Writerly Ways

[cornerofmadness]

Another short post mostly because I have SO much school work to do. I loathe summer school. I totally forgot I have a test monday AND to go grade last week's shit. bah.

This brings me to my idea for the week, deadlines. Yeah they're weighing on my mind. We get them for sure in pro projects. Hell we get them in fanfic projects. How do you react to deadlines? They usually make me more creative in a short burst of time but at the same time that's sort of crazy making.

What I would like is to find a way to keep myself on track for a deadline. LIke the one I'm rushing to beat for the latest Demon Hunter story (and again if anyone wants to help beta that let me know). I had plenty of time. But I managed to squander a lot of time (see last week's post on time wasters). I need a better plan to keeping myself on track. sigh.

Here, having some practical tips for blogging/having your own website platform as an author by Colleen Lindsay (former agent) as seen on her twitter feed.



Practical tip #14: If you're going on vacation or need a break, ask a friend to guest-blog for you so content stays fresh! (honestly I'm not too sure I want to do this. you'd really have to trust someone)

Practical tip #13: Write about other writers you love to read. Pay it forward, especially if you have a strong platform (now THIS I like)

Practical tip #12: List any and all awards you've won, whether you're a NYT, USA Today bestseller, etc

ractical tip #11: Add your bibliography, in the order that the books were published, so new readers can read in order

Practical tip #10: Make sure you add links to all your (public) social media presences on your blog/website

Practical tip #9: For the love of GOD, don't put auto-play music on your blog or website! (this should go for ANY website. that is so 1998)

Practical tip #8: Avoid graphic-heavy landing pages; they add nothing and just piss off people with older browsers.

Practical tip #7: Make sure your agent and publicist's contact info is on your blog/website

Practical tip #6: Don't be afraid to take control of your comments and delete the assholes. It's YOUR blog. (AMEN)

Practical tip #5: HIRE A DESIGNER. Make an effort! It's not super-expensive these days to hire a blog designer.

Practical tip #4: Have a separate area on your site for appearance information, and make sure it's up-to-date

Practical tip #3: Don't make it hard for readers to leave comments and engage you in conversation. Allow use of Open ID, etc.

Practical tip #2: Create a downloadable press kit for your site, w/ high-res photos, book jackets, bio & press clippings.

Practical tip #1: ALWAYS have contact information on your website or blog (and not one of those contact forms)


and here a quote I really like if you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. STEPHEN KING

Also if anyone wants to have a REVIEW copy of Cross Bones the m/m pirate anthology, let me know and I'll hook you up with the pdf once i get it. But please review it

yearly word count -

51043 / 125000 words. 41% done!

demon hunter holiday -

5175 / 15000 words. 35% done!

Comments

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

Are you still doing Camp NaNo?

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I'm starting it tomorrow

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

Good luck!

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thanks

[bay115.livejournal.com]

Have you tried those distraction free writing programs like q10 or OmmWriter? I found those helpful whenever I want to really focus on getting some writing done. But yeah, with deadlines sometimes I too would thought of something creative, but then I would rush it, bleh.

I would like the Cross Bones anthology review copy. Once I look through it, though, where will I be able write/post the review?

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i'm not familiar with those no. Part of my problem is turning off the freaking internet. I can write outside of my house much better than inside it.

thanks. Oh any old place but on amazon or goodreads will help . i dont have it yet but i do have your email

on another note i'm 2/3's done with the sciezka story

[helliongoddess.livejournal.com]

I never thought about keeping an annual word count - that's a great idea! I wrote 64,000 one summer just doing my 7th Night Smut (of course, it almost killed me...) but I've not been nearly as prolific in recent years - a very recalcitrant muse is why I have hesitated to participate in any writing exchanges or any projects with deadlines: I just can't count on being able to produce stuff these days. I don't think it's distraction that is my problem quite as much as inertia, lack of momentum, and lack of focus (but that is kind of distraction, isn't it?)

I just started a blog, but I haven't pimped it because I am not all that committed to the whole idea of it yet. I just can't get used to the idea that people find my fanfiction interesting to read, much less that they would find details about my life all that fascinating! Nonetheless, it's all in how I write it, I know that... and improving my nonfiction skills and writing more original pieces of any kind is on my ultimate "to-do" list, hence experimenting with the blog idea.

I still am SUCH a writing novice compared to you and so many others of the writers around here and DW and the other sites. I stand in awe of your productivity, your creativity, and your self-discipline.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I started doing this a few years back when I joined findyourwords it helps to keep me on track. I use it also to keep track of progress on stories that have a word count requirement.

lack of focus, I know that one well

well good luck with the blog. I know Ive enjoyed your fanfic. Non-fiction I know little about writing since I haven't done it in 20 years but a word of advice, make sure original stuff is locked up. Publishers get weird about open access stuff

[helliongoddess.livejournal.com]

Just to make sure I understand (told ya I was new to all this), you mean if I start posting original fiction anywhere, to be sure it is f-locked? I guess the idea would be to keep it that way so that if one eventually seeks publication of the original fic, it hasn't already been out there free on the internet free forever? If that's what you mean, that kind of makes sense, I can understand that rationale.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yep that's exactly what I mean (and it helps to not say it after midnight when the brain centers are shutting down for the night)

[helliongoddess.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot! Good info to know (I mean about the nonfic posting, not about the brain centers shutting down... ^^ )

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

no problem