Category Archives: On Writing

April 13, 2022 · 9:00 am

Writing Prompt Wednesday

If you’re looking for a little bit of mid-week motivation, welcome to Writing Prompt Wednesday!

Your prompt: Write a paragraph from the point-of-view of your shoes.

If you’re feeling inspired, I’d love to see where this idea leads you. Feel free to leave me a comment! You can also check out my Writers’ Resources page for more help and motivation! I also accept guest post submissions, so if this exercise leads you into a great short story or piece of flash fiction, consider sending it in. Thanks for stopping by!

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.  Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keepingand The Graveside Detective.  Her short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous.  Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world.  You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please consider using my links to do your shopping and help me out at no extra cost to you!

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April 6, 2022 · 9:00 am

Writing Prompt Wednesday

If you’re looking for a little bit of mid-week motivation, welcome to Writing Prompt Wednesday!

Your prompt: Pick a book off your shelf.  Based only on the front cover imagery, write a short story.

If you’re feeling inspired, I’d love to see where this idea leads you. Feel free to leave me a comment! You can also check out my Writers’ Resources page for more help and motivation! I also accept guest post submissions, so if this exercise turns into a great short story or piece of flash fiction, consider sending it in. Thanks for stopping by!

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.  Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keepingand The Graveside Detective.  Her short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous.  Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world.  You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please consider using my links to do your shopping and help me out at no extra cost to you!

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April 2, 2022 · 9:00 am

Guest Post: Writing Rules That Matter–And Those That Don’t by Teri M. Brown

by Teri M. Brown

Always. Never. It’s a rule.

Have you noticed that the self-proclaimed grammar police are always quick to point out mistakes in social media posts, emails, and even book manuscripts? I must admit that there are grammar mistakes I find cringeworthy. However, determining the right way to write is not as easy as it seems.

Know Your Audience

Sometimes, I think back to those long-ago days sitting in an English class, learning about punctuation, word usage, and parts of speech. I can hear Mrs. Swift stating unequivocal rules about commas, contractions, and writing a paper. I sometimes wonder how she would feel about my novel with its quirky sentence structures and unusual word choices – which brings me to the most important rule I’ll share today.

Know your audience. When I wrote papers for Mrs. Swift, I followed her rules because she was my audience. If I wanted to do well in her class, then I needed to write something she would want to read. For her, it was formal, grammatically correct, and formulated.

The same holds true for business writers, authors, and even texts. Effective communication begins with knowing your end reader. This will help you determine if you need to be formal or informal, can use technical terms, should add persuasive speech, and more.

For example, it’s perfectly acceptable to use LOL in a text but not when writing a formal letter to a business executive. It’s also fine to start an email to a group of friends with “Hey, guys,” but I wouldn’t recommend doing so when writing an email to a potential publisher.

Where You Live Matters

“Punctuation ALWAYS goes inside the quotes,” stated Mrs. Swift over and over again. She took off a full point whenever someone in class put a period or comma outside the quotation marks. I’ve learned, however, that ‘always’ doesn’t apply outside of the United States.

It’s true! In the UK, the punctuation goes outside the quotes. So, if you are writing for a UK audience, you should keep that in mind. (Remember the first rule – Know Your Audience.)

Writing dates correctly also depends on location. In the United States, one writes January 1, 2022 – the comma goes after the day. Those in the UK write the day before the month and eliminate the comma altogether like this – 1 January 2022.

When a Rule Isn’t a Rule

Mrs. Swift also didn’t let on that some rules change over time or are controversial. Let’s talk for a moment about the Oxford comma. This is the comma placed before the ‘and’ in a list. If I said, “I’m going to the store to buy pens, pencils, paper, and an eraser,” the Oxford comma is the one after ‘paper’ and before ‘and.’

However, some people and organizations, like the Associated Press, no longer require the use of the Oxford comma. The missing Oxford comma has even led to court cases resulting in dairy having to pay their drivers $10 million in overtime pay. To this day, the debate goes on.

Another controversy is whether a sentence can start with a conjunction or not. Mrs. Swift would be resolutely in the ‘no’ camp. However, today’s rules state that you can. And that is the real truth.

