicity. However, your overall success as a writer defends on how effectively you get yourself in front of as many potential prospects and readers as possible.

There are lots of methods that ought to be a part of your book promotional strategy to help you get your message out, and acquiring publicity is probably the most important one. The overall benefit of getting free exposure from trusted sources is absolutely priceless. Thus, writers shouldn’t assume that you gain publicity in marketing your book, it is also gained in other ways.

Three Ways Authors Can Get Publicity

The big challenge for all authors is to figure out how to approach getting book publicity handled. Fortunately, there are three proven ways to get book publicity.

Most writers believe that there are just two options:

1.Hiring a book publicity service

2.Do It Yourself

3.DIY PR with Outsourcing

Three PR methods and how they compare

1. Hiring a book publicity service

The biggest benefit of this option is that you will have an experienced professional taking care of your book publicity for you. So now you lay back and take it easy while they handle all the PR.

This can be a wonderful set up because it allows you to focus on other things pertaining to the promotion of your book. It all depends on it you hired a good and reputable firm.

The Cons – This approach can be very expensive. There is also the possibility that your affairs get placed on the back burner as your firm focuses on other clients.

2. Do it Yourself (DIY) PR

As a writer, you can most definitely conduct all of your own book publicity, and you can even experience phenomenal success by doing it. While you save an enormous expense of using inexpensive a PR firm, you will swapping your money for your time when you implement your own publicity plan.

In order to succeed, you have to overcome the fact that you are an unknown. Therefore, you have to generate a lot of passion and energy to get people to listen to your message.

There are many other things you have to learn as well. You have to learn how the media operates, and you will have to come up with ideas that will get potential readers hooked on your story. And probably the hardest part is coming up with the media contacts you will need to generate your own publicity.

The Cons – PR is very time-consuming and absorb your time take you away from other important work that you need to be accomplishing. You most likely will not understand many of the nuances concerning the media at first. And finally you will not have the needed media contacts because you’re starting from scratch, so there is a huge learning curve which takes time.

3. Hybrid – DIY PR with Outsourcing

This option is probably the best of all worlds, as the hybrid approach features a way to in which to maximize your time as well as your budget to get book publicity. It will also cut down and shorten the learning curve by letting you outsource the tasks at which you have no skills.

The Cons – The challenge here is having the ability to hire good people. This means you will have to have some decent working knowledge and understanding about PR. In addition, searching for quality PR freelancers will take up much of your time because they also need to understand that you do not gain publicity in marketing your books as publicity is best gained in other ways.

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Thursday, November 2, 2017

Managing Plots and Subplots

Managing Plots and Subplots

Managing Plots and SubplotsGood writers are good at managing plots and subplots. The manipulation of a narrative is usually considerably focused. It will outline every peak and valley, and each pivot of a one single story. But the single story should not always seek a lone direct thrust. Whenever submit additional thrusts then we call those subplots. The major story could be called your A-Plot, and any subsequent plots that are smaller in stature would be your B-Plots, your C-Plots, and so forth. And these little plots could even be woven together. As you can probably see by now, managing plots and subplots requires some forethought.

Considering How to Use Subplots

We should not worry so much about individual subplots, especially if they are merely a spinoff of your main plot. You have to consider that your story probably has a number of individual characters – all of which bring to your story their own individual stories, intriguing problems, and burning desires. This is where many of your subplots will come from.

As you pursue solutions for all their problems and desires, then they would work off the main plot and serve to add flavor to your story. They can actually give your main plot some perspective and provide your readers with time to perhaps digest the last big twist in your main story. Subplots can actually be a great tool to use.

Obviously, all these little narratives that spinoff your main plots are referred to as subplots. The important thing about these is that they must be managed carefully. Do not leave any of them unresolved as it will leave the reader unfulfilled.

