Ceara Nobles's Blog, page 7

The Top 5 Self-Publishing Mistakes I've Made (So Far)

When I first dipped my toe into the ocean that is self-publishing, I thought to myself, "How hard could this be?" You write a book, you put it on Amazon, and...

My Personal Mount Everest

Hi all! Long time no blog. My blog game has been slipping, but I'm making it a goal this year to start posting regularly again! Today is kind of a big day. For those of you who don't know, it's RELEASE DAY for ESI Book 3, LEGACY EXPOSED. I woke up this morning with butterflies in my stomach! I can't believe Owen's story is officially out in the wild. I've been calling this book my personal Mount Everest, and it honestly feels that way. Let me give you a little background. I started Owen's story more than 5 years ago. I had the whole thing plotted, planned, and half of it already written. When I decided to pursue publishing ESI Book 1 (DUAL INNOCENCE), I told myself I would focus on that and take it one book at a time. As you can imagine, I'm a completely different writer now than I was 5 years ago. When it came time to look at Owen's story again, I realized just how difficult I'd made it for myself. There were plot holes galore! One-dimensional characters. Plot points that, honestly, didn't even make sense. By the time I finished the first draft, I felt completely overwhelmed. I even considered throwing the whole project in the proverbial trash and starting over. But I had a deadline to consider, so I decided to salvage what I could. Thank goodness I did! After a lot of 12-hour days, a river of tears over my keyboard, and countless consolation chocolates, I finally finished it. And I'm SOOOO proud of the way it turned out. I think you're going to fall in love with Abby and Owen, just like I did. Now, it's time to move on to Emmett's story. Is it possible to scale a mountain larger than Mount Everest?? Here we go!

Introducing... Baby Nobles!

This year has been a little hectic for me, to say the least. I published my first novel (hello, DUAL INNOCENCE!), but that's not the only great thing to happen this year. Last month, my husband and I welcomed our sweet baby girl into the world! I'd like to introduce you to Annabelle. She joined us on June 19th - exactly ONE MONTH before DUAL INNOCENCE's release date - and we're so in love with her! People think I'm crazy for publishing a book and having a baby within a month of each other. They're not wrong. Thankfully, I was prepared for it and I had everything set up for my book publish date before Annabelle joined us. Heaven knows I wasn't able to do anything afterward! I'm still adjusting to being a full-time mommy, part-time copywriter (thank you, day job!) and an author as well. Life is crazy! But I love the chaos. The year is FAR from over. I've got more big things coming before the end of 2019, so star tuned!

Dual Innocence is HERE!

It's official! DUAL INNOCENCE is now published and out in the world. I am so thrilled with the response I've received so far. The book has 4.5 stars on Amazon! I've been dreaming of this day for YEARS. It was one of those dreams that was fun to fantasize about, but I never thought I'd actually see it come true. Then one day, I decided to make it real. That day was about 18 months ago. It started with a goal to find a literary agent. I queried for months. A few agents requested further information, but for the most part I got a bunch of "no, thank you" responses. After a bunch of research, I determined that this particular book would probably never land an agent. Why? It doesn't fit into a single genre. I've categorized it as Romantic Suspense, but most books in that genre have adult themes (aka sex scenes). This book doesn't! If I really wanted to land an agent, I could've went back and added those scenes. But it didn't feel true to the story. There's a reason I didn't add those scenes in the first place, and I don't want to add them simply because popular media told me to. But I knew the book could have an audience. There are a LOT of people out there who like romantic suspense novels, EVEN without the adult themes. If I wanted this story to see the light of day, I knew it would have to be done through self-publishing. So I did my research. For MONTHS. When I felt confident that I at least KIND OF knew what I was doing, I took the leap. I haven't looked back since. The first reviews and feedback are trickling in, and I'm so grateful to know that my instinct was right. There ARE people who love this story (besides just me!). And not just this story... I have SO MUCH more to write and share. I've got some big announcements coming soon (about the rest of the series), so stay tuned!

Calling All Readers! ARC Signups!

