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Using a Plot Board to Plot Your Novel

Way back in Mid-August, I posted here about how a Plot First Novelist Builds Character(s). I admitted to being a plot-first writer and a dedicated ‘Plotter.’ Boy howdy, if you want to divide a room full of novelists quicker’n Shergar won the Derby, ask who is a plotter and who is a ‘pantser.’

But, though novelists fall mostly into two camps, each side often wonders about how the other manages to write books using their method. I thought I’d give you a peek into my plotting method.

I use a plot board. I first came across this idea on the Seekerville blog where a guest had a photograph of her own plot board. Since I’m a visual person, I glommed onto the idea and created a board of my own to see if it would work for me too.

And it sure does! There are so many things I love about using my plot board. The plot board allows me to see at a glance how many scenes I have, who is the point-of-view character, and the characters’ Goals, Motivations, & Conflicts. It forces me to write out, however briefly, the internal and external goals of the characters and really think about what it is I’m trying to say with the story. Oh, and I get to play with post-it notes. 🙂

One other thing I love is that it’s easy-peasy to change your mind about something. You just move the post-it to a new place or throw it away and write out a new one. I found this particularly appealing, especially since I tend to change my mind a lot while plotting.

The top half of my plot board is divided into 20 equal sections and numbered across the rows. Each of the numbered boxes represents a chapter in the story.  (Twenty is just a starting point. I lengthen or shorten the story based upon what is needed. But there is only room for about 20 boxes on the plot board. If I need more, I have to scrunch things and overlap.)The bottom half is divided into two parts with six equal sections in each part. These are for the characters.

Prior to writing anything out for the plot board, I’ve researched, ruminated, and spent days and weeks reading and thinking about the story. I’ve got a few high points of the plot in my head, and I have a fair idea of setting, time period, etc. I have a rudimentary idea of the characters, too. This pre-plotting prep is necessary for me. If I dive into plotting too early, before the story has had a chance to marinate in my subconscious, I find myself staring at the blank plot board the same way I stare at a blank screen if I haven’t plotted beforehand.

When it comes time to begin filling in my plot board, I start at the bottom of the board with the two six-chambered grids. On each side, one column is labeled External, and one is labeled Internal. This is where I put the Goals, Motivations, and the Conflicts for each of the two main characters. Since I write romance, this means the hero and the heroine. What do they want, why do they want it, and what is keeping them from getting it? I decide what personality types my characters are (click on the first link in this post to see how I do that) and start plotting the story.

 
Then I grab my smallest post-its, about 1.5 x 1 inch. I write the major plot points out and stick them to a notebook page. (Things like Avalanche hits Train, or Finds Out He’s Adopted.) As fast as the ideas come to me, I jot them down, keeping it brief and fairly broad. When I think I’ve got the big ideas of the story set down, I start arranging them on the plot board. I keep them in chronological order, but I don’t sweat too much whether they are in their final position or not. I know it’s probably going to change as I go. When I have the bones of the story down, I start making logical connections with scenes. What has to happen in order to get the character from major plot point one to major plot point two?  I use the next larger size post-it for these in various colors. Pink for the heroine’s POV and blue for the hero’s. Orange, yellow, purple, chartreuse…those are for secondary characters’ POV scenes. By color coding the post its, I can see at a glance if I’ve kept a good balance of his/her scenes and if I’ve lost anyone in the shuffle.

One thing I mustn’t forget to mention is that the whole time I’m doing this, I’m talking. Usually to my daughter. (When we finished plotting the last novel, she crashed on her bed and I had to take a picture.) By talking it out and letting someone not as familiar with the story ask “Why?” kinds of questions, I minimize the plot holes as much as I can up front. My daughter is great at this, and I plot much better and quicker when she’s involved in the process.

When I get all the scenes filled in, I tell the story once more aloud, making sure I have it the way I want it. Then I use the plot board to type out a chapter-by-chapter, scene-by-scene synopsis, including what I want to accomplish in each scene. I know without a doubt that when I have that road map in my mind and in my hands, I write much faster than if I’m feeling my way around with no idea where I’m supposed to be going.

So there you have it. My plotting system. It works for me, and it’s been tweaked and refined each time I go through the process of plotting a new story. I hope you can glean something that will help you.

Question for you: Plotter or Pantser? Does the thought of using a plot board excite you or make you want to run screaming to the nearest bag of chocolate chips?

