Beth Greenslade's Blog, page 72
November 13, 2018
How To Write A Book In Six Months
We are often told that writing a book can be a long, drawn-out process that takes up loads of time and energy and requires serious dedication from the writer.
This is true, well almost true.
The real truth is that writing a book takes as long as it takes, but if you want to give yourself a challenge, there is no reason why you couldn’t get the first draft of your novel written in as little as six months!
Here’s how:
Commit
Once you’ve decided this is what you want to do, you have got to give it everything. Be wholly committed to the writing process and don’t let anything get in your way. The most important thing is having determination and commitment above anything else so get yourself fired up before you begin, and don’t give up, no matter what.
Tell others
Once you’ve decided what you want to do, don’t be afraid to share your secret. Tell your colleagues, your friends, and loved ones, tell anyone who will listen. The more people you tell, the harder it will be to go back, make excuses or to lose momentum!
Make a plan
Before you start writing get all your research out of the way and have chapter outlines to help you stay focused. Making a robust plan and plotting your novel in this way will keep you going and help to make the process much more fluid when you do start to write.
Be mathematical
While many writers may argue that a book is as long as a piece of string, if you are trying to write one in a short space of time it’s good to have some idea of how long you want it to be. Say you are aiming to write a novel that’s 90,000 words. From here you can work out how many words you need to write a day in six months to get there.
Create a schedule
If you want to get a book written in six months, you need to identify precisely when you can write. Block out any available time you have and make this your writing time. Shift things around, even give up some of your other commitments if possible to ensure you have as much time as possible to write.
Just do it
You are the only one who can make this happen - you know what you have to do to get there so just do it!
So there you have it, are you up to the challenge of writing a book in six months? If you have the commitment, dedication, and energy for it then use the tips above to help you, and good luck!
Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'
The post How To Write A Book In Six Months appeared first on Writer's Life.org.
November 12, 2018
The Top 10 Facebook Pages For Writers
It’s easy to waste hours on social media, so why not make some of those productive and follow these great Facebook pages for writers? Here are 10 of the best.
Our Facebook page keeps you updated with all our latest workshops, courses and offers, as well as links to our videos and blog and posts to keep you motivated too! Check it out!
Poets & Writers is a fantastic writing magazine packed full of writing competitions and helpful articles. Their Facebook page is great for inspiration and keeps you updated with all their news.
The Facebook page for Banned Books Week makes for a fascinating read and keeps you updated on banned books and censorship news all over the world.
TED talks are a brilliant source of inspiration for writers, and their Facebook page will keep you updated on all their latest videos - ideal if you are looking for some motivation, new ideas or just a fascinating story to uplift you and get you thinking.
If you are looking for quick and easy writing prompts as well as the meaning of more unusual and fun words and inspirational quotes, the Writers Write page will be right up your street.
The Facebook page for Letters of Note is a fantastic resource which provides food for thought in the form of letters from people of note, both writers and non-writers. It’s a great way to start thinking about the way people communicate with each other through writing and how to tell stories this way.
A must follow for any budding poet, the Facebook page for the American Academy of Poets not only has links to wonderful poetry but also provides insightful discussion into how poetry fits into our lives as well as advice on poetry and writing and inspiring quotes.
Great writers are interested in people, and the stories behind their lives. The Facebook page for Humans of New York is fantastic if you are looking for inspiration for your next protagonist.
If you care about writers rights (and you should), the PEN Center’s Facebook page is an important one. The PEN center spreads awareness and hosts interviews, reports on news and gives insight into what it’s like to try and tell your story where it can be dangerous to speak out.
Electric Literature is a literary magazine that publishes fiction, and its Facebook page provides links to its previously published stories, hooking readers up with great fiction, as well as news and interesting essays.
These 10 Facebook pages are well worth following, so why not take a look at them today?
Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'
The post The Top 10 Facebook Pages For Writers appeared first on Writer's Life.org.
