Ian Dawson's Blog, page 17

Writing Tip of the Week: Make Writing a Habit

How often do you sit down and write? Do you have a word goal? Page goal? Chapter goal? How do you keep track of these measurements?

Keeping track of your writing productivity is a great way to see your progress daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly as a writer. Using a basic spreadsheet can assist you in keeping focused on your writing goals and be a great motivator. It makes it much harder to write “0 words” when you can see the word count achieved daily.

Avoiding the Zero

If you have difficulty sitting down to write, give yourself a simple word count goal: 100 words a day. You may scoff and say that’s simple, but you should have no problem sitting down and making it happen if it’s easy.

Did 100 for a week? Great. Up it to 250. Then 500. Then 750. Eventually, you’ll hit what feels like a comfortable maximum, the amount you can easily do without too much trouble.

Once you reach that number, you can always write more, but now you are at a comfortable and productive daily count.

What Counts as Writing?

Your word count doesn’t have to be you sitting and writing a novel. It can be writing a blog post, an email, or a newsletter; anything that involves writing can be included in your daily word count. The key is to sit down and WRITE SOMETHING.

So, if you write 500 words of a short story and write an email to your sister that’s 500 words, you’ve hit 1,000 words for the day. Awesome! Want to write more? Go for it!

Keeping Track

As I said above, you can create a spreadsheet to track your daily word count, but you can also keep track in a journal or on a legal pad. Some writing programs will also keep track of your writing stats.

From Tracking to Habit

Eventually, your desire to keep your word count going daily will become habitual, and you may become more productive as a writer in the long run. Comic Jerry Seinfeld uses this tactic and has recommended it to others as a way to keep writing consistently and get better as a result. Check out the link to the article below about “The Seinfeld Strategy.”

https://jamesclear.com/stop-procrasti...

Final Thoughts

Sometimes a visual representation of our progress is a great motivator and can help us stay focused on our present and future goals. By keeping track of your writing progress and holding yourself accountable, you will write more and improve your writing skills in the long run.

Two books that offer up some great writing productivity tools are linked below:

https://www.amazon.com/Be-Writing-Mac...

https://www.amazon.com/2k-10k-Writing...


Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!

Writing Exercise: Clothing Details

I’ve been reading the Game of Thrones novels, and one of the things that stands out to me is the detailed descriptions of each character’s clothing. One to two paragraphs are often dedicated to how a character dresses, which makes sense given the era. Attention to detail can signify a character’s rank, status, and class within the story’s context.

With the unfortunate passing of Queen Elizabeth II and her upcoming funeral service, the images of the Royals and their clothing for key events gave me an idea for a writing exercise.

The Exercise

Pick a member of the Royal family or the Royal staff and write as detailed as possible about what they’re wearing in one to two paragraphs.

Pay specific attention to the clothing, don’t worry about who’s wearing it.

This exercise is to work on how detailed and intricate you can describe what your chosen individual is wearing.

Now, suppose you don’t want to use someone from the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. In that case, you can find Google images of Meghan and Harry’s wedding and pick someone from that event.

Bonus Exercise

Find another person wearing one of those intricate hats at the wedding or funeral and describe it in one or two paragraphs. Again, the more detailed your description, the better.

Fine-tune your paragraphs and read over them a few times.

Final Thoughts

A character’s clothing can give us insight into who they are. By showing and not telling, the reader can get a sense of who the character is before a line of dialogue is spoken.


Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!

Reading & Writing Exercise: Pick a Chapter, Any Chapter?

It’s time to do some homework! I know, I know. But this is valuable homework that can help you become a stronger writer by breaking down and analyzing a published author’s work.

The Assignment

Pick a book – preferably one you’ve read and enjoyed – then choose a random chapter. Read the chapter from beginning to end two or three times, familiarizing yourself with the style, genre, story points, etc.

Now, it’s time to dive deeply into the chapter and get into what makes it tick.

