P.H. Solomon's Blog, page 319

THE TWELVE DAYS OF “AUTHORS” – DAY 1

PHS:

Re-blogged on Archer’s Aim for those who missed this one…

Originally posted on Watch Nonnie Write!:

Hello and welcome to my very own 12 DAYS OF “AUTHORS”!  You’ve heard of the 12 Days of Christmas, right?  Well, this is  my version of that, my gift to these very special people!  Starting today, December 14, until Christmas Day, I will profile one very special author and their written work.  Because I am in awe of so many of you, (definitely more than 12), I had to come up with a process for my selection.  So, I threw a bunch of names into a pot and the ones that came out, will be profiled here as one of my 12 Days of “Authors”!

~~~~~

JOHN “FIO” FIORAVANTI

John, (“Fio”) as we call him, is our newest addition to the Governing Board at Rave Reviews Book Club.  He has assumed the role of Membership/Incentives Director and he’s doing an awesome “bang-up” job of it!  He’s kind, gentle…

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A New Author’s Year in Review Pt. 3

This is a continuation from Monday’s blog, The Serendipity of Christmas Generosity. It took time to get to the place where I was ready to commit to writing after the events described in my previous post. But that bit of serendipity certainly affected what I’ve done this past year as well as where I’m going next year. In Part 1 of this series I’ll revealed how I’ve progressed this year in several ways but now I want to get more specific starting with my email decisions. Part 2 covers my choices with email.

After I obtained my domain registration and email address hosting, I then launched my website. I knew the site would be a work in progress which didn’t bother me too much. The one thing that gave me pause was blogging. I’d never blogged though I knew a little about it. I was hesitant to proceed with the activity.

But why would blogging leave me hesitant? After all, I am a writer. What left me with qualms was the amount of regular content I needed to produce. I didn’t think that I had what I needed to develop content frequently. What would I write about? What about the time commitment? My main concern was starting a blog and then doing nothing with it when it’s supposed to be an enhancement to my longer content.

I started with infrequent post but researched how to blog and what kind of topics I could share . Here’s where I made a mistake. I committed to that crowd-funding campaign too soon. I needed to build my blog with regular posts. True I could have blogged more during my campaign but because of the campaign I lacked focus for the task.

Once I completed the campaign, I took a look at my blog analytics. They were abysmal. Clearly I needed to address this. I made a commitment to myself to blog more frequently and try a variety of different types of posts. I started hosting blog tours more as well as engaging in a guest post. Re-blogging is now a regular element of my blog. I write more related to what I am doing and how. Along the way the blog grew by a great deal. It’s not a huge thing but growing is good.

Looking back on the last seven months, I’ve come to enjoy blogging and I’ve learned a great deal too. Now I post a blog Monday through Friday and have a Newsletter. I may not keep up this pace next year but I certainly have fewer concerns about blogging now that I’ve committed to it. I look forward to learning more about the activity this coming year. I’m also going to expand the types of posts to author interviews while continuing to host more blog tours and guest posts.

I plan to share more about the details of how I started, what I used and the reasons for my decisions – good and bad – in the coming weeks. I’ll also use another series to discuss my plans for the upcoming years and why I’m setting such goals. Along the way, I’m also planning to reveal what I hope will be a helpful Scrivener template related to all these issues and how I plan to move forward. Again, I’m sharing this for other new or floundering would-be authors so if you know someone giving a it a go as a writer please share my posts with them.

How did you start your blog? Do you struggle to produce content? 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, Guest Blog, Indie Publishing, Marketing, Planning, Scrivener, Self-publishing, Social Media, Tech Tips, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Tips, Twitter, Writing Tagged: blogging, Coverart, creativity, Facebook, Indie Publishing, P. H. Solomon, Planning, Scrivener, Self-publishing, Social Media, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Twitter, writing

THE TWELVE DAYS OF “AUTHORS” – DAY 2

PHS:

Re-blogging on Archer’s Aim!

Originally posted on Watch Nonnie Write!:

Hello and welcome to my very own 12 DAYS OF “AUTHORS”!  Today, I begin with the song:  “On the 2nd day of authors, Ms. Nonnie gave to me, a Marlena “from Alabama” Hand!”  You’ve heard of the 12 Days of Christmas, right?  Well, this is  my version of that, my gift to these very special people!  This all started on yesterday, December 14, with John “Fio” Fioravanti as the 1st of my 12 Days of Authors, and it will continue until Christmas Day.  Each day I will profile one very special author and their written work.  Because I am in awe of so many of you, (definitely more than 12), I had to come up with a process for my selection.  So, I threw a bunch of names into a pot and the ones that came out, will be profiled here in my 12 Days of “Authors”!

