Monday, May 19, 2014

How I Found the Write Path

Today, I'm excited to announce I will be participating in a fantastic blogfest called How I Found the Write Path.  I will be sharing with you a pre-published letter to myself regarding all of the things I have learned since publishing my work.  Carrie Butler is hosting the blogfest in celebration of her third blogiversary along with many other incredible authors and bloggers.  Carrie will also be compiling these letters into a free E-book for writers who need help along their own paths toward publication.  What an amazing idea, right?  We can all give Carrie a big THANKS for her thoughtful endeavors and the participating writers a round of applause for their contributions. 

Carrie, you are more than welcome to use my letter in your book!

 
 
I have work published under a children's book author pen name but I will be using my adult pen name in reference to this post.  Here is my letter and I hope you can all gain something from my experience!
 
 

To my beloved and aspiring author to-be,

There is so much I want to tell you as you begin to thrust yourself down the publishing rabbit hole.  I will make this brief since there will be tons of others helping to guide you along the beginning of your journey.  I want to share with you some of the things I have learned which helped create the stepping stones toward our final destination together within this industry.

First and most importantly, before you think about writing or even publishing your book, begin building your brand.  This could take a long time so be prepared to be committed.  Since you are interested in publishing both children’s books and adult fiction, you will have to set aside a good amount of time before the day job begins.  Begin reaching out and connecting with parenting blogs, mommy bloggers, book reviewers, publishing houses, and other authors and bloggers.

If you’ve already written your book and have yet to build your brand, don’t worry!  There is still plenty of time.  Begin getting making your way around the online writing community while attending writing conferences and seminars to polish off any skills you think you may or may not have.

Give tons of reviews for other authors' books; especially those who you begin to build strong relationships with.  Get to know your community.  I can’t stress this enough.  You don’t want to be one of those people who goes around asking for reviews once your book is released.  This is a big NO, NO. 

Throw yourself out there and don’t be afraid to ask questions.  Everyone is super nice in the world wide web of writers.  But try to do these things BEFORE you seek publication.  You want a strong platform and audience welcoming your book once it is released.

Since I’ve had a lot of experience visiting schools, libraries and bookstores, I suggest you make a list of all of these establishments throughout New Jersey and make an effort to reach out to them right before your book is released.  This will save you a lot more time for promoting and writing your 2nd book and even give you extra room to book author visits and presentations once your work goes on sale.  You don’t want to be cramping everything during the school year when you are being hounded to write your second book; not to mention that adult fiction novel you have been meandering about.  The more prepared you are before publication, the better off you will be when it comes to making time for social media and most importantly; your writing.

I also highly recommend you start a blog.  In fact, I’m telling you that you must submerge yourself into the blogging world; specifically before the release of your children’s book and novel.  There is a boundless sea of authors, writers and bloggers out there building their brands by blogging.  This is a brilliant way to build better relationships and make long-lasting connections with your colleagues.  Not to mention; if and when you decide to query agents, you will have something solid to show them other than your manuscript.  The more people you have engaging with you and your blog, the better.  And don’t be shy when it comes to visiting others' blogs.  It is very important to read and share your input on their posts as well. 

Lastly, remember to take time for yourself.  Sometimes, it’s good to unplug and relax away from networking and social media.  Don’t lose yourself amongst the thousands of tweets and Facebook posts you will be sending each day.  You started this journey because you are a writer and the most important thing you can do as a writer is WRITE. 

Never give up on your dreams and keep pushing yourself closer to the grandeur goal.  Rejections build character and make us stronger so don’t ever give up.  This is YOUR life… YOUR dream… and YOUR journey; no one else’s.  And if you ever have to choose whether or not to catch up on social media or write a few thousand words for your book, do what your heart tells you to do.   Social media will always be a few taps of the keyboard away; but ideas and musings of our mind and heart come and go.  Don’t turn them away because of Twitter and Facebook.  Those things can wait; however, writing the GREAT… this can never wait.  Someday, your GREAT will define the destination of your FATE.


Gina Stoneheart
Children's Book Author & Adult Fiction Novelist
www.dawningonanewday.blogspot.com

64 comments:

  1. Great advice, Gina. Building a platform before you publish is so important. It also keeps you sane because it allows you to connect with other writers who are going through the same thing.

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    1. Yes, Kelly! It is crucial for us to network and build one another up... especially since the majority of us are experiencing the same ups and downs within this industry.

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  2. This is full of such good advice. Great entry!

