LoveVickyHolt's Blog, page 6
January 4, 2014
Ten Writing Resolutions That Rock
Type dailyHandwrite dailyRead dailyMeditate dailyExercise dailyDrink water dailyNetwork a little dailyStep outside for a minute dailyLove dailyLive dailyWriting is essential to mankind. You know this as sure as I do. Cave art, Dead Sea scrolls, the Bible, libraries, universities, the grocery list. It's all good. If you're a writer, then write. However you manage it.
Reading is also essential to mankind. Same list. If you're like me, reading was your first love. It was that moment you read something truly wonderful, or maybe it was truly awful...and you realized you just had to put your fingers in that socket too.
Meditation is essential to self. Spending time in your head, even if you don't like your own company, is going to get you to where you want to go. Whether it's a story idea or a New Year's resolution, as a man thinketh, so is he.
Meditation can go hand in hand with exercise, depending on what you do in your head when you're engaging your body. Physical activity has mental dividends in addition to everything else we already know about exercise.
We also already know that we're supposed to drink more water than most of us already do. Shoot for 8 glasses a day for starters. It's so good for us! And maybe the literal flow will help with the mental flow as well.
If you're self-marketing, then you can't get away from the need to Network. But hopefully you won't let it subjugate the rest of your life. Maybe set a timer.
Don't forget your roots. Most of us got to play outside for hours as kids. Don't lose touch with that. Remember what it was like to get on your knees and inspect the strange wings of that bug, or what it was like to shred the seeds from the top of the grass stalk.
Let your heart fill with love for things, people, places, events, books, characters, God and self. Readers can feel that love in your work.
LIVE. In whatever form it takes, live your life. Love your life.
In Joe Vs the Volcano, Joe has his life epiphany out on the ocean when the moon comes out, bigger than the world, and he says a most profound prayer. "I forgot how BIG...thank you. Thank you for my life." I love that scene. We have so much to be thankful for. And when we write, we're sharing that with others and maybe even giving them something to be thankful for as well.
Reading is also essential to mankind. Same list. If you're like me, reading was your first love. It was that moment you read something truly wonderful, or maybe it was truly awful...and you realized you just had to put your fingers in that socket too.
Meditation is essential to self. Spending time in your head, even if you don't like your own company, is going to get you to where you want to go. Whether it's a story idea or a New Year's resolution, as a man thinketh, so is he.
Meditation can go hand in hand with exercise, depending on what you do in your head when you're engaging your body. Physical activity has mental dividends in addition to everything else we already know about exercise.
We also already know that we're supposed to drink more water than most of us already do. Shoot for 8 glasses a day for starters. It's so good for us! And maybe the literal flow will help with the mental flow as well.
If you're self-marketing, then you can't get away from the need to Network. But hopefully you won't let it subjugate the rest of your life. Maybe set a timer.
Don't forget your roots. Most of us got to play outside for hours as kids. Don't lose touch with that. Remember what it was like to get on your knees and inspect the strange wings of that bug, or what it was like to shred the seeds from the top of the grass stalk.
Let your heart fill with love for things, people, places, events, books, characters, God and self. Readers can feel that love in your work.
LIVE. In whatever form it takes, live your life. Love your life.
In Joe Vs the Volcano, Joe has his life epiphany out on the ocean when the moon comes out, bigger than the world, and he says a most profound prayer. "I forgot how BIG...thank you. Thank you for my life." I love that scene. We have so much to be thankful for. And when we write, we're sharing that with others and maybe even giving them something to be thankful for as well.
December 31, 2013
How to Use Social Media to Market Your Self-Published Book without Going Crazy Doing It
Jim Gaffigan's fussy old lady voice: (here she goes again with the marketing jargon. just talk about writing! or about 97! I want to hear more about William's back muscles.)
Fussy Lady: Well some statue's butt isn't really appropriate for an author blog, is it?