Ladies…

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Managing Scrivener Projects & Templates Pt. 3: An Author’s Platform

Scrivener has been a key component to improving my productivity this year. I’ve recently written about various uses for Scrivener such as blog posts, newsletters and even template email messages. Additionally, I’ve shared about using Scrivener templates including some resources for these. In my last post I shared about managing templates.

One of my common writing topics is project management. I’ve written several posts during the year that address issues specific to writing. I’m also currently reviewing my year as a new author which, in part, refers to some elements of the same subject.

I had a copy of Microsoft Project available when I started planning my author platform. The software is used mainly for large projects among numerous people and it’s a tool to help keep everything on schedule. So in organizing everything I needed and how I was going to execute each stage of constructing my writing platform I gave Project a try.

But this software never quite satisfied me. While it’s useful for scheduling, it never suited my needs. Being date-oriented, Project left me dis-oriented when it came to managing all the aspects of writing.

Recently, I got to thinking about the topic again. Scrivener came to mind as something to try. After all, Scrivener is ideally built to manage writing projects. Why not expand that to managing all the data for my writing platform?

That’s just what I’m in process of designing – a template for an author’s platform. I’m still putting all my ideas together but I’m basically organizing the template to help authors plan and manage their web presence, social media information, a writing inventory and much more.

I’m going to take my time but I hope to have it ready later this week to share. I envision it as been an author’s hub of activity where they can manage book launches, submissions, etc. Writing is a daunting profession as it is but trying to track everything gets to be confusing. The beauty of Scrivener is that you can link to or even save all kinds of files into a project – even a Project file. This type of flexibility allows an author to centralize their activity into one location that either references important information or includes it outright.

Interested? Then check back on the News page and I’ll announce the blog post containing the free download. I’ve already got one template posted this week for Newsletters which you can download for free.

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

Are you trying Scrivener templates out? Are you already using them? 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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Also, in no way do I represent Scrivener or sell the product. All questions about the product, its sales, support and licensing for your own computing needs should be referred to the company.

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What is Needed, Part 5

 

Photo used in The Bow of Destiny book trailer

Author’s Note: This is the conclusion of Part 2 of the prequel blog serial entitled “What is Needed”. Click on these links to read Part 1, Part 2 (first section), Part 2 (Conclusion), Part 3 and Part 4 This series is a companion to The Bow of Destiny (Part 1 of The Bow of Hart Saga). The events of the blog series pre-date those of The Bow of Destiny by several hundred years but include several long-lived characters who appear in the forthcoming novel. This material is copyrighted and not intended for reproduction except at the author’s consent.

 

What is Needed (Part 5)

by P. H. Solomon

Their chains clanked and scraped the stone floor as the three of them shifted.

Zelma’s resolve slipped into weeping while she clung to Hastra’s hand. “How are we alive?”

“I don’t know.” Hastra touched her blood-stained dress and the hole where the Kregen stabbed her. She ran her finger along the line of her mortal wound but found no blood. Best not probe that further. She withdrew her hand and squeezed Zelma’s with the other.

Howart cleared throat. “It’s the prophecy. We live because of it.”

“Why not the others then?” Hastra chewed her lower lip.

Beyond Zelma, Howart’s chains rattled. “What is needed is given.”

Hastra mumbled the response with Zelma. “But what has been given besides life? We are chained in darkness and useless here.”

“We must wait and see.”

“Perhaps.” He had a better grasp of the moment than she. They might be waiting for the rats to chew them to the bone. She shuddered. Did my heart beat? Would she live through the pain of rat bites? She squeezed Zelma’s hand again. Best not mention anything to her.

The time passed and Hastra dozed. She awoke to rat’s fur brushing her ankle. She kicked with both feet. The rat squealed and it pattered away.

Zelma gasped at Hastra’s commotion. “What’s that?”

“Nothing, just woke from a dream.”

“I heard something running on the floor.”

Hastra jumped as Howart’s deeper voice boomed in the silence. “There are rats in here.”

Zelma’s chains rattled as she pulled her feet closer.

After that Hastra sat awake and waited for the rat to return. Teeth gnawed on boards in the darkness and matched her hunger pangs. At least she still got hungry. She rubbed her raw wound inside her dress. Better than the alternative.

