Beth Barany's Blog, page 13

Trust-Your-Heart Marketing (Step 6)

Trust-Your-Heart Marketing (Step 6) – How To Write the Future podcast, episode 131

“It helped me see that marketing is really about you offering your gift, your book, which is your gift.“

In “Trust-Your-Heart Marketing (Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap, Step 6)” podcast host Beth Barany explores how sharing your story can create meaningful change, provides tools to help clarify your values, and examines the emotional impact you want to have on readers.

This episode is part of a mini-series based on the “Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap” where Beth Barany discusses the method she developed to help writers go from idea to published science fiction and fantasy novel.

Work the roadmap! Sign up and receive a copy of Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap workbook: https://bethbarany.com/trust-your-creative-heart-roadmap-workbook/

RESOURCES

Work the roadmap! Sign up and receive a copy of Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap workbook: https://bethbarany.com/trust-your-creative-heart-roadmap-workbook/

GET HELP WITH YOUR WORLD BUILDING – START HERE

Free World Building Workbook for Fiction Writers: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/world-building-resources/

Get support for your fiction writing by a novelist and writing teacher and coach. Schedule an exploratory call here and see if Beth can support you today: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/discovery-call/

About the How To Write the Future podcast

The How To Write The Future podcast is for science fiction and fantasy writers who want to write positive futures and successfully bring those stories out into the marketplace. Hosted by Beth Barany, science fiction novelist and creativity coach for writers. We cover tips for fiction writers. This podcast is for readers too if you’re at all curious about the future of humanity.

This podcast is for you if you have questions like:

– How do I create a believable world for my science fiction story?

– How do I figure out what’s not working if my story feels flat?

– How do I make my story more interesting and alive?

This podcast is for readers too if you’re at all curious about the future of humanity.

Transcript for Trust Your Heart Marketing (Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap, Step 6)[00:00] Introduction to How To Write The Future Podcast

BETH BARANY: Hi, everyone. Beth Barany here with How To Write The Future Podcast. I created this podcast because I want to create stories and I want to support other writers who are creating their stories, that stories can actually have a positive impact, both on yourself and on the world because stories are powerful.

[00:22] The Power of Stories

BETH BARANY: Stories are so powerful. We are immersed in stories all the time. And if we want to make big changes out in the world, like I would like, maybe you would like, then story is one of the most powerful ways we can do that. And I love writing immersive science fiction and fantasy stories. That is my jam.

And I have been doing it for a long time, several decades. And I’ve been helping writers do it also for almost two decades.

[00:51] Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap: Step Six

BETH BARANY: So I am coming to you today with another episode in my Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap Series. Today, we’re going to talk about Step Six. I call it Trust Your Heart Marketing.

[01:06] Heart-Centered Marketing

BETH BARANY: I am very much into heart oriented direction finding. Meaning instead of just listening to logic, I’m actually listening to heart. And by heart, I mean the emotional side of you. And actually I’ve observed in my 50 plus years on the planet, that our heart is actually running the show.

Our emotions are running the show. How we feel about something. Is really what for most people is what’s running the show in terms of making decisions.

And stories and art and music and dance and painting and all the things that we call art that deeply, deeply influences and helps shape our emotions.

So here we are at step Six at Trust Your Heart Marketing. And my goal with this roadmap, the Trust Your Creative Heart roadmap is to really help you go from idea to finished, published, polished science fiction or fantasy novel that you are super proud of.

And I created this roadmap to document the process that I had been helping writers with and myself with for a very long time, like I said, over two decades.

So in this episode, I’m going to go over some of the key points about Trust Your Heart Marketing. And for you to keep in mind as you focus on your marketing.

Now marketing is something that can start as early as in the story development phase.

If you go back to that episode, you’ll see, I talk about my book Plan Your Novel Like A Pro, which includes an exercise that helps you think about your story in a very short format, which is something that you can adapt later on when you’re ready to start thinking about the marketing of your book. Because marketing can be really challenging and very scary for creative people. I too am in that camp. I built in the very early phases of story development some marketing tools that you are doing as you plan your story so that when you come to marketing, you can revisit that and move forward.

And there’s some additional tools that I teach in my heart-centered marketing material for fiction writers.

[03:24] Clarifying Your Values

BETH BARANY: And the first one is: clarify your values. And by that, I mean: what is really important to you?

If you could narrow it down to three things or even ideally to one thing, what would you say is your most important values?

And that could be family. It could be fun. It could be integrity, honesty, activism, safety, pleasure, enjoyment, adventure.

It could be all kinds of things. It could be taking care of the next generation. It could be taking care of the planet. It could be showing up and doing your best every day.

So however you frame, what is really important to you, I encourage you to take some time and clarify your values and see if you can end up with three and then even narrow it down to one.

[04:14] Emotional Impact on Readers

BETH BARANY: The next thing is why as you look at your manuscript while you’re in the editing process, and even earlier in story development and in, in first drafting, is think about-

What emotional impact would you like your story to have on your readers?

And I brainstormed this a little bit in this story development phase. And while I’m writing the first draft, it’s there in the back of my mind. It’s when I’m editing that I’m really thinking about this because this is shaping all my decisions. What is the emotional impact that you would like to have on your readers?

Do you want them to be thrilled? Scared? Fall in love, have adventures, that upliftment of adventures. Wonderment of travel to amazing places. Do you want them to feel touched deeply in their heart? And just have a transformative experience and a relief.

There’s a lot of different things that you could say about what is it that you want your readers to feel. It’s very specific and it’s tied to your stories and it’s tied to your characters.

[05:21] Building a Community of Peers

BETH BARANY: And the last thing I want to say about marketing is, as you think about marketing your novel, think about building and don’t just think about it, but do it, look for your peers, be in community, be in different groups of your peers.

And who are your peers?

Other people who write similar or same kind of novels that you’re writing. It’s really important to be in a community of your peers. And there could be overlapping communities. You could be in a group that has all kinds of writers and that’s a community of writers. You can be in another group that is very genre focused, which is also very helpful. Or it could be in a group where everyone has the same value set. And that you can also be looking for as well. And you can have multiple communities online and in-person.

It’s really important to develop a community, I call it of like-hearted peers. So you want to feel safe. You want to feel respected and supported and that it’s mutual. So everyone is supporting each other and being professional about it.

So as you deepen into your marketing and your. Trust Your Heart Marketing phase of your story-building process of writing your novel, editing your novel and looking towards publishing, I want you to think about these two questions that I ask at every step, which is: what is working for you?

Maybe what’s working is that you’re curious about marketing, even if you’ve never done it. And then the second question is: what would you like more of?

