The impact of a book review cannot be overstated. As Indie Authors, we all know this. We live it and breathe it… But do we, really? Book reviews are coveted by Indies. Whether it is a few words or a few paragraphs, the response from readers, whether good, bad, or indifferent, helps us understand how our work impacts people outside of our imagination. We crave reviews. We love getting reviews so much that each time we receive one, we share it on social media and our website. We grab our most comfortable bullhorn and tell the world about the nice things people have to say about us and our books. Even if our work has been poorly received, we still covet the review. Reviews are not just “ata-boy” pats on the back, or at least, they shouldn’t be. They help us become better writers. They allow us to see our storytelling influence from a distance. A few sentences of constructive critique help us realize what works and what doesn’t work. Reviews help us to grow in our art and remind us that there is more to the act of writing a book than simply answering to the Muse. Book reviews are what connect us to the reading world. Yes. It is also true that reviews can help Indie Authors make money by bringing more attention to their books, boosting them in the rankings, and helping to sell more. As much as we’d all like to think that we’re artists unaffected by the whispers of economic pressure, the impact reviews have on our income cannot be ignored. Book reviews mean word-of-mouth advertising, which sells more books. Reader reviews are vital to our future in this industry. However, Indie Authors, too, need to remember the importance of writing reviews for their colleagues. We are not in competition with each other, or we shouldn’t be. Rather, we’re all part of a community whose main goal is to improve the world around us through the written word. One of the best ways we can do that is to offer constructive critique to our fellows and be open to learning from each other. After all, who understands our industry and its nuances better than we do? Just as a swimmer cannot improve without their teammates pushing them to strengthen their stroke and improve their times, writers need the same support and encouragement to improve their performance. Writing and receiving book reviews is akin to the techniques that must be mastered by Olympic swimmers. Reach back on one side and breathe, then thrust your arm in the pool and pull. Then turn your attention the other side, reach again, breathe, throw in the other arm, and pull. Only through this bilateral approach to offering and accepting constructive critique can we, as writers, improve. Book reviews from our fellow Indie Authors build stronger writing muscles and advance the forward momentum of the entire publishing industry. We inhale story and exhale impact. We train through our writing, stretching with every page. Then we coach with our reviews, offering an above-surface perspective of our authoring. Only by becoming attentive to training and receptive to coaching, can we become proficient and help our entire team to the gold medal podium. If a swimmer stands on the sidelines and offers silence to his teammates, only focusing on their own success, they may earn a gold medal for their individual achievements, but when it comes to elevating the sport as a whole, they do more harm than good. They divert attention away from the smaller ripples in the pool, creating an atmosphere where fans only cheer for the record-holders, and ignore the rest of the team. There are so many other swimmers who are strong and could achieve so much more, if only they had the support of their teammates and a bit of enthusiasm from the crowd. I see plenty of Indie Authors asking for reviews of their work in the back pages of their books, on social media, and in newsletters. Memes are rife with reminders about how book reviews feed Indie Authors and sustain us through self-doubt and imposter syndrome. We beg and plead for reviews… even if it’s only a single sentence. But sadly, I don’t see enough reviews actually written by Indie Authors. No doubt, there are a few well-known authors who we all wish would write an endorsement “blurb” for our book… that would be heaven realized, right? The thing of dreams. It would be the recognition and validation we all crave. But do we do it for each other when just beginning… or when struggling through the adolescence of our writing careers… or even when we’ve been at it for a while and need a bit of reassurance that we’re not wasting our time? Not so much. If we don’t cheer for each other, how will the spectators sitting in the stands become infused with our enthusiasm for this thing we love? Why should they care? Why should they put forth the effort of publicly responding to our work, if we don’t even do it for each other? Leaving a review for a book isn’t just about boosting that Indie Author’s monetary gain to help to sell more books. That might be a nice by-product, but it’s not the most important impact of a review. Leaving a book review–especially if you’re an Indie Author–is also an act of support for the entirety of the writing profession. It is one of the strongest ways we can coach each other toward becoming stronger writers and strengthen our team. Not to mention adding ripples of attention to the reading pool. Go back and watch some of the old footage from the Olympics when Michael Phelps was swimming. You’ll notice that when his teammates were cheering him from the pool deck he swam stronger and faster. Of course, focus on strengthening your stroke and improving your personal skills. Don’t ever neglect your own writing career to cheer for others. But also, cheer for your fellow Indie Authors, share above the surface observations that might strengthen their craft, and support their momentum toward publishing their next book. If you do it for them, they’ll do it for you.
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As with any profession, there are tools of the writing trade that will carry an author from their first book to their last. There are a bunch of other tools that are fun to use, and sometimes even useful, but don’t get hauled out of the toolbox very often. As with any tradesman, we carry lots of tools, but we’re most comfortable with a small handful. We like they way they feel to our hands and our imagination. There are also tools we may never touch, but we have them, just in case… you know… because you never know what the new book might need to give it a certain edge, texture, or polish. I have a large arsenal of tools. I have my phone with a Bluetooth headset and a small hand-held tape recorder (from my days as a newspaper reporter) for dictation. Because even if it is the most amazing idea ever… I learned early that it’s not really a smart plan to write what Drake quacks at me while driving a 5-speed manual transmission, on the freeway at 70mph, with a ball point pen and notebook on the seat of your car. That ticket took me a little while to pay off. Moreover, I’m lucky we both lived through it. I have multiple screens for my computer because I like to have one open for research, one for writing, and a third for email and social media (or during NaNoWriMo, the Discord server). I use a bunch of websites, some of which are listed in another article, HERE. Someday I’ll update the list. Plus, a bunch of “extracurricular” software tools that I use to do specific things while I’m planning my projects. I use them for things like developing deep-dive character maps, to design marketing materials, and book covers. I have one that makes e-book layout in multiple formats so easy I actually enjoy doing it, and I have a day planner software to keep my calendar so I can stay focused and not completely lose my mind from overwhelm. I also have the obligatory portable back up hard drives because sometimes clouds explode into monsoons, and all is lost. I’ll save the details about my “sometimes” tools for a future article. To be safe, and because sometimes it can be invigorating to “get back to basics”, I have analog tools, too. I use writing craft reference books and writer’s magazines. My shelves, and my tablet, are full of them. I have