S.A. Crow's Blog, page 10

Why We Write

Why do you write? Do you ever wonder why your favorite authors write? Let’s explore why writers write, and how some become authors and others don’t.

Why do writers write? The psychology behind both creative and technical writing.

One of my favorite writing educators online is K. M. Weiland and if you aren’t following her ,newsletter you should. She wrote an article ,4 (Possible) Reasons Why We Write

She found that what the compulsion to write is ineffable (too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words) isn’t that a great word. We just do it and we all have our own reasons. I found a book on Amazon ,Why We Write: 20 Acclaimed Authors on How and Why They Do What They Do by Meredith Maran. Contributing authors include:

Isabel Allende

David Baldacci

Jennifer Egan

James Frey

Sue Grafton

Sara Gruen

Kathryn Harrison

Gish Jen

Sebastian Junger

Mary Karr

Michael Lewis

Armistead Maupin

Terry McMillan

Rick Moody

Walter Mosley

Susan Orlean

Ann Patchett

Jodi Picoult

Jane Smiley

Meg Wolitzer

But back to ,K. M. Weiland’s 4 (Possible) Reasons Why We Write Writing joins us to a community of the link and unlike Writing lets us unmask ourselves... to ourselves. Writing Tells us Who we are and what life we’re living Writing lets us speak the truth.,The University of Nottingham of the UK attempts to give a more concrete reason why we write.

“The primary reason for writing anything is to communicate with others, to stimulate interest or action from the reader. You may also use writing to help you to reflect on your experiences and learn from them. While at University a key way of assessing the progress and learning of students is via the written work you produce.When we write, therefore, we are either writing for ourselves or we are writing for others.

Writing for ourselves

When we write for ourselves it helps us to think, learn and understand. Writing for ourselves is a private affair though it may be shared with others.

Writing for others

When we write for others it is usually for assessment or publication for a wider readership”

They give a few key benefits to writing

It is fixed and is therefore more permanent and you can keep going back to the piece to gain benefit from a reread. Looking at what you’ve written can help you learn more about your writing style. You are able to re-draft and refocus your message unlike spoken communication. Writing is something that you can constantly learn from, and cumulatively feedback and reflection can help you develop as a writer. Writing sometimes has more impact than other forms of communication.Colleen of Inspired Forward wrote an article ,30 reasons why writing is important in 2019 Writing is an essential communication skill Writing every day builds discipline Creative writing engages both sides of the brain It helps you think through problems Written word influences society We wouldn’t have our history without writing Everyone has a book inside of them Journaling benefits mental health You’re more likely to achieve written goals Improvements come from practice Well-written works are respected more All excellent communication stems from excellent writing Your thought will be more organized It gets your to-dos out of your head Writing clarifies your ideas for yourself and others The audience matters Writing forms bonds with others Writing is a legitimate career Writing is an important work skill Written reflection helps us define better paths forward Writing your fears and worries shrinks their impact Concise writing quickly transmits ideas Writing cements ideas Regular writing improves vocabulary and other communication skills For some, writing is a fun pastime Writing lets you explore other options Understanding how to write can help you read between the lines Every single company needs good writers Writing improves social skills No one else can write like youWant to write your novel in just two months? Join the 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge!

Author and editor Halie Fewkes (also my book editor!) hosts the ,60-Day Novel Writing Challenge four times a year.

Participants can upgrade to Professional Premium for group accountability coaching with me, and a chance for 1:1 attention on your mindset about writing.

,Click here to join the waitlist!

Why do some writers become authors but others don’t?

Sharon Zink wrote an article about this very subject, 97% of Writers Never Finish Their Novels: Here’s Why

Starting a novel when you’ve never even finished a short story before. Personally I disagree with this one because most of us have been in some form of education and I’m sure we’ve asked to write poems, short stories, and essays as an assignment. Also this doesn’t take into fact that a short story format is handled differently than a novel or novella format. Just kinda sorta wanting to write a book. I agree I’ve heard that the difference between a writer and a author is that the author sits in the chair even when the writing gets hard. Like any other form of skill it requires regular discipline. Thinking planning is for towns not books. I agree this kind of thinking does make writing a novel difficult. Yes some authors are successful pantsers (fly by the seat of their pants writers) often these authors have several books under their belt. It is suggested to plan out your novel there is a lot of prep work that goes into preparing for a successful novel. Believing that because you write, you need and deserve to be published. I disagree anyone has the right to be published hince the indie publishment movement yes some authors need to work on their developmental editing, line editing, and general editing but that doesn’t mean their dream isn’t achievable. ,How 9 Great Authors Almost Failed & Why You Shouldn’t Throw In The Towel Just Yet ,Get Inspired By These Author Success Stories ,10 Famous Authors Who Never Graduated from College

,NaNo Prep

Are you getting ready to write with us this November? Check out all our NaNo Prep resources.

• How to Participate in NaNo Prep 101

• The Official Calendar

• NaNo 2022 Banners & Flair

• The NaNo Prep 101 Weekly Breakdown

On the Wings for Writers Event Calendar join us on Discord, Facebook, IG, and Twitter. Sign up for the Newsletter here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSmYQ7jSmx8

If you are an author and would like to join the giveaway sign up here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV8SqR1FgX0

What are your August plans?

Mine are

-Developmental Edits for If the Seas Catch Fire

Fall Giveaway for On the Wings for Writers

Giveaways and the different types you can take part in.

Giveaways come in so many flavors. Goodreads giveaways, Single Author Giveaways, Multi-author giveaways by genre or other, Social media specific giveaways, and more.

