​A boot camp is a short, intense course of training. It can also be defined as a correctional method used to reverse a behavior.
 
When you hear boot camp, do you immediately think of a rigorous exercise program?  Maybe you immediately think of a military boot camp meant to instill discipline or whip a new recruit into shape. Either way, the concept is the same.
 
Purpose Publishing is hosting a Boot Camp on Friday, September 29 and September 30, 2017.  This 2-day event focuses on your manuscript, your message, your marketing and finally your book release.  There is a wealth of information strategically covered during the boot camp that you don’t want to miss.  People who are serious about their success usually look for rigorous programs like this. They want real results, real fast.  Time or the lack of time along with an impending deadline also attract people to boot camps.  Don’t miss out on this great opportunity.
 
Click here to register.

​The 56-question Self-Publishing Survey targeted two subgroups: authors who have published at least one book (either self-published, traditionally published, or both), and aspiring independent authors who have not yet published a book. The online survey was conducted between October 24, 2016 – November 28, 2016, and was completed by 7,677 aspiring and published authors.


Reply back to this post to get your free copy of the report.


This report focuses primarily on revealing what marketing and promotional activities will enable self-publishers to increase exposure and sales of their titles. It examines the most popular marketing practices of the average author and the promotional activities employed by the most successful authors.


Today’s independent authors have a bounty of promotional and marketing tactics from which to choose, and it’s clear that very few are limiting themselves to just one or two options. Instead, to get the word out about their work, traditionally- and self-published authors alike are involved in everything from pre-sales and giveaways to launch parties and bookstore appearances.


Findings from the survey show that, on average, published authors engage in about 3.5 marketing tactics to promote their books. The research also shows that the most successful authors (those who have earned over $5,000 in sales in the past 12 months), are more active marketers than lower earners, engaging in 5.3 marketing activities per author compared to 2.2 activities respectively.


According to surveying agency, the variety of tactics authors employ may have something to do with the fact that self-published authors have more hope than ever that their efforts can blossom into a full-time career. “More self-publishers are taking their careers seriously these days,” he says. “Just as there are many different paths to fame and fortune in self-publishing, there are also many different paths to finding yourself in a traditional book deal.”


That said, a few specific tactics are especially popular with today’s authors. Soliciting book reviews stood out as the most common promotional effort among published authors. Published authors also expressed a strong predilection for social media as a marketing platform.


Number one tactic- Requests for book reviews


Given the importance of discoverability for authors who sell the majority of their print or eBooks through e-commerce platforms such as Amazon.com and its Amazon Kindle Store, it is not surprising that 51% of published authors responded that they have actively solicited reviews for their books. A good deal of those resulting reviews appear to be having the intended effect: 53% of those same published authors found their efforts to solicit reviews either “moderately effective” or “very effective.”


When soliciting book reviews, authors split their time fairly evenly among approaching book bloggers, Amazon reviewers, and beta readers. A good bit of weight is afforded to the opinions of book bloggers, who have been contacted by 42% of published authors in search of reviews. Yet there’s one group that receives book review requests with even more frequency than bloggers: friends and family. Over 61% of published authors have asked friends or family members to review their books.


To a large degree, authors who have been both traditionally- published and self-published have few qualms about earning negative book reviews, as long as the reviews continue to come in. When presented with the statement, “I would rather receive zero reviews on my book than any negative ones,” 63% disagreed or strongly disagreed with that statement.


So, in a nutshell ask people to review your book and share feedback on social media platforms and complete the review online through Amazon are great ways to drive more sales.


To Your Success,

MG

by Katina Long

So as I write this I wonder if using digital recorders will be beneficial when writing.  Some of you have seen me here as a guest blogger but I also blog for myself and my clients.  I am sure I do not write as much as some of you who have written multiple books and courses, however, I am thinking about how to simplify this writing process.

In my brainstorming, I begin to think about digital recorders.  Yes, digital recorders to help with writing. I kept thinking how awesome it would be to just push a button when something pops into my head and maybe sometime in the future either I type it up or get some software that will do it for me. I must admit that my inner nerd got kind of excited about the option but my search didn’t fully meet my expectations.

