Peter Lopez Jr.'s Blog: Xulon Press Blog , page 15

What to Know About Co-Authoring a Book

There are steps you have to take when co-authoring that you wouldn’t typically think about if writing solo. Having a writing partner can be very beneficial when it comes to splitting the work and dividing tasks based on strengths and weaknesses. But there are also a handful of steps you should take when co-authoring a book that you wouldn’t typically have to think about if you wrote solo.

Here are 10 tips about co-authoring a book:1. Pick someone with a similar writing style and work ethic as yours.

The best way to get your joint writing project off the ground is to choose a partner who writes in a similar tone and style as your writing style. Also, make sure that person has the same work ethic as you do. The quickest way to have a co-authored book go south is for the writers to realize they aren’t equally yoked. A large imbalance will create too much conflict that could hinder the project from being finished.

2. Iron out all the details.

Not only do you need to work out if you’ll be writing a fiction or nonfiction book together, but you’ll also need to decide how you’ll publish—self-published or traditional—how you’ll split any incurred business expenses, and what your desired final deadline will be.

3. Set a clear and robust outline.

In order to write a cohesive, co-authored book, the two writers need to be in each other’s heads and have a full grasp on the story and how to get to the end. Even if you’re a panster—meaning you don’t plot or outline your books—you and your co-writer will need to develop a full outline before either can begin writing.

4. Playoff each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

If you’re better at research, you may volunteer to pull together all the necessary sources and let your partner, who is a stronger writer, take a few more chapters to write to balance out the equation. If your writing partner is better at interviewing people, and you have to conduct a few interviews to get information right, allow your partner to do those interviews and maybe you offer to do a bit more during revisions. As long as both you and your co-writer feel confident in a task, you can tailor your experience as you both see fit.

5. Make a plan to write together, or separately.

If you and your co-author are the types of people who find it beneficial to write together, then be sure to schedule the needed time. You also don’t have to write together at all. Some writing partners don’t live near each other and have to write when it’s best for each writer. There is no right or wrong way to co-author a book, so make a plan for what feels doable for both of you.

6. Decide on a rewriting, revising, and editing process.

The biggest hurdle for co-authors to get over is making sure the book doesn’t sound like you melded two different books together. To help, make sure you read each other’s work as you go. Also, be sure to trade chapters for a full self-edit. After that, you may decide it’s best for one of you to take over the reins for rewrites and revisions and the other one of you completes a basic edit after that.

7. Put your egos aside.

You will certainly run into a time where your egos will get the best of you and you’ll disagree. If you find yourself disgruntled about a change or revision your partner thinks your chapter may need, remember that you are partners and you’re both working toward a common goal—a great book that is published and shared with readers. Ask yourself if there is any truth to your partner’s editing note and work together to find a solution as needed.

8. Mini deadlines are a must.

Not only is a final deadline important to make sure you finish your co-authored book, but mini-deadlines are also important for making sure you both stay on track to that final goal. Decide what your daily or weekly goals will be in order to reach your final goal. Then, keep up with each other to make sure neither one of you falls behind.

9. Stay in constant communication.

In order to write a book together, you and your writing partner need to stay in constant communication. Brainstorm your chapters together, talk about a writing block if one of you hits a wall, and provide each other genuine support as you work together. This will also help create a cohesive, co-authored book.

10. Remember everything about the book is a joint decision.

If you have very specific ideas about how to write your book and you aren’t willing to be flexible enough to work with a co-author, you may need to go it alone. Everything about co-authoring a book requires joint decisions. While you both may be neutral on some aspects of the joint writing process, you both may also have strong opinions about other aspects. So knowing how to compromise is a huge part of co-authoring a book.

 

Co-authoring can provide major benefits for both writers, but it can be stressful, too. Call 1-866-381-2665 to speak with one of our publishing consultants about the best fit for you.

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Stress Awareness Month: Tips for Writers

Stress Awareness Month is an annual designation observed in April. Everyone feels stressed from time to time, but too much of it can be detrimental to our emotional and physical health. Writers can know this all too well between fitting writing time into an already busy life plus the additional stress of overcoming creativity roadblocks.

Here are 5 stress relief tips for writers:1. Identify your stressor and figure out solutions.

You can use a journal, a good friend, or whatever method you feel most comfortable with, to really zero in on the real cause of your stress. Once you understand the source of your stress, you can take action to relieve it.

2. Make time for stress-relieving activities.

Just like you should eat well and exercise every day, so should you participate in a stress-managing activity every day. Whether it’s stretching, exercise,  or gardening, find an activity to do every day that relaxes you.