a collection of “feel good in my hand” pens that I use for Galley edits (and actual writing, when I’m out in the world, away from electricity… which, oddly enough, happens fairly often). Finally, I have a stack of empty notebooks and reams of paper, along with a home binding machine to help keep my hardcopy archives together… because you never know when we’ll be hit with an EMP and be forced to go back to crafting on paper. But out of all of these, I would say my favorite and most effective tool is a keyboard. When I was much younger, I was forced to write most everything by hand – which I hated. I’ve never enjoyed looking at my own penmanship… it’s just not that attractive to me. After a long writing session, my fingers tend to seize and writing can become painful (more so now that I’m getting older). A pen in my hand can never keep up with the ideas flowing from Drake’s imagination to me for translation and development. However, long-hand writing is beneficial when I write in my daily journal. It forces me to slow down and really think about what I’m writing… but that’s a study in meditation more than it is my passion for creative writing. Even though I railed against my mother forcing typing class on me in High School, I am grateful for the torture. If not for typing, my stories would never have graduated from poofs of quacked concepts to physical books. I wrote my poetry collection, Ideate Avail (my first book), in my very early 20s, on an old Underwood manual typewriter that my Grandfather gave me. This is when I learned that writing is an endurance sport. I can’t tell you how many times I retyped entire pages until they were perfect. In those days, I thought White Out was cheating. I was tremendously grateful when electric typewriters and then computers came along. I probably never would have written a second book if not for the advancement of technology. Insert, copy, delete, and undo are four of my favorite words in the writing craft. I still keep that typewriter close to my desk. Not only is it a beautiful reminder of my Grandfather, it also reminds me that there is nothing magical about the writing process. It takes focus, work, and tenacity. Writing isn’t “play”, although most of the time it is fun. Writing is serious business, not for the faint of heart. This brings me to my favorite tool, Writing Software, the focus of today’s article. I’ve used a few different software packages over the years. Simple text programs just weren’t enough for me. As my writing evolved, and I became more aware the importance Passionate Plotting was to Drake and me, I frequently went on pilgrimages to discover a software tool that would do everything I wanted it to… and I found several. Some didn't work for me, some I loved but are no longer available, and others worked for a short time, but left me wanting more. About one, or maybe two years ago… I can’t recall the exact year now… many things about the COVID era are blurry for me… I discovered my current software love, Plottr. This is an amazingly well-developed tool! It started out as an elegantly simple writing tool that included a timeline and writing dashboard for plot points, plus space to develop characters. I found the fluidity of moving through plot points and writing directly inside the program a delight. Since I made my discovery, the software has evolved into an incredible tool that keeps answering every “I wish” request Drake makes. It not only has a timeline with an integrated outline, but detailed plot point writing space, character development and place development spaces, a fantastic collection of “get started” templates, character templates, story bibles to keep all your stuff organized, color coding for almost everything, tagging features, the power of drop and drag rearranging of your outline without losing continuity, and so many other incredible features… PLUS, it exports to MS Word. This is important for that final edit and layout process. Not to mention… but I will mention it (haven’t you always found that an odd phrase?) They are constantly adding more features, every month, or so it seems. Aside from all these wonderful things that make writing with Plottr a joy, the price is astounding! At the time of this writing, to have this program installed on one device is just $25 per year! For three devices, it’s just $45! Nope, that’s not a typo. It’s really THAT inexpensive. Go visit their website and look it up for yourself! I’ve got it installed on my laptop and my tablet. I save my documents to my cloud storage… but now, they’ve just come out with a new version, called PRO (available shortly), which will sync across devices, seamlessly! That, and this new version does a bunch of other nifty stuff, too. I can’t say enough about the wonderful customer and technical support, and the great tutorials and video walk-throughs. These fine people make it very easy to fall in love with their program. I hope this company never goes out of business. I can’t imagine finding another writing software package that meets all of my needs and is as intuitive to use. Okay, look, I’m not a paid spokesperson, or even an affiliate. They’ve given me a way to be rewarded for my referrals, but for the price they’re NOT charging me to use this fantastic software, I’d rather they keep the money to work on the next development version. I’m telling you about this software because I use it… every day. I have seen how it has improved my writing process, and I want to help you find a tool that perhaps helps you, too. Not all writers are Passionate Plotters. I have lots of friends who are dye-in-the-wool Pantsers. I have friends who still love to write long-hand and produce 400-page novels doing it that way… J.A. Bullen, I’m looking at you! I’m not quite sure how you do it, but the fact that you do it in a way that works for you is Sacred to me… not to mention, but I will, Fascinating. As I’ve said in blog articles and on social media posts before, one of the things I love best about our writing community is that there is no “one” way to do it “right”. Artists find different tools and methods that work best for them through their creation process. It makes the work more interesting to watch at a creation level, as well as more lovely to enjoy at an audience level. I LOVE that about us! Not all writers will use this software to its fullest extent, either. You don’t have to. But if you’re a writer who enjoys having a bit of a plan, and someplace to keep that plan organized, I can’t think of a better tool to help you do that than Plottr. Three times, in as many days, I’ve seen posts in various groups on Facebook asking whether writers work on multiple projects simultaneously, or just one at a time. It’s an interesting question, to be sure. Before I go any further, let me say this… There is no “right” or “wrong” way to do it. Writing is a creative endeavor, and as such, each creator has their own method and strategy. What works for one artist, may not work for another, and that’s perfectly fine. Any way you want to create, I support. Well, except painting or writing with blood… not a big fan of that medium. Okay, disclaimer over… let’s talk about this for a few minutes. My answer to this question is that I write in multiple projects simultaneously. I always have, I probably always will. At any given time, I have between three and five projects in process. Sure, they may all be in various stages of “done” but I’m working them all at the same time. I usually do a little bit on each one over a long period of time, and usually with classical music playing in the background. One project may be in final edit, another may be in rough draft version two, another in rough draft version one, another may be in outline, world building, and character mapping, and yet another might be in synopsis development and story design. You get the idea. There are lots of spinning plates in the air at all times, which I find exhilarating. I’ve tried working on just one project at a time before. I didn’t enjoy it. Here are a few reasons why… When I work on a single project, I find myself getting bored quickly. I have a Gemini brain. No, I’m not a Zodiac person… I don’t put much stock in