A Sprint or a Marathon?

Octavia Butler said, “You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.”

Octavia Estelle Butler was an American science fiction author and a multiple recipient of the Hugo and Nebula awards. In 1995, Butler became the first science-fiction writer to receive a MacArthur Fellowship.

Born in Pasadena, California, Butler was raised by her widowed mother. Extremely shy as a child, Butler found an outlet at the library reading fantasy, and in writing. She began writing science fiction as a teenager. She attended community college during the Black Power movement, and while participating in a local writer's workshop, was encouraged to attend the Clarion Workshop, which focused on science fiction.

She soon sold her first stories and by the late 1970s had become sufficiently successful as an author that she was able to pursue writing full-time. Her books and short stories drew the favorable attention of the public and awards soon followed. She also taught writer's workshops, and eventually relocated to Washington. Butler died of a stroke at the age of 58. Her papers are held in the research collection of the Huntington Library.

Her book Kindred is considered her most popular novel. Kindred follows a young Black woman named Dana.

It tells the story of a modern black woman who is celebrating her twenty-sixth birthday with her new husband when she is snatched abruptly from her home in California and transported to the antebellum South. Rufus, the white son of a plantation owner, is drowning, and Dana has been summoned to save him. Dana is drawn back repeatedly through time to the slave quarters, and each time the stay grows longer, more arduous, and more dangerous until it is uncertain whether Dana’s life will end, long before it has a chance to begin.

It is wonderful to put words on paper that have been forming in your head and see them those words in black and white. I find some people when they start writing, don’t know that writing takes effort. Writing can be fun, and writing can be tedious. There are days you don’t want to write and then there are days you don’t want to stop. But the more you write, the better you become. Like Octavia Butler said, we must be persistent.

Writing is also not a sprint. It is more like a marathon.

Susan Reichert, author of Listen Close, Between Me and You, God’s Prayer Power and Storms in Life. Published numerous magazine articles and stories in 9 anthology books. Speaker at writing conferences, seminars, and libraries.

She is the founder of Southern Author Services, and Editor of Suite T. She is the retired Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine. Reichert has a passion for writing about God in devotionals, prayers, and inspirational works.

She and her husband live in Tennessee. They have four grown daughters with families of their own. Susan is a member of the DAR and a member of the First Families of Mississippi

Visit Susan at: https://www.susanlreichert.com/

What Will You Leave?

 

Today, Henry David Thoreau  is considered among the greatest of all American writers and the intellectual inspiration for the conservation movement. 

While I love his quote above, and believe that if we each work on being better as a person we will have influence in our world, I do not agree that he is the greatest of all American writers.

We have many writers who have come and gone, who are also great in their own right. I think there is room for all of them. Don't you?

I think we can all strive to write better, learn more, and be in the moment as a person and as a writer.

Over the years, I have enjoyed many different genres and authors. I always try to read books written by new authors and follow some of them; and like all writers, the more they write, the better they become. 

As a reader, I am cautious about what I read. If I am going to spend my time reading a book, I want to know the book will either be entertaining or informative.  We all have certain core values as people, and I want to protect my core values and not allow things I read or see to erode my values. So that is why I am cautious.

It is important that writers know their readers, and that readers know their writers. When the two mesh it becomes an excellent relationship between the two.

What we believe is important, whether we are writing or just living each day. Let us try to leave something worthy to make the world a better place for those who are still here in writing and living.

Susan Reichert, author of Listen Close, Between Me and You, God’s Prayer Power and Storms in Life. Published numerous magazine articles and stories in 9 anthology books. Speaker at writing conferences, seminars, and libraries.

She is the founder of Southern Author Services, and Editor of Suite T. She is the retired Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine. Reichert has a passion for writing about God in devotionals, prayers, and inspirational works.

She and her husband live in Tennessee. They have four grown daughters with families of their own. Susan is a member of the DAR and a member of the First Families of Mississippi


Visit Susan at: https://www.susanlreichert.com/

Perfection or Progress, We Choose!

                               Susan Reichert

Perfection is said to be the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects. (Dictionary)

Mel Swartz L.C.S.W in Psychology Today, 2008,said, “The desire to be perfect burdens many people and ironically dooms them to unhappiness.”

This I have found to be true. I believe we need to work at being our very best, but perhaps we could let go of the picture of being perfect in every way, whether it be looks, smarts, writing, or life.


Deep Patel in Forbes, Jun 16, 2017, said, “Too often, people mistake progress for perfection. They spend more time staring at the weeds than they do assessing the forest. They get lost in the details instead of asking whether their work is moving them in the right direction. And most of all, they are confused about the meaning of “done.”