So, my first step was to find my digital recorder. I really do think I have one. I cannot tell you where it is or if it even works but I am confident that I own one.  Well after a search I must say that my confidence is waning but I cannot be deterred.  Onward to plan B (or is that step 2?)

Well, plan B was to find an Android app that would record my words and then transcribe my words so I won’t have to type them and save a lot of time.  As you know from a previous blog post, I look at reviews first. There was a few option that looked promising but the reviews left me less than pleased with step 2 (or was that Plan B?).  In my head I thought: how hard can it be?  In reality, it was getting late and I was ready to go to BED.  However, I found what I thought was a viable solution that I am testing but so far, I am not impressed. 
​
Have you ever thought about getting a digital recorder to use to help you in your writing process?  If so, how did it work out for you? Email us to share your experience and we will share with our audience.  If you have questions we can open up comments on the blog to discuss digital recorders and writing process.

by Michelle Gines

My friend, pastor, published author and Coach, Lia McIntosh, has been helping women for years live the lives they want most. She's the Founder/ Leader of the Warrior Chick Movement and she's hosting a WARRIOR CHICK FAITH & FOCUS ACADEMY on Saturday, August 19, 2017 at 2505 SW Wintercreek Dr., Lee's Summit, MO 64081.

I personally wanted to invite the entire Purpose Publishing list of clients, followers and friends to partake in this incredible opportunity. We all have ONE LIFE given to each of us by GOD; are you living the purpose He planned and purposed for YOU?  Answer the questions below, you might find that this is just what you need. 

Are you an entrepreneur who's ready, by faith, to expand your business?
Are you an aspiring author who's dream book is ready to become reality?
Are you ready to pursue your passion, inspire the world AND create a life you LOVE?  

If you said YES to any of these the Warrior Chick Faith & Focus Academy is for you!  It's time to invest in yourself and create the life you LOVE! I will be there and look forward to seeing YOU reach YOUR full potential!

At the Warrior Chick Academy, you will:

• Discover your strengths, passion & calling
• Define your niche & branding
• Write your book in 60 days
• Transform your money mindset
• Expand your reach via social media

 
Bring your passion, leave with a plan, and get ready to prosper. Your time is NOW!

Space is limited! Register TODAY for $149.  You're worth the investment.




Link for Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/warrior-chick-live-faith-focus-academy-tickets-35923156127

​

Warrior Chick LIVE Faith & Focus Academy - eventbrite.com
www.eventbrite.com
Eventbrite - Lia McIntosh presents Warrior Chick LIVE Faith & Focus Academy
Saturday, August 19, 2017
2505 SW Wintercreek Dr.
Lee's Summit, MO 64081


To find out more about Rev. Lia McIntosh visit her online at www.LiaMcIntosh.com

Guest Post by Katina Long

A sneak peek into the purchase practices of avid readers
When you decide to make a purchase in this technological age, you probably start with the reviews.  If you are familiar with Angie’s List, you're familiar then with the concept.  Their entire platform is based on user reviews that culminate into grades for each company.  It is a great concept and one that many rely on.  Recommendations for goods or services at your fingertips can save both time and money.  Consumers want to save both.

So, the question becomes: How do you make book reviews work for you? Let me share two ways.
As an author, your book(s) are probably available for sale somewhere online.

First, If they are sold on Amazon for example you can login and see what consumers are saying about your book.  Newcomers looking for a new book will probably check those ratings before deciding to spend their money on a new book.

I am both an avid reader and frugal consumer. I have no desire to waste any of my money on any books that are not good reads.  For me, reviews can make or break a book reading experience.  Consider this, if everyone else says the book is not good, I am not inclined to purchase it just to see if I will have a different experience. 

Secondly, you have no ratings, it is a good idea to reach out to your fans and ask them to rate your book. These ratings will also help with visibility and help drive more sales.  Also, you can share those ratings on your fan pages in order to garner support and additional sales.
​
If your goal is to sell more books, this is a great opportunity to refresh the traffic and try to regain any lost momentum from launch.

