tips – Jennifer Lane Books

Welcome to October’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group, hosted by Alex Cavanaugh. Join us HERE.

This month’s question:

When do you know your story is ready?

My answer is simple: WHEN MY EDITOR FINISHES!

I’ve worked with the same bomdiggity editor–Jessica Royer Ocken–for all seven of my novels, and I absolutely trust her ability to polish the manuscript. Then my amazing book designer, Coreen Montagna, swoops in to make it pretty.

I’m lucky I met Jessica and Coreen, along with my astute critique partner, Nicki Elson, through my publisher. Now that I self-publish, I feel so grateful for the team that readies my story for publication.

I manage to publish one book a year, and 2016’s book launch (Spiked) happened October 1st. Once your story is ready to be published, how do you market your novel? I’ll share a couple of strategies I’ve tried.

Facebook Party. My zesty marketing assistant Mitsy Princell convinced me to host an all-day Facebook release party with over twenty author takeovers. Twelve hours later, with eyes glazed over and butt-cheek imprints on my sofa, I emerged scathed from the experience. But I so appreciate all the support from my fellow insecure writers! And the readers are way awesome, too.

Blogs and Goodreads. I hired a company (Raven Publicity) to run a cover reveal and ARC distribution to bloggers. Seems like book blogs are not as involved as in the past, but Create Space shares some tips for working with book bloggers. I’m gifting review copies at Goodreads’ New Adult Book Club and hosting two Goodreads giveaways.

Ads. Last year I landed a Book Bub ad that was successful, but this year’s Riffle ad didn’t seem to help sales.

Giveaways. I’m also hosting a $25 Amazon gift card giveaway (feel free to enter HERE.)

What marketing strategies work best for you?

Happy writing!

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#IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond & Writing Dialogue

December 3, 2014 Jennifer Lane

Thank you to Alex Cavanaugh for hosting The Insecure Writers’ Support Group, where we journey together down this lonesome writing road.

Have you downloaded your free copy of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Guide to Publishing and Beyond?

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Guide to Publishing and Beyond

Tapping into the expertise of over a hundred talented authors from around the globe, The IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond contains something for every writer. Whether you are starting out and need tips on the craft of writing, looking for encouragement as an already established author, taking the plunge into self-publishing, or seeking innovative ways to market and promote your work, this guide is a useful tool. Compiled into three key areas of writing, publishing, and marketing, this valuable resource offers inspirational articles, helpful anecdotes, and excellent advice on dos and don’ts that we all wish we knew when we first started out on this writing journey.

ISBN 9781939844088
235 pages, FREE
IWSG sites – website, Facebook, and Facebook Critique Circle
Find the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Smashwords,Goodreads.

I contributed a piece on writing character relational styles, and I can’t wait to dive into reading all the helpful advice. Suddenly the writing journey isn’t so lonely!

Today I want to share tips for writing dialogue from author Justin McLaughlin:

Check them out HERE

Good tips, you think?

What do you struggle with when writing dialogue?

I have been guilty of fluffy tags like “she shouted” or “he groaned” instead of the less distracting “said”.

I’m also learning to write with more economy, like “Thought you hated Fox News” or “Kind of tall for a setter, aren’t you?”

Happy writing!

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Guest Post: How the Effects of Proper Health Affect Your Writing

June 9, 2014 Jennifer Lane

Being a psycho author, I sit a LOT. I sit doing psychotherapy all day long, then I sit at the computer to write at night. Not great for the waistline, back/neck, or overall health!

That’s why I thank guest blogger Rachael Cherry from Nanny Pro with this awesome advice to keep up your health as you write! Take it away, Rachael…

How the Effects of Proper Health Affect Your Writing

Being healthy is more than making sure your clothes continue to fit. Proper health affects every aspect of your being. From how you sleep at night to the foods you eat, it all contributes to keeping your body and mind clear. As a writer, you need that clarity of mind in order to continue being successful. It is this success that drives me to keep as active as I can while eating the best foods that promote physical and mental stability.

Sleep – Getting enough sleep plays a prominent role for any writer. You can’t expect to sleep for three hours in any given night and be productive the next day. Your mind can feel like mush as you stare at the computer screen wondering what you were planning to write. Myself, I set the alarm clock on my phone to go off at 10 to signify when it’s time to go to bed. The alarm is set for six in the morning to wake me up, but often times I am up before the alarm goes off anyway. This allows me to feel refreshed and well rested ready to face the challenges of the day.

Morning Activities – One of the first things I do in the morning is to get the blood flowing through my body. When I have a babysitter available, I’ll take some time and ride my bike for a couple of miles. Otherwise, I’ll try to fit in twenty minutes of yoga or other physical activity. This helps get the blood flowing to the brain and helps increase your capacity for remaining alert and maintaining rational thought.

Proper Foods – Eating properly can also increase your capacity to stay focused and on task. A breakfast for myself is an egg, a slice of wheat toast, a can of V8 and a fruit cup packed in water. Toss in my daily routine of vitamins and I feel incredible throughout most of the day. As long as you reduce your sugar intake and increase snacks such as fruits, you’ll feel like you have more energy for extended periods of time.

Don’t Plant Yourself – As a writer, you’re probably sitting at your desk for hours on end hammering out words on the keyboard. It is important that you try and mix up your day to promote continued health. It’s not good for anyone to simply sit for eight hours straight with only bathroom breaks to separate the day. Every hour or so, I get up and walk around the house or take ten minutes to clean something. It doesn’t matter kind of activity you do, the fact is you need to keep active periodically throughout your day.

Your physical form is only part of the experience for remaining healthy. Your brain, which controls every aspect of your life, benefits from proper health as well. If you are unhealthy, your mind is not as efficient as it should be – which leads to irrational thoughts and behaviors. Creativity is a byproduct of how well the mind functions. If you don’t take care of your mind and body, your work will be affected and your potential could be wasted. For myself, I can definitely tell the difference between days where I slept well and ate properly compared to those days I feel rushed. Give yourself a greater chance to be successful as a writer by practicing better habits for health. More than your weight is at stake.

Rachael Cherry is a wife, mother, and writer who is passionate about helping connect families in need with high quality caregivers. She has taken that passion and put it to work through NannyPro, a respected online nanny referral service. Learn more by visiting @NannyPro on Twitter.

Great suggestions, Rachael…thank you. The best health strategy for me is exercise–I try to get 60 minutes of cardio/strength training about 6 days a week. The bonus for writers is that exercise increases cerebral blood flow, which gets those plot ideas humming!

Writers…what are your best health strategies?