Laina Turner's Blog, page 25

Promote your novel in 140 characters or less

How can you promote your novel in 140 characters or less?

With Twitter of course.

Twitter is a free method of marketing you can use to promote your novel and your brand as an author.

Who doesn’t like free?

Out of all the social media platforms, Twitter is the noisiest. If you don’t focus your efforts in the right place, it can be a waste of time. Your tweets won’t reach your intended audience.

Twitter is about expressing yourself in 140 characters or less. Which is one of the reasons I’ve always liked it, I’m all about short and sweet. It’s why I much prefer texting over a phone call.

When it first started in 2006, eons in social media time, social media years are much like dog years don’t you think? The entire tweet could only be 140 characters including your handle and such. There wasn’t even the option to use images.

Can you even imagine? No images? How archaic.

Recently they changed their rules. Handles, usernames when you reply, images, GIF’s all that stuff doesn’t count toward your character limit.

Can I get a WHOO-HOO!!

I like short, but man it’s sometimes freakin hard to smash all I want to say into 140 characters.

You have a lot more freedom with what you post, and for authors, the use of images when promoting is very beneficial. As with all social media, your main goal should be engagement.

Twitter IS more forgiving because there is so much going on. You can repost your content (preferably slight variations of) several times which you don’t want to do on other platforms. But you still don’t want to go all wild and crazy with the self-promotion.

So how can you best leverage Twitter to promote your novel?

1. Make sure your profile reflects you, your books, and your intended audience. When people come across it, you want it to be easy for them to see what you’re all about and want to connect with you.

2. Research relevant industry hashtags and determine which are the ones you should be using to get the most exposure and find readers. Here is a great blog post full of hashtags authors should use. Just remember that the hashtags do count toward your character count so chose wisely.

3. Tweet out fun tidbits from your book, or about your book, to entice potential readers to click your link and buy.

4. Ask open-ended questions that tie into the books you write or things that interest you in general. Get people engaged and talking.

5. Schedule time on your calendar to interact. I use the rule of thirds. Use a third of your time posting your original content, a third interacting, and a third retweeting other compelling content.

6. Use a scheduler such as Hootsuite so you can batch task your Twitter scheduling. Saturday evening is usually my social media scheduling night (I live a wild life). I can craft all my Twitter messages, curate other cool content, and schedule it throughout the week. Then I go on each day to interact. If you don’t batch task, you should. It’s much more effective.

7. Have a Twitter party. What is a twitter party you ask? It’s a real time chat on Twitter using a certain hashtag to keep the conversation organized. I’ve hosted several, participated in a ton, and it’s a fun and great way to meet people.

8. Spend time finding people in your industry to follow and engage. Be purposeful and don’t follow anyone and everyone. You will overwhelm yourself if you do that and there’s no point in following random folks you don’t want to interact with.

9. Create Twitter lists to keep things organized. A Twitter list is a group of Twitter accounts organized by you around a certain topic. For example, I have lists for authors, bloggers, publishers. Then I can see the tweet timeline of just those people I’ve added to my list. It cuts through the clutter.

10. Create a content plan. Don’t wing it. That will lead to frustration. Set aside certain days for particular types of tweets.

For example:

Monday – book promo Monday (yours and others – share the love)
Tuesday – industry trends you can use curated content that you find
Wednesday – character insights
Thursday – things that inspire you
Friday – fun Friday tweet whatever is on your heart and mind. Your followers want to know you

Not all social media platforms are for everyone. You need to use what you’re comfortable with AND be where your readers are. If your readers aren’t on a platform you’re comfortable with you may have to adapt.

Don’t think you need to be on every single platform that’s out there. There’s not enough time in the world for that. You’d never get any writing done.

Start simple. Be consistent. Make things happen.

Happy writing.

The post Promote your novel in 140 characters or less appeared first on Laina Turner.

The Indie Author Budget – Why You Need One

If you’re serious about making a living as an author then you need an author budget. You have to spend money to make money. It’s what it takes to create a sustainable business. 

One of the many struggles of the indie authorpreneur is money. That’s the main struggle of any entrepreneur. Hell, that’s what most normal people would list as their number one stressor. It is the leading cause of divorce. Though I’m waiting for Facebook to take that spot any minute if it hasn’t already. I haven’t checked lately.

Unlike traditionally published authors there is no royalty advance for the indie. But unless you’re a big-time author, you’re not getting millions in an advance. Many new and mid-list authors are lucky to get 5 -10 grand and the key with advances is it’s not free money.

You have to earn that money back. That’s why it’s called an advance.

Most new/midlist authors also aren’t handed a huge marketing budget and must hustle like us indies. It’s why so many awesome traditionally published authors have come over to the dark side (the dark side is awesome).

Authors have more control on the indie path, and if you’re going to bust your ass, you might as well do it for yourself. Obviously, there are also downsides. Nothing is 100% awesome all the time but that’s life.

The Indie Author Budget

Budget.

A word feared by many both personally and professionally but one we also know is necessary.

