It’s the release day for Krista Walsh’s new book ‘Eventide’. I’m reading it at the moment and it’s wonderful. Well worth a read!
Author: Elaine Jeremiah
I live with my husband and dog in the UK. I'm the author of four novels, my latest being a Jane Austen fan fiction time travel romance, 'Love Without Time'.
What about social media?
What about it? Well continuing on my blog posts about what makes a good blog, I just wanted to write a quick post about the importance of social media and how good it’s been for me and my writing, as well as to tell you what I’ve been considering in relation to it.
I guess technically blogging and blogs are a form of social media, but in this post I want to focus on how I’ve found that other forms of social media can support it.
Personally, I wouldn’t be without social media. It’s transformed the way I write. Although I don’t use a whole load of different social media sites (I only really use this WordPress blog, Twitter and Facebook), through it I’ve been able to connect with many other writers around the world.
Social media as we know it is relatively new. Ten years ago, say, there weren’t all these blogs around. There was no Twitter and Facebook had only just started. So when I was first experimenting with writing longer stories, there wasn’t half as much support available to me from other writers as there is now.
My husband was the person who suggested to me that I start a blog to promote my writing and then do a search on the internet for other writers’ blogs to connect with. I’ve said what I’m about to say before, but I think it’s worth mentioning again: I started a blog and then I did my searching and I got nowhere.
I did a Google search on other writers’ blogs and came up with very little. I was discouraged – how could I possibly connect online with other authors if I couldn’t find anything on the net? Then my sister suggested I try Twitter. I joined it a couple of years ago and I’ve never looked back.
Joining Twitter is one of the best things I’ve ever done; through it I’ve been able to meet a number of other writers face to face, as well as connect with other writers all over the world. My blog is starting to take off – I currently have 181 followers – and it’s enabled me to promote my writing a lot more easily. I use my WordPress blog in conjunction with Twitter and now and then with Facebook and it’s really helped.
However, having said all that, I have had some comments that I only have Facebook and Twitter share buttons on my blog. The thing is they’re the only social media sites that I’ve signed up to. Now I’ll be honest here – as much as I want to promote my blog and for it to be as visible as possible – I don’t want to have to sign up to a load more social media sites, such as Google+ (which keeps trying to sign me up anyway!!), Pinterest, Instagram et al.
The reason is that I already struggle to keep up with the demands of writing, working, housework (yes I do some!!), looking after our dog, church and everything that goes with that, socialising, reading, reading and commenting on others’ blogs, Twitter and Facebook, to name but a few. And so I just don’t want to burden myself with yet another thing on the list that I should be doing, when I can barely keep up with what I’m already doing.
So my conundrum is this: how do I or can I promote my blog via other social media sites without officially joining them? Now to you that might sound like a daft question. Maybe it is, maybe it’s obvious that it’s not possible. All I had in mind was that people who visit my blog might be able to click on one of the share buttons – if I added more – and share my work if they were on those sites themselves. A bit like, say, me sharing an article I’ve read online on Facebook.
And that’s my parting question for you: is it possible to be more visible on social media as a writer WITHOUT signing up for dozens of sites that I might not have the time to use anyway?
As always, your comments are very welcome. 🙂
Something new for WIPpet Wednesday
Hi all. As the title of this blog post suggests, I decided to do something a bit different for my contribution to this week’s WIPpet Wednesday. I haven’t actually written anything new for ages – I’d put my new WIP on hold while I was editing Reunion of the Heart.
Anyway, I decided that because I hadn’t done anything new I’d create something new. What follows is something I’ve written in about half an hour. I don’t know if it’s good, I don’t know if it’s bad, so as always your comments are welcome.
It doesn’t relate to the date, but hey you can’t have everything! But it’s not too long either, so that’s a bonus!! I won’t say anything else about it, so just enjoy. 🙂
What am I doing? she asked herself as she turned around and left him standing there in shock, his mouth hanging open, as though all the words he wanted to say had deserted him just as she had.
But she kept walking on and didn’t look back; she couldn’t. This was it. She had to take a stand – she couldn’t do this anymore. Her life had been one big lie for the past ten years. If only she could make him understand. It’s too late for that, the merciless voice in her head told her. There’s nothing else you can do.
Tears pricked at her eyes as she thought of what might have been. She blinked them away and trudged along, the one bag she was carrying heavy on her shoulder. She half expected him to come running after her, to grab her arm and wrench her back into his life. But she knew him better than that – the indifference he showed her that had threatened to engulf her.