Later, the door’s lock snicked open and woke Hastra. Light shined around the edges of the door. Trolls with food or they’ll drag us before Kregen again. It wasn’t a flickering torch. She stirred and her leg-irons scraped the floor. A rat squealed as it scrabbled away.

Howart and Zelma woke with groans as the door opened. Hastra squinted at the glow and her eyes watered. A silhouette stepped into the doorway. Her chains clicked and fell open. She gasped as the figure with the wide-brimmed hat waved them to the door.

Zelma leaned close grasped Hastra’s arm. “What’s going on? Who’s that?”

Hastra patted her sister’s trembling hand and opened her mouth to speak. The hat – he’s the one who healed me. “I think we should follow.”

Howart kicked his chains away. “Who is it? Why should we follow.”

“First, he’s got a light. Second, he let us loose and third, he healed my leg several months ago.” Hastra struggled to her feet and her knees wobbled.

The stranger moved into the passage beyond the room and the light faded as he walked away.

Howart stumbled to the door. “Hurry, he’s leaving.”

Hastra and Zelma leaned against each other and followed. They stepped into the hall as their rescuer turned a far corner. The three Withlings hobbled after the light past broken doors and intersecting passages that stretched into brooding darkness.

They arrived at the stairwell out of the lower cellar and Howart paused. “This isn’t the way out. It’s back up to Kregen and trolls. Should we risk it?”

Zelma climbed a few steps before she turned back. “Maybe they are gone and this man came to free us.”

Hastra followed her sister. “Stay in the dark but I think we have no other choice.”

They gained the upper cellar and drew near the stair to the keep when the noise of trolls echoed from above them.

Howart stretched his thin arm in the sisters way. “Still here. Where’s he leading us, back to them?”

The man’s light faded and then grew brighter. He waved to them. “Come, it’s safe. There’s food for you.”

Hastra shrugged to Howart and pushed past his out-flung arm. “Think how he set us free without keys. I’m following him. Anyway, he says there’s food.”

Hastra scurried on the stair and the other’s feet scuffed on the stone behind her. They needed the food soon. She’d faint without it. She touched the rent in her dress where Kregen’s knife-blade killed her. There were too many miracles in this since that moment.

The Withlings gained the main level and hustled after the man in the wide-brimmed hat. Lumps lay in the shadows of the unlit main hall.

Hastra’s gaze touched the hand at the moment Zelma gasped and wept. They’re dead, all the Withlings were dead. Fixed stares greeted Hastra wherever she whirled.

Zelma covered her mouth with her hands. Howart gaped and his eyes bulged from their deep hollows. They wound through the hacked bodies until they stood by the door to the dining hall where trolls hooted and snarled.

Their rescuer waved his arm into the room. “Eat, take what you need. When you finish I will show you out.”

Hastra whispered in spite of the din from the trolls. “But we’ll be seen. They’ll kill us.”

The man in the hat pointed to a table where no trolls sat. “I have everything you need prepared. Go on.”

She glanced at her companions and their doubtful expressions. He had set them free without keys. Hastra peeked into the dining hall. The trolls fought and laughed, their tusks and fangs flashed in the light. She’d run if they noticed her. She held her breath and stepped through the doorway.

The trolls never noticed her. Hastra lowered her head and scurried toward the table laden with food. Around her trolls howled their vile glee but none of them even glanced her way.

At the table Hastra snatched food without thinking and shoved it in her mouth. She chewed and groaned. Howart and Zelma joined her and they ate their fill. Howart found sacks into which they shoved the excess for provisions. They returned to the doorway and the man in the hat.

“Follow me.”

Hastra bent and cocked her head as their rescuer strode past her. She never quite saw his face. She hefted her bag and walked behind the sight of his brown coat and hat.

The man in the hat led them to the chapel. Benches and chairs lay overturned and they picked their way through the ruined room.

Their rescuer kicked a pile of broken wood and pointed to a leather-bound book lying spine up and open. He cocked his head to Hastra. “You must take this burden. Write the prophecy in it and all your visions.”

Hastra stumbled through the refuse, knelt and gathered the book to her breast. She blinked tears and nodded. She knew him now. She wiped her sorrow from her cheeks.

“Time to leave.” The man in the hat turned the wreckage. The three surviving Withlings trailed after him.

They followed out the front door but turned to a postern gate down the wall.

Hastra blinked under the gray sky and the brushed her hair across her face. She sucked in a long breath. Clean air. At the gate Hastra paused with her companions.

