Ah, guilt. Anyone familiar with social media occasionally comes down with a crushing case of it, and I'm no exception. You may or may not have noticed I haven't been around blogs, Facebook, or Twitter much this summer, and my children have definitely noticed I'm spending more time than usual in my office.
I'm striving to meet a personal deadline.
No, I don't have a contract with a set date on when my manuscript needs to be finished. I don't have a boss. I don't even have another obligation coming up to spur my current progress. But I do have a set of writing rules I live by. The most important?
Act like a published writer.
Published writers are given deadlines from their editors. They have to organize their projects to fit into this time frame. Three years ago, I decided I would do the same. When I start a new project, I decide on a finish date and plan accordingly. My finish date for this project is the end of next week.
Trust me, there have been many, many times this summer in between shuttling my son to baseball tournaments and my daughter to tumbling sessions that I've yawned, rubbed my bleary eyes and thought I'll skip revising this afternoon. It's summer--we need to go to the beach.
If I didn't have a personal deadline shouting at me, I would have slacked off this month and set my project back until fall. Instead, we skipped the beach, headed to the pool for quick jaunts, and I squeezed in revising during hours I normally wouldn't. Do I regret it? No. Once I finish this book, we'll have almost three weeks to relax and enjoy the rest of summer.
It's important for me to know I can meet my deadlines. I don't want to stress about this when I do get a contract. When we get used to finishing our projects in the time we allotted, our confidence grows. By acting like published writers, we're assured we'll be able to handle the responsibilities a book contract brings.
Do you set personal deadlines? Do you think they're important? Why or why not?
I would love it if you would stop by MVRWA's blog today to read my post, "NFL and Publishing: Shaking It Up."
Have an amazing weekend!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
5 Easy Questions with K.B. Owen!
Every Wednesday, I ask a writer the same five easy questions. In an effort to support and promote fellow wordsmiths, I feature authors who write a variety of genres, from sweet inspirational to mainstream thrillers. The writers themselves may be aspiring, published, or best-selling--all have made an impact on my life.
Thank you for joining me in welcoming… K.B. Owen!!
I initially came in contact with Kathy through Twitter where I found a link to her amazing blog--a humorous mix of fascinating history, fun quizzes, and writerly observations. We quickly connected and am I glad we did! She is such a generous, friendly author. Kathy writes mysteries, and I can't wait until the day I can pick up one of her books!
All year ‘round, it’s iced tea, unsweetened (I know, I’m odd that way) with lemon. It’s funny, though: expecting access to iced tea no matter what the season must be a southern thing, because once I tried to order it in Massachusetts in March, and the waitress shook her head, gave me a strange look, and said: “You’re not from ahrahnd here, are you?”
2. Any pets?
We have a lot of allergies, so we only have a guinea pig and a gerbil (different cages, promise!). They each had companions who died a while back. The guinea pig wheeks at us as if we starve him, and the gerbil runs on her wheel as if she’s terrified of getting fat thighs. (It’s the guinea pig who could use the wheel. He’s a bit hefty.) But they are both adorable. We recently acquired a beta fish who isn’t nearly as interesting. He just floats around.
3. Dream vacation?
There are so many (I don’t get out much). Pick one? Hmm…
I’ve always wanted to go on an Alaskan cruise. Alaska seems to me to be one of those places where we don’t always get things our own way, and can’t quite conquer nature. I’d like to see that.
4. What are you listening to right now?
If I’m writing when you post this, it will probably be my favorite artist, Andres Segovia, who plays classical guitar: the works of Bach, Purcell, and Handel, among others.
5. What's for dinner?
In the summer, I’m the queen of the grill around our house. Hubby was never interested, and as an only child, my dad taught me all his grilling tricks. Probably a thick, juicy steak, corn on the cob, and a salad. Maybe I’ll have some tomatoes ripened by then!
Historical mystery writer K.B. Owen fell in love with the Hartford region during her years at The University of Connecticut. She was inspired to begin a mystery series set at a nineteenth-century women’s college in Hartford, a vivid period world of plucky heroines, quirky and beguiling characters, and mischief mixed with murder.
