P.H. Solomon's Blog, page 319

This is a continuation from Monday’s blog, The Serendipity of Christmas Generosity. It took time to get to the place where I was ready to commit to writing after the events described in my previous post. But that bit of serendipity certainly affected what I’ve done this past year as well as where I’m going next year. In Part 1 of this series I’ll revealed how I’ve progressed this year in several ways but now I want to get more specific starting with my email decisions.

Last week, I wrote about where I started the year as I reviewed how I’ve developed my writing platform. As I shared in the previous post, I started with nothing – no blog or website and no social media accounts. There wasn’t even an email account.

The email account was one of the most important pieces of the puzzle I needed to progress with anything. It’s incredibly important to have an email that reflects your brand as a writer. Your name appears on everything you use with your address – website, blog, social media accounts, etc.

Now there was a challenge to getting my email address. I felt strongly about having my own domain registration for consistent branding purposes. However, I have been limited by monetary challenges during the year.

Clip Art Image Copyright by Microsoft. Clip Art Used by Permission of Microsoft

I could have created a free account on one of the many hosts available. I new that a domain registration was not very expensive at all but hosting a site and email was a larger monetary commitment than I wanted to spend.

What was my hesitation? Well, I considered the whole endeavor to be something of a test. I didn’t want a large monetary commitment without a reason and simply wanting to self-publish was not significant enough. So I wanted to build the author platform with little money spent and grow into it.

I did some research about email hosting. With a domain registration in hand, I found that I could simply designate an email address and host it with Google. I took advantage of the free trial period in case I needed to end the project. But at the end of the trial period, I was required to make a commitment to pay for the hosting. I chose to pay only $5 on a monthly basis so I could end the payments whenever I need to – either because I needed to abandon the author platform or upgrade to a fully hosted alternative. At that point, I could use Google to check and manage my email.

At this point, I had the chance to build more of my platform. I started my website and blog. I created my first social media accounts for my writing brand with Twitter and Facebook accounts. All these are aspects of the foundation for my author platform. But the email address is the most basic element; it’s like having nails to put pieces together.

I consider my decision to handle my platform with a branded domain and subsequent email address to be a solid decision. As I shared last week, I had already made mistakes with months of hesitation and moving too quickly into a crowdfunding campaign. But the email address is was a better decision.

As I noted above, I plan to share more about the details of how I started, what I used and the reasons for my decisions – good and bad – in the coming weeks. I’ll also use another series to discuss my plans for the upcoming years and why I’m setting such goals. Along the way, I’m also planning to reveal what I hope will be a helpful Scrivener template related to all these issues and how I plan to move forward. Again, I’m sharing this for other new or floundering would-be authors so if you know someone giving a it a go as a writer please share my posts with them.

Available at Amazon, Smashwords and All Major E-Book Vendors!

How did you start your author web-presence? Is you branding consistent and why or why not? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

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Filed under: Amazon, Blogging, Cover Reveal, Fantasy, Fiction, Indie Publishing, Marketing, Planning, Self-publishing, Social Media, Tech Tips, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Twitter, Writing Tagged: Author Platform, blogging, Coverart, Facebook, Indie Publishing, Marketing, P. H. Solomon, Planning, Self-publishing, Social Media, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Tips, Twitter, writing

Scrivener has been a key component to improving my productivity this year. I’ve recently written about various uses for Scrivener such as blog posts, newsletters and even template email messages. Additionally, I’ve shared about using Scrivener templates including some resources for these. In my last post I shared about managing templates.

As promised last week, I’ve developed a template for use in Scrivener. While I’m still working on a more important template, the one I’ve completed is for Newsletters.

This template has a number of organizational features that can be used throughout the year as a single project. I plan to use this for my own newsletter, The Archer’s Aim Digest.

First of all the binder is organized by months so you can add your own sub-containers for each newsletter edition. No matter how often you publish your newsletter you can add as many containers as needed.

Next I’ve added a Planning folder with several sub-containers. The first contains a table for an organizational calendar to help you schedule your newsletters and describe the topics. Next there’s a container for your ideas where you can place information about your various newsletters. Next you can place artwork in a separate folder. Lastly, there are containers for your header and footer design to include standard information about your newsletter editions like contact information.

Additionally, I’ve included labels to help you track progress on your newsletters.

You can download this Custom Scrivener Newsletter Template free and import it into your Scrivener software using the instructions included in my last post (Managing Scrivener Projects & Templates). Feel free to contact me with suggestions of your own and I’ll take them into consideration. Also, remember you can transfer your information into your newsletter application several ways including compiling the individual folder or copying and pasting the content.

Are you using Scrivener templates of your own? Have you tried Scrivener yet? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my Contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Clip art licensed from Microsoft Office.

Also, in no way do I represent Scrivener or sell the product. All questions about the product, its sales, support and licensing for your own computing needs should be referred to the company.