The man in the hat pushed the gate open. “Go to the old tower if you still serve as Withlings.”

They shuffled out the gate. Here the chill wind snapped their tattered cloaks and bit their faces. Hastra hobbled on the narrow trail beyond the walls of Withling’s Watch.

Zelma’s voice rang in the gusts. “He’s gone. Who was he?”

Hastra cocked her head at the gate and motioned to her sister and Howart. “Come, we’ve a mission to fulfill now. Maybe we’ll see him again.” It’s just us now. “What is needed is given.”

End of Part 4 (Part 5 will be posted on 9/2)

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: Creativity, Crowdfunding, Crowdsourcing, Deep POV, Fiction, Indie Publishing, IndieGoGo, Marketing, Self-publishing, Social Media, The Bow of Destiny, Twitter, What is Needed, Writing Tagged: Announcement, creativity, Crowdfunding, Crowdsourcing, Deep POV, Indie Publishing, IndieGoGo, Launch, Marketing, P. H. Solomon, Social Media, The Bow of Destiny, Twitter, What is Needed, writing

Traipsing through the Tropes

Courtesy MorgueFile.com

The falcon soared on the morning wind. It spied two figures around a fire and dove. It circled the pair of men talking about their fire.

An old man stirred the pot that hung over the fire. “When we reach the city we can find help and re-gain your kingdom.”

The young man scratched his head. “Funny to think a poor orphan like me is heir to a kingdom.”

The bird of prey alighted on a branch and cocked it’s head. “A common trope lingering in this wilderness? I must hear more!”

The orphan-prince and others are common in fantasy. From Tolkien onward it’s almost prerequisite to use the trope in epic fantasy – so much so that many readers are turned off by it. Many have fled to gray fantasy were there are no clear delineations between good and evil, right and wrong.

But why is the notion and others like it used so often? A missing heir or one who was usurped is excellent for conflict. Likewise, the orphan elicits sympathy through perceived weakness. It likely roots much further back in history to many tales of fallen nations and city-states. One such example is that of the Princes in the Tower during the Wars of the Roses.

Courtesy MorgueFile.com

This plot element has some basic uses for writing in fantasy the main one being conflict. The political or ethical conflict behind this trope and others like it are the grist of many a fantasy. These constructs have ready-made rivalries so it’s easy to use when writing.

Is the average tale of winning back the kingdom for the old family’s sake worth telling? In my opinion yes – but only as necessary. I think a writer must ask themselves the question, “Can it be told differently?” If the answer is no then the author should use this trope – or any other common one.

However, to use a common trope, one must do so with care or risk turning off readers. Some twisting is necessary so be inventive. If I want a well-worn path for my reading, I’ll just pick up my copy of Tolkien.

But if the answer to the question above is yes, then start re-plotting your outline. What the story can bear in being unique in the marketplace is most important.

Whichever way you go consider your presentation. Don’t follow in someone else’s footprints. Forge off the beaten path – trope or not.

The young man lifted his arm and balled his hand. “I’ll win back the kingdom!” His sleeve slid and revealed his forearm.

The old man leaned forward and squinted. “Your arm – there’s no mark.”

“Of course not. What are you talking about?”

The elderly fellow commenced packing his things. “You’re not the one.”

“What do you mean? You said I was.”

“I was wrong.”

The falcon screeched. “Looks like they have a twist. How far will it go.”

The old man hefted his pack and marched away.

“Wait! What will I do now? What does this mark look like?” The poor orphan grabbed the old man. “Maybe we can do this anyway.”

Just because the trope has been used is no reason not to use it. While readers may assume much based on the trope and reject the book out of hand there is no edict against using the basic concept of a common trope – just use it well and communicate with your blurb that you usage is different.

What tropes bother you? Have you got a common trope that you’re using anyway? 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: Creativity, Editing, Fantasy, Fiction, Indie Publishing, Marketing, Planning, Self-publishing, Social Media, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Twitter, Writing Tagged: creativity, Facebook, Fantasy Tropes, Indie Publishing, P. H. Solomon, Self-publishing, Social Media, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Twitter, writing

Goals for 2015 – Helping Hands

This is a continuation from last Monday’s blog, The Serendipity of Christmas Generosity. It took time to get to the place where I was ready to commit to writing after the events described in my previous post. But that bit of serendipity certainly affected what I’ve done this past year as well as where I’m going next year. In Part 1 of this series I shared an overview of my goals and now I am posting a discussion of why each is important to me as a writer this year.