K.B. Owen holds a doctorate in 19th century British literature and taught college literature and writing courses for more than a decade. Her delightful and varied experiences with students served as inspiration for the classroom interactions of her novel’s protagonist, Professor Concordia Wells. Thankfully, unlike her main character, she did not have to lecture in a bustle and full skirts. She is working on her second novel in the series, blogs about mystery and history (with a pop culture slant) at kbowenmysteries.com, and tweets as @kbowenwriter.
Thank you for joining me in welcoming… K.B. Owen!!
I initially came in contact with Kathy through Twitter where I found a link to her amazing blog--a humorous mix of fascinating history, fun quizzes, and writerly observations. We quickly connected and am I glad we did! She is such a generous, friendly author. Kathy writes mysteries, and I can't wait until the day I can pick up one of her books!
Let's get to it!
1. Beverage of choice?
All year ‘round, it’s iced tea, unsweetened (I know, I’m odd that way) with lemon. It’s funny, though: expecting access to iced tea no matter what the season must be a southern thing, because once I tried to order it in Massachusetts in March, and the waitress shook her head, gave me a strange look, and said: “You’re not from ahrahnd here, are you?”
2. Any pets?
We have a lot of allergies, so we only have a guinea pig and a gerbil (different cages, promise!). They each had companions who died a while back. The guinea pig wheeks at us as if we starve him, and the gerbil runs on her wheel as if she’s terrified of getting fat thighs. (It’s the guinea pig who could use the wheel. He’s a bit hefty.) But they are both adorable. We recently acquired a beta fish who isn’t nearly as interesting. He just floats around.
3. Dream vacation?
There are so many (I don’t get out much). Pick one? Hmm…
I’ve always wanted to go on an Alaskan cruise. Alaska seems to me to be one of those places where we don’t always get things our own way, and can’t quite conquer nature. I’d like to see that.
4. What are you listening to right now?
If I’m writing when you post this, it will probably be my favorite artist, Andres Segovia, who plays classical guitar: the works of Bach, Purcell, and Handel, among others.
5. What's for dinner?
In the summer, I’m the queen of the grill around our house. Hubby was never interested, and as an only child, my dad taught me all his grilling tricks. Probably a thick, juicy steak, corn on the cob, and a salad. Maybe I’ll have some tomatoes ripened by then!
***
Kathy, you're right about year-round iced tea being a southern thing. I've worked at restaurants in Michigan, and we only brewed it in the summer. Our family has a guinea pig too. Maybe he could have a playdate with yours and they could hijack the gerbil's wheel? Ours is a chunky monkey! And a squeaker. I've never listened to Andres Segovia, but his music sounds inspiring--I'm adding him to my list of artists to check out!
I can't believe you teased us with your grilling tricks and didn't share any! I grill often, but my tricks are limited to: getting the grill to light, occasionally burning our food, and handing the tongs to my husband. Thanks so much for being my guest today, Kathy!
***
Historical mystery writer K.B. Owen fell in love with the Hartford region during her years at The University of Connecticut. She was inspired to begin a mystery series set at a nineteenth-century women’s college in Hartford, a vivid period world of plucky heroines, quirky and beguiling characters, and mischief mixed with murder.
K.B. Owen holds a doctorate in 19th century British literature and taught college literature and writing courses for more than a decade. Her delightful and varied experiences with students served as inspiration for the classroom interactions of her novel’s protagonist, Professor Concordia Wells. Thankfully, unlike her main character, she did not have to lecture in a bustle and full skirts. She is working on her second novel in the series, blogs about mystery and history (with a pop culture slant) at kbowenmysteries.com, and tweets as @kbowenwriter.
***
It's county fair season around here. Are you attending a local fair this year?
Have a magnificent Wednesday!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Zucchinis and Writing
The other day I snooped around our garden and found two enormous zucchinis. I wasn't expecting them. Sure, blossoms had appeared for a week or two, but I didn't think they would grow so big, so quickly.
Writing can be similar. One day we decide to write a book, just as we plant the zucchini seed. We water our writing by studying the craft, writing pages regularly, and learning about the publishing industry. At times our progress seems non-existent, or maybe we have a small break-through like the first tender leaves shooting through the earth.
