P.H. Solomon's Blog, page 305

Scrivener Tip: Making Document Templates

All writers face the blank screen and think about what they’re going to write. Too often we start and realize we didn’t format properly and stop, then get distracted by something else and we’ve lost our train of thought be the time we get back. Getting started can be daunting enough without spending time getting everything just right in your word processor.

Well, in Scrivener there’s a good way to beat back all that pre-writing distraction so you can sit down with your ideas and write. Who wants to lose their ideas to setting everything up? The answer is to make a template within your project.

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What did you just read? That’s right a template within the project. You’ve heard of making a project template but how do you make a template within a project? Just follow these instructions.

1. Create a folder within the project and designate it as the Template folder by clicking on Project and Set Selection as Template Folder. Some project templates come with a template folder already designated so check you binder for one. Here’s what the template folder looks like:

Here’s how to set a folder as the project template folder:

2. Once you’ve set the Template folder then create a document container under the folder. Configure all the settings you want with formatting in this container but leave it blank.

3. After you’ve completed configuring your document template it’s ready to use. Go to one of you folders in your project and when creating a new document container (text). Choose Project from the upper menu bar and then go to New from Template to get a fly-out menu. On this menu you will see all the document templates created for the project in which you are working.

4. You can also create such a document template from the cork-board view of a folder. Right click for a context menu, go to Add for a fly-out menu. Slide your cursor to New from Template to reveal the fly-out menu or your document templates. You can also do the same from the Binder by right clicking on a folder for a context menu and using the same directions.

5. At this point, you can name the new container and start writing without a need to change settings. Create as many of these document templates as necessary for your project.

One again, here’s a simple way to use Scrivener to make writing easier than ever.

Do you get distracted by repeated changes to format settings? What would you change to start writing faster on any given project? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my Contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

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Filed under: Blogging, Cover Reveal, Creativity, Editing, Indie Publishing, Planning, Scrivener, Self-publishing, Tech Tips, Templates, Tips, Twitter, Writing Tagged: blogging, Coverart, creativity, Editing, Facebook, Formatting, Indie Publishing, P. H. Solomon, Planning, Scrivener, Self-publishing, Social Media, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Twitter, writing

Reviewing the Last Week of April

Here’s another review of the week for those interested in what’s appeared on the blog this week and what I’ve been reading.

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Tamie Dearen Featured in Fantasy Authors Unplugged

From Archer’s Aim This Week:

Untangle Your Fingers & Try Scrivener’s Auto-Complete List – for those interested in Scrivener help & tips.
SPOTLIGHT Blog Tour – Bethany Turner – fellow Rave Reviews Book Club member has been on blog tour this week highlighting her Abigail Phelps series.
Fantasy Authors Unplugged: Tamie Dearen – who discusses her fantasy books, her writing process and other thoughts about being an independent author.
Maintaining Wind in Your Writing Sails

Posts & Articles I’ve been reading this week

How to Accomplish Twice the Writing in Half the Time – I know I could get more done. How about you?
Create More Depth with Mini Arcs – Janice Hardy discusses a good
The Art of Short Fiction – Autumn Birt examines short fiction – interesting read.
Beginnings and Endings – And here’s another one from Autumn about switching between phases of writing.
Need to re-brand your books? Joanna Penn discusses her recent experience with her first series – quite interesting how she got to the new titles.
UPDATE: Here’s a story from NASA that’s quite surprising…
UPDATE: Another post from Dean Wesley Smith about print runs and on-demand publishing models.

Morguefile.com free photo for Maintaining Wind in Your Writing Sails

Fancy some short fiction reading? Try these speculative fiction magazines for some new stories.

Beneath Ceaseless Skies – I’m interested in new special Weird Western Issue.
Abyss & Abyss – Dreadnought Under Ice intrigues me. Also check out their poetry section which is chocked full of some interesting pieces.

Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my Contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

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Filed under: Blogging, Cover Reveal, Editing, Fantasy, Fantasy Authors Unplugged, Fiction, Indie Publishing, Marketing, Planning, Rave Review Book Club, Scrivener, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, Social Media, Tech Tips, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Tips, Twitter, Writing Tagged: Bethany Turner, blogging, Coverart, creativity, Facebook, Fantasy Authors Unplugged, Fantasy Fiction, Indie Publishing, Marketing, P. H. Solomon, Rave Reviews Book Club, Scrivener, Self-publishing, Social Media, Spotlight Blog Tour, Tamie Dearen, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Twitter, writing

Maintaining Wind in Your Writing Sails

I recently read Michael J. Sullivan’s book, The Emerald Storm, which is largely centered around a sailing voyage by his main characters, Hadrian Blackwater and Royce Melborn. I enjoyed the book which is part of Sullivan’s series, The Riyria Revelations. I’ll avoid summarizing the book but I wanted to discuss some of the aspects of the story and how these relate to writing a book.

Once the voyage is underway the ship makes swift progress due to a prevailing wind. However, the ship must round a point. But to make this maneuver the ship’s crew must allow the ship to be swept toward rocks while making a planned changed with the sails. After the tricky move is completed they sail into a head-wind which requires tacking. This means re-setting the sails at angles in order to make zig-zag headway into the wind. It’s slower and requires continual efforts from the crew. Sullivan’s technical sailing descriptions in the book are very detailed but used in such a way as to weave them into the events.

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I’m nearing the end of a major revision and realized writing has some similarities to sailing. I’ve found these sailing situations illustrative during my work on The Bow of Hart. With writing, sometimes you’ve got the wind and sometimes you’ve got to tack.

Learning to tack your creative winds is important. It’s either that or do nothing. What are things you can do to tack as a writer? Can you stay productive against headwinds? I’ve had to learn a few things about deep POV and internalization which meant overhauling my manuscript. Then there were several additions and changes that I don’t want to reveal at the moment but which took a lot of time and effort. If you’re willing to make difficult, time-consuming changes and still make viable progress, then you’re tacking effectively. If it’s going nowhere then you need to try something else: look for different techniques, examine motivations, characterization, scenes that go nowhere and lack of emotion in the characters just to name a few.

There are times when there’s risk in the changes you make. Sometimes if feels like you and your book are headed into the rocks. I’ve found that if I keep working, even if it’s slow and arduous, the creative winds will shift in my favor. So keep writing, even into the headwinds and be willing to make difficult changes where necessary.

Have you found you need to make difficult changes with your writing? Have you felt like you lost the wind in your sails trying to complete your book? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my Contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

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Filed under: Amazon, Blogging, Cover Reveal, Creativity, Deep POV, Editing, Fantasy, Fiction, Indie Publishing, Planning, Self-publishing, Social Media, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Twitter, Writing Tagged: blogging, Coverart, creativity, Editing, Facebook, Fantasy Fiction, Indie Publishing, Michael Sullivan, P. H. Solomon, Self-publishing, Social Media, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, The Emerald Storm, The Riyria Revelations, Twitter, writing

Fantasy Authors Unplugged: Tamie Dearen

This is continuing feature on Archer’s Aim – Fantasy Authors Unplugged. I hope to frequently share an interview with a fantasy author. If you have authors to suggest and/or questions you’d like to see answered then leave a comment or send me an email. If you are a fantasy author and would like an interview please let me know and we’ll plan one that fits your schedule. Today’s featured author is Tamie Dearen who writes in several genres including fantasy.

Interview

Q: Please share briefly about your fantasy books – titles, plots, etc.

A: I have one young adult fantasy series, the Alora Series. The first book, Alora: The Wander-Jewel, is a story about a fifteen-year-old girl from Montana. She’s a normal, teenager in every respect, except for a jewel in her belly button. One day she has a vision of a handsome boy, while taking a shower. When her vision recurs, and then becomes a reality, her entire life is turned upside down. The strange boy in the shower turns out to be her soulmate, with a bond that strengthens their gifts, but makes them vulnerable to weakness and death from extended separation. She learns from her uncle that she had a secret past and discovers she originated from another world, a medieval land called Tenavae. Her jewel allows her to transport from place to place and between worlds through her gift as a bearer. She meets her father, Vindrake, an evil man who wants to control her or, barring that, to kill her. With the support of her family and friends, she becomes involved in a fight between the forces of good and evil in Tenavae, utilizing the new gift she’s still learning to master.

