SPA Girls Podcast – EP39 – Finding Focus as an Author
Jun28

SPA Girls Podcast – EP39 – Finding Focus as an Author

facemaskThis week we decided to bring back the challenge episode. It’s the middle of winter here in New Zealand – it’s cold, wet and dreary, and we’re all feeling a little frustrated with where we’re at. So we decided to talk about finding our focus again and pushing forward in our writing careers.

We talk through the issues that we’re each having, from changing family schedules, to slipping in our usual writing and marketing routines or recovering from illness. And then we talk through the plans we have to solve some of these issues and get ourselves back on the track that we’re aiming for. Once you’ve listened to the episode, head over to the Facebook page and check out the posts on what we’re planning to do, and comment on how these things work for you in your life… 🙂

This episode began with the thought of writers we admire, and why they are so successful. To be prolific while maintaining an acceptable financial level (which will be different for all of us) a writer needs to be organised and focused. So many of us are frustrated by not having enough time. Or do we?

Circumstances change – environmental, family, work, distractions, demands on your time. Combine these with housework, cooking etc, and it becomes too easy to justify putting things off for another time or day.

Here’s a few tips to find your focus or, in our case, to refocus:

Set up your habits early.

Make a business plan for six months (more or less if that works for you) – Write down what you want to do, what you need to do, and what your goals are.

Make these visible – use a diary and/or a whiteboard with monthly and daily goals. Tick them off as you achieve them and then add more.

Use your time wisely – no e-mails or phone until you have reached your goal or target.

Be more organised – Break up the day into tasks eg. admin, writing, editing etc. and focus on what you have to do.

Be accountable – ask for help and support to achieve your goals.

Be flexible – figure out new routines when life changes for you.

Health does affect productivity and mind-set. Look after yourself and don’t burn yourself out by pushing through the work when you are not well.

Make a to do list – add audacious goals to push yourself if that’s what you need, otherwise make them realistic.

Note: It is far more important to spend your time writing than all other aspects of the business, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore them. Apply the 80:20 rule. (80 % of your time should be for writing and 20% for business).

Our Challenges

Wendy – Making herself accountable, and stop using outside influences as a crutch. Using her diary and whiteboard to make her goals visible.

Cheryl – Appreciating she can’t do it all. Looking for an assistant to help her with promotion and social media.

Trudi – Miracle morning – Concentrating on her writing, her newsletter, and perhaps Facebook.

Shar – Miracle morning – finding creativity time amongst heavy load work and volunteering. Follow along and, if you’d like to join in, tell us what your challenge is.

Change can be good. J

Steve Scott – Miracle morning 

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SPA Girls Podcast – EP38 – Writing Good Sex Scenes
Jun24

SPA Girls Podcast – EP38 – Writing Good Sex Scenes

Self Publishing Authors PodcastThis week we decided to talk about Wendy’s favourite subject – sex! 🙂 Just kidding, it’s the favourite topic of all the SPA Girls… When you’re writing romance, there will generally be some form of physical activity that happens when people fall in love. ie Sex. Different genres have different heat levels, and it’s partially about knowing the conventions of your genre, but also about knowing what you’re comfortable with personally. This week we talked through what each of us personally is comfortable with, what we like when we read other romance books, and how to write a sex scene that will knock the socks off your readers. I hope you enjoy it! FAIR WARNING: The language in this episode is a little grittier than we normally go for, sorry about that. If you’re not keen on bad language and talk of genitalia, you might want to skip this episode (we’re pretty tame, really, but just in case…).

Remember to write what you are comfortable with (bedroom door open or closed?)

Be consistent as to the level of heat you use, because when your readers pick up one of your books, they will come to expect that the sex scenes will follow the same pattern as those in your previous novels. (Don’t add shark shifters if they haven’t been there before)

Some people (like Wendy) write steamy scenes without using to many steamy words (you know the kind). Write what works for you,

Also genre plays a part in the level of heat in your works. Take regency romance for example, the heroine is usually a virgin, which comes with its own set of problems. Whereas a modern day woman, is often not, and therefore more experienced at intimacy.

Always remember that you are writing fantasy, so swinging off the chandeliers in ecstasy is okay!