We continue to write, study, learn and the plant grows. Through our careful, sustained work, a crop appears--maybe we've written a few books, articles, or short stories. Rather than pick the small vegetables, we leave them on the vine, allowing them to find their full potential as we utilize critique partners or enter them in contests.
And one day, we realize our writing is ready for submission. We head to the garden and pluck the ripe zucchini.
Some zucchini gets shredded for bread or muffins--an agent or editor represents our work. Some sits on the counter too long next to a large pile of other zucchinis--the dreaded slush pile ending in rejection. And some is given away to neighbors--we make peace with the fact not all of our stories will be published.
How is your writing like a zucchini?
Have a great Monday!
Writing can be similar. One day we decide to write a book, just as we plant the zucchini seed. We water our writing by studying the craft, writing pages regularly, and learning about the publishing industry. At times our progress seems non-existent, or maybe we have a small break-through like the first tender leaves shooting through the earth.
We continue to write, study, learn and the plant grows. Through our careful, sustained work, a crop appears--maybe we've written a few books, articles, or short stories. Rather than pick the small vegetables, we leave them on the vine, allowing them to find their full potential as we utilize critique partners or enter them in contests.
And one day, we realize our writing is ready for submission. We head to the garden and pluck the ripe zucchini.
Some zucchini gets shredded for bread or muffins--an agent or editor represents our work. Some sits on the counter too long next to a large pile of other zucchinis--the dreaded slush pile ending in rejection. And some is given away to neighbors--we make peace with the fact not all of our stories will be published.
How is your writing like a zucchini?
Have a great Monday!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Do Telemarketing Tactics Build Readership?
Every weekday I log onto my Twitter account and check for new followers. I scroll through a few of each of their tweets to get a feel of who they are. Lately, I've noticed a marked increase in authors using telemarketing tactics.
Telemarketers cold call people to either sell a product or to obtain a donation for a charitable cause, and they use a targeted list of potential consumers. While telemarketing a legitimate product is not illegal and can be successful, many people on the receiving end of the call are angered to have their time wasted.
I loathe picking up the phone to a telemarketer.
Like telemarketers, some authors are targeting a list of potential consumers on Twitter (it's simple to find like-minded folks through hashtags and profiles) to promote their books. Nothing wrong with that. However, the relentless sales pitches hurt them.
For example, this morning I reviewed the first three tweets of an author who recently followed me. Every tweet was a variation on the same:
#Nameofbook is #2 on Kindle. Who will be the first to review #good #fiction #nameofbook on #Amazon? Go to bit.ly now! #Crime #Readers
#Shortstory on #Smashwords. Guaranteed you'll love it. #Books Only 99cents! #Buyit!! #Share this!
This is not effective. It makes me want to run and hide.
If the author is trying to spread news about his book through Twitter to increase sales, he needs as many followers as possible to help him share the message. By treating people on Twitter as wallets instead of friends, this author loses his chance for people to connect with him, and he loses avenues to help him promote his book.
You know the old adage--for every criticism you give, you should give five compliments? We can apply the same strategy on our social networks. For every self-promotion post, write five conversational posts.
Frankly, I'd caution even less shameless plugs. The majority of what we share on social networks should be conversational or informational. By this I mean, we're either talking to someone (@coolauthor Thanks for the coffee! What are you working on today?) or sharing information (Great tips! RT @coolauthor 5 Writing Helps bit.ly #amwriting).
The thing about social media is if we're doing it right, we only have to post a "look what I did, Ma" type of message once, and our followers do the rest for us. It's the power of re-tweeting and re-sharing. If we get the message out, our friends help spread the good news. I routinely re-tweet and re-share other authors' celebrations, whether they're announcing a book contract, landing an agent, winning a contest, hitting a best-seller list, or even finishing a first draft. I'm excited for them, and I want everyone else to get excited too.
What's more effective? One telemarketer calling a stranger, or a fundraiser attended by thousands of people?
People buy books from people they like. Telemarketing tactics don't build a readership.
What makes you want to follow someone on Twitter, Facebook, or blogs? What turns you off?
Have a fabulous Friday!
Telemarketers cold call people to either sell a product or to obtain a donation for a charitable cause, and they use a targeted list of potential consumers. While telemarketing a legitimate product is not illegal and can be successful, many people on the receiving end of the call are angered to have their time wasted.
