Expanding Your Network of Resources - Tips for Authors

Recently an author asked me how to find book bloggers and podcasters because he had a book launch coming up. My advice to writers is to start this process early and not to wait until you’re about to have a book launch. You need to grow your network of resources as an ongoing process. Here are some things that have worked for me.

• Most bookbloggers, bookstagrammers, and podcasters do what they do because they love the topic and interacting with others. It’s not good form to reach out or start following someone a week or so before your launch and then contact them for a favor. A lot of these folks have a very full calendar, and they book MONTHS in advance. As you build your author platform and your network, it’s always good to interact with them, know what they feature on their sites, and know their preferences e.g. do they want a physical ARC (Advance Reader Copy) or an electronic one? You should build relationships with book influencers (e.g. like, share, and comment on their posts). Don’t just show up when you want someone to help you publicize your book.

• Always be professional. You are your brand. Make it easy for people. Follow the submission instructions, provide all the information, and have your press kit (bio, photos, book cover, book links) ready and organized.

• Start a list, spreadsheet, or other electronic file to build your contacts. A book launch is a massive event. You need to keep good notes of your contacts, what you owe them, and deadlines. I have a GIANT spreadsheet where I have tabs for each type of resource, their contact information, and notes. I also have a calendar to show deadlines and key dates before and after my book launch. When you’re a guest, you need to make sure you share the interview on your social sites.

• Find out who is out there and who is an influencer in your genre. This takes some research time.

• See where other authors in your genre advertise their books. What events or interviews do they participate in? When I see interesting services or events, I add them to my spreadsheet.

• Use hashtags on social sites to find people who like/follow a topic. You can look for topics like #bookblogger, #podcast, #bookstagrammer, #cozymystery, etc. When you find interesting people, follow them and interact.

• Join writers’ groups. All of the groups that I’m a member of have bulletin boards, Facebook groups, or Slack sites for questions and recommendations. Find your crew. Networking is easier when you know people. I like getting recommendations for people I know and trust.

• Volunteer. You meet so many people with great stories, ideas, and connections. So many writing conferences and organizations are always looking for people to help. It’s a great way to meet others.

Secrets for Finishing Your Book - Tips for Authors

It took me over five years to write my first novel and probably another two years of editing and revising (and revising) before it was finally published. (I do write faster these days, but it took a while to find my groove.) Here are the two things that authors need for their writing journey:

• Willingness to do the Hard Work - You need to put in the work/time if you’re going to be a writer. That means sticking to a schedule, writing regularly, honing your craft, and being open to feedback.

• Persistence - If you want to be a published author, you need to set your goal and work toward it. There are going to be roadblocks, setbacks, and disappointments. Writing is a tough business.

There is no magic pill or solution. Here are some things that have worked for me. Give them a try. If something doesn’t work for you, modify it or try something else.

• Set your writing schedule and your goals. Make sure you don’t set yourself up for failure. Be realistic. If you have a busy schedule, you may only be able to commit an hour every few days. Add in a few skip days because life is going to get in the way or you may not feel like writing one day. Try your best to stick to your schedule. I am much more prolific when I write or edit every day. I am an early bird, so I get up before the sun and write before work. I also get up at 5:00 on my days off to write.

• Keep yourself motivated. There are so many distractions and other things to do. Plus, life gets in the way. Figure out what works for you.

• Just do it. My friend, Alan Orloff, calls this BICFOK - Butt in Chair - Fingers on Keyboard. It’s work.

• Try not to get Distracted. Author Brad Parks had a great suggestion for when you need to research something. He said don’t stop and research it in the moment. Type XXX in the space and make a note. Keep writing. Then when he’s in editing mode, he goes searching for “his X’s.” It cuts down on the distractions.

• Find your crew. Writing is often a one-person sport. Find your support team to celebrate with you and to cheer you up when you hit a road block. These special people are a gift.

• When you’re writing your first draft, just write. Don’t correct, edit, proofread, or revise. Finish your first draft before you go back and edit.

• Get rid of the distractions. Turn off the TV, shut your door, and get off the internet.

• Writing/publishing is a business. You need books to sell. Seven years may be too long between books. Before the pandemic, I wanted to see if I could write more than one mystery in a year. I committed to a schedule for a year, and I produced two novels, a novella, and two short stories. Since I was working from home during the pandemic, I committed my daily commute time and lunch (3 hours on week days) to writing. I finished three novels, a novella, and two short stories.

