Even Google Wants You to Have a Team

Recently I signed up for the Google Digital Marketing and E-Commerce Professional Certificate through Coursera. My library had scholarships available, and I’ve been wondering how much of the content would be useful to me, a freelance writer. I need to be visible online.  I want people to find my work especially that I am now preparing to self-publish. 

I’ve just completed the first course, Foundations of Digital Marketing and E-Commerce. I didn’t learn a lot that was brand new to me in this introductory class but I'm taking that as good news.  This was just the introduction and there is overlap with my knowledge as a writer. I don't remember where as a writer I heard about marketing funnels.  That's the path potential customers go through from the beginning when they learn about you and what you are offering to the end where they engage.  

But another area of overlap that was especially interesting. Elle Duncan, a Google vice president, discussed building the confidence needed to go on the job search. Though I’m not planning on looking for a job in digital marketing, free lancers are frequently searching for opportunities and sales. So this is information I'm going to need especially if  I do apply for a job.  

In her session, Duncan mentioned two groups of people job seekers need in their lives. She called these people cheer leaders and practice buddies. 

The first group is somewhat obvious. Cheerleaders cheer us on. For a writer these might be the people who talk you through rejections. They lift you up when you are dealing with imposter syndrome. They tell you that no matter what your cousin twice removed said, your book does not need to be one of Reese Witherspoon’s book club selections for you to be a successful writer. 

Practice buddies may require a bit more thought before you see how it relates to your writing. They are the people who help you get the practice needed to perfect your craft. When I heard this term, I immediately thought of my critique group and my accountability group. These are the people who read my work and help me make it better. They recommend books on writing like Reimagining Your Nonfiction Picture Book: A Step-by-Step Guide by Kirsten W. Larson. They nudge you to sign up for classes that you've been talking about but not taken action. That's what Ang did when I talked and talked about Self-Publish Your Masterpiece with Barbara Noe Kennedy (an excellent class). These women are definitely my buddies. 

We writers definitely need a community. Whether you write something like picture books for young readers or essays about being a caretaker, you need your fellow writers. These are people you will get to know. That way when you spot a call for manuscripts, you'll remember that someone in your group is working on something appropriate. Together you will celebrate wins and mourn losses. They are practice buddies and so much more. 

If you don’t have an accountability group or a critique group and would like to connect with fellow Muffin readers, post below. Let people know what you write and what you are looking for. Do you need a critique buddy? Are you interested in assembling a group? This is how the accountability group that I’m in assembled here on the Muffin. 

And if you want to know about this certificate when I have completed it, let me know. One class down and six more to go. 

--SueBE

• To find out more about her writing, visit her site and blog, One Writer's Journey.  

• Click here to find her newsletter.

Sue Bradford Edwards' is the author of over 60 books for young readers.  

She is also the instructor for 3 WOW classes which begin on the first Monday of every month. She teaches:

• Pitching, Querying and Submitting Your Work 
• Research: Prepping to Write Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults 
• Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults 

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Leave a Comment accountability groups, classes, critique groups, digital marketing, e-commerce, writing community

Out of sight, out of mind

Every January each member of my critique group makes a list of writing (and/or other) goals, seals them in an envelope, and opens them in December to measure her success. A few weeks ago we got our lists back and read them aloud to the group. When we reached the end of the list, we summarized our successes and failures.

This year I met fewer than half my goals. I had four items on my list and right now can't remember any of them. Overall, this practice of writing them down and putting them aside can work, but I wasn't following through.

Like every other question I have, I turned to the internet for goal-setting answers. What I found there were flow charts, pie charts, worksheets, time-limit suggestions, and one strategy that involved identifying 41 types of goals. That's too much pressure, and if I can't remember my four goals, I would never remember 41 types of goals.

I'm a visual learner, and I realized I needed to see my goals. At one of my earlier jobs in public relations, I wrote my assignments on a large monthly desk calendar. When I completed an assignment, I would place a large checkmark in front of it. If I did not complete it by the assigned day, I would draw a single line through it and rewrite it on a later date. I repeated this process until I succeeded.

These visual reminders helped me understand what I needed to do, what I had accomplished, and what I was ignoring. The system wasn't perfect, but I liked tracking my goals and progress every day.

My 2018 plan for success is to write down specific goals in January, and copy them on my phone, calendar or Post-It notes where I will see them. I'm hoping this process will increase my success rate. I'll let you know how it goes.

How are you setting your goals for 2018?

Happy Holidays!