Goodreads are easy giveaways ,https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway?sort=featured can be found here. Single Author Giveaways are often in authors’ newsletters and their social media. Multi-author giveaways by genre or others can be found in some of your favorite authors’ newsletters or search giveaway and your favorite genre. Social media specific giveaways are the ones we are going to cover today.

Social media specific giveaways are giveaways done by a group on a social media platform of their choice. Usually it contains a large group of authors offering giveaways of their books, swag, and gift cards.

According to my writing groups twitter poll on what readers want to get from giveaways

Our group giveaways and how they work.

If you are an author and would like to join us in the giveaway fill out this form here.

If you are a writer and would like to build your base join us and fill out this form here.

If you are a reader and want to get some great items from new authors, join our Facebook group today because our giveaway is a one day event and you don’t want to miss it.

Why should you take part in a giveaway if you are an unpublished writer?

Building a community around your writing before you publish is a great idea. These readers become invested in your project and can’t wait for it to come out and it can increase your preorder numbers. Sign up for our giveaway today. It's free to sign up.

Why do you want to join a giveaway if you are a published writer?

Marketing is difficult, especially as your books publish date passes. Increasing readership is a great reason to take part in as many giveaways as you can. Sign up for our giveaway today. It's free to sign up.

Why do you want to check out giveaways as a reader?

Finding new authors is always a hunt for avid readers and giveaways are a great way to add to your hunt list. Join our Facebook group today so you don’t miss our giveaways and news from our authors.

What I'll be giving away during the event on August 28th, 2022

Free ebooks both Into the Fire and The Fire Inside

Book swag

Free gift certificates from my writing coaching and writing workshops

News!

Love Rules draft is past the 20k word mark, I'm catching up to where I should be, but I'm not worried.

Castlevania

The Curse of Oak Island

Swamp People

Author Spotlight

Author Interview-Selina

We were lucky enough to interview Selina Fenech last month. Sadly my recorder program lost the recording of the interview so here is Plan B. I’m honored to introduce you to this amazing artist and author from Australia.

Born in 1981 to Australian and Maltese parents, Selina lives with her family near Sydney, Australia. During her life Selina has found ancient Roman treasure, survived cancer, had knights joust at her wedding, earned a living from her art by age twenty-three, eaten every bizarre and wonderful food put in front of her, written numerous novels and painted hundreds of artworks.

I first found Selina Fenech through her artwork. I have one of her coloring books and thought I would look the artist up and open a Pandora’s box of goodness.

Not only does she have art books, coloring books, and novels, but also so much more.

Art Prints and Originals Coloring Canvases Framed Prints Clothing Gifts & Homeware Stationery [image error][image error][image error][image error][image error]Novels:Beshadowed

Urban Fantasy series the newest just dropped in early July of 2022

https://youtu.be/9h07_N7Yu0w Empath Chronicles

If you like non-stop action, super-charged romance, and dire consequences, then you’ll love this young adult superhero series from award-winning author Selina A. Fenech.

Fairy Tale Retellings

A Cage of Gold and Lies: A Rumplestiltskin Retelling

In this modern day, urban fantasy retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, can a young woman escape a cage of gold and lies?

Growing up on the streets, Zari used to dream of a fairytale ending.

Until she found out that magic was real, and witnessed the horrible consequences. On that day she learned that the billionaire who lords over the city keeps people with the gift of magic as his personal slaves. And none can escape him alive.

When Zari's drunken father boasts that "his daughter" has magic, Zari will do anything to protect her little sister. Even take her place as a slave.

But how long can she survive the billionaire's cruel tests and tasks when she can't cast a single spell?

HeartsBlood

Actress Kaitlyn French only took the role of ‘vampire’s sexy victim’ because she needed the cash. It turned out to be the role of a lifetime. Held at the mercy of a real vampire who thinks she’s the tastiest of them all, Kaitlyn is sure she’s hit rock bottom. She’s wrong.

Vampire factions fight over Kaitlyn’s unique blood and what it can do. Facing a future she never imagined is hard. Escaping a horde of hangry vampires is even harder. Will Kaitlyn win her freedom before she is drained dry?

You’ll love the brooding vampire men, heart-racing action, and fairy tale ending a twist in this fresh and fun vampire series.

Memory’s Wake

The award winning, illustrated young adult fantasy series by Selina A. Fenech

https://youtu.be/ddvcFOCBA7k

We talked about her favorite characters in her novels, how she got started, and her writing process.

I’m so glad we get to share this amazing person with you all. Check out her page, shop, books, and more here.

You can find Selina on social media

Facebook

Youtube

Instagram

Twitter

8 Best Resources for Writing

What is your image of a writer?

They often show us the writer hunched over a typewriter or laptop, an amber liquor in a crystal cut class, and typing away in the media. Nothing could be further from the truth for many of us.

What does your average writing day look like? Mine, I have a writing program pulled up that keeps distractions down, a playlist filling my headphones, a mug of English Breakfast and cream tea beside my keyboard. A list of my novel’s characters on the clipboard tacked to the wall for quick reference. I also have a few web resources pulled up to help with certain parts of showing vs. telling.

That is just one version of a writer. You will encounter as many versions as there are authors. With their traditions, rituals, and needed resources. Today we are going to chat about 8 of my favorite writing resources you can benefit from.

What do I mean by writing resources?

Resources: to provide (a person or organization with materials and other assets necessary for effective operation.

Writing resources are materials and other assets that help you with becoming a better writer or make writing a novel, article, poem, ect easier. Many writers and authors have made resources to help others to up their game. Here are a few of my favorites.

