Laura McNeill's Blog, page 10

You Know You Live in Mobile, Ala. If …

As my new novel, Center of Gravity, is set in Mobile, Ala., I’d love for everyone to experience a bit of the flavor that surrounds our wonderful Port City. 

Like many folks who live in the Deep South, we’ve all experienced blistering hot summer afternoons or gorgeous December days, but here’s a list that centers only on in Mobile, Ala.

If you live in or around the Port City, it’s likely that you have:

1. Caught beads at one of the city’s many Mardi Gras parades

2. Come to a standstill in the Bayway or Causeway traffic crossing Mobile Bay

2. Attended a crawfish boil, complete with corn on the cob and potatoes

3. Politely explained that Mobile is pronounced “Moh-beel”

4. Taken a walk or run around Spring Hill College’s lovely campus

5. Honked your car horn inside the Bankhead tunnel

6. Visited the U.S.S. Alabama Battleship

7. Sipped on a cocktail or cold drink somewhere along Dauphin Street

8. Grabbed a burger at Callaghan’s Irish Social Club or a hotdog at the Dew Drop Inn

9. Taken your child to the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center

10. Driven to Dauphin Island, Ala. or Fairhope to watch the sunset.

And … it’s likely that you’ve watched the “MoonPie Over Mobile” drop on New Year’s Eve from the streets of downtown or the comfort of your own home!

Anything you’d like to add to the list?

xo, Laura

Pre-Order Center of Gravity today

In stores & online everywhere July 14

Writer Wednesday: 10 Ways to Fuel Motivation

A lot of people tell me that they’ve always wanted to write a novel.

They have an idea, a synopsis, an elevator pitch, and interesting characters. They have a setting, a gripping climax, and an evil antagonist to add in for good measure.

But, they explain, when it comes down to actually writing — actually putting fingers to keyboard — life gets in the way.

And I understand. A job definitely gets in the way. Family, friends, and the laundry can distract. There’s also the mail. And the latest HBO original series. Pretty soon, there’s no time left for writing.

So, how does one do it?

That is, write with a full-time job, a family, and a life?

It all comes down to motivation.

How badly do you want it? And how willing are you to put aside other priorities to get it?

Here are my Top Ten Ways to Fuel Motivation while Writing:

Find a story you love and want to write about

This might sound obvious. Of course you are going to love the story you write about! Until, that is, you don’t love it, and it isn’t working. So, make sure you love Minnesota, or the Civil War, or the year 2050, or the character you’re going to spend 85,000 words with. It’s an investment!

Invest in an outline – even a brief one

Speaking of investments, plot is an investment. Preparation for success, if you will. But, if you aren’t a plotter, or someone who outlines even minimally, this might sound silly. But, think about this. An outline is like a map. Even a quick glance shows you where you need to go. Even the most skilled navigators need that!

3. Set a schedule

So, Train your brain to turn on at a certain time.

Set your clock, get up a 6 a.m., start writing before you click on the Internet, log on to social media, or turn on the television. If you follow that routine five of seven days, your creative brain will show up with you, ready to work!

Put it on your calendar

It can be helpful to actually log the time on your calendar. Use a Google calendar, a wall calendar, or write your schedule on the back of your hand. Block out time for writing. Time for editing. Actually making those “appointments” will give you more incentive to do it!

Give yourself a deadline

Set a deadline. And once you’ve committed, stick with it. Starting with the goal, work backwards and figure out everything that needs to be accomplished before then. Divide it by the number of days, and you have your (much-smaller) and (much-more) manageable task list.

Crank back the TV and social media a notch

When you are working on deadline, or any big project, give up some or all of the digital entertainment. TV is a distraction, and it’s likely you are only half-listening anyway. Same with gaming. Without all of the noise and lights, your body and brain can concentrate.

Tell someone

Tell someone. It will reinforce your commitment and help you stick to a goal.

Tell more people

Tell two or three more people. Ask them to be accountable. (see number 7).

Work through bumps in the road

Feeling like you’ve hit a wall? You’re not alone.

Talk it through with someone–a teacher, a friend, another writer. Reach out for those solutions and don’t feel as if you have to tackle all of the issues yourself. Sometimes, the solution is right within your grasp. That’s the beauty of collaboration!

Write

This key to writing, and probably one of the most important of the many steps in the process, is just to get started.

Begin writing.

The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.