Post Author: Erica Vetsch

Erica Vetsch is a transplanted Kansan now residing in Minnesota. She loves history and reading, and is blessed to be able to combine the two by writing historical fiction set in the American West. Whenever she’s not following flights of fancy in her fictional world, she’s the company bookkeeper for the family lumber business, mother of two terrific teens, wife to a man who is her total opposite and soul-mate, and avid museum patron.

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A Writer’s Life: The Waiting Room

Today I’d like to invite you to join me someplace most, if not all, writers are familiar with. Where’s that, you ask?

The Waiting Room.

Oh. My. Word. Your groans probably registered on the Richter scale. Stop it right now and come on in. Yeah, the Waiting Room is crowded. And the magazines are out-of-date. But we’re here to talk, not peruse the 2005 issue of Bowhunter magazine. 

If you’re a writer, the Waiting Room is unavoidable. Truth is, if you stay the course, you’ll make repeated trips to this room where the hands on the clock never seem to move and you languish forever, wondering when someone will call your name and say, “We’ll see you now.”

Aren’t I just the messenger of all things light and breezy today?

Why, you ask, why the Waiting Room? It’s such a waste of time.

Is it really? 

What can you learn while you wait? (Yes, I know you’d rather get seen and get out of here. But stick with me.)

  1.  Understand attitude is key. If I expect to wait then I avoid the “Woe is me” attitude — or at least succumb to fewer attacks of self-pity. If I get into my appointment on time or — gasp! — early, then I celebrate. Translation: No one is an overnight success. If some author tells you that they were, they’re lying. (You can tell them I said so.)
  2. Come prepared to wait. Do I want to waste time thumbing through magazines I’d never read even if I was stranded on a desert island? Translation: What are you doing while you wait for “the call”? Are you counting time or making time count by revising your manuscript, attending conferences, connecting with other writers — maybe even encouraging other writers?
  3. Realize everyone hates waiting. Medical professionals hate being behind schedule as much as you hate waiting. Translation: Editors wait too. And agents. And publishers. (Side note: Please, no comments with “waiting for my doctor” horror stories.  Not the point of this post. If you really need to vent, email me at beth@bethvogt.com. I’m married to a doctor. I can take it.)

Time for me to sit back and see what y’all have to say about time spent in the Waiting Room. Tell me how you handle waiting for feedback from your critique group. Or from your agent. Or for the “sign here and would you like an advance with that?” phone call. How do you make waiting worthwhile?

 

*Photo credit: That’s me and my daughter. In my husband’s waiting room. With a copy of author Jody Hedlund’s latest release, The Doctor’s Lady. The sleeping pose is for the sake of the column — not a statement on Jody’s writing. I loved reading The Doctor’s Lady!

Post Author: Beth K. Vogt

Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an air force physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. She’s discovered that God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” She writes contemporary romance because she believes there’s more to happily ever after than the fairy tales tell us.

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Social Media – When Less is More

When I first joined Facebook I thought, “This is ridiculous. Who would ever do this?”

But I was told if I ever wanted to be considered by a book publisher, I better have an author platform. One of the foundational ways to build a platform is by using social media venues such as Facebook and Twitter.

So I grudgingly used my Facebook account. I logged in once a week to see what others were up to.  But then a weird thing happened. I discovered I loved social media. I made real friendships online and looked forward to hearing from my “peeps.” I enjoyed getting ideas and opinions from people all over the world. I loved knowing what people were thinking and talking about. I looked forward to laughing, crying, and praying with my online friends.

As soon as I mastered Facebook, I noticed authors talking about something called Twitter. Twitter seemed overwhelming so I read a few books about it:

*Twitter Revolution by Warren Whitlock and Deborah Micek. I wrote about it here

*Twitter Means Business by Julio Ojeda-Zapata You can order it here.

I learned that Twitter is very different from Facebook. Twitter is a powerful tool for specific purposes such as checking how snowy the roads near Vail are, what Judge Belvin Perry is ordering Casey Anthony’s jurors for lunch, discovering what the police are doing near I-70, talking out loud to politicians and celebrities, and telling companies about their bad (or good) service.

As I settled into my social media routine, I saw my heroes adding tens of thousands of friends, so I did likewise. I added and “friend-ed” everyone who crossed my path.

It makes sense. We all want to be part of the group like this little guy:

My friends and followers list grew, but I dreaded getting on my computer. I didn’t know whom I was talking to, and I felt like I was being spammed when I wanted to relate. So one day I deleted all 800 of my Twitter friends and started over.