The writing part of your indie author career takes your time. Time, the most valuable commodity you own, is also money but not in the form of laying out cold hard cash like hiring an editor or a cover designer. Which makes it easier to work with and much less scary because you’re not spending outright.

Money is tangible, and if you don’t have extra, you don’t have it. So it can be hard to rationalize using the money you don’t have to start your author journey when you’ve got bills to pay.

A fear I hear from indie authors is,  I don’t have any extra money to pay for the things I need to publish so what’s the point of writing the book?

They feel defeated before they start. If you feel that way at all STOP.

As Marie Forleo says (I just LOVE her) everything is figureoutable.

Lack of money is a legitimate concern but by no means should it ever stop you. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. The first step to solving a problem is addressing it and not hiding from it. I know, denial can be way more fun, but it’s not going to change things.

So let’s tackle this head on. First, you need to identify what an indie author needs to pay for?

Besides a ton of coffee of course.

The main items you will want to budget for are:

Editing – Not one but several rounds. Editing is by far the most expense part of your authorpreneur journey. You can read my full post on editing HERE. I typically spend about $2000 on editing for each book for 3 rounds of edits. The cost can vary due to length and sometimes if I’m really struggling on a book I may have a second content edit done. It’s money well spent. As I’ve said, a million times don’t skimp on this part of your production process. You want your book to be as perfect as possible.

Cover art – You can buy pre-made covers such as the ones offered here anywhere from $50 on up. Or you can hire a cover designer that will work with your vision which will start at about $250 and go up. 

Formatting – The cost for this depends on how many different formats you want your book. I get mine in Word, PDF (for Create Space), mobi, and epub and it runs about $150.

Advertising – While I believe in working to organically grow your readership, I also feel that advertising is a must these days to get the word out there. Especially for book launches and special events, you might have. But, this is a line item you have to closely manage or run the risk of spending a ton of money without a good return on your investment. There are so many different ways out there to advertise, and many are a trial and error. To see what works for you and what doesn’t.

When it comes to setting your advertising budget, I would suggest you work backward. Figure out what you can spend. Keep in mind this could potentially be throw away money. Then find the advertising that fits in that budgeted amount.

When I first started, I spent about $100 a month, and today there are more low cost/free places to advertise your book then there was 10 years ago. I don’t spend that much more now on average. I put most my dollars in special events. The momentum from those carries me through the rest of the times.

Social media schooling tools – I want to point out that you can get away with no cost social media tools. As with anything you pay for convenience which is what most of us are looking for when we pay for tools such as Board Booster, Tailwind, and Hootsuite.

I currently pay for these things because as I’ve grown my business I wanted the more enhanced aspects the paid versions offer. But I made it for years without the paid versions and you can too.

Website hosting – You can get hosting for a low cost anywhere from $5-$25 er month. Most of us authors have simple sites that don’t require huge amounts of storage. 

Website design – for a basic template web design can start at $500 and for custom work in the thousands. You can do it yourself for free if you like that sort of thing but I firmly believe in not wasting time doing what you’re not good at.

DO WHAT YOU DO BEST AND OUTSOURCE THE REST!

Put your focus on your writing.

The above isn’t an all inclusive list. But it covers the major expenses incurred when producing a novel.

Then there are some of the incidentals that aren’t a must except to me. These would include:

New notebooks
Colored pens
Assorted post-its

If you don’t need those things to spark your mojo and get your creative juices flowing, then you can skip that part of the list. But who doesn’t work better with colored pens and post-its?

I know this list can seem like a lot and be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. The positive thing about the author business is it takes time to write books so you can spread out some of the costs. 

For ease of budgeting purposes, it might make sense for you to calculate how much you think you’ll spend in editing and cover design for the year based on how many books you plan on writing. Then you can spread out the cost and it won’t seem so bad.

It’s why you need a production plan!

Happy Writing!

The post The Indie Author Budget – Why You Need One appeared first on Laina Turner.

April Goals

And it’s April already.


 
April 10th.


 
That’s almost the halfway point.


 


Seriously, I know I said this in February (March was such a blur I forgot to update my goals) but time needs to slow down.


 
Though I’m glad, it’s spring.


 
Bring on the flip flops!


 


The goals I set for 2017 were pretty common:
 


• reduce debt


• lose weight


• make more money

 

(you can read the full post here)


 


This year what I decided to do differently was to take it slow. To focus on consistent progress rather than set impossible goals and get frustrated.


 
What can I say? I’m impatient.


 
I would rate March as an ok month. I made some progress but not what I wanted. I needed to remind myself several times about the slow and consistent progress part.


 


Debt


 


I did pay off the remaining credit cards in March. Now I just have those delightful student loans to deal with and I’d like to pay off my car.


 
The car will be my first to work on because the interest rate is higher.


 
My goal is to have it paid off my the end of this year which will be 2 years early.


 


Health and wellness


 


I have lost 10 lbs since the Slam Bam fitness contest started (Feb. 13th). It was 13 lbs before taking the kids on spring break. I am a little annoyed with myself for falling off the wagon.
 