There is a big difference from writing erotically and writing erotica – Even if it is an erotic romance it’s still about the character’s journey, whereas erotica is about the sensual journey.

Is you are struggling to write a sex scene, remember the twelve steps of intimacy. Often missing a few of these out can change the pace of the scene.

Twelve steps of intimacy

1   Eye to body (characters noticing each other’s bodies)

2   Eye to Eye (first actual interaction between couples)

3   Voice to voice

4   Hand to hand or hand to arm. (Them touching for the first time)

5   Hand to shoulder (Head is a vulnerable place to touch, so if someone puts their arm around you it is a gateway to more intimacy. If you like it, that is!)

6   Hand to waist

7  Mouth to mouth / face to face

8   Hand to head

9  Hand to body

10 Mouth to breast

11 Hand to genitals

12 Intercourse

It’s important to build the tension and chemistry between your hero and heroine from the get go! Readers often like the journey to sex more. Set the scene!

Sometimes it can help to take your characters out of the bedroom and move on from the missionary position. Broom closets, tables, the options are limited.

Remember that a sex scene should have all the structure of any scene. Consequence, conflict, if it starts on a positive it should end on a negative etc. Don’t throw a sex scene into a story because you think it is needed. The scene needs to move the book forward like any other scene.

Just get it down!! After the first sex scene I promise the next one will come easier (no pun intended)

Try not to head hop too much, and use the character’s point of view with the most to lose.

Think about what words you use. Change things up, and be descriptive without using anatomically correct words and purple prose! (turgid sword or man flesh)

Links

Chuck Wendig – http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2012/06/26/25-things-you-should-know-about-writing-sex/

Sylvia Day – http://www.sylviaday.com/extras/erotic-romance/

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Writing Erotic Romance – Alison Kent

How to Write a Dirty Story – Reading, Writing and Publishing Erotica – Susie Bright

Writing Erotic Fiction and Getting Published – Mike Bailey

Passionate Ink – A Guide to Writing Erotic Romance – Angela Knight

Jenny Hansen – https://jennyhansenauthor.wordpress.com/…/using-the-12-sta…/

Terry Odell – http://terryodell.blogspot.co.nz/…/12-steps-to-intimacy.html

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SPA Girls Podcast – EP37 – Intro to Twitter
Jun14

SPA Girls Podcast – EP37 – Intro to Twitter

towelIn episode 37 we were all together in person again and we talked about Twitter. It’s probably the second most popular social media platform after Facebook, and it’s definitely one worth investigating. We give some basics on the platform, how to get started, what some of the jargon means, and a few tips on the best ways to build up an audience and connect with others on the platform. It’s probably more of a networking opportunity than somewhere that you will make a huge number of books sales, but it’s a fun way to connect with readers, authors, publishers and other industry folk. Listen in and see what you think!

Intro to Twitter

Twitter is a social media platform. Probably the second biggest after Facebook, and perhaps geared to be more mobile. This platform gives you the ability to connect with people outside of your social and business spheres.

When you first attempt twitter it can feel like a cocktail party, where everyone is talking at once, which can be a little overwhelming, with too much information coming from all directions. Twitter is great for finding out about the latest in your industry, for learning and engaging.

You should enjoy interacting with other authors, industry professionals, or just interesting people. Twitter is about engagement and is not geared to be totally sales orientated. It’s not a quick fix to get you noticed and should be used in conjunction with other social media.

Set up an account: Sign up @twitter.com – think of a user name that represents you and not a specific book or idea that you have right now. Your author name is best, but it may have to be slightly altered to fit, or because the exact match may be taken. Your user name is also called a ‘Handle’.

These are our handles

@CherylAPhipps @wendy_vella @TrudiJaye @SharBarratt

A profile picture isn’t required but you should seriously think about uploading one as it makes you seem more approachable and real to a potential follower. You should add an author bio which needs to be short and punchy. It should say who you are and contain links to your website or amazon page etc.

You will see once the account is set-up that you have:

Home page – This will have a small banner, your photo and shows how many followers and how many people you are following. On the right hand side is your newsfeed which shows all your tweets. You can scroll down to see what you’ve missed. On the left hand side are some people twitter thinks you may like to follow. These are merely suggestions! Please don’t feel obligated to follow anyone.

