writing

Share Your Ideas

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

I left my home office after writing all afternoon about a victim of child abuse. My family felt the brunt of my frustration at dinner that evening.

Does the subject of your writing affect your mood? Is it hard on family relationships?

As I begin my writing again (after 5 weeks off for a long home renovation project) I am determined to leave my emotions behind when I join my family at the kitchen table.

Just how do you “unwind”? Do you take a walk? Enjoy a few minutes gardening or reading?

Writing is satisfying and we authors love it. But it often affects how we interact with those we love. I’d enjoy hearing from you with ideas to combat this problem in my own life!

Do You Know About Publisher Rocket?

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

The Rocket icon sits patiently on the dock of my Apple Computer. Nearing the end of each book I write, I put it to good use. It is one of the most useful applications I know of.

It helps me choose the optimum categories and seven keywords required. It analyzes data of all kinds to help me identify my competition and see what has—and hasn’t—worked to get them their high ranking. 

The rocket is simple to navigate, easy to understand, and affordable. It is regularly updated, so decisions I make regarding advertising and promotions are based on accurate information.

If you are nearing publication, you owe it to yourself to Google Publisher Rocket and read about it in-depth.

**I will be taking some time away to work on a renovation project for the next few weeks. I should be back to the keyboard in April. Easter Blessings to each of you!

Preparing for a Book Fair

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

I was asked what an author should take to a book fair. Although the answer may seem simple, there are a few decisions to be made so your experience will go smoothly.

1) A bright and wrinkle-free cloth to cover your table.

2) A bowl of wrapped candy, business cards, bookmarks, pens, or other freebies.

3) Change for cash purchases. I wear a fanny-pack instead of using a  cash box. There are those who use the crowded circumstances for their own devious purposes. Take a “square,” if you are accepting credit cards. Don’t accept checks, since that can lead to a disappointing outcome… for YOU.

4) A small poster or banner. I make an 8 x 10 that I put in a plastic frame. Print in color, so it will be eye-catching. Put your name, book covers, and/or pricing information. Which leads to #5.

5) I always price my books at a special “fair savings” and in rounded denominations so that I won’t have to use coins to make change.

6) At the last fair I attended, I noticed several authors had packed their books into small rolling suitcases. The bags I had mine in were heavy and unwieldy. Perhaps the Goodwill Store will have one at a nominal cost…

7) Show interest in your “customers” by standing. Also, to make sure they stop at your table (and not pass you by) say something they cannot resist, such as “Oh, what a cute baby!” Or “Would you like a Tootsie Roll?”

8) There are lots of little things to remember to do ahead of time, like using mouthwash/breath mints. I suggest eating breakfast ahead of time. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m turned-off when I (as a shopper) walk up to talk to an author and they are in the midst of downing a donut!

You ask if book fairs are with the trouble? See my previous post in “Archives.”

Has Amish Fiction Met Its Demise?

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

I don’t write “AMISH”, but I sure enjoy reading Amish books. About three years ago, these were very popular and it seems like I devoured every one of them. It didn’t matter who the author was (although I did come to have my favorites). I simply liked the good, clean reads, with the conflicts of religious beliefs which sets them apart from mainstream christian practices.

At any rate, last year I noticed that there might not be as many Amish books coming to the market. This year, I’ve only seen a few.

I asked myself if this was just a “sign of the times,” had I really read everything out there, or were there just not as many authors who were writing in this genre? 

Perhaps it was something else entirely. 

Back in 2002, there were only a couple of authors writing Amish fiction, while currently there are over 60 authors and hundreds of titles.

Among them are: Amish Romance, Soon-to-be Amish, Leaving the Amish, Amish cozy mysteries, Amish Wild West Adventures, Amish quilting, Amish cooking, and so on.

I have found that Amish fiction hasn’t slacked off. In fact, at some point it even spawned a sub-genre called “bonnet fiction,” a flourishing genre of Amish Romance. 

So, to answer my question. I have fewer choices now because I have read so many of these books! 

These authors aren’t going anywhere. They are still writing uplifting and inspiring stories.

A Valentine for YOU !

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

Since this is Valentine’s week, I want to take this opportunity to say “I Love YOU” to all of my readers and fellow authors.

It has become my passion to write with you in mind, creating memorable stories with deep underlying messages.

This week, I received two heartfelt communications from readers that told of life changes they experienced as they read my newest book, Justice for Jessie. I was overwhelmed by their expressions of gratitude. Just those few encouraging words were enough to reignite my enthusiasm for writing and give me the boost I needed while tackling a particularly difficult chapter in my current work.

I am humbled.

Both in our personal and professional lives, we all need to be told that we matter. That we’ve made a difference in our little part of the world. That what we’ve said—or done—is appreciated.