[06:47] Overcoming Marketing Fears

BETH BARANY: I know when I first started out, marketing felt very daunting, very scary, actually. And so what I wanted more of was to feel comfortable with marketing because I knew intellectually that marketing was important, but I really felt scared. So I got some support. around how to feel more comfortable with marketing. And some coaching and some guidance and that was so helpful.

It helped me see that marketing is really about you offering your gift, your book, which is your gift.

Offering that to the world. That’s all it is.

And so our job in the marketing phase is to find ways that are enjoyable.

In my book, there is no “shoulds”. There’s no “have-to’s”. There’s what do you like to do?

Because if you find activities about sharing your work that you like to do, Then it’s fun, then it’s sustainable. Once you do what is comfortable, then as you get more- more and more comfortable with that and more practiced at that, then you can start to stretch into areas that might be unfamiliar and a little bit more risky to you and start learning those.

[07:52] Start with your strengths

BETH BARANY: So I really believe in starting with your strengths. And moving from there. Honestly, this is a topic I could talk so much more about. I teach a big workshop on it. And, I have so much to say about this because I’ve really grown in this area. I totally went from afraid to market my first novel to way more comfortable now in marketing. It’s always looking for new ways and expanding them and continuing what I do that I like to do.

[08:17] Workbook

BETH BARANY: And just so you know, there is a little workbook that comes with the series.

So be sure to check that out in the link, or go ahead and put into the comments, if you’re listening to this on YouTube and say, “Send me the workbook.” There is a workbook that comes along with this roadmap.

[08:34] Conclusion and Next Steps

BETH BARANY: All right, that’s it for this week, everyone.

Next week, we’re going to talk about launching and publishing your novel.

So that’s it for this week on Step Six for the Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap for science fiction and fantasy novelists. Write long and prosper.

Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2012061

Need instructions on how to leave a review? Go here.

***

ABOUT BETH BARANY

Beth Barany teaches science fiction and fantasy novelists how to write, edit, and publish their books as a coach, teacher, consultant, and developmental editor. She’s an award-winning fantasy and science fiction novelist and runs the podcast, “How To Write The Future.”

Learn more about Beth Barany at these sites:

Author site / Coaching site / School of Fiction / Writer’s Fun Zone blog

CONNECT

Contact Beth: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/podcast/#tve-jump-185b4422580

Email: beth@bethbarany.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethbarany/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/bethbarany/

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bethbarany/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/bethbarany

X: https://twitter.com/BethBarany

CREDITS EDITED WITH DESCRIPT: https://www.descript.com?lmref=_w1WCA (Refer-a-Friend link)MUSIC CREDITS : Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/fuzz-buzz License code: UMMKDRL02DFGKJ0L. “Fuzz buzz” by Soundroll. Commercial license: https://musicvine.com/track/soundroll/fuzz-buzz.DISTRIBUTED BY BUZZSPROUT: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1994465 (Refer-a-Friend link)SHOW PRODUCTION BY Beth BaranySHOW CO-PRODUCTION + NOTES by Kerry-Ann McDade

C 2024 BETH BARANY

https://bethbarany.com/

For more “How To Write the Future” episodes, go here.

If you’d like to invite Beth onto your podcast, drop her a note here.

Like the work we do? Tip us! https://ko-fi.com/bethbarany

The post Trust-Your-Heart Marketing (Step 6) appeared first on Writer's Fun Zone.

View more on Beth Barany's website »

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Published on December 16, 2024 08:00

3 Powerful Techniques to Weave Backstory Into Your Novel by Beth Barany

Hi there! Beth Barany here. As an experienced writing teacher and novelist, in this article lesson, I help you effectively weave backstory into your front story (your main narrative).

Let’s break down these three powerful techniques for you.

(This lesson is excerpted from a training offered to our members of our 12-month Group Mastermind Program for science fiction and fantasy writers. Open for enrollment!)

1. The Inner Moment Technique

This is where your character processes both the present and past simultaneously during an action scene.

It’s like a dance between what’s happening now and what happened then. This creates depth and meaning in your scene.

From Book of Margo by Meredith Ash (unpublished) – Backstory inserted in the moment

The vampire was fast, but Margo was willing to bet he hadn’t been regional champ in the hundred-yard-dash all three years of middle school like she had. And she’d done it at a fraction of her max speed so as not to alarm the humans.

From Into The Black, A Sci-Fi Mystery , (Janey McCallister Mystery, book 1) by Beth Barany – Backstory inserted in the moment during travel

Janey hurried to the chief’s office down the curving corridor.

What could Milano be uptight about? It was too early for guests to report lost items; they usually did that later in the day, after a long night of gambling and partying.

Maybe something intriguing and challenging was finally happening.

Where had that thought come from? Calm was fine. Handling petty thefts, public squabbles, card counters, and filing minor accident reports—all fine.

What more could you want, McCallister?

Mom’s current experimental medicine would be covered as long as she kept her job. That was all that mattered.
Her four-year contract would fly by, and her mother would be healthy again. Fingers crossed. She swallowed past the lump in her throat.

Sure, the hotel-casino cases weren’t jetting her to one of the dozen military or civilian space stations around the planet every few days, handling high stakes cases with Sol-wide importance. That was fine. That part of her life was over. It was her turn to take care of the family. After all Mom had done for her. Her mother needed her now, and that was that.

Five minutes later, she stopped at Chief Milano’s door.

2. The Memory Bridge

Something in your character’s present triggers a specific memory.

To smoothly transition into these flashbacks, you can use these handy phrases:

– “There was that time when…”
– “It was like that time when…”
– “It reminded her of that time when…”

The key is making sure the present trigger naturally connects to the past memory.

From Book of Margo by Meredith Ash (unpublished)

It reminded Ash of the time he’d used his own Void pocket to transport a stone talisman in the shape of a life-sized aurochs.

From story notes for Book 5, Janey McCallister Mystery by Beth Barany (unpublished):

There was that time when she was learning how to fly and nearly crashed the shuttle into the hangar walls and two of the other cadets. Mortified, she couldn’t leave her bed for two days. Her CO had to send the medic and psych techs to get her back on her feet.

There was that time when she asked her mom why she didn’t have a dad like some of the other kids. Mom had given her a sloppy kiss on the cheek and said, “What? Me and your aunties aren’t enough? You need more people to love you ?!”

3. The Dialogue Gateway

Similar to the memory bridge, but this time the backstory emerges through conversation. A character might say something that sparks a memory in another character, leading to a natural revelation of past events.

