5 Surprising Facts About Writers

Many writers are combo-deals. Some are extroverts, others introverts, and yet others are introverts who have become extroverts by doing what they fear. [That would be me].

Extroverts have no problem talking about themselves among strangers. "Did you hear about my latest book?" They have no problem speaking at writer's conferences or book clubs. In fact, they often put their name out there as a possible speaker candidate.

Introverts, while great writers are shy about their work. They know it's good but often use others to share what they've done so the spotlight isn't necessarily on them. Speaking up is difficult, and they shy away from the spotlight at all costs. 

Are you #4 or #2? or Both?

Photo by Wilhelm Gunkel on Unsplash

Writers like people. No kidding. Yes, they like to write and they spend hours at the craft if they want to be any good. They also read voraciously. But the best writers get out from behind the computer screen every once in a while. They have to. For their own sanity and to drum up some new characters from watching readers like you.

Photo by Omar Lopez on Unsplash

Writers like other things besides writing. It's not all about writing, revision, publishing, and marketing - the last being one of the hardest things on the planet for most writers. When writers are not writing they're doing many other things like hiking, biking, or even - dare I say it - cake decorating. I enjoy interior design myself and check out fantastic books on this subject at the library.

What do you think of this balcony space?

Photo by Spacejoy on Unsplash

Writers eat regular meals. They don't just sit at the computer every day drinking their favorite beverage and eating popcorn. They actually leave their post for a time to eat a family dinner or go out to eat. I am reminded of a teacher I saw once at the grocery store and how amazed I was that 'they' actually let her out of school.

Photo by Pablo Merchán Montes on Unsplash

Writers - or most writers - do not get rich in their writing. For those just publishing their first book, their biggest dream is often to make the Best Sellers List. Writers who have been at it for a while see the truth. Just write the best way you know, market the heck out of it, meet people as often as you can, connect in a real way, and see what happens after that. 

Looks like a nice place to visit

Photo by Antonio Sessa on Unsplash

5 Things You Might Not Realize About Writers and Writing

1. Writing helps writers to see the big picture as well as the small one. Writing teaches writers to notice life. A writer notices the striking sunset as well as the almost forgotten wildflower. They see because the best writing demands that they see.

2. Writing teaches a writer to listen. A writer hears the silence of a mountain walk. A writer hears children. A writer hears and takes note of disagreements across the room. The best characters come from their innermost memories and what they hear in a crowd or in silence.

My husband, Doug at a recent family wedding. Don't you just LOVE the flowers?

3. Writing promotes growth in other areas of a writer's life. Writers have the courage to speak what they feel because they have written what they've felt numerous times. Writers learn to speak one-on-one and in groups because they have shared their books in both settings through books signings and speaking engagements. 

It rained today. So beautiful.

4. Writers are connected with deep thinkers. Writers love those who can think deep. It isn't about sharing the weather. With them, it's about the color the weather creates. The moistness of rain on cement, traveling down gutters, droplets of dew on cars like kisses. Plants kneeling from the extra weight, grasses glistening, revealing their souls. Writers talk about what really matters. Hardships. Growth. Light.

5. Writing helps writers to stay on track. Writers are often journalers. And writing down their thoughts about their own life's curves and turns helps them to make better decisions and write a bit better present day.  

COMING SOON! A new book and a writer's event!

For readers of my blog, I apologize. It's been a rough year and a half. But things are finally looking up, even in the book department.

 Christ and the Samaritan Woman at the Well
by Angelica Kauffman

I have been working on a new book for quite a few months. The new title is "I Walked With Jesus: New Testament Stories of Faith & Healing from the Least of These." The book is filled with stories from the time of Christ. Many of those who had an experience with Jesus had only a line or two written about them. Others didn't even have a name attached to the experience. 

All walked with Christ. 

The interesting thing about this book is the freedom I had in writing these stories. I have done quite a bit of studying of the scriptures and the time period, but have had room to create the character behind the story because there was so little written about them.  