I loathe picking up the phone to a telemarketer.
Like telemarketers, some authors are targeting a list of potential consumers on Twitter (it's simple to find like-minded folks through hashtags and profiles) to promote their books. Nothing wrong with that. However, the relentless sales pitches hurt them.
***
I do not follow back people who are solely self-promoting.For example, this morning I reviewed the first three tweets of an author who recently followed me. Every tweet was a variation on the same:
#Nameofbook is #2 on Kindle. Who will be the first to review #good #fiction #nameofbook on #Amazon? Go to bit.ly now! #Crime #Readers
#Shortstory on #Smashwords. Guaranteed you'll love it. #Books Only 99cents! #Buyit!! #Share this!
This is not effective. It makes me want to run and hide.
If the author is trying to spread news about his book through Twitter to increase sales, he needs as many followers as possible to help him share the message. By treating people on Twitter as wallets instead of friends, this author loses his chance for people to connect with him, and he loses avenues to help him promote his book.
***
I do follow back people who carry conversations and self-promote.You know the old adage--for every criticism you give, you should give five compliments? We can apply the same strategy on our social networks. For every self-promotion post, write five conversational posts.
Frankly, I'd caution even less shameless plugs. The majority of what we share on social networks should be conversational or informational. By this I mean, we're either talking to someone (@coolauthor Thanks for the coffee! What are you working on today?) or sharing information (Great tips! RT @coolauthor 5 Writing Helps bit.ly #amwriting).
The thing about social media is if we're doing it right, we only have to post a "look what I did, Ma" type of message once, and our followers do the rest for us. It's the power of re-tweeting and re-sharing. If we get the message out, our friends help spread the good news. I routinely re-tweet and re-share other authors' celebrations, whether they're announcing a book contract, landing an agent, winning a contest, hitting a best-seller list, or even finishing a first draft. I'm excited for them, and I want everyone else to get excited too.
What's more effective? One telemarketer calling a stranger, or a fundraiser attended by thousands of people?
People buy books from people they like. Telemarketing tactics don't build a readership.
What makes you want to follow someone on Twitter, Facebook, or blogs? What turns you off?
Have a fabulous Friday!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
5 Easy Questions with Julie Musil!
Every Wednesday, I ask a writer the same five easy questions. In an effort to support and promote fellow wordsmiths, I feature authors who write a variety of genres, from sweet inspirational to mainstream thrillers. The writers themselves may be aspiring, published, or best-selling--all have made an impact on my life.
Thank you for joining me in welcoming…Julie Musil!!
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Julie burst onto the blogging scene with a bang, and I noticed her media-savvy right away. She has a knack for building platform--any writer can learn from her. It came as no surprise to me when, earlier this year, she announced she'd landed an agent--Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary Agency. (Congrats again, Julie!) Julie's kindness and generosity are evident everywhere she goes. I'm blessed to have her in my life and can't wait until the day she announces she has a book deal!
Let's get to it!
1. Beverage of choice?
Thankfully it's water, which I guzzle all day long. If I'm eating out, I'll order iced tea. And if I'm feeling especially saucy, I'll have a strawberry margarita when I'm out with friends.
2. Any pets?
Our sons have two leopard geckos, which eat live crickets. Yuck. And we have two cute little rescue doggies, Stubby and Pete, who sit at my feet while I'm writing.
3. Dream vacation?
Caribbean cruise with my family. My husband and I took that trip for our honeymoon, and I'd love to share it with our three boys.
4. What are you listening to right now?
Spongebob and Patrick going jelly fishing. Imagine Spongebob's cackle...that's what I'm listening to.
5. What's for dinner?
Chicken and veggie stir fry. Yum.
Oh, and I'm pretty sure I know every SpongeBob by heart, and if I know them all by heart, then surely my kids do too...whoops! Guess I should turn the television off. :) Thanks so much for being my guest today!
Julie Musil ~
Julie Musil is the author of young adult fiction, an e-picture book for young readers, and articles for Scholastic MATH and Highlights magazines. She can be found at her website, Julie Musil: Children's Author, her blog, and on Twitter. She is represented by Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary.
Are you working on a project this summer? Writers--what stage is your work-in-progress?