Filed under: Archer's Aim Digest, Blogging, Cover Reveal, Indie Publishing, Planning, Self-publishing, Social Media, Tech Tips, Tips, Twitter, Writing Tagged: Announcement, blogging, Indie Publishing, Newsletter, P. H. Solomon, Scrivener, Self-publishing, Social Media, Template, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Tips, Twitter, writing

Scrivener has been a key component to improving my productivity this year. I’ve recently written about various uses for Scrivener such as blog posts, newsletters and even template email messages. Additionally, I’ve shared about using Scrivener templates including some resources for these. In my last post I shared about managing templates.

As promised last week, I’ve developed a template for use in Scrivener. While I’m still working on a more important template, the one I’ve completed is for Newsletters.

This template has a number of organizational features that can be used throughout the year as a single project. I plan to use this for my own newsletter, The Archer’s Aim Digest.

First of all the binder is organized by months so you can add your own sub-containers for each newsletter edition. No matter how often you publish your newsletter you can add as many containers as needed.

Next I’ve added a Planning folder with several sub-containers. The first contains a table for an organizational calendar to help you schedule your newsletters and describe the topics. Next there’s a container for your ideas where you can place information about your various newsletters. Next you can place artwork in a separate folder. Lastly, there are containers for your header and footer design to include standard information about your newsletter editions like contact information.

Additionally, I’ve included labels to help you track progress on your newsletters.

You can download this Custom Scrivener Newsletter Template free and import it into your Scrivener software using the instructions included in my last post (Managing Scrivener Projects & Templates). Feel free to contact me with suggestions of your own and I’ll take them into consideration. Also, remember you can transfer your information into your newsletter application several ways including compiling the individual folder or copying and pasting the content.

Are you using Scrivener templates of your own? Have you tried Scrivener yet? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my Contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Clip art licensed from Microsoft Office.

Also, in no way do I represent Scrivener or sell the product. All questions about the product, its sales, support and licensing for your own computing needs should be referred to the company.

Filed under: Archer's Aim Digest, Blogging, Cover Reveal, Indie Publishing, Planning, Self-publishing, Social Media, Tech Tips, Tips, Twitter, Writing Tagged: Announcement, blogging, Indie Publishing, Newsletter, P. H. Solomon, Scrivener, Self-publishing, Social Media, Template, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Tips, Twitter, writing

Hi, and welcome to The Religion, Rage & w(R)iting Blog Tour for Authors, Shirley-Harris Slaughter, Rhani D’Chae and Harmony Kent. (Click on each author’s name to be taken directly to their Author Page at 4WillsPublishing, where you can learn more about them).

 

Shirley Harris-Slaughter

Rhani D’Chae

Harmony Kent

 

These three authors are wonderful clients of 4WillsPublishing, a publishing House dedicated to helping authors put out the best written, and marketing products for their literary work, possible.

This tour is a surprise tour, which means the authors knew nothing about it until it started!  This is our gift to them to show our appreciation of their work, their dedication to putting out the great written word, and also a big THANK YOU for allowing us to showcase and promote them.

This is a 3 Author/7 Day/40 Blog Tour!  Yes, for 7 days, The Religion, Rage & w(R)iting Blog Tour will sit on 40 blogs!  And for 7 days, on 40 blogs, you will get a tiny tid-bit of something related to Religion, so that you never forget OUR LADY OF VICTORY, the rage of people, such as that displayed in SHADOW OF THE DRILL, and w(R)iting tips to help you POLISH YOUR PROSE! (Click on each book title to find out more about it)

 

 

 

 

This will be a fun tour, an inspirational tour, a delightful tour which has been designed to enlighten you, entertain you and help you overcome those feelings which bind us daily and keeps us from growing from point A to point B.  Each day as you stop by each blog to find out what bit of inspiration is being shared, we ask that you take the time to leave a comment for the authors, visit their blogs, Follow them on Twitter and FB, and last but not least, please PICK UP A COPY OF THEIR BOOKS!  They are all 5 star reads!  And this tour wouldn’t be complete, if you didn’t check out The Religion, Rage & w(R)iting Book Trailer!  (Please note:  these bits and quotes were not taken from the author’s books).

The Religion, Rage & w(R)iting Author Blitz Book Trailer

Before we forget, we’ve included another of our authors, Nonnie Jules.  Although she’s a partner in our firm, she is STILL one of our clients!  Her books, THE GOOD MOMMIES’ GUIDE TO RAISING (ALMOST) PERFECT DAUGHTERS, Daydream’s Daughter, Nightmare’s Friend and Sugarcoatin’ Is For Candy & Pacifyin’ Is For Kids! are also very interesting and entertaining reads!

 

 

On this stop, we want you to dwell on this:

“The worst moment in my life was when I was seven years old and I discovered that there was a such thing as racism.  You don’t know you’re different until someone lets you know.” ~Sanjeev Bhaskar  

Thank you for joining us on this stop of our tour.  We are grateful to our host for allowing us to share with this audience and we hope that we have left you wanting more!  To follow this tour, please visit the 4WillsPublishing EVENTS page for the complete tour line-up and to also register to win a SURPRISE pack of books as well as a stint on WHO’S ON THE SHELF WITH NONNIE JULES!  Now, on to the next stop!!!!

