How to REALLY Show Support to Indie Authors: A Step-by-Step Guide
Your bff is an indie author. Your neighbor is an indie author. Your sister is an indie author. The cute guy you sit behind in Social Studies is an indie author. So… what exactly does “indie author” mean? And how can you show support to an indie author? First, let’s talk differences between indie authors and traditionally published authors… An indie author has self-published their work. That means they’ve gone through Amazon or Barnes & Noble or some other avenue to publish their works themselves. Another big ol’ difference is that indies usually crack open their own piggie bank to pay for their book cover designs, editors, and formatting programs to help them craft their novel to perfection. Now, traditional authors may do this too, but typically when a contract is signed, the big publishing houses take care of most of this stuff for the author (the author collaborates and/or gives his/her approval). Lastly, another big difference is that indies don’t have a marketing team that a traditionally published author would get. So that means, typically, they’re their own publicist, marketing strategist, and networking agent. That means they do double the ad work for half the reward. Self-publishing has never been more popular. That means your indie author needs help getting noticed now more than ever! So how do you help indie authors in simple, easy ways that prove you’re an awesome friend who is genuinely interested in their life goals? Well, I’ve organized the desires of all indie authors into three major categories. So let’s hop to numero uno, shall we? 1. Provide Moral Support Indies are spent because not only do we work crazy hours and never sleep and drink too much coffee,...
How to Maintain a Balanced, Healthy Lifestyle as a Busy Writer
Who likes running? Anyone? *crickets* Who likes eating carrots and broccoli? *crickets* Ok ok ok how ’bout this one: Who likes using up free time to lift weights instead of finishing that final draft of their novels?? 🙁 Meh. Still no one, eh? As writers, our protein powder and the size of our muscles may not be *top* priority on our to-do list. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to be a bodybuilder to maintain a healthy (mental, emotional and physical) lifestyle as a busy writer! Here’s a fact you need to grasp if you have plans of becoming a published author: The hours are long and tough You sit a lot Because of high demands to get that amazing sequel written, you won’t have much time to do *other* things You sit a lot You may be prone to eat whatever is in front of you and drink ungodly amounts of coffee You sit a lot You may not see the light of day and will work very late night shifts too. You sit a lot Family and friends will get less of your attention Did I mention you sit alot??? This life does not lend itself to the most healthy activity. In fact, if you’re not careful, you can become dreadfully imbalanced mentally, emotionally and physically in a short period of time. So how do you maintain a healthy lifestyle that fits into your routine and is totally not overwhelming? You hone the art of self-discipline. Now I know, the last thing you want to do is crack the whip on yourself when your parents, your teachers, your other...
How to Tell if your Novel is Ready to be Published: 20 Questions to Ask (Part 2)
Last week we discussed 10 ways to make sure your novel is ready to be released. I shared two sections dissecting information on the meat of your novel- what your story needs and what your characters need. If you missed last week’s article, check it out here! If you’re up to speed, however, this week we’re dissecting two new avenues of novel publication preparation: editing and revising and beta readers. Each section asks five vital questions you need to answer before you publish your novel. So, is your novel going to be up to par? Let’s find out! Series 3: Editing and Revising Have you checked for run-on sentences, proper capitalization, punctuation and misspelled words? All right, this is a fairly obvious one, but we’ll expand on how important it is to have fresh eyes look for these issues as well in our next subheading. But for now, make sure names of people and places, months, titles, ‘I’ are always properly capitalized. Use commas like a dash of salt: merely to accentuate the emphasis in a sentence or to provide a pause for the reader. Take out as many adverbs as possible and replace them with stronger words. Break up your story’s pace, too. Have a longer sentence followed by a dash of shorter ones. Simplify whenever possible and re-read the sentence aloud to make sure it reads properly. And don’t rely on spellcheck to find all misplaced words. It won’t pick up perfectly spelled words completely misplaced in a sentence! Lastly, make sure your story...
