Write What Inspires You! ~ Donna M. McDine: #guestblogger

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Monday, September 21, 2020

Marketing Tips and Inspiration: Guest Blogger Maggie Grinnell Shares Her Inspiration to Write

Welcome to Write What Inspires You Marketing Tips & Inspiration.

Today, I'm pleased to host guest blogger, Maggie Grinnell as she shares her inspiration to write.

What Inspires Me to Write?

By Maggie Grinnell

I found that if you look for inspiration, it won’t come. So I wait for inspiration to wash over me.

The three things that inspire me to write are movies, attending writing events and fall/winter weather.

Let me explain. When I watch a movie that has to do with writing, authors or books, I grab my notepad and pen and just start writing. It could be about the movie, or what I am feeling at the moment.

Attending writing events have me so inspired. I am surrounded by other writers who are just like me: they want to get their story out. When I speak to them and hear why they write and their goals/ambitions, I want to write right there. But I wait till I get to my hotel room (if out of town) or my bedroom when I get home.

Fall/winter weather makes me want to curl up in a warm blanket and pick up the almighty pen. The cold weather and the blanket make me feel warm, calm and that is when the muse comes out.

So inspiration can be found anywhere. It just depends when the moment comes to you and inspiration will come. When it does, it is amazing.

About Maggie: Maggie started writing in 1992. She loves to create lists and from those lists came stories. Her favorite things to do beside write is to go to the movies, read a good book, visit Disneyland (yeah she is still a kid at heart) and listen to music, something she can dance too. Maggie loves animals, and has a cat. In her world, it is made up of blue skies, puffy white clouds, books for days and fun.

Connect with Maggie Grinnell at her website.

Interested in staying connected beyond the Internet? Please feel free to opt-in to my Write What Inspires You Newsletter! I promise not to fill your email inbox, for I send out my emails no more than 1-2 times per month.

Opt-in today to the Write What Inspires You! Newsletter and join parents, teachers, and colleagues who receive Donna’s newsletter and receive two FREE e-Books: “The Story Behind the Books” and “Marketing Tips”

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Best wishes,

Donna M. McDine

Multi Award-winning Children's Author

Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!

Angel's Forever Home ~ March 2019 ~ Mascot Books ~ 2019 Purple Dragonfly Honorable Mention Picture Books Six and Older

Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters ~ December 2015 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2016 Purple Dragonfly Honorable Mention Picture Books Five and Under and Story Monster Approved

A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014 and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Historical Fiction 1st Place, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention Picture Books 6+, New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist

Monday, August 24, 2020

What Inspires Me to Write by Guest Blogger, Deb Hockenberry

I am pleased to host guest blogger and children's author, Deb Hockenberry with...

WHAT INSPIRES ME TO WRITE

by Deb Hockenberry

What inspires me to write? That's a tough question for me to answer, but I think I can answer it with one word: kids.

Kids give me so much inspiration and story ideas. Kids take me back to my childhood. Remember Christmas, Halloween, Memorial Day, and the other holidays when you were a kid? You get to see the magic of Christmas when you look at a kid. You get to share in their excitement of a picnic on Memorial Day. Do you remember what you did and how you felt on those days? Holidays have so many stories in them. Kids inspire these ideas!

I think kids are amazing! They're able to adapt to new things a lot easier than adults. They face the scary times better than we adults are.

I feel that in this day and age, kids desperately need books that entertain them. If it teaches something, I hope it's so far behind the scenes that they don't suspect at all. There's so much 'bad news' being flung at them every day. Now, they have new rules to live with because of this virus that has the world in its grip. I mean, the mask-wearing, frequent handwashing, and social distancing. This has to be harder for kids to do than it is for adults. But kids have inspired me here too!

Did you ever move to a new city or town and start a new school? I did this at a young age so I can tell you from personal experience that it's scary. If you did, stop and think back. How did it make you feel before you moved? How did you feel standing in your new classroom and introducing yourself to a lot of strangers that were staring at you? Kids remind us of this.

Did you ever have a table at a rummage sale? I did. A little boy, no more than five-years-old, came up and desperately wanted an item, but didn't have enough money. He was petrified telling me what he wanted and how mu he had. There's a story there, and this little towhead inspired it!

