CONFERENCE PREP Session #2: Five Simple Steps to Self-Marketing

Photo Credit: Hernani Larrea via Compfight / Flickr

It's not the work that comes after the handshake that makes this moment meaningful, 

but the work that precedes the handshake that makes it possible, Grasshopper!

Want to know five super simple, super cost-effective ways to make the most of your writers conference experience before you even set foot in the door on day one?  Look no further on how to get the skinny about grassroots self-marketing from the ground up.  Of course, these five steps aren't all you'll need for a literary career to expand the ages, but they're sure a great way to get your personal platform and social media footprints up and running -and staying within budget!

1. BUSINESS CARDS
With such self-designed, a la carte online services like Vistaprint, it's super easy to craft business cards (or other marketing materials) with your own personal flair without breaking the bank.  I personally have used Vistaprint for my own business cards, and have been very satisfied with the overall artistic look and quality of their products.  There's such a variety of designs, you're bound to find something that strikes your fancy and is in line with your personal branding.  (High gloss, recycled matte finish, color, black and white, photo, no photo -the options are endless, friends!)  Plus, with all of their great deals and specials, you can typically receive 250 cards for around $15-$20 (with tax/shipping, plus any additional bells and whistles- such as a back design -you might add).  Not too shabby!

These are my TWO types of business cards (front/back views): 

one for agents/industry pros (left), and one for personal networking (right).

Obviously, the orange tabs are for privacy and not part of the card, lol ;P

As for types of business cards, I advise creating two versions: one for agents and industry professionals, which includes more personal contact information such as phone number and mailing address.  And a second version that is more suitable for personal networking/business acquaintanceships.  Also, I recommend paying the modest upgrade to go for a printed back, as well, just because I think it looks more finished.  And if you're going to be using a photo of yourself on your business card, make sure that it is a current, high-quality, professional headshot -not a pixelated, awkwardly cropped Facebook profile pic of you at your great-memaw's birthday picnic (which...actually sounds strangely intriguing...but don't do it!).  As for what to put on your card, here's what I recommend based on my own personal preferences.  There's no right or wrong as to how much (or how little) you want to put on your card(s), but just make sure that you can be contacted in a way that is timely and appropriate for a given situation:

BIZ CARD TYPE ONE: Agents/Industry Professionals (i.e. a limited few)

-Name

-Phone Number

-Mailing Address (which may be a P.O. Box, for added privacy)

-E-mail 

-Blog

-Website

-Facebook Page ("business" page preferred over your own personal account)

-Twitter Handle

BIZ CARD TYPE TWO: Personal/Business Networking (i.e. everyone else)
-Name
-E-mail (may be different from one listed on Type One, for additional privacy)
-Blog
-Website
-Facebook Page ("business" page preferred over your own personal account)
-Twitter Handle

If you take only one thing away from this blog post, I so strongly encourage making the investment for a good stash of high-quality business cards.  This is the most rudimentary and essential item you'll need when making connections both at your upcoming conference and beyond!  Make a great first impression with those you meet, and continue to make a lasting one with a spiffy business card.  Plus...let's be honest: they make you feel really legit.  Am I right?! ;D

2. WEBSITE and/or BLOG
While some writers advocate having just a blog, or just a website, or a website that features a blog, what will work for you and your marketing strategy is definitely a personal decision -and one that will most likely be influenced by how much time you have to invest.  If you're an empty nester, perhaps you have enough time to maintain both a website and a blog while working on that manuscript.  Perhaps you work full-time and are establishing your writing career on the side?  Then maintaining a blog you update once a week or bi-monthly, will be a good investment of your time.  Whatever your personal preference or fancy, just make sure you have an online presence of some kind -then do that particular online presence well.  Two of the biggest (and free) blog providers online are Blogger (which this blog is) and WordPress.  Since I can only speak from my personal experience with Blogger, I've really enjoyed how intuitive and user-friendly this provider is.  Though, I also have several friends that swear by WordPress -which also has a free website feature.  Again, your personal preference here.

The important things to remember are 1) Is this something I would enjoy creating content for on my own and investing time in?  2) Does it help build up my brand's integrity and bolster my credibility as a writer?  And 3) Is a blog/website a feasible project I can incorporate into my schedule, or do I know someone who can deliver a product that is in line with my branding?

An additional note:  If you are wanting to aim for the big leagues here (and who isn't right?), go with purchasing a privately owned, totally independent domain name, such as your name/pen name or the title of the series you're writing.  (And, if at all, possible, go for the ".com" versus the ".net."  Be aware of other people, organizations, weird cult followings, etc. that may be in association with your potential domain name.  Cover all your bases!)  This is something I have arranged, as well as have a very talented, artistically savvy website guru to create something really beautiful and professional that upholds the integrity of my branding.  Be on the lookout for my new website's launch later this year!  Details to follow in the upcoming months! :D

3. TWITTER

Photo Credit: Mukumbura via Compfight / Flickr

#HEY!  #LookMa!  #ImOnTheTwitter!