2 Examples inserting backstory into dialogue, from thriller author, Ezra Barany:

Example 1:

“Ugh! Your breath smells almost as bad as my little brother. Sharing a room with him was the worst. I scrubbed my face with lavender flowers every morning to rid myself of the stench.”

Example 2:

“I know, weird huh?” He popped a jellybean in his mouth. “People don’t carry jellybeans everywhere they go.”

“Not weird at all,” she said. “My mom keeps a bottle of vanilla extract in her purse and whenever we’d go to a restaurant, she’d take out the bottle and splash some on our food, saying, ‘Here. This will make it taste better.'” She laughed. “It’s a Russian thing.”

Bonus – 4. The Creative Cutaway

This is a fun, more experimental technique where you can play with outlandish connections – think Family Guy style! (Youtube example)

You can connect your character’s current situation to fairy tales, books, or movies they love. It’s especially effective for showing your character’s deepest yearnings or fears.

Remember

The goal isn’t just to dump information about the past into your story. Instead, use these techniques to reveal backstory in ways that enhance your current scene and deepen your reader’s understanding of your characters and their relationship to the story world — important for all fiction, and especially for science fiction, fantasy, and all flavors of speculative fiction.

Happy writing!

— Beth

More Resources for Studying Backstory for NovelistsHow To Write The Future podcast Episodes

How to Handle Backstory, A Story Success Clinic with Amy Johnson (How to Write The Future podcast, Ep. 71)

How do I not overload background into my stories? Story Success Clinic (How to Write The Future podcast, Ep. 90)

Where to insert backstory (Q&A) (How to Write The Future podcast, Ep. 113)

Take 2-95! Revise for your readers. Writing is rewriting. (Step 5)

Take 2-95! Revise for your readers. Writing is rewriting. (Step 5) – How To Write the Future podcast, episode 130

“We write for ourselves, And we revise for our readers.”

In “Take 2-95! Revise for your readers. Writing is rewriting. (Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap, Step 5)” How To Write The Future podcast host, Beth Barany focuses on the art and craft of revising and editing your novel and shares key tips on how to approach your messy first draft, from word choice to pacing, and gives advice on the importance of feedback and finding critique groups.

Sign up and receive a copy of Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap workbook: https://bethbarany.com/trust-your-creative-heart-roadmap-workbook/

[image error] Like the work we do? Tip us! https://ko-fi.com/bethbarany

RESOURCES

GET HELP WITH YOUR WORLD BUILDING – START HERE

Free World Building Workbook for Fiction Writers: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/world-building-resources/

Get support for your fiction writing by a novelist and writing teacher and coach. Schedule an exploratory call here and see if Beth can support you today: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/discovery-call/

About the How To Write the Future podcast

The *How To Write The Future* podcast is for science fiction and fantasy writers who want to write positive futures and successfully bring those stories out into the marketplace. Hosted by Beth Barany, science fiction novelist and creativity coach for writers. We cover tips for fiction writers. This podcast is for readers too if you’re at all curious about the future of humanity.

This podcast is for you if you have questions like:

– How do I create a believable world for my science fiction story?

– How do I figure out what’s not working if my story feels flat?

– How do I make my story more interesting and alive?

This podcast is for readers too if you’re at all curious about the future of humanity.

Transcript for Take 2-95! Revise for your readers. Writing is rewriting. (Step 5)(Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap)

BETH BARANY: Hey everyone. Welcome back, or welcome to How to Write The Future Podcast. In this series. I am talking about my Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap. This roadmap is for science fiction and fantasy writers who want to go from idea to published and finished and polished novel that they are super proud about.

[00:22] Step 5: Revising and Editing: Take 2 to 95

BETH BARANY: This week, I’m talking about Step Five, revising and editing. I call it Take 2 to 95. Yes, there could be many revisions to your novel, and that is entirely normal and entirely okay.

So today I’m going to share with you a few key tips to revising your novel. Now you’ve written a complete, let me say again, complete first draft. It’s messy. A lot of things need fixing and that’s okay.

That is what this stage is all about. Now I’m somebody who tends to write fast and edit slow. Not everyone is like that. Some people are slow writers and so editors or some people uh, write very, very slowly and come up with very clean material and then the editing process goes fairly quickly.

There is no right way to go about revising your novel. There’s only the way that works for you.

Now if you’ve never edited a first draft, it’s going to be all completely new and that’s okay. That means it’s a process of discovery to figure out what works for you. And the only way to figure out what works for you is to dive in there and start.

[01:42] Try on this frame of mind

BETH BARANY: So this frame of mind might help you.

We write for ourselves, I believe. And we revise for our readers.

So editing, editing and revising, I use interchangeably. They are, to me, the same thing. lots of different parts are involved and editing and revising. It’s not just grammar or typos or spelling. It’s word choice, sentence structure, making sure the characters feel three-dimensional. That’s a whole thing, making sure the setting comes alive, and that’s a whole thing, making sure your pacing is good, making sure you’re meeting and exceeding reader expectations. All of that is part of editing.

[02:24] The Art and Craft of Editing

BETH BARANY: So a big part of editing and revising one’s novel is about learning and deepening into the craft of writing, both the story development side. And the craft of stringing words one after another and putting them in a certain order so that when your reader reads your book, they forget they’re reading.

It’s amazing. It’s like magic, but it’s actually a craft and it’s an art. We are artists. You’re going to revise your book for your reader.

And so this is something very interesting when we start to edit. We are writers and we are readers. So when we look at our work, we want to look at it and imagine what it might be like to read it as a reader, not as a critical writer who’s thinking about craft. Or how another writer might look at your work.

You actually want to also learn how to put on that hat of the reader. a prerequisite to being able to be a good writer, not only is writing a lot, but reading a lot. So make sure you are reading a lot in your genre, outside of your genre, across the board. Be reading.

Now, as I said, we revise for your readers.

So learn how to put on the readers hat.

Writing is rewriting. So get comfortable with the fact that you might throw things out and rewrite sentences. The idea might stay the same, but how you phrase it might be different. We’re really deepening into the art and the craft of: how do you put a story together? And editing a novel is in itself, its own art and craft.

[04:00] Giving and Receiving Feedback

BETH BARANY: And then lastly, a big part of the editing process is learning how to give and receive feedback. You want to find a place where you feel safe, where you feel comfortable, and where you feel on the same wavelength with other writers to be able to give and receive feedback. This is best done in a peer group of some kind. Either in person or online or on zoom. And there’s a lot of resources out there on how to find good critique groups.

And if you need help with that, be sure to let me know, and I have resources.

