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What is Your Brand? Part 2 Website and Social Media
Last blog, we discussed unique selling position (UPS) and looked at some examples. Now, we're going to use what we've learned to expand into website creation and social media.
Designing a Website:
As someone who has run several small businesses and switched writing genres, designing a website that reflects your UPS can be overwhelming. Let's break it down:
Colors
Refer back to your USP. What are your three words or short phrases? Take some time to think about what colors each word associates with. For example, if your word is “sassy”, maybe you think of something bright and fun. Red, a bright shade of pink. Maybe teal or magenta. If your word is “mysterious”, you might want to consider dark colors, blues or purples. Maybe a background of black with some pops of maroon. Whatever you decide, make those your core colors, the ones you use the most. When people hear your name, they need to see your colors. Take a look throughout my website, my twitter, even my Instagram. Hopefully, you can get an idea about me and my writing by the colors I've selected.
Fonts
Your fonts should be as consistent as possible, including any flyers, brochures, business cards, and merchandise. No need to over think this. Scroll through the microsoft word fonts and select a few that work best for your USP. For example, if you are a romance writer, you may want all your headings to be in cursive. If you're going for a friendly down home vibe, maybe you want to stick with the classic Times Roman since it's standard and straight forward. Whatever you pick, make sure your readers can actually read it. I once picked a font I absolutely loved, but when I used it on the blog, the letters were too close together and people had trouble reading it. Whoops!
Images
Refer back to your three words (are you sensing a theme yet?) and think about how you can reflect those with the images you use. If your word is “peaceful”, you don’t want to be frowning into the camera. Maybe you're outside with your shoes off, sitting in the grass with your back resting against a building. Or maybe you're laying in the grass, hair tossed around you with a bright smile. Would something like that work for "friendly", "welcoming", "down-home"? Absolutely. Would it work for "disturbing"? No, probably not, which is probably why you don't see a lot of horror writers laying in the grass staring up at the clouds. One of the best author pics I saw was a mystery writer. He was leaning against an alley wall, at night, and the alley was pitch black. Boom. USP nailed in a single image.
Above all, have fun with this. As a writer, you create characters and bring them to life. This is no different. You're taking a part of yourself, developing it in a fun and creative way, and then bringing it to life. Your brand is you.
Social Media
I get a lot of questions about social media. I already wrote a blog post about websites. Yes, writers need them. But do they need twitter? Facebook? Instagram? Snap Chat?
Yes and no.
Look, a lot of us writers write because we love it, we can't not write. Yeah, that's a double negative and it's intention, because that's what writers feel. It's a part of us, for better or worse. So even if we never sell a book, even if no one on the planet ever reads a single word we write, we will continue to scribble out stories on paper. It's who we are.
With that said, would it be nice to have people read our work? Sure. And how can we do that if no one knows we exist?
I know a lot of people have mixed feelings about social media, especially in our current society where a single tweet can end seriously divert a career. But, in my opinion, you still need to be a part of social media. But it doesn't have to be scary. I have two words of wisdom and they're basically the same thing:
Be authentic
As a writer, the USP is all about You. Expanding the parts of You that connect with your writer and ultimately to your readers. So make sure you don't lose yourself in the process of creating a brand. Be authentic on you website, in front of an audience at a book signing, and on social media. Don't try to shock followers with provocative tweets unless you're a provocative individual. Don't curse, unless you curse in your everyday life. Don't jump on a thread and support someone or an idea if you don't passionately agree.
Don't be a Jerkface
Scenario One: Dr. Picklepants posts a new medical theory on her Twitter feed. Buddy responds with a provocative, yet respectful comment. Snippy responds to Buddy with all intense, rude comment. Now Buddy feels attacked, and responds with his own rude comment. Three tweets later, Buddy and Snippy are in an intense word battle, complete with name calling and cursing. All of this happening on Dr. Picklepant's thread. Moral of the story: Don't be Snippy. Snippy = Jerkface. Don't start arguments on someone else thread, especially someone in your writer's community. And if you're Dr. Picklepants, feel free to block them. Don't feel like blocking people is somehow going to blacklist you. If people are being cruel or disrespectful or creepy, block them.