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The second book of the series, Alora: The Portal, continues the story of Alora and her soulmate, Kaevin, as they fight to contain her father’s attempts to expand his holdings. The leaders are alarmed with the discovery of a portal between Vindrake’s kingdom and Montana. Alora and Kaevin are part of a team attempting to seal the portal, a feat which involves trekking into the heart of her father’s lair. Meanwhile, the lines between good and evil are blurred, as they realize Vindrake is controlling “good people” through his bloodbond, forcing them to perform evil acts. This realization is more disturbing when some of his warriors appear to seek their own deaths, even in the midst of battle, in an attempt to escape Vindrake’s evil bloodbond.

Q: As a multi-genre author how do you balance working on these different types of books?

A: I’ll admit the fantasy books are much more challenging due to the complicated plots and timelines. But I become totally engrossed in whatever book I’m writing, regardless of the genre. But there is a drawback to writing in multiple genres. The second book, Alora: The Portal, has been seriously delayed while I was completing the third and fourth books of my romantic comedy series.

Q: Staying with the multi-genre topic – how do you decide a story idea is best suited to a particular genre?

A: For me, the writing process is much like the reading process. I sit down and think about a story and it flows out before my eyes. The genre is actually determined before the story, and the plot develops in the direction consistent with the genre.

Q: What’s your writing schedule each day?

A: Unfortunately, I work full time. I’m a dentist, and I own my own practice. So my current writing schedule consist of leaving my laptop open in my office and dashing in between patients to write. I’ve given up watching television simply to take advantage of all my available writing time.

Q: What advice can you offer other independent authors based on your self-publishing experiences?

A: My best advice is to join a group of supportive authors who will provide advice, encouragement, resources, and marketing support. Don’t try to do it alone. Without input from my fellow authors, I would still be floundering around. Rave Reviews Book Club isn’t the only such group, but it’s been a great resource for me. I’ve met such supportive fellow authors at RRBC and even discovered professionals to help in areas such as editing.

I would be remiss if I didn’t advise every author to invest in a professional cover and a professional editor. Please, please, please do this. As independent authors, we are already viewed and treated as less talented and less valuable than authors who publish through the big name publishing houses. Please don’t put out sloppy, sub-par work that verifies that poor public opinion. Every good, high-quality book published by an independent author is a boon to all of us. Every bad one is a detriment.

Q: What project(s) is/are pending.

A: The second book of the Alora series is currently in the editing stage, as is a romantic comedy I originally published week-by-week on my blog, A Rose in Bloom.

Q: What usually inspires you to write a book?

A: I’m inspired by the people I’ve met and the relationships I’ve observed. I think people are fascinating, and I love exploring the plots that develop by simply watching your characters interact.

Q: How long have you been writing and how did you get into it?

A: I’ve been writing poetry and composing songs since the age of six, but I didn’t begin writing my first novel until January of 2013. Since then, I’ve published four novels and a prequel in my romantic comedy series, The Best Girls, along with the first book in the Alora Series. I began the first book as a sort of semi-autobiographical romantic comedy, writing the story as a lark. But one chapter in, I was hooked on writing. Now I write every spare minute. I find marketing to be a “necessary evil”.

BIO

Tamie Dearen lives with her very romantic husband of thirty-three years. She has two beautiful daughters, two amazing son-in-laws, and one awesome grandson. She plays piano, flute, harmonica, keyboards, and guitar, and loves composing and art. And she hates housework. She has been a dentist in private practice for thirty years. She plays keyboard and sings in her church praise team and teaches graduate students each week. In her spare time, she writes books.

Tamie specializes in writing “clean’ books without excessive violence, offensive language, or explicit sex. She has published a romantic comedy series called The Best Girls, which includes a free novella, and four full-length novels. She has also published the first book of her young adult fantasy series, Alora: The Wander-Jewel. Book two, Alora: The Portal, is currently being edited for publication. She has also written a serial romance, A Rose in Bloom, and published it on her weekly blog, where it is currently available as a free book until it is published in novel form.