[04:34] Questions to Guide Your Editing

BETH BARANY: Now as you deepen into your editing process and get in there and start making changes on your work, I want you to ask these two questions. And these are two questions that I ask at every step of the way, which is:

One: what’s working? What’s working for you?

For example, when I first started editing my very first novel, I actually was in a critique group, on purpose, so I could get things written and get things critiqued along the way. And that was definitely what was working for me. It really pulled me along and taught me a lot about writing.What’s also working is that I am still in a critique group, both my husband and I are in critique groups and have been in different groups off and on since the very beginning.

In fact, we met each other in a critique group and we are each other’s critique partners. Very unusual. I know, but it’s quite a, it’s quite wonderful. It’s quite a blessing.

That’s what’s working well for me. and I know that I can get people to look at my work at different stages and get feedback, and that helps me improve as a writer. And I’m always improving as a writer.

And that’s what I noticed also about all the writers I’ve ever met is nobody just says, oh, I know this. And that’s it. There’s nothing more to learn. What I noticed is writers are always learning. That’s actually one of the, maybe a distinguishing feature for writers is we’re always learning. We’re always growing. And editing is a great phase in the writing process to be doing that in.

The second question is what would you like more of? Maybe you would like critique, you would like feedback. Or you would just like to be able to read your work aloud, and have someone listen and nod and say thumbs up, which is also something we do actually during the writing process, but you could also have that kind of support in the editing process.

Or maybe what I noticed with writers working on their work, sometimes they don’t want to show their work to anyone until they feel ready, but they definitely want to announce that they’re working on their book.

Do you have people that you can share the success of the fact that you’re making progress in your edits? That could be your friends and family, that can be online. That could be an email list.

So think about what it is that you would like more of.

Recently I’m revising a novel and I came to a place where I felt ready to share the first few chapters with my beta readers. So what I wanted more of in that moment is I want to know how close to being done is this book. After having gone through many revisions. So I put out a request to my beta readers that I have been cultivating for years. And that’s what I needed in that moment.

And so I asked for it.

So when you notice what you would like more of articulate it as a request and see if there’s someone that you can ask that of. And if you’re not really sure, go ahead and ask me. I, and if I don’t know the answer, I will go and find out where you can get that resource. And I know a ton of other writing teachers who might be a resource for you. I know of a lot of resources.

So one of the things that I really enjoy is being a resource for others.

[07:29] Conclusion and Next Steps

BETH BARANY: All right, that’s it for this step. Step number five, which is Take 2 to 95, Revise for your readers and Writing is Rewriting.

So join me for Step Six. Can you believe it? We’re already on Step Six. And I’m going to talk about marketing because I’m actually encouraging writers to start thinking about their marketing really early in the process. And during their editing, especially.

[07:57] Workbook

BETH BARANY: And just so you know, there is a little workbook that comes with the series.

So be sure to check that out in the link, or go ahead and put into the comments, if you’re listening to this on YouTube and say, “Send me the workbook.” There is a workbook that comes along with this roadmap.

All right. That’s it for this week, everyone write. Long and prosper.

Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2012061

Need instructions on how to leave a review? Go here.

ABOUT BETH BARANY

Beth Barany teaches science fiction and fantasy novelists how to write, edit, and publish their books as a coach, teacher, consultant, and developmental editor. She’s an award-winning fantasy and science fiction novelist and runs the podcast, “How To Write The Future.”

Learn more about Beth Barany at these sites:

Author site / Coaching site / School of Fiction / Writer’s Fun Zone blog

CONNECT

Contact Beth: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/podcast/#tve-jump-185b4422580

Email: beth@bethbarany.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethbarany/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/bethbarany/

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bethbarany/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/bethbarany

X: https://twitter.com/BethBarany

CREDITSEDITED WITH DESCRIPT: https://www.descript.com?lmref=_w1WCA (Refer-a-Friend link)MUSIC CREDITS : Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/fuzz-buzz License code: UMMKDRL02DFGKJ0L. “Fuzz buzz” by Soundroll. Commercial license: https://musicvine.com/track/soundroll/fuzz-buzz.DISTRIBUTED BY BUZZSPROUT: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1994465 (Refer-a-Friend link)SHOW PRODUCTION BY Beth BaranySHOW CO-PRODUCTION + NOTES by Kerry-Ann McDade

C 2024 BETH BARANY

https://bethbarany.com/

For more “How To Write the Future” episodes, go here.

If you’d like to invite Beth onto your podcast, drop her a note here.

Like the work we do? Tip us! https://ko-fi.com/bethbarany

The post Take 2-95! Revise for your readers. Writing is rewriting. (Step 5) appeared first on Writer's Fun Zone.

View more on Beth Barany's website »

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Published on December 10, 2024 13:13

Staying Freelance by Andrea Reider

Let’s welcome back Andrea Reider as she shares with us “Staying Freelance.” Enjoy!

***

Developing the skills to have entrepreneurial success as a book publishing professional is often the easiest part of working with authors and publishers as a long-term freelance book designer and typesetter.

Successful freelancers can spend more time marketing their skills and looking for new clients than they do working on paid jobs and projects.

Staying Freelance is a candid look into the many things I did to establish, grow, and maintain my freelance book design and typesetting business over the course of 30-plus years.

One of the main takeaways is that it’s more important that you try out new ways to find clients than overthinking and coming up with a single master plan.

The most important factor in finding new clients is timing–finding companies that are open to new freelancers because they are growing or have recently lost a valued employee or other freelancer.

The best way to have good timing is to reach out to as many people as possible and hope to connect with the right person at the right time.

Loving the work you do goes a long way toward dealing with and surviving the inevitable downtimes that always seem to be right around the corner.

Staying Freelance offers many thoughts and ideas on how to achieve success, overcome the dreaded feast-or-famine cycle, and maintain a steady business for the long-term.

The following excerpt should give you a good idea of what “Staying Freelance” is all about:

“Much of my story as a book design and typesetting freelancer since the late 1980s is about the constant struggle and the ongoing efforts required to find new customers and maintain relationships with existing ones.

I’ve tried to detail the many and varied things I did in my attempts to keep growing my client base. Some of the things that failed for me might end up working for you.

I advise anyone seeking to establish a full-time freelance career in any profession, or even just part-time to supplement income, to use your creativity and ingenuity to figure out ways to focus on reaching out to other businesses and individuals who might be in need of your services.

You really don’t know what types of opportunities are out there until you start making contact with potential clients.

I’ve built my business primarily through using cold-call letters and emails to reach out to thousands of other book publishing professionals employed by publishers, or working on their own like me.

Most of my success has come from sending out enough mailings to sometimes contact the right person or business at just the right time.

