Writerly, Bookish, and Fun Resources

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I subscribe to a lot of newsletters and podcasts, and I want to share some interesting ones with you. These are great for research and ideas.

Newsletters - I love keeping up with authors and what they’re writing, and bookish events. Here are a few that are worth checking out:

Podcasts

What are your favorite newsletters and podcasts?

Use Your Books to Generate Ideas for Social Media, Blogs, and Events

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Use your books to help you generate ideas for social media and blog posts and events.

Do some brainstorming. Make a list of 10 or 15 words that relate to topics and subthemes in your stories. Think about:

  • Settings/Locations

  • Hobbies

  • Your Character’s Job

  • Music

  • Popular Culture

Examples from my Series:

  • Delanie Fitzgerald: Sassy Private Eye, Richmond, Computer Hacker, English Bulldog, Sears Catalog Houses

  • Jules Keene: Glamping, Blue Ridge Mountains, Vintage Trailers, Jack Russell Terrier

  • Jade Hicks: Beach Town, Christmas Shop, French Bulldog, Tuxedo Cat

  • Cassidy Jamison: Event Planner, Blue Ridge Mountains, Chihuahua, Music, Honky Tonk, Cave, Serenity Garden

Then create social media and blog posts that highlight these. Look for groups and hashtags on social media that are similar and follow people with similar interests.

Connect to a “holiday.” There are lots of online calendars that show all kinds of holidays for any occasion or celebration (e.g. Taco Day, Chocolate Lovers’ Day, Dog Lovers’ Day). Target posts for these special days and highlight your book.

You can use your list to come up with some creative book signings. I was part of a wine-themed anthology, and we scheduled signings and readings at wineries all across our area. There are all likes of places and small businesses that may work with you to do a signing or to sell your books. Think beyond bookstores, libraries, and conferences.

What would you add to my list?

Some Things to Think about if You Write a Series

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If you think you want to write a series, there are some things to think about when you’re writing and revising.

  • Create connectors or mentions (of characters and events) and sprinkle them in without providing spoilers.

  • Think about your character arcs. Do you want them to grow or change? Some series, the character is basically the same age. In others, the change jobs, get married, get divorced, and age as time passes.

  • Have an idea for the plots and stories as you’re writing. You may want to have some kind of reference at the end that sets up the story for the next book.

  • Think about whether readers can read the series out of order and still enjoy the book. Some dedicated series readers read them only in order. Other readers find you mid-series.

  • Make sure there is going to be a next book if you write a cliffhanger. Readers don’t like to be left “not knowing.”

  • For fiction series where you have recuring characters and new ones, you may want to have a short list at the beginning for a reader reference.

What else would you add to my list?

10 Things I Learned Along My Writing Journey

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There have been a lot of lessons learned along my writing journey, and I am sure that there are more to come. Here’s my list of the top ten so far.

  1. Don’t give up. Keep writing.

  2. Treat your writing like a business.

  3. Guard your writing time. It’s precious.

  4. Find your crew to help you celebrate and get through the rough times.

  5. Keep your biography and your headshot current.

  6. Write your synopsis and marketing documents after you finish a round of editing. Your characters and story will be fresh in your mind.

  7. Keep a up to date character list for your book and series.

  8. Record dates, contacts, and key information when you agree to do something, and keep your calendar up to date.

  9. Keep good records. Keep all your receipts. Tax time always seems to be around the corner.

  10. When you type “the end,” put down your manuscript for a few days before you start editing and revising.

Ways to Spark Your Creativity

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Sometimes, you just don’t feel like writing or the words won’t flow. Or maybe, you just have a case of the blahs. Here are some ideas you may want to try to recharge or reenergize.

  • Start another creative project where you have to use your hands. Learn a new craft or a new skill.

  • Volunteer. Many organizations are looking for people to do a variety of tasks. A change of scenery is always good. And giving back is important.

  • Take a class or a course. It’ll spark ideas, and you have the opportunity to learn something new. There are so many few free or low-cost courses.

  • Go for a walk, hike, or bike ride or start a new exercise routine. It’s good for your health, and the endorphins always stimulate creativity. And if you have a dog, he or she would love to go on an adventure.

  • Get out your camera or phone and go on a photo safari. You can always blog about your adventures, share them in your newsletter, or use them on your social media sites.

  • If you can swing it, plan a get-away. Mini-vacations are a great way to recharge. If your budget or schedule doesn’t allow for a trip, plan a get-away day near your home. Play tourist or just visit some interesting sites. A change of scenery will do wonders for your outlook.

  • Schedule a meet up or online call with your writer buddies. A “plotting” party where everyone throws out ideas for stories is a great way to get recharged and ready to write. I always leave with some new ideas that I want to explore.

  • Organize a closet, your desk, or your junk drawer. Putting things in order creates a sense of accomplishment and spruces up your space.

  • Make sure you do have a writing crew. Writing is lonely, and you do need your support folks. Get together and plan a new project or just chat. Sometimes, you need a break.

What would you add to my list?

Organizing Your Book Files

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There is nothing that will make an author cry faster than not being able to find the most recent version of a manuscript. I really dislike not being able to find things when I need them, so this is the method that works for me.

