#AtoZChallenge Ideas to Spark Your Next Story #WritingPrompt

The #AtoZChallenge 2017 Theme at Operation Awesome is the Publishing Journey.

Today's post will give you an alphabet-worth of Ideas to Spark Your Next Story.
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Where is your go-to place for writing prompts?
Which of these prompts is your favorite?

#AtoZchallenge 2017 Operation Awesome Ideas to Spark Your Next Story #WritingPrompt

#AtoZchallenge Healthy Minds and Healthy Writers

The #AtoZChallenge 2017 Theme at Operation Awesome is the Publishing Journey.

Today's guest post is by Tabitha Bird.
Healthy Minds and Healthy Writers

What ballet has to do with nurturing your creative mind.

Writers, let’s talk for a moment about ballet. Yes. Ballet. It has everything to do with nurturing your healthy mind and no, I’m not going to suggest you take up pirouettes to improve your craft.

What I am going to suggest is that being healthy writers means learning to look after our minds when we are most vulnerable. It means embracing healthy thought processes. How we nurture our minds as writers has a massive impact on the quality of our work, and also on the direction our writing journeys may take.

To write is to be vulnerable. Writing is essentially the mining of our own emotions and experiences so that we might create life on the page complete with shades of darkness as well as vibrant color. And with that kind of honesty comes an extreme amount of vulnerability. Because, unless you are content simply reading your writing to your dog, there will come a time when you will have to let that writing go. And this is where writers may struggle with nurturing their creative minds.

Submitting work means rejection, waiting, more rejection, possible hope, dashed hopes, no hope, new hope, unspeakable joy, and then wait some more. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

So let’s talk about ballet. Go with me for a minute.

Dancing scared me.

One Thursday night for the first time I took an adult ballet class at our local ballet school. And I discovered something. I could not ballet. Nope. Not at all. My feet didn’t like first position much less third or, God help me, forth. I couldn’t spin. Yes, I know there's a French name for spinning in ballet. No, I don't remember what it is. I was too busy falling down. And you know what? That wasn't okay with me.

Mental health for writers means being okay with failing.

Let’s talk honestly about our mind set around failure.

I realized that I not only wanted to ballet, I wanted to ballet well, the first time. I did not want to go through all the failing. And what happened in this class is that I didn't try very well. I was too busy worrying that I was going to fail, instead of expecting I was going to fail and moving on. I wasn’t free to fail and learn. I was caught in an unhealthy pattern of trying to avoid failure.

But the real problem? It wasn’t failing at all. It was what failing screamed at me. Failure said to me, "You suck."
Suddenly, I was not only failing at doing something but I internalized the words, “I AM a failure.”

Failure became a global statement about me. Instead of failing being an event that I could simply move past and learn from, it became a label that I couldn’t stand to wear.
No wonder I was not free to try. No wonder I was holding back and shrinking.

And writers, this mindset can follow us all the way into our own work. Our books can become a reflection of our worth or value as writers and as people, if we don’t learn to look after our mental health.

Redefining Thought Process to Look After our Mental Health.

After that dreaded ballet evening, and a few more that followed, I began redefining ‘failure.’

Thoughts to consider instead:

1. I am not what I do.
2. I am not what I fail to do.
3. I am me. I have worth simply because I am me.
4. Failure is a likely and necessary part of learning.
5. Failure is not fatal unless I give up.
6. Unless I give up, failure is only a point or a moment on my journey to success.

In ballet class this meant that I was a beginning ballet dancer who from that moment on was free to have a marvelous time thumping around the room and falling on the floor. Free to enjoy the process of becoming.

For us as writers failure means we are merely on the path to our success. Writer friends, if you can embrace these healthy thought processes you will be free to fail because it is necessary, inevitable and no comment whatsoever on your worth as a person or even a writer. You will be free to write that first draft, free to receive feedback on your work, to polish and submit your work, to wait on that agent who requested a full, to read rejection letters and to submit your work all over again. Free to enjoy the process of becoming.

G is for Good Books #AtoZChallenge

The #AtoZChallenge 2017 Theme at Operation Awesome is the Publishing Journey.

Here's a list of Good books I've read lately!

The second in the Charlotte Holmes series. I've been practically salivating waiting for this book to come. It did not disappoint, and I can't wait for the third one! You need this series in your life.

I loved the movie, and decided to read the book while waiting to buy the DVD. If you also enjoyed the movie, I'd highly recommend the book.

This series continues to be excellent. Can't wait to read the next one!

I haven't seen the movie, but after reading the book I sure want to. I'm not sure I have the adequate words for the admiration I have for the women featured in this book. On top of that, it's so meticulously researched that anything Margot Shetterly writes will automatically get put on my TBR list. Highly recommend.

I enjoyed the lush fantasy world, and trying to figure out the mystery along with the main character. And man, is that cover gorgeous!

