Saturday Edition – What We’re Writing and Reading

Welcome to this Saturday Edition of What We’re Writing and Reading.

We’re taking a little detour on the weekends now to share some of what we’re up to with our writing (when we’re not here) and what we’re into with our reading (around the web). We’ll also pull back the curtain a little to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what went into a piece.

We hope you enjoy this little diversion and encourage you to share your own posts and picks in the comments.

Happy writing! Happy reading! 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Lisa J. Jackson: The week started off intending to go one way and it turned out to be a lot different! The joys of freelancing – and why I still ‘pencil’ things into my day planner instead of writing them in pen. But it all works out in the end, every time.

What I’m writing: Blog posts and short stories ruled this week in the writing arena. Editing marketing collateral made up the bulk of my work, which is more reading than writing when it goes smoothly. And it did. Ahhh.

What I’m reading: I love this post by Pam Moore that touches on how important it is to just “be” sometimes – The Power of Focused Passion in Business and Life. I’ve found a blog that is inspiring for fitness goals – Train-Eat-Sleep - it’s insightful, motivating, and most important, real. And Lou Bortone has oodles of experience to share regarding video marketing and he makes it fun and easy to learn. Definitely a blog worth reading.

In other news: I’m enjoying my first-ever visit to New Jersey this weekend and attending a concert that’s pulling me back to my teen years. Pat Benatar still knows how to rock and roll, oh yeah. Even better, though, is I’m spending some awesome quality time with my brother. Fabulous.

photo: M. Shafer

Deborah Lee Luskin: I’ve had a perfectly lovely week with “nothing” exciting to report, save steady progress on my novel, steady progress on a special project for Vermont Public Radio, and a proposal to a prospective client regarding manuscript development. I’ve come to appreciate the magic of such “ordinary” weeks where all I do is forge ahead without fanfare but with concentration and delight. Part of me loves having one day much the same as another – until I hit a wall, and then I want everything to change. This has been a lovely week of diligent work. Hooray!

Diane MacKinnon: I’m working to cut 1000 words from a short story I’m getting ready to send off to a contest. I’ve been rewriting my story for the past couple of months and I think it’s a lot better than it was–but it’s also a lot longer. I’m going to see how many words I can cut without cutting the meat of the story. I’ve saved the long version because maybe it’ll end up being a novella–who knows?

A blog I read regularly is The Health Care Blog. It’s about all aspects of the health care field and I find it fascinating. While it’s aimed at health care professionals, many of the topics are important to health care consumers.

Jamie Wallace: Morning, all! It’s a cheerfully sunny, not-quite-warm day here on the north shore. I’m getting ready to hustle through a quick breakfast with my daughter so we can arrive early at an equine expo and sale where I hope we’ll be able to pick up some quality riding attire on the cheap. (Wish us luck!). Meanwhile – here’s what’s been cookin’ in my writerly corner of the world:

What I’m Writing: 

Again – not a whole heck of a lot. I’m in week two of a nasty cold that took me out at the knees at the start of my daughter’s April vacation. My energy level has been very low, but I’ve been trying to resist the urge to beat myself up about it and indulge, instead, in some sensible TLC. I have been working on client projects (an ebook for a software company and some key website copy for a friend and local architect). I have also been doing some discovery work on rebranding my marketing business. This is a fun but intense process that is helping me discover and define the “why” that drives my business.

Inspired by this work, I wrote a post for my marketing blog on the importance of Marketing From Your Core. I am an unapologetic branding geek and champion. In this post, I get back up on my soapbox to talk a little bit about why getting a handle on the core values and mission of your brand are so critical to your long term success. Even for writers (and perhaps I’ll put together a post on this soon), developing a brand is a smart and powerful way to set yourself apart from the competition. I know many writers balk at the idea of “being a brand,” but if you think of a brand as simply a “defined story” about who you are and why you do what you do, perhaps it won’t seem like such a foreign idea.

What I’m Reading: 

Affiliate Link

Last weekend, I bought a used copy of Alice Hoffman’s novel, The River King (affiliate link). I’ve only just started to read it, but I’m enjoying her characters and the setting which is a small New England town much like the one I live in. Magical Realism is probably my favorite genre, and Hoffman is one of the best-known writers in that category. The movie Practical Magic (which I adore) is based on one of her novels, but I’ve never read the book. I’m surprised at how slowly The River King starts, though. All the advice I’ve heard tells us to get things moving quickly – grab the reader’s attention, start the story in the middle. Hoffman seems content to spend quite a long time just introducing the characters and the setting. She is, I think, doing a little foreshadowing, but there aren’t any page-turning elements in play just yet. We’ll see how things develop as I continue deeper into the story.