The Questions

Ask yourself the following questions as you dig into the chapter. You may want to write down or type your answers as go:

• What characters are present in the chapter?
• What are the relationships between the characters in the chapter?
• What is the POV of the chapter (first person, third person, third person limited, omniscient)? Whose POV are we in?
• What’s the main conflict in the chapter?
• What information is known at the start of the chapter?
• What new information is provided or discovered by the end of the chapter?
• Is there any subtext in the dialogue between the characters?
• Does the chapter deal with the main plot or a subplot?
• Does the chapter end on a cliffhanger? Does the end of the chapter compel you to keep reading?
• If you’ve read the book, how does this chapter fit into the overall narrative structure of the novel?
• Are there any weak points or areas of the chapter you feel could be improved?

What’s the Point?

By taking time to analyze a work you enjoy, you can see how the author has structured each chapter as building blocks or puzzle pieces that fit together to create a complete story. While this is an exercise to delve into one chapter, you can also do this for an entire book to deconstruct the structure, conflict, story, etc.

You can also do this with screenplays, plays, or short stories to really get a sense of the structure and other elements that make the story work.

Happy Reading and Writing, and I’ll see you next time!

Writing Tip of the Week: Should You Invest in a Writing Coach?

Sometimes as writers, we can use a little help. Sometimes it’s fine to call upon family or friends to read our work and give feedback. However, our creative selves should have an objective third-party as an option to read and critique our work to make it stronger. A Writing Coach can be one tool or service you can use to help you get through a rough writing patch.

Here are some things to consider when looking for a Writing Coach.

Do Your Homework

Not all Writing Coaches provide the same services, and not all Writing Coaches will fit your needs and goals. Look at as many Writing Coach sites and profiles as possible to find ones that seem like a good fit.

Reach out to the ones you feel will provide you and your writing what you need via email or phone. Many will allow you to schedule a phone consultation and provide a brief description of your writing needs you can submit before the call.

Do You Have a Plan?

Know what you’re looking for in a Writing Coach and your SPECIFIC needs before contacting them. “I want to write a novel” is too vague, as is “I want to write better.” Do you need help staying on track and writing every day? Do you want to write a certain number of words or pages a week? Are you having a creative block and need help getting though it?

These are all specific areas a Writing Coach can help you with, but make sure you can clearly explain what your goals are before you contact them.

Meeting Your Needs

You have needs and goals with your writing, and the Writing Coach you choose also must be on board with your goals and objectives. Through initial research, you can figure out who is best suited to help you out, but also ask them questions to ensure you are on the same page.

It won’t help you if they aren’t focused on helping you achieve your writing goals, so make sure they clearly understand your needs and see if they are willing to help you reach your goals.

How Motivated Are You?

Hiring a Writing Coach means you are ready to commit to a schedule and coordinate with them to ensure they get what they need from you. Are you willing to challenge yourself and be motivated to complete the goals you have given yourself? If you have committed to the Writing Coach and yourself to write 5,000 words weekly, are you prepared to follow through?

Remember that a Writing Coach is worthless if you are wasting your time and theirs if you don’t fully commit and start making excuses as to why you haven’t done what you hired them to help you do.

Fitting Your Schedule

Writing Coaches are people with multiple clients who help you with your writing issues and assist you in reaching your writing goals. Make sure you have the time to dedicate to your writing goals and make time to have conversations with your Writing Coach. Some want weekly phone meetings to discuss your submitted work, and others may email pages back with notes.

Make sure you can take the needed time to meet with them and discuss your work. Don’t waste the Writing Coach’s time and yours by not committing fully to what you set out to achieve.

Fitting Your Budget

Find out how much the Writing Coach charges per week, month, or project, and make sure you can afford it. If you can’t afford to pay $200 a month for a year, figure out what you can get done within a timeframe that fits your budget.

No need to go broke, load on more credit card debt, or cause more financial anxiety in pursuing your creative goals.

Plan ahead and see what works best for you. If you can’t afford it, continue working on your writing and saving money to eventually bring a Writing Coach into your creative process.

Final Thoughts

A Writing Coach can be an excellent tool for your creative tool kit, but make sure you find one that’s right for you, fits your needs, works within your schedule, and definitely fits your budget. If you succeed, they succeed, so make sure you are focused, dedicated, and committed to making your work the best it can be.

Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!

Writing Exercise: A Mundane Task

As writers, we always look for ways to hook and excite the reader. We want to engage the audience and keep them intrigued by the story from start to finish. Whether it’s a murder mystery, an action sequence, or a knitting contest, our goal is to keep our readers turning to the next page.

