Writing Tips for Students with Pema Donyo

Are you a student trying to balance it all? Introducing my friend Pema Donyo, a published writer, blogger and college sophomore. She’s an amazing inspiration for writers and provides great writing tips for students like herself. I'm so happy that she's here to spend some time with us.

You're on, Pema!

photo via unsplash

Here's your intro question. Tell me about yourself in less than 70 words. 

I'm Pema Donyo, a current college sophomore. I'm also the author of One Last Letter, Revolutionary Hearts, and The Innocent Assassins - and more to come! Cheesy Hallmark movies, peanut butter, great romance novels, and learning more about business and the publishing industry keep me going. I post about my latest writing struggles, gush about my favorite reads, and recommend helpful articles on my blog.

Goal for next year? Write more.

You're a blogger, published writer and a college student. Tell us how you got started writing.

My love for writing began with a major love of reading. THE SCHOOL STORY by Andrew Clements was a huge source of inspiration for me. It's a middle-grade novel that chronicles a twelve-year-old girl publishing her first book. After I finished reading that story, I realized age wasn't an impediment to being published - nothing was. If you can dream it, you can do it. And if you can write it, you can share it with the world.

Let's put you to the test. What's your best advice for young writers trying to keep it all balanced?

Prioritize what matters most to you at different times in your life. Short version? There's a time for everything.

I'm a firm believer in writing every day. Instead of checking FB for five minutes, set up a writing sprint for yourself. Or wake up ten minutes earlier to jot down a few plot points. Writing is therapeutic, and it can counter some of the stress you may experience from all the other crazy events in life.

Lots of writers/bloggers still in high school and college take a hiatus during the school year. If that works for you, take a break. It's better to focus on a few things at a time than spread yourself too thin. School and homework should be the number one priority during the school year - there will be lots of time for writing during vacations and school breaks!

If you could be the author of any novel in history, which novel would that be and why?

Can I pick a series of novels? Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series. I love the character development of each of the protagonists as we follow them along their lives. One of my dreams is to write a series about a set of characters with the same longitudinal time span. A girl with a burning desire to write and a large scope for imagination? There aren't many other characters out there like Anne Shirley.

And finally, before we let you go, what's the best advice you've received and how did it get you here today?

Keep writing. Promotion can wait. Gaining more followers can wait. The writing can't! Write the material you want to read; write the plots that you're dying to flesh out. These are going to be the stories that will manifest themselves into the best versions of your work.

I used to be caught up in the promotion aspect, but then I realized my true source of happiness comes from producing stories. And that's the only way readers can find your work - if you're writing stories and putting them out there for people to enjoy.

Another piece of writing advice: finish your stories. It can be discouraging to start a great edge-of-your-seat idea, become super excited about it... and then the first chapter isn't up to your expectations. As I said above: keep writing! Perseverance will improve prose. After all, edits only happen after words are already on the page. Stick with your story and see it through.

Discussion Time: Are you a student with dreams of writing a novel? Where do you struggle the most? Tell us in the comments!

How to Find a Book Cover Designer

Good morning, friends! When I was searching for a cover designer for These Are the Moments, I did not know the first place to start. A great cover can make or break a book sale for you. Let’s dive into the process!

Like learning how to find a freelance editor and how to find book bloggers, I had to find out where to search for a cover designer.

First up? The best places to look for designers:

Do The Research

Google is your friend.

I'll be honest with you. I didn't have the first clue about where to find a cover designer when I first started the publishing process. I knew that I wanted a good quality designer at an affordable price, but beyond that, I was clueless. 

When it comes to finding a book cover designer, take it to the search bar. Make sure to search based on your unique need. Try "affordable book cover designers" and "book design for self-publishers." Where should you search? A few suggestions: 

• Search Engines. Because, obviously.

• Pinterest. Fun fact? This is where I found my cover designer. Probably not the most effective way, but it worked for me.

• Amazon. Have a crush on a book cover? Pay attention to who designed it! From there, you can contact the designer for rates.

Use your resources.

