Rituals That Help You Get A Little Writing Done
If you’re a writer, do you have any rituals you follow that help you get in the mood to do a little writing?
Maybe you have certain clothes you like to wear when you write or a specific chair to sit in when you’re serious about getting some work done.
Some writers swear by their writing rituals.
They have to light a candle and make a cup of tea before they write, for example.
Other writers like to have soft music playing in the background.
Some writers ONLY write with a specific pen on a specific kind of paper – no typing at the keyboard for them!
And it might suprise you to know that many famous authors had some pretty quirky rituals.
Ernest Hemingway liked to write standing up, while Truman Capote liked to write lying down.
And the French novelist Victor Hugo liked to write in the nude because then he wouldn’t be tempted to leave the house instead of write. That seems a bit extreme to me. Plus, I don’t think I’d be able to concentrate on my writing if I didn’t have any clothes on. My personal flaws would be just be TOOOO distracting. I’d spend most of my time beating myself up over my WAY less-than-perfect body instead of writing. Know what I mean?
But I suppose every writer has at least a few quirky rituals.
What are yours?
Thanks for stopping by!
Q&A with The Yellow Book Road, Noted Children’s-Only Bookstore in San Diego – Part 2
by Rebecca Grose
SoCal Public Relations
www.SoCalPR.net
socalpublicrelations@yahoo.com
Recently, I had an opportunity to ask a few questions of Ann Diener, co-owner of The Yellow Book Road, a children’s-only bookstore near San Diego, to give us a little insight into their world. Here is part 2 of that interview (scroll down this page to read Part 1 of this interview).
What have you found to be the best way(s) to promote an event? And how can authors/publicists help make an event more successful?
The best way we have to promote the events is through our email list which has about 2000 members. We also occasionally get placed in the calendar of events on the Book Page of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The San Diego Family Magazine is widely read and is another place we submit events. We will be getting a new web page soon which will greatly improve our advertising, and we now have a Yellow Book Road Facebook page. We encourage the author/publicist to help get the word out by alerting their fanbase and posting the event on their website or blog, sending out email announcements, or getting in touch personally with any media or educational contacts they may have in our area.
In your experience, how have book sales been for author events?
When school groups come to the store, I would estimate that only about 20% of the kids buy the books. The school library tech usually makes of point of purchasing a copy for the school library. An in store event like Fancy Nancy brought in higher sales as each girl had to have a copy! The Patricia Polacco event was spread over four days, combining the store appearance for the public with local school visits, and it was a great success. I think the authors that most appeal to the teachers brings the store the greatest exposure and profit.
What about the author bringing treats, tchotchkes or other giveaways – does that make an event more successful or have an impact on sales?
It is nice when the authors give out little mementos to the kids because then the children can show something when they go home and it keeps the memories fresh. However, most of the sales are determined ahead with school visits and so there is no monetary difference.
In general, will you accept promotional materials (posters, bookmarks, etc) from local authors/illustrators for your store, and how are they used?
Again, if the author is traditionally published, not self-published, we welcome bookmarks and posters which we display. We always create a display for a future visiting author and welcome anything to add to the books.
What are your thoughts on self-published books and authors? What’s your policy for POD books and those without returns? Do you consider them? If not, why?
When I first began the store, I thought I should help the self-published, but I soon realized what a difference there is in the quality of a published book versus a self-published book. Also a self-published book costs so much more because the person has paid for the publishing. I have grown more careful in what is put on our shelves and who we have for events. I now try to focus on works from an established publisher that have had editing, and thus, are quality items.
Do you handle selling books at events outside your bookstore, and if so, how does this work?
We sell as much as we can outside of the store because we want to survive. We do school carnivals, educational conferences, vendor events, public library events, and writers’ conferences. Ann has even gone to preschools to do story times dressed as Mrs. Claus and the teachers reciprocate by buying from the store. David and I are usually the ones who go to the outside events because our labor is free! Recently we supported a PTA fundraising event for a school and gave 10% of our sales back to the school.
