Ways to Waste Time When You Should Be Writing @melissa_keir #RB4U

Ways to Waste Time When You Should Be Writing...

Hello again, it's Melissa here to share some fun and silliness with you. Are you a procrastinator? Do you find fifteen billion things to do when you are supposed to be doing something else? Well, if you are like me, you can always learn a few more ways to erm... be creative while you are waiting for your characters to talk to you.

I have planned to get three stories completed before the end of summer. It's July, people and while I've gotten words done on each of the stories, they aren't coming as fast as I'd like. The characters seem to be very quiet and don't want to share their stories with me. So while I wait....

I bake and cook. Who can't go wrong with some yummy treats? I'm baking egg muffins so I've got some quick and easy treats in the morning. Then there's the pasta salad and desserts I make to keep my hands busy! I've been giving the food away to others because my husband is tired of gaining weight.

I'm also doing a lot of cleaning. In fact, my house has been power-washed, my car cleaned and the laundry has been folded and put away! (psst. even matched the socks!) The dogs get brushed each day. The cat box is changed daily as well. My dust rag is my new best friend. I've never seen things sparkle this way!

Because of the cooking, I'm shopping more often. The ladies at Kroger's know me by name and are so friendly.

I'm also on FB, posting about my food, sharing about my books and hosting giveaways. I ask questions and share gif's of my job and post silly meme's about my day!

 Then I'm playing some games too... like Charm King and Words with Friends... Games like this can keep my mind occupied so I don't worry about why my characters aren't talking to me. 



I'm still doing my other job of movie reviews, so I go to the movies each week. I'm also reading a lot. I went back and bought the first romance book I'd ever read and now am catching up again with my first hero. 

Whew. Have I forgotten anything? Thankfully, my characters decided to start talking and I'm almost done with one of the books. Then onto finishing the others. But what do you do to avoid doing work? Are you a procrastinator like me?

Share your ideas! We can always use a few more ways to avoid work! <3


Until next month- Same date, same time,
Yours,
Melissa Keir
www.melissakeir.com

Taking a Quiz Break

I love to hang out on Facebook and connect with friends and other authors. But lately there’s been some shenanigans going on. Maybe you’ve seen them…

Which Disney Princess are You?

Have you ever wondered which 80’s television star should be your boyfriend? Or which superpower you should get? What about which True Blood character you are?

Lately on Facebook, Zimbo quizzes have abounded. I’ve learned a great deal about myself. I really should be in control of the weather. But then again, that was a no brainer after the horrible Michigan winter we had this year. I would be Marty McFly’s perfect date. Again- that car… I’ve always wanted a DeLorean. Not to mention, going back in time! Just imagine the first hand research I could do. Finally, I’m really Yellow… but that isn’t my favorite color. I love green because it matches my eyes.

Have you seen the fun quizzes that everyone seems to be taking? There’s a new one out each week. They combine history, pop culture, and random questions to formulate their response. The quizzes are a fun diversion from the daily stresses of life. They give me a laugh about something silly like which pop diva I am (the only diva, I’ve never heard of). Everyone has a comment on them. We compare our notes. After the one quiz about which Golden Girl we’d be, a group of us realized we made a matched set, just like on the show and should move in together! Watch out Golden Girls remix- 2014 style!

Certainly, they aren’t meant to be taken seriously. After all, when is Channing Tatum going to show up as my new boyfriend. It’s not like he’s available anyway. And as much as I’d like to control the weather, it seems like I couldn’t please everyone. J You know how the saying goes, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

So next time you are looking for a break from your everyday life…check out http://www.zimbio.com/quiz. You might find out which Frozen character you are, or even what workplace suits you!

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About Melissa Keir:
As a writer, Melissa likes to keep current on topics of interest in the world of writing.  She’s a member of the Romance Writers of America and EPIC.  Melissa is always interested in improving her writing through classes and seminars.  She also believes in helping other authors and features authors and their books on her blog.

Melissa doesn’t believe in down time.  She’s always keeping busy.  Melissa is a wife and mother, an elementary school teacher, a book reviewer, co-owner of a publishing company as well as an author. Her home blends two families and is a lot like the Brady Bunch, without Alice- a large grocery bill, tons of dirty dishes and a mound of laundry. She loves to write stories that feature “happy endings” and is often found plotting her next story.

This is what readers are saying about Melissa’s books:

Amazon 5 star review of A Christmas Accident--I loved this story. I found myself smiling and needing a kleenex. Ms. Keir has done a wonderful job with this story that I didn't want to see it come to an end. If you're looking for a sweet story that will leave you in an uplifting spirit, be sure to check this one out! (Wolfemama- Amazon)

BTSE Magazine 5 star review of Forever Love--Very well written, with unforgettable characters who bring a smile to your face, this beautiful story is sweet, moving and heart felt. With this wonderful book, Melissa Keir has proven herself a master in the genre of romance.  (Marie- BTSE Magazine)

Melissa loves hearing from readers!

www.melissakeir.com

http://www.facebook.com/melissaakeir

http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMelissaKeir (fan page)

www.twitter/melissa_keir

What Helps Sell Romance Books?