So, I'll be honest, I was a little late getting into the whole Twitter-thing -and I'm 26, y'all *.* Sure, mildly embarrassing since I'm considered a Millennial who came out of the womb Bluetooth enabled (though, I'm pretty sure Bluetooth wasn't real in 1988), plus the fact that some of my fellow Millennial friends have been Twittering (...?  Tweeting???  Not sure on the correct terminology, there...) for, like, ten years or something, and have more followers than they have Tweets.  Regardless!  It's never too late for you, too, (regardless of your age) to jump on the Twitter bandwagon and start reaping the benefits of this super handy, super simple social media tool.  Some of the top reasons I really like "The Twitter" are:

1. It's concise.  You've got 140 characters, baby, so say something short and sweet, post a link, post a photo, you're good to go.  I personally am not a fan of the loooooooooong Facebook post, so the fact that you're forced to keep things direct and to the point is refreshing.

2.  The beauty of the #!  Yes, yes, yes, THE HASHTAG, the symbol formerly known as the "pound sign," or even before that the "octothorpe" (thanks, Word-a-Day calendar!).  Want to know who's #AmWriting?  #MysteryWriter?  #WritingTips?  Simply click and you'll be directed to a whole list of people posting on the same topic of interest.  This is a super efficient way to not only to get links to helpful information, videos, blog posts, etc. relevant to your writing career, but it is also helpful for the third Twitter advantage below-

3. The wealth of networking.  Twitter is one of the best ways to expand your social media footprint and to get exposure to your personal brand.  Through utilizing hashtags in your own posts- and clicking along in the posts of those Tweeters you follow, yourself -you'll be connected with other writers or members of the publishing industry.  One follow typically leads to another, then another, and then another, and pretty soon you'll most likely have a solid following.

By the way, want to know what research shows is the best days of the week/times of the day to post on all types of social media?  Check out this article by Shea Bennett posted on mediabistro for some really helpful insight -plus a really handy graphic.

4. FACEBOOK
Like the blog versus website consideration, your private page versus a business page is also something you need to consider for your self-marketing strategy.  To start with the glass half-empty, if you decide to go with having both a personal page and a business page, you'll now be maintaining two separate Facebook pages.  The plus is though, with two separate pages, you can maintain your private life and your writer life independently.  Fans can follow you on your business page, and you can keep your photos of your great-memaw's birthday picnic private.  However, the other option- just having your personal page -means that you'll most likely be overhauling how your personal page looks to make it more brand-friendly (sorry, Great-Memaw, but that cover photo of the whole family smeared from cheek to cheek in cake has got to go).  Of course, Facebook has the capability to allow those to follow you without submitting a friend request (which is really smart), and when you post, you can personally select what group of individuals receive exposure to those posts on their timelines (also, very smart).  Again, this is a personal choice, and if you currently have no presence on Facebook, then perhaps going just the business page route would be best.

5. POST-CONFERENCE QUERY: THE CONFIRMATION POSTCARD
This fifth self-marketing tip is a bit more of a "bonus" tip than the others -and it may seem a little less "market-ty" than other avenues such as Facebook and Twitter, but like the business card, it's all about the presentation and a positive lasting impression.

Technically, the self-addressed, stamped confirmation postcard is something that comes in handy after a conference, and technically, it may be obsolete given that so much is done over e-mail, BUT!  For the traditionalist in all of us who likes to send queries, contest applications, partials, etc. via snail mail (and some contests, submission guidelines, etc. may still require it), below is an example of my confirmation postcard, which I also customized through Vistaprint:

The back side (left) features my name, the words "Confirmation of Receipt," and the following text: "Your submission materials were received in my office on: (blank line for date)," "Signature" (blank line for signature), and "Company" (blank line for company/agency name).  The front side (right) again features my name, my mailing address, and the following text along the bottom: "Thank you for confirming the receipt of my submission materials."

*Special Note!*  Be sure that the side that will be written on with pen is matte finish.  If it's the standard glossy, nothing but Sharpie will take, and it's going to be unlikely that whomever you're querying will think to use a permanent marker.  So, if you're going the Vistaprint route, play it super safe and delve out the little bit extra and opt for the "Recycled Matte" card stock, ensuring that there will be no unsightly smears.  Your query-ees, will thank you -and Mother Earth, too!


All right, friends!  The third and final installment of the CONFERENCE PREP series will be coming up a little later into September.  Who knew that August was going to be so crazy busy on my end of things, y'all?  (PLOT TWIST!)  After a busy month, it's great to get back into the writer's saddle and to move forward with SECRET KEEPER on the publishing front.  Until next time, friends :)

Keep Calm and Write On!
~Riley 

CONFERENCE PREP Session #1: 10 Tips on Packing for Success

Let's take that luggage from mountain to molehill, friends!

As I progress through the next nine days leading up to Midwest Writers Workshop, I'll share with you some helpful tips through a series of CONFERENCE PREP posts, featuring everything from what clothes to pack, to what marketing materials are necessary for your networking arsenal.

For this first installment, I'll be covering one of the most loved/hated (yet, one of the most important) steps of all: PACKING.  For some, packing is like an enjoyable puzzle, mentally stimulating and challenging, and a source of personal gratification as you realize fun little tricks like stuffing all of your socks inside your shoes to make more space. (Bonus self-esteem points if you bring boots!)  For the less luggage-inclined, others would rather get a root canal without local anesthesia.  It's just too many minute details to worry about, and something inevitably gets left behind despite one's most valiant efforts.  Packing PTSD can be a continuous blow to the ego and a great source of stress.

