Relax, Rest, Rev Up for 2022!

Hello friend,

My family has asked that I take some time off. Apparently, the Grinch is REAL. Apparently, the Grinch lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, and operates Crippled Beagle Publishing. Ha! I'm sure you, too, KNOW how hard it is to stop thinking/producing/working/writing. How do you completely relax? I'd love to learn from you. Obviously, I need them. I decided to do a little research in order to convince myself to actually "chill out" these last few days of 2021. I read several articles and have listed highlights below. Enjoy!

Types of rest:

• Sleep. Duh.
• Naps. I can NOT nap. I wake up thinking I've killed someone and must hide the body. What is wrong with me?
• Yoga. You can't tell from the outside, but I do practice yoga, and it does help with my inside. Ha!
• Quiet walks. C.S. Lewis preferred no conversation during his frequent walks. I like to walk alone, but mostly because I'm slow.
• Prayer. I love to chat with God, aloud, on my way home from dropping Scotty off at school. Other drivers probably think I'm nuts, but God knows.
• "Mindless" activities that require little physical effort---like knitting, coloring, folding laundry, weeding flower beds. There's plenty of mindless housework to do in my rancher. Maybe I'll try some.
• Extra-long showers. Good luck showering, ever, without a child knocking or cat scratching at the door.
• Bubble baths. I doubt there's a tub in my old house that will "stop up" completely. I'll give it a shot sometime. Please try not to picture me naked. Sorry. Ha!
• UNPLUGGING from the digital world (particularly social media). This is HARD. I'm good on Sundays, but the rest of the week? Hmmm...something to improve.

Benefits—Don't these sound fantastic?

• The opportunity to daydream with a non-cluttered mind
• Emotional stability
• Physical recovery
• Stress reduction
• Improved immunity
• Improved energy
• MORE IDEAS!
• BETTER productivity

Entrepreneurs are often accused of being workaholics. I think we are just passionate about what we do. Plus, we feel an overwhelming sense of obligation to and gratitude for our clients. No matter our motivation, many people often work too many hours, which is actually counterproductive. In order to improve my business and free up more time to focus on health, family, friends, and fun, I made some major changes at Crippled Beagle Publishing this year. I've streamlined processes and set up standard operating procedures. I batch work, which saves my time and my clients' money. Batching also helps my team complete projects faster. I intentionally say NO to things that will absorb time, money, or energy I don't want to spend. Since I started this on October 1, I've politely said no to THIRTY-SIX tasks/obligations/events/whatever. Wow. And this is a big one (scary and expensive)—I hired more help.

Another idea I ran across is to completely restructure the workday. Last week, I looked back on my Google calendar and noticed that I almost never took a true lunch break between September 1 and December 23. My mind, lower back, and creative spirit really need a mid-day break, but I'm a workhorse. I have literally eaten lunch at my desk when the living room and kitchen are right down the hall. I don't trust myself, so my solution is to leave my office and drive to my yoga studio at noon every workday. I shall force myself to rest! I spotted another trend on my Google calendar. My schedule stretched from 5:00 a.m. to sometimes 7:00 p.m. No wonder I'm the Grinch.

Ernest Hemingway advised to, "... always stop when you know what is going to happen next." So, in order to de-Grinch, I will also force myself to walk out of my office and to the front door when my husband Jeff gets home from work. When I hear the door open, I'll know what's next. I will shut down my computer, leave my office, and give Mr. Dyer a big hug.

In order to be the perfect wife and mother, get the rest I need, and work more productively and efficiently for YOU in 2022, I am taking this last week of 2021 completely off. I pray you have a wonderful last week of 2021, and I can't wait to help you meet your goals next year!

xoxoxoxo

Jody

P.S. If you are an author and planning your book marketing for next year (which you should be doing NOW even if you haven't started writing), here's a great free resource my team and I use. Click HERE to download the Annual Book Marketing Planner.

BEFORE:​

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DURING:​

BRING ON 2022!!!

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The Gift of Time - USE IT! Plan your 2022 now and find more readers and better royalties.

Henry Ford said, "Stopping advertising to save money is like stopping your watch to save time."

Gregory Ciotti said, "Marketing is enthusiasm transferred to the customer."

Jody Dyer says (all of the time to clients who are nervous about marketing their work), "Marketing can be easy, inexpensive, and FUN. You aren't selling. You are communicating with people who deserve to know about your book and have the opportunity to buy it!"