What resources could you benefit from? yWriter “yWriter is a free word processor that breaks your project into chapters and scenes. It is intended to help you keep track of your work, leaving your mind free to create.” “yWriter's has projects, classes and functions while we have novels, chapters and scenes, but the idea is still the same: it's much easier to manage a large, complicated project by breaking it into smaller pieces.” I’ve been using yWriter for a few years now. Some describe it as Scrivener, but free and easier to use. The reports and word count display are wonderful. I talk more about yWriter in this blog post ,https://shirleycrow078.wixsite.com/authorscrow/post/what-writing-software-to-use-for-your-next-project What Writing Software to use for your Next Project. You can take a workshop on yWriterGoogle Docs I’ve had a Google email and documents since the early 2000s. I back up all of my work with Google Docs. EADEVERELL.COM has a great Google Docs for Writers https://www.eadeverell.com/google-docs/ Generators There are generators for just about everything but I find this one works for me when I need a quick picture of a character RanGen’s Appearance Generator https://www.rangen.co.uk/chars/appgen.php Notion With Notion, all your work is in one place. Get started for free. Like a cross between Evernote and Excel. I use EADEVERELL.COM’s NaNoWriMo template and updated it to work for Camp and my needs. I also use Writer’s Notebook Template V2 by R. A. Myers There is also a blog post on Notion here https://shirleycrow078.wixsite.com/authorscrow/post/notion-for-writers One Stop for Writers This storehouse of creative information is the inspiration behind One Stop For Writers®. Like a library, One Stop houses a vast collection of reference materials that are intended to help writers improve their craft. Our library is loaded with one-of-a-kind story and character planning resources unlike anything else available. Our goal is simple: help writers like you find the information and inspiration necessary to elevate your storytelling, saving you time in the process. After all, isn’t your energy best spent doing what you do best—creating enthralling fiction your readers will love? https://onestopforwriters.com/thesaurus The Descriptive Thesaurus books Often called the “gold standard” of writing guides, the Writers Helping Writers thesaurus collection is available in eight languages and has sold over 750,000 copies. These books are used in universities and by editors, agents, writing coaches & authors all over the world. ( More on what’s being said about our resources.) Our books are available at all major online retailers, can be ordered by bookstores, or can be purchased directly from us. https://writershelpingwriters.net/bookstore/ EADEVERELL.COM Prowriteaid Prowriteaid has 20 In-Depth Writing Reports Go Way Beyond Grammar ProWritingAid has more writing reports than any other editing software. The editing tool highlights elements like repetitiveness, vague wording, sentence length variation, over-dependence on adverbs, passive voice, over-complicated sentence constructions, and so much more. https://prowritingaid.com/ What resources do you use already? I would love to learn some new resources.

The biggest resource I use. On the Wings for Writers Discord writing group. I’ve talked about finding the right Writing Group for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UxQocRdxH8

,https://onthewingsforwrite.wixsite.com/on-the-wings-for-wri

,https://www.instagram.com/onthewingsforwriters/

,https://www.facebook.com/Onthewingsforwriters-102904492350627/

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20 Podcasts You Should Listen to if You're a Writer

Podcasts have become the new radio, newspaper, and public access television. Today you can find a podcast for almost anything that excites you. We are going to look at 20 podcasts that writers should listen to today.

Learning from other authors.

Being a writer can feel a little lonely and like you are kayaking down a river with no map. That is where learning from other writers and authors can come in handy. They can help you learn the craft, expand your craft vocabulary, learn the publishing world in and outs, and best of all tips and tricks.

20 podcasts you should listen to today. Badass writer podcast by Kathleen Foxx ,https://kathleenfoxx.com/badasswriters-podcast/ The Creative Penn Podcast for Writers by Joanna Penn ,https://www.thecreativepenn.com/podcasts/ Beyond the Screenplay by Michael Tucker ,https://anchor.fm/beyondthescreenplay Fiction Writing Made Easy by Savannah Gilbo ,https://www.savannahgilbo.com/podcast Writing Excuses by Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Can Wells, and Howard Tayler ,https://writingexcuses.com/ Write-minded: Weekly Inspiration for Writers by Brooke Warner and Grand Faulkner ,https://podcast.shewrites.com/ Write Now with Sarah Werner ,https://www.sarahwerner.com/podcasts/ DIY MFA Radio by Gabriela Pereira ,https://diymfa.com/diy-mfa-podcast 10 Minute Writer’s Workshop by New Hampshire Public Radio Grammar Girl Quick & Dirty Tips for Better Writing ,https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl Story Grid Podcast by Shawn Coyne ,https://storygrid.com/category/podcasts/ Storyzfromyhair ,https://anchor.fm/lucie-chihandae Inside Writing by Gotham Writers Workshop ,https://anchor.fm/inside-writing The Shit No One Tells you About Writing ,https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1309201 The Writing Coach Podcast with Rebecca L. Weber ,https://writingcoachpodcast.libsyn.com/ The Writer Files by Kelton Reid ,https://rainmaker.fm/series/writer/ The Writers’ Co-op by Jenni Gritters and Wudan Yan ,https://www.thewriterscooppod.com/ Dead Robots’ Society ,http://deadrobotssociety.com/ The Every Day Novelist ,http://everydaynovelist.com/episode-listing/ Author Your Dream by Kenny MacKay ,https://authoryourdream.com/episodes/

If you would like to find more FeedSpot has a list of 70 Writing Podcasts here

Other podcasts to listen to based on your genre.

Ah, genre is a fascinating thing, isn’t it? Some of us write romance, mystery, suspense, thriller, and fantasy. Try looking for podcasts that match your genre of choice and see how they can inspire you. Remember, some of the best stories in the last millennium have been based on true events with some artistic license.

I write romantic suspense and urban fantasy noir mystery. Here are some podcasts I listen to for inspiration.