that stuff, beyond the simple recognition that if we NEED labels, or tidy explanations for how we function in the world, this one fits me. I live in a continuous duality of emotion and thought. (I have one author friend who lovingly refers to me as slightly schizophrenic.) While processing through my day, my brain is nearly always going at full tilt. My imagination is constantly working on at least two different things, while my logical brain is working on strategies for my business and my home life. I find story in pretty much everything I see, feel, and experience… all the time. I don’t do singular focus effectively. I can’t imagine being forced to ignore all those other great ideas bouncing around in my brain while working a single novel. That seems tremendously stifling to me. Writing multiple projects means that “writer’s block” (or as I call it, “writer’s laziness”) has no room in my life. If I get stymied on one project, I can simply move to another. Shift gears, and keep moving. There is no excuse for imagination shut-down in my world. I have too much I want to create to allow for any extensive “down time” while I “regroup” my thoughts. I write because, like breathing, if I don’t do it, I’ll most certainly die. I truly feel that. Nope, creative stagnation doesn’t serve me. Instead of wallowing in the frustration of not working in my project because I can’t think of the next thing… or more likely, Drake (my muse) is being stubborn, I move on to something else, and allow that other frustration to work itself out. Usually, when I return, the problem has been solved, and I’m able to move forward. How do I do this? Well, I’m a Passionate Plotter. I keep outlines and timelines and notes of all sorts to help me remember what a particular group of characters are doing or the places they are going. Okay, the fact that I work in different genres helps tremendously. I don’t have a problem with overlapping characters or storylines because each project I’m working on is very different from the others. Think about all the television shows you watch throughout a week. Each one is different… maybe in the same genre (because humans can be creatures of habit), but each has a different storyline, with different locations and characters. Do you ever get them confused? No? My brain processes writing and books in the same way. I’m also quite good at compartmentalization. I find it easy to tuck details from each story I’m working on into its own little box in my brain, and rarely do they mingle. I also read multiple books for pleasure, and I edit multiple projects for other authors, all while I’m working on my own novels. So, I suppose compartmentalization could be considered my “super power”, if I have one. Reading and editing help with story and character empathy, which makes me a better writer. I don’t think story creation happens in a vacuum. I believe you need exposure to other creative outlets to feed your own voice… whether that’s books, television, film, music, or art… I think it all contributes to making my work better. There has only been one instance where I’ve noticed a comingling of my work, and that was with my romance novel, A Tryst of Fate. For those of you who are interested, the new edition will be available in early January. So, how was this project different? Well, it was almost a deliberate process. At the time I was writing the first draft, I had an idea that I wanted to write a collection of short stories. As I finished the draft, and began editing, I realized that each of the stories had an overlapping theme, and they weren’t truly separate. Drake came up with a great idea to weave them into the larger tapestry of a single novel. So that’s exactly what I did. Sometimes, the Duck comes up with some great ideas. So, the collection of short stories I was working on became the stories that my male lead tells my female lead, as a way to reconnect with her. Each story is a parable of the character’s history together. Then, I sewed them together with an over-arching main plot, and built in transitions specific to that story. It was a fun exercise in quilting a book. The biggest overlap came when one of the short stories migrated into a separate book of its own. I read that particular section to the critique group I was working with at the time, and they suggested that with a little reworking, it could be a stand-alone middle-grade book. So, I did that. It's called The Griffin of Greed. I changed some of the language for a younger audience and wrote a second book, before the romance novel was published. That wasn’t in the original plan, but it worked out. Looking back, I’m happy, that I chose to link the shorts together into a full novel. They are much more vibrant as part of a bigger story, and together, they supported the main plot, as individual subplots. It was a fun writing process. Sorry, I got sidetracked there for a moment. Gemini, remember? Back to the original question. Yes, I think that writing multiple projects, if you can do it comfortably, is a fantastic opportunity to revolutionize your writing practice. It will keep your imagination engaged in the work, and help to eliminate the excuse of laziness by cloaking it in the term, “writer’s block”. For Drake and me, writing many stories at the same time, makes us very happy. Does it take longer to publish writing this way? Yes, definitely, yes. But it’s the method that works for us. It’s how we have the most fun. And if you’re not having fun, what, exactly, is the point? So jump in. Try writing a couple of different stories at the same time. You may just surprise yourself with what the new forks in your creative road reveal to you, your characters, and your readers. While I was doing my usual scrolling through posts on Facebook last night, I saw that an author posted an important question in one of the groups. He was excited to share that he received an offer from a small house to publish his book. The author shared with the group the specific royalty splits and asked if the group thought that what he was offered was a "fair contract". I cringed. I understand the excitement and overwhelm involved with the prospect of being rewarded for all your diligent writing work with a “traditional” publishing contract… even one from a small or hybrid publishing company. It’s a big deal. It screams legitimacy to every fiber of our being. A contract reinforces our dreams and places “real world” value on our work. It’s the one thing so many authors hope and pray for… a “real” publishing deal! For authors who prefer this publishing path, receiving an offer on a manuscript is a huge leap forward for their writing career. It SHOULD be exciting. Authors SHOULD celebrate. However, I see far too many authors jumping at these offers without doing their homework first. Many don’t investigate what costs are involved with publishing because they don’t see their writing as a career, but instead, as a hobby. Many authors don’t think about their writing as a business. It makes me sad. It makes me sad to see authors devaluing themselves this way. I think creativity is one of humanity’s most valuable assets, and it’s discouraging to see so many people discount their own contribution. So, not that anybody asked, but here’s my two cents… If you get an offer… first, open the champagne, enjoy the chocolate, and celebrate. Scream happy things from every rooftop you can find. You DESERVE that party! Then, cool your jets just a little bit. Before you sign ANY contract, or even, any print agreement, always have an Intellectual Property Attorney look it over. I know it’s tedious, but it’s important. The language in these documents may influence your writing career for decades and may even impact the works you haven’t written yet. Google “Right of First Refusal in publishing", and you’ll properly scare yourself into doing more research. I know IP Attorneys can be expensive, but I think it’s worth it to protect your copyright, legacy rights, print, and distribution rights. You wouldn’t sign a mortgage, or a car note without first making sure you understood the language and the terms of engagement… don’t neglect this important step with your writing career. Think about