    Thanks for visiting my blog. :)

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  3. My pleasure, Melissa! And thanks for stopping by to read my letter=)

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  4. my fav part was the smallest most loudest line :THROW YOURSELF OUT THERE! it's so true. and it goes towards a ton of things you are talking about. help others and you will learn through there help too. just like you said, don't be afraid to ask questions!! the only way to learn. newest follower! thanks for coming to my blog today :)

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  5. Awe, my pleasure, Tammy! I really enjoyed reading your letter and thank you for sharing your thoughts on mine. It's incredible how much acceptance and advice we give to one another. And that is just it... this all comes from throwing ourselves out there into the unknown.
    Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. Ah, brand and platform. Those words make me cringe. I am one of those people who knew nothing about building an online presence before publication. I'll never be famous, but I suppose I never set out to be. At least I have references for what to do next time!

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    1. Tell me about it, Loni. I still remember attending my first publishing seminar thinking I was the only person who continuously managed to look confused. Platform, huh? Branding, what? Blogging, hmm come again? We might never be famous, but at least we are better prepared for if and when our dreams finally come true=)

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  7. Those are fabulous and helpful tips to give yourself, Gina. I've read several of this meme today. I'm so impressed with the great letters I've read - especially yours. When people truly want to improve and seek help to do it, it's a very beautiful and inspiring thing. (I'm gonna go find Carrie and compliment her on this great idea! )

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    1. Thanks, Lexa. I'm so happy to hear this=)
      Yes, compliment Carrie away! I'm honored to be a part of such a wonderful opportunity.

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  8. Building up your online community and getting to know people is very important and fun too. And taking time away from the laptop to refresh your vision is good as well.

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    1. What a journey it has been, Catherine! Thrusting ourselves within this wonderful community allows us to establish some amazing relationships with others.
      I've learned the hard way that taking breaks is soothing not only for our sanity, but our soul. Overworking ourselves is never good; especially for our creativity. Thanks for sharing!

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  9. Before I did this writing and publishing business, I thought a brand had to do with either cows or cornflakes. I guess they are related to what we do, but how do you build a brand? That was my question. I was the one sitting next to you with an equally puzzled expression at that conference.

    There's nothing like experience to teach us lesson we'll never forget, so I don't regret any of my experiences. What I regret is I didn't meet all of these wonderful writers earlier!

    Great to make contact with you via this exchange.

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  10. We definitely grow from our experiences. I think this is such a great gift, especially for writers since we get to incorporate our growth within our writing.
    Look at us! The two starry eyed and confused dreamers at the conference:) It's nice to know I would have been it good company!
    It's a pleasure connecting here.

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  11. Wow! Nicely stated!

    Thank you for stopping by my blog today.

    Hugs and chocolate!

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    1. Thank you, Shelly! And it was my pleasure. I love the hugs and chocolate=)

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  12. Yes! Such wonderful advice here, Gina. I'm sure this is going to help a lot of people. Thank you! :)

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    1. Of course, Carrie! I'm happy to be able to contribute and be a part of this wonderful blogfest. Can't wait until the E-book comes out!

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  13. Thanks for sharing. I agree you need to connect with others. If you do not, as an artist you will be very lost.

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    1. Yes, Lady Lilith... I've learned connecting with people might SEEM overwhelming before you dive into networking but honestly, it's one of the greatest ways to establish relationships here... even long-lasting ones=) Thanks for stopping by!

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  14. Yes, yes, and yes again! Such great advice. Connecting with other writers is so important because it reminds us that we're not in this alone.

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    1. Thanks, Quanie! I'm glad I can provide a bit of guidance for others=) You're right... connecting with others does remind us we are not alone. Especially when we are first navigating and making our way around this industry. Thanks for stopping by!

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  15. Good letter! You are right - sometimes keeping up with the social networking robs us of time to write. We must always make time for that!

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    1. Thank you, Sherry! I've definitely learned to make more time for my writing throughout this whole experience.
      Although sometimes, I still feel torn when I don't answer all of my emails or social media inquiries right away. But then again, it's all about balance and finding our happy medium=)

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  16. "Someday, your GREAT will define the destination of your FATE." I absolutely LOVE that sentence!

    Before I was published, I thought building a platform was impossible. That's exactly what all aspiring writers think, too. We tend to believe we need to be published first, but as you said, starting a blog and getting out there is imperative. We have to do it before we even have a book out in the world. Otherwise, who will buy it?

    All of your advice is wonderful!