Give it a try and respond to us letting us know how it went for you.

by Susan Mintz

Everyone can write but not everyone is a writer. Writing is personal but it can also be something to share. Before you get started, ask yourself a few questions:

• Who is the audience I am trying to reach?
• Am I writing this for me and me alone?
• What do I want to write about?
• Who is my target audience?

If you are writing in a journal or keeping a diary, you have already taken the first step. Do you want to go further? If you want to see your works published, stay focused and do not get distracted.

It does not matter how you want to write or what you write on. Just getting your thoughts out is what you want to do. Thoughts become words, words become actions, and actions produce a finished product.

Writing is therapy. It is healthy because it cleans out your head, heart, and when the mind is uncluttered, you may be surprised how quickly those pages fill up.

Do not get frustrated. Do not be in a rush when you write. However, it is important to set time aside on a regular basis. It does not have to be a lot at one time but consistency is very important.

Your mind is where the thoughts begin. Start with a few words. Watch those words turn into sentences. Next you will see a paragraph and eventually a page. You will empower yourself by writing every day.

Perhaps you just want to write for the sake of writing but you have no intention in securing an agent or publisher for your work. Not everyone wants their writing published. But, nine out of ten times, you will produce something that you will want to see your name on. That is what is so exciting.

Be ready to take criticism. Even from your best friends. You are doing this for you. Not for anyone else. This is your story, long or short. This is your issue, your desire, and your reason. Own your writing and do not let anyone tell you NO!

Be confident and do not give up. If it is in your heart than put it down on paper. Reread it. Reread what you wrote and find that writer inside you.  It is much easier than you think. Enjoy the journey.

Here is the second installment of the Cures for Writer's Block Used by Writers. A survey of 2,500 writers found that writer’s block was caused by high expectations, fear of failure, and unrealistic deadlines. Here are 7 more of the 20 ways to beat writer’s block. Stay tuned for each installment in the Purpose Publishing Newsletter.
 
Adapted from “Writer’s block: 101 proven tips for how to cure and beat writer’s block used by writers,” originally posted on the Stop Procrastinating blog. Reprinted with permission.
 
8. Break the task down
The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one. – Mark Twain
 
Break down the task of writing into bite-sized chunks by creating a plan or outline and giving yourself realistic targets and deadlines. You’ll be using the same technique as one of the most prolific and successful writers of all time.
 
9. Write a letter
Follow the advice of one of America’s greatest writers. When musing over writer’s block, John Steinbeck suggested a good cure was to imagine writing a letter to a friend or a relative. You could start by telling them about a great new friend you’ve met, a character from your novel, or the topic of the content you want to write about.
 
10. Write anywhere
Learning how to write anywhere was a key remedy for many writers. Being able to jot down notes anywhere and at any time unlocked their imagination and removed the pressure of writing at a set time of day. The reason for this is similar to why sleeping helps creativity.
 
When you aren’t focusing on the task at hand – because you’re riding in a taxi, on the bus, or eating lunch – your mind will be working in the background on the issue.
Guaranteed, just when you are in the middle of something else, an idea will come to you. If you don’t have a notebook, you might lose your moment of creation forever.
 
Many writers keep a notebook with them at all times for when an idea comes to them and they need to write at a moment’s notice. Many writers who suffered from writer’s block taught themselves to keep notes and write whenever they were inspired.

11. Find your optimal time
Whether in the morning, afternoon or late at night, many respondents to our survey said that disciplining themselves to write at the same time every day had a positive impact on their creativity. You could keep a diary of when you should write. Writing down your writing goals with a specific time in mind is key to achieving them.
 
12. Make a mind map
Don’t be constrained by the page in front of you. Mind map your creativity or brainstorm ideas: Write down ideas that come to you and pin them to a board or scatter them over the floor. Write in scraps and notebooks and throw it all together at the end.
 
