3 WAYS PINTEREST CAN BOOST YOUR WRITING CAREER

 

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My sister and I were talking the other day about Pinterest. She told me she had an account and quite frankly I was surprised. Janet doesn't enjoy participating in social networking like I do. Her Facebook friends probably number less than twenty, but she likes it that way. That is why I was surprised to discover she even had a Pinterest account. I'm pretty sure she will only use it like a glorified photo album and that's just fine for her.

But not for writers.

 

If we are serious about our careers, writers have to consider how a social site like Pinterest can not only support our writing muse, but also help connect us with our intended audience. Ours is a visual world and here are three ways Pinterest can help us accomplish that task.

PROVIDES STORY LINE IDEAS

I love searching through Pinterest for wonderful illustrations to post to my PB IDEAS board (https://www.pinterest.com/donasdays/pb-ideas/). Something catches my eye and I pin it on my board for consideration later. I am a visual picture book writer and just studying whimsical or silly artwork will trigger a nugget of a story idea and I run with it. 

When I was writing my fantasy novel I created my LUNADAR board (https://www.pinterest.com/donasdays/lunadar/). It was there I would skip through the pictures and daydream of a world where my characters could come alive. It help ground me in the fantasy world I was creating until it was as real to me as I imagined my readers would hope it would become for them.

And when I work on my creative nonfiction manuscripts, I sometimes turn to my HISTORY board (https://www.pinterest.com/donasdays/history/) to maybe discover a little known fact that can become the spotlight of my next book. Why not use a picture based social site for gathering great research pictures?

SHOWCASING ONE'S WORK

Pinterest is a great way for people to take a look at your work. Right now I might only a couple of books available for purchase but MY PUBLISHED WORK board (https://www.pinterest.com/donasdays/my-published-work/) shows where readers can find my stories, view my STORY CATCHER book trailer, or check out my latest business postcards. My STORY CATCHER FAN CLUB board (https://www.pinterest.com/donasdays/story-catcher-fan-club/) has info about my picture book and butterflies because they are part of my STORY CATCHER logo. I would love to add Pinterest links of my FREE STORY CATCHER newsletters but haven't figure that one out yet. If you know how to turn a PDF file into a Pinterest pin let me know in the comments or shoot me an email. I would really appreciate it!

If you have a number of books out you could always set up a board for each board and show things like book covers, illustration art, pictures of book signings, Common Core activities linked to each book, etc. The more you are able to pin, the more connected your readers will be to your work.

SHARING WITH OTHERS

I have also created a number of boards to help others like writers, teachers, readers, etc. My FOR TEACHERS board (https://www.pinterest.com/donasdays/for-teachers/) has a plethora of activities to help support wonderful educators out there. I have a number of "writing" based boards like WRITING (https://www.pinterest.com/donasdays/writing/), NANOWRIMO (https://www.pinterest.com/donasdays/nanowrimo/), WRITING RESOURCES (https://www.pinterest.com/donasdays/writing-resources/),
and BOOK MARKETING (https://www.pinterest.com/donasdays/book-marketing/). Lastly, for all the lovely book lovers out there I have my BOOKS (https://www.pinterest.com/donasdays/books/) and WONDERFUL BOOKCASES (https://www.pinterest.com/donasdays/wonderful-bookcases/). 

The possibilities are endless with Pinterest. Whether you are more like my sister and just want a convenient space to post all your cool pictures or you are a serious professional working on furthering your writing career, Pinterest is definitely an avenue worth looking into!

Blurb: Addie comes from a long line of readers or "story catchers" as her family likes to call themselves. Every time Addie tries to catch a story on her own the wiggly words play tricks on her. She tries different ways to make those words sit still but it will take a little faith for Addie to become the next STORY CATCHER.

Buy Links:Amazon Kindle ¦ Paperback ¦ B&N ¦ Smashwords

JOIN THE STORY CATCHER FAN CLUB! Membership includes:

 
Membership Certificate

Bi-montly Newsletter full of mazes, puzzles, games, news, and other goodies

Reading Log for earning STORY CATCHER AWARD

WRAPPED UP IN WORDS

Sunday is my favorite day of the week. Twenty-four hours of silence filled with the feeling of being wrapped up in words and nowhere to have to go.

No appointments.

No commitments.

No one tugging at me, asking for my help or demanding my time. Just the words are there...waiting for me...like little puppies lined up for a belly rub and I dive into the middle of them, drowning in the visions and sensations all the lovely words have to share with me.

