Beth Greenslade's Blog, page 83

April 3, 2018

10 Quick Ways To Make Your Writing Better

While it can be satisfying sitting down for hours and picking apart your novel, sometimes you don’t have time for that.


The great thing is that we don’t have to spend huge chunks of time on our writing to make it great. For those who can only grab a few minutes here and there, there are still ways to make your writing better and get that satisfaction that you’ve improved it each time you have a spare moment.


So what are some of the quick things you can do to make your writing better? Here are ten speedy fixes to try.


1 Look for spelling mistakes. Spelling mistakes make your writing seem unprofessional and will immediately make a publisher think you haven’t bothered to edit it well. Do a spell check of your work but also look for mistakes where the word might be correct but it’s not what you mean - there vs their and so on.


2 Do a grammar check. Even if you intend to use a professional editing service, having your grammar and punctuation as good as it can be before you send it off will help make the process smoother and leave you with a better piece of work as a result. If your grammar isn’t excellent, you can download a programme such as Grammarly which will help to weed out grammatical mistakes.


3 Look for words you overuse. We all have our favourite words or phrases, and it’s easy to overuse them in our writing. Try to skim through your work, weed out those that you end up repeating and find alternatives to keep your writing interesting.


4 Take out adjectives and adverbs. While descriptive writing can conjure up a clear picture in your reader's imagination, too many descriptive words can make writing seem overwritten. Look for these at the end of dialogue such as ‘he said lovingly’ or ‘she said angrily.’


5 Write in the present tense. The present tense gives much more immediacy to your writing and draws the readers in, so try to rewrite instances where you’ve used the past tense and change them to the present.


6 Give your character an unusual trait. Give your character an arresting feature, a lisp, a limp a strange scar or tattoo. This will immediately make them seem unique and intriguing.


7 Read your dialogue aloud. Reading dialogue aloud will help you decide whether it flows well and reflects how someone would talk.


8 Ask a probing question. When reading through your work try to ask an interesting question which could help you find a new direction for the chapter or storyline. Always think about your characters motivations for doing things and make sure their actions make sense.


9 Break up long sentences. Long sentences can be tiring to read so try to break up any that are a bit of a mouthful!


10 Delete anything that isn’t needed. Keep asking yourself ‘is this necessary? Does this drive the story forward?’ If the answer is no, hit delete.


These ten quick ways will improve your writing and can be done bit by bit, so even if you don’t have a lot of time to spare you can still get that manuscript in great shape before you know it!


Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'


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Published on April 03, 2018 02:25

March 30, 2018

Self-Publishing Trends For 2018

We are now a quarter of the way through the writing year, and many writers may have noticed some trends in self-publishing beginning to emerge.


Publishing has changed a lot over the last few years. Where previously it was only the select few that managed to see their work in print, now there are a considerable number of different avenues a writer can take to get their writing out into the world.


The emergence of self-publishing has completely changed the playing field for writers, but even self-publishing itself has changed dramatically since it first came about, with Amazon, Print on Demand services and social media platforms meaning authors have never had more opportunities to not only get their work published but get it seen.


So what can we expect to happen in publishing over the rest of 2018? Here are some trends to look out for:


A greater quantity of non-fiction.


Politics and current affairs are hot topics and at the forefront of many peoples minds. Society has also begun to change dramatically and, particularly in the younger generations, there appears to be an unprecedented thirst for knowledge, and fascination surrounding current affairs and culture which means biographies and works which tap into interesting real-life discourse are becoming ever more popular.


Convergence of digital and printed work.


With digital media playing an increasingly important role in our society, the savviest authors will create content which can span both digital and print. Books may have links to related video content or online discussion and fan forums, for example.


Hybrid publishing will only continue to grow.


This model see’s a merge between traditional and self-publishing where companies offer authors design and marketing services in exchange for a percentage of their book sales. In a market where it is tougher and tougher to get noticed this option can seem very appealing.


A Kindle takeover.


Kindle unlimited offers readers a vast number of books for free which makes it tougher and tougher for traditional e-book publishing to compete.


More books than readers.


With the number of books continuing to grow there are more books available on the marketplace than there are readers to read them. So competition has never been more fierce.


Design playing a more significant role.


With ever-increasing competition, the ability to make your work stand out from the crowd has never been more critical. Trends for cover design include bold typefaces, minimalism, neutral colours and photography. It’s never been more crucial to have a professionally designed cover too.


A focus on promotion.