Vince Lombardi was head coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers, Coach Lombardi led the team to three NFL championships and to victories in Super Bowls I and II (1967 and 1968). He is considered one of the great coaches of all time. Because of his success, he became a national symbol of single-minded determination to win. He said, “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.”


Michael J. Fox, is an accomplished actor who in 1998 publicly disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease seven years earlier. Fox subsequently became an advocate for finding a cure and founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000 to help fund research. retired from acting in 2020 due to his declining health. Mr. Fox said, “Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God's business.”

Perhaps as we look at their definitions of perfection, we might readjust our view of this culprit that so many times prevents some from beginning and some from finishing.

It can be that way in our lives in every  aspects. For writers perfection can prevent us from achieving our dream of writing that book that plays scenes in our minds.

Susan Reichert, author of Listen Close, Between Me and You, God’s Prayer Power and Storms in Life. Published numerous magazine articles and stories in 9 anthology books. Speaker at writing conferences, seminars, and libraries.

She is the founder of Southern Author Services, and Editor of Suite T. She is the retired Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine. Reichert has a passion for writing about God in devotionals, prayers, and inspirational works.

She and her husband live in Tennessee. They have four grown daughters with families of their own. Susan is a member of the DAR and a member of the First Families of Mississippi

Visit Susan at: https://www.susanlreichert.com/

https://twitter.com/swmeditorhttps://twitter.com/SouthrnAuthrSer

https://www.facebook.com/SusanLeeReichert, https://www.facebook.com/southernauthorservices, https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-reichert-55922a13/ , Amazon -

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54576850-god-s-prayer-powe

We Need Inspiration and Courage

                                Susan Reichert

Every writer, at one time or another needs inspiration and courage to keep going. To keep writing. An interesting note here, is that we all need that, whether we are writers or not.

Richard Bach, the man who wrote Jonathan Livingston Seagull and the book, Illusions: The adventures of a Reluctant Messiah said, “A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.”

I found that statement could be a writers motto if we changed it to, “I will not quit.”


Some days writers look at a white screen waiting for the words to come. It might be easy to get up those days and do something else, but there is something in a writer that that keeps them writing.

If you remember Jonathan Livingston Seagull was about a seagull who became bored with his daily squabbles over food. It is a simple story. He has a passion to learn to fly and he learns everything about flying he can.

But in the story, there is a profound message. The message is that we can all be so much more than we believe or are given to believe.

His story in the book of Illusions questions the reader's view of reality. He proposes that what we call reality is merely an illusion we create for learning and enjoyment.

The book explains that the world that we live in is an illusion, the things we think are real, are not, and so is the underlying reality behind it. The teaching Bach receives he concludes that each of us must focus on our own spiritual quest, allowing others to attain their own enlightenment.


In this book Richard Bach takes to the air to discover the ageless truths that give our souls wings. That we don't need airplanes to soar. . .that even the darkest clouds have meaning once we lift ourselves above them.

Perhaps that is what a writer strives for, to be better with every book we write and in so doing soar above the dark clouds in life.

Susan Reichert, author of Listen Close, Between Me and You, God’s Prayer Power and Storms in Life. Published numerous magazine articles and stories in 9 anthology books. Speaker at writing conferences, seminars, and libraries.

She is the founder of Southern Author Services, and Editor of Suite T. She is the retired Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine. Reichert has a passion for writing about God in devotionals, prayers, and inspirational works.

She and her husband live in Tennessee. They have four grown daughters with families of their own. Susan is a member of the DAR and a member of the First Families of Mississippi

Visit Susan at: https://www.susanlreichert.com/

https://twitter.com/swmeditorhttps://twitter.com/SouthrnAuthrSer

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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54576850-god-s-prayer-powe

Our Life’s Niche

Susan Reichert

Growing up we all are looking for our niche in life. The people we associate with. . . these would be the kids we play with growing up to the people we socialize with as adults. We look for the ones we fit into.

Webster dictionary says Niche is a place, employment, status, or activity for which a person or thing best fits in.


We have all been at functions where we were uncomfortable, we did not fit in. So, we know why it is important to find our niche in life so we will be happy and be able to participate in life and be part of the community.

It is the same with an author’s book. It too has a niche; a place where it will flourish.

For every book there is a specialized segment of the market. It is said that the niche for a book is a very specific, tightly defined, focused audience. The secret for author’s is to find that niche.


So it is with life, people have a niche. Are you in yours?

A new year is upon us, and has we begin to look at our thoughts for the new year and making goals or resolutions, it would be good to look at our niche.

