Peter Lopez Jr.'s Blog: Xulon Press Blog , page 17

How To Write a Love Letter in 4 Steps

There’s something special about giving a handwritten letter to your significant other. It’s a magical way to express feelings and look back on the special bond and relationship you’re building. If you need a little help getting started, here’s how to write a love letter in 4 steps:

1. Opening

You want to open the note by letting your loved one know that this is a love letter. For example,

“I wanted to sit down and write you this letter to tell you in words how much you mean to me”.

2. Recall a special memory and transition it to the present.

Opening your love letter with a fond memory you both share can help ignite feelings and release some of the serotonin from that day. Examples can be a memory from the day you met, your first date, or a moment that always brings a smile to your face.

Now that you’ve reminisced, it’s time to transition to the present and describe how you’re feeling now. You can start your transition with something like,

“And even now, seven years later, I still admire…”

3. List the things you love about them.

This is probably one of the most romantic parts of a love letter. In this part, you’ll simply list the things you love about your partner. You can mention aspects of their character, physical characteristics, and personality traits that you appreciate. This is also the opportunity for a special acknowledgment by thanking your partner for all of the wonderful things that they do.

Example,

“I love how kind you are. I adore the freckles that sprinkle across your nose. From home-cooking yummy meals to making me laugh during the hard days, I’m so grateful for you.”

4. Reaffirm your love with a special closing line.

“I have always and will always love you. I will stand proudly by your side throughout life, through the good times and the bad.”

The most important rule here is to be authentic. It doesn’t matter if you go for a cheesy, lovey-dovey ending or with a light-hearted inside joke. Stay authentic to yourself and your feelings and that will transfer across your letter.

Have any tips for how to write a love letter? Share them in the comments!

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What’s a Style Guide and Which One Should I Use?

What are Style Guides?

It can get downright confusing to remember all the writing rules set in place centuries ago. That’s where style guides come in handy; a style guide is a manual that details the standards for writing, designing, and publishing various publications.

There are many types of industries publishing materials within their area of expertise. Style guides are specifically created to keep writers, editors, and designers on the same page when working on a project.

In your high school and college English classes, you most likely used a style called MLA, or The Modern Language Association Handbook. If you’ve done any work in psychology and had to write papers or dissertations, you’re probably familiar with APA style, or The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

For book publishing, the standard style guide used across the entire industry—traditional publishing, indie publishing, hybrid publishing, and self-publishing—is The Chicago Manual of  Style (CMOS). The guidebook includes spelling, grammar, and punctuation rules to follow when creating or adapting writing to the style; it also includes instructions for citing sources and manuscript design.

Which Style Guide Should I Use?

The type of style guide you use depends solely on the industry you’re writing for. Journalists, for example, do not deviate from AP style, or The Associated Press Stylebook. All media outlets use this style for writing and reporting.

If you’re interested in writing and publishing a book, you should take the time before or during your writing process to learn as much as you can about the CMOS, and begin to write or revise with the style guide in mind when it comes to your spelling, grammar and punctuation choices. When working with an editor for your manuscript you’ll want to confirm they’re using CMOS. If your editor uses a different style guide, your book will not follow the industry standard. The Xulon Press editorial staff is well-versed in CMOS and will ensure your book is properly edited for the industry.

What Is an In-House Style Guide?

Oftentimes, companies will create an in-house style guide to avoid confusion amongst their writers and editors. An in-house style guide is created by companies to be used as a resource for employed writers and editors. It sets standards for creators and is also the place to record when to deviate from the default style.

Should I Create a Style Guide for My Manuscript?

A personal style guide can also be created and implemented by an author for their book. For example, if you prefer no periods in abbreviations (US instead of U.S.), you can add that “rule” to your guide.

When you send your completed manuscript to your editor, however, you must include your personal style guide so your editor knows to not return those specific instances to the default style found in the CMOS. Otherwise, you’ll get a manuscript edited only with the CMOS in mind.

Why Are Style Guides Important?

The biggest reason a style guide should be used is to ensure consistency is applied to your entire writing piece. This consistency also means your book will stylistically be the same as traditionally published books. 

