New Year's Eve: Writing Prompts

It's been awhile since I've posted a few of my favorite writing prompts. And because it's New Year's Eve tonight, I wanted to share a few with you that I find especially helpful for the new year.

1. Write down your goals for the year, and then, using one of the goals as a writing prompt, write a short story or first book chapter based on the idea as if you've already accomplished it.

2. What have you done in the past year that has been great when it's comes to writing? Have you taken a new writing class, attended a conference, written and published your first book? Make a list and then choose your favorite experience. Write a poem.

3. Having a big party tonight at your place? Going out? Either way, pay special attention to the people you're around, you may just come up with the mustard seed of a new character. I like to keep a small notebook in my purse for just such occasions. I rarely remember what I thought at the moment if I don't write the experience down.

4. Spending time with your kids? Write a book together. When I speak at elementary schools in a class setting, I often speak about characters, setting, plot, etc. to the children and then help them develop their own book (stapled together).

5. Sitting in front of the television or reading a good book? Sometimes, just being by yourself is the best answer to an otherwise raucous night. Have some fun by beginning your new book or short story for the new year. One of my favorite ideas is turning to a random page in any book and starting with that sentence in my new work.

Whatever you do this New Year's Eve, I want to wish you a happy one!

I'm hoping for great things in 2014!

BOOK RELEASE: JANUARY 15

Marketing Your Book on a Budget

This is my last day of heavy book promotion for my new book, Scrambled, and I thank everyone for sticking with me. As a thank you I am offering my short Kindle book, "Marketing Your Book on a Budget," for .99 cents.

Yes, this is the standard price, and a really great one I might add. In it you'll find resources for getting book reviews, gaining interviews, getting free advertising and more. It's a short read with links to many of the places I've gone for book promotion and the many great people who have a desire to help budding as well as established authors for FREE.

Remember, much of what you do as an author to promote your work does not have to cost you a penny. Yes, it will cost you some time and some growing experience, but everything in Marketing Your Book on a Budget is either free or very low cost.

Because I am an author too, I realize that authors (as a general rule) need all the help they can get with the funds needed to promote their work, and I can't see paying for something that is generously given out by someone else because he/she cares about writers and their success.

Keep in mind that once you purchase this handy pamplet, you'll want to be on the list for future FREE YEARLY updates. Just follow the instructions at the end of the book.

I thank everyone who has and who continues to be generous with me!

A BIG THANK YOU TO YOU ALL!

Love,

Kathryn

 

http://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Your-Book-Budget-ebook/dp/B0094XV6MA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347116597&sr=8-1&keywords=marketing+your+book+on+a+budget

Romance Writers Unite!

Are you a romance writer? Have you always wanted to be a part of a romance writer's group, but weren't sure where to find one?

Photo by: karitsu, courtesy of Flickr

The good news is that there are many groups around your state; it just takes a little searching to find the one that works for you.

Like all writers, romance writers are a particular breed and it's a good idea to surround yourself with other writers of your breed to learn, to share and to grow as a writer. Here's how to find a good romance writer's group:

• Use social media to spread the word that you're interested in joining a romance writer's group. 
• Ask around your community. Check at your local library or art center for groups that meet within the building.
• Do some online research. I live in Utah, so I'd Google search, "Utah writer's groups" to find groups in my area. 
• Get involved in social media business groups. Take your writing seriously and others will offer suggestions on whom to contact and where.
• Start your own romance writers group! Put out the word to your friends and make sure you spread the word on your favorite social media sites.

Before you decide on a romance writers group, attend one or two of their meetings. Some groups specialize in getting published writers as speakers, while others focus on critiquing, and others do a combination of both. Are you a new writer? Then you'll want to be a part of a group with a mix of writing level experience. Are you a more established writer? You may decide on a critique group.

Whatever you decide, joining a romance writer's group (or any other writer's group for that matter) will help you to learn, stay focused, and get the help you need when it's time for you to publish!

To get you going: I will be speaking at the the South Jordan Library (10673 S. Redwood Road) on Saturday to the Utah Romance Writers of America group. That's the 16th. If you need help conquering your writing Goliaths or need to discover some FREE ways to market your book(s), stop on by! The workshop begins at 11:00.