Stretch your creative legs...

Tom Cat's Mewsings

I first started my Idea'ism blog as a way to share and explore ideas.

I wrote a feature for Prowess Women in Business on the concept of idea'ism - the syndrome of having too many ideas:

https://www.prowess.org.uk/living-with-too-many-ideas

 

My exploration into the world of blogging has evolved since my early days. 

Here's the first blog I ever posted: The Idea Bot

Things have changed since then.

It become the place to share my Operation Author 365 Actions to Succeed as an Author then 365 Adventures in Writing and Entrepreneurship.

Since I started my business, Amy Morse, Authorpreneur this summer my adventures in writing and entrepreneurship relocated to my website.

Blogging for me has grown up and got serious. I even run workshops now on Blogging for Business.

Now I have a serious business blog on my website, I don't want to turn my back on Idea'ism.

Idea'ism is my space for ideas, exploring, trying things out and sharing my musings. 

As my first venture into business was 'Tom Cat Designs' and the Twitter handle @TomCatDesigns has stuck it really should be 'Mewsings'

So welcome - to the mewsings of the Tom Cat. 

Time to stretch my creative legs...

Ideas are powerful, ideas change your world

What is Idea'ism?

It's the place where I put my ideas and invite 
others to share their perspective.

Ideas are powerful, ideas change your world.

For the past two years I have done 365 day projects. 

Through the experience of completing daily goals I am training myself to be goal orientated, breaking down big projects into baby action steps. 

This approach takes discipline, but doesn't have to take a lot of time, perhaps less than an hour a day. 

It takes 21 days to make something a habit so once you establish that routine, completing daily actions becomes as natural as having regular meals.

A year is a long time to commit to one thing, so I have kept my projects deliberately vague to give myself some scope and variety to fuel creativity, but at the same time, everything must hang from a single over arching theme so that there is something specific to achieve.

The projects so far have been related to books and writing. My dream is to make a living from writing so it is important to me that I keep my projects relevant.

In 2013 it was 'Project Book 365' where I did something creative every day on the theme of books. Here's the Facebook page for the project: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectBook365

And a couple of my most notable daily projects. 

 

Day 363 - a raggy book with part finished projects, and failed experiments

Day 214 - publishing my first book

In 2014 I completed 'Operation Author: 365 Actions to Becoming a Successful Author'. I did a weekly blog update of 7 actions, many being marketing actions, to inspire other writers.

In 2015 I'm going to build on this foundation and my next project will be...

The Authorpreneur Almanac:

365 Adventures in Writing and Entrepreneurship

Throughout the year I'll be doing weekly updates of tips, ideas, inspiration and features for writers who are also entrepreneurs aka Authorpreneur's

At the end of the year I'll tie it all together to produce an almanac. In 2016 I will then have a comprehensive book to share that I hope will inspire and enable others to follow their own writing dreams. 

Happy New Year everyone - 

Here's to a successful and productive 2015

A bumper crop of idea-ism...

This week is a bumper crop of tips and ideas! I've just returned from holiday and I'm behind with updates, so this week I have 14 steps to share with you for:

Operation Author: 365 Actions to Becoming a Successful Author 

Action 1:
I've been talking to bands, caterers and theatre groups and added an update to the crowdfund website:


https://www.fundsurfer.com/pies-music-and-other-consumables

Action 2:
The second edition of The Bronze Box is now complete and is the version that will be available through the crowdfund:

https://www.fundsurfer.com/project/independently-publishing-solomons-secrets-event

Pledge now to be the first to get it - when it comes out!

The First Edition of The Bronze Box will no longer be available so if you want to own a book that will soon be rare, get in there quick.

Original, first edition cover

First Edition - Get it while you can

Action 3:
This is what the new book will look like

Second edition cover art

I'm tempted to add the Epilogue to this update but wouldn't want to set loose a spoiler, so here's a tiny bit of it...

