Hot Blacktop started as an experiment. I wanted to find out if I could produce a well-devised chapter each month. On July 10th, 2015 I did just that. The journey has been fulfilling. I’ve written, with the help of my editor, Phil, a work that I’m proud of to call a success.
Now that I’ve finished the novella, what comes next? Dipping my toes into an ocean caught in an ever-expanding maelstrom of indie authors that have decided not to go the traditional route is a scary endeavor in my designs for success. Is it better to query several agents knowing the outcome could be a quick toss from the slush pile to the trash after reading the first sentence of the novella or listening to voice from a surprise phone call hearing someone tell me they’re interested in my work?
The first is common. The second is rare but more satisfying. Is it a safer to get my work up in e-book format and see what happens, knowing that it’s finally out there in the world of e-commerce so people can read it right away, no chance that it will be rejected and not seen at all? In the back of my mind, these questions have had me waffling all year. My brain feels like I’ve been balancing one foot on a thin board while my arms get heavier and heavier with the weight of each decision as I rebalance myself. It was a difficult decision.
Finally, I decided to take the leap. I’ve started the process to e-publish. A few of my writer friends have already jumped in, and it seemed painless if not time-consuming, and they appear to be happy with the outcome. So I’m going to reach forward with long strokes and swim in the sea of indie romance writers, and hope that I gain a following, hope that readers like what I have to offer, and hope that Hot Blacktop becomes a success.
Coming in January 2017 the full novella, Hot Blacktop by Wendi Knape
Also coming in January, The Hot Blacktop series continues with Christof and Megan in: Hot Turns
It’s December, and I’m running around with holiday madness. I don’t have the time to remember my gift list let alone what I did or didn’t accomplish this year. In fact, if hadn’t written them down, I’d have forgotten I even had thoughts to change my world.
I don’t believe in resolutions. Too often they’re wishes without a specific plan for success. That’s why I embraced my writers’ group commitment to three Non-Resolutions for 2015. The challenge was to identify the “specific and concrete” steps to “improve yourself as a writer.” I did this thinking it a simple challenge something specific and easy it’s the end of the year, tis the season to look ahead while looking back. so I share my successes and failures in life, the universe and everything else.
How did I do? Let’s just say I take ownership of my actions and my non-actions. These were my commitments:
1.(A) Find an editor and (B) publish my memoir before June 2015.
Nope. Nope, nope, nope. Not even close. Every time I sat down to edit, thinking the book just needed some tweaking, I found a jumble of sentence fragments and missplelled words instead. I suspected that organizing the non-chronological series of vignettes was the problem. I came up with creative ways to procrastination. I read blog posts by fiction and nonfiction writers to learn how they handled organization. I read a memoir to see how it was organized. I found checklists to follow, but still my story didn’t flow.
That got me thinking about format and tools to ease my struggles. I purchased Scrivener, a software program has a “corkboard” to organize my thoughts and scenes so I can rearrange as often as needed with a swift swipe of my mouse. This is a useful procrastination, I told myself. I spent two weeks slugging through the detailed tutorial and then hit a snag with the program. I set it aside in frustration to continue after November’s NaNoWriMo. It’s December and is still untouched.
2.Explore at least one new book/genre and revisit an old favorite.
This was a flop. Aside from reading that one memoir early in the year, I didn’t finish another book.
I started what I presumed was “an old favorite” but it wasn’t as interesting as I remembered. I found a sci-fi book that both Mom and I read. I committed to read it at night, maybe not every night, but I put it and a spare pair of reading glasses on my nightstand for convenience. The only space available was at the edge, so the book is too far to reach, and my clumsy, ill-fitting dollar store glasses are awkward to wear. I have made reading more complicated than it should be.
3.Set aside time to journal at least once a month.
I accomplished this! I may have skipped weeks at a time, but I wrote more, that I know. That I feel. I mingled my thoughts with blog posts and ideas, sprinkled between to-do lists and notes from writers’ conferences and meetings. I rediscovered that I write more fluidly by hand, so I spent more time journaling just for the fun and love of writing on paper. Writing by hand is organic to me, so I will keep journaling.
Nothing is truly a failure. These commitments did not need to be complete, nor did they need to be completed for me to succeed. I learned about myself and gained some valuable perspectives and insights into my actions.