Scenario Two: Rudey McRudeFace notices that people are more likely to follow her if she follows back. So she goes on a following rambage, clicking that little "follow" button until her fingers blister. And guess what? It worked. She went from 489 followers to 701 in just two weeks! So now, her Twitter account reads: Rudey McRudeFace Tweets: 3,298 Following: 1,298 Followers: 701. Uh oh. Rudey is starting to have second thoughts. Should she be following a New Zealand potato farmer when she's a young adult author? The farmer can't really do much for her brand. She doubts he'll interact much with her feed and what will people think if they search her "following" category and come up with someone so random and not associate with her carefully crafted writing bubble? Better unfriend him. Uh oh. Rudey realized, in all her excitement to gain followers, she has followed twelve circus clowns, a glass blower, three tree doctors and a gynecologist. Hmm. Those aren't really people she figures would like any of her posts. And, well, she got what she wanted from them - a follow. And she doesn't want people thinking she loves clowns, glass, trees or her vagina, so she unfollows them. Soon, she's unfollowed all the people she feels won't help advance her career, but feeling pretty happy that they're still following her. Now, her account reads: Rudey McRudeFace Tweets: 3,298 Following: 489 Followers: 701. Ah, so much better.
Can anyone in the class tell me why Rudey McRudeFace is a Jerkface? You guess it! Following people to boost your numbers only to immediately unfollow them, for any reason, is flat out rude. And guess what? No one is fooled. In fact, if you're looking to get on people's poop list, this is one of the easiest things to do.
But let's address Rudey's concerns about why she unfollowed. Is it okay to follow everyone who follows you even though they aren't in your target demographic? Will it look bad on you if an editor or agent sees you're following 85,039 people? Wouldn't it be better to appear selective? Okay, I'm going to answer from my own personal experience based on how I run my feeds and what I've seen from other Twitter accounts, and what I've been told by social media gurus:
Unless an account is aggressive, offensive, creepy, or makes you uncomfortable in any way (in which case, you should block them), it's okay to follow back. It's okay to have your "following" and "followers" numbers to be the same. Or to be following more than those who are following you. In my personal experience, it's never been a problem.
But really, if you're focused solely on numbers, then you're missing out on the amazing aspects of social media. The writing community on Twitter is amazing. You'll make friends, acquaintances, business partners, and you'll learn about incredible opportunities. If you're only on social media to get numbers (followers), it'll eventually come through in your posts (or lack of posts). Tweeting in the beginning to gain followers, and then only tweeting when you have a book to sell...well, people notice. I'm always frustrated by folks like this. Sure, they have every right to use Twitter in that fashion, but for me and for those I've met, Twitter is more than, "Hey, I've published a book now it's time for you to pay attention to me again" vessel. It's a community. It's support. It's a little mini online family.
Ultimately, how you run your social media is your decision. I'm sure for every example I gave of Jerkface, you can come up with someone doing the exact same thing but with a million followers. I think focusing on the numbers is a wasted opportunity to connect with extraordinary people all over the world (So many of the people I've met on Twitter are from the UK and I love gaining their perceptive on films and literature.) Just remember to be yourself. Have fun. Now go out there and get tweeting!
What is Your Brand? : Unique Selling Point
I get a lot of questions regarding branding. Not only am I a writer, but I'm a small business owner. Branding is everything, especially in a competitive world. I've had a lot of practice, some failures and even success in this field. Now it's time to help you brand yourself as a writer.
So let's break this down into a few different blog posts. Today we're going to start with your unique selling point or unique selling proposition (USP).