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    1. Awe, thanks, Chrys! I'm glad you enjoyed that sentence=) And it's so true! Simple words like great and fate can determine where and when our destiny will unfold...
      Before I published my children's book, I was scrambling to build up a platform for my following to flourish upon. I've learned a lot through this whole journey but one of the best pieces of advice I have come across was to start a blog. This and giving reviews to others.
      Our paths are in the palms of our hands accompanied by the musings of our never-ending thoughts and ideas. Combine this with a fantastic platform and I'd say that's a pretty damn good duo!
      Thank you for sharing! I appreciate it, as always=)

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  17. This was great advice! Thanks for this post.

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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  18. My pleasure, Gina! I'm glad you enjoyed it and I appreciate you stopping by=)

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  19. Blog, brand, platform, social media… Oh dear, yes. I was hit with this advice all at once and dove into it, flailing around not knowing where the surface was. You explain it so well. And the break from social media is a must. I forgot to tell myself that. Good thing there are others, like you, to remind me of that.

    Great letter!

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    1. Thank you, Sarah=) Like yourself, I submerged myself with all of the above and felt like a fish out of water. But in time, once I connected with the right people and attended a few seminars, I gained the confidence and guidance I needed to pursue this path.
      Yes! Time for ourselves is a MUST! I would go crazy if I didn't have my downtime... but just not too much of it, of course!

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  20. You really do have to pause every now and then and just take time for yourself. Great advice. There are so many things you can be doing, it's hard to know exactly where to put your focus before publication. These are some great tips.

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    1. Thanks, Crystal. I know before I published my children's book, I had no clue where to begin. I still remember researching countless publishing houses and agents before I realized I could be doing a lot of this work on my own... especially since I knew so many teachers and principals who would support me within the school system for author visits and what not.
      Sometimes when I look back, I think what my journey would have been like if I pursued traditional... but then again, the journey wouldn't even be close to where it is now because my book wouldn't have been published yet! I'm happy with the route I chose because it has brought excitement and enthusiasm to tons of kids which I will be forever grateful for.
      Thanks for sharing=)

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    2. Super awesome. It's all about the joy it brings to you and others. I'm completely there with you. The "traditional" route can take so much joy out of the process.

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  21. The platform seems to be an intangible for many writers. Some seem to build it quickly, others seem to toil (or maybe they don't) with little success. It is long term (as is anything in this wonderful writing life!) and often as frustrating as the writing itself. I'm still working this angle, not having been focused enough early on. Lessons learned, just like your letter says it will be.

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    1. It is definitely long term and a fulltime job.. So it feels like! The greatest lessons I have learned is to concentrate on making friends along the journey and within this industry. As important as it is to build our platforms, we must also remind ourselves of the value of support we get from our colleagues:)

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  22. I love "publishing rabbit hole" - it absolutely does feel that way! It's a great image :)

    What struck me about your letter was how much we have to do that's not about actually WRITING. So much brand-building, platform-building, social media, blogging; it's so important, and yet none of it writes books! It was great to read your second to last paragraph, and get a reminder about the other stuff that's important, too :)

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    1. Doesn't it feel this way at times, Liz?

      Times have changed so much and building a platform requires a huge amount of dedication. I remember when I FIRST joined Twitter and how clueless I was. It took me a long time to figure things out and I'm still trying to do the best I can with what I know. But the one thing I can always depend on that won't ever confuse me or intimidate me is WRITING. So we must never forget to set a certain amount of time aside for it=) Thanks for sharing!

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  23. Never mind the platform aspect, I've found blogging and connecting with other writers a vital sanity-preserver through this grueling experience we call writing. It's true that we also need to unplug from time to time.

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    1. So true! Blogging has brought me closer to some really amazing writers and authors. I'm really happy I decided to blog because it's a great way to share our ups and down and overall experiences as we grow not only as writers, but as human beings.

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  24. When I first came back to writing fiction after a brief break, I assumed networking was the same as it was in the 90s and early 00s. Social media and blogging have changed everything!

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    1. Tell me about it, Stephanie! As I mentioned before, when I first began my ventures in tweeting, I was absolutely clueless! I remember how excited I was when an author first tweeted about me and included me in her little group of authors. Social media was so overwhelming for me but I learned if we take it slowly and one step at a time, it's not so bad. Plus, we get to network with so many fantastic people.

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  25. Wishing you a successful blogfest! Terrific letter full of solid advice. I especially like the last paragraph.