I carefully and deliberately chose which friends I would follow (now less than 100) and paid little attention to who was following me. Every few months I clean out my Facebook account. I unfriend lurkers, spammers, and people who spew their message but never interact. One thing I’m proud of is that people I interact with on social media are not strangers, they are my friends. I have found several benefits to cutting back:

  • I am more eager to login to my Facebook and Twitter accounts.
  • I have built relationships with my online friends, so when my book gets published I won’t be a nameless face spamming everybody.
  • My friends and followers are more likely to pass my books, videos, and blog links to others.
  • I’m interacting with people who share my interests.
  • I’m filling a social need by relating instead of spamming. Research shows that people form communities on Facebook and Twitter in order to get social needs met.

More and more people, whose expertise I admire, are limiting the ways they interact on social media. As authors we are continually trying new marketing ideas, so we experiment, take risks, and try new things. I don’t know if the way I do social media is right for you…

Do you think more followers and friends are better? Why or Why Not?

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Creative Nonfiction: Top Tips for Memorable Memoirs and MORE!

Photo Credit: Simon Howden / http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

My husband parks our silver F150 in a turnoff, which is really a patch of pounded land where folks have repeatedly turned their cars around after realizing the road goes nowhere. I imagine drug dealers, prostitutes, meth heads, and hormonal teens fighting for this spot on steamy summer nights, but for now, it’s just Charles and me. And my doubts.

He turns off the engine, and in the silence, we wait. We are surrounded by thousands of acres of farm fields, old growth hardwoods, and murky cattle ponds. The land is beautiful, and this type of setting would normally calm my nerves, but not this time. Not now, as I’m waiting at the end of the road for a stranger to arrive. My heart races and my breath quickens, as I realize, with sudden alarm, that we might be in danger.

“Should we have brought the gun?” A question I never thought I’d ask. Even though I despise America’s love affair with arsenals, in this position, I wish I was holding a gun.

“What gun?” He’s barely paying attention to me as he checks email on his phone.

“The one in the garage.”

Charles laughs. “It’s a 22.” With sarcasm he insinuates that if we find ourselves going head-to-head with a coyote or a tom cat it might come in handy. A hardened criminal? Not so much.

“Well what if it’s a setup. One of those Craigslist crimes?”

He doesn’t answer. Just keeps emailing.

11:49. No sign of the white Ford truck we are waiting for. “Of course it’s a white Ford,” I say. “Does anyone drive anything else around here?” I’m sure we’ve passed at least forty-seven white trucks since we left the interstate. Forty-six of them, Fords.

I open the door and get out to stretch my legs. The sounds of rubber tires and gasoline engines roar in the distance. Somewhere, within earshot, the newer highway ribbons through these fields, and I feel a little comfort thinking I can run toward the noise if it comes to that.

Then the engine noise comes closer, and the white truck we’ve been waiting for eases its way into a corner field and comes to a stop in front of a metal gate, a rusty chain locking the gate closed.

In the movies, headlights would have flashed, drums would have punched a dramatic rhythm, and a heavy pause would have filled the screen. Instead, Charles’s phone rings. “Yep, I see you. We’re headed that way now.”

I return to my passenger perch and close my door just in time, as Charles is already putting the truck in gear.

“You have the money?” he bites his nails, a habit he’s had all his life.

“Yes,” I check my purse, just to make sure. Cash only, I remember the stranger’s instructions. My pulse shoots flares.

And then it happens. We climb down from the bench seat and enter an isolated pasture with a man we’ve never met.

What’s this scene about? Do you suspect this couple is about to engage in some sort of illegal transaction? Are they in danger? Or is it just a creative twist on something as ordinary and realistic as buying a cow?

If you guessed a cow, you’re right. This is part of a creative non-fiction proposal that enabled me to become the 2012 recipient of the Mississippi Arts Commission’s Literary Arts Fellowship, an honor I am privileged to accept.

Whether writing about cooking or canines, remember non-fiction doesn’t have to be dry.

Try these tips:

  • At some point, let us know exactly where and when the event takes place, but use subtle hints to set the scene (music, tv, news, technology, etc., to hint at the era.)
  • Use sensory details – smells, sounds, sights (avoid writing “I see… I smell…I hear…”)
  • Involve more than one person in the scene…it’s not all about YOU. Describe something specific about the other characters. Use a few snips of dialog and let unique personalities shine.
  • Elicit an emotional response from the reader. How do you want them to FEEL when they read the story?
  • What is the main point of the story? What question do you want to answer? Try to leave the reader with one main thought, all while trying to show rather than tell.