Interested in publishing a book? Visit XulonPress.com to learn more or call 1-866-381-2665 for a free phone publishing consultation.

 

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The Best Publications for Writers

Finding good writing isn’t hard, but finding a regular publication you can rely on can be. A publication that delivers high-quality writing and expert writing tips. Of course, the internet is full of tips for writers. But magazines and various publications that focus on creative living and writing help, for all types of writing situations, shouldn’t be overlooked.

To help you find new inspiration for the year, we’ve compiled a list of great resources. You’ll often find these at your favorite store or can subscribe to have them delivered straight to your home.

New England Review

This publication always includes works of poetry, nonfiction, and fiction and the editors aim to focus on emerging voices. The editors spent a lot of time reading unsolicited submissions, which allows them to choose the stories that truly speak to them. If you’re looking to read and learn from new writers, this is a great publication for you.

Ploughshares

Published by Emerson College, this publication comes out quarterly and fiction, nonfiction, and poetry can be found within the pages of each issue. Plus, new writing is published daily on the Ploughshares blog. If you’re wanting to immerse yourself in high-quality literary works, add this journal to your reading list.

Poets & Writers

Covering all types of writing, this magazine focuses more on writing as a lifestyle, often includes interesting pieces about famous authors, can help you find an agent or offer up writing prompts, as well as writing contests and more.

The Paris Review

The goal of this magazine is to feature creative works, interviews, letters, and essays, as well as photography and art. This publication has been around for decades and continues to be one of the most talked-about publications in the industry.

The Writer

From writing help to writing inspiration to getting published and everything in between, The Writer is the magazine for writers who want to do something with their writing. If you subscribe to one magazine on this entire list, make it this one.

Writer’s Digest

This publication is another workhorse, so to speak, because it provides valuable information about writing, publishing, editing your own writing, the business of publishing and so much more. Plus, they offer online classes if you want to improve your writing with the help of a professional.

 

Comment below what books, magazines, or websites bring inspiration to your writing!

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10 Types of Writing That Don’t Involve Books

All types of writing can be powerful and helpful to the writer and anyone who may come across the work. But not all types of writing have to end with a book. In fact, there are plenty of ways to dabble in writing that doesn’t eventually get bound and wrapped in a book cover. If you’re feeling a little unsure about where to start your writing journey, try one (or more) of these 10 types of writing:

1. Article Writing

Lots of writers make a living by penning articles, newspapers, magazines, online outlets, or for internal communications to employees. If you’re interested in making a career out of writing without publishing a book, this is a great way to dive in.

2. Blog Posts

Whether you publish posts on your own website or produce them for clients’ websites, writing blogs can be a fun way to work writing into your life without having to devote yourself to a full manuscript.

3. An Essay

This term doesn’t only apply to the papers you turned in to your English teacher, it also is the name of a short piece of writing on a specific subject. So, if you chose to write a few pages of information about the Titanic, that would be considered an essay. 

4. Goals List

When you write down your goals and dreams you’re more likely to achieve them. Plus, getting those thoughts out of your head and on paper helps you start to make them a reality. 

5. Regular Journaling

The beauty of journaling is no one ever needs to see the writing you produce in your journal —and the type of journaling you do is completely up to you. If your journal practice includes only a bulleted list for each day, that’s great! If you take extra pages to work out your feelings on paper, keep going! Journaling can be anything and everything you need it to be.

6. Poetry

Poetry can be written in so many places without ever becoming a book. You can post your poetry on social media, handwrite it on a piece of paper and leave it for your special someone to find. Your poetry can become a song or just something you use to brighten another person’s day.

7. Scrapbooking

Pictures without words make the photo a bit of a mystery. Scrapbooking wouldn’t be complete if you didn’t add captions and reshare special stories throughout the pages.

8. Scriptwriting

If you love movies or stage performances, try your hand at a screenplay or a play meant for a live performance. 

9. Short Story

If you are interested in writing a book but don’t know if you have a whole manuscript in you just yet, you can experiment with short story writing and work your way up to larger word counts.

10. Greeting Cards

If you’ve ever struggled to find the perfect card for someone in the card aisle at the store, next time purchase some really nice, thick paper and envelopes and write your own greeting card for friends and family.

