Authoring Onward

It’s that time of year! Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month) prep time.

That means, for those who plot, it’s time to outline our stories. But it also means making plans for how we’ll get our writing done and how we’ll balance our daily tasks for health and marketing with the wild wordcounts we’re going to achieve during November.

This week’s tips episode is about how to not totally neglect our important habits when we’re letting the words fly. Have a listen!

Stay tuned for next week, when author Joy E. Held will come on the show to talk more in depth about writer health and wellness.

Also don’t miss out on the Nano Prep Party, a free challenge I’m holding right in my Facebook group for authors. I’ll be going live everyday from October 19-23, breaking down time management for Nano, plotting, and so much more. There will be homework to set you on the right path to crush it during November. Videos will be available to replay for at least the following week.

Have you ridden a horse for a novel? Shot target practice? Pored over old maps?

There are many ways to do your research so your scenes feel realistic and believable. Today’s episode is on research for writing with Stacy Juba, who tells us about the various ways she’s researched for different stories.

Even during a pandemic, there are plenty of options to do your research, learn something new, and incorporate it into a spellbinding tale. Have a listen!

And don’t forget, today–September 30th–is the last day to sign up for the upcoming newsletter class–SORRY, REGISTRATION CLOSED. SAY TUNED FOR LATER CLASSES

About Stacy:

Stacy Juba got engaged at Epcot Theme Park and spent part of her honeymoon at Disneyland Paris, where she ate a burger, went on fast rides, and threw up on the train ride to the hotel. She is the author of the Hockey Rivals sports series for young adults, the Storybook Valley chick lit series, and has written books about teen psychics, U.S. flag etiquette for kids, and determined women sleuths. Stacy is always happy to hear from readers. In addition to writing fiction, she is the founder of Shortcuts for Writers, offering online classes and editorial services for writers. Feel free to say hello on the following sites:

***WEBSITES: http://stacyjuba.com/blog/ *http://www.hockeynovels.com *http://www.shortcutsforwriters.com***FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stacy-Juba/100155471301

***TWITTER: https://twitter.com/stacyjuba

***INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/stacy_juba/

***GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2988212.Stacy_Juba

***PINTEREST: http://pinterest.com/stacyjuba/

Do you need something to entice folks to subscribe to your newsletter but don’t have a whole novel ready to give away?

Don’t worry; there are loads of options to create a lead magnet for your audience. You might already have the material you need.

Today’s tips episode is all about lead magnet options. There’s plenty to choose from, but don’t let the fancy stuff overwhelm you. Just start right where you are and you could have a lead magnet up and getting subscribers in an afternoon.

Looking for more newsletter goodness? Got $10? Sign up for my Author Newsletter Magic live class. And, yes, there will be a replay!

And don’t miss this weekend’s Weeknight Writers Virtual Conference. It’s free!

Can you write a novel in ten minutes? You can if it’s ten minutes a day!

Today’s guest is Katharine Grubb of 10 Minute Novelists, talking about how to use tiny blocks of time to make writing happen in a super busy life as well as her new book for baby writers just figuring things out: Think Like a Writer in Ten Minutes a Day. If you’re super busy or a brand new writer or BOTH this is the episode for you!

And in announcements: Don’t miss this week’s FB live (Sept. 17, 7 p.m.) about getting ready to hire a freelance editor.

And coming on October 10th, 7 p.m. Eastern: Author Newsletter Magic, a $10 live class

About Katharine:

Katharine Grubb was born in northeastern Oklahoma. She was raised in the Tulsa suburbs, attended the University of Oklahoma, taught school, wrote stories and then shocked everyone by moving to Boston, Massachusetts to be with a man she had been e-mailing for nine months. She married that man, and with him had five boisterous children. Nowadays, she still lives in Massachusetts, homeschools her children, bakes bread, does a ridiculous amounts of laundry and sets her timer to write stories in ten minute increments. She believes in this so much she created a Facebook group for it (10 Minute Novelists) and she runs a website for the group: http://www.10minutenovelists.com. Her favorite type of books to read and write are quirky, imaginative tales of romance, faith and humor.

Last week’s discussion of plot and story with Sam Tyler got me thinking. What do you do when you get the feedback that you don’t have enough conflict, that you don’t have enough plot or story?

If this is feedback you’ve gotten from a critique group or an editor, take heart! A lack of conflict is a common stage of development for newer writers. It’s something I see a lot as an editor, especially with new picture book writers, but it can happen to writers for any age group.

Today’s tips episode covers the reasons why you might be lacking conflict and how to start fixing the problem. Have a listen!

Why do we read novels? Is it for the exciting things that happen? The alien invasions, the locked room murders, the desperate mountaintop rescue missions?

Those things are important, sure. But that’s not what keeps us turning the pages.

No, it’s not the exciting events of the plot that drive our desire to know more. It’s the characters. Who they are and how they act and react. It’s the STORY.

That’s the topic of today’s episode with fellow editor and book coach Sam Tyler. She talks about the difference between plot and story, the ways they intertwine and how to make sure your tale has both crucial elements.

Have a listen and up your story game today!

