tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48852405655224045972015-08-01T13:02:23.028+01:00Joseph Eastwood's BlogThe official blog of author, Joseph Eastwood.Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-41650299774607457262015-06-26T17:29:00.001+01:002015-06-26T17:29:15.124+01:00Pay per Page: Kindle Unlimited<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n_GFLTIkxag/VYhSs8vtiOI/AAAAAAAADW8/iePlHfMmnBU/s1600/payperpagekindleunlimited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n_GFLTIkxag/VYhSs8vtiOI/AAAAAAAADW8/iePlHfMmnBU/s1600/payperpagekindleunlimited.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">If you're a self-published author, the chances are high you've heard of changes coming to the Kindle Unlimited (KU/KOLL) programme this July. If not, let me break the news. Amazon Kindle stated from July 1st they will no longer be paying a flat-fee per borrow, or per read over 10%. Instead, they will now be paying author per page read.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">People are losing their shit over this; <b>it's different, it's a change</b>, and the ever-changing landscape of the self-publishing world isn't letting anyone rest any easier. However, I feel like this is a positive change, still, this is a way for Amazon to get exclusivity of your book, and maybe you will get fewer royalties from the Kindle Select programme's pot of money, which I hear will be around $10,000,000 in July.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>However</b>, this will now reward the authors who can keep people reading their longer books. Whereas before, the system had rewarded the authors who got readers to open their book and read past 10% -- often the case for <b>that person</b> who wrote <b>erotic dino</b> books of around 5,000 words to rake in <b>a lot</b> of money. Perhaps this will take away from that person, or maybe they'll become hugely popular and splice them all together into one <b>megabook</b> which will be such a compelling read that it will be read to the end. <i>I promise I'm not judging, whatever you need to make a living.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bo2M7RDs-ro/VYrT9tQKSRI/AAAAAAAADXg/6hQxC0xSHj4/s1600/Kindle-Unlimited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bo2M7RDs-ro/VYrT9tQKSRI/AAAAAAAADXg/6hQxC0xSHj4/s400/Kindle-Unlimited.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I like Kindle Direct Publishing -- I don't think it's the be all and end all of publishing, but it's a powerhouse, and I don't think authors should avoid Kindle completely.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Over the past week, or since the news broke, one of the things I've seen crop up, time and time again was that "we hate that Kindle want exclusivity" and "before we know it, they'll force everyone on the system" -- I'll address both of them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Exclusivity Isn't Bad!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Why isn't it bad? I hear you ask as you niggle your way in at the back of my head. It's not bad because it's a paid service for books on demand, readers get to read all the books they want, as long as they're within the programme.<b> </b>Kindle Select has been described as being a Netflix for books -- and with that being said, Netflix, when it puts shows up, have exclusivity of those shows, just like Sky, satellite service, they currently <b>own</b> the rights to broadcast Mean Girls within the UK, this is why I can't stream Mean Girls from Netflix. <b>Exclusivity</b>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The only difference is that with TV and Film, they're usually paid a fee to buy exclusivity rights, the <b>money</b> in the case of Kindle Select in order to <b>buy</b> exclusivity comes from a pot of money, and you will be paid per pages read, a bit like a pay per view service, only there's no flat fee, and you actually have <b>no idea</b> whatsoever the amount you'll receive.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I think it's great, for both the author and the reader, the author doesn't have to set their book as <b>FREE</b>, and for an unknown author, this is usually the way into a reader's life, and with Kindle Select, the reader can read for "free" and the author will still get paid.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Amazon will NOT force you!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They clearly state when you go to publish that if you TICK a certain box, you will be enrolled, if you don't enrol, that's okay, you can enrol whenever you like. A period of enrolment lasts 90 DAYS. So you can test the waters, this is especially useful if you have a few titles to your name. <i>Please take your tinfoil hat off.</i><br /><i><br /></i>Taken from their site... >><a href="https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=A156OS90J7RDN">full post</a><<<br /><br /><b style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Royalty payments under the new program</b><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">As with our current approach, we'll continue to set a KDP Select Global Fund each month. Under the new payment method, the amount an author earns will be determined by their share of total pages read instead of their share of total qualified borrows. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Here are some examples of how it would work if the fund was $10M and 100,000,000 total pages were read in the month:</span><br /><ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 18px 18px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: disc; margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">The author of a 100 page book that was borrowed and read completely 100 times would earn $1,000 ($10 million multiplied by 10,000 pages for this author divided by 100,000,000 total pages).</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: disc; margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">The author of a 200 page book that was borrowed and read completely 100 times would earn $2,000 ($10 million multiplied by 20,000 pages for this author divided by 100,000,000 total pages).</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: disc; margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">The author of a 200 page book that was borrowed 100 times but only read halfway through on average would earn $1,000 ($10 million multiplied by 10,000 pages for this author divided by 100,000,000 total pages).</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Every time an author does download a book through Kindle Unlimited, that book will count towards your ranking as if classed as a sale, only you will not earn a royalty you set yourself in the pricing page, you will earn from the KDP Select pot of money.<br /><br />I hope that this post clears a few things up, I have seen a lot of posts about the changes, so I hope this will go with those <i>helpful</i> ones.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">As always, keep on writing them words!</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RPkJL_1NkKs/VJduXpq9IhI/AAAAAAAADHU/7htYmU16g1c/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RPkJL_1NkKs/VJduXpq9IhI/AAAAAAAADHU/7htYmU16g1c/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" /></a></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-64543156832852131252015-06-24T16:27:00.000+01:002015-07-01T12:52:13.334+01:00Self-Edit Help #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yv6yf-vZN-Q/VYhRRGIZFEI/AAAAAAAADWw/rEUjUX7ooC0/s1600/Self-Edit%2BHelp%2B%25231.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yv6yf-vZN-Q/VYhRRGIZFEI/AAAAAAAADWw/rEUjUX7ooC0/s1600/Self-Edit%2BHelp%2B%25231.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Editing is crucial to writing. Knowing when and what to cut, and you might be sat there thinking '<i>but isn't that why I have an editor?</i>' -- to edit for you, yes and no, an editor <b>helps</b> you, they will give your their suggestion based on the knowledge and experience they have. Your editor is <b>not</b> a miracle worker; depending on the type of edit you get that is.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As writers, the ability to edit yourself is a great skill -- know and understand grammar, plot, sentence structure, tenses, POV, etc. and if you don't know a lot about grammar, that's nothing to feel bad or disheartened about. Check out <a href="http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl"><b>Quick & Dirty Tips: Grammar Girl</b></a>, it's an informative site with fun content to learn.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>ALWAYS</b> leave your work once finished before coming back to it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>TRY</b> not to use the same medium to edit as you did to write.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">If you wrote on your laptop, how about print it, read through, get your red pen.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>READ</b> aloud your work.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">If it doesn't sound right, you'll know.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywhx55F3dtk/VYrGnYuewuI/AAAAAAAADXQ/_emRcTE_wiA/s1600/6e7445494f648f094e3a7880bbe4ebfd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywhx55F3dtk/VYrGnYuewuI/AAAAAAAADXQ/_emRcTE_wiA/s320/6e7445494f648f094e3a7880bbe4ebfd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I totally get that this is your editing face, sometimes; most of the time, editing is a daunting task, you don't want to chop your baby up and stitch it back together in a precise way.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Remember </b>that writing is a job, use the finished product as a motivator. When I'm doing a round of self-edits, or a draft, I will tell myself to buckle up, because I'm not letting go of this until it's pried from my filthy corpse.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Do NOT</b> rely on your "spell check" or the squiggly lines of death; they come in three colours; red, green, and blue. Of course, pay attention to them, but don't rely on them to tell you that you've done a swell job at making your manuscript all neat and tidy -- because you haven't.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"The only kind of writing is rewriting."</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">— Ernest Hemingway</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the writing profession, we're somewhat lucky, we can come back to our work time and time again. If at first you don't succeed, try and try again. If you're still in doubt, ask for help. There's a lot of help out there. Ask friends, subscribe to services like <a href="https://www.grammarly.com/grammar-check">Grammarly</a>, etc. but always remember to power through your "editing face". *I do recommend Grammarly, they have this <i>neat</i> extension for web browsers so you notice errors before posting! HAZZAH!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Go forth and write your daily word count goals!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57Xz9KYsbeY/VLlM43Lpl2I/AAAAAAAADKs/DoiB8bYmF60/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57Xz9KYsbeY/VLlM43Lpl2I/AAAAAAAADKs/DoiB8bYmF60/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-51594212405292177622015-06-22T15:14:00.002+01:002015-06-22T18:39:18.684+01:00Planning a Series of Novels!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-blv70IXPbOQ/VYgKg-SsJjI/AAAAAAAADTk/8SUyv3Tw4lg/s1600/1%2BPlanning%2Ba%2BSeries.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-blv70IXPbOQ/VYgKg-SsJjI/AAAAAAAADTk/8SUyv3Tw4lg/s1600/1%2BPlanning%2Ba%2BSeries.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm not sure if this is the coffee speaking, but <b>don't do it</b>, don't start a series, it's bad for your health and you'll thank me in the long run. People who set out to write a series are troubled people, they <b>need</b> the reader to fall hook, line, and sinker for the books and the characters. It's really a form of narcissism.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Oh, you're still there! </i>In that case, you'll be looking for answers or something to tide you over. <b>I am only kidding</b>, planning is something I love to do, so if you're a pantser "<i>writing by the seat of your pants</i>" then this might not be for you.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you're serious about your series, there are a few things you will need to know about your series before you begin:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">How many books will be in this series?</li><li style="text-align: justify;">How will the series end?</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Who are the main/central characters?</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Themes present in the book(s)?</li><li style="text-align: justify;">What do you want to happen to your characters? Any arcs?</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you know how it begins, and you know how it ends, you're already on your way to having yourself a series of books. All you need to figure out are the <b>middle bits</b>. For me, when I say <i>begins</i> and <i>ends</i> I usually look at this from a few different angles;</div><div><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">How each book begins and ends?</li><li style="text-align: justify;">How the series itself begins and ends?</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You might want to think about cliffhangers, because if your book is a huge success and you've killed the protagonist off, you may kick yourself because you can't go back to the series. So always have in mind what your plan is for the series. <b>J. K. Rowling is doing more Harry Potter</b>, why? Because it was a huge success! (*be warned, there's a lot of hate for cliffhanger endings!)</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ribUEkNYiW8/VYhHkDNzSNI/AAAAAAAADVE/r9_5bTBe4iA/s1600/explanation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ribUEkNYiW8/VYhHkDNzSNI/AAAAAAAADVE/r9_5bTBe4iA/s400/explanation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Depending on the type of series, you'll definitely want to be thinking about scene and setting, for my Grayson Ryker thriller series, the main scenes and settings where Grayson's office space at the newspaper, his apartment, the restaurant they frequent, and landscaping the setting, as it is set in <b>real-life</b> Chicago, I've done extensive research on the littlest things; weather, traffic, closest park to Grayson's apartment, the route he runs, the brand of cigarette he smokes, etc. <b>This is set in the real-world, where real-world rules apply.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you're planning a fantasy, depending on where it's set, you can go about creating your own culture of people to populate the world. <b>The key to a good series is breathing life into it</b>. Be inspired by real life people, situations, etc. and make sure to keep down everything you know or have thought about this series in a folder or binder, and not where it will be easily lost. If you're <i>on the go</i>, perhaps a software like <b><a href="https://evernote.com/">Evernote</a></b> would be useful. (Great free program also w/avail paid service.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Writing a series is different from writing a standalone novel. Writing a series means being able to keep the characters and the voice for several books, and cliffhangers are often forgivable if it's within a series because you know you'll be getting the answer soon enough. If you're writing a standalone, the reader expects everything to be wrapped up and ready to go once they've reached the final few chapters, they don't expect a cliffhanger that may or may not have an answer.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Immerse yourself</b> in the series. I have several binders for several series, and before I can write within a world, I have to immerse myself in that binder. As I usually write one of a series, and then another before coming back to the first series; I'm not sure if I'd recommend this, but it's what I've found works best for me.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuvsZf6-bGw/VYhIGICLgOI/AAAAAAAADVU/14KXEHw7yyw/s1600/where-am-i-what-year-is-it-54f47f482361e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuvsZf6-bGw/VYhIGICLgOI/AAAAAAAADVU/14KXEHw7yyw/s400/where-am-i-what-year-is-it-54f47f482361e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Develop <b>minor characters</b>, you can't afford to have some 2D cardboard cutout of a character you've seen over and over. Make sure they all have a voice, because if you've introduced them, they're most likely coming back at some point.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've never used any writing software like Scrivner, etc. but if you have and it's worked for you, please feel free to mention in the comments below.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div>Like with in general, you must be willing to put in the time and effort to handcraft the world for your characters, even if it's set in the real world, you must still describe the places like no-one has been there before, and the chances are, if you're from a small town in the United Kingdom, <b>very few</b> of your readers or potential readers will have been there.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Go forth and procreate... or create professionally your series of novels!</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57Xz9KYsbeY/VLlM43Lpl2I/AAAAAAAADKs/DoiB8bYmF60/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57Xz9KYsbeY/VLlM43Lpl2I/AAAAAAAADKs/DoiB8bYmF60/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-18709916320837818142015-01-29T19:50:00.000+00:002015-01-29T19:50:35.869+00:0010 Top Tips to Boosting Blog Traffic!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QLSYPFgkd70/VLlCQS720dI/AAAAAAAADKY/pNV3DhLMcIs/s1600/Boosting%2BBlog%2BTraffic.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QLSYPFgkd70/VLlCQS720dI/AAAAAAAADKY/pNV3DhLMcIs/s1600/Boosting%2BBlog%2BTraffic.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This post is a re-post from 2012! (3 years ago!