Sometimes I don't know where to start. I've fought my way through another hectic week and my mind searches for the words I know will feed my spirit. Softly they whisper "come follow me" and soon I'm down the rabbit hole on some grand adventure to visit the Mad Hatter or the Queen of Hearts.

Or maybe they call to me to take a leap of faith and we fly to Never Land where the lost boys are. Words dancing and prancing across the pages, leading me on a merry chase until I fall exhausted onto my bed. Wrapping myself up in the soft words of a bedtime story, lulling me to sleep with their stories of the night.

Words.

You have the power to hurt, the power to heal, and the ability to create a little magic in the mind of one weary time-traveler. So for now, I'll catch my breath, say a prayer of thanks for the ability to read because so many in this world can't, and go in search of some words...

BLURB:

Addie comes from a long line of readers or "story catchers" as her family likes to call themselves. Every time Addie tries to catch a story on her own the wiggly words play tricks on her. She tries different ways to make those words sit still but it will take a little faith for Addie to become the next STORY CATCHER.

Buy Links:

Amazon Kindle ¦ Paperback ¦ B&N ¦ Smashwords

DO YOU REALLY NEED AN AGENT TO PUBLISH A BOOK?

Actors have agents. So do athletes. Why even a circus clown can have an agent so why not writers? But maybe the bigger question should be...do writers NEED an agent to publish a book?

Maybe not.

It's going to depend on what your end goal is. Have you put together some favorite family recipes and just need a few copies printed? Then you definitely don't need an agent. Maybe you've self-published quite a few titles on your own and feel fairly confident about the whole publishing thing but now want to consider expanding into a more traditional market? You might do just fine without an agent when subbing that next manuscript to a larger publishing house if you have decent books sales, like in the thousands, to back up the titles already out there.

I feel I was lucky since I didn't have an agent at the time Anaiah Press offered me a book contract for THE STORY CATCHER. Maybe it was because my manuscript was simply that compelling that it didn't need an agent to sing it's praises. Or maybe it was because Anaiah is a small press just starting out and was willing to give my book a chance. No matter the reason my book is proof that at least for one writer, an agent wasn't needed to get a book deal.

But for the majority of writers out there, if you have long term goals (like I do) of really wanting to make a career out of your writing, then securing an agent is probably the best way to increase your chances of receiving a contract offer.

Look at it this way. I can either cast my fishing line in my backyard pond where there might be one or two fishies to take a nibble at what I'm offering. Or...I can hop on that agent's charter boat that's willing to take me out in the middle of the ocean to help me land a whale of an offer. Which do you think I would want to go with??

And just in case you aren't sure where to start, here are some newer agents who are actively seeking new clients. They just might cover the genres you write in. Check them out by clicking on their agency links listed below:

Caitie Flum... http://www.lizadawsonassociates.com/

Amanda Panitch...http://www.lmqlit.com/

Kirsten Carleton... http://www.waxmanleavell.com/

Cynthia Kane...http://capitaltalentagency.com/

Leon Husock...http://www.lperkinsagency.com/

Lane Heymont... http://www.theseymouragency.com/

Lydia Blyfield... https://carolmannagency.wordpress.com/

Kerry D'Agostino... http://www.curtisbrown.com/

Mary C Moore... http://www.kimberleycameron.com/

Blurb:

Addie comes from a long line of readers, or “story catchers,” as her family likes to call themselves. Every time Addie tries to catch a story on her own, though, the words play tricks on her. Addie tries everything she can think of to corral those wiggly letters, but it  will take a little faith to become the next STORY CATCHER.

Buy Links:
Amazon Kindle ¦ Paperback ¦ B&N ¦ Smashwords

THE STORY CATCHER FAN CLUB 

Fan club membership includes:

Membership Certificate

Bi-monthly Newsletter full of mazes, puzzles, games, news and other goodies

Reading log for earning Story Catcher Award

Short story starring YOU!

http://donasdays.blogspot.com/p/story-catcher-fan-club.html

Book Trailer: 

 

PAYING IT FORWARD STORY CATCHER STYLE

THE YEAR OF THE BOOK

by Donna L Martin

Hear ye, hear ye; come one, come all.

Stand up. Be counted. Answer the call.

From fearsome dragons and sword wielding knights,

To wizardly wizards and rugs that take flight,

From twirling tornadoes and shiny red slippers,

To imaginative gardeners with magical clippers.

Gather ye round, come closer I say.

It's time to be heard. That time is today!

