How to "Advertise" with Reviews and Excerpts

 


 September 5, 2022, #3


How to Use Your Reviews and Excerpts Series

By Carolyn Howard-Johnson

A continuation of Carolyn’s guest post series from July, 2022, with excerpts from her 
How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically: 
The ins and outs of using free reviews to build and sustain a writing caree
r

Feel free to retrieve the first and second for this series from July 5 and August 5, 2022
here on Writers on the Move.




“Very simply put, reviews are the gift that keeps giving.” ~ CHJ


This is my third guest post on getting and using reviews and how to make them into forever reviews to launch a book or to jumpstart the sales of a book that has been around for a while. It is always my pleasure to share excerpts from my multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers when I can reach (and help!) more authors with that information. Find more on the magic of reviews and the endorsements you excerpt from them in my How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically: The ins and outs of using free reviews to build and sustain a writing career. Do go back to the first and second in this series of posts for more vital information on the topic on the fifth of each month beginning on July 5, 2022. Or read the entire book to get a more complete story on the magic of reviews and blurbs—all 300 pages of it.

The Does and Don’ts of Using Excerpts in Your “Advertising”

If you plan to advertise your book, think twice. Most authors report advertising—meaning paid-for stuff in the media—is a bust. It generally doesn’t result in enough sales to pay for itself. If you insist on taking your chances, use proven blurbs and excerpts from your reviews to give your ads the edge they need. Here are some does and don’ts for that:

    Don’t advertise unless you can dedicate a good chunk of your budget to a frequent and focused advertising campaign. If you put your toe in the water and withdraw it too quickly out of disappointment, you are sure to fail. Advertising—done right—takes money and commitment.
    Find the perfect media for your ads. That might be social media because their algorithms can focus on the audience best for your book.
    Recognize that it may take some time and trial-and-error to find the perfect demographics of your audience and what these “tests” will cost you during your learning curve.

Tip: Though an experienced publicist may have media contacts in your demographic, you are probably better able to judge your audience than anyone else. Let your publicist work in areas she is more likely to have success with like big-name media she keeps in her frequent contacts list.

Your blurbs and review excerpts are a proven tool that convinces readers of the benefits of your book. Don’t attempt paying for an ad until you have a great one aimed specifically at your book’s most likely audience.

Tip: One of your most effective mottoes may be something like “As Seen in Entertainment Today.” “As Seen” may refer to an ad or a review in a medium with clout and it is a great alternative if the review doesn’t include a knock-out soundbite that can be quoted. This works when you are quoted in major periodicals, too.

Google’s AdSense is one of the online programs I tried. I used a freebie coupon I received in the mail and, though personal support Google offered was excellent, I wasn’t thrilled with the results for my how-to books which—it is said—advertising works best for.

Some authors report they like Facebook’s amazingly targeted ads. But beware: They are not frugal unless they turn out to be a sizzling success. Part of that success may be attributed to Facebook’s use of images which Mark Zuckerberg lauded as the most successful result-producing tool ever. I dare take issue with him. Review excerpts (blurbs) are, but the effectiveness of two of them used in conjunction can’t be denied. Even then, every part of the ad must be planned perfectly to avoid disappointment. To do that:

      You must choose the perfect demographics (basically keywords) in terms of interests, economic level, education level, and other keywords of your targeted audience.
      You must carefully manage the price-per-click and the limits on your budget for each ad.
      You must have a review excerpt (blurb) that is perfectly attuned to the demographics you are targeting your ad to, and it should be one that is memorable because of the person or media being quoted, because of the impact of the blurb itself, or both.
      Your image must also arrest the interest of your targeted audience. Your most powerful image will probably be your book cover because it is the ultimate brander. It’s visual. It gets repeated in many places from bookstores to Amazon even by the most casual marketer.

Note: Great cover design is essential, but it will be more effective if you use a three dimensional image. Gene Cartwright of @AmazonLinks fame offers my readers a special price (https://ifogo.com/3dchj/) to create one.

Circle October 5, 2022, on your calendar to learn how to use reviews in your media kit and the blurbs you extract from them in those books you have planned for the future. Feel free to go back on the fifth of each month on this-- Karen Cioffi’s #WritersontheMove blog-- to July 5 and August 5, 2022, where you can catch up on earlier posts on the topic of making reviews into marketing magic that pretty much lasts forever!


