How to Stand OUT!

Welcome IWSG-ers!

Are you outstanding in a field? or just out standing in a field?

my grandparents' Maplevale Farm--yes, that's a plane!

I think more often I feel like the latter... lost in a sea of hay fever. But seriously, have you seen how many books are out there? It's very hard to get noticed when you're five-foot-three in a forest of Amazons (ha ha) So what's a shorty to do? How can we get our books noticed?

Not that I'm a pro at this, but I do have some suggestions:

1. Have an incredible, impeccable COVER - it has to be eye candy, but not too detailed or busy. The title has to shine and the font/graphics should give readers a feel for the genre. It's hard to be unique, but not impossible - and worth a pro.
2. Be more SOCIAL - I'm not good at this. I don't want to post too often for fear of being obnoxious. But I've noticed people who are posting regularly and as long as it's not "buy my book" twenty times a day, it's good press. If what you say is funny and relatable, you'll get noticed and retweeted. I just wish I had more time to think up cool things to say... But that's where scheduling tweets and posts comes in handy. When I do get some spare time, I prepare several tweets/posts and spread them out over a week or two. I'm working up to more postings, but I still have that nagging - don't nag! feeling!
3. Be more VISIBLE - This one, I do. And I talk about it a lot because it's where I connect with the most readers and sell the most books. Get out there! Whether it's a book event, genre-con, or even a craft/vendor show, people want to meet the author! I just did an event this past weekend - see my NEWSLETTER for pics and details!
4. Reach out for Reviews and online Guest Appearances - This can be difficult, but you are your own publicist. There are many review websites, but most are clogged with a backlog of books to review, so ask early as you can. Other people to ask: people who liked your other books or that are friends with you on Goodreads. 
5. SALES and GIVEAWAYS - I've had good response on Goodreads and Amazon with raffles/giveaways and putting books on sale, but less so with giveaways on the blogs. This is something that needs constant promotion and outreach to get people to sign up... Hit or miss, but if done once in a while, worth a shot! The best way is to do a group giveaway, then there's cross-promotion!

If you have any thoughts or additional ideas - fire away!

And now for the results of our little #writerslife survey 16

Have you ever won a writing contest?

How many paper books do you own?

How many ebooks are on your device right now?

What percentage of your books/ebooks are unread?

How many story ideas do you have waiting to be written?

What is your go-to book/movie/place when you need inspiration (of any kind)?

• Harry Potter - still popuar with multiple entrants!
• Music, music, and more music - my guitar, or music that jives, but sometimes sad music
• My mind - Brain space!
• By accident
• The Prince of Persia, plus Star Wars, & Kevin Costner movies!
• Youtube
• Barnes and Noble
• Nature!

Some results were surprising, some were not, but all were fun to tally!

This month's survey will be about MARKETING - and to boost responses, I'm adding a GIVEAWAY for all participants! Look for it on April 16.

Lastly, I mentioned my Newsletter earlier, but it also has a sneak peek of the PRINCESS B cover. I finally found the perfect illustrator to represent her...

Got any outstanding advice? Can you relate to the survey results?

Enjoy the Spring! Happy Writing!
And Happy A to Z Blogging Month!! Tell me your theme if you're playing!

A Break in the Blog Party #writerslife Results!

It's Insecure Writers Support Group day!

But first, I'd like to congratulate all the writers who participated and/or completed the NANOWRIMO challenge! Woo hoo! You did it! You have a bouncing baby... first draft. Now, you have to nurture it, coddle it, bathe it, dress it, discipline it, laugh and cry over it, and finally be proud of it before you can send it off to be rejected a bunch of times before it's finally praised and published. Sounds great, right?

But seriously, getting that first draft done is a major accomplishment, way to go! Don't stop until you reach the top!

My insecurity this month... I have a terrible fear of having to quit writing. Financially, it's not going to pay the bills. It's turning into a very expensive "hobby." I have tons of big plans, but it's taking too long to make them happen. I have a lot stacked against me. Especially with my kids getting ready to start college. Having books published is a major accomplishment, but I don't think I can make a career out of it... I never knew the long term goal I had for writing, but I guess that was it. Huh. But it's not like I'll ever stop, I have too many stories and characters waiting to be written! I just need to invest less money in it...

What are your long term writing goals?

Now for the results of the last #writerslife survey!

It's tougher than you think - when you're in the mood, it's too late to submit it... but there's always next year!

Try it! Lots of positive feedback!

As expected...

A nice mix - we should all read more =)

And here are some of the short answer responses...

Ponderific Quotes from Favorite Works or Works in Progress:
"Everyone has to start somewhere, and there’s no better place than high above the world, up on the roof, under a starry night, on his eighteenth birthday."