The good news is there are 6 weeks left, and I know if I stay focused I can still make a big difference in how I look and feel.


 
Some of the gals and myself from the group signed up for a Spartan Race in July. That’s a mud run with obstacles if you’re not familiar. I’m trying to think more about being in shape for that. And trying hard not to think about what a bad idea it was to sign up in the first place.


 
What was I thinking?


 


Growing my business


 


I did launch my online author course – YAY me!


 
I have a small group of folks going through it and giving me feedback. I’ve been hesitant to promote it and if you want me to be completely honest its due to fear.


 
It’s crazy how we can let fear stop us in our tracks when logically our brain knows there isn’t anything to be scared of.


 
So I launch a course. What’s the worst that can happen? No one signs up? It’s not like the world is going to end or I will spontaneously combust if no one cares about it.


 
Starting today, I pledge to get over my fear and promote the darn thing.


 
Hey, if you want to make a living from your writing I can help. Sign up here using coupon code spring2017 for 50% off.


 
There. I promoted.


 
All joking aside I have to dial it up a notch with the promo thing.


 
You see I had a side project that I’ve been involved with for years. It paid well, extremely well, but I didn’t like it. I didn’t hate it either, but it wasn’t what I wanted to devote my life doing. It was easy money, and for years I’ve been afraid to leave it. Scared to take the plunge to depending on my writing for all 100% of my income.


 
I’ve had a million excuses over the years.
 


* I have 2 kids that I am 100% responsible for.


* Health insurance isn’t cheap and kids aren’t cheap.


* I wouldn’t be able to make it, and I’d be broke.


* It was stupid to walk away from a sure thing, direct deposit every Friday, to a monthly Amazon deposit IF people buy my books.


* I was still paying on student loans for a job that I no longer wanted. What was wrong with me.


* People would kill for the opportunity I had. Who was I to throw it away?


 
But every single excuse came down to fear. I used to be a fearless risk taker. But years ago when I went through my divorce and things got rough, I was left with less confidence.


 


That experience shaped how I’ve lived my life the last several years.


 


I’m a big believer in you can do anything you set your mind to, nothing is impossible, conquer your fear, and just do it.


 
I preach life is too short to not spend the majority of your time doing what you love.


 
So why wasn’t I taking my own advice?


 
I realized I needed to rip off the fear band-aid, stop thinking about it, believe in myself, and just do it.


So I did. Right before I took the kids on spring break, I quit. Today is the kids first day back to school and my first day without a safety net.


 
I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was a little nervous but I’m so happy, free, and excited that I can hardly tell I’m a little nervous. And the nervousness I need to get over because it doesn’t change much in my day to day life. I won’t be able to afford both the kitchen remodel and landscaping the yard this year but who cares.
 
I’m going to be too busy writing to cook anyways.


 


Goals for the rest of April


 Debt


 


Figure out a realistic plan for my car and the student loan debt and start chipping away at it.


 
Adjust my budget to incorporate the above plan.


 


Health and wellness


 


There are 6 weeks left of the Slam Bam fitness contest. I pledge to stick 100% to the food plan, make it to boot camp each day and add in some yoga and spin classes.


 


I am going to measure success on sticking to the plan regardless of getting the results. I can’t get hung up on that.


 


Growing my business


 


I have a million started but not finished projects. I spent yesterday listing them all, along with all my to do’s and then prioritized everything and putting it on my calendar.


 
Today I will start promoting my course like a boss . There are still tweaks to make, but I see that as an ongoing process. There will always be room for improvement.
 


My other main priorities, project wise are to:
 


1. Tweak the email goals course and finish converting to a PDF download


2. Tweak the full goals book and workbook for re-release May 1st


3. Finish the update to 4 things an author must know download


4. Work on the rewrite of Athena’s Holiday for re-release in June


 


The first 3 are small the Athena re-write is bigger and one I’ve had on pause since January. But I’m excited to see where things take me.
 


What’s on your agenda for April?

The post April Goals appeared first on Laina Turner.

How to Build An Author Email List

Building an email list.
 
One of the most important things you can do for your authorpreneur journey.


 
We talked last week about the importance of having an email list as a vehicle to stay connected to your readers. Your assignment was to sign up for an email list platform if you didn’t already have one.
 
If you forgot (like I often do), then put it on your to-do list RIGHT NOW. Or better yet stop reading this post, do it now, and then come back.


 
Today we are going to talk about the HOW of building your list. Now I warn you it’s not going to be easy. List building can be difficult and frustrating until you find what works and people start to respond.
 
Then it’s awesome.


 
Now I know I shouldn’t feel validated by how many people like my social media posts or sign up for my email list. But I’m only human, and I can’t help but get excited when someone signs up for mine. On the flip side, it can be hard to take when someone unsubscribes. But you can’t take it personally.
 
It’s going to happen, and it’s ok.

 

Top 5 Writing Tips

AWESOME!! Now download your tips and get started writing!

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Anyways we can talk about our feelings later over coffee.


 
Let’s dive right into the best ways to start building that list.