Mary Horner's story Shirley and the Apricot Tree was recently published in Kansas City Voices. She has written for numerous publications and teaches communications at St. Louis and St. Charles Community Colleges, and earned the Writing Certificate from UM-St. Louis.

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4 comments accomplishing goals., critique groups, lists, setting goals

On Taking Advice From Your Critique Group

There is no finer feeling than those few moments of bliss when you’re sure you have created a written masterpiece the likes of which the world—nay the universe!—has ever known.

And then you sit down with your critique group.

In the strategies of improving our writing, the critique group is often the first line of defense against the dreaded rejection. But there are times to listen carefully to your critique partners and there are times when you should grab your manuscript and run.


CONSIDER THE SOURCE

When I was a little girl and someone would say something mean to me, I’d rush home to my mom and tearfully tell her all about the slight. Her standard response: “Consider the source.” Which I came to understand meant that I shouldn’t pay any attention to that person because she didn’t know what she was talking about.

It’s the same in your critique group. It matters who is giving the advice.

If the critique member is a generally strong writer, knows the genre as well as the industry, works regualrly on his/her craft, and manages to get published (or at least gets close to being published), then you should probably listen to that advice.

On the other hand, if the critique member is a hobby writer, doesn’t keep up with what’s going on with the industry or the other members in the group, shows up with more criticisms than helpful critique, then consider the source.


RULE OF THREE


Technically, it doesn’t have to be three for this rule to work. If your critique group only has four members, for example, it could be the Rule of Two. But here’s how it works:

If a majority of members in your critique group point out the same problem in your manuscript, poem, or article, then you have a genuine problem, my friend, and a closer look at that problem is warranted.

However, do not count the critique member who hears someone mention a problem and chimes in, “Oh, yes! I noticed that, too!” It could be a legitimate critique, but it’s more likely the bandwagon member, that person who always piggybacks on someone else’s critique. You’re free to ignore the bandwagon member, but those other three people giving you the same advice? Ignore at your own risk. Which brings us to the last bit.


LET IT REST

No matter how spot on your critique group is with their advice, let your notes and writing sit for a spell.

Yes, that can be challenging when your critique group has finally solved that pesky plot problem. You just want to dive right in and write away! But resist the urge to fix your problems immediately. Give yourself time to look at the whole rather than the parts. Ponder a while until you know exactly how you want to go about taking that advice.

Of course, don’t ponder for a month or you’ll forget everything. Just let your thoughts rest for a couple of days or even a week after your critique group meets. And then get back to work on that masterpiece. Because the next time—Ahhh, the next time!—your critique group is going to be amazed with what new writing brilliance you hath wrought!

Cathy C. Hall is a kidlit author and humor writer. She jumps in and out of critique groups so as her mother would also say: "Do what I say, not what I do!" (She does work steadily, though, and is always happy to share writing advice. Come see more here!)

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5 comments Cathy C. Hall, critique groups, rejection, writing advice

Do you believe you can?

Recently I heard an interview with a female engineer about her role in the documentary "Dream Big: Engineering Our World." The movie stresses the importance of creativity in jobs like engineering and other STEM career choices. When the interviewer asked which courses kids could take to help be successful in a career like engineering, she gave a surprising answer. The key to success in these careers did not rest in a single course, but "believing in yourself."

According to BusinessDictionary.com, self-efficacy is a person's belief about his or her ability and capacity to accomplish a task or to deal with the challenges of life. Albert Bandura, Ph.D., a social psychologist who coined the term self-efficacy, believes that ability is not fixed. He breaks down the process of improving self-efficacy through accomplishing, observing, imitating and verbal reinforcement.

Verbal reinforcement can also play a role in self concept, which is determined, at least in part, by the messages we hear about ourselves. Everyone reading this has probably been told at one time that she or he is a good writer. This news may have come from a teacher, parent, friend, or stranger, which made it even better because that person had no vested interest in complimenting you.

Your self-concept may be that you are a writer, your self-esteem is the way you feel about it, and your self-efficacy is the ability to believe you can succeed as a writer. Without self-efficacy, your exceptional skills and talent won't take you to the next level because you don't believe you belong there.

Writing and/or critique groups can help a writer achieve all the steps necessary to increasing self-efficacy. When the group loves your writing, you have accomplished a goal, and hear about that success (verbal reinforcement). When someone else in the group succeeds, you realize it is possible. When a great story is broken down into understandable steps, you can imitate that process.

So what are you telling yourself about yourself? I love the old saying "Whether you think you can or can't, you are correct." Our thoughts affect our behavior, and our behavior determines our success. So what do you think?