Filed under: 4WillsPublishing, Amazon, Daydream's Daughter, Indie Publishing, Marketing, Nightmare's Friend, Nonnie Jules, Our Lady Of Victory, Polish Your Prose, Rave Review Book Club, Rhani D'Chae, Self-publishing, Shadow of the Drill, Shirley Harris-Slaughter, Sugarcoatin' Is For Candy & Pacifyin' Is For Kids, The Good Mommies' Guide to Raising (Almost) Perfect Daughters, Writing Tagged: 4WillsPublishing, Amazon, Book Trailer, Harmony Kent, Indie Publishing, Marketing, Nonnie Jules, Rave Reviews Book Club, Rhani D’Chae, Self-publishing, Shirley Harris-Slaughter

Photo used in The Bow of Destiny book trailer

Author’s Note: This is the conclusion of Part 2 of the prequel blog serial entitled “What is Needed”. Click on these links to read Part 1, Part 2 (first section), Part 2 (Conclusion) and Part 3. This series is a companion to The Bow of Destiny (Part 1 of The Bow of Hart Saga). The events of the blog series pre-date those of The Bow of Destiny by several hundred years but include several long-lived characters who appear in the forthcoming novel. This material is copyrighted and not intended for reproduction except at the author’s consent.

 

What is Needed (Part 4)

by P. H. Solomon

The hobgoblin’s tongue flicked between needle-like fangs that flashed yellow in torchlight. The blade-point pressed against Hastra’s throat and she raised her chin. Kregen ran out of the darkness and flame the night of her visions. He was revealed out of darkness in the Hidden Dragon’s flame this night. Her face twitched and she clenched her teeth.

Kregen snapped gutteral words. The trolls snatched their captives’ hands and bound them with leather straps.

Zelma wept. “Kregen how could you?”

Hastra whirled toward the Rokan Withling. “You can stop this even now, Kregen.”

The Rokan’s grin flashed as torchlight danced across his face. He flicked his wrist and spoke more trollish commands. Trolls cuffed the sisters. Hastra grunted as she fell on her backside. Zelma screamed her pain.

Hastra blinked and shook her head.

“No! Leave them alone!” Howart shouldered the trolls away even with bound hands.

A tusked bugbear roared spittle into the gaunt Withling’s face and snatched his shirt. The troll punched Howart on the jaw with a fist like a mallet. Blood and a tooth flew flew out of Howart’s mouth. The troll bared short tusks and gut-punched the Withling. He grunted, doubled over and crumpled into a groaning heap. The other Withlings cowered.

“Enough of this.” Kregen rasied a hand and the beatings stopped. “Now you’ll follow along without a word. Time is short.” Their betrayer strode out the door. The trolls pushed and dragged their ten captives in Kregen’s path.

Hastra’s mouth pulsed pain as blood dribbled to her chin. She her teeth with her tongue. She still had them all. She wiped her mouth with her sleeve but grimaced all the more with the pain. Her hand trembled with prickling pain. Theyd lashed her so tight she lost feeling. She wiggled her fingers and groaned.

The trolls herded the captives out of the cellar complex. They shoved or snarled Hastra and her fellow Withlings if they dawdled. Vile creatures. If only Eloch revealed his wishes. No unction bloomed in Hastra. The lack of direction was disquieting.

They entered the great hall where the remaining Withlings milled with more trolls on guard who brandished a variety of weapons. Kregen’s escort shoved Hastra and her band among the crowd. She dabbed her lip on her sleeve. Too many of these weapons are blood-covered. Tears distorted Hastra’s eyes. More of us are bruised and wounded. Where is Eloch? She wiped her cheeks on her sleeves.

Kregen strolled in front of the crowd. Zeld stood back with the three sisters from North Grendon.

Hastra’s eyes narrowed. Zeld I see aiding his brother but those three? She nudged Zelma. “Who are those sisters?”

Zelma shifted her gaze from Hastra’s pointed finger to the three women and then gasped. “Not the Beleesh sisters too!”

A hobgoblin snarled and prodded at Zelma with a spear. She and several other Withlings backed away in silence.

Kregen whipped a curved dagger from his side and brandished it over his head. Murmurs and even weeping fell silent.

“He has a Rokan blood-knife.” Howart’s voice echoed in the hushed hall.

“Yes, it is a blood-knife, cursed to scald the very soul, they say.” Kregen gazed at the blade as a sneer broadened under his hooked nose. “Now listen, Magdronu is magnanimous and has not sent me to kill you all.”

Whispers wove through the crowd of mystics as their fellow Withling spoke the name of the Hidden Dragon.

