That Was the Year Sneak Peak #1

photo via picjumbo

You know what I haven't done in a while? Shared a scene with you. Hi. Welcome to this new blog-ish. Since Blots & Plots has become pretty focused on writing tips, I don't want to crowd that space with my scenes. 

So, voila! This is a messier, less focused, fun space for me to share my writing/personal life/Hamilton obsession. Okay, I'll keep that last one to a minimum.

As you may know, I'm working on my second full-length novel, That Was the Year. I haven't released very much information on this, other than that it's based on Reese's story, post-#TATM. (Definition: TATM is a hashtag for my first book, These Are the Moments.) 

Today, I want to share a scene with you from my three favorite characters in this series: Reese, Vivian, and Wendy. With Wendy out of state, their primary form of communication is texting. Here's a conversation for you: 


Group Chat #107

Wendy: “Ask me about my dating life. I dare you.”

Vivian: “Stop complaining. You don’t get to complain until there’s a ring on your finger and a pile of dirty boy underwear in your hamper. I’ll spare you the details.”

Reese: “Seriously? You are BOTH depressing the hell out of me. Positive vibes only, please.”

Wendy: “How’s the job going, Reese?”

Reese: “I get free coffee all day long. How do you think it’s going?”

Vivian: “I’m jealous. I’d love a job that I can just leave at work, you know? Seems nice.”

Reese: “Is that a backhanded way of saying I have an easy job? Because I’d like to see you fix an espresso machine sometime.”

Vivian: “That’s not what I said.”

Reese: “It sounded like it to me.”

Wendy: “Hey! Positive vibes only, remember?”

Vivian: “Here’s something positive. It’s been weeks since I got a 3 a.m. call from Reese.”

Wendy: “Hold up. Are you growing up or something? You’re not allowed to grow up without three weeks notice, minimum.”

Reese: “I’m not growing up. I’m just more tired than usual. I never knew how exhausting standing could be.”

Vivian: “When’s the last time you went out?”

Reese: “I don’t know. Let me check my calendar…”

Wendy: “Your drunk texts have been few and far between…”

Reese: “I get it. It’s been a while.”

Wendy: “How’s Liam?”

Reese: “Why?”

Wendy: “Umm, because he’s your roommate?”

Vivian: “Slash ex-boyfriend?”

Reese: “First of all… he was never my boyfriend.”

Wendy: “So you say.”

Reese: “Second of all… he’s fine.”

Vivian: “It’s hard to tell over text, but in my mind you used ‘fine’ in the sluttiest sense of the word.”

Wendy: “She’s practically stripping as we speak.”

Reese: “You two are hopeless. Not everything is about sex, you know.”

Wendy: “...”

Vivian: “I second that.”

Reese: “Fine, whatever. I’m growing up.”

Wendy: “I’m half proud of you, and half freaking the eff out.”

Vivian: “Well, I’m all the way proud of you, Reese. Soon you’ll be asking to join my book club.”

Reese: “No. Never. I'd rather shoot pins into my eyeballs.”

Vivian: “We’ll see.”

Reese: “So, Wendy, your dating life? Do tell.”

Wendy: “Two words: Rock. Collection.”

Vivian: “Start from the beginning and don’t you dare skip a single detail!”

Reese: “I’ve got an hour until work. SHOOT!”


So, what did you think? Want to hang out with these ladies more? Tell me in the comments what you want them to chat about next, and you may see it in scene form. 

Okay, back to writing and tweeting. 

Spring is Here!  Take up to 37% off

The Key to Finding Your WHY (and how to block out the noise)

The Key to Finding Your WHY (and how to block out the noise)

Happy Sunday, pal! Even if you're reading this on a Tuesday, or even worse, a Wednesday, I want you to pretend like it's Sunday. Because on Sundays, you get to wear pajamas all day long and no one can judge you.

Lately, I've been thinking a LOT. I've been running thoughts through this brain of mine, mainly about one specific thing: what is my why? (Also known as purpose. Not to be confused with porpoise. What?)

Allow me to elaborate. When I first started this blog, it was centered around my publishing journey. I had a very limited idea of what advice I might be able to give, because I was so new to the writing game.

At some point down the line, I started actually knowing what I was talking about. I am by no means an expert in the literary world, but I have ideas and experience under my belt. (Just kidding. I don't wear belts.) So, this blog has morphed a little more.

Spring is Here!  Take up to 37% off

Keep Your Motivation Mojo While Making Submissions

As a self-published writer, I have limited knowledge of traditional publishing. However, I do have friends that can help fill in the gaps for you. 

Writer's Relief is an incredible service that can help you submit your stories and navigate the shifting lanes of the publishing world. Below is a guest post that I'm beyond thrilled to share with you. 

If you have more questions by the end, head on over to Writer's Relief or leave us a comment below! 

After many tedious hours spent researching markets to submit your creative writing, you’re ready to make submissions! Your master plan is in place. Your work is all dressed up (with someplace to go). You know where and when you’re going to submit your writing, and you couldn’t be more excited about it!

But then life gets busy. Last-minute deadlines, scheduling conflicts, and a million other everyday distractions get in the way.

