Chrys Fey's Blog, page 65
January 21, 2015
Blog Post Ideas
ANNOUNCEMENT: I am giving away 5 PDF copies of 30 Seconds to the first 5 people who comment saying they want to review it. You have to like romantic-suspense novellas and be willing to write a review on Amazon before Feb. 28th. It's only 100 pages long. Any takers? Pretty, please? Comment with your email address.
Blurb:
When Officer Blake Herro agreed to go undercover in the Mob, he thought he understood the risks. But he's made mistakes and now an innocent woman has become their target. He's determined to protect her at all costs.
The Mob's death threat turns Dr. Dani Hart's life upside down, but there is one danger she doesn’t anticipate. As she's dodging bullets, she's falling in love with Blake. With danger all around them, will she and Blake survive and have a happy ending, or will the Mob make good on their threat?
**************************************************************************************
After you’ve blogged for a while, or even before you begin blogging, you may struggle with what you should blog about. If you have to create a few posts every week, your well of ideas may end up dry.
Here is a list of blog ideas you can do:
• Write about a topic you know.
• Join a weekly meme or two. Check out:
• If you’re a writer, join the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. We post the first Wednesday of every month.
• Sign up for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. Every April a massive amount of bloggers join this challenge. We blog every day in April, except on Sundays. Each day is assigned a letter of the alphabet. You can have a theme or post random things.
• You can try my 30 Day Writing Challenge and blog a prompt once or twice a week.
• Sign up for blog hops. When you get to know more bloggers you will come across blog hops in a variety of topics. These are quite fun to do.
• Host guests for guest posts.• Host authors for blog tours.
Again, when your blogging network grows, you’ll see requests from authors for help with their blog tours. You’ll also be able to ask bloggers if they’d be interested in writing a guest post for your blog.
More Ideas:
• Share your poetry/short stories.• Write about your childhood/school memories.• Review movies, books, music.• Interview people.• Create profiles on famous individuals.• Host giveaways/contests.• Answer commonly asked questions about your niche.• Share 20 random facts about yourself.• Update readers on your progress toward a goal.• Talk about your hobby (gardening, painting, writing, etc.) • Top Lists (Top Ten Favorite Books, Movies, etc.)• Talk about your pets.• “What if...”• 7 reasons why...• Tell your readers about your vacations/travels.• Discuss world news.• Write opinion pieces.• Share recipes• Quotes• Art projects for kids• DIY projects• Parenting stories • Homeschooling tips• Share your photography/art.• Give a history/mythology lesson.• Tell a personal story about a recent holiday.• Write health pieces.• Share inspirational stories• Share a joke.• Ask your readers what they’d like to see you blog about.
Check out these bloggers:
Alex J. Cavanaugh does movie reviews. Pat Hatt shares funny rhymes every day!
Sherry Ellis shares cute stories about her kids.
Madeline Mora-Summonte shares quotes for her Motivational Mondays.
Claudine Gueh Yanting discusses children's books.
SHARE more blog ideas so I can add them to this list!
QUESTIONS:
Bloggers: What do you enjoy blogging about?
Readers: What do you wish more bloggers blogged about?
**Anyone interested in reviewing 30 Seconds before Feb 28th?
Blurb:
When Officer Blake Herro agreed to go undercover in the Mob, he thought he understood the risks. But he's made mistakes and now an innocent woman has become their target. He's determined to protect her at all costs.
The Mob's death threat turns Dr. Dani Hart's life upside down, but there is one danger she doesn’t anticipate. As she's dodging bullets, she's falling in love with Blake. With danger all around them, will she and Blake survive and have a happy ending, or will the Mob make good on their threat?
**************************************************************************************
After you’ve blogged for a while, or even before you begin blogging, you may struggle with what you should blog about. If you have to create a few posts every week, your well of ideas may end up dry.
Here is a list of blog ideas you can do:
• Write about a topic you know.
• Join a weekly meme or two. Check out:
Celebrate the Small Things created by Vik Lit (Friday).
What’s Up Wednesday created by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk
Six Word Saturday hosted by ShowMyFace.com.
Monday Mishmash created by Kelly Hashway• Create your own memes to fit your personality, such as Weird Word Wednesday, Friday Funnies, etc. If you have a theme for certain days, you'll be able to come up with ideas. And it doesn't even have to match the day.
• If you’re a writer, join the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. We post the first Wednesday of every month.
• Sign up for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. Every April a massive amount of bloggers join this challenge. We blog every day in April, except on Sundays. Each day is assigned a letter of the alphabet. You can have a theme or post random things.
• You can try my 30 Day Writing Challenge and blog a prompt once or twice a week.
• Sign up for blog hops. When you get to know more bloggers you will come across blog hops in a variety of topics. These are quite fun to do.
• Host guests for guest posts.• Host authors for blog tours.
Again, when your blogging network grows, you’ll see requests from authors for help with their blog tours. You’ll also be able to ask bloggers if they’d be interested in writing a guest post for your blog.
More Ideas:
• Share your poetry/short stories.• Write about your childhood/school memories.• Review movies, books, music.• Interview people.• Create profiles on famous individuals.• Host giveaways/contests.• Answer commonly asked questions about your niche.• Share 20 random facts about yourself.• Update readers on your progress toward a goal.• Talk about your hobby (gardening, painting, writing, etc.) • Top Lists (Top Ten Favorite Books, Movies, etc.)• Talk about your pets.• “What if...”• 7 reasons why...• Tell your readers about your vacations/travels.• Discuss world news.• Write opinion pieces.• Share recipes• Quotes• Art projects for kids• DIY projects• Parenting stories • Homeschooling tips• Share your photography/art.• Give a history/mythology lesson.• Tell a personal story about a recent holiday.• Write health pieces.• Share inspirational stories• Share a joke.• Ask your readers what they’d like to see you blog about.
Check out these bloggers:
Alex J. Cavanaugh does movie reviews. Pat Hatt shares funny rhymes every day!
Sherry Ellis shares cute stories about her kids.
Madeline Mora-Summonte shares quotes for her Motivational Mondays.
Claudine Gueh Yanting discusses children's books.
SHARE more blog ideas so I can add them to this list!
QUESTIONS:
Bloggers: What do you enjoy blogging about?
Readers: What do you wish more bloggers blogged about?
**Anyone interested in reviewing 30 Seconds before Feb 28th?
January 19, 2015
Blogging 101
I know most of you who visit my blog are pretty knowledgeable about blogging, so this post is for those of you looking for tips to gain more readers and for ways to spice up your blog.
1. Before you consider starting a blog, you have to know what you want to blog about. What’s your hobby? What do you enjoy talking about? What's your job? Answering these questions can help you to target topics you’ll be able to mold a blog around.
2. Have enough material. Jot down a list of possible article ideas, and have a supply of posts ready to go. For blog post ideas go HERE.
3. Decide if you want to post once a week, three times a week, or every day. There is no right answer to this. It’s up to you and what you feel comfortable doing.
5. Create a name for your blog that fits your overall theme. I chose Write with Fey because I knew I’d blog about writing.
My first blog banner.
6. A. Go to www.feedburner.com. You only need a Google account to work FeedBurner. Click on the title of your blog, click on the page at the top titled “Publicize”, and then click on “Email Subscriptions” which is to the left. Now click on “Delivery Options.” This is where you can set up your time zone and schedule emails to go out to your subscribers.
B. Also at www.feedburner.com, click on “edit your feed” which is under the title of your blog at the top, and change the original feed by adding ?max-results=10at the end so it’ll look like this: http://yourblogurl/feeds/posts/default?max-results=10
Why should you do this? Because if you go over 512K for the file size, your feed won’t update with your new posts (subscribers won’t get emails and your posts won’t go on your followers’ blog feeds). This happened to me.