If you have viewed The Chosen, you will find my stories similar in nature to what has been produced by Angel Studios. You will see the woman at the well, not just at the moment she meets Christ, but, long before that, when she marries for the first time. You will see how Malchus's life is lived before his ear is cut off at the gate to the Garden of Gethsemane and the healing takes place. You will see the centurion who finally saw Christ as he died on the cross, not through accident, but because of what he'd experienced before that moment. "Truly, this was the son of God" came because he was prepared to receive the message.

The book's new release will be in September of 2021 before the writer's conference listed below.

How to Unlock Your Writing Genius

Doors are hard to unlock unless you have the right key.

This is the front door to my office.
(Man, it needs some painting).
I need to use the right key to unlock this door;
not any key will do.

The same is true of your writing genius. Dreaming about being a writer never got anyone anywhere - just ask my brother who has been dreaming about becoming a writer for more years than I can remember. He has great ideas too. Ideas that would sell. But what does he do?

Dream. 

Dreaming is good if you take the time to do something about it. 

Make the time.

"Time waits for no man", the old saying goes, and it doesn't wait for women either. If you want to unlock your writing genius, if you want to learn how to become a writer, even the best writer you can be, then you must make the time. When I first thought about writing as a career I didn't have a lot of money to spend on classes. I couldn't afford to go back to school.

What did I do?

I checked out books at the library. I wrote. I attended a writer's

group.

These are some of my books, and some of the books of other writers I have published
through Idea Creations Press.
None of them would have happened
had I not stayed on the wobbly bike.

Learning how to become a writer is a little like dusting off your bike, getting on the seat, and taking yourself for a ride. You might have peddled a few times before, but not lately, and as your bike wobbles, as you try to gain your balance, you realize you've still got it. You can still ride.

My personal belief? We can all write, but not all of us apply ourselves. The juice is in us, but we don't apply what's already there. 

Write more than you watch television or play games on your phone or...

Writing not only takes time it takes a lot of focused time. You've more than likely heard of morning pages, or writing a page a day - or about 500 words, but what of writing 500 words a day on a particular project? Rather than writing 500 random words that come to you, and then wondering what else you can possibly share later, you're just so exhausted getting it all out, why not use those creative juices right off the bat?

Say you're interested in writing a book about your childhood. Start your day by remembering an event that happened to you. You don't need to start at the beginning, just start with one remembrance. The next day, follow it up with another remembrance, and so on. Once you get enough written, you can then consider how you'd like to organize your book.

My first book was a mixture of true experience
and fiction as Samantha deals with her
parents' divorce.

What if you're interested in writing a novel? One of my favorite techniques is finding a picture, either from a magazine, a painting, or a book that reflects my vision. I look at that thing and start to write whatever comes to me. Will it be the beginning? Probably not. But it will be something. And the next day I can look at it again and see what else comes to mind. I may find my beginning on day three or day ten, but if I use my creative juices the day will come and I will know when my book has begun. And who knows? Those other things I have written may just be chapter three or ten!

Throw negative critiques out. 

Story bashing never helps. "Story helps" do. You will know right away what type you're receiving as you're learning how to become a writer by how you feel. Defensive? Bash. Time for a crying jag? Bash. "I really like this part right here." Help. "That's exactly how I felt as a kid." Help. "What were you trying to say here? I really want to get it." Help.

Negative critiques of your writing, especially in the beginning may create within you a desire to STOP. You will hear them, and when you do, let them go. Pick up your pen. Go to your computer and write. 

I usually write on my computer unless I'm away from home. 

But stay focused. Don't rant. Keep going.

Share your work.

Yep. I know, after hearing that you'll receive negative critiques as you learn how to become a writer, you may not want to share your work with anyone. Do. And continue to share even after the negative critiques, especially when you receive the negative critiques. As a writer, I am still learning, and I have been a published book writer since 2002! I was learning before that as well because I started as a newspaper reporter. 

My first draft on a paper for college
received a C-.
My final, an A as I remember.

I am still learning, and expect to be learning until my dying day. I still share my work. Not everyone likes it. And that's okay. I keep writing, and so should you!

Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2018 is almost here!

Get an after Christmas gift for yourself!

Marketing Your Book on a Budget will be available January 1st!

Not a writer?