Your USP is what makes you different than every other writer out there. And it needs to be more unique than "historical writer" or "fantasy writer". Why will people want to read your horror book when they can pick up Shirley Jackson's books? Why give a new romance writer a chance when Nora Roberts is a proven joy to read?
It's all about what you bring to the table.
Let's take a look at some known businesses and figure out their USPs:
M&Ms. Think about it. What do we all associate with M&Ms? They melt in our mouths, not in our hands. The company didn't come up with anything fancy. They took something everyone already loves - chocolate - and put their USP on it. Can you think of another chocolate candy that won't melt as fast? Me neither.
Tom's Shoes. What does Tom's do that other shoe companies weren't doing? (Although many are doing this now) Tom's donated a new pair of shoes to a child in need for every purchase. Sure, companies have copied them. But we know that Tom's did it first, and they appealed to a wider variety of clients. Their USP was successful.
Dominio's Pizza: Okay, they don't do it anymore, but I bet a lot of people still remember their 30 minute delivery or it's free promise.
Now let's look at some writers and what makes them unique:
Susan May Warren - When Susan started writing, she wrote Love Inspired Thrillers. Unfortunately, so did hundreds of other writers. But she stood out in the group due to her experiences as a Russian missionary. She incorporated her experiences and boom! She was the Christian Russia themed thriller author. Now that's a niche. And once she gained an audience, she was able to expand her brand, and now she writes a variety of contemporary themed Christian fiction novels.
Nicholas Sparks - Reading his name has probably pieced together some sort of image in your mind. Romance. Loss. Redemption. Regret. You know what you're getting when you open one of his books.
Chuck Palahnuik - If you go to his website, it says "The Cult". I think that's a fair assessment of his fans and the vibe he releases into the universe. He's gritty, raw, gross, witty, satirical and he goes for the artery. He's the cult leader of the lonely, the light at the end of the used condom lined dark tunnel, the scar after a particularly gnarly scab.
Each of these writers have defined themselves through every aspect of their presence. They have mastered their USP.
So how do you do it?
Start simple. What are three words or small phrases that describe the emotion your work invokes and / or yourself? Try not to stray too far from your authentic self. Make a long list and keep crossing out words until you get down to three, each unique from the other two. Write them on a sticky-note, put it somewhere you'll see every day and let them marinate. These will be the three words your entire brand will revolve around, so take your time. Ask people who know you best. Ask your critique partners.
Here are my three:
Eccentric. Open Door. Hatch Alice. - My stories are dark with odd characters facing despair. Eccentric fits the mood I'm creating as well as my characters. Open door describes how I want my writing to feel. I want to be inclusive, not only to readers but to my characters. Hatch Alice...well, you'll be tumbling down the rabbit hole with me.
Every time I get stuck, whether in marketing or during a work-in-progress, I go back to these three words and ask, Am I living up to them? Have I included all three in my work?
These three words are what I use to define my USP. I am the Purveyor of the Weird, the dark fiction writer who writes about death and pain and depression. I push my characters beyond their comfort zone and then I push more. And I want everyone to come along this crazy wide.
I once had someone say "your stories are so weird and depressing." Boom. My USP.
It may take some practice. I've tried a few different USP ideas before landing one my current brand.
Next blog we'll talk about how using your USP plays into your website image. Leave your comments and questions below or hop on @nicobellfiction and drop your USP!
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How to Shine at a Writing Conference
How to Shine at a Writer's Conference
Writing conferences can be intimidating, especially if it's your first time attending. You'll be face-to-face with industry greats, award winning authors, agents that hold your future in their hands, and editors that love to make manuscripts bleed. It's a lot, but take a deep breath because I'm going to walk you through it and tell you how to stand out from the crowd.
1. Dress Appropriately. Most conferences post pictures from previous years, so do a little research and check out what others wore. You'll most likely want to go a little nicer than t-shirt and jeans, but no need for formal attire (unless there's a gala which some conferences do have). The best tip I got on conference attire was, dress like you're going to be interviewed on Good Morning America.
