Write Books and Cash Checks - Not Quite

When I was younger, I thought a writer was one who created books and cashed checks (and occasionally did a book signing). When the first contracts arrived, I realized, writing is a business, and you need to treat yours that way.

Guard Your Writing Time - Life gets in the way, and you have so many obligations. You need to schedule time for your writing and call it work. If it’s a hobby or entertainment, it’s not valued for what it is. When people ask what you’re doing, the answer is working.

Schedule Your Writing Time - Make sure you schedule some time (every day if possible) to write and to do research or marketing tasks. When it’s on the calendar and reserved, I tend to treat it like a scheduled, important event.

Brand Yourself - You are a writer. Make sure you have the tools to network. You need business cards and a website. Your tools should all have the same look and feel as your social media sites. Make sure your headshot is professional and is current.

Build Your Email List - Your email list is your list of contacts. Make sure you take a sign-up sheet to all of your events and put a registration form on your website. If your social media platforms go under or you get banned, you will have no way to contact all of those followers. Spend time cultivating your contact list.

Network - Writing is the solitary part, but you need contacts and the support of others. Join writers’ groups in your genre. Many have networking opportunities, classes, and opportunities to share information with other writers. Build your contacts. You never know when you’ll need an editor, cover designer, publicist, etc. Plus, other writers are awesome sources of advice.

Keep up with the Adminy Tasks - Writing is a business. (I’ve said that before.) Make sure you keep up with the details like filing receipts, tracking mileage and expenditures, and paying taxes.

Know That Your Time is Valuable - You can’t do it all. Figure out what tasks you can afford to hire others to help you to do. And this is a tough one, but you have to learn how to say no to things you just can’t do.

This is a tough business and a tough job, but it’s also so rewarding.

Some Valuable Advice I Learned over the Years

I am so grateful for all the encouragement and support my writerly friends have shared with me through the years. It’s been invaluable on this writing journey. Here are some of the ideas that resonated.

• Not every reader is going to buy, read, or like your book. Your book is competing with millions of books for attention. You need to target your book marketing toward people who read your genre.

• The good news is that readers read and buy more than one book a year (month, week…). Other writers aren’t your competition.

• You will not be everyone’s cup of tea. There will be bad or not-so-good reviews. Learn what you can from them and move on.

• You need to be social on social media. It takes time to build fans, followers, and readers. Don’t be that “buy my book” author all the time.

• Your email/newsletter list is valuable. You own it. It takes care and feeding to grow it. (If your social media platforms shut down, you’d have no way of contacting your followers.)

• Writing is more than creating books and cashing royalty checks. It’s work, and it’s a business. If you’re serious about your writing, you need to treat it like a business.

Daunting Tasks - Tips for Writers

We all have tasks that cause us to procrastinate. For me, editing is the hardest writing task. I have to figure out ways to keep myself motivated and focused. It never fails. I’m supposed to be updating a manuscript with edits, and then I’m off watching llama or cute dog videos. Here are some ideas when for those pesky, daunting tasks.

• Break huge, hairy tasks into smaller chunks. That way, you can see progress when you finish the smaller milestones.

• Reward yourself when you finish. I take a social media break after five chapters of editing. I get to switch gears for a minute, but I know that I’m also working on what I’m supposed to.

• Make lists and prioritize items that need to be done first. That way, you can schedule things that don’t have to be done right away. It doesn’t feel as daunting when you realize everything doesn’t have to be done right away.

• When I’m doing my not-so-favorite tasks, I make sure that I’m super comfy…warm socks, favorite pen, awesome playlist, and my favorite drink.

• If I don’t pay attention, paper, sticky notes, and copies of things pile up on my desk. I try to keep the loose paper under control weekly. If I don’t, then there’s a mountain of clutter which becomes its own challenge.

• Try to make a schedule for things you need to do on a routine basis (e.g. updating your website, checking your social media sites, answering emails, etc.) If you know you have a timeslot for that work, it becomes part of your normal routine. And like the mounds of paper, it’s much easier to tackle a little at a time.

