Beth Greenslade's Blog, page 92

Write What You Know About

When I was little I liked to write. The thrill of creating a new world, with its own structure and rules was both freeing and satisfying. Blending words in a sentence that grew to a paragraph that became a chapter seemed like magic. But all of that only came after I had an idea. And that initial idea was often the hardest part of writing. My mom, however, gave me the best advice, which has stuck with me ever since, and that is to write what I know about.

Writing is so open-ended that its sheer limitlessness can be daunting at first. After all, every writer starts with the same blank page and it is a long process to craft that page into something amazing. But starting with what you know can help to fill that page and allow the story you want to tell have a solid foundation.

Writing what you know about isn’t just about facts and numbers. Here are some starting points when you want to write what you know.

Your history

Who were your parents, your grandparents? Where did they come from and more importantly, what were they looking to change in their lives? What were their struggles, their achievements, and their heartbreaks?

Your life so far

When you think about your childhood, what memories come to mind? What were your successes and what were your failures? Who were you surrounded by when you were a child? How has your life turned out compared to what you thought it would be?

Your life in the future

What do you still want to achieve and how will you get there? What will the world be like for your older self? What will happen to your children? What can you do now to determine your fate?

Your beliefs

Whether we are religious or not, we all have a set of beliefs, morals, and values. These shape our life and how we live it. Do you accept your beliefs for what they are, or do you struggle with them, trying to piece together the intricacies of your life?

 

Writing is a process and that initial step can often be the hardest to take. But if you start by writing what you know, the world you want to create, and the story you want to tell, can take shape more easily. Above all, believe that the words you want to share are inside of you waiting to come out.

 

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What Can You Do With A Creative Writing Degree?

Many writers spend time wondering whether getting qualifications in the field is worth it. For lots of us, writing is something we have wanted to do from a young age, but committing the time, effort and expense to getting a qualification such as a creative writing degree takes serious thought, and without being sure that it is worth it, it can feel like a huge risk.

So what can you do with a creative writing degree? Here are just some of the career options that having this qualification can help get you into.

A novelist or screenwriter

The obvious career choice for those who gain a creative writing qualification is to go on to try to make a living from their writing. Becoming a novelist or screenwriter is many a writers ultimate goal. However, competition is fierce. A creative writing degree puts you at an advantage because you learn so many different techniques, as well as the science behind writing. You also get constant feedback and have plenty of opportunities to practice your writing too.

A freelance writer

Making a living as a freelance writer can be incredibly fruitful for some. Just because your writing degree was in creative writing doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to fiction writing alone. Lots of businesses require creative people who are good with words to help them in a variety of ways, and there are thousands of jobs out there. Having a degree in creative writing will make you stand out when you apply for these positions.

A journalist

While there are specific journalism degrees, a degree in creative writing can also open doors into the world of journalism. Journalism is about writing eye-catching, newsworthy, stories which grab readers attention, so lots of what you learn in a creative writing degree is transferable to journalistic writing too.

Marketing or advertising

Being able to get messages across to the right audience successfully is what marketing and advertising is all about. When you learn how to write stories, you are told to research your reader and always keep them in mind. These skills are so useful when it comes to marketing or setting up a successful advertising campaign.

Communications

Being an excellent communicator is all about being able to read people and to capture their attention and get them to listen to you. These are all skills a good storyteller will have and ones that you learn in a creative writing degree.

Teaching

Of course, what you learn in a creative writing degree doesn’t have to be kept to yourself! If you want to pass that wisdom on you could get into teaching writing to others. Setting up courses and classes could be a lucrative and rewarding career for any writer who is passionate about helping others.

Choosing a creative writing degree can feel daunting, but there are many career possibilities which would see a creative writing degree as a massive advantage. So if you are thinking of getting into one of the careers above, undertaking a creative writing degree could be the best decisions you’ve ever made!

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

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How To Write A Horror Story

Horror stories can be great fun to write. Not only do they allow writers to delve into the darkest depths of their imaginations, but they enable us to be creative, witty and use many different writing devices to evoke certain reactions in the reader.