Susan Reichert, author of Listen Close, Between Me and You, God’s Prayer Power and Storms in Life. Published numerous magazine articles and stories in 9 anthology books. Speaker at writing conferences, seminars, and libraries.

She is the founder of Southern Author Services, and Editor of Suite T. She is the retired Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine. Reichert has a passion for writing about God in devotionals, prayers, and inspirational works.

She and her husband live in Tennessee. They have four grown daughters with families of their own. Susan is a member of the DAR and a member of the First Families of Mississippi

Visit Susan at: https://www.susanlreichert.com/

https://twitter.com/swmeditorhttps://twitter.com/SouthrnAuthrSer

https://www.facebook.com/SusanLeeReichert, https://www.facebook.com/southernauthorservices, 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-reichert-55922a13/ ,

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Nostalgic Moment with Susan Reichert on Why Build a World for Your Story?

 

NOSTALGIC MOMENT

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Why Build a World for Your Story?


By Susan Reichert


Believe it or not, most times, the setting we choose for our story is like a character. We must create that world. It may look like the world you live in, but it will have its differences.


This world is going to need its own look, sounds, and smells.


Even if you choose a setting like where you grew up, you will still add stores, houses, malls, a river, or stream or mountain that did not exist in your town.


The characters you create will need certain locations. You may need to create the places they work, the restaurants where they eat, or a diner they visit every morning for breakfast. You may want to put a particular church or a hardware store.


All these things you could create and place in this world.


This world will have a feel about it that is different from other places. Real or imagined.


This is the place your characters are going to come to life. The more you know about this world, the more you bring it to life for your reader. Even though you may not use everything you create for this new world in your story, by just knowing these things it puts more richness in your story.


Take it a few steps further, you could develop a little history for this new world. What are its laws, rules, does it have folk lore?


The most important rule of all when creating your world, is show, do not tell the reader. Open the door and bring them into this world you have created.


Some authors draw maps of their towns and surrounding countryside and put them in their books. Having read some of those authors, like Lin Stepp, it made it much more interesting and just delivered me into the world she created. As I read other author’s books I could picture the towns, a post office if they had it, where the general store was . . . across the street, with its red roof and black writing on the front of the store. I can follow the street a character takes to walk down to the bait shop and know that when the character is walking up Main Street they will run right into the courthouse. It creates for the reader a picture in their minds drawing them into the story feeling like they are there.


What all can you add to your new world you create for your story? What about the type of weather in that location? The flowers and fauna you find. Everything is usable in the world you create. The secret is to make this created world seem real.


However, you do not want it to overshadow your story. So, think about what type of world you want to create and how you can help your reader enter that world and be part of what you have created.

Susan Reichert, author of Listen Close, Between Me and You, God’s Prayer Power and Storms in Life. Published numerous magazine articles and stories in 9 anthology books. Speaker at writing conferences, seminars, and libraries.

She is the founder of Southern Author Services, and Editor of Suite T. She is the retired Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine. Reichert has a passion for writing about God in devotionals, prayers, and inspirational works.

She and her husband live in Tennessee. They have four grown daughters with families of their own. Susan is a member of the DAR and a member of the First Families of Mississippi

Visit Susan at: https://www.susanlreichert.com/

https://twitter.com/swmeditorhttps://twitter.com/SouthrnAuthrSer

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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54576850-god-s-prayer-powe

A Thank You?

Susan Reichert

“When you read a piece of writing that you admire, send a note of thanks to the author” Sherman Alexie.



Good advice? I think so. But I confess, I do not always take the time to do this.



I am sure there are others who have read good books, admired the writing, enjoyed the story, and made a mental note to let the author know. But life stepped in, and the thought forgotten. Another example of good intentions left undone.



Sherman Alexie was a poet, author, screenwriter, and filmmaker. I like to think he made this statement because he was pleased with his work and wanted to know if others were.



Aren’t we all like that though? Don’t we want to hear from others how they like our work? Even as a little child, we are that way. We proudly take that mud pie we made to show momma.



Being an adult now, I can picture my mother smiling as she looks down at my little hands holding up my mud pie, and somehow, she manages to not gasp at the mud all over my face, hands, and clothes. Instead, she brags on my pie



We all need accolades. I wish I had taken the time to let each author know how much I enjoyed their work.



We are fortunate in that we can let the author know how much we enjoy their work by leaving a review on their book.



I will try and do better and leave reviews for the books I read. I want the author to know I appreciate and enjoy their work. I hope you will too!

