How Does a Writer Fly Successfully?

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Tweet this: How Does a Writer Fly Successfully?

A few weeks ago, I visited my mother in Ohio and stayed at a nearby hotel.Early one morning I took my laptop to the dining area and checked e-mail. A steady peck against a wall of windows grasped my attention. A female red cardinal repeatedly flew into the glass wall. While sipping coffee, I studied this red-beaked little bird. I felt sorry for her. Couldn’t she see her effort was futile? I asked the woman who serviced the area about the bird. She stated the cardinal arrived every morning when the sun rose and attempted to gain access through the window. 

I crept to the window and snapped pictures, but she moved too fast, and the pics were a blur. On one occasion, she fell to the ground stunned, then continued just like before. Talking to her made no difference. She titled her little head as though listening, but she believed she knew best.

The cardinal’s habit reminded me of writers who use the same methods to reach their publication goals without ever evaluating their process. They refuse to update their skills or understand the vast changes of the publishing world. They rise every morning, create story, and submit the same way they have for months, even  years, without a thought of their life patterns taking them nowhere but smack against a publication wall. 

How very sad to waste a talented writer’s contribution to the world. We are individuals who work alone for the benefit of others. To fly successfully, we have to expand our world to embrace knowledge. 

A writer who flies solo must rely on those who understand air traffic control.

My little cardinal friend? I hope tomorrow she wakens and takes a long look at that glass window. Perhaps there’s better way to gain entry into this new world? What’s one suggestion you have for a writer to break into the publishing world?

 Tweet this: How Does a Writer Fly Successfully?

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association; International Thriller Writers, and the Faith, Hope, and Love chapter of Romance Writers of America. She is co-director of The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

When Should a Writer Build a Social Media Presence - Social Media 101 for Authors

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Over and over, I’ve been asked when a writer should get active on social media. And the answer surprises many.

The truth is, you need to have a solid social media platform BEFORE you ever get published.

TWEET THIS: When should a writer start building a #SocialMedia network? - answers from expert @EdieMelson

If you wait until you get a contract, you're already way behind.

But what's involved in building a social media network? Today I'll lay it all out and give you the basics.

Platform Building Basics

To have a strong online platform, we have to first have a solid foundation. I teach (and used this to grow my own platform) that to have an effective social media presence on the Internet you need to do three things: Facebook, Twitter, and Blogging. The reason you must use Facebook and Twitter is because, no matter what or who you’re promoting, you’ll find almost 100% of your audience on these two networks. There may come a time, especially with Pinterest and Google+, that this changes. But it hasn’t happened yet.

You also need to be blogging someplace regularly. Notice I did NOT say you have to have a blog. I said you have to blogging somewhere, regularly. It could be a group blog or professional blog where you have a regular column. The idea is to have somewhere to send your audience so they can interact with you on a deeper level than social media. Think of it as a place to sit down and have coffee, to get to know each other better.

Another thing that I see again and again is that writers don’t know how to make their separate social media networks work together. Today I’m going to give you some tips for that.

Keep Your Social Media Identity Consistent
As writers in today’s digital world, we all know the importance of having an online presence. The savvy writer works hard to leverage social media to do everything from building a platform to interacting with readers.

Even armed with the knowledge of how important engaging online is, many authors have missed one vital component.

Consistency.

So today I’m sharing 5 simple things you can to do keep your social media identity consistent.

Does it really matter that I seem like one person on Facebook and another on Twitter? To a certain degree, it definitely does. While interaction styles do vary from network to network, our audience will still expect us to be recognizable. Think about it from this perspective. Do you really trust someone who is drastically different from situation to situation? I don’t. The same thing holds true with your social media personality. It needs to ring true, no matter where you audience finds you.

So now we know that we need to have a certain level of consistency, what exactly does that entail. Here’s my list of 5 things that will help you build the trust of your audience, while still interacting normally on a given network.

Keep your profile photo consistent across networks.

1. Keep your profile photo consistent (and a picture of you – NOTHING else). I’m always amazed at writers who want to build an online presence, but don’t have a picture of themselves on their social media sites. People don’t engage with cartoons and other pictures. They are looking for someone to trust. And even though I love kids, it’s you I’m interested in, not your kids or your grandkids.

As far as the picture you use of yourself on social media, it doesn’t have to be the exact same picture, but it better be pretty close. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to find someone on Twitter by looking at their Facebook photo as a reference and missing them entirely. I have several different photos I use for profile pictures. They were all taken around the same time and are a large enough shot of my face, that people can tell who I am.

