Amey Zeigler's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing"
Making People Laugh
Somebody asked me once why I like to write. There are so many reasons to write, but I'll just name a few that I enjoy.
1. I can work from home.
2. It doesn't require a lot of upfront costs, just copious amounts of bumglue.
3. I love to share parts of me. I love to tell a good story, a good joke. I love to make people laugh. When I studied theatre, I wanted to make people feel something. This time it's my words I get to send out to the world.
What do you write? Why do you write?
1. I can work from home.
2. It doesn't require a lot of upfront costs, just copious amounts of bumglue.
3. I love to share parts of me. I love to tell a good story, a good joke. I love to make people laugh. When I studied theatre, I wanted to make people feel something. This time it's my words I get to send out to the world.
What do you write? Why do you write?
Best Moments in Writing
I like to remind myself, during the slog of a first draft, or the thirteenth draft, why I am doing what I am doing. So you get to share in the joy of fruits. Or is it fruits of my joy?
Best moments in writing:
When I finally got a contract for my book.
When my mother-in-law called to say she laughed and laughed at a certain line: "She stood strong in her fat suit." I hadn't heard her laugh like that in a long time.
When reviewers write "Wow!" in their review.
When my friends actually like my book.
When people I don't know like my book.
When my characters connect with people.
Celebrate every victory! Stay positive! Enjoy the journey!
Best moments in writing:
When I finally got a contract for my book.
When my mother-in-law called to say she laughed and laughed at a certain line: "She stood strong in her fat suit." I hadn't heard her laugh like that in a long time.
When reviewers write "Wow!" in their review.
When my friends actually like my book.
When people I don't know like my book.
When my characters connect with people.
Celebrate every victory! Stay positive! Enjoy the journey!
Top ten things writers do that ins't writing
Writing isn't just sitting down and letting magic slip from your head to your fingers to your keyboard. Writers do so much more than just write. Here are a few things I have done as I've written my clean romantic suspense and clean romantic comedy.
1. Attend conferences. Conferences are good for networking in your genre, honing skills, taking classes, meeting people for critique partners, writing groups, pitching, and making friends. And they are fun! I've met like-minded people who are serious in their career and writers who are more successful than I am and who can inspire me.
2. Read. This goes without saying but a lot of writers read. What are they reading? Fiction. In their genre, out of their genre, similar to their genre. I also read a lot of non-fiction, biographies, writing books, and children's books.
3. Enter contests. One of the biggest deadlines in my life right now is entering contests. I do this to get exposure, professional feedback and a chance to distinguish myself. Although I know I'm not going to win, it's good to get feedback.
4. Judge contests. Many contests these days are huge and to help narrow the categories, they often open up judging to other writers. Some contests are a little more exclusive, like you have to have a successful publishing career or have made a certain amount of money before you can judge or it may be a requirement to judge as an entrant to the contest. Last year I judged about 11 books. Just this year alone, 4, with more on the way.
5. Blog. Blogging is writing you say. I know, but it's also not writing on a current WIP. But it's important to let people know what you are up to, get to know you. Often people buy a book not because it sounds interesting, but because you are a likable person.
6. Social media. This can be such a time sink. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook not to mention other social media outlets (Bookbub, Book+Main, Bookspout, Goodreads) can suck time away from a writer's WIP. With careful planning and loads of self-discipline, Social Media can be a useful tool to create community, build a brand and help establish your platform.
7. Website. Building and maintaining a website is something every author must do. A web presence is essential. What does everyone do once they discover a new author? Search the internet and hopefully buy more books, or at least check them out at the library :)
8. Newsletter. I love connecting with fans, with my friends who have supported me. Once a month I send out a connection letter to let people know what I'm up to. This is fun. I ask for beta readers, reward them with tidbits and snippets of my latest WIP and get opinions. Sign up for my newsletter with the link to the right. Or at my website.
9. Marketing. As a small press author, I'm doing most of my own marketing. I write blog posts for other bloggers who generously share their audience with me. I search out reviewers, literary magazines, influencers, friends who can help me spread the word.
10. Help other authors. This is reviewing, sometimes critiquing, work for other writers in my writing group or critique partner, reviewing books for other authors, praise quotes, joining local chapters of national organizations. This is one of my favorite things to do. I love to help people see it is possible to write, to get published to do what they love to do.
Bonus. Writer's also have families, and occasionally eat, sleep and clean house.
1. Attend conferences. Conferences are good for networking in your genre, honing skills, taking classes, meeting people for critique partners, writing groups, pitching, and making friends. And they are fun! I've met like-minded people who are serious in their career and writers who are more successful than I am and who can inspire me.
2. Read. This goes without saying but a lot of writers read. What are they reading? Fiction. In their genre, out of their genre, similar to their genre. I also read a lot of non-fiction, biographies, writing books, and children's books.