Final Thoughts:
As owners of The Yellow Book Road, we are strongly committed to promoting the educational advancement of San Diego schools—from pre-schools to high schools—and adding to the expertise of teachers and teachers-to-be. Good literature is fundamental to this effort and we are committed to bringing the best of children’s literature to the public through our store. The challenges are huge with the emergence of eBooks and shrinking school budgets; we are accepting these challenges as the last large solely children’s bookstore in San Diego! We invite any ideas and support from parents, teachers, publishers, and authors to partner with us!
Contact Info:
Ann & David Diener, Owners
The Yellow Book Road
7200 Parkway Drive, Suite 118
La Mesa CA 91942
www.yellowbookroad.com
Tel: 619.463.4900
Email: info@yellowbookroad.com
Q&A with The Yellow Book Road, Noted Children’s-Only Bookstore in San Diego – Part 1
by Rebecca Grose
SoCal Public Relations
www.SoCalPR.net
socalpublicrelations@yahoo.com
Recently, I had an opportunity to ask a few questions of Ann Diener, co-owner of The Yellow Book Road, a children’s-only bookstore near San Diego, to give us a little insight into their world.
I asked Ann to give us a little background about their store:
“Our store carries books for kids—infants through middle school as well as teacher resource materials. To accompany the books, we also sell puzzles, games and toys with an educational slant. The bookstore has been in existence since 1986, so we have a legacy to uphold. All of our employees are qualified in some unique way to work in the store. We have a former children’s librarian, current teachers, former teachers, and one in the program for a Masters in Children’s literature. We feel qualified staff adds a professional nature to what we do. We don’t just warehouse books; rather we read them and know how they can appeal to your grandchild or your class. I always thought I would like to own a bookstore, and when the opportunity presented itself, we took the plunge. My husband supports the business by doing the payroll, taxes and accounting for the store. It was a strange time to go into the retail business with the recession going on, but we have found we are enjoying the challenge.”
You’ve owned Yellow Book Road now for over a year, what’s been the biggest surprise about running a children’s bookstore?
We did not realize how much time we would have to spend outside the store selling books. We have sold at a Jewish synagogue, a fundraiser for a park, several school carnivals, public libraries—we take every opportunity we have to sell a book! However this adds to our many hours a day.
How many author/illustrator events do you have per month? How do you decide which ones to say yes to and which to decline?
The number of author/illustrator events each month varies. It depends on which publicist contacts me, which of my publisher reps presents an author to me or who I come into contact with at conferences and bookseller events. We try to host published authors/illustrators only because we can be sure of the fine quality of the books they represent.
How do you prefer to be approached for an event, and by whom? (author/illustrator, publicist, sales rep) What sort of information or materials do you need included with the pitch?
Most of the approaches I have for events have come over the phone. Fortunately, this way the publicist/rep cannot see me jumping up and down as I am talking to them. When the Penguin rep calmly asked if I would like to have Patricia Polacco come to the store, she didn’t have to see me hyperventilating at the prospect! Other people have contacted me by email and a few authors have come into the store in person. I don’t have a preference for a method of contact but I do prefer to have a published author as opposed to a self-published author. The most important piece of information to determine is which book the author wants to highlight plus other titles that might appeal to the public.
What types of author/illustrator events have you found to be most successful? And what made them work so well?
We have had varied events, as some authors come to the store and others I have taken to schools. It is harder for schools to get to the store due to regulations and lack of money for a bus, so I have found myself at the schools more often. This doesn’t do much for the marketing of the store, but I do love going into the schools and seeing the children and their excitement about meeting an author. The best in-store events involve either famous authors or anything Fancy Nancy!
What’s your relationship like with local schools and libraries, how do you continue to expand that market and find new contacts? Are those relationships important for your store’s success?
Since this is our second school year, I have leaned on the elementary schools I already know but have made in-roads with middle schools as well. I try to connect with the library aide at the school and have had success working with them. Several times I have sent letters to principals to request a school visit and I find fewer responses that way. Making relationships with school personnel seems to be the most successful route. They gain trust in you and when they go to ask for permission they feel confident that their request is for a valid purpose. Author events are what are going to keep stores alive. The school markets have shrunk and so I see our success is in bringing quality events to the customers.
