Technology - A-Z Challenge, Starting & Sustaining A Writing Career

Many of us sit in front of a computer everyday and we write hundreds of thousands of words each year, but we shy away from exploring all the technology that's out there.

Listen up, writers. Technology is your friend.

It's given us the ability to be but a moment away from others by email and without any delay when we choose to use instant messenger or Skype. Blogging opened a new world to me when I was launching my first book and since then, I haven't looked back. 

There is now an App for just about everything and while it's never prudent to inundate ourselves with doodads, it's wise to work smarter, not harder.

Hootesuite, Tweetdeck and other social media managers help us get the word out in an efficient manner while preventing us from spending all day hanging out in TimeSuckVille. Programmes like iPiccy, Canva and Pixlr are great for making promotional images and messages.

I am barely hitting the tip of the iceberg with the things I've mentioned in this post, but I'd encourage every writer to explore and learn something new each day. The world is an ever-changing place and if you do much of your book marketing online, it pays to know what's happening in the world of technology and how you can use the tools designed to make life easier.

Many writers say they're technological dolts, but I believe know that if you're intelligent enough to craft a story, you've got more than enough brain power to learn how to use something that's meant to make your life easier.

Make a promise to yourself to take on something you fear using. Twitter? Pinterest? Scrivener? Whatever it is, make a bold step for your advancement. What programme have you stayed away from using because you're reluctant to try it out?

Technology is the campfire around which we tell our stories.
                                                           – Laurie Anderson

Once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the road.
                                                           – Stewart Brand

Health Concerns - A-Z Blogging Challenge, Starting & Sustaining A Writing Career

A while back, I decided that H would be dedicated to something to which writers need to pay special attention—health.

Those of us with day jobs may sit for a major portion of the day and those of us who write from home forget to get up and stretch our legs once we’re off and running with a plot point.

The other day, I read an article that gave me a bit of a scare. I haven't been able to find it again, but I've linked to a few below that speak to the damage we do to our bodies while we sit for hours on end. Others speak to what we can do to stay in good health. Take the time to read at least one. Remember, we can't do much of anything if we're in poor condition.

Just Stand

Don't let sitting all day kill you

How sitting all day is damaging your body and how you can counteract it

Many reasons a chair is killing you

Sitting all day - worse for you than you might think

Sitting at Work - Why it's Dangerous

Thoracic Mobility & some freebies

Too much sitting linked to an early death

Why sitting increases your risk of dying sooner

In case you're wondering if I'm trying to scare you, the answer is yes. Get up and move around for a bit. Now!

Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.
                                                                              - John F. Kennedy

Time and health are two precious assets that we don’t recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted.
                                                                             - Denis Waitley

Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.
                                                                            - Jim Rohn

Genre - A-Z Challenge, Starting & Sustaining A Writing Career

A genre is a specific type or category of music, film, or writing.This is further broken down into sub-categories. To get an idea of the number of genres that books fit into, click here and here.

The vast majority of writers know what they want to write or at least have an idea of the kind of material they are suited to writing. With a lot of research, and dedication to learning new things, a writer eventually find the niche that best suits each him/her.

A band-wagon approach is not advisable unless you're a lightning-fast writer who can ride every popular wave. Even then, churning out books to meet a particular demand isn't smart and doesn't work for everyone.

My best advice is to write what you love. Even if you never hit a best-seller list, people who read your words will be able to tell you put your all into the story. For some of us (myself included) who write in different genres/sub-genres, this choice may be an advantage or disadvantage, depending on how you look at things.

The choice of venturing into one or several genres is left to our talent and discretion. Writing different kinds of stories has stretched my abilities, prevents me from becoming bored and gives readers a variety of material. Come to think of it, not a lot of writers these days stick to one genre. Self-publishing has given many of us the option of trying something new alongside our regular offerings.

Good writing is good writing. In many ways, it’s the audience and their expectations that define a genre. A reader of literary fiction expects the writing to illuminate the human condition, some aspect of our world and our role in it. A reader of genre fiction likes that, too, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of the story.
                                                                      ― Rosemary Clement-Moore

Fortitude - A-Z Challenge, Starting & Sustaining A Writing Career

Courage or strength when facing pain or trouble. That's what fortitude means for the writer. The pain will be inevitable—unless you're an immediate best-seller—and will be along mental lines. 

