Finding Your Tribe

By Angela Kay Austin

When I began writing, I think I imagine my journey like the journey of so many others imagine it. I’ll write the next great something, an agent will instantly fall in love with it and me, of course, and they’ll sell it to a publisher who will love it! Done and done.

Instead my journey has been much more twisted. Picked up by one small press publisher, then another and another. One publisher after the other went under. And I was confused. I wasn’t sure what my next step would be. However, that’s when I realized the value of a network of authors. My 

tribe.

My tribe taught me how to self-publish. One taught me to format. Another connected me with graphic designers and editors. Others connected me with tools and templates which allowed me to package my books. And still others taught me the meaning behind ISBNs and distribution.

Five quick tips from my tribe to yours:

1.      Don’t edit your own work

2.      FIVERR can be a good friend to you

3.      There are free templates for books out there, use them until you learn how to do it

4.      ISBNs are necessary – if you want to distribute to a larger reader base

5.      Create your own tribe to help with promotion of your work, as well as to help you grow and learn

Bonus tip: Find a local writing group and join!

The consideration of becoming an Indie author is a difficult one. Doing it alone is unnecessarily hard, but when you find your tribe, that changes things. You have people, other authors, who will support and promote you on your journey. That to me is priceless.

___________________________________________

Angela Kay Austin has always loved expressing herself creatively.  An infatuation with music led to years playing several instruments, some better than others.   A love for acting put her in front of a camera or two for her thirty seconds of fame before giving way to a degree and career in communications.  After completing a second degree in marketing, Angela found herself combining her love for all things creative and worked in promotions and events for many years.   Today, Angela lives in her hometown in Tennessee with her really really really old dog, Midnight. To learn more about Angela, visit her website: http://www.angelakayaustin.com/.

Behind the Scenes of a Movie Night!

By Eva Maria Hamilton 

Looking for a fun way to engage with your readers? If you have a book that relates to a movie (for example, retelling a fairytale, a period specific novel, or even a character based on an actor/actress) consider hosting a movie night.

For my Jane Austen Colouring & Activity Book Series, I hosted my first movie night watching Emma. It was such a blast; I’m doing it again on Thursday, July 12, 2018 with my latest book, Jane Austen’s Persuasion Colouring & Activity Book featuring Illustrations from 1897. I invite you to come by to see how I run my movie nights. Although, I will attempt to outline them here to give you an idea of how it all comes together.

First, pick the night. This year, I chose a Thursday. Close to the weekend, hopefully people don’t have social engagements. I also chose a date where my book is available for pre-order, and will soon be available for sale.

Another big piece is choosing the movie. For me, I’m of course playing Persuasion, but I do have to choose between the many different versions. Things to consider: length (2hrs vs 4), popularity (will people want to re-watch it?), rating (PG vs R), availability (is it on Netflix?), etc.

Once you have all your data, create an Event in Facebook where you will host your evening by creating new posts and chatting in the comments.

Now, it’s time to get the word out. Consider social media posts across all your platforms, and every other relevant place, such as blogs, like this awesome one! I also personally invite people. Facebook has a limit on invitations, so carefully consider who you send them to. I also tell people there will be giveaways. You can guess they’re free advance copies of my book. And as the day draws near, I do a countdown.

When the night arrives, have everything ready to go, such as the movie (which you may wish to pre-watch so you have pre-drafted comments and questions to keep the discussion lively). A time schedule for giveaways. Note: If you want to drive people to your newsletter, or some other place, remember to pin your most important post to the top of the Facebook event page. Also, make sure everything is recharged and your area is distraction free. Your guests may come and go as they please, but as the host, its showtime.

Welcome everyone, and begin the movie at the scheduled time.

One key piece of advice, tell people to like or comment on a post to be entered into the draws or else you won’t know they’re there! You could have a dozen people commenting, and think they’re the only ones who showed up, when in fact a hundred people have stopped by.

As you award prizes, either get their addresses then or set aside time after the movie.

Outside of the Facebook event, keep posting on social media about your movie night, and send reminders to people who said they’d come but didn’t show up.

And most importantly, Have Fun! That’s the point.

At the end, thank everyone for coming and repeat any essential take-away information. For instance, details pertaining to your book’s release.

When it comes time to mail books to the winners, I add in a letter thanking them again and asking them to review the book.

I hope this inspires you.

See you at Persuasion Movie Night!

Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/events/190304411678029/

And maybe I’ll be attending one of your movie nights soon!

I love a good movie!