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  26. An extremely wise and passionate letter, Gina! I totally agree with blogging and connecting with other authors and readers. I've heard of some writers who can't seem to blog 'successfully' (as they claim, they don't have much followship or contents to blog about) so they stop. That's a great pity. Networking and connections take time. As for asking around for reviews, I'm afraid that happens to every writer (or I suspect so). It's part of the journey, and it's quite all right as long as you ask those who are open to reviewing your book for you. What an awesome blogfest!

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    1. Carrie was very kind to host this event!
      Yes, I do agree about inquiring about reviews, however, I love offering them because I know when I need them, I appreciate my fellow authors and friends giving them back to me. And who wouldn't?=)
      Blogging does take time. I've seen people give up on it because they don't gain enough followers or claim they have no real content. But I think that's being kind of lazy... don't you agree? If you truly wish to succeed, then you must put yourself out there; especially in this business. Blogging is the best way to make some really long-lasting and endearing connections with people. I'm so glad I decided to give it a go! And I love your blog, Claudine. Whenever I visit, it takes me back to the "Reading Rainbow" days when I was a child. It's a very warm place to be=)

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    2. Hi Gina, I only heard about Reading Rainbow recently. I didn't know it was such a huge thing and it's too bad I didn't get to watch it in my childhood! (I hope the crowdfunding works so kids today can be moved like kids yesterday were.) I'm floored that you associate my blog with it. As for what you said about bloggers who quit due to a lack of followers and contents, yes, I agree. With just books and reading or writing, there is always something worthy to talk about.

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  27. Taking time for yourself away from social media is such a great point. It can get overwhelming at times and your brain needs a break. Great letter!

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    1. Thank you, Christine. Breaks are key if we wish to keep our sanity! I'm taking one this weekend when I head down the shore after a long winter filled with promoting, blogging and writing=)

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  28. Great post! Lots of good advice about platform building and social media, however I love the reminder that the writing comes first. No writing, no book!

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    1. That's right, Nick. I used to procrastinate all of the time before I got serious with my ventures and passion in writing. I'd pick up a pen here and there but nothing ever took off because I was constantly taking off... from what mattered most to me. No writing, no book... for sure!

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  29. Yes, make a list of all those schools and libraries you've already visited. Take advantage of that.
    And definitely build your platform early. You don't want to wait until you sign the deal for your first book. (Like I did!)

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    1. Yes, the building of our platforms is crucial, Alex. I'm hoping to continue on with the growth of my children's work which is expanding gradually. With social media and branding, I've learned to take one step at a time. At first, it was so overwhelming but when I noticed it was taking away from my writing, this was a major NO, NO. We need our platforms for support but our writing is how our readers fall in love with our work and imagination. Thanks for sharing!

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  30. Gina, Look at the response you are receiving from your very informative blog. You have a special calling, 2nd to writing. That would be to teach these seminars and share your extraordinary gift. You are a preciously cut diamond, just waiting for the right setting. Your brilliance will soon shine. Of that , I am sure!!! Love, Mom

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    1. Mom, you are always so sweet and sincere with your words. Thank you for your continued support, strength and kindness. This precious diamond was cut from an even bigger diamond who I am proud to say is my mother. You've helped guide me from the day I could spell George Washington... at five years old! Yes, I remember every thing you ever taught me to do and how much you have pushed me to follow my dreams and work hard. I wouldn't know what to do without you and I'm overjoyed that we can continue with our journeys separately but together=)

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  31. Unplugging from social media is something I struggle with. I seem to be online doing something constantly - I really need to take your advice!

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  32. Annalisa, I still struggle at times. I need to take my own advice but I've definitely learned to take a step back when needed!

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  33. Hi, Gina,

    Lots of good advice. I've come to realize that community is very important. The support I've received from the community is just amazing. Being willing to lend a hand is also very important.

    The pre-publication work is also very important. It helps to get sales moving.

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  34. I, too, have learned how important the community is. And everyone is really kind and supportive. I love how at times, we can enjoy our gift in solitude but when we need others the most, they are there to help advice and guide us=)

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  35. P.S. I nominated you for the Liebster Award, Gina. If you want to accept it, you can find more info here: http://writewithfey.blogspot.com/2014/05/liebster-award.html

    Happy Memorial Day! :D

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  36. Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, Chrys!! You are the BEST! Heading there now=)

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  37. Just stopped by to say, hey Gina:)

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  38. Thank you, Sandra! Hope you are having an inspiration week... as always=)

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