 

And above all, don’t give up!

xo, Laura

@Publish15 Convention – Part Deux

Day 2 of Publish 15 was just as fun and fulfilling as Day 1. In all, more than 500 people from Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Alabama attended the event in Cumming, Ga. During the convention, I talked to so many great aspiring authors about self-publishing, traditional publishing, marketing, agents, social media, and blog tours.

Stephanie, Me, & Holly

Agent pitch sessions went on all weekend, and it was really exciting to find out that writing duo Stephanie Erbesfield and Holly Hearn had a request for a full manuscript and a request for the first five pages of their debut novel, Daughter of Thieves.

Shari and Me

In the afternoon, Shari Stauch (www.writerswin.com) and I spoke twice about “Curating Digital Communities” (a fancy way of saying “what authors need to think about and do when it comes to social media”). We covered all of the basics we could in an hour and answered questions on everything from Facebook to LinkedIn.

I gave a short demo during each talk — scrolling through my Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Goodreads accounts while Shari explained the “how-to’s” of each site!

Just before the convention wrapped up, the folks at Publish15 raffled off a big gift basket with an ARC copy of Center of Gravity, chocolate, coffee, swag, and two Lauren Clark books inside (my sweet Southern fiction pen name). The winner was Tracee Smith Randall!

I’d also like to thank BookLogix for hosting this wonderful event. Plans are already in place for next year! I hope that if you live in or near the Atlanta area, you’ll consider attending Publish16!

xo, Laura

Pre-Order Center of Gravity today!

Whirlwind Report from #Publish15

Book enthusiast? Aspiring author? Interesting in pitching a literary agent?

Consider attending Publish15! If you live near Atlanta, there’s still time to attend tomorrow (Sunday, June 14). If you’re outside the area, make plans to attend next year’s event!

Jonathan, David, Me, & Bennett

Publish15 is a 2-day convention for new and experienced writers — featuring topics like blogging, book proposals, and the business of being an author.

On Saturday, I participated in two panels, Go Big or Go Indie and The Business of Self Publishing. I was joined by author Jonathan French (far left), David Hancock, founder of Morgan James publishing, and Canadian author Bennett Coles, who also runs Promontory Press.

My Booth!

More than 400 people attended the day’s events, which included workshops on using mobile technology, advice on targeting the right audience for your novel, and agent pitch sessions!

When I arrived, I found my booth already set up and ready in the bright and sunny Forsyth Conference Center in Cumming, Ga.

On breaks between panel discussions, I talked about writing, editing, and Center of Gravity‘s July 14 release, as well as answered dozens of questions from writers, sponsors, and visitors.

On Day 2 of Publish15, I’ll serve on the Curating Digital Communities panel. Sheri Stauch and I will be talking about how to build an author brand, what defines an author ‘platform,’ and techniques for using social media effectively.

xx, Laura

Congratulations! Summer Prize Pack Winner

I’m really excited to announce the winner for the May Beach Read Prize Pack, including 7 books, a tote bag, swag, and Mardi Gras beads.

The BIG box, weighing in at about 10 pounds, will be mailed off this morning to…

Stacey Grantham of Ocala, Florida!

She was kind enough to allow me to share a few photos of her and her adorable son.

I also loved and had to share this little saying on her Facebook page… Isn’t it a great reminder for every day?

Stacey Grantham

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the giveaway.

I’ll have another one up soon … Hint:  This one will involve a few goodies from Williams-Sonoma, and delicious food to eat! (The prize pack is also related to Center of Gravity, being released July 14th!)

Much love and happiness!

xx, Laura

10 Reasons E-Readers Are Better than Boyfriends

Many authors, bloggers, and readers occasionally lament that they have too many books to read. In my heart, I know that it’s really that there are not enough hours in the day … those pesky jobs and to-do lists always seem to get in the way!

But what if your main squeeze is the one doing the complaining? Too many books on the nightstand. Too many books next to the bed. Don’t despair….pick up an e-reader.


Here are TEN glorious reasons you might want to trade in your flesh-and-blood model for a sleek, stylish package.