Did you know that books live forever? In other words, you have life's greatest luxury—TIME—to write, edit, publish, and successfully market your book. The trick is to PLAN, especially when it comes to marketing your work.

Did you know that you should start marketing your book the MOMENT you decide to write it? The first step is to learn WHAT you need to do. The second step is to learn HOW. Do not fret. There are simple ways to market your book(s) within your budget and on your schedule. There is no rush. You worked hard to write your book (or you are in the process). Your book, your readers, and YOU deserve a solid marketing plan.
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In 2022, Crippled Beagle Publishing will offer the following marketing instruction options (these options are open to ANY author and are not exclusive to CBP clients, so please share this info with your writer friends):

• One-on-one: Completely customized marketing coaching at your pace and budget
• Author Roadmap to Readers and Royalties: A six-week, online course. The price is $387 for "founding members" who sign up Jan 3-7. After that, it jumps to $587. The course begins February 21. I likely will not offer the course again until September 2022 or January 2023.

What you should do:

1. Think about your book royalties thus far. Think about your marketing efforts thus far.

2. Reply to this email if you want to book time on my first-quarter calendar for one-on-one marketing instruction. We'll work out the details together.

3. Reply to this email if you want to be a founding member of the online course for $387.

Mark Twain said, "The secret of getting ahead is getting started." 

Let's get started, together, in 2022.

TO DOWNLOAD A FREE BOOK MARKETING PLANNER, CLICK HERE:)

xoxoxo and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Jody and team

Are you giving readers multiple buying options? It's easier and less expense than you may think. Keep reading ...

 Happy FRIDAY!

Back in the old publishing days, when MOST authors were rejected and those who did get through the big publishing house gauntlet had to twist and change to meet retail demands, hardcovers came out first. Those days are over. Now, based on my research and, well, reality, I believe it's best to publish all versions at once. Why not give readers options? Think about it this way. Some folks buy paperbacks to read, hardcovers as gifts, and eBooks to take on the road. My cousin Annie reads one or two books per week. Right now, she's working in abroad for a few weeks. She started a couple of books at home in New York and likely borrowed those books on her library app connected to her Kindle so she can continue reading them in the air and on a different continent. She may buy all three versions of one book. Who knows? Regardless, why limit your readers' options? Note that some books (namely heavily illustrated books) may not convert well to ePub, but Kindle versions typically work well. Call or email me to talk about your project. To download my free Book Marketing Annual Planner, click HERE.

Plus, this is a great marketing tactic. When readers scan your buying pages, they see those options and likely think, Wow! This book must be good if it's available in all of these formats.

Those formats are:

1. Paperback
2. Hardcover
3. ePub (ePubs work across all types of devices)
4. Kindle (these sell more often than ePubs and work for most books)
5. AUDIO BOOKS - I've created two. Ask me all about this.

You will be surprised at how inexpensive it can be to create a second or third or fourth version. Typically, the cost covers only my team's time, the conversion fee from paperback/hardcover to ePub, a few quick adjustments to the initial cover design, the cost of an ISBN, and uploading fees. When I write my own books or ghostwrite for clients, I do ALL FOUR immediately. Make the small investment so you aren't leaving money on the table or short-changing readers.

If you have one version and want to explore adding others, email or call me. Let's get that priced and on the calendar!

Happy book marketing and Merry Christmas.

xoxoxo

Jody

P.S. If you missed it, download (FREE) my Book Marketing Annual Planner - The Gift of Time by clicking HERE:)

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I dare you to read this and do it! Actually, I triple Crippled Beagle dog dare you. Ha!

Hello friend,

As you may have heard/read, I'm doing a DEEP study on marketing as I create my online course and membership program (launching in January and April, respectively) and refine my one-on-one coaching processes. This week, I attended a live conference (online, of course, but still LIVE---a strange but fun experience) for entrepreneurs. What I learned cannot be quantified, but I know it will earn my business and, more importantly, my clients, more money as I work even faster and more efficiently with my team to serve you. There were speakers and exercises on mindset, technical skills, social media, press kits, presenting, writing, and so much more. My favorite speaker was a woman named Tarzan. YES! That is her real name. She is delightful and direct. She taught us all about how to send emails. You'd think that's a simple process, but, whew, it is NOT. Within ten minutes, I identified mistakes I've made and how I intuitively got some things right. She also challenged us to write ourselves an email and then (this is crazy) send it to OUR clients. Yikes! Well, I promise myself I'd be "all in" to the process, so here you go. What's even MORE ironic is that Crippled Beagle Publishing client Doris Valentine can now share her beautiful book Why I Pray with the world. CONGRATULATIONS, DORIS! What an honor it is to represent you and share your gifts with the world.