More on Guest Blogger and Regular WritersOnTheMove Contributor 


Carolyn Howard-Johnson brings her experience as a publicist, journalist, marketer, and founder and owner of a retail chain to the advice she gives in her multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers and the many classes she taught for nearly a decade as instructor for UCLA Extension’s world-renown Writers’ Program. All her books for writers are multi award winners including both the first and second editions of The Frugal Book Promoter, now in its third edition from Modern History Press, and her multi award-winning The Frugal Editor won awards from USA Book News, Readers’ Views Literary Award, the marketing award from Next Generation Indie Books and others including the coveted Irwin award. The third full book in the HowToDoItFrugally series for writers is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically.

Howard-Johnson is the recipient of the California Legislature’s Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment Award, and her community’s Character and Ethics award for her work promoting tolerance with her writing. She was also named to Pasadena Weekly’s list of “Fourteen San Gabriel Valley women who make life happen” and was given her community’s Diamond Award for Achievement in the Arts.

The author loves to travel. She has visited ninety one countries before her travels were so rudely interrupted by Covid and has studied writing at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom; Herzen University in St. Petersburg, Russia; and Charles University, Prague. She admits to carrying a pen and journal wherever she goes. Her Web site is www.howtodoitfrugally.com.


 

Children's Writing and Fantasy


By Karen Cioffi

Before I get into this article, for those who don’t know the difference between science fiction and fantasy, here it is:

Science fiction is based on scientific possibilities, even if loosely based on those possibilities or far-fetched. Fantasy stories are based on magic or supernatural occurrences.

I’d say about half of my clients want fantasy stories. And, that’s fine with me because I love writing in this genre.

Writing fantasy stories gives you free reign. Your imagination is literally your only limit.

Keep in mind that you do need to adhere to traditional publishing guidelines when writing for children no matter what genre you’re dealing with, even if you’re self-publishing.

This means keeping the storyline and words age appropriate. It also means creating a quality story that will engage the young reader.

And as a fantasy writer, while you have free reign, you must create the rules and boundaries for the world you’re creating. Although fantasy, the world needs to make sense to the reader.

But, what’s involved in actually writing fantasy?

Writing fantasy boils down to one basic question:

How do you create a fantasy world?

This is a tough question.

I think it depends in part on the kind of fantasy world you need or want to create.

STARTING WITH REALISTIC FICTION

With some types of fantasy stories, you’re not really creating an entirely new world, you’re stretching the existing one. An example of this is Superman. Earth is as it is, Superman simply has supernatural abilities

In these stories, the earth and society are normal. You’re adding other elements that are beyond reality or scientific possibility that turn the story into fantasy. At least this is how I view it.

These fantasies start with realistic fiction and an element of fantasy or a super-natural element is thrown in the mix.

It might be the protagonist finds ‘something’ or experiences something and it creates a ‘fantasy’ situation.

- Maybe the protagonist can read minds.
- Maybe he becomes super-strong.
- Maybe she becomes super-smart.
- Maybe he can fly.
- Maybe she becomes invisible.
- Maybe the protagonist can turn into an animal.

This list can go on and on. The scenarios are almost limitless.

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” begins with realistic fiction. An ordinary family with Charlie as the protagonist. He wins a contest and enters a world of fantasy.

Middle-grade “Walking Through Walls” begins with historical, but realistic, fiction. It starts with a boy and his family in 16th century China. Then the boy, 12-year old Wang, finds the Eternal Temple. This sets off the fantasy.

There’s also “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” among lots of others. These stories also begin with realistic fiction.

For these stories, there’s an incident or catalyst that turns realistic fiction into fantasy.

If you’re writing this type of story, you need to decide on the incident or catalyst that immerses the reader into the world of fantasy.

Then you need to decide on what magical or super-natural element will be created due to the catalyst.

FANTASIES THAT START OUT AS FANTASY

Some stories bring you right into the fantasy world. You’re immediately immersed into it. There is no element of realistic fiction. No catalyst or incident is required.

Think of “The Hobbit” and “Watership Down.”

The first chapter, first paragraph of “The Hobbit” reads:

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.”

The reader is immediately immersed in a fantasy world and she knows it.

Even while the setting of “Watership Down” is based on a real area between Berkshire and Hampshire in England, and author Richard Adam is very explicit when describing the land he knew very well, you know it’s fantasy because of the talking animals.