And while creating excitement, conflict, and tension are built into certain events, I wondered this weekend if mundane, day-to-day activities could be written similarly.

• Pick a mundane task that everyone does (laundry, dishes, paying bills, getting gas or charging your car, etc.).
• Write it in the first-person POV.
• Take some time to write out the steps involved in the task in the order that works best for you.
• Examine the list. Are there any places where you can add excitement, conflict, or tension? Where could a problem occur that might prevent you from completing the task?
• When you set out to write the scene, be as descriptive as possible, making sure to use all five senses to transport the reader to the location and make them feel they are there with you while you undertake this seemingly tedious task.
• The task should be completed by you as the character by the end of the scene.
• See if you can write it in 500-words or less.

By taking day-to-day events and finding creative ways to twist them into a compelling narrative, you can enhance your stories and deliver page-turning narratives to your readers.

If you are working on a story, are there ways to add moments with your character doing day-to-day things that can give us insight into who they are as a person? Are there ways you can give this run-of-the-mill task a boost by having the character do it uniquely?

Readers, Have You Ever Suffered From Reader’s Block?

I recently discovered that the concept of Reader’s Block is a thing, and I was curious to learn more; and I thought we’d explore this idea together.

Let’s talk about it!

What Exactly Is Reader’s Block?

The phase Reader’s Block is attributed to The Guardian journalist Stuart Jeffries whose definition is “a difficulty readers encounter due to the pressure they feel to read critically-lauded or canonical books, even when they don’t enjoy them.”

I also found another definition by another writer who stated that Reader’s Block is “an overwhelming urge to read all the books but can’t concentrate on any of them.”

Both are interesting definitions and ones that do makes sense. Still, the second one accurately describes how most avid readers feel at least a few times a year. There are so many books and only so many hours in a year to dedicate to reading them.

My Definition

I have had what I would consider Reader’s Block, but my definition differs from the two above. Sometimes I have blown through a great book in a few days, only to have difficulty finding another book to read that grabs like the previous one. So I jump from book to book, trying to find another novel that hooks me like the last one.

When you can’t find a book that hooks you immediately and reading starts to become a chore and not enjoyable is when I feel you have Reader’s Block.

I read a lot, and when you get on a good run of books, you can easily get a Reader’s High. But when you hit a wall, and you can’t engage with a book – for whatever reason – it can be frustrating being unable to focus and get back into that mindset.

Defeating Reader’s Block

If you find yourself with any of these forms of Reader’s Block, don’t panic. Everyone has stuff going on in their lives that can make focusing on reading more difficult. So, let’s look at ways to overcome this not-so-dire problem.

Take a Break

Even if you are working on reading a certain number of books by the end of the year, take a few weeks off from reading. I’ve done this after reading a really good book in a short time. It gives your mind time to process what you’ve read and can help you make an easier transition to the next book.

Stick with the Familiar

Don’t want to take a break but still having trouble? Stick with the same author or genre. This will keep your momentum going, and if you like the author, you know you’ll have a great experience with the next book.

Re-Read Your Favorite Book

Have a favorite book? Pick it up again and re-read it. You’ll probably get something different out of it the second or third time, plus it’s a book you know you enjoy.

Switch Things Up

Or, you can shift your focus. I like to alternate between fiction and non-fiction books each time to read different genres and real-world topics.

Other Ideas

If these ideas don’t work, check out the articles below for further ways to overcome Reader’s Block:

https://baos.pub/5-uncommon-ways-to-o...


https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/h...


https://bookriot.com/is-readers-block...


https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/5...


Final Thoughts

While Reader’s Block isn’t the end of the world, it can be frustrating to deal with if you’re an avid reader. By taking small steps to resolve the problem, you can defeat this enemy of literary enjoyment and get back to what you love most: the written word.

Have you ever had Reader’s Block? How did you fight through it? Leave a comment and let me know!

Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!

Writing Exercise: Blackout Writing

As I sat down to write this post, the power at my apartment complex went out. I’m talking 100% total blackout. And being enveloped in total darkness - save for my laptop’s glowing screen – gave me an idea for today’s writing exercise.

One night, turn off all the lights in your room and sit as quietly as possible. Do this for five to ten minutes.