2. Write your updates like you talk. If you’re trying to be something you’re not, or present yourself in a way that’s not natural, it will show.

Be consistent with how often you post updates.

3. Be consistent with how often you post updates. Today’s audience has a short attention span and even shorter memory. To build a consistent picture of yourself online, you have to be online often enough for people to remember you. What does consistent look like? It varies from person to person, but I would say, at least a couple of updates a day, per network, four or five times a week. This is different from growing your platform, this is just to remain in the short term memory of your audience.

4. Don’t change the basis of your message from network to network. For example, if your online identity is built on being a YA author on Twitter, don’t make narrative nonfiction the basis of your posts on Facebook. Let the independent networks work together to paint a more complete picture of who you are. Don’t be an alligator on one and a fuzzy bunny on another.

5. Keep your online information current. If you update your Facebook bio because you’ve signed a new contract, don’t neglect your Twitter or LinkedIn bio. And don’t neglect the bio section of any social media network. This is valuable real estate and should not be wasted. 

Now it's time for me to stop talking and begin answering your questions. What have you found is working for you and what are the areas where you struggle? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

TWEET THIS: Waiting until you have a contract to build a #SocialMedia network is too late - @EdieMelson

Edie Melson is the author of numerous books, as well as a freelance writer and editor. Her blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands each month. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and the Social Media Mentor at My Book Therapy. She’s also the Military Family Blogger at Guideposts. Com, Social Media Director for Southern Writers Magazine and the Senior Editor for NovelRocket.com. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook. Look for her newest book, While My Soldier Serves (Worthy Inspired), available at bookstores and online.

4 Words a Writer Needs to Hear During Christmas

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Tweet This: 4 Words a Writer Needs to Hear During Christmas

Attempting to write during the Christmas holidays adds another line in the dictionary’s definition for stress. We’re busier now than at any time during the year. Our planning and preparation is fun, and we feel like kids who’ve eaten way too much sugar. But the joy of the season vanishes when a red-circle on the calendar says, “This writing deadline has priority.”

Looming deadlines are a writer's fact of life—why not embrace them and list each one with Christmas responsibilities? When I want to bake or shop, I take a deep breath and remember the four words my husband said to me in 1996 when he challenged me to write. 

I Believe In You

Something about those words puts my life into perspective. I can successfully separate what I need to do from what I want to do. Sounds simple, and it is. Here’s how it works for me, and I have confidence these four words can help you ease through deadlines and love every minute of December.

I: The word I doesn’t mean life is a solo trip. Neither does it mean I have to do it all.
The idea of store-bought goodies makes me cringe, but not when I order my special treats from a bakery. It also gives me time to write! Thirty minutes here and an hour there adds to a tremendous word count. (Bakery goodies are incredibly good.)

Shop online and eliminate standing in lines. When the mood strikes to feel the spirit of Christmas, enjoy a stroll through a favorite shopping area, listen to the season’s music, and sip on great coffee or hot chocolate without the burden of waiting in a mile-long line.

Here’s a fun story about @EdieMelson and me just prior to Christmas. We had much to discuss about writing and The Author Roadmap, so we went shoe shopping and put together our dream of effectively and efficiently linking authors with social media.

Believe: The word ushers in encouragement and confidence. It also fills my heart knowing my husband believes in my abilities to craft novels, articles, short stories, and blogs while ensuring my family delights in a memorable Christmas. The editors and publishers who issue contracts also believe I can fulfill their assignments. Believe is also how I feel about the God who gave me the gift of writing. 

Believe is a word wrapped in blue for love, white for truth, and green for nurturing.

In: Think about this word as within our hearts. That’s where creativity for writing or preparing for Christmas develops. Our hearts are woven with a deep need to give our best to others, but it has to begin within.

You: This is why we write, bake, shop, wrap gifts, and decorate. When we stop giving, then we fail as human beings.

Whisper I believe in you when you’re stressed. You’ll find a wealth of energy and enthusiasm to supply you long after the New Year.

What is your secret when life tosses you a curve?

Tweet This: 4 Words a Writer Needs to Hear During Christmas

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect

an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association; International Thriller Writers, and the Faith, Hope, and Love chapter of Romance Writers of America. She is co-director of The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

What I Learned About Blogging from Katniss Everdeen

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Tweet This: What I learned about Blogging from Katniss Everdeen - @EdieMelson 

I don't know about you, but I'm excited about the final installment of the Hunger Games series. I loved the books, and I'm loving the movies too. Several years ago, I got to visit Katniss Everdeen country—or at least where part of the first movie was filmed.

