Rev Up While You Slow Down

 

 

 

“All your dreams come true, if you have the courage to pursue them“ ~ Walt Disney

Taking time out during the holidays to orchestrate things for kids and family is—well, what we do to make their dreams come true. Taking time out for you is also important to make your dreams a reality. Most likely, however, you’ve put yourself on the back-burner with the intention of “I’ll get round to it.” If there is one thing that stood out to me this year is to get on with things via a plan of action, and most important, action the plan. Procrastination can indeed kill your dreams.

With that said, I’d like to leave you with some guidelines to design your path. It matters not what it is, making a decision to go for it is your first step forward. And as the adage says, “Once begun is half done.”

Write Out Your Intentions

Whatever is your intention, be it to get help to write a book, get coached, look for an agent, create a blog, website, open a social medium account, rock climbing, holiday/vacation to an exotic country etc. (your life is not all about work) be clear about what you intend to achieve and write them out along with a time line as to when you intend to achieve them. That is, 3-months, 6-weeks, one year, for instance, and fit it into your schedule. If you have to get up early or add fifteen minutes or half-an-hour to your day’s end, incorporate that time and stick to it. For your holiday/vacation, start researching destinations, flights and accommodation. Commit to what you’ve written and have fun with it. Use a spreadsheet or art paper and colour code areas, add images, smiley faces and check marks to jazz it up.

Light Up Your Path

Print out your list of goals (if you’ve used a spreadsheet) and place it somewhere obvious – the fridge door works too. Having your intended aspirations in full view not only serves as a reminder, it will help you reach accord leading to a feeling of achievement when you check off each task as you move through the year. Before your eyes you will see and experience how you are blazing your trail and designing your life. Is that self-satisfaction or what? Powerful! I say.

Portion Control

In addition, break the projects down into manageable chunks. Re-write each month’s intention in your diary and add to your events calendar on your phone or whatever device you use on a daily basis. It’s easier to focus on each task, rather than the Herculean project.

Action

Now action your plan, and don’t forget to ask for help. Let me know if you have any questions or need resources to help you achieve your writing, publishing and marketing goals.

Write It, Work It, Publish It!

© 2010 Cherry-Ann Carew

WOULD YOU LIKE TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER, MAGAZINE, BLOG OR WEBSITE? Please do, but ensure you include this complete resource box: Cherry-Ann Carew, The Power Writing Coach, Editor, and Founder of Writetastic Solutions, is co-author of the bestselling book, ‘How The Fierce Handle Fear, Secrets To Succeeding In Challenging Times and author of the forthcoming novel, “Whisper Of Lies”.

Cherry-Ann helps writers with their creative expression to add value to their books. Learn how her coaching and editing services can help you with your book. Subscribe for your FREE SPECIAL REPORT: Discover The 3 Simple Steps That Will Help You Start And Finish Your Book. Yes, you can have a finished draft in no time! Find out more about Cherry-Ann and the products and services she provides at Writetastic Solutions. Also, see Cherry-Ann’s Author web page www.cherryanncarew.com

If Your Writing Lacks Engagement… What’s The Point? – Here Are 5 Things You Can Do Now To Make It Better

With stiff competition in the publishing industry, your manuscript will not stand a chance if your writing doesn’t engage the reader. There are many factors that make up good writing, and of course, it’s not only the plot, but how you execute your writing i.e. style.

Overall, however, if your writing lacks a hook; has no rhythm or pace; has a weak plot; the characters are perfect; imperfect; does not capture the readers imagination, or the story is not properly structured–it has a poor beginning, sags in the middle and has a dull ending– or needs further development ad infinitum. Your work will most certainly be rejected by an agent or editor.

What to do?