If you have friends with self-publishing experience, ask about their experience with their chosen designers. Take to Twitter with the hashtag "selfpub" and see what kind of response you receive. 

Try Reedsy.

There's an amazing new website called Reedsy, by my friend Ricardo. (No, that's not an affiliate link. Just a total fan over here.) Reedsy is a simple way to connect writers with cover designers and editors.

You review the designer/editor profile, and then reach out to them with your project. From there, they'll send you a bid with a price suggestion, and you'll make your choice.

How to Choose Your Designer

When it comes to choosing a designer, there are three things you need to consider:

1. Affordability. Know your budget before you even begin to look. Think of this as wedding dress shopping. You may fall in love with the fancy Vera Wang, but your savings account may be left crying.

2. Experience level/reviews. You want to make sure your designer is a professional. Browse their portfolio and their customer reviews. When communicating with him/her, pay attention to the response times and the way he/she handles business.

3. Your book. When you browse through this designer's work, can you envision what he/she could do for your book? So much of choosing a designer is gut instinct. It's taking a leap, and praying that you stick the landing.

Be Prepared

Have Your Book Ready.

There's a great chance that your designer will want to read your book for inspiration. Have an edited copy prepared to send, as well as ideas of what kind of design you may want. 

Know Your Timeline.

Designers can take anywhere from two to three weeks, so make sure to budget this time into your publishing plan. There are definitely designers who can accommodate a faster turnaround time, but for your sanity, make sure you give yourself ample time.

Be responsive. 

This is someone's livelihood. Make sure you are responsive and clear about what you're looking for in a design. If your designer reaches out to you with a question, be ready with an answer!

Images vs. Illustrations.

Personally, I didn't want a stock image for my book cover, so I made sure to seek out a designer who could accommodate this.

Discussion Time: What do you know now about how to find a book cover designer that you wish you had known before? If you're looking for a designer now, what are your struggles? 

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First Novel Advice: Ten Writing Tips I Learned from Finishing a Novel

And it's Monday again, my friends. I hope you're fully caffeinated, because I've got a serious post for you today. Have you written a novel? If so, you know that there are some days when you look at all of those carefully chosen words and think: I really made this? Okay, that's every day.

But what about if you're not quite there yet? What if you're mid-novel, mid-chaos, mid-headache? Well, that was me just a few months ago. Staring at the screen. Thinking everything sounded terrible. Thinking I'd never actually finish. But miracle of miracles, I did. And you can too.

Here's some of my best first novel advice, in ten snapshots of learned lessons:

On Writing...

1. First Drafts are generally garbage. If you're one of those lucky few with a magical touch that turns words into gold, good for you. But since I wrote my whole first draft on paper, I could barely make out what I'd written. First drafts are where you want your mind to wander, explore and drift. It's okay to feel lost. You're probably going to change it all anyway.

2. You actually have to put words on paper. Sometimes, "writing" means staring into space, hopping on Twitter and talking about writing. This will get you nowhere. Setting a writing schedule allows you to maximize your time and gets you that much closer to completing your novel. And remember, free-writing is your best friend.

3. Characters don't always play nice. When I started writing These are the Moments, I thought I had a good grasp on who these characters were. But when I tried to force them into settings or plot lines, they usually veered off the path. Characters play by their own rules. It's your job to let them. Sentences like those are what make non-writers think we're crazy. 

On Editing…

4. Editing is the devil's greatest secret. You finish your first draft, and you're feeling pretty good. You have a book, mostly. You think you're awesome. And then you read it. The characters are all over the place. Plotholes the size of craters litter your manuscript. And you're this close to giving up. But then you read this article, and the world gets a little brighter.

5. Hire an Editor Friend. Editors are writers' greatest weapons, apart from erasers and naps. When I found Tanya Gold, I knew she and I were the perfect match. Not only was she excited to work with me, but she was excited about the work itself. This was a huge advantage for me, and it made working with her fun and beneficial. Learn how to find a freelance editor here.

6. Beta Readers, Beta Readers, Beta Readers. Maybe you're stuck between drafts. Maybe your characters are all wrong, your dialogue seems dry or you need help picking an ending. Don't stress! Find people you trust to give your manuscript a quick read. Here's how to find beta readers for your novel.

