Carma Spence's Blog, page 97
January 23, 2022
Happy National Pie Day!
Today is National Pie Day! What’s your favorite kind of pie?
Mine is Coconut Cream … but only the kind I make. I share my “secret” recipe in “Your Perfect Pie,” which is available in both eBook and physical format on Amazon: https://amzn.to/38etqS6. I’m also fond of the Cherry Amaretto pie you can find in there, too!
Mine is Coconut Cream … but only the kind I make. I share my “secret” recipe in “Your Perfect Pie,” which is available in both eBook and physical format on Amazon: https://amzn.to/38etqS6. I’m also fond of the Cherry Amaretto pie you can find in there, too!
January 21, 2022
Self-publishing vs. going with a publisher
If you've ever wondered which route is best for your book: Self-publishing vs. going with a publisher, check out this blog post.
Using my own experience with self-publishing and working with a boutique publisher, I share many of the pros and cons of each option, as well as what you can expect from both. I also touch on the third option: the Hybrid publisher. Also included are some tips on how to decide which one is right for you and your book. Enjoy!
https://authorneering.com/self-publis...
Using my own experience with self-publishing and working with a boutique publisher, I share many of the pros and cons of each option, as well as what you can expect from both. I also touch on the third option: the Hybrid publisher. Also included are some tips on how to decide which one is right for you and your book. Enjoy!
https://authorneering.com/self-publis...
January 20, 2022
National Cheese Lover Day
Today is National Cheese Lover Day. My favorite kind of cheese is 1980s made-for-TV sci fi movies. In fact, in the ‘70s and ‘80s, if John Saxon was in it, I would watch it. I know that’s not what this day is about, but I had to say it. ;-) So, what’s your favorite kind of cheese?
January 19, 2022
The mind of a cat
Edgar Allan Poe once said, “I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat.”
Sometimes I’ll watch my cat, Bold Kitty, as he hunts something I cannot see, and I'll wonder: Is he watching the movements of an insect? Or can cats really see spirits or into other dimensions? Or is he just play-acting, chasing something he’s made up in his mind like I did when I was a kid?
What does your pet make you wonder about?
Sometimes I’ll watch my cat, Bold Kitty, as he hunts something I cannot see, and I'll wonder: Is he watching the movements of an insect? Or can cats really see spirits or into other dimensions? Or is he just play-acting, chasing something he’s made up in his mind like I did when I was a kid?
What does your pet make you wonder about?
January 18, 2022
Word Geek Alert!
One of my favorite books, when I was young, was … wait for it … Roget’s Thesaurus. I still have a copy of Roget’s Super Thesaurus, although most of the time I simply refer to thesaurus.com. How do you geek out about words? #ThesaurusDay
January 17, 2022
Got goals?
Do you know how to achieve them? Two years ago, I did this Facebook Live workshop that showed you how to determine what your BIG goals were for the year *and* how to plan to achieve them. The information is still good today! Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/636192432/vi...
January 14, 2022
Hard work does not always equal worthwhile
We’re often caught up in the idea that for something to be worthwhile, it must be hard work.
And you know what, I agree much of the time. You can vision board all day but if you never do the work, you won’t see a return.
HOWEVER, I 100% believe that you can identify parts of your business where you can deploy a bit of low effort/high return…that can be so much better.
For example, I switched to Canva for creating my social media images. It used to take me 30-45 minutes to create a suite of images for a blog post, now it takes me about 10 to 15 minutes because Canva has that wonder “resize” feature in the Pro account. So very worth it! Since I was creating at least five suites of images per week, that gave me back 2-1/2 hours per week at least! More time to do more high value work or simply spend quality time with my sweetie. What a concept!
See what I mean, little thing - big results.
Where can you deploy a bit of this magic to your margins?
And you know what, I agree much of the time. You can vision board all day but if you never do the work, you won’t see a return.
HOWEVER, I 100% believe that you can identify parts of your business where you can deploy a bit of low effort/high return…that can be so much better.
For example, I switched to Canva for creating my social media images. It used to take me 30-45 minutes to create a suite of images for a blog post, now it takes me about 10 to 15 minutes because Canva has that wonder “resize” feature in the Pro account. So very worth it! Since I was creating at least five suites of images per week, that gave me back 2-1/2 hours per week at least! More time to do more high value work or simply spend quality time with my sweetie. What a concept!
See what I mean, little thing - big results.
Where can you deploy a bit of this magic to your margins?
January 13, 2022
Rubber Duckie Day!
I wasn’t much of a Sesame Street fan when I was a kid, but I was a fan of the Rubber Duckie song. In fact, I knew it by heart! What’s is one of your favorite kid’s show songs you knew verbatim when you were growing up?
In case you want to hear it, here’s Ernie singing it on Sesame Street: https://youtu.be/Mh85R-S-dh8.
In case you want to hear it, here’s Ernie singing it on Sesame Street: https://youtu.be/Mh85R-S-dh8.
January 12, 2022
Cultivate their garden
What is a garden to you? Is it a place to relax? A source of fresh produce? Where you spend your hobby time? That’s what a book can be, as well – just more portable! If you are an author, how can you help your readers cultivate the garden you put in their pocket?
January 11, 2022
Stay focused ... but don't beat yourself up
I know this is a time for New Year Resolutions. And, as an author, you may have made some writing goals as part of those resolutions. To help you stay true to the spirit of those resolutions without giving you permission to beat yourself up when life throws you a curveball that makes you stray away from, I give you the following advice:
Stay focused on your writing goals, but don’t be so married to them that they make you feel bad when life gets in the way. Many successful authors tell stories about how they became a success in a surprising way or despite what life threw at them.
Stay focused on your writing goals, but don’t be so married to them that they make you feel bad when life gets in the way. Many successful authors tell stories about how they became a success in a surprising way or despite what life threw at them.
