Tuesday Tumbling Term ~ Tribe

It's been a while sense I've done one of these.The word for today is Tribes.

tribe
trīb/
noun
noun: tribe; plural noun: tribes
    1.  a social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, with a common culture and dialect, typically having a recognized leader.

We form all kinds of tribes during living our lives. We work. Places we live.  We have varying interests, religions, political alinements and play.The sense of belonging is an innate need in humans. For example, I belong to several tribes of people who mesh with my life: Christians, ministers, writers/authors, business women, homesteaders/survivalist, chefs/cooking, knitters, spinners, stamp collector, stroke survivors...yada yada yada. The list could go on forever for me. I rarely meet a subject that I don't want more information on or support. By support, I mean support as a two way street give and get.

Of course, I'm talking about communities. For the past two years, since my stroke, stroke survivors have been a major "belonging" tribe for me. Everyone's lost may be different because it depends on the location of the brain affected but the sense of loss, frustrations, achievements, and sometimes anger are all being vented to somebody whose walked in your shoes. That's a major perk of the internet. I can reach across the globe, if necessary.

With writers/authors, it has and always will be Compuserve's Books and Author's Forum. I've been a member for over twenty years. With stroke survivors, it's a small group of new friends who blog and keep tabs on each other in email like Barb, Dean, Amy, and John to name a few. With spinning and knitting, there's Raverly.

Facebook, twitter, Google+ to name a few are great for meeting people and just general stuff but is that really a community? Yes, you add friends and delete friends, touch bases with family and friends but what if your need is specific? Tribes are the way to go.That's where the real help and support are. That's just online. 

I do have real face-to-face contacts also. There's nothing like speaking/emailing to someone that's there or has been there/done that. "Oh my goodness! You actually meet people face-to-face?! Yep, I do. I don't discount the power of actually looking into someone's eyes and physically touching another soul. I have local groups for writers (some very well known), stroke survivors, and even fiber artists. We get together as often as we can.

They are my tribe...I think I'll keep them.

Keep writing and loving the Lord

Tuesday Tumbling Term ~ Challenge

Today's word is challenge. All writers face challenges while researching, writing, and publishing their books.

 chal·lenge
noun
1. a call or summons to engage in any contest, as of skill, strength, etc.
2. something that by its nature or character serves as a call to battle, contest, special effort, etc.: Space exploration offers a challenge to humankind.
3. a call to fight, as a battle, a duel, etc.
4. a demand to explain, justify, etc.: a challenge to the treasurer to itemize expenditures.
5. difficulty in a job or undertaking that is stimulating to one engaged in it.

 Many have taken up the gauntlet where it's been thrown to the ground. To play Don Quixote tilting at windmills seeing dragons where none are. Sometimes that's what it feels like to be a writer, a wanna-be knight.

As writers, we tilt with writing through self doubts. We break our lances on grammar and syntax trying to get it right. We push through the sulfur smelling stench of dragon's breath to find and agent or publisher who will ask for entire manuscripts, possibly accept them, and pay us. We write in speculation that someone out there will like what we wrote and the way we wrote it. All the time charging forward at the windmill.

A writer's life is not easy. It is full of pitfalls, rejections, and challenges. It's a call to battle, a contest of millions that have written words on paper. Sacrifices made gladly hoping for a fulfilled dream. You could insert any challenge into the spot. But this blog is for writers and wanna-be authors in this world including this one.

Being an indie author is a harder challenge, in my opinion. It's a choice to dabble in every aspect of publishing, as well as writing. To researching new ways to advertise your product in a way it stands out among the competition. To learn or outsource things you don't know like formatting, cover art, and editing. Knowing how to manage your time and money wisely.

I read recently to be an expert at anything you have to put 10,000 hours into it. Based on a 40-hour a week work week that's roughly 4.8 years. Hmm, interesting. I'm an expert in a dozen fields or more including writing which I've done for over thirty. Do I feel like an expert? Nope. I still find new challenges within writing to keep me learning so how can I be an expert?

What does it take to take up a challenge like writing? Patience, skill, talent, creativity, and sometimes, just dumb luck. Know the odds and ignore them.Tilt at windmills and slay dragons. Take the challenge to heart and soul, and let no one dissuaded you.

Keep writing and loving the Lord.

Tuesday Tumbling Term~ Statistical Analytics

Today's terms are are statistics and analytics.
sta·tis·tics
noun
1. ( used with a singular verb  ) the science that deals with the collection, classification, analysis, and interpretation of numerical facts or data, and that, by use of mathematical theories of probability, imposes order and regularity on aggregates of more or less disparate elements.
2. ( used with a plural verb  ) the numerical facts or data themselves.

an·a·lyt·ics
noun, ( used with a singular verb  ) Logic. the science of logical analysis.

As an indie author or traditional author, why should you care about the numbers. They are just number, right?

Correct, they are just numbers, but they say a lot when you are trying to measure your success or failure. It's all about accountability. Being able to show results and that means numbers. What was more successful than others and what not to do again. That's how I determined my blogging format for this year by looking at the numbers- which blogs had the most hits and misses.

Many sites offer analytics (the analysis of the numbers) to help the nonmathematician break down the numbers for you. Here on Blogspot is one of the best I've seen, but Facebook has it also. They break it down into numbers and graphs. Some of us are visually gifted, so the graphs gives us instant snapshots of what's happening.

Me, I'm used to looking at the numbers and gauging success or failure. I've got a sheepskin that tells all that I am. But the average writer does not have twenty math courses and some special knowledge of statistics. They spent their money more wisely on English courses to hone their craft.

I actually did both because being able to write correctly was important in business, but I was already a writer by then. I was even teaching English as a second language courses.