So, I thank you for the kind words, a short notes, and encouraging reviews. I truly appreciate each one.

And I appreciate YOU.

Book Fairs—Is Participating Worth It?

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

I participated in a book fair at our local library this weekend. You may have had opportunities to do so in the past, also. As I talk to fellow authors, I find a wide range of answers to the age-old question: Was it worth it?

First of all, depending on the location, season of the year, and advertising used, it may be a good way to sell some of your books. 

Secondly, It gets your name out there. You have a unique opportunity to meet your potential reading audience and “sell yourself.”

Thirdly, being able to network with other authors, editors, and publishers is always beneficial. 

Fourthly, if the event is marketed well, you may gain coverage from local news outlets.

Finally, if there are speakers and mini-classes available, you will have a chance to learn and grow as a writer. 

On the flip side, most authors report few sales at these events, which may make the time and money (cost of books, shipping, and table fees–which can be anywhere from $0 to hundreds) involved prohibitive.

What Motivates You?

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

To piggy-back onto last week’s blog, let’s discuss our motivation for writing and how it affects our bank accounts.

Most writers will say that writing itself is intrinsically rewarding. They write what “speaks to them”… inspires them… It is those authors who write first for their own experience and enjoyment. They hope readers will like it, too, and become followers. While making money would be nice, it is not their main motivation.

But there are also those writers who pay attention to trends in reading. Their goal is to write what is popular and are motivated by the money they can make by doing so.

One reason for writing is not better or more “worthy” than another. Both have valid points. 

It is each author’s choice to write what they enjoy, what draws the reading audience, or whatever is lucrative.

And, readers, it is up to you to choose what you read. It is even okay to stop reading after a chapter or two, if the book is not what you envisioned it to be or if you feel it isn’t delivering a satisfying experience.

As in all of life’s decisions, the choice is yours.

 What Do Readers Want in 2024???

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

If you are an author that writes according to the trends of the reading audience, I suggest looking back at what the most popular trends were in 2023 and take your writing in one of those directions.

Remember, however, popularity of genres change from year to year—even season to season.

So you may want to stick with your current genre or try your hand at one of these rising stars:

Romance was #1, again! (No surprise). However, a new kind of romance has taken readers by storm in the last year or so. It is called Romantasy (Adult Romance Fantasy). Other new twists were Sports Romance and Dark Romance.

Also, rising to popularity are stories about robots and other AI-related.

Crime fiction always gets lots of readers, but a new twist are those whose targets are authors. Yikes! (An upcoming movie soon to be on the big screen—if you are interested— is on this very subject).

I don’t want to forget to mention memoirs, satires, and short story collections.

Finally, this one might surprise you. There seems to be a resurgence of re-reading favorite books.

What I Didn’t Learn in 2023

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

If you are like me, you made a list at the beginning of the year. For a month or so, you revisited the list, checking to see how you were doing toward reaching your goals.

Somewhere during the second or third month of the year, you realized you were falling short.

Then, around month four, you rewrote your goals, using more realistic expectations.

After you gave yourself this swift kick in the seat of the pants, you seemed to improve. You even got a couple of items checked off.

Feeling better about yourself than you had in a long time, you made the big push—until

October.

That is when you started getting requests for book fairs and podcasts. And other writer-friends asked you to read the books they had been working on and write endorsements for them.

Then came Halloween and Thanksgiving, followed closely by two or three rounds of shopping for Christmas.

And, you were faced with the hard reality in the few days leading up to the new year: you hadn’t achieved many of your goals.

A few days later, the cycle would repeat itself once again. And some of those same things on the list for 2023 would be on your 2024 list.

Here are my leftovers—things I swore I’d learn to do in 2023, but didn’t: How to use Instagram and Twitter more effectively; How to run more successful ad campaigns on Amazon; How to write poetry.

What about you? 

Most Important: Authenticity

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

I just finished reading a book of short stories—the first book by a new author. With no formal training in writing, this man broke most of the writing rules us more “seasoned” authors take so seriously.

It was almost 90% “telling”, which we all view as the biggest “no-no” on the planet. It contained “head hopping” (going back and forth from different points of view on the same scene), changes in tense, and so on.

The only rules he did not “break” were spelling, punctuation, and (mostly) grammar. No matter what the genre, breaking these make books intolerable to read. Readers deserve to read effortlessly without tripping over these blunders.

So, I asked myself, “why did I like this pleasant little book? I really don’t have an answer for you, except to say that this author wrote with “heart”, conviction, and confidence. He showed unique “voice.”

In my opinion, he has learned the most important “rule” of all—being authentic. Composing with a voice that is uniquely one’s own, growing organically from the writer’s sense of purpose and intellectual honesty.