 
Have a website – To get subscribers on your email list you need to have a place for them to subscribe. Your virtual home I like to say, and the logical place is a website.


 


Sidebar – I have a guy for that who is awesome and uber affordable. Even for people starting out. Contact Chris at 801red.com and tell him you’re an author and Laina sent you!


 


Do think you don’t need one because you haven’t published your book yet. You don’t need anything fancy when you’re starting your career, but you need a place to connect with your readers, and somewhere they can find out more about you and your work.


 


Basic Contact Form – The different email marketing providers, will have tools for you to make forms. This allows you to put a form on your site where your reader can enter their name and email (or whatever information you want), and you’re able to collect it. Then you can send out all sorts of fun stuff to them and start engaging them as your audience.


 


However, having a website with a contact form is not enough to actually get people to sign up. Don’t let me wrong you will have people land on your site and sign up but you need to


 
A- get them there in the first place


 
B- compel them to sign up


 


Blog posts – Many authors who blog and many don’t. Like everything else in the world, there are many differing opinions on the why or why not to blog. I think it’s a good thing to do. And you don’t have to blog about writing. You can blog about anything. It’s a good way to connect with you readers on a personal level.


 


Content upgrades and/or Calls to action – these are elements that provide the compel part of getting people to sign up. You offer them something absolutely fabulous in exchange for their email address.


 


Some ideas:


 


Excerpts – Offer excerpts and teasers to your books and upcoming books. You want to get people excited about what you’re writing. Giving them a sneak preview of what’s to come is a great way to do that.


 


Free chapters – I have the first chapter free as a download on all my books. It’s a chapter and if it gets them hooked, and they buy the full book, then how awesome is that. If they download a chapter and don’t buy the book. Well, it’s still not hurting me.


 


Character or setting background – A good writer often leaves a lot to the imagination of the reader. But, if a reader is engaged in your work they often want to know more. They don’t want the story to end. Offering tidbits that aren’t in the book but in your mind while writing can be exciting for a reader. It’s getting insider information and who doesn’t love that?.


 


Short stories – You might want to write a short story that’s an offshoot of your current characters or entirely new ones. This could also be a great way to test out story ideas and see how interested people are in a certain concept.


 


These are just a few ideas and don’t think you have to do them all. Pick one or two that you feel create enough value that it will entice someone to join your list.


 


If it doesn’t seem to be working, meaning you’re not converting people who land on your form to actual subscribers, then revisit your offer.


 
Keep tweaking it until you hit on something people are signing up in droves for. It can take a lot of trial and error to find the thing people want.

The post How to Build An Author Email List appeared first on Laina Turner.

Throw Back to Fall – Authors in Bloom Fun

Who is ready for some spring fun!!!!!! Get in on the contest by linking up below!

I admit I’m a pumpkin fanatic. However, while I love fall and all the amazingly yummy pumpkin food that comes with the season, I really prefer the warm weather of spring and summer.

So why not have fall comfort food in the spring?

I really prefer the warm weather of spring and summer. So why not have fall comfort food in the spring?

One of my fav fall treats is pumpkin spiced pecans.

I LOVE everything pumpkin. Oh, yeah. I already said that.

These are sweet and under all the sugar full of protein.

Does that count as healthy?

I used my normal candied almond recipe but altered it slightly to include the pumpkin spice. It really is a simply thing to make.

Glazed Pumpkin Pecans 2017-03-27 13:59:29 Tasty and protien packed pumpkin spiced pecans.






Write a review
Save Recipe Print Ingredients 1 tbsp butter 2 tbsp dark brown sugar 1 tbsp cinnamon 1 tbsp pumpkin spice 2 tbsp maple syrup 2 c pecan halves
Instructions Heat over to 375 line cookie sheet. In skillet melt butter and add sugar and syrup. Cook until bubbly stirring constantly Add pecans cook 2-3 minutes until thoroughly coated put mixture on cookie sheet Bake 6-8 minutes until brown
Notes I freeze these in a ziploc so I don't eat all of them in one sitting.
Laina Turner http://www.lainaturner.com/
Join in on the fun!!!!

// ]]>

The post Throw Back to Fall – Authors in Bloom Fun appeared first on Laina Turner.

5 Ways to Procrastinate

I was so excited when I sat down to write this post.


 


So excited I didn’t even feel like procrastinating. Imagine that!


 


The hardest part was keeping the post to 5 things. I could have made it 100 things I do to avoid work because I am a MASTER at procrastination.


 


Always have been. I am one of those people who feel they work better under pressure. I realize it’s not true most of the time. I’d be a lot less stressed if I didn’t always wait until the last minute to get things done. But it works for me.


 


I mean why do today what you can always do tomorrow?


 


“Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well.” 
― Mark Twain


 


Though in today’s world wasting time is so much easier. The internet takes procrastination to a whole new level.


 


BOO-YA!

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If procrastination paid hourly. I’d be one rich chick.


 


I want you to know I put a lot of time and thought into what I would pick as my top 5 time wasters. After all with so many to choose from……


 


So without further ado….drumroll please……..