Kregen lifted his voice. “My master would have followers as he ascends the heavens as he should. He is merciful and will spare you. Only follow. Or…” Kregen brandished the knife.

Silence lingered among the Withlings. Feet shifted and mystics muttered their fear.

Hastra gaped. So many actually considered this offer. She closed her mouth. Something must be done.

Elder Tokla stepped before Kregen and stood silent. The dwarf’swoven beard bore crusted blood from a smashed nose.

Kregen’s lip curled on one side as his brows rose. “Well, Chokkran devil, I never expected you to turn but I’ll take your oath and you can spread the Holy Dragon’s word among your puny kin and nations.”

“Who has succored you, traitor?” The dwarf’s voice rumbled like falling rocks.

A sweet fragrance filled Hastra’s nose and tension eased from her throat. The rustle of exhaled breath whispered through the crowd. He spoke prophecy. Let’s see what happens now. Hastra edged forward through the mystics while her sister and Howart shuffled behind her.

Kregen laughed. “Magdronu has taken care of me for years, Elder. But I’m no traitor. Here’s what was promised though.” The Rokan bent, stabbed Tokla in the heart and yanked the dagger free.

Gasps shuddered through the throng. The dwarf stood a moment, then twisted as his knees buckled and he dropped to the marble floor.

Hastra’s feet stopped and tears welled in her eyes.

Elder Soren of the trading fleets strode to Tokla’s corpse and stood in the pool of blood. Kregen opened his mouth but the wrinkled old man spoke first. “The false one begets betrayers but he shall not have his way.”

Hastra took a step forward again. He continued the prophecy. Her eyebrows arched.

Kregen stabbed the elder in the heart and Soren collapsed beside his old friend. His blood spread on the floor.

Peace stilled Hastra’s racing heart. It wasn’t her turn yet. She pushed through the frozen mystics. Zelma and Howart shouldered past. Not you as well, sister.

Elder Margen strolled from the crowd.

Kregen’s blood-drenched grip tightened on the dagger.

The white-haired Shildran’s voice never faltered. “The Hidden Dragon may usurp kingdoms with deceits but his ways shall not last and he will not ascend.”

Kregen bared his teeth and shouted. The knife smashed into Margen and she fell beside her fellow elders as more blood puddled the floor. “Any other-.”

Howart exited the crowd and stood close to Kregen with his hands still bound. “A bow shall be made in defense.”

The blade plunged into Howart. The Rokan betrayer ripped the daggar free.

The gaunt Withling folded onto his side.

Zelma squirmed from the crowd.

Tears trailed along Hastra’s cheeks.

Zelma’s voice rang high with a note of defiance. “To break the binding curses.”

Hastra closed her eyes as Kregen stabbed her sister. Calm slowed her racing heart. Mine is not the last words of this. If only others will finish it. Tears streaked her face. She opened her eyes to Kregen’s grimace. Zelma’s body lay piled at the edge of her sight. “His prey shall be snatched from his fangs.”

The knife smashed into her chest. It seared Hastra’s flesh. Kregen’s glaring face faded to darkness.

She hovered near her body in a gray blur. Pain slid away and colors swirled around her. Calm and joy sustained Hastra as brighter light opened amid the ceiling.

“Any others want to finish that prophecy of Eloch?” Kregen’s voice echoed from her previous existence.

“Will you stay?” A voice whispered loudly.

Movement attracted her attention. Howart twitched, pushed himself into a seated position and climbed to his feet. The risen Withling pressed closer to Kregen but he shouted when he spoke. “The bow shall be hidden from heart.”

Kregen stabbed the gaunt Withling.

Howart never flinched and did not fall again.

Kregen stabbed again. When nothing happened he stepped back and gaped.

“Will you finish what is started?” The voice thundered gently through Hastra’s essence.

Zelma stirred.

“I will stay with Zelma.” Gray blur enveloped Hastra.

Her sister rose and took Kregen’s knife-hand and pulled the blade into her wound. “The eagle will guide the heir.”

As Zelma stepped back, darkness wrapped around Hastra. Her eyes fluttered and she inhaled. She stood and straightened her skirt. Hastra arched her eyebrows and craned her neck toward the gaping traitor. “The bow will be found at need.”

Silence hovered amid the hall. Even the trolls stood frozen where they stood.

Hastra took a breath with Zelma and Howart. The three of them spoke together. “And the arrow shall Eloch prepare.”

Kregen’s gaze shifted between the risen Withlings. His jaw worked and his voice whispered. “I killed you.”

Zeld snarled troll words. Hobgoblins grasped Hastra’s arms and dragged her away with Howart and Zelma.

As the trolls led them back to the cellar complex Hastra wobbled. None of this was real. She was dead. But they ended the prophecy. She touched her chest, found the rent in her flesh and her hand recoiled from it. Not even pain.

The troll thrust them into the empty storeroom. Their guards brought shackles , cut away their straps and locked their hands and feet. Their captors exited the room and barred the door.

