Steven Wain's Blog

For a lot of writers, showing your work to a stranger can be a daunting process. Let’s face it, no parent or family member will tell you that your work is rubbish and needs work. It’s a biased opinion. That’s one reason why we need something called beta-readers. These are, put simply, people who read your work and give you honest feedback, suggestions on where you can improve, and where you went right.

However, to be clear, they are not editors. They shouldn’t be editors. That is a completely different part of the process. A beta-reader should be someone with no connection to you, who loves to read, and who doesn’t mind taking some time to help out writers.

So, where do we find beta-readers? They shouldn’t have a prior connection to you, making them biased, so friends and family are out. The easiest way to find a beta-reader is to jump on social media, join reading groups, connect with other writers and readers. Or, if you prefer a real-world approach, go down to your local library or bookstore and connect with people.

The value of beta-readers lies in story improvement. It’s not their responsibility to proofread your work as much as it is to look for where your plot and characters might be improved. Ask them if a character is believable, or if a specific action correlates with that character’s personality.

If you find the right people to beta-read your work and you take their feedback on board, your work can be improved ten-fold. Outsiders will see your work with more clarity and be able to spot things you can’t. Break through your fear and allow beta-readers to see your work! The results will speak for themselves.

Sources:

Beta-Readers vs Editors vs ARCs

How to Find a Beta-Reader

As you type away at your novel planning to self-publish, a moment will come when you realise that the writing of the book is only half the job. As self-publishers, we no longer have a publishing company to edit our books, format them, prepare them for print, and design the covers. The responsibility has been shifted to the author to have all of those things (and more) ready on launch day.

Thankfully, we can outsource some of this workload. If you’re like me, you’re a writer. You paint your pictures with words and you sure won’t design as good a cover as a professional. Of course, you’re welcome to try, but be prepared that your sales and reads may suffer as a result.

This is why it’s so important for self-publishers to hire freelancers. It not only helps the writer get back to writing, but it will also likely ensure a better, more professional looking product. The biggest and easiest place to find freelancers is a website called Fiverr.

Remember to be clear on what you want with your editing, formatting, and designing. Services with freelancers will depend on your communication and if you don’t communicate effectively, then you’ll likely be unhappy with your end product.

As self-publishers, we have to remember that we can’t do all the work ourselves. It’s unlikely that a writer can take on the entire workload and come out with a quality product for readers. Hire freelancers with care and consideration. Fire them if you’re unhappy with their work. And finally, admire your end product.

Sources:

How to Outsource Production for Indie Authors

From DIY to Outsourcing – Why Self-Publishers Should Hire Experts and How to Work with Them

Fiverr.com

Social media is one of the most valuable tools for writers. It’s unique way of connecting with your audience and keeping them connected with you. Though it can be a little more difficult than posting about what time you woke up and your word count for that day. There are a few handy things to remember.

Look at your audience and the demographic you’re attracting. If you’re audience is mostly pet owners or new mothers, then try and work that theme into your social media activity. If your audience consists of older people, then they probably won’t connect with memes and text language. Your voice should be able to connect with your reader base.

Now, there’s all this talk about connecting with your readers, but how do you find them in the first place? Social media is one of the easiest ways to discover your audience. You should be active on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, at the least. Find which works best for you. Join a group on Facebook whose interest is your genre. Use hashtags on Twitter and Instagram to have your post seen by everyone who clicks that hashtag. Comment on another author’s content and engage with them. But most of all, keep your posts interesting.

Nobody wants to connect with an author who’s only interested in self-promotion, or only tweets about menial things in their lives. Make your content meaningful. Maybe your readers can learn something about your reading interests, or hear about a local book signing you’re doing.

It’s important to note that your social media followings won’t grow overnight. It could take days, weeks, and months. Don’t be discouraged if your engagement doesn’t skyrocket after the first attempt. Keep at it, back yourself, and the followers will flood in, as will the book sales.

Sources:

Social Media Tips for Authors

Book Marketing Social Media Tips for Introvert Authors

Proud to announce the website has been updated to include For When You’re Alone!

Check out the page:

For When You’re Alone

Take it one at a time, when you have a spare moment, or devour the entirety in a day. There’s something here for you. Come test the waters.

I started and finished the first chapter of my new project today. This one is going to be very different to anything else I’ve released, though I’m enjoying entering new territory.

Meanwhile, the wheels of my other projects are quietly turning in the background. Some are further along than others, but I will have big news to share very shortly.

I’m writing what I hope to be the final copy of my third novel before it is released. I’ve made it a fair way in and I’m happy with how it’s turning out.

It feels good to set daily word goals and continuously surpass them. I think that’s a great way to maintain productivity as a writer.

Taking a look back at my very first haiku I published. It was the first of a Wattpad poetry book called For When You’re Alone, which now features over 70 haikus. It’s been a long road. Read below:

Dark Clouds And Sunny Skies

Dark clouds in my mind,

Sunny skies elsewhere taunt me,

So I close my eyes.

As I write the second draft for my new novel, I’m also picking up two other projects. They are both expected to be short novels but anything can happen! It wouldn’t be the first time a story has grown into something much larger.

They are both very close to me and I’m so excited to share them. Though for now, they have to remain a secret.

Taking on three projects wasn’t my plan but I’ve always had a habit of piling up more work onto myself. A little masochistic? Probably, yes. But now, they’re all growing and I can’t find it in myself to let any of them go.

I’m hoping for at least one of these to be a Wattpad release to go with my other two works that feature there.

Will have more news coming soon!

So, I didn’t think I’d be able to carry the work load that two books would bring. But it seems to be okay so far! I have both of them plotted and prepared, with some big events and colourful characters. 

Right now, I’m preparing the first drafts for both and I hope to have some content out very soon! 

It feels so good to be just freely writing again. It’s a nice break to get away from the planning and editing. 

Updates to come! 

For When You’re Alone has been updated with its fourth haiku, entitled ‘Carried On The Breeze’. 

Check it out!