Susan Reichert, author of Listen Close, Between Me and You, God’s Prayer Power and Storms in Life. Published numerous magazine articles and stories in 9 anthology books. Speaker at writing conferences, seminars, and libraries.

She is the founder of Southern Author Services, and Editor of Suite T. She is the retired Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine. Reichert has a passion for writing about God in devotionals, prayers, and inspirational works.

She and her husband live in Tennessee. They have four grown daughters with families of their own. Susan is a member of the DAR and a member of the First Families of Mississippi

Visit Susan at: https://www.susanlreichert.com/

https://twitter.com/swmeditorhttps://twitter.com/SouthrnAuthrSer

https://www.facebook.com/SusanLeeReichert, https://www.facebook.com/southernauthorservices, https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-reichert-55922a13/ , Amazon -

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54576850-god-s-prayer-powe

Building Contacts on Social Media

Susan Reichert

Social Media. We all use it. After all, social media is comprised of websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking, according to the dictionary.


For an author this is supposed to be very helpful. It lets us tell people about our books, entice people to like us and get to know us and hopefully buy our books.


While an author needs to tell people about their books, I do believe we need to be tasteful in the way we do it. We have seen from the Covid vaccine, some people do not like people pushing things on them. So, authors do not want to turn people off by pushing our books on them, nor do we want them to feel like we are.


Authors will want to use social media to build contacts. Telling people about our books and having them follow us is one thing, learning how to nurture those people to build relationships with them is another, one that is most important.


We all have people who like us. Do we pay attention to what is of interest to them?


Social media is an avenue used for communicating with others immediately and getting feedback right away.


We want these relationships that we develop on social media to have interest in staying in contact, seeing what is going on, and participating as much as they would like. The more they do, the more they will tell others about us and that will bring new people to our sites.


One thing I want to say here is, we should not get mixed up in political commentaries of hate. If we  have created this social media to tell people about our books and to build contacts we will not want that to be associated with anything that has a hint of anger, rebellion, or hatred. So, staying away from making comments on those things is most important.


It is very important to build a solid foundation with people we interact with on social media. We want them to feel good when they are communicating with us and reading what we are saying. This and finding out what their interest are will keep them coming back.


Years ago, I was taught that people do business with people they like. I believe that to be true even more so today. If you care about people, they will care about you.


Getting to know and care about others makes the world a better place.


Treating the person on social media the way we want to be treated will create a new relationship and follower and probably someone who not only will buy your books but tell their friends about you too.

Susan Reichert, author of Listen Close, Between Me and You, God’s Prayer Power and Storms in Life. Published numerous magazine articles and stories in 9 anthology books. Speaker at writing conferences, seminars, and libraries.

She is the founder of Southern Author Services, and Editor of Suite T. She is the retired Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine. Reichert has a passion for writing about God in devotionals, prayers, and inspirational works.

She and her husband live in Tennessee. They have four grown daughters with families of their own. Susan is a member of the DAR and a member of the First Families of Mississippi

Visit Susan at: https://www.susanlreichert.com/

https://twitter.com/swmeditorhttps://twitter.com/SouthrnAuthrSer

https://www.facebook.com/SusanLeeReichert, https://www.facebook.com/southernauthorservices, https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-reichert-55922a13/ , Amazon -

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54576850-god-s-prayer-powe

Attention Span of Readers?

Susan Reichert

Words are important. Advertisers know this. As writers, we know this too.

Our words need to grab attention, whether it is the title of our book, the title of our blog, the titles of a post, and our websites.

So, what is the human attention span now? You will be shocked to know it is now 8 seconds. Where did I get this? From Kevin McSpadden on a study from Microsoft Corp. https://time.com/3858309/attention-spans-goldfish/.

This study showed people now generally lose concentration after eight seconds, highlighting the effects of an increasingly digitalized lifestyle on the brain.

According to researchers in Canada they surveyed 2,000 participants and studied the brain activity of 112 others using electroencephalograms (EEGs). Microsoft found that since the year 2000 (or about when the mobile revolution began) the average attention span dropped from 12 seconds to eight seconds.

I guess the question I have is, is our mobile revolution this important to let it take our attention span? What do you think?

According to the article our attention span is less than the attention of a goldfish. Frightening!


What then can a writer do to get and keep the attention of readers? The saving factor is our words and phrases must be powerful. The kind that grabs the reader and causes them to have interest to read further.

This is nothing new.

We all look at the headline first. If it interests us, we will read further. According to David Ogilvy, a British advertising tycoon said, “On the average, five times as many people read the headlines as read the body copy. If you don’t get someone’s attention immediately, your entire landing page fails to reach its potential.” com

My curiosity got the better of me and I researched words and found this: Amanda McArthur, Research Director with Mequoda, said, “The word, “You”, is generally considered to be the most powerful single word, ranking right up there with free, new and save.”