• Note in your head what sounds you hear.
o Do you know where the sounds are coming from?
o What else could be making those noises?

• Can you hear people talking? Can you tell what they’re saying? Their tone of voice?

• Do you smell anything?

• What images pop into your head as you sit in the darkness? Do you think you see things in the darkness that aren’t really there?

• What thoughts pop into your head?

• What ideas have arrived as you sit in the dark, still space?

• Do any noises, voices, smells, or thoughts spark any story ideas?

Once you turn the lights back on and your eyes adjust to the light, write down what you heard, smelled, and thought. Be as descriptive as possible.

Write a short story based on your experience.


Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!

Writer’s Tip of the Week: Beware of Marketing Scams Bearing False Promises – Part Two

In my last post, I talked about my experience with a very persistent caller from a book marketing firm and his sales pitch to me. Many red flags popped up, but I was curious to see what documentation he would send. We continue now with what happened once I received his email a few hours after the phone call.

The Email

Later that evening, I finally got the email. It was a note thanking me for the call and two attachments.

The first attachment was about the company and contained pictures of bookstores around New York. They were nice-looking mom-and-pop independent bookstores. And they did actually exist (I Googled the addresses under each). I was also provided with glowing Yelp reviews for one of the bookstores.

The document included the company's mission statement and main goal, which were pretty generic. It also included information about New York's bookstores, the city's population, and other basic information.

The second document was far more interesting, and why it's always good to read the fine print.

This was the Marketing Agreement. As I said before, if I committed, I would have to buy and then send the company copies of my book to sell in bookstores all around New York. If you are a self-published author, you know that when someone buys a copy of your book, several people get a cut before you get your percentage (it's the same with mainstream books as well).

Then this paragraph appeared in the agreement: "All books sold and its royalties shall be (100%) given to the author after printing cost. If the book is not published with our affiliate printer and an interested book vendor would order bulk copies of the book author shall do all the necessary legwork including order processing, delivery, shipping etc. Taxes that come after it shall be taken care by the author and his/her legal tax expert."

Wow. So, not only do I have to give you $800 to start, but I also have to get the books printed and shipped at my own expense (if I don't use their printer, which I'm guessing is also at my expense). So, if they want 100 books, and my book sells for $20, I have to pay $2000, plus taxes, shipping & handling. Now I'm out $2800+, and I haven't gotten a book in a store yet.

Oh, then to recoup some of the costs, the book has to sell, and then I have to pay taxes on the sales!

But, wait. I'm not done spending my own money yet!

Remember that $800 that was an initial fee to get things rolling? Well, it's actually rolling toward another $800 because: "SERVICE AMOUNT = $800 per bookstore"

That's right! So, if I want my book to be in bookstores all around New York, I have to pay $800 each time it goes into a new bookstore. There are 13 bookstores they use, so that would be $10,400 to put the book in all those stores.

And don't forget I would also be paying to print and ship all the copies of the book requested.

Ka-ching. Ka-ching. Ka-ching.

My Response

While I know self-publishing is a personal investment that often has little return, I'm also aware of seeing a scam when it tries to pick my pocket.

I emailed the guy back and said:

"After giving your company's offer some thought and reading through the attachments, I have decided that this is not a sound personal financial investment. I read the contract and noticed that the $800 figure quoted on the phone is now $800 per bookstore, an amount I cannot afford to invest.

I'm still a little unnerved by how your company obtained my phone number, which makes me wary of your company's proposition.

I appreciate your reaching out to me and your tenacity regarding this opportunity. I wish you and your company all the best in your future book acquisitions."

He wrote back, trying to explain away the $800 per bookstore. He then tried to call me another few times until I blocked the number.

The End.

Final Thoughts

We all want our work to be presented to the masses, consumed, and enjoyed. That's all well and good, but in doing so, you shouldn't have to max out credit cards or go into bankruptcy to get your work out there.

With no risk on their part and your money to burn, who's to say that the books end up anywhere? Sell any copies? How can you be sure that Netflix is not only interested in your book but willing to shell out $125,000 for the rights?

The whole situation is fishy. And when your gut tells you something's wrong, go with your gut.

So, remember, if you ever get a call from some company offering you all kinds of great things for your book, but you have to send them lots of money and copies of your book…hang up!