November 7, 2018
The Top 10 YouTube Channels for Writers
If you are looking for funny, informative, entertaining videos on how to improve your writing, check out these great channels.
If you are looking for information on how to write, and how to get published, as well as loads of tips, motivational videos, and advice from writer’s who have been in the game for many years, then check out the Writer’s Life YouTube channel, bringing you fresh new videos each week!
Jenna Moreci’s is a sci-fi writer who creates hugely funny videos that are great if you are looking for information from a seasoned author presented in an entertaining and upbeat way. She covers loads of relevant topics such as handling self-doubt and rejection as well as more practical advice. Not suitable for those with sensitive ears though as she doesn’t hold back!
3. The Creative Writing Lecture Series by Brandon Sanderson
Sanderson's lectures are a brilliant way for writers who want to feel as though they are in a classroom and being taught directly by the man himself. It’s a very cool lecture series that covers topics such as creating impactful dialogue and crafting the perfect plot. Particularly useful for fantasy/ sci-fi writers.
Another sci-fi writer, Vivien Reis, produces relaxed, informative, entertaining videos, mostly aimed at those just starting in the writing game, helping them to avoid common mistakes and encouraging them to stick at it.
Bookishpixie is presented by Ava Jae who describes herself as a “nerdy, awkward, book-loving writer.”
If you are looking for easy to understand advice on a variety of subjects from sending out queries to how to edit your work this is a great channel to watch.
Stephen’s videos are slightly offbeat, usually amusing and very down to earth. Her How to Build a Story series really breaks down the writing process into manageable, bite-size pieces, making it (almost) seem easy!
Chris Fox is the brains behind hugely successful books such as 5,000 Words Per Hour and Write to Market: Deliver a Book That Sells. In short, his advice is well worth listening to.
His videos focus on how writers can become more businesslike in their approach and how to get work seen by those that matter most.
The New York Times bestselling YA author gives visitors to her channel a unique insight into what it’s like to write a successful book. She’s funny, confident and has excellent information on topics such as how royalties are paid, your rights as an author and how to write a sequel.
Chance is a high school teacher turned successful author who wrote the very popular novel, Keeper. She is great if you need to be reminded about the basics of grammar as well as giving some useful insights into the publishing and marketing processes.
With over 1500 videos to chose from WordNerds is a fantastic source of information for writers at any level. From finding your inspiration to getting some fantastic book recommendations this channel has a little bit of everything.
These 10 YouTube channels are ideal for writers if you are looking for useful information, entertaining advice and a friendly face - so check them out!
Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'
The post The Top 10 YouTube Channels for Writers appeared first on Writer's Life.org.
November 5, 2018
The Top 10 Podcasts for Writers
Listening to a podcast can be an easy and helpful way to receive great information, tips and advice on how to improve your writing, get ideas and stay motivated.
Here are 10 of the best podcasts for writers.
Our easy to listen to podcasts is full of fantastic information and top tips to help writers of all abilities. Anything from how to find out more details about the publishing process, or tips on how to stay focused - this is where you can find answers to the most frequently asked questions writers have.
If you are looking to self-publish your novel, this podcast is a must-listen. It talks you through the process and answers commonly asked questions and explains the answers thoroughly. So before you self-publish your next manuscript, soak up all the helpful information in this podcast to ensure you give yourself the best chance of success.
Another great podcast for self-publishers, here you can ask any question and receive a detailed answer in a helpful and no nonsense way.
Gabriela Pereira’s hosts this entertaining podcast which interviews people who have lots of experience in the writing and publishing game and can give real insight and first-hand experience into what it’s like to write and publish a novel.
5. Helping Writers Become Authors
This podcast is the audio version of their fantastic blog and well worth a listen. They keep things short and sweet with 10-20 minute segments covering a wealth of relevant writing topics, particularly those with questions about how to construct a novel.
The Mythcreant podcast is a brilliant listen, which focuses on plot creation and storytelling in the sci-fi and fantasy genre. These smart and helpful pieces will often make you chuckle too.