Trolls growled beyond the door in their crude tongue that faded with the torchlight from under the door.

Darkness enshrouded them and silence followed with a cold embrace.

End of Part 4 (Part 5 will be re-posted on 12/13/14)

Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my Contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

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Filed under: Crowdfunding, Crowdsourcing, Deep POV, Editing, Fiction, Indie Publishing, IndieGoGo, Marketing, Self-publishing, Social Media, The Bow of Destiny, Twitter, What is Needed, Writing Tagged: Announcement, Crowdfunding, Crowdsourcing, Deep POV, Facebook, Indie Publishing, IndieGoGo, P. H. Solomon, Short Stories, Social Media, The Bow of Destiny, Twitter, What is Needed, writing

Scrivener has been a key component to improving my productivity this year. I’ve recently written about various uses for Scrivener such as blog posts, newsletters and even template email messages. Additionally, I’ve shared about using Scrivener templates including some resources for these. In this post I want to delve deeper into template creation and usage. By next week, I intend to create a basic template that I can post for download on my website that I hope may be useful.

Why Use Scrivener Templates

Templates are used for quickly creating projects by type so that you don’t have to configure your new projects from scratch each time you create one. Using templates can be a time saver that allows writers of all kinds to tap their creativity almost immediately. This is important since spending time on minute details can undermine your writing with distractions.

There are several ways you can approach creating a template. If you want something for your most common type of writing then you might want to create a template. For instance, if you write short stories, there is already one in Scrivener. However, I’ve downloaded one specific for speculative fiction that’s geared towards magazine markets that are accepted by SFWA. In this case, the template has common traits expected for submission to these short fiction markets which is a great help. I don’t need to think about the specifics of manuscript format so I can get down to business. In this kind of template usage each short story is created as an individual project.

However, if you are working on a larger project of repetitive actions – such as blogging or a regular newsletter – you may want to have a template that covers the whole year. In such a template you can create individual blog posts or newsletter volumes by adding folders and sub-folders in the binder as you go. The point here is saving time by avoiding creation of whole new, blank projects and then trying to keep up with them. Instead, all your blogs, newsletters, etc, are organized in one macro-project.

Compiling Individual Projects in a Macro-Project

How are these individual projects compiled instead of compiling the whole project? Here are the basic instructions:

1. Click File to expand the menu.

2. Click Compile to open the Compile window:

3. From here I can choose an individual blog to compile by de-selecting everything but the blog I’m currently publishing.

4. Next choose the formatting by clicking the “Compile For:” menu. For a blog post you might choose an html format:

5. Now you click compile to proceed with completion of the function (and yes, I’m compiling this post when completed).

This is particularly helpful if you want to organize your projects differently. Let’s go back to the short story template. You could organize one large project for all your short stories so that all of them are together. Compiling one folder or text container allows you to prepare one story at a time for submission or posting somewhere.

Creating a Template in Scrivener

Creating a template is a rather simple matter for those who haven’t done so yet. Here are the basic instructions:

1. Open a new project and name it.

2. Since you are making a project you will configure it how you want.

3. Once you have the template setup to the basic configuration you want it is ready to save.

4. Click File and then on “Save As Template…” and proceed to create the template.

Importing Templates into Scrivener

Once you’ve created your template you then need to import the template. Here are those instructions:

1. Click on File and then New Project to get the appropriate window.

2.Click on the Options menu in the lower left of the pane and choose “Import Templates…”

3. As part of the import process you have the options to choose what category the template should be place in as well as an associated image for the template.

So these are the instructions for compiling individual projects, creating templates and importing templates in Scrivener. For more information consult the Help menu.

Next week, I hope to have completed a template or two to begin sharing for download for those interested. Check back for the post.

Are you using Scrivener and templates? What templates have you created and why? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my Contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Screenshot of Scrivener from my own projects.

Also, in no way do I represent Scrivener or sell the product. All questions about the product, its sales, support and licensing for your own computing needs should be referred to the company.

Filed under: Blogging, Cover Reveal, Creativity, Editing, Fantasy, Fiction, Indie Publishing, Planning, Self-publishing, Social Media, Tech Tips, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Tips, Twitter, Writing Tagged: blogging, Coverart, creativity, Facebook, Indie Publishing, P. H. Solomon, Scrivener, Short Stories, Social Media, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Twitter, writing

This is a continuation from Monday’s blog, The Serendipity of Christmas Generosity. It took time to get to the place where I was ready to commit to writing after the events described in my previous post. But that bit of serendipity certainly affected what I’ve done this past year as well as where I’m going next year. In this series I want to share why I’m setting goals for the upcoming year and then post mine over several blogs to discuss why these are important for me this year.

If you watch much sports that is by nature low scoring you see a lot of emotion when someone does score. It’s exciting and the crowd goes crazy. The goal is to score and win. As an author, my goal is to publish repeatedly, maybe become somewhat well-known and possibly make a living at it. But I can’t do that without some smaller goals.