Although I might only hear back from a few people out of one hundred or more emails, most people that do write back thank me for reaching out to them.

Some write back to tell me that they already are working with another freelancer or are doing the work in-house, but many responses lead to real freelance work–sometimes just a single project, but often leading to work on a long-term basis.

While learning to find new clients is an essential skill for all freelancers, I have been successful for so many years because I took the time and effort required to become an expert in my field.

For me, it helped to narrow my focus by specializing in book design and layout, a sub-specialty in the broader field of graphic design.

At the beginning of my freelance career I worked on graphic design projects for many types of large and small companies in San Francisco.

But my business really took off when I decided to focus all of my efforts toward working exclusively as a designer and typesetter for book publishers.

This cut out a lot of potential clients that I could approach for freelance work, but it allowed me to focus like a laser beam on book publishing, and develop my own expertise in the field.

I’ve loved everything about the art and practice of book design and typesetting from the moment I started working on my first books.

But my love of books would never have been enough to carry me through a lifelong career–or even to get me in the door of most publishers.

I had to learn everything that I could about book design and layout–while always keeping current with the latest computer developments and software releases.

Mostly through experience working on book projects and learning from my colleagues and peers, I set about building myself into the best designer and typesetter that I could be, so that authors, editors, and publishers would want to work with me as much as I wanted to work with them.”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrea Reider has been working as a book designer and layout artist/typesetter for publishers and self-publishing authors since graduating from the University of Michigan in English in 1985 with a B.A. in English. It was the year of the Macintosh computer and “desktop publishing,” and her first job was managing a typesetting shop in Ann Arbor.

When Andrea moved to San Francisco two years later her Macintosh skills were very much in demand. Andrea began working as a freelancer for several book publishers and has been at it ever since. Her clients have included John Wiley & Sons, Addison Wesley Longman, McGraw Hill, Rowman & Littlefield, and hundreds of self-publishing authors.

Website: http://www.reiderbooks.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreareiderdesign/

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Published on December 09, 2024 03:00

Art Will Find You by Catharine Bramkamp

Let’s welcome back monthly columnist Catharine Bramkamp as she shares with us “Art Will Find You.” Enjoy!

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I believe that art finds us. I believe that when we are ready and exactly when we need it, a supportive, transformative art activity will demand attention. All you need to do is sign in and show up.

Over the last few years, alternative art opportunities – art processes that are not about writing, have shown up and presented themselves to me, and I am grateful I answered the call (okay, the Face Book post.)

Each of these art classes have helped me through my life transitions, and they may help you as well.

Here are my two experiences.

While we contemplated selling our house and moving to a new town, an art journaling class popped up on my radar, and it was conveniently located in my town. I could not say no to the obvious message from the Universe.

Spoiler alert, we did sell the house and moved to the new town. One of the ways I connected with the artists in my new community was to take an irreverent class offered by an irreverent artist called Crap Art. Again, I was good at making crappy art, this would be perfect.

If that wasn’t enough to do, I wanted to try dancing. Enter a inclusive, fun, belly dancing class, yes, a ten minute drive from my new home. I began the class in 2022 right as my mother was failing, it saved my sanity.

What was most important about these classes is they offered artistic expression complexly different than what I was currently doing (or not doing). The process of learning – dancing – and doing – visual and expressive art, were what my brain and emotions needed right at that moment.

My artistic strength is wholly expressed through the written word. When I was young, I was allowed to quit my ballet class because I had no talent. I failed to replicate the pictured project delivered by Craft of the Month Club, and my pottery inventions were stored in the supply cabinet during Open House. It was enough to give a girl a complex.

Except I always had writing, and it was in that space where I excelled.

Most of us needed to choose, write or paint, dance or stage manage.

Writers don’t often inch over the invisible border from the written to visual art, but like dancing, the effort and work can infuse our writing with more energy and promise than we ever thought. We don’t need to become professionals or even proficient, that isn’t the point.

For 33 years I lived in Sonoma County. For 22 years we lived in Cotati, hoping that, as a university town, it would provide interesting events and promote creative energy.

But alas, we outgrew the town, and after our boys moved out, we were on the hunt for a new place that would provide an interesting next phase. I don’t even remember how I discovered the Art Journaling class with Susie Stonefield, two minutes from my Cotati home but I am forever grateful I did.

Up until then, my experience with art classes wasn’t stellar, I took an acrylic painting class at the local community college making a picture that was ostensibly a lake with a boat surrounded by fall foliage.

Apparently, the painting was not successful in expressing my vision since the only feedback the beleaguered instructor could say about my efforts was, “well, you seem to feel very strongly about orange.”

With encouragement like that…

I retreated back to what I knew best: poetry, fiction and non-fiction writing. Which for years went well. Until it didn’t.

I walked into the Art Journaling and was immediately greeted by Susie Stonefield, a cheerful welcoming woman who seemed happy to see me.

The art room was lined with art supplies, paint brushes, paint, pictures, magazines, stamps, ink, spray ink, glitter, you get the idea.

Most importantly, there was constant adult supervision. I do much better under adult supervision, keeps me off the high slide and away from oncoming traffic.

The journal was the critical feature of this project, because unlike placing a canvas on a stand and creating a work meant to be seen or displayed, a journal was private.

The work done on its pages served no other purpose than process: messy, freeing process. After a few weeks of this expressive work, I felt calmer and more positive about undertaking the move, and even better, I felt calmer and more patient with my writing work in process.

I loved the journaling class. I loved working side by side with the women in the class, I loved learning more about what they created and hearing their stories. I was fascinated by what appeared on the page as apparently, my story.

I was sorry to leave the environment but we moved to Nevada City, CA and five years after that, my husband retired – here. While he was still working and commuting (weekly not daily) back to Sonoma County. I had time to look around my new town and try new groups and try new things.

Enter Crap Art.

A lovely woman, Chantelle, held a weekly art space in her garage, that she called Crap Art. And you can imagine why. Like the Journaling class, this was about process, the goal was to spend two hours messing around with paint, glue and glitter. I knew a class called Crap Art would be as generative as the Art Journaling and I was right.

Chantelle was far more irreverent than Susie, but the idea was the same and I experienced a similar connection with women in the class.

At that time, Chantelle was working on an art project in conjunction with another artist both of whom were connected to the Local Arts Council.

I was intrigued and looked into the Art Council, liked what I saw, and joined the board of directors as well as the committee running the annual Sierra Poetry Festival. A brilliant outcome to what started as gluing unrelated images to produce awkward postcard size collages.