And then there were the blog posts – lovely, lovely blog posts:

• How to Publish an E-Book: Resources for Authors by @JaneFriedman – A comprehensive wrap-up of posts on the topic of ebook production & publishing
• 2 Strategic and Compelling Reasons to Keep Blogging by @DanBlank – A head-clearing post on the value of a blog for a writer trying to develop a body of work
• Lean Sideways by Stacia Duvall – A beautifully written piece inspired by the maelstrom of controversy around Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Lean In
• What’s the Best Way to Backup Your WordPress Website? by @JerodMorris – Technical tips to protect your blog
• Slash: Not Just a Punctuation Mark Anymore by Anne Curzan – A word nerd’s look at the evolution of language
• Art exists everywhere…. – via @NPR – Art in your coffee (for all you cafe-loving writers)
• The Bookstore That Changed My Life by @joshhanagarne - A beautiful, booklover’s story

Happy reading! Happy writing!

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Saturday Edition – What We’re Writing and Reading

Welcome to this Saturday Edition of What We’re Writing and Reading.

We’re taking a little detour on the weekends now to share some of what we’re up to with our writing (when we’re not here) and what we’re into with our reading (around the web). We’ll also pull back the curtain a little to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what went into a piece.

We hope you enjoy this little diversion and encourage you to share your own posts and picks in the comments.

Happy writing! Happy reading! 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Lisa J. Jackson: I missed posting my update last week, but time got away from me (due to work and because I hadn’t finished up my taxes, yikes!) and I couldn’t gather my thoughts in time. Glad to be able to do it this week!

What I’m writing: I’ve been working on solution overviews and solution-in-detail documents which are marketing documents to promote, well, solutions. I’ve also written a couple of case studies and I did that short story submission for the 24-hour short story contest I mentioned on Monday. This weekend I’m putting the final touches on an anthology submission that has to be mailed within the next few days.

What I’m reading: (1) Too many e-mails! I have to get a better handle on my inbox. When I go even a day without checking it, I’m buried. That’s just crazy. (2) Does learning a new database count? I’m the registrar for a conference and I have to learn how to add in and change details so we can open registration in a few weeks. It’s fun and I have great support, but still, a lot to ingest. (3) Precious Blood, a novel by Jonathan Hayes. He’s a medical examiner in NYC and I met him a few years ago at a fantastic writer’s conference in NC – Writer’s Police Academy (this year’s conference sold out in a few days). The novel features and ME, and it’s hard not to think of him as the character, (4) the newest editions of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine.

In related news: Tomorrow night (Sunday, April 21) from 7-9PM EST, I will be moderating a live chat with Don McNair – a professional freelance manuscript editor (Editor-Proof Your Writing) and novelist at The Writer’s Chatroom. Feel free to stop by anytime during the 2 hours. Questions are taking in a queue and there’s a giveaway at half-time (and you have to be present to win). No registration necessary, just enter a username and click ‘sign on’ and you’ll be in!

Deborah Lee Luskin: I’ve had a great week of work, spending my mornings with Ellen, the novel I’m drafting. Afternoons were spent writing scripts

photo: M. Shafer

for two live gigs this week. Yesterday, I delivered a keynote address to the nascent Vermont Chapter of the International Association of Administration Professionals. I talked about ways caregivers need to care for themselves. The meeting was held at the Corporate Headquarters of National Life Group, in Montpelier, and was a jaw-dropping glimpse of the swank corporate world for me. Tonight, I turn storyteller for a local fundraising event to benefit the South Newfane Schoolhouse. In addition, I posted I Am My Own Boss, Part One, and queued Part Two to go live on Tuesday, April 23 – Shakespeare’s Birthday.

I finished listening to Bill Bryson’s At Home. All other reading has been research related. Still trying to figure out how to read more – but have also started on spring chores outdoors. So much to do . .  .. A good week all around.

Jamie Wallace: Well, I’m late to our Saturday get together. Yesterday, the day I usually take some time to add my two cents to this post, turned out to be full of chaos, crisis, and concern for many people in and around the Boston area. My sister lives in Watertown as does a friend and colleague of mine. In addition, my daughter was too close to the epicenter of activity for my comfort, being with her dad in one of the neighboring cities. Needless to say, it was a nerve wracking day.

Thankfully, this part of the horror is over, but I fear there is much more to come and more ugliness (of all kinds) will reveal itself. Still, as writers, we write. And, we read. So … here’s what I’ve been up to despite the awful week we had.

What I’m writing:

Freeform Friday: In the Company of Cats : This is a re-publishing of the column I write for my local paper and a piece that I had a dickens of a time writing. I naively thought, going into it, that the process would be a piece of cake. I love my cats. I love writing. how hard could it be to bring the two together and get 600 – 700 words down? Turns out – very hard. I made five false starts before I found an approach that felt like it was working. I almost abandoned the whole effort, but I’m glad I didn’t. The piece isn’t perfect, but it garnered me my first official piece of personal fan mail. Kind of cool.