Her mind carried her back to their wedding day, how happy they’d been. The hopes and expectations that they and all their friends and family had had. She remembered the smiles of her father, the happy tears of her mother, her own joy at celebrating this perfect day as she was marrying this wonderful man. Was it really only ten years ago? Somehow it felt a lot longer than that.
The road she was on, literally and metaphorically, was not one she would have chosen for herself. It would be an uphill climb, and there would be no one to share her heavy load. She stared at the narrow pavement she was walking along; it was the evening rush hour and vehicles of all shapes and sizes were rushing past her, some narrowly avoiding crashing into her, all oblivious to her presence, her pain.
Barely aware of the traffic, she soldiered on, remembering the clichéd saying: To thine own self be true. Reaching the pedestrian crossing she’d used on multiple occasions, she pushed the button and waited for the signal of the green man. Its beeping jolted her out of her reverie and she began to cross, never seeing the car, whose driver was talking on her mobile phone, until it was too late.
There you have it. If you would like to take part in WIPpet Wednesday, it’s easy. Simply post on your blog any piece of your writing that you want – preferably relating to the date – and then add your name to this. Then you can read all the wonderful things that the other WIPpeteers have written.
Thank you K. L. Schwengel for being our hostess with the mostest!
How I’m blogging now
I just thought I’d continue on from what I was talking about the other day – blogging, gaining more followers on my blog and how to go about it.
Well I’ve signed up to follow a fair few more blogs in the hope that that may be a way to gain more followers myself. And, of course, it’s interesting to read others’ blogs and see how they’re successful, what they do or don’t do that I could learn from.
I’m a bit flummoxed by one thing though. For a long while I didn’t add tags to my blog posts as I wasn’t aware of how useful they could be. I think I may have gained a number of followers through tagging my posts.
But the thing that’s puzzling me is this: when I Googled certain words that I use as tags in my blogging, intending to see if I could find other writers’ blogs, it came up with very little that was helpful i.e. hardly any relevant writers blogs at all.
So it got me thinking – how exactly do tags work? Are they what other people use to find blogs to follow – do other people Google certain words to find a blog they might like to follow, or do other people know something I don’t about tags?
Anyway I’m confused by that. Any info about that gratefully received.
To go back to the main point of this blog post, as well as working hard at blogging myself, it’s been interesting to see how various other bloggers go about… well blogging. Some of them list targets they’re trying to achieve (I don’t find this particularly helpful, in fact it’s a bit boring!), others intersperse anecdotes about their non-writing lives (which I find fascinating) and then of course many blog about how their writing is going, their plans for releasing their novels, details of when their novels are being released etc.
I have found that the most successful blogs engage with their readers; they provide good content that others want to read; they ask questions and the blog itself is attractive and looks good.
As for my own blogging – well I’m trying to comment on others’ blogs as much as I can – though I do delete a number of posts as I haven’t got the time or energy to look at them all. I’m only human!
With this blog, I’m trying to post more often, as obviously that is so important. I also intend at some point to start linking more to other blog sites. Some of the most effective blog sites have great links to helpful sites for writers.
Here are some that I enjoy:
I think I’ll leave it there for now. But before I go, here’s a question for you. Do you have a favourite blog that you keep returning to and why? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
It’s here! Release day!!
Check out these wonderful books by the talented Mishka Jenkins, released today!
This is it… This is really it!
My books are out there, they have been released into the world.
And I think I’m about ready to explode with excitement and nervousness all at the same time 😀 Months and months of work and there they are… out for sale!!
Before doing all the release links and things, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone of the blogging and writing community.
When I started this journey, I wanted to connect with others who are going through the same process. And I did, but I also found so many great people who are supportive and genuine in their want to help others succeed in this tough world of books and writing! Every time I’ve asked for help or advice, you guys have been there!
Thank you!
The Queen’s Jester
Fantasy romance.
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/The-Queens-Jester-Mishka-Jenkins-ebook/dp/B00KLBISGG/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_tnr_1
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Queens-Jester-Mishka-Jenkins-ebook/dp/B00KLBISGG/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1_6TCG
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/442154
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22352807-the-queen-s-jester
Blurb:
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An interview with my character Michelle
Hi all. Seeing as I didn’t have anything else to share with you this week, I thought I’d do another character interview. This time, however, it’s with a character from my new as-yet-untitled WIP, which is a romance about a young woman working as a teacher in a secondary school (11 to 16 yr olds).