All right, friends. To keep my commitment to Tarzan, I've copied my "email to myself" below.

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EMAIL from Jody to Jody (and my new friend Tarzan) on 12.2.21

Jody, 
Your friends are right about you. You are a tiny bit crazy, absolutely funny, usually energetic, always creating something, and, well, bossy. What’s interesting, too, is that you do everything in life OUT LOUD. Your poor sons. Ha! You are bold. Why not be? As Jeff says when he detours from his diet during Christmas, "YOLO!" (You Only Live Once.) Thank goodness, right?

The end of the year is the time to reflect, but you should look back on the last several years, especially since you are making huge changes in your business. Whoa. Wow. Also, what the heck? Why would you ever doubt yourself? You are good at making BIG changes. Doubt comes with changes, and women, especially, say a lot of terrible things to themselves. Well, look at this list from just the last 10 years and, as Mama would say, "Change your tune, young lady."
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Let’s see what you have endured in the last few years:

• Infertility heartache for several years followed by the gut-wrenching adoption process
• Significant disappointment in someone you love
• Tragic, ongoing illnesses in family
• Deaths of seven people in your life in just a matter of months
• Losing a corporate job
• Multiple, expensive automobile and house problems
• A freaking pandemic
• Financial strain from all the above
• A child going to college 9 hours away

In spite of all of that, you:

• Remained faithful to your Christian values
• Adopted a child
• Earned a teaching certificate in secondary education
• Earned a master's degree in curriculum and instruction
• Started a business from the ground up with no seed money
• Wrote and published several books
• Started practicing yoga
• Learned countless lessons, tools, techniques, technology, skills, processes, ....
• Succeeded and celebrated
• Earned a solid reputation in the publishing industry
• Helped hundreds of clients reach their writing and publishing goals
• Generally speaking, you rallied, recovered, and refined your approaches to everything.

You have taken incredible risks and have gained more confidence and freedom from every failure and success. You can do absolutely anything. So, here are your TOP BUSINESS GOALS FOR 2022.

1. Stop worrying. Trust that God loves you and will help you, even when YOU are the problem.
2. Continue to help writers of all ability levels tell their amazing stories with pride and excitement.
3. Hire more help.
4. Launch the online course so authors have an affordable and realistic way to learn all the tools they need to market their books.
5. Launch the membership program so authors can learn how to market their books at a slow and steady pace on their schedules and budgets.

Love, 
Jody

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Okay, friend, there you have my letter from me to me. Look back on the last ten years. What have you overcome? I DARE you to make a list and then sit back, amazed at how wonderful you are! Do it! Meanwhile, know that I treasure you.

My #1 goal is to stop worrying. I am a dreamer, and worry gets in the way of dreams. The best balm for me has been prayer. I just think it's awesome that my client Doris's book project came when it did.  Doris shares, "Through my book, I hope that you will look for God and find faith to see you through. If my work helps one person, I will feel elated."

Thank you for trusting me with your precious time, friend. I look forward to what we do together in 2022! Now, go write that letter to you:) 

xoxoxo
Jody

P.S. If you'd like to hear from me every week, subscribe through the link below. I don't crowd your inbox (I typically send only one email per week). I do share anecdotes, book excerpts, book reviews, writing prompts, business checklists, cheat sheets, comparison guides, social media tools, tech shortcuts, budgeting tips, and more. I also teach writing, editing, publishing, and book marketing skills. 

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW:) XOXOXOXO

I love this list of December dates! You will be inspired.

 HAPPY DECEMBER 1!

I mentioned this last week, too. "Special days/months" are great fodder for social media posts. I just did a little Facebook live (I hope my office was clean) to let folks know that December is "Write a Friend Month." Thus, I'm writing all of you friends. Ha! Seriously, though, I challenged my followers to write a real note on PAPER (crazy, right) and MAIL it (yikes!) to a friend. I'm going to do that as soon as I send this email to you. Please know that I consider you a friend.

Here are the December special days. Neat, right? Some are sad, some are serious, some are odd, and some are funny. As a working mother and business owner, my favorite might be "Stress-Free Family Holidays Month." I need to research that one. Ha! Enjoy, and MERRY CHRISTMAS from the Crippled Beagle Publishing team!

