Rob Bignell's Blog, page 301

Five Great Quotations about Story Ideas

“The more intently you seek out story ideas, the likelier you will find them and know what to do with the ideas that you encounter - that is the most important lesson to learn about getting ideas for stories.” - Fred White

“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” - Toni Morrison

“Most of the basic material a writer works with is acquired before the age of fifteen.” - Willa Cather

“I have stolen ideas from every book I have ever read.” - Philip Pullman

“One writes such a story not out of the leaves of trees still to be observed, nor by means of botany and soil-science; but it grows like a seed in the dark out of the leaf-mold of the mind: out of all that has been seen or thought or read, that has long ago been forgotten, descending into the deeps. No doubt there is much personal selection, as with a gardener: what one throws on one's personal compost-heap; and my mold is evidently made largely of linguistic matter.” - J. R. R. Tolkien

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Washington, D.C., or a small town like Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, I can provide that second eye.

 

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Writing Inspiration: Be in right mindset

Part of motivating yourself to do anything is to be in the right mindset. Before sitting down to write today, tell yourself the following: “I am writing for my own pleasure. The more I write, the better I will get at it. If my writing today is horrible, that doesn’t matter; it soon will get better – but only if I start writing.”

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Seattle, Washington, or a small town like Uncertain, Texas, I can provide that second eye.

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Best time to post on LinkedIn

When promoting your self-published book, the social media tool LinkedIn ought to play an important role in the marketing strategy. Further, knowing when to post can maximize your efforts.

According to a number of studies, the best time to post on LinkedIn is Tuesdays through Thursdays, either at noon or at 5-6 p.m.

Of course, these times are relative. If your business is national, you need to post over a longer spread of time than just noon or 5-6 p.m. in your time zone, or you’ll miss the peak times in other parts of the country. For example, if your business is based in Chicago (Central Time), you would aim messages for the East Coast (i.e. New York City, Boston, Raleigh) at 11 a.m. and 4-5 p.m. Central Time and messages for the West Coast (i.e. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle) at 2 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. Central Time.

Bonus points to you if your post links to a site that looks good on mobile devices. That’s because 41% of visits to LinkedIn are from a mobile device with the percentage increasing.

The absolute worst time to post is Monday 10 p.m. through Tuesday 6 a.m. and Friday 10 p.m. through Saturday 6 a.m. Though people are on LinkedIn during this time, the number of users drops considerably compared to the earlier mentioned peak hours.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, or a small town like Boring, Oregon, I can provide that second eye.

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Writing inspiration: Set a goal

Sometimes to achieve a goal, we need a plan. That plan typically includes an objective and a process for reaching that goal. Before thinking about the process, though, you must have a clear goal, such as “I will publish a novel” or “I will complete my self-help book” or “I will write five short stories this year.” What is your goal as a writer?

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Oakland, California, or a small town like Goobertown, Arkansas, I can provide that second eye.

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Misheard in youth: Deep-seated vs. deep-seeded

Sometimes as authors we mishear a phrase or during our childhood our parents misuse a phrase, and then this incorrect version becomes firmly fixed in place as we write. Such is the case with deep-seated vs. deep-seeded.

Deep-seeded is the phrase you’ve probably misheard or heard being misused.

Deep-seated is the phrase you most likely want to use. It means that something is ingrained in another, as in deep-seated beliefs.

Deep-seeded works if referring to sports rankings, as in Central Southwest Los Angeles College was deep-seeded at No. 526 among the nation’s top basketball teams.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like San Jose, California, or a small town like Boar Tush, Alabama, I can provide that second eye.

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Writing Prompt: Incorporate real life

Suffering from writer’s block or need to add some spunk to your writing? The problem may be that you need to change up your routine.

To that end, try this tip: How can you incorporate “real life” into a story scene involving something that you’ve never experienced? For example, on an interstellar flight, what are the feelings of loneliness or the fear of being lost in the great emptiness that the passengers feel? Can you draw upon similar feelings you’ve felt during a long road trip across the Great Plains or a desert to make the scene in your story more real?

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like San Francisco, California, or a small town like Nimrod, Oregon, I can provide that second eye.

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Self-publishing tip: Revise by deconstructing

Editing client’s book finalist for national award

A book authored by a recent editing client of mine, Brian Strobel, has been selected as a Finalist for the 2015 Beverly Hills Book Award in the category of Business-Motivational. “Leading Change from Within” is based on the principle that the No. 1 priority of today’s leaders is managing change and offers expert advice on how to do exactly that, especially in an institutional environment resistant to adapting. A previous winner in this category has had his book on The New York Times bestseller list, so we’re all hopeful for his success. Congratulations, Brian! His book is available online.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Salt Lake City, Utah, or a small town like Zzyzx, California, I can provide that second eye.

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Five Great Quotations about Storytelling

“Long before I wrote stories, I listened for stories. Listening for them is something more acute than listening to them. I suppose it’s an early form of participation in what goes on. Listening children know stories are there. When their elders sit and begin, children are just waiting and hoping for one to come out, like a mouse from its hole.” - Eudora Welty

“The more you leave out, the more you highlight what you leave in.” - Henry Green

“I keep six honest serving men/(They taught me all I knew);/Their names are What and Why and When/and How and Where and Who.” - Rudyard Kipling

“To hell with facts! We need stories!” - Ken Kesey

“Humans are pattern-seeking story-telling animals, and we are quite adept at telling stories about patterns, whether they exist or not.” - Michael Shermer

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Fort Worth, Texas, or a small town like Tightwad, Missouri, I can provide that second eye.

 

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To write is to realize my destiny

Writing is your destiny.

It’s more than just a pattern in your life. It is reaching for your full potential; it is those moments you feel most self-empowered.

When writing, you experience fulfillment and bliss. You feel successful and enjoy affluence, perhaps not yet monetarily but certainly you are showered with the emotional and intellectual wealth that a creative pursuit brings.

When writing, you feel like you are doing exactly what you were placed on this Earth to do. Writing is meaningful, and you have purpose.

It is living your dream.

It is your future.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Dallas, Texas, or if you come from a small town Why, Arizona, I can provide that second eye.

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When to promote your book using Twitter

When promoting your self-published book, the social media tool Twitter ought to play an important role in the marketing strategy. Knowing when to tweet, however, can maximize your efforts.

According to a number of studies, the best time to tweet is Monday through Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m.

That’s because more people are on Twitter during Monday through Thursday between 9 a.m.-3 p.m. with usage increasing until peaking between 1-3 p.m.

Of course, these times are relative. If your business is national, you need to tweet over a longer spread of time than 1-3 p.m. in your time zone, or you’ll miss the peak times in other parts of the country. For example, if your business is based in Chicago (Central Time), you would aim messages for the East Coast at noon-2 p.m. Central Time and messages for the West Coast at 3-5 p.m. Central Time.

Add a photo as well to your tweet. Tweets with photos see a 36% increase in clicks over those tweets without a picture. If that’s not enough to convince you, tweets with photos also see a 41% increase in retweets, 31% increase in visits, 48% increase in favorites, 33% increase in visitor-to-lead conversion rate, and a 55% increase in leads, compared to those tweets that are just text.

The absolute worst time to tweet is Friday after 3 p.m. and Saturday through Thursday after 8 p.m. Though people are on Twitter during this time, the number of users drops considerably compared to the earlier mentioned peak hours.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Chicago, Illinois, or a small town like Humptulips, Washington, I can provide that second eye.

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