One Step Can Get You Unstuck

Sometimes, we can all feel a little stuck. Being stuck can look like writer's block. It can look like a lot of unfinished projects. It can also look like never putting our butts in the chair. What do we do when we’re stuck? 

I’m not going to define exactly what I mean by stuck. We all have different versions of what this means. But if you're reading this right now and nodding along with me, then think of the way that you are currently stuck. And let’s try to do something about that. 

Lately I’ve been feeling very stuck in a few areas of my life. I decided life is too short to live this way. It’s too short to not make progress on a book. It’s too short to do a job that I don’t enjoy. It’s too short to continue with commitments that are not fulfilling. When I had this moment of clarity, I decided to do something about feeling stuck. It was just one small movement toward a better future. But as soon as I did it, I felt better. 

This summer, I’ve been working with three writers who are all writing for middle grade or young adult readers. Each one of them was feeling stuck this past week. I’m not sure if it had to do with the moon, the dog days of summer, or just a writing funk. But all three were stuck. 

Then on our biweekly Zoom call, each one of them reported they were unstuck and had made progress. So what happened? 

One of the writers couldn’t figure out how to write "the next scene" in her novel. She had worked on the chapter far longer than she wanted to. After talking to another writer, she decided she would try moving the timeline PAST this scene. She labeled the next chapter "3 weeks later," became unstuck, and solved her problem. 

The next writer was stuck on one scene also. She couldn’t figure out how to transition between an event she had happening in her novel and a more important event that needed to happen in a few scenes. She wasn’t writing. So instead of making excuses for not working on her manuscript, she decided to write a scene that was not in chronological order. As soon as she did this, it freed up her mind. She realized how to transition characters from point A to point B--she made forward progress. 

The last writer had a bit of a plothole. She wanted a surprise to happen in her science fiction teen novel. But the surprise really wasn’t making a lot of sense for that story world. When critiquing her work, I pointed this out, and she felt a little stuck. Then she realized why--she wasn't writing as the character--she was almost writing as herself. The main character was acting out of character, and it created a plothole and a stuck writer. As soon as she realized this and fixed it, she was back in business. 

If you’re feeling stuck, the number one thing that will not work is to do absolutely nothing. But if you can muster up the energy to do one thing differently whether it’s in writing or your job or relationships or commitments. Most likely, that one small thing will propel you into forward motion! The horrible feeling of being stuck will be gone. 

Pigs like to be stuck in the mud on a hot summer day. But that's not us! We aren't meant to be stuck. Take one step in a different direction and see what happens. 

Margo L. Dill is a writing teacher, coach, publisher, author, and editor living in St. Louis, MO. Find out more about her at https://www.margoldill.com or https://www.editor-911.com. Check out her classes in the WOW! classroom. The next one starts the first Friday in September.

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7 comments Margo L. Dill, writing coach, writing inspiration, writing motivation

It's Okay to Make Mistakes

Repeat the title of this blog post to yourself as many times as needed. Why? Because one of the biggest obstacles writers face--no matter where you are in your writing or publishing career--is getting over the fear of making a mistake. It can paralyze you, no matter where you sit on the pefectionist spectrum.

I didn't always know that it was okay to make a mistake. I have spent so many wasted hours worrying about the mistakes I did make and the mistakes I would probably make. Those wasted hours are ones I cannot get back. They were unproductive. There's absolutely nothing I can do about them.

But I can tell myself now that it is okay to make mistakes. If I self-publish with a cover that is slightly wrong for my nonfiction book, that's not the end of the world. It's okay if I price my book too low or too high. It's not the worst thing ever if I miss opportunities to put some people on my e-newsletter list. (This paragraph of all the mistakes I may make during indie publishing or I have made during traditional publishing could go on and on and on, but I'll stop at three. The rule of three is a good one to use when listing examples, but that's another blog post entirely. And now, I made a fourth mistake, rambling about other topics during a blog post.)

I had this realization (of it being okay to make mistakes, in case you have no idea what this post is about after my rambling) after listening to The Six Figure Author Podcast. This podcast with three indie authors who have made six figures in a year during their indie author careers is fun and inspiring. (The hosts are Lindsay Buroker, Joseph R. Lallo, and Andrea Pearson.) They share their mistakes as well as their successes, and that's important. They share how ideas that used to work don't work anymore. They share how they LEARN from their mistakes.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

That's the thing. It's okay to make mistakes if you learn from them. Okay, I'm not trying to be hard on you here. Listen, I've made the same mistakes countless times. I was just explaining to my daughter the other day on a pandemic walk (that's what I call our daily walks now) the saying, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." I was explaining it because I have recently been fooled twice, and I was frustrated and grumpy.