When you write, what approach do you take to make the mundane magnificent? Share your thoughts about creative nonfiction and learn more about this interesting genre by visiting http://www.creativenonfiction.org/

Julie’s first novel, Into the Free, hits shelves February 1. Learn more at www.juliecantrell.com

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The Publishing Biz: Will it Break You?

Photo: Bill Longshaw / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Photo: Bill Longshaw / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Launch the Internet these days and you’ll find a deluge of opinions on what it takes to make it as a writer. You can glean expertise about search engine optimization, how to build a platform or leverage social media, garner advice on author branding, book promotion and networking, and find out what’s happening right this moment in the explosive world of ebooks. If the odds were against a writer back in the day, they really have their work cut out now.

You might tremble before the daunting writing, publishing and now marketing journey and wonder how you can possibly succeed. Do you look around and ask, “Are my writing dreams even relevant anymore?” Maybe you think…

  • With ebooks at everyone’s fingertips, the number of titles available has skyrocketed. There are simply too many books out there for any one author to garner much attention. Besides, you’ve missed the latest trend. Your chosen genre has been overdone. Editors have seen it all before and you have nothing new to offer.
  • The economy is still too scary, weak or unstable for you to venture into something so uncertain, and few authors earn enough to quite their day jobs anyway, so why bother?
  • Publishing houses aren’t taking many risks on new authors, and if they do, they aren’t investing in them the way they used to. The good old days are over, and while self-publishing is an option, you don’t have money to invest in it, let alone a website and SEO, and it’s all too complicated anyway.
  • Everyone else is better at social media than you. You’re not part of the ‘in’ social media networking crowd, and that train has already left the station without you—agents and publishers will take one look at your Klout score and break a nail trying to hit the ‘thanks, but no thanks’ button. You can’t possibly catch up.
  • You’re too utterly exhausted after working, volunteering, cooking, cleaning, carpooling, commuting, going to church, tweeting and generally living life to step it up in the writing and publishing game, especially to keep up with rules that seem to change everyday. If you thought you didn’t have the time before, you really don’t have the time now.
  • You don’t have a platform—you’re not even sure you know what a platform is. It probably takes too much time and effort to build one, and frankly, you’d rather stick a rusty fork in your eye than have to promote yourself anyway.
  • It’s easier to take a ‘wait and see’ approach. Industry changes may be a passing phase you can wait out—maybe when the kids are grown, you graduate or you retire. Eventually, the world will revert back to the way it was before, when writers had only to write and there was plenty of ozone left in the northern hemisphere.
  • Your old writing dream is in jeopardy, and you can’t come up with a new one you’re as passionate about, so you’re left to lurk about in a fog no one can lead you from with any certainty.

Maybe you believe some of this—maybe not, but the most likely reason you may fail to achieve your writing dreams is you will simply give them up. Any excuse will work. Pick one.

You can be paralyzed by the changes of today and uncertainty of tomorrow, or you can refuse to dwell on the reasons ‘why not’ and learn what works and what doesn’t from trial and error and from those working alongside you—those who keep putting themselves out there so others can keep dreaming.

What about you? Has the industry changed too much for the dream to appeal to you anymore? Or are you in it for better or worse?

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Keywording 201 for SEO Prowess: Three Simple To-Dos to Improve SEO

A few weeks ago, I gave you the 411 on how to choose thematic keywords for your site.  And, now that y’all have researched your keywords on Google Adwords and Insights, honed your theme and come up with a strong list of 10-15 keywords (you did that, right?), you’re probably wondering what to do with said list.

Using keywords correctly is complicated.  Really complicated.  And to be honest, figuring out the algorithm takes rocket-scientist brainpower and the ability to focus on complicated things like numbers and graphs for long stretches of time (12 minutes at least).  And, since I’m guessing that doesn’t sound like something you want to do when you could be doing fun things like NaNoWriMoing, I’m going to make it really, really easy for you.  So easy, in fact, that even a busy NaNoWriMoing novelist with less than 4 minutes of free time between soccer drop-off and throwing dinner in the crock-pot can get it done.

Homework caveat:  Before you can complete this to-do list, you’ll need to come up with a list of 10-15 thematic keywords for your blog.  Refer to this post for instructions.