Why Goals?

I believe goals are important. Without them you aren’t likely to accomplish anything. I also believe in planning to meet goals. I really never set goals for 2014 until late in the year and that’s probably one reason why I didn’t complete more his year even though I’ve done a lot as a writer.

So as part of developing and setting goals for 2015 I’m blogging about them. Maybe I’ll even update my progress on them throughout the years. One reason I want to set goals is that I’m inching closer to publishing my first novel so I want to be organized about what I’m doing in order proceed in a timely manner.

As a matter of distinction, I’m not setting New Year’s resolutions for my writing. My goals are actually geared toward my growth as an author so I’m not resolving to change anything unless perhaps it is to improve my writing craft. I’m mainly addressing the need to project ahead or have a vision for what I will be doing.

My Goals for 2015

1. I want to make more connections with local writer groups. Why? Short answer: for more support as a writer. I’m already a member of Rave Reviews Book Club which is fantastic but I also want to for more local connections as well.

2. Read and review more books. I’m not big on reviewing but it’s a requirement for Rave Reviews Book Club (where I am privileged to be a VIP Membe)r to review 4 books in a calendar year. Also, it helps to post a few reviews on Goodreads and Amazon for the interaction.

3. If time and money allow, I want to attend two writers conferences. I already attend one locally but I’m looking for another one that won’t break the budget to attend or require long distance travel.

4. Publish my first novel – but maybe slide in one or two more since I have several drafts at or near completion already. The additional books would depend on available funds to develop them.

5. Submit six short stories to fiction markets during the year. I have several rough drafts finished or in process of completion so I need to begin submitting more of these.

6. Upgrade my website either with custom themes or by transitioning to a self-hosted site. This will require funding which is why I need to work on goals 4 and 5.

7. Improve as an author by continuing to learn my creative craft, being more disciplined, better organized, and better focused.

Conclusion

I’m still working on my list at the moment so I may update this. I do intend to share more discussion on why I’m setting these goals as a help to newer writers like me. If you know someone who is a new writer or having trouble progressing as an author, please share this blog series with them.

Are you setting goals as a writer? What goals are important to you this year? How do you plan to accomplish your goals for 2015? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

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Filed under: Blogging, Cover Reveal, Creativity, Deep POV, Fantasy, Fiction, Indie Publishing, Marketing, Planning, Rave Review Book Club, Self-publishing, Social Media, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Twitter, Writing Tagged: blogging, creativity, Facebook, Indie Publishing, Launch, P. H. Solomon, Rave Reviews Book Club, Scrivener, Self-publishing, Social Media, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Tips, Twitter, writing

Today I host the Rave Reviews Book Club “SPOTLIGHT” Blog Tour featuring G. A. Withmore’s “A Place To Call Home. Take it away G. A.

The Birth of a Book  

The prospect of writing a book is daunting. It seems like a monumental and almost impossible undertaking. But we know it can be done. New books are published every day. As readers, we take it for granted that there will always be books available for us to read. As writers, we marvel at the fact that there will always be books available for us to read, that so many brave souls have endeavored to travel down the sometimes rocky road of writing a book.

It’s hard and it isn’t. As with many things, taking the first step is the hardest part. Once you put pen to paper and write a few words, you’ll find that you’ve written a few sentences, and then a few paragraphs, and then a few pages, until, suddenly, a book begins to emerge. Don’t get me wrong, the process is lengthy and can be painful at times, enough to make you think that you’ll never want to write another one. But it’s kind of like having a baby (sorry guys, but it’s the best analogy), you forget what you went through to get to the end result.

A few pieces of advice to help you on your way. No matter where you are, always have a way to document ideas that pop into your head. Sometimes the best ideas come when you least expect them. Whether it’s a small note pad you carry with you, or a recording device, be sure to have something within reach. I know you’re going to do what I do and think I’ll remember that idea. It’s so great, how could I forget it? But you will forget it. Trust me.

So if you want to write a book, grab a pen and a piece of paper, and just do it!

A Place to Call Home: Toby’s Tale

Book Excerpt   

My favorite scenes in my book A Place to Call Home: Toby’s Tale are Toby’s dream sequences. They were fun to write because I didn’t need to stick to plausible situations or events within them. Anything could go. This particular dream scene takes place two-thirds of the way into the book. At this point in the story, Toby is convinced he will never find a place to call home.

Was this another dream? Who would visit him in this dream?

As if in answer to his question, a large pack of wolves and dogs slowly materialized out of the enshrouding gray and one-by-one encircled him.

The snow stopped falling. All was still and quiet.

A long, wailing howl pierced the silence.

Followed by another.

Then another.

After a few moments, a chorus of howls erupted from the group that now surrounded Toby. A primordial urge rose within him. He stood up and shook off the light layer of snow that had accumulated on his fur. The urge grew stronger, more compelling, until he realized his own voice had joined the others. The multitude of voices became one as they howled on and on, until the cry reached its crescendo and abruptly ended, leaving an echoing silence around them once again.