Need a writing piece printed and published? Visit www.xulonpress.com or call 1-866-381-2665 for a free publishing consultation.

 

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10 Books to Read That Inspire Change

Books can provide some of the best lessons. We just have to allow ourselves to fully take in their messages and do the work in our own lives. From creating new, healthier habits to working through fear, there is plenty of growth we can accomplish by listening to authors who have already done the work. In light of the new year, we’ve compiled a list of books to read to keep you inspired as you move through 2021.

10 Books to Read That Can Inspire Change1. The Power of Habit

If you’re looking to understand how habits are formed within our brains and how to rewire bad habits with good habits, this book is for you.

2. The Best Yes

Are you saying “yes” to everything but God? If you’re overwhelmed by the busyness of life and the stress that comes with it, this book is for you.

3. Atomic Habits

If you’ve tried to change bad habits several times and can’t seem to shake them, this book can help you train yourself to rewire your systems to help you succeed with change. 

4. Do It Afraid

Joyce Meyer’s new book focuses on embracing and relishing in courage when fear wants you to quit.

5. Respond Up: Turn Any Obstacle Into Greatness

We all face various obstacles in life. Some of those obstacles merely slow us down and others stop us in our tracks. This book helps readers understand that their obstacles don’t mean they are defeated and that there can be greatness afterward.

6. Dream Big

Bob Goff’s new book is all about rediscovering your dreams and learning how to finally make them realities.

7. Fighting Forward

Do you believe the lies you tell yourself or the lies society imposes on you? If so, Hannah Brencher’s new book should move to the top of your “to-read list.”

8. Start. Punch Fear in the Face

We all have two choices in life: We can maintain the status quo our lives present or we can break out and achieve greatness we never thought we could. This book helps readers learn how to do the work that matters.

9. Triggers

If you’ve ever experienced triggers and don’t fully understand how or why they are able to set you off like they do, this book is a must-read.

10. Don’t Just Speak It, Write It. How Every Pastor Can Become a Published Author

Are you mulling over the thought of writing a book but don’t know what it takes to truly write a book that meets a need? This book can help you find the insight you need to move forward with your writing goals.

Tell us. What’s been your favorite “fresh start” book? Have you read any on our list?

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Tips for a Fresh Start in 2021

The beginning of a new year is a great opportunity to focus on creating new habits, trying fun activities, and expanding our capabilities to become even more fulfilled people than we were in the previous year. While it’s true that we can have a fresh start every morning we wake up, there’s something special about a fresh start to a new year.

Maybe it’s time to finally take that cooking class you’ve always wanted to attend or you have a state park you want to visit and check off your bucket list. If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that we must go after the things we want out of life because none of us are promised tomorrow.

Here are 10 tips to help kick off your fresh start.1. Make a list of new activities you want to try.

If there is a hobby you’ve always wanted to try or a skill you want to become better at, add it to your list of new activities for the year. Keep this list in an easy to view location throughout the year and check off each activity as you complete it. At the end of the year, you’ll see all the fun things you learned how to do.

2. Clean out problem areas of your home and office.

We all have those spots in our homes or offices that collect a bunch of random items that never seem to have a “home.” Clean these problem areas out and give every item its rightful place. A clean space creates a safe place for creativity to flow.

3. Declutter your digital life.

Delete old social media accounts you no longer use, so you don’t one day get hacked. Get rid of old emails you don’t need to keep. Finally, follow through on the digital photo storage plan you’ve been talking about for years. Clean old documents off your computer and back up everything to an external hard-drive and to a cloud-based server.

4. Rearrange furniture for a fresh feel in a room.

Sometimes all it takes is putting a chair in a new spot or swapping out some throw pillows to give a room a fresh, new vibe. This fresh feel can boost your mood or lead to a new way of using a room.

5. Switch up your fitness routine.

If you have been following the same workout routine for a while, chances are it’s getting a little stale. Trade-in your 5 pm Tuesday evening walk around the neighborhood for a socially distanced lunchtime walk with a friend. If you typically participate in yoga classes, swap a class or two for a cycling class. New experiences lead to fresh perspectives, which can boost creativity.

