Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Social Networking Enough Already…When It Hinders Your Writing



Social Networking Enough Already…When It Hinders Your Writing

By Donna M. McDine

As a society we are bombarded with technology at every angle. Often times overloading our brains of too much information. No matter what type of business world you travel in it has become a constant buzz of checking our email and voice mail at a frantic pace, and hanging out on social media networks to the point that our face-to-face communication suffers.
Personally, I’ve come to the decision I need to turn off the technology to rejuvenate my creative juices for my writing. When I say turn-off, I don’t mean completely, but with limitations. I always write my first draft of an article or new manuscript long hand with my favorite pen. In my case, my Graf Von Faber-Castell pen. Yes an indulgent but oh so worth it! Using this method to write away from my computer greatly reduces my temptation to check email every 30 seconds and surf various social media networks.
Over the years I have forced myself to get to the task at hand and write first, marketing second (yes, I know many feel social networking is a form of marketing, but when you spend the majority of your time socializing with peers and not connecting with your readers what’s the point?), researching publishing markets and blogging (which is a form of social networking) and in my opinion instrumental in developing one’s platform. How to build your platform is a topic for another day.

It’s wonderful to connect with people through social networking whom you most likely would have never met otherwise, however if you allow social networking to become your “job” you risk valuable writing time that could result in the next “big” book!

Yes, utilize social networking but with responsibility. Do you want to concentrate on honing your writing skills and writing the best manuscript possible or have hundreds of thousands followers on your social networks with no concrete publishing credits to show for your efforts? You decide what’s important to you. I made my decision to get out from behind my computer and engage in-person with members of my community who are instrumental in getting the books in to the children’s hands, librarians, teachers, parents, after school program directors, etc. The end and continued result is my business relationships have soared.

Good luck and expand your outreach beyond your computer! 


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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with

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









Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Guest Author - Lorita Kelsey Childress visits Write What Inspires You!


Why did I decide to write Grandma, how do you know God is real?

by Lorita Kelsey Childress

I have a grandchild who I adore and love with all of my heart.  She is a joy, very inquisitive and bright.  She has been going to church with my husband and me since she was born. One day, I was praying about my next project and telling God I wanted to write a children’s book to leave as a legacy for my granddaughter, Kamia. I didn’t want just any story but a story that honored the God; I serve which would uniquely evangelize to her and all children of the world regarding the multitude of reasons as to why God is real.   I also wanted a book which would remind adults about the everyday things we take for granted that He has created. We as a society are inundated with just living life and often forget that an old tree, green grass or a bird flying are all beautiful creations designed by God. I wanted to convey through my writing a thought provoking fun story which had great illustrations and simplistic teachings. Thus my book was imparted into my spirit.

As Christians our faith is increased by attending Sunday school, church and reading the Bible. These are instrumental tools in aiding us with continually building a strong deep rooted foundation in our Christian walk and our relationship with or Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. However, at a young age it is often hard to decipher. I wrote Grandma, how do you know God is real? to help children obtain another point of view regarding our God and to unite those who read it by rejoicing over His many blessings.

Title: Grandma How Do You Know God Is Real?

Synopsis: Grandma, how do you know God is real is about a six-and-a-half-year-old girl named Kendra, who spends a few weeks of her summer vacation with her Grandma. She awakens one bright and sunny morning and asks her Grandma how does she know God is real? Grandma takes Kendra on an adventure to show her all the reasons as to why she knows God is real.

Bio: Lorita Kelsey Childress lives with her husband David, in Northern CA. She has three daughters and a granddaughter. Lorita’s first novel The Turning Point of Lila Louise was published in May 2010. December 2012, she published her first children’s book titled, Grandma, how do you know God is real? She is a member of Sistahs on the Reading Edge book club. Lorita’s work is featured in Gumbo for the Soul; The Recipe for Literacy in the Black Community and Gumbo for the Soul; Women of Honor Special Pink Edition. Her latest work is featured in Suspect; A Confessional Anthology. Her poem Our History is Rich was featured in the January/March 2010 edition of Kontagious Magazine. She is currently working on her second novel.

Author website:
www.loritawrites4u.com

Lorita, thank you for visiting Write What Inspires You! and sharing your personal publication journey. 



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with

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