"At seventeen, I had my whole life planned: graduating high school with a 4.0, going to Columbia Law, becoming a kick-butt attorney, making millions and retiring by forty-six. Dating an assassin? That one was not on the list."

"When I lifted the cover for the tongue my mouth fell open. Litwell was done rare. Clearly my suggestion to look for him during the day had it's reward. I cut into the succulent meat and savored the jealous looks as the smell of blood filled the air. Litwell you delicious traitorous man you."

"And with three young werewolves in their house, it frequently needed redecorating!"

"He stalked a few feet in my direction then turned, fluffed his feathers and hopped onto a fence post, his back to me and the flock. It tickled me. I never knew a rooster to sulk."

"Their fairytale romance ended the night he went missing without a trace. She had disappeared too, but somehow, she had returned."

"Oh, dear. Looks like I broke him."

Tis the Season for Recommended Reads:
We Are The Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson, Dark YA
Two recs for Parallels: Felix Was Here, an anthology
Tango with a Twist by John Robert Mack
Nobody's Goddess by Amy McNulty
Heartless by Marissa Meyer, Fantasy
Triangles by Ellen Hopkins, a novel in verse
Matowak: Woman Who Cries by Joylene Nowell Butler
Timeless by Crystal Collier, Also Moonless and Souless
Of Blood and Sorrow by Christine Rains, Urban Fantasy

Saving the best for last, I also wanted to give a shout out to CARRIE BUTLER and her latest release!

AS WE KNOW IT
by Carrie Butler

Deep beneath the ocean, stretching hundreds of miles alongside the Pacific Northwest coastline, lies the Cascadia subduction zone—a fault on the verge of unleashing a catastrophic earthquake, thirty times more powerful than the San Andreas. Unfortunately, like most tourists, Elena Cordova is oblivious.

She’s got her own pent-up stress to deal with, a humiliating breakup that’s driven her to end her tenure as a human doormat once and for all. So, when a pickpocket makes off with the last remnant of her relationship, she takes action—only to get trapped with him when disaster strikes.

Now, if either one hopes to survive, they’ll have to get past their initial impressions and work together . . . because in fifteen minutes, half the town will be underwater.

More info and purchase links here!

Now back to the CRADLE ROCK Release Party!
Check out my posting schedule in the side bar.
And don't forget to enter my raffle!!

What's going on in your neck of the forest?

Time for a change #writerslife

Can you believe it's November and another year is drawing to a close? Seems like yesterday I was just procrastinating away my New Year's Resolutions!

For my Insecure Writers Support Group post today, I'm going to talk about CHANGE! And not just the pretty leaves or the Fall Back of the clocks this weekend...

I'm talking about a change to my blogging strategy (sounds grown up, right?)

I've been blogging for six years now, and just as I treat technology that moves at light speed, I'm finally giving in and doing an update. I'm such a nonconformist. But I do see a need to adjust. When blogging started, it was an outlet to reach other writers and learn and make connections and support each other. These are still part of my blog, but I also don't like repetition. No one does. So it's time to change it up with something new!

A couple of months/posts ago, I asked you all some questions and got some fabulous responses! Since I'm a math person, I tallied it all and made some fancy charts to share the results. I tried it again and I like how it's working out, so that's how I'm going to continue to communicate and contribute to our writing community, with Writer's Life Surveys!

Here is the latest set of data I collected. Writer's Life Survey #2

Reasons for NaNo No's - Don't like rules, Will make my own Nano, November is a crazy month

Reasons for Anthology No's - Fantasy is tough, Can't force a story, My fantasy turned SciFi

Other Descriptions for ridiculous - atrocious, years and years, buried, no end in sight, lucky Kindle has enough memory, like the national debt

Reasons for ebook - allergies, storage space, failing vision

Many of these responses are overlaps - I love how many of us are mult-task writers!

What do you think? Will you join me in my quest for fun writerly data and its interpretation? I have many questions, but in the interest of time and space, I will limit them to 5 per month. And since I manage two blogs, I feel I can cut back on this one and still make it a worthy place to visit.

So here's my new schedule:

• I'll be taking my Writer's Life Survey on the third Wednesdays of the month 
• The Results will be posted on the first IWSG Wednesdays along with other updates.

Of course, this will start more regularly in January, as December is a book launch month for me - YAY! CRADLE ROCK! I've got many fun articles to write for my wonderful volunteer hosts! I hope you have time to check them out! (Schedule will be on the sidebar) And I will happily continue to promote other authors here, never fear!

And a parting pic -

Happy Reunion with Elizabeth Seckman & Ashley Chappell-Peeples

at the West Virginia Book Festival

Had an awesome time and sold mucho books!

I hope you enjoyed these results! Next round of questions will be Nov 16. Has your blog evolved??