Tracy S. Wolfe's Blog
January 9, 2014
To Be a Writer...
...YOU MUST WRITE SOMETHING EVERYDAY.
It says that in all the books. I wonder if signing my name on a credit card receipt counts?
YOU MUST MAKE TIME TO WRITE.
Is that before I delve into the the un-rinsed, un-scraped, unloved dishes overflowing the kitchen sink or after I scale the heights of Mt. Laundry?
YOU MUST FIND A TIME OF DAY TO WRITE WHICH SUITS YOUR PERSONALITY.
Mornings are good for me. Weekdays starting at 7:00 am when the teenagers have finally left for school, I'm in front of my computer -- screen wiped and ready; keyboard, de-crumbed. But first, a little food and water for the dog and cat followed up by litter box duty and a quick dog walk. Then it's no problem to get right to work unless there's too much clutter, so an hour or two of housework (no more than that!) and I'm ready to type. Or I will be, after I get a cup of coffee which is undrinkable without a little hazelnut creamer.... Since I'm at the store anyway, I might as well get a few other things we need....
YOU MUST FOCUS ON YOUR WRITING.
I'm a laser beam when it comes to my writing. After hubby and kids are gone and the pets are settled down for one of their eight hour naps, I put a fresh sheet of "Word" on the computer screen, settle into my office chair, contemplate the trees outside my window, and totally ignore the phone....
Unless someone important calls like the school, my mom or sisters, Pastor Wally about next week's community meal, the dentist's office, the guy with the estimate for the new tires, or the woman that volunteered to publicize the Music Booster Fundraiser, but now she might have to cancel out, so I'll have to find somebody else.... Other than that, nobody! Except, of course if it's the tax lady, because she's really hard to reach.
YOU MUST NOT ALLOW DISTRACTIONS WHILE YOU WRITE.
This is not a problem until the cat starts stomping around behind me. And why is the dog staring at me with that sad look again? Well, a little break never hurts. I'll sit on the sofa with some cocoa and hug the dog for a bit.
Yes, with my legs stretched out on the ottoman the cat will stop wandering around and settle her bulk over my ankles. At least it'll warm my feet up (it's cold by that window over the computer). Since I'm planted for a while, I might as well download a book on my Kindle and catch up on my reading ... now that there's nothing to distract me.
It says that in all the books. I wonder if signing my name on a credit card receipt counts?
YOU MUST MAKE TIME TO WRITE.
Is that before I delve into the the un-rinsed, un-scraped, unloved dishes overflowing the kitchen sink or after I scale the heights of Mt. Laundry?
YOU MUST FIND A TIME OF DAY TO WRITE WHICH SUITS YOUR PERSONALITY.
Mornings are good for me. Weekdays starting at 7:00 am when the teenagers have finally left for school, I'm in front of my computer -- screen wiped and ready; keyboard, de-crumbed. But first, a little food and water for the dog and cat followed up by litter box duty and a quick dog walk. Then it's no problem to get right to work unless there's too much clutter, so an hour or two of housework (no more than that!) and I'm ready to type. Or I will be, after I get a cup of coffee which is undrinkable without a little hazelnut creamer.... Since I'm at the store anyway, I might as well get a few other things we need....
YOU MUST FOCUS ON YOUR WRITING.
I'm a laser beam when it comes to my writing. After hubby and kids are gone and the pets are settled down for one of their eight hour naps, I put a fresh sheet of "Word" on the computer screen, settle into my office chair, contemplate the trees outside my window, and totally ignore the phone....
Unless someone important calls like the school, my mom or sisters, Pastor Wally about next week's community meal, the dentist's office, the guy with the estimate for the new tires, or the woman that volunteered to publicize the Music Booster Fundraiser, but now she might have to cancel out, so I'll have to find somebody else.... Other than that, nobody! Except, of course if it's the tax lady, because she's really hard to reach.
YOU MUST NOT ALLOW DISTRACTIONS WHILE YOU WRITE.
This is not a problem until the cat starts stomping around behind me. And why is the dog staring at me with that sad look again? Well, a little break never hurts. I'll sit on the sofa with some cocoa and hug the dog for a bit.