On (Self) Publishing...

7. Take your time. If you're looking for first novel advice, this is key. When it comes to publishing your own novel, take the time to do the research. What's an ISBN? Which platform should you use? How do you format an ebook for Kindle? All of these are answers you need to know. Debating on traditional vs. indie publishing? Here's a quick guide for you.

8. Build Your Author Platform. If a book publishes to no audience, is it really a book? (Yes, it is.) However, it helps to have a solid base to start. Learn how to connect with readers through social media, so that when the time comes to publish, your name is already out there. I started blogging over a year ago, and have grown my blog by writing a blog series, accepting guest posts and maximizing my SEO.

9. Marketing, Marketing and Marketing. This goes hand in hand with building your author platform, but remembering that you and your book are two products of a single brand is imperative. Developing your products and finding new ways to reach readers is crucial. What unique quality sets you apart from the crowd? Learn more about marketing for writers in this article.

And a bonus...

10. Writing is a calling, a habit and a passion. When I first started writing, it was a hobby. A way to tap into my very active imagination. But now, it's developed into so much more. Writing is something that I have to practice at in order to improve. Writing is often tedious and stressful, but fulfilling and exciting. If you're lucky enough to call yourself a writer, recognize your talent and appreciate it.

Discussion Time: What have you learned from writing a novel? What do you hope to learn? What do you know now that you wish you'd known when you started writing?

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How to be Confident with Abigail Prigge

Welcome to #FriendFriday, an interview-style guest post series every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. Want to be the next interviewee? Send me an email!

Happy Friday, my pretty little friends! This week, I'm happy to host new friend Abigail Prigge, a writer, coach and card-maker. She's a multi-tasking queen, and I'm thrilled we got to catch up and chat about her success.

Let's get acquainted!

Here's your intro question. Tell me about yourself in less than 70 words.

I romanticize everything from moonlight to ice-cream and over-utilize my snooze button. If I were to pick 7 people to camp with, my siblings would win. I’d choose my friends to drink mochas and play volleyball with, and my parents for a good conversation. I enjoy teaching/mentoring—I’m my writing students’ biggest fan. I love dresses and old books. I’m intrigued by life stories and obsessed with my favorite words.

You're a blogger, writer, personal writing coach and card-maker. Tell us how you got started.

I think the roots are in my beloved dollhouse world. My sisters and I made sure that our “characters” had very exciting, conflict-filled lives. When I grew out of dollhouses, I channeled my love of storytelling right into fiction. My dad signed me up with a professional writing coach. Before I was even out of high school, I discovered my love for sharing what I’ve learned by coming alongside and mentoring other young writers. My writing coach encouraged me to pursue that passion and thus A Time2 Write was born. This journey has taught me so much about marketing, entrepreneurship, customer service, blogging and teaching. I co-wrote the recent release Charlotte’s Hope, and am in the process of producing the second edition of my teen-fiction novel One Summer’s Desire.

I discovered card-making in my mom’s well-stocked craft room. It’s just another outlet for creativity . . . and sometimes companionship (when I can convince my sisters or friends to join me).  I’ve found it’s a little addicting (and therapeutic) to tear paper.

Psst.. she made this little number for us! How cool? 

Let's put you to the test. What's the most important advice you have for future clients?

Develop your written communication skills while you are young. No matter where you go or who you’re with, you are communicating to the world around you. Whether you are writing an essay, journal entry, Facebook post, poem, a response in a debate, email, letter to a Senator, skit, or novel—your message should be heard loud and clear. Learn to articulate and construct your written words so that nothing distracts from that message.

If you could be the author of any novel in history, which novel would that be and why?

Yeah, Jenny, you successfully stumped me. I have decided not to over-think it and go with a cliche but classic answer—Pride and Prejudice. Why? Because Jane Austen is a mastermind. Her novel is truly timeless wit. The charm, scandal, modesty, chivalry, agony and passion of this saga are portrayed in the most whimsical way I could ever imagine.