8. Don’t forget to add labels to your posts. On Blogger, there is a box titled “Labels” to the right when you’re creating your posts. Click on it, type in all the labels that qualify for your post, and separate them with commas. If your post is about writing you can you these labels: writing, writing tips, how to write a novel, etc.
9. When you have quite a few posts on your blog, you can add Categories to your blog. Here is how you can do it:
· Go to “Layout” on your Blogger Dashboard, click “Add a Gadget” on your blog’s layout format. · A small page will pop up, scroll down until you see “Labels”, and click on it. · A new small page will appear. Create a title, which can simply be “Categories.”· If you want to use certain labels, click “Selected Labels” and then click “Edit.” Check off which labels you want to appear, click “Done” and then “Save.”· Now move your gadget anywhere you want it on your blog layout. Click “Save arrangement” at the top of the page and view your blog.
10. Add pictures to your blog. Pictures help break up the content and can make a post more interesting. You can take your own pictures or you can try this:
· Start by doing your search in Google Images. · Once the images appear you’ll see a toolbox sign in the top right hand corner, click on it. · A drop down box will appear with Advanced Search as an option. Click on it. · At the bottom of the page you’ll see Usage Rights. Click on the down arrow for the drop down box and pick the last option – Free to use, share, or modify, even commercially. Save this.· Then go back to the images. You are now looking at the images that you can use and alter without having to worry about copyright.
12. Add other gadgets to your blog to attract more readers and gain more followers such as: Popular Posts, Blog Archive, Search Box, and Follow by Email. You can find all of these under “Gadgets” on the “Layout” page.
15. To get more readers, you can:
· Participate in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge in April. This impacted my blog greatly! For more info go HERE.· If you’re a writer, join the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. I’ve met many talented writers through this group. For more info go HERE. · Submit to Blog Carnivals. My two favorites to use that are still active are A Marketing Expert and The Writing Reader. Submit a post to them!· Publish half of your article to On Top List and direct them to the rest of the post by leaving the link at the bottom and enticing them to keep reading. Example: For 5 more tips, follow this link. · Add your blog to blog directories and BlogLovin'. For blog directories go to: The Link medic.
There really is no right way to blog, but if you follow these tips, you will have a blog you can be proud of. Just remember that getting followers and comments takes time.
Here is a timeline of my blog’s major accomplishments to give you an idea of how long it took me to get to where I am today:
Created Write with Fey January 3rd2012First comment March 31st 2012 First follower May 26th 201212 total followers April 27th 201332 new followers after A to Z Challenge April 30th 2014 150 Followers July 27th 2014 Passed 100,000 Pageviews August 2014
Share your blogging tips.
Question: Bloggers: What do you love the most about blogging? What do you hate about blogging?
1. Before you consider starting a blog, you have to know what you want to blog about. What’s your hobby? What do you enjoy talking about? What's your job? Answering these questions can help you to target topics you’ll be able to mold a blog around.
2. Have enough material. Jot down a list of possible article ideas, and have a supply of posts ready to go. For blog post ideas go HERE.
3. Decide if you want to post once a week, three times a week, or every day. There is no right answer to this. It’s up to you and what you feel comfortable doing.
TIP #1:Post your blogs around 5-6am for the early risers as well as those who stop by later in the morning and throughout the day.4. Choose your start date so you can prepare your blog before it goes live. This allows you time to pick the background, the colors, the font size, and the banner.
5. Create a name for your blog that fits your overall theme. I chose Write with Fey because I knew I’d blog about writing.
My first blog banner.6. A. Go to www.feedburner.com. You only need a Google account to work FeedBurner. Click on the title of your blog, click on the page at the top titled “Publicize”, and then click on “Email Subscriptions” which is to the left. Now click on “Delivery Options.” This is where you can set up your time zone and schedule emails to go out to your subscribers.
B. Also at www.feedburner.com, click on “edit your feed” which is under the title of your blog at the top, and change the original feed by adding ?max-results=10at the end so it’ll look like this: http://yourblogurl/feeds/posts/default?max-results=10
Why should you do this? Because if you go over 512K for the file size, your feed won’t update with your new posts (subscribers won’t get emails and your posts won’t go on your followers’ blog feeds). This happened to me.
TIP #2: Use bullet points, numbers, and/or subheads to break up chunks of text.7. At the end of every post ask a question, ask readers to subscribe to your blog, ask them to go to your FB page, ask them to do something! Some readers don’t know what to add to a post, but if you give them a question to answer they will most likely leave a comment.
8. Don’t forget to add labels to your posts. On Blogger, there is a box titled “Labels” to the right when you’re creating your posts. Click on it, type in all the labels that qualify for your post, and separate them with commas. If your post is about writing you can you these labels: writing, writing tips, how to write a novel, etc.
9. When you have quite a few posts on your blog, you can add Categories to your blog. Here is how you can do it:
· Go to “Layout” on your Blogger Dashboard, click “Add a Gadget” on your blog’s layout format. · A small page will pop up, scroll down until you see “Labels”, and click on it. · A new small page will appear. Create a title, which can simply be “Categories.”· If you want to use certain labels, click “Selected Labels” and then click “Edit.” Check off which labels you want to appear, click “Done” and then “Save.”· Now move your gadget anywhere you want it on your blog layout. Click “Save arrangement” at the top of the page and view your blog.
10. Add pictures to your blog. Pictures help break up the content and can make a post more interesting. You can take your own pictures or you can try this:
· Start by doing your search in Google Images. · Once the images appear you’ll see a toolbox sign in the top right hand corner, click on it. · A drop down box will appear with Advanced Search as an option. Click on it. · At the bottom of the page you’ll see Usage Rights. Click on the down arrow for the drop down box and pick the last option – Free to use, share, or modify, even commercially. Save this.· Then go back to the images. You are now looking at the images that you can use and alter without having to worry about copyright.
TIP #3:Check the Usage Rights whenever you use Google Images.11. If you struggle to find content for your blog try Nikki Pilkington’s 30 Day Blogging Challenge.
12. Add other gadgets to your blog to attract more readers and gain more followers such as: Popular Posts, Blog Archive, Search Box, and Follow by Email. You can find all of these under “Gadgets” on the “Layout” page.
For more gadgets such as a grab button, Linkwithin Widget, and a Facebook Activity Feed Box go here: Gadgets for Blogger13. Add Pages to your blog. If you scroll up to the top of my blog, you’ll see my pages: How to Write a Novel, Writing About, and more. To create your own Pages, watch this video: http://youtu.be/UA1CS4QyF_k
TIP #4:Every 4-6 months, try to change up your blog by rearranging your gadgets or adding new pictures.
TIP #5: Add links that open in a new tab. You can link to old posts or to other blogs. This can alert other bloggers to you, and bring traffic to old posts.14. When you create a post you think others would like to read, share it on Facebook, Google +, and any other social media site including forums and Yahoo Loops. You can also add it to StumbleUpon. You’ll need to create a free account and “add a page.”
15. To get more readers, you can:
· Participate in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge in April. This impacted my blog greatly! For more info go HERE.· If you’re a writer, join the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. I’ve met many talented writers through this group. For more info go HERE. · Submit to Blog Carnivals. My two favorites to use that are still active are A Marketing Expert and The Writing Reader. Submit a post to them!· Publish half of your article to On Top List and direct them to the rest of the post by leaving the link at the bottom and enticing them to keep reading. Example: For 5 more tips, follow this link. · Add your blog to blog directories and BlogLovin'. For blog directories go to: The Link medic.
TIP #6:The more blogs you comment on and follow, the more comments and followers you’ll get.