Because my daughter was on school vacation, I didn’t spend much other time writing. Instead, I played hooky. And I’m glad I did.

What I’m reading:

(Affiliate Link)

Partly in honor of April being poetry month, and partly because my daughter just loves a funny book, she and I read Shel Silverstein’s fabulous Runny Babbit. I just love the way Silverstein plays with ideas and language. It was a delight to watch my daughter figure out what was going on and then laugh as though she was in on a private joke. We read part of the book at bedtime one night, and the next morning she got up early and phoned my mom to read a few of her favorite selections aloud. Priceless.

I’ve never been too much for poetry, and I know next to nothing about it, but I have begun to appreciate the way the form boils down an event or idea into its most concentrated self. As a chronically busy person, poetry  gives me a nice way to fit some reading in even if I only have a few minutes in my day.

And then there were the blog posts. Here are a few of my favorites:

The Short Story on Structuring Your Short Story by @storyfix

6 Pillars of a Successful Blog via @SEJournal

Here’s What Makes Stories So Powerful by @bweyi via @write_practice

3 Ways to Improve Your Author Website Today by @JaneFriedman

Say It Out Loud: How David Sedaris Makes His Writing Better by Kristin Hohenadel

25 Rare Photos of Famous Authors 

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5 Things to Consider When Writing Webcopy

When I write for someone else’s website, the first thing I do is hold a face-to-face meeting. I want to be able to hear the owner’s actual voice and figure out what it is about their business that makes them stand out from the competition. Some of the information I’m specifically looking for is:

What is the voice? I talk about voice a lot in my marketing writing. It’s something you hear about all the time with regard to internet writing. People want to hear your voice. But what does that mean? You, as the writer, need to gauge whether the client’s voice is friendly, authoritative, funny, or motherly to name just a few examples.

A company that offers services to declutter someone’s house is going to have a far different voice than a company that offers international shipping options. When I sit down with the client, I listen to their physical voice when they explain what it is their company does, and that gives me an idea of how they want themselves represented on the internet.

What benefits do they offer the customer? I recently saw a client who showed me his introductory slide presentation for prospective customers. It started with how his company got started (30 years ago) and continued until today. That’s clearly a presentation that was designed for a person who is very proud of his company. It was not designed for someone who wants to know what it is you can do for them. Find out what the benefits and then use that information in every piece of writing you create.

What are the Keywords? I always ask my clients, what words would I use to describe your business? Those will often be the SEO words you’ll use for much of the documentation. I then ask, what words would I use to describe you? Those are often the words by which the company wants to be known  - trustworthy, intelligent, competent, etc. It will be those attributes that you’ll  be showcasing in your writing.

What’s the best way to present the information? Is what the company does visual? If so, like in the case of a decluttering service, perhaps before and after photos would be effective. Is the company more results oriented, as in, they save the customer money? Then charts and graphs might be effective. . Does the company showcase or teach skills? Well now, there’s a case for video clips.

Figure out, based on the product and services, how best to represent that information on the web.

To whom are we targeting the information? In almost all cases, it starts with a blog. That part is easy, what becomes a bit trickier is figuring out how then to broadcast that blog material.

Figure out who the company typically sells to? Is it the CFO? If so, then don’t spend a lot of effort on Facebook and instead concentrate on sending articles and blog posts to LinkedIn groups and out on Twitter. Does the company have a more “friendly” community? If so then go guns blazing to Facebook. Get those blog posts up and invite discussion in a community format.

Not all web promotion is created equal. It’s up to you to match what you hear and understand from your discussions with the client to what is available out there and that would bring the most bang from their investment dollars.

***

Wendy Thomas is an award winning journalist, columnist, and blogger who believes that taking challenges in life will always lead to goodness. She is the mother of 6 funny and creative kids and it is her goal to teach them through stories and lessons.

Wendy’s current project involves writing about her family’s experiences with chickens (yes, chickens). (www.simplethrift.wordpress.com)

An important part of being a good writer is being a good listener.

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Special Edition: WordPress Under Attack

Hello, fellow writers and bloggers. Happy Sunday!

Posting a quick missive today to make sure that you are all aware of the current hackfest that is going on with WordPress. We know that many of you have WordPress blogs and we’d hate to see anyone’s site compromised or posts lost.

Here is a great post from Forbes that outlines the top 6 precautions all WordPress users should take:

WordPress Under Attack: How to Avoid the Coming Botnet

Most of these fixes are simple and quick. I’ve been meaning to do many of them (including deleting my default “admin” account and installing a backup plugin as extra insurance even though my hosting company also does backups).