Have any of you had similar experiences? Leave a comment and let me know!

Writer’s Tip of the Week: Beware of Marketing Scams Bearing False Promises – Part One

As you’ve probably already guessed since you’re reading this on my website, I’m the author of two self-published YA novels, The Field and Midnight House.

I had an interesting experience involving one of my novels recently. I’d like to tell you what happened so you can be informed ahead of time if something similar happens to you.

The Calls

I randomly received a phone call from an unlisted number based in New York. Like most of us do when we get a phone call – whether we know the person or not – I let the call go to voice mail. A 90-second voicemail was left, so I listened.

A man from a book marketing company was very interested in talking to me about my book, Midnight House. He said his company wanted to help me get the book out to more people and that I should call him back as soon as possible.

I didn’t, at first.

I didn’t answer because I could not find any information online or on social media about the company. Needless to say, this was a definite red flag from the start.

But the calls kept coming. Every day for two weeks. Yes, even the weekend. It was the same guy, from the same number, with the same message.

When I attempted to call the number back, I received a recording that the number was out of service. Not a big confidence booster.

Probably around the fifth message, I listened closely to the background noise, and what do you think I heard? Other people were using the same script this guy was using on me. It’s funny that we don’t think about telemarketing scammers targeting niche groups of people like self-published authors. Still, I guess they hook enough people to be lucrative.

Anyway, I finally decided to stop these calls. So, the next time the guy called, I answered.

The Pitch

This man was so excited that I answered. In fact, he was overjoyed and congratulated me for publishing my book and that he had a fantastic opportunity for me.

I said okay, and let him read his script.

His company targeted a select few self-published authors with an excellent opportunity to get the word out about our books. My book, Midnight House, would be placed in bookstores all over New York City, with the potential of up to 13 stores carrying my novel.

They had a close relationship with Netflix, and my book would be made into a film, and I would get $125,000 for the rights (minus their finder’s fee, of course)!

He told me that my book was well-written and had a nice cover. When I asked him what he liked about the book, he paused and repeated the line about my book being well-written and having a nice cover.

I asked him about the first book, The Field, which is the first in the series. He said if the second one was successful, they would plan to market the first one.

And all of this could be mine for an initial start-up fee of $800.

That’s right. I send the company my account information, and they start marketing my book.

But where do they get copies of my book?

From me. Yes. I would have to send the company two copies to put in the marketing package they send out; then, if things went well, I would send them another 100 copies. All at my expense.

Persistent in getting me to jump aboard the marketing train, he wanted my account info right then and there. I told him I needed to see a contract and further info before committing to anything (I had already decided no after the first voice mail).

I gave him an email address. I then asked something I was curious about from the start of this adventure: How did the company get my personal cell phone number? It’s not on my website or on any of my social media. My publisher and the marketing firm I used to publish my book wouldn’t give out that information without asking me first.

He said they have a great team of researchers who find people’s phone numbers for them to call.

Yikes.

We ended the call, and I awaited my email.


Check back for Part Two this Monday!

Writing Exercise: What’s in a Theme?

Last time, we looked at themes and how they can be incorporated into your writing. Themes help enhance the story and its characters and can add layers of meaning to your story.

Exploring Themes

Take some time to watch your favorite movie or a TV episode and write down all the possible themes that pop out at you.

• What themes are obvious?
• What themes are subtler?
• What themes are in opposition to one another?
• How do the story’s themes enhance the story or characters?
• Are these themes you have seen many times before in other films and TV shows?

Do this with as many films or shows as you wish. You may find thematic patterns in genres as you explore.

Recycling Themes

Using those themes, think about how you could reuse some or all of them in a short story.

• Can they be presented differently?
• Are there ways to use those themes that give them more impact and meaning?
• What if you made an obvious theme subtle and a subtle theme obvious?

Write a 500-word story that uses these themes to enhance what’s happening.

Your Work

Are you working on a manuscript, a screenplay, or a play? Read through what you have and find the themes within your own work.

• Are they obvious or subtle?
• Do the themes provide greater meaning to the characters or story?
• Do you have opposing themes that enhance conflict?
• Are there ways to refine and fine-tune the themes for greater impact?


The theme is an essential element in your story. Take the time to develop and enhance your themes and take your story to the next level.

Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!