Invisibilia by NPR ,https://www.npr.org/programs/invisibilia Aaron Mahnke’s Cabinet of Curiosities ,https://www.grimandmild.com/curiosities Lore by Aaron Mahnke ,http://www.lorepodcast.com/about Astonishing Legends by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess ,http://www.astonishinglegends.com/ Family Secrets by Dani Shapiro ,https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-family-secrets-30131253/ Family Ghosts by Sam Dingman ,http://familyghostspodcast.com/ Crime Junkie by Audiochuck ,https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/ International Infamy with Ashley Flowers ,https://www.parcast.com/ Morbid: A True Crime Podcast ,https://art19.com/shows/morbid-a-true-crime-podcast Anatomy of Murder by Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi and Scott Weinberger ,https://anatomyofmurder.com/ Cold Case Files by A&E ,https://www.aetv.com/shows/cold-case-files-2017/pages/cold-case-files-podcast Casefile True Crime ,https://audioboom.com/channel/casefile-true-crimeWhat are your favorite podcasts?

Circe on audiobook so I can be prepared for our next Writing Retreat location.

Check out our book club meeting on the 29th

Why you should try new things at each writing phase.

Why you should try new things at each phase of your writing, push yourself as an author. Find out the signs that you might need to push yourself and things to watch out for if you are pushing too hard. Let’s all become better authors and writers together.

Why should you try new things each time you start a new phase?

Each time I start a new writing project, I do research. Not just research on how to write the tropes I’ll be dealing with or my character’s MBTI. I also research new craft techniques, new ways to outline a novel, or how to find my ideal audience. When I start the revision phase and editing phase, I research new techniques because these phases are the bane of my existence. So why do this? If things have worked in the past, why change things? Because there is a difference between being in the groove and stagnation.

Signs you might be stagnate

The fog of dullness and going through the motions

Being bored by the process, feeling like there is no challenge

Looking for other things to do than work on your project.

Some things to consider

Doing the same thing can cause stagnation We want to be better authors and some of that requires learning from others Pushing yourself can cause you to be a better artist Keep your characters and stories fresh and exciting Try something new and make it work with what you know works for you Find other ways to be creative and incorporate them into your daily routine Painting Sketching Soft crafts Journaling Pen pal letters photography Take a class, watch other authors on YouTube Try some challengesBe careful, though, you don’t want to push too hard.

If you have any of these physical symptoms, you might have pushed yourself too hard

Exhaustion or sleep issues arising from your work Frequent illness Headaches and stomachaches

Here are some emotional symptoms to watch out for:

Feeling overwhelmed Forgetting things Feeling stressed, anxious, or angry Feeling sad, depressed or in despair Relationship symptoms Frequent fighting Lashing out at others Isolating yourself or feeling like you aren’t social enough Taking offense too easily

Spiritual symptoms

Destructive habits Skipping spiritual time Feeling guilt or feeling distant from your spirituality

Practical symptoms

Mistakes at work Financial problems like overspending and late bills A messy home Falling behind at work or school

Maybe take some time and regroup. Remember that a project can wait, but the joy of living can’t. Take care of yourself first before you can give any of yourself to others or your art.

What am I trying this time?

I tried a few new things this time, like the Mott method outline. I’m working in a new sub genre which causes me to have 3 main POV’s instead of my usual 2. The town is going to be a character itself and I’m researching making the environment a character.

What am I working on?

Love Rules

A Romance suspense, reverse harem, motorcycle club, novel set in Southern Louisiana. It has a friends to lovers troupe as well.

[image error][image error][image error]How you can follow me on NaNoWriMo.

If you are taking part in Camp NaNoWriMo this July, you can find me and ask to be a buddy. My username is SACrow just send me a friend request.

What does the Creative Process Look Like?

The creative process is as beautiful and complex as we are. It’s helpful to learn how others work in the same art field as you, so you can learn from others, but use them in ways that work best for you. I love sharing my process with others and learning how others find inspiration.

The beautiful differences in the creative process.

I’m lucky that I live with two other writers and we all three handle writing differently from each other. That is the best thing about having writing buddies: they help you see the world differently.

For example: the first writer in the house starts with a vague idea of the direction of their novel. Finds the plot and characters as they sketch out scenes.

The second writer knows who the killer is and how they did it, but has to find everything else along the way.

Your process doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s reaching the same place.

There are many ways to write and find your way to finishing a draft. Don’t let anyone tell you that your path there is wrong. It’s okay to try out new outlining methods because you never know when you're going to stumble onto something that can help you in the long run. But if something works, don't fix it, use it.

My process with my current work in progress as an example.Work in Progress

Summary

Bridget, known throughout town as Boss, and Bee to her friends. Grew up fighting for those who no one else cared about. She knows what it is like to survive on your own wits. In the run-down trailer park in Southern Louisiana, Bee takes the unwanted and neglected children and creates a family and builds an empire. Owning half the town and the President of her own motorcycle club, she has power, respect, and a name for herself. There is no place in her life for love, no place for weakness, especially when a rival MC is trying to encroach on her town. But can love strengthen her?

Quinn has been Bee’s right hand since the beginning except for that short four years he went away to the military. He has also been in love with her for almost as long. Being her VP in the MC has been his only avenue to care for his badass boss and greatest desire. He watches her care for everyone in town, but neglects herself at every turn. When a friend Jack from his military days comes to town seeking work, Quinn sees a chance to love and take care of Bee in more ways than one.