The Bronze Box, Epilogue sample

Action 4:
I'm setting up some meetings with some bands. This week I'm meeting Evie Woods - here's her awesome music:

https://soundcloud.com/eviewoodsband

Action 5:
I sent Word documents of The Bronze Box and Solomon's Secrets to the theatre producer I'm using, Byron Mondahl and highlighted a couple of passages that can be scripted for the actors to perfrom. Here's a teaser:

Script extract from Solomon's Secrets

Actions 6 & 7:

I've written full character profiles for Tom and Sasha to help the actors out

Action 8:
The Solomon's Secrets event is now listed on several event listings sites

Here it is on Skiddle:
http://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Bristol/Averys-Wine-Cellars/Solomons-Secrets/12184668/

Actions 9 & 10:
I've printed some sample leaflets for Solomon's Secrets with a few short chapters and blurb.
I've left them on trains, in aeroplanes and in a few bars and cafes in Lisbon, Porto and Madrid

Action 11:
I sent press releases to several local publications. An article was printed in the Wellington Weekly News.

I grew up in the small town of Wellington in Somerset, but the paper came out when I was away and the article is not on their website, so I'm hoping my dad has picked up a copy. If he has, I'll post it on here.

Action 12:
Knowing that I'd be away and not regularly online, I scheduled in lots of tweets before I went  to keep up the momentum for the crowdfund.

Action 13:
One of my beta readers has bought back a copy of Solomon's Secrets and I've started my re-edits. I'm waiting for feedback from several others.

Action 14:
Like most writers, once I've written the first draft of a book I'm already thinking about the next one. Being on holiday gave me the space to take a notebook and start writing passages for the next book, Gabriel's Game. Here's a teaser:

Extract from Gabriel's Game

Hopefully some of the actions I've taken in the past couple of weeks will give you some ideas and inspiration...

What marketing tips would you offer to a writer 

trying to build their platform? 

Seedlings, silliness, showcases and Solomon's Secrets

This week has been very bitty. It's been my first week of part time employment but with my new found free time I ended up spending the day with my brother for his birthday and it was a rare sunny April day in Bristol so I got out in the garden and potted up some seedlings. 

Satisfying and enjoyable activities but not especially productive!

My seven actions this week for Operation Author: 365 Actions to succeed as an author, have been small.

Action 1: I did some more real world networking and went to the Business Showcase Southwest where I handed out lots of business cards and chatted to a few people.

Action 2: I caught up with the Fundsurfer guys at the event and found out that I could start adding my crowdfunding pitch to the site without it going live. I'll be doing that and then arranging to meet them at the end of next week to go through my ideas.

Action 3: I've had the proof copies of Solomon's Secrets and I've finished my first read through and initial edit.

I know It's self indulgent, but it was a great read and I really enjoyed going through it with the eyes of reader.

The worst thing about being a writer is that with each new work, I reflect back and think how much better this book is than the last one. I imagine this will happen with each book I write in the future!

Action 4: I put a call out to anyone else who would like to be a beta reader and have been handing the books out to my volunteers. Thanks to Debbie, Dave, Graham and Jo.

Action 5: I'm going back through The Bronze Box with more experienced writers eyes now and re-editing it for a second edition.

Get the first edition while you still can, soon it will be limited edition - http://amzn.to/1jd0sDE

Action 6: After joining Bristol Creatives last week, I have now updated my entry on the directory: http://www.bristolcreatives.co.uk/directory/amy-morse

Action 7: I've registered with some freelance writing websites and need to work on a writing resume to upload.

How have you got on with online Freelance Writing job boards? 

Which would you recommend?

Marketing your book is like making a pizza and other stories...

There have been some traces of spring in the air in Bristol this week and it's starting to feel like one chapter is coming to an end in my life and another is starting to bud. 

With still no concrete assurances of further funding for Outset Bristol, where I work as an Enterprise Coach with start ups, I'm willing March to be over so I can start making some future plans.

Operation Author - 

365 Actions to Succeed as an Author

I never grow tired of seeing my words in print, which is probably a good sign that I should focus my energies into carving some sort of a path for myself as a writer.

My career has always involved supporting others to find and nurture their skills and strengths, whether in finding work or starting a business, and I have always got a great deal of satisfaction out of enabling others. I'm working towards some blending of the these two aspects that I'm so passionate about. I am a great believer that strengthening communities and enabling people to support each other is the future.