As for myself, I've always been a Type-A list maker.  The summer preceding my freshman year of college, I typed up a two-page packing list that ranged from toothpaste to duvet cover, shower curtain to sticky tack, power strip to first aid kit.  Whenever we had housing change-overs during my arts administration internships post-college, I had been known to pack, un-pack, then re-pack my car not because everything wouldn't fit the first time, but because I wanted to optimize space as efficiently as possible.  Further proof of my innate (or compulsive, some may say, ha!) craving for structure and organization can be evidenced in the photo below:

Yep!  That's lil' me circa 1992!  Notice the subtle BEAUTY of the immaculate set-up of the kitchen!  The internal THRILL of the cars properly parked in the overhang garage!  And the undeniably EXCITING line-up of Little Tikes family members by height, gender, and species!  I mean, who wouldn't be into this?!?!

Okay, okay, okay, before you think I'm totally crazy or borderline anal-retentive, even I have had packing mishaps despite a meticulous list.  Case and point from 2012: Five hours into a seven-hour flight to Saint Petersburg, Russia, via Frankfurt, Germany, it suddenly dawned on me that I had left my Venus razor back Stateside.  (Which I think is a pretty significant item when such handy Russian phrases as, "Do you speak English?", "Where's the bathroom?", and "I'll have a chocolate banana blini, please," only get you so far -and none of which remove hair from your shins.)  The moral of this story is not to sweat it if you leave something behind, for it does and will happen to the best of us.  And unless you're attending a writers conference completely isolated from civilization (which is defined in my family as having a Target or Walmart within a twenty-mile radius), then you can most likely find something locally to get you through in a pinch.

Oh.  And in case you were worried about my hairy legs in Russia, no, there wasn't a Target or Walmart to be found, but the situation was easily remedied by paying a visit to a very kind, very non-English-speaking lady in the hostel's lobby kiosk.  Among the "I LOVE SPb" t-shirts, Faberge-esque eggs, and stackable matroskas was a single pack of disposable shaving razors.  Thus, I enjoyed two weeks abroad hair free, worry free, and I learned a new phrase to add to my working knowledge of the Russian language: "Do you have any razors, please?" 

But back to the topic at hand!  So whether you fall into the Love-It or the Desperate-to-Pawn-It-off-on-Someone-Else packing camp, here are 10 helpful tips that will hopefully ease the stress of knowing what to pack, so you can focus on the really important business at hand: bringing your A-game to all those break-out sessions, agent pitches, and networking lunches.  But you never know.  Even if you do forget something, you just might run into your own Russian fairy godmother ;)

1.  LAY OUT ALL OF YOUR CLOTHING FOR THE TRIP WELL IN ADVANCE:
This includes shoes, comfy travel clothes, sleep wear, and what you'll be wearing to the conference itself, which will most likely be business to business casual style of dress.  (If you have agent pitches or interviews, then business/business casual is a must!)  Think about what will be professional, as well as comfortable.  You will be pulling long days and you never know who you'll meet, so find a nice balance between comfort and presentability.  For trips, I actually like to set out all of my outfits a few days before departure because I have the tendency to always overpack on clothing.  The longer my wardrobe options stare me in the face, the greater chance I'll weed out things that would just take up space and go unworn.  

2.  GO THROUGH YOUR DAILY ROUTINE:
This is where you can really help yourself out in terms of toiletries.  By going through your daily get-ready routine, you can either make a written or mental checklist of items you use every day or frequently.  When it comes time to round all of these items up, you'll have a better idea of what you'll need.  Also, compiling all of your toiletries in one place (such as your bathroom counter) the night before departure, is a really handy way to make sure you don't miss anything.

3.  COMPILE ALL YOUR CONFERENCE PRINT-OUTS, SCHEDULES, FLIGHT/HOTEL/RENTAL CAR RESERVATIONS, ETC.:

**Note:  This also includes whatever printed copies of your manuscript (whether partial or full), query, synopsis, etc. you'll need during the conference.**  Even if all of your itinerary/registration information is on your phone or tablet, PRINT HARD COPIES.  Phones/tablets can die, get smashed (EEEK!), or get stolen (double-EEEK!), so do yourself a huge favor and keep hard copies of all the important information in a special folder just for your trip.  Also, take care to place copies of your partial/full, query, synopsis, etc. in a place where they won't become crumpled, torn, or worse.  Your submission materials will represent you, so take extra special care of them during the transportation process :) 

4.  COMPILE ALL OF YOUR MARKETING MATERIALS:
If you have business cards, promo cards, etc. be sure these crucial items make it into your suitcase or computer bag.  They're a little piece of card-stock that can sure go a long way when it comes to networking!  Also, if you're a vendor who has been approved through the conference's facilitators, make sure you gather up all of the materials you'll be selling.  (If you're traveling by car, medium- to large-sized storage containers are a great way to transport these items without worry of damage.)

5.  INVEST IN A HIGHWAY MAP:
For those driving or picking up a rental car, have maps of each state you'll be passing through (which you can also collect along the way for free at most state-operated rest stops).  I have a spiral-bound book that contains highway maps for all of the states, in which I mark my route with a highlighter in advance before departure.  (This is also a good time to take note of the strategically placed rest stops along the way, too, if this is a hefty drive!)  And even if you'll be relying on a GPS or your phone for directions, bring a map anyway.  Just like a mishap with your phone going haywire or succumbing to dastardly deeds, you'll be thanking yourself if the occasion arises.    