The weather was brisk and beautiful, perfect for snapping pictures of the mill village that served as the set of her home in District 12. While I clicked happily away, I got to thinking about Katniss and how she’d played the game.

I realized I could learn a lot by applying some of her principles. Today I want to share what I learned about blogging from Katniss Everdeen.

10 Things I Wish I Had Known About Writing

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills 
Tweet This: 10 Things I Wish I Had Known About Writing

Don't listen to boo birds!

I remember struggling when I first began my writing journey. I needed solid answers and guidance, an author roadmap for craft, marketing, and promotion. Now that I have a few books on the shelf, allow me to share 10 things I wish a professional writer would have told me.

1. Research doesn’t mean a jaunt to the library or sailing through cyberspace. It means a trip into your characters’ lives.

2. Some critics are like boo birds that sit on their lofty power lines and mess on those beneath them. Learn how to write expertly and send buckshot into their rears.

A writer walks a different path.

3. When I grow up, I will know the difference between lie and lay and sit and set. Until then, my characters will rest and stand.

4. A writer doesn’t know her characters and their motivation until they reveal their backstory.

5. Social media is community designed to share specialized information. Learn it. Develop friendships. Pass the information on that you find valuable for your brand.
6. Emotional pain knocks at the writer’s heart and bleeds onto the written page. Don’t be afraid of your feelings. Accept them. Deal with them. Write them. Your readers will thank you.

Write that story!

7. A writer’s goal is for the character to change and grow within the pages of story. But if the writer doesn’t experience a transformation in the process, neither will the reader find value in the story.

8. A good writer knows all the weirdos in her family are a compilation of herself.
9. A good writer knows that cutting the flab in her manuscript adds muscle.

10. A writer’s tools are words—so add to them daily, memorize their meanings, and learn to spell them like a kid who wins first place in a spelling bee.

What questions would you like to see answered about your writing career?
Tweet This: 10 Things I Wish I Had Known About Writing


DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

She’s been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association; International Thriller Writers, and the Faith, Hope, and Love chapter of Romance Writers of America. She is co-director of The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Social Media 101 for Authors, Part 1

By Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Tweet This: Don't Skip the #SocialMedia Basics - @EdieMelson on the Author Roadmap 

Today I’m starting a new series, Social Media 101 for Authors. I’m going to lay out the steps to build your online presence into a solid platform that enhances you as an author. 

Be sure to ask questions as we go along, because I’ll partially base my content on the feedback I get from you.

When I teach social networking, I encourage people to relax and not take on too much at once.

I want to begin by talking about the most common mistake I see in social networking: the approach. Because social media can reach millions, it’s way

too easy to think of it as mass marketing. In reality it’s about one-on-one relationships.

That is the beauty and the dichotomy of the medium. It can be overwhelming—this building relationships with millions—especially when our goal is writing, not advertising. Now the good news: Social networking is not as

difficult as it seems.

In many ways, it’s a return to small town thinking. In times past, people

patronized merchants because the proprietors were their neighbors or friends. In this day and time, we also find neighbors and friends on Facebook, Twitter and in blogging communities. And those communities are where we need to concentrate our efforts.

It's vitally important to realize that, despite the bad rap it's gotten, social networking and writers are a natural match. Social networking is all about connecting with people through our words—not walking into a room full of strangers, standing on a platform and speaking. We can sit at our desks, write and reach the entire world.

That said, it IS all about connecting with others. If you're NOT willing to be found by others, then the writing industry as it stands today is gonna be tough for you.

So how do you go about plotting your social media course? 

There are two things you need: 

• You’ve got to know where you are.
• You’ve got to know where you’re going.

You are Here

To evaluate where you are, you need to know your numbers.

• How many friends/followers do you have on Facebook?
• How many followers do you have on Twitter?
• What other social media networks are you a part of? Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. Add those numbers here.

You also need to know where you rank in search engines.

• Plug your name into Google and see where you are. Do you show up on the first page of a Google search?
• Plug your name into other search engines (bing.com, ask.com, etc) and see where you show up there, too.
• Now search your blog name, if it’s different from your name, and see where you show up.
• Finally, search some of your blog topics. Don’t just search your blog post titles, but the actual topics. For instance, I wrote a post titled, Social Media Monday—How Facebook Changes for 2015 CouldAffect Authors. When plug that title into the search engine, it comes up number one in the search. But when I search Facebook Changes Affect Authors, I still come up number two.