______________________________________________________________________ 

Eva Maria Hamilton spent years studying people from all different areas of academia and brings that understanding of the human condition into each of her written pieces. An advocate for lifelong learning, Eva Maria Hamilton studied in both Canada and the United States, earning a diploma in Human Resources Management, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, an Honors Bachelor of Arts Degree in History, and a Master of Science in Education. She home schools her two daughters, and their collie, while acting as Chief Strategy Officer in her Co-founded business, Test Launcher. Eva Maria Hamilton is the author of Highland Hearts, a Love Inspired Historical novel published by Harlequin. Her novel, Highland Hearts, won 2nd Place in the Historical Romance, as well as the Traditional/Inspirational Romance Categories in the Heart of Excellence Reader’s Choice Awards, and was an Inspirational Series Finalist in the 2013 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Eva Maria Hamilton is also the owner of Lilac Lane Publishing, which is currently publishing a series of Jane Austen Colouring & Activity Books. To discover the other stories she has published, or soon will, please connect with Eva Maria Hamilton online by visiting her at www.EvaMariaHamilton.com or www.LilacLanePublishing.com  Facebook Twitter  Pinterest

Goodreads   Google+

BassPro @ The Pyramid Writing

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine

Confession time, I live in Memphis and until today, had never been to Bass Pro at the Pyramid. So on a hot, hazy day in Memphis my husband says, “I need cargo shorts, let’s go to Bass Pro at The Pyramid.” I grabbed the Sky Ride tickets someone gave us, and we trekked to the Pyramid. 

The Pyramid at Memphis made for an interesting skyline addition years ago. This is an article about The Pyramid’s history.  

I worked at The Pyramid in the 80’s and 90’s as a docent for ''Wonders: The Memphis International Series," highlighting various historical art exhibits. It started with the exhibition in 1987 called ''Rameses the Great.'' Followed by ''Wonders'' exhibitions on Catherine the Great, the Ottomans, the Etruscans, Napoleon, China, and the city's seventh blockbuster, ''Titanic: The Exhibition.”

A docent was required to take a 4 week course at University of Memphis learning about the history of each artifact. It was fascinating to see artifacts from around the world. I often thought of spin-off stories I could write based on information learned for these exhibits. Millions of people viewed these exhibitions. 

Today, at Bass Pro at The Pyramid after weaving through the retail store, seeing a waterfall, huge fish tanks, and swamp with gators, we rode over 28 stories up the center in a glass elevator viewing the entire venue below. WoW! 

At the top we walked into The Lookout restaurant and bar with another huge fish tank and various steampunk style iron fish, gator and mythical creatures made of gears, metal and wood suspended from the ceiling. The bird's eye view from the glass floored observation deck offers a 360-degree of Memphis and the Mississippi River is spectacular. 

It’s a wonderful place to catch a quick lunch and soak up the atmosphere. I wrote this blog in “The Lookout” while watching barges on the river head south towards the Gulf. 

What special places in your hometown have you discovered that is unquie for writing?

This is A Limited Time Offer

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine

How many times have you heard, “This is a limited time offer so get yours today”! Marketing experts know the odds of you making a purchase are greater if they can get you to act immediately. Any delay increases the odds of a missed sale on their part. So they press the urgency of the decision by limiting the offer with time. I believe that statement is not only true about a commercial offering but about everything in life. Why do I say that?

Most of us can look back and see a missed opportunity. If we are truthful with ourselves we can also see the reason for the missed opportunity the majority of the time is procrastination. I can remember some years back seeing an author on TV and thinking I need to contact him for an interview and article in Southern Writers Magazine. Instead of doing it right away I delayed, I considered myself busy and eventually the urgency of the opportunity left me entirely. I hadn’t realized it had indeed been a limited time offer. I had failed to follow up on my gut instinct to make the contact. I seldom do that but in this case I was guilty. So what happens to those limited time offers?

In this case there is a good ending. I walked into our Writers Group one day and there sat this author. He was a new member and was introduced by one of our contributors to Southern Writers Magazine because she was writing an article about him and his books he had written. I was thrilled then I was stricken with this hard lesson. This offer like some many others is indeed a limited time offer but it is a limited time offer only to the one being presented to it at the time. I honestly believe if you refuse or ignore the offer, the opportunity as it is meant to be, will be offered elsewhere.

We never know how great the opportunity may be unless we follow it through. I have a friend that was studying under a college professor and had earned her certification as a Certified Professional Organizer. The professor’s work had drawn a lot of national attention and a documentary was done involving the professor and his assistants work. My friend was included and was so excited to be a part of the opportunity. Once the documentary hit the airwaves it was very successful and a series was offered. My friend wasn’t sure about being a part of it so she passed. Another assistant took her spot. This missed opportunity became the TV hit series Hoarders. She and her professor were apparently on the cutting edge of the study of this terrible disease. The opportunity would indeed have been lucrative but also it would have been a chance to help many people and their families.  

So what should we do? I like to follow these three simple steps:

·         Be aware and open to any and all opportunities presented. You never know where they could lead.

·         Expect good things to come from these opportunities. Should they take a turn for the worse you can retreat gracefully.