Get the book for a writer in your life. They will LOVE it!

National Knock Knock Jokes Day - Some Fun for Halloween!

THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY by David Schlosser

THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY

THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY by Anais Nin

THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY

Keeping Up With Social Media

I don't know about you, but it seems to me no author can afford to stand still when it comes to social media. There is always something new to learn, something old (maybe only sixth months old) to throw out, and something you are determined to continue.

This morning I learned a little about Quick Promote and decided it was something I wanted to try. If I like it, it will be in next year's Marketing Your book on a Budget.

Through the last few months I have been removing some links in the 2016 version of Marketing Your Book on a Budget that are no longer working for me.

And I am more determined than ever to continue with Animoto, though it now costs me almost $100 a year to keep it going. I also find that my blog is very worthy of my time (more and more people are reading it) and that doing book signings at unique places, and telling folks about it through facebook and twitter, is still my top way to sell (so I will be once again attending  the November Simple Treasures Boutique).

Keeping up with social media means a daily ride with it. That means posting something, learning something new, getting involved with what other writers and book readers are saying; something that will keep you on the social media track.

Here's to moving forward on the fast track!

Kathryn

THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY from Theodore Roosevelt

I've decided to do a "Thoughtful Thursday" segment on my blog starting today. 

So that means on a typical Monday and Wednesday, you'll see author and character interviews. On Friday you'll see "Friday Flicks," and on Tuesday will be some sort of writing idea, promotion for an upcoming book, or merely my thoughts on writing.

Consider yourself in the arena called writing and see if this quote doesn't apply to you. I would love to hear what you think:

It's not the critic that counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or whether the doer of deeds could have done them better...The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust, and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and often comes up short again and again. Who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause. And who, if at best in the end, knows the triumph of higher treatment and high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly so that his soul shall never be with those cold and timid ones, who know neither victory nor defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt

Paying it Forward as a Writer

As a writer there are plenty of opportunities to pay it forward. Consider how you felt when you first started writing, before your first article sold or your first book. How did you feel about yourself as a writer? Did you feel as if you were merely 'faking everyone out'?

I know I did.

I constantly thought, "What if they figure out that I'm really not a writer? That I have no idea what
I'm doing?"



Amazingly, I still have some of those thoughts even now - but this is usually when I get a poor review or my mind is so clogged with daily routine that nothing comes to my mind to write.

Paying it forward as a writer is important. Someone was there for you and now you can be there for someone else.

Some of my greatest happiness comes when I serve other writers - especially beginning writers. That's why I:

Do free speaking engagements
Do book signings
Teach writing through my mentoring classes
Offer occasional workshops for the writer
Answer telephone calls and speak to writers who have questions
Do an occasional book review for another writer
Write guest blogs for other site without compensation
Run a contest
and more.

Suffice it to say that because I know how many writers think and feel about writing including their insecurities and fears, I know what I can do to assist, and ease the journey a bit.

What can you do?

Book Club Presentations that Rock

As an author, it's easy to take the casual approach to book club meetings, after all, you're probably sitting around in a circle in the living room or kitchen. You may or may not be standing, and those sitting around you know one another and because of that it might be hard to gain the attention you need.

You've probably heard of book club presentations; what you may not have heard of is book club presentations that others will remember.



This is what I've discovered works for me at book club presentations:

1. Smile. There is nothing worse than a too serious writer.
2. Introduce yourself briefly. I bring along my published books and speak about my writing as I pass each book around the circle to give readers a closer view of what I've done.
3. Begin with a question. It can be related to the book that has been read by the group or a question that has to do with reading your particular genre.
4. Keep the presentation light and open to questions. Use a hand-out, so the group can follow along. Since I expect that all those attending have already read my book, I delve into questions that relate to the book's characters, setting, and plot and take the readers beyond the actual story to deeper values such as symbolism.
5. Sometime during your presentation, give away a free gift. This might be a postcard with the information about your book on it, it may be a book mark, it might even be a small gift that you've purchased that goes along with the theme of your book. (For Conquering Your Goliaths: A Parable of the Five Stones, I give away a cellophane bag of 5 labelled stones).
6. Be ready for some sales! Most of those attending will have already purchased your book beforehand, but there will always be readers in attendance who will be excited to read your new book now that they've heard a little about it.