What did I learn?
I need to break my writing and editing tasks into smaller snippets and set a timer. Tell myself “Tuesday morning, research editors” and allot 27 minutes only. I’ll know at the end of the timer I’ll either need a break or feel inspired to keep working. It’s how I survived and won NaNoWriMo.
In 23, 27 or 33 minute segments, I wrote 50,721 words in the last 20 days of the months. I started on November 11, so this equaled 2500 words/day which for me was about 1 1/2 hours per day. That means I can find the time to write because I have the time when I’m not distracted by Major Crimes on TV or Angry Birds on my phone. I remind myself of this daily because not only is it motivating but because in the madness of the month, I discovered a 25,000-word story, a complete one that I can actually work with and interests me. I consider the purchase a distraction and a success. I can use Scrivener to organize this book as I edit to publish by the end of 2015, a swift spellbinding sequel to my initial Jimmy the Burglar book.
Getting back to my roots of handwriting gave me the opportunity to see what I was thinking. Words on paper, written by my hand, helped me focus on what I want to do with my writing. I will change the focus of my blog to include more writing, insights, interviews and inspiration. Posts on Deadwood Writers Voices may change. I want to entertain my readers, offer them something worthwhile, while writing topics that excite my passion and enthusiasm. I’m exploring what those topics may be.
As for reading books, I will purchase a better pair of reading glasses.
What is writing to you? Writing can mean many things to different people.
1–Writing is exhausting.
Remembering the rules of syntax and sentence structure is a struggle. Perfection halts our progress putting words to paper.
1–Writing is exhilarating.
Initially, don’t worry about spelling and sentence structure. There is a freedom to words. Getting your struggles and thoughts out of your mind and onto paper clears your head. Once they are released into your world, you can address them. Accomplishing that is a thrilling expression.
2–Writing is personal.
It is risky to write. You expose yourself to others’ judgement. Your self-image becomes vulnerable to criticism. Those are scary moments.
2–Writing is personal.
When you share your words, you share your experience. Others do relate to that. Hearing someone say “I learned from this,” “I was entertained,” and “this made me cry,” is a compliment and a success.
3–Writing is reclusive.
Writing is just between you and your thoughts; nothing else. You have no coworkers or teammates to rely on.
3–Writing is sociable.
Virtual communities of writers understand your struggles. Social media connects people around the globe. Local writing groups strengthen that support. A kind, inquisitive word from a stranger in a coffee shop is supportive and reminds you that you are not alone.
4– Writing is frustrating.
Ideas are fleeting. Motivation rises and falls. You slam into the Writers Block wall over and over and over again.
4–Writing is invigorating.
By declaring, “Writing is worth making the time for,” you choose to commit to yourself. You whisk a reader away into a world you control. You paint with words, drawing scenes in your readers’ minds. Extra incentive comes from the release into the world. It is rewarding to receive a positive review on a reading website or from someone who is not your immediate family network and friends.
5–Writing is limited.
Only a few rare people get a publishing contract. Large publishing houses have limited resources of time, printing, ink, and space. If you do not make a living by writing, then you do not have a “real” job. If you just dabble in your journal, you’re not doing any real writing. Without public validation, all efforts are snubbed as “just a hobby.”
5–Writing is limitless.
If expression is your only goal, then laptops, electronic tablets, journals or paper and pen are all friends. Writing anywhere is accessible. If publishing is a goal, the publishing options range from working with a Big 5 publishing house to a small startup publisher. Self-publishing has become mainstream, be it an eBook, paperback or picture book. You own your options and control your future.
6– Writing is work.
Standard books are long. Whatever your measurement–word count of page length–completing something that complex is a massive task. Revisions take time, a lot of time, and are often disappointing. Writing is intimidating.
6–Writing is work.
There is power in writing the words “The End” on your work.
These days, it’s a bit of both. As a writer, or anyone with a product to promote, social media presents powerful platforms. You can spend more time socializing than writing, so where do you focus your attention?
Pinterest is a social media cut-n-paste website to collect and save online items meaningful to you. Neater than a folder of newspaper clippings from back in the dinosaur days, when you find an image or idea that you want to remember, you “Pin” that image to a “Board” that you create. Presto! Your collection begins.