Three Simple To-Dos That Will Improve Your SEO

  1. Use at least ONE of your keywords in the TITLE of a blog post at least one time per week.  (Why?  Title or H1 tags—especially title tags on WordPress which is built for SEO—have a strong SEO value.  That means that when you use a word in the title, the Google crawlers will automatically assume the article has something to do thematically with that word.)
  2. Make a hyperlink to a different blog article on your site in each blog post you write.   BONUS:  If possible, make the word that’s hyperlinked be one of your keywords.   For example:  if your keyword is “women of faith”, try to link the words “women of faith” to a separate article on your site that’s about women of faith.   (Why?  Just like title tags, Google crawlers assume that when your article links to another article, it has strong relevancy to that theme.)
  3.   Try to use at least one of your keywords in every article you write.  (Why?  It’s the thematic relevancy thing again—the more you organically use your words, the more Google is going to assume you know what you’re talking about when it comes to those themes.)

That’s it!  Easy, peasy, right?

Question for you:  What is the hardest thing for you about SEO?

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Using Stolen Moments to Write

NaNoWriMo begins today. Around the world, millions of writers are pounding on their keys to produce a novel in 30 days.

Many writers aren’t like Richard Castle with styling offices and ability to write full-time. Most writers I know work full-time inside or outside the home, care for a family, have church responsibilities, act as the family chauffeur, battle dust bunnies from overtaking their homes, and try to squeeze in a decent night’s sleep.

Who has time to write? Well, many of them may not have time to write, but the majority of them MAKE the time to write.

I’m a stay-at-home-work-at-home-mom who owns and operates an in-home family childcare program. Not working isn’t an option. With my My Book Therapy responsibilities, book contracts, family and church commitments, life can be a bit crazy.

A schedule and stolen moments help me find time to write. Also, I’ve encouraged my family to help with housework, laundry and cooking. Plus I use my Crock Pot and bread machine a lot. I write in the evenings so Hubby runs errands and chauffeurs our son.

If you don’t have evenings to write, do you have 15 minutes in your day? The Fly Lady has a great site to help people get their homes and lives in order. One of her principles is you can do anything in 15 minutes … including writing.

I downloaded an egg timer for my computer. When I’m stuck on a scene or needing motivation, I set timer for 15 minutes and free write without editing. When I’m writing my rough drafts, I use my timer to increase my word count. After all, rough drafts are allowed to be rough.

If you are serious about your writing and want to make progress, enlist your family to help out. Delegate household duties, grab the timer and have everyone work for 15 minutes.

Another way to get some writing time is to ask your spouse to take your children for an hour or two each evening. The children and spouse will have a special bonding time and you will have time to write. Turn off the Internet and focus on your manuscript.

If you don’t have a spouse, consider doing a play date swap with a friend or neighbor. Ask a high school student to entertain your kids for an hour or so. Or write after your kids go to bed. If that won’t work, get up an hour earlier in the mornings. If you work outside the home, write during lunch. If you have to chauffeur your kids, take your laptop or a notebook and write while you’re waiting.

Set a daily writing goal and use stolen moments to build your word count. Remember, your first draft doesn’t need to be perfect.

Balancing life with work, family and writing can be a juggling act. Find what works for you. If you don’t take your writing time seriously, no one else will either.

**A bit of self-promotion: My debut novel, Lakeside Reunion, releases today! I’m having contests to promote my book. Visit my Lakeside Reunion Contest Page for more information. The token for this blog is a novel.

Your Turn: Are you participating in NaNoWriMo? How do you find time to write?

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WordServe News Update and New Releases

Exciting things have been happening at WordServe Literary!

On the final post of each month you’ll find a list of WordServe clients’ books releasing in the upcoming month along with a recap of WordServe client news from the current month.

 • • •

November New Releases

The Encounter: Sometimes God Has to Intervene

by Stephen Arterburn, with WordServe collaborator James Pence*

Contemporary Fiction

Thomas Nelson Publishers

• • •

His Grace is Sufficient…But Decaf is Not

by Sandra D. Bricker* with Loree Lough, Trish Perry, and Cynthia Ruchti

Devotional for Women

Summerside Press

• • •

Paper Angels

by Billy Coffey*

A Novel

FaithWords

• • •

Lakeside Reunion

by Lisa Jordan*

Contemporary Romance

Harlequin Love Inspired

• • •

As Sparks Fly Upward

by Gilbert Morris

Historical Romance

Howard/Simon and Schuster

• • •

The River Queen (Book #1 in the “The Water Wheel” series)

by Gilbert Morris

Historical

Barbour Publishing

• • •

Playing with Purpose: Basketball: Inside the Lives and Faith of Top NBA Stars

by Mike Yorkey

Sports biography

Barbour Publishing

 • • •

Contest News

The 2011 INSPY Award

On the Romance Shortlist:

The Preacher’s Bride by Jody Hedlund*, Bethany House, October, 2010

Yesterday’s Tomorrow by Catherine West*, Oak Tara, March, 2011

On the Speculative Fiction Shortlist:

The Resurrection by Mike Duran*, Realms, February, 2011

• • •

New Clients

Susan Scott Krabacher: Haiti Orphan advocate and ministry leader, author of Angels of a Lower Flight: One Woman’s Mission to Save a Country…One Child at a Time (Touchstone, 2007) (www.haitichildren.com).