Author Links

The Best Girls Series amazon link: ow.ly/ApSpO

Alora: The Wander-Jewel amazon link 　http://amzn.com/B00IGBA9WY

Blog:　https://terratt0612.wordpress.com/

Website: 　http://tamiedearen.weebly.com/

twitter:　https://twitter.com/TamieDearen

Facebook: 　https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tamie-Dearen/1384772145109650

Thanks to Tamie for the interview this week and please take a look at her books. If you’re a fantasy author and would like to be interviewed for “Fantasy Authors Unplugged” just contact me via email or one of my social media channels and we’ll set one up.

Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

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Filed under: Amazon, Blogging, Cover Reveal, Creativity, Fantasy, Fantasy Authors Unplugged, Fiction, Indie Publishing, Marketing, Planning, Rave Review Book Club, Self-publishing, Tamie Dearen, Tips, Twitter, Writing Tagged: Alora: The Wander-Jewel, blogging, Coverart, creativity, Facebook, Fantasy Authors Unplugged, Fantasy Fiction, Indie Publishing, Marketing, Rave Reviews Book Club, Self-publishing, Social Media, Tamie Dearen, The Best Girls, Tips, Twitter, writing

SPOTLIGHT Blog Tour – Bethany Turner

Today, I welcome Bethany Turner on her Rave Reviews Book Club SPOTLIGHT Blog Tour. Bethany is sharing her first book in her Abigail Phelps Series – I’ve Loved These Days. Take it away Bethany!

When I began writing the Abigail Phelps Series, I chose the name Abigail because a) I like it, and b) it could be shortened to Abby, which I also like. I chose the name Phelps because a) my son had a teacher with the surname Phelps, and we loved her, and b) because it sounded okay with both Abigail and Abby. That was it. That was literally the extent to which I put serious thought into my lead character’s name. And my Abigail lived in Simsbury, Connecticut because figure skating plays a major role in her story, and Simsbury has an international training facility. Abigail. Phelps. Simsbury. That’s the entire origin story.

So imagine my surprise when my husband stumbled across the real Abigail Phelps, by way of the Abigail Phelps Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution…in Simsbury, CT. There was an entire history which I hadn’t known existed. The real Abigail Phelps had been the mother of three men who fought in the American Revolution, and was a part of the family which had essentially founded the town of Simsbury. The Phelps Tavern, Phelps Homestead, Abigail’s Bar & Grille, Phelps Road…Simsbury’s history is eternally intertwined with that of the Phelps family.

And I’d had no idea.

Once I did know, there was no turning back. My fictional Abigail’s story was forever changed with the knowledge of the real Abigail’s legacy. My novels, which had already been formed with the intent of blurring reality, took on the story of the real Abigail Phelps of Simsbury, CT. Last year I was asked to speak in Simsbury, and I had the opportunity to witness the historic Phelps landmarks for myself. My Abigail is her descendent, and her journey has been shaped by that legacy. As has mine.

Excerpt from I’ve Loved These Days, Book One in the Abigail Phelps Series

March 17, 1994

Dear Mrs. Onassis,

It was such a lovely gift to receive your letter. I did receive some advance notice that it was on its way, of course, but I can’t tell you how touched I was when it showed up in my mailbox. I’m so very sorry that your health is as it is and, as is often the case in life, I wish we didn’t wait for dire circumstances to force us into conversations which should have taken place years ago. And I want to apologize for my share of that blame.

The twelve years since you and I last spoke have not been without their challenges, have they? I’m not certain, however, that I can agree with your assertion that all of the difficulties between John and myself stem from that day. Truthfully, they go back further, and I shoulder the responsibility. Be that as it may, he and I are in a good place now, and I can’t ask for more than the friendship we have developed. It’s the most important of my life.

And then there are your other assertions, which I wish I could deny. I wish I could laugh about how far off-track you are, but of course I can’t. You’re absolutely right. He knows it and I know it, though I really had no idea that you knew it as well. I shouldn’t be surprised, I suppose. He always said you knew from the very first day – which is why you gave him the ring. That very first time you met me you knew that he would never be the same again, didn’t you?