 


THE TOP 5 TIME WASTERS


 


Netflix. I know. No great shock. In fact, I could have left #1 blank and let you all assume what was in the spot. Netflix is EXACTLY what you’d have guessed. AM I right?


 


I can almost guarantee that there isn’t a single person reading this post who doesn’t agree


 


How can a person resist? There are entire series, years worth of back to back episodes, at your fingertips.


 


Netflix is like potato chips. One episode isn’t enough.


 


All social media. Facebook and Pinterest are usually the culprits. Oh, and Instagram. Pretty pictures…what can I say.


 


And the refresh button. It could be a line all to itself, but I did say I was going to keep this to 5 things.


 


Today as I was working procrastinating, I refreshed my Amazon order page about every minute to see if the package schedule for delivery by 8 pm tonight had made it any further down the little visual timeline.


 


As if that’s going to make it come any faster.


 


Do you ever get mad when you refresh Facebook after 2 minutes and no one has posted anything interesting since the last time you checked?


 


Like seriously, don’t you people have lives? Oh wait….maybe they do and are out LIVING IT!


 


Naps. You know when you have a big decision to make, and someone says, sleep on it?


 


I take that literally. A lot.


 


Most often under the guide of closing my eyes so I can “think.”


 


Though the last time my daughter said I was thinking and snoring, so I’m not so sure she’s going to fall for that again.


 


Look in the refrigerator every 5 minutes waiting for something new to appear. When nothing sounds good, and you’re waiting, hoping, something awesome and tasty will jump out at you.


 


It drives me nuts when my kids do this. Yet, I do it to. Just not when they’re around. I need to set a good example you know.


 


Going office supply shopping knowing that perfect pen will kick start the inspiration. As I wrote last week, I have a bit of an obsession with office supplies.


 


I often make an unnecessary trips to the store to get a certain color pen or notebook. As if that’s going to help me.


 


What are your favorite time wasters? I’d like to hear so I can make sure to try them out. They say variety is the spice of life!

The post 5 Ways to Procrastinate appeared first on Laina Turner.

10 Steps to Take During the Revision Process of your Novel

I love writing but the revision process…I can’t exactly say the same.


 
I’m not so much a fan.


 
I don’t mind it the first time I go back through my rough draft because it’s still new and exciting at this point. But by about the 25th….I’m tired of the story, and the characters, and want to move on.


 
Unfortunately, that is about the time the real hard work starts.


 
Don’t get me wrong. I love all my books (some more than others) but the revision process is tedious and at times mind-numbing. But it’s a necessary step if you want to your book to be kick ass.


 


So what are some things you should look for during your revision process?


 


PLOT
 


Too easy or too hard – There is a fine line between too easy that the reader has the ending figured out by page 25 and such a complicated story that the reader stops caring what happens.
 
If you’re going to pick a side to lean to, I’d err on the side of too hard. Because easy is BORING. At least hard might piss off the reader enough that they’re determined to read to the end and figure it out.
 
Though they may never read another one of your books again.


 
The general thought is genre novels are more plot driven while literacy fiction is more character driven. The reality is a good book will have both elements. Just to different degrees depending on the story.


 

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Low stakes – For the majority of novels, there has to be something at stake. Typically, more than one thing at stake to varying degrees. It’s what creates the excitement. The reason to people to keep reading because they want to see what happens next.


 
At least one element in the story is a big deal, or a high stake. Like the main character, has to stop someone from murdering the president. Most stories don’t solely focus on one thing. There are several other low stake elements that come in to add depth to your character or set up for the main event.


 
There has to be a reason to root for a character. Something for them to overcome to create that tension and excitement.


  


Confusing storyline – I read Faulker’s, The Sound and the Fury in high school. Didn’t understand a word of it. Tried re-reading it a few years ago and still didn’t understand it. Multiple points of view, stream of consciousness writing, and a mentally ill character who doesn’t communicate well-created confusion in my head.
 
My brain felt like it was on a merry go round.


 
Even though it’s on the top 100 list of best literary novels, it wasn’t a commercial success back in it’s time (or now I’m sure). That book wasn’t written for entertainment purposes.


 
My point is when it comes to entertainment people need to understand what they’re reading or it won’t entertain them. You want to engage them in your story.
 
Keep that element of suspense without making the story intentionally difficult for them to follow.


 


Inconsistencies – Books are written over time. Typically, a long period of time. So what you write down in chapter 1 about how the view looked form the window you may have forgot by chapter 10. And completely contradict yourself. Which is going to confuse the reader.


 
Looking for inconsistencies in your draft is especially important. Especially, for writers who don’t outline. When you’re free writing without a plan to follow it can difficult to remember what you’ve already written.
 
When reading over your drafts, it’s smart to schedule longer chunks of time to read several chapters and write down what needs fixed. So your not fixing as you go which again can make it more challenging to keep everything straight.
 
If you read 100 pages in a sitting, you will be more likely to catch those errors.


 


Insufficient ARC’s – an ARC is the process of building up of tension to an event, the event happens, then emotions go back down until the next ARC. It’s what keeps readers on the seat of their pants.