 

An e-reader is always:

1. Ready in Seconds – No waiting around to check the score of the game, no having to finding the keys, or “Not tonight, honey.”
2. Entertaining – There’s no shortage of music, audiobooks, novels, short stories, and poetry…and most devices will read to you if you click the right buttons.
3. Portable – No need to buy two airline tickets for a vacation; just tuck your device into your suitcase and go!
4. Handsome – Choice of colors, fonts, sizes, screens in black and white or full color. Plus, you can dress it up in whatever jazzy cover you decide looks great (and there’s never any debate).
5. Drama-free – There’s no fighting over watching favorite shows, where to eat dinner, or wondering if your e-reader understands you. E-readers don’t hold grudges. A committed e-reader relationship means never having to say you’re sorry.
6. Open – Go ahead and flirt. No jealousy here. Your e-reader will always go home with you, no questions asked.
7. Thoughtful – Your e-reader will never steal the remote, hog the bed covers, or tell you you’re fat. Your e-reader won’t eat that pint of Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey you’ve been saving for a really bad day.
8. Quiet – Your e-reader won’t talk back, argue, cuss, or snore. Think of all of the uninterrupted sleep you’ll get.
9. Great at following directions – You don’t have to tell your e-reader twice. Tell it what to do. It remembers everything!
10. Low Maintenance – No foot rubs, fetching a beer, running to the grocery store for snacks, or picking up stray underwear. No need to remember birthdays or anniversaries. All you need is a charge cord. Need I say more?

 

And, hey, in the rare instance that your e-reader does disappoint, you can always trade-up for a faster, more intelligent model. No explanations, no break-up required.

 

xx, Laura

Image Source: freedigitalphotos.net

Writer Wednesday: Word Count or Word Quality

There is a belief among writers that, every day, authors must put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard and reach a certain word count. Stephen King has said, more than once, that he writes 2,000 words a day and rarely takes a day off. Jodi Picoult admits to sneaking away to her office to write on weekends. For much of his life, Frederick Forsyth insisted on working, 7 days a week, without fail.

As a writer, is this reasonable? Is it doable? And finally, does it equal success?

Like many other writers with lofty writing goals, I initially found it easy to get overwhelmed. I would begin with a goal of writing 2,000 words a day – sometimes hitting it, sometimes not. Then, the pressure began. A mere 500 words seemed trite. 850 appeared a half-hearted effort. On some days, it seemed that reaching 1,000 words might cause my brain to shut down.

But with five books to my name, and two more in the making, I can attest– through trial and error, that consistency and tenacity, not word count, are key to churning out stories.

As you can see from this chart highlighting famous authors (below), word counts range from 500-10,000 words a day. All of the authors are equally well known, yet no formula exists for one magic word count.

Jack London, perhaps, said it best. “You can’t wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club.”

I agree. I believe that success isn’t measured by word count. It’s reached by striving for the best writing you can do, whenever you sit down to write. Bestsellers are defined by quality. Must-read books resonate with readers. Favorite novels leave you with a warm feeling in your heart or a lasting impression long after you finish the last page. It doesn’t matter if the books are 300,000 or 60,000 words.

So … write when you can, as much as you can, and find the routine that works for you. It takes time to figure it out. And it takes dedication.

My sweet spot for writing  is in the morning, from 6 am – 8 am, Monday through Saturday. Sometimes I write on Sundays, also, and I aim for 1,200 words each day.

You might find midnight or 2 o’ clock in the morning is the magic hour. You might discover you do best aiming for 450 words a day Tuesday through Friday. More power to you! That 450 becomes 900 words, and in 6 months, on that Tuesday-Friday schedule, you’ll have 45,000 words.

Just keep at it. It’s a solitary job. No one else but you will set your alarm clock or put your bottom in a chair. But when you are able to type “The End,” it’s the best feeling in the world!

Happy writing!

~  Laura

Prize Pack Giveaway ~ 7 Beach Reads, Tote, T-Shirt & More

I’ve been traveling so much the past few weeks, meeting fabulous authors at RT in Dallas and Page & Palette in Fairhope, Ala., and picking up so many amazing new books to read! Today, I thought I’d share the love with a special Rafflecopter giveaway to kick off summer!

Inside the Prize Pack (see below), you’ll find a fun Girls’ Night Out tote, a matching t-shirt, 7 Amazing Beach Reads (many are not even out in stores yet!!!), Center of Gravity swag, and Mardi Gras beads (just for fun & because Center of Gravity is set in Mobile, Alabama ~ arguably the birthplace of Mardi Gras!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway ends at midnight, June 8th and the winner will be announced June 9th right here on my blog! Best of luck … and look for many more fun giveaways to come in June and July!

Hugs,

Laura

Reader Feature: Jen McGee

Today I am so happy to welcome my friend Jen McGee to the blog. Jen is a talented photographer, great mom, wife, and blogger, AND is one of my most trusted beta-readers! I can definitely count on her for honest feedback and constructive ways to improve my novels, which is so amazingly helpful for any author.

