You are here: Home / Archives for Fiction Writing

Do You Have a Blog for Your Author Website?

February 9, 2011 By 2 Comments

If you don’t know what a blog is then you must not be ready to embrace technology. A blog is short for web log. It started out as an online diary; however, businesses, artists, musicians, and professionals began to implement it as part of their marketing strategy. If you have an author website, you may consider creating a blog either as apart of your website or you can keep it separate by ‘linking’ it to your website. Either way, a blog is a great way for you to communicate with your fans.

Authors could benefit from having a blog because it’s a way for readers to connect with you. They’ll be able to leave comments on your posts and tell you what they think of your books. Take criticism with a grain of salt. You can’t and won’t please everyone all of the time.

If you wrote a book then you’ll want to have a blog on your author website. Readers will be interested to know about your characters and how you developed them. You don’t have to divulge all of your secrets but it would be wise for you to share how you came up with your characters, what makes them unique, or why you’re attached to them. This insight will help your readers understand your characters better; they’ll be able to connect to them.

Since you’re an author you won’t have a problem writing unique content for your website. However, if you have ‘off’ days, you may consider inviting others to become guest bloggers. In fact, you may want to invite some of your readers to write guest posts. They could write posts about how they feel connected to your characters, why they like your books, share what your books mean to them, and other topics that you may suggest. Not only will these guest posts will draw readers to your website but it will show readers that you actually value their opinion.

If you don’t have a blog on your author website, start one today. You can use Blogger, WordPress, Typepad, or some other blogging platform. It’s fast and easy and you have nothing to lose. A blog will only enhance your website — you could gain new readers. What are you waiting for?

Rebecca

What’s stopping you from creating a blog for your author website? Share.

Filed Under: Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Publishing, Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Travel Writing Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Traveling in 2011: Write about Your Travels and Make Money

January 5, 2011 By 2 Comments

I wrote a post about easing into freelance writing through travel writing. If you’re traveling in 2011, write about your travels to establish yourself as a writer and earn extra cash. For example, I entered a contest to win a trip to Japan in 2011. To help me get there, I created a vision board and placed a picture of Japan on it. I visualize myself visiting the temples and partaking in Tai Chi with the locals. I also say ‘thank you’ for having won the trip. I also intend and plan to visit the U.K. in April 2011 to be apart of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding. I didn’t receive a formal invention but I’ll show my support by standing alongside the British people as they celebrate this historic event. I’m torn between staying at a budget hotel or hostel. I stayed at Budget Backpackers in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2007 and it was an awesome experience. You have to be comfortable with sharing the kitchen and bathroom along with rooming with strangers who may not speak English. It was an awesome experience and helped me ease into freelance writing and travel writing.

Travel tips

  • When it doubt, please leave it out. You don’t have to pack your entire closet, unless, of course, you plan on staying for six months or more. Believe it or not, you can buy toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, clothes, and other items when you arrive at your destination.
  • When you travel to foreign countries, remember that you’re the foreigner. Don’t expect the laws of your country to apply elsewhere in the world. Don’t expect stores to be opened 24-hours a day or on Saturday and Sunday. Most travelers, especially U.S. citizens, believe other countries are just like the U.S or believe they should be. It pains me to say that but I’ve experienced behavior by U.S. citizens that made me cringe. Be respectful and remember that you’re a foreigner in a foreign land.
  • Travel with a backpack or carry-on bag. You’ll save yourself a lot of headaches if you leave your luggage at home. You’ll be able to breeze through airports and will have plenty of time to get something to eat or buy a magazine or book (if you didn’t bring one with you).
  • Give yourself plenty of time to get through airport security. Who knows, the security measures could be loosened in 2011. Until then, make sure you arrive on time to go through security.
  • Learn to speak the language. You don’t have to be fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Italian, French, Hungarian, Spanish, or Arabic but it will help if you know some key words and phrases. You’ll score points with the locals if you attempt to speak their language. They’ll be more than happy to assist you should you need help.
  • Bring a netbook, laptop, paper and pen, and recorder with you. In order to efficiently record your travel, you’ll need to record your thoughts. Bring whatever is most comfortable for you and won’t take up much space.

Travel writing tips

  • Write what you know. If you’re passionate about adventure travel, write about it. If you’re passionate about dude ranches, write about it. Also, think about what you liked and didn’t like about your past travels. How would that information help your fellow travelers? How would it benefit them? Once you find the answer, you’ll be on your way to become a travel writer.
  • Travel throughout your state and or country. Believe it or not, where you live is a destination for tourists. You could establish yourself as the ‘go-to’ travel writer in your area.
  • Find your voice. It’s flattering to emulate your favorite writers but write in your own voice; it will sound more authentic.
  • Decide what you want to write. You can write blogs, articles, a travel journal or memoir, guidebook, or fiction book based on your travels. Don’t limit yourself but chose a line of writing that’s best for you.