You want to submit your writing—you really do—but at the end of the day, you’re just so exhausted you can’t bring yourself to type a single word. Plus, given the choice, you’d rather be writing than doing paperwork. Your list of literary markets falls by the wayside, along with all of your good intentions.

It’s a sad truth, but a truth nonetheless: You can plan and schedule, tweak and time everything out, but if those motivational juices aren’t flowing, you’re just left with a well-made plan.

You have to do something to keep your spirits up while making your submissions; otherwise, your writing will never reach the editor’s desk (or the literary agent’s desk). Fortunately, we have some tips to keep you motivated:

5 Ways To Stay Motivated And Make Your Submissions:

Find friends who need some motivation and help them out.

Having someone to lean on in a time of need is always nice, but being there for someone else is even more rewarding. If you find fellow writers who need some motivation, it’s likely they’ll be happy to return the favor and give your spirits a boost.

Compare your notes, talk shop, or just vent your frustrations. Not sure how to meet other writers? Find some local writers groups or writers forums online.

Treat yourself when you meet your goals.

If you find yourself strapped for time, break down your submissions into smaller, more manageable chunks. When you’ve completed your goal (i.e., “I completed my five submissions quota for today!”), reward yourself for your accomplishment.

Choose something you really want but would not usually allow yourself to have. You’ll be more motivated to get your tasks done.

Keep in mind—you’re only human!

We humans get bored, distracted, and sometimes discouraged pretty easily. It’s inevitable that somewhere along the line, we’ll make a mistake or two.

Turn errors into learning experiences instead of beating yourself up (i.e., I didn’t make my submissions today, but I’ll be diligent and get them done tomorrow!).

It doesn’t pay to procrastinate!

If the phrase “Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?” ever comes out of your mouth, you have the wrong mind-set, friend! Putting off your submissions leads to guilt…which leads to more procrastination. Break the cycle and focus on the end result.

Find your inspiration.

Picture that byline with your name on it in your favorite literary journal. Leave inspirational messages around your workspace. With a constant reminder of your goal in sight, you’ll be much more enthusiastic about getting the busywork out of the way.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, writers. Sending your work out into the world isn’t always easy, and having someone support you in your efforts can go a long way. Now get that motivational mojo flowing! You can do this!

Writer’s Relief is a highly recommended author’s submission service. We assist writers with preparing their submissions and researching the best markets. We have a service for every budget, as well as a free e-publication for writers that includes weekly leads and tips, Submit Write Now! Visit our site today to learn more.

Discussion time: What scares you the most about submitting your work?



Spring is Here!  Take up to 37% off

How and Why to Give Away a Book for Free + Free Checklist

If I'd read this title a year ago, I would have said, "Give my book away? You're crazy!" But now, I'm happy to tell you that since I've listed my book for free, I've had an increase in overall sales. In fact, my book(s) have been downloaded every day since the launch of my free prequel, when previously, I'd go weeks with no activity. 

As a self-published writer, it can be tough to get your book visible to your audience. How many times have you seen the "buy my book!" on twitter? How many times have you posted on Facebook with only a 3 person audience reach? Not the most effective method, my friends. 

The truth is that social media doesn't sell books. You need a good, actionable strategy to get your book to the forefront. Now, let's get started! 

How to Give Away Your Book For Free | Blots & Plots.jpg

Why Should You Give Away a Book For Free? 

1. To generate interest in you. 

Pretty self-explanatory, right? If you're self-publishing, you have to view yourself as a risk. Because there is no built-in marketing team to generate buzz for you, readers are taking a chance by investing in your creative work. 

How do you get them to choose your book out of the million other books? A few ideas: 

  1. Great product. I'm talking an awesome cover, a professionally edited manuscript, and top notch formatting.

  2. Great reviews. Reviews not only help to sway your potential reader, but they also help boost your books on the rankings. (Amazon, primarily.)

  3. A super smart strategy. Yep, you guessed it. The free book idea.

2. To generate interest in your other books. 

Congrats! Your reader downloaded your free book. Now, what? 

Maybe your reader will read your free book. Maybe she'll like it and explore your other books on her own. But what if she doesn't? What if she moves on to the next book, and accidentally forgets to check back to yours? 

You need to make sure you hook your reader in with a free book, and keep them coming back for more. Here's how: 

  • Offer a second free book/short story/etc. This technique comes from Nick Stephenson. If your reader signs up for your email list, they'll receive a second free book. For more information on this technique, head over here.

  • Create a hashtag for your book. Even though social media doesn't sell, a hashtag helps to unify your readers and create a community.

  • Discount your second book. With the first book free, you can offer your second book at a lower-than-normal rate. This can be done with kindle countdown deals or a permanently lower rate.

3. To reach a broader audience. 

Like I said, reaching an audience is no picnic. It takes strategy and a bit o' luck to get your books into the hands of your readers. Let's set you up for success, shall we? 

A few ideas on how to up your selling ante: 

  • Facebook ads. This form of advertising has proven to be extremely effective for authors. If you have a targeted campaign, you can reach your ideal reader.

  • BookBub ads. Though it's tough to get approved for these, BookBub advertising is awesome.

  • Write more books. Easier said than done, right? Having a library of books helps to keep readers coming back for more.

There you go! The end!

So, what do you think? Would you list your book for free?

Spring is Here!  Take up to 37% off