2. Avoid Gimmicks. Let your personality shine through during conversations and networking. There's no need to wear a "free hugs" pin or bake cookies and pass them out. It's not the worst thing to do at a conference, but it won't win you any extra brownie points and some editors/ agents may think it's over the top or cheesy. So just to be on the safe side, put aside your "ask me about my cats" tshirt.
3. Have business cards ready to go and don't be afraid to hand them out. Ask others for their cards. Remember, the purpose of these conferences aren't simply to learn, but to network. So have your business cards in an easy to reach place and be ready to exchange with others.
4. Research those from the industry that will attend. Especially if you're pitching. Know their names (pronounce them correctly) and take some time to read their blogs / websites before the conference.
5. If you are pitching a manuscript, have a one sheet, elevator pitch, and print out of at least your first chapter ready to go. Research ahead of time to know what specific agents require and have all necessary documents. Rehearse your pitch until you feel confident. Get your critique partners to check your one sheet. Be prepared to answer questions about your work and make small talk about your genre, including other authors who have influenced you.
6. Be authentic. If you don't like Stephen King books, don't use him as an example for authors that have influenced your writing. Agents and editors meet tons of people and they can tell if you're faking it to try and impress them. Relax. Be humble and stay true to yourself.
7. Follow up. Remember all those business cards you got? Go on social media and connect with them.
8. Have fun! :)
Black Hollow Cage Movie Review
Review: Black Hollow Cage
This movie is available on Netflix. No Spoilers:
Black Hollow Cage is a stunning time travel horror story with great promise, but never quite reaches it's full potential. It's a story about a broken father-daughter relationship, a secret tragedy that haunts them, and two mysterious young strangers that bring uncertainty and danger into their lives. The set up asks many questions and touches on several intriguing concepts, but the ending doesn't live up to the hype.
The cinematography will hypnotize you. We are dipped into a sci-fy world where Adam, the father, and daughter Alice live in a gorgeous steel home secluded in the woods, a home impenetrable to the outside world and, apparently, contains a healing pool where all it takes is a quick dip to recover from minor injuries. Alice, who is played by the incredible Lowena McDonell, has a mechanical arm, as well as a dog who serves as her "mom." Really, the dog has a voice box and speaks as if she is Alice's mother. Oh, and there's a giant black box in the forest that serves as a time machine. Confused? Yes, the plot and storyworld are a little disjointed, but the gorgeous scenery and wide shots are nothing short of entrancing.
Unfortunately, this style of filming also caused long pauses in pacing. Too long. And while the actors, especially Lowena McDonell, managed to hold their intensity as the moments of slow paced scenes ticked by, it becomes frustrating, as a viewer. I wanted certain parts of the movie to move forward when instead they came to slow halts.
There are many emotional layers to this movie, but there's almost too much subtly. Too many questions asked without definite answers. And while I might have inferred everything correctly, I'm not entirely sure.
If you're in the mood to watch a unique and stunning time travel movie, give it a try. But be prepared for some drawn out scenes and an ending that might disappoint.
Why Prologues Should Be Banished
Look, I know most readers can probably think of a famous author who has used a prologue. But until you have mastered the rules, you aren't allowed to break them. So novice writers, here's the reasons you shouldn't write a prologue:
1. Backstory Dumping: You can't dump backstory in your manuscript so some writers get the idea that it's acceptable to do it in a prologue. It isn't. Editors will nail you for it. Publishers won't be impressed. Please, please, please don't have a prologue fifty years in the past, and then never allude to it until Act Three and then expect readers to be surprised / impressed. It won't work.
2. Inciting Incident Confusion: I used to judge writing contests and I've been critiquing work for many years. The sure way to tell someone you're a novice is to misplace or incorrectly identify your inciting incident. A prologue will do this. Usually, the catalyst for the story is mixed somewhere in the prologue when it should be in Act One. And when the prologue is misplaced, the action, tension, character development all stumble to line up before Act Two. It isn't pretty.