Tricks For Deciding

Of course, there are rules that we follow because they have become standard. Yet, some are difficult to remember. To this day, I rearrange a sentence to avoid using lie or lay. Here are a few tricks for helping you decide what to use.

Less/Fewer

Use less when something cannot be counted. Use fewer when something can be counted.

Example:

I wrote less often. (You can’t count often.)
I read fewer words. (You can count words.)

 Who/Whom

Answer the question you are asking with he or him. If you would say ‘him’ with an M, then you would use ‘whom’ with an M.

                Example:

To who/whom will you send a free book? Since you would send it to him, the sentence should have ‘whom.’

Who/whom will read the book? Since he will read it, the sentence should have ‘who.’

I/Me

Should you say, “Bruce and me read a good book” OR “Bruce and I read a good book.” To decide, take out the ‘Bruce and’ and read the sentence again. Obviously, you wouldn’t say “Me read a good book,” so in this case, it should be ‘I.’

What about “She gave the book to Bruce and I” or “She gave the book to Bruce and me?” Once again, take out the ‘Bruce and’ and read the sentence. In this case, use ‘me.’

Lay/Lie

Lie means to be in a recumbent position. Lie has an ‘I’ in it. If you were to lie down flat, your body would have the shape of an ‘I.”

Lay means to place something. Lay has an ‘a’ in it, just like place.

A Few Tidbits for Better Writing

Finally, here are a few things to consider that may make your writing better.

  1. Try to use active voice (subject + verb + object) rather than passive voice (object + verb + subject). ‘Historical fiction is loved by readers’ is not nearly as captivating as ‘Readers love historical fiction.’
  2. Boring sentences start with ‘there is’ and ‘there are.’ Consider starting with a subject instead.
  3. A cliché is an overused expression. Instead of using an overused phrase, create something fresh and exciting.
  4. You have 15 seconds or less to capture the attention of your reader. Make sure your headline, first sentence, and sub-headlines are strong and enticing.

Finally, I always recommend reading what you’ve written out loud. This will help you find the mistake you miss when reading it to yourself. You wouldn’t believe how many repeated words, missing letters, and odd punctuation I have found when doing this.

The bottom line is this: language matters, but language is not static. As the writer, it is up to you to determine which rules matter to your audience.

About the Author

Born in Athens, Greece as an Air Force brat, Teri M Brown graduated from UNC Greensboro. She began her writing career helping small businesses with content creation and published five nonfiction self-help books dealing with real estate and finance, receiving “First Runner Up” in the Eric Hoffman Book Awards for 301 Simple Things You Can Do To Sell Your Home Now, finalist in the USA Best Books Awards for How To Open and Operate a Financially Successful Redesign, Redecorate, and Real Estate Staging Business and for 301 Simple Things You Can Do To Sell Your Home Now, and Honorable Mention in Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award for Private Mortgage Investing. In 2017, after winning the First Annual Anita Bloom Ornoff Award for Inspirational Short Story, she began writing fiction in earnest and recently published Sunflowers Beneath the Snow. Teri is a wife, mother, grandmother, and author who loves word games, reading, bumming on the beach, taking photos, singing in the shower, hunting for bargains, ballroom dancing, playing bridge, and mentoring others. Teri’s debut novel, Sunflowers Beneath the Snow, is a historical fiction set in Ukraine. Learn more at http://www.terimbrown.com.

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March 30, 2022 · 9:00 am

Writing Prompt Wednesday

If you’re looking for a little bit of mid-week motivation, welcome to Writing Prompt Wednesday!

Your prompt: What’s a childhood memory you particularly treasure?

If you’re feeling inspired, I’d love to see where this idea leads you. Feel free to leave me a comment! You can also check out my Writers’ Resources page for more help and motivation! I also accept guest post submissions, so if this exercise leads you into a great short story or piece of flash fiction, consider sending it in. Thanks for stopping by!

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.  Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keepingand The Graveside Detective.  Her short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous.  Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world.  You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please consider using my links to do your shopping and help me out at no extra cost to you!