 I love the reality show Laura came up with for this book--if it were a real show, I would definitely watch it! This is a fun romance with a great cast of characters.

One of the most hyped YA books of this year, and believe me, it lives up to the hype. Highly recommend for teens and anyone who wants to broaden their viewpoints.










What books have you read and enjoyed lately?

F is for Falling in Love With Your Manuscript - Why an Emotional Connection is Vital #AtoZChallenge

The #AtoZChallenge 2017 Theme at Operation Awesome is the Publishing Journey.

At Operation Awesome, we strive to provide writers and readers with the resources they need to succeed, at every stage of the journey. With that in mind, let's discuss the importance of writing the manuscript that's close to your heart.

Can you tell when a novel you're reading just isn't working for you? The writing is good, the plot is interesting, and the setting is lifelike... but when you put the book down at night, you're not counting the seconds until you can pick it up again. This happens to all of us, both when reading and when writing. I can count on both hands the number of works-in-progress I've shelved because *something* just wasn't working. It's a sharp contrast to those manuscripts I can't wait to work on, the ones that keep me awake at night, the ones that invariably get the best reactions from beta readers.

So what is that nebulous *something* novels need? More often than not, it's an emotional connection. Meaning, there's something about the way the characters are written, the way they experience their lives, the way they interact with the other characters, that touches readers on a more visceral level than an intellectual one. I cried my eyes out at the end of The Fault in Our Stars. My heart pounded during the last chapters of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, wondering how in the world Harry and his friends would get out of their latest mess. And I couldn't keep a smile off my face while reading The Hating Game, hoping the two main characters would realize their animosity for each other would be better expressed as romance.

Why do these novels succeed in invoking emotional reactions from readers when so many others fail? There are a lot of possibilities (and check out the book below if you want to explore further), but the one I'll discuss here is creating investment in characters. In real life, we might hear about a plane crash in a foreign country that killed hundreds, and it doesn't affect us emotionally. But if a friend or family member passes away, it hits us like a ton of bricks. That's because, at least in part, we have familiarity with the people we're close too, and we're invested in them.

It's the same for fictional characters. Show the reader your characters' backstory, how that backstory impacts how they see the world and interact with others, how your character talks, thinks, and acts. Sprinkle in details about your characters' hopes, wishes, dreams, and fears. Put them in terrible situations and have them use their strengths or wits to get out of them... or have them fail. Make them unique, and make them relatable, and in the eternal words of James Earl Jones' character, Terrence Mann, in Field of Dreams... "people will come." If readers care about your characters, if they feel an emotional connection to them, then readers will flock to your books, wanting to experience that emotion again and again.

Another suggestion: Draw from your own life experiences to create scenarios that ring with authenticity, so the reader will feel the emotional connection is tied to something real. Once, in my early 20s, I ran out of gas on a highway in the middle of nowhere, no cell phone, over thirty miles from the nearest gas station. I can draw on that experience to describe a character's desperation, hopelessness, and fear when placed in a similar situation. Because I've experienced it (everything turned out fine in the end), the reader will sense that authenticity of both the situation and the character's reactions, and believe the emotions that scene might evoke.

This book, Donald Maass's most recent, has been invaluable to me as I've worked through my latest manuscript revision. It's got dozens of exercises to help you incorporate emotion into your writing, and contains lots of excerpts from published books so you can learn to recognize 'writing with emotion' firsthand. Here's the Amazon link.

How do you incorporate emotion into your writing?

E is for Eye-catching Covers: 9 Tips on Finding a Great Book Designer #AtoZChallenge

The #AtoZChallenge 2017 Theme at Operation Awesome is the Publishing Journey.

If you’re searching for a book designer, the options seem endless. My Twitter feed is full of freelance designers. So, how do you choose the right designer for your book? You probably have an idea of how you’d like it to look, but also would like an expert to add in her ideas.

At Rebelight Publishing, I’ve had the privilege of working with a fantastic designer. Over and over, Melanie Matheson has produced stand-out book covers that have thrilled our authors and readers alike. She has over twenty-years experience in book design, so she knows her stuff. Recently I had a conversation with Melanie about how authors can spot a good designer and what elements they should be looking for in cover design. Here’s the advice she gave.

1. Take some time to look around a bookstore and see what stands out. The ones that stand out are fresh and new and interesting. That’s what you want for your book. You don’t want it to blend in with all the rest.
2. Take off your writer hat and put on your reader hat. What type of cover would make you want to pick up and read your book? What writers want on covers and what readers want are often two very different things.
3. If you see a book cover you like, find out who designed it.
4. Look for someone who is honest and a good communicator.
5. Make sure you feel comfortable with whoever you choose otherwise it will be difficult to convey what you want and to ask for changes.
6. Ask to see the designer’s portfolio. You are hiring the designer for a job, so treat early conversations like an interview. Ask questions.
7. Hiring an inexperienced book designer my save you money initially, but you’ll end up paying more at the printer when costly changes have to be made to fix mistakes.
8. Book covers are their own design specialty. Someone who specializes in corporate logos, may not be the best choice for a book designer. Find someone who has experience producing book covers and interiors and who loves books.
9. As much as you may think you know exactly what you want for your book cover, keep an open mind and allow the designer to do their creative work. Trust their expertise.