Freelance writing and travel writing are fun careers. If you’re traveling in 2011 and the coming years, why not turn your travels into cash? You’ll never know where it will lead you if you don’t take the plunge. Who knows, you could have your own show on The Travel Channel (I’m finding out how to pitch them ideas). Good luck!

Rebecca

Where are you traveling in 2011? Share.

Filed Under: Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Tips and Tricks, Travel Writing Tagged With: , , , ,

Writers: Do You Post Your Unpublished Books Online?

July 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Photo by Jakub Krechowicz

Some writers are posting excerpts of chapters or their entire book online. While posting excerpts isn’t a bad idea, you may want to rethink posting your entire book on the internet. Why? Publishers may ‘frown’ upon this because they want to be the first ones to read your book.

If you attend a writer’s workshop, the instructor may tell you to remove your book from the internet. One reason could be due to copyright issues. If you’re super paranoid that someone will steal your ideas or copy your entire book, you may want to remove it right now. Another reason to consider taking your book off of the internet is a publisher will want to be the first one to read your book. If your book is already available for the public to see, what’s the point of the agent or publisher looking at it?

Writers post their partial or completed books online for different reasons. If you want feedback on your novel, join a writer’s group that offers comprehensive reviews. Having your writing critiqued is a great way to tighten up the plot, find those pesky grammar and punctuation errors, and find out if your story draws people into it. You can join as many groups as you want. Make sure you feel comfortable with the people and receive constructive feedback.

Posting your partial or completed book online could open you up to all sorts of negative chatter. Some writers receive this from their family and friends. Do you really want it from the general public? You may read comments such as, “…your writing sucks, you call yourself a writer, or get a real job.” If you have great self-esteem and self-confidence then these comments will roll off of you. However, it you haven’t developed your self-confidence, these words can hit your worse than a punch to the gut! Think about this before you post your book online.

Writers, it’s up to you whether or not you post your partial or completed book online. If you feel confident in your work and want readers to read it now then go ahead and post online. If you have a voice in the back of your head that’s questioning whether or not to do this, listen to your gut instinct that may tell you it’s not a good idea. You could always write to your favorite writer and ask his or her opinion on this subject. Good luck!

Rebecca

What’s your reason for posting your unfinished book online? Share.

Filed Under: Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Publishing Tagged With: , ,

Writers Enter the Realm of the Seventh Sanctum

July 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Photo by Zoran Ozetsky_Stock Exchange

Sometimes writers struggle to think of ideas, plots, scenes, and characters for novels. You may have a great idea for novel but are stuck on character development. Creating the right name can be particular difficult. This is why a character development worksheet is helpful. There’s also Seventh Sanctum which can help you flush out characters. It could save you time and aggravation. And, it’s free!

Seventh Sanctum offers creativity tools. You’ll find generators for characters, plots, ideas, and more. You don’t have to acknowledge Seventh Sanctum if an idea results in thousands or millions of dollars for you. But, it would be nice if you did give credit to the website and its developer.

How does it work?

When you visit Seventh Sanctum, you’ll see a list of generators on the left hand side of the website. For example, click on Characters and a list appears. Choose from general characters, animal-humanoids, for the fans, specific characters, or miscellaneous. Each generator has specifications that you can choose from to create your character. Let’s look at the General Character.

General Character

  • Click on the ‘general character’ generator.
  • Select the number of people to generate from the drop down menu.
  • Choose the character: regular, regular male, regular female, anime, anime male, or anime female.
  • Poof! Your characters are created.

The only aspect the ‘general character’ doesn’t do is give you character names. No problem. Click on ‘names’ on the left hand side of the website.

Names

  • Click on the ‘names’ generator.
  • Choose the name generator: general, dark/evil names, species/specific, theme, locations, and ships.
  • Poof! Your character names are created.

Seventh Sanctum can save you a lot of time, especially if all you want to do is write your novel. Using the generators can cut your time in half. Make sure you have a basic outline for your novel because it can help guide your novel in the right direction.

Stop struggling with character development, ideas, plots, and scenes. Give Seventh Sanctum a try and see what it can do for you. Maybe your storyline isn’t quite there yet. Or, you may scrap your storyline and take one that’s generated for you. That’s what I did. Seventh Sanctum provided me with a great title and my characters are developing nicely. Now all I have to do is write the novel and thank Seventh Sanctum for my success!

Rebecca

How long does it take you to develop characters and character names? Share your thoughts.

Filed Under: Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Publishing, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: , ,
« Previous Page