A large, white figure approached Toby.

“Welcome to our pack, Toby.” The figure turned, and with a nod of his head, indicated the others. He turned back to Toby. “How did you come to be here?”

Toby tried to find his voice, but the howl still reverberated in his throat. When he finally spoke, his reply was weak and raspy. “I don’t know. I don’t even know where here is.” He hesitated, and then asked, “How do you know my name?”

“My name is Strider, Toby. I am your grandfather.”

Strider! The memory of lying with Tara next to his mother as she told them the story of Sadie and Strider came flooding back to him and he felt a warmth of emotion flow through his body.

“Where is this place? How did I get here?” Toby asked.

Strider paused in thought for a moment, and then replied, “This land is a different place for different creatures, yet it is the same place for all creatures. For us,” Strider swept his large head around him, “this is the place we call home.”

GA’s Book Links:

Barnes & Noble Amazon

GA’s Social Links:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Thanks for stopping by today. Take a look at G. A. Whitmore’s book. As a VIP member of Rave Reviews Book Club I’ve been happy to host the blog tour stop today. The rest of the blog tour links are available here. While you’re at the website look over what Rave Reviews Book Club can do for you as a writer with its support from a group of amazing authors.

P. H. Solomon

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This is a continuation from Monday’s blog, The Serendipity of Christmas Generosity. It took time to get to the place where I was ready to commit to writing after the events described in my previous post. But that bit of serendipity certainly affected what I’ve done this past year as well as where I’m going next year. With this series I’ll reveal how I’ve progressed this year in several ways before discussing those areas in detail in later posts.

When the year started, I was trying to push along with writing short stories and revising my book. But I had been considering putting some money into building an author platform with a website and other necessities. I hesitated investing the money because it meant committing to the publication of the book but also financial sacrifice for several years on a hosting contract. I didn’t want to invest the money without having something on which to base this decision.

Clip Art Image Copyright by Microsoft. Clip Art Used by Permission of Microsoft

Here’s where I made my first mistake regarding an author platform. I assumed that I needed to invest hundreds of dollars on a domain, website, design, etc. This mistake kept me in a holding pattern for far longer than I needed to be because of my hesitations.

But I knew I needed to take the next steps forward as an author in the digital age. I needed the web presence, email account, domain, and various social media accounts. In effect, I was blocked by the assumption and consequent hesitation to invest money while I wanted to invest myself more heavily in the endeavor.

In the end my hesitation was accurate and my assumption flat wrong. My wife later lost her job so the reluctance to spend hundreds of dollars was spot-on. Why invest money I don’t have for something that may not work in the end? However, after months of kicking the idea around I re-examined my assumption last April.

With some research, I found that I could host my email for little cost. This was a big deal because it is the foundation of all my plans to build a web presence as an author. I knew that I could obtain a domain for a small investment and website/blog hosting for free. Free hosting wasn’t exactly what I wanted since I felt I needed greater control for branding than free hosting would allow. But in the end, I decided that a small outlay gave me a reasonable way to launch and build as well as pull back if things didn’t work the way I wanted.

By mid-May I had launched my author platform online. I obtained my domain and the hosting. Then I got my email hosted for a small cost. After that, I was able to begin adding social media accounts using my domain-branded email account.

After all this it was a matter of growing my web presence. Easy to say and hard to do. I really didn’t understand how to blog nor the importance of various social media formats. But I launched as much as I could and started learning.

Here’s where I made my second mistake. I was in a hurry to publish the book, mainly because I had hesitated so many months on the platform. I needed money for the book – professional editing, cover art, formatting and upgrades to my website with hosting and custom themes. So I had begun considering the use of crowd-funding. Now, I’m not saying the idea is without merit or that I didn’t get anything from the effort but I should have waited and patiently built the platform. In the end, I did raise some money – enough to commission some cover art – but the time I wasted on the campaign should have been spent on blogging and social media.

So that’s how I started the year – with nothing for an author presence. With a lot of hard work I have email, a website and several growing social media accounts. Along the way, I made two blunders that set me back. So here’s a few tips I’ve learned as a result.

1. Don’t hesitate to start you author platform. I’ll discuss more details over the rest of the month but with some research you can launch your web presence for little cost and grow it from there. Mine is not where I want it yet but it is getting there with constant effort.

2. Many people have advised new authors to focus their attention on their web presence in advance of publication. I agree. I waited too long based on what I thought I needed rather than just starting inexpensively and growing. I wasted months and could have been much further along.

3. Don’t be distracted by things like crowd-funding too soon. I was and wasted several months of my time grousing about what wasn’t happening. Instead I should have…

4. Focused on my web presence. I should have upped my game with blogging by learning how to do it and developing my ability to generate content. Once I did, I started improving on creative flow in general. Likewise, focus on social media growth because you’ll need it later to funnel potential readers to your writing. My presence was not large enough to garner much attention with crowd-funding and probably still isn’t.