Weaving your Subplots into the Main Plot

Of course, some of your characters will be more developed than others. Your more developed characters will typically have a one main problem along with a group of smaller problems. In fact, they can have as many as you want or need them to have. Again, do not forget to fully address the problems that the story pursues. The more developed the character, the more important it is to conclude these subplots in some way. Always remember that they do not necessarily have to solve these problems, but make it clear that result is a final one.

And we must also consider how the characters interact and solve common problems that may also be considered as subplots. In fact, common subplots between characters can be some of the most rewarding parts of the story for many readers. This is when characters bond, romantic frictions materialize, and exciting new alliances are forged against their common enemy.

The best of subplots is when they surprise the reader by having a direct bearing on the main story. This is just about always a pleasant surprise. And the more of your subplots that merge into the main plot will make your storyline extremely deep and rich.

But like everything else that we enjoy – like ice cream and roller coasters – we can very easily overdo them. The same can be said for subplots. Do not overdo it when you use them. Remember a popular phrase that is has been used by many artists and musicians “less is more”. It is always good to leave them wanting just a little bit more. This is how they will remember who you are.

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Monday, October 30, 2017

Secrets of Successful Writers

Secrets of Successful Writers

Secrets of Successful WritersAmazingly, we are learning that a majority of successful writers are pretty much doing the same stuff. Needless to say, there are the secrets of successful writers.  And conversely, unsuccessful writers are not doing these things. So then our next question should be what exactly are those writers who are successful doing?

Do they know someone special or important? Does someone close to them know someone powerful or influential? Yes, these things would certainly help, but many of these writers had no access to any of this. In fact, most of them started out just like me and you are.

Experts break this down into four secrets of successful writers and what they are doing:

  1. Successful writers have a clear message.
  2. Successful writers create a platform for that message.
  3. Successful writers serve the people who want to hear that message.
  4. Successful writers are not shy or afraid to earn money from delivering that message.

How do we do what Successful Writers do?

If you want to earn a full time living from your words, then you actually need much more than just talent. You have to be more than just a fabulous writer. Of course it is critical, but it is just not enough.

And you have to have more than just passion, too. Even passion isn’t enough to keep you going after many hours of practice. Passion just won’t protect you from the stings of the critics or the pain of failure.

What you do need to enjoy writing success

The biggest thing you do need is a plan and a roadmap.  And this roadmap needs to have proven path or process that great writers have used before you. You must know what needs to be done, when to do it, and why it will matter in the long run.

The thing is that if you want to succeed at writing, then you should focus on being effective. You first do this by allowing yourself to become a writer and acting like a writer. This will change your state of mind. The next thing you should do is share what you know to connect with your reader. You let what you know help people. And you also create a community around your cause and message.  Attract all the fans that you can to help propel your message. The big question is, will reach them? Or will you wait in the hopes of drawing them in – which is what most people make the mistake of doing.

There are actually several online courses out there that can help you along. You just need to make sure that they provide a path for you to reach your chosen goals – because you need a proven path above everything else.

Another thing to help you build your own platform is the build yourself an email list. If you have large list of subscribers, then you have the ability to extend your message across great distances. And you have a way to market your future work as well. And do not forget that you also have your own community of hopefully thousands of very supportive fans who are ready and willing to help get the message out about your message and your work.

Don’t you believe it is time to finally be serious about your writing craft and really going after your writing dreams? You can start by following the secret of successful writers.

It’s none of their business that you have to learn to write. Let them think you were born that way.

– Ernest Hemingway

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Friday, October 27, 2017

Here is How to Self-Publish a Book

Here is How to self-publish a book

Here is How to self-publish a bookOne of the biggest things that writers and authors learn is how to self-publish a book. The thing is that book publishing is simply not the same animal it used to be. In fact, it is much better today because writers are far more empowered today. They can actually take part in the publication process now, whereas a few decades ago, authors were literally at the mercy of a literary agent. With that said, let us examine how to self-publish a book in today’s climate.

