DEADLINES

DEADLINES

Who needs them?

An independently published author has the advantage of never being required to work toward a deadline. But, then, there are also those pesky, self-imposed deadlines. Are they a necessary evil or are they the death of our creativity? The procrastination bug hounds us all; distractions surround us at every turn. We all need to find a way to work toward the things we want to achieve.

How about goals? Are they merely deadlines in disguise? Maybe they are, but goals merged with deadlines, get things done. If you’re a new author, you need to establish habits that will support your work throughout your writing career. An experienced author can draw from what’s worked for him/her in the past, fine-tuning as he matures in his writing habits. A new author must establish good work habits early on.

And authors are not the only ones who need to develop a system for achieving their goals and meeting their deadlines.

            Some ways to make deadlines less painful;

1.     Think long-term. This keeps expectations realistic. Goals and deadlines can always be readjusted, but avoid stressing yourself by making them urgent.

2.     Supplement the long-term with daily, weekly, and monthly goals. Breaking down any large project into doable increments will keep you from feeling overwhelmed.

3.     Give yourself flexibility. A daily deadline of one page of writing may be easily doable, but it also allows you to miss a day and do two, and then catch up the next day.

4.     Don’t just make goals or deadlines and forget about them: Write them down, post them on your computer, keep a notebook.

Dear Readers,

 Many of us work better with a deadline looming. It’s hard, however, to stick to one that is self-generated! One way to set up a deadline for yourself is to get on a waiting list for reviews, editing, proofing, formatting, etc. Then, in order to use the services of the professional you’ve chosen, you’ll have to have your manuscript ready in time. This one works pretty well for me. Tell us what works for you.

Take care, and have a great week,

Marla

Halloween for Writers

Halloween for Writers

Inspiring, frightening, or fattening?

I love Halloween. I love autumn. We dress up our kids, ourselves, decorate our yards, and we buy candy for the trick-or-treaters.

For us writers? All the hoopla, history, and sights of Halloween, inspire our creativity. And this is true not only for those writers whose genre fits in with horror, mystery, or suspense. What memoir doesn’t have a story or two to tell about the best and worst Halloween experiences? What romance or mystery plot isn’t spiced up by an in-costume scene? Halloween and autumn scenery are excellent backdrops, no matter the genre.

            Lurking behind all that good stuff is the truly horrifying  Halloween monster—candy cravings. Who is more susceptible to them than someone chained to a desk?

I don’t know about the rest of you, but we still buy Halloween candy even though the grandkids live hundreds of miles away, and trick-or-treaters never show up this far from town!

            Halloween tips for writers:

1)   Tap into your heightened creativity! Write a short story, a flash fiction piece, or incorporate a Halloween scene into your novel or novella. Describe a fall scene in your latest work.

2)   When buying candy for the kids, buy something you’re less likely to dip into, i.e., forget the candy bars and stick with hard candy, apples, or bubble gum.

3)   If your kids come home with a haul, have them hide it from you. They’ll love the challenge!

4)   If you just have to have some candy, ask someone in the family to hide a bag of mini-Snicker’s bars for you (or whatever you can’t resist) and only dole out two at a time to you, after dinner.

5)   Wear a costume for the trick-or-treaters.

6)   Do something fun! Find a party, volunteer at a church celebration for kids, invite some friends over. Make the most of the holiday.

Dear Readers,

Here’s wishing you a fun Halloween. There’s a spooky story waiting for you under my “short story” tab, if you want to get in the mood. (It’s very short, I promise, but not flash-fiction!) Enjoy!

Marla

What to Do When You Just Don’t Feel Like It!

Writers – What to Do When You Just Don’t Feel Like It!

            It isn’t writer’s block. It’s not a glitch in the process. You know where your writing is going and what the next step will be. But—you feel like you need to tie yourself to the computer to get anything done. Any little distraction takes you away from what you should be doing.

            Sound familiar?