5 Also focus on producing your primary content. I needed to complete a book revision and write short stories. I wasted time not being committed and then being distracted by a fund-raising campaign that wasn’t necessary. I did do some of the work and even self-published a short story as an ebook along with developing some related content for my book entitled, What is Needed. But if I had committed months earlier and not allowed the distraction I would have completed more writing projects and possibly made money from the short fiction to support my book development.

As I noted above, I plan to share more about the details of how I started, what I used and the reasons for my decisions – good and bad – in the coming weeks. I’ll also use another series to discuss my plans for the upcoming years and why I’m setting such goals. Along the way, I’m also planning to reveal what I hope will be a helpful Scrivener template related to all these issues and how I plan to move forward. Again, I’m sharing this for other new or floundering would-be authors so if you know someone giving a it a go as a writer please share my posts with them.

What obstacles do you have as an author? How have you gotten around these obstacles? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

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I read an interesting post yesterday by Raymond Philippe entitled, Writing Goals And Objectives. Go Ahead – Dream! This article got me thinking about a mistake my father made several years ago that put me on a different path. Since it’s now the Christmas season I’ll go ahead and share this as I begin to write during this month about where I’ve been this year and where I’m going in 2015.

It may have been 2008 or 2009 but either way it was during the economic upheaval when most of us weren’t willing to spend much if anything. I was in the same situation as many – slim on money and worried about keeping a job. Christmas rolled around and it was rather thin on gifts but a good time with family.

However, my dad brought out gifts that were surprisingly nice given the state of the economy. I received a GPS which was very generous except for one thing – I already had purchased one a few years earlier when times were better and I had gotten a good raise with a change of position. I kept politely quiet and didn’t mention it at the moment but a return was in order.

A few days later, I explained the situation to my father and asked if he had the receipt. He didn’t have one but told me from which store chain he’d bought the GPS and was apologetic about his well-intended mistake. I called the local store and inquired about returns without a receipt and was informed I could get only an in-store credit without one. This was fine except I didn’t know what I’d spend the credit on as a good replacement for such a gift.

I went down to the store, made the return and got the credit without a hitch. I was still at a loss about how to use the money so I took a walk through the store and found laptops on after-Christmas sale. They even had rebates on them for extra cash back. I wanted one but had no immediate reason to purchase one. I went home and thought it through.

I hadn’t been writing much – if at all – for several years but I had an inclination to do so. The more I thought about it, the more a I realized I could use a laptop as a tool to jump-start my writing. I got on my old desktop computer and searched the store chain website for laptops that were still on-sale with a rebate. I found one of the least expensive ones but the credit would only cover almost half of the cost. However, with the rebate the cost would be minimal. I jumped on the deal, bought the laptop and sent in the rebate.

I later called my dad and let him know how things had turned out. I told him what I was going to do with the laptop and he was pleased. From that point, I began to explore writing in this digital age using that laptop. That eventually led to where I am now – my firm commitment this last year to my writing and being on the cusp of self-publishing my first full-length book.

It was an honest misake on my father’s part but that gift led me down a circuitous path toward publication. The laptop has since been retired with a failed screen after almost four years in service but I still have it and it runs with the help of an external monitor. My laptop serves as my desk and I do many tasks with it including a great deal of writing these days.

My father passed away in 2012. He knew that I was writing and even had a bit of publication success with a short story but I’m not quite sure he understood how much his mistake affected me. It was serendipity for my writing and I’m very grateful for the generosity. I think my dad was always frustrated that he couldn’t do more for those he loved but I think he did more than he understood.

In the book, The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron discusses launching out creatively. Her feeling is that when we reach out creatively we begin to encounter many happy accidents of serendipity that carry us along the our personal artistic path. I’ve found this notion to be true more than once and I’m sure I will again. It’s something I should consider more often as I work creatively.

This year I’ve dared to dream big with the beginning of my author platform and pushing to publish. Next year I will continue to dream even more by actually completing that project and – maybe – one or two others. During this week and the coming weeks, I’m going to share more about where I’ve come from and where I’m going as encouragement for other writers and artists who are either beginning their creative journey or those who may find themselves floundering with hesitation, doubt or some other creative block. It’s nothing special – just how I forged ahead with my plans through some ups and downs but I hope it helps someone along their own creative journey by sharing my own plans and ideas.

What gave you a jump-start with your creative endeavors? What’s holding you back? What ideas for moving along in your journey can you share with others? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

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Filed under: Blogging, Cover Reveal, Creativity, Holidays, Indie Publishing, Planning, Rave Review Book Club, Self-publishing, Social Media, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Twitter, Writing Tagged: blogging, Coverart, creativity, Facebook, Goals, Indie Publishing, Launch, P. H. Solomon, Rave Reviews Book Club, Self-publishing, Short Stories, Social Media, The Artist's Way, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, writing