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So the reason why you clicked the link to this post is to read "10 Top Tips to Boosting Blog Traffic" so I assume that you have a blog and if you do then leave your link in the comments below! If you don't I think that a blog is a must for all writers. (For more points on raising your writer profile click here -- <a href="http://josepheastwood.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/10-top-tips-to-raising-your-writer.html">10 Top Tips to Raising Your Writer Profile</a>)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">These tips are in no particular order because you need to be doing ALL ten of these points.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>1 // <span style="color: red;">Target an Audience!</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This might seem pretty obvious but you need to know who your target audience is and you need to show this in the content. If your posts are all over the place with nothing in common with each other people will be less inclined to follow you. If you're a writer you might want to document your journey with an informative post about what you've learnt about the industry here and there. You NEED to aim it at a group of people, and you need to have something that interests them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>2 // <span style="color: red;">Use Your Social Ties!</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Facebook and Twitter are used differently by different people, as a writer you might use them to document your word count and share with the rest of the world in hopes that they will encourage you to "keep up the good work" and a lot of people will. Another use is promotion! Promote your blog, sell your blog with your words and make people want to read THAT post you've just posted. (See above link on how to raise your writer profile)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>3 // <span style="color: red;">Do Guest Posts!</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Guest posts are a great way of getting to a new and broader audience, the audience of whoever blog that you're guest blogging for. You might want to exchange, so you provide them with a guest post and they will provide you with one. There are a lot of writers out there who allow authors to submit blog posts like Chuck Wendig and Joe Konrath. (I mean, if you don't ask anyone, you won't get anything. Nobody is going to offer to host you out of thin air.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>4 // <span style="color: red;">Blog About Popular Topics!</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">By this, I mean that you should blog about the popular topics in your area. When Borders was closing down there were so many people blogging about it and trying to get their opinion out. It's also a great way of driving traffic to your blog. Another example would be when Amazon introduced KDP Select -- there were a lot of opinions on this, some good and some bad. I didn't get involved with this, but I did read a lot of posts on the matter.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You need to be involved with the community, if you're not involved and you're just going about your own thing, then you'll never know what's happening in the world. So stay informed and inform your readers as well.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>5 // <span style="color: red;">Reference Your Own Posts!</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You see what I did above, right at the top, I referenced my previous posts! There is also <a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/learn">LinkWithin</a> that is how some authors get those little thumbnails at the bottom of their post. Make sure that what you're referencing is relevant and/or ties in with what you're blogging about.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>6 // <span style="color: red;">Allow Email Subscriptions!</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> think that all bloggers should have some tie with </span><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">FeedBurner</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> because it's one of the most useful sites on the internet that allows you to see how many people have clicked on your posts etc. and it's free! They also offer to email people every time a new blog post goes up! My FeedBurner email subscription box is just below on the left.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Feedburner is easy to use. Just sign up and it will walk you through the rest. Have a play around with some of the widgets. It's fun.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I also think that having an email list that people can sign up to, perhaps MailChimp so that you have something solid in case your page or blog is deleted and you have no way of getting in touch with your readers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>7 // <span style="color: red;">Add Pictures!</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> used to add pictures to my blog and a lot of people have said that the picture I have used originally attracted them to my blog. I get my images from Google and I don't ask for permission, which someone should slap my wrist for, but it is a lot of effort to go through and most of the time the picture has circulated the internet realm for so long that nobody knows who it belongs to.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are picture hosting sites like Flikr that will allow you to embed photos to your blog post and that's so much easier to get a hold of the person who owns the photo. This also serves as a great way for them to get noticed. Also, with any picture you use, if you know who the artist/author/photographer is, you can always add a link to their profile within the image.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>8 // <span style="color: red;">Use SEO!</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">SEO is an abbreviation of 'Search Engine Optimization' and that is the process of improving the visibility of your blog in the search engines. These means that you need to use the titles of your blog and use keywords! If you use titles that mean nothing then you're going to get nothing. So being upfront, as with the case of "10 Top Tips to—"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another part of SEO is getting indexed by search engines and all that means is your page will come up in the list of searches. To be indexed you need to go to <a href="https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/home?hl=en">Google Webmaster</a> and it will index your pages. It explains everything that it does. But have a play around with it and familiarise yourself.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>9 // <span style="color: red;">Social Network Buttons!</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You might have seen that I have little like boxes and tweet boxes or "tweetables" attached to my posts and embedded on the actual page. You can find super easy tutorials online, and it can take a matter of minutes to get it done if you follow them accurately enough. Make sure that the guide you're looking at is tailored to the host that you use. I use Blogger, so I know they have them for that, but I'm pretty sure they also have them for Wordpress as well.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>10 // <span style="color: red;">Interaction is Attraction!</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Everyone loves comments. I follow a lot of blogs and you should follow a lot! You should also read their posts and leave comments that interact with the post. Don't spam! If you spam then they might block you or unfollow you. When I do leave comments I also include my blog URL because I like to leave long comments that interact with the post etc. and that's what you should do as well!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57Xz9KYsbeY/VLlM43Lpl2I/AAAAAAAADKo/PTuHEAmrrZM/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57Xz9KYsbeY/VLlM43Lpl2I/AAAAAAAADKo/PTuHEAmrrZM/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-63778336604725577952015-01-16T18:03:00.000+00:002015-01-16T18:03:30.948+00:0010 Top Tips to Raising Your Writer Profile!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kdgJ5q-JgDM/VLlBb77O0uI/AAAAAAAADKQ/mnn6RoHZ-K8/s1600/Raising%2BYour%2BWriter%2BProfile.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kdgJ5q-JgDM/VLlBb77O0uI/AAAAAAAADKQ/mnn6RoHZ-K8/s1600/Raising%2BYour%2BWriter%2BProfile.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've been asked quite a lot over the past couple of weeks how I've managed to build my internet presence, so I compiled a list of 10 top tips! Some of these I've done myself, and others I haven't #7 and #8.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I figured that I would repost this from 2012! There's a few comments below from 2012 as well. Woo! Time travel!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Not a tip: be passionate about writing and if you are, it will show!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have compiled a list of the 10 things that you can do to raise your profile as a writer.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>1 //<span style="color: red;"> Facebook</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Facebook is by far the largest social networking site, full of writers and authors, oh my! Here, you can join groups, create pages, and build relationships with other writers and you may even find some people who will beta read your work. I would also suggest creating a Facebook page, although a personal page is fine, you can connect with more people through a page. There are also groups on Facebook, so if you search for "aspiring authors" or "writers" you are sure to find a group full of people who are just like you--trying to raise their profiles. I too have a page, it's on that sidebar, or inside this link > <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JosephEastwoodAuthor" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Facebook page</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>2 // <span style="color: red;">Blog</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I tell everyone to get a blog, and I tell everyone to use Blogger. I've never used any other blog hosting site, but Blogger is fairly easy to navigate and use. I suggest getting a blog because you will be able to show people that you can write. You must decide on what you want your blog to be about, although saying that, my blog has some personal posts, some creative posts and some critical posts. So decide on your mix. I would also suggest blogging to a set schedule. However, I've been known to set them and not stick to them, but when I did stick to them, it was a great feeling of accomplishment. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>3 // <span style="color: red;">Twitter</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This if a very useful places to drum attention to your Facebook page and your blog, and you can also foster new relationships here as well. I would recommend using hashtags, the '#' symbol as this is one way people can find you. I use hashtags when promoting blog posts with such hashes as '#writing' '#amwriting' or keywords that the post is about. See--it's useful, not just a drain on your time. (Since writing this, <b>Facebook</b> have also introduced hashtags!) I'm on Twitter too! <a href="https://twitter.com/Joe_Eastwood" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">@Joe_Eastwood</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>4 // <span style="color: red;">Member of Goodreads</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Become a member of Goodreads. I think that is an important one, especially if you're going to be self-publishing. Goodreads indexes all books and it is up to you to put your book up on Goodreads, you must first change your account into an Author account. Once you've posted your book up there people may choose to add your book to their 'to-read' list or if they've already read it then they may choose to rate it and leave a review.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>5 // <span style="color: red;">Write Guest Posts</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One way of getting your name out there is to guest post on other people's blogs. The owner of the blog will then allow you to promote yourself at the end of the post, that is if the reader made it all the way down to the bottom. This might be a reciprocal thing where you post to their blog and they post to yours.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>6 // <span style="color: red;">Post Your Writing</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nothing says that you are a writer more than a post with some of your writing. I don't mean start posting work that you're building up into a larger piece, but finished pieces, maybe a short story or some poetry. Something quick and easy to read, or maybe you're wanting to post something to whet the appetite of your readers i.e. a teaser. There is a notes section on Facebook, or you could post it as a blog post, and there's even a section on Goodreads where writers can post their writing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>7 // <span style="color: red;">Magazines</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are a lot of magazines out there that are aimed at writers, these magazines might be about writing, or they might focus on one part of writing, such as poetry, or within a certain genre. If you can get published in a poetry magazine then you can add that to your CV of writing achievements and it will most certainly raise your profile as a writer. As a magazine is something that is traditionally published it may even help in finding a publisher when you try and get that novel burning on paper published.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>8 // <span style="color: red;">Anthologies</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There have been a lot of anthologies going around in the indie publishing world, this is partly for the publishers to gain more capital or contribute to a charity; I say this because a lot of anthologies do not pay, but if you're okay with <i>exposure</i> then go right ahead. Like I said above, it is something that can be added to your CV of writing achievements. All you need to do is submit work and if they say no, then at least you tried.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>9 // <span style="color: red;">Professionalism</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Make sure to be professional on your page. In your blog. Your tweets etc. because when you're out there looking for readers, and they come across you and then they see the bitterness in you, they will probably run a mile. Readers love to see humour and positivity, they don't want someone that they look up to, essentially, to be a drain on them emotionally. Be a nice person, it comes back three-fold.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>10 // <span style="color: red;">Be Current and Consistent! </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You need to always update your blog and your Facebook and your Twitter, if you don't then your reach or momentum will start to dwindle. Once you've got a bit of momentum going then don't stop, keep on going, keep posting to that set schedule and updating your Facebook with the progress that you're making with your novel, or even writer quotes that have inspired you. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Read this >> "<a href="http://josepheastwood.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/how-to-be-popular-author.html"><b>How to: Be a Popular Author</b></a>" but <b>DO NOT</b> do anything inside it, just because something is commonplace it does not mean that it's right. However this post will help you >> "<a href="http://josepheastwood.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/how-to-brand-yourself.html"><b>How to: Brand Yourself</b></a>".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57Xz9KYsbeY/VLlM43Lpl2I/AAAAAAAADKo/PTuHEAmrrZM/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57Xz9KYsbeY/VLlM43Lpl2I/AAAAAAAADKo/PTuHEAmrrZM/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-53016749336019541162015-01-14T15:54:00.001+00:002015-01-14T15:58:00.245+00:00Viewpoints & Narrative // Writing Tool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LsVT6bfzURA/VLQdkx68SLI/AAAAAAAADJ8/RwNKYOMs4bU/s1600/Viewpoints%2BNarrative.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LsVT6bfzURA/VLQdkx68SLI/AAAAAAAADJ8/RwNKYOMs4bU/s1600/Viewpoints%2BNarrative.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's another blog post from four years ago, it's a somewhat follow on post from "<a href="http://josepheastwood.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/pronouns-writing-tool.html">Pronouns</a>" and it's going to be covering viewpoints and narrative.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The <b>narrative</b> is how the story is told. In the case of writing your piece of fiction, it's the story, how everything fits together and creates on complete piece. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The <b>viewpoint</b> is a position from which the view is. It's the perspective, the angle, the mindset of someone. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And the <b>narrative viewpoint</b> is in which way you're going to be telling the story and through who's viewpoint. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before pen touches paper or fingers to keys, you need to decide and be really clear on who's telling the story and what type of narrator (<b>1st, 2nd, </b>or<b> 3rd</b>) you're going to be using. Although you might not think it at first, but the different viewpoints take a lot of writing to get to grips with, and you have to be consistent while writing and weaving the story, if you're not consistent, or you break viewpoint narrator once, even the slightest knock and the reader is pulled out of the story. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Think of writing fiction as if you were crafting the shell of an egg for something glorious to hatch (<b>fiction</b>), now if you knock it, even a little, you can smash the shell and it has that kind of ripple effect and all that does is ruin the shell (<b>finished piece</b>).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So we know that we mustn't knock the thin veil of viewpoint writing, and what better way to be assured than to remind yourself about pronouns.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>1st person</b> // I, me, my.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Used for a more personal feel to fiction. Often only <b>one</b> character through the piece. There isn't any head jumping as this can confuse the reader.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>2nd person</b> // you</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A rare narrative type, not as popular as first or third, but there's still a great place for this type in fiction. It's hard to keep this up, but if you do, it can be fantastic!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>3rd person</b> // he, she, him, her, they</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is the most common storytelling point. It can be used for both a detached and also a very personal storytelling. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Choosing your viewpoint character. So you'll most likely have a list of people, you might have even come up with the story centered around that character, which is even better. However, if you are stuck, ask yourself which character is more compelling, who offers the better perspective to your piece of fiction.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you're struggling with your viewpoints, then here's some signs you should look out for:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Switching Narrators</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I know that multiple narrators and viewpoints can be used to the advantage of the reader of knowing all sides of a story etc. but what I'm addressing here is switching narrators in the middle of a paragraph or middle of a scene, they should be easy enough to spot. I recommend not changing so frequently as it will only leave you with disgruntled readers. If you are changing narrators and viewpoints in your novel I strongly suggest doing it at a scene break or start of a new chapter.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Knowing Too Much</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Characters shouldn't know something another character knows, especially without being told it. One of the advantages of using the first person narrator 'I' is being inside your characters head, and not being inside anyone else's head, that is unless your character is telepathic, in which case, you're probably going to have a struggle with the storytelling and it will probably make you a better writer. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Finding Their Voice</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Characterisation is a huge part in finding your character's voice. You must care for your characters, they can be good, they can be evil, but you must care for your character, otherwise you'll become disengaged and your reader will probably stop reading.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Even the most evil of characters ala Dexter from the book series and TV show are cared for by the readers and viewers. Just like people care for Draco Malfoy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I will cover characterisation in detail in a later post. Make sure that you give your character vulnerabilities. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Tweet-sized Bite!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Writing Tool // Narrative & Viewpoint! - <a href="http://ctt.ec/i1OXW"><span style="color: red;">Tweet Here!</span></a></span></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPkJL_1NkKs/VJduXpq9IhI/AAAAAAAADHQ/AwlmSlgKHA4/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPkJL_1NkKs/VJduXpq9IhI/AAAAAAAADHQ/AwlmSlgKHA4/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" /></a></div></div></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-22953705640013651402015-01-12T18:23:00.000+00:002015-01-12T18:23:08.406+00:00Pronouns // Writing Tool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qEDx-b2uCAw/VLQBEw4tbvI/AAAAAAAADJs/LAY7-UX7jYQ/s1600/Pronouns.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qEDx-b2uCAw/VLQBEw4tbvI/AAAAAAAADJs/LAY7-UX7jYQ/s1600/Pronouns.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I wrote this post about four years ago now, in the summer of 2011. It's an informative piece about pronouns, and it's always interesting to learn more and go over things, especially the different word classes, so I'll be starting with pronouns, and taking it from there.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Pronouns</b> take place of a <b>noun</b>, often replacing a noun that has become repetitive -- however, pronouns can too become repetitive. They are sometimes called the <b>antecedent</b> because they refer back to something through either 'it' or 'them' -- or even 'her' and 'him'.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are various categories of pronoun and are labelled according to their function in a sentence.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The <b>SUBJECT</b> of a sentence: </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Alice</b> waved at Mona.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>She</b> waved at Mona.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">--Alice is doing the action.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Singular / Plural</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1st - I / We</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2nd - You / You</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3rd - He, She, It / They</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The <b>OBJECT </b>of a sentence:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alice waved at <b>Mona</b>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alice waved at <b>her</b>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">--Mona is the one receiving the action.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Singular / Plural</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1st - Me / Us</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2nd - You</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3rd - Him, Her, It / Them</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>* * *</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Other classifications of pronouns include, <b>relative</b>, <b>reflexive</b>, <b>reciprocal</b>, <b>possessive</b>, <b>indefinite</b> and <b>demonstrative</b>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Relative</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This consists of 6 words: <b><span style="color: red;">who</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">what</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">whose</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">that</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">whom</span></b> and <b><span style="color: red;">which</span></b>, and they are used to tell the reader more about the noun before it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ex. The sandwiches THAT I made did not have any butter on them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">'Sandwiches' is the noun, and everything after 'that' is extra information about the sandwiches.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reflexive</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This type of pronoun is formed by adding the suffix '<b><span style="color: red;">self</span></b>' or '<b><span style="color: red;">selves</span></b>' to the pronoun-- myself, himself, herself, yourself, oneself, itself, ourselves, themselves, yourselves. These words are used when the subject and object are the same, either person or thing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ex. 'I can speak for myself.' Or -- 'You can't look after yourself.'</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reciprocal</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Consists of <b><span style="color: red;">each other</span></b> and <b><span style="color: red;">one another</span></b>. Each other is exclusive of just two people while one another is more than two people. So, if you're ever in doubt of which one to use, think of how many people are involved.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Possessive</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They are <b><span style="color: red;">my</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">mine</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">yours</span></b>, <span style="color: red;"><b>his</b></span>, <b><span style="color: red;">hers</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">ours</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">theirs</span></b>, and <span style="color: red;"><b>its</b></span>. These words are used after the noun in which is referred to as belonging to them; a possession; possessive.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Indefinite</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another pronoun class that we use when we can't say what/who etc. it definitely is, hence being an indefinite pronoun: <b><span style="color: red;">all</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">anyone</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">nobody</span></b>, <span style="color: red;"><b>everybody</b></span>, <b><span style="color: red;">everyone</span></b>, <span style="color: red;"><b>several</b></span>, <span style="color: red;"><b>few</b></span>, <span style="color: red;"><b>somebody</b></span>, <span style="color: red;"><b>some</b></span>, <span style="color: red;"><b>no one</b></span>, <b><span style="color: red;">many</span></b>, <span style="color: red;"><b>another</b></span>, <b><span style="color: red;">anything</span></b>, <span style="color: red;"><b>everything</b></span>, <b><span style="color: red;">nothing</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">someone</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">each</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">none</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">any</span></b>. I think that's all of them, I did seek Google's expertise out, if not feel free to add some in the comments.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Demonstrative</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They are <b><span style="color: red;">this</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">that</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">these</span></b> and <b><span style="color: red;">those</span></b>. They are also called demonstrative determiners and exophoric references (the last term is commonly used when examining speech, meaning something which has been referred to out of the text) they refer to something in the story space, and has perhaps been mentioned before in the same scene/paragraph etc.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Tweet-sized Bite!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Writing Tool // Guide to Pronouns! - <a href="http://ctt.ec/dr9jN"><span style="color: red;">Tweet Here!</span></a></span></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPkJL_1NkKs/VJduXpq9IhI/AAAAAAAADHQ/AwlmSlgKHA4/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPkJL_1NkKs/VJduXpq9IhI/AAAAAAAADHQ/AwlmSlgKHA4/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" /></a></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-84391105375549444822014-12-31T16:31:00.001+00:002014-12-31T16:31:33.248+00:00Make Time to Write in 2015!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d6jyTa_RmvA/VKP8TdXUrbI/AAAAAAAADJM/Bo_a0JaAhHk/s1600/Make%2BTime%2Bto%2BWrite%2Bin%2B2015!.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d6jyTa_RmvA/VKP8TdXUrbI/AAAAAAAADJM/Bo_a0JaAhHk/s1600/Make%2BTime%2Bto%2BWrite%2Bin%2B2015!.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The end of the year is usually one of those times when we all become optimistic about the future, we say throwaway phrases like "<i>New Year, New Me</i>" and that's great, but when we wake up on January the 1st, we're still the same people we've always been, except now we're writing 2015 instead.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"<span style="color: red;">Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.</span>"</b></span><b style="font-size: x-large; text-align: right;"> - Brad Paisley</b><br /><br />We're in control of what we do and the excuses that we make to justify another year of not achieving a single thing that we set out to, and there are some really creative excuses out there. How about we channel that creativity into our writing instead.<br /><br />I'm asked quite a bit <b>"How do you find time to write?"</b> -- as I'm in full-time education at university, it can be difficult to get writing and reading time in, but one thing that's for sure is I <b>do not</b> find it, I <b>MAKE</b> time to write!<br /><br />We all have the same 24 hour days; 8 hours <b>work</b> // 8 hours <b>play</b> // 8 hours <b>sleep</b>. << That sounds like a pretty awesome day, and that's the kind of monotonous schedule that I could live my life by, but I won't, and neither will you, unless writing is your full-time job, but even then, everyone needs to take a break.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Don't...</b></span><br />Make vague statements like "<span style="color: red;">I'm going to write more in the New Year</span>" you don't have to make these statements to anyone but yourself, and don't set yourself unrealistic statements, because the chances of you having your book traditionally published next year if you're starting out without an agent is very slim.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Do...</b></span></div>Make plans! Tell yourself that in the morning, at night, or just after dinner, you will write for a solid 15 or 30 minutes, maybe longer, but tell yourself that you <b>will</b> do it. Tell yourself that this is the year where you will make goals that you can achieve. 1,000,000 words in a year? (<b>Maybe not for me.</b>) How about 365,000 words? A 1,000 a day.<br /><br />When we write we're using muscles, and the more that we write, the more we use those muscles; the better (stronger/bigger) they get, the better you are!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Write now so you don't regret</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Not writing later.</b></span></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPkJL_1NkKs/VJduXpq9IhI/AAAAAAAADHQ/AwlmSlgKHA4/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPkJL_1NkKs/VJduXpq9IhI/AAAAAAAADHQ/AwlmSlgKHA4/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" /></a></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-54889581298733911912014-12-28T16:02:00.000+00:002014-12-28T16:02:09.143+00:005 Reasons to Use Writing Prompts!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aWr5bcgHJhc/VKASdEDIEgI/AAAAAAAADI8/NVV95hBrGRo/s1600/5%2BReasons%2Bto%2BUse%2BWriting%2BPrompts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aWr5bcgHJhc/VKASdEDIEgI/AAAAAAAADI8/NVV95hBrGRo/s1600/5%2BReasons%2Bto%2BUse%2BWriting%2BPrompts.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>Writing prompts in their most basic form are used to inspire people -- they come in the form of images and text. Writing prompts are everywhere, not only are they at the end of a Google search, but they're on the news, they're in people you see, events you witness. If you look for inspiration and writing prompts, you will find them, but they're not always as easy as a Google search to find.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>1 // <span style="color: red;">You've Gotta Write</span></b></span><br />Sometimes you have to write, not by law or because an assignment says so, but you need to write because you're a writer, and once in a while people can feel a little depleted, but that's because they're drawing from their own pond instead of the large ocean. <b>Never give up! </b>If you feel like you can't write, that's when it's most important to get some writing done.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>2 // <span style="color: red;">Inspiration is Free!</span></b></span><br />If you're ever feeling uninspired or disheartened by the fact that you don't have a four-book contract with a six-figure payout, then perhaps you need to reassess why you're writing, but more importantly, you shouldn't stop that from letting your write, you should use it as motivation. As I mentioned above, writing prompts are everywhere, inspiration is <b>free</b>! You don't need to be rich to write about the lavish lifestyles of the rich and famous, just turn on MTV for a re-run of <i>Cribs</i>, and remember that <b>Google is a Writer's Best Friend</b>, it has the answers you seek.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>3 // <span style="color: red;">Pre-Built People</span></b></span><br />If you're using people from prompts or people that you've seen on TV or in person to build on for your writing, then you've already got them in your mind fleshed out, and you don't need to write a 10 page Q&A between yourself and your character. It isn't cheating if you base your characters around real people, just like it isn't cheating if you base places in your novel around real places. The more fleshed out, the easier it is to write that character. Writing <b>fan-fiction</b> is great if you're not the best at creating characters, plus, if you're thinking about writing for television, a lot of producers etc. ask for scripts where you've written about the characters on the show.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>4 // <span style="color: red;">Palate Cleanser</span></b></span><br />This is a double point -- using writing prompts can be used as a <b>palate cleanser</b> for when you've finished a writing project and you've got an inevitable writing hangover, it can also be used when you're at the start of your writing day and you need something to get your juices going before you go to work on your writing project. So a <b>catalyst</b>, the whole point of a writing prompt is to get the creative juices warmed up. Writing prompts are usually used for flash fiction, but they can be used to aide an entire novel. It's sometimes classed as "throw-away" writing, and it's something that I do often, I don't throw it away, but there's a folder on my laptop where I keep these pieces.