 From far reaching galaxies to tales from the old,

Each one is a treasure. Each story needs told.

So gather them close, the big and the small,

Then shout it out, sing it out, no matter the call.

From tall mountain top to the smallest nook,

It's time to proclaim THE YEAR OF THE BOOK!

Because I LOVE books and I LOVE helping others, I thought it would be nice to combine the two. I've thought of another way to enter the drawings for my cool prizes in celebration of THE STORY CATCHER's book release this week.And what better way than to pay it forward by giving the gift of books?

Here is how it works. If you decide to donate a book to a school or deserving charity who works to supply readers with much needed books, just leave a comment here and let me know. Or even better, why not take a picture and tag me on your Facebook post? For every gift of reading paid forward I will enter your name in the drawings for the prizes from my CATCH A PRIZE CONTEST. If you don't remember what all the cool prizes are, just go to this link. The contest runs until 12:59 p.m. on January 31st so you have plenty of time to pay it forward STORY CATCHER style!

 

You can order my book, THE STORY CATCHER, through the following buy links. It is available in both ebook and print copies. Here is the book blurb and book trailer.

 

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.com/B00PHJRVG0

Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.com/0990908542

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-story-catcher-donna-l-martin/1120753878?ean=9780990908548

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/492614

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23584993-the-story-catcher

Blurb:

Addie comes from a long line of readers, or "story catchers," as her family likes to call themselves. Every time Addie tries to catch a story on her own, though, the words play tricks on her. Addie tries everything she can think of to corral those wiggly letters, but it will take a little faith to become the next STORY CATCHER.
 

Trailer:

TALES FROM THE BAYOU: A Taste Of Thanksgiving

I understand now that my mother must have pinched pennies for months when I was growing up in order to create the banquet she did on every Thanksgiving Day. I don't know the different jobs my father did over the years, but the last job he held was as a cook for an offshore rig. Although he spent many a day away from his family, I don't think he was compensated enough for it by the looks of what passed for food in our house most days.

While others ate steak and pork chops, my siblings and I could look forward to things like fish head soup, rooster comb and chicken feet to dine upon. You think I exaggerate but I kid you not. When I say I came from a poor childhood, it isn't to garner sympathy but to seek admiration for what my mother managed to conjure up for us to feast upon during the holidays. 

I would go to sleep on Thanksgiving Eve with the knowledge that sometime the following day our dining room table would be groaning under the weight of more food than I would usually see in a week. While the bird stuffed with cornbread dressing slowly roasted in the oven, Mother would set the ingredients for mashed potatoes and corn on the cob to boil. Deviled eggs chilled in the refrigerator along with the pumpkin pie and sometimes a Jello mold of some type. There was a white, shallow-divided bowl holding the green peas and carrots while sweet tea simmered in a silver pitcher. Homemade rolls covered with homemade butter and dirty rice (a Cajun dish where you cooked rice before adding chicken livers, gizzards, hearts, and sometimes crumbled sausage to the mix which darkened the rice and gave it its name) waited on the table to greet us.

Despite my parents problems, holidays were usually a family affair and my father would sit down at the head of the table where he and I would then argue every year over which one of us would get to eat the turkey's tail. I would usually win and thought it a grand conquest to have bested my father out of my favorite part of the bird. After the leftovers were eventually put away and the dishes washed, I would retreat to my bedroom where I would lie around reading while waiting for the aches of an overly stuffed stomach to go away.

Neither of my parents were deeply religious people and there weren't prayers of thanks heard at our table like in other families, but despite my life I still had much to be thankful for while I was growing up in that place I called home. 

I had a good companion in my older sister, Janet, who managed to put up with a nagging little sister four years younger without killing her in the process. I had my dog, Penny, who tolerated many games of dress up and my sad attempts to teach her tricks without so much as biting me once. And I had my books. One of the few things my mother approved of, my childhood was filled with wonderful, glorious books of every kind to sometimes act as a buffer between the reality of my life and the worlds of my imagination.

My life growing up might have been challenging but on Thanksgiving Day each year all it boiled down to was a tasty meal and a good story...

IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO PUBLISH A BOOK, Part Nine

The whole premise of this series is the fact it takes more than just a good story to get a book published. The people who make up the publishing "village" can include not only the author but others like editors, publicists, marketing executives, and other promotional personnel to ensure the word gets out about a publisher's latest addition to their lineup.