3. It's Lazy. Seriously. I know I'm being harsher in this post than others, but I have very strong feelings about this topic as someone who has been subjected to reading them for so long. A prologue just says, "I couldn't figure out how to incorporate this into the body of the manuscript so here you go!"
4. Readers Skip Them. And if they think the information can be skipped (and honestly, most of the time it can be) then it isn't worth including. Most people see a prologue and think, "Ugh...why do I have to read it?" After all, if it wasn't important enough to include in the bulk of the book, who cares?
5. Black Moment Issues. If the prologue isn't dumping background, confusing the inciting incident or putting readers to sleep, then it's revealing the protagonist's black moment. And who doesn't love to know the protagonists deep dark secret before even officially meeting him or her? I mean, it's not like that secret is the driving force of the character, the reason that character is partaking on his journey. So what if the reveal would have been super dramatic if it were placed in the end of Act Two or beginning of Act Three, where it should be placed. Let's go ahead and spoil all the fun before we officially get started.
Okay, you get my point.
I've argued with so many writers over this point, but please...do your readers a favor and get to the story as fast as possible. No prologues!!
For the love of all the is good, STOP GENETICALLY ENGINEERING DINOSAURS!
Friend: Are you gonna see the new Jurassic Park movie?
Me: How many Jurassic Park movies is too many? At what point do we destroy the park, once and for all, and annihilate all the remaining dino DNA. Or what if we offered an incentive to NOT scrape some old dino cells together, whip them in a centrifuge and spawn a carnivorous prehistoric monster? Like, if you make it to the age of thirty-five without bringing back a t-rex, you get a million dollars? Or maybe just the assurance you won’t become dino breakfast. Surely, you’d think that’d be enough.
But nooooooo.
We have another Jurassic Park movie.
Because no one has learned their lesson.
Look, I loved the original. The sequels…Eh. And I actually really enjoyed the latest Chris Pratt installment, but can’t be leave well enough alone? When can a classic just remain a classic?
Friend: ……
Me: ……
Friend: So…..
Me: Yeah, of course I’m going to see it. Obviously.
Incredible Medical YouTube Videos You Have to See
I'm a science nerd.
The human body fascinates me. It's complex yet runs like a perfectly put together machine. Each little cell playing it's role, contributing to the larger system for which it was created.
Kinda like humans in the universe.
My fascination often leads me to science fiction books based within medical settings, and I love writing books about these sorts of subjects. So I was working on a short story about a surgeon, and of course I needed to do research, which led me down the rabbit hole of YouTube and to these videos. Which I just had to share.
So enjoy. And for the love of God, don't do any of these at home.
This open heart surgery.
Dr Pimple Popper "A Mother of a Lipoma Part One"
Does an Unpublished Writer Need a Website?
Yes.
Thanks for visiting!...No, wait! There's more!!
Yes, I am of the firm belief you need a website even if you're not published. Why?
1. To build a platform: Platforms for the unpublished writer run the risk of becoming a Catch 22. You need a platform to get published, but you can't build a mega platform unless you are published. Okay, true, but that doesn't mean you can't get started and show publishers that you have what it takes to connect with potential readers. If you're not on social media, it's time to suck it up and get an account. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram are the holy trinity of social media, at least for the time being. As the times change, make sure you do to and get your name out there.
But once a potential reader has your name, they'll naturally want to know everything about you. That's when they'd go to your website where they can read your background, your blog and exciting news about upcoming publications. If you don't have one, it's harder for a reader to connect with you. And with so many new and promising writers, they'll put you aside and move on.
