Writers in the Storm

by Kris Maze

Summer is the time when many writers slow down the pace of publishing and focus more on simply writing. This has been my secret sauce over the last couple months, working on a fun manuscript and making the magic happen. As I’ve been doing this, I realize many writing benefits to savoring this time. More focus, more enjoyment in writing, even more productivity as my work is better quality and needs less overall editing. 

In today’s post, I want to share some tips for making the most of summer writing. How do you best write during this season? Check out my top ten ideas for a productive and chill writing flow and add your suggestions to the comments below. 

Top Ten Ways to Enjoy a Writerly Summer

10. The 2024 Summer Olympics are Over – Get Back to Work

Whether you watched the drama unfold religiously, keeping a score of how many medals your favorite country won, or never turned on your television at all, it was impossible to ignore the fact that the Olympics were a big part of this summer. It dominated the news and social media. 

It brought joy and a thrill to watch skilled athletes at the top of their games. It inspired and encouraged us to be better humans. But the final ceremonies are finished, and the athletes are back to their respective homes, moving into new versions of their lives. We can take a cue to get back into our grooves as well. 

Some well-known athletes like Simone Biles, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, and Lebron James, for example, may have performed their last Olympics. And some, like Quincy Wilson, aged 16, is bemoaning heading back to high school. We can watch vicariously the lives of these inspirational athletes, but we also get back into what we do best – writing.

Get away from the television and back into the writing mode. Perhaps you can draw characterizations or plot ideas from something that piqued your interest. Consider how these summer stories captured the hearts of the public and see how it could weave into your writing as well.

9. Go on a News Diet

See Number ten and perhaps spend less time worrying about all the problems riddling the news feeds. The ever-changing political climate and world affairs can be stressful. And news about political shifts, wars, and natural disasters are everywhere we have electronics.

Consuming news is an important part of being an engaged citizen, but it can also be distracting from your writing goals. Be judicious about your news intake and discerning in how you let it impact your writing. Although it is important to know about the issues in society, be aware and careful of the news you mentally digest as it can influence your own works.

Write something into the world that you are proud of that sends a message you believe people should hear. Our words can be powerful influencers, write them. Use them carefully.

8. Hydrate!

Don’t forget that our physical bodies are made up of around 60% water, and it’s important to stay well hydrated. If you are finding that your writing routine isn’t going well or something hard to pinpoint seems a little off, try taking a drink of water.

One of my favorite writing tips is to have cool drinks around to beat the summer heat. I am a fan of simple ice water and use a metal straw. Many of my friends love the various options of flavored seltzer waters. On occasion, I’ll freeze some of the seasonable fruit and plop a few into my cool beverage. It adds a pop of color and a bit of tart sweetness.

There are many cups and thermos drink holders that can keep your drink frosty, but some writers claim that room temperature water is best for them. I tend to like my water chilled. Find a variant of water that works for you and keep your mind and body working well.

7. Visit Your Local Library

Libraries are sources of information, but also nice cool air. Visit your local library and browse their events. Community events around hobbies, movies, and game nights are commonly a part of their lineup. Many reading and writer groups meet regularly at most libraries. These events can help you connect with experts in an area you are researching as well.

Recently, I participated in a seed exchange at the library. It included an information session and provided an opportunity to talk to master gardeners about improving our growing. As research for a sci-fi novel, I had questions about the best ways to store seeds long term. Like far into the future long term, a hypothetical futuristic kind of way, and my conversations at the library helped me find new resources. Resources that can help my next novel have plausible aspects regarding seeds storage.

Remember our libraries this summer to fuel your writing journey. Find an open table and a quiet place to write if you need it. Also, most have free wi-fi available. Make friends with your librarian, they can help you find comparison titles and suggest places to share your books. There are many reasons to visit your public library. What will you discover there?

6. Browse Your Genre

Read what titles are new this summer in your genre. Research what is hot and what the top titles look like. Many authors have sophisticated ways to analyze which books are doing well in their niche, but usually a simple search in your web browser will be a good place to start. 

Stop by your favorite, major book distributor and look up what type of book you would like to read. A list of popular books should show up. Look over the covers and descriptions to note shifts in the market and in book design. Build up your awareness of what is current in your corner of the book publishing world as you write your next best seller.

This research can inform your writing, but hopefully not restrict your creativity. Maybe noting the hottest trend will validate what you are already working on, or maybe it will demonstrate that you are making something new and interesting. Regardless, whether you believe authors should write to the market, by crafting a book that people seem to buy, or that writers should write strictly what they are driven to put on the page, knowledge of what the public wants to read—which books are currently selling—is valuable to writers. Browse trends in your genre and see how your current work compares. 