In the end, book club presentations are a great way to now only share what you have accomplished, but allow for some great discussion and the development of new friendships!

CHARACTER INTERVIEW: Bonny Bryant

Tell me a little about yourself (where you live, who you are, what you look like, what you hope to achieve, etc.)

My name is Bonny Bryant, and I live in the mountains outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico. I am an only child, and my parents were only children, also. I have long, curly, red hair and green eyes, which I inherited from my Scottish grandmother. I’m only 5’2”, with fair skin, no freckles, and am often thought to be much more delicate than I really am.

Learn more here

       

I have my doctorate in American History and American Literature, and was teaching at the University of New Mexico before I was 30 years old. My father and I co-wrote a course combining American history with the literature about and from different important time periods in our country’s history. 

I love teaching, but my real goal in life is to be a wife and mother.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

           

I have horses, and my favorite pastime is riding. I also enjoy hiking, camping, and fly fishing, anything to do with the outdoors. I like to ski and take my dad’s 1967 Land Cruiser out on 4-wheel drive trails.

           

I am an avid reader of both American and English literature, and prefer the classics that everyone hated in school. I also sing, play the piano, and write poetry.

What is your favorite color and why?

            

My favorite color is green, probably because I have always been told it brings out the color of my eyes. I also love pink, though it is not a color most redheads wear well.

What is your favorite food? Why is it your favorite?

          

New Mexican food. You notice I did not just say Mexican food. New Mexico is known for our traditional foods, and nothing in any other state compares. I talk about New Mexican food a lot in Land of My Dreams. Bonny, the main character, is from the same area of New Mexico where I live. Green chile, red chile, fixed almost any way, with breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

           

I love my home state. I think it is a great place to live. We have such a strong tradition of native food from the large Native American and Hispanic population, that I was raised on it. Chile means home, special times, and comfort.

What would you say is your biggest quirk?

            

I’m a pretty normal, non-quirky person, I think. If I have one quirk, it is probably my love of classic literature over modern fiction. Give me a good book by Charles Dickens or the Bronte sisters any day.

What is it about your antagonist that irks you the most, and why?

Adam Lawson is so full of himself. He has always treated me like a possession, rather than a person, but I can’t seem to get over him. He was my first love and I always wanted to marry my first love. Even after he almost destroyed my world, I still dream of him.

           

He’s very competitive and career oriented, with strong political ambitions. I know life with him would never be simple, but he has a place in my heart that seems reserved for him, no matter what. He makes me so angry, but he gets this look in his deep brown eyes, and it makes me melt.

What or who means the most to you in your life? What, if anything, would you do to keep him/her/it in your life?

            

Kieran MacDonell is my dream guy. It makes no difference that he is 10 years older than me. I cannot describe the feeling it gives me when he walks into the room. Just thinking about him gives me the shivers. It’s really tough to be hung up on two such handsome men.

           

I will sacrifice my home, friends, and my whole life as I know it, to be with Kieran. He is my wild, romantic dream. The adventure of being loved by him is priceless.

What one thing would you like readers to know about you that may not be spelled out in the book in which you inhabit?

            

I come across as being really sure of myself and brave, but I am just a scared little girl on the inside. I’m basically insecure, but I act as if I’m in control because I’m afraid that if people see how weak I really am they won’t want to be with me. The brave sounding things I do are really running away from things that hurt me.     

If you could tell your writer (creator) anything about yourself that might turn the direction of the plot, what would it be?

            

I want to be a wife and mother. I only stayed in school and went for two doctorates because Adam wasn't ready to get married until he had his law career on the upswing. I know he thinks of marriage as something that can help his political ambitions, but if you would just make his character straight-forward and honest, I would go for him in a minute. I want to trust him and feel as if I really matter to him.

            

Kieran is really exciting and quite the hunk, but he isn't perfect either.

Why do you let them both treat me so badly?