2. Branding : Social media allows us to give snippets of information, show tiny pieces of who we are and what we're all about. A website expands on that and allows the opportunity to really deliver authentic content to an audience. It's a chance to show your creativity through not only content, but the design of your site, photographs, videos...even the colors you pick say something about you. A website delves into your brand, who you are, what you have to say about yourself and to your audience. And a bad website says a lot. Someone who doesn't even have a website...well, I think that says something too.
But you may be asking, why should I invest money and time into a career that may never take off?
This is the question the majority of unpublished writers ask, and I'm sure the majority of published authors have asked at some point in their past. Simply, you don't have to be a published writer to write. Do what you love and what works best for you. But if you want to be published, whether traditionally or self-published, you need to invest in yourself (perhaps even more if self-published). Think of writing as a job, even if you only have an hour every other day to invest. And money? You don't need to pay for a website if you don't want to. My first website was through blogger.com and I didn't pay a dime.
BUT...you might be saying you don't know how to run a website!
Unless it's your job to make websites, you're not going to know what you're doing. And that's okay because there are tons of tutorials, plus companies like blogger.com or Squarespace make it very user friendly.
BUT BUT...you may just be scared.
Okay, this one I totally understand. Putting yourself out there is scary. You basically are opening a vein and being like "Judge me!!". But remember, you're in control of your website! So if you don't want to mention the time you got drunk at your work party and tripped into a koi pond, don't. And really, why would you? It has nothing to do with writing...unless you have a character who did a similar thing, then I could see why you'd include the anecdote. But really, it's up to you.
I mentioned "bad" websites earlier. I'm of the opinion that there are no perfect websites. We can all use some edits, so don't worry about striving for perfection. When I say "bad", I really mean bad content. Or if you never update it. Just think of website you've been on that left you unimpressed and do the opposite. Easy, right? :)
Now get started and enjoy!
The Rise of the Writer: Two Up and Coming Writers
Writer’s Interview Questions
I'm so excited to introduce two up and coming writers! If you're interested in being interviewed, email me and you can be featured in an upcoming blog!
First up, Bo Boswell from Nashville
When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
The starting point was probably in 2008, when I had my first child. Before that, I wasn’t a big reader. When my son was born, I spent a lot of time reading to him, and I realized how important books and stories were to all of us on many levels. It was around that time that I realized I’d fallen in love with the art.
What is the greatest tip you’ve received as a writer?
Without a doubt, the advice that has made the biggest impact on me in the past ten years came from Stephen King’s book, On Writing. “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, no shortcut.”
What was your favorite childhood book?
One book that had a huge impact on my young imagination was A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L’Engle. It was the first book I read that dealt with time travel, which became an interesting topic for me and was a motivating factor behind my book, The Century Cube. It’s such a happy coincidence that my book came out around the same time as the movie version of A Wrinkle in Time was released.
If you could give up one thing to become published, what would it be?
I imagine that if I were to become traditionally published, it’d require me to commit more time to writing and relinquish some degree of creative control over the content and length of my books. Both of these suppositions make me uncomfortable, but I would be willing to accept these terms and try my best to adapt to them.
Where do you do most of your writing? Alone at a desk? Sitting at a coffee shop?
I’m typically most comfortable writing in the mornings on my couch. My dog is usually there with me, resting his head on my legs while I fire up my “Writing” playlist and start typing away on my laptop.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
I sometimes get carried away with research. If I interrupt my flow of writing to look up something, I often get sucked in and spend more time reading about the topic than writing. It’s even more frustrating if the subject I’m researching has little impact on the story. At those times, I try to remain hopeful that if a topic is that interesting and compelling to me, then it will be the same for my readers.
What are you currently working on?
Currently, I’m knee deep in writing the sequel to my first book, The Century Cube. It’s been tremendous fun to continue working with the same familiar characters on a new adventure.
Bo Boswell is the Director of IT at Warner/Chappell Production Music in Nashville, TN. He used to enjoy lots of free time before starting a daily writing practice, which quickly absorbed all of that respite and resulted in The Century Cube, a time travel science fiction book meant to entertain young folks and warn adults about what might happen if kids found a magical Rubik’s Cube.