3. Know when it’s time to reduce the number of stressors.

Maybe it’s time to delegate some tasks at work or bow out of a few community activities. Take a few days to write down all your stressors, then review your list and see which items you can let go of, even if temporarily.

4. Acknowledge any unhealthy responses to your stress.

One of the worst responses to stress is to overindulge in behaviors like excessive overeating or time in front of the television. When these behaviors start to kick in, have the courage to face them and seek a solution.

5. Change your point of view.

Use the energy that stress creates to fuel your action toward a solution. Stress is a helpful signal that something needs to change in your life.

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Should I Finish Writing My Book?

Did you start writing your book when you were full of inspiration and never-ending ideas? Are you now feeling a bit tired of that said idea? Does your creative well feel dry? On some occasions, it’s not always best to push through those pain points for the sake of finishing.

In fact, you should gauge how you’re feeling and try to deduce why you’re feeling that way. You may find yourself to be at a point where it’s best you archive your manuscript.

An example of this can be if your life has become more stressful than it was when you first started your book. This can have a harsh negative effect on your writing. If this is you, you may need to pause your book until life is back to a more manageable place.

If your lack of desire for writing doesn’t have any external pain points, you may need to decide if the story or topic is still something you want to write or even feel capable of doing.

If you’re experiencing one of these 4 sentiments, you may want to archive your manuscript.1. Another project is calling to you.

Do you find yourself constantly thinking about another story idea instead of the one in front of you? It may be a sign that you need to change gears. Set aside the writing project in front of you for a few days to focus on the new idea. You may find that the new project is truly what you should be focused on. Plus, you can always go back to the other project later.

2. You feel stuck.

Writing a book is hard work, but it shouldn’t leave you feeling stuck every time you sit down to write. If you’re constantly fighting to unstick yourself, examine what’s causing the issue. If it’s fixable—too much distracting when you’re trying to write—then make adjustments to create a better environment. If there are no roadblocks to clear and you still feel stuck, it may be time to step back from your manuscript for a bit. Give yourself a scheduled amount of time away from your work. If you come back in two weeks and are ready to start writing again, great! If you still feel stuck after that time away, it may be time to move on to a new project.

3. You avoid writing.

Similar to feeling stuck, if you are actively avoiding your writing—meaning you have plenty of time to write but are choosing to avoid it—take some time to understand why you’re avoiding your writing. If you’re working on a memoir and are up against a vulnerable chapter, it’s okay to write a different chapter instead. You may even find yourself in a better place to write it if you grant yourself space.

If it isn’t what you’re writing that you’re trying to avoid, but instead are trying to avoid writing altogether, you may want to set your manuscript aside and focus on ways you can refill your creative cup. Go for walks, read a book, spend time with family and friends to boost your creativity. Give yourself the necessary space you need and see if that helps. 

4. Your story idea is more advanced than your current writing level.

Every now and then, we’ll all have an idea for a story but our writing skillset isn’t advanced enough to be able to pull off writing such a book. If you have gotten yourself into a situation where the book you want to write is more elaborate than what your current writing skills are capable of, give yourself the freedom to set it down and try practicing with stories that are more in the wheelhouse of your current writing level. The more you write, the more you advance your craft. Then, when you feel confident enough to pick back up that more involved story idea, it will be there ready and waiting for you.

If you do decide to put a particular writing project away, don’t delete it or get rid of any of your notes. Many writers have gone back to long-forgotten drafts and ended up finishing them. Sometimes, writing is more about knowing when the timing is right to tell a specific story—and that’s not always right when you have the idea.

 

Ready to publish? Call 1-866-381-2665 to speak with a Xulon Press publishing consultant or visit XulonPress.com to learn more.

 

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8 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month

National Poetry Month was launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996. It comes each April to remind us that poetry matters and poets have a fundamental role in our culture. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world, and this year is a special one as it’s the 25th anniversary of this event!

According to poets.org, the purpose of National Poetry Month is to:

highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poetsencourage the reading of poemsassist teachers in bringing poetry into their classroomsincrease the attention paid to poetry by national and local mediaencourage increased publication and distribution of poetry books, andencourage support for poets and poetry.In honor of National Poetry Month, we’ve compiled a list of ways for you to join the celebration:Start your day by reading a poem each morning.Read 2020’s most-read poem by a contemporary poet, Naomi Shihab Nye’s “Kindness.”Record yourself reading a poem and share it on your social media!Read a book of poetry.Try your hand at writing a formal poem.Sign up for an online poetry class or workshop.Read and share poems about the environment in honor of Earth Day.Watch a movie, lecture, or video featuring a poet.