TIP #7:When you get comments, reply back to them on your blog. Doing this shows other visitors that you’re active and that you appreciate comments. (Some bloggers would disagree though, saying it’s a waste of time as readers don’t usually follow comments. It’s really up to you.)
TIP #8:You should also return the favor to anyone who comments on your blog by going to their blog and commenting back. This will help you to build relationships.
TIP #9:After you get to know other bloggers, ask them if you can offer them a guest post. Many bloggers accept guest posts and if you create good content for them, their readers may visit your blog.
TIP #10:If you host guests on your blog, schedule their posts beforehand, which you can do when you’re composing the post. Take it from me...it sucks to be a guest and not have your post go up when it should.
There really is no right way to blog, but if you follow these tips, you will have a blog you can be proud of. Just remember that getting followers and comments takes time.
Here is a timeline of my blog’s major accomplishments to give you an idea of how long it took me to get to where I am today:
Created Write with Fey January 3rd2012First comment March 31st 2012 First follower May 26th 201212 total followers April 27th 201332 new followers after A to Z Challenge April 30th 2014 150 Followers July 27th 2014 Passed 100,000 Pageviews August 2014
Share your blogging tips.
Question: Bloggers: What do you love the most about blogging? What do you hate about blogging?
January 16, 2015
Author Interview with Tanya Hanson
Today I have Tanya Hanson from The Wild Rose Press telling us about her holiday story, The Christmas Room. I can personally read Christmas stories all year long!
Title: The Christmas RoomAuthor: Tanya HansonSeries: The Twelve Brides of ChristmasGenre: Historical RomanceLength: 70 pagesPublisher: The Wild Rose PressReleased: November 17th, 2014
BOOK LINKS:Amazon The Wild Rose Press
1. What inspired you to write this book?
My amazing editor Nic D'Arienzo asked me to represent the Cactus Rose Line in the boxed set The Twelve Brides of Christmas. Since brides and Christmas are two of my favorite things, I couldn't resist. My theme was Four Calling Birds. (Sizzling Hot Books has given it a five-heart review!)
2. Why did you choose the setting for The Christmas Room?
We were visiting family in Oahu right after I heard from Nic...so I wanted to somehow get an American cowboy to the islands. Even though Hawaii has a long, rich ranching history, it’s a fun and different setting for a Western historical romance.
3. Did you do special research for The Christmas Room?
Oh, yes. The history of Hawaii in 1890 is both fascinating and tragic...and nothing we learn about in mainland schools. American businesses wanted control of the sugar industry and all but dethroned King David Kalakaua. And I needed info on “mele kalikimaka”--Christmas customs in Hawaii.
4. If your book had a soundtrack, give us a list of a few songs that would be on it.
Anything by Iz. ( Israel Kamakawiwa’ole.) You might have heard his rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
5. I love his version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow! What would women find irresistible about your hero?
Well, first off, who doesn’t love a hottie cowboy LOL. Roonie is loyal, keeping a deathbed promise even though it means traveling across the ocean and landing in a foreign land where he doesn’t know anybody. Plus...he's been injured. Any normal woman would love nursing him back to health. Most of all, he falls in love with a grandmother. (Hold on...she’s only 34!) And he’s intrigued as to why she--Martita--keeps a room constantly decorated for Christmas.
6. I can't resist hot cowboys. *wink* Which actors would play your hero and heroine in a movie?
Unsure about an actress, but Anson Mount of Hell on Wheels seems to be my hero of choice these days LOL.
7. I'm a fan of the show Hell on Wheels. Anson would be a good fit. What’s on your bucket list?
Having one of my books made into a Hallmark movie. Tee-hee.
8. That would be wonderful! Share three random facts about you.
(a) I am terrified of down escalators and lurk until somebody starts down ahead of me.(b) I muck and feed at our local horse rescue.(c) I rode around a glacier in a giant snow coach on my birthday.
9. Have you ever experienced something unusual that influenced a story?
Yes, helping my husband through testicular cancer. My hero Hooper Martin in an inspy novella, Sanctuary, is a TC survivor. (Praise God, Hubs can now use the “cured” word.)
10. That's amazing! If you could write anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Jasper, in Alberta, Canada, in a little cabin at the Athabasca River. I'd love to create a Canadian outlaw-hero.
11. Your advice to new writers.
Google your pen name before you do anything. I did not and now share cyberspace with a giant-bosomed porn star with not-very-nice movie titles. Sheesh.
BIO:
Award-winning author Tanya Hanson lives with her firefighter hubby on California’s Central Coast. Her heroes are always cowboys, so much so that she recently took a wagon train trip around the Tetons. Favorite things are traveling with Hubs, wine tasting with her posse of five bff’s, volunteering at the local horse rescue, and being gramma to two little boys who are the halves of her heart.
AUTHOR LINKS:Website / Blog@TanyaHanson
Tanya recently also came out with Outlaw in Love, book three in the Lawmen and Outlaws series. An outlaw and a nun falling in love...really?
AmazonThe Wild Rose Press
Thank you for telling us about The Christmas Room. I adore Christmas stories. :)
Please leave Tanya a comment! :)
Unicorn Bell: This is the last day of my debut week as co-host on Unicorn Bell. I re-blogged 3 old posts that I believe many writers can find useful. Today's post is Mastering the Art of Action Scenes.
Title: The Christmas RoomAuthor: Tanya HansonSeries: The Twelve Brides of ChristmasGenre: Historical RomanceLength: 70 pagesPublisher: The Wild Rose PressReleased: November 17th, 2014BOOK LINKS:Amazon The Wild Rose Press
1. What inspired you to write this book?
My amazing editor Nic D'Arienzo asked me to represent the Cactus Rose Line in the boxed set The Twelve Brides of Christmas. Since brides and Christmas are two of my favorite things, I couldn't resist. My theme was Four Calling Birds. (Sizzling Hot Books has given it a five-heart review!)
2. Why did you choose the setting for The Christmas Room?
We were visiting family in Oahu right after I heard from Nic...so I wanted to somehow get an American cowboy to the islands. Even though Hawaii has a long, rich ranching history, it’s a fun and different setting for a Western historical romance.
3. Did you do special research for The Christmas Room?
Oh, yes. The history of Hawaii in 1890 is both fascinating and tragic...and nothing we learn about in mainland schools. American businesses wanted control of the sugar industry and all but dethroned King David Kalakaua. And I needed info on “mele kalikimaka”--Christmas customs in Hawaii.
4. If your book had a soundtrack, give us a list of a few songs that would be on it.
Anything by Iz. ( Israel Kamakawiwa’ole.) You might have heard his rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
5. I love his version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow! What would women find irresistible about your hero?
Well, first off, who doesn’t love a hottie cowboy LOL. Roonie is loyal, keeping a deathbed promise even though it means traveling across the ocean and landing in a foreign land where he doesn’t know anybody. Plus...he's been injured. Any normal woman would love nursing him back to health. Most of all, he falls in love with a grandmother. (Hold on...she’s only 34!) And he’s intrigued as to why she--Martita--keeps a room constantly decorated for Christmas.
6. I can't resist hot cowboys. *wink* Which actors would play your hero and heroine in a movie?
Unsure about an actress, but Anson Mount of Hell on Wheels seems to be my hero of choice these days LOL.
7. I'm a fan of the show Hell on Wheels. Anson would be a good fit. What’s on your bucket list?
Having one of my books made into a Hallmark movie. Tee-hee.
8. That would be wonderful! Share three random facts about you.
(a) I am terrified of down escalators and lurk until somebody starts down ahead of me.(b) I muck and feed at our local horse rescue.(c) I rode around a glacier in a giant snow coach on my birthday.