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March 19, 2022 · 9:00 am

Getting Started with Freelance Writing

I often see people in writers’ groups asking how to get into freelance writing. I’m excited for them, because I know how awesome it is to make some money with your writing. I made the leap to full-time freelancing eight years ago. It was a big leap to let go of a steady job, but it’s been an absolutely amazing experience. I love making my own schedule and being available for my family when they need me. The thing is, I don’t think there’s any one set way to do this. Everyone has likely taken a slightly different path, but I’m happy to share mine.

  1. Decide what kind of freelancing you want to do: You need at least some sort of direction in which to head before you can start going anywhere. It may evolve a bit along the way, as it certainly did for me, but it’s good to have some goals to work toward. Do you want to be a ghostwriter? Fiction or non-fiction? Are you into editing? Copy writing? Or do you want to create blog posts and articles for magazines and websites? Stick with what you feel is your best strength to start with.
  2. Build your CV and portfolio: There’s no getting around this step! Clients need proof that you’re worth hiring, and unfortunately that means proving that someone else also thought you were worthy! How you build your CV will depend on your goals, but you can start by submitting stories and poetry to literary magazines or doing work for local businesses who need a little extra help. Another option would be to check with friends who own small businesses to see if they need content or proofreading. You can find more information about building your CV here.
  3. Brush up on your skills: It’s always a good idea to refresh your brain, especially when you’re trying to impress someone. There are TONS of books out there that will help with grammar and punctuation, formatting, and sentence structure, but there are also plenty about the art of writing itself. I find these to be particularly inspiring! Some of my favorites are Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell and Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg.
  4. Find clients: It’s finally time to put yourself out there and make some money! There are lots of places to find clients, but you have to go out there and look for them! This is perhaps one of the hardest things for us writers, because we tend to be a little introverted and we don’t always like selling ourselves. You can check out this post about finding freelance clients for more detailed information. Make sure when you’re putting in a bid for a job that you follow all the submission guidelines.
  5. Stay Organized: Getting those freelancing gigs means keeping track of deadlines, notes, and client information. It means managing your time and staying focused. You’ll also need a place to work, which is often one of the biggest challenges for busy parents. How all of this comes together is going to be different for everyone. Digital planner or paper? Work from home or sneak off to the coffee shop? Freelance in your spare time or dive in with both feet? There are a lot of little decisions to be made, and you may have to try a few things to see what works best for you. Check out Tips for Starting a Freelance Business and Tips for a Successful Freelance Business.

I really didn’t know what I was doing when I first started freelancing. I never imagined it would lead to being a ghostwriter and supporting myself while working in sweatpants with a dog snoring at my feet. I hope that you find success in freelancing, whatever that looks like to you!

Be sure to check out my Writers’ Resources page for lots of great information on writing!

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.  Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keepingand The Graveside Detective.  Her short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous.  Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world.  You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please consider using my links to do your shopping and help me out at no extra cost to you!

Buy Remembering Calix on Amazon

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March 10, 2022 · 9:00 am

Guest Post: Cultivating Your Writing with Time Away by Jan Kirchner

“Cultivating Your Writing with Time Away” by Jan Kirchner

Fellow Readers….

There have been many aspects of my life that have kept me busy.  My purpose for this post is to talk about a couple of these that keep me very busy, and then to explain why taking time away for yourself is important.  In my efforts to cultivate my writing, I may feel a bit of imposter syndrome, but as long as I’ve worked so hard to reclaim my mental health, I shouldn’t feel guilty about taking the time I need to become the writer I’ve always desired to be.

The first thing that keeps me forever busy is my job.  I’ve been a supervisor since August of 2021, and I work easily 50-60+ hours a week.  Yes, one week within the scope of my job.  So, how I managed to get Holes in Your Umbrella together will be forever a wonder.  But the next busy task is my daughter.  In my poem, “Presenting My Daughter” featured in my book, I discuss the challenges I’m faced with being her mom.  And trust me when I say there are many challenges to being this wonderful child’s parent.  She will forever be my mini-me.  Even though in February, she turned “sweet & sour” 16, she will forever be a priority in my life.  

The next task that has proven to now take up a good chunk of time is not only writing my books, but also promoting them.  If I were going through a traditional publisher, I would have a department devoted to the marketing and promotion of my novels.  But since I’ve declared myself an indie publisher, which I do not regret, I must do all the marketing and promoting myself.  It’s becoming a mini part-time job on its own.  If I let it. 