Jeff Nesbitt: Summerside novelist.

Mandy Steward: blogger at www.messycanvas.com.

Shellie Tomlinson: the creator of www.allthingssouthern.com, blogger, speaker, radio host.

• • •

Contract News from Greg

Valor Studios head Adam Makos and all-star collaborator Marcus Brotherton* are writing Voices of the Pacific, a compilation of alive (and very old) marines who served in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. Many were featured in the HBO mini-series “The Pacific.”  Signed by Berkley Caliber (Penguin).

Dr. Rita Hancock, Total Wellness Now, a medical approach to emotional healing and weight loss. To Charisma Publishers.

Adam Makos and Larry Alexander are writing A Higher Call, the true story of American B-52 pilot crippled after a bombing run, and the German fighter pilot who, instead of shooting the bomber down, escorted it safely to British airspace so other German pilots wouldn’t shoot it down, and their meeting, faith, and friendship after the war. Signed by Berkley Caliber (Penguin).

(* = WordServe Water Cooler Contributor)

• • •

That’s our good news for the month.

Please share yours in the comments so we can celebrate with you.

• • •

Post Author: Keli Gwyn

I write inspirational historical romance. My debut novel, A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California, will be released July 1, 2012. I live in the heart of California’s Gold Country. My favorite places to visit are my fictional worlds, the Coach factory outlet store, and Taco Bell.

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Good News! We Are Not Alone!

Don’t you love Saturdays? I do. And today, because it’s the weekend and I thought we could all use a little good news, I’ve got a treat for you. If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably a writer. You may already be published or still waiting for that day, but you’re writing away, studying your craft and just hoping that soon and very soon, all your hard work will pay off in a nice three-book deal.

Will you be ready?

How many of you, (ahem, like me), were so focussed on reaching the almighty goal of becoming a published author that you gave little thought to what you were going to do when you got there?

Shortly after my first novel, Yesterday’s Tomorrow released, once the bubbles in the champagne fizzed away and I stopped grinning and pinching myself, I admit to being completely overwhelmed and hiding under the covers for several days once I realized Oprah wasn’t going to call  reality set in.

Oh, I know. That won’t be your story. Your book will skyrocket to #1 on the NYT Bestseller List. Of course it will. But, just incase it doesn’t, at least not right away, you’re probably going to need a little help getting it into the right hands.

SO I’m really excited to introduce you to Kristen Lamb, the author of two books every published or not quite published author should rush out and buy – We Are Not Alone – The Writer’s Guide to Social Media, and, Are You There Blog? It’s Me, Writer.

       

If you’ve been at this gig for a while, I’m sure you know Kristen. If not, I hope you enjoy meeting her today. Watch Read and learn.

Kristen, I love your tag line, We Are Not Alone… Tell us what this means to you and how you came up with it.

I didn’t start out wanting to be a social media expert. In fact, the words “social media expert” made me feel a tad queasy and overwhelmed. Yet, I kept going to conferences where “gurus” were teaching what I felt was a bunch of garbage. I was a writer first and knew that one couldn’t treat books like toothpaste and writers like tacos. So after a bunch of griping, I decided to own up and write a book. I wanted my book to be different. I wanted it to reflect what social media was really about—people and human relationships.

Too many writers couldn’t see the real advantage. We finally had control over our writing futures. We had help! So when it came time to NAME my book, the publisher wanted to call it something like  “Social Marketing for Writers” and I was like, “Why not just punch them in the face?”

I argued that my demographic played World of Warcraft and collected action figures and had season passes to Renaissance festivals and Trekkie conventions…like me. I knew if I named my book “Marketing for Writers” that writers would be more likely to power drink than buy my book. So, when I told this to my editor Jen Talty, she said, “Well, then what do you want writers to feel  when reading your book?”

And I said, “I don’t know *pout face.* Maybe, um. Hell, I want them to know that they aren’t alone.”

Then Jen said, “Why Not, ‘We Are Not Alone’?”

 I would love to claim that I came up with this brilliant title, but the credit goes to Jen.

You have certainly carved out quite a niche for yourself as a “social-media guru” and your books are extremely popular (and invaluable, I might add) within the writing community and beyond. Give us a glimpse of the journey you took to get here.