6.  GRAB ALL YOUR NECESSARY ELECTRONICS:
Laptop, tablet, eReader, wireless mouse -and if you can fit everything electronic you need into one computer bag, the more power to ya!  Just don't forget the chargers!  

7.  **LUXURY ITEM** BRING YOUR PERSONAL PRINTER:
Ooh lah lah, you heard me right, friends!  If your travel plans afford you the luxury of bringing your own printer (safely, legally, and in one piece), I say do it!  You'll never know when you'll need an extra copy of your submission materials, and having your own personal printer in your hotel room can be a real asset, as well as a lifesaver.  (Never noticed that typo on page six of your manuscript before?  OOPS! *o*)  Don't forget the cables, paper, and ink on this one!

8.  BRING YOUR OWN MINI-OFFICE SUPPLY STORE WITH YOU:
A notebook or two, pens, highlighter, sticky notes/tabs, stapler, staples, binder clips, paperclips, rubberbands...whatever you find yourself consistently using during your writing process at home may be handy to have a small supply on hand during the conference, as well.  Of course, you don't need to schlep all of this around with you and become a walking Staples (unless you want to make some cash on the side, ha!), just carry the necessities during the day.

9.  HAVE A FINANCIAL GAME PLAN:
This is SUPER IMPORTANT: Know which credit card(s) you'll be using for your trip's purchases in advance.  Also, make sure you have a cushion of cash (and your ATM card) for backup and everyday spending.  Some conferences will have vendors that will accept cash or check only, so in today's modern world of swipe'n'go, be sure you have the means to pay in cash, if necessary.

10.  THE SNACK BAG!
Everyone looooooooves a snack bag! :D  Not only is having your own stash of travel snacks that you love super convenient, it's also a great way to give yourself healthy alternatives to gas station treats or fast food.  Nuts, trail mix, protein bars, fruit that can handle no refrigeration, etc. are all great items for when hunger strikes between pitstops.  Also, if you're driving, toss a pack of water into your trunk that you can pull from as you journey to avoid guzzling soda/sugary drinks faster than your car guzzles gas.

Be on the look-out for CONFERENCE PREP Session #2 coming soon, where I'll discuss making the most of self-promotion and brand building before you walk through those conference doors :)

Until next time, Keep Calm and Conference On, y'all!
~Riley

Embracing the Eleventh Hour Crisis: Advice from God and Two-Face

Because we all need a good ol' fashioned *FACE PLANT* sometimes.

The Bible says in Psalm 30:5, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." (NKJV)

Harvey Dent essentially says the same thing, too, in The Dark Knight : "The night is darkest just before the dawn.  And I promise you, the dawn is coming."

So, whether it's from the mouth of God or the mouth of Aaron Eckhart (with all the glory excusively to You, J.C.!), we must take courage, fellow writers, that the dawn is indeed coming after the coffee-coma-d, sugar-induced, sleep-deprived, semi-hermit joy of all joys we call writing -or better yet: REVISING! ;D  

In case y'all haven't heard via the Twitter-sphere and the Facebook-world, I completed the initial draft of my mystery novel on June 30th!!!  Now, I may be in that rare percentile that sincerely enjoys the revision process, but even I can find the journey from first draft to finished pitch-/query-worthy product a daunting task.  You may be haunted by such questions as: 

Should I keep this chapter?  

Is this character even relevant anymore?  

Does my plot have enough arc?  

What's the CLIMAX??!!?  

...Wow, seriously, how could I have misspelled this many words with spell check on?

The Eleventh Hour is the difference between, 

"WOW!  I can't believe I wrote that!" and, "Wow...I can't believe I wrote that..."

Use it to your advantage!

We all know the feeling: you're shout-from-the-rooftops elated that your work of New York Times bestselling brilliance is almost complete, that literary finish line in your sights, when suddenly...something doesn't feel quite right...  It's a buzz-kill we've all experienced, yet it is a vital twinge of artistic apprehension we cannot afford to leave unaddressed.  We're not talking about self-deprecating doubt or insecurity here (which is never helpful or constructive), but the self-awareness it takes to discern when something isn't quite clicking within your piece -and to 1) be honest with yourself about it, and 2) to have the courage to face it head on and to invest the time and energy necessary to fix it.  After all, you want your best work possible out there getting exposure to agents, editors, publishers, and, of course, your reader- (and soon to be fan-) base!  Major and not-so-major changes can occur at anytime during the writing journey, but it is often the changes we make during the "Eleventh Hour" that make or break our newest novel's success.

But never fear, friends!  If you find yourself in the throws of your own "darkest hour," take heart and know that your literary dawn is on it's way!  Here are five helpful pointers on how to BE OPEN and embrace the Eleventh Hour:

1.  BE OPEN to changing the title of your book.

I always have at least a working title because it makes a given project feel more personal than, "oh, that story-book-thing I'm working on."  Things that have your heart are worth naming, so give that beauty a name (Not a curse word, now!) even if you're not 100% thrilled with it for the present, and know that an even better title will most likely be revealed as your piece develops.

2.  BE OPEN to changing your characters' names.

Either your protagonist's, antagonist's, or any other kind of -ist's name just isn't jiving your creative mojo anymore.  Or a majority of your characters' names unintentionally begin with the same letter.  Or you accidentally gave two totally different minor characters the same name.  (Haha, uh, guilty on that one!)  Regardless of the reason- or for no reason at all -don't sweat it if you change names.  No one's keeping score.  Just make sure you make all the switch-a-roos before handing it over to your feedback circle -and especially before submitting it to agents or editors!!!  Word's "Find/Replace" is a beautiful tool, friends.