DECEMBER SPECIAL DAYS

• Write a Friend Month

• Safe Toys and Gifts Month

• Stress-Free Family Holidays Month

• Read a New Book Month

• Learn a Foreign Language Month

• Sign Up for Summer Camp Month

• Art and Architecture Month

• AIDS Awareness Month

• National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month

• National Handwashing Awareness Week (first week)

• National Influenza Vaccination Week December 3–9

• Christmas Tree Week (first full week)

• Tolerance Week (first full work week)

• Hanukkah (changes yearly and lasts for 8 days)

• Human Rights Week (second work week)

• Thank a Soldier Week (the week before or including Christmas)

• 1. Rosa Parks Day

• 1. World AIDS Day

• 2. Special Education Day

• 3. Make a Gift Day

• 4. Santa's List Day

• 4. Cookie Day

• 6. Give a Secret Gift Day

• 7. Pearl Harbor Day

• 7. Letter Writing Day

• 8. Winter Flowers Day

• 8. Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day

• 9. Homemade Gift Day

• 10. Human Rights Day

• 10. Nobel Prize Day

• 10. Day of the Horse (always second Saturday)

• 11. World Choral Day (always second Sunday)

• 13. Violin Day

• 14. Deck the Halls Day

• 15. Bill of Rights Day

• 16. Boston Tea Party Day

• 17. Wright Brothers' First Flight Anniversary

• 19. Build a Snowman Day

• 20. Go Caroling Day

• 20. Games Day

• 21. Forefathers Day

• 21. Look on the Bright Side Day

• 21. (approximate) Winter Solstice, which is also National Flashlight Day

• 23. Festivus

• 23. Roots Day

• 25. Christmas Day

• 26. National Whiners Day and Boxing Day

• 28. National Card Playing Day

• 30. Take a Walk Day

• 31. New Year's Eve

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ADVANCE your book with ADVANCED reviews.

Happy Friday friends,

I hope Thanksgiving Day was a sweet time for you. The day after Thanksgiving each year is Native American Heritage Day. When I hike my beloved Smokies, I always think about the Cherokee. Crippled Beagle Publishing client Donald Dickinson is about to publish a wonderful story of three children who wander from trails and battle a variety of wild and human elements in the Great Smoky Mountains until a Cherokee hero comes to the rescue.

If you’d like a list of ALL of the special designation days of the year, email me. Some are serious, some are odd, and some are funny. ALL are good social media post inspiration.

Last week I wrote about the value of reviews. There are several types, including ADVANCED REVIEWS. You may be asking:

What is an advanced review?

Who are advanced reviewers?

Where do I find these kind folks?

How does the process work?

Why should I bother?

Crippled Beagle Publishing team member Maisyn did some valuable research that addresses the questions above. If you would like a free copy, email dyer.cbpublishing@gmail.com. If you are planning a book now and have yet to publish, consider working advanced reviews into your schedule.

​Also, take a sneak peek at Don Dickinson’s cover, created by my graphic design assistant Lauren.

​In addition to book covers, my team and I can produce all kinds of marketing tools for you. Please think about what items can help you reach and reward your readers. Examples are bookmarks, sell sheets, business cards, posters, postcards, general merchandise/gift items (a.k.a. “author swag”), logos, order forms, templates, social media posts, web content, etc. Contact me to discuss ideas and pricing.

Please know that I am thankful for you every day!

Questions? Email me any time.

xoxoxo

Jody

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Reading and Writing and the Arithmetic of Reviews

Reading and Writing and the Arithmetic of Reviews

Answer these questions:

1. When you shop online for books, how important are reviews to you?
2. Even if you don't think they are important, do you look to see a book's ratings?
3. How often do you WRITE reviews?
4. Wouldn't you LOVE to see this image beside your book?

Then you need this one:

No matter how technical and complex the book sales game becomes, one characteristic of our industry remains steady: word of mouth. In this publisher's opinion, reviews are documented, word-of-mouth endorsements. Think about this. WHY do you read the books you read? My confident bet is that someone (a friend, a relative, a coworker) told you to read the book. He/she "reviewed" it. Well, that's basically what all those buyers on Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites are doing. I admit, there are some kind folks in my social circles who have written reviews for my books. That's likely the case for all authors. Still, the other numbers tell a story. I'm sure there's some complex way to figure out how, mathematically, reviews directly affect sales volume. Here's my calculation: More =more, so get with it!