Why are these words so important? Because they speak to human emotion and the emphasis is on them.

People in general will do something either because it makes them feel good or to avoid something painful.

Direct marketing legend, Herschell Gordon Lewis, says in The Art of Writing Copy, “Unless the reader regards himself as the target of your message, benefit can’t exist. Benefit demands a ‘We/You’ relationship.”

Here are a few of Mr. Lewis’ power words and phrases:

· right now

· surprise

· hot

· first time offered

· not sold in stores

· good only until [DATE]

· Don’t miss out

· I’ll look for your order

· Try it at our risk



Happy Writing!

Susan Reichert, author of Listen Close, Between Me and You, God’s Prayer Power and Storms in Life. Published numerous magazine articles and stories in 9 anthology books. Speaker at writing conferences, seminars, and libraries.

She is the founder of Southern Author Services, and Editor of Suite T. She is the retired Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine. Reichert has a passion for writing about God in devotionals, prayers, and inspirational works.

She and her husband live in Tennessee. They have four grown daughters with families of their own. Susan is a member of the DAR and a member of the First Families of Mississippi

Visit Susan at: https://www.susanlreichert.com/

https://twitter.com/swmeditorhttps://twitter.com/SouthrnAuthrSer

https://www.facebook.com/SusanLeeReichert, https://www.facebook.com/southernauthorservices, https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-reichert-55922a13/ , Amazon -

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54576850-god-s-prayer-power

Have You Used Advice In Writing?

Susan Reichert

Sometimes it may be easy for us to forget that writing is a craft, and as with any craft, it takes practice, work, and study, particularly if we want to be good.

We are fortunate that we have successful authors who were willing to pass down to us not only good advice, but also important information that would help guide our writing paths.

It always helps me when I am needing a boost in my own writing to go back and look at some of these pieces of nuggets left to us from those who went before and succeeded.

One of my favorite quotes that brings me into the reality of writing is by Benjamin Franklin. He said, "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." This quote helps me realize we all have something to say. If you look back over your life or families lives, you will find something to write about that is worthwhile.

Another piece of advice I have always appreciated, as I am sure many writers will, is what Saul Bellows said, “You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write." For those who are not familiar with his work, he his best known for Henderson the Rain King and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1976 as well as the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1976. There have been times I get up during the night, and words will flow to the pages. And when I go back the next day and read them, I don’t have to change anything. I am sure you have experienced this too.

I guess if I had to choose my most favorite quote it would be what Robert Frost said, "No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader." As writers when we go back and read that first draft, if it does not stir emotions in us, we can bet our readers will not feel any emotions either. To me this is a sure sign I need to rethink what I am writing. I may need to change some of the story, or I may need to throw it in the trash and start over.


William Faulkner said, "Read, read, read. Read everything -- trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the window." This is truly good advice. Over the years I have heard my people who are putting their words to paper, hoping someday to be published tell me, “I don’t like to read.” Or here is one I have heard a lot, “I don’t have time to read.” To me reading books is like going to college to get your master’s degree in creative writing. I get to see what worked for each author; how they used dialogues; handle their settings, developed their characters; created the magic of causing their readers to turn the page. Plus was entertained along the way.


Margaret Atwood said it best, "A word after a word after a word is power."

Susan Reichert, author of Listen Close, Between Me and You, God’s Prayer Power and Storms in Life. Published numerous magazine articles and stories in 9 anthology books. Speaker at writing conferences, seminars, and libraries.

She is the founder of Southern Author Services, and Editor of Suite T. She is the retired Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine. Reichert has a passion for writing about God in devotionals, prayers, and inspirational works.

She and her husband live in Tennessee. They have four grown daughters with families of their own. Susan is a member of the DAR and a member of the First Families of Mississippi

Visit Susan at: https://www.susanlreichert.com/

https://twitter.com/swmeditorhttps://twitter.com/SouthrnAuthrSer

https://www.facebook.com/SusanLeeReichert, https://www.facebook.com/southernauthorservices, https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-reichert-55922a13/ , Amazon -

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54576850-god-s-prayer-power

Does Your Book Have Ripple Effects?

Susan Reichert

When a writer puts words to paper, those thoughts are like the “rocks” we fling out into the water that cause ripple effects. The ripples just keep enlarging.

Writers have opportunities to influence the reader.

We never know who is going to read something we’ve written. For the most part, we never know the influence the words may or may not have.