3.  BE OPEN to cutting scenes/chapters.

"WAIT!  Did you just say cut a chapter?!"  "Isn't that counterproductive?!"  "My word count needs more words, not less of them!"  "But, that scene's my favorite!"  This is where you need to be the most honest with yourself.  If a given scene or chapter feels clunky beyond the point of repair, is a logical hitch in the progression of the storyline, is waaaaay beyond the scope of a character's personality/behavior, and dare I even suggest...irrelevant to the plot (GASP!), you need to take a deep breath and hit the DELETE button, friends.  Even if the portion up for debate is exquisitely written, it may not be what this particular piece needs.  Still questioning a chapter's relevancy?  Try reading through the first few proceeding and following chapters with and then without the chapter up on the chopping block.  If you're still unsure, seek a second opinion.  The silver lining?  You can make up for that dent in your word count by being open to #4...  

4.  BE OPEN to re-writing, re-ordering, or adding scenes/chapters.

Very few of us (if any!) have the talent to write exactly what we want the first go-round -let alone, get everything in the right order!  As tantalizing as it is to settle for "good enough" and stick a fork in it, don't sell yourself short by not adding scenes or entirely new chapters to help tie up lose ends, clarify something that may be misconstrued, etc.  Yes, it's more time invested in creation mode, and may feel like you're taking one step forward and two steps back, but it always, always, always pays off in the end.  (Plus, your editor or agent may ask you to do it anyway, so why not take care of business while you can on your own timeline?)  Also, I find re-ordering the occasional scene or chapter very insightful, as well.  Again, try reading through a sequence of chapters with the original order and then a different order, and assess how you feel about it.

5.  BE OPEN to exploring key turning points in your plot in a totally new direction.

At the revision stage, playing the "what if" game can be downright terrifying -and, again, may make you feel like you're shifting into retrograde.  However, if you've got a burning curiosity to know how things would wind up if A, B, then C happened, GO FOR IT!  Jaunt down the rabbit hole for awhile with a rough scene sketch or dialogue interaction, and see if you wind up in a wonderland-like Renaissance or just a tunnel caked with dirt.  Either way, no harm no foul, and you may even glean some unexpected inspiration for your next book while you're there!  Plus, you'll have the peace of mind of knowing you explored all your options before your baby goes to print, and nobody likes regrets once that gem is pressed and bound.

TA-DA!!!  THE DAWN!!!  You'll be so happy, you'll give that manuscript a big ol' HUG!

And finally, AN ANNOUNCEMENT:  In the spirit of embracing the Eleventh Hour, I myself have changed the title of my murder mystery from Kill Her Once, Kill Her Twice, to...(*drumroll*)...The Secret Keeper of Morgan County.  After much contemplation and soul-searching to find a title I was totally in love with (mixed with a very strong desire not to sound cliché :P), my new title more aptly describes my piece and gives me peace of mind ;)  I am excited, optimistic, and incredibly enthusiastic about this  Eleventh Hour change, and can't wait to see where this labor of love takes me next.

In closing for today, be on the lookout for more posts this July in regard to my upcoming adventure to the MIDWEST WRITERS WORKSHOP!!!  This lil' lady writer is Hoosier State bound in only thirteen days- wait!  THIRTEEN DAYS?!  Better get back to revising! :D

Keep Calm and Revise On, y'all!

~Riley

WHOA! Check out that NEW TAB!

"Hmmm...  That looks new and interesting!  Think I'll give it a click!"

Hey, y'all!  Touching back on what I mentioned from my last post back in May (I know, I know, waaaay too long ago *o*), I now have a section devoted entirely to writing resources I've found helpful in my own writing journey.  If you're looking for a few good books to assist you in getting your own books launched, check out this brand spankin' new WRITER RESOURCES tab to see what I personally use and recommend.  Plus, all of the books featured here have links to their product pages on Amazon.com, so cheers to writing AND to online shopping! ;D

Also, to give everyone a KHO, KHT update, I'm now within the last two/three chapters of this piece and I couldn't be more excited!  The tensions are high and all of those "who dunnit" questions are finally being revealed, and my protagonist is being a real trouper with all that I'm putting her through, haha.  Just gotta power through these final pages and really bring this piece home for the- dare it be true?! -REVISION process?!  With the Midwest Writers Workshop on the horizon (a little over forty days away!), I'm getting this lil' tushie in gear and hitting the keys.

Happy Writing, y'all!
~Riley

NO FEAR WRITING: A Few Tips!

The pen is a mighty force -ye weak of heart, need not brandish!

One of my favorite sayings is "Fake it 'til you make it."  That does NOT mean lie about who you are, or misrepresent your accomplishments, or falsely embellish your resume.  What it does mean, however, is to do whatever you do with confidence.  Want to run your first marathon?  Then start training, eating, and thinking like a marathon runner.  Want to become the CEO of a company someday?  Then dress and conduct yourself with the professionalism of a CEO, even if you're currently in cubicle circle.  Or, hey, want to be a professional, published author?  Then, today is the day to start living, breathing, and achieving that dream, friends.  Here is some food for thought:

1.  Don't wait for permission.
This was one of the most valuable lessons I was ever taught, especially when it comes to the arts and pursuing your creative dreams.  If you hold the mindset, "Oh, if only I could win this writing contest, THEN I can be a writer."  "Oh, if only that creative writing professor who hates eeeeeeeverything I write finally gives me a grade above a C, THEN I can be a writer."  Here's the deal, peeps: NO ONE needs to give you permission to pursue your dreams EXCEPT YOU.  Some of the most successful writers of all time sure didn't putz around, hanging their dreams on someone else's opinion of their work.  They put themselves out there and just went for it.