            I just got back from a rather grueling two-day, 500-mile trip. I returned home to find to 278 emails to address, three projects awaiting completion, a blog to write, and a submission to send to my critique group, which I hadn’t finished writing. And my dog keeps staring at me because she hasn’t had a walk in two days!  What I really feel like doing is nothing.

            The topic for this blog was easy—how to get out of this state.

1)   Determine just what’s going on. Feeling overwhelmed? Tackling too much at once? Decide if you really need to do something else, something unrelated to anything to do with your writing.

2)   If it is getting away that you need, make sure it’s something fun.

3)   If you’re hiding from a long list of things to do, start small.

4)   Make a list of everything that needs doing. Then do everything on the list that’s short. The feeling of well-being you get from their completion will get you back in the swing of things.

5)   If your list is short, and all the things on your list are big projects, allot 30 minutes to each of them every day until they’re finished.

6)   Read a great book, preferably in your own genre. This will inspire you to look at your writing with new eyes.
7) A reader just added a great tip! Put on your favorite music and let it restore your creativity and inspire you. Experiment a little and try classical music. It is said to spike creativity.

Dear readers,

I’ve been doing a little of all these things to get out of my rut today. Got this blog done, my submission in, and took the dog for a long walk. For me, walking stokes my creative juices. I’m feeling much better now and am back to a heightened state of productivity.

If you have some things that work for you, let us know. It’s always helpful to get feedback from our writer-friends!

Hope you’re all having a great week,

Marla

Proofing - When to quit!

Proofing – When to quit!

            The most common mistake made by self-published authors, is trusting their manuscript to proofing by their own eyes. Pinpointing one’s own errors can be a real crapshoot. It’s even difficult for a professional proofer; the temptation to get caught up in the story lurks in the background, daring the proofer to skip over errors.

            When I published my first novel, I proofed it myself and also had a friend proof it for me. It wasn’t long before I found out the hard way—in a review—the book was loaded with proofing problems. I reproofed it two more times. When the print version came out, I proofed it once more only to have someone tell me there were so many problems in the book that she couldn’t even read it! I finally woke up to a very bitter truth. The only way to publish a product that reads like it was not written by an amateur, is to hire a professional proofreader.

            Yes, the pros can be expensive but more services are available every day, and some are still affordable.

Thoughts on proofing.

1)   When I talk about proofing, remember in the true sense, proofing only looks for obvious errors, such as spelling, typos, punctuation, inconsistencies, etc. If you want something more in depth, you’ll need an editor, a line editor, or copy-editor.

2)   In considering services for hire, make sure you have them define exactly what they’ll be doing for you. The line between the different services listed above is not exact. There is a lot of overlap depending on who's explaining the process. Always be certain what you'll be getting before committing yourself to anyone’s service.

3)   Know what you want done. Don’t pay for proofing if what you really want is someone to give you feedback on your story or your writing style.

4)   Before using anyone’s services, ask for a list of authors he/she has done work for. Don’t be shy about contacting them.

5)   Before signing up, be sure to ask how long it will take before the work is completed. And be mindful, when you hire an individual, you always run the risk of extended timelines due to problems in their personal lives.

6)   Use services that require only a deposit before you see the final product.

7)   If you aren’t convinced you need a proofer, keep in mind there are many promotion sites and reviewers who will not accept books that have not been professionally proofed. Some even require professional editing.

8) Is it possible to proof too much? Unlike editing, the answer is no. But don't forget, even best-sellers have a few typos.

9)   There are many services out there, but here are a few I’m familiar with who are affordable and do a good job:

Red Pen Proofreading & Editing  April.Solberg@gmail.com  

April, an excellent editor and proofer who works for our local paper, is a friend of mine and has worked on both of my novels.

Steve Caresser, http://www.eprintedbooks.com/Melissa/

I haven’t used Steve’s services yet, but have heard good things from other authors I know.

Karen Syed, at Sassy Gal, http://karensyed.wordpress.com/sassy-gal-for-hire   

Karen, a member of Sisters In Crime, was recommended to me by a friend. She’s done proofing for me and she did an excellent job. Her service also has package deals that include all aspects of readying your book for print, including formatting and covers. My spouse has used her for his non-fiction book.