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>5 // <span style="color: red;">It's </span></b><span style="color: red;"><i><b>just</b> </i><b>an Exercise</b></span></span><br />A lot of a <b>writing block</b> comes from the fear that what someone writes isn't good enough, but with a writing prompt, you don't have that fear, nobody is going to see it but you, it might need re-writing, but you don't need to re-write the piece. It can serve to educate you on anything that you need to improve. For me, I learnt that I had <b>crutches;</b> words and phrases that I fell back on. We exercise to get better at something and become stronger, this is the same with writing, if you do it regularly you'll get better at it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Write now so you don't regret</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Not writing later.</b></span></div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPkJL_1NkKs/VJduXpq9IhI/AAAAAAAADHQ/AwlmSlgKHA4/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPkJL_1NkKs/VJduXpq9IhI/AAAAAAAADHQ/AwlmSlgKHA4/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-55650636337242188562014-12-23T14:34:00.000+00:002014-12-23T14:34:07.022+00:00Is Facebook Hiding YOUR Posts?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m7Ic0VP3_Ck/VJlx0ju0uvI/AAAAAAAADIs/D1lAymktRTU/s1600/Is%2BFacebook.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m7Ic0VP3_Ck/VJlx0ju0uvI/AAAAAAAADIs/D1lAymktRTU/s1600/Is%2BFacebook.png" /></a></div><span style="text-align: justify;">It's a popular misconception, but Facebook is NOT hiding your Facebook posts. Well, how do I know that? <b>Because you're doing a pretty good job of that all on your own.</b></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Technically, Facebook is hiding posts, but only because there are people on your Facebook page whom don't have any interest in what you posts. Now, don't take any offence from this, but I know this first had, I've been on a fair few '<b>like trains</b>', and all for what, to boost a number that really has no meaning other than to set yourself up for a social media status war, where those who have less likes than you are the <i>poor folk</i>, and those who have more than you are what you aspire to have, the<i> rich lot</i>.<br /><br /><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Your post is competing with thousands of other posts on a single news feed, this is from both that one person's friends and likes. </b></span><br /><div style="text-align: right;">(Coming back to this at the end.)</div><br />Facebook is actively trying to reduce spam on your news feed, and now I know that a few people have whined at the term <b>spam</b>, <i>but Joe, spam is what you received in your inbox</i>, or <i><b>spam</b> is a meat people were rationed on</i>. And yet, spam is also when you post links to your books and beg *ahem* I mean, ask people to buy them. Nothing else. No interaction. No dialogue or conversation. Just a link, often with an image, and maybe a tagline.<br /><br />THAT is why people are not seeing your information in their news feed, partly because it's not news, but mostly because it's spam. *eye roll*<br /><br />There are ways and means of organic growth -- yes, I'm condemning the act of paid growth, I used it once, and my reach was cut by 90% (-ish), I know of other people who have continued to use this means of growth because they felt like they were unable to reach anyone, and it's just not true. I mean, sure, Facebook draws you in with <b>boost this post</b>, and so you reason with yourself that it's just advertising; marketing, all businesses do it. <b>But sure, go ahead, don't let me stop you...</b><br /><b><br /></b>However, if you do want a nice organic reach, then here's some tips.<br /><br /><ul><li><b>Post regularly.</b> If you post once a week and then complain about how only 1% of your page saw that post, then learn from this. <b>Post throughout the day.</b> Your post will almost definitely be lost for some people, and by posting <b>different</b> content throughout the day, you're more likely to get people going to your page and to their surprise, there's more content.</li><li><b>Be genuine. </b>If you're a pretend version of yourself, people are going to see right through that. Have interests that you talk about. Let the people on your page know where those interests lie, but don't deviate too far, if you're a children's storybook writer, don't go posting pictures of that lingerie you bought last night. <b>Use your common sense</b>. If you're going to alienate your readers, it's probably in your interests not to post it at all.</li><li><b>Popular content.</b> Don't be afraid to link to things that don't lead back to you or your blog. If <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dailydot">The Daily Dot</a> posts an article about something you're interested in, you should interact with that post on their page, and then <b>share</b> or <b>repost </b>it to yours. It's always key to know the people that you're posting for, because without them, the only person your posting to your page for, is yourself.</li><li><b>Laughs!</b> Everyone loves a laugh or a giggle, funny content can go viral, it might not, but it has the potential too. It might be a funny picture, video, quote.</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Be Creative!</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>There's probably more information around Facebook algorithms, i.e. the time of day you post, keywords used, maximising the potential audience, that kind of information.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I probably missed some things,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>So if you have any questions, pop them in the comments!</i></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPkJL_1NkKs/VJduXpq9IhI/AAAAAAAADHQ/AwlmSlgKHA4/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPkJL_1NkKs/VJduXpq9IhI/AAAAAAAADHQ/AwlmSlgKHA4/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" /></a></div><br />Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-49004299084078640552014-12-22T14:58:00.000+00:002014-12-22T14:58:32.283+00:00 The Saturated Supernatural Market // Vampires, Werewolves, Witches, Oh My!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7920QWywow/VJdsb497lLI/AAAAAAAADHE/fjEas6LEt0M/s1600/TheSaturatedSupernaturalMarket.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7920QWywow/VJdsb497lLI/AAAAAAAADHE/fjEas6LEt0M/s1600/TheSaturatedSupernaturalMarket.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hey! I've changed the image layout, something I was going to put in place after the New Year, but what the hell, the future is now! <b>What do you think of the new look?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, I was thinking, since I've decided to stop self-publishing and try to find myself an agent, <i>a little</i> doubt set in -- "<i><span style="color: red;">Is this the right choice?</span></i>" "<i><span style="color: red;">Isn't the market saturated with fantasy stories as it is?</span></i>" "<i><span style="color: red;">Are publishers even looking for fantasy lit?</span></i>" yeah, it's plagued my mind a little, however, I stay firm in the fact that I will be querying agents, and hopefully (after submission one-hundred and one) I will find someone who believes in me and likes my writing enough so that they dedicate some time to shop the book(s).<br /><br />That's the dream, but it's also a goal that I have every faith in myself of achieving, probably not in a month, but a year, tops. <b>Right?</b> Haha! Well, I hope you believe in me. I've had a bit of a difficult year, and it's actually on the up, so I'm hoping that means I've got a little bit of luck on my side, and let's hope that the literary agents I submit to are having a good day when they read <b>NIGHT FALLS</b>.<br /><br />Every so often my mind goes back to the whole <i>the market is saturated</i> and <i>what are you doing pulling your books</i> -- from this comes a new perspective, if the market for supernatural stories was so saturated, then how come people are still selling the fantasy novels to publishers? Vampires have been around in literature since the 18th Century (<b>Google said</b>), and is still going strong today.<br /><br />I should probably get out of my head, and since self-publishing is now absolutely huge, there are no <i>gatekeepers</i> stopping people from being published, so there's even more supernatural literature for sale in Barnes and Noble, iTunes, and Amazon.<br /><br />It's all about adding twists and edges to make your fiction stand out above the rest. It's about the concept and ideas, <i>what makes your books special</i>, I have my answers, and I like those answers.<br /><br />The market might well and truly be saturated, but there will always be readers of fantasy novels, there will always be people who've finished a series of books; Harry Potter, The Mortal Instruments, House of Night, and those are only among the traditionally published books.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You don't ask for room to be made for you book(s),</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You MAKE the room by writing.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sorry for rambling!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Have a great day!</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPkJL_1NkKs/VJduXpq9IhI/AAAAAAAADHQ/AwlmSlgKHA4/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPkJL_1NkKs/VJduXpq9IhI/AAAAAAAADHQ/AwlmSlgKHA4/s1600/TemplateEndSign.png" /></a></div><br /><br />Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-15775777803802949662014-12-19T21:26:00.000+00:002014-12-19T21:26:42.357+00:0010 Tips for Teen Writers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r_089pFHR8o/VJR6rGm1jvI/AAAAAAAADG0/X1eoiBxEvC4/s1600/10tipsforteenwriters.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r_089pFHR8o/VJR6rGm1jvI/AAAAAAAADG0/X1eoiBxEvC4/s1600/10tipsforteenwriters.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I originally wrote this post when I was 18 -- I'm now 21, so I'm definitely more knowledgeable now. Don't worry if you're not a teenager, they're not teen exclusive, you can still read and take from them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>1 // <span style="color: red;">You're Crap!</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I was young, I thought I was great -- one lesson I had to learn was, <b>I am crap</b>, and if you're wanting to pursue a career in writing, then you have to first realise that you're not amazing, you might have quips of brilliance, but trust me, you've got a lot of room for improvement, we all do, and we all will, constantly have room for improvements. Everyone's writing is crap when they first start out. Remember not to let that bog you down and keep on writing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>2 // <span style="color: red;">Don't Define Yourself!</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You're too young to say that you only write poetry or fantasy or romances, similarly with your reading, you're not allowed to only read fantasy or romances etc. read the things you hate as well. It's great practice to try writing in different styles and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. If you can't write romance, then challenge yourself, grab a flash fiction prompt and shut the world out. Write for yourself. Write because you want to get better.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>3 // <span style="color: red;">WRITE!</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Write every day! Keep writing. Work from writing prompts or images; get your juices flowing. Try not to procrastinate over which prompts or images you use, I do this a lot, so I guess it's hypocritical to tell you not to, <b>but</b> if you can keep your procrastination muse at bay, you'll do just fine. Unless you have a project, I would stick to prompts, writing smaller pieces of fiction allows you to better capture an emotion or feeling, and then build from that, go on to writing short stories, novellas, and then novels. Or disregard that and write a novel off that bat (<b>like I did</b>) again, sorry to be hypocrite, but I've learnt that writing flash fiction and short fiction helps you massively. So just write. Maybe set yourself a daily goal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>4 // <span style="color: red;">Chores!</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Cue the sighing. I absolutely hate chores, until I made the whole process into a game that would benefit me. Whenever I had to do one of the absolutely mundane tasks like, cleaning up, washing the pots, food shopping (<b>I find that quite fun though</b>), walking your pet dog, iguana, cat, etc. it's actually one of the best times where you can think about writing, think up plot twists, have <b>inside</b> conversations with characters. Be creative. Chores don't have to be boring, and who knows, it could become a form of procrastination!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>5 // <span style="color: red;">Experience</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You have to go outside sometime, and you have to live a little bit. You can't write realistic text because there's no realism in you. I'm not saying that you should give up writing or dreams of publishing while you're young, I'm just saying that having a good time with friends and exploring different places once in a while isn't going to hinder you. People often say <b>write what you know</b>, although this isn't really true to fantasy authors, you can go out on walks and adventures, and then write about that. It could be somewhat like keeping a diary, but don't put too much pressure on writing while you're young. Just write.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>6 // <span style="color: red;">Other Interests</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Having other interests is always good... like stamp collecting! No, but seriously, you can't just have an interest in writing. But having an interest in reading probably goes without saying. I have a lot of interests, such as vampires, werewolves and all of that fantasy stuff, I also have an interest in spiders (even though I hate them SO much) it's somewhat a sadistic interest, and I have an interest in people, more importantly, people watching! I'm also interested in palm reading and yoga -- more so, failing at yoga.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>7 // <span style="color: red;">Industry</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before you even think about self-publishing or going down the traditional route you first need to do A LOT of research on the subject. Recently there has been a lot of movement on the self-publishing front, there are new means of publishing, there are new companies popping up onto the scene, some very shady companies and some that do what they say. YOU need to do research, if you go into it blind then you're going to bang into all of the walls, and just like the maze that publishing is, you'll get stuck and frustrated at yourself for not waiting and perhaps letting some of the haze and mist settle. There are forums, and Google is your best friend for this.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>8 // <span style="color: red;">Publish?</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I say "publish" I don't mean start formatting your 70,000 word manuscript and upload it to Kindle Direct, I mean start small, start publishing in a school newspaper or newsletter, maybe even submit to magazines for teenage writers... there is so much out there for teenagers who want to get on the writing scene, you just have to look for it. Maybe even submit your poems for anthologies etc. perhaps start a blog, that's publishing, at the right hand side there's a button with <b>publish</b> for this post. Publish your writing on sites like <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/user/josepheastwood">Wattpad</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>9 // <span style="color: red;">Rejection</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Every writer will experience rejection, because face it, your book is not going to be for everyone... a lot of people hate Twilight, a lot of people love it... and that can be said about every book! You just have to find ONE person to love your book, hopefully they're a literary agency or a publishing company. Just remember that rejection is one step closer to acceptance. And every writer should experience rejection, it shows them that they're not amazing and that they could be better. <b>I can be better</b>, and so can you, so don't let rejection bog you down, accept it as a right of passage, especially if you're submitting to agents and publishers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>10 // <span style="color: red;">Critique</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Actively seek feedback on your work. As I signposted above, join Wattpad, it's awesome there. Try not to rely on friends, they might not have constructive criticism for you, it could perhaps be "this is good" or "you're doing a good job, keep it up". Perhaps try and find yourself a critique partner, they will give constructive critique, and ask you to do the same to them, the first few times it might hurt because your writing is your baby, you don't want anyone to tell you anything is wrong with it, but in time, you'll learn to appreciate critiques as you develop a thick skin.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>BONUS // <span style="color: red;">How To's</span></b></span></div><div>Read how-to guides -- there are books, blog posts, speeches, conferences; videos, out there that you can read, watch, listen to. They're amazing and they're helpful, and don't be afraid to ask for help. We all ask for help. If you don't know how to do something, ask someone, <b>ask me</b>, Google it! You're not alone, and you're definitely not alone with your struggles.