Steps to Self-Publishing a Book

1. Write Your Book or Maybe Two

Obviously the first step is to get your book written. Edit it several times – pay someone to edit it for you if you can because you really need some objectivity here. At least find a good friend who is not afraid to hurt your feelings.

Also consider whether or not you want to write a series. There are many great strategies for doing this, so a series is not a bad idea – especially if you are a creative writer and write fiction. It is not a bad idea to write two books in your series so that you can take advantage of any momentum you generate from your book launch.

2. Build a Team

This is very important part of the self-publishing process. Even if you plan to do most of the work yourself – which is fine, if you have the skills – you will want to get your team put together. The types of people you may need on your team are editors, agents, designers, copywriters, publicists, etc. One great trick is to find a book similar to yours, in the same niche, and find out what steps they took to get published. Find out who was on their team and try to duplicate that.

3. Start Building your Book and the Marketing.

When you reach this point, then you are ideally about six months or more away from publication, depending on the amount of editorial review still required from your book. You will also be managing and juggling three vital projects at the same time. And this is creating your book’s exterior, creating your book’s interior, and marketing your book. Yes, you need to start marketing.

The book interior will only include your text, but you will also need your front matter, back matter, all copyright information, notes from the author, preface, acknowledgments, and so forth. Each word that becomes a part of your book will need to be written, edited, revised, copyedited, and then final-proofed. There are lots of verbiage that you will not realize that your book actually needs until begin doing this.

The book exterior will comprise of your cover design and also a back cover, the spine, dust jacket flap (if you plan to do a hardback, an author photo, and even more.

4. Plan the Book Launch.

You are probably about three months away when you reach this point. After you have your text completely edited, you can begin this step.

Contrary to popular belief, a book launch isn’t one single day. Most authors consider the launch as everything that occurs from about 2 weeks before publication to 3 months afterwards.

As you can imagine, the launch is a big deal. The ideal launch is when embrace and inform the entire the audience that you have built in the past, and also all contacts you have developed. A launch includes all articles that were written about your new book, any printed or podcast interviews, all social media campaigns, and also library and bookstore appearances.

5. Publish your Book.

Enjoy your big day. In an ideal world, you should have some great blog posts going out, and some influential interviews planned. Another great thing to do is spend time interacting with your readers on social media – do not be afraid to open yourself up and be sincere.

6. Keep Writing and Publishing.

Remember that your first book is very unlikely to be huge success. The secret of successful authors is to keep writing and build your inventory. It could take about three books or so to really gain momentum and a significant number of fans and readers. So devote yourself to writing for the long haul.

So now that you know how to self-publish a book, you can start pursuing your career as a successful writer.

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Thursday, October 26, 2017

Keeping up your Creativity Levels for Writing

Keeping up your Creativity Levels for Writing

Keeping up your Creativity Levels for WritingLet us face the facts, if you are writer – especially a fiction writer – then you must create some kind of system to generate fresh ideas, and to keep pumping up your creativity levels. People who belong to various writing communities will we often refer to the term “refilling the well,” which is an idea and a a way to explain the notion of staying creative. Most of us can relate to this term conceptually, but like many things, this can be lost in translation whenever we go about applying it in our life. So exactly what does the term refilling the well really look like and more importantly, how in the world are we going to devote any time for it in our busy lives?

Boosting Creativity

This is no doubt a very vital issue in the daily lives of many writers. When you make the desired shift to becoming a published author, then you find yourself having brand new levels of expectations from others. The fact is you will have to keep producing good work to maintain your newfound status.

Needless to say, this will lead to several new issues in your life. For starters, you will immediately become overwhelmed, so you will first be challenged with balancing your life to keep everything in perspective. But then in order to work, you will find yourself needing that creativity again. You can actually develop a few little habits to set up a mind-set of calm and creativity.

Engaging in Self Care

One of the best things to do with yourself is engage in self-care. But you will find those who do not endorse self-care. Let us look at a couple of reasons why.