Are you looking for a great book to read this summer? Do you like to read in the Romantic Suspense genre? ... Do you like free stuff? (Okay, who doesn't?) I'm looking for 50 ARC readers for DUAL INNOCENCE! If you love to read, then I need your help. As an ARC reader, you'll receive a FREE advance copy of DUAL INNOCENCE, more than a month before the release date! All I ask in return is that you read it and leave me an honest review (good or bad) on release day. Reviews are EXTREMELY important to Amazon algorithms. The more reviews a book has, the more likely it is that Amazon will recommend it to other readers. Not only that, but it helps me to know what my readers think so I can continue to improve! As an author, the BEST WAY you can support me (besides buying my books, of course) is to leave reviews! Still interested? GOOD! Click HERE and enter your information to sign up! I'm only taking the first 50 readers, so act fast! Signups will close on June 8th, and I'll send out an email to my 50 readers with further instructions. Actual ARCs will be electronically sent on June 10th! That's SO SOON!! I can't wait for you guys to read it! Looking for other ways to support me? You can also pre-order the e-book version of DUAL INNOCENCE on Amazon TODAY! You can also add DUAL INNOCENCE to your Goodreads bookshelf and recommend it to your friends! Stay tuned, because there's more good news coming. (Does the good news EVER END?? Life is so great!) Talk soon! Ceara

DUAL INNOCENCE: Cover and Blurb Reveal! Pre-Order Now!

It's finally here. The official blurb and cover reveal for DUAL INNOCENCE! It's been an exciting couple weeks. I received my first proof copy of the paperback! To say the moment was surreal... would be a serious understatement. I can't even describe the feeling of seeing a story that started in my head, in paperback form, IN MY HANDS. I'll never forget it. Even if I never make a single sale of this book, it will all be worth it! Want a better look at the cover? Your wish is my command! I am so in love with it! I had a vague idea of what I wanted it to look like, and my cover designer did a great job bringing it to life. She has the patience of a saint, because I asked her for so many tweaks during the process. But it turned out so great! It really captures the essence of the story. Speaking of story, here's the Back Cover Blurb! "Everyone thinks Bellamy Burke is dead -- and she likes it that way. Bellamy’s new life in Portland is far removed from her childhood in La Conner, Washington. By day, she’s an investigative photographer, but her real income comes from buying and selling illegal goods for Portland’s criminal elite. When a murder turns the city’s most powerful criminal (and her boss) into an enemy, Bellamy is forced to turn to Chance Erickson, her childhood-crush-turned-military-man, for help. Chance Erickson spent the last ten years believing Bellamy was dead. When she barrels back into his life, very much alive, he vows to protect her this time. Chance’s company, Erickson Security, takes on the case. They soon discover, however, that Bellamy may not be innocent -- and the traumatic events of 10 years ago may not be dead and buried. To save Bellamy, Chance must unravel the mystery of her disappearance -- and Bellamy must choose between keeping the door closed on the past and trusting Chance with her future." What do you think?? Let me know in the comments below if this sounds like a story you would read!! Other big news... I just received the email that the e-book is now available for pre-order!! It's only $2.99, which is a STEAL! If you're reading this and wondering why you haven't placed an order yet, wonder no more. Click the button below to pre-order your copy now! The e-book will be automatically delivered to your Kindle on release day.... July 19th, 2019! That's right. Release day is NEXT MONTH! In all seriousness, I am EXTREMELY excited to release this story out into the world! It's been living in my head for so long... It's time for others to experience it too! I've got lots more good news coming (like ARC reader signups), so stay tuned. Thanks for joining me on this crazy ride. I'm so thankful for your continued support! Talk soon! Ceara