9. Have you ever experienced something unusual that influenced a story?
Yes, helping my husband through testicular cancer. My hero Hooper Martin in an inspy novella, Sanctuary, is a TC survivor. (Praise God, Hubs can now use the “cured” word.)
10. That's amazing! If you could write anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Jasper, in Alberta, Canada, in a little cabin at the Athabasca River. I'd love to create a Canadian outlaw-hero.
11. Your advice to new writers.
Google your pen name before you do anything. I did not and now share cyberspace with a giant-bosomed porn star with not-very-nice movie titles. Sheesh.
BIO:
Award-winning author Tanya Hanson lives with her firefighter hubby on California’s Central Coast. Her heroes are always cowboys, so much so that she recently took a wagon train trip around the Tetons. Favorite things are traveling with Hubs, wine tasting with her posse of five bff’s, volunteering at the local horse rescue, and being gramma to two little boys who are the halves of her heart.
AUTHOR LINKS:Website / Blog@TanyaHanson
Tanya recently also came out with Outlaw in Love, book three in the Lawmen and Outlaws series. An outlaw and a nun falling in love...really?
AmazonThe Wild Rose PressThank you for telling us about The Christmas Room. I adore Christmas stories. :)
Please leave Tanya a comment! :)
Unicorn Bell: This is the last day of my debut week as co-host on Unicorn Bell. I re-blogged 3 old posts that I believe many writers can find useful. Today's post is Mastering the Art of Action Scenes.
January 14, 2015
This Movie Pushed Me to Start Blogging
I was one of those writers flabbergasted to find out I had to start building a platform. When I heard that countless agents advised new/unpublished writers to start a blog to get readers I thought, “How in the heck am I supposed to attract readers who don’t even know who I am? Why would they care what an unpublished writer has to say?” I believed writing a blog was a better strategy for writers with a following.
But it made sense to also ask, “Where did these published writers get their following?” Maybe they taught workshops. Maybe they went to conferences and made speeches. Maybe they started a blog.
For more on this check out: How to Build a Platform
And yet, I remained firm that I could hold off on starting my blog until I was published, but then I watched Julie & Julia for the first time. This is a movie about how Julia Child published Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and how a woman, Julie Powell, started blogging about her challenges to cook every recipe in Julia Child’s book in one year.
I enjoyed this cozy movie by Nora Ephron and while I was watching it, ideas for blogs circulated in my mind. To say it gave me unrealistic ideas about how quick I’d get readers was an understatement. In the movie, Julie’s readers send her goodies, she’s interviewed for the NY Times, and receives deal offers from agents, editors, and TV networks.
Despite the big expectations, I was thoroughly entranced by the idea of blogging and connecting with people on what I love most...writing. I instantly knew I wanted to create 52 blog posts about writing a novel from beginning to end. My blog title, Write with Fey, came to me easily. Fey is from my pen name and since my blog is about writing, asking readers to write with me was a no brainer.
Stay tuned for Monday's post...Blogging 101.
QUESTION: How did you decide to start blogging? Have you seen the movie Julie & Julia?
Unicorn Bell: This is my debut week as co-host on Unicorn Bell, so I decided to re-blog 3 old posts that I believe many writers can find useful. Today's post is How to Beautify Your Manuscript.
But it made sense to also ask, “Where did these published writers get their following?” Maybe they taught workshops. Maybe they went to conferences and made speeches. Maybe they started a blog.
For more on this check out: How to Build a Platform
And yet, I remained firm that I could hold off on starting my blog until I was published, but then I watched Julie & Julia for the first time. This is a movie about how Julia Child published Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and how a woman, Julie Powell, started blogging about her challenges to cook every recipe in Julia Child’s book in one year.
I enjoyed this cozy movie by Nora Ephron and while I was watching it, ideas for blogs circulated in my mind. To say it gave me unrealistic ideas about how quick I’d get readers was an understatement. In the movie, Julie’s readers send her goodies, she’s interviewed for the NY Times, and receives deal offers from agents, editors, and TV networks.
Despite the big expectations, I was thoroughly entranced by the idea of blogging and connecting with people on what I love most...writing. I instantly knew I wanted to create 52 blog posts about writing a novel from beginning to end. My blog title, Write with Fey, came to me easily. Fey is from my pen name and since my blog is about writing, asking readers to write with me was a no brainer.
TIP: If you're a writer, I would advise blogging about something in addition to writing. All writers blog about writing. If that's all you do, you'll only attract writers, not readers. This is something I learned.My blogging journey may not be like Julie Powell’s...it’s better because it's my journey! And I owe Julie & Juliafor starting me on this path, because it was the best thing I ever did for my writing career.
Stay tuned for Monday's post...Blogging 101.
QUESTION: How did you decide to start blogging? Have you seen the movie Julie & Julia?
Unicorn Bell: This is my debut week as co-host on Unicorn Bell, so I decided to re-blog 3 old posts that I believe many writers can find useful. Today's post is How to Beautify Your Manuscript.
January 12, 2015
Writing About: A Foot Chase
NEWS: I have a website! I'm sharing an exclusive excerpt from the sequel to Hurricane Crimes so check it out : www.ChrysFey.com
In my novella, 30 Seconds, my heroine is chased by the Mob. It is an exciting scene, and by far my most favorite. I wrote it in one sitting, at my kitchen table, while listening to "Attack" by Thirty Seconds to Mars on repeat.
For anyone who wants to write an exciting scene like this, I am providing ten things to keep in mind:
1. Who is being chased?
This is obviously important, because your readers need to know who is in danger to get invested in the chase. Is your protagonist (hero or heroine) running for his/her life? Let us know immediately!
2. Who is doing the chasing?
Who is chasing after your hero/heroine? You can’t write a foot chase and not tell your readers who is after your protagonist. Even if the chaser is a ghost or phantom, we still need to know about it!
3. Why does the chase happen?
Answering this question is huge, because a chase just can’t happen out of the blue, for no reason at all. Readers need to know what leads up to the chase, why the character runs, and why he/she is being followed. Even if the why isn't known right away, you can lead up to the chase by adding suspense; the character senses someone is behind her.
In 30 Seconds, a lot happens before the chase, but one important detail is that Dani Hart, my heroine, finds out the Mob is after her, so when she sees them at her hospital, and hears them asking for "Dr. Hart", she makes a run for it but not before being spotted. And the chase begins.
4. Where does the chase occur?
A chase can happen anywhere from inside a building or house, a parking garage, in the woods, or on the street. In 30 Seconds, the chase starts at the hospital, takes my heroine down a busy Cleveland road and into an alley.
5. Fear
For any chase, you have to utilize fear! To run from someone you have to be afraid of them and afraid for your life. Make sure you share your character’s fear.
6. Where is your character going?
Is your protagonist running with a destination in mind, or trying to escape by going anywhere and everywhere? My heroine actually considers diving into a Dumpster!
7. Describe your character running.
Let your readers know about your character’s pounding feet, rising heart rate, and shortness of breath. All of this adds excitement.
8. Senses
Try to include as many of the senses as possible when you’re describing the chase. Can your character hear the person (or people) chasing after him/her? What does he/she see? Does he/she feel sweat rolling down his/her back? The more senses you can add, the more your readers will connect with what's happening.
9. Does something happen during the chase?
Foot chases are so exciting because more can happen than just running. Maybe your character is grabbed by the person chasing him/her, but manages to get away. Maybe guns are involved. Maybe your character trips and falls. (That’s a bit of a cliché, but it’s up to you what you do with the chase.)