Jack met Quinn when they were 18 and hell on wheels. One drunken night, Jack admits his deepest desires to share a woman with another man and Quinn shares his deepest love for his childhood sweetheart. Jack wants to meet Quinn’s badass woman and when he is drifting between jobs, comes and sees for himself if she just might be the one for him too. Taking a job as a male stripper at Boss’s club and a mechanic at her shop. Jack is just in the right spot to help Quinn capture Bee’s heart.

Can Bee trust these men can love her and not take her power? Will they help make Bee strong enough to handle the danger facing her and her town? Can these men show her she can have respect, power and love too?

Character Study and why I start with Characters

I love to start with characters. To me, the Characters are the most important story item. I use Myers Briggs Personalities to make my characters.

More about Myers Briggs 16 personalities

Myers-Briggs, also known as (MBT, is a self-report questionnaire that assigns you one of the four categories that make up one of the 16 MBT personalities.

Introversion or extraversion, sensing or intuition, thinking or feeling, judging or perceiving.

ISTJ - Inspector

ISFJ - Protector

INFJ - Counselor

INTJ - Mastermind

ISTP - Crafter

ISFP - Composer

INFP - Healer

INTP - Architect

ESTP - Promoter

ESFP - Performer

ENFP - Champion

ENTP- Inventor

ESTJ - Supervisor

ESFJ - Provider

ENFJ - Teacher

ENTJ - Fieldmarshal

K. M. Weiland at Helping Writers become Authors has an article on 5 ways to use MBT for characters

The idea and putting it in order.

Once I have my characters ready, I usually have thought about the plot for months to years. I often play the plot with the characters in my head like a movie, trying things out in the safety of my mind before I write things down.

My next step is making an outline or synopsis.

I use the snowflake method to make a synopsis that I can use to build on for the story. A synopsis is basically the story in a nutshell, giving nothing away. You might ask yourself what the snowflake method is.

The snowflake method is one of the many outlining methods in use by writers. It was created by the software engineer and bestselling author Randy Ingermanson ,https://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/

I stop on step 4 and that is my synopsis for the story. You can continue through all 10 steps and have a draft.

Setting up my space.

I like to get a new candle to light while I write. I clean my office space. Make a list of known characters and tape the list to the wall next to me.

The plan of attack.

Making a plan of attack is important to me. If I’m drafting, I usually draft at least 50,000 words minimum. I calculate how many words I’ll need to draft every writing day for me to finish my goal by the deadline I set for myself.

I inform my house that I’m going to be drafting a novel so I can prepare them for my state of mind and my needs.

I make a list of non-food related rewards for milestones.

I make sure I have plenty of English Breakfast tea and healthy snacks on hand.

If you would like to see more of my plan of attack you can check out this blog post

What is your creative practice for drafting, revision, editing, or more? Do you have any writing rituals? Did you pick up any new ideas to try out in your creative process from this blog post? I would love to hear about your process and share it in the comments below.

Are you a lover of Fantasy stories with strong female leads, chaotic magic, handsome princes, and loads of amazing side characters?

Then The Head, the Heart, and the Heir is for you!

Now available on Kindle Unlimited, and ebook on Amazon, the paper versions will be out on August 2nd.

See the blurb below for more info, and go to AliceHanov.com to see troupes and content warning if needed!

BLURB:

From Book 1: One Princess Secreted Away. Two Kingdoms in Peril. Three Will Rise.

Princess Elizabeth wants nothing more than to be reunited with her father, her kingdom, and her people. Instead, she’s spent the last twelve years in the forest, hiding from her grandfather, who killed her mother while she looked on.

Then the only heir to the Kingdom of Warren is discovered by her childhood playmate and crush, now the Crown Prince of the allied Kingdom of Datten, and everything changes. Her grandfather has died, which means it’s safe for her to return to her kingdom in advance of her seventeenth birthday…when sorcerers like her manifest their powers.

But the girl who now calls herself Alex is nothing like the lost princess the kingdom remembers. She’s headstrong, fearless—and already wields powers beyond everyone’s wildest imaginations. She can predict the future, control the weather, make plants magically grow, and manipulate fire, abilities which cause unusual things to happen when her emotions are heightened.

As she struggles to gain control of her powers, Alex causes chaos in the castle where she’s never quite the princess they want her to be. When she uncovers the secret behind her lineage and the murder of her mother, Alex’s powers threaten to destroy everyone around her, including her father, who hid the truth from her for so long.

Alex doesn’t want to be feared or controlled. She’s not the type to stand by and let someone else decide her fate—but is she strong enough to turn her back on the only family and friends she has left?

Let's go Camping

Camp July Prep

My next writing project is writing something completely different from the romance series I’ve been working on. You can get the first two books of my series here.

Authors often need to write something different to keep their mind active and keep themselves excited about writing. I’m glad that the Fire series is a different couple in each book with a connecting group and storyline throughout. Today I’m going to talk about the story I’ll be drafting in July. What Camp NaNoWriMo is and how to prepare for it. Come, take this journey with me.

The idea.

I'll be writing my first ever Ménage or Reverse Harem romance this summer. It has a tentative title of Love Rules. I have a temp. Book cover and a synopsis.

Bridget, known throughout town as Boss, and Bee to her friends. Grew up fighting for those who no one else cared about. She knows what it is like to survive on your own wits. In the run-down trailer park in Southern Louisiana, Bee takes the unwanted and neglected children and creates a family and builds an empire. Owning half the town and the President of her own motorcycle club, she has power, respect, and a name for herself. There is no place in her life for love, no place for weakness, especially when a rival MC is trying to encroach on her town. But can love strengthen her?

Quinn has been Bee’s right hand since the beginning except for that short four years he went away to the military. He has also been in love with her for almost as long. Being her VP in the MC has been his only avenue to care for his badass boss and greatest desire. He watches her care for everyone in town, but neglects herself at every turn. When a friend Jack from his military days comes to town seeking work, Quinn sees a chance to love and take care of Bee in more ways than one.