More than ever before connection is key. Authors need to focus their energy on building a platform, on communicating with readers and collaborating with influencers. The author can no longer be faceless but must be prepared to be available and engaging and more diligent in their marketing efforts than ever before.


The self-publishing trends for 2018 are exciting, but demand authors to work even harder to fight their way to the top. With no evidence that there will be any let up anytime soon, are you up for the challenge?


Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'


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Published on March 30, 2018 02:15

March 29, 2018

Why You Should Start A Gratitude Journal

The little practice of starting a gratitude journal can have a profound impact on your life. A gratitude journal can help you reflect on your current situation and give you an opportunity to look at your past thinking.


The notebook or journal you buy to start your gratitude journal need not be expensive. I was able to purchase one for $5.99, and it lasted me the better part of two years. The goal is to buy a journal you feel comfortable writing in every day and one you can carry around with you.


To set up your gratitude journal, you will determine a time each day when you will do your journaling. I recommend you start your day with writing in your journal. This shouldn’t later than two hours after you woke up. If you put it off any later, you less apt to do your journaling for the day.


When you finally have your journal and a time each day for when you will write, you’re going to want to include 3 to 5 positive things happening in your life. Think back to the previous day, what was something that put a smile on your face? No matter how bad your day was, you can always think back to one positive event. What this does is allows you to become grateful for everything in your life, no matter where you are.


When writing what you’re thankful for, you’ll want to make sure that it’s specific. Instead of putting, “I’m thankful for my family.” You’ll want to put, “I’m thankful for having a loving wife and kids who adore me.” By making your event more specific, you can become more grateful.


It’s easy to get stuck in negative thinking, a gratitude journal is a way to get out. It’s a simple habit you can develop and you only need to put ten minutes into it each day. If all it took was ten minutes to become happier, why wouldn’t you do it?   


 Trevor Oldham


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Published on March 29, 2018 10:36

Why You Need To Accept Failure

It’s inevitable when you chase your dreams that there will be periods when you fail. It’s the fear of failure that stops people from ever starting. Yet, the quicker you accept failure, the quicker you will get to your desired success. You need to accept failure will be a part of your journey to success.


Most people look at failure as if it’s something bad when in reality it’s quite the contrary. When you fail you’re gaining experience for what works and what doesn’t. The experience you gain from failing will be invaluable on your journey towards success. You can read every book on success but until you actually go out there and do something, nothing will ever get done. The only thing you can’t learn from books is experience.


As you continue to move forward on your journey towards success, you’ll encounter more failures and when you overcome those failures, you will develop resistance. The resistance you develop will strengthen you because eventually there won’t be any failures you can’t overcome. There has never been nor will there be anyone who achieves success on their first try. This is something you have to put work into for the entirety of your life’s journey.


With failure comes growth. You don’t become successful; you grow into becoming successful. With where you are in your current state, you won’t become successful. Why would what you’re already doing turn into success if it hasn’t before? To achieve the success you desire, you will have to grow into someone who can handle that success. The more you fail, the more you grow.


Failure will teach you important lessons in your life. You’ll learn lessons you didn’t think were possible until they happened. You can’t plan for everything in your life, you need to get out there. Remember, you’re always ahead of the person who did nothing!


 Trevor Oldham


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Published on March 29, 2018 09:10

The Best Questions To Ask Your Characters

One of the most important things to get right in any novel is your characters. Without interesting, layered characters that intrigue and excite your reader it doesn’t matter how fantastic your story is, they simply won’t be able to care about what happens - and if your readers don’t care, they will probably give up on your book altogether.


When it comes to creating great characters, there is nothing more important than feeling like you know them inside out. Without intimate knowledge of your characters, it will be difficult to keep them consistent and believable.


No detail is too insignificant when it comes to finding out about your characters, so spend time making sure that you truly know them. It’s the little things you discover, the quirks and idiosyncracies that come to you as you do this that will bring your characters to life and make your readers fall in love with them.


Getting to know your characters is a fun part of the writing process, and the best way of doing this is to talk to them! Asking your characters questions will help you to try to understand them, and you may find their answers even surprise you!


So what are some of the best questions to ask your characters? Let’s take a look:


What makes you most happy?

What frightens you?

What do you love and hate about yourself?

What trait can’t you stand in another person?

Who do you admire more than anyone?

When do you feel it’s OK to lie?

How quickly do you fall in love?

What is your most treasured possession?

When were you happiest?