Here are 5 things:  

• Print off your manuscript. This is a much better way to review it rather than on a computer screen. Read it as a reader (not a writer) and read it aloud. This way, you will hear if it lacks rhythm. If it does, chances are, you have probably told what is happening, rather than shown by writing too much narrative. To rectify this, make a note on the manuscript to contract sentences and use action verbs to give your writing rhythm and pace.
• Look out for words ending in ly or ing (adverbs and adjectives) and minimize their use – editors don’t like them being overused. Some dislike them altogether.
• If you have to return to another paragraph or chapter to make sense or check anything, there’s a hole in the structure. Fill the gap.
• After you’ve gone through the entire manuscript and highlighted/noted what needs to be changed. Go back to your copy on the computer and make the relevant changes. When you’ve completed that task, ask someone you trust to review it or, join a book club or online forum to get feedback. Most importantly…
• Get your manuscript professionally copyedited before submitting to an agent or editor.

Yes, I know it begs the question, “Why bother to edit myself if I still need to get it edited.” The answer is, “Because you are too close to your work, you miss things.” In addition, by self-editing, you minimize editing costs.

I can tell in the blink of an eye if a story has a strong hook, if  the writer has formatted and edited their manuscript among other things, and so too can an agent and editor. If your work doesn’t stand out, you won’t get a look in — it’s a jungle out there.  

It is essential that your manuscript is the best it can be. Many of you spend countless hours and months on your writing, yet do not do due diligence to ensure your efforts will lead to your goal — publication.  You can gain expert help from my coaching and or editing services at http://www.writetasticsolutions.com and if you haven’t already downloaded my Special Report, get it while you’re there, it’s free!

Write It, Work It, Publish It! 

© 2010 Cherry-Ann Carew

WOULD YOU LIKE TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER, MAGAZINE, BLOG OR WEBSITE? Please do, but ensure you include this complete resource box:

Cherry-Ann Carew, The Power Writing Coach, Editor, and Founder of Writetastic Solutions, is a co-author of the bestselling book ‘How the Fierce Handle Fear’ – Secrets to Succeeding in Challenging Times.  Cherry-Ann helps writers with their creative expression to add value to their books. Learn how her coaching and editing services can help you with your book. Subscribe for your FREE SPECIAL REPORT: Discover The 3 Simple Steps That Will Help You Start And Finish Your Book. Yes, you can have a finished draft in no time!

I Can Visualize Holding A Lighter To A Kindle

Here’s an interesting  blog/article written by By Dianna Dilworth that  e-Books can’t be burned. I can visualize holding a lighter to a kindle — not that I ever would. A book is a book is a book, digital or not, and I have a lot of respect for them. I wonder though, is that the same as watching a physical book go up in flames (it has been done for censorship among other reasons) given that a would-want-to ’burner’ doesn’t own the eBook? The seller owns the licence agreement.

Point For eBooks, They Can’t Be Burned

All of the controversy and ink being spilled about “International Burn A Koran Day” brings to light the beauty of eBooks. You can’t burn an eBook. Well maybe you can, but it would be expensive and pretty toxic. And the symbolism would be lost.

Would Pastor Terry Jones burn a $499 iPad or even a $139 Kindle? Probably not. This blogger doubts that Jones has ever even read an eBook (or many print books for that matter).

While eBooks are not likely to entirely wipe print books off of the planet, it is nice to think that the digital revolution in publishing will help protect books from the extremists.

Now of course, I can imagine a sci-fi scenario in which databases of eBooks are wiped out and books are deleted or worse yet changed. Amazon has made it easy to imagine this kind of scenario when they wiped out George Orwell’s books.

But still, the dramatic act and event that comes out of a physical book burning just does not have the same impact with an eReader. Think about it, an eReader has thousands of books and depending on which one you have it can double as a phone, a video game console, an mp3 player and a video streaming device. It just doesn’t have the same power.

What do you think?

Tout Your Horn or Vuvuzelas to Market Your Book

Tout Your Horn or Vuvuzelas to Market Your Book

Many writers make the mistake of thinking that once their book is published it will sell itself. Nothing is further from the truth. Distribution and marketing is of the utmost importance in order for your book to be a success. It’s part of the deal of being a successful author.