Jack met Quinn when they were 18 and hell on wheels. One drunken night, Jack admits his deepest desires to share a woman with another man and Quinn shares his deepest love for his childhood sweetheart. Jack wants to meet Quinn’s badass woman and when he is drifting between jobs, comes and see for himself if she just might be the one for him too. Taking a job as a male stripper at Boss’s club and a mechanic at her shop. Jack is just in the right spot to help Quinn capture Bee’s heart.

Can Bee trust these men can love her and not take her power? Will they help make Bee strong enough to handle the danger facing her and her town? Can these men show her she can have respect, power and love too?

What is Camp NaNoWriMo, and when is it?

Na(tional) No(vel) Wri(ting) Mo(nth) is a non-profit organization that encourages people to write a novel in a month. They have the most well known writing event during November, but they also offer two other events in the year. Two Camp NaNoWriMo events, one in April and the other in July. Of course, you can use the page to track your writing projects all year. These events are offered to the community to help encourage you to write, revise, edit, or more. One of my favorite things about the camp events is the post card swap found in the forums here: ,https://forums.nanowrimo.org/tags/c/camp-nanowrimo/74/none

Why would you want to prepare for it?

Even if you aren’t a planner or a planster it’s a good idea to prepare for Camp NaNoWriMo during June. Here are a few ways to prepare for each kind of writer.

Decide what project you are going to work on for the event. Are you going to outline, 0 draft, 1st draft, revise, or do editing for the event? What type of writer are you? A Planner, Planster, or Pantser? The Planner:

What is your project?

What phase of the project are you going to work on?

If you are outlining you will want to check out outlining methods. Maybe create a writer's notebook. If you need help creating that, you can get my workshop on that very topic here:

If you are 0 drafting or 1st drafting, create a plan:

How many words are you looking to draft for the event? The traditional number is 50,000 words. Take a calendar for July and mark off days you know you don’t want to write or can’t write because of events or physical limitations. For instance, I will not write on Sundays and there are 5 Sundays in July 2022. I’m also giving myself 5 grace days off in case of emergencies or unforeseen things. So that makes 10 days off of 31 days.

That leaves me 31-10= 21 days to write 50,000 words

50,000/21= 2,380.9 or 2,381 words a writing day. I know it sounds like a lot, especially with 2 jobs. But I know that if I break it up in writing sprints and get up early, I can make it happen.

What kind of road map do you need to create?

Character studies Plot and subplots World building and locations Themes and symbolism Inner conflicts External conflicts Goals Writing software Scene cards Storyboard Story bible

How are you going to track your project if you are revising or editing?

For Camp in April, I set myself the goal of 1800 minutes to revise 34 chapters. I was lucky, and it took me under 1400 minutes to revise 34 chapters.

What groups do you have that can help encourage you?

The Planster:

A planster is a person who is a mix of a planner and a pantser. You like to plan more, but not too much.

What project are you planning to work on?

What phase of the project are you going to work on?

How many days do you have available? See the counts above.

What groups are you in that will help encourage you to finish your project?

Do you need to have some kind of road map?

How much work do you want to do before the event?

The Pantser

Ah, the pantser. The writer that wings it and flies by the seat of their pants. Hence the name. You still have to set up your project on NaNoWriMo to track your project so you can win goodies.

What project are you going to work on?

What stage is this project in?

Do you need a group to help encourage you?

If you are looking for a group to help, you can of course look on NaNoWriMo’s Find a region and join a NaNoWriMo group in your area. ,https://nanowrimo.org/regions/find

On the Wings for Writers Discord Writing Group

Upcoming Events:

Tonight at 5 pm Central U.S. time 1st Wednesday Discord meeting come help us make the server a place you want to hang out.

This weekend is our Retreat weekend

We have a location for next month's #virtualwritingretreat Outlander We are going to Scotland baby. If you would like to donate a prize please sign up here https://forms.gle/zQZT9aJmKFRFw5H47 If you would like to just make sure you get points so you can win prizes during the retreat sign up here https://tinyurl.com/march-retreat-signup

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/edf6c5_e23df66efaab443c8b810e7fddec9c35/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Next Wednesday is our Live Critique Read

Join me on this journey by signing up for my newsletter and you get a free copy of Home Fires when you do while supplies last.

Writing and Self-care balance

Walking the balance bar between work and self-care is difficult, but so worth it for your mental and physical health. We will discuss why you should take care of yourself, the self care, and ideas for self-care for writers/authors. Read to the end to find out about a challenge you can join.

Why taking care of yourself is important.

The self-care and mental health awareness age is where we are now. We’ve realized just how much stress will age the body and mind, causing health issues and premature deaths. We now try to eat right, watch our stress levels, and have therapists on call. All these things are wonderful when you think back to the ways we’ve handled stress and mental health in the past.

Image from The American Institute of Stress

Quiz

I got 55 on the quiz. If you tallied up a score ranging between 51 and 60, your stress level is marginal and you are bordering on being excessively tense.

One thing I wanted to work on this year is self-care and work balance.

What type of self-care do writers need?Did you know there are different types of self-care? Physical Mental or Intellectual Emotional Spiritual Social Practical Financial Environmental Occupational

Technically, we need to address all these forms of self-care, but today we are going to focus on occupational self-care for writers and authors.

Some of us are part-time writers or authors and others are full-time. It’s a good idea to see what your top priorities for your family, and/or your money day job require of you before you set up your author/writer goals. Here are some other ideas for some experts and other writers/authors.