5. Read, Read, Read

Writers tend to neglect their own need to feed their minds with good words. Reading is an excellent way to heighten your own craft. If you haven’t sat down with a good book lately, you may want to reconnect with why you are compelled to write stories. Remember how reading books makes you feel. 

Read widely or choose books that you want to emulate. It makes sense that getting quality writing in your head makes you a better writer as you surround yourself in stories that you would like to see more of in the world. Remind yourself why you want to write books. Here is a post by another WITS writer reminding us why we write HERE for more inspiration.

Read with purpose. Pay attention to clever turns of phrase and interesting wording from your favorite authors. Read for pure enjoyment and recall how the author you are reading accomplishes this. Reading stories you enjoy will translate into your own works and improve your writing as well.

4. Make Time to Visit Friends

Summer is a time to reconnect with friends, old and new. Take time to fill up your social well and enjoy the benefits of friendship. Invite a friend over for lunch or make plans to visit a local park. Keep it simple and focus on finding out what is new in someone else’s life.

Getting together with friends doesn’t have to be about writing, but it can help you be a more productive writer. Think about a part of your novel you are working on. Share your latest progress and talk about plot ideas.  Have fun and it will make your writing process easier and more enjoyable too.

3. Get Outside

It is common knowledge that spending time outdoors can shift our minds and emotions toward a positive trend. There is research supporting this idea. Being outdoors can add to your wellbeing. Studies show a strong correlation between time spent in green spaces, parks, yards, bike trails, etc. and better health. 

The physical and emotional benefits include better sleep, lower blood pressure, and less likelihood of chronic disease. This may be in part because being in green spaces also leads to more exercise and activity.  However it occurs, the connection exists. Feeling better can give you a writing productivity boost, so get outside and try it for yourself.

2. Music, Food, and Community Events

Summertime is full of summer events. Shake off the indoor cobwebs of our minds by attending something you enjoy. Live music is available at many restaurants and cafes, but also in many community parks for free. Concert tickets may seem astronautically expensive, but there are many local events sponsored by companies and organizations at festivals. Check your local activity boards on places like Facebook and see what events are happening near you.

Want more summer action energized by down-to-earth 4H level fun with a side of fried funnel cakes? Try your county or state fairs. Another source of local growing and fresh produce and goods can be found at a farmer’s market. Many creative folks set up stands and welcome a friendly chat about selling their goods. You could pair up with someone and find new ways to market your books while you find fresh salad fixings.

My recent visit to a Dahlia festival was a great combo of catching up with friends, good music, and amazing scenery walking through fields of perfectly symmetrical rows of Dahlias. It also has the lasting value of a flower arrangement I created and can enjoy for a few weeks. Find ways to turn your summer adventures into better writing, by getting out and discovering events near you.

1. Just Write

We are writers after all. And we don’t often take breaks, so using my summertime to relax and focus on my writing craft is very satisfying for me.

If you are struggling to regain that writing mojo, try scheduling writing time and setting goals such as a weekly or daily word count to keep you on task. The enjoyment factor should return as you get back into a writing habit.

Get the satisfaction of seeing your manuscript grow over time. Some writers like to plow through their whole novel before starting a second draft, others like to polish up their story as they go. Edit along the way or save it up for the end, just keep writing and enjoying the writing process.  

Final Thoughts on Summer Writing

How can you be sure to take time for your writing and keep yourself moving forward in your projects? What are your favorite parts of your writing summer? Do you find yourself productive in the summer months? Let us know below in the comments. 

About Kris

Kris Maze is an author, writing coach, and teacher. She has worked in education for many years and writes for various publications, including Practical Advice for Teachers of Heritage Learners of Spanish and the award-winning blog Writers in the Stormwhere she is also a host. You can find her horror stories and young adult writing on her website. Keep up with future projects and events by subscribing to her newsletter.

A recovering grammarian and hopeless wanderer, Kris enjoys reading, playing violin and piano, and spending time outdoors.

And occasionally, she enjoys taking pictures of Dahlias.

Photo credit: Top photo and additional photos by Kris Maze

by Jenn Windrow

Today in the indie-publishing series, we are going to talk about where to publish your books. So, once you are all done with your novel, it’s edited and pretty, and perfect, well as perfect as it is going to get, you know where to place them.

For me, it’s important to have all your account information set up in advance, so when it comes time to upload your MS, you don’t have to worry about filling in all your information or connecting bank accounts.

There are several book sellers, more than just Amazon for sure, so this is where you will create accounts in all those places.

Let’s dive in.

Amazon: 

You want to go to https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US to create you Kindle Direct Publishing account. There is a video you can watch at the start, but for the most part once you create an account it is pretty simple.

They are going to want bank information so they can pay you. Tax information so they can tax you. And a lot of other personal information. I’ve had an account for years and have never had anything happen with my information—never shared, so it is a safe site.