Though we live far away from each other, Jen and I email often, trade thoughts about books, kids, work, and life. Like me, Jen loves coffee, chocolate, and traveling. She is also Chicago Cubs fan (her Instagram handle is cubsfan3410)! 

I encourage you to check out her blog, It’s My Life, and follow her on Instagram to check out all of her really creative and lovely photographs!

The 411 on Jen

Name – Jen McGee
Hometown – Middle of nowhere, Midwest USA
Where you live now! Chicagoland
Family members (if you want to share that) – My husband of almost 18 years; 22-year-old son; 11-year-old daughter
How did we “meet?” – I reviewed ; you emailed me to thank me and our friendship took off from there.
Five words friends would use to describe you. –Caring; silly; dedicated; loyal and honest.
Name of your blog and URL. How and why did you start blogging? I blog at ”It’s my Life.” I started blogging in 2006 to keep my family updated on our happenings.
What is the most rewarding thing about it? I have “met” some very fantastic bloggers and friends.
Finish this sentence. “When I’m not reading, I’m taking photos.
Finish this sentence. “I love it when people smile.
What would you do with a million dollars? Buy a house and new car; then put the rest away for education.
Favorite book –WOW! This is a REALLY tough one. I love so many books for so many reasons. I think my answer would be Little Women – I read it every year and have since I was probably about 10.
Favorite movie – The Wizard of Oz
Favorite treat/snack – Snickers or Milky Way bars OR if you really want to score some points with me – chocolate chip cookies !
Favorite vacation spot – Like books, I love so many places for so many reasons. I think I will say – Disney or the beach.
Romance or Suspense? – It depends on my mood.
Coffee or Tea? – Coffee!!!
Beach or Mountains? Beach
Sun or Snow? SUN!!!!!!!!!
Where can people find you on the web or on social media?  My blog: It’s My Life  & Instagram: cubsfan3410

Thank you so much for stopping by this week’s Reader Spotlight and meeting Jen!

xo, Laura

10 Ways to Show You Love a Writer

A few years ago, fellow author Eileen Flanagan penned a fabulous article that I’ve kept bookmarked on my laptop. It’s sound, thoughtful, and amusing advice for anyone who loves a book author.

With all of the great beach reads hitting bookstores now (the storage on my Kindle is full to bursting!), and Center of Gravity being released in just 6 short weeks, it’s perfect timing to share an abbreviated version of Eileen’s post.*

Here we go …

10 Ways to Support your Favorite Writer

1.   Buy your friend’s book. If you can afford it, buy it for everyone in your extended family. If you can’t afford it, ask your local librarian to order a copy. Suggest it to your librarian whether you buy a copy yourself or not.

2.   Don’t wait to pick up a copy. How it does in its first weeks determines whether a book will stay on the bookstore shelves or be sent back to the warehouse to be shredded. Try to buy it as soon as it’s published, or better yet pre-order a copy, which gets your friend’s publisher excited about the book’s prospects.

3.   Where they you get the book? In the long-term, it is in every writer’s best interest to support independent booksellers. Go to IndieBound to find one near you. When a book is newly released, however, it may help your writer friend more to buy it through a big chain, so they keep it stocked where the most people can find it. Likewise, a high sales on Amazon can get people’s attention.

4.   Write a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Mention it on Facebook and Twitter, and recommend it to your book group.

5.   Skip writing the review if your friend’s book is sci-fi and you’re more of a Jhumpa Lahiri fan. Say something like, “I’m so proud of you for following your passion.”

6.   If your friend is a good public speaker, recommend her to your church, synagogue, mosque, ashram, kid’s school, Rotary club, etc. If you live far away, your friend might get to come visit you and write it off her taxes.

7.   If you have a website or blog, link to your friend’s website. The more people who link to her, the better she looks to the search engines, which may help people who don’t already love her to find her book.

8.   If your friend could legitimately be a reference on some Wikipedia page, add her as one, with a link to the most relevant page of her website. Authors can’t tout themselves on Wikipedia, but there is nothing more fun for a writer than discovering a spike in her search engine traffic due to a link posted on Wikipedia. It’s kind of like having a secret Santa.

9.   Don’t ask your friend if she has thought about trying to get on Oprah. Trust me– she’s thought of that.

10. If you pray, go ahead. It couldn’t hurt to pray she gets on Oprah.

 ~ Laura

 

For the full article, visit Eileen Flanagan.