Melissa Gray, proofreadingwithmelissa@gmail.com. Melissa is highly recommended by authors whose opinion I value, and she has reasonable rates. She's affiliated with Steve Caresser of eprinted books, (see above).

Alastair, at StoryWonk.com, I haven’t used this service yet, but was impressed with his rates and prompt responses.

Dear Readers,

A special thank you to all my new followers. It’s fun to read your blogs. Keep sending links to them with your comments!

Once more, I’d like to remind you of two things I’ve learned the hard way: Proofing is important, and don’t use a service unless you have either had it recommended to you by a friend or asked the service for a list of other authors who have used them.

Have a great week, everyone,

Marla

Is Writing Hazardous to Your Health?

Is Writing Hazardous to Your Health?

(And if it is, what you can do about it.)

Stress, inactivity, and a diet lacking in the proper nutrients, are three culprits often blamed for making any number of diseases worse, and even making us vulnerable to them in the first place.

            As writers, we hit the trifecta of bad health habits every day! We sit in front of our computers for hours, neglect healthy eating habits, and are in constant angst with a plethora of stressors: writing a certain amount a day, finishing our projects, formatting them, proofing them, marketing our wares.

            We need to be alert to these dangers and find ways to take care of ourselves. It’s difficult to focus on good writing if you’re feeling rotten.

Some ways to take care of yourself:

1.     Build time into your schedule for exercise. Find something you enjoy, (I recommend walking. Preferably with a dog!), and build time into your schedule for it every day.

2.     Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. I know, then you’ll have to get up and pee a lot, but that short trip to the bathroom will give your circulation time to regroup.

3.     Set a timer for every 30 minutes. Stand up and do something that takes your eyes off the computer screen and moves your body. If it helps, have a list of things other than writing you can fit in.

4.     While sitting, routinely move your legs and stretch your arms. There are lots of “chair exercises” available online. Find a few you can do while writing and add them to you goal list. If money is no object, look into the new treadmills with computer stands.

5.     Get in the habit of taking deep breaths, the kind from your abdomen up, at least five an hour while you’re sitting.

6.     Most writers’ stress comes from the feeling of being overwhelmed with all the things we need to do in a day. Use goal setting to keep on track, and refer to it often. It’ll keep procrastination to a minimum, and you’ll get those projects done with a lot less stress.

7.     Make sure to get enough sleep! Try to stay on a consistent, seven to eight hours sleep a night schedule. Resist the lure of writing into the wee hours of the night unless you have enough time to make up for it the following day.

8.     Don’t overlook fun! Make time for your loved ones and the things you enjoy doing. Especially those things that keep you active.

9.     Keep your kitchen stocked with healthy snacks you can enjoy at your desk. I understand it’s a lot more gratifying to grab a bag of chips, a quick cookie, or a candy bar, but remember the nutrients in one banana will keep your brain functioning at peak for hours!

10. Give yourself a pat on the back. Get out of the habit of negative thinking. When you find that you’re beating up on yourself, take a minute and write down all the positive things you’ve accomplished.

Dear readers,

I so enjoy receiving your comments. Add your blog info when you comment, so I can visit your site, too.

            Being over fifty, I find these tips even more critical and wanted to share them with you. I talked about goal setting last week, and I’d advise adding some of these to your list. The great thing about writing for us older authors is it’s something we can do even from a wheelchair or a bed! But we don’t want to rush ourselves to that point, do we? So let’s stay aware of our needs while we work at our writing. It pays off!

Thanks for stopping by,

Marla

A Magic Tip

A MAGIC TIP TO KEEP YOUR WRITING ON TRACK

Is it really magic? No, it’s not magic and its simplicity will amaze you. Use goal-setting habits to maintain an awareness of where you’re going in your writing and what needs to be done.

            When I was writing my first novel, I had a copy of Walter Mosley’s This Year You Write Your Novel, and used its advice to get my book finished. Mosley advocates writing a certain amount every day no matter what—set a number of words, stick to it, and your novel will be done in under a year.  Did it work for me? Not in a year, but I went on to complete the novel and had it for sale on Amazon within three years. My second novel, soon to be published, took a little more than a year.