We all need help at some point, especially when it comes to writing. Someone else may know more about a writing technique or what works and why with marketing. Sometimes we just need the encouragement of meeting with like-minded people who share the same struggles.

In my post last week regarding goals, I indicated I wanted to connect better with other writers. I already receive incredible support as a VIP member of Rave Reviews Book Club. Other members are quick to share social media updates. I’ve already received Member of the Week and PushTuesday awards as a member. And I’ve had some honest reviews from fellow members. Likewise, I tweet/retweet often about other club members, read and post reviews as well as host book blog tour stops.

But this upcoming year I want to make contact with one or more local writing groups. In short, I want to find more support among writers. Forging further contacts in person could be a fantastic help and support in addition to what I receive online. The internet has its limitations that in-person interaction provides.

As most of us know, writing is a lonely job. By definition, being an author means shutting out the distractions of the world in order to complete writing projects with regularity. However, just meeting with other people can boost a writer’s motivation to complete tough tasks like book revisions, marketing, book signings and blog tours.

In a writer’s group I might find and share tips of all kinds, critiques, writing craft instruction as well as develop more friendships that network into more contacts. Knowing more people can be helpful for marketing as well. Additionally, the exchange of ideas can boost creativity and lend guidance for any number of writing tasks.

I know of one group that is a forty-five minute drive from home during the week. They only meet once a month but I could probably make time for at least a quarterly visit. I plan to do a little further research and find out if there’s another group that’s closer and try to make contact as available. It won’t hurt to make contact see what fits, learn more about writing and see what happens.

Are you a member of a local writer’s group? What benefits do your receive from a writing group – local or online? 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, Indie Publishing, Planning, Rave Review Book Club, Self-publishing, Social Media, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Twitter, Writing, Writing Groups Tagged: blogging, creativity, Facebook, Goals, Indie Publishing, P. H. Solomon, Planning, Rave Reviews Book Club, Self-publishing, Social Media, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Twitter, writing

A New Author’s Year in Review Pt. 2

This is a continuation from Monday’s blog, The Serendipity of Christmas Generosity. It took time to get to the place where I was ready to commit to writing after the events described in my previous post. But that bit of serendipity certainly affected what I’ve done this past year as well as where I’m going next year. In Part 1 of this series I’ll revealed how I’ve progressed this year in several ways but now I want to get more specific starting with my email decisions.

Last week, I wrote about where I started the year as I reviewed how I’ve developed my writing platform. As I shared in the previous post, I started with nothing – no blog or website and no social media accounts. There wasn’t even an email account.

The email account was one of the most important pieces of the puzzle I needed to progress with anything. It’s incredibly important to have an email that reflects your brand as a writer. Your name appears on everything you use with your address – website, blog, social media accounts, etc.

Now there was a challenge to getting my email address. I felt strongly about having my own domain registration for consistent branding purposes. However, I have been limited by monetary challenges during the year.

Clip Art Image Copyright by Microsoft. Clip Art Used by Permission of Microsoft

I could have created a free account on one of the many hosts available. I new that a domain registration was not very expensive at all but hosting a site and email was a larger monetary commitment than I wanted to spend.

What was my hesitation? Well, I considered the whole endeavor to be something of a test. I didn’t want a large monetary commitment without a reason and simply wanting to self-publish was not significant enough. So I wanted to build the author platform with little money spent and grow into it.

I did some research about email hosting. With a domain registration in hand, I found that I could simply designate an email address and host it with Google. I took advantage of the free trial period in case I needed to end the project. But at the end of the trial period, I was required to make a commitment to pay for the hosting. I chose to pay only $5 on a monthly basis so I could end the payments whenever I need to – either because I needed to abandon the author platform or upgrade to a fully hosted alternative. At that point, I could use Google to check and manage my email.

At this point, I had the chance to build more of my platform. I started my website and blog. I created my first social media accounts for my writing brand with Twitter and Facebook accounts. All these are aspects of the foundation for my author platform. But the email address is the most basic element; it’s like having nails to put pieces together.

I consider my decision to handle my platform with a branded domain and subsequent email address to be a solid decision. As I shared last week, I had already made mistakes with months of hesitation and moving too quickly into a crowdfunding campaign. But the email address is was a better decision.