 
Think of plot as the whole, ARC’s are scenes, and stakes are one of those elements within an ARC. When
 
I’m writing, I visualize my ARC’s like the carrot pulling people along in my story. Teasing, and enticing, and creating interest, so they keep turning the page.


 
There are many different methods of setting up your ARC’s. At the very least you want to have 3 basic points.
 
Setup, rising action and stakes, resolution.
 
These ARC’s will usually get more intense as they reach the climax of the book. In any case, you want to keep them going to keep engaging the reader.


 


CHARACTERS


 


Boring – When creating characters, especially the main ones, they can’t be one dimensional. No one likes the person who is the same all the time or has a perfect life.
 
Readers want characters with, well, character. Flaws, human insecurities, and hangups. Even though people read to escape the real world for a time your characters, need to have ups and downs.
 
Even if they’re not. Robots need to have some feelings too or us human readers wouldn’t connect to them either. And who doesn’t love R2D2? He doesn’t speak English, but he sure has a personality.


 


Unrealistic – There has to be a certain element of your character that is believable. Even in sci-fi and fantasy where there are often nonhuman characters or not a traditional human, you will notice that at some level there is a trait, a behavior, that the reader can identify with.


 
You also want to make your main character likable. Readers won’t want to root for him or her if the character is jerk or whiny.


 


Predictable – This can be a hard one. Many books are formulaic. If you’re a romance lover, you’re probably familiar with Harlequin Romances which follow a very strict set of guidelines. Yet my grandmother had every one ever made up to the time she died. In sequential order on bookshelves in her sunroom.
 
Man, I wish I had a smartphone back then so I would have pictures. It was pretty amazing.


 
Even taking the romance genre out of the equation books, and movies, are often based on that 3 step ARC.
 
While we all like to root for the happy ending, we don’t want it to be a predictable path. What’s the fun in that?
 
That’s what I enjoy about writing mysteries. I have fun plotting out how a normal-seeming crime can have a non-straightforward resolution. One that is believable but not all that obvious.


 


COPY
 


Placeholders – I make this mistake a lot. Thank GOD for my amazing editors who catch them. I’ll often get caught up in my writing, and a new character comes on the page who I wasn’t expecting. And I have no idea what his or her name is.
 
So I put down XXXXX thinking I will go back and find and replace it when I’ve to figure it out. Well, sometimes I forget. Or don’t get them all.


 


Unnecessary words – I discussed this in a previous editing post, but I can’t say it enough. TIGHTEN UP your writing. Get rid of that, just, very, words ending in -ly, etc


 


These are a few of the many, many things you want to look out for when polishing your novel. That’s why spending money on an editor is SO WORTH IT!


 


Where do you seem to find the most issues in your revision process? I know I tend to make the same mistakes over and over. Drives me editors nut but it’s engrained bad habits.

The post 10 Steps to Take During the Revision Process of your Novel appeared first on Laina Turner.

Why Indie Authors Need an Email List

 
Hey, fellow Authorpreneurs,
 
It’s Marketing Monday and we’re going to talk about email lists.


 
Books don’t sell themselves you know. Even if you’re novel isn’t written yet it’s NEVER too early to start building your platform.


 
There are a million different ways to market your book.
 
Literally.
 
If given enough time I bet a group of authors could come up with 1 million ways.


 
But I can almost promise you that at the top of every author’s list would be building an email list. 


 
An email list is the Ark of the Covenant in the degree of marketing importance (Raiders of the Lost Ark anyone?)


 
The Holy Grail.


 
The 4 leaf clover.


 
Ok, enough of bad the analogies….all you need to know is it’s pretty damn important if you want to sell books.


 
One of the basic tenants of business is it’s easier to keep a customer than it is to make a customer. Building an email list gives you a way to consistently engage your readers. Let them know of upcoming books, what’s going on in your world, or fun events you have coming up.
 
The list is endless.


 
But it’s not as easy as saying to folks, hey dude, sign up for my awesome email list.


 
I don’t know about you, but I get way too much email. But I rarely unsubscribe from anything. On that off chance something might come across that I am interested in. Like Kohl’s, having the largest sale of the year for the 500th time when it’s only March.


 
Plus, it takes a lot more effort to unsubscribe then it does to delete.


 
Subscribing takes work too which is why you need to have a compelling reason to get people to sign up. To get them to put in that effort to get on a list that’s going to send them an email, they will delete most the time.


 
Kind of sounds dumb when you put it that way, but dumb or not. Email marketing works.


 
Email lists are the BIGGEST revenue generators for any industry that sells online.


 
There are more email users than all social media users combined according to a few studies I came across in my research. I didn’t actually do the said research. Though one was on Facebook, so it’s got to be true, right?


 
The majority of us have purchased through email or signed up for an event because of an email, so you know it works.


 
Email seems more personal than social media marketing, even when it’s not. Because it’s coming right to YOUR inbox. Why do you think so many people send the Nigerian Prince money.
 
Because he connects with them via email and it feels personal.


