From neighbors throwing a dead carp over the fence, to the digestive capabilities of Tolkien's orcs, we've pretty much covered it all.
What Lurks Offscreen: A Look at What’s Really Happening in My Instagram Photos
I recently broke down and created an author Instagram account, and it was certainly eye-opening. From perfectly curated pages to bookstagramers who treat reading like a competitive sport (yes please) it's a colorful new world of book promos and reviews. And damn, those people make books look good! But even with the pretty fairy lights and colorful knee socks, I always find myself asking what lurks just out of frame.
I’m Following a Mug on Instagram
Today, I'm going to be candid with you. Creatively speaking, the past two months have been rough. It's like I have a vat of strawberry jelly knocking around between my ears, and no matter how I try to zap it into action, it remains an amorphous blob of goo.
Weeks 9-15: Buckle Down and Finish that First Draft!
By the time you reach week nine of the self-publishing process, you'll already have quite a few things on your plate. So, if you've found yourself drowning in the administrative details of preparing to release your first novel, this is the point at which you really want to step back and make sure that you finish your first draft. After all, you'll want to have plenty of time for revision and editing before your publication date!
Week 8: Social Media
It's week eight of the self-publishing process, and by now, you should be around -- or even slightly past -- the midpoint of your novel. If not, don't panic. You haven't finalized your release date yet, so it's okay if you end up moving things around a little. Still, you'll want to make sure that all of your social media outlets are up and running before you set your release date to help build hype and to give you a sense for the community you'll be joining.
Week 7: Explore Outlets for Feedback
When it comes to self and indie publishing -- especially if you're doing all the design work on your own -- it's important to find sources of unbiased feedback wherever you can. And it's never too early to started searching!
Week 6: Creating an LLC
For the next few weeks of your self-publishing journey, your primary task is to write. However, in the interest of helping you learn from my mistakes, if you're planning to create an LLC or small publishing company to help manage your books, now is the time to get that ball rolling!
Week 5: Writing, Roadblocks, and Where to Go from Here . . .
This is week 5 of the self-publishing process, and at this point, your only duty is to write. Write, write, and write some more. Of course, as COVID-19 has shown us, sometimes unfortunate things can happen while you're working on a project, and those things are often out of your control. So if you're running into some writing roadblocks, read on! #AuthorToolboxBlogHop
Week 4: Productive Procrastination with Cover Art
It's week four of writing your novel, and if you're anything like me, you may be starting to lose steam. Maybe you can't figure out what happens next in your story, or maybe you just want to take a little break before you dive into Act II. And that's okay. Don't feel guilty! After all,… Continue reading Week 4: Productive Procrastination with Cover Art
Week 3: Find a Boost
If you've been following along with this little series, then over the past few weeks, you should have: set up your website, set your personal deadlines, reached out to potential beta readers for their engagement preferences, and lightly outlined your novel. Now, you just have to keep writing.
Annelise Driscoll 