 Thank you to Melanie for lending her expertise to us today!

#AtoZChallenge Debut Authors - Why We Love Them (And You Should, Too!)

The #AtoZChallenge 2017 Theme at Operation Awesome is the Publishing Journey.

Greetings from J, the Debut Author Spotlight organizer here at Operation Awesome.
Today I have an A to Z list of why we love Debut Authors and you should, too!

• Authors are a big part of the A to Z Challenge. In 2016, writing was the most claimed category code.
• Blogging gives debut authors a chance to connect with their audience on a deeper level.
• Connecting and commenting is the bread& butter of successful debut authors.
• Debut authors have completed the biggest milestone in the publishing journey, which is awesome!
• Ever looking for a new book to read and review? Try a debut author!
• Friends and family alone are not enough— debut authors need new fans.
• Genres— all of them are welcome to the Spotlight. We love that the publishing world is full of variety.

• Heartthrobs, hipsters, humanitarians— we love having diversity among our debut authors.
• Intellectual discussions about books are the cornerstone of culture. Love that debut authors are keeping that alive.
• Just by reading a debut author's book, you could fall in love with the next Agatha Christie, Danielle Steel, J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, John Grisham...
• Kindred book spirits are easier to find via the interviews. We love matching debut authors to new fans.
• Learn about our debut authors in just a few short minutes.
• Motivation to buy books is a topic each debut author is asked to discuss. We love finding out what generates sales NOW.
• New authors become favorite authors. That's really something to love.
• Only debut once! We love being part of that first experience.
• Publishing traditionally, small press, or self— all are loved here, so all are welcome to be interviewed.
• Quickly find books for the #DiversityBingo2017 card.
• Reviews are powerful! Show some love to a debut author. We love making a difference in this way.
• Social Media is a powerful tool for a debut author. We love watching them connect with their audience. Come make a new friend!
• Television and movies based on the works of debut authors have made billions. We love the potential! (Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind, Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones, Nicholas Sparks's The Notebook, Ed Conlons's Blue Blood, etc.)
• Utopia is a place where we never run out of new books to read. Love debut authors for keeping that dream alive.
• Variety is the spice of life. We love that debut authors bring that to the table.
• When you wonder what to read next, please check out the debut author spotlight.
• X-treme bookworms— there are bonus points for reviewing a book by one of our debut authors. Oliver's Nest Bookworm Challenge.
• Years ahead of other shippers if you fall in love with the book and author before "everyone else"!
• Zero owls were harmed in the writing of this blog post. We love owls almost as much as we love debut authors.

Why did you select that "debut book" in the survey above as your favorite— what was it that made you love it so much? Which Debut Author has a book coming out that you're eager to read?

C is for Confidence! How to Write Big, Bold, and With Authority #AtoZChallenge

The #AtoZChallenge 2017 Theme at Operation Awesome is the Publishing Journey.

At Operation Awesome, we strive to provide writers and readers with the resources they need to succeed, at every stage of the publishing journey. With that in mind, let's discuss how writing with Confidence can transform your work-in-progress!


Let's start with an example:

Character 1: "I mean, um, I think there's probably a good reason for why Stan cheated on the test."
Character 2: "Stan had a good reason for cheating on the test."

Which character are you more inclined to believe? If you ask me, Character 1 is hedging. By using words like "I think" and "I mean" and "um," she's showing that she's not even sure she believes her own words, let alone helping the reader believe her. Character 2, on the other hand, is leaving no room for doubt. Sure, he may be lying. But isn't it easier to believe him when he speaks with such confidence, such certainty that his words are true? And aren't you more interested to hear the reason for Stan's cheating from Character 2 than you would be from Character 1?

As you're writing dialogue, keep confidence in mind. Whether you're creating a bold, self-confident character or a shy, uncertain character, the way characters talk should reflect their personalities.

An interesting tidbit: Studies have shown that in business settings, women are more likely to voice their ideas using 'I think' or 'I believe' than are men, who tend to just state their ideas without the hedging language. Keep that in mind too, if you're trying to distinguish characters using their speech patterns. Here's another example:

Character 1: I think the company should donate money to the children's charity.
Character 2: The company should donate money to the children's charity.

Two tiny words, but they make a difference, don't they?

