writing tips

6 Things ALL Successful Writers Do!

February 1, 2019 Leave a Comment

Want to know what sets apart the writers from the authors? I talked to several of my amazing author friends, and this is what I determined they ALL have in common!

1) Write Consistently.

Consistently is the keyword. I have never met a single author who isn’t writing consistently. Granted, “consistently” can mean different things for different people. Skye Warren is very vocal about the fact that she will batch her marketing and publicity together into days or even weeks and then write for days or weeks. But, what you’ll notice is that she releases books CONSISTENTLY. Her readers know and trust she will have a certain amount of books coming out each year.

As for me, I’m a daily consistent writer. I write every day, Monday through Friday with a word-count goal I set for myself. This is sometimes adjust based on if I’m in the editing stage of a book or if it’s a release week, but I am consistent that I will write every day.

Need help increasing your daily word count or showing up consistently to your laptop? I recommend this book to help! 2k to 10k: Writing Better, Writing Faster, & Writing More of What you Love helped me immensely in my productivity! Granted, I”m not writing 10k a day, but that’s another story!

2) Don’t Dwell on the Rejections

Look… we have ALL dealt with rejection. We have ALL dealt with bad reviews. It is an unfortunate part of this industry. Even some of the top-selling authors in the industry have story after story about how their books were rejected by agents and publishers. But the most successful authors I know don’t dwell on them. They don’t hold onto them and let them fester inside of them.

Breathe in the good, breathe out the bad.

And if you need to feel a little better, go check out one of your absolute favorite books reviews. You’ll see some 1-star reviews that you will fundamentally disagree with and be reminded that we all deal with that.

3) Be Open to Critiques

There is a big difference between not dwelling on rejection/bad reviews vs. not being able to take honest critiques. Being critical of our writing, our story-telling, our dialogue, our character arcs is how we grow as writers. Even authors who are at the top of their game still ask for critique partners and beta readers and editors to review their work before it goes live.

Be open to the critiques, even when you disagree with them at first. Sit on them for a day or two or ten. Let them sink in. Not every critique is one you have to make or change, but you should certainly listen and absorb them when they come.

4) Embrace Change

This encompasses SO MUCH. Look, sometimes as an author, you put a book out and the sales just aren’t great. But there is always a reason for this. You could dig your heels in, cross your arms and refuse to do a damn thing about it. OR you could do a little digging. Is your cover not right for the niche genre? Is your blurb a little disjointed? Is the title not strong enough or too close to another author’s title that came out that month?

Bottom line, successful authors embrace change. They will change their covers if needed. They will rewrite their blurb. They will re-edit the book if they need to!

And this extends beyond just our books. Successful authors embrace change in the industry. Social media. Algorithms shift. Publishers come and go. Trends surge. Being adaptable and ready to change and learn and grow is a huge part of success in this field and any field.

5) Have Accountability Partners

Almost every successful author I know has a friend in the industry who helps them stay accountable. For some of these authors, that person is their assistant or publicist. For others, it’s a group of friends that they go to yearly retreats with. For others, they are a part of a secret Facebook group where they can reach out and ask for help when needed. Avery Flynn and Kimberly Kincaid have the cutest author friendship I’ve ever witnessed! They get together and have brainstorming sessions and girls nights out together! Rachel Hollis put together a week-long retreat with Amy Porterfield and Jenna Kutcher.

Writing is a solitary career. But we can’t live (or write) in a bubble. Which for most of us introverted writers (myself included), this is TERRIFYING. But it is a necessity for success and sustainability.

6) Persevere

Successful authors DON’T GIVE UP. The biggest difference is they keep writing. If one book doesn’t have as successful as a launch as they’d hoped? They write the next one. Stop thinking of FAILURES as the end. Think of them as LESSONS. Because as long as you can pick yourself back up and keep going, it’s not a failure. And the darkness hasn’t won!

Episode 8: What’s The Nerdiest Thing You’ve Ever Done?