For the record, I was never the same again either. And while times have changed and opportunities have been lost, I still know in my heart of hearts that I never will be. But we can’t go back, and we can’t undo. What’s more, I don’t really want to. While my life is not perfect, it is uniquely, ridiculously mine, and I would not trade it.

So, put away the regret. I have. It didn’t take me long to discover that it didn’t do me any good, and it didn’t do him any good. But thank you. Thank you for acknowledging that you wish it had gone a different way – there’s nothing wrong with that, is there? And while I don’t regret, I’m not too proud to admit that yes, I wish some things had gone a different way as well.

Please take care of yourself. Relish these days, surrounded by your friends and your family and your books, and the people and things that you love. And please know that my affection for you remains strong. You never said an unkind word to me, and I thank you for that.

And yes, don’t worry – I promise to take care of him for you.

With sincere affection,

Abby Phelps

Find Bethany Online!!

Twitter: @BTLiteraryStuff

Facebook: www.facebook.com/seebethanywrite; www.facebook.com/abigailphelpsseries

Website: www.seebethanywrite.com; www.abbyphelps.com

Pinterest – www.pinterest.com/seebethanywrite 

Book Info:

I’ve Loved These Days – Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LSWE6U4

Scenes From Highland Falls – Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LSX6HD2

Two Thousand Years – Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LSYL5UQ

   

Thanks to Rave Reviews Book Club for sponsoring the tour for Bethany. Please take a few minutes and investigate more about her Abigail Phelps Series. For more information about RRBC and these SPOTLIGHT blog tours see the website and if you join, tell them P. H. Solomon sent you.

Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my Contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

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Filed under: Abigail Phelps Series, Amazon, Bethany Turner, Blog Tour, Blogging, Creativity, Fiction, Indie Publishing, Marketing, Pinterest, Rave Review Book Club, Self-publishing, Social Media, Twitter, Writing Tagged: Abigail Phelps Series, Bethany Turner, Coverart, Facebook, I've loved These Days, Indie Publishing, P. H. Solomon, Pinterest, Rave Reviews Book Club, RRBC, Scenes From Highland Falls, Self-publishing, Social Media, Spotlight Blog Tour, Twitter, Two Thousand Years, writing

Untangle Your Fingers & Try Scrivener’s Auto-Complete List

Scrivener is a powerful writing tool. I write about it weekly with tips and usage ideas. To read more of my posts click the Scrivener tag or category at the end of the page.

I love using tools in real life. I have all kinds having been raised to do a variety of fix-it jobs around the house. It’s great to find that Scrivener has a variety of tools that can be used to assist us writers and make us more efficient.

One of these features is the Auto-Complete List. This can be used to make typing faster by adding words that you commonly use in a specific project. This allows you to add custom words to a list that are automatically completed so that you proceed with fewer typos and less typing.

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Before discussing the tool further, let’s first turn it on and get a feel for using it this simple – but powerful – tool. Click on Project and choose Auto-Complete List from the menu (that’s CTRL + Shift + 4 for those who like using keyboard commands as I sometimes do).

The Auto-Complete List will be turned on so that it can be managed.

To add click the + button and type in your common word. Make sure that it’s correct and hit enter. The minus button allows you to remove a word for any reason, misspelled or otherwise. Since this is a feature located on the Project menu then this list is available only for the project in which you are working.

As indicated above, the Auto-Complete List is both simple and powerful. It’s very easy to add words that you commonly use to avoid completely typing them repeatedly in your project. It also reduces the number of misspelled words that you’ll need to correct later as well as backspacing so much. Fewer words to complete typing means less effort. That’s what makes the Auto-Complete List so powerful.

However, I can see one caveat to this tool – too many words that are alike. Just think if you add lots of words that begin with the same letter sequence you may find you have to stop too much to choose which word fits. In this case, the tool will reduce your efficiency. For this reason, avoid adding too many words, especially words that are spelled similarly.

As a fantasy writer, I see this tool being very helpful with the use of lots of unique names common to a story or book. Since these are unique words I can spend a lot of time trying to make sure I’ve spelled them correctly. With the Auto-Complete List I can start typing these names so they complete without risking misspellings and reducing my editing time later. Of course, the same holds true for any words that are specialized to a writing project in any genre, fiction or non-fiction.