But look, if I put my book up on Amazon and I follow all the information that I have now to the best of my ability, and it doesn't sell, that's okay. I know some strategies to try to improve sales. What is absolutely not all right is worrying that I will do it wrong and make mistakes and never put it up for sale. That is unexcusable, and I will not let that happen.

I know some of you worry about making a mistake, such as:

• Did I start my essay the right way? Did I revise it enough? Is it really ready to enter the contest? Am I experienced enough to enter a contest?
• Should I publish traditionally or self-publish? If I self-publish and fail, will anyone ever want to traditionally publish me again?
• Am I querying the right agents?
• Do I have the right to write this piece I wrote? 
• Will anyone be mad at me if they read this essay I wrote about my truths?
• Is the world ready for my memoir?
• Am I writing for young adult or middle grade? Should I use profanity in my writing? Will I be banned?

Take a deep breath, tell yourself it's okay to make mistakes, educate yourself, and then trust yourself that you are doing the best you can do. And if you make a mistake, you will fix it and learn from it. That's all you need to do.

It's okay to make a mistake. 

Margo L. Dill is a writing coach, teacher, editor, and writer, living in St. Louis, MO with her 9-year-old daughter and one-year-old pup. You can find out more about her here. You can sign up for her novel writing course each month here. 

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6 comments creative inspiration, indie publishing, learning from mistakes, making mistakes, Margo L. Dill, mistakes are okay, writing coach, writing motivation

Talk to Your Younger Writer Self and Change the Dialogue In Your Head

by dee & tula monstah on flickr.com

The other day, I heard a very interesting interview with a mental health professional, Dr. Celeste Holbrook, who said that she often talks out loud to her younger selves when she is feeling scared, stressed out, nervous, or any range of emotions that hinder her from doing her best, enjoying her life, or taking chances. She says something like: “Younger self, I want you to know that I acknowledge these feelings you are having right now and that you are trying to protect me. But I got this. I can do this. Let’s do it together. Let’s overcome this fear of public speaking and give this speech. These people want to hear what we have to say.”

Then I read  an article about the Game of Thrones actor Kit Harington, who played Jon Snow, and how he had to check into a mental health retreat center to learn how to be more mindful and change the dialogue that was in his head. He was mentally exhausted, and he had work to do on himself.

And both of these stories got me thinking that as writers we need to be mindful and talk to our younger selves all the time! Because if anyone suffers from self-doubt or fear of rejection or a lack of creativity due to criticism or any of the thousands of other things that can cause writer’s block, it’s us!

So join with me and help our younger selves (whether it’s something that happened to you last year or when you were five years old) get in check and stop making us feel like we can’t write, we will never get published, or no one likes our published stuff. For some of you out there marketing your work, you may need to change the dialogue in your head when you're on a podcast or giving a keynote speech or going on a blog tour.

Here’s an example from my own life: “Margo, young newbie writer,  I hear you and I acknowledge that the books you already put out into the world did not sell millions of copies like Harry Potter. But the people who did read them and left reviews seem to have really enjoyed them. Some people have even asked for you to write more. I know it’s hard to put the time and energy into writing more books for kids when you are constantly competing with Scholastic book fair. But this does not mean that you don’t have something worthy to say. So maybe we can join together and stop finding everything else to do in the house, such as cleaning out closets and re-organizing KT's room, and finish that picture book sequel and the other picture book that you could self-publish with the illustrations you have. You can do it. We can do it. Let’s get started.”

Just by typing this and reading it out loud--I already feel calmer. I'm ready to get to work!

Now at first, you might feel silly talking to yourself like this. But I recommend really talking to yourself aloud. And if you're worried what your family members or neighbors might think, don’t worry--you're probably already thought of as that really cool, "different" writer gal that lives next door. And besides, there's a younger version of yourself that you can tell to stop worrying about what other people think because your self-worth is based on you, not someone else's opinion!

Happy writing!