November 9, 2018 Leave a Comment

In this episode, Sean and Katana debate what truly makes something nerdy–and we tell stories of our nerdiest memories (and OH YES, it gets embarrassing for us!).

Want to win a Signed Copy of Shaun of the Dead? Join our Patreon Page!

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**Also note: Manatees can live 40-60 years.

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Seven Strategies to Outline Your Novel (or Novella)!

April 3, 2017 Leave a Comment

7 Tips and Strategies for Plotting Your Book

Are you a pantser? Or a plotter?

It is easily the number one question I get asked as an author. It’s also one of the hardest to answer. You see, I’m sort of both. I do outline. I try to whip up a quick outline for every book I begin. And when I don’t do this, things fall to hellish, fiery pit preeeeeetty quickly while I’m writing. Then, I inevitably have to stop, do the plotting ANYWAY, go back and rewrite, and start again.

Whereas, if I have at least sat down and organized my thoughts for the book, I have a reference when I hit the inevitable snag.

But, even with outlining, I always, ALWAYS have flexibility. If a book takes off running in a new direction? I follow that little betch to see if the characters are onto something. Sometimes those ideas lead to gold. Other times, it’s a rabbit hole with nothing but dirt and worms.

Anyway, I’ve developed seven tactics I use every time to get my plotting started before I write!

What is the theme?
Every book has a theme. You may not know what it is yet… but it’s there. I guarantee it. I’ve found that by pinpointing what I think I want my theme to be from the beginning helps streamline the entire novel. For example, in Ex-Con, the theme was Self-Acceptance. Super simple, right? Two words. And as I was writing, I would occasionally check in with my book and various scenes and ask myself: Does this still fit my theme?
Write Chapter One.
This might seem like a weird one. Like, “Whoa, Katana! Slow your roll. You JUST told us to outline first to save yourself time.” Yes, absolutely. But for me, and this may just be me, I usually have to start writing to get a real sense for who my characters are. And so before I dive deep into the plotting world, I’ll sit down and with that theme in mind, write the first scene with my hero and heroine together. It helps me find their voices. Then, after that’s done, I go back to outlining.
Craft the Premise (in 3-5 Sentences)
This is easily the hardest part for me. Basically, I try to boil down what people in the industry call our “elevator pitch.” Try to summarize what you think the essentials of your book will be about. Using Ex-Con as another example, I wrote: “Shane is released from prison with no choice but to enter the car club/gang he spent his life avoiding. When he crosses paths with a beautiful mechanic and falls in love, he doesn’t realize immediately that she’s the daughter of Boston’s head detective. As tensions in the club rise, his relationship with a detective’s daughter isn’t looked kindly upon. And the brother of the man he killed is out for blood—his blood; and now Charlie is Shane’s biggest Achilles’ Heel.
Create Rough Scene Ideas
I find this easiest as literal notecards that I hang up around me as I write. That way, I can move them around as I see fit. If I realize that they shouldn’t go on their first date that early in the book, I can grab that card and move it later in the sequence. But having a list of scenes ready to go is invaluable. They are very, very rough. Like this:
Scene 1 – Shane is being let out of prison. Collecting his personal effects. Cousin picks him up and mentions the new girl mechanic in town.
Scene 2 – Charlie is working at her mechanic’s garage trying to scrounge money together to buy a car. Shane arrives at her garage with his broken down car. He has no money to fix it. Offers to work in exchange for her help.
Scene 3 – Shane is at car club. Suckered into drag racing that night. Charlie shows up.
See? You get the picture. These scene breakdowns are SO helpful in the face of writer’s block. Because I can always go back and jump ahead to a scene that I know I need to use later and at least I’m not wasting valuable time.
Create a “What if” document
This is similar to above, but even looser. And it’s an ongoing document that I continually add to. I create a ‘what if’ full of WHACKY ideas. Mostly, it’s just to get my juices flowing. Most of the ideas, I may never use. Some are genius and change the trajectory of the book. Again, because I love examples, it usually looks something like this:
What if….
Shane crashes his car
Charlie starts a bar fight
Shane’s best friend dies
No one actually has a hit on Shane’s life? It was orchestrated to get him to rely on the club
And so on and so forth. The idea here is just to have a reference sheet if I’m hitting a snag in writing. I can refer back to this and say, “Oh! I could totally have Charlie start a bar fight here and infuse more action into this scene.” BAM! 2k more words done for the day.
Spend 10 minutes every morning before writing hashing out the scene
I read this somewhere. It’s not my idea and I wish I could remember who had suggested this! Because IT. IS. GENIUS. If you do nothing else from this list, I would recommend THIS. Sit down each day before you write and spend ten minutes (I literally set a timer) just getting your thoughts together about the scene you’re about to write. (This is easier if you’ve completed step 4 😉 I have trimmed down my writer’s block to where I almost NEVER get it anymore since I started implementing this practice. It’s easy to set aside and NOT do. But my God, does it help. And when I skip it for the day? I almost always regret it.
Interview Your Hero/Heroine
The nice thing about this step is A) It doesn’t have to be long. And B) You can reuse these interviews for guest blogs and blog tours when the book comes out. It’s one of the few parts of outlining that you can literally use later as content. Which is pretty awesome. Plus, by interviewing your hero and heroine, you’ll get to know them better. You’ll feel their voice better. You’ll just GET them.So that’s it! That’s what I do to plan for my books before I write them. Hope it helps! =)