6. Get rid of items you don’t love.

If you have an item laying around the house that doesn’t “spark joy” as Marie Kondo says, allow yourself to part with it. Chances are high that the item you dread looking at may bring joy to someone else’s life. Use the new year as a time to donate unwanted items to create a space you truly enjoy.

7. Start a journaling routine.

This may sound like a broken record, but journaling on a regular basis is not only a healthy mental practice, but it also gives you the opportunity to look back on past experiences to either remember a special moment or to grow from a challenging time. Plus, old journals are the window to your life for the next generation of your family—if you decide to leave them for others to read.

8. Write down what you want for yourself from the year.

We all want to give, receive, or experience certain things throughout the course of the year. Not all of us, however, step out on the ledge and put those things down on paper. Whether you simply start a list of what you want to experience in 2021 or you start a prayer journal to speak with God about the desires you have for 2021, boldly put all your dreams on paper to look back on in a year and see how far you came in 365 days.

9. Make plans that excite you.

Having plans on the calendar that you genuinely look forward to doing is a great way to push yourself through hard or stressful times. These fun plans can be a bright spot that your future self will appreciate. Add a weekend getaway to your schedule or plan a fun day out with your family once a month. Write down any plans on your calendar that excite you.

10. Say “no” when you need to.

The best and healthiest boundary you can set for yourself is to learn how to say “no” to plans you really don’t want or need to do. The more time you can devote to activities, people, and plans you want to do the happier you’ll be.

 

Interested in publishing a book? Let us take you there. XulonPress.com or 1-866-381-2665 to learn more.

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Book Endorsement vs. Book Review

Book Endorsements

A book endorsement is an advanced, positive review for your book, usually from someone influential to your new book’s audience. Normally, you want to secure endorsements before the release of your book. It’s common to see endorsements on the…

Front or back cover of your book.
Inside the book in the front pages.
Your website.
Marketing materials.

Book Reviews

Endorsements exist to support the author’s book marketing. Reviews, on the other hand, are designed to help readers decide which books to read. Of course, you can always pull positive excerpts from reviews to use in the same way you use endorsements.

Book reviews come in two forms: literary reviews and reader reviews.

Literary reviews are written by professional book reviewers. Their job is to provide objective commentary that will help people decide if they want to read the book. They can come from publications, magazines, newspapers, and certain blogs and websites. Most authors are familiar with the other type, reader reviews—reviews from the readers you wrote the book for. 

Honest reviews often contain more information than endorsements, so they can be more useful to readers. Even negative reviews are important, what one reader didn’t like about your book might be exactly what another reader is looking for.

Soliciting reviews should be a never-ending process– it gives your book credibility and reassures the readers the book will deliver on its promise. Make sure you’ve got strategies for soliciting both endorsements and reviews in your book marketing plan. They’re essential to your book’s long-term and ongoing success.

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New Year’s Tips for Writers

New Year, new book. If you’re an aspiring author determined to publish in 2021, this list of tips for writers is for you.

1. Create an action plan.

Not even writer’s block will stand in your way in 2021. Take time to create an action plan that you can actually stick to. Make sure it’s a realistic action plan and be honest with yourself. Set quantifiable writing goals to hit specific word counts, a date to have a publishing deal signed, and book release details set up.

2. Find 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 trends within your genre and keep them in mind as you’re planning your upcoming book.

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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Should I Hire a Ghostwriter?

We’re coming up on the end of another year, and if you made a goal to finally write your book in 2020 but didn’t see the project through, hiring a ghostwriter may have already come to mind.

3 questions to ask yourself if you’re considering a ghostwriter.
1. What does a ghostwriter do?

A ghostwriter helps develop a manuscript in their client’s same tone and voice. To do this, a ghostwriter relies on in-depth interviews with their client. They transcribe the recorded interviews and use that information to outline and write each chapter. At the end of the ghostwriting process, the client will have a completed manuscript that is ready for professional editing and publishing.

2. How much do I need to participate?

While you may not be putting pen to paper yourself, you will need to be heavily involved in the process. From meetings to interviews, to approvals, reviews, and rounds of revisions–you will need to be an active and timely participant throughout the entire drafting process. 