Have a fabulous Wednesday!
Thank you for joining me in welcoming…Julie Musil!!
Let's get to it!
1. Beverage of choice?
Thankfully it's water, which I guzzle all day long. If I'm eating out, I'll order iced tea. And if I'm feeling especially saucy, I'll have a strawberry margarita when I'm out with friends.
2. Any pets?
Our sons have two leopard geckos, which eat live crickets. Yuck. And we have two cute little rescue doggies, Stubby and Pete, who sit at my feet while I'm writing.
3. Dream vacation?
Caribbean cruise with my family. My husband and I took that trip for our honeymoon, and I'd love to share it with our three boys.
4. What are you listening to right now?
Spongebob and Patrick going jelly fishing. Imagine Spongebob's cackle...that's what I'm listening to.
5. What's for dinner?
Chicken and veggie stir fry. Yum.
***
Julie, I've been drinking wa-a-ay too much soda this summer. You've inspired me to drink more water. You're a brave woman for allowing reptiles as pets. I can't even handle the idea of the crickets, let alone the geckos! And I would love to take a cruise with our kids. There's so much to do, endless food (as a mother of an active son, this feature is a big plus!), and stops at some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Heaven!! Oh, and I'm pretty sure I know every SpongeBob by heart, and if I know them all by heart, then surely my kids do too...whoops! Guess I should turn the television off. :) Thanks so much for being my guest today!
Julie Musil ~
Julie Musil is the author of young adult fiction, an e-picture book for young readers, and articles for Scholastic MATH and Highlights magazines. She can be found at her website, Julie Musil: Children's Author, her blog, and on Twitter. She is represented by Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary.
Are you working on a project this summer? Writers--what stage is your work-in-progress?
Have a fabulous Wednesday!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Sneaky Ways Reading Impacts Writing
A best-selling, mega-successful author finished her keynote speech, and though inspired, I scratched my head on one issue. Had she really just claimed she never reads fiction?
I've read enough blogs to know there are many writers who, due to the fear of emulating another author's voice, refuse to read the genre they write unless they are between projects. I also have met writers who never read the genre they write. We all have to find what works best for us.
As for me, I read as many books in my genre as I possibly can.
I read them when I'm working on a manuscript, between projects, at the beach, in the car as I wait for my kids to get out of school, at sports practices, and any other time I can squeeze out. I don't only read my genre; I also read classics, non-fiction, and magazines.
Reading helps my writing. I'm currently two-thirds through Kaye Dacus's Love Remains, and it's helped my current WIP in several areas.
1. The tone and characterization are similar to my book, which reassures me that what I write is marketable.
2. Her use of secondary characters helped me utilize one of my critique partner's suggestions as painlessly as possible.
3. She introduces new, surprise conflicts as the book progresses. I'm not always confident I'm springing a new conflict properly, and by analyzing how she hinted at them, I've gotten ideas on how to ensure mine make sense.
4. Kaye's book features clear religious themes and prayer. Not all Christian contemporary romances show a character praying or worshipping. My book does. Again, reassuring that I'm on the right track.
In the past year, the following authors have taught me better writing techniques and they don't even know it. They taught me by being excellent writers. Their books wormed their way into my heart, and I couldn't help but analyze how they did what they did.
*in no particular order*
Jenny B. Jones
Sarah Sundin
Denise Hunter
Jody Hedlund
Kathryn Springer
Laura Frantz
Susan May Warren
Robin Jones Gunn
Jillian Hart
The list could go on! I can't imagine not reading the genre I write. In fact, two more books are staring at me from the coffee table. :)
What author's books has had an impact on your writing?
Have a great Monday!
I've read enough blogs to know there are many writers who, due to the fear of emulating another author's voice, refuse to read the genre they write unless they are between projects. I also have met writers who never read the genre they write. We all have to find what works best for us.
As for me, I read as many books in my genre as I possibly can.
I read them when I'm working on a manuscript, between projects, at the beach, in the car as I wait for my kids to get out of school, at sports practices, and any other time I can squeeze out. I don't only read my genre; I also read classics, non-fiction, and magazines.
Reading helps my writing. I'm currently two-thirds through Kaye Dacus's Love Remains, and it's helped my current WIP in several areas.