this… if the book does really well, and some Hollywood film company wants to make it into a movie or a TV series, you’ll REALLY want to make sure your rights are protected. And yes, I am THAT weirdo who actually READ the terms before I Indie published through Amazon/KDP. If all this seems a little daunting, or too expensive, let me suggest an alternative. There is an organization called The Authors Guild, that works with authors to protect their interests and rights. I first discovered them about ten years ago, when I attended the AWP (Association of Writers & Writing Programs) Conference in Minneapolis. The Authors Guild website states that their mission is "To support working writers. We advocate for the rights of writers by supporting free speech, fair contracts, and copyright. We create community and we fight for a living wage.” Think of The Authors Guild as your “Writer’s Union”. They help with contract understanding, negotiation, and disputes, Media Liability Insurance, and they have a host of other resources that are extremely valuable. They offer At-Large, Student, Emerging Writer, Associate, and Regular Membership levels. Memberships start at $100/year and go to $135/year, depending on your needs and who you are as a writer. Really, $12/month to protect your writing… it sounds like a bargain to me. When you consider all that goes into writing a book… the investment of time, creativity, unique ability, sleepless nights, awkward conversations about imaginary friends with non-writers, never-ending social media engagement… plus the costs of notebooks and a really good pen, or software, heaps of tea, coffee, or cocoa, snacks, editing, interior formatting, cover design, and marketing outreach… I can’t imagine why you would agree to skimp on protecting your rights and future writing career just because you were offered a shiny contract from a publishing house. Don’t let your excitement make decisions for you. You are not a raccoon. Don’t grab the shiny thing until you know for sure that it’s something that will sustain you over the long haul. It you don’t have an IP Attorney, I highly recommend you look into becoming a member of The Authors Guild. It could save your career. No, I don’t get paid for telling you about them. My only goal is to help you protect your books and your career from poachers. Disclaimer: I know that this organization works with United States authors. I don’t know if they work with authors from other countries. But I would imagine it to be a question easily asked, and answered. https://www.authorsguild.org/ Whenever I meet someone new, and tell them I’m an author, there’s always one question they ask… “What kind of books do you write?” For most people, this is a fairly straight-forward question. From the time we’re first introduced to books, we learn about the Dewy decimal classification system, where books of similar type are grouped together. Notice I said books are grouped by type, or genre; not by the author’s name. This makes sense. Most of us don’t always know who wrote a book… unless the author is super-famous, or they are a particular favorite… but we know what types of books we enjoy reading (by the way, this is why pseudonyms can work… but you can read about my opinion on that question HERE). So, if you like horror, you’ll find books by Stephen King, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, and Anne Rice all in the same area of the library. If you enjoy romance, you’ll see work by Jane Austen, Nicholas Sparks, Margaret Mitchell, and Sidney Sheldon all sharing shelf space at your favorite bookshop. This is helpful for people who want more of the same but can’t identify authors. It’s also easier on librarians. Imagine organizing the entire library alphabetically by the author’s last name. That would be a shelving nightmare, I think. Authors usually have one genre that’s a favorite, and they write lots of different books, keeping their stories within that genre. Some will divide their loyalties between two genres. However, the majority of authors I’ve met don’t write books in more than two, and usually, they’re closely related. Horror writers may also write paranormal; romance authors might also write cozy mystery, and science fiction writers often write fantasy (although personally, I think those last two are farther apart than most people assume). The point is, it’s rare to find a sonnet poet who also writes spy thrillers, or a science fiction author who also writes picture books for children. It does happen, I personally know several authors who write in multiple genres (I tend to seek them out), but it’s not the “norm.” Enter stage right… My verbal stumbling when asked what genre I write. You see, I haven’t figured out my favorite one yet, so it’s difficult for me to choose. It’s kind of like ice cream… or cheese… there are so many different, amazing varieties to devour – how can you possibly only have one kind for the rest of your life? You really need to try them all. After that, chances are likely that you’ll find a few that you return to again and again, but that doesn’t mean you’ll completely ignore the others forever. After all, cheddar is amazing, but for me, life just wouldn’t be whole if I couldn’t also devour swiss, colby, parmesan, gouda, muenster… you get my point. Back in the days when I wrote for a newspaper, reporters rarely only wrote one type of story. One week I might be writing a feature about a holiday celebration; the next I might be covering a sporting event; and the week after that, I could be writing about a political rally. Diversity in writing is what helped me keep my job, and quite frankly, made the job more interesting for me. I took that experience with me when I began writing books. Since the editor at the newspaper didn’t see a good reason to limit my writing, I figured that I didn’t have a good reason to do it, either. When I finally made up my mind to write and publish a book – for real – I found that I had so many ideas swimming around in my head, I couldn’t decide on what to write… which genre would be best, and exactly how many were there? When the Duck quacks, I listen, but sometimes, he’s not real succinct on his intention. So, I did what I was taught, and was soon wandering down several research rabbit holes. I needed to find definitive guidelines on what genres were out there. This is when I discovered an article by Mark Nichol, “35 Genres and Other Varieties of Fiction” to use as my guide. Most of these can be shoehorned into one of the more familiar, “most popular” genres, but I really like the lines of distinction Mr. Nichol draws. There is far more room for creative ingenuity in his list. I used the article as my template, and started brainstorming on book ideas. I’m a Passionate Plotter. Working from an “idea list” and then building that into an outline is helpful for me (more on that another time). The best part about discovering this genre article was that now, I had some parameters in which I could corral all my story ideas. I was able to put pieces into lists where they would fit to meet reader expectations, rather than working to include all the flailing nuances into a single story. This is an important consideration if you don’t want to give librarians a fit of frustration trying to shelve your books. Also, if an author actually wants to sell books, they should at least be able to describe it accurately for readers. If you can’t identify what type of story you’ve written, readers will have a hard time deciding if they want to take a risk in reading it. I understand these rules, and I know why they exist… it all makes perfect sense. But that doesn’t mean I have to be restricted by them. So, after reading Mr. Nichol’s article, I still couldn’t decide on a favorite. It’s hard. I love reading a lot of different types of books, and I have stories in my head that have elements of so many of these. How would I ever choose what to write? Then it hit me… why not do it all? Think about it, we’re not restricted in how many different sports we can play, how many different types of food we eat, or how many different places we can vacation… so why should writers be held back by a simple five-letter word – GENRE? My seven-year-old-writer-self stomped her foot and screamed, “It’s not fair!” It was on that day, that I resigned myself to simply write one book in each of the thirty-five genres. I felt that I needed to do that before I would be able to choose one or two on which to focus my writing practice… and knowing me, it would probably be more like five or six… but at least I’d be able to narrow things down a bit. I started writing… I wrote nine books, all in different genres. I’m in the process of writing five others, and surprisingly, I’ve caught a lot of consternation for it. Not from readers, but from other authors. Who’d ‘a thunk!?! Some authors, at festivals, on social media pages, and at writing conferences, seemed to have a problem with my answer to the question, “So, what do you write?” My answer, of course, was longer than the standard one-word genre description. “I write in nine different genres, so far… my goal is to write in thirty-five genres, and then find my favorite after that.” The looks I got, I swear, could have stopped a steam locomotive. “You’ll never sell books that way,” they said; “You’ll confuse and disappoint your readers, and you’ll never be able to build a solid fan base.” Hogwash! I believe people enjoy diversity and are intrigued by authors who take creative risks. Also, I have frequently “out-sold” other authors who focused on only one or two genres at the festivals I’ve attended, but that’s a different blog post, too. The point is, creative pursuits can’t be hogtied, nor should they be, by what has always been done before. Where’s the fun in that? I recently discovered a book written by A.A. Milne, “The Red House Mystery”. For those of you who are unfamiliar, find my review HERE. Anyway, most of us know Milne for his children’s books; Winnie The Pooh and his little gang of merriment makers. Most of us don’t realize that Milne also wrote a “closed room” mystery for adults (among other writings). Two very different works, on two completely opposite ends of the genre spectrum. Did the fact that he wrote this twisty mystery deter fans of his children’s books? I think not. But, I do know the fact that he wrote the mystery now gives me the opportunity to share this amazing author’s talent with my friends who don’t have children, don’t like children, and don’t want to read children’s books. Why anyone would avoid Piglet and Rabbit is baffling to me, but those people are out there, I assure you. Furthermore, there is the possibility that once my friends adverse to all things kid read “The Red House Mystery”, they may then decide to read about Eeyore and Tigger, just to see what else Milne has to offer. There is a distinct possibility for cross-pollination of this author’s writing, and I think that’s a spectacular idea. Here's my final take on the question. I think that the great thing about literature is that what we do as authors demands that we do it with a full measure of creativity. There are no “Genre Police”. No one is going to start writing tickets. We get to write with multiple points of view, in different tenses, and in different genres, whenever we like, as we like. There are so many vibrant readers out there, and each reader is allowed to read as many genres as they enjoy. Therefore, I believe that as authors, we have a responsibility to stay true to our Muse and write in as many genres as tickle our imagination; be that one, two, or thirty-five. We should respect our readers, and trust that they will find the books that interest them, and they will continue to support the writing they love... whether it is created by a single author focusing on a single style and genre, or by thousands of authors writing in multiple genres simultaneously. To offer them anything less is to allow the complete degradation of the vitality of our particular form of entertainment. Not to mention, films are going to get really dull if we don’t offer Hollywood writers new books to translate to the screen. So, I say, write what you want. Write the characters you love, and the situations that stimulate you. Don’t worry about following the rules too much (except for all those nit-picky things your editor will remind you about, you know, spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.). If you allow the Muse to spur you on in whatever direction intrigues you, I am certain you will find a following of readers who will continue to buy your books… and perhaps even refer them to their friends. I just love this photo. It's a $0.99 solution for what could be a potential $9,000 problem. How do you keep your dog from squeezing out of the gate, and running into traffic, thus requiring a tragic visit to the veterinarian? If you search any number of online retail and training sources for pets, you'll discover a vast array of solutions, at varying prices, all requiring copious commitments of time, attention, and energy. But, a single trip to the Dollar Store might be able to solve the problem with ease, and provide no additional stress for you or the dog until you can take some time to step back and figure out something better. Simple, right? After enjoying a good chuckle at the photo, it started me thinking... how often do I, as a writer, encounter the same predicament? How often have I been faced with a plot problem or a character conundrum, and spent hours on a quest to find the "best" solution? The right word... the most engaging emotion, the most transformative description, the funniest punchline, all while my story languishes in the relative danger of remaining unfinished? I spend hours staring at the screen, doodling with my notebook, staring at the clouds, trying to find just the right piece to fit my literary puzzle, when really, the simplest solution might just be the most effective one, for now. I sometimes overlook the wooden spoon because I'm fooled by the notion that I should be spending my time looking for an electronic vibrating harness that won't hurt the dog, but rather, alert him to change his path and make a better choice about his longing to escape. I'm fooled into thinking that the flashy solution is better based on no real information, other than it's flashy. I often have this problem with words. It's true. Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the best in books. Sometimes, a single word, spoken softly but with conviction will be far more effective against the advancing evil monster, than a rhyming spell of seven stanzas, spoken in Latin, punched up at the end with a flamboyant toss of a handful of magic dust... at least until you can get a coven of magicians together to chant along with you.
It's important to solve the most pressing issue... how do I keep my story safe, and yet, still give it the freedom it needs to carry readers through the adventure? The first order of business is to stop my literary puppy from escaping the yard and hurting himself. After I've accomplished that, then I can worry about painting the spoon with bright colors, adding more padding to the harness, wiring in sensors to sound tiny alarms that only work on dog-frequency-hearing, and install the GPS that connects directly to my smart phone that will alert me to his up-to-the-minute travel intentions. Sometimes, just writing the words, making them effective, and not worrying about the "marketability" of the story until after the whole thing is written, is the best course. For me, that's what participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) means. Show up simply. Sit in the seat, put your fingers on the keyboard and your story on the page. Use the wooden spoon now, and worry about crafting the flashy stuff that will go into a marketing blurb later. I need to remind myself... first, focus on getting the story out... then, work on keeping the story contained yet free. It's a problem that I often overthink when in the throes of creative rapture. Letting my imagination run away without keeping it safe within the fenced confines of the story's yard can be disastrously distracting. Once the story is "safe", I can then take some time to work on refinements with a bit more comfort. Writing is so much more fun when you do it from a place of calm enjoyment, rather than