5 Hacks to Beat Self-Doubt

Hey there, fellow writers! Welcome to March! I don't know about you, but I'm SO ready for spring. We're still getting snow here in Utah, but the birds have started singing outside my window in the mornings, so it gives me hope that we'll thaw out soon! As you may know, I'm self-publishing my debut novel, SAFEKEEPING, later this year. Not only that, but I'm having my first baby this June (!!!). Suffice to say, this is going to be a busy year! March is especially crazy for me - I've got all sorts of publishing deadlines to meet this month, including the deadline to finish my final edits, which is in 5 DAYS! Am I panicking a bit? Oh yes. Especially considering the fact that I'm only about 1/3 of the way done. You know, as a writer, it's really easy to look at the mountain of work I have left to do and feel discouraged. From there, it's easy to fall into the trap of self-doubt. Is my story good enough to be published? Is anyone going to want to read it? Will anyone actually BUY it? Heck, am I even qualified to write this thing? Self-doubt is something I've actually really struggled with as a writer. I'm sure you can relate. Writers are supposed to be tortured souls, after all, right? Here's the problem though. If you suffer from constant doubt about your abilities, your story, and your writing, it can really affect your creativity. Not only your creativity, but your ability to move forward in your career! That's why I decided to discuss the topic this week on my #authortube account. Over the years, I've found a few hacks to help beat self-doubt and keep my writing momentum going. Watch the video to learn more!

Rewriting An Entire Novel In 18 DAYS?!

Hello, friends! Do you have a dream? Ever since I was 12 years old, my dream has been to become a published author. As I grew older, other dreams formed... things like falling in love, getting married, graduating college, and starting a family. Somehow, my writing dream was always moved to the back burner. It was too distant, too astronomical. Since it wouldn't happen anytime soon, it was easy to put off the work for another day. For my current novel, SAFEKEEPING, I tried to go the traditional publishing route first. I submitted it to agent after agent, but the manuscript doesn't quite fit into a certain category. Finally, I decided to take the self-publishing route. I am SO EXCITED! However, shortly after I made that decision, I ran into my first big roadblock. Take a gander at my weekly vlog post below to see what I'm talking about. Have you ever run into this problem during your editing process? How did you get through it? Let me know in the comments below. I'd love to hear your thoughts! Until next time, happy writing!

HUGE Announcement!

Today is a great day. Do you know why it's a great day? Because I FINALLY get to share some BIG NEWS that I've been sitting on for the past few weeks. Hooray! If you've been following my journey on any of my social media accounts, you may know that I've been seeking representation for my romantic suspense novel, SAFEKEEPING. After a lot of thought and tons of research, I've decided to take a huge leap and self-publish SAFEKEEPING later this year. I cannot even tell you how thrilled I am! SAFEKEEPING is a story that's near and dear to my heart; it was my first serious pursuit of writing a novel for the sake of sharing it with the world. The idea of changing the essence of the story in order to fit with traditional publishing genre standards really didn't sit well with me. I can't tell you the exact release date yet (more info on that coming soon), but I DO have some other exciting news! I started an #authortube YouTube account. Starting this week, I'm going to release videos every Monday documenting my journey to self-publishing my first novel. They're going to be pretty informal, and I'll go over the lessons I'm learning each week about self-publishing, as well as behind-the-scenes information about SAFEKEEPING and my other works in progress. I'm so excited to get started on this adventure. Big things are on the horizon, and I'm inviting you to come along with me for a crazy ride! If you haven't already, now would be a great time to subscribe to my mailing list (just click here) and also head over to my YouTube channel and subscribe there too. Also, let me know below! What are your first thoughts about the idea of self-publishing? How about YouTube as a way to see behind the scenes? I'd love to hear your thoughts! As always, thanks for reading. We'll talk again soon!