13. Write to music
In her “rules for writing,” Hilary Mantel, the award-winning writer of Wolf Hall, says she listens to music while she is writing. A number of our surveyed writers listened to inspiring music while they worked and it helped unlock their creativity. Many said classical music worked well as the lack of lyrics didn’t distract and this type of music put them into a lower trance state allowing them to access their imagination far more effectively.
 
14. Build up a sweat
If there is one elixir of life, it is exercise. Exercising increases energy levels and improves the flow of oxygen to the brain. As a result, exercise has been linked with improved creativity, increased focus, and the creation of extra cell matter. It has even been found to prevent age-related cognitive disorders, such as dementia.
 
Taking a break to quicken the heartbeat results in quickening your writing. However, not all exercise has to be hard work. The stereotype of the walking genius is based on truth. Researchers at Stanford University found that walking improves a person’s creative output by 60%.

A survey of 2,500 writers found that writer’s block was caused by high expectations, fear of failure, and unrealistic deadlines. Here are 7 of the 20 ways to beat writer’s block. Stay tuned for each installment in the Purpose Publishing Newsletter.
 
Adapted from “Writer’s block: 101 proven tips for how to cure and beat writer’s block used by writers,” originally posted on the Stop Procrastinating blog. Reprinted with permission.
 
If there were any doubts about whether writer’s block really exists, they’ve now been laid to rest. A study of 2,500 writers by Stop Procrastinating, the productivity app and website, investigated how to beat writer’s block and found that 63% of writers had suffered a block at some point.
 
The definition of writers’ block was clear: your motivation or ideas for writing dry up. The survey found that the cause of writer’s block were high expectations, fear of failure, and pressure of unrealistic deadlines.
 
The good news is that all the writers in the survey beat writer’s block though a combination of creative motivation techniques and unorthodox routines. In many cases all that was needed was a change of scene, especially if the causes were overwork or stress related. For others, changes to their routine worked effectively.
 
From getting up earlier to taking a cold shower to doing the West Wing “walk and talk,” the following tips can help you be more creative and motivated about your writing, and best of all, beat writer’s block in any number of inventive ways.
 
1.  Get up early or take a nap
Do you get up early or stay up late to do your best writing? Many scientific studies have found that creative activity in the brain is highest during and immediately after sleep. The research suggests sleep and dreams help build remote links between information that our mind struggles with during the day. Sleep, in other words, creates insight.
 
A 2013 BBC article dissects a study which found that people who slept on a problem did significantly better than those who didn’t, and a study from Psychology Today found that relaxing the brain’s focus on a problem enabled it to solve it. Our study confirmed that writers who changed the time of day they wrote to earlier in the morning were more likely to beat their writer’s block. However, nights owls still used sleep to improve their writing: Writers who said they were night owls had a nap before they began their late night sessions.
 
There are other reasons why the morning is ideal for creativity. The morning is quiet, you are well rested, and the day’s distractions have yet to begin. In fact, those writers who wrote successfully resisted checking their emails, engaging in social media, or turning on the radio or TV until they had finished their day’s writing.
 
2. Stop when the going is good
Writing too long can end like a bad party. Don’t even think about carrying on.
Writers revealed that they likened writing for too long to staying too late at a party: you become tired, irritable, and not much fun. You’ll also remember the party from the perspective of that sour mood rather than all the hours of fun you had before you got grumpy.
 
Simply put, give up when the going is good and you are more likely to look forward to writing again. Stop when you hit a block and you might not be motivated to hit the typewriter for a while.
 
3. Treat writing like a job
Imagine getting up in the morning and not wanting to go to work. Sure, a lot of people don’t want to, but they have to and they do a good job when they arrive.
Like most jobs, writing is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration, which means you have to put in the effort like the rest of us.
 
Writers suffering from writer’s block who are waiting for the muse to inspire them might be waiting a long time. Take time out to think, but you’re going to have to write. As with many jobs, at the beginning there may be pain. But once you get through the pain barrier, you’ll enter the flow stage, where your concentration sings and your writing comes naturally.
 