Yes, kids inspire me to write!

Deb Hockenberry

https://www.kidztales.net

Deb's bio: Deb has always wanted to write stories for children since she was a kid herself. She has taken two courses from The Institute of Children’s Literature and is a member of the online and ongoing children’s workshop, The CBI Clubhouse to keep up on the ever-changing field of children’s writing.

You can find out more about Deb at her website, on her Author Facebook Page and at Twitter as @DebHockenberry

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Best wishes,

Donna M. McDine

Multi Award-winning Children's Author

Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!

Angel's Forever Home ~ March 2019 ~ Mascot Books ~ 2019 Purple Dragonfly Honorable Mention Picture Books Six and Older

Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Historical Fiction 1st Place, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Monday, August 17, 2020

5 Publishing Mistakes You Should Avoid and How to Avoid Them by Guest Blogger, Desiree

5 Publishing Mistakes You Should Avoid and How to Avoid Them

by Desiree Villena

Whether you’re a veteran or a newcomer on the self-publishing scene, if you’ve decided to forgo the fight to find a literary agent and self-publish your book instead, the journey ahead will be full of ups and downs. But don’t worry: learn how to avoid these publishing pitfalls and you’ll have a much smoother ride!

1. Selling to everyone

When I ask an author who their book is for, it’s promising to hear something like, “It’s for teenagers into epic fantasy.” On the other hand, the occasional “it’s for everyone” is pretty concerning.

No matter how you market your book, if you don’t know who you’re selling to, it won’t sell! That’s because marketing is all about putting your book in front of the right people — you can’t expect a book to appeal to all demographics, or for everyone to fill out “Loved it!” on a feedback form.

Reconsider your target market after you’ve finished the first draft and make sure your book is a fit. If not, decide whether to focus revisions on speaking to your intended audience or moving towards a new market.

2. Neglecting to self-edit

If you want to compete with books produced by the “Big 5” you can’t skimp on a professional edit. But — and it’s a big “but” — do not hire an editor until you’ve gone through your manuscript with a fine-tooth comb. By resolving simpler issues, like unfinished plot lines and purple prose, you’ll leave your editor with more time to work on areas where you can really benefit from professional insight.

3. Designing your own cover

No matter what we’re told, we’re all guilty of judging a book by its cover. We use them to get a flavor of a book’s content and as an indication of quality. Settle for an amateurish design and readers will assume you’ve cut corners in your writing. A well-executed cover, created by a professional designer, suggests a well-executed book, written by a skilled author. If you insist on creating your cover yourself, make sure you’ve researched book cover design.

4. Not taking categories and keywords seriously

Uploading your manuscript to Amazon and preparing to click “publish” is probably the most exciting part of the publishing process. However, in the midst of all that excitement, it’s really important that you don’t neglect categories and keywords. If you want to conquer the Amazon book market and drive traffic to your book, take care choosing perfectly tailored keywords and categories that are neither too broad nor too specific. Research successful titles similar to yours to see how it’s done.

5. Failing to prepare for launch day

A lot hinges on a book’s first few weeks on the market. Accumulate a healthy dose of sales soon after launch day — or even before, using pre-orders — to create the right momentum for your book. Interact with your followers on social media. Market at libraries. A strong start will lay the groundwork for steady sales.

One way to prepare in advance is to get book reviews. Pitch your book to relevant blogs, and if they’re interested, send them an ARC. Drumming up hype with positive reviews will ensure your launch goes off with a bang!

About Desiree Villena:

Desiree Villena is a writer with Reedsy, a marketplace that connects self-publishing authors with the world's best editors, designers, and marketers. In her spare time, Desiree enjoys writing short stories and reading everything from cosmic horror to contemporary romance.

#desireevillena

#5publishingmistakestoavoid

#guestblogger

#writewhatinspiresyounewsletter

#donnamcdine

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Best wishes,

Donna M. McDine

Multi Award-winning Children's Author

Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!

Angel's Forever Home ~ March 2019 ~ Mascot Books ~ 2019 Purple Dragonfly Honorable Mention Picture Books Six and Older

Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Historical Fiction 1st Place, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review