            There is no magic. There are no secrets. It takes discipline and hard work to complete a novel. Setting goals for your writing can help make it happen.

1.    Long-term goals. These are what keep you going. Without that long-term dream to be a published writer, it won’t happen. Write down your goals for the year and look at them often.

2.    Short-term goals. These keep you writing and are critical in avoiding things like writer’s block and the blahs. I find weekly goals the most useful and make them realistic based on how many things non-related to writing I might have to attend to that week. An example of weekly goals might be:

- Write at least a page a day.

- Keep up the outline for my novel

- Put in at least two review or interview requests

- Do my weekly blog.

- Spend 30 minutes keeping up on Twitter.

Put your weekly goals on an index card and prop it up on your computer where you won’t be able ignore it.

3.    Daily goals. Daily goals are great on days when you have a lot to accomplish. Fit in your writing needs for the day and check off things as you finish them. Be sure to leave your list where you can see it!

Dear Readers,

I’m getting ready to leave for a few days and I’m contemplating whether to take my computer along or leave it  behind and forget about writing and marketing for three days. Maybe I need “trip” goals!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week,

MARLA

Looking for Readers?

Looking for Readers?

Don’t forget Authors

The rank and file of authors is growing daily as self-publishing continues to rise in popularity and acceptance. Every day there are new posts telling writers how to connect with readers and how to find their target audience.

I think we forget to look in our own backyard for some of the best readers to acquire—other authors.

            "But, Marla," you argue, "we’re in 'competition' with other authors."

Are we, really? Some things to consider:

1.     All authors are readers. If you read author interviews, you’ll discover the one thing we all have in common is a love of books. Loving books  includes reading!

2.     Authors leave Reviews for the books they read.

3.     An author review, even if it isn’t a five-star, glowing report, will be realistic, and criticism will be constructive.

4.     Yes, we’re all looking for a piece of the pie, but the pie is duplicating itself at wildly exponential rates. The number of Kindle readers alone are in the millions. Add to those numbers, users of Ipads and other device readers, including the latest craze, reading on a mobile device, and the number triples. There’re plenty of readers to go around, and many of them are new readers who are looking for new authors.

5.     Follow and friend other authors, especially those that write in your genre. The payoff may surprise you!

Dear followers,

It was a wonderful feeling to hear from so many of you who responded to my two blogs aimed at older authors. Comforting to know I have so much company!

            Writing is a lonely profession. Meeting others with the same goals and interests makes it less so!

Happy to meet all of you,

Marla

Are You Ever Too Old to Write a Novel?

Are You Ever Too Old to Write a Novel?

Even if you can remember using one of these, with the courage to jump into the digital revolution, you can write and publish a book. If you can’t overcome your techno-fears—hire a kid to help you.

Many people over sixty regard computers and social networking as something they don’t have to learn. They brag they don’t need it, claim it’s too difficult to learn, too expensive, and anyway, what do they need it for except skyping the grandkids?

Everyone has a book in them whether it’s a recipe collection, a life-story memoir, or genre novel. I started writing She’s Not There after I retired. It took me five years to complete.

When I joined a critique group, I found out getting a book published the traditional way by finding and agent and/or a publisher, could take up to twenty years! I didn’t have twenty years to spare, so I published my first eBook on my own.

Ten reasons to start writing after 50.

1.     Writing is great brain exercise. (See last week’s blog, below.)

2.     You’ll meet new friends with a common goal joining a writer’s critique group.

3.     It’s something you can do no matter how incapacitated you are. (If you can put together a jigsaw puzzle, play bingo, or watch TV, you can write!)