7. ProBlogger Podcast: Blog Tips to Help You Make Money Blogging
If you host a writing blog but feel you aren’t making the most of it, this podcast can help you figure out how to get more readers and even turn your blog into a lucrative money-making machine.
Joanna Penn not only writes a brilliant blog but also turns her articles into interesting and insightful podcasts that specialize particularly in self-publishing.
If you are looking for helpful information on how to craft and structure your novel, Writing Excuses is a great podcast to get you started and keep you on the right track. It also has lots of great writing exercises as well as features a book of the week too.
Here you can discover 10-20 minutes episodes with tips on how to craft your novel as well as more general advice on how to work in a way which suits you.
So there you have it, if you are looking to get useful information on everything from how to craft your novel, how to get it published and what happens next, these podcasts are well worth listening to.
Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'
The post The Top 10 Podcasts for Writers appeared first on Writer's Life.org.
Top 10 Blogs for Writers
When it comes to writing there is so much to learn. Whether just starting or an old pro, we can all use some advice from time to time, and what better way to get it than through informative and entertaining writing blogs?
Here are 10 of the best.
Not to toot our own horn but as blogs for writer’s go, we don’t think we are too bad! On our website, you can find so much information, broken down into short, no-nonsense blog posts that cover a vast variety of topics to help writers. Learn how to avoid common mistakes, how to pitch ideas to agents, how to come up with fresh content, how to find great paid writing gigs and so much more!
The Write Life is a must-read for any writer looking to learn more about the craft. Their mission is to keep writing fun, while also teaching valuable lessons to help writers at any level continue their journey and get to where they want to be.
Writer’s Digest is a fantastic source for writers and has a massive library of articles broken down by writing genre, writing goal or writing level so you can find the information you want quickly and easily.
This is an excellent writing blog by Geoff Goins - who is pretty much an expert on everything writing-related. His posts are ideal for those looking for fantastic writing resources covering a range of topics.
The Writer’s & Artists Yearbook is considered the ‘bible' of writing by many, and their blog is also well worth a look too. They have useful articles on many topics such as preparing your manuscript for submission and what to do after your work has been published.
The Positive Writer is precisely that - a man on a mission to keep writers feeling confident and upbeat about their work. This blog is full of informative yet motivating pieces to ensure writers move in the right direction.
The Creative Penn is written by aptly named Joanna Penn, and she has lots of wise things to say on a number of topics covering the big questions such as how to write a novel, and how to make a living from your writing.
The blog at Live, Write Thrive combines their own thoughts with great guest posts from writers who share their wisdom and experience with their peers.
The Renegade Writer is managed by two journalists who are experienced veterans when it comes to the writing game. They’ve published a couple of great books, and keep writers up to date on all things writing-related in their easy to read blog.
10 Helping Writers Become Authors
Award-winning author K.M. Weiland is the brains behind this insightful blog that gives practical advice to writers who want to learn, grow and ultimately find success in what they do.
So next time you are looking for some great tips, useful links, and solid writing advice, check out these blogs for all the latest on how to improve your writing, boost your creativity and increase your chances of getting published.
Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'
The post Top 10 Blogs for Writers appeared first on Writer's Life.org.
October 31, 2018
Questions To Ask Yourself To See If Self-Publishing Is Right For You
In 2007 Amazon launched it’s self- publishing platform, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), and changed the world of publishing dramatically.
Now writers were able to bypass the lengthy process of sending their manuscripts to publisher after publisher and save themselves the agony and disappointment of rejection after rejection. They could simply upload their document, publish it, and voila! It was ready for the world to see.
Since then other self-publishing platforms such as Smashwords and Draft2Digital have also launched their versions meaning that writers can see their words in print, as digital downloads, audiobooks and so on.
However, just because it is easy doesn’t make it the best option.
Many writers now bypass the whole traditional publishing process and opt straight for self-publishing, for the reasons described above and many more. But doing so without careful thought and consideration may result in regret later down the line. So before you commit, it’s good to ask yourself the following.