With all that being said, it is extremely important to the maintenance of my mental health to not let all this busyness swallow me up.  I could see myself getting completely lost mentally and emotionally if I’m not careful.  This week, I started using up a few hours of vacation time at work to focus on some things at home.  My husband and I even went on an afternoon movie date to see the new Spider-Man before it left the theater. If creative juices aren’t flowing from home, another option to recharge and gain some productive writing timing can be by planning a short weekend writing retreat getaway so you can have complete 100% solace to continue working on your next book. 

Of course you don’t want to let the important people and things in your life down.  However, in order to avoid regressing in your recovery, it is important to prioritize your mental and emotional health.

Author Bio

Sometimes she’s felt a little bit like Alice having fallen down the hole, following after the White Rabbit. However, most days she is the Mad Hatter who outwardly appears normal yet is crazier than a loon in her own mind.  Her name is Jan.  As long as she could remember, she’s always struggled with some form of mental and emotional health issues, but it wasn’t until she turned 40 that she found the strength to get professional help.  As of 2021, she was diagnosed bipolar-depressive with anxiety, PTSD, and most recently borderline personality disorder.  The BPD diagnosis came as a bit of a shock.  She’s always struggled with the internal question of Who is she?  But what she is finally embracing is she is we, and we are she. Enjoy more from Jan’s blog, Pieces of Fractured Glass.   And please feel free to reach out to Jan via https://linktr.ee/jankirchner which is the home to all the links where you can connect with her and her latest publications.   

More from Jan Kirchner:

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.  Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keepingand The Graveside Detective.  Her short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous.  Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world.  You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please consider using my links to do your shopping and help me out at no extra cost to you!

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March 3, 2022 · 9:00 am

Guest Post: 15 Reasons You Need to Keep Writing by Teri M. Brown

What’s In It for Your Reader? 15 Reasons You Need to Keep Writing

As an author, I am not fond of marketing. I’d much rather be settled in, a cup of cocoa on my left, a notebook on my right, and my fingers tapping away at the keyboard in front of me. However, without marketing, all that writing would just languish on a shelf gathering dust. So, market I must.

My first foray into this arena was almost my last. The guru in charge of the session asked this question – “Why should someone buy your book?” The question was supposed to help me gain an understanding of what was in it for my reader. However, I drew a complete blank. Why should they? I couldn’t come up with anything other than I had written a good story that they would enjoy, but somehow, entertainment just didn’t seem like reason enough to ask someone to spend their hard-earned money.

Thankfully, I didn’t decide to about-face toward a career with easily recognizable benefits. Instead, I determined to discover the value of reading in order to answer that marketer’s question. Here are the fifteen that have helped me understand that being an author is as noble a profession as any other

1. Entertainment

“No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting.” – Mary Wortley Montagu

I’ll start with entertainment because it was the only item on my original list. Without a doubt, books are engaging and entertaining. We’ve all experienced a book we couldn’t put down. And we all hope that our next experience with a book is the same.

2. Learning New Things

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss

Whether you read fiction or nonfiction, you can learn things while reading a book. For instance, you might pick up a new word or hear about a new place. You might grasp a new concept or pick up a tidbit of history you missed in school. If you want to learn something, read a book!

3. Better Communication

“I believe there is power in words, power in asserting our existence, our experience, our lives, through words.” – Jesmyn Ward

Communication is an important life skill because it allows us to pass on needed information, form relationships, and generally, get things done. And guess what? Readers are better at both written and oral communication. Because they read, they use a stronger vocabulary and intuitively know the right style for writing.

4. Live Longer

“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” – C.S. Lewis

This one blew me away. There was a retirement home study that found readers lived two years longer than nonreaders. Wow! If that isn’t a great benefit, then what is?

5. Improves Sleep

“Take a good book to bed with you. Books do not snore.” – Thea Dorn

Studies concerning reading are endless. One found that when you pair reading with a nighttime routine, you fall asleep faster. The only caveat is that you must read printed material rather than on a screen. That pesky blue light can wreak havoc with your body’s natural cycles.