from a place of fearful panic for your story's security. This is how I want to spend my time playing with my literary puppy. When he's whole, safe, and within easy reach, then I can work on teaching him new tricks. I can show him the wonders of pacing through the afternoon, sniffing out a misplaced bone, digging to discover what might be hidden under a bush, the exhilaration of chasing a wayward squirrel, and perhaps taking a bit of pride in barking at another dog in the street, and saving them from certain disaster. So, for NaNoWriMo, I give myself permission to write 50,000 words simply, safely, and without the worry of flash and pizzazz. It's okay that I don't know all of that other stuff in November. I just need to know how to get the story out and safe. I can work on teaching my literary puppy new tricks in December or January. Since high school, when I realized that writing could actually be a thing I could do for life, I've been reading craft books. Books on how to improve my writing skills with developing plot, character, structure, theme... you get the idea. Yes, I'm THAT writer who has nearly the entire Writer's Digest library sitting on her shelves. I inhale new knowledge about writing in nearly every form I can get my hands on. I seek out experts from The Great Courses when I feel like I need a "PhD level" exposure, and the For Dummies books when I want to remind myself that I'm progressing with my chosen preoccupation with maybe a little bit more ability than some others. (Everyone needs a little ego boost now and again.) I also seek to read everything in between that sounds even a smidge insightful or helpful. As we all know, a collection of smidges of different ingredients is how chocolate brownies are made, and that means a smidge of anything can always be helpful. Each foray into this exploration of "How Others Do It," I learn, I adapt, and I improve. Continuing to learn about my craft is always time well spent for me. Recently, as I've been working on republishing my backlist, I've been focusing more attention to the business side of my craft. I've always believed that if I treat my writing as a hobby, it'll only ever make me happy. Yes, that's enough for some, but I've always wanted more. So, it stands to reason that if I treat my writing as a business, I have the possibility of reaching many others, and perhaps bringing a little more joy to their lives, too. I know I'm not smart enough to figure it all out on my own... so I seek out the advice and experience from others who have "been there, done that." There are a host of books on my shelves on these topics, as well. You almost need to have a split personality, I think, to make it in the book world... and so study requires both sides of the brain... wacky and logical... working in concert together. Since relenting to accepting my tablet a one of my "tools for daily living" about five years ago, I've been investing in "career learning" materials electronically, simply because of the ease of bookmarking and using the imbedded links. I wish all my college texts were electronic, so I could not only store them easily, but refer back to the individual passages I need as refreshers more quickly. Technology can be a grand thing. Although, I still love holding a real live book in my hands when I want a fictional escape... for me, there's nothing better. The smell of those new, freshly printed pages... But I'm beginning to ramble off topic... Focus. I read two books over the past few weeks that talked about the marketing side of the writing life. The first was "Why Authors Fail" by Derek Doepker. I'd never heard of this author before. Primarily, he writes books in the niches of fitness and diet, so it's no wonder why his name was unfamiliar. These are not titles I read, much. But he's been wonderfully successful, and has written a few other book on how he did it. He wrote a book about how he leveraged Kindle and produced great sales. So there's that. I admit, the title of this book caught me, and I'm a sucker for any book cover that has a typewriter on it - so clearly, he understands how to write a hook and design a cover. But in all honesty, I only read this book because it was offered to me for free, via a Facebook ad. Yup, I bit. I'm one of those people. It's a free ebook, it doesn't cost me anything to get it, and reading, no matter what the subject matter, I've always believed, is good for my soul. So, while getting miles in on the exercise bike, I read it over two days. It's not a long or difficult book. There were some interesting things included in the pages; reaffirmations that my business brain needed to hear, but no real new information. Most frustratingly, there were no actionable passages in this book. It's a very "top-level" overview, and for people who've never studied this part of the writing world, important to get... but for me, it was a refresher. This book was really more of a sales pitch for the author's coaching/mentoring business than it was a helpful resource. But it was free, so yeah. The refresher was nice, and it did help to pass the time while exercising, but it's not something I would recommend... simply because of a lack of forward momentum. If I'm going to read a book to learn something... and the word "why" in the title implies that I will actually learn something... I'd like my time to be well-spent. I could have spent my time better elsewhere. Kudos to Mr. Doepker for all his personal success with his writing career, but this book was not a tremendous benefit to me. The second book I read was "Strangers To Superfans" by David Gaughran. Author friend, Kate McNeil recommended this author to me, and I'm pleased that she did. This was far more interesting, and helpful. A book that focuses on how to build your fan base, keep your fan base, and reward your fan base as you build your career with integrity and an authentic approach... I found this a much better read, all the way around. Some of this was a refresher to me, but some of it was also a new perspective on becoming more accessible and placing the right emphasis on the puzzle pieces to your writing career through a conscious marketing strategy. It was about a 50/50 split. I've always been a fan of strategies, processes, and actionable opportunities, and this book has lots to share. Mr. Gaughran gave me a greater understanding of how to market to my readers, specific to how I want to design my career. Although his suggestions and strategies could be applied to writers in nearly every genre... he made it easy to understand his formulas and then mentally insert my books and my designs for my career into his processes. This book felt like it was far more relevant to what I want to do with my writing, and far less "sales-pitchy". Also, the comfortable, easy style with which he writes makes the material feel more like having a conversation than studying the business of marketing my writing. I felt I retained more because it was entertaining to read. I bought the ebook, and enjoyed the quick read format. This is certainly a book that I would recommend to Indie Authors looking to broaden their marketing reach in small, attainable steps that will deliver consistent results if consistent attention is a key focus. As with anything that requires effort, learning and mastering the marketing of my writing career will continue to take time. I will seek out new resources as I move along this journey, putting into motion those things that I can manage, financially and energetically; and letting go of the rest. As it is in life, so it is in business. The point to remember, is to never stop seeking out new and different perspectives as I work to solve an ever-evolving problem. There are no magic beans... the solutions will ebb and flow just as the reading environment does, and I need to stay fluid in that motion if I am to enjoy the ride. Oscar Harlequin kept very still, waiting until the book store closed. It was a store warehouse with three levels, the top being an attic with a skylight that had never been dusted. Few book lovers went up there, and he had stashed the backpack with his books near the old-fashioned radiator. He was in the second-floor men’s