I haven’t used the Auto-Complete List at all. But I plan to use heavily in the coming month while I complete a rough draft of An Arrow Against the Wind and maybe one or two short stories – as well as for my blogs, newsletters, etc.

Have you used the Auto-Complete List in Scrivener? If so, have you found it helpful? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my Contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

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Just as a note: I am not affiliated with Scrivener in any official capacity. For support questions, pricing and other concerns please contact the vendor.

 

Filed under: An Arrow Against the Wind, Blogging, Cover Reveal, Creativity, Editing, Fantasy, Fiction, Indie Publishing, Planning, Scrivener, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, Social Media, Tech Tips, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, The White Arrow, Tips, Twitter, Writing Tagged: blogging, Coverart, creativity, Editing, Facebook, Fantasy Fiction, Indie Publishing, P. H. Solomon, Planning, Scrivener, Self-publishing, Short Stories, Social Media, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Twitter, writing

Outdated irrelevant dinosaur…or do good manners still matter?

PHS:

Reblogging on Archer’s Aim today – good insights on service and manners!

Originally posted on Pamela Kay Noble Brown:

        You catch more bees with honey than vinegar. (photo credit:  http://www.flickr.com)

Good manners. Whether they were drilled into us, cajoled into us or we were simply following the examples lived by our parents, at some point in most of our lives, the concept of civility survived and thrived in our interactions with others. For the most part it’s all good. However, there are always a few bad apples in the bunch that tend to give the others a bad name.

This thought came to mind as I was eating some peanuts leftover from a certain restaurant that I frequent. I won’t mention the name, but this eatery is known for its good food, relaxing atmosphere, and allowing its patrons to toss peanut shells on the floor. You can also take a bag of the peanuts home to enjoy later, hence the ones I’m crunching on now.

But back to…

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The Week In Review

I haven’t posted one of these in a very long time but I thought I’d share the week in review.

Posted This Week on Archer’s Aim

Lost Your Scratchpad? Here It Is In Scrivener!
Starting an Author Platform Pt. 7: Why an Author Book Club Can Help
Guest Post From Jessica Millis: The Invisible Writer
Pinterest Marketing Strategies Pt. 2: DIY Instructions

What I’ve Been Reading

I’ve read a several interesting posts by other bloggers this week so check these out if you have the time.
From The Fictorians, Frank Morin wrote about Macro vs. Micro Conflict
Fellow RRBC member, John Fioravanti, wrote about on of his inspirations, Mary Kay Ash.
Ever wonder why you procrastinate as a writer? Check out this article from The Atlantic that may give you the answer.
Wondering what it’s like to record your own audio book? Joanna Penn share her experiences with her first try on The Creative Penn.
Veronica Sicoe shares some honest, tough love about what it takes to be a professional writer.
Looking for a literary agent? Here’s one way to land one (there are additional links at the end of the page for more stories from other authors).
Another fellow RRBC member – as well as fantasy author – Carol Marrs Phipps (via another RRBC member, Helen Treharne) discusses her thoughts on the correct mix of magic in a good story.
Lastly, Pamela Kay Noble Brown shares something outdated that really isn’t and why.

Fantasy Fiction This Week

Lightspeed Magazine has some new short stories out this week. Take a look and see if something interests you.
Also, Clarkesworld, has some interesting short stories available that might suit your tastes as well.

That wraps up the week. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend full of relaxation. I’m handling a personal matter today and working on the revision of The Bow of Destiny due next week.

Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my Contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

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Filed under: Author Platform, Blogging, Cover Reveal, Creativity, Editing, Fantasy, Fiction, Guest Blog, Indie Publishing, Jessica Mills, Marketing, Pinterest, Rave Review Book Club, Reblogs, Scrivener, Self-publishing, Social Media, Tech Tips, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Tips, Twitter, Writing Tagged: Carol Marrs Phipps, Clarkesworld, Fantasy Fiction, Frank Morin, Helen Treharne, Joanna Penn, John Fioravanti, Lightspeed, P. H. Solomon, Pameal Kay Nobel Brown, Rave Reviews Book Club, Scrivener, The Atlantic, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, The Fictorians, Veronica Sicoe, writing

Pinterest & Marketing Strategies Pt. 2: DIY Instructions

Last week I wrote a response to a post by Angela Ackerman entitled, 3 Ways to Use Pinterest to Promote Your Book. This week, I thought I’d discuss making pins from your cover and what that takes as a DIY.

