#WriterWednesday - October 2nd 2019

In case you missed my post about it from a couple of weeks ago: I FINALLY have a new book out! My pirate themed adventure story, featuring my own ratty girls, Star and Skye, Voyage Of The Crimson Sail" is out now, and you can buy it in both eBook and/or paperback from a variety of online retailers, including - but not limited to - Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iBooks. Check out the post I just linked to for more details, as well as for purchase links.

For those who prefer it: an audio version will be made available in the not-too-distant future. In fact, Emma Thorpe - who narrated my Magical Chapters Trilogy - has agreed to take on the project, and should be starting work on that this week.

As I'm sure you can imagine, given how long it's taken, I'm incredibly happy to have this book finally done. Not that I haven't enjoyed writing it, because I have... It was a fun challenge to write an adventure story. But it feels great to be at the end of this particular writing journey, even though I completely agree with the following quote:

It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end.
~Ursula K. Le Guin

In other news: thanks to the talented Jenny Bacon, the audio version of another of my books has been produced, and is currently heading to retail, so I'll be announcing the availability of "Thistle The Fairy Trickster" in audio soon.

For now though, I have a whole load of links to share with you, so let's get started, shall we?

First of all, as you've likely noticed, there are only a few more months of the year left. So, how are those goals of yours for this year going? Are you struggling with them? If so, remember that if you want to meet your goals, you have to start setting definite ones. You can bear that in mind for future goal setting too.

Or, if it's fitting everything in that's not working for you, try switching up your routine a bit. I'm sure you've heard about how doing some kind of morning routine can help, but remember that your evening routine might be even more important than your morning rituals.

Oh, and if you've been taking a writing break, and one of your goals is to get back in to writing, this post contains the keys to successfully returning from a writing hiatus. Also, this is how to write regularly without getting sick of it, and why writing consistently (not necessarily every day) matters.

If you are in difficulties with a book, try the element of surprise: attack it at an hour when it isn’t expecting it.
~H. G. Wells

Regardless of what goals you might have, or how your goals are going, if you want to start writing a book, here are 12 essential reminders for anyone getting ready to start writing a book. Also, here are some unusual writing tips, which you might like to bear in mind. Oh, and just let your story decide its own length, at least in the first draft, OK?

Next, here's how to find your writing productivity limit (and why it matters). And this is what 'writing on a bad day' looks like, and what to do about it - in case you need to read that. After all, the actual writing isn't the hardest part about being a writer.

Anyway, here are some things to consider if you're doing series work, and some tips for if you're tackling the challenge of making 100 monsters (or whatever number it might be) for your series.

Series or not, here's a great changing times expansion pack, which might inspire your next story if that's a theme you've been thinking of going with.

You know the advice to write what you know? Well, depending on what you're writing about, that might not actually be possible. So, how do you write what you can't know? The post I just linked to explains.

A writer, I think, is someone who pays attention to the world.
~Susan Sontag

Whatever you've written, if you're now in the editing phase, but struggling to stay motivated to finish those edits, this is how to stay motivated during edits.

Oh, and... While you're editing... If your characters are easily mixed up, you should try these tips for making characters distinct.

If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.
~ELMORE LEONARD

By the way, I publish my audiobooks via ACX, but ACX aren't the only way to produce them. For example, Kobo have just launched a direct audio upload feature, which you could potentially use if you're actually doing the narration yourself. I wouldn't want to personally, since I know I wouldn't do them justice. But if you do, or if you've worked with someone you've paid up front, so don't have to be exclusive to somewhere else, it's something you might want to consider.

Anyway, when you're ready for them, here are some tips on attracting your readers with your covers, book titles, tag lines, and key words. Also, here's a bit more on how to title your book.

Now, let's talk about online watering holes for authors. So, is your blog marketing ready? Do you need a step by step Twitter set up guide? And do you use Facebook, exclusive watering holes, or LinkedIn? Check out the posts I just linked to if you need tips for any of those things.

Regardless what the situation with your online watering holes is, if you're going to be doing guest posts - whether on your own blog, or on the blogs of others - here are some important points to consider when it comes to writing a guest blog post.

No matter what marketing strategies you use, or even if you publish at all, if you ever feel like you can't keep up, you're not alone! The type of burnout no one's talking about might be the one affecting writers the most. So look after yourself, and remember that it's OK if you have to leave some of those ideas behind. All you can do is be your own best in the world at everything, so don't expect more than that of yourself.

The first person you should think of pleasing, in writing a book, is yourself.
~Patricia Highsmith

If you're struggling to accept that, these are the reasons you haven't written anything you're proud of lately, which you should bear in mind.

Finally, read this when it feels like your work doesn't matter.