4. Stop digital distractions
When you’re feeling the pain of getting going or the lull in concentration that comes from work, what do you reach for? Distraction.
 
And what in our digitally enhanced world is only a swipe or click away? Millions and millions of pages of distraction from funny cat videos to erudite articles, from Facebook updates to the latest news story.
 
I once spent an half an hour watching trailers for a bunch of random movies. Then to make up for it, I read an intelligent online newspaper, at which point it was lunch time and half the day had passed by.
 
Cutting out the Internet connection gives writers a creativity boost. No longer are you tempted to browse the Internet or answer an email when the going gets tough.
Even if you aren’t looking for distraction to avoid work, you can easily become distracted if an email pops up or something else calls for your attention. Many writers in our survey said they downloaded a website blocker to help them to write, which helped improve their concentration and output.
 
5. Take a cold shower
It’s hard to believe, but some of the most hardy of writers said giving themselves the short sharp shock of an ice cold shower got their creative juices flowing. Taking a cold shower increases alertness, improves mood, and reduces anxiety – which is just what you might be feeling if you are worrying you can’t write any more.
 
6. Stop trying to write it all in one sitting
While some writers can produce all day, the majority create better work by limiting the hours they write to a maximum of three or four a day. Set a deadline and a time limit so you’re more focused.
 
7. Do something else
A change of scene or activity was a top cure for writer’s block for those writers who undertook our survey. Go for walk, bake a cake, have sex: just move away from the desk and stop writing. A period of time away from your desk, undertaking another activity (not browsing the Internet), allows the mind to work on an unconscious level. Often I find taking a short break can result with a solution only a couple of minutes into the new activity. The number of half-finished cakes I’ve baked is legendary.

As an author, you write with a voice that is unique to you.  Your fans, readers, and followers get used to that voice and want to hear more.  Have you ever wondered how to make sure your voice is heard between books?  No, I am not talking just book signings and the occasional speaking engagements. I am talking about your writer’s voice. The voice your fans are used to. 

Well if you have not already, start a blog.  Use that blog to write unique content that allows you to connect to your audience.  While you are connecting, you are building your fan base. That fan base is important because of your goal, besides making sure your voice is heard, is to grow a loyal readership that will, in turn, purchase your books.

If you don’t have a blog, I will share a few steps to get started:

1. Sign up for a blog using Blogger, WordPress, use an option on your website or a similar blogging application.
2. Share your content online on your social media sites.
3. Grow your mailing list.
4. Drive unique traffic to your blog using applications like Feedly, Flipboard, StumbleUpon or something similar.
5. Speak from the heart and stay true to you.  Your voice will shine through.

 
If you would like assistance, getting started, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. The Momentum Team will get you up and running in no time.
 

by Michelle Gines


Starting: You must start writing. Sounds obvious, but it may be the most overlooked step of the entire process. You write your book by first deciding what you’re going to write and how you’re going to write it.
 
Staying motivated: Now that you've started writing, you may face some self-doubt and overwhelm and a hundred other adversaries. Plan ahead for these obstacles. It'll ensure you won’t quit when it occurs.
 
Finishing: No one cares about the book that you almost wrote. We want to read the one you actually finished, which means no matter what, the thing that makes you a real writer is your ability not to just start a project, but to finish one.
 
Join us for the upcoming AUTHOR SCHOOL class.
 
To Your Success
MG

Become a guest blogger for Purpose Publishing.

How does becoming a guest blogger benefit you?

• Exposure – each article will be sent by email blast to over 500 engaged readers.
• Unique URL – get a unique URL that can be shared with your own audience and on your social media platforms.
• Traffic – Drive traffic to your website.

HOW TO SUBMIT:
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2. Your content must be between 400 - 800 words.
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If your article meets our standards and aligns with our purpose, we will respond within 2 weeks.