10. How does the chase end?
Is your character caught or does he/she get away? And don’t forget to include what happens after the chase. Perhaps your character hides and then slinks out when he/she thinks the coast is clear. Does he/she go to the police? Consider every possible outcome and what you think would be best for your story.
Questions: Have you written about a foot chase in one of your stories?
Question from my blog tour: What would you do, and where would you go, if you were being chased by the Mob?
Unicorn Bell: I'm blogging over at Unicorn Bell today. This is my debut week as co-host, so I decided to re-blog 3 old posts that I believe many writers can find useful. Today's post is So You Want to Write Romance.
In my novella, 30 Seconds, my heroine is chased by the Mob. It is an exciting scene, and by far my most favorite. I wrote it in one sitting, at my kitchen table, while listening to "Attack" by Thirty Seconds to Mars on repeat.
For anyone who wants to write an exciting scene like this, I am providing ten things to keep in mind:
1. Who is being chased?
This is obviously important, because your readers need to know who is in danger to get invested in the chase. Is your protagonist (hero or heroine) running for his/her life? Let us know immediately!
2. Who is doing the chasing?
Who is chasing after your hero/heroine? You can’t write a foot chase and not tell your readers who is after your protagonist. Even if the chaser is a ghost or phantom, we still need to know about it!
3. Why does the chase happen?
Answering this question is huge, because a chase just can’t happen out of the blue, for no reason at all. Readers need to know what leads up to the chase, why the character runs, and why he/she is being followed. Even if the why isn't known right away, you can lead up to the chase by adding suspense; the character senses someone is behind her.
In 30 Seconds, a lot happens before the chase, but one important detail is that Dani Hart, my heroine, finds out the Mob is after her, so when she sees them at her hospital, and hears them asking for "Dr. Hart", she makes a run for it but not before being spotted. And the chase begins.
4. Where does the chase occur?
A chase can happen anywhere from inside a building or house, a parking garage, in the woods, or on the street. In 30 Seconds, the chase starts at the hospital, takes my heroine down a busy Cleveland road and into an alley.
5. Fear
For any chase, you have to utilize fear! To run from someone you have to be afraid of them and afraid for your life. Make sure you share your character’s fear.
6. Where is your character going?
Is your protagonist running with a destination in mind, or trying to escape by going anywhere and everywhere? My heroine actually considers diving into a Dumpster!
7. Describe your character running.
Let your readers know about your character’s pounding feet, rising heart rate, and shortness of breath. All of this adds excitement.
8. Senses
Try to include as many of the senses as possible when you’re describing the chase. Can your character hear the person (or people) chasing after him/her? What does he/she see? Does he/she feel sweat rolling down his/her back? The more senses you can add, the more your readers will connect with what's happening.
9. Does something happen during the chase?
Foot chases are so exciting because more can happen than just running. Maybe your character is grabbed by the person chasing him/her, but manages to get away. Maybe guns are involved. Maybe your character trips and falls. (That’s a bit of a cliché, but it’s up to you what you do with the chase.)
10. How does the chase end?
Is your character caught or does he/she get away? And don’t forget to include what happens after the chase. Perhaps your character hides and then slinks out when he/she thinks the coast is clear. Does he/she go to the police? Consider every possible outcome and what you think would be best for your story.
Questions: Have you written about a foot chase in one of your stories?
Question from my blog tour: What would you do, and where would you go, if you were being chased by the Mob?
Unicorn Bell: I'm blogging over at Unicorn Bell today. This is my debut week as co-host, so I decided to re-blog 3 old posts that I believe many writers can find useful. Today's post is So You Want to Write Romance.
January 9, 2015
End of Lonely Street by Alicia Dean / Book Blast
I am happy to introduce the first author guest on Write with Fey for 2015...Alicia Dean! She’s sharing the blurb and excerpt for her new book, End of Lonely Street.
Title: End of Lonely StreetAuthor: Alicia DeanGenre: Vintage Historical RomancePage Count: 61Publisher: The Wild Rose PressRelease Date: January 8th 2014
Blurb:
Can she let go of the past, before it destroys her future?
All Toby Lawson wanted was to go to college to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and the painful memories of finding her and the guy Toby loved kissing. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away, helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.
Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, and even though she knows her mother initiated the kiss, and that he didn’t kiss her back, she can‘t seem to get past what happened. He soon realizes that the true problem lies in Toby’s belief that she’s not good enough for him and in her fear that she will be just like her mother.
What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?
Book Buy Links:Amazon
Excerpt:
After work that night, Toby wasn’t ready to go home, so she sat in her car in the parking lot of Winstead’s, listening to the radio. “Love Me” by Elvis came on, and she cranked the volume.
Nothing else calmed her and lightened her heart like listening to him. She could escape into his music and all the bad just…faded away. When Elvis sang, there was no drunken mother, no failed dreams, no dying Miss Murdock. Toby didn’t only listen to his music, she felt it. It seemed to vibrate through her blood.
Although she was embarrassed to admit it, sometimes listening to him, watching him on television, made her all squirmy and hot—just like Noah made her feel. Especially that one night, when they had almost gone all the way.
Toby had been a senior in high school, and he’d graduated the year before. He picked her up and they drove out to the bluff, known as Make Out Row, overlooking downtown Mapleton.
The town was shrouded in darkness, but scattered lights shone, as though a starry sky were laid out below them. There were other cars around, but closed up in their cocoon, it was as though they were the only two people on Earth. Noah had kissed her, deep and long, whispering love words, telling her she was special, beautiful. She’d fallen in love with him at that very moment—wanted to be with him forever. He’d been the one to halt their make out session. She would have willingly gone all the way that night. She was helplessly under his spell…the feel of his lips on hers, his hand covering her breast through her thin blouse…
A tapping sound on the window made her jump. She looked through the glass to find Noah standing outside the car. Was he real, or just part of the fantasy world she’d drifted to? When another tap came, she blinked away the memories. He was definitely real.
Author Bio:
Alicia Dean lives in Edmond, Oklahoma. She has three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals.
She is a freelance editor in addition to being an editor for The Wild Rose Press.
Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (she usually works in a mention of one or all three into her stories) and watching her favorite televisions shows like Vampire Diaries, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, The Mindy Project, and Dexter (even though it has sadly ended, she will forever be a fan). Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Sharon Sala, Jordan Dane, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.
Author Links:Website / Blog / FacebookTwitter / Pinterest / Goodreads
Thank you for sharing your new book with us, Alicia Dean! I’m thrilled to have you on my blog! :)
QUESTION: How did you like the excerpt for End of Lonely Street?
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Title: End of Lonely StreetAuthor: Alicia DeanGenre: Vintage Historical RomancePage Count: 61Publisher: The Wild Rose PressRelease Date: January 8th 2014
Blurb:
Can she let go of the past, before it destroys her future?
All Toby Lawson wanted was to go to college to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and the painful memories of finding her and the guy Toby loved kissing. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away, helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.
Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, and even though she knows her mother initiated the kiss, and that he didn’t kiss her back, she can‘t seem to get past what happened. He soon realizes that the true problem lies in Toby’s belief that she’s not good enough for him and in her fear that she will be just like her mother.
What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?
Book Buy Links:Amazon
Excerpt:
After work that night, Toby wasn’t ready to go home, so she sat in her car in the parking lot of Winstead’s, listening to the radio. “Love Me” by Elvis came on, and she cranked the volume.
Nothing else calmed her and lightened her heart like listening to him. She could escape into his music and all the bad just…faded away. When Elvis sang, there was no drunken mother, no failed dreams, no dying Miss Murdock. Toby didn’t only listen to his music, she felt it. It seemed to vibrate through her blood.
Although she was embarrassed to admit it, sometimes listening to him, watching him on television, made her all squirmy and hot—just like Noah made her feel. Especially that one night, when they had almost gone all the way.