In his book though, while Adams is very descriptive in regard to the area, it’s not until the third paragraph that the rabbits (the characters) are mentioned. And, it’s not until the fifth paragraph that the rabbits talk.

But “Watership Down” is a LONG book. I have the illustrated (by Aldo Gallo) hardcover and it’s 474 pages. It was originally copyrighted in 1972. I don’t know if this type of lavishly descriptive children’s book would get a traditional contract today.

But aside from that, think of all the other talking animal books, like the Winnie-the-Pooh series, the Berenstain Bears series, “Stuart Little,” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” The young reader is off and running in a fantasy world from the get-go.

For stories that start out in a fantasy world, you need to decide on the element of the story that will be magical or supernatural.

- Will it be talking animals?
- Will it be a supernatural or magical world – trees that talk, land that can transform itself into different landscapes, deep earth caverns filled with prehistoric creatures?
- Will it be a world of unworldly creatures?

Obviously, this list can go on and on, but it gives you a basic idea. The reader knows from the get-go that it’s a fantasy world.

GET THE SETTING DOWN BEFORE BEGINNING

No matter what form of fantasy you’ll be writing, get the basis for the story in place first before beginning.

Will it be a realistic world with magical or supernatural elements?

Or, will it be a fantasy world?

And, it doesn’t matter if you’re an outliner or a pantser. It would be difficult to fly by the seat-of-your-pants if you don’t have the fundamentals in place.

As an example, when I was creating the fantasy “Walking Through Walls,” while I didn’t know all the specifics, I knew it would be set in 16th century China. I knew that the setting for that time period and locale needed to be realistic. This meant I had to do a lot of research.

So, even though I flew by the seat-of-my-pants for most of the story, I had the foundation down. It would be set in a realistic world.

For even more details on writing fantasy, check out the references listed below.

This article was originally published at:
https://karencioffiwritingforchildren.com/2018/03/25/writing-fantasy-for-children/ 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Karen Cioffi
is an award-winning children’s author and children’s ghostwriter, rewriter, and coach with clients worldwide. She is also the founder and editor-in-chief of Writers on the Move and an author online platform instructor with WOW! Women on Writing.

Karen’s children’s books include “Walking Through Walls” and “The Case of the Stranded Bear.” She also has a DIY book, “How to Write Children’s Fiction Books.” You can check them out at: https://karencioffiwritingforchildren.com/karens-books/. If you need help with your children’s story, visit: https://karencioffiwritingforchildren.com.  

 

MORE ON WRITING

Why Every Book Needs a Proposal

4 Reasons Self-Publishing Your Children’s Book May Be Your Best Option

Location, Location, Location: Researching Place



Writers: Need Ideas? Discover Your Passion


By Linda Wilson  @LinWilsonauthor

Studying the market for your genre and age group is truly the best way to see what books readers clamor for and what publishers are buying. First and foremost is to read many books—I’ve known authors who've read 100 or more in their genre—similar to the one you want to write. Publications such as Writer’s Market, and SCBWI’s The Essential Guide to Publishing 2022, which is available to members as a downloadable PDF or printed copy, are also musts in helping you decide which one of your ideas is the best one to pursue. Also, publication guides such as the two mentioned are jam-packed with how-to’s on how to get published.

Essential for me was joining The Society of Book Writers and Illustrators, SCBWI, a world-wide organization that offers essential information for children’s authors and illustrators. Look up the national SCBWI website for a chapter near you; go to meetings, conferences and retreats, and find a critique group. After some time in your pursuit, you will find that you know enough to write/illustrate your heart’s desire and offer it for publication.

Most Important: Look to your own Passion

Perhaps the most important resource is your own life. What are you passionate about? What do you care enough about to spend the time and effort it takes to write about it in a story, article, or book? It took me some time to discover my passion. I needed to dig deep. When I made my start, I truly didn’t know what to write about. I was told that nonfiction is easier to sell than fiction, which I believe is still true today. So, I began by writing articles. 

I bought and borrowed how-to books, chose a few subjects, interviewed people involved in various projects, wrote articles about them, and searched for publications that would accept my submissions, both newspapers and magazines. In essence, it’s how I taught myself how to write. Later, I decided to try my hand at fiction and began writing short stories for children’s magazines; and finally I went on to write fiction books for young children. Here is how I discovered the passion to write and publish my first book.