room when the lights blinked off and on. The most heart-arresting moment was when a clerk opened the door and announced, “Store closed in fifteen minutes.” For some reason, the clerk came into the room, walked around casually. Had he detected something? Was he naturally suspicious? The flushing of a urinal gave Oscar the answer. Fifteen minutes later, the room went totally black. Oscar pulled out his iPhone and turned on the light. (He dismissed bringing a flashlight, that would raise suspicions.) For some reason the stall door squeaked. Had it squeaked when he first opened it? Was the blackness magnifying the sound? Or was he just jittery? After several deep breaths, Oscar ventured into the book aisles. In the darkness he felt like a shadowy, meek Godzilla plodding through a city of ghostly book buildings and trying not to break anything. Not sure whether the elevator worked, he took the spiral iron stairway to the attic. As he gripped the railing, he was overwhelmed with the sense of his own stupidity. Had he even thought about where to put the books? They had an imitation romance cover -- his wife trying to smile in a red summer dress with a big straw hat -- but how convincing was it? Once in the attic, he threw the light from his iPhone in the direction of the radiator, but he didn’t see the backpack. He was about to rush forward in a desperate search when a figure emerged from the shadows. He immediately thought of the nun in the tower at the end of Hitchcock’s "Vertigo." But it wasn’t her. “You don’t need to go through all this, you know,” the woman said in a stern but amused voice. ~Michael Simpson “It couldn’t be time yet, it couldn’t.” Kargil screamed over and over in his mind as he ran through the dense overgrowth. The thorns cut his skin and he felt the blood run from the stinging cuts. He did not stop. The clearing came fast, and he tripped and fell to the sandy ground carried by the momentum of his push through the brush. Before him he saw the bare feet of his wife. He looked up from his kneeling position to see her knees, dress, long red hair, and finally her face. She was overcome with fear, sweat covered her visage, and she was breathing heavily. A huge taloned hand rested below her chin. “Why do you pursue us,” came the gritty and powerful voice from behind her. “She made the deal; the deal is done.” “She did it for me!” Kargil cried. “I was not worthy of her gift, take me instead.” The laugh sounded like hundreds of teeth in a blender being shaken. “You are of no value to me. The deal was I save your life and she was granted 5 years to spend with you. Has it not been five years, have you not had this time?” “I made the deal,” Karen pleaded, “I knew, let me go.” “You see?” The voice boomed. “She has accepted her fate, you should do the same.” A second taloned hand reached out and a deep mist formed behind them. “She is mine now and will serve my needs for dozens of years.” “No,” Kargil screamed and launched towards her, grabbing her hand. “I love her!” Two more arms reached around Karen instantly and grabbed Kargil by the shoulders. The grip was impenetrable. “You task me human. Do not do so again or I will take your spawn for my pleasure as well.” Kargil thought of their daughter as he was thrown to the sand. He did not move as the 8-armed monolith stood and leapt into the mists with his wife. As he felt the tears run down his face a shrill cry echoed in the mist. ~Andrew Smith “Who are you?” “You don’t remember me?” “You were a friend of my fathers?” “I was a friend of your family, for a very long time, but…” “But?” “Do you remember the Clydewell house?” “Yes. Vaguely. Why?” “Do you remember what happened there?” “You’re referring to the accident? What happened to my sister?” “I know that what happened at Clydewell house was not an accident. ” “What do you mean wasn’t an accident? What do you know about how my sister died? “You’re asking the wrong questions.” “what question should I be asking then?” “Where is she, and what was your father covering up? “Are you telling me that my father lied?” “No, I am saying that he only told you half the truth.” “And my sister? She’s alive?” “Yes, but I can only tell you this for certain, your sister knew something, something your father had to keep hidden.” “What did he have to keep hidden?” “Men of wealth and power have many enemies and many more secrets.” “How do I find her?” “Figure out what your father was trying to hide, that is the key to this riddle. I also believe that it cost me my life.” “your life?” “What I saw of your sister, I should not have I think and your father well…you know your father.” “How could it have cost you your life, you’re sitting here, on this train with me now and you’re telling me my sister is alive?” “What was your father trying to cover up? That is the only way you will find her.” “No, wait, don’t leave.” “Would you care for a drink sir?” “That man, who was he?” “Excuse me sir I do not know of whom you speak.” “Surely you passed him just now, in the hall. He was old, scared face, with a pipe.” “No sir there were no others except you. Can I get you anything?” “Whiskey, neat.” “Very good sir.” ~Mike Asselin As I searched, moments were frantic, the world around me blurring as I rushed about my cluttered bedroom. The clock clicked in an annoying reminder that Noelle was due to be knocking on my front door sooner rather than later. “You forget something?” Mike, my roommate with the consistently worst timing, was leaning against my door frame, smirking at me. I brushed my hair flat again, my reflection showing a messy appearance rather than the handsome Prince Charming I was hoping for. “Come on, bro...you know what this means to me!” Mike rolled his eyes. “Dude, it’s Noelle. We’ve been friends with her for three years now, I don’t know what has you such a mess.” A tried to control the heat creeping up my neck. “Yeah, but this is our first real date and I want her to see me as more than a friend.” I could see Mike’s fighting a grin, his blue eyes twinkling with mirth. My curt dig was cut off before it could begin by a light knock to our front door. It was her. I took a deep breath, Mike was right...date or no, this was Noelle, one of my best friends and just about the prettiest girl I’ve ever met. “What do you think?” I asked my roommate. His eyes roved me up and down, “Well, she’ll definitely be looking at you differently!” After answering the door, Noelle’s eyes brightened and she giggled. “Where did you say we were going?” “That barbeque joint in town? Figured something casual would be ok. I mean, if that’s what you want?” “Oh, casual is fine...it’s just...I think they still might require pants.” Noelle vaguely gestured to my lower half. With a blush, I looked down to see my Batman boxers winking back at me. I ran my hand back through my hair, feeling the locks spring into their usual messy cowlick as my face burned a bright red. “Right. I’ll be right back…” Mike was wiping tears as he gasped through his laughter, “Well dude, at least she can check out your butt!” ~Chelsea Gouin Yesterday, I released three books into the wild, in a fun Book Scavenger Hunt game I discovered. I thought today, I should give you a little backstory about where the idea came from. Think Geocaching with books, (without the required understanding of navigation and compass stuff), and you'll have some idea where this is going. Since my childhood, I've always loved scavenger hunts. Mysterious clues leading to more clues, leading to treasures, with fun surprises along the way. As an adult, I've missed them, but found a temporary fix with the National Treasure films. Yes, I know, these are are films in league with Casablanca... but getting lost in the mystery of the clues and where they lead - well - I can do that all day long. This is probably why I've watched the films more times than I can count. The thrill of the hunt never gets old for me... even if I know the outcome. It's one of the few child-like indulges I've held on to over the years. When I found a story called Book Scavenger, by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman I knew I needed to read it. It's a middle-grade tale of clues, ciphers, adventure, mystery, and BOOKS! For me, this is the perfect combination for summer entertainment. The story is about a twelve-year-old girl who plays a game, hosted online, where players follow clues that lead them to discover books in hiding places around town. I was transported back to sixth grade as I read and followed the adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed it. As I turned each page, I kept thinking... Someone should actually build this game... I wonder how difficult it would be? Well, at the end of the book, I discovered that it's a real thing, this book scavenger hunt game, and I was tickled to discover that there are actually two versions; one specifically designed for children, and one intended for readers of all ages. As it turns out, this has been a thing for a pretty long time. I wish I'd known about it sooner. Here's how you can play along and spread the joy of both literacy and scavenger hunts!