 
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have an email list yet just know it’s time to start. The positive of not having one yet is you can do it for free because the main email marketing programs have a free version for folks who have small lists.
 
So it’s a no cost investment.
 
Mail Chimp is the platform I started on, and one a lot of authors I work with use. It’s free up to 2000 subscribers. I’ve also used AWeber and Constant Contact.
 
Currently, I use Convert Kit. It does have a minimum fee but for me the integration of pop-ups and forms into my website and other platforms make it worth every penny.


 
I know this might sound overwhelming but trust me you want to do this. You MUST do this. For a better explanation than I could ever give of the top platforms check out this post here. 


 
Yes, it takes work to build an email list. It takes work to find readers. It takes work to sell books. Hell, it takes work to drive to Starbucks for my latte, but I still do it.


 
Why?


 
Because it’s worth it!


 
And so is building an email list.


 
If you can get your readers on an email list then with a few clicks, you can let them all know when your book is available.


 
While your long time readers are busy buying your new book, you can spend time looking for new folks to add to your list. Instead of hoping that all the people you connect with will somehow see your Tweet or Facebook post in the noisy world of Social Media.


 
If you now think building a list sounds like a good idea, but you don’t have time to send out tons of emails don’t worry. You don’t need to send out tons of emails.


 
You want to engage your readers not annoy them. There’s an author I follow who sends out an email newsletter once a month. It’s long and chock full of great information. I look forward to it each month, and there are not many emails I look forward to. Which tells you a lot about the quality of her content.


 
There are a few others who are sporadic and some who do a daily thing. They’re clearly much more efficient and productive that I am.
 
My goal has always been bi-weekly. How often have I hit that goal? Hmmm…maybe once 3 years ago.

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I don’t pay much attention to how often people I follow are sending me things. I scan the email for relevant information or things I might find interesting and then delete or put in my read later folder. I might delete or file without reading if I’m super busy.
 
Even if I do that their name is still going through my mind.


 
Say you’re a romance writer and I’m on your list. I could delete 5 of your emails in a row, but when I want a good romance, BOOM, I know exactly who I want to search for on Amazon.
 
In the time I’ve sat here writing this blog post Bed, Bath, and Beyond has sent me 2 emails about weekend sales. I deleted both, but when I need a new laundry basket or Kcups, it’s the first place I will think of.


 
If you don’t have an email list, I challenge you this week to research email marketing platforms and sign up for one.
 
Next week on Marketing Monday we will be talking about the HOW of getting readers to join your posse!

The post Why Indie Authors Need an Email List appeared first on Laina Turner.

Roadmap to Author Success: online course for authors

Are you a writer who’s ready to become self-published and make a living with your passion. Do you dream of being an indie author and long to see your titles on Amazon being purchased by people around the world?

What’s stopping you?

If you’re like many authors I work with, there could be a myriad of reasons.

You’re scared.
You don’t think your writing is good enough.
You don’t know where to start.
You don’t have money to start a business.
You wonder whether this is a viable career option with which to support your family and you can’t afford to waste your time or fritter away your kid’s college fund.

If you’ve had any of those feelings, you’re in the right place.

I can help you!

I’ve been there. But here’s what I want you to know.

First of all, fear is healthy, IF you don’t let it consume you (everything in moderation, you know). Fear can push you to be better as long as you always focus on your WHY. The reason you want to do this in the first place.

You CAN work through the fear and accomplish all you desire!

You ARE good enough. Only your own head is telling you different. Now I want you to say that a hundred times a day until YOU believe it. Don’t stand in your own way!

I can help you with the process of self-publishing.

Give you direction, tell you where to start, and keep you from making all the stupid rookie mistakes I made over the last 10 years.

You and I, we’ve got this covered.

When you want something bad enough, you can figure out how to make it work.

And YES. You CAN support your family with your writing. It’s not easy, and you might not make millions, but you can make a living.

Although, the industry has seen a slight decline in indie book sales (here is a good site to follow for this kind of information) they still make up a large share of the market. Upwards of 35%. That’s nothing to sneeze at.

Amazon alone sells over a million ebook titles a day. If you believe in the law of abundance, as I do, that statistic shows there is more than enough to go around.

But self-publishing is not an easy road and the first few times down it can be daunting. Hell, I’ve been down the road 20 times, and it can still be nerve racking.

That’s why I’ve created the  Roadmap for Author Success: start your journey online course.

To walk you through the beginning steps of taking your book from the idea stage and getting it into readers hands.

To offer my support to you along this amazing journey of yours.

So you can realize your dream.

I am thrilled to take my background as a college professor and instructional designer and combine those skills with my experience as a self-published author and design a class focused on helping YOU publish your book.

This beginner course has 3 modules, spanning 6 weeks, that will each contain a: video lesson, worksheet, live interactive session each week (recorded for those who can’t join), and a private Facebook Group where we can all chat.