If you want to take the WOW! Writing a Novel With a Writing Coach class this summer that Margo teaches, go here to sign up (Classes start either June 7, July 5, or August 2). She is offering Muffin readers a special deal with the class--for the price of $130, you can choose to a) do the traditional class of 4 sections of 4500 words or less of a novel or book-length work in one month b) deal #1 which is turning in a section every two weeks--for writers who can't make the weekly deadline c) deal #2--five sections in one month for the price of four--for writers who have a chunk of a novel already done and need some help and feedback. Sign up, and Margo will email with you to decide what works best for you! To find out more about Margo, go to her Editor 911 site here. 

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4 comments conquering writing fears, Margo L. Dill, writer's block, writing coach, writing inspiration, writing motivation

Who Needs a Schedule?

I want to go out on a limb here and say...YOU! You need a schedule.We all do. If you have a schedule-phobia, then you might have stopped reading by now. If you're vigorously shaking your head no, then just bear with me for a few more hundred words and let me tell you why I think everyone needs to find a schedule that works for them.

You will write more.
If you have a schedule, you will write more. I haven't done an official study, but I have talked to enough writers and have been a writer long enough to know this is true 95 percent of the time. (Estimated statistics there--we are not math geniuses after all.) Usually, if you have given yourself a scheduled time to write, this also means that you've made writing a priority. And if you've made writing a priority, then you're writing more and on a consistent basis.

Without scheduled writing time, writing might be the thing on the list that occurs when you get around to it. We all know that many times those list items never get finished.

It doesn't have to be a typical schedule.
If you are NOT a schedule person, and you are still with me, then thanks for hearing me out. You see, scheduled writing does not have to mean that every day at 5am, you are going to wake up and write. There are all different types of plans that work for people--the point is really to have a planned writing time and stick to it. This is why several novelists have taken my "Write a Novel with a Writing Coach" class because the way the class is set up, it makes writers stick to a schedule. The schedule is: every Friday, they must turn in a chapter or 15 pages to me. So before Friday then, they have to plan writing time to get this assignment finished--some people do it the weekend before and revise during the week. Others write at night when their children go to bed. Some do it on their lunch hour.

Maybe you have a critique group that meets every three weeks. So your schedule is--I have to have two chapters to turn in every three weeks. Therefore, how much time do I need to write these chapters before that date? Maybe it's not the same time for you every day, but you know you'll need ten hours before that three week deadline, and you work your writing time in that way.

Having a schedule saves you time.
One thing I have started doing is before I get up from my computer to do anything (get a snack, go to the bathroom, put a load of laundry in), I open up the next thing I'm going to work on or I type a line for the next paragraph or chapter, etc. The point is: planning ahead of time what you are going to do saves you time. So, even if you have to make your writing schedule day by day because you have a totally hectic life, thinking about WHEN you can have planned writing time the very next day and WHAT you will work on helps you use your limited time wisely; and (I sound like a broken record) you will be more productive.

If you are a schedule person, tell us below how you use a schedule to work your writing into your life. If you are not, then let us know--does this post drive you crazy?

Margo L. Dill is a writing coach, editor, author and teacher, living in St. Louis, MO. You can find out more about her writing and coaching business here and her books here. 

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6 comments daily writing schedule, Margo L. Dill, motivation for writers, writing coach, writing time

Do You Need a Writing Coach or An Editor?

Since I happen to do both writing coaching and editing, I often get requests for either one of these services. Currently, I have one of the most fun coaching clients--she wants motivation to write and plot her book, and she wants me to brainstorm story elements with her. She definitely doesn't need editing right now--she's in the drafting stages. I had another client recently who wrote a very interesting ghost story, and she inquired about editing. I asked for some sample pages and let her know that I thought she was ready for a content edit, but not a full edit with proofreading yet because she was probably going to have some revisions.

How do you know if you need a writing coach or an editor (and what kind of editing)? If you don't have anyone who can help you decide or you haven't really thought about it, then here are some things to consider before you spend any money on services:

1. Have you finished a manuscript and which draft stage are you in?

If you've finished a manuscript, then you need an editor. A good editor will let you know what type of editing you need. For example, if you have a critique group that has already helped you revise your drafts, then you probably need a good proofreading. If you wrote this manuscript and no one else has ever read it, then you need a content edit, where the editor will help you with characterization, plotting, setting, and so on. 

