When it comes to engaging your readers, don’t be like holiday greeting cards

About this time of year, I start to get holiday greeting cards. Since I am an atheist, the only religious cards I get are from my aunts and uncles, too set in their ways to even contemplate why one would send a nonreligious card. It would never cross their minds that I might find it…

Continue Reading →

Family and friends: Distractions and assets for the indie writer

Has this ever happened to you? Creativity is flowing: you can’t typed the words fast enough. Everything is perfect: word selection, sentence structure, plot development. Everything in the universe seems aligned so that you can write; and then, your best friend knocks on your door, the phone rings and from the caller ID you know…

Continue Reading →

Thanksgiving Gratitude

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoy kind moments with family and friends. Thanksgiving ranks as the favorite holiday in my house. Lots of good food and company without the expectations of other holidays. It is a day for sharing the bounty, the food, and friendships. On this day in particular, I reflect…

Continue Reading →

To write more, conquer the time-suck

With all the distraction in one’s life, is it difficult for you to find the time to write? If you are like most writers, you juggle work, family, book promoting, blogging, and the demands of life in general. Your intentions to sit down and write are illusive; you never manage to put pen to paper.…

Continue Reading →

Why Pinterest is important to indie authors

Have you converted your personal Pinterest account to a business account? After reading Pinterest Finally Rolls Out Business Accounts: How to Set Yours Up Today,  I converted my account. Following the steps outlined in the post, it only took a few minutes.  Hopefully, the conversion will lead to benefits that are just as easily implemented.…

Continue Reading →

Use the Indie Process to hone in on your marketing strategy

Six months ago as I was getting ready to launch the release of my first indie book, I started listening to the “experts,” attending webinars, downloading lots of free tips, reading everything I could about indie publishing, and even sitting in lectures. I  now have a spiral notebook full of quotes and suggestions and a…

Continue Reading →

Separating real from wishful thinking

Last night at Toastmasters, one of the speakers talked about creating a new holiday, Get Real Day. He proposed that on this day people contemplate what is real in their lives versus what is wishful thinking. Sorting out the real, he said, helps one focus on what is important and provides “a filter for our…

Continue Reading →

Do you feel more like a juggler than an indie writer?

October had so many opportunities to learn that my head is still spinning.  Many bloggers talked about the importance of engaging the readers, each offering a number of best practices for doing so. They suggested commenting on other bloggers’ posts (which means you have to read them), posting content multiple times each day—5 to 15…

Continue Reading →