I like to think a writer’s words impact readers. At least I hope they do. Edward Bulwer-Lytton coined these words, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” I believe that to be true.

Perhaps it is more important than we first thought to know who our audience is as we write our books.

Whether we write inspirational or cozy mysteries, historical fiction or contemporary romance or other genre’s do we write them with a purpose in mind? Do we write a message in the story?

Let us not forget how powerful words can be.

What is the impact we wish for our book to have on the reader?

If it is an inspirational book, we would want the reader to know if they are going through hard times to know they can get through the storms that come into their lives. That it isn’t hopeless.

If it is a mystery, what message would we want to show? Maybe, how the right way is the best way after all and that the bad are caught and justice can prevail.

Do we not want something important for our reader to take away from reading the book? After all that is what makes our books memorable. That is what brings the reader back to read other books we write. That is also what causes the ripple effect, they like it, and they tell others about it.

I still remember books I read as a kid. They had an impact on my life and my thinking.

For sure we want readers to enjoy reading our books. We hope they will mean something to the reader, and they will remember them and tell others how much they book meant to them.

I know for me, (I write devotional and inspirational books) I believe God gives me the words to write for the person who would read my book. Words they would need at that particular time.

I call that writing with a purpose!

Susan Reichert, author of Listen Close, Between Me and You, God’s Prayer Power and Storms in Life. Published numerous magazine articles and stories in 9 anthology books. Speaker at writing conferences, seminars, and libraries.

She is the founder of Southern Author Services, and Editor of Suite T. She is the retired Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine. Reichert has a passion for writing about God in devotionals, prayers, and inspirational works.

She and her husband live in Tennessee. They have four grown daughters with families of their own. Susan is a member of the DAR and a member of the First Families of Mississippi

Visit Susan at: https://www.susanlreichert.com/

https://twitter.com/swmeditorhttps://twitter.com/SouthrnAuthrSer

https://www.facebook.com/SusanLeeReichert, https://www.facebook.com/southernauthorservices, https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-reichert-55922a13/ , Amazon -

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54576850-god-s-prayer-power

5 Questions to Ask Ourselves Before Marketing

Susan Reichert

There are lots of questions we can ask ourselves when we get ready to market our books. But today let us look at five.



1.Why would a reader want to read my book?

This is a very important question. Can you list at least three reasons they should want to read your book? If you cannot answer this question, how can they?



2. Who is my audience? Or yet a better question would be, who should read my book.

You see there is a difference in who our audience might be and who should read our book. Think about this carefully.



3. What formats should I offer my book in that would make it easy for people?

There are several . . . paper, audio, digital. Can you think of anymore?



4. Where would I like to sell my books? Obviously, you would want it on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble . . . but are there other places you would like to sell your book. (Remember who you determined should be your audience and where you would find these people.)



5. How much time, energy and money do I want to invest in marketing this book? Am I in it for the long haul, or am I just willing to do a little?



Marketing is not easy for authors. But it is necessary to get our books out for the people to read.



We must put time in developing a plan for our book and be willing to be flexible to add to what we are already doing to reach more people.



It is a plus if we decide up front what we want our efforts to achieve. Now, can we measure what our results will be? Yes, we can keep up with that, it just takes a little additional effort.

Susan Reichert, author of Between Me and You, God’s Prayer Power and Storms in Life. She has written numerous magazine articles and stories in anthology books. She is a speaker at writing conferences, seminars, and libraries.

She is the founder of Southern Author Services, and Editor of Suite T. Also, the founder of

Collierville Christian Writers Group (CCWriters Group), and founder and co-publisher of Southern Writers Magazine. A national magazine for authors and readers (which is retired now). At the time she was the Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine. Reichert has a passion for writing about God in devotionals, prayers, and inspirational works.

She and her husband live in Tennessee. They have four grown daughters with families of their own.

Visit Susan at: https://www.susanlreichert.com/

https://twitter.com/swmeditorhttps://twitter.com/SouthrnAuthrSer

https://www.facebook.com/SusanLeeReichert

https://www.facebook.com/southernauthorservices

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-reichert-55922a13/

Amazon -

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54576850-god-s-prayer-power

Member of the: DAR; First Families of Mississippi.

9 Important Steps in Selling Your Book

Susan Reichert

Many authors finish writing their book, publish it and then start trying to market their books.

But you can make it easier on yourself if you start your homework on marketing before and during the writing of the book.

You know what your book is about. You know the genre. So maybe doing some research into what other authors (the ones who write in your genre) will give you a much better understanding of your market. This way you are not groping in the dark for the who, how, and where.