Notifications page – who followed you, retweeted you or mentioned you in some way.

Messages – you can direct message your followers privately.

Profile Page (located on the right at the top by clicking on your photo) – Contains your main banner, profile picture and bio. Settings are located here to change things on this page. You can also Pin your best tweet – or perhaps your latest release here. This means that it will show first anytime someone clicks on your name.

A quill in a box represents the place you click on to write a tweet. To help you, Twitter counts down letters as you use them so you know how many are left in each tweet.

What is a tweet? – A tweet is a short message 140 characters or less used to connect with other people. Remember, like all platforms on social media, the post remains long after you can’t see it. If you do make a blunder, you can delete it. Although, never assume that it is totally gone. If someone does a screen shot or saves you tweet it can live forever. Don’t be scared – simply be cautious with what you post.

What is a hashtag? —a # is used before a particular word to search for tweets that are trending, or interesting to you. eg #amwriting #amreading #kindle. Don’t use more than 3 as a general rule. (Not because you can’t use more, but it will annoy your followers.)

What is a Retweet? – you are reposting an original tweet just as it is, although you may add a comment.

At mention is like tagging — use the persons handle (@spagirlspodcast). Any time you are mentioned, the post will appear in your notifications.

Like – is denoted by a heart.

Followers and following – You can follow someone but they may choose not to follow you and vice versa. Gaining followers means growing an interested audience with which you can engage over time.

Lists – Organize your followers into lists via your profile page. You could separate close friends/acquaintances/ business contacts etc. this way, and make them public or private.

Search Bar –  In the middle at the top of your page, the Search bar is used to find trends or anyone using twitter.

Tweeps – your followers

How to use Twitter – Do’s and Don’ts

Make genuine connections.

Don’t beg followers to buy your book every time you post. Connect rather than sell on most tweets.

Followers are incredibly valuable to your business. Some ideas of tweets that are not sales related are

  • Discounts
  • Updates on new releases
  • Interesting facts
  • Recipes

Take note of abbreviations and jargon.

Add graphics (pictures/videos etc) to make people take notice. Keep these in a folder on your PC to upload easily. They will need to be of a good resolution and a specific size.

You can click on a like-minded account and go to their followers and follow them.

Always assume that the entire world can read what you tweet.

Etiquette:

While you shouldn’t feel obligated to follow everyone who follows you, it is polite to reciprocate tweets.

Unfollow if people are bombarding you with the same tweet over and over again, and feel free to block rude people or spammers.

There is a limit to how many people you can follow in a day. (this changes – so be mindful)Start with people you know and then people who interest you.

Above all – have fun!

We hope that this weeks podcast has been interesting and enlightening.

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SPA Girls Podcast – EP36 – Help! What Do I Write in My Newsletter?!
Jun08

SPA Girls Podcast – EP36 – Help! What Do I Write in My Newsletter?!

SPA GirlsThis week is episode number 36 and we decided to talk a little more indepth about the kind of content you might provide in your newsletter for your subscribers.

They’ve signed up to your list, now what? It’s all very well being told that you need to write to your email subscribers regularly – but what on Earth do you write to them about? Your latest doctor’s appointment? Which politicians you hate most? NO! That’ll just get you a nice high UNSUBSCRIBE rate.

We give you a whole bunch of ideas on the best way to connect with your readers, how to keep them engaged and interested in you and your books, and how to figure out what they will be most interested in reading about. Enjoy!

 

How can you connect with your readers and keep them opening your email newsletter?

When you start, keep it short and simple. Check out what other authors put in their newsletters, which ones have appealed to you. Make sure you would be interested to read the content you are putting out there. Look at it like corresponding to a friend.

Make the title of the email simple but engaging. Don’t put spam words in there, like free, buy now!!

Spend some time planning your year. That’s only twelve emails, so break it down in your calendar. You could do a few new releases, a recipe, recommend another authors book etc. It looks less daunting if you plan it out beforehand.

DON’T continually try to sell your books.

DON’T overload the email with content so the reader gets confused.