Best wishes for your writing projects!

Little Things Matter - Tips for Giving and Sharing

Random acts of kindness can mean the world to someone, and sometimes, the giver never knows the extent of his/her/their actions. There are so many ways as writers that we can give back or encourage someone else. Here are some ideas…

Volunteer - There are so many organizations (including writers groups) that need volunteers to help with a variety of tasks. A few hours could make a difference.

Mentor/Coach - Volunteer to mentor or coach a new writer. Providing feedback and life experience is invaluable. I am so grateful for all the authors who have helped me along my writing journey.

Join a Critique Group - By partnering with others, you’re honing your craft while helping others. It means a lot to those at the beginning of their journey.

Practice Random Acts of Kindness - Every day, do something nice for someone else. You’ll never know how something small can mean so much. I was overjoyed once when the car in front of me paid for my lunch at the drive-thru. It was so unexpected. I reciprocated for the car behind me, and the clerk at the window said that it had been going on with over 25 cars paying for the one behind them.

Donate - Find organizations to take your unwanted items and books. I get so many books at conferences. I make sure to pass on the ones I don’t keep to little free libraries, Friends of the Libraries, and schools. Your local foodbank or food pantry is always in need of donations. Crafters, don’t throw out scraps and left-over supplies. Teachers and day care workers often want these types of supplies for their students. Our children’s museum has an art studio, and they are always looking for donations.

Box Tops for Education - I don’t have kids in school, but I downloaded the app and scan my weekly grocery receipt. The donation goes to my elementary school in Virginia Beach.

Keep in Touch - Find ways to keep in touch with others. We all need a team, and sometimes, we need a cheerleader. Use technology to stay connected. Celebrate other’s successes. Find ways to encourage when things aren’t going as planned.

Writerly Lessons Learned - Tips for Authors

I have done hundreds of events, workshops, and classes over the years, and I have learned a lot along the way. Here are some that I can laugh about now…

Know Where You’re Going to Be - We did a museum event one time in January. When I booked it for our anthology authors, it never occurred to me to ask where we would be sitting. It was outside in the dead of winter. Thankfully, one of the gals lived nearby, and her husband dropped by with portable space heaters.

Always Confirm - Get the details before an event and confirm everything. I attended a friend’s book launch at a chain bookstore. When her guests arrived, the book seller told her that the book order didn’t arrive on time. She didn’t have any extra copies with her.

Lips Don’t Lie - We did a panel event at a library with a packed house over 250 people. During the signing, a woman approached the table, and she told me she had to tell me something. She wanted to tell me that “my lips disappeared in the back of the room.” At first, I thought she was trying to sell me cosmetics. I was a little baffled at the comment. It seems my lipstick had disappeared somewhere along the way, and she wanted me to know, so I could wear a darker color next time.

Some Assembly Required - We did a signing at a beautiful winery once, and my partner in crime brought her tent and table. I’m sure it looked like two women doing some kind of weird dance. We had to wrestle the tent. (We are both under 5’ 3”, so it was quite an adventure to raise the canopy over our heads.) I hope no one was filming it. Thankfully, a tall person assisted.

Thanks, Mom - At my very FIRST book signing at the Library of Virginia, I pocketed my keys, phone, and a pen. I didn’t want to have to keep up with a purse during the talk and signing. When I went to sign the first book, I realized my pen had dried up. Thankfully, my mom came to the rescue with the stash of pens from her purse.

Censored - We did a Facebook take over one time on a site owned by a blog tour company. The company did book promotions for mystery and romance writers. Somehow, its erotica promotions caused it to have an adult rating with some of the web monitoring tools. We found out later that a lot of our readers’ computers blocked the site as pornographic.

What Time is it? - Make sure you clarify the time zone. I’ve done interviews and panels based in Europe and the West Coast, and I had to check the time conversions several times. I was up once at o’dark thirty many a time for a live, morning interview in England.

A Rose by Any Other Name - When we formed a group of writers for a joint blogging venture, we Googled the name and hashtags that we wanted to use. We ended up with Lethal Ladies Write because “Lethal Ladies” belonged to a group of wrestlers. When I was looking at pennames, I thought I’d use my first and middle name, Heather Leigh. When I Googled it, it belonged to an exotic dancer and adult film star in California. Her following was slightly different than mine.

