Blogging With A Storybook World

In the course of internet wanderings though, I’ve ran across a lot of really awesome people, and culled an enormous amount of information from blogs. As I raided my brain – yes, I picture myself on the prow of a Viking ship, approaching my own gray matter – for more people I’d like to interview, it repeatedly offered up names of bloggers. And so, the third series; Bloggers of Awesome. Yeah, it’s the BOA.

Today's guest is Deirdra Eden Coppel from A Storybook World. Deirdra's specialty is paranormal that delves into documented historical phenomenon and natural disasters of biblical proportions. Her goal in writing is to saturate her books with intrigue, mystery, romance and plot twists that will keep her readers in suspense. She wants to see fingerprints on the front and back covers where readers have gripped the novel with white knuckles. Deirdra also creates e-book animation and other enhanced multi-media content for digital books.

BSo you run an excellent blog over at A Storybook World. What made you decide to take the approach you do on your blog?

I love helping authors and I figured if I was going to invest the amount of time I needed to in a blog I was going to blog about something I like.

I know a lot of aspiring writers who are intimidated by the idea of blogging.  They want to, but they are worried it will cut into their (already precious) writing time.  You're a prolific blogger - how do you recommend one be both a successful blogger and writer?

They go hand in hand. It doesn’t matter how good of a book you write, if you can’t market or have an online presence you are not going to be as successful.

You seem to work on many projects at a time, both writing and art-related. How do you balance your To-Do list?

When I organize my To-Do list I separate the bad from the good, and then I separate the good from the best. I only worry about the best and everything falls into place.

Do you think blogging is a helpful self-marketing tool?

es, but you really have to work on it and you have to use other tools of promotion as well.

What other websites / resources can you recommend for writers?

Get with a writer’s group. Learn to be a public speaker and get out there. Go to schools, church groups or any where your target audience is and get to work.

What is your genre, and what led you to it? Does your genre influence the style of your blog?

I write fantasy. Fantasy is a great teaching tool. It can be so allegoric in nature that the story can apply to many types of people and appeal to their situation.

Any words of inspiration for aspiring writers?

Fight for your dreams! You can do it! Roll up your sleeves and get to work. And remember, if we are going to be successful we must help each other.

Blogging With Once Upon A Time

I’ve ran across a lot of really awesome people, and culled an enormous amount of information from blogs. As I raided my brain – yes, I picture myself on the prow of a Viking ship, approaching my own gray matter – for more people I’d like to interview, it repeatedly offered up names of bloggers. And so, the third series; Bloggers of Awesome. Yeah, it’s the BOA.

The BOA guest today is Cristina Dos Santos whose blog, Once Upon A Time, is a great place to visit for writing musings, tips, and lots of great book reviews. Cristina is a writer living in CT with her husband and their two boys.  She suffers from a serious book addiction, and when she's not reading she is busy drinking coffee and working on her first novel.

So you run an excellent blog over at Once Upon A Time. What made you decide to take the approach you do on your blog?

Aw, thank you for having me.  My first blog was a mommy blog and it was super fun. But soon after starting it, I realized what I really craved was a space of my own; I mean I love my children and all, but I already spend 24/7 with them,  so writing about their antics, funny as they may be... well, it was overload.

So I created Once Upon a Time, where I get to explore my passion for  books and writing.  Sometimes my children and husband might weasel themselves in, but for the most part, it's about me and my writing.

I know a lot of aspiring writers who are intimidated by the idea of blogging.  They want to, but they are worried it will cut into their (already precious) writing time.  You're a prolific blogger - how do you recommend one be both a successful blogger and writer?

It's definitely a challenge.  I started with posting whenever inspiration struck, but that only led to inconsistency. I also used to spend countless hours reading blogs, because they are so addicting. As you can imagine, not much time was left for actual writing.

So, for me, it's about time management and scheduling. I now post twice a week (or try to), and allow myself an hour a day to read blogs and comment.

It looks like you’re a big reader - do you set aside time for that?

Honestly, finding time to read is the one thing that comes easy, and maybe it's because I don't think I could live without it. 

I read 2-4 hours a day. And now that my little devils are a bit older and don't require my undivided attention all day long, some days I get more time in. 

I watch little TV and... well I think this is a big one...

I don't have internet access on my phone, gasp! What?! I know, I know.. but hear me out.. I see it everywhere, people are glued to their phones; at check out lines, at the playground, during dinner at a restaurant, while walking down the street, on the train ride home. People are addicted, and I would be too if I had such easy access;  and you might not notice it, but time adds up. So,  instead of the internet, I choose to carry a book and a notebook with me.

You do a lot of reviews. Have you ever given a bad review? Why or why not?

No. I don't post bad reviews. It's all so subjective, so I'd rather spend my time sharing my favorite reads. At the end of each month I post my favorite for the month and encourage my readers to share theirs with me. 

Do you think blogging is a helpful self-marketing tool?

Yes, it can be. There's definitely the potential to reach a large audience, but you have to do the work and reach out.