2.  Don't take "No" personally.
This one is very closely related to #1.  Without a doubt, you are going to hear, "No no no," waaaaaaaaaay more than, "Yes yes yes."  Even well-established authors have their projects or pitches turned down.  If hearing "no" over and over again is going to tank your writing mojo to a place where you can't boot-strap yourself back up again, then this is going to be a profession wrought with unhealthy emotion for you.  There are even cases where your agent or your editor may love your idea, but when it finally gets to market, the public isn't so receptive.  Like anything creativity based, there are going to be those who are die-hard fans for your work, and those who wouldn't read your book if it was the only form of entertainment to wash up on shore on a desert island.  They key is (and it can be a very hard key to grasp for any well-adjusted, grounded, self-confident writer) is to not take it personally.  Just as you don't care for particular books or authors, they exact same subjectivity will be applied to you.  View this as simply part of the job description and nothing more.  Move on, don't let the negativity get to your psyche, and keep doin' what you do with confidence!

3.  Embrace your unique writing voice...
We all have favorite authors that we admire, and some of us may even try to emulate their style.  But don't sell yourself short by trying to conform to a mold.  Explore your own unique writing voice through trying different genres, story lines, even something like screenplay- or playwriting.  The more you write, the more familiar you'll become (and the more you'll appreciate) your own unique voice, and the more likely you'll be able to stand out from the crowd.  No one has your ideas and sounds like you.  This is an extremely valuable asset, not a setback.

4.  ...and be aware how your to-date life experiences influence that voice.
Also understand that your amount of life experiences greatly influences your innate writing voice.  Say you're a relatively young writer, perhaps in your late-teens / early twenties who is navigating all of the first-time experiences that college brings.  Your innate writing voice as a college student is going to sound much different than if you were a forty-year-old mother of two who's weathered a nasty divorce.  Does that mean you can't effectively write a believable character who is a forty-year-old mother of two who's weathered a nasty divorce?  Not at all!  (Perhaps you were one of those two children and watched your mother go through something similar.)  Just be conscious that different ages and life stages bring different vernacular, challenges, and mindsets.  Surround yourself with people of diverse age ranges, if at all possible, and get to know what makes each age distinct.  Your characters (and your readers!) will thank you for it.  To give an example (from a book that shall remain unnamed), I found it incredibly distracting that a twenty-something chic city girl used the term "nanny goat" in conversation, while a seventy-plus man said, "super cool."  Doesn't necessarily add up, does it? :/

5.  Start with your strengths.
Not the best at writing setting descriptions without some action first?  Or perhaps you struggle with dialogue, but could describe the atmosphere of a medieval castle with History Channel-like accuracy.  An instant confidence booster is to start your writing process right off the bat with your strongest writing skill.  For example, I LOVE to write dialogue (hey, it's the theatre training in me), so I will almost always start a chapter with the dialogue I envision happening in this particular part of the story.  (I even write it in playwriting format.)  I have my key characters in mind, I know what they're going to say, I know how the action is going to progress verbally -check, check check!  Once I have all of that down, then I'll go back to the top of the chapter and start knitting things together with necessary descriptions, locale changes, etc.  Remember, you're not going to lose invisible "writing points" on your process -it can be as straightforward or as roundabout as you feel so inclined.  Just do yourself a huge favor and focus on what you're best at first and get your writing session started in a happy, stress-free place.

6.  Stay current with the writing world.
"Knowledge is Power!" says School House Rock, but knowledge is confidence, too!  Keeping apace with what's going on in the writing world is good not only for your own personal benefit, but also really smart business sense.  No matter where you are in your writing career and no matter what your genre(s) of choice, there are some really great general, as well as niche, resources for every kind of writer.  Writer's Digest, in particular, has a plethora of writing resources available electronically online and in hard copy.  (I myself subscribe to Writer's Digest Magazine.)  Attending conferences is also a great way to learn new skills, meet new people, and even network with agents.  I'll be discussing more about what's on my own writing resource shelf in an upcoming post, so please check back to see what books I've found particularly helpful in my writing journey.

It's Make It Happen Monday, friends, so let's get out there and get some great new stories written!  Happy Writing!
~Riley

Crafting Dynamic Characters: Making Observations from Every Day Life

Disclaimer: No neighbors were actually spied on in the making of this blog entry.  

‘Cause, that would be creepy…

Okay, okay, let’s be clear: I’m not advocating that you go around spying into people’s windows or digging through their trash cans to dig up some inspirational dish.  No one wants to go to jail here, right?  However, I encourage all writers to take a tool out of an actor’s toolbox of tricks and simply OBSERVE people in everyday life and everyday situations without being intrusive.  You’re striving to glean what I call an “essence” of a character.  How does a corporate woman in a power suit hold herself, walk, talk, etc. compared to a nurse pulling an overnight shift in the ER –on the Fourth of July.  It’s all bout the nuances, and the more you can internally visualize a given character, the better you’ll be able to convey him or her to your audience.  Plus, adding personality quirks, physical tics, habits, that sort of thing will make all your characters much more interesting, dynamic, endearing, memorable, relatable, and genuine.