The only time you might need a writing coach when you have finished a manuscript is when you're submitting to editors or agents and you need help, advice, and motivation with this.

2. Are you looking for someone to help you polish a manuscript or motivate you to write?

In other words, ask yourself WHY you reached out to a professional to help you with this project. If it's because you need help with punctuation and grammar, then you need a proofreader. If it's because you can't finish the thing, then you might need a few writing coach sessions to figure out why and to give you some deadlines to meet. 

3. Do you want someone to hold you accountable to deadlines?

This is what a writing coach can do. Many writers take my WOW! workshop class "Writing a Novel with a Writing Coach" because they like having to turn in 4500 words each week. It makes them work on their novel and prioritize their writing because they spent money on it, and someone is reading and discussing it. 

4. Do you need to brainstorm your plot because you are feeling stuck or unmotivated?

A rule of thumb is this: an editor is generally working with a finished manuscript or at least close to finished. A writing coach can help you at any stage, depending on your goals. A writing coach, like a life coach, is there to motivate you and discuss plot and career with you. (A writing coach can also help with branding and marketing.) An editor is there to help you with your writing and to make your finished manuscript the best it can be whether you are planning to traditionally publish or self-publish. 

If you have another situation you are in and wondering about, let us know in the comments below, and we will try to help you decide which type of services you need. OR let us know how you have previously worked with a writing coach or editor. 

Margo L. Dill is an editor, writing coach and author in St. Louis, MO. She is currently having a sale on her editing and writing coach services until the end of June. To check out these details, please click here and look at the white box at the end of the post. Or to sign up for her July writing coach class, please go to WOW's classroom  here. Her website is http://www.margoldill.com. 

Pencil photo above by Oteo on www.flickr.com 

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5 comments book publishing, editing, Margo L. Dill, proofreading, writing and submitting, writing coach, writing goals

How My Life Improved After 14 Days of Saying “No”

By M. Shannon Hernandez

I had always been a “yes” woman. You know, that woman who wants to make everyone happy, not ruffle any feathers, and above all, lend a helping hand.

You must be able to relate?

Well, at the beginning of this year, I decided it was time to become a “no” woman...unless the things or opportunities being asked of me were a “hell yes.” That means that I had to almost jump up and down with excitement in order for someone to get a “yes” from me.

There were a few events that prompted me to change my mind from being a “yes” woman to a “hell yes”...or in other words, a mostly “no” woman.

First, I realized that my time is the most precious asset I have going for me. And with that realization came the insight that I wanted to start protecting my time for things I truly loved, rather than give it away to people and things that made me feel “lukewarm.”

Second, I realized that I was spending waaaayyyy more time with other people...great people like my friends and business colleagues, and not-so-much time with the most important person in my life: my husband.

Third, I wanted to ensure that I had time in my schedule to work on hobbies and crafts that I truly enjoy—like scrapbooking, calligraphy, reading, etc. Because of all the “yeses” I had been dishing out over the years, I didn’t have time in my schedule for the activities that fueled my spirit.

Now, there was just one problem with becoming a “no” woman, after a lifetime of being a “yes” woman: I had to get over the feeling of letting others down and/or feeling guilty. This took courage! I actually set out to say “no” 14 days in a row to things that I didn’t feel deserved my time.

I kept a log to help me stay accountable to myself:

Day 1: “No” to working on Fridays. In fact, I have declared 3 out of 4 of the Fridays each month as FunFridays. These are days that I go out exploring, get a massage, or just lay low and do things I love to do.

Day 2: When my husband complained about not having any laundry today, I lost it. You see, he had been stepping over the pile for 3 days—this is the part that made me upset. Today I told him that not only was I not doing that pile of laundry, as I was swamped with work and deadlines, but that he was now responsible for the laundry. The best news? The laundry is now dropped off at a laundry service where it is washed, dried, and folded. Bliss!

Day 3: I was asked today to be a guest on somebody’s podcast show. Now, this happens often, and most times it is a “hell yes” but this particular individual hasn’t produced an episode if over 2 years. This means there is no audience even listening anymore, and she wanted to “use me to bring her podcast back to life.” Nope, that’s a big fat no—my time is more valuable than that. I politely declined and told her to be in touch once she rebranded it and released a few new episodes.