What other websites / resources can you recommend for writers?

One of my top favorite blogs is http://blog.janicehardy.com/. It is full of amazing articles on the craft of writing, and she posts every single day. 

My other recommendation for anyone who aspires to become a better writer are the collection of writing books from Writer's Digest. They cover everything, from how to write dialogue, to description, point of view... they are truly a great resource.

What is your genre, and what led you to it? Does your genre influence the style of your blog?

I love reading YA and I write YA, so that's what you'll find on my blog. There's a sense of freedom, a sense of 'anything can happen' in YA that I often find missing in adult fiction. Adults have replaced endless and imaginable possibilities with rules and boundaries. YA on the other hand, are still willing to go there with you, you just have to make sure that you treat them with the same level of respect you would an adult audience.

Any words of inspiration for aspiring writers?

Well, not that I'm an expert, far from it actually.. but if writing is what you want to do, then writing is what you need to do. Writing isn't easy, at least for most writers, and it's easy to give in to the inner voices that tell you you suck.. tell them to shut it. Push through the hard days, put in the work and you'll see yourself grow as a writer.

A question for my followers: Is it hard for you tell the inner voices to shut it? Or can you block them out pretty easily, and make the ink flow?

Blogging with Steph, Who Is Maybe Genius

In the course of internet wanderings though, I’ve ran across a lot of really awesome people, and culled an enormous amount of information from blogs. As I raided my brain – yes, I picture myself on the prow of a Viking ship, approaching my own gray matter – for more people I’d like to interview, it repeatedly offered up names of bloggers. And so, my readers, I give you the third series; Bloggers of Awesome. Yeah, it’s the BOA.

Today's guest is S.E. Sinkhorn, who writes both speculative and contemporary YA fiction, and was the 2010 runner-up for the Katherine Paterson Prize for YA & Children’s Writing. She loves cyborgs, alternate universes, wily heroines, and cookies.

So you run an excellent blog over at Maybe Genius. What made you decide to take the approach you do on your blog?

Thank you! I started out as your usual writer-who-wanted-to-record-her-journey about two years ago. From my own daily writing musings, it evolved into crafting tips and publishing news, as these things tend to do. About a year ago, I decided to turn my focus over to YA literature, because it’s what I write and what I’m passionate about. I wanted to create a space where “mind meets heart.” I believe young adult literature can be so powerful, so important, and so GOOD. I wanted to stay away from jumping on trends and “cashing in” on the YA craze and focus more on building strong, well-crafted stories.

I know a lot of aspiring writers who are intimidated by the idea of blogging.  They want to, but they are worried it will cut into their (already precious) writing time.  You're a prolific blogger - how do you recommend one be both a successful blogger and writer?

Plan ahead, heh. I keep a long list of possible topics. That way, I always have a subject to turn to when it’s time to write a post. I only blog three days a week. I keep my posts fairly short – I can usually bang out 500-1000 word posts in about an hour. If time’s really tight, I write posts ahead of time (usually on weekends) and schedule them. It’s also 100% okay to give yourself time off. I just took a month-long hiatus so I could finish my current draft. It dips your readership, sure, but your writing comes first. Even more important: only blog if you really enjoy it. If it’s a chore, don’t do it. Write.

It looks like you’re a big reader - do you set aside time for that?

Definitely. I am completely behind the idea that you must read to be a writer. It’s important to me to know what’s currently out there in YA lit, so I make time for it. It’s not all I read, but it makes up the bulk of my reading habit. I’m also constantly in search of the diamonds in the rough, and you can’t find them unless you look.

Do you think blogging is a helpful self-marketing tool?

Tough question. Yes and no, because it depends on how you use it. I blog for writers. Writers will certainly be interested in any book I put out, but they’re not my target audience. I don’t think blogs really work as “marketing” unless you’re targeting the people who will buy your book. I definitely think successful blogs increase sales, but as to how much, I couldn’t say. If I find an agent and sell my current manuscript (*fingers crossed*), I may toy with the idea of creating a second, more targeted blog.

What other websites / resources can you recommend for writers?

Oh, tons:

Agent Mary Kole's Blog
Nathan Bransford's Site
Absolute Write
Publisher's Marketplace
Shelf Awareness
SCBWI
Duotrope
QueryTracker

On Writing by Stephen King
Writing the Breakout Novel (and workbook) by Donald Maas

How’s that for recommendations? :D

What is your genre, and what led you to it? Does your genre influence the style of your blog?

I write Speculative and Contemporary fiction for young adults, and yes, it absolutely influences the style and content of my blog. It’s the main focus, really :)

Any words of inspiration for aspiring writers?

All the usual advice about writing what you love and screw the trends and all that, but also: don’t sacrifice (or straight-up refuse to learn) craft because you think rules are for squares or something. Don’t. It doesn’t matter how amazing or original your idea is if you can’t skillfully transfer it to the page. Yes, successful authors break rules all the time. They also know what they’re doing. Be careful not to confuse “breaking the rules” with “it’s too much work to learn them, so I won’t.”