Writing a good horror story is all about getting the balance right. The story needs to be believable in a way that the writer must write so that readers invest in the story - if they fail to do so, the readers won’t care enough to be scared, disturbed, unsettled, or disgusted by the events that take place.

With planning, research into the genre and experimenting with what works, writing a good horror story can be mastered. To get you started here are some useful tips:

Pick a theme

There are many different ways to write a horror story, and it’s essential that you decide what kind of horror story you want to produce early on. A horror story that unsettles readers or makes it difficult for them to sleep at night is going to be different to one which is full of more disgusting events, blood and gore and things which you know will gross your readers out.

Because there are so many ways you can write your story, you must accept that it can’t appeal to everyone. Horror readers are likely to enjoy a particular kind of story and to find others silly, or even dull. But as long as you have decided on the sort of story you want to write and then make sure it appeals to that kind of audience then you will start off on the right track.

Research the genre

Researching the horror genre will help you decide where you want to place your book and also give you lots of good ideas. Reading work from the greats such as Stephen King is a good place to start. However, reading as widely as you can gives you the most inspiration. Classic children stories and nursery rhymes can be unsettling and disturbing. Or historical stories, ghost stories, or urban legends can also be interesting to look at.

Concentrate on the feelings you are trying to evoke

A good horror story needs to make readers feel a combination of suspense and dread. Building up tension and curating a sense of dread in this way will keep your readers on the edge of their seats. You can either do this through the eyes of the protagonist, seeing events unfold as they do, or letting the reader see things that the protagonist can’t - such as the man hiding in the wardrobe when they come home form work.

Use your own experiences of being scared

Thinking about what scares you will help you write a genuine horror story. Many fears that you have are universal, fear of being alone, of being attacked, of losing family member of having your freedom taken away from you, of clowns, spiders or ghosts. Tapping into what you are frightened of will make it easier for you to explore the emotions they evoke, and how you would react if forced to confront those fears.

Concentrate on how your characters feel

It is the subjective reaction of your readers that will determine the success of your horror story. Because of this, you must concentrate on creating extreme feelings within the reader, and you do this through your characters. Shock, paranoia, dread, suspense, and physiological terror are all devices commonly used to capture these feelings and by creating a sense of the supernatural, including horrifying details, altered realities, and a sense of uncanny your story will work to do this.

Plan your plot

A horror story cannot be horrific all the time. If you, never give your reader a break from the disturbing and terrifying events that take place your reader will quickly become exhausted, or worse, desensitised to what’s happening in your book. Also, be prepared to have bad things happen to your characters. Readers should care enough about your characters to not want these bad things to happen to them, but they should happen nonetheless. There should also be enough at stake that making bad decisions, falling into traps or not being able to fight against or overcome the horrific events would be catastrophic for the characters in your book.

Avoid cliches

Whatever the genre of your book,  it’s easy to fall into cliches - and horror is no exception. Try always to put a unique twist on your work. While you’ll no doubt use tried and tested devices and take inspiration from others, think about how you can make your horror story your own, and one that stands out from the crowd.

Writing a good horror story takes time and patience, research and effort, just as writing any good story does! By following the tips above, taking your time and not being afraid to experiment and push your boundaries, you’ll come up with a great horror story in no time!

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

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How To Create An Article People Want To Read

It’s one thing to write an article. It’s another thing to create an article people want to read.

There are thousands of articles online, but how can you make yours stand out?

There is something you possess that no one else has, the power of storytelling. No matter what you’re writing, you should always incorporate stories into your article because it makes it more relatable to the people reading your article.

When you’re writing an article, share your own personal examples of what has worked or what hasn’t worked.

For example, I wrote an article on how cold showers positively affect you. Yet, there are thousands of articles on cold showering. I made mine different because I wasn’t sharing the benefits of cold showering; I stated what the cold shower did for me and what people could expect. I tried to make it more personal.

You need to focus on creating articles different from every article in that certain topic. Can you make your article 100% different? Of course you can’t but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.