So what steps do you need to take to market your book? The first thing to realize is that there are people and tools to help in your marketing efforts. You don’t need to do it alone. The sooner you implement a marketing structure, the easier it will be when your book hit bookstore shelves. Even if your book is already published, you can still put these steps in place.

Connect With People

Connect with people to help you spread the word about your book. It could be immediate members of your family or extended family. My daughter, for instance, sent an email out to her connections when my book was released. Does that mean that her connections will buy my book? Perhaps; irrespective of whether they do, or do not, that email could go viral as those connections could pass the email along to others.

What about groups that you are affiliated with? Commence a dialogue with them and ask for their support. Start participating in on-line forums on your book topic.  Word to the wise, don’t try selling your book, instead, start building relationships by making comments. Before you know it, you will position yourself as an expert and people will look forward to reading your book(s).

Many organizations are open to promoting works that are in line with their cause, as such, research sponsors who share the same message or theme in your book. Then there are your school’s alumni. They are always looking to promote former students in their magazines who have gone on to achieve. Don’t forget your local Chamber of Commerce and Library.

Social Mediums are Free Tools – Take Advantage of Them

There are hundreds of social mediums that you can use to showcase your work to gain massive visibility.

If you don’t have a blog, create one now whether you’ve started writing or are already published. Talk about your book and invite people to comment to build interaction. Another simple way to gain visibility is to be a guest blogger. Identify some popular blogs with shared interest that have an audience suitable to your book and offer to guest blog on their blogs.

Get set up and active on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin if you haven’t already. As mentioned, they are hundreds, maybe even thousands of social mediums. I advise you select 3 to 5 and work them. These social outlets have millions of people with shared interests and you can create your own group(s). Social mediums are free and not as time consuming as you may think once you get the hang of it. Start using social media now to market your book.

Article writing is another great way to gain visibility. Simply write a 250 to 350 word article on the topic of your book and submit them to article marketing sites such as: http://articlesfactory.com and http://ezinearticles.com/.

When it’s time for your book launch, create a media release and blast it to press release directories such as: http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/and http://www.marketwire.com. This is a great way to get into print publications, booked on TV and radio. You can also create your own Internet radio show.

Create a valuable opt-in offer in line with the message of your book on your website, or blog so that when people go to your site, you capture their name and email. This allows you to build a relationship with your subscribers. You will need an auto responder for this, you can start with www.aweber.com.

Consider a virtual book tour when your book launches, they’re extremely useful in our digital age. Of course, there’s good old-fashion in store book signings that you shouldn’t rule out.

Another avenue to market your book is to teach classes, workshops, or do free teleseminars and create an email signature and add your blog and website URL.

Too Busy to Market Your Book, Can’t Because of Other Commitments, Don’t Want to…

If you fall into the above category, hire a marketer. This will cost you, but it will be worth your while. Ensure that you check out the marketer’s credentials before you commit and pay up. For instance, have any of the books they promoted won awards, or became bestsellers?

Follow these simple guidelines to tell the world about you and your book. As noted above, you can’t do it alone and you don’t have to.

© 2010 Cherry-Ann Carew

WOULD YOU LIKE TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER, MAGAZINE, BLOG OR WEBSITE? Please do, but ensure you include this complete resource box:

Cherry-Ann Carew, The Power Writing Coach, Editor, and Founder of Writetastic Solutions, is a contributing author to How the Fierce Handle Fear – ‘Secrets to Succeeding in Challenging Times.’  Cherry-Ann helps writers with their creative expression to add value to their books. Learn how her coaching and editing services can help you with your book. Subscribe for your FREE SPECIAL REPORT: Discover The 3 Simple Steps That Will Help You Start And Finish Your Book. Yes, you can have a finished draft in no time!