Emerging from the pandemic I wanted something new and likely some activity that was as far away from my mother as possible. We had accidentally found our new home just up the street from my mother.

This helped caring for her during COVID far easier, but it also meant as the restriction lifted, I was in charge of driving mother to her book groups, women’s meetings, and the occasional theater performance. I was welcomed into these groups as an honorary member, but I longed for spaces of my own.

I decided I wanted to learn to dance. I found a belly dancing class near by (this is why we moved to this area, small town – a belly dancing class nearby). confident that I would not encounter anyone of my mother’s acquaintance.

I was right.

For the next three years I learned how to move, how to listen to completely different music, how to costume in completely different ways. How to apply glitter to my face.

As we all emerged from the lock down, my poor mother’s mobility deteriorated. As during dance class, I concentrated on hip sways, bumps, hip circles, grapevine.

During one session featuring new finger and hand moves, I must have looked very serious as I tried to master the unfamiliar moves. My instructor, Aruba, walked right up to me, looked me in the eye and said “but you aren’t thinking of anything else are you?”

No, I wasn’t. Saved my sanity. As one does, I used to wake in the middle of the night my head full of, yes, the needs of my dying parent. I lay there in the dark and focused on replacing the circular regrets of childhood with mentally rehearsing the choreography for our upcoming dance performance – reviewing the dance steps over and over until I fell back asleep. That new way of thinking was like a miracle.

Like walking, forest bathing, dancing, gardening, even vacuuming, any other activity that allows your subconscious to commune with your Muse through different channels and outlets is an important.

Art classes are often lead by artists who are committed to sharing or spreading the word about their art.

Our dance style for instance is Egyptian Cabaret.

Blingy, pretty, and specific. The dance style is not as easily expressed by dancers in its originating countries. It’s our job to keep it alive until it can be handed back to the originators.

Artists, me included, also teach classes to hold people’s hands while they sing off key, miss the pickle ball, write bad poems, and in my case, create really bad pictures. All part of the fun.

An art class should be fun. It should represent play, it should be an activity your look forward to, not dread. Sorry, there shouldn’t bet be any should in art. But you get the idea.

Take a ukulele class through the library. Join a game night at the local store (or better, bar). Knit a scarf, build a Lego Tricorder.

I know what you’re thinking.

What if I end up liking the ukulele better than I like my novel?

You may.

As your writing coach, I’m unconcerned.

What emerges from each of these experiments is either something completely and unexpectedly marvelous and consuming or something that complements existing passions in completely different ways.

What I know, is immersion and process will move us more elegantly through our transitions that most any other activity. Find your class. Discover a new bliss to add to your growing list.

I keep up with Crap Art, which has led me to working with digital collage projects and a summer residency program with Kolaj Magazine that led to my work hanging in a gallery show in New Orleans. Crap Art and Chantelle continues to keep me grounded as well as encourages experimentation.

I dance with the troupe, Jewels of the Yuba the members of which are, to a one, beautiful, talented and supportive. Aruba continues to challenge me to do scary things, like wear B-52 level blue wigs and a mermaid costume in the Fourth of July Parade.

And Susie Stonefield has followed her own bliss and is teaching and working as a creativity coach in Chico, CA. Her New Studio is The Haven. I plan to visit and thank her.

Want more? Pre-Order your copy of Out Loud – An Adventure in Writing for Women, launching January 2025.

***

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***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Catharine Bramkamp is a successful writing coach, Chief Storytelling Officer, former co-producer of Newbie Writers Podcast, and author of a dozen books including the Real Estate Diva Mysteries series, and The Future Girls series. She holds two degrees in English and is an adjunct university professor. After fracturing her wrist, she has figured out there is very little she is able to do with one hand tied behind her back. She delights in inspiring her readers.

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Published on December 06, 2024 03:00

Take 1. Write Your Messy First Draft. (Step 4)

Take 1. Write Your Messy First Draft. (Step 4) – How To Write the Future podcast, episode 129

“Give yourself an opportunity to be perfectly imperfect.”

This episode is part of a mini-series based on the “Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap” where Beth Barany discusses the method she developed to help writers go from idea to published science fiction and fantasy novel.

In “Take 1. Write Your Messy First Draft. (Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap, Step 4)” How To Write The Future podcast host, Beth Barany shares how writing and planning your first draft can be, and usually is, messy and fun, and why you can trust the process and your creative vision.

Work the roadmap! Sign up and receive a copy of Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap workbook: https://bethbarany.com/trust-your-creative-heart-roadmap-workbook/

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RESOURCES

GET HELP WITH YOUR WORLD BUILDING – START HERE

Free World Building Workbook for Fiction Writers: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/world-building-resources/

Get support for your fiction writing by a novelist and writing teacher and coach. Schedule an exploratory call here and see if Beth can support you today: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/discovery-call/

About the How To Write the Future podcast

The How To Write The Future podcast is for science fiction and fantasy writers who want to write positive futures and successfully bring those stories out into the marketplace. Hosted by Beth Barany, science fiction novelist and creativity coach for writers. We cover tips for fiction writers. This podcast is for readers too if you’re at all curious about the future of humanity.

This podcast is for you if you have questions like:

– How do I create a believable world for my science fiction story?

– How do I figure out what’s not working if my story feels flat?

– How do I make my story more interesting and alive?

This podcast is for readers too if you’re at all curious about the future of humanity.

Transcript for Take 1. Write Your Messy First Draft. (Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap, Step 4) [00:00] Introduction and Welcome

BETH BARANY: Hey everyone. Welcome back. I am Beth Barany of How To Write The Future podcast. I am a writing teacher, science fiction and fantasy novelist, and editor. And I’m here to help you turn your idea into a polished, published science fiction or fantasy novel that you are proud of.

Now, I have been writing for very long time.

[00:29] The Joy of Writing the First Draft

BETH BARANY: And I have to tell you that this step, Step Four of my process of my roadmap called Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap is one of my absolute favorite.

Here’s where all the preparation work comes to life. And we actually get to sit down and put words on a page. And write that first draft. There’s nothing else like it.

Every other phase of the writing processes is also wonderful and beautiful, but here’s where you go from idea and story development and lots of notes, maybe, to writing the first draft. And from there, you’ll be able to work on editing, work on the marketing work on the joy of seeing your book in the hands of your readers.

[01:15] Embracing Imperfection: Take One

BETH BARANY: So, there are several things to keep in mind as you write your first draft. This is Take One.

Take One, meaning there’s going to be many more takes after this. This is Take One. So have fun with it. I almost think having fun is the most important part of the writing process. If you’re not having fun, if it feels like torture, if it feels agonizing. Then let’s examine why. There could be some very real reasons about that. Who knows what it is. You may need to go deal with those other things.