Toby had been a senior in high school, and he’d graduated the year before. He picked her up and they drove out to the bluff, known as Make Out Row, overlooking downtown Mapleton.
The town was shrouded in darkness, but scattered lights shone, as though a starry sky were laid out below them. There were other cars around, but closed up in their cocoon, it was as though they were the only two people on Earth. Noah had kissed her, deep and long, whispering love words, telling her she was special, beautiful. She’d fallen in love with him at that very moment—wanted to be with him forever. He’d been the one to halt their make out session. She would have willingly gone all the way that night. She was helplessly under his spell…the feel of his lips on hers, his hand covering her breast through her thin blouse…
A tapping sound on the window made her jump. She looked through the glass to find Noah standing outside the car. Was he real, or just part of the fantasy world she’d drifted to? When another tap came, she blinked away the memories. He was definitely real.
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Author Bio:
Alicia Dean lives in Edmond, Oklahoma. She has three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals.
She is a freelance editor in addition to being an editor for The Wild Rose Press.
Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (she usually works in a mention of one or all three into her stories) and watching her favorite televisions shows like Vampire Diaries, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, The Mindy Project, and Dexter (even though it has sadly ended, she will forever be a fan). Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Sharon Sala, Jordan Dane, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.
Author Links:Website / Blog / FacebookTwitter / Pinterest / Goodreads
Thank you for sharing your new book with us, Alicia Dean! I’m thrilled to have you on my blog! :)
QUESTION: How did you like the excerpt for End of Lonely Street?
January 7, 2015
Blogger Interview with Alex J. Cavanaugh / IWSG
This is my first time co-hosting IWSG day and I’m excited! To celebrate I am kicking off my first Blogger Interview with the one and only Alex J. Cavanaugh, the creator of our wonderful Insecure Writer’s Support Group!Before I get to Alex’s interview, here's a short introduction about myself:
My name is Chrys Fey. I'm the author of Hurricane Crimes and 30 Seconds, but that's the least interesting thing about me. I am an auntie, vegetarian, and robot. What? It's true I have a metal rod in my back. This April actually marks 10 years since my surgery to correct scoliosis. I live in Florida with the four cats I saved with a daring rescue. Okay...so it wasn't daring per say. I love music and like to draw fashion designs. I started this blog in January 2012. This week marks the start of my fourth year of blogging. Yippee! :D
Now onto Alex's interview...
***
Welcome to Write with Fey, Alex! Let’s get started!
1. Tell us about your blog.
I blog about my passions, which include movies, music, science fiction, geek stuff, books, and trivia. I keep on top of new releases and what’s happening around the blogging world. I post on Mondays and sometimes on Wednesdays. (Like today for the IWSG!)
2. You're blog is one-of-a-kind. Why did you start blogging?
I started blogging November 2009 because my publisher told me to get my butt online. A blog seemed like a great way to combine a website and social media.
Alex's Blog Header3. What was your very first blog post? What was it? It was lame! Just me saying hey to the world of blogging. There’s now one comment on it because someone went back to see how it all began...Blogging Day One
4. How did you get the nickname Ninja Captain Alex?
Ninja came from how I could sneak in and out with my comments. I think blogger Old Kitty called me the Captain and the two just stuck together.
Mini Alex with CassaStorm5. You certainly are a comment ninja. You created the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, co-host the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, and you’ve been blogging for 5 years. Plus, you’re a writer. How do you stay on top of it all?
Clones and lots of them! It helps that I can blog at work. I just budget my time and do the best I can with everything. This April will be my greatest challenge, because not only does the A to Z Challenge open on IWSG post day, but my next book comes out that month, so I’ll be doing a blog tour. I have a feeling by the end of the month, my clones will all go on strike…
And here's that book!6. You're lucky to have clones! What do you love most about blogging?
Connecting with others. I’ve made a lot of great friends over the years.
7. What are the top 5 most-viewed posts on your blog?
1) 10-4-13 Survivor: ParanormYA Island, New Thor: The Dark World Posters, IWSG Site, Ninja News and New Releases (with 5153 views)
2) 9-6-11 Insecure Writer's Support Group Post &Tips (The very first one!)
3) 10-26-12 Ninja News, iPad 4, Guest Post Controversy,and Movie Trivia
4) 9-6-13 Special Thanks and News! Plus New Thor Poster, Comedy Movie Trivia, Ninja News, and Bizarre Photo
5) 4-22-14 Retro A to Z Challenge: S – Star Trek Generations 1994 (plus new Edge of Tomorrow Trailer and Poster)And I’ve had a lot of posts with over 200 comments, but on 5-12-14, I received 306 comments! Invasion of the B Movies! Plus Insomnium Album Review and Ninja News
8. That's impressive! Share your number one tip to bloggers just starting out.
Make friends – follow others and comment and build relationships.
Hyper Round:
1. Favorite time to post blogs? 5:00 am Eastern2. Blogger or Wordpress? Blogger3. Blog Hops: Yay or Nay? Yay!4. Do you host guests? Yes
Thanks again for interviewing me on IWSG day, Chrys!
BIO:
Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. He’s the author of Amazon Best-Sellers CassaStar, CassaFire, and CassaStorm, and his next book, Dragon of the Stars, comes out April 7, 2015. The author lives in the Carolinas with his wife.
LINKS:Blog / Insecure Writer's Support Group / Twitter
I hope you enjoyed my first Blogger Interview with Alex! Please leave him a comment and visit IWSG!
UPDATES:
#1 Check out my new blog banner. I made it myself. ;)
#3 I am officially a co-host for the blog Unicorn Bell! My week starts on the 12th. If you don't already follow this blog, you should!
#4 I signed a contract for my short story Witch of Death. Now I'm just waiting to hear back on Ghost of Death. *fingers crossed*
January 5, 2015
How to Build a Platform
If you’re an aspiring writer, you have probably heard you need to build a platform. Now-a-days, a writer doesn’t just pound out pages, hand it over to a publisher and let them do the rest. Oh no, a writer has to get their name out there and build a readership before they even get published. Then they have to market their book vigorously.
A writer’s platform is your personal ability to sell books through who you are (your name), the people you know (connections), and media outlets (blogs and social networks).
A writer's platform is like a real platform that raisesyou up above everyone else. And the ladder in the picture represents the steps you take (creating a blog, publishing etc.)to get to the top of that platform.
With my blog and Facebook page (and other efforts listed below), I built a name for myself. You can too!
Just remember that it takes time, energy and dedication to build a platform. It took me three years to get recognition for what I was doing with my blog. And it took me one year and three months to reach 100 likes on my FB page. Also, doing these things are not a guarantee that you'll have a ton of sales, they are to help you get your name out there. Building an author platform is a constant work-in-progress.
So stay positive! And don’t give up!
Stay tuned for posts on blogging and author Facebook pages.
Questions: If you’re a distinguished blogger/author, do you have additional tips for aspiring writers on what they can do to build a platform? What worked for you?
A writer’s platform is your personal ability to sell books through who you are (your name), the people you know (connections), and media outlets (blogs and social networks).
1. After reading over and over again that agents advise aspiring writers to create a blog, I finally caved and created Write with Fey. For several months I had nothing to show for my efforts. I had the illusion that after a few months I would spontaneously have success. These are the same delusions that all aspiring writers have about publishing. I didn’t give up though and now I have a blog I am proud of. Be consistent with your posts, offer good content, and comment on other blogs to get exposure.