The writing life is an adventure. These are some of mine that were also learning experiences.

Do Your Homework - Tips for Writers

My parents and teachers instilled an “always be prepared” work ethic from early on. When I try to cut corners and wing something, it often doesn’t turn out like I imagined. Here are some tips for writers where they should do their homework and make sure they’re prepared.

Querying Agents and Publisher - You often only get one shot with an agent or publisher. Don’t blow it by sending out a generic or half-baked query. Target the person/company that you want to be apart of. Make sure your work fits and provide all the criteria they ask for. Follow the directions. Make it easy for them to navigate your submissions. Then keep track of where you’ve sent queries.

Hiring Talent - If you’re in the market for an editor, proofreader, publicist, cover designer, formatter, personal assistant, or any other talent, do your research. Seek references and ask people you know for recommendations. Make sure that your agreement is a business transaction. You do need a signed contract or statement of work. Also, make sure you’re aware of the costs and how you will be billed.

Presentations - No matter how good a public speaker you are, make sure you are prepared. If you’re not sure about the technology, do a practice session to ensure everything works and everyone knows the expectations. Make sure you have an emergency contact number in case there is a problem.

Events - Even if you’re working with a book seller to handle the sales, it’s a good idea to have a box of books in the trunk of your car. I can’t tell you how many times the book order didn’t arrive or they didn’t order enough.

Confirm all of the details with the organizer ahead of the event. Know what you’re responsible for bringing. Make sure you have emergency contact information. Be early and bring the things you think you’ll need.

Sometimes a little bit of prep work prevents a lot of heartbreak and frustration.

Take Care of You, Too - Tips for Writers

We have been through a lot over the last year and a half. Some, more than others. The pandemic and its chaos has forced everyone to change, adapt, and extend grace to others. I suggest that you include yourself.

There are going to be days that you don’t feel like writing. It’s okay to stray from your schedule. Just make sure to have a plan to get back on track. Don’t beat yourself up. Learn from the situation and do your best. And if you have contractual deadlines, make sure to build in time when planning to accommodate a few skip days.

Sadness, losses, and disappointments are part of life, but that doesn’t make them any easier to cope with. Make sure you give yourself time and space to grieve.

Take care of your health. Make sure you’re eating right, exercising, and getting enough sleep. I spend way too much time at my desk these days. I need to find more ways to move around.

Reach out to others to talk or visit. Writing is a single-person sport most of the time, but you do need contact with others. Find a crew of writers. Having a support network is invaluable for advice, celebrations, and to keep you motivated.

Try not to dwell or fixate on the disappointments. It’s easy to get mired in that quicksand, and sometimes, it’s difficult to get out of. If you’re not in the mindset to write, work on other tasks (e.g. revisions, editing, queueing up blog posts, social media tasks, or administrative tasks that you never get around to.) You can still be productive and work on your manuscript later.

News anchor, Lester Holt’s closing line is always a great reminder for all of us, “Take care of yourself and each other.”

Keep the End Goal in Mind - Tips for Writers

The best advice I received early in my writing career was to write your next book. Marketing, research, learning, training, editing, querying, appearances, conferences, social media, and life in general all vie for your attention and limited resources. All of these things are important, and you have to decide where you’re going to spend your time.

Your Craft - Make sure you are learning and growing as a writer. Find a writing partner, critique group, or developmental editor to help you hone your skills. You need to learn and improve as you progress on your journey. But don’t get bogged down in the self-help and training that you don’t have time to write and practice.

When I first thought about being a writer, I bought every “how to” book I could find. I ended up spending a lot of time (and money), and some of them weren’t that helpful. I was reading help books rather than writing. I finally decided to go through my collection. I kept four or five of the best and donated the rest to the Friends of the Library. It’s the same with training. You need to do workshops and classes from time to time, but not to the detriment of your writing.

Your Brand - These days all publishers expect authors to have an established platform , interact with readers, and find ways to market their books online. This is key to selling books and keeping contracts. Again, authors need to balance the work. I try to guard my writing time and reserve other time for marketing, business, and social media tasks. Look at your situation. What can you afford to hire help to do? My rule is to figure out my budget. Determine what I can do and pay professionals to do what they do best. And don’t always look at your writing tasks. You can farm out daily tasks, too that may free up some of your time, especially if you still have a day gig (e.g. yardwork, cleaning, dog-walking, etc.).