My actions this week have been:

Action 1:

I ran a pilot 'Why Marketing your Book is Like Making a Pizza: A Workshop for Writers' session, which of course included pizza!

There were eight of us on the session and it was a great success. Loads of energy in the room and lots of great ideas flowing. The feedback was positive and I discussed some ideas with the group about running a session on Social Media for Writers and a follow up session to the marketing one where we share our progress and draw up future actions plans together. 

My work with Outset over the past few years has shown me the power of peer support and it's something I want to do more of.

Action 2:

I've agreed to be part of a blog tour so I will be posting my link in that chain next week but I am seeking 2 other writers who would like to participate...

Action 3:

Calling all writers! - Who'd like to be involved in a blog tour?

The idea is that on your blog you answer 4 questions about your own writing then post bios of 3 more writers and links to their blogs. They then do the same, posting answers to the same questions on their blog a week later and sharing 3 other writers blogs.

Tweet me if you'd like to be involved @TomCatDesigns and I'll send you more details.

Action 4:

I joined Authonomy and posted some chapters from the Bronze Box 

Action 5:

I've helped some other writers with their market research this week by answering their questions. Viv Oyolu, the fabulous lady who interviewed me recently, is researching some ways her Audiobyte business can support writers.

Here's the interview if you missed it. It's a really inspiring listen with lots of tips and friendly banter:

 http://www.audio-byte.co.uk/amy-morse/

Action 6:

I am now officially a columnist for Prowess Women in Business - http://www.prowess.org.uk/columnists - so I am committed to writing for them regularly. I've just submitted another article so look out for that one.

Action7:

I've submitted a guest blog to a fellow Bristol writer and friend of mine, Maggie James. Maggie is a very talented and prolific writer of psychological suspense fiction. 

Fingers crossed she likes my post and publishes it on her fascinating blog: http://www.maggiejamesfiction.com/blog.html


Update on the next book - Solomon's Secrets:

I've got two chapters to go on Solomon's Secrets so I'm hoping to get the first draft done this week.

I've been thinking about cover art for my books and have engaged the services of my brother who's a very talented artist and musician. I've been doodling myself too, looking ancient symbolism. 

Here's a snippet from the book and a doodle:

Operation Author - Week 6

Six weeks into my mission:

Operation Author - 

365 Actions to Succeed as an Author

My seven actions this week have been a mix of online, real world and setting up future events

Day 1 - I'm so close to the end of Solomon's Secrets, it's most inconvenient having a job and life outside of writing! 

With this terrible wet weather, all I really want to do is stay in my warm house and write. I've been snatching every available moment writing passages for the book. Here's a sample:

 

 I also tweaked chapter 1 and re wrote the book blurb and put it on my website: http://bit.ly/1jdpXqW

Day 2 - I went to 2 networking events in Bristol for work this week but while I was there I inevitably talked about my book and this Operation Author project. I made some interesting connections that are worth following up. And my picture was in the The Bristol Post - busted drinking wine on a school night! I'm the one in the flowery top:

Day 3 - I put a tweet out asking about gallery space in Bristol and have a couple of leads to follow up for my Project Book 365 exhibition.

Day 4 -  I was part of an Outset Bristol event on Social Media. Imogen Woodford of Social-i, gave a really engaging talk with some great visuals about using social media effectively for your business. 

She shared some really practical tips with the group and I made lots of notes. 

One thing I'm going to implement as a result of Imogen's advice is to have a plan. I'll look at the month ahead and note any key events, then establish a weekly plan. Now that I've discovered Hootesuite it will be easier to think ahead and schedule appropriate updates and tweets in between my usual browsing and conversing. Thanks Imogen! 

Day 5 - I sent a submission to Rachel at Writers Digest as they were calling for posts about writing groups.  I wrote about Southville Writers

Day 6 - I've not had much take up for the Marketing for Writers workshop or the book signing event at Hyrda Bookshop so I'm making some leaflets to distribute around Bristol while I'm out and about.