How do events for picture books differ from those for middle grade or YA? Which genre do you find works best for your store?
We are just beginning young adult (YA) events this year, but this literature is even gaining an adult market. When you consider books like The Hunger Games, you see the crossover appeal from the teen to the adult reader. We have had three young adult events so far and they have a smaller audience but the depth of the discussions and questions is vast. Many aspiring authors have come to these events which adds a mentoring dimension to the program. Picture book audiences are mainly from the schools and the kids’ enthusiasm has been great. The authors usually read their work and hearing from the author’s lips to the kids’ ears makes an impression that won’t be forgotten. When you have David Shannon drawing while Jon Scieszka is reading, it can’t be beat!
Look for Part 2 of this interview here tomorrow!
Procrastination is Not Necessarily a Bad Thing!
Do you tend to beat yourself up because you procrastinate?
If you do, you should realize that procrastination isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
I’m a freelance writer and a writing coach. The other day I was talking to another author about procrastination. We both agreed that many times we put off a big writing project because it’s almost too scary to even get started. But, once we do get started on the project, it is almost never as scary or difficult as we had imagined it would be.
I also said that, for me, many times I put off starting a project because I KNOW the intense concentration and focus it will require of me once I do get started. And I just have to clear out a lot of other “stuff” in my life before I’m able to sit down and fully focus on that big project. Once I do get everything else cleared away, though, usually the writing goes well and I actually enjoy the big project I’ve been putting off.
If you’ve been procrastinating – and beating yourself up because of it – realize that you just might be procrastinating for the same reason I do when I have a big writing project to do. You may be waiting until you’re able to intensely focus on that one big project, whether that big project is writing a book or cleaning out your house so you can have a huge garage sale.
But here’s the thing. Now that you know WHY you’ve been procrastinating, sit down and figure out what you need to clear away in your life so you CAN start that big project ASAP.
Try it!
P.S. We can all use a little “nudge” to get started now and then. Get more tips to help you tackle the big projects in your life by getting your free subscription to The Morning Nudge.
Online Writing Buddies
If you need someone to hold you accountable for sticking to your marketing plan AND getting a little writing done every week, try to find an online writing buddy.
An online writing buddy is simply another writer who also wants to be held accountable and knows the challenges all writers go through in staying focused and motivated from time to time.
You and your online writing buddy don’t need to live in the same town. You don’t even need to write at the same time. Generally, though, if you follow these tips, you’ll make the most of working with an online writing buddy:
1. Make sure your writing buddy is motivated to stay on track each week and wants you to help him do that, too. You don’t want a writing buddy who just wants to socialize. That would take even MORE time away from your writing.
2. Swap marketing plans via email with your buddy every Sunday night or Monday morning, so you can see what you both have planned for the week. Try to give your buddy a few suggestions if it looks like there is WAY too much stuff on his plan and he is setting himself up for disappointment at the end of the week. But if there isn’t much on your buddy’s marketing plan or writing schedule for the coming week, encourage your buddy to add things to his plan to challenge himself a bit more.
3. Decide on definite check points with each other during the week. For example, you might email and suggest that you check in with each other every Wednesday with a short progress report. That way, if the writing isn’t going too well for one or either of you, you both have time to offer each other a few tips and encouraging words before the week is over.
4. At least once a month, set aside an hour or so when you can both agree to work on something you love AT THE SAME TIME. This might be your current novel in progress or a short story you want to submit to a contest. Then, agree on the specific time that you will both write and make sure you DO write during that time. At the end of that time, email your buddy with a report of how the writing went.
5. At the end of the week, check in with your buddy with an end-of-the-week progress report. Once you’ve had time to review your buddy’s progress report and vice versa, encourage each other to celebrate your successes (however small or large they might be) of the current week.
6. Try to stick to a schedule of progress reports and other check-ins with your writing buddy so your emails to each other won’t become overwhelming. Remember, you want a writing buddy so you can start making the most of your time, not just so you have someone to socialize with online.
