SYNTAX SINS – Hard to spot but easy to fix.

Listen for my old teacher voice as you read. Ha! Routinely, I find a certain error throughout manuscripts. If you make this mistake, you are not alone.

Often, when a writer makes this mistake, he/she makes it hundreds of times in a manuscript. Stop now to make sure you understand this common issue and eliminate it from your writing.

The issue? MISPLACED MODIFIERS 

Here’s the rule. Descriptive words and phrases (modifiers) need to be as close as possible in the sentence to whatever they are describing. If they are misplaced, the sentence’s meaning changes.

Your writing goals deserve attention to detail. This article explains the types of misplaced modifiers and includes examples. If you have to read this article a few times, do it. Keep a cheat sheet handy while you write.

https://www.blinn.edu/writing-centers/pdfs/Misplaced-Interrupting-and-Dangling-Modifiers.pdf

Misplaced modifiers can be hard to spot in your own writing, but try to pay attention and correct these before you send them to your editor, who should be getting your best draft. You don’t want to pay a chef to wash dishes. Start scrubbing those manuscripts so that the editor can focus on word choice, pacing, authentic and consistent characterization, story arc, tone, mood, voice, conflict, dialogue, clarity, and other issues that will make your book excellent.

If you are committed to creating the best possible book, you should routinely review grammar, mechanics, and syntax. Crippled Beagle Publishing has created an easy-to-follow cheat sheet to help you. Download our Proofread Like a Pro Checklist, which also includes our submissions guidelines, a list of dead words, and many tips. This invaluable tool can be found in the Author Shop at www.crippledbeaglepublishing.com. Here is the direct link: Proofread Like a Pro Checklist

Happy writing and revising!

Xoxoxo

Jody

 

Speaking Topics for Authors, Expanded

Hello from Crippled Beagle Publishing Headquarters! Last week, I encouraged you to think beyond your book when seeking speaking opportunities or guest blog/podcast appearances. One of my clients asked me to expand that message to include speaking topic ideas for children’s book authors.

To recap, one of the best ways to make money on your book is to sell it in person. Your profit margin is significantly better, and the experience is fulfilling. Readers who meet you in person will also promote you to other readers, and they are more likely to write reviews.

The best way to sell a book in person is to NOT talk about your book! Potential audiences come with questions, so think about what your target audience may be asking. What do your buyers/readers (parents/children) type into search engines? What problems do they face? What interests do they have?

Think of it this way. No one is as passionate about your book as you are, but people are passionate about a multitude of topics. For example, your neighbor may design handcrafted jewelry. She is passionate about this art and attends dozens of festivals, owns an Etsy shop, and does custom pieces on commission. Are you as passionate about her art as she is? Could you ever be? No, but you may be passionate about having an online business, visiting festivals to sell your work, finding a joyful and profitable pursuit as a side hustle or as retirement work, creating an heirloom doing something you love, and so on. If she were hosting an event to talk about her products, would you be interested? If she were teaching one of the topics that interests you, would you be more likely to attend?

Last week, I shared the following topics from a 10-minute brainstorm I did as I scanned my website bookstore and looked Crippled Beagle Publishing clients’ work. I have now added ideas for children’s book authors. Enjoy, and good luck!

How to Change a Law

Traditional vs. Modern-Day Adoption

Finding Christ Late in Life

How to Cope When a Loved One is in Addiction

Foster Parenting 101

Writing in Retirement

How to Write About Your Life

Cross-Country Moves: What I Learned

What Happens When a City-Slicker Moves to a Ranch

Answering God’s Call to Share Your Story

Tips for Parents and Teachers

What Parents Need to Know About Education Today

Surviving and Thriving Post-Divorce

How to Get Business Using Facebook

Book Marketing Basics

How to Write a Book When You Work Full-Time

Fantasy Writing Basics

What I Learned While Writing my First Book

How to Incorporate Christian Values Into Characters and Stories

The Most Creative Age? 80+!