When the masterpiece you've slaved over for months/years can't get the traction it needs to do well in the marketplace, you'll begin to doubt you're gone down the right road. You'll wonder why you ever thought of taking on writing as a permanent part your future and there will be days when you feel your writing cannot compare with all wonderful books being sold by other writers.

For many of us artists, marketing and promotion feels like a full-time job and can be a time suck if we get busy selling the one or two books we've written to anybody who'll listen. One writer likened the job of selling books to being a tiny goldfish in a pond with millions of other fish. The reality of the situation is that with the ease of publishing many persons are more inclined to follow their dreams of putting out a book.

By the same token, it's easy to become discouraged and give up when nothing happens in the first few years of writing and publishing, but we all know about that comparison between a sprint and a marathon. Enough said, I think.

There will be days when you wonder why you're even continuing with that next story when you've barely sold 50 copies of the last one, or when someone writes a review that makes you want to curl up and hide. This is when you'll call on the faith you have in your abilities and press forward with courage, knowing that writing is a fundamental part of who you are and that aborting your mission is not an option.

Everyone thinks they can be a writer. Most people don't understand what's involved. The real writers persevere. The ones that don't either don't have enough fortitude and they probably wouldn't succeed anyway, or they fall in love with the glamour of writing as opposed to the writing of writing.
                                                                                  - Peter McWilliams

The other day I was reading a book by an author who had given himself the task of writing 100 books before he declared whether he was successful at writing. Since I believe it's good to have targets, I set myself a goal of getting to 50 books. How many books are you going to realistically set for yourself as a measure (your personal version) of success?

Education - A-Z Challenge, Starting & Sustaining A Writing Career

The writing journey is an education in itself. The year 2010 seems a long time ago, but I can still remember the bewilderment that attacked me when I realized I was expected to do all the heavy lifting for my books. Signing with two small publishers meant no advertising budget, therefore no ready-made publicity. No nothing. By September of 2011, I dipped into the world of self-publishing which had me climbing another steep learning curve.

But the real education began in 2004, when I started writing again. I had to unlearn everything I knew about writing essays and general papers and refocus on learning the craft of writing. 

The wonderful thing is that we get to decide what the throw out and what to keep. Mostly. Earning several publishing contracts gave me the opportunity to break some rules, which I couldn't wait to do. Like using sentence fragments and starting sentences with 'and' or 'but'. 

However, I'm the owner of more than a dozen craft books, I joined an online workshop, did a workshop for a year with a wonderful instructor and read hundreds—if not thousands—of articles on the internet. And I'm still learning.  An aside here, don't despair if you don't have university credentials in creative writing. The vast majority of good writers don't and it hasn't held them back.

Ongoing study is important though, because writing is a craft no one has ever mastered. To this end, read everything you can in as many subject areas as possible, attend conferences and workshops, subscribe to online magazines (many of which are free), participate in groups that focus on the genre/s in which you write and don't neglect your reading. Avid readers make better writers.

Thanks for stopping in. Any advice you wish to add?

A writer should get as much education as possible, but just going to school is not enough; if it were, all owners of doctorates would be inspired writers.
                                                                                        - Gwendolyn Brooks

Discipline - A-Z Challenge - Starting & Sustaining A Writing Career

Writers who aren't hobbyists will offer the same information I'm about to share here. A key ingredient for the career writer is discipline, which has to be applied early in the journey. 

It's a good idea to form the habit of writing as often as you can. Many writers recommend writing daily, but that might not be possible all the time. The important thing, however, is to get used to working toward a target. Holding yourself accountable will get your there. The definition of discipline I like best is 'activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training'

If you're just starting out, there's no better time to teach yourself how to plan your activities so they yield maximum returns. Before I earned my first publishing contract, I wrote before work, during lunch time and in the evenings. While the writing was a mess, by the time I knew what I was doing (can you say tons of editing?), I had enough books written to ensure I got two additional contracts on the heels of the first.

Each book you produce helps to sell others, so keep busy and add to your body of work gradually. This has worked well for me and it's a proven sales strategy. If I click on any of my books on Amazon, the 'readers-who-bought-this-book-also-bought-xxxx' feature will show that people go on to buy other books I've written.

There's no excuse for not sitting down to write as often as you can. You'll be grateful you did when your books hit the marketplace and readers start asking when the next book will be out. The time to write as much and as often as you can is now when you aren't writing under pressure to produce the next book. Published writers know that time becomes a scarce commodity once their first book goes on sale. There's no time like the present and the time to be disciplined is now.
 
Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It requires you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing and a season for reaping. Self-discipline helps you know which is which.
                                                                  - Gary Ryan Blair

Belief

So we've established that you have the makings of a writer inside you and there's evidence—years of scribbled stories stashed away somewhere gathering dust.

Whether you recognize it or not, those story snippets have laid the groundwork for the journey you're about to embark on. They might not be in any shape to win a competition, but they provide the proof you need that your 'writerly' aspirations are not a hazy dream, but form the basis of what will grow into something of substance.

For now, the next step to take on this journey might be uncertain, but you must have a firm belief that you can and will do this. The Pocket Oxford Dictionary defines belief as a feeling that something exists or is true, especially one without proof; a firmly held opinion; trust or confidence.

Release 'Partay' & A-Z Minion Search

Novel #12

On Saturday, I'll be hosting a book launch party for Perfection, my new adult novel. The festivities kick off at 10:00 a.m. and go until noon. For those who can't be there early, the doors open again at 8:00 p.m. and the fun continues until 10:00 p.m.  Feel free to join us by clicking this link. 

What's the book about? An 18-year-old girl makes her way through the minefield of a relationship with a 22 year-old guy, who may or may not be all he seems. Yes, he has secrets.

The novel is one of those stories that writers appreciate muchly. It came complete, a gift I accepted graciously since there are two other books that follow. Those story ideas came along with Perfection and have also been a fun experience.

Why should you read Perfection?

• The story is set in Jamaica, which gives it a different flavour from books set in any other location.
• It brings back youthful experiences—the choices, the heartache, the insecurities.
• It shows the growth process of a girl who hides her insecurities well. Many of us can relate to being young and unsure we're doing the right thing.
• If you've read anything I've written before, you know the characters will be interesting and the plot twisty. (A sample is posted here)

Perfection can be pre-ordered on Amazon and you're invited to join the party on Saturday of this week. There will be prizes and surprises and did I mention fun? Yes, there will be lots of that. Drop in here to see what's been posted already. 

 

On another note, the Blogging from A-Z Challenge is drawing ever closer. You should sign up here, if you haven't already.There are already more than 500 blogs on the list.

I'm looking for helpers to visit a set number of blogs during the challenge. If you think you can manage this and you're reliable, please leave me a comment here or send me an email or inbox me on Facebook. Thanks! See the little guy over there =è He's our mascot. Cute, huh?

Thanks for dropping in. Hope you're raring to go in pursuit of your dreams. What will you be doing to achieve them this week?

#IWSG & The Joyful Brigade

On the first Wednesday of each month writers everywhere get the chance to voice doubts and fears as well share and encourage each other. If you're not on the IWSG list, add yourself here. This month, Captain Alex will be ably assisted by Gwen Gardner, Dolorah, Sarah Foster, and M. Pax!

Recently, I've been thinking about what it means to be an indie author. I'm releasing another book in ten days, but unlike the times before, I'm not stressing over the promotional side of things. I've organized a release party on Facebook and a Thunderclap Campaign. The trouble is, as with all of my other books, I haven't really planned a sustained approach to keep this New Adult novel before potential readers' eyes.

After two novellas, two short story collections and eleven novels, it feels weird to say I still haven't found my audience, but I haven't. I know what my target market is, but haven't explored enough avenues to get me there.

The good thing is, I recognized ages ago that I'll be writing even if I have few readers and if I never make a living at it. I believe what is important is producing the best story I can with each release. Up to now, I've been able to say every book is my best book, so I'm happy in that respect. The rest will come with time and organization.

What are your struggles? Weighed down with all the hands you need to be effective as an indie-writer-cum-marketer? Any plans in place to promote your book/s?

 

Those in the know are aware that the Blogging from A-Z signup list is open. Hop over there if you haven't signed up yet. This year, I'll be a co-host and as such, I'll be looking for folks to help out as part of the Joyful Brigade. What you'll be asked to do is visit a set number of blogs each week. 

If you think you're up to the task and can manage that for a month, hit me up in the comments or at jmwordsmith at gmail dot com. I have sweet enticement in the form of the cute fella off to the right.

Wouldn't you love to this cutie pie on your blog too? My minion mascot was created by none other than ultra-creative Jeremy Hawkins.