How to Tell if your Novel is Ready to be Published: 20 Questions to Ask (Part 1)
I’ve been pouring my blood, sweat, tears (and moooore tears) into my work of fiction for years. But I’m not sure if it’s ready for the public eye yet. I’ve edited my story, rewritten it, burned it and started over, and re-edited it again. I think it’s ready, but how do I know for sure if my novel is ready to be released?? What writer hasn’t been harassed by feelings of self-doubt or plagued by endless what-ifs? If you’re a writer who has faced these questions and more, then you’re at the right place, bromigo. What I’ve provided is a list of questions every writer needs to ask themselves before they launch their book. Now, I know it seems like the LAST thing you need is more questions breathing down your neck, causing you to sweat harder. But I promise you, this list of questions is meant to help you deduce, consciously reflect on your work, and move forward in your writing career. So take a deep breath, and take the plunge: How to Tell if your Novel is Ready to be Published: 20 Questions to Ask (Part 1) Click To Tweet Series 1: Story Construct Does your novel’s plot follow the three-act structure? The three-act structure is a basic formula or outline that every best-selling novel uses. What exactly is the three-act structure you ask? It divides your story into three parts, each section addressing specific storytelling elements and requirements. Here’s a visual to represent what this structure is and how it applies to your novel: Thing is, if...
3 Creative Ways to Create Hype for Your Novel
You know what everyone hates? Being pitched at. And it comes in so many forms today because really, we’re not entirely sure how to create hype for our books in a palatable way that won’t turn off potential readers. We feel stuck having to try a variety of pitches that don’t ever seem to work: The illiterate Tweet: “Buy my gr8 book bcuz 5 stars & *50 Twitter fRiEns sAy itS BeSt BoOk Dey EverRrrR ReAd #amwriting #porgforpresident #childishgambino.” The gun to their head: “BUY MY BOOK!” The show-off: “Look how pretty the cover is. It’s so unique and it looks professional like Marissa Meyer’s books. Won’t U buy??” The morality police: “No, I’m not giving this away for free. This is my life’s work. If you ask for a free copy then you’re basically spitting in my face. Writers are artists and all artists deserve to make a living doing what they love. So show your support and respect for authors by BUYING their books.” (I’ve been guilty of this one multiple times and still firmly believe it.) The bargainer: “If you buy all my books at this extremely discounted price I will post about you and your book on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and even feature you as a character in my book.” Fact is, we just want people to read our books. And likewise, we know that if just one person spends an amount equal to that of pocket change, they’d have an incredible read on their hands. So how do we do it? How do we ORGANICALLY create hype for our novels and market our books without pitching potential...
40 Surprisingly Defining Questions to Ask Your Characters
Bilbo Baggins. Citra Terranova. Princess Leia. Edmond Dantes. Jane Eyre. Why did I list off these character names? Because these characters that matter to me. These are just a few characters from various works of fiction that have resonated with me and remained beloved friends. Yes. Friends. So how do you create characters that matter to your readers as much as these guys? You stop viewing your character as a character and start viewing them as a friend. And how do you make a friend? You get to know someone on a deeper level. You spend enough time with them that you build trust and share more than just your favorite songs and ice cream flavors with one another. You truly open up and bond over the deep stuff. The stuff that no one knows helped shape who you are today. I’ve listed below 40 profound, deeply important questions to ask your characters. These questions are meant to help you realize any gaps you’ve missed in character creation and fill those in. They’ll matter to your readers, even if they never know this fact about your character. They’ll help you view your character as a person and no longer a spark of an idea haunting your thoughts. These questions will help you formulate a strong, well-defined, believable character readers will invest in. Feel free to write down your character’s answers to these questions. I’ve written them in such a way that it’s as if your character is sitting right in front of you as you ask these questions. So pull up a photo or even a drawing of what they look like and- at the risk of looking...
