Category Archives: Writing

Email Gems: July 17-21

From my Austin Kleon weekly newsletter:
Here [with 2 Years of Exhausting Photographic Detail] Is How to Write a Book by Ryan Holiday

From the newsletter of Jill Badonsky [the author of The Muse Is In]:
“Strengthen Your Tolerance Muscle–To be good at anything in the creative realm you must be able to accept that you’re not instantly perfect or even kinda good. If you don’t have a tolerance muscle, your mission if you want to answer your creative call, is to build it before the skill you are trying to cultivate.”

 

 

 

Writers Horoscope–July 21

Today’s theme: No!

Repeat after me: No!

‘No!’ to that request for an article on-spec from Blood Transfusions Weekly.

‘No!’ to that bag of Doritos at the impulse item shelf at the checkout stand, despite your third canned email rejection of the week. [Hey! Not the Cheetos either!]

and

‘No!’ to that self-extended invitation to binge-watch the entire Law and Order franchise. [You really have got to get over those rejections.]

‘

 

Writers Horoscope–July 20

Today–reach out to people.

Plan your cookbook-signing.

Your biggest challenge: Finding an actual brick-and-mortar bookstore.

Alternatives? Set up a promotion table at the meat counter in Earl and Pearl’s Stop n’ Shop. [Better provide skewers and samples. Hungry shoppers don’t exactly sprout cash for text-on-paper.]

Next to the table, try something subtle, yet memorable.

“Portion-control is for wimps. Buy the whole book!”

 

Writers Horoscope–July 18

Your publishing company is off to a good start.

You’ve tracked down office space. [That spare lumber in the garage needed to be cleared out anyway.]

For those draining 400-word days, you’ll need that footrest. Rex the Wonder Retriever lies at the ready.

And every writer needs face time with an apathetic reader. Your tabby Whiskers is primed to ignore your every word.

 

Writers Horoscope–July 17

You’re still unpublished.

No worries. Start your own company. Give yourself a signing bonus. [A $10 coffee card ought to do the trick. Knock it down to $5 if the CFO raises a little hell.]

Make it even more realistic. Turn down your own manuscripts. Promptly. And rudely.

 

Writers Horoscope: July 16

Find a new audience today for your latest chapter.
Yes, your border collie will do just fine.  border collie

Take note of when he:

  • cocks his head [your protagonist’s actions strayed too far from her core character]
  • lets his attention drift to backyard activity [your dialogue isn’t advancing the plot]
  • growls [waaaaay too much exposition]

Twitter Gems: July 10-14

IndieAuthorsAlliance @IndieAuthorALLI Book Marketing Ideas for Indie Authors: Introducing the New Bookfunnel Bundle #author bit.ly/2umr57V

David Gaughran @DavidGaughran
Scammers Break The Kindle Storetwitter-2430933_1280https://t.co/5s7fqjTBfs

Kindle Direct Pub  @AmazonKDP
Some guiding words from KDP author @jaltucher.

IndieAuthorsAlliance @IndieAuthorALLI
5 Top tips to Boost Your Productivity bit.ly/2evBWDL#selfpub
[I’ve been working on the ‘road map’ tip. Sometimes I’m just not disciplined enough.]

Jon Winokur  @AdviceToWriters
If I see an ending, I can work backward. ARTHUR MILLER #amwriting#fiction

And yet more productivity tips!! Jeff Goins  @JeffGoins
Kill Distractions and Amp Up Your Productivity buff.ly/2tCpDgv
[I like the instrumental music tip.]