Mary

Mary Horner is a freelance writer and editor and the author of Strengthen Your Nonfiction Writing. She teaches communications at St. Louis and St. Charles Community Colleges.

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4 comments Albert Bandura, critique groups, self-concept, Self-efficacy, self-esteem, writing groups

5 Ways to Improve Your Craft Inexpensively

One common trait among many of us is that we don't have a lot of extra money to spend on our writing craft. Sure, one or two conferences or classes a year are in the budget--maybe--but many writers I speak to are working day jobs and writing on the side OR busy with freelance jobs that pay the bills while they work on their creative projects in the wee hours of the morning.

Luckily, in today's global and cyber-connected writing community, there are several inexpensive and often FREE ways to improve our writing craft:

1. Read Blogs & Free E-zines: There's a world of free information at your fingertips if you have a computer and Internet connection (which you can get for free at coffee shops and libraries). Of course, WOW! is a great resource, but we're not the only online writing resource out there. Authors, agents, writing groups, and more write about their experiences and knowledge for writers everywhere to read. If you have never checked out Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers, which we are thankful to have been included on many times, then go to the link when you finish my blog post. (Not before--or you will never come back and read my wise words. Wink Wink. )

2. Free Webinars: These exist everywhere, too. Usually, professionals who want to give you a taste of their services provide one-hour informational webinars, so you can learn from them and decide if you want to pay them to help you with your writing. But these free webinars are full of information that can help you improve your craft. All you have to do is Google "free writing webinars," and you will see the vast amount of resources available. Also, if you write memoirs, WOW!'s partner, National Association of Memoir Writers ,often offer free webinars.

3. Critique Groups: My critique groups have been so valuable to me and of course, completely free. I am lucky, I know, to have moved as often as I have and find amazing critique groups each time. But if you are not in a critique group, somehow find one. I have found mine through local writing groups or national organizations', such as SCBWI, regional chapters. You can also start your own. If you live in a community with a library or coffee shop, post a sign. There are also several online opportunities to connect with like-minded writers who will critique your work in return for critiquing theirs.

4. Write Every Day: I won't go on and on about this. It is common sense. If you want to improve something, you practice it. If you do steps 1 to 3 above, then you put into practice what you learned when you write every day (or every other day--whatever works for you). The point is write on a regular basis and improve.

5. Learn From Library Books: Library books are free. Libraries buy the books that you hear about on writing sites, such as Stephen King's On Writing or Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird and countless others. Check them out for free.

Got any other ideas?

Margo L. Dill is a writing coach, published children's author, blogger, editor, and instructor. Find out more at margoldill.com. To sign up for her WOW! novel course, go here. 

"Free" photo above  by Shane Adams from Flickr.com

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3 comments critique groups, free articles, libraries, Margo L. Dill, Webinars, Writer's Digest, writing blogs, writing resources

Finding My Writing Tribe

This shirt I got as a gift says it all. 

I have a problem with accountability. I know I do. I also struggle with getting into regular writing habits. This weekend, I was reading an interview with Gretchen Rubin, author of “The Happiness Project,” and she listed some routines each writer should get used to practicing. The one that hit me the hardest was the section on “Building Your Team.” This includes the people you surround yourself with (editors, agents, critique groups, etc).

I’m afraid this is the main area where I fall short. While I have a small tribe of close friends in real life that help me stay sane, I don’t really have anyone to help keep me accountable when it comes to writing. I think the main problem is that being an introvert, I am too shy to ask anyone to read my writing, unless I am paying them for it. A few years ago, another writer mom friend of mine who also writes young adult fiction asked me to partner with her. We swapped the first few chapters of our novels and critiqued them for one another. After a few weeks, I got discouraged because whenever we would meet to discuss the chapters, she asked more questions about what I thought about her work and could never keep the names of the characters in my book straight, which led me to believe she didn’t really care for it. We eventually quietly gave up on trading chapters.

I do well when I take a writing class, participate in NaNoWriMo or hire an editor to work on my manuscripts. But other than that, there is no one to keep me accountable with my writing, and as a result, getting into a regular writing routine that isn’t related to my paying clients is difficult.

In her book “Writer Mama: How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids,” author Christina Katz discusses the importance of finding your tribe, through networking events, local writing classes, regional writing workshops and conferences, etc. While I’ve participated in all three of these types of events, my follow through hasn’t been great. I need to take a closer look at the network I already have in place to find some like-minded writers who are eager to find a productive writing relationship.