3. Enter contests. One of the biggest deadlines in my life right now is entering contests. I do this to get exposure, professional feedback and a chance to distinguish myself. Although I know I'm not going to win, it's good to get feedback.
4. Judge contests. Many contests these days are huge and to help narrow the categories, they often open up judging to other writers. Some contests are a little more exclusive, like you have to have a successful publishing career or have made a certain amount of money before you can judge or it may be a requirement to judge as an entrant to the contest. Last year I judged about 11 books. Just this year alone, 4, with more on the way.
5. Blog. Blogging is writing you say. I know, but it's also not writing on a current WIP. But it's important to let people know what you are up to, get to know you. Often people buy a book not because it sounds interesting, but because you are a likable person.
6. Social media. This can be such a time sink. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook not to mention other social media outlets (Bookbub, Book+Main, Bookspout, Goodreads) can suck time away from a writer's WIP. With careful planning and loads of self-discipline, Social Media can be a useful tool to create community, build a brand and help establish your platform.
7. Website. Building and maintaining a website is something every author must do. A web presence is essential. What does everyone do once they discover a new author? Search the internet and hopefully buy more books, or at least check them out at the library :)
8. Newsletter. I love connecting with fans, with my friends who have supported me. Once a month I send out a connection letter to let people know what I'm up to. This is fun. I ask for beta readers, reward them with tidbits and snippets of my latest WIP and get opinions. Sign up for my newsletter with the link to the right. Or at my website.
9. Marketing. As a small press author, I'm doing most of my own marketing. I write blog posts for other bloggers who generously share their audience with me. I search out reviewers, literary magazines, influencers, friends who can help me spread the word.
10. Help other authors. This is reviewing, sometimes critiquing, work for other writers in my writing group or critique partner, reviewing books for other authors, praise quotes, joining local chapters of national organizations. This is one of my favorite things to do. I love to help people see it is possible to write, to get published to do what they love to do.
Bonus. Writer's also have families, and occasionally eat, sleep and clean house.
Know what I've got planned for 2020?
I like to write out goals every January, but by February, I've already forgotten them. Not this year. My family has a giant white board upstairs and we've written goals for our family as well as individuals. Know what I've got planned for 2020?
We made goals in four areas: physical, intellectual, social and spiritual (recognizing that we are dual beings).
For my writing goals, I couldn't decide where to put them and decided on intellectual since I learn so much while I write.
My 2020 goal is to submit three manuscripts to publication.
Why did I chose this?
Well, goals need to be independent of other's choices. Notice I didn't say three pieces accepted, hahah! Because really, that's out of my control. What I can work on is getting them ready to the best of my abilities and send them off to the world.
I'm turning in my first one this week. It's based on an idea from my publisher to write short "beach read" love stories having something to do with ice cream.
Well, when my daughter was almost twelve, we went to Alaska to visit my parents who were visiting some old friends there. (I used to live in AK when I was younger). While we were there, my dad wanted to go fishing in Seward, a small town at the mouth of Resurrection Bay. The scenery was classic Alaska--glacier blue water, stunning mountains jutting from the water, black pebble beaches, frolicking sea otters, majestic eagles, and lazy sea lions. One night, we went to the ice cream shop there and had ice cream. When my publisher issued a call for ice cream stories, I was like, I know exactly where I'm going to set this story. And I've loved it. So be on the lookout for #1 MS for this year Summer of Sundaes.
PS I also submitted some last year. August Blues finished the first round of edits this month. Should be out this year!
We made goals in four areas: physical, intellectual, social and spiritual (recognizing that we are dual beings).
For my writing goals, I couldn't decide where to put them and decided on intellectual since I learn so much while I write.
My 2020 goal is to submit three manuscripts to publication.
Why did I chose this?
Well, goals need to be independent of other's choices. Notice I didn't say three pieces accepted, hahah! Because really, that's out of my control. What I can work on is getting them ready to the best of my abilities and send them off to the world.
I'm turning in my first one this week. It's based on an idea from my publisher to write short "beach read" love stories having something to do with ice cream.
Well, when my daughter was almost twelve, we went to Alaska to visit my parents who were visiting some old friends there. (I used to live in AK when I was younger). While we were there, my dad wanted to go fishing in Seward, a small town at the mouth of Resurrection Bay. The scenery was classic Alaska--glacier blue water, stunning mountains jutting from the water, black pebble beaches, frolicking sea otters, majestic eagles, and lazy sea lions. One night, we went to the ice cream shop there and had ice cream. When my publisher issued a call for ice cream stories, I was like, I know exactly where I'm going to set this story. And I've loved it. So be on the lookout for #1 MS for this year Summer of Sundaes.
PS I also submitted some last year. August Blues finished the first round of edits this month. Should be out this year!