Secret in the Stars: An Abi Wunder Mystery, Illustrated by Tiffany Tutti

Due to my husband’s job, our family moved to several places throughout the U.S.: Centerville, Ohio; Westford, Mass.; Oakton, Virginia; Purcellville, Virginia; and finally, Albuquerque, New Mexico, where I live now. I loved each town and state and have fond memories of them all. But the place I loved the most was Purcellville, Virginia.

Purcellville is located approximately 40 miles from Washington, DC, in western Loudoun County. Picture white picket fences surrounding pastures where horses graze, narrow country roads, green rolling hills, quaint towns filled with country charm. Purcellville is near Middleburg, Virginia, where the Kennedy family purchased land and Jackie stabled and rode her horses. 

After we left Purcellville, I couldn’t stop thinking about our beautiful neighborhood there. The rich, green hills. People riding horses on the roads. The marsh across the road from our house, alive with creatures cricking, croaking, buzzing, and chirping day and night. I particularly loved the lullaby of the tree frogs on evenings in the spring when the temperature was just right.

After settling in New Mexico, I looked back at my time in Purcellville. My neighborhood became the book's setting. As I wrote, my inner life continued to develop, and I came to know that what mattered most to me was to encourage children to explore the great outdoors. Today the great outdoors is the theme in all my books. It is the title on my social media banners above the display of pictures of my book covers: “Stories that Explore the Great Outdoors.”

My characters were based on traits I admired in some of my favorite people. In Secret in the Stars, Abi, the main character, starts out to be artistic but not athletic. Her friend Jess, on the other hand, loves to swim, ride horses, and hike. Throughout the story Abi strives to be athletic, too. And in Book 2, Secret in the Mist, scheduled to publish next year, Jess acquires a taste for art from watching Abi draw the world around her in her sketchbook.

Writing Secret in the Stars turned out to be an experience of self-discovery. In later book projects, I developed more ideas of things I truly care about, such as: a packrat who is saddened by his mama's empty cupboards and wants only to find a way to put food on the table for the holidays (A Packrat's Holiday: Thistletoe's Gift, illustrated by Nancy Batra); a young girl who yearns to win a ribbon at a 4-H horse show so she can earn a pair of shiny, black tall boots (Tall Boots, illustrated by 1000 Storybooks); a baby duckling whose only desire is to be able to keep up with his brothers and sisters (Waddles the Duck: Hey, Wait for Me! illustrated by Nancy Batra). And in Cradle in the Wild, my latest picture book soon to be out, two young girls who want to help birds build their nest in springtime.

If you’re searching for ideas, read and study up: always a good idea. But search inside, for that’s where you’ll find what you are looking for. Passions of yours will turn into stories and articles that will benefit you and your readers for years to come.


Linda Wilson writes stories for young children. Visit Linda at https://bit.ly/3AOM98L. Click the links for free coloring pages and a puppet show starring Thistletoe Q. Packrat. While you’re there, get all the latest news by signing up for Linda’s newsletter. 

Find Linda’s books at  Amazon Author Page.

Connect with Linda: FacebookTwitterPinterestInstagram  

                       

A Few Tips for Choosing the Best Business Model to Make Money Writing

by Suzanne Lieurance


If you want to make money writing, but you’re just getting started, you’re probably wondering—what is a business model?

 

Well, for a writer, a business model is simply the way you will earn money writing.

 

There are many models to choose from to create a lucrative freelance writing business.  

 

Yet not all business models are a good fit for every writer.

 

So, here are a few tips that will help you choose the business model that's right for you!

 

Tip #1. Write down all the types of writing that you LOVE to do.

 

Many writers never stop to fully consider the type of writing they like to do—and all that it entails—before deciding on a model to follow.

 

So, if they end up with a writing career, it's often a career they don't enjoy because they are usually working on writing projects that don’t interest them very much (if at all).

 

Then, they aren't very successful at freelance writing because they don’t enjoy it, so they give up fairly quickly and move on to something else. 

 

To be sure this doesn’t happen to you, make your list of all the types of writing you love to do, then pare down the list to just a few niches or areas of interest. 

 

Think of it like this, what niche or topic could you write about for months, years, even decades, without getting sick of it?

 

Also, note that it’s usually a good idea to focus on only one or two niches, so you can become known as an expert in those one or two niches, instead of being regarded as a “generalist” in all sorts of niches. 