The character’s name is Michelle and she’s my MC Rebecca’s closest friend. However they’ve fallen out because Michelle has complained to Rebecca that she’s never around anymore for her friends. She’s pretty much told Rebecca that she feels teaching can’t be that much of a tiring job; see here for last week’s WIPpet Wednesday to read Rebecca’ s mother’s attitude.
Needless to say Rebecca isn’t exactly impressed by Michelle’s attitude. But now, in my interview with her, it’s Michelle’s chance to give her side to the argument. This doesn’t relate to the date (shock, horror) but I hope you enjoy it!!
Me: Hi Michelle. Thanks for agreeing to meet with me.
Michelle: It’s my pleasure. Anyone who’s a friend of Rebecca is a friend of mine.
Me: Thank you. Well, as I mentioned in our phone conversation, I wanted to talk to you about your relationship with Rebecca. I’m particularly interested to learn about how you two have been getting on since she started her teaching job.
Michelle: (sighs and flicks hair back) It’s not been easy. For either of us. I know what Rebecca will tell you – if she hasn’t already – that she’s working so hard at her teaching job and none of us understand that. I’ve had an earful from her already about not appreciating her enough and so on and so on.
Me: So you do understand then, and she’s just making a big deal out of nothing?
Michelle: Yes… um, no that’s not fair. Look, the thing you’ve got to understand about me and Becs is that we’ve known each other for a long time. So we’ve had the odd falling out now and then as all friends do. But this time around it feels different, like Becs is different. I feel like I’m not allowed to complain about the fact that she’s hardly ever around for her friends.
Me: (nodding) It sounds like you’re no longer on the same page.
Michelle: Exactly. And I don’t know what to do about it, how to return our friendship to what it was before she started her job.
Me: Maybe Rebecca feels that you’re underestimating all the work that she has to do? I mean I’ve heard from others in the teaching profession that it’s not a nine to five job, that teachers have to take a load of work home with them…
Michelle: (snaps) Is that what she’s told you then? That I’m ‘underestimating’ her? She’s one to talk. I have a very demanding job myself you know. But I suppose working day in day out managing a call centre isn’t very demanding by her standards?
Me: (holds hands up) I’m sorry, Michelle, I meant no offence. The two of you are obviously at a bad place in your friendship right now and the last thing I want to do is make it worse. (I pause) Maybe you and Rebecca should think about finding a common ground, you know, something you could talk about that’s non work related?
Michelle: (nods) That might be a good idea. (sighs) I would hate to lose my friendship with Becs, you know. That would just be the worst thing that could happen out of all of this.
Me: I’m sure that won’t happen. Why don’t you just call her again, maybe invite her out for a coffee and have a proper talk?
Michelle: (doubtfully) I could try. But I’m not sure she’d be interested, she’d probably just say she was busy or something.
Me: Well you never know until you try.
Michelle: That’s true.
Me: How are Susie and Karen getting on with Rebecca these days?
Michelle: About the same as me I think, although they’re not as close to her as I am. (pauses) I am quite a demanding person, in that I demand a lot from my friends. I expect them to be loyal to me and to be there for me when I need them, even if it’s just a quick phone call for advice. But I do give a lot back; I try to be a loyal friend myself and I care about my friends. I care about Rebecca – maybe she thinks otherwise, but I do.
Me: (nodding) OK, well I don’t think I had anything else I wanted to talk to you about. Only, I just want to say again – don’t give up on your friendship with Rebecca. She needs your friendship; I’ve only known her a little while, but I can tell that from the way she talks about you and your falling out. It’s like she’s bereft.
Michelle: (reddens a little) Oh. Well that’s good to know. I have missed her… I’ll call her again.
Me: You do that.
Michelle: (nods and reaches over to shake my hand) Thank you very much for your advice. It’s so helpful. Maybe I’ll see you around.
Me: I’m sure you will.
If you would like to get involved with WIPpet Wednesday, all you need to do is post something writing-related on your blog. It should ideally relate in some way to the date, but don’t worry if not! Then add your name to this.
Thanks goes to the Queen of Monkeys herself K. L. Schwengel.
The Cabinet of Curiosities Is HEEEEEERE!
An exciting collection of stories!