Psychology Today has a wonderful article for Better Self Care in the Workplace. Here are their 7 steps

Set and maintain professional boundaries Balance your work schedule and life demands so no one day or one week is too much. Make time throughout the workday for intermittent self-care breaks (i.e. lunch or afternoon walk; social time with co-workers, listen to relaxing music). Create a healthy work space for yourself. Develop a short list of top priorities each day Minimize procrastination and maximize a sense of control Before committing to a project, etc. First, consider your needs and resources, and whether it will lead to overextending yourself-a sure way to compromise your self-care.

Lindsay Elizabeth of lindsay-elizabeth.com suggests.

Connect with Nature Journal daily Visualize and create a vision board Schedule “creating” hours and downtime Set aside quiet time Establish morning and evening routines Unplug Move your body Absorb art Make time to socialize Organize and declutter

Become a writer today .com has 10 ways to avoid burnout suggestions

What do your eating habits look like? How important is exercise to you? Is sleep a priority to you? What does your social life look like? Are you taking care of your mental health? Is your life simple? Are you constantly rewarding yourself? What are your hobbies? What does your alcohol consumption look like? Are you using social media mindfully?

These are some significant questions for you to examine and look into balancing.

And last but not least, multitalentedwriters.com suggests.

See your work as work. Surround yourself with supportive people; walk away from negative ones. Don’t sit on your arse all day. Budget for your health. Self-care for writers is self-care for readers (set aside reading time). Don’t forget your loved ones. But don’t forget yourself, either. Have a hobby. Self-care for writers who don’t fit the writer stereotype. Take frequent breaks.Creating your own Self-Care Plan

Process.st has 22 Self-Care Plan Checklists and Printables ,https://www.process.st/self-care-plan/

For, those of us that use Notion here are 21 free Notion templates to improve your life by Just Free slide .com

I fell down a Notion template rabbit hole researching this blog and added a habit tracker and another journal to my Notion daily items.

Challenge

This next month I am going to make a self-care kit for authors. I’ll be recording the project and sharing it on my YouTube.

I challenge you to make your own self-care kit and share it with everyone by tagging me on Facebook @crowshirley, Instagram @author_sacrow, or @sacrow14 on TikTok. Using the hashtag #writerselfcarekit2022

What do you think you will include in your kit?

What do you have in your writing space that helps you with self-care?

Upcoming Events:

May 25th

May 28th

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We will also be encouraging everyone taking part in Camp NaNoWriMo

June 1st Wednesday 6/1/22 5pm Central US time

June Retreat

What am I working on this week?

I'm taking this month off a bit and enjoying doing character profiles for my other pen name. If you would like a sample head over to Facebook and follow Ann Crow. Especially if you love Paranormal, urban fantasy, noir mystery.

Writing Coaching Program.

How to find Beta Readers

How to find and set up a Beta Read. Learn the difference between the reads a writer can use to advance their craft. Why would you want to do a beta read? How to set it up and get readers.

What is the difference between Alpha, Beta, and ARC reads?

You might have seen these terms in your favorite author’s newsletter along with a link. Or in my case, when I was just a wee writer a few years ago, seeing these terms in authors’ Instagram accounts. So here is what they mean and what they often entail.

Alpha reader: According to Blueprint Press’s article, What is an Alpha Reader?

“The alpha reader, or often called the first reader, reads the author’s work-in-process prior to finishing it. This could occur as soon as the author completes the first draft, or could be a little later. Then, perhaps, the author reads the first manuscript, makes any necessary corrections, and then shows the second manuscript to the alpha reader.

If an author uses an alpha reader, they will want them to review their manuscript before sending it to an editor (if the author has the plans of having one).

Many authors omit the usage of alpha readers entirely. If the author opts to proceed, the earlier they do it, the greater it is. The author wants to minimize the time spent refining portions that can be changed or even eliminated due to input from the alpha reader.

An optimal period to gain the alpha reader is between the start of the material and the completion of the first output. It is all up to the author. If the author wants to determine how they perform as a writer and whether the plot makes sense and is going forward in the right direction, involving the alpha reader is an excellent approach.”

Beta Reader: similar to the Alpha reader, a beta reader, reads the work for specific questions the author has. The best time to utilize a beta reader is before sending or after sending the manuscript to an editor.

ARC Advance Reader Copy: This is a reader that gets a free completed copy of the novel before its publication date so the reader can have a review ready to post when the novel goes live or for sale on sites. Often the author will give the links to certain locations they wish the review to be posted.

I know there doesn’t seem to be much difference between an alpha and beta reader, but there is a slight difference when it comes to the time to utilize that type of reader. We can use an alpha reader while you're still in the idea stage, whereas a beta reader is more useful after the first revision stage to before publication.

Why would you want to do a Beta read?

Beta readers can often catch things the author hasn’t caught, like plot holes, character deviation, sensitive issues, representation, plot choices, and twists. You can seek sensitivity readers and representation readers to give honest feedback on characters and situations in the novel.

If you would like to learn more about sensitivity and representational readers, comment below.

A beta read is often an event that requires social media marketing and a way to share the document and ask the readers’ questions. There are professional beta readers that you can hire, but most authors work out deals with readers. That gets us to our next point.

How can you set up a Beta read?

There are several ways to set up a beta read, so let’s break it down between free and not free options.

#1 establish a deadline for not only your project of setting up a beta read but also when your beta read will begin and end.

How I created beta reads in the past with 0 cost.

Start with Google docs.

Create a folder for your beta read.

I like to break my document into chapters with a questionnaire at the end of each chapter. We will get more into that in a moment. But you can also keep your document as one large document or as a safer alternative have your document as a pdf or other type of file.