I spent way too much time on Twitter than is healthy for any sane person.

Wait…oh yeah. Inside words stay inside.

I hit a lot of buttons and made a lot of stupid mistakes. Then I figured out how to correct those mistakes and do things better and faster. I thank God every day that New York Times Best-Selling Author Bob Mayer let me have carte blanche to experiment on him…um, his platform.  In retrospect it was probably a good thing Bob had no idea what he was signing up for.

Bob was a unique challenge because he had been a best-selling author in FIVE genres and he had more personalities (pen names) than Sybil running around unattended.  It was a real challenge to figure out a way to balance all of Bob’s identities, genres and roles (fiction author, NF writer, teacher, speaker, publisher) without having him spread so thinly that social media was either a time-suck or a time-waste. I leaned A LOT from that experience. ..first and foremost that pen names are evil.

Bob got free social media help so long as he was willing to define “help” loosely…very loosely. Once I really got good at what I was doing, Bob asked me to write a book for Who Dares Wins Publishing and We Are Not Alone was born.

…and I sold ten copies the first month. Most of them to my mother.

I had spent so much time helping Bob build his platform, I kinda forgot my own. I had to buckle down and get to work building a platform and defining myself as a social media expert.

So when I tell you guys I made all the dumb mistakes so you don’t have to, I am really being serious.

What was the one thing you most hoped to accomplish through your book, and would you say you’ve succeeded in doing so?

I wanted writers to become a team, to love each other and support each other. Historically we have worked in isolation. Most people assume it’s because we are loners, weird or socially awkward. The real reason is we don’t want to share our Star Wars t-shirts. There, the truth is out.

I think many writers worked in isolation because, what was the alternative? Now, we have a way to combine our creative energies for good. We are like superheroes who have mad grammar skillz.

Do I think I’ve succeeded? WOW YES! By my calculations, writers WILL rule the world by sometime next year…which might explain why the Mayans predicted it would end.

How important is it for the author not yet published to create an online presence/platform?

Writing a great book is ALWAYS FIRST. But when you land that agent and the three-book deal, you DON’T want to be pulling a social platform out of your…ear. Start early. Slow and steady wins the race. I think a writer with a viable social platform is going to be the new norm in two years. Start now while it is still an advantage.

Fiction authors have a staggering failure rate. According to BEA statistics, in 2004, 93% of books sold less than 1000 copies (traditionally and non-traditionally published). This isn’t to scare anyone as much as it is to give you guys hope that we can finally beat those hellish odds.

There are only two ways to sell books—good book and word of mouth. We always had control over a good book, and had a 93% FAILURE rate. Oh, and those stats are from 2004, before my cat could get published. Lots more competition these days, so we are wise to do what we can to get an edge.

If you think you might want to self-publish or go indie, then you don’t have a choice. You MUST be on social media and do it well (For those who doubt, refer to  Kristen’s first book sales in question above).

What marketing advice would you give to a newly published author?

Don’t. Write more books. Write better and better books. Talk to people. Be authentic. Self-promote too much on social media and we call that spam.

Traditional marketing doesn’t sell books. Total waste of time. Bookmarks and book plates and giveaways might drive a handful of sales, but they are really tactics that make writers “feel” productive. Writers are better off spending that time on writing more books and better books. Spend the money on a massage and wine instead of a book trailer. The massage will do more for your writing career and the wine is wine…HELLO!

What is the best piece of advice anybody ever gave you?

You can have anything you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want. ~ Zig Ziglar. Serve others first. Don’t worry about you. Focus on others and it comes back.

If you HAD to give up one area of Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc…), which one would you let go, and why?

I don’t care for G+. Maybe it is new, but I don’t see any advantages. Sure it has circles, but Facebook has lists. And I wouldn’t get all giddy about circles anyway. I don’t like sectioning people off based off what I think they might want to know. Hey, I’m a writer and if you don’t want to hear about writing don’t let the digital door hit you in the digital butt.

Thing is, we never know who is watching us. Some of those people you think don’t want to hear about all your writing crap are actually gonna be your biggest fans. The receptionist at my son’s pediatrician has bought three books off me and talks about me to anyone she meets.

I’m the only writer she’s ever met. To her, I’m a celebrity. Okay, so maybe she needs to get out more. But my point is, what if I had put her in a circle of people I thought didn’t want to hear about my writing?

Also, if your mother can’t read what you are posting, don’t post it.

Anything else you’d like to share, personally or professionally?