My Book's Going to Be Published - Now What?

If you thought it took a long for agents and publishers to respond to your query, wait until you get your publication date. It seems like it’s so far in the future. Here are some things you can do that will help prepare you for your book launch.

• Work on building your email list. This is the one thing you own. If your social media sites are removed, you have no way of contacting those readers. Find ways to advertise your newsletter and build a following. Do social media posts, partner with other authors, or host a contest. Make sure to take your sign-up list to all of your events. Make sure NOT to add anyone to your list who didn’t sign up for it.

• Build your following on your key social media sites. Follow readers and writers in your genre. Follow book reviewers and librarians. Be active with your audience. Make sure to comment and share others’ posts. You don’t want to be the author who only posts about her books.

• Join Facebook groups for book lovers. Many of these will let you advertise your book or host a take-over day where you can find new readers.

• When you do a Facebook take-over, make sure to include a link in each post for your email signup for those who what to keep in touch. When I started doing this, I’ve noticed a jump in newsletter subscribers after each event.

• Work on a promotional plan for your book launch. Even if your publisher is assisting with the publicity, you’ll still need to schedule blogs, blog tours, Facebook ads, and events. Make a list of all the things you will need to update and a list of all those you will need to contact. Remember, bloggers and book tour folks usually book 3-4 months in advance.

• Learn a new skill or software that will help you create graphics or videos. There are a lot of free and paid tools out there that make it easy to create images for your social media posts.

• Use your time and write your next book.

Another Writing Secret

Persistence is a trait you need to develop for your writing journey.

The Brittanica Dictionary Online defines this as “the quality that allows someone to continue doing something or trying to do something, even though it is difficult” (Brittanica Dictionary, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Accessed January 2023).

Writing for publication is difficult, all-consuming, and often overwhelming. Each phase: researching, planning, plotting, writing, revising (and revising) takes a lot of time and energy.

It also takes a lot of courage to show others your work and to ask for feedback. The natural inclination is to want praise and accolades for your beautiful manuscript that you’ve sweated and bled over for months (or years). While praise is awesome, uplifting, and reassuring, you need the feedback that will help you get your work published. Publishing is a business. Agents and publishers are looking to represent projects that they can sell. It’s a crowded market out there. Your work has to be the best it can possibly be because you may get only one chance with an agent or editor. It takes a lot of work to get a manuscript to that point. Don’t give up.

Here are some ideas that may help you along your writing journey:

1. When you think your manuscript is done, print it out and proofread it again.

2. Check all the details like names, physical descriptions, and the story’s timeline for consistency.

3. Run your word processor’s spellcheck after each major round of editing to catch any booboos you may have made correcting other things.

4. Find a writing partner or a critique group and exchange pages or manuscripts. It’s best to find someone who writes and understands your genre.

5. Know what’s out there in your genre. Sometimes, a manuscript can be rejected because an agent or publisher already represents a similar one.

6. Make sure that you read your genre regularly to understand the trends and conventions. Read the acknowledgments page to see what agents and publishing houses produce books you like.

7. Find an independent editor, especially if this is your first manuscript. They can be pricey. I asked my writer friends for a recommendation, and I found an editor who specialized in mysteries. If it’s not in the budget, seek out a middle or high school English teacher in your area. Often many will do side-work at an affordable price, and they can help you with basic edits and proofreading.

When your manuscript is the best you can make it, then it’s time to do your homework and target agents/publishers that represent your genre. Follow all submission instructions.

Now, the wait begins. Sometimes, you’ll get a quick response, but others could take weeks or months. Use that time to write your next book and to build your author platform.

Persistence is key. Writing is a tough job with lots of feedback and rejections.

What to do When You Don't Feel Like Writing

I try to write every day, but life does get in the ways sometimes. And there are days when I just don’t feel like working. Here are some ideas to jump start your creativity.

• When I am in writing mode, I try to “bank some words” to meet my weekly goals. This gives me some flexibility for days with less productivity. I also do this if I know I have a busy day with not much time to write.