Day 4: Today I fired a client. Now, this may sound funny to some of you, but when you work for yourself, you have to do this from time to time. It is never fun, nor easy. But this particular client was sucking the life out of me. She wasn’t holding up her end of the deal in the writing coaching, and then was blaming me for lack of progress. I ain’t got time nor energy for that!

Day 5: I had to say “no” to the 4th chocolate chip peanut butter cookie I wanted to stuff in my mouth today!

Day 6: An email arrived in my inbox today. Someone wanted me to free up space on my calendar to speak with her. The problem? She had stood me up two times prior. Saying no this time meant that I could protect my time in the future.

Day 7: I resigned today from a dysfunctional board I was sitting on today. When the volunteer commitments are more drama than fun, it’s time for a change.

Day 8: I had to remind a client today that I don’t work on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday on client work. This infuriated her—namely because she had waited until the last minute to submit work for my review. I politely reminded her of my standards and processes.

Day 9: I’m taking a break from social media today. I’m on overload mode.

Day 10: A new client was upset because I didn’t take checks via mail for payment. I politely offered 3 alternative ways to pay me, all online. I thought for sure I had lost that sale, but taking checks is risky, and not how I operate! In the end, she figured out PayPal and made the payment!

Day 11: Today someone tried to “bargain-down” my copywriting prices. I told her that the prices on the site were non-negotiable. I have a business to run here! I lost that sale, but 2 more came in with people willing to pay the fair price.

Day 12: As a college professor, sometimes I have to dish out tough love. Tonight was one of those nights. I told my students that if they arrived to class late, they would be penalized. Well, tonight I had to stick to my words. When one student asked if I would reconsider, I politely said “no” and went on about class. (He didn’t have a valid excuse, I checked.)

Day 13: My friend called today and asked if I wanted to go grab a drink at the beer garden. I wasn’t in a position to get up and go at the moment, and she was already there. I said “no” and felt strong for not feeling guilty about it!

Day 14: I submitted a talk for an education conference in Chicago. I got the word that it had been approved, but the organizers could only fit me in during lunch time. This meant that people would be walking in and out, because lunch wasn’t provided, and they would be not fully engaged with the topic. I gave a response of “no” to the invitation, knowing that those 3 days spent in Brooklyn with my husband and cat, rather than in Chicago, would be more rewarding.

After 14 days of saying “no,” I learned some key things about myself and others:

• Most people are perfectly fine with the “no.” I was the one who had to get over the feelings of guilt and letting others down.

• Saying “no” allowed me more time for myself, my husband, and spontaneous things that popped up along the way!

• I became a happier person, because I wasn’t stressed out and “booked to the max.” I also wasn’t trying to make everyone else happy, which in turn, made me a happier individual.

• I made more money in my business by saying “no” to clients who weren’t a good fit, didn’t see my value, or wouldn’t follow my processes. This was a huge breakthrough for me!

• Every time I said “no,” it got easier the next time. I wish I would have started this initiative a long time ago.

If you are feeling stressed, overcommitted, and worn down, I am going to encourage you to take a look at your schedule and, more importantly, how often you are saying “yes” to things out of obligation, guilt, or fear. Life is short, our time is precious, and I believe we should spend every moment doing things that light us up with passion, creativity, and love. Won’t you join me on the journey from “no” to ‘hell yes”?

***

Learn more about maintaining a healthy work/life balance, increasing your productivity, and making more money in M. Shannon Hernandez's upcoming course, Copywriting with Heart: Learn How to Jumpstart Your Copywriting Career, Write Authentic Marketing Messages, Craft Powerful Sales Pages…and More! starting April 30.

M. Shannon Hernandez is the founder of The Writing Whisperer, and her mission is to help heart-centered entrepreneurs and heart-centered authors find their brand voices, share their unique stories, gain more visibility, establish themselves as experts, and create authentic marketing messages, all through the use of smart content strategy and engaging copywriting. The Writing Whisperer was named one of Top 100 Websites for Writers by The Write Life in both 2014 and 2015. As a content strategist and copywriter, Shannon continues to educate and inspire others through her blog, guest blogs, and podcast appearances. In addition to business writing, Shannon writes passionately about heart-centered education reform, and is a regular contributor to the The Huffington Post. Shannon’s memoir, Breaking the Silence, chronicles her exit out of public education, after 15 years, and provides readers an intimate view of her journey to business ownership, finding happiness, and reinvention.