1. Search for successful books in your genre.

2. What kind of ratings do they have?

3. How many stars?

4. How many reviews?

5. Read the reviews.

6. How many women, how many men?

7. What is the ranking?

8. Check out their websites, a lot of times you will see ways they are marketing their books.

9. If they have a blog, see how they are marketing their books there.



Then begin to analyze what they all have in common. Choose what you consider to be the top five and compare, compare, compare their results.

This will give you a much better understanding of your market.

Finally, look at their cover design and their title. Two of the most important features people will see.

It takes a little time to do research, but it is well worth it.

Susan Reichert, author of Between Me and You, God’s Prayer Power and Storms in Life. She has written numerous magazine articles and stories in anthology books. She is a speaker at writing conferences, seminars, and libraries.

She is the founder of Southern Author Services, and Editor of Suite T. Also, the founder of Collierville Christian Writers Group (CCWriters Group), and founder and co-publisher of Southern Writers Magazine. A national magazine for authors and readers (which is retired now). At the time she was the Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine. Reichert has a passion for writing about God in devotionals, prayers, and inspirational works.

She and her husband live in Tennessee. They have four grown daughters with families of their own.

Is It Nails or Headlights?

Susan Reichert

The dictionary says a novel is a fictitious prose narrative of book length, typically representing character and action with some degree of realism.

G. K. Chesterton, an English writer, philosopher, lay theologian, and literary and art critic said, “A good novel tells us the truth about its hero; but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author.”

D. H. Lawrence was an English novelist, poet, and playwright among other things. He said, “‘if you try to nail anything down, in the novel, either it kills the novel, or the novel gets up and walks away with the nail.”

Whereas E. L. Doctorow who is known for historical fiction said, “Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”

I think Chesterton is trying to tell us to concentrate on writing about the story, show and do not tell.

Lawrence is saying do not nail everything down in the story and Doctorow is telling us we will be able to see as far as out thoughts go, but that is okay, we can make the whole trip that way.

Perhaps you see their advice different. If so, we would love to know what you think. Everyone sees and hears things different.

Let us face it, each writer either has found a way that works for them in their writing, or they are working on finding a way.

Some writers spend hours working on an outline, months researching, and at the end of the year, they find they have not written anything.

Other writers spend very little time researching, have no outline, just put words that come to them on paper and at the end of 80,000 words call it a novel. However, it may just be words, discombobulated thoughts on paper.

Both scenarios are extreme. If your story requires research, be sure and do it. The book you are writing should dictate the amount of research you need. If it helps you to outline, then do it. If it is easier for you to not outline but to write from the seat of your pants (panster) then do it.

Whichever, you must determine how far down that road the headlights need to shine and how much you want to nail down.

Susan Reichert, author of Between Me and You, God’s Prayer Power and Storms in Life. She has written numerous magazine articles and stories in anthology books. She is a speaker at writing conferences, seminars, and libraries.

She is the founder of Southern Author Services, and Editor of Suite T. Also, the founder of

Collierville Christian Writers Group (CCWriters Group), and founder and co-publisher of Southern Writers Magazine. A national magazine for authors and readers (which is retired now). At the time she was the Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine. Reichert has a passion for writing about God in devotionals, prayers, and inspirational works.

She and her husband live in Tennessee. They have four grown daughters with families of their own.


Visit Susan at: https://www.susanlreichert.com/


https://twitter.com/swmeditorhttps://twitter.com/SouthrnAuthrSer

https://www.facebook.com/SusanLeeReichert


https://www.facebook.com/southernauthorservices

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-reichert-55922a13/

Amazon -

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54576850-god-s-prayer-power


www.pinterest.com/southernauthorserviceswww.pinterest.com/sreichert48

Member of the: DAR; First Families of Mississippi.

Do You Show A Photo?

Susan Reichert

Interesting thing happened the other day. I was searching for an author  and was having  difficulty in finding them. When I did find the author, the icon they used on their site was their book. They did not use a picture of themselves. Do not get me wrong, we want the picture of our books everywhere we can put them, but books change, so that means the next book this author writes will show instead of the one they had there previously. It is not consistent.

Books used in place of the author’s photo probably does not make the reader feel warm and fuzzy towards the author. The reader wants to know who you are. Seeing you tells them a lot about your writing, believe it or not. I think the first question they have is why doesn’t the author have a photo of themselves like other authors do? That is a question I find myself asking.

On Amazon they showed the book instead of their photo. If for some reason an author prefers not to use their personal photo, perhaps they can create a logo that will be their brand and use that in everything such as Amazon, websites, and social medias. Just like corporate America, each company has their own logo and that is what they use to market themselves and their products. Be consistent with it, however.