2. Another method to build a platform is to join social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. I was equally skeptical about both, but I eventually succumbed and created a Facebook page: www.facebook.com/chrysfey
FYI: You don't need to be published to have a Facebook page. When I first created mine, the category was under "writer" because I'd only published flash fiction on ezines. After I published Hurricane Crimes, I changed the category to "author." You don't even need readers to create one. I didn't have any readers. Even if you have little sales, create a Facebook page. Your blog and social media sites can help you get sales. I say can because these places alone won't bring you sales.
A writer's platform is like a real platform that raisesyou up above everyone else. And the ladder in the picture represents the steps you take (creating a blog, publishing etc.)to get to the top of that platform.With my blog and Facebook page (and other efforts listed below), I built a name for myself. You can too!
To build a platform you can also:
· Write guest posts for successful blogs and websites.· Host authors on your blog.· Join organizations in your niche.· Create an e-newsletter.· Write articles for big media outlets.· Use personal contacts to help you market.· Speak in public.· Set up appearances and interviews.· Teach classes/workshops.· Publish . . . publish . . . publish. The more you publish, the more you’ll get readers and the bigger your platform will get.I haven’t done all of these, and you don’t have to either. Pick 2 or 3 that sound the best to you and dedicate yourself to doing those. If one doesn’t work out, drop it and move on to another.
Just remember that it takes time, energy and dedication to build a platform. It took me three years to get recognition for what I was doing with my blog. And it took me one year and three months to reach 100 likes on my FB page. Also, doing these things are not a guarantee that you'll have a ton of sales, they are to help you get your name out there. Building an author platform is a constant work-in-progress.
So stay positive! And don’t give up!
Stay tuned for posts on blogging and author Facebook pages.
Questions: If you’re a distinguished blogger/author, do you have additional tips for aspiring writers on what they can do to build a platform? What worked for you?
December 30, 2014
Best of Write with Fey for 2014
I love to create mashups of my best posts for the year. It’s neat to see which ones received a bigger response, because you can never tell these things when you’re writing them. I also like to share these best posts again for anyone who might’ve missed them the first time around.
So here are the TOP TEN posts from Write with Fey this year:
1. Writing About: A Character with a Disease or Disability
Writing About: Personality and Psychological Disorders
These two posts were the most challenging to write, but I’m glad I did it because the topics are so important, and when you’re writing about characters with a disease, disability, or disorder it’s essential to get it right.
2. Writing About: A Car Accident
I was happy that this post received a lot of comments and that many said they wanted to write a car accident scene because of it. :)
3. How to Create a Heroine of Steel
I couldn’t wait to share this post, because heroine’s of steel are my favorite heroines to write about. There are 25 things in this post to help writers create such a heroine.
4. Writing is Hard
Here is a post I was surprised to receive such great feedback for.
5. The Mob
This post is the most different post I’ve ever done for a specific type of character, because I had to cover things like crime, guns, and victims.
6. Vampires
I never thought I would share a post about vampires, but ten years ago I never thought I’d write about vampire characters. Plus, mortals can’t get enough of vampires.
7. A Character’s Past Life
In this post I provide a list of ways writers can use a character’s past life in their story. And I was thrilled that everyone answered my question about whether or not they believed in reincarnation.
8. Your Character’s Toughest Moment
This is another post that received wonderful replies. I believe that you have to let bad things happen to your character to make your story real.
9. Writing About: Weddings
I enjoyed writing this post almost as much as I enjoyed writing actual wedding scenes.
10. Writing About: Florida
In this post, I discuss the characteristics that make the Sunshine State unique for anyone who might want to write a story set in Florida.
BONUS ROUND:
My 5 Favorite A to Z Posts:
1. Author Photo Tips2. Boost Your Writing Brain Power3. Inheriting the Writing Gene (A post about my mom and her influence on me.)4. Prayer for Writers5. Reasons Why Writing is Great
I hope you enjoyed this list!
***************************************************************************************
2015 UPDATE: From now on my blog will not just focus on writers and authors but also bloggers and readers. Check out the details:
Writers: I will still share writing tips but these posts will be on Mondays now.
Readers: On the occasional Wednesday I will share fun posts and insight into my stories. I will also be interviewing avid readers about their passion for books. Since January is full, look for the first Reader Interview in February.
Bloggers: Along with Reader Interviews, I am also bringing Blogger Interviews. The first one will be on January 7th. You won’t want to miss it. Trust me!
Authors: And of course I'll still be hosting authors. :)
Happy New Year!!! I hope to see you in 2015!
So here are the TOP TEN posts from Write with Fey this year:
1. Writing About: A Character with a Disease or Disability
Writing About: Personality and Psychological Disorders
These two posts were the most challenging to write, but I’m glad I did it because the topics are so important, and when you’re writing about characters with a disease, disability, or disorder it’s essential to get it right.
2. Writing About: A Car Accident
I was happy that this post received a lot of comments and that many said they wanted to write a car accident scene because of it. :)
3. How to Create a Heroine of Steel
I couldn’t wait to share this post, because heroine’s of steel are my favorite heroines to write about. There are 25 things in this post to help writers create such a heroine.
4. Writing is Hard
Here is a post I was surprised to receive such great feedback for.
5. The Mob
This post is the most different post I’ve ever done for a specific type of character, because I had to cover things like crime, guns, and victims.
6. Vampires
I never thought I would share a post about vampires, but ten years ago I never thought I’d write about vampire characters. Plus, mortals can’t get enough of vampires.
7. A Character’s Past Life
In this post I provide a list of ways writers can use a character’s past life in their story. And I was thrilled that everyone answered my question about whether or not they believed in reincarnation.
8. Your Character’s Toughest Moment
This is another post that received wonderful replies. I believe that you have to let bad things happen to your character to make your story real.
9. Writing About: Weddings
I enjoyed writing this post almost as much as I enjoyed writing actual wedding scenes.
10. Writing About: Florida
In this post, I discuss the characteristics that make the Sunshine State unique for anyone who might want to write a story set in Florida.
BONUS ROUND:
My 5 Favorite A to Z Posts:
1. Author Photo Tips2. Boost Your Writing Brain Power3. Inheriting the Writing Gene (A post about my mom and her influence on me.)4. Prayer for Writers5. Reasons Why Writing is Great
I hope you enjoyed this list!
***************************************************************************************
2015 UPDATE: From now on my blog will not just focus on writers and authors but also bloggers and readers. Check out the details:
Writers: I will still share writing tips but these posts will be on Mondays now.
Readers: On the occasional Wednesday I will share fun posts and insight into my stories. I will also be interviewing avid readers about their passion for books. Since January is full, look for the first Reader Interview in February.
Bloggers: Along with Reader Interviews, I am also bringing Blogger Interviews. The first one will be on January 7th. You won’t want to miss it. Trust me!
Authors: And of course I'll still be hosting authors. :)
Happy New Year!!! I hope to see you in 2015!
December 26, 2014
Author Interview with Taylor Anne
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Today I have Taylor Anne, author of Heat Flashand A Christmas Santa, telling us about an anthology she contributed to with a book that is the first in a three book series.
Please tell us about your current release, Taylor Anne.
The Beginning of Time is a short story published in Journeys – Bayou Writers Group Anthology Vol 1. This story is the prologue to a three book series about a diverse group of people from all walks of life. Three women meet early in life and form a lifelong bond. It touches on the struggles and trials and loves of everyday life. This is the beginning of their stories.
BOOK LINKS:Amazon Print / Amazon eBookBarnes & Noble
1. What inspired you to write this book?
I was wanting to let women and men know that everybody struggles with day to day life and the trials that are thrown at them. Abuse, infidelity, cancer, infertility, loneliness, anger….Those are just some of the struggles life gives us. The key is in your attitude and how you handle each situation. Always – Always keep a positive attitude and take life one day at a time.