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Write a lot,</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Read a lot.</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tweet about this po</span><span style="font-size: large;">st</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;">10 Tips for Teen Writers! - <a href="http://ctt.ec/c3TN_"><span style="color: red;">Tweet Here!</span></a></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">You're crap!? But you'll get better! - <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://ctt.ec/3r15c">Tweet Here!</a></span><br /><br /></div></div></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" height="320" width="287" /></a></div></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-66997988300542085122014-12-17T20:27:00.000+00:002014-12-17T20:27:17.859+00:00PSA: Don't Demand Reviews!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLPbHOQp-D4/VJHdNXrBvWI/AAAAAAAADGY/Rec_Fxv4bZI/s1600/dontdemandreviews.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLPbHOQp-D4/VJHdNXrBvWI/AAAAAAAADGY/Rec_Fxv4bZI/s1600/dontdemandreviews.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I was asked to do a post about authors who demand that people review their books, and it's something that I'd witnessed earlier on today when I saw that someone was holding a giveaway, and beneath the rules that went a little like this: <b>you had to like this page, comment here, share it on your profile, and tag ONE MILLION people to enter</b>, there was a little section, and one of the clauses were, you <b>must</b> read the book and give it a review within an <b>appropriate</b> time frame.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I almost spat my coffee out and wrote a post -- but instead, I rolled my eyes, and decided that I wouldn't give it my time. And now we're here...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/82753711876949803/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a8xRjq_lF3M/VJHeKGvZc4I/AAAAAAAADGk/tNsbbprApf8/s1600/9e9f80416445dfc54ebd82322eb02974.jpg" height="320" width="220" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/82753711876949803/">Source: Pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">As a reader, we can't read every book, least of all, we can't read every <b>indie</b> book.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">"<b>I was born with a reading list I will never finish.</b>"</span></div><div style="text-align: right;">— Maud Casey</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was told that there are street teams out there that <b>require</b> someone to have read the author's book(s) and to have reviewed them favourable, i.e. anything above 3 stars (<b>apparently</b>). I don't belong to any street teams other than my own, which isn't active, and when it is, it's not some strict, <b>you better do this</b> group -- I'll probably cover street teams in a separate post.<br /><br />I understand that reviews are crucial to an author's success, if you have a lot of reviews, more people will be inclined to buy your books. But at no point should you <b>demand someone to review your book</b>, it doesn't matter if they won the book or you gave them the book as an ARC.<br /><br />The latter point has stressed out numerous authors, ARCs are Advanced Reader Copies, they are given out weeks in advance of the release of the book, and the expectation is that it will give the reader enough time to read and review the book. So there is obvious frustrations when release day comes and there's a rate of 10% that are posting their reviews. Example: 10 out of 100 people who received the ARC.<br /><br />I mentioned ARCs because the person who asked me to write about this had said that they received an ARC and the author/PA/publicist that was handing out the books had then requested that they make sure their review was at least 3 stars.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">No. Oh hell no. Noooooo!</span></b></div><br />That's a huge no-no, no matter if you're indie, traditional, or a business person, if you're asking for reviews that look favourably on your work, that's called dishonesty, and it's more or less a lie. If the review comes about on its own from the reader/client and it's a favourable review, then that's great, but don't demand <i>good</i> reviews.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Ask for people to review!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>By all means ASK!</b></span></div><br />I know that this is probably a minority of people doing it, but I thought I was address it anyway. I remember a year or so back when it came about that a <i>successful</i> author who had been traditionally published was buying reviews! I've seen this a lot on Fiverr, a marketplace where people offer their services at $5 and then they can add additional fees for additional content etc.<br /><br />I guess this should also read <b>DON'T BUY REVIEWS </b>either!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bottom line:</b></span><br />Readers are readers, and if you ask them nicely, they might read your book. They might also review it. They might love it. They might hate it. That reviewer is one person -- and if you (an author) is being a complete **** to them, they're going to relay that information, like I was, and nobody will want to read or review your book(s).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Be nice and professional.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>It doesn't hurt.</b></span></div></div></div><div><div class="" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" height="320" width="287" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-31979127408770468392014-12-16T22:08:00.000+00:002014-12-16T22:08:14.885+00:00Put Your FIRST DRAFT to Rest!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Hr-RgC6R-o/VIOQJeh4zsI/AAAAAAAADEs/gIE1O6rxRLI/s1600/Put%2BYour%2BFIRST%2BDRAFT%2Bto%2BRest!.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Hr-RgC6R-o/VIOQJeh4zsI/AAAAAAAADEs/gIE1O6rxRLI/s1600/Put%2BYour%2BFIRST%2BDRAFT%2Bto%2BRest!.png" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both;"><div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">A first draft is a bit like making a cake -- without instructions, and you're blindfolded. That being said, sometimes first drafts can have their notions of greatness i.e. within pieces of speech or text, but not throughout the entire 200+ page manuscript. Just like the cake might have those small nibbles that taste well, but then when you bite into it, you realise that it doesn't all go together as you'd have liked. <span style="color: red;">That isn't some metaphor to say "<b>if you plan, your MS will be amazing</b>" because it isn't and it won't, not right off the bat.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"<b><span style="color: blue;">The first draft of anything is shit.</span></b>" </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">— Ernest Hemingway</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This post came about from an earlier post where I said that I felt a lot of writers rushing to get their writing out; there is no grace period of time where it's all yours, but we--as writers--are in a culture where we can put our words on the internet in a matter of seconds, and that's both scary and amazing. <i>Well, it scares me</i>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/gallery/2011/may/11/authors-typewriters-in-pictures#img-3"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--vAn4zF_2zA/VJCWo3zDTGI/AAAAAAAADGI/M2ojwwzXRC4/s1600/663dacc2e4479aae8f039c02504f4bf3.jpg" height="320" width="275" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/gallery/2011/may/11/authors-typewriters-in-pictures#img-3">Popperfoto/Getty Images</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">I love that people can self-publish, but you have to think, what did people do before self-publishing and vanity publishing? They wrote their hearts out, and then went back to better their novels, novellas, short stories, etc.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Agatha Christie belonged to the time of the typewriter, there was no laptops or backspaces, there was correction fluid and ink, and I don't think I would have the patience for that, I make a lot of errors; adding extra letters to words, extra words to sentences... basically, I make a lot of errors. <b>We all make mistakes and errors.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The point that Agatha Christie's picture to the right of me is trying to make is that just because you can write a book in a week, it doesn't mean that you should spend the next four <i>preparing</i> it for publication. <b>I mean, she wrote a hell of a lot. There is no rush to publish. Just finish the finish draft, that way you have someone to work with.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Your book <b>needs</b> to rest. Think of this like the cooling time you give to cake when you've taken it out of the oven. Don't touch it yet! <b>*ouch*</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I once read a book that said something about storing your manuscript once finished into an old shoebox and putting it in the back of your closet for a few months while you work on something different. <b>I loved this when I read it -- and I regret not listening to it</b>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"<b><span style="color: blue;">The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.</span></b>" </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">— Terry Pratchett</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just because you're independent or <i>indie</i>, it doesn't mean you have to be amateur, it doesn't mean that what you do has to be half-assed or sloppy. <b>This isn't aimed at anyone. </b>My thoughts could well have formed from a minority of the indie community, and I'm not applying them to anyone, all I'm saying is that just because you're indie, it doesn't mean you have to be amateur.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you rush yourself, if you rush the drafting process, and editing, you will not only be doing yourself a huge disservice, but you'll also be doing it to your readers as well. I've seen it happen in the past where an author will have just finished the first draft, and then a week later it's for sale on Amazon -- followed by the subsequent <b>I'm sorry, I'm updating the file</b>, I've been there. I've been one of those with the <i>updates</i>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm a Work in Progress!</span><br />I'm not perfect, and neither are you, but we're working on it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />The writers for TV shows have to go through several rounds of drafting, musicians draft their music several times, there's little room for error in the community of written word. Traditionally published authors go through numerous rounds of drafts and edits before their work is put into publication.<br /><br />It's important to get that<b> first draft</b> written, I find that to be the easiest part. Letting it sit untouched is hard, and then comes the drafting. Drafting is a unique type of hell, but to get to the good stuff at the end, we must first walk through the fire pit.<br /><br />Your brain is rested and your eyes aren't adjusted <span style="text-align: center;">—</span> that's what you need when your approach a manuscript.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tweet about this po</span><span style="font-size: large;">st</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;">The first draft of anything is shit! - <a href="http://ctt.ec/2ObwG"><span style="color: red;">Tweet Here!</span></a></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">Put Your FIRST DRAFT to Rest! - <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://ctt.ec/GbM09">Tweet Here!</a></span><br /><br /></div></div></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" height="320" width="287" /></a></div></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-40917497724031334032014-12-10T14:28:00.002+00:002014-12-10T14:28:14.617+00:00Five Facts about Ghostwriting!<div class="" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Bapx547jUc/VIRt6MFU0nI/AAAAAAAADFM/F7nSgcVis7Q/s1600/Five%2BFacts%2Babout%2BGhostwriting.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Bapx547jUc/VIRt6MFU0nI/AAAAAAAADFM/F7nSgcVis7Q/s1600/Five%2BFacts%2Babout%2BGhostwriting.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is a post from June 2013, but given the recent Zoella book controversy I figured that it would make for an interesting re-post.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The world of literature is growing and now anyone can be published, as long as they have access to a computer, they can upload and distribute material. This means that a writer can post written work anywhere that there's a platform for it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Who? What? Why?</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ghostwriting is where a writer writes but for somebody else, and then that person takes all of the credit for the work. The ghostwriter is often paid in advance and does not take a cut of any sales.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The person who is in want of a ghostwriter is usually someone who cannot properly verbalize their thoughts into one cohesive piece with a narrative structure, however they have the ideas, the characters, and all the other information needed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are a lot of people who have their work ghostwritten, often because the book market has boomed and this is seen as some money making scheme, and to some that's exactly what it is. To others, it's for the reasons above, as well as having that burning desire to have their story told.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Pros & Cons</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Pros</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, this is how a ghostwriter makes their living, so through the demand of people wanting their ideas written for them, a job has been created to cater that. (<span style="color: red;">I wouldn't say that there was something sinister about a ghostwriter, it just so happens that people are willing to pay for their ideas to be put down on paper.</span>) From the point of view of the ghostwriter it is also great practice because they're writing and getting better at their craft. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, as for the person commissioning the ghostwriter, they are getting a piece of work which they will be putting up for sale as <i>the author</i> of the piece, which through a legally binding contract (<b>probably</b>), they are. And their job is to sell the books as the author -- they will most likely already have a large platform and so sales are inevitable.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Cons</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For the ghostwriter, the con is that they won't get credit for the writing, but that might be how they like it, perhaps they have no creative ideas of their own, or because they are so unknown that their work won't be picked up by a publishing company etc.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As for the <i>author</i>, a con would be how people saw that author after finding out they had a ghostwriter write their book for them, and unless the author could stand their ground, they would end up feeling like less of an author. And I don't feel like it should be a writers job to try and discredit the author from their work -- it technically belongs to them, and for all purposes, they are the author of the piece.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>James Patterson's Work</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WW2TyKf3qPo/Udfpxv1QxJI/AAAAAAAABhs/O7Re8ujTUmQ/s1600/jamesp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WW2TyKf3qPo/Udfpxv1QxJI/AAAAAAAABhs/O7Re8ujTUmQ/s320/jamesp.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">James Patterson is on many bestseller lists, and his author rank on Amazon is holding the #1 spot. With Forbes Magazine stating that he earned in excess of £62 million last year (2012-2013) putting him as the richest living author. <span style="color: red;"><b>Which brings in the question: is this a case of writing for greed? </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He is currently publishing a lot, an amount that seems ridiculous, the kind of volume of writing and activity that makes me sort of snort and roll my eyes. I'll be the first to say that I somewhat envy his success, but it's where he is <i>trying </i>to monopolize each of the genres and age groups that I find myself just asking "<b>why?</b>".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In an interview with Express newspaper<span style="font-size: x-small;">[<a href="http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/books/380231/James-Patterson-the-best-seller-who-doesn-t-write-his-own-books">1</a>],</span> he has said that he doesn't need the money and that he donates a lot of it, and that all he is doing is trying to get everyone reading, which is amazing. I just can't understand why he isn't writing his own books.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In that same interview he does state that he drafts up to eighty pages that involve the book outline, characters etc. and from there he pays a ghostwriter to write it for him. Which must be an amazing opportunity for the writer, but I still don't understand why he needs one. The only time I would allow someone to ghostwrite for me, would be when I was dying, or dead, and I'd left a series incomplete. <span style="color: red;"><b>This also begs the question, did Zoella have a really good idea, but she's just not that good at writing?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He leaves me feeling a little off. Surely he's not doing all of this for the children, or to help those unknown writers (ghostwriters). Or maybe that's just me being cynical. <i>What do you think?