What is your greatest talent?

What are you most passionate about?

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

How important is friendship to you?

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

How important is money to you?

Do you care what other people think?

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

Where would you most like to live?

Do you have any regrets?

What do you love to do?

What is your motto?

How would you like to be remembered?


So there you have it, some interesting and thought-provoking questions to help you honestly get to know your characters.


When it comes to finding the best questions to ask your chapters, try to get as deep and as interesting and personal as you can. Don’t go for the obvious questions (you already know the answers to these after all)! Remember, no question is too weird or personal, your characters can’t get offended and the more strange, in-depth and intimate knowledge you have of them the more interesting and complex they will become in your story.


Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'


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Published on March 29, 2018 02:47

March 27, 2018

Alternatives To Traditional Publishing

When it comes to publishing your book, the competition is fiercer than ever. There are tens of millions of books available on Amazon, and to get a traditional publisher even to consider your work these days is more about being in the right place at the right time than anything else.


Simply writing a good book just isn’t good enough. Traditional publishers are rarely willing to take risks, so if you are a previously unheard of author, no matter how brilliant or unique your work is, landing a traditional publishing contract is a mammoth challenge.


That’s not to say that any writer who hasn’t already found themselves a publisher should give up and find a new passion or career. In fact, nowadays, because book publishing has become so much more accessible, there are more reasons than ever to get motivated to get your book finished. You may not get a big publishing house to take it on, but if you are willing to put the work in yourself, you are guaranteed to see it in print.


So if you are ready to get your book out there, what are the alternatives to traditional publishing you can try? Here are some other options:


Self -Publishing


The most obvious alternative is self-publishing. Anyone can do it, and this way you can throw your hat into the ring. The key to self-publishing is having a solid marketing strategy before you begin. The more effort you put into promoting your book, the more successful it is likely to be.


Blogging


Why not start your blog, build up a following and release your book from your platform? It may not be the most successful money maker but if a useful way to get a readership, get noticed and develop your very own fanbase too.


Chapter releases via a magazine


There are plenty of magazines either digital or in print that are actively looking for story submissions. The competition is still present but much less so than trying to find a traditional publisher. Start by submitting short stories, and if your work gets accepted, you could approach the editor about releasing a chapter of your book via their platform each week.


Make a movie


Why not turn your book into a Hollywood blockbuster! If you’ve written a brilliant story, you could consider developing it into a script and seeing if you can see it turned into a movie as well. Your book doesn’t have to be a bestseller to catch the eye of a producer or scriptwriter, so this is indeed an option worth some thought!


Whichever route you chose to publish your book is going to have its challenges. However,  it's reassuring to know that traditional book publishing isn’t the only way. So get creative, start thinking outside the box and see if you can find an alternative to traditional publishing that will make your book a roaring success!


Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'


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Published on March 27, 2018 01:13

March 24, 2018

Could You Write A Non-Fiction Book?

Writing a non-fiction book isn’t for everyone. Many writers don’t even consider it as an option. However, while writing a non-fiction book is still difficult, if you have an area of knowledge, an interest or passion that could be shared with the world, it might be worth considering.


While the book market is saturated, and not necessarily less competitive for those writing non-fiction books, if you can find a particular niche, with it you will find a particular audience, eager and waiting to receive your work. Because of this, you may find that publishing, marketing and selling your non-fiction book is somewhat more straightforward than if you were to write a work of fiction.


That’s not to say writing a non-fiction book is easy. The same principles apply, and the more work you do to prepare and map out your novel in the beginning stages the more successful you are likely to be.


So do you think you could write a non-fiction book? Here are some questions to ask yourself:


Do you have a subject or passion you feel you could write about?


Are you a good researcher?


Can you organise your ideas to make your book flow and keep it engaging and relevant throughout?


Do you know people will be interested in your book?


Do you have a unique style of tone that will make your book engaging and appealing to your readers?


What’s the competition like? Has it been done before?


Non-fiction books should be specific, well researched, well thought out, engaging, educating and entertaining. Be it a biography of your life, a guide about the life and behaviour of a specific type of rare animal or a book dedicated to sharing your passion for clown puppets! It doesn’t matter how niche or bizarre your topic is if you know there are readers out there and that you can present your material in a way that will appeal to them you know you have the basis to make your book a success.


If you think you could write a non-fiction book the writing process is much the same as any other kind of book. Creating an outline, researching your material and breaking your book down into chapters will help you feel assured that your book idea can work and help you to stay focused and keep on track until it’s finished.