Day 7 - I emailed some writers in the Southville Writers network earlier in the week who had expressed an interest in marketing.  I'd given them until the end of the week to book in to my 'Why Marketing your Book is Like Making Pizza: A Workshop for Writers' session at The Stable.

I said I'd advertise the workshop wider but wanted to offer it to the network first. 

I've now put some wider advertising out through Gumtree and various Facebook and LinkedIn groups for writers.

At least I have no reason to leave the house today and venture into the storms.  Big mug of tea and get writing.

What are you writing at the moment?

Operation Author - Week 5

I'm 5 weeks in to my 365 day project;

Operation Author - 365 Actions to succeed as an author

I've been feeling the pressure in many directions recently with so much to do as well as keeping the momentum going with this project.

We are all under notice of redundancy at work, waiting to hear whether the funding will continue from April for the fantastic Outset Bristol project.

We help people in Bristol to explore the reality of starting a small business and I'm one of the Enterprise Coaches.  We've just celebrated the creation of 300 jobs for the city this month and have more than paid for ourselves in terms of economic contribution to the city and through people coming off welfare and creating work for themselves.  

It would be criminal to let it end and leave the amazing future entrepreneurs of Bristol high and dry!

Fingers crossed it will continue, but carving some form of portfolio for myself as a writer is my plan B.  I just wasn't expecting to have to step things up so soon!

With that in mind, this week I have been doing lots of 'real world' activity to build my platform as a writer.   

Day 1 - Interviewed a friend of mine who is a writer about her books, Jo Reed.  I'm adding it to the newsletter I am writing for our writing network, Southville Writers. 

Here's the Interview: http://bit.ly/1ko6qog

Day 2 - I've been making more little origami boxes and leaving them randomly around Bristol.  
In October 2013 I wrote a blog post about this when I made my first batch and included some marketing tips on it - http://ideaism.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/random-acts-of-marketing_16.html.

Inside is a Blurb about the Bronze Box, a sweet and an invitation to tweet me of you find one.  

So far no one has tweeted :(

Here's what they look like

Day 3 - I visited some galleries in Bristol and enquired about putting on an exhibition for my Project Book 356 from last year.  I liked the look of Centrespace, however, I think it'll be too expensive for me as I'm not expecting to sell enough to get a return on the investment.  So I took to twitter and put a tweet out to a few community organisations and creative links in Bristol.  I have a few leads to follow up.

Day 4 - My Interview with Viv Oyolu about my writing a social media tips was published!  I'm so excited about it, I really love it, it sounds so natural and fun.  I got a real buzz from it.  Have a listen.

http://bit.ly/1eA3EbS

Day 5 - I wrapped one of my books in brown paper and stenciled 'Don't judge a book by it's cover' on the spine. 

I left it in a lovely little cafe in Bristol, Hennessey's that's full of books and the fragrance of fresh coffee and pungent herbal teas.  I worked through Outset with one of the staff there on her graphic design business, Sara.  Here she is: http://www.unearthedpromos.com/

Day 6  - I've booked a space at The Stable in Bristol for a workshop called 'Why Marketing your Book is like Making Pizza: A Marketing Workshop for Writers' - here's the Eventbrite Listing http://bit.ly/1iuEhcf

Day 7 - I completed the first Newsletter for Southville Writers using Mail Chimp.

Here it is: http://bit.ly/1g6FXYj


This afternoon and the rest of thew weekend it's back to writing more of Solomon's Secrets. 

I've been on a roll recently, the end is in sight and I'm desperate to get the last few chapters done. 

Here's an extract from a really lovely scene that sent a shiver down my spine when I wrote it (and it's not even a sex scene!):

His breathing changed the smile faded. His weight dissipated into the bed and across her lap. A contented hum, muffled by the folds of her dress, seamlessly turned into a snore.

She smiled to herself, holding him close. She leaned over him and pressed her lips into his forehead. He was warm. Moist with sweat, his skin smelt hot and musky. She’d always loved that smell on him. It smelt like home. Smelt like steamy showers and fading spices.

Resting her face against his, her fingers tangled in his curly hair, she whispered, “Sweet dreams.”

Just a little taste of thigs to come...

What 'real world' marketing activities have worked for you?

 

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