Yes, with my legs stretched out on the ottoman the cat will stop wandering around and settle her bulk over my ankles. At least it'll warm my feet up (it's cold by that window over the computer). Since I'm planted for a while, I might as well download a book on my Kindle and catch up on my reading ... now that there's nothing to distract me.
January 4, 2014
To Market, to market...
Book Marketing...hmmmmm...I've read the strategies on what "indie" authors must do to get the word about their writings "out there".
The suggestions are to have book events, like a signing or readings, Q&A, etc. I'm sure this would be popular if my name were Stephen King. Tracy S. Wolfe is not gonna pack 'em in.
The helpful hint list says I must network on social media: My family and friends on "Facebook" are now fully aware of my book. (Thank goodness, I was worried they may have missed it somehow.)
I put an excerpt on the Buster Keaton tag at "Tumblr", but didn't get too many "likes" so I don't think the Keaton fan base is thrilled at my using him as a character in a vampire novel. (I still love them - sigh!)
I made a comment on a thread at "Goodreads", and received a reply that I misspelled a word in my post.
My son's friend made a website for me because this is also something an author should have. It's my intention to go back and check on my website for activity. It's been six months or so since I was last there. I'm sure I have the password somewhere.....
To sum up....Social Media Outreach: Mission Accomplished!
Okay, World, come and get me!
The suggestions are to have book events, like a signing or readings, Q&A, etc. I'm sure this would be popular if my name were Stephen King. Tracy S. Wolfe is not gonna pack 'em in.
The helpful hint list says I must network on social media: My family and friends on "Facebook" are now fully aware of my book. (Thank goodness, I was worried they may have missed it somehow.)
I put an excerpt on the Buster Keaton tag at "Tumblr", but didn't get too many "likes" so I don't think the Keaton fan base is thrilled at my using him as a character in a vampire novel. (I still love them - sigh!)
I made a comment on a thread at "Goodreads", and received a reply that I misspelled a word in my post.
My son's friend made a website for me because this is also something an author should have. It's my intention to go back and check on my website for activity. It's been six months or so since I was last there. I'm sure I have the password somewhere.....
To sum up....Social Media Outreach: Mission Accomplished!
Okay, World, come and get me!
January 1, 2014
What Was I Thinking?
Yes, what was I thinking publishing a novel in the overcrowded genre of vampires with the main character a silent comedian who has been dead for almost fifty years. My only answer is: it's what came to me. I marvel at those writers on Createspace and KDP. The writers on those community websites talk about their "ninth book in a series" -- how do folks do that! They are the real writers, not me. I can only come up with something when it buzzes around in my mind so much I have no choice but to write it out.
Another thing that I was concerned would happen I believe has happened. The Keaton fans don't like me writing him as a character in a novel. My Tumblr excerpt didn't get many likes, so I'm pretty sure they rejected my concept. I feel bad about that, but I still believe if the book could reach a younger audience that knows nothing about silent film or the 1920s, a certain number of them would be intrigued enough to check out his films and grow to love him like his fans do.
But for that to happen a person would have to be actively looking for the book and, realistically, that's not going to happen -- I'm not a marketer and this is what I'd have to be for it to reach people. My hope is Amazon will run their novel writing contest again. There's nothing like a contest with no entry fee. Just my price.:)
It may be my only chance to reach any kind of audience. Who knows? Somebody might even read my blog someday.
Another thing that I was concerned would happen I believe has happened. The Keaton fans don't like me writing him as a character in a novel. My Tumblr excerpt didn't get many likes, so I'm pretty sure they rejected my concept. I feel bad about that, but I still believe if the book could reach a younger audience that knows nothing about silent film or the 1920s, a certain number of them would be intrigued enough to check out his films and grow to love him like his fans do.
But for that to happen a person would have to be actively looking for the book and, realistically, that's not going to happen -- I'm not a marketer and this is what I'd have to be for it to reach people. My hope is Amazon will run their novel writing contest again. There's nothing like a contest with no entry fee. Just my price.:)
It may be my only chance to reach any kind of audience. Who knows? Somebody might even read my blog someday.