How do you stay accountable with your writing? Do you have a good tribe in place or do you struggle putting yourself out there? I’d love to hear your tips  and experiences in the comments below.

Renee Roberson is an award-winning freelance writer and editor who regularly writes for regional magazines and blogs. Her website and blog are currently under construction but you can check her out on Pinterest and Instagram in the meantime.

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9 comments critique groups, critique partners, finding a writing tribe, Renee Roberson

Stepping Out in Your Own (Writing) Style

I recently spent a couple weeks around my extended family and as usual, I had a moment of feeling frumpy.

You see, I have a sister-in-law who looks like she just stepped out of a magazine spread on gracious Southern living. I don’t care if she’s just come from a yoga class or the car wash, she’s always stylishly stunning. While I…well, I like to say I’m the “classic” type, but if I’m honest, I’m just lazy. I wear the same basic color scheme, the same jeans, the same boots for just about everything. And so next to my glamorous sis-in-law, I look, what my mother would call, as “plain as dirt.”

It used to bother me. I used to try to really kick up my style a notch (or seven) if I knew I was going to be around her. Until I finally realized that, to paraphrase Popeye, “I am what I am.” So the frumpy moment passes, and I’m fine. I’m comfortable in my own skin (and boots).

It was an important lesson to learn because as a writer, I did the same darn thing.

In the early days of writing fiction, I tried to write like a handful of amazing writers I admired, like Harper Lee or Flannery O’Connor. (I know, right? I’m blushing just writing that last sentence.)

Of course, editors didn’t buy my copycat stories. The prose was plodding; the voice was false and strained. But fortunately, after a (long) while of writing, and sharing my work, I found my own voice, my own style. (That, and my mother told me to quit trying to be someone I wasn’t.)

Now, we can’t always count on a mother being around to set us straight. That’s why it’s so important to have a trusted critique group, a few people who meet faithfully, particularly in early writing days. These are the people who will come to know your strengths (and weaknesses); they will recognize your authenticity and call you out when you get pretentious. They will encourage you along the path where your true voice shines and politely steer you away from the missteps. In short, a great critique group can make all the difference in the world in your writing journey.

January is just about to end, and many of your good intentions will end along with it. But it’s not too late to join a critique group (or whip your present group into shape). So seize the moment! Find your voice! Embrace your style! Maybe even pull on your favorite boots. You’ll be ever so much happier, stepping out and writing in your own comfort zone.

~Cathy C. Hall

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2 comments Cathy C. Hall, critique groups, voice, writing advice

Social Media and Critique Groups

by Wonderlane (Flickr)

I've written about my critique group on here before--the Lit Ladies. You know I'm very fond of these women and forever grateful that they keep me moving toward my goal of someday becoming a bestselling author. But we are also busy women with a lot going on in our lives, and we also live all over Missouri and Illinois. So it is hard for us to:

1. Find time to write
2. Find a time and place to meet

This is difficult when you are supposed to be encouraging each other's writing habits and critiquing work. But in the last six months, I feel like we have become creative and are not letting time or distance stop us! 

Last month, we had a virtual write-in. Although my life was super crazy that week and I didn't get to participate how I wanted, here's what we did. One of our members set up a private event on Facebook for the virtual write-in, and then she invited all members of our critique group. Once we all accepted, we could write on the event page, and only the attendees could see what we wrote. Throughout the 2.5 hour period, we caught up on life and writing projects; and at home, we wrote. We then updated our progress on the Facebook event. 

We also had "word wars." One of our members would type, "GO!" and then for 15 minutes, at our own houses, we wrote as much as we could without stopping (a mini, mini, mini NaNoWriMo). At the end of this time, everyone who participated put their word counts on the Facebook event. 

This was a great way to stay in touch with each other and motivate one another to write and work on our WIP in a month when no one had anything to critique--because no one had been doing much writing.

Next week, we are going to try Google Hangouts for our critique group. We have used Skype before, but we have 3 members who cannot physically attend our meeting. So we thought we would give Google Hangouts a try. This week, members sent their writing by email for critique. Each of us is supposed to read and critique before next week. Then during the meeting time, three of our members will get together at one house, and the rest of us will join using Google Hangouts. I'm wondering if anyone has used Hangouts for something like this before. If so, please let me know in the comments below.

It is difficult to juggle everything if you are not a full-time writer--work, home, kids, family, and more. People are moving all the time for jobs and school, and so when we find others we trust with our work, we don't want to give them up. Social media can help us stay connected to our peers and keep us producing! Have you used any social media platforms with other writers for critique or anything writing-related? 