I've been exceptionally fortunate when it comes to working with a smaller publisher. Anaiah Press might be a newer, smaller company in the publishing industry, but their executive staff have more than 30 years of experience in getting the job done. The editing, proof reading, and illustrations for THE STORY CATCHER are done. The ebook and print formatting with Ingram is almost complete. Pre-orders will soon be available. Press kits and news releases are being created. Like soldiers getting ready to do battle, Anaiah Press is gathering the ammunition necessary to ensure my book has a fighting chance to make a place for itself in the publishing world.

Being the author, I must do my part. My connections with a local church provided me the opportunity to put information about my book in the hands of 1500 children. Another connection got me connected with Barnes & Noble and we are finalizing things for an author visit December 6th with a follow up book signing (maybe book launch party) in January. But there are other things I can do to boost the marketing power of my hard work promoting my book. Here are some ideas I will be considering and implementing:

1. FREE STORY CATCHER FAN CLUB...I've already set this up and have signed up a number of new members.  The free welcome kit includes a membership certificate, reading log, short story starring the new member, and a bi-monthly newsletter with book news, mazes, puzzles, games, and more.

2. CONTESTS & GIVEAWAYS...I'm tossing around a couple of ideas for a book launch contest and fan club membership drive. More details as we get closer to THE STORY CATCHER's book release on January 20th, 2015.

3. LINE UP REVIEWERS...I'm really feeling the support of this writing community. I now have 22 reviewers lined up and 3 people willing to provide a book blurb. This generous input will help future readers make an informed decision as to whether or not they want to buy my book.

4. SUBSCRIBER NEWSLETTER...I use MailChimp for my subscriber database and it had an incredibly easy newsletter template I can use to connect with my blog subscribers to let them know about my upcoming book release.

5. CONTACT LOCAL LIBRARIES...There is 1 main branch and 17 area branches just in Knoxville and they all  have the opportunity for author visits and reading time.  I've already chatted with the head of the acquisitions committee and because of my involvement with their annual Children's Festival of Reading, not only is she interested in looking at my book for possible inclusion in their inventory, but she also wants me to participate on their local author panel at next year's festival.

6. SCHOOL VISITS...As Center Manager of my martial arts school, I've connected with my local elementary schools for the past 12 years. I was allowed in schools when no other martial arts school in the area was allowed. Now I can use these connections to help spread the word about my book.

While these ideas are used by almost every author out there in promoting their books, next week I will talk about maybe some off-the-wall promotional ideas authors should consider as well. What promotional ideas have you used to promote your books? What worked for you? What didn't?

IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO PUBLISH A BOOK, Part Eight

I had the opportunity to participate last week in a local church's Trunk or Treat to help promote my book, THE STORY CATCHER. I've tried loading some pictures I took of my car and the event but my camera doesn't want to cooperate so I will have to use my writerly skills to help you envision what fun I had.

Imagine rows of cars all decorated out for Halloween with their trunks filled with candy. My trunk was decorated in pink with a blown up poster of my book cover and butterflies all around. On the outside of my car I taped book covers of picture books and my front windshield was decorated with huge felt butterflies and more picture book covers. I was trying to give the impression I was on a mission to "catch" as many stories as I could and I invited some the more than 1500 kids who showed up to "catch" a story with me as I gave away 300 donated books!

I had plenty of candy, but I am happy to report that both kids and parents alike were MUCH more interested in getting a book to read than grabbing the candy and long after I ran out of books I still had children come up to me asking for their free book. I also gave out bookmarks advertising my FREE STORY CATCHER FAN CLUB. 

Whether you are gearing up for your debut picture book's release like I am or celebrating your 100th book release, you still have to promote your work. As my book's release date draws closer I begin to think of different ways I can connect to my target audience (children, parents, librarians, and teachers) and then I remember when I was a child how you could always find something hiding in your favorite box of cereal or even a "fan club" to join so you can use your "decoder" ring to unravel the mystery message you get in the mail each month.

I want my target audience to have a like experience so I've created a fan club where anyone can sign up for the FREE goodies. Members will receive a Certificate of Membership; a STORY CATCHER Reading Log to help readers earn a STORY CATCHER AWARD; a bi-monthly newsletter full of games, puzzles, stories, and the latest STORY CATCHER news. Members will also get a short story starring THEM! The only thing I need is an email request with the member's name and email address sent to www.storycatcherfanclub @gmail.com so I can add them to my database. Then within two days, they will receive their welcome packet.