3. Is ghostwriting a good fit for me?

Ghostwriting is an investment and should only be made if you can fully commit. This includes showing up on time, not rescheduling meetings, answering your ghostwriter’s questions quickly, and making yourself available for revisions.

Xulon Press has a team of expert ghostwriters ready to help turn your book idea into a manuscript. Call 1-866-381-2665 for a free publishing consultation or visit XulonPress.com to learn more.

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How to Set Realistic Intentions for 2021

By creating an intention, we make the active choice to experience a specific type of day or a specific journey for the year. A simple example of creating an intention for the day is saying, “I’m going to have a great day.” And an example of creating an intention for a year would be “I’m going to find a new hobby I enjoy” or “I’m going to write my book in 2021.”

With a brand new year insight, and what feels like a never-ending pandemic, most of us are probably feeling one of two ways about resolutions for 2021. One camp of us is beyond excited for a chance to wipe the slate clean and reach for huge goals after sitting still most of this year. Then, there is the second camp—still drained and completely worn out from 2020, and lacking the inspiration to set any lofty resolutions for the new year. To be honest with you, I’m a little bit on both sides. So, I’ve been doing some reading about goal-setting versus creating intentions, and this year I think I’m going the intentions route.

Just like New Year’s resolutions and goal-setting, however, it’s helpful to break intentions down into smaller, more actionable pieces. These small steps toward big achievements will be how we follow through on our intentions for the entire year.

Breaking it down.

If you’re planning any large goals or intentions this year and want to be sure you follow through with them in 2021, try breaking them down like this:

Yearly intentions
Half-year intentions
Monthly intentions
Weekly intentions
Daily intentions

Yearly Intentions.

Start by thinking about the yearly intentions you want to set for yourself. These will be big picture and require smaller intentions to reach them. Those smaller intentions will break out into your half-year, monthly, weekly and daily intentions. A few examples of yearly intentions would be:

I’m going to write my book this year.
I’m going to create a stronger bond with my spouse/significant other.
This year, I’m going to devote more energy to quality family time.
In 2021, I want to spend more time in nature.

Half-year intentions.

For half-year intentions, decide how you can break up your yearly intentions into six-month intentions. For example:

I‘m going to have X chapters written of my manuscript in six months.
My spouse/significant other and I are going to take a trip together within six months.
As a family, we are going to fulfill X bucket list items by June 30. (Be sure to write out your family bucket list and place it somewhere everyone can see it.)
For the next six months, I’m going to find ways to work nature into my routine.

Monthly intentions.

Now, take your half-year intentions and reduce them to even smaller tasks. These will become your monthly intentions. If you want to see a new habit become routine, research says this can take up to 30 days of including it in your daily routine. Set some monthly intentions like:

This month, I’m going to plot out my novel and develop my characters.
My spouse/significant other and I will have a least one date night each week this month.
Once a week, we are going to do a family movie night.
This month, I’m going to go on three, 5-mile hikes.

Weekly intentions.

Sundays are a great day of the week to set your weekly intentions. This intention-setting time can be a mix of setting your full week intentions, as well as planning out some daily intentions. Some weekly intentions could be: 

This week, I’m going to spend four hours in the library working on research for my book.
My spouse/significant other and I will have a date night on Wednesday.
At dinner every night this week, I’m going to focus on asking each member of my family about their day.
This week, I’m going to get outdoors twice.

Daily intentions.

Your daily intentions will be the smallest and easiest to achieve the intentions you set for yourself. Daily intentions will reflect on your larger plans for the longer planning periods above. Some daily intentions may be:

Today, I am going to write 400 words for my novel.
Tonight, my spouse/significant other are going to enjoy our quality time together with no distractions.
I’m going to tell each member of my family that I love them.
At lunch, I’m going to get outside for a walk.

Your daily intentions should be so easy to achieve that you actually make headway on your longer-term intentions without realizing it. By following through on all your smaller intentions, you’ll get to the end of the year having achieved your huge—somewhat overwhelming—goals for the year, too!

 

If writing and publishing your book is one of your 2021 intentions, contact us at 1-866-381-2665 or learn more at XulonPress.com

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