OUR CATEGORIES:
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PLEASE NOTE:
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By submitting, you are agreeing to our terms of service and relinquish the right to compensation for works published on the Purpose Publishing site.  Once published, the article will belong to Purpose Publishing and you will be credited as the author. The article cannot be republished.

by Michelle Gines

​Do you know that the difficulty with writing a book isn’t getting published? Now, with more than your fair share of ways than ever to become an author, the most difficult part of writing now isn’t actually publishing. It’s writing the book in the first place.
 
As the author of two published books, I can tell you that the hardest part of the writing life is sitting down and doing the work. Books just can't write themselves, after all. You have to invest the time and all you have into creating this important piece of work — to do that requires discipline.
 
When I dreamed of writing my first book, I believed I had important things to say, things the world needed to hear. Looking back on what it took to actually become a published author, I realize the process was completely different from my expectations.
 
To start, you don’t just sit and write a book. That’s a complete misrepresentation of the real writing process. You begin writing a sentence, then writing a paragraph, then if you’re lucky, you'll write an entire chapter. Writing happens in fits and starts and in little bits and parts. Just stick with it. Once you make the goal, stick with it. You'll be glad you did!
 
To Your Success
MG
 

by Michelle Gines


It’s the last month of the year! In just a few short weeks we will be saying goodbye 2016, hello 2017! With every changing of the calendar year, it's a good time for reflecting on what we’ve accomplished over the past 12 months, and our intentions to accomplish in the coming 12.

This is a crucial time of honesty in the life of an entrepreneur, professional, author and coaches.
​
In my attempt and effort to help you with your New Year’s planning, I am sharing with you a short list of tips to propel you into a greater New Year.

So, my top five list of tips to help get your New Year Success planning process started:

1. PULL OUT YOUR GOAL LIST FOR 2016
Reviewing your past goals is a great way to assess where you are in relation to what you intended – look at the goals that you set for 2016. Did you achieve them all? If so, maybe they weren’t challenging enough? If not, what were the reasons?

2. THUMB THROUGH YOUR 2016 CALENDAR
Review your calendar – look through your 2016 calendar to see what events and milestones took place. It’s easy to forget what you did 12 months ago, so looking at your calendar or planner may help to remind you of important occasions.

3. KNOW (AND NO) YOUR LIMITATIONS
Now is the time to set your priorities. Once you've determined your priorities for the next year will help you set better boundaries and stay on target. Keep in mind these can be short-term priorities; they do not have to set the tone for the rest of your life. As well, don't feel obligated to commit to things that aren't a priority for you. Saying no still applies in the year to come.

4. NOW, IT’S 2017 - GET OUT THE CALENDAR
Start a new calendar – start your 2017 calendar. Go ahead and put important dates, reminders, and events in place. This will help remind you of commitments and allow for better time management and planning. This should include both your professional and personal calendars.

5.  GO BIG OR GO HOME
Finally, Think BIGGER – start with your large, long-term goals, and then break them down into smaller attainable pieces. For example, if your goal is to grow your business or write a book, try deciding what action you will take to meet the goal. It could be that for your business you plan to join a MeetUp group or for your book commit to one chapter a month.
Hopefully these tips help you plan for a productive and successful New Year! You only have one life, plan it well.

To your Success,

MG

by Micah Channing

Writing a short story may not take the same time and energy as writing a novel, but the shorter form provides its own challenges – notably crafting a meaningful read in a short span of time and pages. These four tips can help you focus on how to write a short story.

Short stories are one of the most popular literary forms, for authors and readers alike. Although much more time and effort goes into creating a book or a novel, short stories have their artistic value, and their elegant simplicity makes them appear easy to write – which is not exactly the case.

I can’t help but recall the legendary anecdote involving the great Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway bet a few of his fellow authors that he would be able to create a short story containing only six words. They deemed it an impossible feat, but after all the money was placed in the pot, Hemingway wrote down something on a napkin, and passed it on for other writers to read. The napkin read “For sale: baby shoes. Never worn”.

There are examples like this one that can testify to the simple power of a short story, but for the time being, let’s focus on how to write a short story and what you can do to make your writing come to life. Here are four essential tips designed to help you do exactly that.