3 Ways to Undeniably Raise the Stakes for your Characters
“I couldn’t put it down!” “I was glued to the pages!” “I read the book in one night!” If it these aren’t the highest compliments that can be paid a writer, then I don’t know what are. So how do we keep readers compelled from “once upon a time” to “happily ever after”? We create conflict and suspense. But how do you do it? How do you raise the stakes for your characters and write compelling conflict?: You dangle the carrot. You make your character face psychological, physical, or professional death. You open a new loop when another closes. So what does all this mean? Well, let’s break it down… Dangle the Carrot Would you hop a thousand miles just to be rewarded with a carrot at the end of the journey? Pfft, no! If you’re a rabbit, however, you would hop a thousand miles and you would hop a thousand more. Why? Because you, a bunny, want a gosh dang carrot more than anything in the world. What is your character’s carrot? What do they want more than anything in life? What would your character die or kill for? You need to discover what his carrot is and then dangle it: (aka) do whatever it takes to keep it from him. And that, dear gumdrop, is your story’s plot. You want to guide the reader through a series of scenes which make him wonder from the first page to the last chapter, “Will Mr. Hero get the carrot? Will He lose his life trying to get this...
How to Write a Fandom-Worthy Character (Part 3): “The Eclectic Mentor”
Beloved mentors like Yoda of Star Wars, Gandalf of the Lord of the Rings, and Gramma Tala of Moana have become legendary in the fictional world. These old sages crack jokes, speak in riddles and provide guidance for the protagonist on his/her journey. Their methods are mysterious– even questionable, but our protagonist trusts them and even loves them. So what traits should your eclectic mentor have in order to be cherished by readers? A unique personality A guiding hand An untimely death or exit Let’s talk about how you can use these traits in your own character crafting process. A Unique Personality Judge him by his size, do you? Don’t be fooled. Yoda was a powerful sage in a tiny, green, wrinkled package. Speaking in riddles, hilarious quips, and ambiguous sayings, we believed Yoda was just a crazy, old coot hiding out in a bog. Yet, through this outlandish approach, Yoda’s ultimate goal to teach Luke the importance of knowing one’s inner strength and relying on the Force succeeded. Able to lift X-Wings out of swamps, fight circles around Sith lords and call down lighting onto an ancient tree with a flick of one finger, Yoda became a Jedi of legend. Dancing her way into our hearts, Gramma Tala was a wise old wisecrack that showed us the character of Motunui. Although many believed she was the island crazy lady, there was truth behind her old wives’ tales. Through her free spirit and firm belief, Gramma Tala taught Moana to believe in herself and her destiny. Gandalf was unpredictable....
How to Write a Fandom-Worthy Character (Part 2): The Lovable Rogue
It’s time to toss the “super good, super pure, superhero” out and replace it with a more interesting character: the lovable rogue. Beloved protagonists like Sherlock Holmes, Han Solo of Star Wars, and Aragorn of the Lord of the Rings, have shoved aside the typical image of a super guy with a super cape. We love these guys in all their rogue-ish charm. So what characteristics should your lovable rogue possess in order for readers to freak over him? A memorable personality A contradictory nature A noble cause he sides with Let’s talk about how you can use these traits in your own character crafting process. But He Has a Great Personality! Who could turn away a scruffy-looking nerf herder like Han Solo? Not even Leia could, in the end. Why? He was egotistical, smart-mouthed, arrogant, sly, and… lovable. Oh, so lovable. The witty comebacks and wise-cracking rat-a-tat he shared with Chewie and Leia made Han’s big personality unforgettable. Han didn’t have a straight-up good boy attitude like Luke. No, Han was a bit more complicated (and jaded) than that. But beneath his charm, smooth-talk, and me-first attitude, lay a secretly self-sacrificing softy who had it bad for one particularly spunky princess. That oil and vinegar personality made Han incredibly engaging. With an unmatched intellect, an outlandish ability to notice insignificant details, and the charm of a set of nails on a chalkboard, Sherlock was in a rank all his own. No filter and no boundaries, Sherlock saves lives but belittles them simultaneously. Really, we should hate Sherlock, but we...I’m Rae Elliott: Author, Blogger, Geek
I believe all teens can write fandom-worthy fiction. Read more about my mission in the About page and get started on your road to fandom-worthiness.
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