But I will repeat . . .the author’s best marketing tool is their own professional photo of themselves. Oh, and the photo should not be their dog, cat, or child.

I prefer seeing the photo of the author. Plus, the photo establishes the author with their reader immediately.

Using the photo helps people at conferences, such as agents, publishers, and other writers and staff recognize you as well as readers. Isn’t that what we want as authors?

I can understand why someone would be reluctant to put his or her picture on the internet. If that is the case for you, then hire a professional to create a logo for you to use.

A logo of your initials would certainly be a good branding tool. The important thing is to replace the icon of a silhouette with a picture of yourself or your logo.

Being an author is a business. We need to sell books to our readers. What do you want them to see first about you?

It’s the little things we do that bring us the biggest gains.

Can you think of other things that can be used to brand an author?

Susan Reichert, author of Between Me and You, God’s Prayer Power and Storms in Life. She has written numerous magazine articles and stories in anthology books. She is a speaker at writing conferences, seminars, and libraries.

She is the founder of Southern Author Services, and Editor of Suite T. Also, the founder of

Collierville Christian Writers Group (CCWriters Group), and founder and co-publisher of Southern Writers Magazine. A national magazine for authors and readers (which is retired now). At the time she was the Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine.

Reichert has a passion for writing about God in devotionals, prayers, and inspirational works.

She and her husband live in Tennessee. They have four grown daughters with families of their own.


Visit Susan at: https://www.susanlreichert.com/

https://twitter.com/swmeditor

https://twitter.com/SouthrnAuthrSer

https://www.facebook.com/SusanLeeReichert

https://www.facebook.com/southernauthorservices

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-reichert-55922a13/

Amazon -

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54576850-god-s-prayer-power

www.pinterest.com/southernauthorservices

www.pinterest.com/sreichert48

Member of the: DAR; First Families of Mississippi.

Tips For Marketing Our Books

Susan Reichert

Marketing? Most of us hate it. But it is mandatory if we are publishing books. After all, who knows the book better than the person who wrote it?

Promoting our book will take energy, time, and money. But it must be done. Also, we must create a plan as to how we are going to market our book. This is a business. We need to be able to draw readers (customers) to our book (product) like any other business.

This plan needs to show us who our readers are; where our readers are; what our readers want to know and how much money can we spend on marketing venues.

Questions

1. We must determine who our reader is.

This information is most important. This shows us who to

market to.

2. Where do we find our readers?

This shows us where to market.

3. Do they know what our book is about?

We tell them why they will want to read our book.

4. What is our budget to market our book?

This tells us the amount of money we can spend.




Answers

Our Readers

1. The readers who read our book genre.

2. They may be a specific age group.

3. People who have interest in the subject matter.

*Did we have a target audience in mind when we were writing the book?



Where the readers are.

1. Check out blog post of authors who write the same genre.

2. Join on-line reader groups in the genre.

3. Your own email lists. This is an excellent source.

4. Social Media – yours and other authors.

5. Newsletters – yours and other authors.

6. Create your own Podcasts.

7. Create your own You Tube Channel.



Describing our book.

1. We tell a reader why they would want our book.

2. What it will do for them.

Setting our budget.

1. Check where people spend their time online.

2. Find out the cost to advertise on these sites.

3. Determine how much money we can spend on all sites or just one. Stay within our budget. If we have a small budget spend it where most of the readers spend their time. As you sell books, you can always add more to your spending budget.

Researching successful authors who write in our genre is a plus for us. Check out their websites, blogs, reviews on Amazon, and their rankings. By joining their blogs and newsletters we will be able to analyze how they are marketing their books. Which in turn will give us ideas for our book marketing.

Each thing we do, brings us one step closer in our endeavor to put our book in front of others to enjoy.

Susan Reichert is the founder of Southern Author Services and Editor of Suite T. Prior to this was the co-publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine, a national magazine for authors and readers.

She is the author of Between Me and You, God’s Prayer Power and Storms in Life, numerous magazine articles, and in 9 anthology books. Speaker at writing conferences, seminars, libraries and founder of Collierville Christian Writers Group (CCWriters Group).

Reichert has a passion for writing about God in devotionals and inspirational works.

She and her husband live in Tennessee. They have four grown daughters with families of their own.

 

Visit Susan at: https://www.susanlreichert.com/

https://twitter.com/swmeditor?lang=en

 https://www.facebook.com/SusanLeeReichert 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-reichert-55922a13/

Amazon - 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54576850-god-s-prayer-power

Member of the:  DAR and First Families of Mississippi.