Bo lives in Brentwood, TN with his wife, two sons, and a smallish, rescued dog. Aside from reading and writing, he enjoys photography—he’s meticulously taken a photo every day since 2004 and has posted them on his website—and being in the outdoors, whether going for a walk, riding a bike, throwing football at the park, watching the sunset, or relaxing on the screened porch.
Next up, Hue M. Flex
When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I think I always enjoyed telling stories, but I think I realized I wanted to be a writer sometime in my teens. At that time I had no idea what that meant. I think it was something like over a decade latter that I began to take it seriously. It’s only been for about a year that I’ve been trying to write every day, read everyday, write reviews and have begun to build a platform. I don’t think people realize just how much goes into being a writer. I’m probably only doing 10% of the things I should be doing.
What are you currently working on?
Currently I’m editing a manuscript I finished last year. I’m hoping to send it out to beta readers in summer and start sending out queries in the fall. What I’m writing right now is Novelettes. I read them on amazon and love them. Ideally I’d like to set up an ongoing series of novelettes on Amazon.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
My writing kryptonite is self discipline. I’ve done 20,000 word weeks and I’ve gone a week where I can’t force myself to write. It’s something that really bothers me and makes me feel amateur. If I was to ask a jeanie for anything it would be for the self discipline to carry out my convictions.
How do you select the names of your characters?
Some are the nicknames of friends they remind me of, most are just pulled out of nowhere. Most f them don’t really have any significance.
What was your favorite childhood book?
Maybe the Iron Giant by Ted Hughes. Ironically as a child I had real difficulty reading. This book was the first chapter book I had ever read. I remember really feeling the passion to read after reading it.
Shit…
I owe a lot to Ted Hughes now that I think about it. It was that book that sparked the passion to read.
If you could give up one thing to become published, what would it be?
Hmm,
This was really important to me six months ago. At that point I would have told you almost anything. At this point the more I read about getting traditionally published the less it feels like “making it.” I’m not really sure what making it is now. I’m lucky that I really love my current occupation. If I could figure out a way to earn 20K a year by putting stories together I could retire early and I’d consider that making it.
What tips would you give a rising writer?
Get a planner (the kind where you make goals and schedules).
Set up a word count goal, set up a reading goal, hit both of these goals daily.
HIT BOTH OF THESE GOALS DAILY.
Join either an online writing group or an actual writing group where you critique each others work.
IF you set goals every day, week, month, year and continue to hit these goals; then you’ll get somewhere eventually.
(At least thats what I tell myself at night)
Where do you do most of your writing? Alone at a desk? Sitting at a coffee shop?
I have an office at home with a nice wooden desk and chair. Sitting at the desk lasted less then one day. I sit at my chair with my laptop in my chair to do most of my writing, but I try not to let routine rule me. If I can’t find time to sit at my desk, then I’ll write on my couch while my girlfriend watches TV, I’ll write in coffee shops sometimes when i’m feeling stir crazy, but wherever you can grind your words out is a good place in my opinion.
What is the toughest criticism you’ve received as a writer?
Being told to grow up.
I think every writer feels some kind of guilt or shame for writing or wanting to “be a writer.” The best way I’ve heard to deal with that, is to be a professional about it. You don’t need to be paid to act like a professional.
Write when you say you’re going to write, finish projects when you say you're going to finish them. Most writers will probably not see any real commercial success; I will probably not see any real commercial success, but just living in this routine of regularly fishing projects has made me feel like “a real writer.” I think that might be enough.
What is the greatest tip you’ve received as a writer?
Read Stephen Kings On Writing. It’s all gold. The advice I gave above on treating it like a job even though you’re not getting paid is pretty much stolen from there. Fall in love with the day to day of writing, reading and editing. If you don’t love doing those things you probably won’t find any joy in writing.