Margo L. Dill is a children's author, living in St. Louis, MO. She also teaches novel writing and children's writing in the WOW! classroom. Find out more at: http://www.margodill.com .

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1 comment critique groups, Margo L. Dill, online critique, social media, writing inspiration

Tricking Yourself Out of Writer's Block

As you know from reading my letter to my work-in-progess a couple of weeks ago, I have been stuck. But this past week, thanks to my critique group's night of writing and a little trick, I finally fixed the beginning of my middle-grade novel. (And my work-in-progress is very thankful about this.)

Here was my Facebook post on my page the following day:

"Here's the weird thing about writers. I have been stuck on my latest middle grade novel. Really the first 12 pages. Last night, I copied and pasted them into a new Word doc, changed the font, and voila, solved my entire plot problem. ‪#‎mindtricks‬ "

Several writers commented on this post. It seemed to resonate with many.  One writer said that she uses a different computer sometimes if she is stuck. A couple offered more words of encouragement, saying to do whatever works and that I had a cool idea. And finally, some are considering trying it, after also being stuck and not writing much all summer (or maybe even longer). 

Writing is an exhausting process--even if it brings you great joy and satisfaction--it is not very easy. Many writers have a love-hate relationship with their profession, but could not imagine doing anything else. Even when some writers (such as me) are not making much progress on a creative project, we are still writing in some way--whether we are expressing ourselves through blog posts, social media messages, or even emails and journal entries. 

The point is--we are writers, and sometimes writers get stuck and run out of fuel and spark. So it is important to surround yourself with encouraging, like-minded people (such as the writers in my critique group) and find a method that works for you TODAY (because it might not be the same method that worked yesterday).

In two weeks, my critique group and I are going on a weekend writing retreat. I'll be sure to let you know what tricks work for me and how my work-in-progress and I are getting along after spending more time together than we have all year.

Have you ever tricked your mind when writing? What works for you?

Margo L. Dill is a children's author of three books for ages 3 to 18. She also teaches writing courses for WOW! Women On Writing. To find out more, visit http://www.margodill.com. 

light bulb photo by thomasbrightbill (http://www.flickr.com) 

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6 comments critique groups, Margo L. Dill, writer's block, writing inspiration

Word Challenges: Motivation to Write

photo by wwarby on Flickr.com

It sounds crazy that writers need challenges to write. When I tell my non-writing friends that I am stuck on a work-in-progress or most of my writing time is dedicated to freelance, I can tell they don't get it. But you, if you are reading this blog, you are probably a writer. And hopefully, you get what I mean when I say: writers need motivation. We need to spice it up--or it is super easy to get in a rut and not actually produce new creative material for publication.

This is the exact problem almost my entire critique group was having in the spring. We all seem to have things going on in our lives that are getting in the way of producing any words at all. We love each other, so we still met--sometimes one person out of six would have something for us to critique. Or we would brainstorm if one of us felt stuck. But let's just say, none of us were producing anything close to the 20 pages we could have turned in for the others to read and critique.

So at our last meeting, someone suggested doing a daily word challenge. Every day for 90 days, we should commit to writing 250 words. When we go on retreat in the summer, we will pick a winner of the challenge--and this winner will get a monetary prize--which is the person who wrote the most and the most consistently over the 90 days. And it is working! Our word totals are probably triple what they were all spring in just one week. I'm struggling a little still, but I know why; and soon, I will be able to get on track and add my daily totals to the spreadsheet too.

This isn't the only word challenge you can do. You can do "word sprints", also known as "word wars." What this entails is either physically being in a room with other writers or online at the same time. You set a timer for an agreed upon time (usually less than 30 minutes), and you write as many words on your manuscript as possible as quickly as you can. (It's sort of the same philosophy as NaNoWriMo--just make progress, you can revise later.) When the time is up, everyone shares their word counts, and the person with the most gets to say: "I won the word war."  There could be a prize, like chocolate, if you so desire.

You actually don't need other writers to do a word sprint. You can just compete against yourself and try to beat your personal best, too.

Do you have any word challenges you do to keep yourself motivated and progressing on your work-in-progress? If so, please share them. We would love to hear about these ideas here!

Margo L. Dill is a children's writer and published author as well as an instructor for the WOW! classroom. Check out her books on her website.

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1 comment critique groups, Margo L. Dill, work in progress, writing challenges, writing motivation