Cathartic Artistry – Writing to Heal and Help Others

Lessons from the Greatest Writers

How to Hear God

Ways to Pray and Why

The Gifts of Gratitude Journaling

Brainstorming Basics

How to Be Funny on Paper

What I Learned as a Foodie Lawyer

 

***NEW IDEAS FROM OUR LIST OF CHILDREN’S BOOKS***

 

Create Your Own Coloring Book

Writing with an Illustrator

Illustrating with a Writer

The Benefits of Journaling

The Benefits of Coloring at Any Age

Timestamp Your Life through Literature

How to Write for Grandchildren

Teaching Through Literature

Fiction Equals Empathy and Enlightenment

Create a Family Photo-Storybook

Safety Basics for Scouts, Hikers, and Campers

Write for Someone You Love

Dogs Can Write, Too!

Turn an Imaginary Family Story into a Real Book

Witness Through Words

How to Build a Book Business

I hope you find this helpful! Reach out to me any time if you need assistance. I love to brainstorm with other creative people. ALSO, if you don’t have a media sheet/sell sheet that helps you promote your book to organizations, podcasters, and bloggers, my team and I can produce one for you. Contact me for details and pricing. (Regal Beagle Author Club members enjoy a BIG discount, so ask about membership, too!)

Email: jody@crippledbeaglepublishing.com

Call: 865-414-4017

If you’d like to schedule a 1-hour coaching session on marketing, writing, editing, or publishing, book directly on my calendar here: https://calendly.com/jodydyer/private_consultation

Regal Beagles Author Club members, use this link to enjoy your 1-hour consultation at a big discount: https://calendly.com/jodydyer/regal-beagles-only-discounted-private-session

Happy thinking outside the book!

Xoxoxo

Jody

I have an idea waiting just for you!!!

 

Author, to secure a speaking gig, talk about anything BUT your book! Here's an explanation with a list of ideas:)

 Creative Friend,

One of the best ways to make money on your book is to sell it in person. The best way to sell a book in person is to NOT talk about your book! How do I know? I learned from the Knox County Library many years ago. I asked the library manager if I could do a book signing. She kindly agreed and coached me on how to have good attendance.

She said, “Don’t talk about the book.”

What?

She said, “Talk about something that will interest anyone who may come.”

We discussed my experience, and she loved that I taught myself how to publish books. She said, “Let’s call the program ‘Adventures in Self-Publishing.’”

My first book, the one I wanted to sell at the library event, is about domestic infant adoption.

I followed the librarian's advice, wrote up a short, engaging talk about the process of publishing today, and our collaborative marketing efforts (her email list and flyers and my social media posts and my social media posts) got me a decent turnout of around 20 people. I think I sold about 10 copies of the book, which was GREAT! The audience loved the topic and asks LOTS of questions, which made my work much easier and their experience better.

I challenge you to brainstorm ideas for topics that are NOT about your book. To demonstrate, I set a timer for 10 minutes and opened up my website to look at the Bookstore. There, I scanned my clients’ book covers and jotted down as many ideas as I could for topics they can use for podcasts, guest blogs, speaking gigs, and freelance articles. Here's my list.

RANDOM, BRAINSTORM RESULTS - POTENTIAL SPEAKING/WRITING TOPICS

How to Change a Law

Traditional vs. Modern-Day Adoption

Finding Christ Late in Life

How to Cope When a Loved One is in Addiction

Foster Parenting 101

Writing in Retirement

How to Write About Your Life

Cross-Country Moves: What I Learned

What Happens When a City-Slicker Moves to a Ranch

Answering God’s Call to Share Your Story

Tips for Parents and Teachers

What Parents Need to Know About Education Today

Surviving and Thriving Post-Divorce

How to Get Business Using Facebook

Book Marketing Basics

How to Write a Book When You Work Full-Time

Fantasy Writing Basics

What I Learned While Writing my First Book

How to Incorporate Christian Values Into Characters and Stories

The Most Creative Age? 80+!

Cathartic Artistry – Writing to Heal and Help Others

Lesson from the Greatest Writers

How to Hear God

Ways to Pray and Why

The Gifts of Gratitude Journaling

Brainstorming Basics

How to Be Funny on Paper

What I Learned as a Foodie Lawyer

 

Whew! I didn’t even make it to the children’s books section. I challenge you to think beyond your book and actually BOOK some opportunities. Get it? Ha! I hope you find this helpful! Reach out to me any time if you need assistance. I love to brainstorm with other creative people.

Happy thinking outside the book!

Xoxoxo

Jody

BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG!!!!!!!! Are you a writer with lots of questions about writing, editing, publishing, and marketing? Join the club and join the club!