1. Start with a single detail

There are rare occasions when a complete story will reveal itself to you, right away, beginning to end. More often than not, you will come up with smaller pieces of the puzzle, which can be anything from a specific event around which the entire story is written, a main character’s name or physical traits, a location, or maybe just a particular phrase or word you want to use at some point in the story.

One way to come up with ideas for a story is to schedule a brainstorming session, though inspiration is a fickle thing known to strike at any moment, so make sure you are always prepared to write down the ideas that pop inside your head. Of course, you can also turn to real life for inspiration, especially when it comes to developing your characters.

2. Set up the story immediately

Because of their compact format, short stories do not allow for lengthy expositions, dozens of characters, or meandering subplots. This means you should focus on providing the reader with all the information he or she needs right away and set up the story from the first sentence. Make sure your reader is aware of the event that is taking place, as well as time, location, and all of the characters which carry the story.

Simply put, every single sentence should propel the short story forward, or develop its characters. Speaking of characters, keep in mind that this particular literary form allows only for a small number of fully fleshed-out characters who contribute to the overall narrative. This same approach should translate to the events described in short stories as occurring over a period of days, hours, or even minutes, and taking place in one or two settings.

3. Create believable characters

The key to making your story appear genuine and believable is to make your characters human, with all their virtues and flaws. If you are not sure how to do this, pick a character, and write down a list of all their traits and attributes, like their name or nickname, favorite food, place they were born in, or physical impairments, just as if they were real.
 
Again, when you are shooting for realism, you must avoid making your characters perfect. In fact, why not have some fun and create a character that is deeply flawed, or even has a villainous side? If you think readers will have a tough time identifying with a character who makes questionable moral choices from time to time, consider Batman, who is nearly psychotic in his pursuit of criminals, or the serial killer Dexter from the TV show of the same name.

4. Make it short, but meaningful

Kurt Vonnegut had a great advice for writers: “Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.” A short story doesn’t give you much space for elaborations of the psychological triggers behind the characters’ actions, but you should still achieve sense of completion. The reader should understand where the culmination of the plot comes from. He needs to realize what the protagonist wants and why he made the morally significant choices that mark your short story. While this doesn’t mean you should aim to please everybody’s taste with your short story, the reader should walk away after reading your work and feel as if it was worth their time and effort.

by Rosalind Gumby Bauchum



   
     A few years ago both of my daughters participated in an “I Can Kid” program.  The I Can Kid program was designed to motivate and encourage children to achieve goals in academics and educational programs, and to engage participants in positive youth skill-building and personal self-development, and enrichment activities.  The young participants were taught the following phrases;
 
“I can be successful.”
“I can be all I can be.”
“I can do my best.”
“I can reach my potential.”
 
     The majority, if not all of those participating in the “I Can Kid” program went on to graduate from college and are successful professionals, business owners, and educators. The outcomes of this program may show what we affirm and believe results in successful outcomes.
 
     Have we affirmed lately anything positive, motivational, or even spiritually? How often do we set aside our interests because we think we have little time to reach our potential?  Are we expressing to our inner selves “I am too tired,” after a day of work to start any personal pursuits? When we have time to exercise do we recite the excuse, “I will do it tomorrow?” 
 
    When I asked my daughter about the impact of the “I can” program on her life; she said it was so ingrained in her during her youth, she believed she could meet everything she set out to do! 
 
     Whatever your passion why not introduce the “I Can Kid” spirit in your daily life?  

by Micah Channing

In my years of coaching writers, I’ve seen manuscripts from many a new author. I strictly work with nonfiction that will either save lives, change lives, or transform society, and the manuscripts I receive normally come from nonprofessional writers who have experienced or learned something they feel compelled to share. But because they aren’t professional writers – some of them may not have written since they were in school – the work is often substandard. Here are 10 common mistakes new writers make. You can avoid all of them!
 