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4 comments copywriting, freelance, M. Shannon Hernandez, saying no, valuing your time, work life balance, working with clients, writing coach

Interview with Tricia McDonald, owner of Splattered Ink Press

Have you considered self-publishing? If so, you know it can be a time consuming task with enough hoops to earn you a drink at the local circus train! So, today we toast Tricia L. McDonald who turned her own hoop-jumping experience into a one-stop publishing opportunity for fellow writers, Splattered Ink Press.

WOW: Tricia, Splattered Ink Press resulted from your own experience publishing Life With Sally: Little White Dog Tails. What prompted you to create a self-publishing business?

Tricia: As a writing coach, I help people realize their dream(s) of writing a book and the natural question for writers once they complete their book is “Now what?” At that point I talk to authors about the publishing options—traditional publishing, print-on-demand, and self-publishing.

I know how difficult it is to sign with a traditional publisher as I have many talented writing friends who have tried for years to find an agent and/or publisher. Plus, I’m discouraged by the fact that when you sign with a traditional publisher, they own your book.

And I am frustrated with many of the print-on-demand publishers because I see more of the money from book sales going into their pockets and not the author’s pockets. I know there are expenses in publishing a book, but as an author, I think the money from sales should go back into your pocket.

So I am a strong proponent of self-publishing. However, most writers do not want to learn the process involved in self-publishing, so my clients started asking me if I would publish their books. At first I said no because it is a lot of work, but I really wanted to help my writers. Once the idea was in my head, it wouldn’t leave. I found a great illustrator and graphic designer to work with, and then I hired a book formatter and we were off!

Now looking back, I am very happy that I took the leap and started Splattered Ink Press because I have met so many wonderful writers and love helping them get their books in print.

WOW: Beyond helping with the technical aspects of publishing, you seem to have a “life coach” relationship with your clients, coaching them on writing skills and nudging them along. At what point in the process should an author connect with you? Does she need to have a completed first draft?

Tricia: If an individual has a desire to write a book—they should contact me. The writers I work with have connected with me at different phases in their writing. Some have just an idea and don’t have any idea where or how to get started. Some have started writing, but need direction, accountability or encouragement along the way. Some have the book completed and want me to read it and help them with any problems they may be facing like plot and/or character development, dropped plot lines, length, etc.

So a writer does not need to have a completed first draft at all. They just need to have that desire to write and I will help them accomplish their dream of writing and publishing.

WOW: Formatting a finished book can be confusing as it changes depending upon whether the book offered in print or uploaded for eBook. What do you offer when it comes to formatting?

Tricia: I work with an amazing woman who does a wonderful job of formatting books for print and eBook. She is fast, accurate, and loves her job. When a writer comes to us for publishing, we take care of all the formatting requirements so they only have to focus on the writing.

WOW: Electronic books are increasingly popular, but there’s nothing like holding a print copy of your own work! How do you handle print copies?

Tricia: I have researched many printers and whittled it down to a few that we work with for printing. They provide quality books with a reasonable turnaround time and that is important to us, as it is important to our clients.

WOW: As exciting as it is to hold a finished book, what we really want is for people to read it! How can Splattered Ink help us get the book out to our readers?

Tricia: Many writers think that by self-publishing all the marketing falls on their shoulders and this is true. However, most traditional publishers are expecting the writers to do more of the marketing, and with print-on-demand the writer needs to market their book as well. So marketing is a HUGE part of the process regardless of which route you choose for publishing.

I want my writers to be successful in selling their books, so it is important to me to share my knowledge about marketing with them. I am attending conferences, taking classes, and gleaning as much information about marketing as possible. As I learn more and more about the marketing process, I am sharing it with my writers.

We are, at this time, assisting our clients in getting their book(s) on Amazon immediately and teaching them the Amazon process for selling and getting paid. We market their book on our website and Facebook page, provide them with marketing materials (bookmarks) to help get them started, and help them locate their target market(s). I see marketing as an ongoing process and plan to continually help my writers get their books sold.

WOW: You really are a one-stop shop! I’m sure our readers are wondering about the bottom line. How do you handle the financial end?

Tricia: Our pricing is separated by three divisions—Coaching, Manuscript editing and Publishing.