The anatomy of a Pin is an image, the description and the website link. The image is the specific, intriguing picture from the website. If the site isn’t set up to instantly open Pinterest when you hover over the image, you can manually add the image to your Board with the Pin It button you download from Pinterest and save to your computer’s internet taskbar. The description is whatever you type in as a reminder to you–a cool title, the inspiration for saving it, your impressions–all in 500 words or less.
The website’s link automatically attaches as an electronic sticky note to the “Pinned from” line, and this takes you back to the original post. If you Pin directly from your smartphone, the Pinned from line simply states, “uploaded by user,” thus creating a static image gallery.
Boards group specific topics or themes together, such as: recipes; parenting; DIY crafts; men’s fashions; travel destinations; and home décor. Quotes and infographics are popular, too. If you want to connect with users—or Pinners—who share your interest, search the site by category, keyword or user names. Here’s where the social aspect steps in.
When you discover an image someone else saved, you can Pin that Pinner’s pin to a Board you created, and vice versa. To see a Pinner’s latest discoveries, you “Follow” that person, and then you choose to follow all or just some of their Boards. The most popular Pins, popular by Likes or Pins, come up highest on any search. It’s important to be social to be discovered.
Remember that, “Pinned from”, direct link I mentioned above? This is where the promotion aspect steps in. You want to send people to where the action is, so create Boards that link directly to your blogsite, etsy shop or Amazon page. Create exciting titles and use the description box wisely. Like other social media, use #hashtags to group your pins and to be instantly site-searchable. Type in an additional website link in the description box, and it is an active link, giving you additional promotion tool option.
Who do I like? Who uses Pinterest well? Who inspires me?
Drive traffic back to your own website like blogger Laurel Regan (Alphabet Salad) by grouping her blog posts, most recently for her April 2015 A to Z Blog Challenge posts. I found her through that blog hop, and she inspired me to create my own A to Z blog posts Board.
Intrigue your current and future readers like writer Wendi Knape (Wendijowrites) does by teasing them with images that inspire her writing. One of her stories, Jacob and Charlotte – Meet Cute, features the characters Jacob and Charlotte. Wendi created a Pinterest Board to describe her characters’ “development, clothes, hair, living space [and] favorite foods.” This inspired me to give readers insights into my own writing process through my “Author Inspiration” board.
My use of Pinterest has been a mixture of art and writing. “Scrapbooking and artsy-fartsy stuff” collects mini-album and ephemera ideas to pitch to my editor of Michigan Scrapbooker Magazine for future articles.
My Zentangle boards promote my classes as a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) and artwork that inspires me. Why not let others know what moves me, as well as inspires my works of art?
“Holiday Festivities” gathers spooky ideas and recipes I use to create great visual images for my blog’s annual Halloween post. See how I used the ideas to create party atmosphere in my 2014 Halloween Party blogpost.
“THON-spiration” collects images related to the fight against childhood cancer and The Penn State Dance Marathon (THON); it is currently my most popular board.
As I was typing this post, I created “Books by D.W. Hirsch” Board. In the first 24 hours, I had 24 followers. How cool is that!
I can’t guarantee any success like that, but I can share tips I’ve discovered along this social journey.
Tips to get the most exposure to yourself and your Boards:
Creative titles. Make your Boards sound so exciting that people can’t resist clicking on them.
Maximize the description box. Don’t write wordy paragraphs; space out long sections of sentences. Include hashtags, keywords, and related websites, but use tabs or double-spaces between these words.
Choose the most interesting, active image to Pin if you have multiple options from a website.
Credit the original artist every time you share personal content. Let them know you’ve done that and they may follow you back.
For more ideas, search a general word. Type the word “writing” and you get subcategories of novel; inspiration; prompts; quotes; and more
Some writing-related Board ideas include:
Writers you like and blogs you follow. Be sure to describe why you include them.
Books you like or want to read. This gives people a look into your personal likes, and they may discover a new book to read after seeing your interests.
Share and be social: promote other bloggers or writers by posting their content.
List blog or writing challenges for future exploration.
Promote personal blog posts. Group these sites into related categories and boards.