4.     Add some extra cash to your fixed income.

5.     You have more spare time now than you ever will.

6.     Unlike a “job,” you can take time off whenever you want.

7.     You’ll read other authors with a new respect and learn from them.

8.     You’ll always have an excuse. “No, I can’t today, I’m working on my novel.”

9.     There’s nothing like having a goal to work toward!

10. And nothing like the satisfaction you’ll get from completing an entire novel.

Dear friends,

This blog is dedicated to all of you readers, who, like me, have always been secretly plotting your own book in your daydreams. Make that dream come true by taking a first step no matter how small. I started by plotting my novel while I walked, then starting on chapter one. If I can do it, so can you!

Take care, have a great week, and keep daydreaming!

Marla

Indie authors CAN ward off Alzheimer's

Indie Authors CAN Ward Off Alzheimer’s!

For years medical experts have been touting the use of one’s brain to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. They tell us something as simple as working crossword puzzles or reading a book, will help keep dementia at bay.

More and more retirees are becoming self-published authors. The reason? Like me, they’ve figured it out—authors don’t get Alzheimer’s. If you’re an Indie author or thinking about becoming one, take this simple test to see how many years writing can extend the productive years of your brain.

1.     Writing a full length novel                                                                        2 years

2.     Mastering acceptable grammar and punctuation.                                    1 year

3.     Computer problems while finishing your novel.                                       1 year

4.     Computer problems while publishing your novel.                                    2 years

5.     Weeding out favorite words from your manuscript.                                 1 year

6.     Weeding out the word “that”.                                                                   2 years

7.     Finding answers to research questions.                                                  1 year

8.     Formatting your novel yourself.                                                                1 year

9.     Formatting yourself for a print copy.                                                         2 years

10. Fixing problems in your novel after publishing.                                        2 years

11. Finding a cover artist that’s inexpensive and “gets” you.                         1 year.

12. Marketing your book online using social media.                                       1 year

13. Marketing your book using social media if you’re over 55.                      3 years           

14. Publishing more than one book.                                                                1 year

15. Writing in multiple genres.                                                                        2 years

16. Posting regular blog entries.                                                                      1 Year

17. Becoming the target of cyber-bullies.                                                        3 years

18. Getting hacked on Twitter.                                                                        1 year

19. Your Facebook account disappears.                                                        1 year

20. Remembering to get your butt up off the chair every

thirty minutes to walk around.                                                                        5 years                                                                           

Dear Readers,

I hope this post encourages all of you to start writing! Think of all the extra years you can keep your brain active with just a modicum of stress. Well, maybe a little more than a modicum depending on the day of the week. And you can add a few months for trying to do a column of numbers on your blog, which, you can see, I never mastered!

            There is a small caveat to this blog: I’m not a medical professional. The above calculations are based on this author’s experience with Indie publishing. It’s not for sissies.

            Have a great week and thanks for stopping in,

Marla

Red Herrings

RED HERRINGS

And other slippery things!

Inherent in most mysteries, and occasionally suspense novels, is a slate of suspects, any one of whom could be the killer. Savvy readers are primed to pick up every clue, figuring out who did the deed well ahead of those final words, “The End.”

            Planting legitimate clues along with red herrings is a skill an author gets better at with practice. Here are some thoughts on using clues and red herrings.

1.     Mix red herrings in with actual clues. Try not to signal the presence of one or the other by having your protagonist pay more attention to one than the other.  If your protag discovered two items on the victim’s calendar, for example, both near the time of death, don’t have him following up only one, or spend more time thinking about the significance of only one.

2.     Hide things in lists. If your protag is listening to the news and hears about a sports event, a beating death and a traffic jam, which item will the reader key in on? The death. But if the protag hears about the beating death, a murder-suicide, and a child’s kidnapping, it’s more difficult to pick up on the real clue.

A twist on this method is to leave something off the list, i.e., a detective goes through the victim’s personal effects and finds money, a wedding ring and credit cards, but not the cell phone she used incessantly.

3.     Let your protag get it wrong, misinterpret data or evidence, or trust the wrong person. If your sleuth believes the lying witness, readers will, too. Similarly, if your sleuth interprets the blood drops in the car as a sign that the body was transported in the vehicle, readers will, also . . . right up until you reveal that the victim had a nosebleed earlier in that car.