More resources:

A TED Talk on story from Andrew Stanton

YouTube video from Pixar about story

P.S.: The author newsletter webinar is scheduled for October 10th, 2 p.m. Eastern. Just $10 to learn how to make newsletter magic.

About Sam Tyler:

Website: https://thewritebookcoach.com

I get it!

“Dani” has been a part of my life longer than I care to admit. She speaks to me in the wee hours of the night and at the most inconvenient moments. She is both a best friend and an annoying relative.

Twenty years ago, I shared my dreams of wanting to be a writer with those closest to me. Expecting their support and encouragement, I was instead met with skepticism and doubt. So, I tabled my dreams before they ever got off the ground. But that didn’t stop Dani. She persisted, nudging and prodding when I least expected. “I’m still here. Don’t forget about me.”

She won the battle and made it out from the deepest recesses of my mind and onto the page several years ago. Our journey together taught me that it is her story—not mine. She led me down paths that I wasn’t expecting. She filled me with great joy and brought me to tears.

While working on Dani’s story, I discovered I loved working with other authors and helping them craft their stories. So, I went back to school and received a Certificate in Copyediting from the University of San Diego, completed several developmental editing courses through the Editorial Freelancers Association, worked with a fantastic mentor, and completed a professional book coaching program..

I’ve learned I prefer to leave the deep copyediting to the grammar gurus. My passion lies in the heart and soul of the story and helping writer’s bring their own characters to life and giving them a voice to share with the world.

I’ve worn many hats through the years, cosmetologist, Certified Public Accountant, small business owner, and teacher. Writer and coach is the one I am most proud of.

When I’m not working, you can find me in the kitchen trying a new gluten free, plant-based recipe, jamming out to music with my two kids, or walking the dogs.

Hello from unofficial fall! My husband is back to teaching high school and studying in grad school, and I got to sip a PSL as I recorded this week’s episode. Best of luck to all you other educators, families of educators, and families with kids during this weird back to school season.

This week’s episode is all about the benefits of short story writing for novelists, plus one thing that isn’t a benefit at all. Listen up and see if a short story should be one of your upcoming projects.

Also, I’ll be hosting an intimate, small group webinar soon about author newsletters. If you’ve ever been baffled by how to start, how to grow a newsletter, or what to even say when you do have a newsletter, don’t miss it. I’m keeping the group intentionally small, so there will be plenty of time for questions. It will also be extremely affordable: only $10.

Look out for the announcement of a date and time soon. If you are interested and want to let me know your time zone, please leave a comment below!

How do you go beyond just writing a book or two and build a writing career? It takes putting into practice good habits and sticking to them for the long term.

Today’s guest, Rebecca Waters, takes us through five essential habits–each starting with the letter E–that help writers flourish in their careers. We have a great chat, and I think you’ll both learn and enjoy.

For more about these five crucial habits, check out Rebecca’s book, Writing with E’s.

About Rebecca:

Rebecca Waters penned three handbooks to help others kick start their writing career: Designing a Business Plan for Your Writing, Marketing You 101, and Writing with E’s. She also has two novels to her credit, Breathing on Her Own and Libby’s Cuppa Joe. Rebecca has published several stories in the popular Chicken Soup for the Soul books as well. All of Rebecca’s books are available on Amazon. To learn more about Rebecca or to read her weekly blog, visit www.WatersWords.com. 

P.S.: I did mention in the intro that some great resources around author newsletters are coming your way. Alas, I couldn’t get it all done before putting together notes Tuesday night, but watch this space next week!

Struggling to get the words down while stuck in the house caring for your kids? Get my ebook, Writing Without Childcare, free.

Writing is a tough gig.

We write often on our own, with no collaborators. It’s just us and our brains. But our brains, they aren’t always the best coworkers.

Feelings of self doubt, distractions, and outside stressors can zap our motivation. Add in a global pandemic, and writers everywhere are struggling.

So today’s episode is all about boosting that motivation and getting back to the page.

Looking for writing prompts? Here’s a fun generator from The Character Comma.

Next week, Rebecca Waters comes on the show to talk habits for writers. Habits are also crucial to fighting motivation slumps. Don’t miss it.

Looking for more ways to keep going? Try my free Break Your Writer’s Block course.

Conveying emotions can be a struggle for some writers. How do you get the reader to feel what the character feels? That’s what we’re covering in today’s episode with Forest Wells.

We talk about where writers go wrong, how to create those evocative moments of emotion, the WHY behind a character’s emotion, and more.

Have a listen and enjoy!

And because emotion is so complicated and people learn many different ways, here are some more resources to learn more, see examples, etc.

Blog post from the fabulous K.M. Weiland on writing emotion

The Emotion Thesaurus by Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman

About Forest Wells:

Forest Wells is an author with a deep passion for all things wild canine, as well as pro football, hockey, and e-sports. Forest has authored a short story, as well as several poems, in the 2015-2017 editions of the “Wolf Warriors” anthologies, in addition to another short story in the March/April 2019 issue of Kyanite Publishing’s collection of dragon stories. Forest continues to work on his future stories, including a military sci-fi and a fantasy.

Find him on his website.

P.S. Looking to break your writer’s block? Try my free course.