1. The tone and characterization are similar to my book, which reassures me that what I write is marketable.
2. Her use of secondary characters helped me utilize one of my critique partner's suggestions as painlessly as possible.
3. She introduces new, surprise conflicts as the book progresses. I'm not always confident I'm springing a new conflict properly, and by analyzing how she hinted at them, I've gotten ideas on how to ensure mine make sense.
4. Kaye's book features clear religious themes and prayer. Not all Christian contemporary romances show a character praying or worshipping. My book does. Again, reassuring that I'm on the right track.
In the past year, the following authors have taught me better writing techniques and they don't even know it. They taught me by being excellent writers. Their books wormed their way into my heart, and I couldn't help but analyze how they did what they did.
*in no particular order*
Jenny B. Jones
Sarah Sundin
Denise Hunter
Jody Hedlund
Kathryn Springer
Laura Frantz
Susan May Warren
Robin Jones Gunn
Jillian Hart
The list could go on! I can't imagine not reading the genre I write. In fact, two more books are staring at me from the coffee table. :)
What author's books has had an impact on your writing?
Have a great Monday!
Friday, July 15, 2011
The Committed Writer
The committed writer makes many sacrifices with no guarantees of rewards.
Willingness to not be understood
I write full time and stay at home with my kids. Many people do not understand my job or even know if it is a job, considering I don't get paid for it. If you're an aspiring writer, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Since I set aside hours to volunteer at school and I drive my kids to practices and games, it appears I have an open schedule. Maybe you work a full-time job? Many people probably have no clue how much you give up to make time for your writing.
I'm blessed. My friends and family do understand and encourage me, but I struggle to get everything done.
Devotion
If you're like me, you spend a large chunk of every weekday--winter, summer, spring, and fall, writing and all the responsibilities that come with it. Building a fiction platform can't be set aside for months like a half-finished quilt. Story ideas still need to be written down, plots fleshed out, manuscripts revised, queries polished, proposals created. Right now, during the summer, I struggle the most.
But the mornings when I'm tempted to shut the alarm off and sleep an extra seven hours, I open my eyes, brew the coffee and turn on my laptop. On days my kids have sports' practices, I squeeze my writing in even if it means we don't go to the pool. Every member of my family sacrifices for my writing.
Worth it
It's commitment. The day-in, day-out. The knowledge that I could be using those hours either having more fun with my kids or working at a part-time job makes the sacrifice all the sweeter. Writing is my privilege, my passion, and I am willing to not be understood by acquaintances, to let my children figure out how to have their own fun every morning, and to not have the extra income if it means I have a shot at succeeding in the one profession I don't want to live without.
What do you sacrifice in order to write?
Have a great weekend!
Willingness to not be understood
I write full time and stay at home with my kids. Many people do not understand my job or even know if it is a job, considering I don't get paid for it. If you're an aspiring writer, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Since I set aside hours to volunteer at school and I drive my kids to practices and games, it appears I have an open schedule. Maybe you work a full-time job? Many people probably have no clue how much you give up to make time for your writing.
I'm blessed. My friends and family do understand and encourage me, but I struggle to get everything done.
Devotion
If you're like me, you spend a large chunk of every weekday--winter, summer, spring, and fall, writing and all the responsibilities that come with it. Building a fiction platform can't be set aside for months like a half-finished quilt. Story ideas still need to be written down, plots fleshed out, manuscripts revised, queries polished, proposals created. Right now, during the summer, I struggle the most.
But the mornings when I'm tempted to shut the alarm off and sleep an extra seven hours, I open my eyes, brew the coffee and turn on my laptop. On days my kids have sports' practices, I squeeze my writing in even if it means we don't go to the pool. Every member of my family sacrifices for my writing.
Worth it
It's commitment. The day-in, day-out. The knowledge that I could be using those hours either having more fun with my kids or working at a part-time job makes the sacrifice all the sweeter. Writing is my privilege, my passion, and I am willing to not be understood by acquaintances, to let my children figure out how to have their own fun every morning, and to not have the extra income if it means I have a shot at succeeding in the one profession I don't want to live without.
What do you sacrifice in order to write?
Have a great weekend!
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