Here’s the short list of what I consider some of the best places to observe every day people in every day situations:

1.  The Post Office:  Hands down, the BEST conversations I’ve overheard have all occurred while waiting in post office lines.  You can find out A LOT about a person by what they just casually throw out to the postal clerk, family members, or (better yet) random strangers.  Want to know how much money you can make by artificially inseminating cows?  Ohohoh, buddy, just ask me, because I now know all…

2.  The Grocery Store:  If you want to see parent-child dynamics, in particular, the grocery store is a treasure trove of inspiration.  Also, observing what customers put on the check-out conveyor can be very telling of a person’s lifestyle.

3.  Hair/Nail Salons:  It’s pretty common knowledge that a good percentage of people become excessively chatty whenever they’re getting their hair or nails done.  They’ll talk about anything and everything –which can lean towards the over-share snore-fest if you’re just biding your time, but it can be a writer’s smorgasbord if you’ve got your wits about you.

4.  Restaurants:  Akin to the grocery store, parent-child relationships are in good quantity here especially if it’s a chain location.  How people interact with servers, handle any qualms they may have with their food, etc. is incredibly telling, as well.

5.  Airports:  Airports are chock full of anticipation, excitement, anxiety…  Think about all of the reunions and separations that occur in this place.  Some overwhelmingly joyful, some heart-breakingly sad.  Some are coming home to families from across the world, some are leaving families to journey across the world.  There’s so much emotion in this place, it’s almost palpable. 

6.  Performing Arts Lobbies:  Married couples, first-/early-daters, families, you name it and you’ll find them here.  Typically people are on their best behavior at these locales –or they’re just pretending to be, which is particularly fascinating.

7.  Specialty Events:  Think about the vast differences between those who attend a cutting-edge technology conference versus those who attend an agriculture equipment show.  If you’re writing about a particular occupation or way of life, attend one of these events yourself.  Become an insider.  Ask questions to experts.  Network.  No doubt you’ll come away much more knowledgeable and have some fuel for the creative fire.

Until next week, friends!  I hope everyone had a lovely Easter and is enjoying the Spring weather!  Happy Writing, y'all!

~Riley

How to Overcome First Draft Paralysis

Photo taken by me at the Kansas City Ballet 

Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity (interior)

First Draft Paralysis: from first-time amateur writer to published professional author, we've all dealt with this feeling in varying degrees at some point or another.  Sometimes while working on your first draft, you feel as if you're stuck at the bottom of a dark pit with no way out.  You nit-pick.  You second guess.  You rewrite a scene (again...and again...and AGAIN...)  You question why you ever thought this story was good enough to put on paper in the first place -let alone, be publishing worthy.  

Well, let's get you outta that head space, friends, and get you moving towards that creative light at the top of the tunnel!  Here are seven ways you can make First Draft Paralysis not only manageable, but conquerable:

#1:  TAKE A BREAK AND PERCOLATE

We're not talking coffee, here, though some people find that a Starbucks run can kick their creative juices into high gear -especially on those late-night writing binges.  Have you ever had the exact opposite of writer's block?  Where you feel like you have SO MANY ideas about your storyline, the characters, the plot twists, etc. that you honestly have no clue where to start?  Whenever I have this happen, I take a brief hiatus from writing (which may be a couple hours to a couple days, or longer if your story is particularly complex) and just THINK about how things could potentially work out in your plot.  I find that whenever I'm struggling with a given storyline element, I'll put in on hold, then mentally try to work it out while I running errands or exercising or driving to work or cat napping or whatever.  (I'm a big advocate of the nap, btw, so make that the secret #8 on this list!)  You'd be surprised how often things can work themselves out (and make total sense) when you just give the characters and the circumstances a little room to breathe on their own.  What once seemed perplexing now has a very obvious direction.  Think of it like pulling a Benedict Cumberbatch and going into your "Mind Palace"!  (Any Sherlock fans reading this?  Am I right am I right?!)  Okay, okay, so if you don't have a Mind Palace, then something that very closely relates to this Percolating Process is  #2 below...

#2:  DREAM 'N' SCHEME OUTLINE

If you haven't read through my post on outlining from last Monday, be sure to check it out for a more comprehensive look at the benefits and setbacks of this writing tool.  However, what I recommend here is to really take things to the "What if...then..." level of brainstorming.  If you're at a fork in the road, take both paths and see where each one leads you for awhile.  Create a visual map of a given chain of events.  Jot down in brief sentences or snippets of what would happen if this occurred.  And then what would logically happen next?  Almost always one direction will eventually expire out or become too convoluted to be relevant or believable, and you're left with a great new avenue to pursue.