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Do you need a ghostwriter?</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Maybe you've come to my blog in hopes of looking for a sign about ghostwriting, and whether it's the way forward for you.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I will not sway, or push you in any direction, but if you can write it, you should write it. If not, ask a writer friend to help you write it, or tips on writing, because YOU will feel so much better knowing that the story you are putting out into the world is yours, and nobody has written it for you. The gratification will be that much more sweeter.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, if you are adamant that you want your work ghostwritten, there are numerous places online where you can go and place a pitch and writers will bid and tell you how much they will charge you alongside giving you a time frame of how long it will take. One place that I know of is called Elance.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>I really hope that you enjoyed this post. If you have ANY opinions on ghostwriting and ghostwriters, or maybe you want to share a piece of work that has been ghostwritten, please share them ALL in the comments below! I love to know what you guys think!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There's<b> five</b>-ish facts about ghostwriting!</span></div></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: start;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" height="320" width="287" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-38623286825018925882014-12-07T15:08:00.001+00:002014-12-07T15:08:54.869+00:00Zoella Used a Ghostwriter?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WXP6xyblx98/VIRf3A7ndDI/AAAAAAAADE8/BRoaaedwv-Y/s1600/Zoella%2BUsed%2Ba%2BGhostwriter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WXP6xyblx98/VIRf3A7ndDI/AAAAAAAADE8/BRoaaedwv-Y/s1600/Zoella%2BUsed%2Ba%2BGhostwriter.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: justify;">It has been a whirlwind few weeks for Zoella, and there's no slowing down in the headlines. An article came out from the Daily Mail this morning that revealed--or made some shocking assumptions that popular YouTube vlogger, Zoella, didn't write a word of her book. Instead, she hired/or her publisher, Penguin hired a ghostwriter...<br /><br />There's been some--a lot of negativity towards her for doing this, mainly from struggling writers, and honestly, I do not blame them, writing a book is a struggle, and it can frustrate a lot of people to see someone who doesn't write their own book to then make a lot of money from it. <b>But</b> the ghostwriter will most likely have been paid well for this, and ghostwriting is an actual job. Some people do this for a living and people shouldn't be so easy to dismiss people who have their books ghostwritten for them.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publishing is an industry with one primary goal:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">to make money</span></div><br />The music industry is exactly the same. There are a lot of musicians who write songs and they sell these songs to other musicians -- sure, they get more credit for it than ghostwriters do, and in the case of Zoella's <i>Girl Online</i>, the supposed ghostwriter was put in the acknowledgements.<br /><br />I wrote a post on "the facts of ghostwriting" but since the blog revamp, that was reverted back to a draft post. I'll probably repost it later on in the week.<br /><br />There is one very famous and very rich author who uses ghostwriters all the time, and you've probably come across him -- his name is <b>James Patterson</b>. Although he uses ghostwriters a lot, he's also been known to co-author them and include the collaborators names on the front covers of his books.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Who are we to judge what other writers do?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Perhaps the negativity is out of jealousy? </div><br />I really do not mind ghostwriters or people who employ them, that's their prerogative. Zoella might have broke records with <i>Girl Online</i>, but that success is still hers and nothing can take that away or discredit her. It might not be the best piece of literature, but young people, mostly young girls are reading it, and reading <i>is</i> fundamental.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Remember:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Just because it makes you angry,</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>It doesn't make you right.</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" height="320" width="287" /></a></div></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-86734274431448362192014-12-07T00:16:00.001+00:002014-12-07T00:16:25.737+00:00Writers - Don't Sacrifice Quality for Quantity!<div class="" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gc_tOdTsQ0k/VIOFblEqWJI/AAAAAAAADEc/6R_zdOkxTQI/s1600/Writers%2B-%2BDon't%2BSacrifice%2BQuality%2Bfor%2BQuantity!.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gc_tOdTsQ0k/VIOFblEqWJI/AAAAAAAADEc/6R_zdOkxTQI/s1600/Writers%2B-%2BDon't%2BSacrifice%2BQuality%2Bfor%2BQuantity!.png" /></a></div><br />After my "I'm focusing on me" status last week, a few people asked me to elaborate on the current state of self-publishing and those who choose to self-publish, and I am by no means an expert, just someone with a blog and opinion I guess -- and everyone is a critic these days, so here are my two cents.<br /><br />You've probably seen posters, or at least heard of this pricing dichotomy:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Good - Cheap - Fast</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Good</b> service <b>Cheap</b> won't be <b>Fast</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Good</b> service <b>Fast</b> won't be <b>Cheap</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fast</b> service<b> Cheap</b> won't be <b>Good</b></span></div><br />And it's extremely relevant to self-publishing, especially considering that a lot of the time self-published authors are employing other people to do cover art, formatting, editing, etc. and as I said in my status, there is a real push on publishing more books as a lot of people think that if you have a backlog of books you will be more successful, and rest assured, this is not the case.<br /><br />There are authors out there who can write tens of thousands of words in a weekend, and that is great, if your worth is counted in the amount of words you can write, but it's not, just like your worth isn't measured in Facebook likes or Twitter followers, your worth is something you need to figure out inside you, it can't be dictated by others. <b>Ahh, tangent. Sorry!</b><br /><b><br /></b>A typical full novel is about 300 to 400 paperback pages which is anywhere between 55,000 and 70,000 words. And it's great if you can write that within the space of a week or two full time, but that doesn't mean it's your mission to draft and edit your book for the next two weeks so that you can publish it as soon as humanly possibly.<br /><br />^^ brings me to the above point. It can be <b>fast</b> and it can be <b>good</b> but you better expect yourself to fork over some money, or it can be <b>fast </b>and it can be <b>cheap </b>but the end product will be less than desired. There is no <b>good </b>and <b>cheap</b> because the current publishing trend is to not hold your manuscript for longer than four weeks after the first draft.<br /><br /><b>I'm not brandishing all self-published authors with the same brush. Some authors can produce great books in a short amount of time, and as the dichotomy stands, they will have spent a lot of money getting it that way.</b><br /><br />You need to ask yourself, are you sacrificing the <b>quality</b> of your work for the <b>quantity</b> of books that you have published? <b>And you'll probably say no because being real with yourself can suck.</b><br /><b><br /></b>A two or four week period isn't enough time to draft your novel several times and have it edited and read just as many. It's not realistic to do that, and then expect the quality of your work to be on form. I know this because I used to be this, and because I still see it today, so I know I'm not the only one, but I'm probably one of few who will freely admit to it.<br /><br /><b>Fast </b>can also be another word for <b>rushed</b>, and when things are rushed, pieces are missed, words are skipped, and entire scenes don't get a look in. So take your time, and give your manuscript room to breathe, otherwise you'll be constantly updating your book with <i style="font-weight: bold;">revisions</i>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Readers will wait for your book.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This isn't the fast food industry.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tweet about this po</span><span style="font-size: large;">st</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;"> Don't Sacrifice Quality for Quantity! - <a href="http://ctt.ec/96Zt9" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Tweet Here!</span></a></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">Good - Cheap - Fast = Quality over Quantity! - <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://ctt.ec/pLUj0">Tweet Here!</a></span><br /><br /></div></div></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" height="320" width="287" /></a></div></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-27853029274074886902014-12-04T17:27:00.000+00:002014-12-04T17:27:36.828+00:00Write Tips: Writing Drama!<div class="" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DK4ouMHso4A/U-j0tTWyu3I/AAAAAAAACsw/jzex6M0c9qM/s1600/Drama.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DK4ouMHso4A/U-j0tTWyu3I/AAAAAAAACsw/jzex6M0c9qM/s1600/Drama.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Originally posted on the 6th of February 2012.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I love a little bit of drama, in fact I love a lot of drama. I love conflict between people and I love raw emotion being thrown around. I'm not a lover of actual acting because I have really bad stage fright, but people who can act and act well, are great. It's like a writer, taking in all those people and expressing them in their words, an actor expresses their character through movement and speech.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That paragraph is a bit misleading...I'm not going to tell people who to write play scripts or anything, I'm just going to give some tips on writing or incorporating drama into their writing, and I hope that what I have to say helps.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the greatest elements in any drama is <b>CONFLICT</b>!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Without conflict the dramas not the same.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Conflict can stem from a lot of different issues, it could be an internal conflict, it could be a physical altercation that results in one of the characters being arrested/prosecuted. <b>Read a book</b>, there's conflict in about any book I can think of, even if it's just a minor internal conflict about a situation, it adds depth and it adds/builds character.</div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">“<span style="color: red;">No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.</span>”</span><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: large;">― Robert Frost</span></div></div><div class="" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">This is one of those quotes that I think I will always remember, as a writer, it's our job to channel the emotions through ourselves and into our writing. I mainly remember this quote when I'm struggling, and then I realise that struggle is a conflict, we're constantly surrounded by drama and dramatic events that we know what drama is -- drama is the front page of a glossy magazine, also known as inspiration.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The best scenarios are the ones based (loosely-ish) on real life. Of course, if you're writing your fantasy novel, there is no scenario in real life where someone is going to be discussing how a certain spell can kill someone etc. but applied to real life, replace spell with any number of weapons, and you can recreate the mindset of the characters. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>If you don't feel it then how do you expect your reader to feel it?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's not essential that writers should put themselves through emotional turmoil, but if you think your writing would benefit from it, who's to stop you from seeking drama.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You need to convince your readers that it's plausible, that the motivation and action surrounding that motivation is strong. It's not necessary to kill a character or anything but I think that there needs to be an argument or two. You might want to write about secrecy and betrayal, so go for it!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Write something that you would want to read.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b>Write Tip!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">If you want some drama, just turn on any news channel and there will be at least one story that you can draw inspiration from.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;">Ask yourself: <b>why did this happen? Who created the tension? If this, then what?</b> It can be a game to get your creative juices flowing.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;">Often dramas will have a twist! The kind of twist that shocks even the writer to have thought of, if it's easy to create, then the reader might have also thought about it as well.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It goes without saying that you need to flesh your characters out and reiterating what I said before, their motivation must be strong, and give them some conviction. Your characters are <b>real</b>, and you're not accountable for what they say or do, don't censor your characters.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You might also be interested in:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://josepheastwood.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/write-tips-writing-romance.html"><b>Write Tips: Writing Romance!</b></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now, go multiply! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tweet about this po</span><span style="font-size: large;">st</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;">Write Tips to help YOU write drama! - <a href="http://ctt.ec/d95rk"><span style="color: red;">Tweet Here!</span></a></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">Drama is tiring, but so is the same ol' plot twist! - <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://ctt.ec/cik4n">Tweet Here!</a></span><br /><br /></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" height="320" width="287" /></a></div><br /></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-76667303634207355752014-12-03T16:55:00.000+00:002014-12-03T16:55:55.164+00:00How YouTube Star Zoella sold over 78,000 BOOKS!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-txS79jDSxyc/VH81q-m9OJI/AAAAAAAADEM/zSGchTnv1tU/s1600/How%2BYouTube%2BStar%2BZoella%2BSOLD%2BOVER%2B78%2C000%2BBOOKS!.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-txS79jDSxyc/VH81q-m9OJI/AAAAAAAADEM/zSGchTnv1tU/s1600/How%2BYouTube%2BStar%2BZoella%2BSOLD%2BOVER%2B78%2C000%2BBOOKS!.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">In what has been an amazing year for the YouTube content creator, Zoella, she's now gone on to the publishing industry and from figures released by Penguin, Zoella has charted her book "Girl Online" as the fastest selling book in the UK after only being released a week ago!<br /><br />There has been a lot of hate, a lot of that from writers, on the different feeds on Facebook and Twitter that I've seen and I'm a little shocked, I guess, jealousy plays a huge part in the hate that she's received, but it's the state of the traditional publishing industry; you're more likely to get a contract if you have some kind of presence on the web, if you're a name that's already on people's lips, they'd be more inclined to call you a <b>sure thing</b> as in, your book will sell because you have readers.<br /><br />Zoella has over 9 MILLION subscribers across her two channels, with 6.6 MILLION on her main channel alone. On her channel it says that she set it up in 2007 -- almost 8 years ago.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">This isn't an overnight success.</span></b></div><br />The mere thought of being or having <b>overnight success</b> is a myth that you need to get rid of right now. There is no such thing. I haven't read her book, I haven't even bought it, but I'll watch her YouTube videos (the funny ones). She's apparently signed a two-book deal, and I think that's great. If she loves what's she's doing and not hurting anyone in the process, who are we to judge.<br /><br />Someone commented with "<b><span style="color: red;">So this is where literature has taken us.</span></b>" I'd probably say that they were in the failed writer/troll category of the internet, and there is nothing that makes someone look so bitter, than when they see someone doing well and have to try and take a dump on their parade.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What's saying that you can't be this successful?</b></span></div><br />Nothing. Not a single thing. Literary agents and publishers are rejecting you? There might be a reason for that -- it could be your writing, your attitude, your brand -- they don't want a liability, they don't want someone who could potentially tarnish them. Brand yourself. Make yourself known. A publisher is less likely to take a chance on an unknown writer than a writer who has a presence, a brand, and can sell to thousands of books.<br /><br />Another person commented with "<span style="color: red;"><b>As a writer, I find this rather irritating--not because she write the book or because kids like it, but because the publishers bought it.