The Writing Files

  1. I use Microsoft Word, so I create folders for each of my books.

  2. There is one main file. At the end of each writing session, I make a backup of that to my cloud files. (I talked to a writer recently who saves each update in a new file with the date in the name. She mentioned that it took her a long time to find which changes she was looking for. My writing time is limited. I don’t want to spend hours looking for a file.)

  3. When I get edits (because each publisher has its own file naming convention), I put my original manuscript in a subfolder (e.g. Original Files) and save the edits in the editor’s format. When other edits happen, I do the same thing. There is always one main book file that gets backed up.

  4. If I have chapters or paragraphs that I’m removing, I make a copy of them and create a file in the “Original Files” folder for unused material. Make sure the file name describes what it is because you don’t want to have to open a bunch of files if it’s called something generic. Are you going to remember what “old chapter four” is several months later?

  5. I create a character spreadsheet for each series. When there is a new manuscript, I make a copy of it and save it to the new book’s folder. Then I add a column for this book. I note which reoccurring characters appear in the new book and add the new folks. This file has what recipes I used, key information on the characters, and location information that I don’t want to lose between books. I also add names of people I want to recognize in my author notes, so I don’t forget anyone.

  6. I have a Word document with my current biography, social media link, and book links. This helps when I need to create a post or provide this information. This document gets updated every time something changes.

Graphics and Book Covers

  1. When I get the graphics of the final book cover, it goes in my master file on my laptop (and gets backed up.) This way, I can find all the book covers in one place.

  2. I make a subfolder for each series/book for different promotional graphics for the book.

  3. When I make a new image or a video, I put it in its folder.

  4. I use BookBrush to create the book with different backgrounds and in different formats (e.g. ebook, audio, paperback, hardback). I use Canva to create my graphics.

What's in A Name? Titles for Books

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I’ve been asked a few times over the years about how to title a book or what I should name a book. Here are some things that work for me.

Know How It Works - If you are traditionally published, the publisher has the final say on the title. I have always had to provide the working titles of the books in the initial proposal, and I’ve been fortunate that they have agreed with my choices.

Books can have the same title. You may want to Google your title ideas to see what other books have the same name. If they are in different genres, you may not want folks to confuse them.

Themes - I primarily write cozy mysteries. We like puns and things that are related.

The Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries all have rhyming titles with a hint about the crime. Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers, Film Crews and Rendezvous, Christmas Lights and Cat Fights, Deadlines and Valentines, Teddy Bears and Ghostly Lairs, Hazardous Links and Hijinks

The Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries are have nursery rhymes that have gone bad in some way. Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones, Twinkle Twinkle Au Revoir, A Tisket A Tasket Not Another Casket, Life is But a Scream, Down Came the Rain and Washed the Body Out, One Two Buckle My Blue Suede Shoes

The Pearly Girls Mysteries all have a musical theme that ties into the history of the property in the series. Murder Strikes a Chord, Murder Plays Second Fiddle, Murder Whets Its Whistle

Double (or Triple Meanings) - The Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, The Pearly Girls Mysteries, and all of my short stories hold a hint about the story and the crime. Here are some examples from my short stories.

  • “Washed up”

  • “Spring Cleaning”

  • “Par for the Course”

  • “Art Attack”

  • “Derailed”

  • “Out of Commission”

  • “Dead over Heels”

  • “Game Over”

7 Things Writers Should be Doing

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Last week, I posted about things that writers need to stop doing. (I know it’s hard. We all get caught up in the stresses, disappointments, and distractions.) This week, I’m focusing on the things writers (at whatever stage of their journey) should be doing. Here’s my list:

  1. Writing. That should go without saying, but sometimes, it’s easy to get caught up in the marketing, events, and other things that the writing takes a back seat. The fabulous Alan Orloff explained the key to writing to me a long time ago. It’s BICFOK. (Butt in Chair; Fingers on Keyboard.)

  2. Make sure you have a website. And if you have one, make sure it’s current. Nobody visits a stagnate site. If you are prepublished, you can still create a website with an about you section, a blog, and the events that you’re attending. Start building your following early. Interesting, entertaining content keeps readers interested.

  3. Find where your readers are on social media and make sure you have a presence there. Most of my readers are on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. I focus my energies there, but I also have a presence on the other sites. Build your following. It takes time. I spent the months between signing the contract and waiting for edits and publication to build my following. Your social media sites need constant attention. People ignore stagnant or boring sites.

  4. Make sure you have a newsletter/email list. You own this list, and it’s full of people who are interested in you and your writing. If a social media site shuts down or you’re banned, then you lose your contacts. If you are prepublished, you can still start a list. Take it with you to events and have people sign up on your website. This is one of your most valuable marketing tools, and it's often overlooked.

  5. Invest in a professional headshot. Selfies are good for your socials, but they are not what you want for book covers and publicity. You need a high quality, high resolution photo that can be reproduced in a variety of sizes.

  6. Treat your writing as a business. When I acted like my writing was a hobby, my family and friends also treated it like that. I had to start scheduling my writing time and telling people that I was working. It is work. And learn about the business side that involves contracts, negotiations, money, sales tax, tax laws…the list goes on and on.

  7. Take care of yourself. Don’t stress or overwork yourself to the point that you’re not sleeping, eating right, or exercising. You are your brand and what makes all of this possible.

What would you add?