Open Google forms

Create a standard question form for each chapter or the document as a whole.

Here are a few question ideas from reedsyblog’s post What are Beta Readers’ ,https://blog.reedsy.com/beta-readers/

“Questions to ask beta readers

The opportunity to find out what readers think of your book before you send it out into the world is extremely valuable. If there are specific areas of your manuscript that you're not sure about, take notes and put them on a list. If your beta readers don't mention these issues their own feedback, you can bring them up yourself. Here are a few question ideas to get you going.

⏰ Pacing

Are there any parts of the story that drag? Does each scene flow naturally into the next? Did you feel there were any areas that skipped over information? Does the pacing feel balanced — and are there any areas that are too slow or too intense? Are there any exposition dumps (places I over-inform the reader) you struggled to get through?

Worldbuilding

Can you see the world clearly while reading? Can you see the action clearly while reading? Can you see the characters clearly while reading? Can you describe what the main characters look like?

Characters

Was it clear who is talking? Does the dialogue sound natural and realistic? Does the character development feel natural? Are there any out-of-character moments? Do any of the characters feel cliche or stereotypical?

General

Who is your favorite character and why? Who is your least favorite character and why? What’s your favorite part and why? Did you have a least favorite part? What is it and why?

The more you tailor these questions to your book, the better. So instead of asking “Is there natural flow between the scenes,” look for specific scene cuts you’re not sure about and mention them specifically.”

At the top right corner of your form is a share button. Click that button to get the link address. Add that link to the bottom of your chapter or document so the reader can click and answer your questions.

Non-free options for setting up a beta read. You can use some of these to go along with the free option.

Head over to BookFunnel and get a membership ,https://bookfunnel.com/pricing/

Fill out the information and add your document to your Book Funnel

Under landing pages, you will find Email Signup pages fill in the information and include a landing page from your newsletter provider. I use Mailerlite and created this landing page.

,https://www.subscribepage.com/r6u8a3

I then collect people on my newsletter landing page for beta readers and soon I will give them the download link to the beta read when the read begins.

You can still use the Google forms to create your question form and email it to your beta readers or attach it to your document for them to click at the end.

Now that your beta document and question form are set up. It’s time to search for beta readers.

Look for readers that read your genre using social media hashtags. Example: I write romantic suspense so I would make a campaign with the hashtag #romanticsuspense or #romancereaders

Also, look for readers you wouldn’t think would read your book with hashtags like example #suspensereaders #thrillernovel #betareaderswanted these are general hashtags for the reading community and might get you readers that normally wouldn’t read your major genre.

How to get readers for your Beta read.

The first option is to ask for help from your friends and family. Message them and share your progress on your work and ask if they would like to do you a favor.

Check out writing communities on social media, twitch, discord, reddit, and tiktok. I have an article on finding writing communities, especially inclusive writing communities but here are 15 of the best online writing communities for aspiring authors.

Absolute Write Water Cooler

Beta Readers and Critique Partners Facebook Group

CP Matchmaking

Nathan’s Bransford forum

Goodreads Beta Reader Group

10 Minute Novelists Facebook Group

My Writer’s Circle

Your author's website, Facebook page, Tiktok account, Twitter, Instagram page.

Goodreads ,https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/50920-beta-reader-group

Local Writing Groups

On the Wings for Writers Critique options.

We are a writing group and offer a channel for critique help and a monthly live critique read night.

The 2nd Wednesday of the Month at 5pm Central US time.

What do you do when it’s over?

When it is all over and your readers have filled out your questions or sent you feedback. Collect the feedback and then take a break. Yes, you heard me walk away from it. Work on something else. One, you need time to not be sensitive about the feedback. When it is time to look at the feedback, be open-minded and remember that you don’t have to do everything they tell you to. Cherry pick the feedback that works for your vision of the story. Remember that it’s still your story and you will have to read it several more times before you are ready to publish it yet.

One of the most interesting things that happens is reader headcanon. Sometimes a reader will see your characters or story with their own filter and it’s exceptional to see. Often you will learn more about the reader than what they thought about the story.

Story-time

Book 2 of my Fire Series The Fire Inside is a 2nd-Chance, bodyguard, suspense, thriller, romance. I have a kidnap and rape victim as the main character. My male lead knows how to handle dealing with a victim. So he asks permission if he needs to touch her. He announces his presence often so as not to spook her. I had a reader say that him asking her if he can touch her was ridiculous. I knew then that this person has never dealt with a victim of that magnitude before.

I’m also actively trying to change the alpha male archetype in my novels. I want to show that a man can be just as manly without feeding into toxic masculine traits. This reader did not understand what I was trying to do because of their preconceived ideas of the genre. So I just enjoyed learning about the reader and what I might encounter.

I hope this blog post helped you find and set up a Beta Read. We took the time to learn the difference between the reads a writer uses to advance their craft. Why we would want to do a beta read in the first place and how to set it up and get readers. Again if you would like to learn more about sensitivity and representational readers, comment below.

My Beta Read.

Click on the image above, to go to the sign up page.

Events for Writers and Authors with On the Wings for Writers

Free StoryWolfblood by Celia Hart

The rest can be read on Goodnovel:

,https://www.goodnovel.com/book_info/31000269317/Werewolf/Wolfblood

Swamp People I'm getting my dose of Southern Louisiana

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If you feel so inclined after listening to the episode, which we hope you do, please sign this petition to deny Brian McCarthy’s parole. SIGN HERE

The Family's Facebook Page for Updates about Katy's killer's parole

Author of A Stranger Killed Katy, William D. LaRue's websiteRead A Stranger Killed Katy by William D. LaRue

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