6. Stronger Analytical Thinking Skills

“Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.” – John Locke

When we read, we tend to think ahead and see if we can solve the mystery, determine the outcome, or notice the one detail that puts the entire story on its end. This is known as analytical thinking and is another one of those skills that employers want their employees to have. If you critique a book with others, not only are you using analytical skills, but you are pairing them with communication skills. It’s a win-win!

7. Improves imagination

“Reading is an active, imaginative act; it takes work.” – Khaled Hosseini

When reading fiction, your imagination goes to work visualizing the scenes, hearing the characters’ voices, and feeling the emotions. And why is imagination important? The benefits of imagination are as endless as the benefits of reading! Those with strong imaginations have fewer memory problems, increase problem-solving skills, and more.

8. Better Mental Health

“Reading—the best state yet to keep absolute loneliness at bay.” – William Styron

Feeling depressed? Studies show that reading a book will help. The field of bibliotherapy uses books to help people feel better. Try it for yourself.

9. Reduce Stress

“Reading is escape, and the opposite of escape; it’s a way to make contact with reality after a day of making things up, and it’s a way of making contact with someone else’s imagination after a day that’s all too real.” – Nora Ephron

Remember what I said about studies? It seems that one found that reading for 30 minutes can have an impact on your health. How? It lowers blood pressure and heart rate. Another study found that six minutes of reading reduces stress by over 60%.

Feeling stressed? Pick up a book.

So, the next time you’re feeling stressed, remember the benefits of reading for pleasure and let the tension melt away.

10. Building Brain Connections

“To train your body, lift increasingly heavier weights. To train your mind, read increasingly tougher books.” – Johnny Uzan

Reading helps you build brain connections, much the same way that exercising builds muscles. The more a person reads, the stronger these neural networks become.

Do you know the phrase “use it or lose it”? Yep – it’s true for reading!

11. Concentration and Focus

“To read a novel requires a certain kind of concentration, focus, devotion to the reading. If you read a novel in more than two weeks, you don’t read the novel really.” – Philip Roth

There is an entire body of literature on something called deep work. Deep work occurs when you can do something for a long time without distraction. And guess what? Reading books helps a person develop this ability! Your readers need to learn to focus, so why not focus on your book?

12. Memory

“I am an omnivorous reader with a strangely retentive memory for trifles.” – Arthur Conan Doyle,

Reading books helps to improve your memory. As you read, you have to keep all the details in mind. There’s the plot, the characters, the relationships, the environment, and more. As you store this information, your brain creates and strengthens synapses used for memory storage. The more you read, the better you will be at remembering things.

Can’t find your phone again? Read a book!

13. Motivation

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” – Neil Gaiman

When you read about a character who overcomes a challenge, it can be motivating. Book characters can help us be positive, work hard, and never give up.

14. Empathize

“Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul.” – Joyce Carol Oates

Books let us look through the eyes of someone unlike ourselves. As we see the world as they see it, we gain an understanding of different points of view. In our world today, isn’t that an amazing benefit?

15. Inclusivity

“Reading makes immigrants of us all. It takes us away from home, but more important, it finds homes for us everywhere.” – Jean Rhys

Along with empathy, books help us be more inclusive. They help readers become more open-minded and tolerant. It’s hard to look at someone negatively if you’ve been able to relate to their story. We don’t discriminate against those we understand.

This little exercise has made my job of marketing my books so much easier. Books have value to readers. And, as an author, I have value as well.

About the Author:

Born in Athens, Greece as an Air Force brat, Teri M Brown came into this world with an imagination full of stories to tell. She now calls the North Carolina coast home, and the peaceful nature of the sea has been a great source of inspiration for her creativity.

Not letting 2020 get the best of her, Teri chose to go on an adventure that changed her outlook on life. She and her husband, Bruce, rode a tandem bicycle across the United States from Astoria, Oregon to Washington DC, successfully raising money for Toys for Tots. She learned she is stronger than she realized and capable of anything she sets her mind to.

Teri is a wife, mother, grandmother, and author who loves word games, reading, bumming on the beach, taking photos, singing in the shower, hunting for bargains, ballroom dancing, playing bridge, and mentoring others.