When are you planning to release your book?
If you want to try and get your book traditionally published you are going to have to be patient. Regardless of how long it takes to write and edit a book, you can expect to wait on average around six months for a publisher to get back to you with an answer, and that answer might very well be ‘thanks but no thanks.’ Even if you do get a positive response, it will typically take another year before you see it on the bookshelves.
Alternatively, if you want to self-publish you can do this pretty much immediately. While this is much more appealing to those who have finished their book and want to see it ‘out there’ as quickly as possible, it also may be more tempting to publish before your book is ready.
Are you hoping to sell lots of copies?
If you want millions of people to buy your book and to make good money from it, the toss-up between traditional and self-publishing is extremely tricky. On self-publishing platforms, the competition is extraordinarily fierce. Trying to get your book into a prominent position is almost impossible unless you already have a strong fanbase and high-profile platform from which to promote it.
However many publishers also demand this of you these days. Though they have huge marketing departments and teams of people who can conjure clever ways to promote your book, if you can prove you have an audience already, they are going to give your manuscript more serious consideration. Taking on a new book from an unknown author is a risk, however good it is - so without being sure they can sell a significant number of copies, they’ll be tough to convince.
However, traditional publishing is much more likely to enable authors to sell more copies of their books, both physically and digitally and so if selling copies is our number one goal, securing a contract with a publisher is your best route to success.
Do you want to be in control of the book?
Authors who can't bear the idea of anyone else meddling with their book should always self-publish. A traditional publisher will want to change things, and details such as the book cover will be their decision. While being in charge of every aspect of your book is a tremendous amount of work, you still have ultimate creative control and can present it to the world exactly as you intended. A traditional publisher may ask you to change parts of the story that you love, and once you have signed on the dotted line will take the reins from you, and you have to be OK with that.
These three questions can help you decide what your ultimate goal is when it comes to publishing your book. Answer them as honestly and in as much detail as possible and you’ll have a clear idea of whether self or traditional publishing is the right route for you.
Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'
The post Questions To Ask Yourself To See If Self-Publishing Is Right For You appeared first on Writer's Life.org.
October 30, 2018
How To Identify Your Target Audience
Every writer, no matter what kind of writing they are doing or what their subject matter might be, should know their target audience.
Without this knowledge, it is challenging to tailor your writing to anyone in particular, and with all the competition out there this makes it very easy for it to get lost in the ether.
So whether you are writing an article or a novel, how can you identify your target audience and ensure that your work is speaking to them?
Using the themes of your book, consider the groups of people it might interest. It may be evident if your book is about something more factual, niche or specialist. However many writers may need to take more time to consider this. It might be that your novel could appeal to many different groups depending on what it’s about, so really work at pinpointing the various aspects of your plot and characters and thinking who might relate to them.
Do your research
Are there any other books out there that have similarities to yours? If so have a look at how they are marketed and who they are packaged for and use that as inspiration for your own marketing plans. It can be beneficial to see what other pieces of writing in your niche are doing to find new fans and the strategies they use to appeal to their target audience directly.
Figure out your USP
Thought USPs were just for businesses? Well, you thought wrong! Pinpointing what makes your book unique can help you become more clear on who it might appeal to. Your hook is the reason someone might buy your book, and you need a sentence at most to describe what that is. The more clarity you have around this, the easier it will be to decipher what kind of person might be interested in the story you are telling.
Create an ideal reader
Thinking about who you wrote the book for is very important. Create a new character in your mind - The Ideal Reader. Give them a name, give them a personality, give them likes and dislikes and habits and quirks. The more you know about your ideal reader, the better you’ll be at communicating with them and listening to what they want as well.
Once you have done all of the above you need to start working out ways to communicate with your target audience and let them know you, and your writing, exist. Find out where they hang out, either physically or virtually and make your presence known there. Look at their buying habits and use that information to catch them when they are most likely to part with their cash, use your knowledge of them to create brilliant pieces of marketing that they just won’t be able to resist.