Be consistent. If you say you are sending out an email monthly, then make sure you deliver. Some people just do new release alerts, and when you’re starting out this can be less daunting.

Make it visually attractive.

Don’t over design it. You don’t need to put to many graphics in, because often that will trigger a spam filter, and make it slower to open. White spaces between text seem to work well.

This is your direct line to the reader, you never want to jeopardise that. So write your email letter as if it is from you to them, not to the entire list.

A lot of authors are quite shy, but you need to remember that these people are often signing up to your email newsletter because they are interested in your books, and in you as a person. Be confident, and find the right tone that will match your books, and give them what they want without apologies and excuses. Remember at any time they can unsubscribe.

Start as you mean to go on!

Content

If you don’t have a new release, or you are just starting out, you can always promote another writer.

New Release

Progress reports on your books

Excerts from your books

Your story writing process

Short stories

Deleted scenes

Giveaways and contests (its nice to do an email newsletter subscriber giveaway only)

Maps (from your books)

Family Trees (from your books)

Personal pictures or holiday snaps

Recipes or craft patterns (sometimes these can link to your books)

Offer them to a chance to help you name a character, this helps to engage readers

Posting reviews about your books

Links

Mail chimp http://mailchimp.com/

Mad Mimi https://madmimi.com/

A Webber http://www.aweber.com/

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SPA Girls Podcast – EP35 – A Great Hook for Your Book
Jun01

SPA Girls Podcast – EP35 – A Great Hook for Your Book

facemaskThis week we’re up to episode number 35, and we discussed brainstorming your next novel, and creating the best hook, conflict and characters. We each talked about how we do it, the methods we use and what we recommend for people wanting to create a solid book idea. At the end we decided to do an impromptu session where we actually brainstorm a brand new novel together. It was a huge laugh, and we hope it’s both entertaining and helpful to you when you start planning your next novel…. 🙂

 

‘Brainstorming combines a relaxed informal approach to problem solving with lateral thinking.’

Brainstorming: How do you think of a new book?

Wendy is not a plotter. She spends a lot of time in her head working on her stories and characters. To pin down her hero and heroine she interviews them in her head. A coffee addict, Wendy likes to percolate everything before she begins to write.

Often during this time, she will get an epiphany as she works through those first couple of weeks, talking about her characters as if they were real people and trying out settings and scenes with them.

Cheryl doesn’t have enough room in her head to keep a plot or her characters alive. Everything goes on paper. Snippets about characters and plot points go in a table and as time goes by she elaborates on each thing, helping to flesh out the chapters she’s already written.

She uses her husband and the Spagirls as sounding boards. You don’t have to agree with everything that is suggested, but simply talking about what you plan to write can make things clearer and give life to your characters.

Trudi is very linear in her plotting. A big proponent of mind mapping and props as she writes, helps immensely in her carnival world. She uses Pinterest, and also collects pictures of people and things to do with her world.

She loves story grid – where you don’t use the first idea for each scene that comes to you, as it may not be the best and, by trying different scenarios, you ensure that nothing is cliché’ d.

Shar is very visual. She starts with an intriguing conflict and then thinks of a catchy by-line. Her best work is done when she is doing something meditative like housework or walking.

Has used Pinterest, but now uses a folder for her settings and characters as she likes the visual approach. Loves to push boundaries.

Some tips:

Think of a great hook. This is crucial for an interesting story.

Make a collage of your story, but don’t use this as a procrastination tool.

Break things down and brainstorm one particular scene or character at a time.

Push the boundaries and don’t settle for a mediocre scene – use ‘what if’ to make it steamier, scarier, sadder etc.

Verbalising is a good way to work out a problem – discuss a problem area or idea with friends, family or other writers.

There will be expectations re worlds or small towns etc. to have consistent characters or settings, so makes notes on them and keep them handy.

Your processes may change and be refined over time, as have ours. This is not a bad thing and may improve your work.

If you have time, you might like to listen to this podcast to hear our amusing (hopefully) brainstorming of a book (we’ll probably never use) about a werewolf who is also a billionaire, and owns a major drug company.

Enjoy, and don’t forget to tell us how you brainstorm.

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