 

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! REGAL BEAGLES AUTHOR CLUB IS NOW OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT!

This weekend, I bumped into fellow author Lin Stepp, and she introduced me to new author Stanford Johnson. They were hosting simultaneous book signings at adjacent gift shops in Townsend, Tennessee. We talked about the challenges and privileges of marketing our work, the questions that aspiring and published authors ask us, and how we can all help each other reach our goals. What a joy it was to spend time with folks who “get it.” Being an entrepreneur can be lonely. Writing is a task most often accomplished in total solitude. I am both, so talking with other authors is crucial to my success and to my sanity! I urge you to find and join groups of people who share your experiences, have been where you are, are following in your footsteps, and can support your work. Writers can be introverts, but we can also be incredibly generous. Because such collaboration is profoundly beneficial and, to be honest, FUN, I created a new writing group called Regal Beagles Author Club. I would love for you to join as a founding member! Members may be at any stage of the publishing process (you do not have to be a published author to join the club).   You will benefit exponentially from fellow group members’ input, feedback, ideas, wins, losses, bloopers, and successes. My team and I will provide high quality, well researched information and assistance with as much detail as possible, including downloadable tools and real-life examples from my 10+ years in the business. Regal Beagles Author Club is the perfect place to ask questions, share your experiences, and enjoy tremendous support from other writers who understand what you are trying to do.  Membership currently includes the following:   Monthly live Zoom calls with the group (Zoom meetings will be recorded and emailed to members.) The Zoom calls happen on the 1st Monday of the month at 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time  A members-only, private Facebook Group  25% off private sessions (phone or Zoom) with me or a Crippled Beagle Publishing team member who specializes in your area of need  25% off all Crippled Beagle Publishing online courses  Free templates, checklists, guides, tip sheets, ideas, resources, and more  A FREE copy of my new 260-page marketing book, The Big Book of Book Marketing: Tips, Lists, and Tools for Authors  The Crippled Beagle Publishing e-Newsletter  MORE: Send me ideas!  For more details or to join the club, visit: https://www.crippledbeaglepublishing.com/regal-beagles-author-club-landing-page  If you have questions, email me (jody@crippledbeaglepublishing.com) or call me (865-414-4017). Obviously, I love talking to writers! HAPPY WRITING, EDITING, PUBLISHING, AND MARKETING!  Xoxoxo

Why write? Why not? Be sure to advertise on my website for free:)))))

Recently, I’ve talked to a financial consultant with a fantastic children’s book idea, a 90-year-old retired painter with a multi-generational family story, and other people who have awesome ideas but little understanding of the publishing industry because they operate, professionally, in totally different industries. We aren’t born writers any more than a man is born a banker or a woman is born a scientist. We all have stories to tell, and my #1 job as a writing instructor, editor, publisher, and book marketer is to encourage people to actually tell (WRITE) their stories. Only then can I help them with editing, publishing, and marketing. The pandemic opened up countless hours of free time for many people, and those book ideas floating around in heads across the world started FINALLY leaving heads and landing on screens and paper. In this video, a young lady shares her experience as a writer. Even better, she explains how writing generally helps us. If you have an idea, write!

Here's the link: https://www.ted.com/talks/lucy_whichelo_free_therapy_why_you_should_write_a_book?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

ON A MARKETING NOTE: My huge, insanely detailed, exciting website “relocation” is almost complete. A big part of the new site is the Bookstore, where I want to highlight clients’ work. If you are a previous/current Crippled Beagle Publishing author, check the site. If you do not see your book, let me know. If you do see your book, click the purchase link to make sure the link takes potential readers to the right place. I can link to your Amazon.com buying page, your website, or some other address. I know that some of the images aren’t ideal (size, clarity, etc.). Please point out or send any helpful information, links, or images. Email me at dyer.cbpublishing@gmail.com or jody@crippledbeaglepublishing.com with your suggestions or requests. If everything looks good and works well, you do not need to email me. My hope is that folks who visit my website will also visit the bookstore and buy your book!

Go to Crippled Beagle Publishing (plain test URL is https://www.crippledbeaglepublishing.com/). Then go to the top of the page and click Bookstore. Be sure to also visit the Author Shop, where you can find a growing list of free and inexpensive tools to help you reach your goals.

HAPPY WRITING AND MARKETING!

Xoxoxo

Jody