Google Maps for Writers

Writers, if you haven't used Google Maps or Google Earth to help you with your work's location, you're missing out on a valuable resource.

Maps - Use the mapping to get a view of your locale. I created a fictional town for a story near Charlottesville, Virginia. I used the map to find a great spot for it. I wanted it west of Charlottesville in a valley. Even though it's a made up location, I wanted real streets and highways in the surrounding areas. 

The maps also provide local place names for color and charm. You can right-click on the map and access features like getting directions, locating sites, or measuring distances.

Satellite - Switch to the satellite view to see an aerial view. Google maps will also highlight historic sites, nearby attractions, and other businesses. You can quickly see driving routes and nearby locations. I love the bird's eye view.

Photos - Many locations have photos attached, and this provides you a visual of what the area or building looks like.

Street View - Many locations have the street view option. This gives you a three hundred and sixty degree view of the surroundings. This is helpful if you haven't been to an area or aren't familiar with the terrain.

My writer friend used this feature to find a good location, just off an interstate for a murder scene in her book. 

I've set stories in nearby cities, and I use this feature to find neighborhoods that match my story. Plus, you can add realism by including true locations or street names. This feature gives you a good look at the flavor and style of the neighborhood.

If I'm planning a murder or a horrific crime in a story, I don't use a real location. I make it up, but this feature helps me find neighborhoods that fit my imagination.

You can also see the date (month and year) of the image in Street View. The date appears in the status bar at the bottom, so you can tell how old the image is.

This is one of my go-to resources when I'm plotting a story and looking for a setting.

(Sensible) Writing Quotas Do Work

I admire writers who set and hit their daily word counts. I beat myself up about being a slow writer. My first novel took about three years when I really settled in to write and revise it. (There are also two other novels in a drawer that will probably never see the light of day.) My second mystery took about a year and a half, so my speed is improving. And I've learned a lot along the way.

I'm doing an experiment with my current WIP (work in progress). I set a weekly (weekend) word goal of 4,000 words, and then any other writing I get done during the week is extra. The first draft of this book will be finished in months, not years. Writing every day does make a difference. However, work and life get in the way sometimes. During this project, I've been able to stick to my weekend word counts, and I'm making good progress. (18,000 words to go). I have also been able to keep my momentum in this book. I call my past efforts binge writing. I'd write thousands of words one week, and then nothing for weeks on end. By the time I picked the manuscript up again, I had to refamiliarize myself by rereading chapters.

My excuse was always that I work long hours in IT, and the last thing I wanted to do when I got home was to sit down at my computer. I do try to write every day at lunch. I am also not doing major revisions in this WIP during the first draft. I make notes of things I want to change or add. So far, this is working for me, and I'll have something in a month or so to go to my critique group. Here's what I've learned from this experiment:

• Set goals that work for you. If you find that it's too easy, then increase it. 
• Just write. Worry about editing  later.
• Strive to finish your first draft with the goals you set.
• If you know you have plans and won't be able to write, bank some word count ahead of time. It's easier than trying to make up word counts later. Plus, it feels better to be a head than playing catch up.
• Stop if you just don't feel like writing. Take a break and do something to get your energy or creativity recharged.
• Be kind to yourself. Progress is progress. A paragraph is more than you had when you started.

And remember, you need to find the style and process that works for you. Try something. If it's not working, then try something else. There's no right or wrong way. You just need to find a way to make steady progress. Happy writing!

Online Tools That Can Help Writers

There are lots of online tools that make my writing and work lives easier. Here are some sites you should check out.

Acronym Finder - Sometimes, I need an acronym, or I need to have one defined. This is a great site for that. 

NetLingo - This site helps you figure out what chat and text acronyms mean. 2DLOO

Computing Fundamentals - This is an online technical dictionary if you need a quick definition of something from the computer realm.

Automatic Text Generator - There are times I need to mock up flyers or other documents to show the layout. This tool will generate blocks of text. My team at work does software testing. I use this site to generate blocks of text to test fields in applications too.

Office Templates - Office has an incredible library of templates. If you need a calendar or a newsletter format, chances are you'll find a good selection here. This site is invaluable when you need to do a document quickly.

ScreenFly - This site will show you what a website or blog will look like on different mobile devices. Type your URL in the blank. There are different device types at the top. It helps to see if your site is mobile friendly.

Free Training - MOOC is Massive Open Online Courses. There are hundreds of free classes you can take in almost any subject you're interested in.

What I Learned about Man Hunting (Tracking/Search and Rescue)

Members of the Piedmont Search and Rescue team visited my Sisters in Crime chapter this month and talked with us about tracking and what they do on search and rescue missions. They also set up a demonstration in the woods outside of the library. Here's what I learned...