The writing process, in my opinion, should be fun. And it may be challenging. But the challenge is fun.

And it takes courage. That also is an exercise in stretching your imagination, stretching what you think is possible.

That’s also fun. That’s my take.

[02:09] Trusting the Process

BETH BARANY: So, in this stage, in this step of the Trust your Creative Heart Roadmap, which is Step Four or stage Four. This is writing your messy first draft.

It’s not meant to be perfect. It’s not meant to be clean. Although go ahead and correct your typos as you go. I do. Every day, I will go and reread the work I did before and I will correct typos, grammar, add a word or two, but I am not fixing the material.

Because as you’re writing your first draft, you actually don’t know, unless you’ve meticulously planned it, you actually don’t know what the full story is about. And even if you have planned it, what I’ve seen with people who are meticulous and very detail oriented about their plans is a lot of them still do invent parts of their story and their characters will go off and do unusual things they didn’t predict.

So, give yourself an opportunity to be perfectly imperfect here.

One of the most torturous aspects of writing a first draft is when you think it needs to be like a final draft.

All the books on the shelf that people have published, they normally, they usually have gone through many rounds of edits. And had many people look at them. And the writer has most likely labored over every word.

That’s a finished draft. Maybe they did a hundred revisions, maybe they did three.

But when you’re writing the first draft, this is your opportunity to be experimental, to play, to explore, to have fun. And it’s going to be a mess, especially if you’ve never written a novel before.

Now even me who writes, who’s on- 16th novel, my first drafts are messy. There’s things I don’t know. There’s things I haven’t decided. And even I see in my husband’s work and he’s definitely a plotter. His work is not the final stage. It’s pretty clean. His story is going where he wants it to go. But then I look at it as the editor and I start marking it all up. And I can tell you that it’s not done.

So, when you write your first draft, it may be very messy and that is okay. That is what it absolutely needs to be.

So, trust your heart, trust your vision. And trust your gut about what it is that you want to put on the page. You just may surprise yourself. And hopefully delight yourself.

Trust the process each day when you sit down to write and make little changes as you go, if you need to.

[04:39] Questions to Reflect On

BETH BARANY: So, with that in mind, here are the two questions I’ve been asking of you for every stage.

And the first question is, by now you may be familiar, the first question is: What is working?

As you work on your first draft, notice what is working well about this process? Do you have a good ritual for getting into your writing? Are you really enjoying the flow of working on your story? Does it please you? Is it making you happy?

And then ask yourself: What would you like more of?

You may notice that you really would like more time, or you would like to make sure you have a meal before you sit down to write, so you don’t interrupt yourself with, oh no, I’m hungry. Or do you realize that you need quiet when you thought you could write at the cafe or maybe you’re at home and you yearn for the busy-ness of a cafe that actually makes it easier for you to write.

So, listen to yourself day after day and notice what you would like more of as you work on your first draft and tweak and make changes as you go.

[05:41] Workbook

BETH BARANY: And just so you know, there is a little workbook that comes with the series.

So be sure to check that out in the link, or go ahead and put into the comments, if you’re listening to this on YouTube and say, “Send me the workbook.” There is a workbook that comes along with this roadmap.

All right.

[05:59] Conclusion and Final Thoughts

BETH BARANY: That’s it for this week for our Take One. Write Your Messy First Draft in the Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap. That’s it for this week, everyone. Write long and prosper.

Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2012061

Need instructions on how to leave a review? Go here.

ABOUT BETH BARANY

Beth Barany teaches science fiction and fantasy novelists how to write, edit, and publish their books as a coach, teacher, consultant, and developmental editor. She’s an award-winning fantasy and science fiction novelist and runs the podcast, “How To Write The Future.”

Learn more about Beth Barany at these sites:

Author site / Coaching site / School of Fiction / Writer’s Fun Zone blog

CONNECT

Contact Beth: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/podcast/#tve-jump-185b4422580

Email: beth@bethbarany.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethbarany/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/bethbarany/

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bethbarany/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/bethbarany

X: https://twitter.com/BethBarany

CREDITS EDITED WITH DESCRIPT: https://www.descript.com?lmref=_w1WCA (Refer-a-Friend link)MUSIC CREDITS : Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/fuzz-buzz License code: UMMKDRL02DFGKJ0L. “Fuzz buzz” by Soundroll. Commercial license: https://musicvine.com/track/soundroll/fuzz-buzz.DISTRIBUTED BY BUZZSPROUT: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1994465 (Refer-a-Friend link)SHOW PRODUCTION BY Beth BaranySHOW CO-PRODUCTION + NOTES by Kerry-Ann McDade

C 2024 BETH BARANY

https://bethbarany.com/

For more “How To Write the Future” episodes, go here.

If you’d like to invite Beth onto your podcast, drop her a note here.

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Published on December 02, 2024 06:13

Q&A with Nathan Yacos, Novelist

Please welcome Nathan Yacos to our Featured Author Q&A series at Writer’s Fun Zone. Enjoy!

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If you’d like to be considered for an interview, check out our guidelines here.

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About Nathan Yacos

Nathan Yacos has a Masters in Special Education, a Undergraduate Degree in Political Science, and over 25 years of teaching experience. He is a satiric screenwriter and self-professed political junkie.

Colette Freedman is a screenwriter, novelist and playwright. She is an internationally produced playwright with over 50 produced plays and musicals including Mozart: Her Story the Musical which played at Carnegie Hall and on London’s West End. Her play Sister Cities has been produced around the country and internationally over 100 times, including Paris (Une Ville, UneSoeur), Rome (Le Quattro Sorelle), England and Australia. She also wrote the novel and the film adaptations, which stars Jacki Weaver and Alfred Molina. She has produced and written several films including And Then There Was Eve, Miles Underwater and 7,000 Miles starring Wendie Malick about Amelia Earhart. A professor who has authored ten books, she is thrilled to dip her toe into transgressive fiction. www.colettefreedman.com

Editor’s note: While this post is co-authored by Colette Freedman and Nathan Yacos, Nathan is the one who has provided the answers in this interview.

On to Our Interview!

Q. Tell us who you are and what inspires you to write.

A. I am a proud husband and father. My family and I love vacationing by the ocean, where we can appreciate its peaceful serenity. I enjoy watching classic movies and staying informed about current political events.

As a veteran special educator with over 25 years of experience, I passionately advocate for the unrepresented, underprivileged, and underserved.

I actively engage in cultural discussions through writing, using satirical comedy as my powerful tool.