Ask me any question. I've always wanted to know what a character thinks about writers like myself. I'll answer the question at the end of this interview.

Why do writers think the conclusion of a book should be the logical outcome? Why can’t you do the unexpected more often?

Good question, Bonny. I think the reason why the logical outcome to any book is preferable to the unexpected, is just that, the ending is logical. The reader can say to him/herself. Well, that feels right. Isn't that the way it's supposed to be? I'm so glad. That doesn't mean there can't be some excellent twists and turns in your story, but that, by the end, everything should turn out "right."

Thank you, Bonny!

Links:

Website: www.normagail.com

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Norma-Gail-Author/725237467493500

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/b/102717101441594679714/+Normagail/about/p/pub

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459.Norma_Gail

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

Interviews For Emerging Authors

At the League of Utah Writer's conference this past week, I meet a few writers, who, when I asked if they'd like to be interviewed on my site responded that they weren't published yet.

Photo by: ed_needs_a_bicycle, courtesy of Flickr

And it got me to thinking.

What makes a writer keep writing when he/she hasn't yet published?
What does their writing day look like, and what sorts of things do they do to study the craft?
Did they have a goal for when they'd like to put out their first query or first manuscript?
Had they decided if they wanted to self-publish or go the traditional route?

And it made me think of something else.

Interviews for the emerging author.

And so, here's what I'm going to do. Every Wednesday, I'd like to post an emerging author interview. The questions will be similar to the ones above. I will have the writer include a photo of themselves and their favorite book (in place of their not yet published book).

One of the best ways to learn about writing is to read books (especially in the genre we will be publishing in one day) and I think it will be fun to see what books you emerging authors have chosen.

So, here goes!

Write me at kathy@ariverofstones.com. Let me know what you write, and we'll go from there.

Kathryn

Looking for Interviews

I have started some new things this year on this blog. I tried a Friday video, which, I found after a couple of posts, really wasn't working.

I started some reviews; which I have to say I enjoy, though I have recently discovered that saying yes to too many people at once just adds to the stress. I have backed up a bit. You should see my review of Memory Lake, soon.

Another thing I've tried is an author interview segment. Trust me, with all that I have going, it hasn't always been easy to keep this one going.

Photo by: koalazymonkey, courtesy of Flickr

And so I'm asking for help.

If you're a published author and want to be interviewed on my site, please drop me a note at: kathy@ariverofstones.com. Keep in mind that I interview family oriented writers. I don't want to post anything on my site that doesn't reflect family values.

That said, please feel free to contact me.

Interviews are one of the ways an author gets the word out about what they write, and I love getting to know new people!

Thanks!

Kathryn

The Oreo Effect: Is There a Way to Speed up the Publishing Process?

When I tell fellow writers that it took me 8 long years of daily writing before I published for the first time, many can't believe it. Others, on their own long journey to that first publishing gig, just smile.

They understand.

A writer must be aware of and know how to pen various writing nuances. For example, a writer must know how to write believable characters. Out of their mouths must come natural sounding dialogue in a setting that appears real, even if it's on some faraway planet. A writer must know about plot, what makes fine plot, and what doesn't, where to get ideas and how to keep writing even when they don't feel like it.

Is there a way to speed things up?

One of the best ways to know how you're doing today is to have a fellow writer, an avid reader (not in your family) or a writing mentor that can show you what you're doing right and what you need to work on. The more feedback you receive, especially early on, the more likely you'll be to speed up the process to publication because you will quickly weed out what simply doesn't work.

Another good way to speed up the publishing process is to write every day. Interspersed with writing comes reading writing books and attending conferences to learn new skills, but even then, writing every day for at least an hour a day will do wonders that listening to a great speaker will never do.

Photo by: mihoda, courtesy of Flickr

Taking criticism is only good if it's valid criticism; criticism that helps you instead of hurting you. If you find that criticism only tends to keep you from writing, take on another reader; someone who can show you what they like about your work. Someone who can also talk to you about the problem areas without making you want to storm out of the room.

I call this the Oreo Effect.