All these are my personal observations. What works or doesn't work for me might be the opposite for other authors!


Belonging to professional organizations:
Hmm. I'm not sure about this one. Belonging to professional organizations may help with craft and other useful information, but the actual selling of books (unless at a sponsored book signing) doesn't happen. Quite honestly, how many times has someone interested in buying a book asked, "Are you a member of RWA?"


Promo done on yahoo groups:
Social networking done on these groups get you book blurb, cover, and excerpts out in public view.  Groups can be as lively or are quiet as participants allow. Our Romance Books R Us yahoo group is always active because of the great participation we have. Selling books happens through groups like this where I have an opportunity to connect with readers.


Promo done on Twitter:
Can you really sell books here? Or, is it a "hit or miss" opportunity? I'm not sure if any of my "tweets" have created interest in my books. 

Promo done on LinkedIn:
Again, same dilemma. I'm "linked" to many people, but do they purchase books?


Promo done on Facebook:
I have two pages; one for each pen name. Again, same dilemma. Am I timing posts at opportune times to reach more readers? I read an article and the poster said that you need to post around 7 times a day of FB, Twitter, and LinkedIn in order to reach everyone. Seriously? I don't have time for that, although I guess you can set up Twitter to "retweet" your messages.

Chats: I found them to be so fast-paced that messages got confusing and sometimes went off in tangents. I don't think I've ever sold a book this way. While chats can be interesting, the chat group we started for Romance Books R Us never quite caught on with readers. And, some authors "forgot" when they were supposed to chat. Perhaps in the future we can try some "fun" chats and see if interest picks up.

Blogs: Great way to introduce authors and books. Readers seem to enjoy hearing from authors, and not just about their books. Throwing in a peek at an author's personal life, like doing an interview, gains an author fans and readers. By being active on a blog, an author can continue to connect with readers.

Conventions/Conferences: Great way to meet readers and fans...if the event is geared towards readers/fans and not strictly writers/authors. While I enjoy the informative conventions/conferences, the ones open to readers/fans are more casual and intimate and help sell books. Book signings at any of these events is a good thing!

Contests: Some readers just do these without actually buying books. But, publicity is good and running contests gains interest.

Reviews: Mixed on this one. Good reviews? Great. Do readers read these? When one of my books became a "free read", I got some "bad" reader reviews on Amazon from people who obviously didn't read paranormal or romance, but took the book because it was free.

Newsletters: I did newsletters for many years and just recently stopped. I don't have a new book out and haven't in over a year. My nonfiction book doesn't sell well to romance readers, and I've been concentrating on doing promo for that elsewhere.

Websites: If I can't easily read text on a website, I'll avoid it. Some sites are very dark with almost unreadable wording. Then again, I have "old eyes" and like things bright! If pages are off-center of text streams out of text boxes, that can be a problem. I've recently redone my websites and hope I've fixed some problems. To sell books displayed here, readers have to know how to find my websites first!


Covers: Yes...I believe covers have a lot to do with selling books. One cover I approved I regret...no people on it and I think that was a mistake. It's the book "of my heart" and the one I've sold very few copies of to date. Another cover (I had NO say in this one) I'm still unhappy about...and I believe it "tanked" my sales. A cover is what readers see first and is important.

Building a fan base: Definitely a positive step! Get loyal readers and you have buyers. As authors we're told to keep writing, but sometimes that's easier said than done!


So...what do you think? Readers, do you relate to any of my observations? Authors, do you agree or disagree?

Marianne
http://www.mariannestephens.net
http://www.aprilash.net
http://www.romancebooksrus.com

Teams, Tribes, Twitter, Oh My.

It's that time of the month again.

No, not THAT time. Sheesh.

Time to consider your social media platform.

Yes, all that time spent on Facebook and Twitter --- that's you, marketing yourself.  So, um, can it with the LOL Catz.

Or not, whatever.