My dear dear friend Claire Legrand has a NEW RELEASE TODAY! She and several other talented MG authors have this collection of 40 tales of the brief and sinister. This is, like, everything awesome about telling scary stories around a campfire but in book form. Look at that fabulous cover! So grab your copy TODAY!
Should Authors Stick To One Genre? An Interview With Linda Gillard
This article is so inspiring and informative. Check it out!
It’s no secret that Linda Gillard is one of my favourite authors. Her novel, House of Silence, is one of my top 5 favourite books of all time, and it was an article about her in a 2011 edition of Writing Magazine that inspired me to self-publish. Today, I’m delighted to share with you Linda’s thoughts on genre. Why this is so especially interesting to me is, I am currently in the position of wondering whether to focus on one particular type of book (commercial women’s fiction, with a light romantic comedy feel) or whether to continue to branch out, exploring all the ideas that appeal to me, in the hope that readers will forgive me and come along for the ride. Anyway, enough from me. Let’s hear from Linda herself …
Linda, you’ve said that your seven novels belong to no clear genre and you’ve made no secret…
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My blogging journey
This is kind of a follow up from my post the other day which you can read here. I really wasn’t sure what to blog about today, but I knew I wanted to say something. So now I’ve come up with it!
I’ve been rethinking my blogging and how much I comment on other people’s blogs. Yes I want more people following my blog. Don’t we all? But how do I go about that?
John Guillen commented on my blog and suggested that I could gain more followers by commenting on other people’s blogs, which I do but not enough. So I’m starting to do that more.
Eileen Slovak commented too, saying that she likes to write a number of blog posts on the same subject. My husband suggested I follow lots of blogs; that way people see that I’m following them and maybe they’ll follow me back.
As I mentioned in the previous post, it’s also about content and whether or not that appeals to people. Another aspect is linking to other blogs.
I guess really it’s a combination of all of the above, as well as putting in the hard work that will hopefully, eventually, pay off. So I’m going to keep working away at it, keep blogging and of course writing.
What are your tips for a successful blog?
Feeling frazzled
OK it’s not me that’s feeling frazzled, although I have been on the verge of tearing my hair out on occasion! No, it’s my character in my new WIP, which I haven’t actually done anything with since the end of March.
This is because of work commitments, but also because I’m currently editing Reunion of the Heart, which is going well and hopefully will be finished soon. At which point I can send it to my mum for proofreading. 🙂
For today, the 21st May, I’m sharing 21 lines from my as-yet-untitled WIP. In this scene my MC Rebecca is feeling frazzled. She’s just started working as a teacher at a secondary school (for 11 to 16 yr olds) and it’s tough going. And now her mum and dad want to come and stay.
Rebecca can’t bear to have them come; she’s too busy and is feeling the strain. But on the phone to her mum, it’s clear that she just doesn’t understand how stressful teaching can be. Rebecca gets lots of holiday, as her mum sees it, and doesn’t work weekends, so where’s the problem?
But Rebecca isn’t having it…
‘No, I’m sorry but you can’t.’ Rebecca heard her own voice sounding exasperated and wondered why her mother always had that effect on her. It was six thirty on a Tuesday evening and Rebecca was a couple of weeks into her new job. She was feeling crotchety.
‘But you don’t work weekends as a teacher,’ her mother pointed out helpfully. ‘Surely your dad and I could come and stay. And anyway if you really needed to work, we could go off and do our own thing. You’d hardly know we were there.’
If only that were possible, Rebecca thought. ‘I’m sorry, Mum,’ she said, ‘but it’s just not possible. I’ve got too much to do. If you were a teacher you’d understand.’
There was silence the other end of the phone. Rebecca couldn’t help her last barbed comment – her mother never understood. And she was beginning to think that even if she had chosen the career path her parents had favoured, they would still never understand her. Finally the pause ended.
‘All right, if that’s the way you feel,’ her mother said stiffly. ‘I’ll see if Maria’s free.’
Thank you God! Rebecca mouthed tilting her head up to the ceiling. Then she thought of her sister.
So that’s Rebecca’s story for the moment, as I haven’t written much beyond this point. It’s all in here! *taps head*
To join in with WIPpet Wednesday, just post on your blog anything you’ve written lately. Relate it to the date somehow and then link up with us here.
Thanks K. L. Schwengel for being our lovely host. 😀
Elaine Jeremiah 