Barnes and Noble:

Same thing as Amazon, but you will want to go here to create your account. 

Even if you only plan on publishing through Amazon, it is still smart to have a Barnes and Noble account all set in case you change your mind. 

Kobo: 

Similar to the two above. Go here to create your account.

Kobo handles the book sales through Walmart, so it is another nice place to list your books.

iBooks:

Here is the iBooks link for Apple Books for authors.

Draft 2 Digital:

Here is the D2D link.

Draft 2 Digital is a one-stop shop. Publishing here will send your books all over the place, even places you have never heard of. They offer marketing opportunities also, which is nice to have.

I would say that D2D is one of the places you MUST list your books, it is that good.

Books 2 Read:

Here is the link.

Books 2 read is a site where all the links to your books are listed under one URL. It is a nice place to put your books, and it will also send your books to other platforms that you might not have thought about.

Again, you don’t have to have an account here, but it is nice to have it all in one place.

Ingram Spark:

Ingram Spark is mostly for print books, but they have a list service that you can pay for monthly and it is a great, professional place to have your books printed from.

Bookfunnel:

Bookfunnel is another great place to find promotions to help sell your book or even place a reader magnet that will collect email addresses for you. It’s not a book seller, but it will help you in your marketing efforts later down the line.

Once again, you don’t have to do all this right now, but I think it is best to have everything all set up before you start the actual publishing part of the book process. I am sure I have missed some in here, since it feels like new and fun ways to sell books pop up daily.

As for me, I have accounts with all of the above. Some are easier than others to use, I’m looking at you iBooks, but most are similar to set up and run. Since my books are all in the Kindle Unlimited program, I can’t sell my eBook’s on another platform, but my paperbacks are available everywhere. Everyone’s author journey is different, and there is no right way, just the way that makes you most comfortable.

Did I miss something? Do you have a preferred publisher for Indies? Let me know in the comments. I love to learn new things and especially from a group of like-minded people.

* * * * * *

About Jenn

Sass. Snark. Supernatural Sizzle. 

Award winning author of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. Vampires, Greek gods, and a bit of Demon Destroyer fun for everyone.

Jenn Windrow loves characters who have a pinch of spunk, a dash of attitude, and a large dollop of sex appeal. Top it all off with a huge heaping helping of snark, and you’ve got the ingredients for the kind of fast-paced stories she loves to read and write. Home is a suburb of it’s-so-hot-my-shoes-have-melted-to-the-pavement Phoenix. Where she lives with her husband, two teenagers, and a slew of animals that seem to keep following her home, at least that’s what she claims.

Website: https://jennwindrow.com/

Tip Image via Deposit photos.

We talk a lot about planners versus pantsers versus plantsers but we rarely talk about the process of writing. In the long run, whether you outline or discovery write doesn’t matter. What matters most is getting the words on the page. But how do you do that? 

There are folks out there who argue that one shouldn’t question one’s own process. They fear that a close examination of their process will destroy the magic that makes it work. Understanding writing processes, their strengths and weaknesses allows you to adapt your writing process to be what you most need to complete your current work-in-progress. That understanding creates the magic that allows you to do your best work.

What is a Writing Process?

If a process is a series of actions that lead to a particular result. In manufacturing, there’s only one way to piece the product together. That linear, assembly line manufacturing process There is no set order of actions that works best for all writers to produce a finished story. 

To be clear, this post is about the process the writer uses to put the story on paper or screen and not about the development of said story. 

There are six basic writing processes: 

1. Linear or Chronological
2. Out-of-Sequence
3. The End First
4. Cyclic
5. Layers
6. Edit-as-you-go 

Let’s dive in and explore what these processes are and their pros and cons.

Linear or Chronological

With this process, the writer begins at the beginning of the story and continues with the scene that follows that, followed by the scene that follows, and so on to the end. 

Pros

• The Linear process helps the writer to experience the story in a similar way future readers will. 
• Writing toward story events that excite the writer keeps them motivated through the less exciting bits.
• It helps the writer develop the story characters in a more realistic step-by-step way.

Cons

• The desire to keep writing, even when one doesn’t know where the story is going, can take the story off on a tangent.
• Writing scenes one isn’t ready to write can lead to pages of sloppy writing such as pace-killing travelogs or “as you know, Fred” dialogue.
• The writer might forget details in the early parts of the story or inadvertently omit or change them in later parts of the story.

Out-of-Sequence

Writing out-of-sequence means writing scenes or chapters that you are most compelled to write each writing session, no matter where that scene falls in the story. 

Pros

• This process lowers the pressure of creating the story and helps the writer stay in the drafting mode and keep their inner editor at bay.
• It allows the writer to stay in “the flow” by writing the scenes that they can visualize or “feel” at the time.
• The writer doesn’t get “stalled” by scenes that are more difficult to write.