·         Remember this opportunity could and very well will lead to the next great opportunity. Be open and aware of that as well.

·         No regrets! Don’t dwell on lost opportunities. We all have had them. Be on the watch for the next one and it will come.

·         And remember…. “This is a limited time offer so get yours today”!    

 

       

                      

Why Dissect a Novel?

By MaryAnn Diorio, Ph.D.,

Modeling, as I define it, is the process of analyzing a novel for the purpose of writing one oneself.

I’d like to share with you the reason I think that writers should learn how critically and objectively to analyze the work of other published novelists.

It’s one thing to read a novel; it’s quite another to dissect it. Whereas simple reading provides entertainment, dissecting a novel provides an understanding of how that novel was constructed. And knowing how a novel is constructed is crucial to writing one. I call this dissection process modeling.

We will focus on modeling as we explore why it is important for fiction writers to develop the critical and objective analytical skills essential to understanding how to write fiction. Here are some key reasons:

1. Structural Understanding. We analyze in order to understand. When I was a little girl, I enjoyed taking things apart and then putting them back together again. I wanted to understand not only the individual parts but also how those parts fit together and worked together. The same is true of novel analysis. We take a novel apart to understand its individual parts (characters, plot, theme, etc.) and to understand how those parts fit together and work together. It takes this kind of understanding to write a story.

2. Language Understanding. Modeling gives the writer an understanding of the author’s use of language. This use includes literary devices such as metaphor, simile, synecdoche, and personification, among others. Because fiction employs a host of literary devices that create a particular effect, knowing how to analyze a work of fiction helps the writer focus on those language devices that will enhance her own fiction writing and render it more powerful and memorable.

3. Character Formation. Characters drive fiction and are its raison d’être. As we analyze an author’s characters, we observe whether a character is strong or weak and why. We note how the author used dialogue, backstory, pacing, and tension to create his character. As we learn what another author did to create powerful characters, we are better able to create powerful characters of our own.

4. Theme Recognition. Another reason to learn how critically and objectively to analyze a published author’s work is to understand how an author weaves theme into his fiction. Theme is organic to a novel. It grows from the inside out and often emerges without the author’s conscious awareness. As you write your own novels, you may know your theme when you start, but sometimes the theme will not become evident until the novel is finished.

It is a well-known fact that we learn by doing. Dissecting a novel is halfway between reading one and writing one. But how you handle that halfway point can make all the difference in your reaching your final destination.

__________________________________________________________________

Dr. MaryAnn Diorio is a widely published, award-winning author of books for children and adults. She writes riveting, compelling fiction that deals with the deepest issues of the human heart. Her latest novel, Return to Bella Terra, is Book 3 in The Italian Chronicles Trilogy. MaryAnn and her husband Dom have been married for 48 years and reside in New Jersey. They are the blessed parents of two wonderful adult daughters and grandparents to five rambunctious grandchildren. You may learn more about MaryAnn and her writing at http://www.maryanndiorio.com.My Websites: http://www.maryanndiorio.com   http://www.maryanndiorioministries.com   My Blog: http://www.maryanndiorio.com/blog

What Are Your Headlines?

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine

Apparently Mark Zuckerberg became a father this weekend, for the second time. Yahoo deemed this newsworthy, and as I read this headline and a few others, something struck me that relates to storytelling.

Who cares?

I'm not suggesting nobody cares, what I'm asking is who is it that cares? Certainly it's a life-changing event for the parents of any new child, so they go at the top of the list. Next in line would be their families, then friends, then associates, and so on. At some point fans of the co-founder of Facebook presumably care, as do writers for Yahoo.

Meanwhile, North Korea was testing hydrogen bombs.

There you have one news story with limited impact on the average person's life, and another news story with considerably greater potential. Which of these stories, if you were to put them in your novel, would keep your reader up at night turning pages?

Fact is, either one is fair game, since a comedy-drama can easily exploit the challenges of something as normal as parenthood, while the threat of nuclear war is a spy thriller staple. Perhaps even better, combine them: if the undercover agent's wife or daughter has just given birth, does that not raise the stakes for the hero?

The point is, every life event, however big or small, can have a role in a story if it furthers the plot or adds a layer of interest. Like reporters always looking for a scoop, storytellers need look no further than the daily events around us to find plausible plot points and twists.

As you look back over your own life, there are certain episodes that stand out in your mind more than others. These headlines of your life are step one if you're writing a memoir, but any one of them makes you uniquely qualified to fictionalize it as an event in your novel. You had to live through it; why not capitalize on it?

It's good to think of the significant events in your novel as if they were headlines, and to make each one newsworthy. Some may be a personal crisis just for the hero while others may be the basis for widespread panic. Give your characters captivating headlines to live out, and your audience will stick around to read all about it.