Setting up a regular routine like this with your writing buddy will help you both stay on track with your writing. You’ll also find that you look forward to checking in with your buddy during the week and celebrating together as you start the weekend.
Try it!
P.S. For more writing tips and other resources to help you build your freelance business, subscribe to my free weekly newsletter, Build Your Business Write, and The Morning Nudge at www.morningnudge.com.
Novel Writing – Grabbing the Reader’s Attention with the First Sentence
You can be a best-selling author!
Is that true?
Maybe, maybe not. But I’ll bet I got your attention with that statement. And that’s exactly what you want to do if you hope to write novels that sell – grab your reader’s attention in the very first sentence. Yet all too often beginning writers think they must set the scene for their story with extensive details, when all they really need to do is grab the reader’s attention.
Do you recognize any of these opening lines:
Call me Ishmael. – Herman Melville, Moby-Dick (1851)
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. – Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (1859)
I am an invisible man. – Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man (1952)
They shoot the white girl first. – Toni Morrison, Paradise (1998)
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. – George Orwell, 1984 (1949)
Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. – Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina (1877; trans. Constance Garnett)
Notice how each of these openings pulls you in. You don’t know who or what the author is talking about, but you can’t wait to find out. Try this kind of thing in your own stories. Here’s how:
1. Introduce a main character right away. Something about this character needs to be intriguing, even if it’s only his name (as in “Call me Ishmael”). But if you have an invisible man or a giant woman or a talking cow, let this character open your story and readers will be hooked and want to find out more.
2. Drop readers “into the middle of things” rather than give a lot of background narrative to set the scene. If you read, “They shoot the white girl first”, you have no idea what’s going, or who the white girl is, but you can’t wait to find out. This simple line implies so much!
3. Start with something that’s just a bit off the mark. As in “the clocks were striking thirteen.” What does that mean? Does the author mean 1:00? If so, why does he say thirteen? Is this a military term? Again, you’ve been pulled right into the story. You know something about the setting of this tale is a bit out of the ordinary.
4. Compare and contrast something and do it in a pleasing and rhythmic way. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” makes the reader wonder how it can be both the best and worst at once. Plus, the rhythm of the sentence is pleasing to the ear and pulls in the reader.
These are just a few techniques that famous authors have used successfully. These techniques will work for you, too. And if you manage to grab the reader’s attention with the first sentence of your own novels, you just might become a best-selling author after all.
Try it!
For more writing tips and resources visit fearlessfreelancewriting.com and sign up for Build Your Business Write, a free weekly ezine with helpful articles, tips, and special offers for freelance writers. You’ll also receive The Morning Nudge, via email every weekday morning.
Make the Most of a Writing Workshop or Writing Class
If you’ve recently signed up for a writing workshop or writing class, in the hopes of becoming a better writer, then follow these simple steps to make the most of that experience:
1) Read! Read! Read! Before the very first class or workshop, survey ALL the class materials so you will get an idea of what to expect.
Most good writing classes (and workshops) will provide students with a wealth of helpful materials. But these materials won’t do you any good if you don’t bother to look at them. In fact, if you have time before the workshop starts, read as many of the materials as you can. You might not fully understand what you are reading. That’s okay. Learning is recursive – which means your understanding will increase each time you study or reread the information.
If you don’t have time to read the materials before the class begins, then at least look over all the materials beforehand. Also, besides the required course materials, if there are suggested additional materials, get those too. And read them!
Also, read the kinds of things you wish to write. If you want to write stories for children, READ stories for children. If you want to write culinary mysteries for adults, READ culinary mysteries for adults, etc.
SPECIAL NOTE: Also, realize this. If you don’t enjoy reading, then you probably won’t enjoy the work it takes to become a successful (by that I mean, published) writer. Published writers are like sponges – anxious to soak up any information about their craft that they can.