A new author often:
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1. Thinks he has an original idea (but doesn’t)
Before you start writing a book, make sure you have a genuinely original idea. How do you do that? Research! Read other books on the same topic and in the same genre, and if you find that your message has already been delivered, save yourself the time and aggravation of writing a book. Better yet, find your own unique angle about that topic and write to that perspective.

2. Loves the sound of her own writing
Seasoned authors understand the value of outside, objective criticism and will seek it at every opportunity. Amateur writers often believe that because they scored well in high school English, their writing is beyond criticism, and they don’t need any feedback. That’s a big mistake. An overconfident attitude produces sloppy writing.

3. Thinks writing a book will be easy
Writing isn’t easy and it never has been. It’s a hard discipline, and very few can hack it. If it were easy, you would have already written your book! No one has ever accidentally written a book, and neither will you. You must create deadlines, hold yourself accountable to them, and write all the time. As Agatha Christie said, “Write even when you don’t want to, don’t much like what you are writing, and aren’t writing particularly well.”

4. Doesn’t know how to begin
Think about how you would start any multi-layered project – like building a house. You’d start with a plan, wouldn’t you? Your book writing project should also begin with a plan that will carry you from your initial concept to the finished cover. You must know what you are trying to accomplish in order to reach your goal. Begin by answering these foundational questions, then write the book targeted to your answers.
What purpose will this book serve?
How is it different from other books published on this same subject?
What is the main theme of the story? What are the secondary themes?
What new information or angle does this story present that hasn’t already been published?
Why will people want to read this story?
Who is the audience for this book? List the primary and secondary markets.
How will this work impact that audience?
What change will this book invoke in the reader?
Why will people recommend this book to others?
Finish the sentence: “The purpose of this book is to ___________________.”

5. Limits his language and fails to expand his writing style
Readers appreciate a varied vocabulary and are impatient with repetition of words, phrases, and sentence structure. Be sure your writing is interesting, that there is a mixture of sentence styles, that you’ve employed active language, and that your verbs are sharp and distinctive. Language matters a lot.

6. Misuses grammar and punctuation
You may not understand the rules of grammar and punctuation, but that doesn’t mean others don’t. They do, and they’ll spot your mistakes in a flash. There are strict rules for both grammar and punctuation, and you had better sharpen those skills if you don’t want to be dismissed as an amateur.

7. Doesn’t invest in necessary resources
Do you need help with grammar and punctuation? Hire an editor. Are you unsure if there are mistakes in your manuscript? Hire a proofreader. If you plan to self-publish, hire a professional cover designer and interior designer. Just because you can do everything yourself, it doesn’t mean you should. Publishing is a specialized, professional industry, and you should work with professionals.

8. Trusts the opinions of friends and family
Friends and family are wonderful, but are likely compromised when it comes to offering you objective feedback. To put it bluntly, when it comes to your book, their opinion shouldn’t count. They are inexperienced, care too much about your feelings, and may only tell you what you want to hear. Perhaps even worse, they may burst your bubble and steal your confidence. Seek an outside opinion from a professional editor who is trained to critique writing. But brace yourself – this might sting! If you do employ the services of a professional, you should be prepared to make the suggested changes to meet professional standards.

9. Doesn’t know how to end the book
Just as your opening line is important, the ending can make or break a book. How and where do you stop? You must decide if you want to tie your story in a neat bow or allow it to continue. Write three or four endings, then choose the one that is most satisfying. Tie up loose strings on all subplots, and revisit those foundational questions to be sure you’ve accomplished your stated goals.

10. Sets arbitrary deadlines
A new author often sets unreasonable deadlines, then latches onto them for dear life. Come hell or high water, you’re going to get your book finished by Christmas, or the new year, or by any other manufactured deadline that has nothing to do with the book itself. Know this: by the time you’re in the home stretch, you’re going to be sick of your book. You may even hate it. But that doesn’t mean that you push it out the door just to get rid of it. Pull back and be thorough with every edit and research item. Exercise firm discipline and slow down so you can produce a professional and polished manuscript and become an author, not just another writer.