WRITING COACH. As your writing coach, we meet four times a month (usually via telephone), once a week for an hour. As a writing coach, I:

• Help you define your writing goals:
• Why do you want to write?
• Who is your audience?
• How will your writing project effect readers?
• Help you create a method to:
• Focus on a specific project
• Take action on a regular basis to reach your goals
• Provide accountability with weekly and monthly deadlines
• Work with you to overcome any roadblocks to your success
• Assist you in organizing and developing your book
• Monitor your writing with feedback and editing
• Keep an eye on your progress and help you keep moving forward with your goals
• Help you overcome gremlins that may be getting in the way of your success
• Defeat creativity blocks
• Prioritize projects
• Manage your time effectively and find the time to write and get published
• Make the process easier, more fun and more effective
• Empower yourself in publishing
• Share publishing dos and don'ts

My coaching fees are $375.00/month with a six-month commitment. If you pay the entire six months in advance, you receive one month free.

I do offer a money-back guarantee. If, after participating fully, you do not agree that the process of coaching is worth every penny of the price you paid, just let me know anytime within the first two weeks of your coaching experience and I will promptly refund your monthly payment or the full pay option amount of $1875 if you pre-pay for the six months.

MANUSCRIPT EDITING. We give the writer a little and big picture edit. Little Picture is a line-by-line edit, pointing out places to cut words and make the writing tighter, places where holes exist and require filling and finding those pesky grammar errors.

Big Picture is a review of plot, characters and layout, an overview of your book or story in its entirety.

What you receive with manuscript editing is your manuscript returned with proofreading and line-editing marks. You will also receive a detailed summary of my review of the manuscript including weaknesses and strengths, along with recommendations for improvement. The cost for this service is $4.00/page and subsequent edits are done at a 20% discount.

BOOK PUBLISHING. This process is broken into packages depending on the number of print copies the writer is interested in purchasing. Our base price is $1,500.00 and it changes depending on the number of books you want to order. If you want 50 copies, the cost is $1800; 250 copies is $2,750.00; and, 500 copies is $3,750. In addition to the print copies, each package includes full book/text formatting, cover design and formatting, plus:

• Copyright
• 100 Double-sided bookmarks
• Listing on Splattered Ink Press website
• Marketing assistance such as Amazon placement, etc.
• ISBN and bar code

Please see our website for additional information regarding what our clients receive with the individual packages.

WOW: Thank you for sharing so much information. In closing, is there anything else you would like our readers to know?

Tricia: When I wrote and published my first book, Life With Sally: Little White Dog Tails, it was truly a dream come true. That is our mission at Splattered Ink Press. We want to help writers make their dreams of writing and publishing come true.

We are not a giant company with hundreds of employees, but we will give you one-on-one personal service and our commitment of quality services and products.

Please feel free to contact me for more information at triciawrite[at]gmail[dot]com.

Thank you and happy writing.

WOW: Thanks, Tricia! Congratulations on your success!

Readers, if you have a question for Tricia, you can ask a question in the comments section below or contact her at her e-mail addy above. Find out more about Splattered Ink Press by visiting: www.splatteredinkpress.com

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3 comments book publishing, manuscript editing, self-publishing, Splattered Ink Press, Tricia McDonald, writing coach

The Word Queen: Editing, Teaching, Coaching, and Publishing

The Word Queen is better known as Keidi Keating, who lives in the Malaga province of Spain. She moved there from London in 2004 and has enjoyed life in the sun ever since.

Keidi trained as a journalist in 1999. After a stint as a local newspaper reporter in the UK, Keidi stepped up the career ladder and became a corporate communications writer for a range of high-profile companies/associations, such as Powergen, Visa, The Dixons Group, McVities and Defra (The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).

Six years later, she moved to Spain and started The Sentinella, a magazine aimed at the expat population. The magazine tripled in pagination within just two years, so Keidi launched a business opportunity to help people start their own magazines across the globe.

Keidi’s first book, Sol Searching, A Fun Filled Tale of a Modern Girl’s Move to the Costa del Sol, was published in October 2009. Critics have compared it to Bridget Jones’s Diary. She is now completing her second book, The Path, which is a fiction fantasy with a paranormal twist aimed at young adults.

Keidi set up The Word Queen in 2009 to help fellow writers fulfill their dreams of getting their books written and published. She enjoys her role with a passion and receives a huge amount of positive feedback from her clients.