4.     Plant crucial clues early, before the readers have settled in. The clue can even come before the murder. For instance, in the first paragraph or scene, we learn that a character went to Stanford. Three-quarters of the way through, this becomes important when we learn that the victim’s time in California had something to do with his death. Few readers will remember that Character X went to Stanford, or connect it with California. If they do, it will be because you were smart enough not to emphasize that Stanford is in California.

5.     Reveal an important clue, but not what’s important about it. Say your protag finds the victim’s calendar on his fridge, filled with appointments for his last day on earth. What turns out to be important is not any one of the appointments, but the fact that the calendar is a promotional one distributed by a particular realtor.

After completing your manuscript, have a couple of mystery savvy friends read it and ask them to note on the page what items/information the thought were clues, and who they thought did it at any given time. This will help you figure out if you’re “broadcasting’ the killer. If so, you’ll need to delete some clues or find ways to incorporate them more subtly, or if you’re cheating by not providing enough clues for the reader to figure out who dunit!

Dear readers,

I’d love to hear your comments on clues and red herrings. Do red herrings ever become annoying? Or do they make the unraveling of the plot more interesting? I use them in my novels, but sometimes worry that I spend too much time on them, annoying my readers. What do you think? Please leave a comment.

These tips were taken from a wonderful handout distributed at a writer's workshop put on by Mystery Writers of America this summer. I highly recommend attending one of their workshops, which are put on in different locations annually. Excellent information! mwa@mysterywriters.org

            Have a wonderful week.

Marla

EPIPHANY

It happened—a weight loss epiphany!

The answer to a lifetime of struggling with weight-loss came to me today.  It has nothing to do with dieting—the real answer is learning not to gain weight. Not gaining weight is more important than losing it.

            This is a difficult concept to wrap your arms around. It conflicts with all the popular reasons for wanting to lose weight: class reunions, weddings, seeking relationships, New Year’s resolutions. The emphasis is always on FAST. Do it NOW! Lose 10 pounds in 4 days! Every pitch focuses on time. I fall for it, try it, lose some weight, and when life goes back to pre-diet normal, the weight creeps back on. Sometimes just as quickly as it came off. It’s no wonder taking off weight seems like an impossible dream!

            I have two occupations keeping me busy, my arbitration work and my writing. Both are done sitting on my derriere. My favorite hobbies, reading and playing bridge—same position. My lifestyle is not conducive to being lean.  I’ve learned I can make time work for me, use it to move toward a healthy weight. This is a Big Picture method, not a kitschy, lose fifteen pounds in a week, fad diet. It requires long-term life style changes. Done slowly, using my head, it will be relatively painless.

            I’ve merged my epiphany into ten, manageable points.

1.  It’s OKAY to maintain my current weight! The important part of this acceptance, whether it’s for a week or a year is this: I will NOT gain.
2. I will still eat my favorite foods, but not quite as often or in as large quantities as I might like.
3. If I have a day or an occasion of overindulgence, I’ll follow it with a few sensible days.
4. During the holiday season, which for me starts with Halloween and ends with the Superbowl game, I won’t gain weight. I accept that in order to enjoy holiday eating, I will eat lean on non-occasion days.
5. I intend to lose weight SLOWLY. I’m a calorie counter, I know how much I have to cut to lose. My goal is to lose 1 – 2 pounds a month, or even a few a year, until I reach a healthy weight for ME.
6. I’m going to eat when I’m physically hungry, pay more attention to when my body has had enough.
7. I no longer eat at my computer.
8. I’ll keep wearing my pedometer, doing 10k steps a day.
9. I’ll continue to use a notebook to keep track of the calories I take in every day, recalculating my intake when necessary.
10. I’ll keep reminding myself it is the SMALL changes that matter!

   Dear readers,

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know I have been practicing much of this for some time now. What’s new is the acceptance that it is okay if I lose weight slowly. For me, staying the same is an effort in itself. The realization that achieving a goal doesn’t HAVE to have a date connected to it, came as a big relief.

I hope this will benefit some others who’ve lived by the scale for all too long!

Marla