Piedmont Search and Rescue provides operational, equine, and management resources. All of their members are volunteers and are dispatched by requests from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. They provide tracking and search resources for missing persons, despondents, and missing aircraft. Their members train monthly and have to have certifications for each level. Most of the volunteers log about 400 hours a year. There were over 100 searches last year in Virginia where they were asked to participate.

Missing persons with dementia tend to walk out the door and stay on a straight path until there is an obstacle. Autistic children tend to be found near water. Small children tend to hide in and under things. Missing adults used to be found in lower grounds because they were trying to get back to a populated area. Nowadays, they are often found on higher ground because they are trying to get a cell phone signal. More searches happen in the fall because of hunting, hiking, and leaf peeping.

They called their trackers "leaf sniffers" because they were on the ground looking for tracks and indentations. They photograph clues as well as sketch them (especially shoe tread patterns). Soft muddy or sandy soils are "track traps." Tracking is very methodical, and all details are documented. When you are searching, look at things from different angles. Always remember to look up. Things/clues get caught in the bushes and small trees. They often use their flashlights during the day to see different angles of footprints. Those who staff the base camp are often called "Twinkies."

When they are searching for clandestine graves, they look for areas of land that have a caved in look. The soil is often darker in these areas. Also the surrounding vegetation tends to stop, and there is a new crop of fast-growing weeds. One time, they were searching for a missing person in Augusta County near the site of a bloody Civil War battlefield. They said that the dogs were getting hits off of the burial grounds and what was the old military hospital. 

Equestrian tracking gives the rider a higher vantage point. Horses/mules sense movement quickly and alert their riders. Working or herding dogs are often used for air scent searches. Bloodhounds search on leash, while the air scent search dogs tend to search off leash. 

For night searches, they often use red or green lights to protect their night vision. However, red doesn't not work well with topographical maps because many of the lines are red. And if you need a sample of your footprint, stamp on a piece of tin foil.

Search and Rescue Acronyms:

• AHJ Authority Having Jurisdiction
• IPP Initial Planning Point (Where the Search Begins)
• LE Law Enforcement
• LKP Last Known Point
• PLS Point Last Seen
• POD Probablity of Detection

Making a List - Keeping Your Social Media Feeds Organized

After a while, your newsfeeds in Facebook and Twitter become jam-packed with updates from friends, pages you've liked, and promotions. And the social media sites are always tweaking their algorithms to adjust what you see.

There are groups of people that I like to keep up with so, I create lists in Facebook and Twitter to organize my newsfeeds. I like to see what members in my writing groups, critique groups, and anthologies are talking about. I group them in lists, and when I select to view it, I get all their latest posts in one place. My instructions for creating lists are from the web version of each of the social media sites. If you're using the application version, the links may be in different places.

For Facebook, open your personal site.  Look on the far left list of links and locate "Explore." Move down the list and click on Friend Lists. Click the Create List button. When the dialog box appears, name your list and add people. Save your list. The new list will appear under your "Friend Lists." Click it to see a newsfeed filled with posts from people you added.

To create a list in Twitter, click your photo in the upper right corner. When the drop-down appears, click Lists. The Lists page appears with all the lists that you're a part of. Click Create New List in the top right corner. Name your list and provide a description. Save it. You can add people to your list. Note, if you add someone to a list in Twitter, it appears on their updates page.

Twitter lists are fun. Others have added me to quite a few lists. I'm in one for redheads. Someone else created a Twitter list of "Heathers." It's neat to see what's out there. You do have the option to remove yourself from a list if you choose.

This is one way that I organize my social media time, so I can see the items that I'm looking for instead of wading through lots of other posts. Let's connect on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media sites. Drop me a line or add me to a list. I look forward to hearing from you.

How Readers Can Help Authors

Wanna make an author's day? Here are a few ways readers can help authors, and the effort is MUCH appreciated!

1. Write a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes and Noble. It doesn't have to be a book report. One sentence will do. The number of reviews do count in the publishing world. 

2. Subscribe to the author's newsletter. Many of them have the information on their websites. It's a great way to get updates about new projects.

3. Follow the author on social media. Likes and follows help authors build their social media platforms.

4. Invite the author to speak or Skype with your book group or club.

5. Request that your library add the author's book to its collection. Many have online forms for you to make these requests.

6. Join the author's street team or review crew. These are usually groups of super fans who get early previews, opportunities, and book swag.

7. Buy a book and give it as a gift.

8. Go to the author's signing and get an autographed book for your collection or for a gift.

9. Nominate the book for a reading at your book group. 

10. If you like a book, recommend it to others. Share their social media posts, and help them get the word out.

I love my readers. They always provide good comments, feedback, and ideas for new story lines. 