• Work on other projects like your website, blog, editing, proofreading.

• Work on book marketing or event planning.

• Build your social media platforms by following new accounts and responding to comments and posts.

• Excercise. Even a few minutes will get your endorphins pumping.

• Take a break and go for a walk (even if it’s up and down the hall). A change of scenery is often good.

• Work on another creative project like cooking, painting, sewing, etc. Sometimes, it will help you get your mind focused when you return to writing.

• Step away from your desk and go somewhere else. The time away is often the break you need.

• Make sure you’ve turned off or blocked out distractions. Sometimes, shutting the door helps. I use my noise-cancelling headphones before I throw in the towel on an unproductive writing session.

When I’m not motivated, it’s usually because I’m distracted by something else (usually my phone, email, or social media). My headphones were a great investment.

Keyboard Shortcuts Save Time - Tips for Writers

Keyboard shortcuts can save writers some time. Here are quick ones for that can help as you write.

• Ctrl + C = Copy

• Ctrl + V = Paste

• Ctrl + Z = Undo Last Function

• Ctrl + B = Bold Text

• Ctrl + I = Italicize Text

• Ctrl + U = Underline Text

• Ctrl + = (Equal Sign) = Subscript

• Ctrl + + (Plus Sign) = Superscript

• Ctrl + F = Find

• Ctrl + P = Print

• Ctrl + S = Save

• Ctrl + O = Open a File

• Ctrl + A = Select All

• Ctrl + 1 = Single Space

• Ctrl + 2 = Double Space

• Ctrl + 5 = 1.5 Spacing

Microsoft Outlook Shortcuts

• Ctrl + R = Reply

• Ctrl + Shift + M = Create New Email

• Ctrl + 3 = Open Contacts

Shortcuts on the Ribbon

When in a Microsoft product, click the Alt key, and letters and numbers will appear in black squares on the ribbon.

Type the letter or number combination in the black box to activate that function. If the black boxes disappear, just press the ALT key again. To make the black boxes disappear, click Alt.

This is a quick way to access all of the keyboard shortcuts without any memorizing.

One of the Writing Secrets

One of the writing secrets isn’t really a secret at all. This is how you become a productive writer — BICFOK. I learned this from the great Alan Orloff. It’s Butt in Chair; Fingers on Keyboard.

It’s true. If you want to be a writer, you need to write. And you need to limit the distractions. Here are some ideas that may help you along your journey.

1. Find the best place for you to write. Figure out what works for you. I am fortunate to have an office with a door that closes. And when that doesn’t work, my noise-cancelling headphones do.

2. Figure out what time of day works best for you and your life. I am a morning person (a really early morning person). I like to write when the house is quiet, and this is when I’m most productive. I have found that if I start early, I can usually have my word count done before I have to go to the day gig.

3. When you are writing, don’t stop to do additional research. Make a note and keep writing. Do all of your research or lookups later. When I stop to check on something, I end up watching cute dog videos.

4. Set your writing goal and/or word count for each day and try to meet it. If you have busy days ahead, make sure you adjust your goals for that day (or plan to skip a day). If I know something is coming up that will affect my writing time, I try to write more on the days leading up to it to bank some extra for a skip day.

5. You will see progress if you write regularly. The longer you are away from a project, the more time you spend trying to get back to where you were.

6. Figure out a writing calendar that works for your schedule. Stuff happens. Don’t beat yourself up when you get interrupted. If you can plan your writing time around the other stuff, you’ll be more productive. If not, just try to get back to it as soon as you can.

7. Procrastinating, too much research, or doing anything other than writing keeps you from your goals. You may have to remind yourself to focus on your WIP (work in progress). It may take a few times before it becomes a habit.

8. I create a fairly detailed outline for each chapter before I start my first draft. I’ve found that that keeps me on track. I don’t get stuck in the middle, and I know where the story is going.

These ideas have helped me be much more productive in a world where work, family, friends, and volunteer projects all vie for my attention.