If you have a WordPress blog, please do take a look at this and then take the fifteen to twenty minutes to implement these recommendations.

Better safe than sorry!

Now, back to your regularly scheduled Sunday activities which hopefully include writing!

 

AUTHOR UPDATE:

Here is a helpful article about some of the backup plugins that are available: 6 Top WordPress Backup Plugin Recommendations for 2013

And here’s a quick post on how to delete that default “admin” user: WordPress Security Tip: Remove the Admin User

 

 

 

Background Image Credit: Louise Docker

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Saturday Edition – What We’re Writing and Reading

Welcome to this Saturday Edition of What We’re Writing and Reading.

We’re taking a little detour on the weekends now to share some of what we’re up to with our writing (when we’re not here) and what we’re into with our reading (around the web). We’ll also pull back the curtain a little to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what went into a piece.

We hope you enjoy this little diversion and encourage you to share your own posts and picks in the comments.

Happy writing! Happy reading! 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Wendy Thomas: I’ve hesitated joining these Saturday posts because I’m not sure of what I can add.

Hi, my name is Wendy and I write.

On a weekly basis I have 3-5 newspaper/magazine articles that need to get out and I write 5-9 blog posts a week. I’ve recently started blogging for GRIT and Mother Earth News magazines. I also teach classes and workshops.

On an average weekday I spend 6-7 hours with my butt in the chair. However, I try very hard to not be connected on the weekends so that I can spend time with the family and chickens. (You won’t see me replying to any specific comments until Monday.)

Because of my involvement and experience with internet marketing, I’ve recently partnered with two marketing firms and am now providing web content for various clients including web site overhauls, brochures, white papers, presentations, newsletters, and blog posts in the form of client success stories.

I write enough to get paid enough so that I can write enough of my own material to make me happy.

What am I reading?

Always a big fan of Larry Brooks’ Storyfix blog for writers. What he says resonates so deeply with how I view story writing.

I don’t have much time to read too many other writing blogs but I do read books. (With kids, I’ve learned to always carry a book, you never know when you are going to have to wait.)  I tend to focus on non-fiction and have recently read “Salt, Sugar, Fat”, “Pandora’s Lunchbox” and “The Heavy” – food/diet books seem to be trending right now- hmm, maybe I should write a post about that.

Jamie Wallace: Hey, Saturday readers! I missed you last week!

What I’m Writing:

Like Wendy (who, btw, can bring PLENTY to these Saturday posts!), I’ve been pretty darn busy lately. I’m currently working on an ebook series and website assessment/content update for one client and a new business pitch deck for another. I’ve also been (hooray!) finding some time to work on rebranding my own business (something I’m pretty excited about).

I did manage to get a post written for my Suddenly Marketing Blog. It has relevance for writers as it addresses some of the fears we have about putting ourselves out there in our writing, particularly blogging: Write drunk; edit sober. How to blog like you mean it

From the post: Blogging can be scary. Some days, it feels like you’ve been pushed on stage and asked to do stand-up. The guy who was on before you totally killed it. The crowd was laughing in the aisles and people were repeating his catch phrase. Now you’re up there, peering through the glare of the floor lights, trying to catch a glimpse of the audience, sweating under the deep and awkward silence of a crowd waiting to see what you’re going to do.

Yeah. Sometimes, blogging is like that. (… read the rest at Suddenly Marketing)

What I’m Reading:
I just finished Chris Guillebeau’s book, The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future.  Guillebeau is a little difficult to define, but I really admire his entrepreneurial spirit and activities. First known for his travel hacking prowess, he has expanded his empire to embrace a diverse audience of self-employed artists, adventurers, and business ingenues. His World Domination Summit was one of last year’s most talked about events.

The $100 Startup is a pretty quick and easy read that is chock-full of interesting stories about people who have found unique ways to earn a living by building businesses that require little or no capital investment. From the book’s description: “Here, finally, distilled into one easy-to-use guide, are the most valuable lessons from those who’ve learned how to turn what they do into a gateway to self-fulfillment.  It’s all about finding the intersection between your “expertise” – even if you don’t consider it such — and what other people will pay for.”

As a writer, I found the case studies (and there are a lot of them!) fascinating. Many writers need to supplement their writing income with other kinds of work. The $100 Startup provides a boat load of inspiration for different types of business models and niches. The stories also got my writer/publisher brain thinking about writing-related business ideas.

This is definitely a book I’ll be referring back to as I revamp my marketing business and branch out into other, non-marketing projects.

I bought The Cats of Tanglewood Forest for my nine year-old daughter, but I’ve been the one curling up on the couch with my own kitties to enjoy this feline fairytale. I love Charles DeLint’s work for adults – Widdershins, and The Onion Girl are two of my favorites – his mixture of urban fantasy and magical surrealism, flavored with folklore is right up my alley. These are stories you can disappear into … for hours at a time.