 

That’s because specialists tend to earn more money than generalists.

 

And, since things change so often in today’s world, it’s easier to keep up with the latest innovations, discoveries, etc. in only one or two niches than it is to be well informed in dozens of niches.

 

Note, though, that you can become known as a specialist in either nonfiction or fiction.

 

Think of it like this, Stephen King is an expert in horror fiction, that is his niche or specialty.

 

But another writer might focus on travel writing and write only about travel related topics.

 

Another writer might decide to write for children and further specialize in writing nonfiction books (on assignment) for children’s educational publishers.

 

Tip #2. Do some online research to locate other writers who successfully follow the model(s) you'd like to follow.

 

You can get tips just from reading these writers' websites or blogs and articles they post in their newsletters and ezines (if they have them).

 

Also, look for workshops or courses that show you how to earn money writing the types of things you like to write. 

 

For example, don't simply take a course in how to write ad copy if you wish to become a successful copywriter. 

 

Take a course in how to market yourself as a copywriter, too. 

 

And, even though you will want to pay for some of the courses and other resources that will help you build your writing business/career, also look for free ways to learn more about the writing you wish to do. 

 

There are thousands of free online resources, so take advantage of them.


Tip #3. Stick to just one or two models at the beginning.

 

For example, if you want to become a business-to-business writer, you might start out blogging for other businesses in your niche.

 

If you want to make money as a novelist, you will get busy writing novels as opposed to nonfiction articles for magazines, etc. 

 

When you stick to only one model at the start, you will find it easier to focus on the work that comes in (and the constant marketing you’ll need to do to continue to get new work) since you won’t be pulled in too many directions.


Tip #4. Add additional models to your overall business plan as you get the first model working successfully.

 

Eventually, adding other models to your overall business will allow you to create additional streams of freelance income.

 

For example, if you have a niche blog of your own, once you have created enough content for this site so you are attracting readers (and even have a mailing list of these readers), you can start blogging about the products and services of other businesses as an affiliate, so you earn a commission any time a reader uses your affiliate link to make a purchase.

 

Or, if you’ve successfully promoted your own blog through social media, eventually you might decide to offer your services as a social media marketer to other businesses.

 

If you’ve written a how-to book or self-help book, you might decide to create courses based on your book or earn money speaking about the content of your book (and sell books on the side at your speaking gigs).


Tip #5. Periodically step back and evaluate the models you're following.

 

If your business is not as successful as you would like, chances are, you're trying to follow too many models, so you're following none of them very well.

 

It can be a delicate balance at first—between trying to do too much or doing too little.

 

Often, at this point, a coach can be particularly helpful in keeping you focused so you don't get overwhelmed.

 

Consider working with a coach if your career gets stalled or you just can't seem to get it off to a good start.


Tip #6. Keep thinking BIGGER and BIGGER.

 

Some people figure "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", so they never expand their business.

 

Don't get stuck following just one or two models forever. 

 

As your business grows, add additional business models to the mix.

 

This will keep your business fresh and exciting—for you and for your clients and customers!

 

Try it!


And, if you'd like to learn more about business models, get your free subscription to The Morning Nudge.You'll also to get access to our private resource library, where you'll find A Short Guide to Business Models for Writers.



Suzanne Lieurance is an award-winning author with over 40 published books, a freelance writer, a writing coach, and founder and CEO of writebythesea.com.

 

Why First Impressions Matter


By Terry Whalin
@terrywhalin

As an editor, it is no exaggeration to say I’ve reviewed thousands of submissions during my years in publishing. As a writer, you have one opportunity to make a good first impression. While it may sound simplistic to say it, your impression is made in a matter of seconds. A key piece of advice is to lead with your strongest material and work hard on the subject line of your email, the first sentence and paragraph of your submission and all of the overall details.

 

Several years ago, I interviewed another acquisitions editor and asked him how he knows if he’s found a good submission. He said, “Terry, I read the title and if it is a good title, I read the first sentence. If it is a good sentence, I read the first paragraph. If it is a good paragraph, I read the first page. If it is a good page, I read the next page…” I hope this helps you see why you have seconds in this important process. The typical editor or agent reviews many pitches and can easily tell a good one. Don’t bury your good information on page five or six because they may not reach it.