#3:  DON'T FEAR SKIPPING AROUND -WRITE WHAT'S "HOT"

This happens to me alllllll the time: I'm doing my best to write things chronologically in my book, then BAM!  A conversation between two characters or the basis for a scene that I know will happen waaaaay out in the storyline pops into my head.  Do I fight the urge?  HECK NO, friends!  Whenever creativity strikes, you TAKE IT!  This is what I call writing what's "hot".  And the key about things that are hot is that they can cool and then totally plunge off your radar if you decide to mentally catalogue it away.  I keep a special Word document on file that collects all my moments of "hot" inspiration, which can range from a setting description to a screenplay-style dialogue between two characters, to anything in between.  It can be a few words, a few paragraphs, a few pages.  You don't need to worry about really flushing things out in the "hot stage" unless you really feel compelled to.  This is more or less to get a great idea out on paper now so you don't have to stress over trying to recall it later.  Also, don't worry that writing out of order will "get you confused" or "disturb your writing mojo" -that's what the Revision stage is for, so you can go back and knit things all together in a beautiful, engaging story with unquestionable continuity.  Which leads us to #4...

#4:  CHECK YOUR INNER PERFECTIONIST AT THE DOOR

No one's ever going to read your first draft.  That's right: NO ONE.  Wait.  Did I mention that NO ONE IS EVER GOING TO READ YOUR FIRST DRAFT?  So, what are you so scared about?  Take chances!  Make mistakes!  Get messy!  (Shout out to, Ms. Frizzle!)  Make grammatical errors!  Misuse their, they're, and there to you're (haha, catch that?) heart's content -just be sure to fix it later ;)  Don't sweat the details, because without question, you'll be dropping details all over the place.  Just don't worry about it.  You don't need to prove anything with the first draft.  You don't need to make your high school English teacher proud, or your grammatically correct great-aunt Gertrude proud, or the Pulitzer Prize Board proud.  The first draft is the clay with which you will craft your gorgeous story, so who cares if it's still got a few lumps in it?  Remember: Writing does not equal Revision in this stage.  Keep calm, write, and move on.  And by the way, if you are allowing others to read what you write right off the first draft presses, then I strongly recommend you pump your brakes on that one, friend.  Reference #7 on this list.  For now, though, #5 ties very closely...

#5:  TURN OFF YOUR INTERNAL REVISER

Coming from someone who is very Type A and has perfectionistic tendencies myself, I make a conscious effort every time I'm working on my first draft to keep consistently generating all new material -even if I know there's going to be alterations to it later.  That's totally fine.  Just acknowledge it and keep moving forward.  It's actually quite a freeing feeling!  One of my biggest temptations when I'm stuck is to start revising chapters that I have just written a few days before.  (It's my self-deluding way of making myself feel productive and I have to slap myself on the hand about it -_-)  Just think of it this way: the more you write and get the story flushed out, the more of a favor you'll be doing for yourself when the Revision stage comes around.  I find it much easier to make decisions about what to cut or to add when I already have an idea of the bigger picture.  Don't sell yourself short but chopping out details or chapters too early in the game (i.e. before your first draft manuscript is compiled).  Something may suddenly become relevant again or beg to be expanded upon in a second reading.

#6:  JUST.  WRITE.

Sometimes when I don't know what to write, I just go for it.  I always ask the question, "What's the next logical step?"  This essentially means what is the next part of the story that your reader needs to know.  What's going to propel the story forward?  Sometimes I'll start with an idea that goes nowhere, or leads to another idea that I prefer to pursue instead.  Other times, this idea becomes a full-fledged chapter or series of chapters.  Either way, my brain is being encouraged (or forced, haha!) to think creatively and to dredge me up and out of my rut.  I don't know how many times I've begun a chapter feeling like I had no idea where it was going to go, and it's these opportunities that often lead me to write some of my favorite passages in a story.  It's like being part of the surprise of your own book!

#7:  SEEK THE COUNSEL OF OTHERS  ***A WORD OF CAUTION***

The reason why I put a cautionary label here is that I feel that outside counsel- like outlining -can be very helpful or very harmful -and I say harmful particularly if advice or critique is received too early in the creative stage.  Personally, I don't recommend bringing anyone else into the first draft fold.  When I release my work to be reviewed by a select group of peers that I trust and respect, it is at least the second, if not the third, draft.  I've had my eyes on that piece with a revisionary eye at least once and have hopefully worked out any major trip-ups.  If you are someone who greatly benefits from speaking storyline difficulties out loud with another person or group, then I think that's fine, as long as you are the one directing the conversation and justifying any changes.  If people start throwing out ideas that you feel are being imposed upon you, your storyline, or your characters, then a red flag should go up.  Don't ever, ever, ever put your piece in a place for feedback if you or the piece are not in a place to handle these critiques constructively -and I have a bit of a hard time imagining any first draft being up to snuff to weather that sort of scrutiny.  At least, mine sure aren't! ;)  Beware of feedback disguised as personal preferences.  If someone starts suggesting you make substantial changes to your plot, then this is no longer your story.  It's theirs.  If someone starts saying how much stronger your protagonist would be if she only did X, Y, and Z, then she is no longer your protagonist.  She's theirs.  You must be able to discern what is constructive and what is personal preference.  You, as a writer, must possess the steel cojones to stand up for your voice and your writing style, as well as to justify your artistic choices.   

I hope everyone is having a great week so far -spring is definitely on its way here in KCMO!  If you haven't checked my Twitter @RileyD_Writes, you've been missing out on the exciting news about my upcoming summertime adventure!  This lil' MO writer will be heading east to attend her very first writers conference: the Midwest Writers Workshop!  I'm so incredibly stoked to be a part of this gathering, and I'll be sure to keep everyone updated as the big day approaches :)

Keep Calm and Write On!

~Riley