TIP: Ask for reviews before, during, and after you write. SAVE them somewhere for use in your author marketing kit (last week's topic). WRITE reviews for other authors every time you read a book. If you are published, use a tag line behind your name in the review: "Blah blah blah." —Jody Dyer, author of Best Book Ever

GoodReads.com is WONDERFUL site where you should already be hanging out online. This is a community of book lovers and there are countless ways to engage. You should also be writing reviews on Amazon and Barnesandnoble.com. When I write a review, I copy and paste it to all three sites and usually to Facebook as well. Here are screenshots of reviews on Amazon and GoodReads. Some of the essential marketing that all authors do can be absolutely easy, but there are LOTS of different types of reviews and ways to use them. Also, professional authors apply etiquette. There are some no-nos. Confused? Interested? Encouraged? Inspired?

TAKE fifteen minutes to explore GoodReads.com. Find a welcome-type tutorial, and start a profile. WRITE a review. ASK someone for a review.

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I will teach an entire module on "everything reviews" in my course Author Roadmap to Readers and Royalties. The course launches in January. Founding Members (folks who sign up January 3-January 7) save $200. If you'd like to be on the Founding Members wait list, reply to this email, or email me at the usual address dyer.cbpublishing@gmail.com. I'll put you on the invitation list. If there's something you want me to teach, tell me! The first batch of students will enjoy lots of input and attention.

Have a wonderful weekend and week. Happy book marketing! —Jody

CONGRATULATIONS to author Tamara Ballast!!!

 CONGRATULATIONS to author Tamara Ballast!!!

Below is her official press release. Authors, if you need a press release, I can help. Also, you can mimic the format here (or find plenty of versions online). See Tamara's book online here: Leaving Home​

MARKETING TIP: Always keep a press release handy in your author marketing kit. If you don't have an author marketing kit, start one. Essential items include:

AUTHOR MARKETING KIT ESSENTIALS

logo for your book business

tag lines

12 social media posts you can recycle

press release

business card design

bookmark design

postcard design

poster design

sell sheet

retailer and reader order forms

NOTE: I will be teaching how to create and compile essential pieces of an author marketing kit in my upcoming online course and membership. We will take our time and get this right, together. ASAP, consider becoming a FOUNDING MEMBER. You will save $200 off the six-week course price (you will pay $387 instead of $587) and save $20/month on the membership (you'll pay $47/month instead of $67). If interested, respond to this email, email me at dyer.cbpublishing@gmail.com, or call me at 865-414-4017 to reserve a spot as a founding member. I'll open that enrollment period for only FIVE days in January, but you CAN reserve your spot now.

Friends and writers, please think of readers in your life who will enjoy Tamara's beautiful book. Let's share her press release and cheer her on as she markets this fine work and begins her next book.

xoxoxoxo

Jody

PRESS RELEASE:

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Contact: Jody Dyer, Crippled Beagle Publishing

Phone: 865-414-4017

Email: dyer.cbpublishing@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Have you ever been told something that would end up changing your whole life?

Knoxville, TN, November 2021. In her first children’s book, author Tamara L. Ballast teaches through fictional character Alana, whose journal entries are a window into her family’s “third culture” life in the Philippines. Author and educator Tamara L. Ballast is no stranger to big moves. Being a Third Culture Kid taught her numerous lessons about navigating life, and in this wonderful story, she uses Alana's questions and experiences to teach children that they, too, can handle challenges like the coronavirus pandemic and relocation. They, too, can face their fears with the help of faith, family, and friends.

From the main character, Alana: "Hi! My name is Alana. I am nine years old. My brother Aiden is six, and we live in the Philippines. We love living here . . . or we did until a few weeks ago. When we first heard about 'coronavirus,' it seemed like a far-away problem that only adults worried about, a problem that would eventually go away if we just waited and didn’t think about it. Then, all of a sudden, everything changed!"

Readers, enter the charmingly illustrated world of nine-year-old Alana and her younger brother Aiden as they struggle to understand the coronavirus pandemic. See how Alana faces her fears as her family prepares for a big move. As you take time to consider Alana’s questions, you will no doubt find answers to some of your own.