Teri recently published her debut novel, Sunflowers Beneath the Snow, a historical fiction set in Ukraine that follows three generations of women. You can read the first chapter for free by joining her email list at https://deft-pioneer-4478.ck.page/c6edd375dd

Follow Teri on her website www.terimbrown.com

Or via the following social media:

Facebook.com/TeriMBrownAuthor

Twitter.com/TeriMBrown1

Instagram.com/TeriMBrown

LinkedIn.com/in/TeriMBrown

Goodreads.com/terimbrown

Pinterest.com/terimbrownauthor

Amazon Author: https://www.amazon.com/author/terimbrown

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March 2, 2022 · 9:00 am

Guest Post: Journey Toward Publication by Amber D. Browne

by Amber D. Browne

My lifelong dream has been to write a book. With the publication of The Little Book of Hermetic Principles: Heal Your Energy, Seek Enlightenment, and Deepen Your Understanding of Your Mind, Body, and Spirit, my dream has become a reality. Thanks to independent publisher Ulysses Press, I was able to research, write, and be involved in the editing process until publication.

The Indie publisher was searching for a potential author to write a book about the Hermetic principles. I was unfamiliar with the topic, but the opportunity stated the potential author should be familiar with the wellness space, mentalism, and vibrations, as well as have excellent research skills and the ability to write in an informative yet friendly style. This sounded like the perfect opportunity for me!

My background is broadcast journalism, so I know how to take what might be considered complicated information and write it in a way for the majority of the population to understand. I have always been interested in the power of the mind and energy, so I did a little research about the Hermetic principles. I knew this project was meant for me. I truly believe God put this opportunity in front of me so that I would take the initiative and begin a new journey in this life. I reached out to the acquisitions editor and ultimately received a contract to write the book. This was the push I needed to resign from teaching and start writing again full-time. This time, though, I would start a freelance writing business.

After signing the contract and receiving the first payment, I got to work on the 4,000-word outline. Prior to writing the outline, I researched Hermes Trismegistus and the Hermetic principles outlined in The Kybalion. I got a better idea about what I would cover, how I would go about sharing this ancient knowledge, and what type of guidance I would include to help readers implement this information in modern times.

An outline has always been my choice to organize during the planning stage of the writing process. I divided the book into three sections: Hermes Trismegistus and Hermeticism, The Kybalion-The Hermetic Principles, and The Mystical Teachings of Hermes Trismegistus. From this point, I was able to outline each section into chapters and determine how I would organize the book. Once the publisher approved the outline, I began the journey of writing my first book.

Throughout my career in broadcast journalism and freelance writing, I have reached out to thousands of experts and officials to share their knowledge about the subject matter I would cover. Research is a great way to get information, but when you can interview experts to share insight from their fields, you may discover information that never crossed your mind. As the interviewer, you can plan questions that will guide your writing for that section. If the experts add additional information that could be included, even better! You can find a way to work it into the text.

I found most of my experts through online searches. You can Google just about anything, and many times, you can reach out to organizations, associations, government entities, etc., for guidance on finding the right person to contact. If you know someone personally who would be a good fit, reach out to them! I knew several people who were experts in their fields or had knowledge on the subject matter for the book, so I was able to interview them to share their insight.

Whether you use a digital app or a physical recording device, always record your interviews! You can transcribe your interviews to guarantee you have the correct quote and information. Once you have done your research and have spoken to your experts, you can incorporate the information into your outline so that it follows the direction you are planning for your book.

I did not write the entire book in one document. I copied and pasted each chapter from the outline into a separate Word Document. The chapters were also divided into sections by subject matter, so it was much easier to keep the information organized. Once an entire chapter was complete, I would add it to the final Word Document. You could use Google Docs, too.

Two months later, I emailed the 40,000-word book to my acquisition’s editor. From there, I received editing recommendations, which took about a week to review and return to the publisher. The book was then formatted, proofread, and returned to me for review. I answered questions from the editor, proofread the book, and returned it with a request for one final review before publication. After the changes were made by the publisher, and I made one final proofread, the book was scheduled for publication.