Set up a Facebook account for either A) your book or B) your authorship. You can create a 'business account' but if I had to do it again, (and I do, because of Book 2!) I would just create a page associated with my private page. The business account doesn't let you Like stuff or do searches, or anything fun like that. Annoying.Set up a Twitter account for either A) your book or B) your authorness. If your account is for your book, then your tweets will necessarily be about your book. You have a little more leeway for topics if it's an author account.Set up a blog. Queue Jim Gaffigan's fussy lady voice: (now there's more writing to do. I want to write a book, not my life story.) Well, I think it's a necessary evil. Basically if you are self-publishing, then you are self-promoting, and you will need all of the platforms you can get your hands on. Surprisingly, once I started this Author Blog, I felt kind of refreshed writing some non-fiction crap. And it's an author blog, so I don't rewrite my drafts. Sorry peeps, it's the first run every time.Try Google +. Why not? It can't hurt. I tried it, and the whole Google Circle thing, and it's kind of cool, and who knows...maybe it'll take off in 2014 and we'll be the trend-setters. Or not.Network with other authors. Fussy lady voice: why do I want to meet other authors? So I can buy more books I don't have time to read? Well Fussy Lady, I have found an incredible support group amongst my fellow writers. Some of them have also purchased my book. Bonus! And you can bet if an author buys your book, they're going to review it for you too. Double bonus! Additionally, other authors have clued me in to things such as contests, promotional platforms, book sales, free books, places to leave links and so on and so forth. I have also made friends and found AMAZING talent. Yes, on one hand fellow writers are 'competitors' but let's be real. Our books cost between a dollar and four bucks as eVersions. We're not going to sink our own ship by buying and supporting each other's works.Goodreads. You can set up an author account, post Book Trailers, host giveaways...it's a great resource.YouTube. I was born when people still used heavy typewriters and carbon paper. And yet I was able to figure out how to create a PowerPoint presentation, add copyright free music and stock photos to it, convert it to video and UPLOAD it to YouTube. TaDa! Book trailer. Look, anything that you don't know how to do, just Google the instructions. You'll probably find a YouTube tutorial on how to do it, and you're set. Don't neglect YouTube in promoting your book. There is an entire enormous community out there.Social Media Etiquette. Just because you're sitting privately at home in your drawers and you haven't showered in three days doesn't give you permission to act like a jackass on the internet. Treat everyone on the internet the way you would treat them if you were face to face with them at a coffee shop. Be polite. Ask permission to post things. Be gracious. Be smart.Hopefully these ideas will jumpstart you in promoting your book. I've had a great response using social media, and I know absolutely nothing about marketing, as I've mentioned in two other posts. So basically, you're following the advice of a total noob. Last tip; don't believe everything you read on the internet.
Fussy Lady: Well some statue's butt isn't really appropriate for an author blog, is it?Set up a Facebook account for either A) your book or B) your authorship. You can create a 'business account' but if I had to do it again, (and I do, because of Book 2!) I would just create a page associated with my private page. The business account doesn't let you Like stuff or do searches, or anything fun like that. Annoying.Set up a Twitter account for either A) your book or B) your authorness. If your account is for your book, then your tweets will necessarily be about your book. You have a little more leeway for topics if it's an author account.Set up a blog. Queue Jim Gaffigan's fussy lady voice: (now there's more writing to do. I want to write a book, not my life story.) Well, I think it's a necessary evil. Basically if you are self-publishing, then you are self-promoting, and you will need all of the platforms you can get your hands on. Surprisingly, once I started this Author Blog, I felt kind of refreshed writing some non-fiction crap. And it's an author blog, so I don't rewrite my drafts. Sorry peeps, it's the first run every time.Try Google +. Why not? It can't hurt. I tried it, and the whole Google Circle thing, and it's kind of cool, and who knows...maybe it'll take off in 2014 and we'll be the trend-setters. Or not.Network with other authors. Fussy lady voice: why do I want to meet other authors? So I can buy more books I don't have time to read? Well Fussy Lady, I have found an incredible support group amongst my fellow writers. Some of them have also purchased my book. Bonus! And you can bet if an author buys your book, they're going to review it for you too. Double bonus! Additionally, other authors have clued me in to things such as contests, promotional platforms, book sales, free books, places to leave links and so on and so forth. I have also made friends and found AMAZING talent. Yes, on one hand fellow writers are 'competitors' but let's be real. Our books cost between a dollar and four bucks as eVersions. We're not going to sink our own ship by buying and supporting each other's works.Goodreads. You can set up an author account, post Book Trailers, host giveaways...it's a great resource.YouTube. I was born when people still used heavy typewriters and carbon paper. And yet I was able to figure out how to create a PowerPoint presentation, add copyright free music and stock photos to it, convert it to video and UPLOAD it to YouTube. TaDa! Book trailer. Look, anything that you don't know how to do, just Google the instructions. You'll probably find a YouTube tutorial on how to do it, and you're set. Don't neglect YouTube in promoting your book. There is an entire enormous community out there.Social Media Etiquette. Just because you're sitting privately at home in your drawers and you haven't showered in three days doesn't give you permission to act like a jackass on the internet. Treat everyone on the internet the way you would treat them if you were face to face with them at a coffee shop. Be polite. Ask permission to post things. Be gracious. Be smart.Hopefully these ideas will jumpstart you in promoting your book. I've had a great response using social media, and I know absolutely nothing about marketing, as I've mentioned in two other posts. So basically, you're following the advice of a total noob. Last tip; don't believe everything you read on the internet.