Much like making a cover yourself, making visual content for Pinterest yourself can take some work if you don’t know how. Fortunately, I made the cover of The Black Bag myself so I had an idea of what it would take to make some content to pin on a Pinterest board.

Just to review, Angela suggested using visual content related to your book(s) paired with quotes to attract more attention. It was an interesting and simple concept so I wanted to give it a try.

Here’s how I went about it. Since I currently only have the cover of The Black Bag to use for this e-book I planned to clip part of the cover and add the quote. From there you simply upload what you have to your board as a pin which includes linking to your content – in this case I used the link on Amazon.

After clipping what I wanted from the cover photo, I needed to add the quote. To do this, I used PowerPoint much likc I did in creating the cover. In Powerpoint, you add a slide and then insert the picture – in this case the clipped file I had created (by the way I did this by using OneNote to highlight part of the photo and then saving what copied into OneNote as a .jpg file).

Once I had the file in the slide, I added a text box and then the quote. However, the clip, being part of the original photo was too small (which was not a surprise). So to increase the size of the clipped file I used Gimp to increase the size and then run it through PowerPoint. For more details on saving a .jpg file from a PowerPoint slide click on this link that relates how I created my cover.

After all this, I pinned the end result to my Pinterest board. Check it out and let me know how you like it. I was even able to post it on Facebook and tweet it. I plan to search for another appropriate photo or two and create more visual content to pin on my board.

Available at Amazon, Smashwords and All Major E-Book Vendors!

Do you use Pinterest yet to promote your books? What other ideas do you have to use Pinterest more? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my Contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

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Filed under: Amazon, Cover Reveal, Creativity, Editing, Fantasy, Indie Publishing, Marketing, Pinterest, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, Social Media, Tech Tips, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Tips, Twitter, Writing Tagged: blogging, Coverart, Facebook, Fantasy Fiction, Indie Publishing, Marketing, P. H. Solomon, Pinterest, Self-publishing, Short Stories, Social Media, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Tips, Twitter, writing

Guest Post: The Invisible Writer

Today on Archer’s Aim, Jessica Millis shares her experience as a ghost writer. I must admit it’s not a form of writing that I’ve considered, however I’m intrigued with the notion. Take it away, Jessica…

The Invisible Writer: The Art of Becoming a Ghost

Believe it or not, if you’re a competent and creative writer, you really do have a rare talent. Though people in every walk of life may have valuable skills, ideas, experiences, and information, they may not be blessed with the ability to communicate these things in the written word. That’s where you come in – the ghostwriter. You don’t need to wear some long white clothes or make scary noises – your task is to be someone’s ghost. And to write.

Ghostwriting is sometimes considered a thankless job, as the writer isn’t allowed credit for their work, but think of it this way; as a writer, you are allowed to do what you love – to write –, you’re being paid to do it, and you’re being utilized by those who consider your skill a talent, one they often don’t have themselves. In this way, not only is it a job that you may not feel is work; it’s a job that’s genuinely assisting your client in a personal and professional way.

Who Are A Ghostwriter’s Clients?

Ghostwriters write for a range of clients, from scientists to doctors, from business gurus to entrepreneurs, from celebrities to politicians. Whomever the client is, the ghostwriter must adapt a tone, a language, and the proper content relevant to their client’s story. In this way, ghostwriters allow technological findings to be shared across the globe; they create expert guides for business; they entertain by giving us a peak into the lives of movie stars; they reveal political ideologies or the (oft broken) constructs of our political systems, seen from the inside out. Ghostwriters paint a picture with the clients’ paint and set the scene with their imagination. As you see, to be a ghostwriter means to have a chance to meet some very interesting and powerful people and to know some unique stories and secrets.