Ballast was born in the United States but spent most of her childhood in the Philippines where her parents were missionaries. She finished high school at Faith Academy in Metro Manila, Philippines, and completed her undergraduate degree in music education at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. From 1996 to 2016, she taught various ages (grades 1-12) and classes, including religious studies, general music, and concert band at Brent International School Subic (BISS) in Subic Bay, Philippines. While at BISS, she also directed the music and technical crew for multiple musical productions, led chapel services, and headed the Fine Arts Department from 2008-2016. Tammy’s children, Michael and Melissa, were born in the Philippines and grew up as third generation TCKs. In 2016, she and her family returned to the United States to live in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tammy currently teaches ELL children virtually in the Knox County public school system and leads a weekly adult ELL class at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church, where she is a member. Her desire to become an author arose from her love of writing and her zeal for helping children in cultural transition.

Available in hardcover, softcover, Kindle, and ePub. Sold on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, through traditional retailers, and directly from Crippled Beagle Publishing.

To book Tamara Ballast to speak to your organization or request interviews, quotes, and place discounted group orders, contact the publisher. ###

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Write on, writers!

 

HAPPY NOVEMBER. This is a BIG month for the word nerd herd.

Have you heard of NaNoWriMo?

From the organization's website:

So, what is NaNoWriMo?

NaNoWriMo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides tools, structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds — on and off the page.

NaNoWriMo believes in the transformational power of creativity. We provide the structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds—on and off the page.

Back to Jody now:) Writers often start projects in November because the community provides prompts, support, and group momentum. Visit the website and explore what the organization offers.

​https://nanowrimo.org/​

Create a personal challenge for the next few weeks. Why not? I mean, you aren't busy, right? My husband, a.k.a., Tall Child, says my personality changes after Halloween. I tell him that I'm not a seasonal witch, but I am overwhelmed with domestic and holiday pressures during the fourth quarter of the year. Plus, my clients often want their books perfected, published, and shipped by Christmas Day. All that said, no matter how busy we are, it's crucial that we feed our creative souls.

The food? TIME and focus on your writing.

You are not selfish for making time to do what you love. As a matter of fact, if I neglect my own creative projects, I actually LOSE energy for my clients' work.

My NaNoWriMo personal challenge is to finish (yikes) the first ROUGH draft of an exciting co-writing project. I have the transcripts, which means my co-writer has done her part. Now I just need to, well, find that blessed time. I'm thinking Friday mornings will do just fine. Clients come first, Monday-Thursday.

WRITING TIP: Use the five senses to brainstorm. Consider your topic. What do you see, hear, taste, smell, and feel? Brainstorming is the perfect way to start a project. NOTHING is off limits, you don't need to self-edit, ideas open up like crazy, and you can use paper. Tree-killers are welcomed in November. Do what you have to do to get started.

Need inspiration? Call or email me for encouragement, but just not before noon on Fridays. I'l lbe NaNoWriting!

xoxoxoxo

Jody

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WRITERS - DON'T GET SPOOKED!

 Hello from Crippled Beagle Publishing and Happy Rainy (East Tennessee) Friday,

The word spooky just came to mind. Obviously, Sunday is Halloween, so the concept is timely. On top of that, I had a conversation with a fellow creative today that rang true. As I coached her, I wished I could go back in time, find a writing and publishing mentor, and ask her to coach ME. I published my first book in 2013. Since then, I've made every marketing mistake possible. The first was NOT building an email list. There were plenty of mistakes after that, which, in many ways, makes me an expert these days! Pay attention to what I share with you, because I can save you a load of time, heartache, and money.

Writers panic. We get spooked. That is N.O.R.M.A.L. My client is a superb storyteller with a beautiful message to share. While her target audience is young and specific, the lessons have broad appeal and her book has enormous potential. She's a gifted, hard-working artist, and a GOOD writer. She simply needs to keep moving forward. And she will. She's done much harder things.

Often, writers (you know the type) have enormous goals, unclear pathways, and personal concerns. The trick is to WRITE, EDIT, PUBLISH, AND MARKET! Drop the doubts and persevere. (And ask for help when you need it.)

Often, clients and prospects ask the following questions (in bold). My answers are below each question:)

Will anyone want to read my book?

YES.

Will people thing I'm an egomaniac?

YES. WHO CARES? MAYBE NOT. WHO CARES?

Am I a decent writer?

YES! I don't work with bad writers.

How many copies can I actually sell?

As many as you like. Marketing is imperative, but you can do it on your schedule and budget.

Here's the good news. Those are big questions, but they can all be answered in time. I can help you. You can do research. Most importantly, you can ACT, WRITE, PUBLISH, BEGIN marketing, and learn on the job. DON'T GET SPOOKED and stop. KEEP WRITING and learning.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, TOO!

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