People don’t want to read another article on how to become a great writer. They want to hear your struggles and how you overcame them to become the writer you are today.

Everyone started somewhere and everyone was once a beginner, never forget that. When you’re writing an article that’s geared towards benefiting someone, write as if you were explaining the concept to a grandparent. Be clear in your statement and exemplify the “how to” portion of the article.

Another way to create an article people want to read is by being polarizing. This can be choosing a controversial topic. I can tell you from experience that when I wrote a controversial topic for my blog, our website went down… we had the most people on our website ever. Yes, it can be scary, but you will need to share your opinion and stick to it if you wish to get remembered.

Lastly, write the article like you’re speaking to a friend. Write in a friendly tone that makes the person feel as though you really want to help them. Remember we’re all here to help each other become a better person

3 Ways Writing Can Relieve Stress

People are always looking for new ways to relieve stress. Yet, after all this time, there is still one method that works better than anything and that is writing.

You might’ve heard that writing can help relieve stress but you’re unsure of how writing exactly helps. Look no further! I will be sharing with you three ways in which writing relieves stress.

Form of Meditation

What is something that every high achiever has in common whether they’re a writer or businessman or woman? They each meditate.

Writing can be a form of meditation. When you meditate you want to block out the noise around you and be fully conscious of what you’re doing. By meditating, you open an inner stillness inside yourself.

You can gain inner stillness from writing. Because when you write, you have to block out the noise around you and focus entirely on the piece. Your breathing will slow and it’s just going to be you with the words your writing (or typing)

What Makes A Great Love Story?

Writing a great love story can be a truly enjoyable and satisfying experience for many authors. However, when it comes to writing a successful love story, there are certain tried and tested elements that your readers will come to expect.

There are, of course, many versions of the great love story, but if you are just setting out, here are some elements to consider including to make your love story a great one!

Lovers that don’t like one another

If your lovers are all loved up from the start, your readers will tire of them quickly. That’s why many writers make it so that their protagonists at first appear to be at loggerheads with one another. Many great love stories start out with the two main characters finding one another almost unbearable, and it is only through getting to know one another or a series of strange events that they finally fall in love.

The “meet-cute”

Staging the meet-cute can be one of the most powerful moments in a love story, and is a device used in many romantic films too! Writing the perfect meet-cute can set the tone of your book. Do your lovers already know one another? Do they meet by chance? Do they keep missing one another by seconds? Think carefully about how to orchestrate that first meeting and make it as impactful as possible.

The obstacles they must face

Remember that the course of love does not run smoothly! Make sure that your lovers have to face obstacles and difficulties along their journey - either together or to end up with one another - it will make their love seem so much more worthwhile when they overcome these obstacles in the end.

Compatibility

It’s important to think about the kinds of people that would actually end up together. If your lovers have nothing in common and are opposites it might be hard for your readers to understand why they would be together. They can fight of course, but underneath it all, it’s vital that there is something that draws them together.

The love story ending

Do your lovers end up together against the odds, or is heartbreak in store? Is the ending perfect or bittersweet? Many authors think that a love story should have an ending where everything is ideal, and all loose ends are tied up - but it doesn’t have to be this way, and some of the most impactful love stories are actually the saddest too.

A great love story is unpredictable, surprising, touching, heart-wrenching, traumatic, emotional, beautiful and so much more - a great twist at the end will also delight your readers. So if you are writing a love story consider the tips above and see how you can make yours one of the greats!

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

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Marketing Tips From Indie Authors

When it comes to marketing our books, most indie authors would agree that we need all the help we can get. Marketing an indie book is tough. There is lots of competition out there, and it can be challenging to ensure your book reaches the right audience.

However, the good news is that there are lots of things you can do, and if you are willing to put the time and effort into this part of the bookselling process, you are far more likely to reap the rewards.

So what are the tried and tested marketing methods that indie authors would recommend? Give these useful tips a go:

Build your author platform, and keep working at it

The more people you can reach and engage with, the better your chances of becoming a successful Indie author are. Keep building your author platform and reach out to others to try and widen your following, but remember not to forget about your loyal fans either!