That’s ultimately what we’re shooting for, to be found by topic, not just by someone already knowing our name.

First, we shoot for getting our names high in the search engine rankings. Then when we’re on the Internet map, we increase our visibility by getting known topically.

Plot Your Course

It’s hard to get somewhere unless we know where we’re going. One of the easiest ways to get somewhere is to follow someone. So for this part, you need to think about two or three people who are where you want to be in the social media universe. Don’t just choose random, well-known people. Put some thought in this and look at people who write things similar to you. You’re going to use their path to success to guide you, so choose well.

Check their Social Media Numbers

• Do the same things with their names, as you did with yours.
• Look at their Facebook friends/followers.
• Check how many followers they have on Twitter.
• Look at the other social media networks they’re a part of. To do this, visit their websites to see what networks they find important.

Check their Search Engine Ranking

• Plug their names into Google and look at what you find.
• Now do the same thing with other search engines and make note of where they rank.

In the weeks to come, we’ll incorporate this information into plotting your course so don’t skimp on the time it takes to do this research. I’d love to hear what you found when you followed the suggestions above. I’d also love for you to share your thoughts and questions in the comments section below.

Tweet This: #SocialMedia 101 for Authors - Know Where You Are to Get Where You Want to Go - @EdieMelson

Edie Melson is the author of numerous books, as well as a freelance writer and editor. Her blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands each month. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and the Social Media Mentor at My Book Therapy. She’s also the Military Family Blogger at Guideposts. Com, Social Media Director for Southern Writers Magazine and the Senior Editor for NovelRocket.com. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook. Look for her newest book, While My Soldier Serves (Worthy Inspired), available at bookstores and online.

Targeted Marketing Leads to Writing Success

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Tweet This:  Targeted #Marketing Leads to #Writing Success

An awareness of new ideas is the most powerful weapon in the writer’s arsenal. We either study, evaluate, and put into practice those changes in the industry that ensure we are expert writers and dynamic marketers. Or we fail by stubbornly refusing to learn and grow in the world of publishing. A successful writer understands an expertly crafted story will not reach readers unless targeted marketing and promotion lead the way.

Ignoring the push to educate ourselves means a death sentence to our writing careers. I admit the daily updates with technique and social media can be overwhelming. Add balance and the time factor, and we can find ourselves hiding beneath our desks instead of taking our expertise to the front lines.

How does a writer march forward, armed and confident of the road ahead?

Here are seven tips to help you stand stronger and wiser while pursuing your publication goals:

1. Why are you writing? Do you have a mission statement that you’ve thoughtfully considered and put into practice? Do you read it often, have it memorized? If not, schedule a time to get yours written.
2. What are your writing goals? Do you know where you’d like to be in one year, five years, or ten? Do you have a written strategic plan in which you can chart progress and evaluate potential successes and challenges?
3. Do you know who your readers are, how to reach them, and how you can be an asset to their lives? Take the time to record what is unique about those wonderful people who enjoy your books.
4. Determine how much time you can allot each day for educating yourself about the craft, social media, and new trends. By embracing change on a regularly scheduled basis, a habit forms. Stick to the amount of time you’ve set aside. This isn’t a contest but a part of your professional life.

   

   Take the leap and reach out to readers!

5. Budget funds to attend conferences where you’ll learn about a writer’s responsibilities. The larger conferences ensure we writers have a variety of workshops and continuing classes available for what we need. Seek out various podcasts for the same reason.
6. Explore the blogs that challenge and provide you information. Need help with dialogue? Search out the blogs that teach. Social media drive you nuts? Follow www.TheAuthorRoadmap Discover the blogs that make communication with readers and potential readers easy to understand. Looking for genre help? Those blogs are out there to give you guidance.
7. Is your current method of publication the best option for you? Are you a traditional, indie, or hybrid published writer? Digital or hard cover? There are always new ways to reach readers.

Change can be defined as an adaptation, adjustment, exchange, reshaping, variation, modification, or even a transformation. All sound great to me if it furthers my writing career with quality stories and reaching more readers. 

The Author Roadmap shows the writer how to work effectively and efficiently. 

What unanswered questions are holding you back from being a successful writer?

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; the 2015 president of the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, & Love chapter; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.