11 Ways To Push Through Writer’s Block

August 21, 2013 1 Comment

I was once sitting in a panel and the speaker made the statement that writer’s block doesn’t exist. I, and everyone else in that room, almost went samurai on his ass. He eventually clarified the statement, saying that writer’s block only exists when you, the writer, allows it to. Or some sort of meditative BS like that.

Personally, there are some days that no matter HOW hard I try to push beyond my writer’s block, no amount of any tip will help. Therefore, Mr. Panel Man, I say you are wrong!

Myself and many of my writer friends have experienced ‘the block’ to almost debilitating lengths. Sometimes it comes on days when I just didn’t feel like writing in the first place. Other times, it comes when my deadline is at 5pm and it is currently 4:45pm. Regardless, writer’s block is here and it’s a thing. I thought some people were maybe interested in reading a few of my personal tactics for pushing through.

1) I work on more than one story at a time.
Sometimes, for me, the block is less about me and more about the story. Maybe I’m tired of the character. Or they are in a situation that I’m not exactly sure how they’ll get out of yet. Having another piece to focus on is, at times, refreshing enough to get me started so that when I return to the other book, I’m looking on with a fresh set of eyes.

2) I set word goals daily.
Everyone is different. Because I am self-employed, my days are a bit more flexible than many with a 9-5 job. I set myself a goal weekly that I will write 2,000 words a day (If I’m revising, the goal changes, but there’s always a goal). And I set a weekly goal of 8k words a week. This goal gives me a day to focus on photography instead as well allowing lots of breathing room for me. Some days, I manage to write upwards of 4-5k words, whereas other days, despite my best efforts, I only get out 600. It happens. But as long as I try and I get close to that weekly goal, I am happy. If I have a particularly good day with 4k, and then the following day, I have writer’s block, I’m not as likely to beat myself up about it.

3) I find inspiration.
For me, I sometimes need a quick bit of inspiration to get the creative juices flowing. So, I’ll set a timer for 30 minutes or an hour and I’ll either read or watch a tv show I love. Sometimes laughing or getting caught in a poignant moment will be enough for me to step back to my laptop ready to go.

4) I challenge myself.
When I’m having a really hard time focusing, I set an egg timer for 20 minutes. For those 20 minutes, I am not allowed to go on my email, twitter, facebook, pinterest, etc. For those 20 minutes, I challenge myself to write 400 words. Because I am a competitive person by nature, this usually works for me to get my blood rushing. I’m not saying those words are always brilliant. But at least I pushed past that blockage.

5) I turn off my internet.
This one, I usually have to check with my husband first…since we both work from home. If he’s working and needs the internet, then I have him change the password and he’s not allowed to give it back to me until I complete a specified word count.