</b></span>" I think they mean because publishers won't buy their book, and they're so obviously one of the most talented writers that has existed within this century that anything that is excepted over theirs is considered <i>meh</i>.<br /><br />Like with other art forms; acting, film making, photography, <b>image is everything</b>, and this person mentioned that publishers are cutting their advertising budgets for new authors, and having an existing brand image and fan base is great for both the author and publisher.<br /><br />I'm not saying that you have to be beautiful or anything, but you have to be aware of how you come across online. In the case of Zoella, she's so sweet on YouTube and she makes you say <i>awww</i> because that's her, that's her brand, she might be a total B-- off the camera (and I highly doubt that--but that's because she's branded so well), but nobody sees that.<br /><br />Let's not forget to mention that Zoella has branded herself on one of the largest social media platforms out there, YouTube, and I would be lying if I said that I was only going on YouTube just for fun, but I won't be, it's a social media platform that I haven't touched. I've dabbled in the past, but I want to take it serious, like I have done with both Twitter and Facebook, I want to expand my reach.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I wrote a post about <b><a href="http://josepheastwood.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/how-to-brand-yourself.html">branding</a></b>, you might want to check it out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Having a publishing contract and being published, let alone selling thousands of books and going on a book tour is the dream of literally <i style="font-weight: bold;">every</i> author (might be the exception here and there), and if you're not chasing your dreams, then you're basically letting them slip.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>ALSO</b> there isn't a limited number of authors who can be published, you <b>can</b> and you <b>will</b> be published, hopefully in a realistic sense and not a delusional one.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Good Luck & Watch this Space!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" height="320" width="287" /></a></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-42654392486854823732014-12-02T22:08:00.000+00:002014-12-02T22:08:17.454+00:0010 Words to Cut from your Writing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iatuBzAqRHo/VH4bDgBLBvI/AAAAAAAADD8/nEspRQG06EU/s1600/10weakwords.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iatuBzAqRHo/VH4bDgBLBvI/AAAAAAAADD8/nEspRQG06EU/s1600/10weakwords.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Over the years... well, I started writing/publishing when I was 18/19 so around three years ago, and this has been a process that I wouldn't change if I had the choice, but it's been an experience, and over the years, I have grown to build a list of words that I <b>try</b> and <b>cut</b> from my writing when I draft or edit.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Cut words to be more concise.</b></span></div><br />From looking at my blog posts you might notice that I'm not the most concise writer, and that I love to go off on a tangent or be a very expressive and use words like VERY!<br /><br />Some of these words restrict us in our ability to describe, but that's okay, every word has its place, and every writer is on a journey of self-discovery.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">1 // </span><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">THAT</span></b><br />This word is my number one nemesis, sneaking into all my manuscripts. Damn those <b>*shakes fist*</b> pesky words! <b>That</b> is one of those words that can be used to enhance a sentence, but most of the time you can delete <b>that </b>and the sentence will be better off. Try not to switch <b>that</b> with <b>which</b>, and maybe brush up on some grammar to know when they're necessary.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2 // </span><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">STARTED</span></b><br />He <b>started</b> running. <i>Yeah, but when did he start. </i>Chuck Palahniuk had this to say about the word <b>started</b> - "Any action a person takes is started, continued, and finished. All three of these can be expressed by the root form of the verb." An example of this would be: instead of "<b>he started running</b>" instead use "<b>he ran</b>".<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3</span></b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> // </span></b><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">SUDDENLY</span></b><br />This is one of those words where you're telling the reader that something happened<b> suddenly</b> instead of showing them through the action. The word is a crutch that some writers use as a means of transitions instead of showing the scene. I hold my hand high to being guilty of this, <i>I worry that I don't know how to transition between scenes.</i><br /><br />Readers are supposed to be drawn into the world that you've created, they're supposed to be there with it, but with the use of <b>suddenly</b> the reader can see that there's going to be action and the tone/emotion/feeling that you want them to have will be very dilute. It's giving the reader a foresight and taking them out of the narrative.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">4</span></b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> // </span></b><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">REALLY</span></b><br />It's one of those words that we use a lot when we speak, and it doesn't translate well on the page, it's a little bit like using the word <b>very </b>(point 5). It's not <b>really</b> hot, it's boiling, or it's just hot. The word <b>really</b> is often used as an intensifier -- but always fails in that respect. If it doesn't add anything to what you're trying to put across, then cut it.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5</span></b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> // </span></b><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">VERY</span></b><br />There are a lot of famous writers that have had their say about the word <b>very</b>, so I'll let them tell you....<br /><br />"<i>Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘<b>very</b>;’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.</i>" ― Mark Twain<br /><br />"<i>So avoid using the word ‘<b>very</b>’ because it’s lazy. A man is not <b>very</b> tired, he is exhausted. Don’t use <b>very </b>sad, use morose.</i>" ― John Keating<br /><br />John Keating's point is perfect. That's why you should cut the word <b>very</b>.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">6</span></b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> //<span style="color: red;"> </span></span></b><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">STUFF</span></b><br />Vague vague vague. Use more specific language where possible. Unless it is <b>green stuff </b>i.e. unknown to the characters in the book, then I wouldn't use <b>stuff</b>.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">7</span></b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> // </span></b><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">THINGS</span></b><br />Also vague. Too vague to handle this word right now. Again, aim at using more specific language when it comes to talking about <b>things</b>. When you're specific your writing becomes better. Example: I could've titled this post as "10 <b>Things </b>to Cut from your Writing".<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">8</span></b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> // </span></b><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">QUITE</span></b><br />I know I've used this word in the past, and probably still do. <b>Quite</b> is one of those words that begs to be cut. It's not <b>quite</b> this, but it's a little of that. The word is confusing. It's almost like <b>a bit</b> or <b>almost </b>(both of which you should cut). "I'm <b>quite</b> hungry." -- you either are or you aren't, or perhaps your peckish. Question yourself, but not incessantly, you'd never get any work done.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">9</span></b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> // </span></b><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">LIKE</span></b><br />This is another time where what we might say in person doesn't translate with the words on the page, if you <b>like</b> get what I mean. Be certain with yourself on the words that you're going to use. <b>Like </b>can be used to say things as similar, but don't do it. "<b>It's a trap!</b>"<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">10</span></b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> // </span></b><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">JUST</span></b><br /><b>Just</b> delete this word whenever you see it. You're <b>just</b> in time.<b> ::dies:: </b>This was one of those words that I saw in a book about writing, and it's stuck with me. It's not necessary and is often used as filler; it's a common crutch word. Delete it and see for yourself.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">BONUS</span></b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> // </span></b><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">AND THEN</span></b><br />This is one of those phrases that we all write when you're trying to get through an action scene. <i>He punched him square on the nose </i><b>and then</b><i> stood on his face</i>. I think this is a personal opinion one, but I find the whole phrasing a little clumsy -- <i>yeah, I'm probably guilty</i>, but it's just something that bugs me slightly.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you want to find any of the following words in your manuscript,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">press <b>CTRL + F</b></span></div><br /><br />This list isn't everything, and I strongly suggest you experiment with words, and write daily. Remember that these are just some friendly guidelines, they're not here to rule your life. It's the words that you're cutting, not the story.<br /><br />Dialogue is totally different. Your characters can say what they want. They can use the words <b>really, very, stuff, </b>and <b>things</b>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Commence the Word Cull! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" height="320" width="287" /></a></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-18990481413665747262014-11-27T13:57:00.001+00:002014-11-27T13:57:40.194+00:00Are You a Writer?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xjo5N-flQNU/VHcnrRW5vlI/AAAAAAAADDc/kbOIC36q5uA/s1600/areyouawriter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xjo5N-flQNU/VHcnrRW5vlI/AAAAAAAADDc/kbOIC36q5uA/s1600/areyouawriter.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>I started writing as a foetus believe it or not, and by foetus I mean, I was quite young. I've always written, yadda yadda, you know, the same cliché writer trope. I love writing, except lately I've been the least writerly person around.<br /><br />I mean, just check through my blog posts and you'll see that most of them are about marketing and promotions. <b>WELL I'LL BE DAMNED</b>. The cause of my annoyance has been subconsciously staring me in the face. I've not felt like a writer in a while, sure, I write, but it's been because I felt bad, I felt that I was letting someone other than myself down, and I'm sick of that feeling, I'm sick of feeling like I don't write for myself.<br /><br />I'm only 21, and I've been on Facebook and Twitter and <i>social media</i> since I was 16/17, and all I've ever wanted was people to know me for my writing. I wanted people to be reading my books.<br /><br />There have been a fair few hiccups since I published my first book, formally titled <b>LUMEN</b>, and I'm not going to say that publishing it was a bad decision. It wasn't. It was a great decision, because from that, it's taught me how to be an individual, it's taught me how to be Joe.<br /><br />I recently posted on Facebook that I would be pulling my books from online vendors, and I do that after a long time of thought.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Reasons why:</b></span><br />• I want to focus on my writing and less on my selling.<br />• I'm trying to perfect my craft, not perfect my selling technique.<br />• It's less pressure on me to publish.<br /><br />We're in a writing culture that I feel is all about getting content out faster than someone else, publishing and pushing books out, one after another. And it's not healthy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Write for yourself.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Internet will never forget that I published in 2012, 2013, and 2014. The Internet will not forget. I will not forget, and hopefully neither will some of you.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm going to be blogging, and come January, you can expect to see your very on video blogs. I'm going to continue writing my series, I have much planned for Daniel in the Blood Luminary series. Brandon in the Night Falls series, and Wren in the Caldwell Witches. So don't think I've pulled away completely.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm a writer. Not a masochist. I'm not going to abandon my <b>children</b> - I birthed them with words, but they could do with a baptism and some home time before I let them flee the nest. (Hope you get the analogy!)</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I hope to see more of you!</b></span></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" height="320" width="287" /></a></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-64616289817888949002014-11-27T02:52:00.000+00:002014-11-27T02:52:23.296+00:00Plagiarism or Mixing?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Asjasptytc/VHaKnB69aOI/AAAAAAAADDM/7DWLcM4da4Y/s1600/Plagiarism%2Bor%2BMixing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Asjasptytc/VHaKnB69aOI/AAAAAAAADDM/7DWLcM4da4Y/s1600/Plagiarism%2Bor%2BMixing.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I read an article the other day, and I completely forgot all about it, a bit like a bad dream. Well, it turns out that this article was written ALMOST FIVE years ago! Isn't it crazy how some things resurface after a while.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a link to the article that was in the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/12/world/europe/12germany.html?_r=0">NYT in 2011</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A young girl at only 17 was being praised for her book -- I think she might have won something, she'd been praised for her acting and plays, so I guess nobody thought twice when they saw that she'd <i>written</i> an amazing novel.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, she'd been found out about lifting entire paragraphs from lesser-known books and using them as her own.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She then later defended her actions by saying something along the lines of, <i>there is no originality left in the world</i>, and that <i>all ideas are bound to copy each other at one point</i>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It reminds me of something a teacher once said, <i>if you put enough apes in a room with typewriters, one of them is bound to write a Shakepeare play</i>. Probably not those exact words, but the sentiment is there. And I don't believe it for a second that there is no originality left in the world, of course there is, and by telling ourselves that there isn't is just imposing a glass ceiling on our creativity.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't impose a box if you can't think outside of it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I really don't agree with artists and authors stealing things from each other, and there should be more out there to impose this as actual theft, especially when other people are trying to make money from it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I think the girl is 22 now, and I believe she hasn't written anything new, and to be quite honest, I don't blame her, at the time of the article she was <i>famous</i> with a lot of press out for her guts. She was built by the literary industry and then torn down by with them one fell swoop.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Pablo Picasso said:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Good Artists Borrow, Great Artists Steal</span></b></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">But in an age where everything is documented, and nothing is ever really removed from the internet, you should try your best not to look like a complete tool. It can affect everything that you stand for.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Her sales weren't hurt at the time, but now I doubt it if she makes a penny from the damning information floating around on the web, and in 2014 going on 15, all employers are bound to Google you.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Put your best foot forward, World!</b></span></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" height="320" width="287" /></a></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-39622651771060485302014-11-23T17:34:00.002+00:002014-11-23T17:34:42.446+00:00How To: Create Hype<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jmDLseP3FlY/VHDKgzG1AfI/AAAAAAAADC8/q_VzO8YRucw/s1600/Create%2BHype.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jmDLseP3FlY/VHDKgzG1AfI/AAAAAAAADC8/q_VzO8YRucw/s1600/Create%2BHype.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Hype is a great thing! Although it can be hard to create because to have hype, you've got to have people interested in your writing -- and usually, it's just writers sharing things for other writers, only to market your work to other writers, and sure those writers are going to be readers as well, but they might not have the review blogs etc. and so by creating some hype, you can find more of an audience/readership.