It also doesn’t hurt that The Cats of Tanglewood Forest is illustrated by one of my favorite artists, Charles Vess. Vess is a frequent collaborator with Neil Gaiman. They did two picture books together: Instructions and Blueberry Girl.

Each of these beautiful books is like an invitation to dream.  Though I haven’t had time to work on any stories of my own, spending time inside the worlds of other writers I admire helps me keep my own imagination lively.

[Disclosure: All the above links are Amazon Affiliate links. I just joined. I think if someone buys something through my link, they put a quarter in a cup labeled "tips" and eventually I'll earn enough to buy a cuppa at my favorite cafe.] 

photo: M. Shafer

Deborah Lee Luskin: I returned from a week-long vacation on Sunday and spent Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday playing catch-up, including filing my tax returns. But the time away was all that a vacation should be, and I’ve returned recommitted to working daily on Ellen. So far, so good.

My radio commentary Other People’s Clothes broadcast on Thursday, and I’m (still) reading Slow Democracy for a community discussion on Sunday. My husband and I put the 2117-mile road trip to good use by listening to Team of Rivals in advance of our visit to Gettysburg en route to Louisville, and we enjoyed Bill Bryson reading Home: A Short History of Private Life on the way back.

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Some Thoughts. . .

Though I only blog here every other week, I am in constant writing mode. My fiction (which too often takes a back seat), blogs for work, emails, newsletters, grant applications, tweets, pithy Facebook posts. Coming up with this week’s post should have been easy, but instead I have a lot of random but significant thoughts. None are directly about writing, but all of them are about what I need to be able to write.

Community

• I was on an email chain last weekend that was about work, but ended up to be about support for each other as we all struggled with life challenges.
• A dear friend, her son, and his fiance were in a head on collision five weeks ago. CaringBridge.org has kept me apprised of their miraculous recovery.
• This year I am the president of Sisters in Crime New England, and I continue to marvel at this all-volunteer organization, and our commitment.
• I have five friends who all have cozy mystery series coming out in the next few months. We are working on creating a group blog, and are planning on meeting in early June for a writer’s retreat. (I am thrilled at their support, and humbled to be included in this outing, as I am still in the pre-published phase of my novel writing career.)

What is that song, “you get by with a little help from your friends”? These examples are a testament to that. As writers, it is so important to create, acknowledge, and treasure our communities. Notice the plural. It takes a large village to support a writer. It is too much work for one or two people.

Time

Many people marvel at how busy I am, and worry that I work too hard. I am busy. But work too hard? Maybe I do, but I also have a life in the arts, and time bends a bit around that. I have not chosen a 9-5 path. My day job is in theater, I teach, and I write. That is a lot to cram into one life.  But, and I am wrestling with this, isn’t it best to make it as full as possible? When I turned 50 last summer, something clicked. Time is precious, but shouldn’t be treated like that. Instead we need to make sure every moment possible (possible!) is spent in a way that brings joy or ease to our life. I struggle with balance, but that is mostly about going to the gym.

Peace

And this brings me to my last musing of late. I have been taking a meditation class. I have been failing at this class, but I continue to try. I suspect the mind of the writer is very hard to quiet, but that is not an excuse.)= My goal is a quiet mind for a short period of time. Silence the muses, silence the thoughts, silence the judgement. To be present, not thinking too far ahead. Just get the grant written, the blog posted, the chapter outlined. Don’t worry about the review committee, the commenters, the agent. Just focus on the now. And make sure it is what I want it to be. And change it if it isn’t.

How about you? Are you wrestling with some truths right now? Making any changes?

******

J.A. Hennrikus is the Executive Director of StageSource. She is a mystery writer. Her short story, “Tag, You’re Dead” was published in Level Best Book’s anthology THIN ICE. “Her Wish” is in Level Best Books’ DEAD CALM. And “The Pendulum Swings, Until It Doesn’t” was published inBLOOD MOON in November 2012.She is a social media fan, and tweets under @JulieHennrikus. She wrestles with allusions of athleticism, is an avid theater goer and a member of Red Sox nation. Her website is jahennrikus.com

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Saturday Edition – What We’re Writing and Reading

Welcome to this Saturday Edition of What We’re Writing and Reading.

We’re taking a little detour on the weekends now to share some of what we’re up to with our writing (when we’re not here) and what we’re into with our reading (around the web). We’ll also pull back the curtain a little to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what went into a piece.

We hope you enjoy this little diversion and encourage you to share your own posts and picks in the comments.