Even educators can use the fan club goodies to supplement their classroom instruction. I enjoy creating the articles for the newsletters so it's a win-win for everyone! And just because I like sharing some more book love, here are a few websites offering free book promotions:

1, Awesomegang...http://awesomegang.com/submit-your-book
2. Book Goodies...http://bookgoodies.com/contact-us/authors-tell-us-about-your-book
3. Book Goodies Kids...http://bookgoodieskids.com/contact-us/authors-tell-us-about-your-book
4. Pretty-Hot...http://pretty-hot.com/submit-your-book
5. Freebooksy...http://freebooksy.com/editorial-submissions
6. Choosybookworm...http://www.bookdaily.com/lp/freeppc1?gclid=CN6D7eGS3cECFUsV7Aod2hwATQ
7. Book Browse...
https://www.bookbrowse.com/information/index.cfm/fuseaction/editorial_submissions

I've checked to make sure the links are good but as always, please use your best judgement as to whether or not you want to pursue any of these free book promotion offers for your own book. Do you know of any other free promotion sites authors can use? Why not share them in the comment section below...

COVER REVEAL: Renee Donne

***I will return to my IT TAKES A VILLAGE  series next week, but right now I'd like to give a shout out to my friend and fellow Aniah Press author Renee Donne. Renee's wonderful book HUNTER comes out June 9th 2015, and I can't wait to add it to my collection!***

Book Blurb:

Moving across the country isn’t Hunter’s ideal start to her Junior year of high school. She has no friends to hang out with, no beaches to lounge on, and she’s living just a few miles from the secluded hiking trail where her father died when she was a baby.

Living in Wyoming isn’t all bad, though, thanks to Logan, the handsome veterinary assistant at the animal clinic where she lands an after school job. And he seems just as interested in her as she is in him.

As Hunter begins to settle into her new home, she learns more about the circumstances surrounding her father’s tragic death, and it may not have been the accident everyone believes. Something dangerous lurks in the woods, and Hunter might be the next victim.

Book Trailer:

Link: http://youtu.be/g4G2QXKegf0

Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23125830-hunter

Anaiah Press: http://www.anaiahpress.com

Author Bio:

Renee Donne is a native Floridian with a penchant for writing books with a western theme. In her head she's a world traveler and an amateur chef. In real life, she's a hometown girl with an affinity for fine wine and good friends. Her favorite place to write is sitting on her veranda, overlooking the beach.

TALES FROM THE BAYOU: Step By Step

It's mornings like today that remind me of walking to school when I was a kid. We only had one car in the family and my mother didn't drive...not because she didn't want to but I think because that was one more responsibility she didn't want to add to her overloaded plate. 

So I walked. Everywhere.

I'd like to say the walk to school was at least a mile from my house and maybe it just seemed that long to a little kid toting a backpack full of books, but every morning I would head out and make my way through town to the elementary school. I never minded the walk because I LOVED to learn and it got me away from the house for a few hours. Despite the fact that I was incredibly shy, had no friends, and was constantly teased because I always managed to become the "teacher's pet", school was a sanctuary for me in those days.

Gueydan is an extremely tiny town, population around 1500...numbers which might actually include residents of the local cemetery...and nothing exciting ever seem to happen there. Except during the fifth grade when my elementary school burned to the ground.

I remember walking with my sister to school that day. Everything seemed normal until we got a couple of blocks away and we heard the siren from the firetruck. We were both shocked to finally get to the school to see smoke billowing out of the building as they tried to put the fire out that actually began in MY homeroom. The entire building was destroyed and we spent the rest of the school year attending classes on half days. Our high school building was located next door so I ended up going to school from 7:30 until around 11:30 each day and then Janet, being in ninth grade at the time, would have her classes from 11:30 until 3:30. It was a challenging school year until the new elementary building was completed but somehow we made it work.

Walking home the same way every day could become boring so I liked to change it up whenever I could. Mother expected me to get home quickly. If I took the longer route that cut through the park so I could sneak in a couple of twirls on the merry go round, I had to make up for it by running the rest of the way home.  Sometimes I would even start running straight from school to the park because that was where the library was and if I was lucky, I could sneak in and visit the books.

Even then books held a spell over me. I would dash in just to say hi to the librarian and maybe take a quick look at the newest arrivals so I could start dreaming of which book would I check out next. Then it was a mad dash to get home before Mother suspected I hadn't walked straight home like she expected me to.

I wonder what the kids I went to school with would think about me now that I am a children's book author? So many steps taken from those old school days to where I am now and yet I find all those steps STILL lead me to the one thing I've always loved more than anything else...books.