Book Scavenger, by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman is the book that started it all, for me. I highly recommend that anyone who loves books, and games, and mystery, read it. It's a quick, fun read. A great family read, and a great introduction to the idea of scavenger hunts, writing codes, and breaking codes. There are three books in the series, and I'll be reading the next two shortly... I'm hooked on these characters and their literary adventures! The author actually designed a kid's version of the game on her website. It's fun and easy to play along - and it's free! I'll be releasing my children's books using this site in the next week or so. Check it out at https://bookscavenger.com/ BookCrossing.com is the other website with a similar program. This is where I released three of my books so far; and it's where Ms. Bertman says she got the idea for her book. This game has been around since April 21, 2001... and quite honestly, I'm shocked that I didn't know about it until now! According to the website, there are currently 1,898,581 BookCrossers and 13,323,533 books travelling throughout 132 countries. It's incredible how much there is to this site. There's a serious movement going on here to connect people with literature in a super-fun way. If you find one of my books (or any others that have been hidden), there is an easy field to fill in the ID number right on the top of the home page... and the site will walk you through the rest. This is a great way, especially during the time of COVID to connect authors, their books, and readers, with a fun activity that is mostly outdoors. This is a game that's fun, even when socially distanced. If you're an author, this is an, inexpensive addition to your marketing toolbox. Visit the website at https://www.bookcrossing.com The thing I miss most abut my time working with Grey Wolfe Publishing are the community service anthologies I was able to edit and publish. The idea that words have a way to serve people, organizations, and humanity as a whole, has been a concept that has driven me since I was a small child. I remember UNICEF boxes at Halloween. Collecting coins for such a remarkable organization that used words to convince leaders that the world could be better for children... it was mesmerizing. Later, came RIF, and the small boxes I had sitting on a desk at home, collecting coins out of my allowance each week so that children in far away lands (and some in this country, too) could have some of the same fabulous story books I had... the idea that children just like me could be reading the same books I did, maybe even at the same time... Well, that idea had nothing on the incomprehensible thing of wishing on the same star. Stars were too far away to really have an impact, and how would we know if we were really wishing on the same one, they're all so small? But, if we could all be connected by the SAME BOOKS, the SAME STORIES - the SAME CHARACTERS - well - that would be magnificent! In my nearly ten years editing community service anthologies, we created books to serve dogs and cats in no-kill shelters, schools, libraries, an elephant sanctuary, a wolf sanctuary, a big cat sanctuary, a senior center, veterans, and special needs children. Before we were able to finish them, we also designed books that would serve Doctors Without Borders, the Make A Wish Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity. Thankfully, I have retained the rights to publish those titles, and I'm in the process of reaching out to the contributing authors, to see if they will grant me permission to move forward with those books. From my perspective, the more good we can do using our words, the better off we'll all be. So, in the meantime, while I work on those projects, I thought, why not publish another, new anthology? There are so many great charities out there that we can help... why should I stop doing this work that I love? The simple answer is... I don't have to stop! I have always believed that a more harmonious and supportive society begins with literacy. I have always believed that a successful life begins with, and is enhanced by, the written word. I also know that not everyone is able or inclined to pick up trash by the side of the road or donate financially or give blood in order to contribute to the well-being of their community. But I know that there must be an alternative... I believe that alternative is the Power of The Pen! I believe that every literate person is capable of telling a story to enhance the lives of others... and they don't have to be New York Times bestselling authors to do it! So, because I believe in the power of the pen, and I believe that words, regardless of whether they're fiction or non-fiction, have the incredible ability to change lives, I'm putting together a new anthology. My esteemed editorial cohort, Connor Matthews, is going to help on this one, so I'm certain that the end result will be nothing short of spectacular! He's got a keen eye for extraordinary stories, and he excels at working with authors, and making them better. The charity I've chosen is The World Literacy Foundation. They have a mission to serve individuals and communities with the written word. "We envision a world in which every one of us can read and write, in which there is free access to education for all." This is a vision I can certainly get behind with full enthusiasm. The book? Well, this edition is called, Simple Things. I'm seeing it as an inspirational collection of poetry, short stories, and anecdotal essays on the topic of GRATITUDE. During the COVID-19 craziness, we've all had a lot of time to sit in isolation and consider those things that we are most grateful for, or those people who have made our suffering bearable, or those situations we endured that made us look at life with a different, more gentle perspective. Those stories of hope, of thoughtful caring, of gracious gratitude are what I'd like to fill the pages of this book with...fresh understandings about our lives and the Simple Things that really matter. I invite you to write something to share. I imagine small nuggets of "wow" hidden in plain sight on the pages: in true stories of courage and bravery; in remembrances of those we love; in stories of those we've lost but with whom we shared special time; in the humor we find coping with this interesting year; and in the gentle make-believe we share with children, to ease their stress, worry, and fear. It is my hope that through our words, we can share a connection with others who may have missed a moment of grace in their lives, and through our writing, can look back to discover a few of their own. Through this book, my hope is that when we look back in recollection of our time in quarantine and Pandemic, we see it with kinder eyes, lighter hearts, and gentler souls... and that we share those perspectives with people all over the world. If you are a thoughtful human... whether child or adult... whether published or not... and you're interested in lending your words to this collection of Simple Things, please click the book's cover to learn more about how you can contribute... and perhaps inspire a nugget of gratitude in someone else. Thank you.
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