Spend some time trying to get pre-orders

Early sales can be crucial to a book's success so getting pre-orders in is well worth it. Securing pre-orders will build momentum in the lead-up to the launch of your book. Getting your book on places such as Net Galley will help with early reviews, and getting your book set up, so it is available to pre-order is crucial - make sure that you promote this  as much as possible too.

Of course, pre-orders aren’t the be all and end all, and it’s important to remember that there is still lots you can do after your book launch too!

Go on a book tour - whether virtual or actual

Setting up some book signings in local libraries or arty venues is a great way to get your book talked about and will boost your confidence too. Remember book marketing is about building relationships and gaining a following so while this might be time-consuming, it is worth it.

A virtual book tour can work just as well - make sure you research and plan this as focusing your time and energy on getting it right will be worth it when your book reaches the right audiences.

Be strategic with your pricing and timing

You can price your book at whatever cost you like. Use pricing as part of your marketing plan. Do some research on the best selling point for your novel and use that as a guide. Do promotions and giveaways and competitions and discounts. Remember, you are in charge of your book, so make it work for you.

Timing is also essential - if you launch your book strategically you can reach more potential readers. It’s also important to make sure your launch doesn’t clash with one from a prominent, established author as you may find that all your hard work goes to waste and is lost in the buzz of their new book.

Have patience and don’t give up!

Mass books sales don’t happen overnight, and the good news is that even if your book has been on the market for a while, you can still do lots of marketing to try and boost those sales. When it comes to making a success as an Indie author, it is often slow and steady that wins the race! So have patience, keep working, keep writing and never give up!

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

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Should We Write For Ourselves Or For Others?

When it comes to writing there is a divide of opinion on lots of things, and one of the most conflicting pieces of advice we are given is to write to ourselves, but, at the same time, to always keep our reader in mind.

So when it comes to writing our novels, should we be writing for ourselves, or should we be writing for others?

It probably comes down to what your goals are:

Writing for yourself is:

Satisfying - If you aren’t putting any pressure on yourself to please anyone else, your writing can be so much more enjoyable. You can indulge in writing about whatever you want without feeling the readers watchful eyes upon you as you put down each new word!

Honest - If you are just writing for yourself you can be completely honest, and this can feel incredibly cathartic!

Easier - Let’s face it, writing without a reader in mind is always going to be easier. If you are not thinking about your audience, or where your book will ‘fit’ in the marketplace you don’t have to worry so much about whether anyone is going to like it!

Rewarding - Writing for yourself can be extremely rewarding. If your only goal is to get the story down, and if  you manage to do that then what else do you have to worry about?!

Writing for others is:

Skilled - writing a book that other people will enjoy takes considerable skill. You have to be dedicated to researching your audience and finding out what they want. Your reader will always be at the back of your mind, and their thoughts and feelings will influence the way you write.

A learning curve - writing for an audience doesn’t come naturally to many people. There is always more to learn, and sometimes you’ll get it wrong too - but that's OK!

More fruitful (probably) - when you write for others you are an entertainer and are offering something unique and beautiful to the world. If you write with a reader in mind, your book is more likely to become successful too.

At the end of the day if we want to gain a following and sell our books we cannot just ignore what the reader wants and expects from us. At the same time writing without remaining true to oneself and one's story could end up feeling immensely difficult and unrewarding, and therefore your writing may end up suffering as a consequence.

As the great Oscar Wilde said:

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”

Writing for yourself isn’t selfish, the chances are if you have a burning desire to write a story you want to share with the world then that’s the story you’ll write! If you struggle against that you could end up finding the whole process very arduous and frustrating.

Getting the balance right so you invite the reader in to share that story and become immersed in that world is where your skill as a writer comes in. If you can do this then you’ll not only find the writing process more satisfying, you’ll also give your book the best chance of reaching those readers you want to share your story with.

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

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Just Launched Your Book? Do This Now!

Launching your novel is incredibly exciting, but once you do it is important to remember that there is still lots to get on with.