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Staying On Track With Your Writing This Spring

The first quarter of the year has officially ended! Did you know most people give up on their goals by February? Even if you’ve gotten off the path you had in mind, you still have 9 full months to pull a reverse card. Here are some tips to help you stay on track with your writing this spring.

1. Update your action plan.

Take time to create a realistic action plan that you can actually stick to. Set quantifiable writing goals to hit specific word counts, a date to have a publishing deal signed, a date to have book launch details set up, etc.

2. Find/create the optimal writing space.

Time, energy, and good writing space are all we really need to be able to focus and be productive. A dedicated writing space signals your brain that it’s time to write every time you’re in that space. It doesn’t have to be fancy; it only needs a few items to promote writing productivity. Read more.

3. Read, read, read.

The best writers are readers. Be aware of the new trends developing this year within your genre and keep them in mind as you’re working on your manuscript.

4. Do your research.

Make sure to do your research on all subjects, settings, etc, that are mentioned in your book. When you publish a book, you’ll be automatically categorized as an expert on the subject.

5. Find your target audience.What age group would enjoy reading my book?Where are the potential readers located?What reading style is trending within the age group (ebooks, audiobooks, etc)?Where do my readers enjoy spending their time?What hobbies or interests are common in my readers?

Who’s going to read your book? What media do they consume outside of books? Ask yourself questions to help further identify your audience and build your author platform. Read more about target audiences.

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Writing With Spring Colors!

Spring is here and it brings with it the trend of beautiful bright and pastel colors. For this month’s writing challenge, we’ll be using spring colors to evoke thoughts or stories we can use to practice creative writing. We’ve listed some of our favorite spring colors below, but feel free to continue to keep this exercise going with more colors!

Pastel Yellow

Think about this color for a moment. What does yellow remind you of? If it’s the sun, write about a sunny day. If it’s a drink, write about the last time you had it. Just make sure the topic you choose is authentic to your thoughts that are evoked by the color.

Lavender

This lilac color encourages calmness and tranquility and is useful for both self-reflection and invoking a relaxed, meditative state. How does this color make you feel?

Tangerine

Orange usually calls to mind feelings of excitement, enthusiasm, and warmth. Many people also associate the color with the bright sunsets and the refreshing taste of citrus. What comes to mind with this color? What thoughts make you feel excited or warm?

Cerulean

This specific shade of blue is a soothing, calming color that evokes feelings of peace and confidence; opposed to the normal feelings of sadness people tie to the color blue. Think about a moment you felt confident and write about it.

Carmine

Carmine is a type of red color associated with activity, energy, bravery, boldness, and passion. How does this color make you feel?

 

Did we miss your favorite color? Share it in the comments below!

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Writing Prompts for Female Protagonist

In March, we highlighted some amazing books that featured strong females throughout history as a way to celebrate Women’s History Month. From queens to women at the forefront of science and discovery, these women made remarkable history and also paved the way for more women to come behind them and be empowered and successful in their reach for more. But it seems we may have forgotten to include some writing prompts!

So now, we turn the pen (or keyboard) over to you! Craft a story that highlights a powerful female lead character. You can make this a nonfiction story and write about yourself or another strong woman you know. You can also make this a fiction piece. The only necessary item to include is a female character reader will want to cheer for!

Here’s the prompt:

Write a short story about a woman who overcame an obstacle or situation that felt impossible to her. How did the process change her?

Tips for Fiction and Nonfiction

If you’re pulling inspiration from real life, think back to moments in life where you had to rise up and wade through a difficult time or where you overcame certain obstacles. The best stories are the most unexpected stories. So, maybe skip the story where you won a trophy and dig a little deeper.

For a fiction story, the sky is truly the limit. You can create your own universe, a story about a queen in a far-off land, a woman who started with nothing and built her dream business. All you need to get started is a brave female protagonist to guide your story.

If you write a story with this writing prompt, let us know in the comments! Interested in other writing prompts? Search writing prompts on our blog.

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The First Draft: Skeleton Draft or Bulging Draft

Just like there are two different types of plotting styles—plotting and pantsing—there are also two different camps writers fall into when it comes to how much writing goes into the first draft. There are writers who choose a skeleton draft, meaning they put the bones of their stories down during the first draft and then use subsequent drafts and rounds of revisions to continue to grow and fill out their manuscript until it’s complete. Other writers aim to put anything and everything down on paper during the first round, which is typically a bulging draft and way over word count. These writers spend their time cutting down their word counts during subsequent drafts and revisions. So, is there a right or a wrong way to write your first draft?

There Is No Right Way to Draft

There is no right or wrong way to write your first draft. You simply have to go with what feels most natural to you and understand the work you’ll need to add during follow-up drafts.