As I noted above, I plan to share more about the details of how I started, what I used and the reasons for my decisions – good and bad – in the coming weeks. I’ll also use another series to discuss my plans for the upcoming years and why I’m setting such goals. Along the way, I’m also planning to reveal what I hope will be a helpful Scrivener template related to all these issues and how I plan to move forward. Again, I’m sharing this for other new or floundering would-be authors so if you know someone giving a it a go as a writer please share my posts with them.

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

How did you start your author web-presence? Is you branding consistent and why or why not? 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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Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Clip art licensed from Microsoft Office.

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

Managing Scrivener Projects & Templates Pt. 2: Newsletters

Scrivener has been a key component to improving my productivity this year. I’ve recently written about various uses for Scrivener such as blog posts, newsletters and even template email messages. Additionally, I’ve shared about using Scrivener templates including some resources for these. In my last post I shared about managing templates.

As promised last week, I’ve developed a template for use in Scrivener. While I’m still working on a more important template, the one I’ve completed is for Newsletters.

This template has a number of organizational features that can be used throughout the year as a single project. I plan to use this for my own newsletter, The Archer’s Aim Digest.

First of all the binder is organized by months so you can add your own sub-containers for each newsletter edition. No matter how often you publish your newsletter you can add as many containers as needed.

Next I’ve added a Planning folder with several sub-containers. The first contains a table for an organizational calendar to help you schedule your newsletters and describe the topics. Next there’s a container for your ideas where you can place information about your various newsletters. Next you can place artwork in a separate folder. Lastly, there are containers for your header and footer design to include standard information about your newsletter editions like contact information.

Additionally, I’ve included labels to help you track progress on your newsletters.

You can download this Custom Scrivener Newsletter Template free and import it into your Scrivener software using the instructions included in my last post (Managing Scrivener Projects & Templates). Feel free to contact me with suggestions of your own and I’ll take them into consideration. Also, remember you can transfer your information into your newsletter application several ways including compiling the individual folder or copying and pasting the content.

Are you using Scrivener templates of your own? Have you tried Scrivener yet? 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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Clip art licensed from Microsoft Office.

Also, in no way do I represent Scrivener or sell the product. All questions about the product, its sales, support and licensing for your own computing needs should be referred to the company.

Filed under: Archer's Aim Digest, Blogging, Cover Reveal, Indie Publishing, Planning, Self-publishing, Social Media, Tech Tips, Tips, Twitter, Writing Tagged: Announcement, blogging, Indie Publishing, Newsletter, P. H. Solomon, Scrivener, Self-publishing, Social Media, Template, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Tips, Twitter, writing

Scrivener Template for Newsletters

Scrivener has been a key component to improving my productivity this year. I’ve recently written about various uses for Scrivener such as blog posts, newsletters and even template email messages. Additionally, I’ve shared about using Scrivener templates including some resources for these. In my last post I shared about managing templates.

As promised last week, I’ve developed a template for use in Scrivener. While I’m still working on a more important template, the one I’ve completed is for Newsletters.

This template has a number of organizational features that can be used throughout the year as a single project. I plan to use this for my own newsletter, The Archer’s Aim Digest.

First of all the binder is organized by months so you can add your own sub-containers for each newsletter edition. No matter how often you publish your newsletter you can add as many containers as needed.

Next I’ve added a Planning folder with several sub-containers. The first contains a table for an organizational calendar to help you schedule your newsletters and describe the topics. Next there’s a container for your ideas where you can place information about your various newsletters. Next you can place artwork in a separate folder. Lastly, there are containers for your header and footer design to include standard information about your newsletter editions like contact information.

Additionally, I’ve included labels to help you track progress on your newsletters.

You can download this Custom Scrivener Newsletter Template free and import it into your Scrivener software using the instructions included in my last post (Managing Scrivener Projects & Templates). Feel free to contact me with suggestions of your own and I’ll take them into consideration. Also, remember you can transfer your information into your newsletter application several ways including compiling the individual folder or copying and pasting the content.

Are you using Scrivener templates of your own? Have you tried Scrivener yet? 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.

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Clip art licensed from Microsoft Office.

Also, in no way do I represent Scrivener or sell the product. All questions about the product, its sales, support and licensing for your own computing needs should be referred to the company.

Filed under: Archer's Aim Digest, Blogging, Cover Reveal, Indie Publishing, Planning, Self-publishing, Social Media, Tech Tips, Tips, Twitter, Writing Tagged: Announcement, blogging, Indie Publishing, Newsletter, P. H. Solomon, Scrivener, Self-publishing, Social Media, Template, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Tips, Twitter, writing