 

How To Make A Good Impression

 

While these guidelines may be common sense, you’d be surprised how often writers make poor impressions when they neglect the basics. Make sure your pitch is well-crafted and appropriate to that person or editor. Use the right name. Personalize the pitch and don’t write “Dear Sir” or “Editor/Agent” which looks like it went to thousands of people at the same time—whether it did or not.

 

Check and double check to make sure all of the details are there. For example, at Morgan James Publishing, we acknowledge every submission with a letter in the mail. We receive over 5,000 submissions a year and only publish about 200 books so that is a lot of physical correspondence. If your address is not on your pitch, then I have to ask for it in order to get your submission into our internal system. If you include your address from the beginning, then you eliminate one extra time-consuming email I have to send to you.

 

Take a few minutes and make one final check of their publishing guidelines before you send your submission. Re-read the pitch and make any final adjustments.

 

Insights for Writers

 

Producing an excellent book proposal or query letter is an acquired skill—something you have to learn. Yet every writer knows these tools are a critical part of the publishing industry. I understand excellent book proposals require a great deal of energy. I’ve written two proposals which received six-figure advances from traditional publishers. My Book Proposals That Sell has over 130 Five Star reviews. I have a free book proposal checklist to give you some ideas. (Follow the link). Also, I have a free teleseminar at: AskAboutProposals.com. Finally, I created an online course with detailed information at: WriteABookProposal.com.

 

Remember Your Audience: Editors and Agents

 

While the process takes some work and planning, I’ve been inside some of the top literary agencies and publishers’ offices in New York City. Each of these professionals is actively looking for the next bestseller—even if they don’t respond or send you a form rejection. Every writer (whether brand new or much published) has to pitch to get a book deal. Learn the process and pitch with excellence which is spotted in seconds.

 

Tweetable:

 

Why do first impressions matter? This prolific writer and editor provides the details here. (ClickToTweet)

________________________________________

W. Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor lives in Colorado. A former magazine editor and former literary agent, Terry is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams and Billy Graham. Get Terry’s newest book, 10 Publishing Myths for only $10, free shipping and bonuses worth over $200. To help writers catch the attention of editors and agents, Terry wrote his bestselling Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success. The revised and updated edition will be out later this year. Check out his free Ebook, Platform Building Ideas for Every Author. His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com. Connect with Terry on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Time Management for Writers

 

Time Management for Writers by Deborah Lyn Stanley

Time Management is a frequent topic among writers. We juggle meetings and deadlines, step-out goal plans, and handle a myriad of correspondence tasks each day. How do we keep track of all of this? We need a flexible system, because most systems require modification to work well, and it takes testing until we find the system that fits.

Though we might want to create a most aggressive plan that causes our production to soar, “life happens”. Be flexible with yourself and relax your plan for a time if needed.

A writing friend mentioned her scheduling strategy—The Bullet Journal. She showed me how she was successful in using the Bullet Journal over several months. So, I tried it. I set up my Index, Future Log for 6 months, Monthly Log and Daily logs. I liked how it flowed for a month and continued. It worked, but I found it tedious, taking too much time noting here and there constantly. I needed to keep track of goals and schedule, BUT I needed to get to work first!
Check out the Bullet Journal: http://bulletjournal.com/.

Then, I set up a color highlighted Goal Plan Schedule on Excel to list:
•    Year End Completion Goals
•    Monthly Deadlines
•    Meeting Commitments
•    Weekly Progress
•    Notes
It worked well as a bird's-eye view for the year by week and month. I keep it open on my desk. Did it help guide my work day by day? No. I needed something more.

Finally, I have settled on a day/month/year planner. Daily I make entries that review the activities/accomplishments of the day briefly, similar to a diary. I use a journal for resolving issues and planning. Plus a digital calendar to schedule meetings & appointments with pop-up reminders.

Why does managing our time well matter to us?
It’s all about productivity, meeting deadlines & goals, and gaining a footing for our writing endeavors.

So, what does it take? It takes a careful review of what is working for us and what is taking us off track. Some questions to ask ourselves:
    *Do I need to limit email tasks? Would scheduling an hour each day avoid these interruptions?
    *What distracts me? Phone calls? Meetings? Schedule in blocks of time?
    *How can I reduce daily stress?
    *How can I improve my work flow and meet deadlines more effectively?
    *What is my goal and my destination?
    *Do I have milestones in place?
Katie Forrest, a guest for The Creative Penn, posted a helpful article here: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2020/02/13/9-time-management-tips-for-writers/

Since time management is a constant concern, and writers would appreciate some useful tips, the post was designed as a step-by-step guide through the journey. I appreciate Katie starts at where we are right now, analyzing what’s working and what’s not.


