Scratch Paper Podcast

Author platform...social media...ahhhh! Instead of feeling guilty for not using social media, listen to this podcast about how I tried out Instagram for a month and had FUN. Instagram is a great platform for me for a variety of reasons (not as political as Twitter, more fun and flexible, and an easier place to make connections), and I share them all in this podcast, plus concrete ways for you to get started posting. I share how I use hashtags and participate in challenges. I'm not a big name on IG and I don't aim to be. I have a small but engaged following, and I make real connections on this platform.

In this episode, I share all the ways I've used tarot to write a first draft of a novel. It's a fun way to plan, get inspiration, and make prompts for yourself. Even if you've never used a tarot deck before (or don't have one!), you can try this to break through writer's block or plan your next story or manuscript. Show notes at aliciadelosreyes.com

What does #girlboss have to teach us about character development? Listen in to find out! Shownotes and more at aliciadelosreyes.com.

A few weeks ago, I stalled out at page 75 of my new novel. Listen in to hear how I beat back the slump and made it to page 105(!). I share tactics that worked for beating writers' block (I hate even typing those words) now and in the past, including my favorite tip (CELEBRATE!). Show notes at aliciadelosreyes.com.

Words are super powerful, and if you are listening to this podcast, you love finding the right word to say what you mean. In Episode 20 of Scratch Paper, I share a seemingly simple but incredibly useful (to me) way of choosing words to reveal your story or novel's tone and theme. There's also a fun writing exercise that will help you practice picking the right words and get you writing in different genres. Find show notes and links at aliciadelosreyes.com.

Last week, I talked about all the many things I have done to market my writing. This week, I share the purpose of my marketing and how it has changed since I started writing, along with the one rule I have been trying to follow when I want to try something new to market my work. Find show notes at aliciadelosreyes.com.

Writers are often told that we need to learn how to market, but where do you begin? And what does that actually mean? Listen in to hear all the different things that I have done to market my ebooks and my writing, and my take on the "best" way to market (There is no best way! You have to try a lot of things). I share specifics about how I grew my Twitter following, other platforms and tactics I've tried to "guerrilla" market my work, and one idea I thought would be great but ended up hating. Show notes at aliciadelosreyes.com.

Listen in to hear the structure and rules for a useful writing workshop, whether you are working in-person or online. I share guidelines to my favorite type of writing workshop, which I got to experience in the MFA program at University of New Hampshire. I also share how I've done email exchanges with friends I've met since: ways to share work and ideas for how to make sure everyone is happy. Subscribe on iTunes or in Stitcher, and find shownotes and more at aliciadelosreyes.com.

I found my agent through an event on Twitter (the amazing #PitMad, or Pitch Madness), and I share the full story here. Even though this wonderful step in my writing career is 100% due to my being on social media, I still have qualms about getting too far in...how much Internet is too much, for writers? I'm not sure, but I share a few ways for coping with "Internet overload" to keep your mind clear without becoming a hermit. Show notes and more at aliciadelosreyes.com

In this episode, I continue talking about How to get published (the series starts with Episode 12) and share my experience pitching researched nonfiction articles to magazines big and small. Listen in for what to put in your cover letter (aka pitch letter) and how pitching nonfiction is different from submitting fiction. Show notes at aliciadelosreyes.com