<br /><br />Well you're here, and that means one of two things, you accidentally clicked this link or you want to know how to create hype, either way, stick around.<br /><br />As an indie author you have to utilise what's in front of you -- now we're in the 21st Century, so we have the internet, and with the internet comes social media websites. <b>::the heavens open up and give us an unlimited potential::</b> being online can be somewhat of a job, you've got Twitter, Facebook, Google+, YouTube, and I'm sure there are more. (Oh, blogging sites!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/JosephEastwoodAuthor">Facebook</a> is a great networks for connecting with people online.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Joe_Eastwood">Twitter</a> is for microblogging - 140 characters.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/+JosephEastwood/posts">Google+</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/JosephEastwoodAuthor">YouTube</a> (intertwined)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://instagram.com/josepheastwood">Instagram</a> is a photo-sharing application.</div><div style="text-align: center;">...and a blog!</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;">I'd say that the above 6 items are your checklist for creating an online presence, and having an online presence is key to being able to connect with people and create hype.</span><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: center;"><b>DO NOT</b> rush this -- you shouldn't rush any part of your publishing journey, it will only hinder you in the long run. The more successful authors will have a small team or *ahem* army of beta readers or even a street team, here the author will share select information before going public with it -- this makes the readers in the group excited, they will engage with posts on the authors page/profile and tweets etc. as being in the know is exciting.<b> AND DON'T</b> take your street team for granted, they don't want to be told what to do, they should feel like friends, they should feel wanted. <b>Also note that having a bigger street team doesn't necessarily mean having a "better" one.</b></span><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><b>Create Shareable Content </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shareable content is usually quotes from your book, this might be in the form of a text object, or on an image... you should also make sure to get the juicy parts, the parts that intrigue the reader, you want the parts were people scream<b> GIMMIE THIS BOOK!</b> Perhaps consult with your street team about any of their favourite parts, sentences, things that have stuck with them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Promotional posts -- if you find images online i.e. Shutterstock, (<i>you don't want to get mixed up in any illegal business by taking someone's pictures/art in order to promote your books) </i>Creating taglines is also great; a word or phrase, it doesn't have to be on the cover art, but putting it on the poster to <b>sell</b> your book.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">The aim of <b>HYPE</b> is to create a want in the consumer (readers).</div><br />Having a great relationship with people who also have a following can increase the hype, especially if they're excited for your release.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Document Your Journey</span></b><br />We belong to a culture that thrives online. We obsess over posting what we're doing every minute of the day, and with things like Twitter (<a href="http://josepheastwood.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/how-to-twitter.html"><b>How To: Twitter</b></a>) and it's micro-blogging platform, that's more easier than ever. As well as even connecting with some of your readers on a more face-to-face value through the use of videos (i.e. YouTube).<br /><br />A lot of indie authors take it as common practice now to post their word counts, to post vague statuses about how excited they are for their most recent writing venture. They'll post teasers and word counts, and even pictures of famous people who they envisage as the characters from their work -- it's all become a really interactive process.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">It's Business</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You need to think of your writing as your business -- and like a business, you'll need a marketing/promotion campaign. You need to contact people and ask them to share for you. You need to make the material that you're sharing of a great quality, perhaps something that is very visually stimulating, that way you're drawing their attention.<br /><br />If your readers don't know about it, how are they going to know that they want it.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Brand Yourself</b></span><br />I won't go into too much about this as I have a blog post on<b> <a href="http://josepheastwood.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/how-to-brand-yourself.html">Branding</a> </b>which goes into more information. All you need to remember is that you're a brand; a business, and you need to make sure that you're sticking to that.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Hashtags</b></span></div>The internet is great, you can now group things -- and you do that through using hashtags! Enter a hashtag and find everything else under that tag. You can use this to your advantage as you can create your own hashtags and encourage others to use them, it takes a couple thousand tweets using your hashtag to create a trend, and even then, it can sometimes depend on how many twitter users are tweeting and what else is going on in the world.<br /><br />I would say "<i>go for it, try and trend</i>" but the likelihood of it is, you won't. These trends usually happen in small bursts during a small time frame (1-2 hours).<br /><br />There are also communities of people who use tags like #amwriting and #wordcount -- and they can help you grow and network.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I hope these tips helped!</span></div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tweet about this po</span><span style="font-size: large;">st</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;">How To - Create Hype for Your Book! - <a href="http://ctt.ec/CUs96"><span style="color: red;">Tweet Here!</span></a></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">Hype is about creating a WANT! - <a href="http://ctt.ec/chW0F"><span style="color: red;">Tweet Here!</span></a></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" height="320" width="287" /></a></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-67102551383608083652014-11-15T16:24:00.001+00:002014-11-15T16:24:47.702+00:00How To: Finish NaNoWriMo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ovbtKcE4OjA/VGd1akrB9VI/AAAAAAAADCo/XBRmC7lCToE/s1600/Finish%2BNaNo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ovbtKcE4OjA/VGd1akrB9VI/AAAAAAAADCo/XBRmC7lCToE/s1600/Finish%2BNaNo.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We're at the midpoint of the month aka the middle of NaNoWriMo -- and if the 1,666.66 daily words has anything to go by, the majority of WriMo-ers should be hitting that 25,000 word mark of their project. (<i>But there are a few of you who've already batted 50k right out of the park!</i>) I wrote a "<a href="http://josepheastwood.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/how-to-nanowrimo.html">How To: NaNoWriMo</a>" post that you might find helpful.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, to be hailed a winner of NaNoWriMo you need to reach 50,000 words by the end of November! *<i>which you probably already know if you're taking part. </i>I've always found the middle of the event to be one of the times when I'm most struggling because doing anything for an entire month without losing focus is a task in itself.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's some of my <b>top tips</b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>to help you get to the end of your NaNoWriMo journey! A journey much like the Hobbit -- there will be elves, goblins, trolls, wizards, and right at the end, there will be a dragon that needs slaying, or taming, whichever you prefer, but that dragon stands in the way of you and your completed 50,000 words. <span style="color: red;">I didn't know where I was going with that analogy -- but it stays.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Top Tips</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Don't put too much pressure on yourself </b>-</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You'll only make yourself ill. Remember that even if you don't win by NaNoWriMo's standards, you are in fact a <b>winner</b> because you've written something and that's all you can ask of yourself. Plus, you'll have made some great connections with people if you've been using a group or #NaNoWriMo on Twitter.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Go forth and network!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you haven't yet joined the above mentioned groups or used the tags -- then you're truly missing out. Although I said in the <a href="http://josepheastwood.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/how-to-nanowrimo.html">previous post</a> to remember to unplug, you should also plug yourself in from time to time. Writing can be a lonely business, and unless you like being solitary, I'd recommend hitting up a group or two.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you've hit 25,000 words today, then the 50,000 word mark is only 15 days away! Keep at it!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you're not quite there, you might benefit from planning out what you're going to write before you write it -- I always find that if I've outlined my writing before I do it, I more than triple how productive I am. This, mixed in with a little coffee and no internet.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Writing Sprints are your best friend!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you have NaNo friends or just friends that write, I'd suggest doing writing sprints, honestly, nothing helps better than getting a good sprint out. Usually lasting anywhere between 15 and 30 minutes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They are life savers! There's also hashtags such as "writingsprint" and "amwriting" that might help you make connections across the internet.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Good luck!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">*if all else fails, copy and paste your work a bunch of times, you'll get to the 50k mark eventually. <b>Just kidding!</b> It's not all about winning.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Go forth and Write WriMo-er!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" height="320" width="287" /></a></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885240565522404597.post-8565926681251100122014-11-12T17:10:00.000+00:002014-11-12T17:10:09.946+00:00How To: Sell Your Short Stories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0fpACMWmFuc/VEfWuRnH9nI/AAAAAAAADAw/Gg_MLVIvOx8/s1600/sell%2Byour%2Bshort%2Bstories.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0fpACMWmFuc/VEfWuRnH9nI/AAAAAAAADAw/Gg_MLVIvOx8/s1600/sell%2Byour%2Bshort%2Bstories.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you're thinking about selling your short stories, then I guess you already know how to write them, on the off chance that you'd be open to reading another post -- I also have a "<a href="http://josepheastwood.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/how-to-write-short-fiction.html">How To: Write Short Fiction</a>" that you might be interested in.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Back in 2012, I wrote a post titled "<i>Short Stories: Selling Them</i>" and since the revamp of the blog, I figured that I'd start with updating content that had been previously posted. (It makes sense considering I have a larger readership now.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When it comes to selling your short stories you need to have some idea of where you want to sell them as there are a lot of different avenues.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first and most obvious avenue would be to <b>self-publish</b> your short fiction, and for some, this is what they do. Another avenue is submitting to <b>publishers</b>, both <b>indie </b>and more <b>traditional</b> publishers. Selling to an <b>anthology*</b> or <b>magazine</b>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">*warning - there are a lot of people who are creating anthologies with the promise of exposure i.e. of making bestselling authors out of them on their Amazon Ranks. You will <b>not (</b>likely) generate any money from this kind of venture.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Self-Publishing</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You <b>can </b>make a living from selling your short fiction. Firstly, let's go over the self-publishing route; this will cost you a little bit of money to make happen i.e. editing, cover art, formatting, etc. I'm going to pick out the two lowest points of sales for the lowest royalty rate available on Amazon. Currently, <b>$0.99</b> for <b>30%</b> royalties and <b>$2.99</b> for <b>70% </b>royalties.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Some math...</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You sell your short story at $0.99 and you make $0.35 per sale.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">5 eBooks a month = $1.75 a month = $21 a year.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">1,000 sales in a year = $350</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You sell your short story at $2.99 and you make $2.05 per sale.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">5 eBooks a month = $10.25 a month = $123 a year.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">1,000 sales in a year = $2,050</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You <b>can</b> sell your short story at $1.99 and make $0.60 per sale. (A middle ground?)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">5 eBooks a month = $3 a month = $36 a year.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;">1,000 sales in a year = $600</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Obviously 5 sales a month is on a low end of the spectrum of sales.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Publishers</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first thing you'll need to understand is that independent (indie) publishers have a much smaller budget, and so they won't be able to pay a lot of money, often, there isn't an advance and you <i>only</i> get a cut of the profit. There are some publishers out there -- but Tor are the best publisher online when it comes to paying for short stories. <span style="color: red;">I don't know this from experience, only what is said on their website.</span> They're legit.<br /><br />Usually with publishers you get <b>50% </b>of the profits -- and a lot of the times you see <b>$0.99</b> for short stories; from the maths above, that's about $0.17 per sale. MUCH LESS! Plus, no advance. <i>I can understand why some people say that there is no money in it, but <b>don't </b>be discouraged from writing your short fiction.</i><br /><i><br /></i>Often the reason why we go to publishers is because they take the most risk -- they will pay for cover artists, they will pay for editing, the formatting etc. and often they will have a better standing when it comes to the presses and getting your work advertised.<br /><br /></div><div><b>Back to <a href="http://www.tor.com/page/submissions-guidelines">Tor.com</a> </b>and their submission guidelines -- from the way their online presence is, they seem open for a lot, and they look like a great place if you're wanting to make a name for yourself. (<i>I would definitely subscribe to them, even if it's just to see what they're publishing.</i>)<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On their website they say "<span style="color: blue;">We pay 25 cents a word for the first 5,000 words, 15 cents a word for the next 5,000, and 10 cents a word after that.</span>" They definitely know the worth of your words. The maximum word count is around the 15k - 17k mark. They <b>only</b> except the best pieces of fiction, so practice your craft!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">$0.25 x 5,000 = $1,250</div><div style="text-align: center;">$0.15 x 5,000 = $750</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That's $2,000 for a 10,000 word short story -- and I believe that the long waiting period is well worth it. You're being both, paid, and also given the exposure that Tor.com has to offer.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm not sure if there are other online outlets like this, but if there are, you can go ahead and post them in the comments section.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now write you heart out</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">And go <b>SELL</b> your fiction,</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">But never sell your heart out.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />ALSO to any Smart Alec comments about writing not being about making money, please, pipe down. Writing, is a job, and like any and all jobs, it's done with the hopes of reaping enough finances to live off.<br /><br />*Tor.com did not pay me to plug them on my blog. Just fyi.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tweet about this po</span><span style="font-size: large;">st</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;">How To - Sell Your Short Stories! - <a href="http://ctt.ec/bhk6a"><span style="color: red;">Tweet Here!</span></a></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">Make a living from your short stories! - <a href="http://ctt.ec/Be3qd"><span style="color: red;">Tweet Here!</span></a></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYWfxARfEd8/UincF5TaDpI/AAAAAAAABpc/u-KJtvs8iak/s1600/endsign.png" height="320" width="287" /></a></div>Joseph Eastwoodhttps://plus.google.com/104124795382356446702noreply@blogger.com1