Cons

• Using this process, it's difficult to remember which scenes you’ve written and which ones still need to be written.
• There’s a risk of a of lack continuity between scenes and accidental omission of important points or subplots.
• The completed draft is often very messy and needs extensive editing to mold it into a compelling story.

The End First

These writers prefer to write the last scene first. This may lead to writing the scenes in a reverse chronological order. Some writers jump to the beginning and write chronologically. They can also write the rest of the story out-of-sequence.

Pros

• Using this process gives the writer a clearer understanding of the story’s stakes. 
• That knowledge helps them understand the story’s direction and the steps the protagonist and antagonist must take along the way.
• With the ending written, it is easier to write a blurb and create a book cover. 

Cons

• This process can lessen the motivation of the writer because they know the ending.
• To preserve the ending, the writer may dismiss ideas that would change it but lead to a stronger story.
• Knowing the ending can lead to a predictable plot for the reader.

Cyclic 

The cyclic process for writing is a variation of the linear process in which the writer writes a scene or scenes one day. The following day the writer reviews all or a portion of the previous day’s work, revising as needed, before writing the next scene(s). 

Pros

• The Cyclic Process calms the inner editor so you can keep writing.
• The Cyclic process refreshes the story details and stakes in the writer’s mind at the beginning of every writing session.
• This process shortens the editing portion of story creation.

Cons

• If one has difficulty switching their mindset from editing to drafting, this process can slow or prevent the discovery of new story twists or development.
• This process can significantly slow forward progress.
• One can end up with nicely edited and polished scenes that do not move the story forward and end up cut from the finished piece. 

Layered Process

With this process, instead of peeling back the layers of an onion, the writer adds layers. The writer writes the first draft as they see or hear the story in their head. For example, it might be only talking heads or only blocks of action. Each of the next few passes adds a bit to the scene, such as location details or emotions or stage business or nuance to the dialogue. 

Pros

• The deliberate additions of the various layers make certain each scene is as deep as needed. This process can be helpful for new writers who have not yet internalized all the parts of a story.
• It allows the writer the time to give thought to each detail of the story, thus making the story richer with more resonance.
• This process allows the writer to add layers of complexity of theme, plot, and characterizations. 

Cons

• With this process, there is the potential to forget a layer that would have been apparent writing additional drafts. 
• This is a mechanical process that can lead to mechanical characters or action.
• It may take a long time to complete your story.

Edit-as-You-Go

Similar to the Cyclic process, the Edit-as-You-Go process is self-explanatory. Writing and editing occur in the same writing session.

Pros

• Editing-as-you-go produces a cleaner first draft that requires less editing in the final phases of creating the story. 
• The writer can keep the story on track with fewer digressions by making quick course corrections as needed. 
• This process can create a stronger sense of character and plot. 

Cons

• If the editor-mind takes control, the writer can lose their story’s focus and stall out for a time or forever.
• You might get caught in a perfectionist loop and never finish the story.
• For some, it can take much longer to finish their story than writing a draft, then editing it.

Which Process Should You Choose?

When you start out writing, you may choose a process based on a favored instructor or guru you follow. That’s good for learning, but be flexible. Experiment with the different processes. You can even use a variety of the processes listed here or a variation of one.

Make the best choice for the way you think, and for the story you want to write. If you try something new and you feel discouraged or as if you’re working through the desert, go back to what worked before. There is no right way or wrong way. There is only what works and what doesn't work.

Sometimes it’s not a choice. It’s how your brain works. Sometimes you need to experiment with different processes in order to understand what works best for you. Sometimes, you need to change your process within a novel or for the next novel you write. 

The reality of writing is that everything changes. That means you might start with one process and end up with another one or two during a single story or over the course of your career. Understanding which of these processes works best for you and your story will help you do your best work.

What is your writing process? How does it help you produce your stories?

About Lynette

Lynette M. Burrows is an author, blogger, creativity advocate, and Yorkie wrangler. She survived moving seventeen times between kindergarten and her high school graduation. This alone makes her uniquely qualified to write an adventure or two.

Her Fellowship series tells the story of Miranda, a young woman who dared to break the rules. But in 1961 Fellowship America even the elite can be judged an unbeliever and be hunted by the Angels of Death. Books one and two, My Soul to Keep, and  If I Should Die, are available everywhere books are sold online. Book three, And When I Wake, is scheduled to be published in late 2024. Join her newsletter to receive her latest updates.

Lynette lives in the land of OZ. She is a certifiable chocoholic and coffee lover. When she’s not blogging or writing or researching her next book, she avoids housework and plays with her two Yorkshire terriers. You can find Lynette online on Facebook or on her website.

Image created by Lynette M. Burrows via Webtools word cloud generator.