2) Carefully read the directions for each and every assignment and follow the directions TO THE LETTER. I’m surprised that so many people pay for a writing course (like the one I taught for the Institute of Children’s Literature for many years), yet a large number of these people don’t follow the directions for each assignment. In some cases, it’s painfully evident that they didn’t even bother to READ the directions. What they need to understand is this – usually each assignment or lesson in a writing course or workshop was designed with specific objectives in mind. If the student doesn’t bother to read and follow the directions for each assignment, then the instructor has little chance of helping the student meet those objectives.
3) Avoid defending your work to your instructor. Generally, students pay an instructor because he (or she) has some expertise and experience in writing, which usually includes many publishing credits. In fact, you should ALWAYS look for an instructor who has publishing credits. But then listen to what that instructor has to say about your writing, then follow his advice without trying to defend your work if it goes against what he has suggested.
Your instructor knows what he is talking about. For example, many times I tell students that in stories for children, adults should play very minor roles, and the child or teen in the story should always solve his own problem without a parent or other well-meaning adult stepping in to save the day. Many students want to argue that adults save the day for kids all the time in real life, so it should be okay that Aunt Martha calling at the last minute to offer little Janie the money she needs for summer camp is the perfect resolution for their story.
Sure, this kind of thing happens in real life. But, in stories for kids or teens, editors want the child to solve his own problem. Don’t waste precious time (yours or the instructor’s) arguing about something like this. Your understanding of WHY you should do what your instructor is asking you to do (or not do) will increase over time and study. Do what your instructor suggests, without defending your reason for going against his directions, and you’ll move ahead at a faster pace.
4) Learn to research all sorts of topics. In other words, don’t depend on instructors, editors, publishers, or anyone else to provide you with ALL the information you need in order to become a published writer.
Your instructor will probably give you research tips and marketing information, of course. But most published writers are self-directed learners. By that I mean, when they don’t KNOW something, they figure out HOW and WHERE to get the needed information themselves (more about how to do this, next).
5) Find other writers to network with and even hang out with, and read publications for writers. Join a local writers’ group or at least sign up for one online (at yahoogroups.com you’ll find all sorts of groups for writers). Try to find a group that includes at least a few published writers. Generally, writers like to be helpful. They will usually share marketing tips, writing resources, etc. and will help you to more fully understand what you learn in a writing workshop or writing class.
Also, talk to some of the other writers in these groups to find out how they write. Then use some of their tips to improve your own writing, writing habits, etc. Hang out with the published writers and you’ll soon learn that they probably do a LOT of rewriting before they sell any of their work.
Read publications for writers to gain current marketing news and tips, and to find out how other writers became successful.
All these things will help give you the confidence to keep writing (and to keep practicing what you learn in your writing workshop or writing course) until you manage to get something published.
6) Don’t expect writing to be easy, and don’t assume that if it isn’t it must mean you don’t have enough talent to succeed as a writer, so you might as well drop out of the workshop or writing class.
Actually, most successful writers will tell you that talent isn’t the most important quality for success. The ability to follow directions (which will eventually come from an editor or editors) and the willingness to continue writing and rewriting, until at least some of the many rejection letters you get in the mail turn into acceptance letters, are much more important qualities for success as a writer. If you realize this BEFORE you start any writing workshop or writing course, you will be more likely to stick with it, even when the work gets difficult.
These successful children’s writers offer additional tips:
Cynthia Leitich Smith, award-winning author of JINGLE DANCER (Morrow, 2000)(ages 4-up), RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME (Harper, 2001)(Listening Library, 2001)(ages 10-up), and INDIAN SHOES (Harper, 2002)(ages 7-up), and other works, says:
“Be brave. Participate. Put yourself out there. Don’t defend or explain away your work. Don’t think of the other students as competition. And don’t worry if you’re not ‘the star.’ Your focus should be on improving your craft–period.”
Pat McCarthy, an Instructor with the Institute of Children’s Literature, and author of 5 YA biographies and many nonfiction books for children suggests:
“Don’t write something different from what is assigned because you like to do it your way. Do use the manuscript format – double spaced, etc.”