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Guide, But Don’t Lead

One important aspect of painting with the clients’ paint is allow them to lead the process of painting. If you’re painting on your own, without any collaboration, then there is perhaps too much abstract interpretation and not enough realism. Your client should be allowed and encouraged to actively participate. This is not to say that you can’t guide them a bit. As a matter of fact, you might need to. You’re the writer, so you know the way. But it’s important not to lead.

For instance, a ghostwriter shouldn’t spark debates with a client. Being a pleasant person to work with is perhaps one of the most important characteristics required of a ghostwriter; not only will being amiable create a positive writer-client collaboration, but it might even prompt recommendations, bringing you more ghostwriting business. Also, trust is key to the client-writer relationship. Remember, they are sharing their experiences, their thoughts, their story with you. If you want to get the story down in its finest detail, then trust is necessary to get a look up close and personal.

Preserve the Client’s Voice

You’re writing as another, and so you must speak in their voice. After building that trust relationship, your client will open up enough for you to hear that voice clearly, which will allow you to understand and interpret it. When you go to write, you’ll be able to speak in it, conveying to your client’s readers the appropriate tone and speech.

Become familiar with your client’s language style, where they come from, how they speak, the terms and phrases they use. Research their bio, know where they grew up, familiarize yourself with their native dialect. This will allow you to speak more convincingly in their voice.

Instead of being frustrated that your own writing voice is smothered, think of this as a fabulous creative writing exercise. You’re writing, completely and absolutely, in another’s voice. You’re invoking an empathy quite necessary to complete the task. When you go to write your own work of fiction, you’ll be able to take that empathy and create realistic character voices that aren’t all the same, just as human beings do not speak in identical tones and vocabularies.

A Ghostwriter’s Toolkit

There are a massive amount of tools in a ghostwriter’s toolkit: excellent writing skills (obviously), above-par people skills and communication skills, and core interviewing skills are all required for ghostwriting.

Those good ol’ “people skills” and communication skills will come in handy for the business side of things. After all, this is a business. A ghostwriter earns a living by telling stories, but the real work comes when dealing with clients. So before getting started, make sure to roll-up your sleeves, discuss with your client their project aims, the time frame in which they want the project finished, the project’s scope and, of course, the payment terms. Having a clean and clear-cut understanding of all these matters is necessary before starting up on a project. If somehow you or your client misunderstands the project’s terms and conditions, this will be sure to throw a wrench in the wheels. You might even consider producing a written contract to describe the project in detail. You never know when you may have to refer to the agreed-upon terms.

As previously mentioned, you’ll likely be guiding your client through the process of telling their story, so asking questions that will elicit interesting answers and move the client’s story forward is key to character- and plot-building. Don’t be afraid to ask a thousand-and-one questions. The more information you have to work with, the better and more accurate a picture you can paint. Draw the story from your client. Allow them to tell it, but also think to ask questions which might elicit answers, sewing a story they may have never told if not asked.

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Dealing with Other Wrenches Thrown in the Wheels

If the road is less than smooth when dealing with a client, then you’ll likely have to go by the trusty stand-by “the customer is always right” when it comes to the little things. For instance, if a client requests that you edit something you don’t feel needs editing, if the client wants a different structure, or if he believes he knows good writing better than you do, then when it comes down to it, you must do what the client wants. You are a ghost, after all. You aren’t solid in the real world. The client is. The client is putting his name to the work, so though you can politely and professionally explain to him your point of view, he might not agree. And that’s not the worst thing in the world. Fix it and move on.

Author bio: Jess Millis, experienced writer, editor and copywriter. She works as an educator at James Madison University (writing classes) and at EssayMama.com as an essay writing consultant.

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Thanks to Jessica for sharing this post here on Archer’s Aim today.

Have you ever considered being a ghost writer? If you’ve done ghost writing, what tips do you have? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my Contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

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Filed under: Blogging, Creativity, Guest Blog, Jessica Mills, Planning, Tips, Twitter, Writing Tagged: blogging, creativity, Editing, Facebook, Ghost Writing, Jessica Mills, Planning, Social Media, Tips, Twitter, writing