The modules will cover topics such as:

What is takes to be an author – being in it for the long haul, the entrepreneur mindset, handling criticism?
Writing to Trend – finding out what’s selling, what your audience wants, and how that fits into your desired genre.
The importance of a good cover – we’ve all heard the cliche, “judging a book by its cover” well people do. Purchase decisions are often made by the feelings invoked upon seeing your book cover. It’s got to be good.
How to self-edit and find the right editor for your book – editing can make or break you. It’s costly and time-consuming but so important.
The basics of formatting – epub, mobi, pdf, all platforms have their own guidelines. Knowing what’s required and where you want to publish (hint: everywhere) is crucial to your plan and overall success.
How to create your author platform – it’s not enough to write a fantastic book. You MUST market. Connect with readers, let them get to know you, build a following of people just dying for your next book to come out.

 

Course Details – This is a 3 module course spanning 6 weeks. The cost is $97 which can be split into 2 monthly payments.  Take as long as you like or finish as quick as you want. Get access to the course, and all updates, for the lifetime of the course.

I am limiting this course to 30 people on this initial launch so I’m able to spend more one on one time with folks and really get to know everyone. Plus it will allow me to offer as much help as I can.

SIGN UP NOW!

The post Roadmap to Author Success: online course for authors appeared first on Laina Turner.

Post It Notes Make Everything Better

I will admit right from the start that I have a problem. My name is Laina, and I have an addiction to office supplies.

It’s not just a simple addiction. I actually use office supplies as a form of self-medication. To make myself feel better, more able to tackle a project that scares me, or to calm me down when I feel like I’m buried under work and I don’t know where to start.

Nothing calms me down as much as a new cool looking journal or colored fine point sharpie or gel pen. I don’t even have to use the office supplies I buy. Just have them nearby. You know, in case.

I purchase these items and hoard them for when I’m in need.

And the wrath that may befall anyone who touches them.

Once back in 2007, I had this journal that I was saving for a special occasion. It was in my laptop bag, untouched, waiting for me to find the right moment to use it.

One day my now ex-husband and I were at breakfast, and it was sitting on the table. He grabbed it and wrote I love you on the first page. I flipped out.

I felt he had desecrated my journal and now it was unusable. Of course, he thought I’d lost my mind (looking back I may have overreacted a little), but you know 10 years later and that journal is still on my shelf. I’ve never used it, but I can’t bring myself to throw it away.

I even started a novel called, Don’t write in my Notebook, because of the experience. It’s 80% finished and sitting in my I really need to finish this file.

Don’t worry, that’s not why we got divorced.

What’s taken me years to realize about my obsession with office supplies is that it’s ok. If something a simple as a green gel pen makes me feel more productive then so be it.

There are many worse things out there to rely on that make us feel better.

These are the kind of quirks that makes all of us who we are as women. So often we have this idea of who we should be. That perfect mom, wife, friend, daughter and that image we project in our heads can come with so much pressure.

Self inflicted pressure.

Pressure that’s not necessary.

I know I put that pressure on myself all the time. I constantly judge every move I make and think.

Am I a good friend, wife, or mom.

Am I selfish if I want to go to yoga or out to coffee with a friend and not stay home where my family is?

In my mind, I know that a happy me makes life better for all those around me. I also know that my kids (11 and 15) are more than capable of being without me for periods of time and can understand that I am my own person and I sometimes need a break from the constant chauffeuring and social calendar organizing I do for them to have some ME time.

To recharge my batteries and frankly be nicer.

But then why does it make me feel so selfish?

Because I compare myself to others. The ones who make life look easy. I look at moms who have 4 kids to my 2 and seemingly juggle kids, family, work, and their own fun, effortlessly and look perfectly happy and content doing it.

Being Fabulous Rule #1

Never compare yourself to others. Whether it be personally or professionally. We all walk a different path, and you never know what’s going on in someone’s mind or in their home behind closed doors.

Comparing yourself to someone else takes up valuable time and energy that could be better spent on being a better YOU.

Being Fabulous Rule #2

Don’t assume someone life is perfect. The chances are that the perfect mom you see picking up her kid from school looking like she just stepped out of a salon while you’re not even sure you have 2 matching socks has her own insecurities and fears.

Being Fabulous Rule #3

Be happy with your life. Don’t wish you had someone else’s. It’s so easy to be jealous of someone’s life. The life YOU see.

The person going on a trip that you would love to go on.

The person who is a size 6.

The person who drives that awesome Audi Q7 you see every day in the carpool lane (man I want that car).

It’s normal to feel like we’re not good enough, not doing enough, not getting where we want to be, but negative self-talk does nothing but makes us feel bad.

Only actions can improve things. So when you feel this way figure out what action you need to take to make the changes, you want to see in your life. Don’t live passively. Go after what you want.

What does Being Fabulous Rule #1, #2, #3 have to do with office supplies? Nothing really. My point here was to show you an example of my own personal quirkiness and encourage you to embrace your quirks, your imperfections, your insecurities.

To be ok with working on YOU in whatever way you need so you can be better for those around you.

We are all perfect just the way we are. Flaws and all.

The post Post It Notes Make Everything Better appeared first on Laina Turner.