December 30, 2013
December 28, 2013
The Marketing Question
"A marketing consultant?" Sally Fields' character asks an audience member in the comedy club where she is performing improv. Her mentor cringes backstage...they never prepped for this! And then she pulls it out at the last second and brings up the horrible shopping carts with the bobbly wheel.
Okay, it was a terrible movie. But I've never forgotten that scene.
So Bam! I put my book up for sale, and then realized I couldn't just sit back on my laurels and wait. I had to MARKET my book!
But I'm not a marketing consultant, nor do I know any marketing consultants. I am related to an excellent salesman, but...
What I have found is the same thing that everyone else in this society has found: social media works.
What I'm struggling with is deciding how much time to devote to the marketing aspect. It's easy to spend 5, 6 or 10 hours on social media sites promoting my book. Oftentimes several hours will net one sale.
Mathematically it's not very efficient.
But I keep thinking that the dividends will be far greater. Eventually every reader counts toward total sales, and a percentage of those readers will review the book which will result in more sales.
But listen to me! Dividends? Sales? Marketing? Blech! This is all the kind of stuff I tried to avoid by marrying young and having a bunch of kids. I like creative stuff!
What's your opinion on the time a writer should devote toward promotion? It's a pickle for the self-publisher. Someone who was talented enough and patient enough to go through a publishing house will have a good deal more marketing included in the package deal.
Okay, it was a terrible movie. But I've never forgotten that scene.
So Bam! I put my book up for sale, and then realized I couldn't just sit back on my laurels and wait. I had to MARKET my book!
But I'm not a marketing consultant, nor do I know any marketing consultants. I am related to an excellent salesman, but...
What I have found is the same thing that everyone else in this society has found: social media works.
What I'm struggling with is deciding how much time to devote to the marketing aspect. It's easy to spend 5, 6 or 10 hours on social media sites promoting my book. Oftentimes several hours will net one sale.
Mathematically it's not very efficient.
But I keep thinking that the dividends will be far greater. Eventually every reader counts toward total sales, and a percentage of those readers will review the book which will result in more sales.
But listen to me! Dividends? Sales? Marketing? Blech! This is all the kind of stuff I tried to avoid by marrying young and having a bunch of kids. I like creative stuff!
What's your opinion on the time a writer should devote toward promotion? It's a pickle for the self-publisher. Someone who was talented enough and patient enough to go through a publishing house will have a good deal more marketing included in the package deal.
December 26, 2013
People Build Things
I was explaining the Free Market system to my five-year old. So yeah, it was a pretty basic explanation involving the use of fake Christmas trees, books, grocery stores and cars. You know, somebody decides to make plastic Christmas trees, and they use part of their money to make more, and part of their money to buy other things like books or groceries. And the grocery store owner does the same thing and so on.
And I'm feeling this incredible gratitude for the people who have bought my book!
And some of them have even reviewed it on Amazon!
And while I'm an utter noob to the whole world of marketing, I know enough to appreciate when someone shares my Facebook page or my book trailer on YouTube or writes a review on Amazon.
Those things all add up to a network of people sharing something they love, and it completely validates my time spent writing.
Thank you for being part of something truly wonderful as I continue to build the exciting 97 universe.
And I'm feeling this incredible gratitude for the people who have bought my book!
And some of them have even reviewed it on Amazon!
And while I'm an utter noob to the whole world of marketing, I know enough to appreciate when someone shares my Facebook page or my book trailer on YouTube or writes a review on Amazon.
Those things all add up to a network of people sharing something they love, and it completely validates my time spent writing.
Thank you for being part of something truly wonderful as I continue to build the exciting 97 universe.