Happy writing! Happy reading! 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Diane MacKinnon: I’m working hard on the final draft (hopefully) of a short story I’m planning to submit for publication by the end of the month. I love the changes I’ve made, with the help of my critique group, but now my story is too long! I have to go back and cut some of the unnecessary words out–I know they’re there, I just need to look with fresh eyes! Then the story goes back to critique group one more time before I have to submit. Other than that, I’m enjoying writing in my gratitude journal and my 5-year journal daily, and my (big) journal as often as I can.

As far as reading, I have a few books going right now. I’m listening to a book on CD, called Heart of the Matter, by Emily Giffin. I’m at the climax of the book (I think), but I can only listen when I’m in the car alone, so I don’t know when I’ll get back to it. It’s really keeping me interested, though! At night before bed, I’m reading a couple of different books, all non-fiction: Keeping a Journal You Love, by Sheila Bender, which is inspiring on many levels and helping me to journal more regularly; The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History, by John M. Barry, which is a fascinating story that has already taught me a lot about the history of medicine in this country and I’m not even half-way through it yet; and Have a New Kid by Friday: How to Change Your Child’s Attitude, Behavior, and Character in 5 Days, by Dr. Kevin Leman. This one I picked up from the library because these pop psych books are like candy to me. I love reading about human behavior and psychology and the brain, and I have a three-year-old now, who is not a problem child at all, but it’s always interesting to see what the “experts” have to say about raising children. One thing I did learn from the book was to focus on “encouragement” rather than “praise” as praise is related to end-result or product, and encouragement is related to effort and character. It made sense to me that it’s better to talk about the effort that was made rather than the result, since the result will not always be perfect.

Lisa J. Jackson: What I’m writing — Like Diane, I’m also prepping a short story for submission. I’m sending in to a mystery anthology. The deadline is the end of the month and it has to be snail mailed in, so I really need to get on it! I’d also like to submit a dark fiction short story to an anthology that extended its deadline to 4/15. Fingers crossed I’ll get that one in too!

What I’m reading — I’m finishing up Don McNair’s “Editor-Proof Your Writing”, and am reading the latest copy of Writer’s Digest Magazine, Ellery Queen Magazine, and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. The short stories and articles have been the perfect fit this week.

I’m on a marketing kick and blogs of interest include: Jamie’s Suddenly Marketing – lots of inspiration and enthusiasm; B2B Digital Marketing – I’m drawn to the analytics the author posts, and his experienced look at today’s marketing world; and Chris Brogan’s blog that talks about the numerous aspects to owning your own business.

In related news: I’m spending today at a local 1-day writer’s conference and look forward to being around writers for 7-8 hours. I’m participating in workshops such as “Character is Key” (always like to learn about characters), “The Magic and Mystery of Middle Grade and YA Fantasy” (to see if I garner anything for one of my short stories mentioned above), and “Don’t Throw Away the Map” (looking at maps as a form of storytelling). And I should come away with even more ideas for stories by the end of the day.

 

photo: M. Shafer

Deborah Lee Luskin: I’ve been in Louisville, Kentucky, this week, attending the Humana Festival of New American Plays and sipping bourbon. On the way here, I explored the battlefield at Gettysburg, and generally, I’ve been seeing and learning and not writing, but absorbing all sorts of new information – which feels restorative. But, in this digital age, I’ve also been telecommuting with a pen-for-hire job that runs through the end of April. Doing so not only pays the bills but also means that my desk will be that much clearer when I return to work on Monday, and resume writing my novel.

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Friday Fun – Anxiety and Comfort Levels with Promotion

Friday Fun is a group post from the writers of the NHWN blog. Each week, we’ll pose and answer a different, get-to-know-us question. We hope you’ll join in by providing your answer in the comments.

QUESTION: When it comes to publishing, PR, and promotion (including “platform building” and “marketing”), what causes you the most anxiety and what are you most comfortable handling?

Lisa J. Jackson: What causes the most anxiety is doing in-person events. I’m getting better at it as I do more events, but being face-to-face with folks pushes me out of my comfort zone a lot. I like the uncomfortable feeling because it means I’m growing and pushing myself, but I get anxious when I feel the words don’t come right to mind when I need them. I can be quite comfortable with silence, just not when it’s an awkward pause as I formulate a sentence. I’m most comfortable with scheduling the time to do the tasks associated with PR and promotion. I can be inspired by an online or in-person activity and get it on my calendar with ease. I’m great with time management.

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Jamie Wallace: Though marketing is what I do for a living, I have yet to come at it from the perspective of a writer promoting her services or body of work. In fact, truth be told, I’ve done precious little self-marketing for my marketing business which runs primarily on word-of-mouth referrals and repeat business from happy customers. The types of marketing I’m most comfortable with are, unsurprisingly, content-related: blog posts, articles, ebooks, etc. I’ve also started experimenting with audio and may integrate some video later this year. Like Lisa, public speaking has always made me anxious. Though I’ve gotten much better thanks to work I did in my friend Cheryl’s Platinum Presence workshop, it’s something I still have to psych myself up for. At the end of the day, I believe that finding your marketing groove is more about mindset than about mastering any particular skill or technique. It’s about knowing that you have a right to be here. Once you get past that hurdle, the rest tends to come a lot easier.