I boldly challenge societal norms and values, aiming to inspire my readers to reflect on their beliefs through storytelling.

Q. How did you get to this place in your life?

A. My professional journey began as a direct care staff member at an Albany, New York, residential group home. I admire individuals with disabilities and the dedicated professionals in this field.

This experience led me to become a job coach for adults with autism, fueling my passion and inspiring me to pursue a master’s degree in special education.

Today, while still serving as a special educator, I am focused on writing satirical screenplays and exploring various storytelling mediums, including stage plays and film.
I believe that stories can inspire and connect us, and I strive to achieve that goal.

Q. What are you most passionate about?

A. I am passionate about equality, education, and civic duty. These are fundamental principles that define a just society.

The rights of all individuals, especially those with disabilities or special needs, have often been marginalized due to a widespread perception of an individual’s worth.

I firmly believe that a nation’s actual value is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens, including the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and marginalized communities.

Each of us should have a civic responsibility for advocating for equality and supporting those who cannot advocate for themselves.

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about your writing process, routine, and/or rituals around your writing?

A. My writing process is flexible and intuitive, allowing the story and characters to unfold gradually. Instead of adhering to a strict routine or timeline, my best ideas emerge when I am relaxed and free in my thoughts, often late at night or early in the morning.

Each story begins with a unique idea, usually featuring a main character facing a personal or societal challenge. I create a rough outline consisting of three acts and around 40 scenes, taking time to reflect on it. It serves as an art canvas that I fill in over time.

Getting to know my main characters is crucial; I focus on understanding their values, voices, and interactions with others. I prioritize writing the scenes that come naturally to me, mainly those rich in dialogue and conflict, as they help bring the characters to life.

Music is essential to my writing environment, as it helps me connect with the characters’ moods, thoughts, and emotions. I enjoy various genres, including R&B, jazz, classic rock, Latin rock, and 1970s oldies, which inspire my creativity.

I’ve also discovered that yard work is an excellent time to think through and process story ideas while mowing the lawn, or gardening.

Q. What are a few challenges you faced in creating, marketing, or publishing your creative work? And your solutions to them.

A. Embracing quirky and humorous dialogue ideas can sometimes be a challenge.
Still, I’ve realized the importance of letting go and jotting down all concepts to consider later rather than dismissing them based on the current storyline draft.

Achieving a relaxed mindset is essential before I start writing scenes and dialogue. In this state, my thoughts and imagination flow more freely, allowing the characters to engage in improvisational dialogue as if performing a comedy routine.

The dialogue may come out raw, crude, or rude, but it must be genuinely funny and accurate to the character. I must avoid obsessing over how my writing sounds or how the public might perceive its message.

Additionally, letting go means recognizing when the story feels complete. It involves knowing when the characters and plot have been fully developed and their narratives effectively communicated. Ultimately, it’s about saying goodbye to the characters once the story concludes.

Q. What do you wish you had known before you started writing fiction?

A. Refrain from being swayed by the misconceptions surrounding writing. It’s important to understand that writing is not an impossible challenge reserved for those with innate talent. Rather, it is a skill that can be developed and refined over time, just like any other profession.

To become a successful writer, one must possess a genuine passion for writing and dedicate substantial time to learning and mastering the craft with unbridled enthusiasm. This means immersing yourself in various writing styles, understanding your audience, and actively seeking feedback to improve your work. Never stop learning.

It’s essential to grasp the fundamental principles that define excellent writing, such as structure, character development, and the art of storytelling. Studying these elements and adhering to a consistent writing practice will strengthen your abilities.

Remember, like any skill, writing is acquired through practice and perseverance. You’ll discover that the more you write, the better you understand your unique voice and style. Embrace the learning journey by doing, and your writing will flourish over time.

Q. What’s next for you in your creative work?

A. I’m currently developing a dark social satire titled “Daisy.” The story centers around a once-famous child star whose rise to fame mirrors the energy and nostalgia of classic yearly telethon productions, much like those hosted by Jerry Lewis. Daisy captivates audiences as the telethon’s shining star, effortlessly charming viewers with her endearing “Bicycle Built for Two” act.

However, as time passes and she grows older, Daisy finds herself in a challenging transition. No longer able to portray the adorable “cute girl” that audiences adore, she faces the harsh reality of aging out of the persona that brought her fame.

At this stage in her life, she is far too mature to continue riding a tricycle, but she reveals a more chaotic and rebellious nature behind the scenes, living up to her reputation as quite a handful.

The narrative delves deeply into the theme of corporate greed, exposing the sinister underbelly of the entertainment industry and how it exploits young talent. Through Daisy’s journey, the story critiques the relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of genuine artistry and the lives of the performers. This project is still in the works, and I look forward to refining it further.

Q. Is there anything else you wished I’d asked?

A. What keeps me awake at night?

What keeps me awake at night is the profoundly unsettling outcome of an election that resulted in the ascension of a narcissistic, male chauvinist sociopath–a convicted felon–to the highest office in the land. This troubling decision poses a significant threat to our fundamental rights and freedoms, notably the essential principle of free expression, which is the cornerstone of a democratic society.

I am equally alarmed by the potential consequences of this leadership on educational funding, which could severely limit the resources and opportunities available to individuals with special needs. The prospect of increased government interference in a woman’s right to make choices about her own body is also a grave concern.

Moreover, I worry about the ongoing marginalization and discrimination faced by minority groups, especially within the LGBTQ+ community, who continue to be vilified and dehumanized. We must passionately advocate for a society that protects and uplifts everyone, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued.

Tugnutt’s Creek

As Ted Tugnutt–a militant optimist–embarks on an unexpected journey of self-discovery, he meets an eclectic cast of characters who catapult his life into chaos. From a coked-up nun to a duck-obsessed billionaire, Ted’s mediocre existence metamorphoses into a butterfly effect of subversive events, upending societal norms in ways he never could have imagined.

With sardonic humor and sharp-witted satire, this book serves as a love letter to women’s rights, LGBQT+ rights, animal rights, and freedom of speech in an increasingly polarized world. Ted’s transformation proves that weird is infinitely better than mediocre, and sometimes, to get to heaven, you’ve got to spend a long time in hell.

Connect with the authors

Site Link https://colettefreedman.com/writing/books/tugnutts-creek/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tugnuttscreek

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tugnuttscreek/

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Published on November 29, 2024 03:00

Q&A with Kat Podmolik

Please welcome Kat Podmolik to our Featured Author Q&A series at Writer’s Fun Zone. Enjoy!

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If you’d like to be considered for an interview, check out our guidelines here.

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About Kat Podmolik