Susan Wright, another instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature, and author of the DEAD END ROAD MYSTERIES (for ages 10 & up) advises:
“Pay attention when others’ work is being read and critiqued–it’s not just common courtesy, but we can often learn a lot from it. Resist the temptation to go off on personal conversational tangents until after the session. Workshop or class time is limited and valuable.”
L.D. Harkrader, author of 9 nonfiction books for children, and the middle grade novel, AIRBALL: MY LIFE IN BRIEFS (from Roaring Book Press) says:
“When your instructor makes suggestions on how to improve your stories, don’t be afraid to revise, and don’t trick yourself into thinking revision is merely cosmetic work–a word or comma changed here or there. Consider what your instructor has suggested, give your stories a hard, honest look, then dig into your revision, ruthlessly cutting or changing anything that doesn’t work. Your stories deserve to be as strong and as publishable as possible, and the only way you can achieve that is to be brave and do the work.”
Okay. So now that you know how to make the most of that writing workshop or writing class you just signed up for – go get ready for it. And have a great time!
P.S. For more helpful tips for writers, visit The Working Writer’s Club and sign up for the mailing list. When you do, you’ll receive a free ebook for writers, plus every weekday morning you’ll get The Morning Nudge, a few words to motivate and inspire you to get a little writing done.
The Locket – A Review from the Historical Novel Society
Ever heard of the Historical Novel Society?
I hadn’t until a google alert (gotta love those google alerts if you’re an author) let me know that a review of my historical novel The Locket had been posted at their website.
Sometimes I get slammed for NOT glossing over the harsh conditions in the sweatshops of NYC in 1911 – which I describe in this book – so it was nice to see a review that praises the book for that.
You can read the review here:
Happy reading!
P.S. For writing tips, helpful articles about writing, and other resources delivered to your emailbox every weekday morning, get a FREE subscription to The Morning Nudge! “When Your Pen Won’t Budge…Read The Morning Nudge!”
Kindle Kash – How to Publish on Kindle!
Since I’m a writing coach, writers are always asking me how they can get published on Kindle.
I can’t possibly explain everything they need to know in a short email or audio, so I suggest Kindle Kash to anyone who is ready to start raking in the cash with some Kindle products but doesn’t know how to get started.
Kindle Kash is the brand new course from best-selling author, Nick Daws.
Over ten parts, Nick will guide you through everything you need to know in order to write your own book, get it published on the Kindle platform – and start raking in royalty dollars.
Nick will share the exact steps you need to follow in order to become a Kindle best-selling author like Amanda Hocking or Aaron Patterson.
Kindle Kash is a bargain at the regular price of $47.00.
But use the link below to get it at the special discounted price of just $35.00 now!
Click here to get Kindle Kash at the special discounted price!
Enjoy!
Juggling or Balancing?
Almost every day coaching clients or friends tell me they’re juggling so many things in their lives right now that they can hardly keep up with them all.
No one ever tells me they’re “balancing” so many things in their lives that they find it hard to keep up.
That’s because there’s a big difference between “balancing” and “juggling.”
A couple of definitions in the American Heritage Dictionary for the word balance are: “mental steadiness or emotional stability; and – habit of calm behavior, judgment, etc.”
The same dictionary defines the word juggling as “having difficulty holding; balancing insecurely.”
With these definitions in mind, is it any wonder that people who balance the elements of their lives are calmer and more at-ease with themselves and the world around them than those who merely juggle everything?
People who simply juggle the various people and situations in their lives are more likely to feel frustrated, tired, overworked, and have trouble with personal and professional relationships.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Do you wake up feeling you’re already behind with your work and you’ll never be able to catch up?
Do you get angry at your friends, family, and co-workers easily, often for no apparent reason at all?
Do you have so many items on your daily to-do list that you find it difficult to focus on accomplishing any one thing on the list?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, chances are, you’re juggling.
You probably need to slow down and get things into balance. Make time for all the important areas of your life: body, mind, spiritual, and financial.
In the long run, you’ll be more successful, both personally and professionally. You’ll feel better, too.
Try it!
P.S. For tips to help you balance your life as a writer, register for your free subscription to The Morning Nudge!