Learn to have a healthy relationship with failure. If we aren’t failing then we aren’t doing anything interesting. I would love to tell you guys that my books and blogging classes will make you a perfect blogger on Day One, but that would be awesome marketing a lie.

Just Do It

The more we write, the better we get at blogging and writing novels. We try, we fail, we reflect, we try again. The better we get at failing, the faster we will meet with success.

It’s been great having Kristen with us today! So let’s talk.

Do you have any burning questions about social marketing? Do you feel you’ve got a good handle on it or does the whole thing still scare the beejeebers out of you?

About Kristen Lamb:

Kristen worked in international sales before transitioning into a career as an author, freelance editor and speaker, and she takes her years of experience in sales & promotion and merges it with almost a decade as a writer to create a program designed to help authors construct a platform in the new paradigm of publishing. Kristen has guided writers of all levels, from unpublished green peas to NY Times best-selling big fish, how to use social media to create a solid platform and brand. Most importantly, Kristen helps authors of all levels connect to their READERS and then maintain a relationship that grows into a long-term fanbase.

Currently Kristen is teaching workshops based off her best-selling book We Are Not Alone–The Writer’s Guide to Social Media at various writer conferences across the country. Stay tuned for a workshop in your area.

Kristen is represented by Russell Galen at Scovil, Galen and Ghosh Literary, Inc in NYC.

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Police Work and Writing

For the past twenty years, I’ve worked as a 911 dispatcher. In the beginning of my career, I worked the graveyard shift at a busy California Bay Area police department. I cut my teeth on everything from stabbings to suicidal callers. My husband and I first met over a homicide. I dispatched him to the call; a drug deal gone bad. I know, not your average boy meets girl story.

Over my career, I’ve taken thousands of emergency calls and each one has molded and shaped my dark sense of humor and often cynical-quick-to-judge personality. After all, I get paid to judge in a matter of seconds, type-coding a call that will determine the response of police/fire/ambulance.

As an author, the road to publication twisted and shaped the writer I am as well. I can’t help but see clear parallels between a writer and police work.

•It’s not always what it seems. A detective is trained to look for what the untrained eye doesn’t see—things like blood patterns, fingerprints, and previous cell phone activity. A writer’s path isn’t always an obvious three-step plan either. The craft must be studied, worked on, and almost never is how we dreamed it would turn out, with twists and turns taking you places you never thought you’d be. My two-page personal essay became a nonfiction book for moms—who knew?

•Friends matter. Whether you’re the suspect or the victim of a crime, who you’ve associated with always comes into play. As a writer, who do you hang out with? Do you network with other writers/authors? Or, do you think your work is so good you’ll be miraculously discovered? If you truly believe this way, you couldn’t be more wrong. Trust me when I say: it’s only a matter of time before you’re a victim of un-success. Writing can be very solitary. Having someone come alongside who understands the ups and downs can make all the difference.

•Word of mouth. Home invasions are almost always drug-related, a targeted place where the suspect has planned to regain their lost monies or steal drugs from someone they know. Occasionally, it’s a friend of a friend who bragged to the wrong person about their parents jewelry and non-belief in banks. As a writer, your reputation begins as soon as you share, “I’m a writer.” Once your words are published via blog, articles, or any other venue, your branding begins. Conferences, retreats, writer’s groups, and online relations are where your reputation is formed. Use every connection as an opportunity for helping other writers as well. I like to remind myself, no matter how well I write, I will never rise above the reputation my family, colleagues, and readers have of me.

•Are you a victim?  I hate to break it to you…there aren’t as many victims as you think. Tough to hear? It’s true. The media loves to play on viewers emotions. As a writer, are you a victim? Do you suffer from itshouldbeme-syndrome? Do you believe every agent/publisher/editor just doesn’t understand your talent? Are you giving up the writer-ghost while complaining to everyone who will listen? Writer-victims aren’t as common as you’d like to think either. If your work is really that good and you are actively putting it in front of the right people, it will eventually be recognized. So, hang in there!

Writing and police work have a lot in common. After twenty years, my heart still races when I handle a hot call. There’s nothing like calming a woman who’s hiding from an intruder downstairs, encouraging someone to live another day, soothing a child who’s called an ambulance for their sick grandma, or the sound of a baby being born. The same can be said about writing. My heart still races when I submit an article, or speak before a crowd. There have been sleepless nights, anxious calls to writer-friends, and though my first published book is far from the New York Times best seller list—it’s been the ride of my life.

What about YOU? Does your writing journey have anything in common with your paying job?