tips

Is Your Blog in a Rut?

/ Sasha A. Palmer / 1 Comment

Cup of Chocolate (Femme prenant du chocolat)

  • Does your blog need a little help?

Bryn Donovan, editor, novelist, non-fiction writer, and blogger, shares 25 ideas for blog posts — try them all, or take your pick. Have fun blogging!

  • Are you poeming yet?

National Poetry Month is here. One of the many ways to celebrate April is to take part in the annual April Poem-A-Day Challenge. Catch up!

By the way, posting your poems on your blog throughout April–daily, or almost daily–is bound to give your blog a boost. Ready…Set…Go write poetry!

Happy April!

Image: Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Cup of Chocolate (Femme prenant du chocolat), c. 1912. Oil on canvas, Overall: 21 5/16 x 25 5/8 in. (54.1 x 65.1 cm). BF14. Public Domain.

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On “Delete” Buttons & November

/ Sasha A. Palmer / Leave a comment

Landscape (Paysage)

  • Think of deleting your Blogger blog?

Think again. According to Adam of Too Clever By Half, there’re at least four reasons why you shouldn’t do it. Luckily, if you’re tired of your Blogger blog, don’t want to see it, etc., you have a much better option than hitting the “delete” button.

  • It’s November — are you writing?

Whether you’re on Blogger, WordPress..whether you blog or not, if you’re a writer, chances are you’ve set some daring writing goals for November. That’s great.

However…if you feel that NaNoWriMo isn’t your thing — you aren’t alone. It’s okay to be a slow writer. Some of them are doing quite well. Heed what Anne R. Allen has to say.

Do what feels right, and write.

Image: Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Landscape (Paysage), c. 1900–1905. Oil on canvas, Overall: 8 x 12 1/4 in. (20.3 x 31.1 cm). BF236. Public Domain.

On “Delete” Buttons, November & Daffodils

/ Sasha A. Palmer / Leave a comment
  • Thinking of deleting your Blogger blog?

Think again. There are at least four reasons why it’s not a good idea.

“The Blogger Help Forum is dotted with people who regret deleting their blogs.”  

Why permanently delete your Blogger blog if there’s a much better alternative?

  • What comes after October?

November Poem-a-Day (PAD) Chapbook Challenge, the annual writing challenge from Writer’s Digest Poetic Asides. Read the guidelines, and get ready.

  • Don’t want to think about autumn?

Think spring instead. And daffodils.

What’s Your Author Persona Mask Like?

/ Sasha A. Palmer / Leave a comment

Study of Girls' Heads (Étude de têtes de jeunes filles)

Should you wear a mask when in public?

Should you ever discuss the Great Pumpkin?

What’s the biggest benefit of having a public persona?

Even if you don’t (yet) give interviews, or do book signings, or deliver keynote speeches, etc., it’s not too early to think about your public author persona.

If you’re a writer, if you have a blog, if you’re active on social media — your public persona will protect you, and help you find the audience for your writing.

Here’s more on developing your author persona, and brand.

Go for it.

Image: Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Study of Girls’ Heads (Étude de têtes de jeunes filles), c. 1893. Oil on canvas, Overall: 16 1/4 x 12 11/16 in. (41.3 x 32.2 cm). BF474. Public Domain.

On Arousal, Dominance, & Playing It Right

/ Sasha A. Palmer / Leave a comment

In Vaudeville: Woman and Man on Stage

  • Want your post to go viral?

Remember two factors: arousal and dominance. Put them to good use. “Both anger and excitement are high-arousal emotions. Dominance…is the feeling of being in control. When you’re inspired or joyful, you’re experiencing high dominance…

Articles that perform the best on social use a high-arousal, high-dominance combo.”

  • Want to do better on social media?

Do not confuse your personality with your persona. When on social media, stay true to your author brand, be in charge, and share information wisely.

  • Are you an emerging playwright?

Try your luck at Yale Drama Series: David Charles Horn Prize. Submit an original, unpublished full-length play in English for your chance to win $10K. Note: no translations, musicals, adaptations, or children’s plays. Deadline: 15 August 2018

Image: Charles Demuth. In Vaudeville: Woman and Man on Stage, 1917. Watercolor and graphite on wove paper, Overall: 8 x 10 in. (20.3 x 25.4 cm). BF601. Public Domain.

On Nino’s Art, Star Wars, & the Power of Persistence

/ Sasha A. Palmer

Treat yourself to the magic of Nino Chakvetadze, and have a wonderful 2018.

geotv.ge

“Netflix might show them (science fiction and fantasy) together, but two genres couldn’t be more different.” Is Star Wars sci-fi? Can you add fantasy elements to a sci-fi story? Figure it out with WD help. 

(While you’re at it, read this NBC News article on the same topic.)

“Remember that rejections are a badge of honor. It means you are in the game; people in the industry are reading your work. … And, most importantly, there is no such thing as overnight success. To move forward in this business (or in any business), you must constantly learn, grow, and improve. Work hard and don’t ever give up.” –Kristin Nelson, The Power of Persistence 

 

 

 

On Author Bios, Writers of the Future, & 30 Poetry Prompts

/ Sasha A. Palmer

Writing Lesson (La Leçon d'écriture)

To include, or not to include in the bio: that is the question. Find your answer in this post from Robert Lee Brewer, revisit Anne R. Allen’s post on author bios, and write a bio that will help you, and do justice to you, and your work.

Attention, new/amateur writers of sci-fi/fantasy short stories/novelettes. Ron Hubbard’s Writers & Illustrators of the Future is holding a Free Writer Contest with big prizes. Submit your work now. Deadline December 31, 2017. Don’t miss out.

Missed WD November Poem-A-Day (PAD) Chapbook Challenge? Robert Lee Brewer has collected all of his prompts for this year’s November PAD. Write your chapbook now.

 

Image: Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Writing Lesson (La Leçon d’écriture), c. 1905. Oil on canvas, Overall: 21 7/16 x 25 13/16 in. (54.5 x 65.5 cm). BF150. Public Domain.

On Longer Poems, Writer’s Mixtape, & Easy Blogging

/ Sasha A. Palmer

Musician

Got a longer–min. 3 pages, max. 10 pages–poem? Consider submitting it for the Stacy Doris Memorial Poetry Award.

Check out Robert Lee Brewer’s list of 20 best songs for writers and about writing.

“…my doctor said I was going to have to choose between blogging and living to see my next birthday” — Anne R. Allen shares her own blogging ups and downs, so you may have fewer of the latter, and more of the former. Read her post on easy blogging for authors.

 

Image: Charles Demuth. Musician, 1918. Watercolor and graphite on wove paper, Overall: 10 3/8 x 8 in. (26.4 x 20.3 cm). BF748. Public Domain.

On Q&A, Writing Dilemma, & Things as They Are

/ Sasha A. Palmer

Elise Holland, editor of 2 Elizabeths, a short fiction and poetry publication, shares five of the most frequent questions she’s asked. See the questions, and answers.

To write or not to write by hand? Are you a laptop person, or a “fountain pen and leather-wrap journal” person? See/join a discussion.

“And when the flood waters come, and all pretenses are washed away, we’re left with how things are supposed to work, how they naturally are. And it’s a beautiful sight.”