December 25, 2013
The Littlest Things
When I began writing 97 in January of 2013, I was excited to build this world of ancient magic merging with modern science. I loved the idea of weaponized humans striving to live peacefully, and powerful magicians feeling impotent.
What I never expected, during the whole year of writing and editing and finessing, was what an unbelievable thrill it would be to have people read my book, and genuinely love it!
I had no idea what a perk it would be to hear someone compliment a storyline or a plot device, or bring up things they liked in the story that I liked too when I wrote it.
Today, Christmas day, as I enjoyed family time and a truly wonderful day, I had the keenest delight when a friend informed me that she was excited to receive 97 as one of her Christmas gifts!
It was an unexpected pleasure, a frisson of delight, to think that something I created brought some joy and anticipation to someone else on this Blessed Day.
I just wanted to record what a thrill it was to enjoy the Littlest Things.
What I never expected, during the whole year of writing and editing and finessing, was what an unbelievable thrill it would be to have people read my book, and genuinely love it!
I had no idea what a perk it would be to hear someone compliment a storyline or a plot device, or bring up things they liked in the story that I liked too when I wrote it.
Today, Christmas day, as I enjoyed family time and a truly wonderful day, I had the keenest delight when a friend informed me that she was excited to receive 97 as one of her Christmas gifts!
It was an unexpected pleasure, a frisson of delight, to think that something I created brought some joy and anticipation to someone else on this Blessed Day.
I just wanted to record what a thrill it was to enjoy the Littlest Things.
December 23, 2013
Working with Inspiration as a Writer
"Where do you get your ideas from?"
One of the most common questions creators get asked!
Well I will tell you. There is a distant lake filled to the brim with ideas. You just hike there, fill up your cup and drink it. Then the ideas start percolating in your head until you write them down in order to catch them.
Or something like that.
For me, ideas come in all forms. It can be as simple as seeing a street sign, an expression on a stranger's face, or snatches of music.
The internet is a GIFT for creators everywhere.
I was watching a youtube video with my son the other day, and all of a sudden I KNEW with a CERTAINTY what needed to be on the cover of Book 2. Then I started searching images on Pinterest. It was amazing. The idea started creating more ideas. It was like surfing on that creativity lake. The spray from the surfboard was rife with ideas. All I had to do was dip a finger in and come away with plenty.
If you have a project, and you've stalled out, may I suggest you get your hiking boots on and head for the lake. If you can't do that, start hanging out on Pinterest or Google images and let the ideas come to you. (Just be careful, Google images is kind of notorious for not being careful about raw nudity.)
If music is more your thing, then crank up your favorite tunes, or better yet, visit Imcompetech and choose 'Soundtrack' and 'Suspenseful'. You'll get music soundbites that will light a fire under your butt like you won't believe.
Work with what is around you, and feed that inspiration. It's everywhere, you just have to taste it.
all photos are copyright free from Morguefile.com
One of the most common questions creators get asked!
Well I will tell you. There is a distant lake filled to the brim with ideas. You just hike there, fill up your cup and drink it. Then the ideas start percolating in your head until you write them down in order to catch them.
Or something like that.
For me, ideas come in all forms. It can be as simple as seeing a street sign, an expression on a stranger's face, or snatches of music.
The internet is a GIFT for creators everywhere.
I was watching a youtube video with my son the other day, and all of a sudden I KNEW with a CERTAINTY what needed to be on the cover of Book 2. Then I started searching images on Pinterest. It was amazing. The idea started creating more ideas. It was like surfing on that creativity lake. The spray from the surfboard was rife with ideas. All I had to do was dip a finger in and come away with plenty.
If you have a project, and you've stalled out, may I suggest you get your hiking boots on and head for the lake. If you can't do that, start hanging out on Pinterest or Google images and let the ideas come to you. (Just be careful, Google images is kind of notorious for not being careful about raw nudity.)
If music is more your thing, then crank up your favorite tunes, or better yet, visit Imcompetech and choose 'Soundtrack' and 'Suspenseful'. You'll get music soundbites that will light a fire under your butt like you won't believe.
Work with what is around you, and feed that inspiration. It's everywhere, you just have to taste it.
all photos are copyright free from Morguefile.com
December 22, 2013
Oh What A Feeling, Seeing's Believing
That song popped into my head when I thought about writing today's post.