Balance - You do need to balance all the parts in your life. I looked at my spare time. I like social media and web design, so I decided to do those myself. I check my social media sites several times a day. I also try to multitask and do some while watching TV or movies. I did look at my TV time, and I was watching a lot of bad TV. I record what I really want to watch and speed through the commercials.

Your current book will help you sell your previous books. Meaning you should see additional sales from readers who want to know what else you’ve written. Multiple books also help you if you want to do larger ad campaigns.

There is a lot that goes into the writing life. (More than I ever thought of when I dreamed about being a writer.) I am constantly learning new things and trying different marketing ideas. But just remember to protect your writing time. Writers do a lot of things, but their primary goal is to finish their work in progress.

Online Interview Tips for Authors

You want to look and sound your best on an interview. No matter if it’s for print, an audio podcast, or a video, here are some tips that can help you look like a pro.

Backgrounds

I can’t tell you how many Zoom meetings, workshops, or interviews I’ve viewed where the subject was sitting in his/her bedroom with a clear shot of the bathroom in the background.

• Set up your camera and look at your background. If another room (especially the bathroom) is behind you or you think you may be interrupted by others walking by, close the door.

• Look at what’s behind you. Make sure it conveys the image you want to project. If it’s a bookshelf, people like me will spend some of the time trying to see what books are behind you. Make sure your shelves or the room behind you is neat and professional looking.

• Many podcasts (which are typically audio only) also post a video of the recorded session. Make sure you ask before you think it’s audio only.

• If you use a green screen, make sure it stretches across the entire area behind you. There’s nothing more distracting than for viewers to see parts of your desk or room peeking around the green screen.

• If you choose to use the blurred or preset backgrounds, make sure you don’t fidget. When you move or there’s movement behind you, the background adjusts as if it’s part of you. It’s funny to watch people (and body parts) appear and disappear. Also, doors that open behind you look like a portal into another dimension when your stock background starts to move. This may not be the look that you’re going for.

Lighting

Lighting (as much as you can get in your interview spot) is important. If you do a lot of online presentations, you may want to invest in a good light. The prices vary, but you can get a good one that’s reasonably priced.

• Natural light is the best, but it’s not always available.

• If you wear glasses, be careful with ring lights. We can see doughnuts in your lenses.

• Test your lighting. You want to be well lit, but not washed out.

Sound

The interviewer or panel need to be able to hear you. A practice session or a mic check is always good practice.

• Test your camera/microphone and know when you are (and aren’t) on mute.

• Invest in a microphone or headset that minimizes background noise. I can bet money that my neighbor is going to decide to blow leaves or cut grass the minute I log on to do a presentation.

• Find a quiet place in your home that’s away from distractions. It’s good if you have a door to close.

• If you’re outside, remember your microphone will pick up traffic noises and wind.

• At my house, the dogs are pretty well behaved, but if someone rings the doorbell, all bets are off. I’ve put notes on the doorbell when important recording sessions were in progress.

• If you’re having internet or sound issues, find out if you can call in to the session. (Old school landlines are the best if you still have one.) Make sure you have the call-in information before you get started.

• If you’re having connectivity issues, make sure no one else in your house is streaming (movies, TV, music, or video conferencing) or gaming. Turn off video to improve the connection.

Your Look

Zoom has made it necessary to look ready for anything at a moment’s notice.

• Wear solid colors.

• Choose dark colors. They show up better. Busy patterns look squiggly, especially if your audience is using low resolution for viewing.

• Take time to do your makeup and hair. Make up does help with your look on video.

• Make sure that you’re looking into the camera. It looks odd when you’re looking off screen, down, or side-eyed.

• If you’re going to read something, make sure that you’re still facing the camera.

• Smile. You want them to see the real you.

• Take a deep breath and calm the jitters. You’ll do great! You know your material.

Always be prepared. Have any props or books within reach (so you don’t have to get up). And do a practice run if possible to make sure all links and equipment are working. And it’s always a good idea to have an emergency contact for the host in case you can’t get the link to work.

Best wishes for your next interview and book promotion!