Discovering your target audience can help you write with a clear purpose in mind and will make it so much easier to find ways to get your writing noticed by the people who it will appeal to the most!
Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'
The post How To Identify Your Target Audience appeared first on Writer's Life.org.
October 29, 2018
How To Prepare Yourself For Writing A Novel
We all know that setting out to write a novel is a massive challenge, regardless of the type of book you are trying to write. So many would-be authors never manage to realize their dream of finishing a novel because they underestimate just how much time and energy it takes to complete one.
However, if you take the time to prepare and plan for writing your novel, you have a much better chance of getting to the finish line. A little bit of organization and a clear strategy on how to approach the novel writing process can make all the difference.
So how can you prepare yourself for writing a novel?
Focus on the materials you need and where you’ll write
Whether you prefer writing using pen and paper or you work straight on a computer, you need to make sure you have the right materials to get writing. Working out where you can write is also helpful. You need a space that keeps you focused and motivated, that minimizes distractions and where you won’t get interrupted. The ideal writing space is very different for individual writers. Some like to work in complete silence in a de-cluttered room. Others prefer being surrounded by notebooks stuffed with thoughts and ideas and want to write in the hustle and bustle where sounds, smells and sights all help to inspire them.
Create a writing routine
Every writer knows that it is essential to have a good writing routine. Doing so will mean that writing becomes part of your everyday life and is as natural as brushing your teeth or eating lunch. A writing routine makes writing become a habit so try to write at the same sort of time every day and set aside a chunk of dedicated writing time so you can feel as though you are making progress. Make your work schedule easy to stick to but ambitious at the same time.
Set goals and deadlines
To progress you need to decide when you want to finish your novel. Be realistic but think about the end game. Once you’ve decided on this, you can work backward and create practical, time-bound goals to help you get there. Goal setting for writers is so important and keeps them motivated and on track to succeed.
Be clear on the purpose of your book
Before you start writing your story, it is essential to understand your reasons for doing so. Find some time to write down the reasons you are doing this, make sure you are as clear and precise as possible. Having clearly defined reasons to look back to will help you stay determined to get to the end.
Do your research and create an outline
Preparing for writing a novel is all about proper research. Starting to do any research before you write gives you lots of great material and also makes sure that the story you write is factually correct. Writing an outline helps you realize the vision for your book, and also to flesh out the details of what is going to happen and when. A good framework will leave you feeling confident and prepared that your story has legs and is compelling and engaging enough to be told.
By following the steps above you will feel as prepared as you can be for the vast undertaking that is creating a novel, all you’ve got to do now is, well, write it!
Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'
The post How To Prepare Yourself For Writing A Novel appeared first on Writer's Life.org.
October 25, 2018
How To Turn Your Ideas Into Stories
There is nothing more gratifying to a writer than when a brilliant idea for a new story suddenly gallops up and bursts into our imaginations. That first spark of inspiration where you think ‘I’m really onto something here,’ and your heart starts racing and your fingers start itching to put pen to paper to make sure you don’t lose it, is somewhat magical indeed.
It is probably one of the most exciting parts of the writing process overall.
That’s not to say it’s all downhill from here, but it is essential to recognize how to translate these brilliant ideas into stories that will work, and perhaps even more crucial, to identify when that brilliant idea you had just isn’t going to work and have the ability to let it go.
So how do you kickstart the writing process and turn ideas into stories?
Here are some useful tips.
Brainstorm (freely)
In the initial stages, it is crucial to have an ‘anything goes’ attitude. Don’t be too hard on yourself from the outset or you might never feel able to flesh out your ideas well enough to make a start.
Brainstorming is a fantastic way to start exploring your idea, to delve in a little deeper and begin to take shape as a story. The more you can write about it, and the more aspects you can get down, the more options you have. Remember, it’s important not to hold back, you might go off on a few weird and wonderful tangents, but they could lead to something brilliant.