6) I get a little ‘first sentence’ help.
I keep in a jar, a bunch of popsicle sticks. Written on every stick is a sentence. A random sentence that I come up with on the subway or when I’m walking around the park with a notebook. When I get home, I jot them onto a stick with a sharpie and stick them in the jar. When I have writer’s block, I choose a stick at random and begin my day using that sentence. It’s weird…and it doesn’t always work, but it’s fun and a challenge. And I’ve sometimes gotten some great starts from them.

7) I get fresh air.
This one is pretty simple and likely most of you have tried it when blocked. But, it works. Going outside or to the gym and simply stepping away and getting some fresh air almost always works for me. When I get back and sit down, I usually accomplish something.

8) I make a warm (or iced) beverage.
Again, pretty simple. But for me, it usually works. When I’m blocked, having specialty coffee, like a caramel mocha latte or a matcha iced green tea latte…something that I don’t allow myself to have often, always helps me focus. After I have that in hand, I sit and am relaxed and ready to focus. Basically, I’m giving myself the reward before the goal is accomplished as a motivator.

9) I take a shower, put on makeup and do my hair.
I’ll repeat it once more so you don’t think less of me: I work from home. This typically means, I don’t put on real clothes until…well, hell. Some days I never change out of yoga pants and a t-shirt. So, if I’m having a rough writing day, doing my hair and makeup is sometimes enough of a change that I can sit down more confidently. If you have a normal job, showering probably isn’t what you need, but taking 30 minutes to style your hair or perfect that smokey eye shadow…that could help.

10) I tell myself, my first draft doesn’t need to be perfect.
The first draft is meant to be rough. Getting the words down is the first step–and they’re not usually eloquent. That’s what revisions and edits are for.

11) I write a blog instead.
If after all these tactics, things are still just not coming to me, I put my WIP aside and write a blog post instead. It’s almost like the ‘journaling’ tactic, since I treat my blog as a journal a lot of times.

Branding and Style

August 11, 2013 Leave a Comment

Last weekend, my editor Martin and I spoke at RWA NYC chapter about the editor/author relationship. I also spoke to the group about the importance of branding and defining your style.

The definition of branding is “to label or mark with or as if with a brand.” It’s a concept that is sometimes hard to completely grasp. We’re surrounded by brands and marketing and yet trying to pinpoint your own brand can be super difficult.

The beauty, however, about both brand and style is that you likely already have both–the exercises I’m about to explain are simply to help you focus what’s already there. Knowing your brand and style is extremely helpful when putting together your marketing materials, your website, any sort of speeches or talks–even how you dress and present yourself!

To help focus and define your style (I did this specifically in writing romance, but you could easily adjust it to fit any business or genre!!), first ask yourself the following:
-How do I define a hero?
-How do I define a heroine?
-How do I define romance?

*From here, choose your top 5 favorite movies, tv shows, books or images (these can be anything ranging from a portrait of Audrey Hepburn to Fight Club to Pride and Prejudice).

*Ask yourself what about these movies/tv shows/books/images are so powerful to you?

*What do these 5 stories have in common?

*Then narrow down those commonalities to 5 descriptive words. These 5 words should describe your style in a nutshell.

Is this an exact science? NO! Of course not. And it might not quite work for you. But, most of us write what we like to read and watch. So I think that it’s perfectly normal that we will draw from these inspirations in which we love to watch and read.

Branding is a little more difficult. The easiest way I narrowed down my brand was by looking at other brands I admire. I took an hour and dissected what about these brands I loved so much. Was it the customer service? The aesthetic? The dependability?

Then, I chose 4 brands which I felt reflected what I strive for in my author brand. For me, I chose the following:
-Nike for Women
*This is the heart of my heroines. I write most of my heroines to be
very real, very flawed individuals. When they fall, they get up and
try again.
-Anthropologie
*This is the aesthetic. It’s romantic. It’s vintage and soft without
being sappy.
-La Perla
*This is the passion. The sensuality. High end, couture and sexy.
-Tangueray
*This is the party. Kinda speaks for itself.