Share other media images like screenshots of your Twitter posts. Be mindful of others’ privacy.
Favorite quotes
Pinterest works best for people who actively wander around the Internet. Creating a Board or Pinning an item can take as little as 3 minutes, but this may be an awkward medium for some. It takes time to ensure the correct link, to write an appropriate description, and then roam around Pinterest looking for people to connect and share interests.
What site platform works best for you? Are you still discovering? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
I believe in shameless self-promotion and so should you.
I don’t mean just with your writing but with all aspects of your life. You need to be passionate. Who else is going to get excited about you and your work if you aren’t?
I have never taken off work on my birthday, and I never will. It’s a waste of a good opportunity. When someone asks that standard “How are you doing today?” question, I reply, “I’m doing great; today’s my birthday.” I always get a smile and some variation of “Oh, I didn’t know. Happy Birthday!” It’s a bonus when that comment is followed by a “Let me treat you to lunch/coffee/spa day/paid week off” offer.
I’m all about free stuff. My husband and I celebrate every fifth wedding anniversary in Walt Disney World. The resort staff knows we’re there for our special occasion–they know because we told them–so they give us large, cheerful Happy Anniversary buttons that we wear. Because these days being married more than nine weeks can be an accomplishment, I tell everyone we meet “It’s our ##-year wedding anniversary.” Compliments feel good. We get numerous congratulations, free drinks, special appetizers and special treats. On our 2013 trip, a gift shop cast member took our buttons and surprised us with free personalization of our names and “10th anniversary” artfully crafted in gold calligraphy. Those buttons were the most complimented, commented and coveted aspect of our trip.
The point is no one knows to celebrate you if you don’t share that information. By telling people, you are celebrating you yourself. Others will follow your lead and celebrate.
No one would have done anything if we weren’t bold. Being bold is not egotistical or vain. It is being proud of your accomplishments, whether they are personal or professional.
Think about the kids you know, yours or others. Would you be hesitant to share the fact that one of them made first trumpet in the band? Would you be embarrassed to brag that he or she won the science fair? Would you volunteer that information? If you don’t hold that back, then why would you hesitant to share your writing success?
To increase your success, you must promote your work. Promoting can be as simple as telling people, “I am a writer.” With every book I publish–three to date, all available through kindle on Amazon–I send an email out to my family, friends and acquaintances stating, “I published a book, (Title). Go to (this link), please buy my book, and then leave me a review at (this link). Thank you.”
When you ask, you may be surprised by what you will get. With emails like that, I received reviews of Lessons from Dad: a Letter to You and a 4-star rating of my first fiction book, Jimmy the Burglar. My most successful project publication to date is my first short story, Mom, Star Trek and Las Vegas: a Grand adventure with 10 reviews, two first place state awards and one third place National award. Give them a read yourself, and let me know what you think.
In order for people to know you’re a writer, you must tell them. By promoting yourself, you are holding yourself accountable to others, thus motivating you to set goals and deadlines. It also encourages you to write when you feel uninspired or stuck. Will this generate sales? Maybe and maybe not. If sales are a part of your goals, then exposure is what you need.
Doing self-promotion can be intimidating. I’m outgoing,–I get that spirit from my Dad–so it’s not as scary for me. This does not mean I am not tentative. What if no one likes my writing? If no one knows I exist, I’ll never know. And I want to know.
I promote myself on a variety of social media sites: Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and, reluctantly, Facebook. The more people who see me, the more I am noticed. Those two statements are different.
Am I that important to merit or deserve all this media attention? Yes I am. I’m a talented wordsmith with three books, two columns staff for Michigan Scrapbooker Magazine and one award-winning blog. However, some people may think these are modest successes and therefore, I’m not worth all this fuss. I’m simply pretending to be more than I am.
But I’ll never be more than I am without believing I am. You need that fierce approach to your writing.
If you’re not proud of your work and share your pride, why should anyone else be excited? I won’t be.
Be strong. Be fierce. Be shameless. Be successful.
Hot Blacktop started as an experiment. I wanted to find out if I could produce a well-devised chapter each month. On July 10th, 2015 I did just that. The journey has been fulfilling. I’ve written, with the help of my editor, Phil, a work that I’m proud of to call a success.