And finally, before we let you go, what's the best advice you've received and how did it get you here today?

I’m the girl that had three secret blogs before the A Time 2 Write blog. It took all my courage to let my mom read my first novel back in 2007. I like to hang onto some mystique . . . so every time I let others read my work (aka see a piece of my heart), I am tempted to shrink away in the background. I know I can’t please everyone, and that’s hard. I heard some random advice and specifically applied it to my writing: OWN IT. Own that rejection. Own those characters. Own that business. Own the young-writer thing (I’m 22!) Come what may—be honest, transparent and real with your readers. If I’m truly called to writing, I can pursue it with confidence.

I would like to say thank you so much, Jenny, for hosting me today--it was a delight. You definitely inspire me.

Thanks to Abigail for spending some time with us! If you’re interested in being interviewed for the next #FriendFriday, send me an email. 

Marketing for Writers: How to Set Yourself Up for Literary Success

I know what you're thinking. Marketing, gross. For whatever reason, marketing has gotten a bad rap. When we think "marketing," we tend to imagine annoying commercials or Twitter messages saying, "thanks for following, buy my book!"

And you know what we really hate about this? It's impersonal. But good news for all of you, my friends! Marketing can be a personal, interactive experience that not only builds your tribe, but allows you to flex your creative muscles. See? Not so bad.

Now, let's break this down to smart, actionable marketing for writers:

 Develop Your Brand

Let me start by saying that I'm no expert. And also? I kind of hate that term with a burning passion. Essentially, it is all about figuring out who you are as a writer and what kind of readers you want to attract. I want my tribe to have fun. I want them to embrace positivity and color and extraordinary acts of awesomeness. If you'd like more concrete advice, read tips from PR expert Kayla Hollatz.

In order to develop your brand, you have to first develop yourself, your product and the world you're creating. Let's look at John Green for example. He writes books for teens; and therefore, appeals to a teenage audience. He's active on Tumblr and YouTube, and treats his readers like the intellectual, important people that they are. But most importantly? He's himself, through and through. 

Practice: What kind of writer do you want to be? How can you utilize your personality as a way to promote your brand?

Develop Your Product

For us writers, we need to be connecting our readers with our books right from the start. I started blogging about my book, These are the Moments, from the beginning, even posting scenes along the way. Once my book was published, I needed multiple avenues of drawing people to my books. I created a prequel for my novel (read about a prequel is important here) and published it for free on Amazon. In that prequel, I mentioned that if you sign up for my email list, you'll receive a free second book, Moments Like These. 

This is called a funnel, friends. Which, coincidentally, is another buzz word I hate.

But while writing is our primary product, it isn't the only one we have. Think of yourself as a small business. You sell books, but you also interact with customers and run the website and the social media. You are a master juggler. You are more than just one product.

Practice: Take some time to develop your social media. Make a list of your "products" and your goals. 

Try New Things. Fail. Try again.

When it comes to your own writing and social media presence, don't be afraid to try new things. However, be aware of your time and efforts. Have you ever heard of the 80/20 rule? It states that 80 percent of your outcomes come from 20 percent of your efforts. Translation? Focus on what your readers respond to the most. Maybe it's Instagram. YouTube. Blogging. Then, see how that translates into sales and engagement.

Practice: Analyze your marketing plan. Where do you see the most engagement? How does this translate into sales?

Measure Your Success

There are hundreds of definitions for success. For me, success was writing a novel. Now, it's publishing that novel. In terms of monetary goals, I don't have a number, and I wouldn't want one. When thinking of success, ask yourself what is more important: sales or engagement? 

Engagement often leads to sales. However, the other is not always true. Personally, I would rather have a small, engaged audience than a large, incommunicative one. I've found that the more you give, encourage and speak honestly, the greater your chances of forming a tribe are.

Practice: Evaluate your idea of success. What will it take to get you there? What steps can you take today?

And of course, my posts would never be complete without...

Discussion Time: Where have you seen the most success in your marketing strategy? What annoys you the most about marketing: as a marketer and someone being marketed to?

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