Skeleton Draft

If you decide to write a skeleton draft, my guess is you’re also a plotter. If so, use your outline to get you through your skeleton draft. Focus on putting your plot points on paper during your first draft.

Once your initial draft is written, read through the entire manuscript and make notes to yourself. Notes can include descriptions, filling plot holes, and adding overall life to your manuscript.

Continue following this process for additional drafts until you reach your intended word count and you are satisfied with your story.

Bulging Draft

If you find yourself writing a bulging draft, I’d guess you’re a pantser. This means you don’t follow an outline and let the story guide you forward without a set plan. This free flow style of writing is great because you won’t hold yourself up by trying to follow a set plan and you won’t try to control the direction of the story. On the other hand, however, you’ll most likely write more words and end up significantly over your intended word count. During follow-up drafts, strikethrough any text or language that feels unnecessary. Leave yourself notes where you’re rambling, so you can go back and clean up these sections. Check for plot holes, extensive descriptions, and that you’ve tied up all your loose ends by the end of the story.

As you can see, there is no right or wrong way to write your book, so choose the workflow that feels right for you.

Which type of writer are you? Comment below!

Interested in editorial services to help polish your final manuscript? Call 1-866-381-2665 to speak with a Xulon Press publishing consultant.

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Spring Clean Your Writing Space

It’s time to spring clean, which means it’s also time to tackle your writing space. Leave no stone unturned in your home office or writing zone, so you can go forward into the rest of the year with a clean, clutter-free, distraction-free writing space.

Here are 5 simple ways to spring clean your writing space this year:1. Clean out old paperwork and notebooks you aren’t using.

Take the time to go through all the old paperwork that may have piled up in your office and go through any old notebooks you’ve kept. Make three piles: shred, keep, and trash. Any sensitive paperwork should be shredded. Organize the paperwork you’re keeping by using file folders to sort the papers. If you’re keeping old notebooks or journals, find a way to display them in a way that doesn’t feel like clutter.

2. Backup all your work.

Now is a great time to back up all your work on an external hard drive to protect yourself from losing any of your work in case something happens to your computer.

3. Clear off your desk area to the essentials.

Clutter on your desk is bound to happen, but take this time to clean off your desk area to just the essentials at this time. Then, you’ll be more selective about what you decide to keep and display in your office. Every month or so, take stock of your desk area again and reduce it down to just the essentials again. This consistent tidying up helps provide a distraction-free writing zone you can enjoy,

4. Rethink your organization.

As you declutter, if you notice you have a lot of the same items, take stock of your organization and storage and see if there are any improvements you can make to keep yourself a bit more organized.

5. Jazz up your décor.

If you’ve been staring at the same quotes and inspirational images on your walls for a while, seek out some new inspirational quotes or images to add to or replace what’s currently in sight. Having something new to look at can reinvigorate your creativity.

 

Interested in more ways you can apply spring cleaning to your writing life? Visit our blog.

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5 Writing Goals to Add to Your List

You don’t always have to be working on a “book” to be a writer. Use the rest of this month to experiment with some new (to you) aspects of writing. From research to reading, and everything in between, there are plenty of different activities you can explore that still fall under creative living.

Here are 5 writing goals you can still accomplish this month:1. Search for inspiration.

If you’re between writing projects, start researching your next project. Scroll through Pinterest to find character inspiration. Take daily walks and snap photos of objects, buildings, and scenery that inspire you. Sit in a public space with a notebook and pencil and record anything interesting you see.

2. Try your hand at writing a poem.

The best part of poems is you can make them as short or long as you want and there are many different styles of poetry to choose from. This gives you full creative liberty to create something truly unique.

3. Read one book about writing.

With so many books on the market that focus on writing, you may feel like you need to read them all before you can begin writing. Instead, start small. Choose one book (or a few chapters of a larger book) to read this month that focuses on a specific area of your writing that you’re trying to improve. Use our list of books for writers to read as a jumping-off point. 

4. Learn something new.

This goal can be absolutely anything, just try something completely new to you. If you aren’t cooking, give a new recipe a try. If you’ve always wanted to knit, start a small project you can finish. Even trying a new workout can be fun!

5. Start a pandemic journal.

Someday, your children or grandchildren will want to know what this unique time in history was like from your point of view. It’s never too late to start a pandemic journal. It can be as simple as writing down some memories—good and bad—that you experienced during the pandemic or maybe you create a photo journal using pictures you took throughout the pandemic and add captions to the photos to describe who was in the photo or what took place in the photo.

Looking for more writing goals to try this month? Visit our blog.

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