The Cocktail for a Perfect Holiday Read

While the sun is shining, thoughts inevitably drift towards relaxing by the pool or on the beach with an engrossing book and a cocktail...

What makes a perfect holiday read?

Here's my recipe for the Holiday Read Cocktail:

1.  Into your solid, well contained plot; blend a complementary mix of tasty characters

2.  Add a generous shot of action

3.  Drop in a dash of violence

4.  Sprinkle in some sensuous sex

5.  Shake vigourously to mix in all the subtle flavours of sub plot

6.  Finally, serve chilled with a twist

 

I'll always prefer the smell, texture and feel of a print book, but for holidays, an eReader is a much more convenient thing to pack than all those heavy books.

Make sure your eReader is fully loaded with lots of great books.




You can get all three of my novels; The Bronze Box, Solomon's Secrets and Gabriel's Game; Part 1, for less than the cost of a bottle of suncream.

What holiday reads would you recommend?

Writing: A Space Between Pleasure and Pain

In the great scheme of things, the struggles that writers have are a very first world problem, but still, when you are in the thick of it, being a writer is wrought with frustrating challenges.

I can certainly relate to this:

I found this image on Pinterest from The Write Practice

I recently read this feature by the super talented Brian A Klems:

http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/top-10-normal-struggles-when-writing-a-novel?et_mid=759276&rid=235241213

About the struggles we face as writers. Nice use of the word 'normal' - It's good to be reminded once in a while that you're not the only one!

In it, Brian shares 10 struggles writers can relate to:

1. Title dilemmas
2. Giving up part way through
3. Being a recluse
4. Choosing between creativity and money
5. The time spent researching
6. Deciding how your novel will end
7. Insomnia, as you think about the next page
8. Interfering editors
9. Constantly re-writing
10. Characters going off on tangents

Most of these are familiar to me, but we all have our own creative process and our writers brains are all wired up a bit differently.

Here's my response to these struggles and how I tackle them so I can press ahead and stay motivated:

1. Title Dilemmas

It's not immediately obvious from my books, but this helps me to catalog them in my brain; I have a reason for using BB, SS, GG alliteration for the books in the Sheridan and Blake Adventure series:

The Bronze Box (Bronze)


Solomon's Secrets (Silver)


Gabriel's Game (Gold)



There is space for a PP (Platinum) but I intend for Gabriel's Game to be the last in  the Sheridan and Blake Series.

Tom Sheridan and Sasha Blake will make cameo's again in future books but after the final installment; Gabriel's Game, Part 2: the Black Knight - I need to give poor Tom Sheridan and Sasha Blake a rest, I've tortured them enough!

With everything I write, I always go through multiple incarnations of working titles before I make a decision. Often the process of writing the story starts to reveal what the most appropriate name should be.

Solution:

Jot down a few ideas and ask the opinions of others to help you make a decision

2. Giving up part way through

A stark example of this is the first time I ever set my mind to writing a book. I was about 15 at the time. The book was called 'Running Free'.

I started, chopped and changed and ditched it on and off for 15 years before I picked it up again as a serious project. But even then, I had the book in my head but couldn't find the means to write it. So the first novel I wrote was a sequel to this unwritten book. I then wrote the sequel to that, before I actually wrote the book that had been marinating in my brain since I was a teenager.

I had to write those three books to learn how to write a book, and it was my fourth novel, The Bronze Box, that I eventually published.

I have plans to re-write and publish those first four books, but I need to sort Tom and Sasha out first before I let any other characters get comfortable in my imagination.

Solution:

It's OK to give up on a particular story, but no writing is ever wasted. Keep all of it, you never know when you might be able to re-purpose it into a another story 

3. Being a recluse

I'm generally a pretty sociable person, it's my poor husband who suffers when I disappear into my writing bubble.

Having said that, I've done NaNoWriMo (write a novel in a month) for the past two November's, but I more than make up for it in December by muscling my way into as many Christmas parties as possible - 'Tis the season to be jolly', after all!

Solution:

Strike a balance.