You can also use confidence to subvert readers' expectations. For example, if you have a main character who's bold, blustery, and no-nonsense, and she's being questioned by the police in connection with a murder, why not have her use hedging language to show she's ill at ease? Sprinkle some 'um's and 'I think's in there and see how that helps show how she's feeling.

On the other hand, if you've created a character who's timid and unassuming, but you put him in a scene with his younger brother and he suddenly starts making statements without using hedging language, that gives the reader a lot of information about his relationship with that brother.




How do you incorporate confidence into your writing?

B is for Building Your Author Brand #AtoZChallenge

Author brand is kind of a nebulous term. We hear of clothing brands and soft drink brands, but people as brands? It may seem odd. Are you a brand? Am I a brand? If you’re an author interesting in marketing your book, then the answers to all those questions are “yes”.

In order to build your brand, you first have to know what it is. So what is your author brand? In her book, Your Book, Your Brand, Dana Kaye states it simply. “. . . You + Your Book = Your Brand. Your brand consists of who you are and what you write.” 

Defining this can be easy if you’re a naturally interesting person and you have one gothic horror you’re marketing. But, what if you don’t know what’s interesting about you, and you’ve written a gothic horror, middle-grade humor, and a young adult romance?

Kaye recommends finding a common theme throughout your work. She encourages authors to go through all of their books, both published and in progress, and list the following:

1.  Primary themes
2.  Secondary themes
3.  One line about the protagonist
4.  Genre category

When your lists are complete, mark similar answers. From these similar answers, condense the information until you’ve determined your author brand. I recommend picking up this book, so she can walk you through the process thoroughly. Here’s a link: Your Book, Your Brand by Dana Kaye. It's well worth the money and time spent reading.

Once you’ve developed your brand, you’re ready for it to meet the world. This brand will guide every decision you make in your book marketing from the style you choose for your website and promotional materials to where you seek reviews and interviews to which conferences you attend. By knowing your brand, your marketing will be focused, and you'll waste less time on activities that are unlikely to promote you and sell your book.

***********

Melinda Marshall Friesen authored three books that delve into dark futures. When she's not promoting her own books, she's marketing books for other authors as the the marketing director at Rebelight Publishing Inc. 

#AtoZchallenge Agents- How to Create the Perfect List of Who to Query

The #AtoZChallenge 2017 Theme at Operation Awesome is the Publishing Journey.

Today's guest post is by Fanni Sütő.
Agents- How to Create the Perfect List of Who to Query

Finding an agent, a deliberate decision

I think the first question every aspiring writer should ask themselves is: Which type of publishing is the most compatible with me?

They should look at different ways of putting their work out there: self-publishing; small publishing houses who are willing to take unsolicited manuscripts and of course the big publishers, where one stands no chance without an agent.

I’m not suggesting this moment of self-reflection to dissuade you from the agent hunt. However, I firmly believe that our every step towards publication should be conscious and well thought out. You shouldn’t start to look for an agent because somebody else told you so, but because you’re fully aware what the advantages and disadvantages are and you want the deal.

It has always been my dream to place my manuscript with a bigger publishing house, so once I’ve finished up my manuscript I’m going to throw myself into the forest of literary agencies.

I come from Hungary, a small country with a very small market for books. The publishing industry is so tiny that there is just no space for the intermittency of agents; writers try to represent themselves and sell their books to publishing houses. It puts a lot of pressure on the author because they have to deal with things they’re not specialised in and it takes time from their actual writing. Knowing this, I really appreciate the possibility of having a professional who would take care of me, while I worked on my books.


So how would I go on about finding the perfect agent candidates?

I’m a huge Twitter fan, so I would check out what people are looking for with the #MSWL hashtag (manuscript wish list.) It’s a good place to go if we want to know what editors, agents, publishing houses are looking for. If you find agents who dream about something like your manuscript, jot down their names, maybe check out their posts to see if you have a similar taste and views on life.

There are different compilations of agents looking for new writers to represent.
http://agentsassoc.co.uk/members-directory
http://www.litrejections.com/uk-literary-agencies/
http://www.litrejections.com/us-literary-agencies/

Take your time, go through them. Make lists, then set up an order of preferences.

Of course nobody can expect you to send your query to only one agent at a time, but you also shouldn’t flood the market mindlessly. Order your list into tiers. Send out a few queries to the agents you find most compatible or appealing. Wait for their response. Hopefully your first choice will love you back, but if not, move down the list.

Always be polite and respectful. It’s completely normal to work with an email template, but make sure to always personalise them and pay attention to the special wishes of the different agents.

If you don’t agree with something, or even if the agent wasn’t the nicest to you, never be aggressive or impolite. Agents talk among themselves and you wouldn’t want to find yourself blacklisted.

Most importantly; however, even while you are querying, don’t stop working on new stories. Instead of waiting in agony, use the energy to create.