If you get it live and just let it ‘sit’ there, chances are it won’t be seen by too many people. It will get lost in the sea of other books, and you may quickly become disheartened by lack of sales.

Not selling your book doesn’t mean you have failed or that your book isn’t any good. It’s just that there is loads of competition out there - so you need to do everything possible to get your book seen!

So once you’ve launched your book, don’t rest on your laurels just yet - do these things to make sure your book gets noticed:

Create and send a press release

Getting a press release out and into as many publications as possible will create buzz about your book and help it become more visible.

Go on a book tour

Go on a book tour, whether physical or virtual, or you can always do both! A book tour takes time but if it’s well marketed and organised can really help to boost your book sales.

Get your book in local bookstores and libraries

While it might be tough to get your book into the window display at Waterstones or Barnes and Noble, local bookstores like to promote local authors, and speaking to local libraries is a good option too.

Do a giveaway or competition

Let’s face it; everyone loves getting something for nothing! A book giveaway or competition to win signed copies can massively increase the interest in your book.

Build your social media audience

Never stop working on building your author platforms and use social media to help gain a following and market your book.

Keep blogging

A blog is a great way to build up an audience of fans. If you create a successful blog, this can make a massive difference to your book sales.

Get reviews

Word of mouth can make or break your book so try to get reviews however you can. Get in touch with influential bloggers, engage with other writers, and write lots of glowing reviews for others and they might just return the favour.

Keep writing!

Remember, your writing will only get better from now on, and the more content you get out there the more your audience will grow.

By following the tips above you’ll get your book to the right readers, you’ll build up your following and most importantly, you’ll keep doing what you love, learning and improving all the while so you can make your next book launch even more successful!

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

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5 BIG Kindle Publishing Mistakes

If you think your book is ready to be published that’s great! So many authors struggle to get to that stage it really is something to be proud of.

However, it’s always best to approach self-publishing with caution. It’s understandable that you are desperate to get your book out there and seen by as many people as possible. But if you publish without taking the following into consideration you may well be doing your book and yourself a disservice.

So what are the things that you can do to make sure that when you do make your book live on Kindle Publishing that you have done everything right? Here are five big kindle publishing mistakes that authors commonly make - so read on and make sure you avoid them!

Publishing in in the wrong genre or to the wrong audience

When you publish your Kindle book, you need to make sure you give it the best possible chance of reaching readers that are most likely to want to buy it. Get this wrong, and it could mean your book simply won’t sell. Amazon provides lots of information on how to research this - follow their advice and do the work BEFORE you choose where to place it.

2. Not formatting your book correctly. Make your life as easy as possible and get all your formatting as well as editing and error checking done before you publish your book. Getting this wrong can be timely and costly, and you’ll be kicking yourself if you start getting reviews from unhappy customers because your book is full of mistakes.

3. Letting it just sit there and expecting sales to roll in

If you want your Kindle book to be successful you can't just sit back and hope that somehow the sales will start rolling in, You need to be proactive. You need to figure out how to make your book stand out. You need to be creative and imaginative and smart. Remember, whatever kind of book you have written, you are in an extremely competitive market so put the work into marketing and promoting your book, and you’ll see your book do better and better.

4. Not understanding Amazons rules

Amazon has rules about self-published books, and it’s a good idea to read about them, understand them and make peace with them if you want your book to do well. Many authors find their review process frustrating and when reviews get blocked or removed authors can feel like tearing their hair out. Similarly getting bad reviews removed can be tricky (and every good book has at least one bad review!) but it’s important to know when to pick your battles and not waste your time and energy fighting against something that can’t be changed,

5. Giving up.

If your book doesn’t as well as you’d like it to don’t give up. Even if your book does well, to begin with, but the sales peter out, keep on pushing it. Authors who keep marketing their books, who continue to be creative and who have perseverance and determination are the ones who are likely to receive success, in the long run, Failure and setbacks are entirely normal.

It’s a good idea to remind yourself that publishing your book is a tough business, but f you tackle the challenges and obstacles you face head on and keep going regardless, you will learn, grow and become all the better for it - the more you do this, the greater chance of success you have!

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

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