Writing a non-fiction book can be just as rewarding and satisfying and creatively exciting as writing a fiction book. So if you have a weird and wonderful hobby, fascinating history or in-depth knowledge of something unique and beautiful, why not share it with the world and see if you can create a work of non-fiction that’s a raving success!


Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'


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Published on March 24, 2018 02:30

March 22, 2018

How To Re-Charge Your Motivation

There will be up and down periods in your life. Success is easy to achieve when you’re going through an up period. When you’re going through a down period, success can be scarce.


When you encounter a down period, it can be hard to stay motivated. Upon waking up, you relinquish the thought of working. The problem is if you spend too much time in a down period there’s a chance you may never get out.


When you feel yourself going through a down period, the best thing you can do is acknowledge it right away. The first step to recharging your motivation is becoming aware why you’re not motivated to work.


This usually comes from pushing yourself too hard and not taking a break or it’s from encountering a failure and you don’t have the will to push yourself forward anymore. Once you’re aware why you’re not motivated, then you can put the focus back on making yourself motivated again.


It will not be an easy process and you need to start small. You can’t go from not working to suddenly wanting to work ten hours a day. You can do this for a week but I guarantee you that you’ll be back to not working once the week ceases.


Start with working one hour each day. What you do doesn’t have to be intricately related to work, it could be a passionate project. It’s anything that’ll get your mind thinking again.


Your end goal is to create momentum for yourself. Once you work an hour per day for a week, then increase it the following week and the week thereafter so you’re working eight to ten hours per day again. When you create momentum for yourself, you’re able to re-charge your motivation and get back to your old self!


 Trevor Oldham


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Published on March 22, 2018 10:50

There will be up and down periods in your life. Success i...

There will be up and down periods in your life. Success is easy to achieve when you’re going through an up period. When you’re going through a down period, success can be scarce.


When you encounter a down period, it can be hard to stay motivated. Upon waking up, you relinquish the thought of working. The problem is if you spend too much time in a down period there’s a chance you may never get out.


When you feel yourself going through a down period, the best thing you can do is acknowledge it right away. The first step to recharging your motivation is becoming aware why you’re not motivated to work.


This usually comes from pushing yourself too hard and not taking a break or it’s from encountering a failure and you don’t have the will to push yourself forward anymore. Once you’re aware why you’re not motivated, then you can put the focus back on making yourself motivated again.


It will not be an easy process and you need to start small. You can’t go from not working to suddenly wanting to work ten hours a day. You can do this for a week but I guarantee you that you’ll be back to not working once the week ceases.


Start with working one hour each day. What you do doesn’t have to be intricately related to work, it could be a passionate project. It’s anything that’ll get your mind thinking again.


Your end goal is to create momentum for yourself. Once you work an hour per day for a week, then increase it the following week and the week thereafter so you’re working eight to ten hours per day again. When you create momentum for yourself, you’re able to re-charge your motivation and get back to your old self!


 Trevor Oldham


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Published on March 22, 2018 10:50

How To 10x Your Income

It’s no secret, everyone wants to make more money. Yet, most people don’t know how to make more money. Why is that? We live in one of the most prosperous countries in the world, you don’t know how to increase your income?


It is entirely possible to 10x your income today if you follow the right steps. It’s fairly simple, find someone who is making 10x more than you’re currently making and do exactly what that person is doing. What types of habits do they have? What does their routine look like during the week? Do exactly what they do is the first step in 10x’ing your income.


Take a good look at yourself. Are you doing everything in your power to help yourself get to the next level? Are you doing just enough to get by? Your current actions won’t take you to where you want to go.  Develop new actions if you wish to change your life.


There are two viable ways to increase your income. Either you work harder and take more action or you figure out a way to increase how much you’re already getting paid. Each of them will increase your income.


To earn more, you also need to increase your skill set. You can’t be coming home from work every day and sitting down and watching TV. That will not take you to where you want to go. Read books, take online courses, do whatever it takes to increase your skill set.


When you’re in the car, you need not listen to the radio. Instead, listen to an audiobook and if you can’t afford to purchase one, listen to podcasts. There are podcasts on every subject you could ever think of. There are no excuses for why you can’t grow your income.


Each day, take another step forward to increasing your income and before you know it, you will have not only increased your income but 10x’ed your income!


 Trevor Oldham


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Published on March 22, 2018 10:25