2. A positive attitude is a must. Is The Beginning of Time part of a series?
Yes, The Beginning of Time, is the first book of three. Time, Devotion, Perseverance. Release date on those books will be announced at a later date.
3. Did you do special research for The Beginning of Time?
All the time! Research – OMG. Everything I do is research. This story really drew on my personal experiences, as well as those of my family friends. The retreat house in the book really inspired some of the people’s emotions and stories. When you get together for four days with a group of women (and a little wine) you really open up to each other and realize we all deal with the same basic issues in life. I am thankful for the retreat house and the hostess there for all she has done for us.
4. Are any of your characters based on real people?
Loosely based on real people. I’ve basically taken people’s emotions, physical characteristics, personality traits and combined them into unique characters. I want people to pick up this book and say, “Wow, she wrote my story.” There’s a little bit of you (the reader) in every story.
Taylor Anne having fun!
5. If you could give your book to anyone in the world to read (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
I plead the fifth….I cannot answer that question on the grounds that it may incriminate me… uh—my characters. <wink wink>
6. I'll let that one pass. What is the silliest thing you ever did while writing a story?
Let me tell you a short story. Me, Brandy, and our DH’s were at a concert one night. The sexy guitar player was removing his guitar strap and well, I kinda lost it. Just yelled out above the crowd, “Take it off. Take it all off!” Brandy died laughing, and DH just looked at me, shook his head, and smiled. (He gets a kick out of watching me have a good time.) Later on we see the band members at the bar. Sexy guy is leaning against the bar and Brandy pushes me forward. “Go take a picture with him.” So, I do. Standing there seeing our reflection in the mirror, it hit me. That would be the perfect scene in a book I am currently working on. Silly, yes…but that what happens when Brandy and I get together and drink free wine.
7. That's hilarious! Free wine can certainly do that to you. Have you ever experienced something unusual that influenced a story?
A character influence instead of a story influence. Picture this: Brandy and I are in an Adult “Novelty” Store looking for a birthday present for a friend. She is intently checking out the blow-up midget doll when the door bell chimes and heels clack on the wooden floor. We turn to see this androgynous person wearing red stiletto’s sashaying through the aisles, working it like I wish I could. Brandy’s mouth is wide open, the midget completely forgotten. He stops in front of the women’s lingerie, whips a teddy off the rack, and says to his friends, “Does this match my heels for the party tonight?” Brandy and I look at each other and exclaim, “Morgan.” And that is how his character came about.
8. Character influence can come from the most unlikeliest of places. Tell us about your writing process.
If I am writing in the morning, I like to have a hot cup of coffee next to me and quiet eighties music playing in the background. Later in the day, the scene changes. Ever hear the saying “write drunk, edit sober?” <winks> Okay, that’s not exactly how I do it, but sometimes that glass of wine helps set the frame of mind.
Turn up the music, fill my glass with wine (or coffee), and write. Music and wine – the answer to (almost) everything.
BIO:
Taylor Anne lives in Southwest Louisiana with her husband. God and family come first. After that, it’s all about having fun and enjoying life. Add music, wine, food, cats, laughter, and a positive attitude – enjoy life! Taylor holds a full time job and writes Romantic Suspense in her spare time. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Bayou Writers' Group.
AUTHOR LINKS:Facebook/ Amazon Author Page / WebsiteGoodreads/Twitter @tayloranne1234
Thank you for spending the day after Christmas with me, Taylor Anne, and for being my last author interview for the year.
Please leave a comment for Taylor! And have a beautiful Friday!
Please tell us about your current release, Taylor Anne.
The Beginning of Time is a short story published in Journeys – Bayou Writers Group Anthology Vol 1. This story is the prologue to a three book series about a diverse group of people from all walks of life. Three women meet early in life and form a lifelong bond. It touches on the struggles and trials and loves of everyday life. This is the beginning of their stories.
BOOK LINKS:Amazon Print / Amazon eBookBarnes & Noble
1. What inspired you to write this book?
I was wanting to let women and men know that everybody struggles with day to day life and the trials that are thrown at them. Abuse, infidelity, cancer, infertility, loneliness, anger….Those are just some of the struggles life gives us. The key is in your attitude and how you handle each situation. Always – Always keep a positive attitude and take life one day at a time.
2. A positive attitude is a must. Is The Beginning of Time part of a series?
Yes, The Beginning of Time, is the first book of three. Time, Devotion, Perseverance. Release date on those books will be announced at a later date.
3. Did you do special research for The Beginning of Time?
All the time! Research – OMG. Everything I do is research. This story really drew on my personal experiences, as well as those of my family friends. The retreat house in the book really inspired some of the people’s emotions and stories. When you get together for four days with a group of women (and a little wine) you really open up to each other and realize we all deal with the same basic issues in life. I am thankful for the retreat house and the hostess there for all she has done for us.
4. Are any of your characters based on real people?
Loosely based on real people. I’ve basically taken people’s emotions, physical characteristics, personality traits and combined them into unique characters. I want people to pick up this book and say, “Wow, she wrote my story.” There’s a little bit of you (the reader) in every story.
Taylor Anne having fun!5. If you could give your book to anyone in the world to read (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
I plead the fifth….I cannot answer that question on the grounds that it may incriminate me… uh—my characters. <wink wink>
6. I'll let that one pass. What is the silliest thing you ever did while writing a story?
Let me tell you a short story. Me, Brandy, and our DH’s were at a concert one night. The sexy guitar player was removing his guitar strap and well, I kinda lost it. Just yelled out above the crowd, “Take it off. Take it all off!” Brandy died laughing, and DH just looked at me, shook his head, and smiled. (He gets a kick out of watching me have a good time.) Later on we see the band members at the bar. Sexy guy is leaning against the bar and Brandy pushes me forward. “Go take a picture with him.” So, I do. Standing there seeing our reflection in the mirror, it hit me. That would be the perfect scene in a book I am currently working on. Silly, yes…but that what happens when Brandy and I get together and drink free wine.
7. That's hilarious! Free wine can certainly do that to you. Have you ever experienced something unusual that influenced a story?
A character influence instead of a story influence. Picture this: Brandy and I are in an Adult “Novelty” Store looking for a birthday present for a friend. She is intently checking out the blow-up midget doll when the door bell chimes and heels clack on the wooden floor. We turn to see this androgynous person wearing red stiletto’s sashaying through the aisles, working it like I wish I could. Brandy’s mouth is wide open, the midget completely forgotten. He stops in front of the women’s lingerie, whips a teddy off the rack, and says to his friends, “Does this match my heels for the party tonight?” Brandy and I look at each other and exclaim, “Morgan.” And that is how his character came about.
8. Character influence can come from the most unlikeliest of places. Tell us about your writing process.
If I am writing in the morning, I like to have a hot cup of coffee next to me and quiet eighties music playing in the background. Later in the day, the scene changes. Ever hear the saying “write drunk, edit sober?” <winks> Okay, that’s not exactly how I do it, but sometimes that glass of wine helps set the frame of mind.
Turn up the music, fill my glass with wine (or coffee), and write. Music and wine – the answer to (almost) everything.
BIO:
Taylor Anne lives in Southwest Louisiana with her husband. God and family come first. After that, it’s all about having fun and enjoying life. Add music, wine, food, cats, laughter, and a positive attitude – enjoy life! Taylor holds a full time job and writes Romantic Suspense in her spare time. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Bayou Writers' Group.
AUTHOR LINKS:Facebook/ Amazon Author Page / WebsiteGoodreads/Twitter @tayloranne1234
Thank you for spending the day after Christmas with me, Taylor Anne, and for being my last author interview for the year.
Please leave a comment for Taylor! And have a beautiful Friday!