Once you narrow down the brands you feel best represent you, really take a look at everything you have. Your covers, your website, your newsletter, your facebook and twitter, etc. Ask yourself if they coincide. Do they represent what you just described? Do the styles match the 5 words from earlier?

So, there it is! A quick easy guide to defining a brand yourself. Hope it helps!

Outlining Your Book

October 12, 2012 Leave a Comment

Outlining sucks. There, I said it. I mean, who wants to spend time outlining a book when there are so many great ideas and words that you JUST WANT TO GET STARTED ON!?!?!?! I sure as hell don’t.

But (yes, there it is…that ugly word), outlining is a fabulous tool. There are of course writers who are so fabulous they don’t even need to plot or outline. One writer friend of mine actually attempted plotting for the first time with her third novel and realized that she is just better at letting the story unfold as she’s writing it. But I think most of us need at least a basic plotting tool.

I firmly believe that at the very least, writers should do a character outline for their main and secondary characters. I actually do an outline for every character who has a meaningful scene. Even if the information is never put in any book–I should know their background. Knowing what their religion is, how many siblings they had, whether they’re a cat or dog person…these are all qualities that would effect how they speak and the dialogue and actions they have throughout the book. Below is an outline of the character sketch template I use for all my characters.

Book Title:

Character’s Full Name:

Nick Names:

Age:

Ethnicity:

Height:

Weight:

Hair:
(colored?)

Eyes:

Education:

Location/Residence:

Job:

Birth sign:

Superstitious:

Religion:

Style of dressing:

Distinguishing marks or features:

FAVORITE THINGS:
Music:

Food:

Color:

Pastime:

Activities:

Entertainment:

Do they have children?

Siblings?

Pets?

Hobbies:

Family Secrets:

Worst Fear:

Greatest Desire:

Skills:

Most Prized possession:

Vice:

Regrets:

Weakness:

Awards/Degrees:

Top Priorities:

Obsessions:

What is your character’s first impression on others?

How does your character need to grow/what does your character need to learn by the end of the story?

How will this happen?

Is this foreshadowed earlier in the story?

HAPPY WRITING!

Why Write?

September 29, 2012 Leave a Comment

Why do we write? Why do we put our souls on a page, work hours upon hours after our day jobs to put out stories that may or may not get ripped to shreds by reviews?

Is it because we want to leave a legacy? Because some of us feel as though our day jobs are not creatively challenging enough? Or is it the only way the voices in our head will quiet?

For me, the answer is a little more simple–it’s fun. And I think that most authors would agree with this statement. Writing is a labor of love. I know very few authors who make millions (actually, I don’t personally know ANY) and even fewer who make their full living off of writing. Most of us have day jobs. And we write because we have a passion for it. We sacrifice our evenings, our weekends, family events, sleep habits, etc just to find that extra hour or two each day to let that story that has been itching inside of us free.

But for the first time, I’m writing on a deadline…and I’ll admit, it’s so much harder. There is an added pressure not only to get the sequel to my first book finished, but to also blog, market the first book, tweet, facebook…all the while maintaining my day job and for added fun, planning a wedding that happens ONE WEEK FROM TODAY! That is a lot to take on. And it’s so easy to become frustrated with the second book. Book #2 is my red-headed step-child that I am slowly learning while she is different–I still love her dearly.

When this frustration mounts, it helps to remind myself why I write. To sit down and list the reasons why I love what I do. And when I start to feel frustrated, I can look at this list and be reminded that this opportunity–this deadline. This website. This blog…they were all something I had been working towards my whole life. And after a deep breath, I continue to the next chapter.

I have made a promise to my fiance that I will NOT be writing on our wedding day. That will be a hard one to keep since I have an entire morning of nothing to do! Hair/Makeup peeps don’t arrive until noon…THINK OF ALL THE WORDS THAT COULD BE WRITTEN IN THE MORNING.

But a promise is a promise. And I suppose it would be terrible to begin my marriage on a lie. ;0)

Happy writing to all!

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