Are you looking for a writer’s community, with more tools and help?
Check out Good Story Company by Mary Kole
https://www.goodstorycompany.com/  
Mastermind / blog / community


Deborah Lyn Stanley is an author of Creative Non-Fiction. She writes articles, essays and stories. She is passionate about caring for the mentally impaired through creative arts.
Visit her My Writer’s Life website at: https://deborahlynwriter.com/   
Visit her caregiver’s website: https://deborahlyncaregiver.com/

Mom & Me: A Story of Dementia and the Power of God’s Love is available:
https://www.amazon.com/Deborah-Lyn-Stanley/
& https://books2read.com/b/valuestories


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Writers: Awards are Worth Pursuing


By Linda Wilson  @LinWilsonauthor

Recently, as a self-published author I set two goals for myself: publish multiple books, and become an award-winning author. Gladly, I have reached both goals. After publishing my first chapter book, Secret in the Stars: An Abi Wunder Mystery, for 7-10-year-olds, the writing was on the wall. And I was right—it’s taken over two years to write the second in the series—Secret in the Mist: An Abi Wunder Mystery—and it’s still not finished! The answer? Write a bunch of picture books!

Goal #1: Write multiple books

Luckily, picture books are faster to self-publish than they are to go the the traditional publishing route. Three stories emerged from my files and blossomed into the picture books I have now published on Amazon: A Packrat’s Holiday: Thistletoe’s Gift, Tall Boots, and Waddles the Duck: Hey, Wait for Me! My fourth picture book, Cradle in the Wild, will be available soon. All done while plugging away at the second Abi Wunder mystery.

Goal #2: Become an Award-Winning Author

I have become a multi-award-winning author. But this didn’t come about by magic. I applied for each and every award my books have won. There is a cost to apply, and often it takes months for the award to be announced. But the effort is well worth it. Here’s why:

As in the case of the National Federation of Press Women’s Communication Contest, first place winners are invited to attend the organization’s award ceremony, held this year in Fargo, North Dakota.

Stickers announcing each award can be placed on book covers. Other goodies include ribbons and plaques to show off at book fairs.

You earn the distinction of being an award winner among your readers and peers.

Your office wall fills up with certificates for you to admire and gaze at while writing your next book.

Awards my books have won, and yours can, too!

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/ -- Secret in the Stars: An Abi Wunder Mystery, illustrated by Tiffany Tutti, is a Kirkus Review Recommended Book.

https://newmexicopresswomen.org/ -- A Packrat’s Holiday: Thistletoe’s Gift, illustrated by Nancy Batra won first place in the 2022 New Mexico Press women’s Communications Contest. First place winners are automatically included in the national contest. Thistletoe won first place in the 2022 National Federal of Press Women’s Communication Contest as well!

https://www.momschoiceawards.com/ --Tall Boots, illustrated by 1000 Storybooks, is a Silver Award Recipient for the Mom’s Choice Awards Honoring Excellence. Mom’s Choice offers a deep discount to authors.

https://www.storymonsters.com/  -- Story Monsters is such a fun organization. The cost to apply for an award is low, and SM offers several types of awards. Tall Boots won two SM awards: 2021 Certificate of Excellence in Literature, Picture Book: Fiction (3-8), and Honorable Mention for the 2022 Purple Dragonfly Book Award, Animals/Pets.

Other Contests to Shoot For—Check Them Out!

https://www.instituteforwriters.com/

https://www.narrativemagazine.com 

https://www.writermag.com 

https://www.ippyawards.com 

https://cipabooks.com 

https://www.searchlightawards.com.uk 

https://www.pnwa.org

https://moonbeamawards.com 

https://winningwriters.com 

Cradle in the Wild will be available soon!

Linda Wilson writes stories for young children. Visit Linda at https://bit.ly/3AOM98L. Click the links for free coloring pages and a puppet show starring Thistletoe Q. Packrat. While you’re there, get all the latest news by signing up for Linda’s newsletter. 

Find Linda’s books at  Amazon Author Page.

Connect with Linda: FacebookTwitterPinterestInstagram  







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