But seriously, I read an amazing list of "stuff I oughtta be doing like right about now online to promote myself" and sort of got twitchy.
Facebook (check)
FAN page NOT profile (oh, um, okay)
Twitter (check)
"professional twitter account" (oh, um, okay)

Professional blog (Yeah yeah I got that, whew)
Professional website (under construction, but yeah)
tagline for your brand (Brewing Up Serious Passion--check)

Professional author headshot (I have WAY too many "fun" headshots that I like to use so I'm good there)
Google alerts (done)

Goodreads author page (yep)
Google+ account (did it--don't use it much though I thought "circles" were sort of "Dante-esque")
LinkedIn (yeah but wow it is annoying)
You Tube Channel (kinda--I'm of several minds about "cheesy book trailers" vs. "useful marketing tool")
Kindleboards something (oh, okay)
Amazon forums (huh?)
RWA stuff (nope, I'm a lowly e-pubbed author and hence do not feel welcome)

Good blog poster (religiously I love to hear myself talk)
Good blog commenter (I make a point to spend several hours a week on this BUT if I comment more than twice on yours and you never darken the door of mine? You're off my list)
Amazon Likes and Tags and other similar annoyances (yeah)
Myriad "pages" on endless author and review sites (sort of)
Tribrr (JUST JOINED)

and
my personal favorite today:
Assemble a Street Team.

Yeah....I rubbed my hands together. That sounded like something I could really sink my teeth into. I have one for the brewery, they get monthly Constant Contact email from me (Oh, I neglected the one about "have a professional newsletter"as I have grown up with the "professional newsletter" meme and have done and distributed zillions of them for various organizations and truly believe that they are going they way of the 8-track tape but I digress).

Why NOT do one for "Liz Crowe?"
I noodled around on some of my favorite writing craft and marketing blogs and discovered that many of us have already latched onto this device invented by small label recording company's to use their meager resources to rally viral fan groups around new bands. Yeah. Bloody Brilliant!

So, I hit the "start a group" button on Yahoo and I did it!
Wrote up the basics (yeah this is a "promote Liz" group BUT I do trades AND I'm giving out prizes EVERY MONTH to top tweeters/sharers/promoters AND every member gets some way cool swag from me PLUS I will reciprocate (within reason and time allowances) with your stuff too.
I uploaded all my book covers, all my author pages, blogs and what not, sent out a few initial invites and posted it in FB and Twitter.  We'll see where it takes me if anywhere.


My concern is that it NOT turn into yet another place to cut and paste the latest and greatest from a bunch of authors sorta promoting to each other but becomes a truly interactive way to learn more about great ways to promote ourselves (read: Liz but I share, remember?).

 I am trying to stay away from the EXTREME temptation to only use Facebook as a "here's my latest release/review/blogpost/interview/rant/rave/spew on writing so go read and comment and let me move on the the next one, thanks."

It's mighty tempting but every day I get on there and feel like EVERYBODY is using it that way and it gets all over my nerves. I'm trying to limit it in a sort of lame, back-to-facebook purity basics kind of way. Unless I have a KILLER blog post...or a release...nevermind.

So that said, My Next Big Step in My Social Networking Plan is to create that "fan page" on Facebook separate from my "profile" although the double work involved in it makes me twitchy all over again.

Tell us ONE THING you've done in the last year or so that made a huge difference to your marketing and promotions success.  And spare me the "oh I just write another book" one because we all KNOW we have to do that!
cheers
Liz

Gotta Have a Sparkly!

I have been struggling with my current WIP this week on how to move my characters from Point A to Point B so that the story moves forward. Logically. Without any hoodo magic even though this is a paranormal and you can get away with a certain amount of hoodo if you’ve constructed your world to make it believable.

But in the scope of things using magic in this instance would have been overkill. It’s definitely time to let the reader take a breath and there isn’t any reason that logic shouldn’t prevail. The only problem is my brain has been doing a flit this week and anything at all will distract me. Anyone remember the crow in “The Secret of Nimh”? A sparkly could distract him from any situation and this week, for me, everything but my WIP has been sparkly.

So, I’ve followed Facebook, tweeted, researched police and EMT procedures, conducted an interview with a police officer and tried to figure out if what I’d done was too far outside the realm of possibilities.

Happily, I think I’m okay in that respect but none of my relaxation techniques, exercise, meditation or just spending a couple of hours watching a favorite movie was helping me to move my story forward. Until I spied the bag of apples that I’d picked up during my last trip to the grocery store. I’m one of those people who shops with the best of intentions but I don’t really think about eating until my stomach is growling and I’m about to pass out.

The apple pie became my sparkly and lo and behold while rolling out pie dough, the next part of my story started to unfold. While peeling apples I figured out why my hero and heroine needed to have separate Point B’s and by the time I could smell the cinnamon and apples baking I was blocking out my next scene.

I think I’d forgotten the Zen of doing something so familiar that I could go through the motions and still be able to think about something else. It was kind of like discovering a treasure that I hadn’t remembered losing.

What about you? Do you have a technique that gets you back on track when your brain does a flit and everything distracts you?

Have a great Thanksgiving and until next month,

Hugs,

Paris Brandon

http://parisbrandon.com

Cross My Heart-NOR Top Pick

Head Over Heels-5 Hearts, The Romance Studio

Assassin’s Kiss-4 Stars Romantic Times Review

No Holds Barred-4 Stars JEER

On sale now at Ellora’s Cave, Amazon and ARe