Throughout the book writing process, I learned about contract negotiations, more about editing in different types of software, and of course, more about the subject matter. I am grateful for every aspect of my book writing experience. I appreciate Ulysses Press for giving me this opportunity and for everyone involved in the process. From the editors to the experts, they were all a vital part of bringing The Little Book of Hermetic Principles to fruition, and I am forever grateful.

The Little Book of Hermetic Principles: Heal Your Energy, Seek Enlightenment, and Deepen Your Understanding of Your Mind, Body, and Spirit is a beginner-friendly guide that delves into the wisdom and philosophy of Hermes Trismegistus and how it can be applied to modern life. The bookbegins with a brief history about Trismegistus and his ancient texts. As readers move into the chapters regarding the seven Hermetic principles, they discover how to harness the power of the mind, increase energy, and develop gender personality characteristics. Tips on meditation, music therapy, exercise, nutrition, prayer, crystals, astrology, nature, magic, alchemy, and so on, help readers foster a better understanding of reality, how the universe works, and the interconnectedness of everything.

This is my first book to author, but it will not be my last. You can find more of my written work at www.amberdbrowne.com. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. The Little Book of Hermetic Principles is available for purchase at various online retailers including Amazon.

About the Author:

As a young teen, Amber D. Browne discovered her passion for the written word and for sharing information. After acquiring a BA in mass communication with a minor in history from Texas State University, Amber spent much of her career researching and reporting Texas news for radio. She later branched out as a freelance writer and editor for local magazines, and her desire to share her journalism experience led to a seven-year stint in junior high education as an English language arts/reading and media teacher. Amber resides in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with her husband and their two children. Find more of Amber’s written work at www.amberdbrowne.com.

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.  Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keepingand The Graveside Detective.  Her short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous.  Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world.  You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please consider using my links to do your shopping and help me out at no extra cost to you!

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February 17, 2022 · 9:00 am

Guest Post: Yes, You are a Great Writer! by Teri M. Brown

As a writer, I know that words matter. Anyone can see that when simply looking at the phrases “big bear” and “humongous bear.” The first is one you run from. And the second? Let’s just hope you are running with someone a lot slower than yourself! However, I had never really considered how words affect our personal performance.

I am a cycling enthusiast – on an amateur level. My husband and I spent the summer of 2020 crossing the United States from the coast of Oregon to Washington DC on a tandem bicycle – a whopping 3102 miles. He’s the cycling guru. I went along for the adventure. Of course, having had that experience, people now send me great articles about cycling. A recent one was a study about cycling performance and the words we use (To me, to you: How we say things matters for endurance performance).

The gist of the study is simple. How we talk to ourselves as we try to achieve something matters. And the best way to achieve something is to talk to ourselves in the second person. In the study, cyclists were asked to repeat mantras while training. Those that said something like “You are a great cyclist” actually went faster than those who said the same thing but in first person – “I am a great cyclist.” The theory is that by saying “you” instead of “I,” we become our own cheerleader from the sidelines of our mind.

Now, let’s bring this back around to writing. I know that, as an author with a debut novel, I sometimes feel like a fake. Have you ever heard of imposter syndrome? It’s that feeling that I am a fraud – that if someone could really get inside my head, they’d learn that I’m not really an author after all. Or they’d find out that this novel was just a fluke and nothing like it will ever happen again. It’s a crazy thought, but I’ve learned that I’m not the only author who feels this way.

So, I’ve decided to use the power of words to change up how I feel. Each morning, I look in the mirror and repeat: “You are an author. You write great stories that people want to read. You know how to connect with your audience.” I figure if it works for elite cyclists, it should work for me – and for you.

Give it a try. How does it feel being your own best fan? Feel free to drop me a note and tell me what you think.

About the Author:

Born in Athens, Greece as an Air Force brat, Teri M Brown came into this world with an imagination full of stories to tell. She now calls the North Carolina coast home, and the peaceful nature of the sea has been a great source of inspiration for her creativity.

Not letting 2020 get the best of her, Teri chose to go on an adventure that changed her outlook on life. She and her husband, Bruce, rode a tandem bicycle across the United States from Astoria, Oregon to Washington DC, successfully raising money for Toys for Tots. She learned she is stronger than she realized and capable of anything she sets her mind to.