As creatives we all have periods of immersion. Communicate this to friends and loved ones and by and large they accept it, as long as you don't neglect them for too long.

4. Choosing between creativity and money

This is one I've not really faced. I'm going to be creative anyway. I am a relentless writer and if I make some money from my work, bonus!

Solution:

Go with your gut.

Money is not a dirty word, we all need it, so have a portfolio of ways to earn so that you minimise the risk of compromising your integrity for the next pay cheque.

5. The time spent researching

I spend many hours poring over websites, reading books, visiting places and talking to people in the name of my writing. I have used my 'I'm a writer' ticket to get access to some pretty cool archives and archeological sites.

I enjoy researching, it gives me an excuse to indulge my many fascinations and a reason to spend countless hours on Pinterest.

I find Pinterest an invaluable tool for collecting, collating and curating research links. Here are my boards:

Visit Amy Morse - Authorpreneur's profile on Pinterest.

But it can be a struggle fitting it all in and sometimes research can stray into the realms of procrastination.

Solution:

Establish a writing routine for yourself and be disciplined.

Experiment with different ways to manage your time until you find something your are comfortable with.

6. Deciding how your novel will end

Brian's; comment: "If I ever knew the ending of a novel in advance, I wouldn’t write it" really intrigued me, because my writing process isn't like that.

I've tried lots of techniques, but my default style is to; write the beginning and the ending (loosely anyway) but I then let my characters grow, develop, go through conflicts and interact with each other throughout. I poke them, link them in unplanned ways, mess with their heads, but ultimately; their journey will always take them from point A to point B. The way they choose to get there, however, is always unexpected.

Solution:

There is no right or wrong. We all have different writing routines and styles. Don't beat yourself up if you don't know the ending, let it flow and see where it takes you.

Be open to experimenting and remind yourself that you can change it as many times as you like before you publish.

7. Insomnia, as you think about the next page

I don't write in a linear fashion, so it's never about the 'next page' for me. It's about the scenes and the personalities. Only once I've written a few scenes can I start to stitch them together and see where they fit in the journey from A to B.

My insomnia is; daydreaming my characters traumas, passions, adventures, emotions, interactions and snatched conversations.

Solution:

I wish I had a solution to insomnia!

A note book, as Brian suggests, is a great way to empty your brain so you can make space to sleep. Keep one by your bed. I've snuck off into the next bedroom a few times in the middle of the night to frantically write stuff down without disturbing my long suffering husband.

8. Interfering editors

I independently published my books and haven't yet dealt with editors. However, I have listened to opinions and critiques and changed whole characters and scenes that I have later regretted because I was inclined to trust voices that were more experienced. But by the same token, my beta readers and critique partners have spotted massive plot holes and implausibilities that I'd not noticed.  

Solution:

Have the courage of your conviction. It's your book. Take advice, get opinions - yes absolutely, you'd be a fool not to - but ultimately it's your book so you need to decide what you want to keep in, remove or change. Do what feels right to you.

9. Constantly re-writing

Even professional writers don't write a prefect first draft. The editing, proofing and re-writing process can sometimes seem endless. I recently updated a post I wrote on editing with my 'ultimate tips', here it is:

Remind yourself of this fundamental fact:

Perfection is a fallacy.

Your work can only ever be good enough at that time in your life. Inevitably your work will improve over time, but it will only improve if you get feedback and continue to work at it. 

Solution:

It can never be perfect, perfection is an unattainable goal so don't set yourself up to fail by aiming for it. It's OK. Accept it. Move on.

Only by releasing your writing into the wild and getting feedback can you improve.

10. Characters going off on tangents

I view this as a positive thing - the moment your characters start finding their own way is the moment they became realistic.

People are inherently unpredictable, yes our personality will determine our behaviour, but when we're tested, when the unexpected happens, we react in unexpected ways.

Like Brian, I too get heavily invested in my characters and it's taken me a while to find a comfort zone in deep POV.