One is Often the Loneliest Number for Writers

Writing is typically a solitary activity, and it is very easy for authors to become isolated. I believe writers need to balance their time between the writing life and the social one. They need to focus on researching, writing, and revising, but networking and learning from others are also important to the writing life.

Here are some ideas that work to help with balance.

1. Find your group of like minds. Locate a writers' group for networking and idea sharing. My groups provide classes, workshops, seminars, networking, and book signing opportunities. I'm in several online groups, and they offer me training and critique group opportunities. To me, these groups are invaluable. The members are so generous with their time, and they're willing to answer questions and provide guidance. Just make sure that you're not over extending yourself by joining lots of groups.

2. My critique groups are invaluable for their feedback and beta reads. I am in an online one, and we exchange critiques via email. My other group meets monthly at a local library. Both of my groups are made up of mystery writers. That's my genre, and that's where I want to focus my time and energy. Some groups are open to all genres. Find what works best for you. I agree to review and critique their work, and they do the same for mine. It is an investment of time, but it is well worth it for me. I like the feedback from different perspectives.

3. If there isn't a writers' group in your genre near where you live, check out other genres. There are several writing groups in my area, and we often open our programs to the other groups.

4. Find authors who are similar to your style in your area to share author panels and book signings. I really don't like to do book signings alone. It's more fun when there are others . Plus, it's an opportunity to share your work with a variety of readers. I love going to events and meeting new writer friends.

5. Use social media for discussions, feedback, and research. You can find subject matter experts in a variety of fields to answer your questions. (Twitter is great for this.) Plus, it's fun to chat on social media with other authors and to share their celebrations.

6. Look for partnership opportunities with other authors (e.g. anthologies, boxed sets, special sales, guest blogs, and social media take-overs). These are great ways to share your work with readers with similar interests and to broaden your audience.

7. Look for volunteer opportunities. There are many groups that are looking for speakers and instructors for workshops. It's a great way to meet peoples (and readers). I am very fortunate that librarians and others contact our writing group with events that we share with our members. I've done programs at libraries, schools, senior facilities, and book clubs.

8. Take advantage of your library. There are so many resources there. And many offer programs that need speakers and instructors. Get to know your librarians. 

What else would you add to my list? 

My Primary Social Media Sites and How I Use Them as an Author

There are so many social media sites, and it can be overwhelming. I heard some good advice at a conference a while back -- "You can't do it all." Authors feel they need to be everywhere -- all the time. And sometimes, that takes me away from writing and editing.

Here are the sites that I'm more active with and how I use them.

Facebook - I have a personal page, an author page, and a group page for superfans. My personal page has information that I share with friends and family. I share book things on my author page, and my fan group is for previews and early review requests.

I like to use Facebook to keep up with people, learn about new events, and see what everybody's reading or writing. I probably post more to my author page than I do my personal one. I also occasionally boost posts about look launches and sales on the author page. I also create events for meetings or signings that I like to invite people to.

Make sure to tag people that appear in your photos or posts. 

Twitter - I use Twitter to keep up with the book world and all my mystery reader and writer friends. I like to share others' information and celebrations. 

I use Tweepi to manage my Twitter followers. Often there are accounts that follow you, and then they drop you shortly after. I use TweetDeck to schedule posts. I also make lists to keep up with different groups of people. The lists help me organize groups of folks that I'm interested in, so I can see their tweets.

I tweet links to my blog posts and announcements about my books. I also try to share good content from others. If you tweet about events or post pictures, make sure to tag those who are with you.

Instagram - I love looking at and taking pictures. I can spend hours flipping through Instagram. I post pictures of what I'm doing. My dogs get a lot of face time on my account. I always try to take pictures at all the events I go to. Make sure to tag anyone with you in your photos. 

Pinterest - Did I mention that I love looking at pictures? I have Pinterest boards for all kinds of things that I want to see again. I create boards for all my books and stories. I save pictures of what my characters and settings look like. I also have a board of blog posts. I also have boards for crafts and recipes that I want to try.

LinkedIn - This is my "professional" social media site that has my key jobs and skills. I use this for business networking. I have also started to post links to my blog here. 

My recommendation is to find the sites that you like to interact with and try to focus your time on those. You should have a presence on the others, but I would concentrate on a few. I try to schedule my social media time throughout the day. I catch up at breakfast. (Yes, I tweet at 5:30 AM.) I try to check on my sites at lunch, and then I scroll through my sites after dinner.

Let's Be Social:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Goodreads

Amazon Authors

Pinterest

LinkedIn

BookBub

GooglePlus

AllAuthor

YouTube