Teri is a wife, mother, grandmother, and author who loves word games, reading, bumming on the beach, taking photos, singing in the shower, hunting for bargains, ballroom dancing, playing bridge, and mentoring others.

Teri recently published her debut novel, Sunflowers Beneath the Snow, a historical fiction set in Ukraine that follows three generations of women. You can read the first chapter for free by joining her email list at https://deft-pioneer-4478.ck.page/c6edd375dd

Follow Teri on her website www.terimbrown.com

Or via the following social media:

Facebook.com/TeriMBrownAuthor

Twitter.com/TeriMBrown1

Instagram.com/TeriMBrown

LinkedIn.com/in/TeriMBrown

Goodreads.com/terimbrown

Pinterest.com/terimbrownauthor

Amazon Author: https://www.amazon.com/author/terimbrown

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February 10, 2022 · 9:00 am

Guest Post: Top Tips on How to Write Convincing Dialogue by Natalia Hooker

Whether we write fiction or non-fiction, dialogue can make a book much more interesting. However, it’s important to get the dialogue right.

So many times I have a read books and the dialogue is written in the same voice as the author. To write convincing dialogue, it is necessary to show the character’s personality through the way they speak.

When you are writing dialogue, I suggest to not only use a sentence here or there, but it’s wonderful to see a whole conversation come to life through dialogue. Think of it like you are watching a scene on the stage or in a movie.

Many authors aspire to have their books created into a film, and its good if you think of your dialogue that way. If you were writing a screenplay, how would the characters talk? Dialogue can make your scenes come alive.

Here are some tips to help get you started in writing convincing dialogue:

Listen closely to people talking, and hear how they express themselves. Everyone has a unique was of speaking. You need to know your character well enough so you know how they would talk.

Where is your character from? Do they have an accent? It can be fun to ‘hear’ their accent. For example, this is a character from my novel Flipped, which is about a girl band set in Italy:

“Si, your cousin from London will photo us?” asks Ilaria.

Ilaria says “Si” which is yes in Italian, and then she says “photo us” instead of “photograph us”.  This is a common type of mistake I have heard many Italians make when speaking English, so I used it in the dialogue for this Italian character.

The next step is to make sure that the characters have consistent voices throughout the book. You have to know your character deeply, and what they would say and how they would say it. It’s no use capturing their unique way of speaking for a few lines only, you need to follow through so it’s consistent until the end. That said, do not overdo it either, as too much can distract from the story. For example, just a little tweak here and there to remind the reader of their accent is sufficient.

Another point to consider is the age of your character. Younger and older people have different ways of speaking, so be sure to capture the voice of the right age group.

What time period is your story set in? It’s important to be true to the era of your setting. Remember that we use a lot of colloquialisms with the way we talk today. Even just a few decades ago, the way of talking was more formal.

I was editing the work of a client for a novel set in the 1800s. She wrote that one of her characters said, “See you around.” This is modern language use which threw me out of the world she was creating. If your story is set in a certain time period, ensure you are versed with how people would speak in that era.

The correct use of tags with dialogue is important as well. Usually just a simple: he said, she said, is sufficient. And when it is clear who is talking, especially when it’s a conversation between just two people, no tag is needed.  Overusing tags can actually distract from the dialogue.

For example, “Oh my goodness!” she exclaimed suddenly. If it’s clear who is talking, it would be cleaner to simply write, “Oh my goodness!” Also, a usual rule of thumb is to avoid using adverbs with your tag.

One final point is to not underestimate the importance of dialogue in children’s books. Quite often we only think of dialogue for fiction. However, good dialogue can make non-fiction come alive and, even in a very short children’s book, it can make the reading of a book a lot more fun for the children.

If you have any questions about dialogue or would like to participate in a dialogue writing workshop (via zoom), please do not hesitate to contact me.

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Natalia Hooker is the founder of Alaya Books. With over 20 years’ experience in publishing, she is a professional editor, writing coach, publishing consultant and publisher. Whatever stage your book is at, Alaya Books will help make your book a reality. Visit www.alayabooks.com.

Natalia is the author of many books including the biography, LJ Hooker The Man, and The Misha the Travelling Puppy children’s series.

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.  Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keeping and The Graveside Detective.  Her short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous.  Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world.  You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.

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