WOW: Keidi, it is so great to have you with us today. Congratulations on all your writing and editing success. Tell us more about your business, The Word Queen. What manuscript editing services do you offer as The Word Queen?

Keidi: I offer writers an edit of their manuscript, which involves amending grammatical errors and restructuring sentences. The other option is an edit and a full critique, in which I delve deeper into the manuscript to evaluate aspects such as theme, plot, characterization, sense of place, dialogue and all the ingredients of a book, which can transform it into a bestseller.

WOW: How much do you charge for these services?

Keidi: For editing, I charge $200 per 20,000 words. For an edit and critique, I charge $250 per 20,000 words. My payment terms are half up-front and the rest on completion.

WOW: In your opinion, why is it a good idea for a writer to use a professional to edit and critique her work?

Keidi: As writers, we tend to become very attached to our work. It’s not uncommon to procrastinate editing, as we feel a deep sense of unwillingness to delete the words, phrases, metaphors and dialogues to which we have grown to love, even though they may not serve the novel. A professional editor knows exactly what publishers and agents want to see and can mold the story into a desirable shape.

WOW: You are right--it is so hard to edit and critique our own work! What are three or four common mistakes you see in authors' manuscripts?

Keidi: 1. The ‘point of view’ rule. Writers tend to flit between points of view throughout a scene, which leaves the reader feeling confused.

2. Writers use passive rather than active vocabulary, which fails to reach the point quickly and as such slows the reader. Generally speaking, the word ‘was’ should be avoided whenever possible, as should the words ‘to be’.

3. Limited or poor use of the ‘show don’t tell’ rule. Many novice writers tend to include too much narrative and not enough revealing action.

4. All dialogue, no matter what character is speaking, has the same ‘voice’, with very little differentiation.

WOW: Thanks for those tips. I am thinking about my own manuscript right now. . .You also provide book publishing services. Can you tell us a little about this?

Keidi: Certainly! If authors have written a book, which raises the vibration of the world in some way – either fiction or nonfiction–they’re welcome to submit the first three chapters and a synopsis to my publishing company, Pathway, by emailing info@thewordqueen (dot) com. [Replace the word "dot" with "."]

Other writers, who may prefer to self publish, can take advantage of my publishing services, whereby I sort out everything on their behalf for a set fee. I currently offer three different publishing packages, each containing different benefits: the Ruby package, the Emerald package and the Diamond package.

My basic package costs just $900, and it includes 20 books in with the price.

WOW: You are one busy lady! On your website, The Word Queen, you list several coaching and online class opportunities for writers. What do you offer as a writing coach?

Keidi: As a writing coach, I coach and mentor writers through the entire process of getting their books written and published, from the initial idea right through to having the finished book in their hands!

It’s a fairly unique service because along with elements of traditional coaching and mentoring, it involves energy clearances on a psychic level to release negative thoughts you may have about writing, success in general, and your book.

WOW: Sounds interesting and unique! What do you offer as a writing teacher?

Keidi: Right now, my writing workshops mainly take place in Spain where I am based. However, I have also developed a 26-week online writing course called, "The Write Your Book Now Masterclass." This is a great alternative to attending my physical classes, as it includes exercises and even weekly homework to complete! See www.writeyourbookmasterclass.com for more info.


WOW: I'm sure several readers will check that out. Many writers need some inspiration to actually sit down and write that book! Do you offer any other services to writers?

Keidi: Yes, I also offer various marketing options to self published authors, who may be struggling to meet their sales targets.

"My Book & A Business Plan" helps authors to achieve a great monthly passive income via the Internet, and my "Book Marketing Plans" for self published authors boost sales figures.

WOW: If anyone is interested in any of your services we've talked about today, where can they find out more information and/or contact you?

Keidi: They can visit my website www.thewordqueen.com, e-mail me at info@thewordqueen.com or call me at (0034) 952 968 096. Alternatively, my skype ID is keidik1.

WOW: Thank you, Keidi, for sharing with us today everything you have to offer writers from before publishing to after publishing. Writers, if you are in need of services, check out everything the Word Queen has to offer!

interview by Margo L. Dill, http://margodill.com/blog/

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2 comments book editing, editing services, Keidi Keating, Margo L. Dill, self publishing, writing coach