A lady bought my book and brought it to church today so I could sign it between Sunday School classes. Funny!
So I got to autograph my book for the first time, and wow! What a neat feeling! Someone cared enough to have me sign their copy of my book!
Just had to write about it.
Writers, artists, musicians, creators of any kind, are useless without an audience. If people want to hear your music or your story, then you're validated to keep on creating. Not that creating in and of itself isn't great...it just makes it more meaningful when someone else's ears or eyes are involved in appreciating your creation.
Personally, I do enjoy writing for the sake of it. But there is a special something about having someone else like what you do. I guess it's that bone-deep search for approval that we're all born with.
If you're a creator, keep creating! If you're the only one that appreciates what you do, that's fine. But I wish you success so that you can feel that approval from an audience. It's very nice.
A lady bought my book and brought it to church today so I could sign it between Sunday School classes. Funny!
So I got to autograph my book for the first time, and wow! What a neat feeling! Someone cared enough to have me sign their copy of my book!
Just had to write about it.
Writers, artists, musicians, creators of any kind, are useless without an audience. If people want to hear your music or your story, then you're validated to keep on creating. Not that creating in and of itself isn't great...it just makes it more meaningful when someone else's ears or eyes are involved in appreciating your creation.
Personally, I do enjoy writing for the sake of it. But there is a special something about having someone else like what you do. I guess it's that bone-deep search for approval that we're all born with.
If you're a creator, keep creating! If you're the only one that appreciates what you do, that's fine. But I wish you success so that you can feel that approval from an audience. It's very nice.
December 21, 2013
Lion Taming the Story
I made a commitment to myself that I would slow down with the book nonsense and concentrate on Christmas.
So every night before I fall asleep, images and dialogue from Book 2 flow through my head.
I told my dd today it was like beating the story back with a whip and chair, like in a circus.
The more my story tries to come out, the more I try to force it back. The question remains, will I regret it? I hope not. See, I jump up at night and write down the dialogue and the scenes. I believe it will all be there waiting for me when I'm ready to sit down and work on it.
My whole life is a struggle of balance.
I have no problem comparing my life to a circus.
I'm not the elephant standing on the ball; my life is the elephant. All the tiny adjustments that need to be made are the things I choose as my priorities.
Mommy duties, church responsibility, wife perks, writing, housework etc. If I can keep it all in check, then my life won't fall and crash in front of everybody at the circus!
Right now is family and holiday time, and I am happy to jot down thoughts as they come to me. Soon enough the holidays will be over, and we'll all be missing the break and festive atmosphere. Then I will embrace my story by both wrists, and we'll soar through the air with the greatest of ease!
photo courtesy of morguefile
So every night before I fall asleep, images and dialogue from Book 2 flow through my head.
I told my dd today it was like beating the story back with a whip and chair, like in a circus.
The more my story tries to come out, the more I try to force it back. The question remains, will I regret it? I hope not. See, I jump up at night and write down the dialogue and the scenes. I believe it will all be there waiting for me when I'm ready to sit down and work on it.
My whole life is a struggle of balance.
I have no problem comparing my life to a circus.I'm not the elephant standing on the ball; my life is the elephant. All the tiny adjustments that need to be made are the things I choose as my priorities.
Mommy duties, church responsibility, wife perks, writing, housework etc. If I can keep it all in check, then my life won't fall and crash in front of everybody at the circus!
Right now is family and holiday time, and I am happy to jot down thoughts as they come to me. Soon enough the holidays will be over, and we'll all be missing the break and festive atmosphere. Then I will embrace my story by both wrists, and we'll soar through the air with the greatest of ease!
photo courtesy of morguefile
December 19, 2013
I Teched It!
The Internet is freaking amazing. All I had to do was research and make some mistakes and use some do-overs, and I did it! I made a book trailer for 97 and I put it up on YouTube.
Fun!
Visit it HERE to check it out. And while you're there, may as well give me a thumbs up or a like or whatever it is that they do on YouTube to express appreciation for getting it done.
If you've read my book, PLEASE PLEASE leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads! I finally understand why authors want those reviews. Tell your friends too!
Fun!
Visit it HERE to check it out. And while you're there, may as well give me a thumbs up or a like or whatever it is that they do on YouTube to express appreciation for getting it done.
If you've read my book, PLEASE PLEASE leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads! I finally understand why authors want those reviews. Tell your friends too!