In Solomon's Secrets in particular, Tom Sheridan has more of a voice and as I was writing I really felt I got to know him well. I'm now a bit in love with him (despite the discovery that he's a smoker)!

Solution:

Let your characters breathe, really get to know them, sketch out biography's, collect images, the more real they seem to you the more real they'll seem to your readers.

To help me picture my characters I find actors that I imagine would play them if the books ever became a movie. I collect images with the actors in various poses, pulling different faces and dressed in different ways on Pinterest boards and find it a really useful reference point when I'm describing an expression on their face, a look in their eyes etc. I look like a bit of a celebrity stalker, but it helps my writing process. 

Here's the board for the lasted book, Gabriel's Game:


  Follow Amy Morse - Authorpreneur's board Gabriel's Game: Characters on Pinterest.

Read more of my tips, advice, inspiration and actions for writers and entrepreneurs here:

www.AmyMorse.co.uk

 

What struggles do you face as a writer?

22 Way to Harness The Power of Networking

The internet is a great place to make connections, but there is no substitute for physically meeting people.


The people most interested in you on social media and most likely to happily share your content are those that have actually met you.


The key to social media is ‘social’. It’s far better to have a small following of interested and active people than thousands of faceless followers.

Quality is always better than quantity on social media (tweet this). 


So how do you get to meet new people?


By networking.

It’s a horrible word isn’t it; networking, it feels so corporate and jargony!

On my shiny new website, I talk in more detail about the power of networking...

Read the full feature here on Amy's shiny new website

But here's a quick snapshot of my 22 Tips:

1)  Say yes to every invitation

2)  When you want something, broadcast it - But always be generous with our own knowledge and connections

3)  Show up and often

4)  Fear comes from uncertainty. Improve your chances by being prepared, you’ll feel more in control

5)  Think ahead of the meeting  about what you’d like to achieve. Jot your ideas down or do a mind map to get the thoughts out of your head and committed to paper, then they can start to become tangible goals

6)  Have a goal – for example: ‘I’d like 1 warm lead’ or a small step: ‘I will start a conversation’

7)  Make sure you have plenty of business cards. A notepad and pen is also handy so you can take notes if there is a speaker offering handy tips or so you can jot down the details of someone you meet who doesn’t have any business cards

8)  Prepare a spiel for yourself. Sum up what you do in a short sentence and have answers prepared for any questions that may follow

9)  Make notes on the back of business cards to remind yourself where you met a person. It could be weeks or months before you re-connect with that person and putting them in context is much easier when it comes to getting in touch i.e.: ‘Hi we met at such and such event…’

10)  The best piece of advice my mum ever gave me was, treat others as you’d wish them to treat you. Always be friendly and respectful, you never know when you may bump into that person again

11)  If you go to an event with someone you know make a conscious effort not to just speak to that person the whole time

12)  Look for people with open body language to strike up a conversation

13)  Look for people who are on their own. The chances are they are just as scared, if not more so, than you and they’ll appreciate your company

14)  Joining an existing conversation and listening for a wile is a good way to start to get involved and get to know people

15)  Be yourself. You don’t have to be formal, in fact people are more likely to warm to you if you’re friendly and genuine

16)  No one goes to a networking event to buy things, so don’t behave like a sales person. Ask lots of questions of the people you speak to and listen, don’t just wait for your turn to speak

17)  Enjoy it! You never know what fascinating people you might meet, be bold, behave confidently, you might just surprise yourself.

And after the event...

18)  When you make a new connection, reinforce it by connecting with them online through; Linked In, Twitter, Facebook etc.

19)  Publicly acknowledge on social media that you enjoyed meeting them

20)  Regularly share their content and join in with or start conversations with them online

21)  Arrange future meetings over a coffee to catch up and possibly do business with them or pass on referrals to people you think could help them.

22)  If they are not local to you, make use of tools such as Skype to ‘virtually meet’. Even when you are behind a keyboard, seeing a face is a far more human and real experience than just exchanging emails. It’s good to hear each others voices and look each other in the eye

  
  

What's you number 1 networking tip?