Diane MacKinnon: Most of my time in the past twenty years has been spent one-on-one with people, whether life-coaching clients or patients, and I’m most comfortable speaking with people (even groups) face-to-face, even when the topic is myself and what I have to offer. I find the whole social media thing very intimidating. I don’t want to waste people’s time with unnecessary content in their in-box or on their Facebook wall. I agree with Jamie, though. The most important thing is knowing you have a place at the table, whatever table you choose to sit at. That mindset took me a long time to develop, especially with regard to marketing, mostly because I trained as a physician at a time when it was considered really tacky to promote yourself in any way (before the advent of Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz.) I’m inspired by my colleagues skills at social media and plan to continue to learn from them. (Lisa helped me update my LinkedIn page just recently!)

Julie Hennrikus: As always, love reading what my blog mates have to say on this. Here’s my $.02–I am much better at promoting a friend than myself. So (and this is going to sound nuts, but here we go) J.A. Hennrikus author is a friend who I feel more comfortable promoting. I am getting much better at public speaking, and have a few other things I can talk about, so I can make it less about me me me, and more about engagement.

 

photo: M. Shafer

Deborah Lee Luskin: I love speaking in public! I love meeting my readers! But I don’t love asking for readings or sending out press releases or organizing all the details; this is when I wish I had a publicist. (Someday . . . ). But mostly, I like to write. I love being a contributor to this blog, and one of these days, I’ll start one of my own. But updating my website is one of those tasks that’s been on my “to do” list for going on two years. So much to do, so little time.

 

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Saturday Edition – What We’re Writing and Reading

Welcome to this Saturday Edition of What We’re Writing and Reading.

We’re taking a little detour on the weekends now to share some of what we’re up to with our writing (when we’re not here) and what we’re into with our reading (around the web). We’ll also pull back the curtain a little to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what went into a piece.

We hope you enjoy this little diversion and encourage you to share your own posts and picks in the comments.

Happy writing! Happy reading! 

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Lisa J. Jackson: It’s been a super-busy week for me with editing work, networking events, and business meetings, so I haven’t had much time to do any reading or writing. I did read the submissions from my critique group partners, and I obviously have to read the documents I’m editing, but I don’t think those count. <grin> I’ve also been reading airline schedules as I strive to plan an August getaway. I should be back to a normal schedule next week and have books and blogs to share with you, since I have a lot to catch up on!

photo: M. Shafer

Deborah Lee Luskin: The week began with the VPR broadcast of Some Came By Ship, a commentary on Passover and immigration (written the week before). Midweek saw the publication of Slow Democracy in The Commons, Windham County’s independent newspaper. I’ve done a fair bit of work-for-hire this quarter, so I also spent some time Thursday sending out invoices, which feels almost as good as depositing the checks that will come in! I also sent in promo material for Bookstock, a literary festival I’ve been invited to speak at in Woodstock, Vermont on Saturday, July 27, 2013, and I worked on a course description for a Revisioning Workshop that I plan to offer to prose writers beginning in May. And, I worked on my novel! If this all sounds frantic, it’s because I’m trying to clear my desk before driving to Kentucky to attend the Humana Festival of New American Plays in Louisville – and visit my daughter the playwright.

Jamie Wallace: It’s been another crazy week. I can’t believe that this weekend is Easter and Monday is the first day of APRIL!! Where is 2013 going?!? Like Lisa, I’ve had little to no time to do any writing except the stuff I get paid for (most of which you wouldn’t be all that interested in – ebooks and other marcom materials for my lovely B2B clients). I did, however, get another column up in my local paper, and I published what turned out to be a mini manifesto of a blog post on my marketing blog:

Unexpected Small Town Regrets is my latest column for my local paper. I got a little more personal in this one than I have in past columns. I wasn’t all that sure about opening up the way I did, or even just turning the spotlight more on my inner thoughts rather than keeping it focused on a more generic experience. In the end, I followed my heart and sent the piece off to my editor. I still feel a little naked with it out in the world, especially in a way that is so close to home; but it’s also somehow comforting to let my guard down a bit.

On my own blog, I posted Easy Marketing for Small Businesses: 5 tips that will help you today. The inspiration for this piece is some conversations I’ve been having with local business owners. Though I often work with mid- to large-sized B2B companies, many in technology and most with global offices, I love working with small and micro business owners and creative entrepreneurs. (In fact, I’m working on some products and programs designed specifically for these people.)  I love helping these small business owners see all the possibilities of today’s marketing tools and techniques, but before I can get to that conversation I usually have to get past some marketing misconceptions.