Some believe it is touchy feely. Maybe they are imaging sitting around the campfire singing with others who are engaging in self-care. Or maybe they think it is about logging your deepest thoughts in a diary.. The big thing pertaining to self-care is it being totally unique to each individual and is identified by one single thing – giving each writer the ability and even the time to recharge their energy when it has been depleted by other factors.

They claim to not have time for this self-care. There is certainly some true to this notion. The thing is that we have lots of writers today who are struggling write around their full-time jobs. And they are juggling household responsibilities, and sometimes even suffer from horrible health issues. However, when you consider all these daily strains and stresses, it actually supports the idea of engaging self-care, doesn’t it?

This is actually the magic of practicing self-care. It will give some of your time back to you in the long run. Let us illustrate with an example. Imagine an evening when you come home and you absolutely exhausted, you have headaches flaring up, and after a long hard day working, you attempt to sit down and write. And since you cannot focus very well, it takes all of your energy to crank out 1000 words in three hours. Many writers will agree that this is very low production.

Now let us imagine that you come home that day and this time spend about 30 minutes re-energizing and refreshing your psyche before writing.  After you do this, you start writing and you crank out 1000 words per hour.

In the example above, you actually bought back about 90 minutes of your valuable time. You can use this to spend with your family or even write some more.

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Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Common Ways to Self-Publish Your Book

Common Ways to Self-Publish Your Book

Common Ways to Self-Publish Your BookFor those of us who have written or is finishing a novel, it would be helpful to know exactly how to self-publish your book. But in reality, there are actually ways a writer can self-publish in today’s market. New methods and technologies are making this even easier and simpler. So let us take a look at the different ways to self-publish your book.

Hire a Service Company to Self-publish your Book

This is basically the old “let me a check and make all the headaches go away” approach to self-publishing. This method is perfect for those of you who have more cash than available time. And also if you have zero interest in become career full-time author, then this is probably the best choice for you.

If you research this option, then you will discover that these service packages and publishing deals will vary considerably. Your best options are probably to hire a service that simply charges an upfront fee and then lets you receive all the cash from the sales. Additionally, they take no rights at all for your hard work. They make their money from the fee they initially charge for their services. The level of service depends wholly of the payment size in virtually all cases. Most of these types of companies offer different levels of packages. They could offer anything from editing, cover designing, marketing, etc., in additional to getting your book published. A big issue here is whether you are seeking the publication of hard copies or merely digital copies.

Obviously, the biggest benefit from this service is you get your book published without dealing with hassle and aggravation of the book publishing process. Of course, the very best and expensive services – that can exceed $20,000 very quickly – can offer a highly quality experience which is much like working with traditional publishers. Beware of those who look to take advantage of inexperienced writers by using high-pressure sales methods and want to take total control of your book.

Self-Publish using a “hybrid” company

Some of these self-publishing services are starting to call themselves “hybrid publishers” probably because it seems savvy and fashionable, but some of these services may just be all bluster. Fees for these types of services vary dramatically and this includes quality as well. If you choose this route, be sure to thoroughly research the services you are considering.

As you ponder this option, it is just a matter of what your existing knowledge level is in regards to self-publishing. It really depends on the specific functions you are seeking. The key here is you really need to already have a keen understanding of how to self-publish your book. This way, you can intelligently speak with these service companies. And in all likelihood you will probably receive better royalties and commissions than you would with traditional publishing.

Agents that are Offering Self-Publishing Services

More and more, literary agents are beginning to help their current clients digitally self-publish their books as well as those with their new clients. This help they provide could be included in fee based services, royalty based services, as well as hybrid service models.

These practices can be controversial as the traditional role of the agents is serving as advocates for their clients and to get the best deals. So whenever these agents begin publishing the work of their clients and then take 15% of their sales, then a conflict of interest is created.

Just to emphasize, remember that it is never a good idea to sign up for a long term contract that locks you in a low royalty rate whenever you pay someone to self-publish your book.

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