Research
Proper research is essential for any novel, no matter what you are writing about. So whatever kind of idea you have there will always be something you can do to investigate it further. Research can be incredibly useful because not only are you learning more about the topics you intend to bring into your book (and will, therefore, be better at writing about them) you also might unearth further nuggets of inspiration to motivate you even more.
Clarify and pin down your theme and the central idea
Once you have finished brainstorming and doing some initial research, you should now be able to sit down and pinpoint what the ideas and themes that are going to hold your novel together are. The more precisely you can define this the more sturdy your idea will be. Without this, it’s easy to lose focus and with it the point of your novel, so doing this in the early stages can be very helpful.
Start to work on your characters
A great story only works with fantastic characters that are exciting and engaging from the outset. Before you start to write your novel you need to understand the main characters goals and motivations, how they might develop throughout the story and what conflicts and obstacles are going to get in their way.
Start to incorporate subplots
Now try to build upon your central theme and plot and start to weave in smaller side stories or other ideas that complement them. Your idea needs to have legs - it needs to be workable as a novel, and that means it needs to take a certain amount of time to unravel. By starting to work in sub-plots and other ideas you’ll feel more confident that this idea is going to work when you come to start writing.
And now…begin!
While it is essential to make sure your idea has got what it takes to turn it into an exciting story, don’t delay the writing process too much. Stories often reveal themselves to the writer as they write them, and there is only so much research and planning you can do before you have to trust in your imagination, creativity, and talent and just get going.
Turning your ideas into fully fleshed out stories takes time and effort, but by giving yourself a moment in the beginning to do so, you can start writing feeling more confident and assured that this idea is really going somewhere.
Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'
The post How To Turn Your Ideas Into Stories appeared first on Writer's Life.org.
October 24, 2018
How To Set Your Freelance Writing Goals
Becoming a freelance writer can be a lucrative and rewarding way to earn a living. Many writers who want to free up more time to work on their novels decide to write non-fiction articles, blogs, web content and much more for clients as freelance writers to allow them to manage their time better and earn money doing what they love.
However, to become successful as a freelance writer, it's important to set some goals to keep improving not only the quality of your work but the kind of work you undertake as well. Goals give you motivation, direction and allow you to focus on what’s most important to you too.
So how do you set goals for yourself as a freelance writer?
Think about what you hope to achieve
Goal setting is all about giving yourself targets and to that you need to think about what you hope you achieve in your freelance writing career. Start by thinking about where you’d like to end up and be clear and specific. This can be both a financial target (how much you’d want to be earning), but also around job satisfaction. Would you like to specialize in a particular area for example? Start big, then try to work out the step by step actions you need to take to achieve get there.
Organize your goals in order of priority
Working out what you want to achieve the most, or what is most important to realize first is essential. Some goals might not be possible to achieve without first doing something else, so by prioritizing your goals you’ll start to see a timeline emerge showing you what you need to do in what order.
Make sure your goals are SMART
Any goal you set for yourself should adhere to the SMART theory. Smart means they should be, specific, measureable, attainable, relevant and time sensitive.
Thinking about your goals in this way will mean that you are very clear about what you need to do to move forward. You also create deadlines for yourself and make sure that every goal you set for yourself is related to your work and important to you, but not so impossible that you end up getting exasperated with the process and feeling demotivated.
Be prepared to be flexible, but hold yourself accountable
Sometimes goals have to be rethought, and goalposts need to be shifted, and that’s OK. Just make sure that you can be flexible enough to do this and not beat yourself up about it too much if this is what has to happen. At the same time, it is important to hold yourself accountable for your goals and track and review them progress as time goes on.
Becoming a highly paid and successful freelance writer won’t happen overnight. By setting goals for yourself, however, you can pave the way for yourself and see how to get there. So set goals, work hard to achieve them and don’t forget to celebrate your success as you do!
Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'
The post How To Set Your Freelance Writing Goals appeared first on Writer's Life.org.