An Oreo has two black chocolate cookie sides that keep safe the inside white stuff. Without the cookie sides, the white fluff is open to the world. The white stuff is the struggles you have with writing. The black chocolate is the positive stuff that keeps you grounded. If someone who reads your work can start out with a positive, something that you do naturally such as great dialogue or perfect setting, then it's far easier to take in the white problem such as poor sentence construction or a flawed plot. Ending the conversation with something else positive, helps the writer to go on.

Now, I realize you're probably the writer and not the reader reading this post, so you might want to pass the Oreo Effect on to someone you trust.

This trusted someone can share with you what's working, what isn't, and end the conversation with a positive so that you can move forward.

The first story I wrote was terrible, but I didn't know that. I gave copies of the story to my relatives who gratefully placed it on their bookshelves. I only learned later that they thought my work was pretty bad. But no one told me. As I continued, I got some feedback from others. I joined a writer's group and this really helped me to hone my craft. I listened, sometimes, to the feedback, sometimes not. But the greatest thing I ever did for myself was to continue writing, even when the criticism was great and I thought I'd never be a good writer.

I didn't often get the Oreo Effect, but when I did, it make all the difference.

Sure, it took me 8 years. But the publishing process could have taken me much longer if I hadn't learned that writing every day, learning all I could about writing, and taking heed to much of the criticism I received, would get me a sale less than 10 years after I'd first begun.

Feeling...Boxed In?

Today my husband put an ad on KSL. FREE boxes! I think it did the trick. In just a few minutes one person had called. I saw the young man drive up in his white truck just as someone else called. I had to tell him 'no.'

In less than half an hour the moving boxes are gone.

Photo by: Photocapy, courtesy of Flickr

Can you do the same thing with your writing when you're feeling stuck?

I've previously spoken about options when it comes to writer's block, but sometimes we feel boxed in and it takes more than a writing exercise or a changing of projects to get us going again.

Years ago I was really struggling in my life. I'd kept a journal for a few years only to stop writing for about 10. Life was hard, and I would have healed faster, I believe, if I'd written stuff down, even if it was the painful stuff. As it is, there is much forgotten during that period of my life.

When times are especially hard it's often hard to write. At least for me. Besides, I don't want to write day in and day out about the terrible stuff, especially when I prefer writing about LIGHT.

But I have to tell you that writing about the terrible stuff may just have gotten me out of my box that much sooner. I believe in therapy, especially free therapy, and I believe that God helps those who help themselves. And in this case, those who write even when it's the most painful.

If you're feeling pain today, or your pain has lasted a year or two and it just doesn't seem to want to let up, get something to write on and your favorite pen. Even if you have to write in your box, write.

And let me know if writing in your box helps.

Interviewing to Promote Your Book

I speak a little about interviewing in my new book, Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2013. What is most clear to me is that obtaining a blog interview is much easier to get than a live interview, such as an interview through radio or television.

What is most important about the interview, however, is that you do as many as possible. For me, personally, I work on blog interviews first. These are not only the easiest interviews to set up, they are rewarding, too.

Consider a blog that has lots of visitors, and these visitors are looking for a new book to read. Consider the blog owner, a new friend, who may take a guest post after the interview, or who may decide to promote your book even further after the interview. Consider the links you can add and on and on.



Use your computer or your telephone to do blog radio interviews
Photo by: xmacex, courtesy of Flickr

Radio interviews come second; but I'm not talking about your local radio station, I'm speaking of blog radio. Blog radio is a terrific source for promotions. Most blog owners are just like you. They're either an author themselves or are trying to grow a new business. Either way or both, interviews with places such as blogtalkradio.com, offer authors a splendid opportunity to talk about their work in either a half an hour, an hour show, or even a fifteen minute spot.

Interviews can take place on the local radio station, during a short afternoon television spot or even as written up within your local newspaper, but I'll be the first to tell you that they're much harder to get. That doesn't mean you shouldn't shoot for them, but that you first consider what is realistic and workable as you move into these trickier venues.

In the long run, once you've interviewed on a blog or have done a few blog radio interviews, you may decide to do some interviews on your own blog, or try out blog radio for yourself, further expanding the opportunities to market your work.