Finally, here are a few of my favorite, writing-related posts from other bloggers around the web:

• The Best Bad Choice by @SPressfield
• Make a Living as a Writer, Part 2 by @RachelleGardner
• Make Every Moment a Work of Art by @jaltucher
• Paris Review – The Art of Fiction No. 189, Stephen King 
• Herbert Weitz, Book Binder To The Stars (VIDEO)
• 50 Reasons You Should Be A Bookworm
• Book Marketing: 9 Activities to Boost Your Author Career  by @danasitar via @thecreativepenn
• You’re Distracted. This Professor Can Help.

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Saturday Edition – What We’re Writing and Reading

Welcome to this Saturday Edition of What We’re Writing and Reading.

We’re taking a little detour on the weekends now to share some of what we’re up to with our writing (when we’re not here) and what we’re into with our reading (around the web). We’ll also pull back the curtain a little to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what went into a piece.

We hope you enjoy this little diversion and encourage you to share your own posts and picks in the comments.

Happy writing! Happy reading! 

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Lisa J. Jackson

What I’m writing: I completed a company handbook and a draft of a non-profit’s strategy plan. I enjoy pulling back the curtain and learning how a business works. A friend of mine introduced me to her blog, Along the Way, and I’ve found a lot of inspiration from her personal observations of life. And another blog called Writing Whims by Patricia Zick is full of, well, talk about writing. Good stuff. For current, useful, real-world small business tips, especially involving social media, I’m reading Chris Brogan’s blog.

What I’m reading: I read Brett Battle’s “The Destroyed,” part of his Jonathan Quinn series, and the last of his books I’ll read for now. I needed to get caught up and I did. I finished Wm. Paul Young’s “The Shack,” and the ideas will stick with me for a while. I’m now on Don McNair’s “Editor-Proof Your Writing,” and find the tips and exercises useful, especially with a novel-in-progress that I can use (he recommends reading the book in tandem with using a current WIP).

Other fun today: Celebrating my birthday – for years now I haven’t looked at is a me getting older, but my parents’ getting older, which makes the smiles come easier. (We’re celebrating tomorrow after I complete a  2-mile St. Patrick’s Day-themed race.) This afternoon I’m getting together with some other New England mystery writers to read a portion of a work-in-progress. Looking forward to it, and definitely something I’ve never done on my birthday before!

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Jamie Wallace

First – happy birthday, Lisa!!! I hope you have a great race.

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What I’m writing: 

This week was a little crazy since daughter, poor thing, got the flu and was couch-bound for the entire week. Since last Friday, I’ve been trapped in the house, doing my best Mama Nightingale while trying to tread water on client projects. It’s been less than fun. Thankfully, the peanut is feeling better now, but – like any writer – I couldn’t help turning our predicament into fodder for a post. Being trapped in the house and suffering from sleep deprivation (Did I mention we only got about three hours of sleep a night for the first four days of her illness?) transported me back to when my daughter was an infant and I was an inexperienced and desperate new mom. I was reminded of an embarrassing story that needed sharing, so I wrote it up and here it is.

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I also had the chance this week to guest blog for the lovely Stacey Pruim of System Serenity. Stacey is a systems expert who helps people and companies create the systems that make their businesses run smoothly and efficiently. Being a Type-A person myself, I was immediately fascinated by her work. I then had the pleasure of speaking with her and was completely charmed. My post is part of a SED (Systems Experts Discuss) guest series that she hosted to help people broaden their definition of “system.” If you’re overwhelmed by the idea of “marketing,” you might enjoy my post, Marketing – a practice where systems abound. I hope you’ll also check out the rest of her SED series.

What I’m reading:

Once again, I haven’t had much time for “real” reading, BUT I always find time to cram in a few blog posts here and there. These are a few of my favorite, writing-related pieces from the week. Enjoy!

• It’s Time for Writers to Stop Blogging by @llbarkat via @JaneFriedman – Interesting debate about the value of building an author platform at various stages of your career.
• I Love It When Jane Friedman Is Wrong by @thewritermama – A rebuttal (from a friend of Jane’s) that tries to make sure writers don’t misinterpret Jane’s statement.
• The One Conversational Tool That Will Make You Better At Absolutely Everything  by @shanesnow via @FastCompany – This is SO important for writers of all kinds.
• Why I Cut My List in Half  by @cjlyonswriter - Important (and sane) marketing advice from a successful author.
• The Writer’s Author Rank Cheat Sheet by @demianfarnworth via @copyblogger - This is still on my To Do list, but I’m loving the resources from Demian.

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