10 Hacks to Beat Writer's Block

The arch nemesis of all writers. It strikes without warning. It leaves you staring at your screen, paralyzed, for minutes, hours, MONTHS (sob) at a time. You could be writing the next great novel, a school essay, an email, or even a text message. Can you guess what I’m talking about? Oh, all right, the title gave it away. It’s writer’s block. We all know what it is. We all know how to avoid it (in theory). And yet, it happens to EVERY single writer I know. You could be writing your first book or your millionth book. You could be unpublished or a New York Times Bestselling Author. I have a confession to make. I’m writing about this topic today for my own benefit. If you follow me on social media, you may know that I’ve been on a writing hiatus for the past couple months. I recently shared the great news that I’m pregnant (yay!) and expecting my first baby in June 2019. During my first trimester, I was VERY sick and I spent most of my time in an exhaustion-and-nausea-induced stupor. As a result, I haven’t written a single word. … At least that’s what I’ve been telling everyone. In reality, that’s not the reason I haven’t been writing. The real reason is because every time I open Scrivener, I stare at the screen for an hour before I finally close my laptop and walk away. I’ve been stuck on the same scene for months, you guys. MONTHS. I know you guys feel my pain. You’ve probably been there before. Despite knowing all the “textbook” ways to kick writer’s block to the curb, I still find myself staring at the same sentence I wrote in September. So! I’m writing this blog post in the hopes that one of these hacks will give me the kick in the butt I need to get writing again! I have a goal to finish this never-ending draft and have first edits finished by the time Baby Girl comes in June. In order to do that, I’m going to have to actually write some words at some point. With that said, let’s do this. Here we go! 1. Nip Perfectionism In The Bud Perfectionism isn’t a bad thing. It helps you strive to be a better writer. But sometimes, in the creative stage, it can paralyze you. If you’re constantly worried about making sure your draft is right the first time, you may find that you’re having a hard time finishing the draft at all. Try separating your writing and editing stages. Make it a policy not to re-read your draft until you’ve reached “The End.” Release the pressure you’re putting on yourself and lock your self-editor in the closet until you’re ready for him! 2. Acknowledge Your Fears Often, writer’s block is caused by fear. What are you afraid of? Are you afraid you’re not good enough? Afraid of what others will say about your work? Afraid that the story isn’t living up to its full potential? It’s okay. It’s normal, and we’ve all been there. Acknowledge what you’re afraid of, and realize that fear isn’t a bad thing. If anything, it makes you work even harder, and hard work leads to success. The takeaway? Fear = Success. Now get writing! 3. Phone A Friend If you’ve been trying to think your way out of a problem in your writing and you’re not getting anywhere fast, try asking a friend for help. I use my husband for this. Just sit them down and explain what you’re writing and why you got stuck. Often, the act of thinking through the scene and explaining it to another person can crack the wall standing between you and inspiration. And, hey, your partner may even have some good ideas to bring to the table! 4. Create Something Else Have you pursued any other creative outlets lately? Get those creative juices flowing! Color a picture, rearrange a room in your house, paint a picture, or organize your closet. Give your brain a break from that writing creativity and let yourself focus on something else. 5. Change It Up Sometimes the easiest way to break out of your writing rut is to change your routine. Do you normally write in your office? Write on the back patio or in a coffee shop instead. Write in the morning instead of at night. Listen to different music. Try writing in a notebook instead of on your laptop. The point here is to change your routine in the hopes that it will break something loose and give you some inspiration! 6. Start In The Middle Or the end. Or anywhere else except where you’re stuck. If you’re stuck on a certain scene, skip ahead and write a scene you’ve already thought about. Once you get in the groove, you may find that you know exactly how to resolve the problem with the scene you’re stuck on. 7. Write Something Else Sometimes your work in progress just needs to marinate a little longer. Keep yourself in the writing habit by writing something else instead. If you’re working on another project, spend some time on that one. If you’re a one-project kind of writer, try doing some free-writing on back story for the world or one of the characters. This will keep you in the world you’re writing in, but you won’t be trapped by your current plot problems. 8. Take A Break If you’ve been forcing yourself to stare at the blank screen every day with nothing to show for it, consider taking a break. Let things marinate and see what happens. Maybe your brain just needs a little longer to resolve the plot problems. There’s nothing wrong with that -- just don’t let your break go on for too long! 9. Get Moving Sometimes all it takes is a little activity to get your mental gears churning. Try going for a walk or going for a swim - whatever you like to do to get your body moving. Let your subconscious work on your story for a bit. When you come back, you may find that the writer’s block has vacated the premises! 10. Surprise Yourself Inspiration is a strange, mysterious thing. We don’t know what sparks it, but new experiences are a pretty good guarantee! Do something that scares you. Go see a random movie. Read a book in a new genre. Visit a friend you haven’t seen in a long time. Do the unexpected. The Take-Away Long story short, writer's block doesn't have to get the best of you! There are lots of easy hacks that you can use to kick it to the curb. If one doesn't work, try another! If you’ve made it this far, thank you! I hope you’ve found this list as inspiring as I have. I can already think of a few things I’m going to try so I can break myself out of this writing funk. Let's get out there, and GET WRITING! That being said, I’d love to hear from you! Are there any hacks you use that I missed? Share them in the comments below! Let’s get a conversation going.