To be able to express the success, you have to understand the numbers. I'll use my Blogspot account as an example. For every given post, it gives me how many unique views I've had. For example, my most successful blog was November 28, 2012 with 811 hits. So platform building is a definite winner. The whole "Wednesday Writerly Way" series is succeeding. Next in the numbers is my "Sunday Stroke Survival" blogs. They are definite keepers. Least hits are the "Friday Fun," but it's still new. Once you can see the numbers, the decision is not hard on what's working and what's not.

Now expanding on the premise of statistical analytics, it's a platform growth chart. You can see where your audience is from. I've watched this blog grow from three hits  to over three hundred hits per day and climbing. These numbers are small in comparison to other authors, but not too shoddy for one blog out of millions that could be read. I'm happy about the numbers and looking forward to more growth. It's a far cry from 1,000+ hits per day, but I'm a wild card. I'm just another indie author trying to find a niche in the market. Take a look at the track record. This blog was started in December of 2010.

Without growth of new readers, this would be the death of this author. It is measurable over time. I find the more I talk about the craft behind writing and sales, the greater my sales become. By talking about my stroke and how I'm writing now, the larger my audience and readership grows both in this blog and generation of book sales.

An agent or publisher will want to know these number to exponentially promote your manuscript. That's why platforms are so important. It equals cash. So if you haven't checked your stats for your blog yet do so.

Hope this helps you understand the importance of statistical analytics.

Keep writing and loving the Lord.

Tuesday Tumbling Term~ Independence

If you look real close at the image to the left you will notice in the word "Tumbling" there is a shadow. It was done intentionally, not sloppiness on my part in graphic design. It denotes movement... trembling tumble as it were.

The word for today is...independence.

in·de·pend·ence
[in-di-pen-duh ns]
noun
1. Also, independency. the state or quality of being independent.
2. freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others.
3. Archaic. a competency.

Independence is important to many writers today. Especially, important for the indie author. They are free from constraints such as deadlines, influences of what they should write and when, waiting on rejections from agents and publishers, and have freedom to just write at their own schedule.

I speak from experience on this because I have been both traditional published and now, an indie author. I stopped writing for traditional publishing houses almost fifteen years ago.

My husband had two heart attacks and a stroke inside of six months, and then was diagnosed with cancer. The heart attacks and stroke were symptoms of his cancer. I gave up everything I knew...a corporate job in my own company and traditional publishing because it was more important to be here with him instead of traveling hither and yon to work. Over the next few years, I lost all identity of me separate from my husband or my elderly in-laws who I cared  for also, and my independence in focusing all my attention to their care.

My DH (darling hubby) spent 200 out 365 days in one year hospitalized that first year. 150 out of 365 days in the hospital for the next two years, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with heart failure and eventually died leaving my father-in-law's total on me. Time sure flies when you are busy with everyone else.

My DH stabilized although still listed as terminal, so I began writing again after almost a decade of being absent, and I was met with, "Jo who?" That was quickly followed by, "You have written what?" I had changed from writing nonfiction to fiction. My agents (both of them) did not represent fiction authors unless they had a proven record in writing fiction. No, I still couldn't travel for several weeks at a stretch to market or teach classes because I still had to care for my husband.

While my agents would gladly review anything nonfiction I had to offer-- at the thought of my writing fiction, I'd be back at the beginning starting over. How easily people are forgotten in this line of work. It's the proverbial question of what have you done for me lately raised its ugly head.

I was searching for my own independence. Trying to regain my own identity of who Jo Murphey was and I wanted to write fiction. Was that so wrong? I didn't think so. I made the slush piles or rejections for three more years before I decided to become an indie author.

Today, I still can't do more than overnight trips because of my husband, but I'm still an author and a published one at that. My appearances are few, but I have a virtual following. My schedule is my own. Write or not write is my decision also. I control my purse strings. I aid who I like and when. I definitely influence others judging by the emails I receive.

I am Jo Murphey an independent author, and glad for the opportunity.
On a personal note, today was my mother's birthday. Happy birthday, Momma. I love you and miss you.
Happy New Year to one and all. May 2013 be a better year.

So are you struggling with your independence?

Keep writing and loving the Lord.

Tuesday Tumbling Terms~ Steps

It's Tuesday again so it's time for tumbling terms. Todays word is step.

step  (stp)
 n.

1.a. The single complete movement of raising one foot and putting it down in another spot, as in walking.

b. A manner of walking; a particular gait.

*c. A fixed rhythm or pace, as in marching: keep step.

d. The sound of a footstep.

e. A footprint: steps in the mud.

 

2.a. The distance traversed by moving one foot ahead of the other.

b. A very short distance: just a step away.

*c. steps Course; path: turned her steps toward home.

 

3. One of a series of rhythmical, patterned movements of the feet used in a dance: diagrammed the basic steps to the mambo.

 

4.a. A rest for the foot in ascending or descending.

b. steps Stairs.

c. Something, such as a ledge or an offset, that resembles a step of a stairway.

 

5.a. One of a series of actions, processes, or measures taken to achieve a goal.

b. A stage in a process: followed every step in the instructions.

 

6. A degree in progress or a grade or rank in a scale: a step up in the corporate hierarchy.

On Wednesdays I write about various subjects important to writers. The subjects vary between kernels, marketing, indie publishing, standard publishing, editing and various other subjects. Tomorrow I will be revisiting building a platform. I talk about the steps in building a platform or audience of readers.

As a writer you follow certain steps in the process of writing. As Bob Mayer, another author, is fond of saying, "You have to know the rules to break them."

Bad grammar and misspelling words is not one of the rules you can't break. I've bold the definitions above which are important to the writer. But everything in anything you do requires steps that have to be followed. You have to learn balance before you can walk. You have to learn how to walk before you can run.

As a writer, you start with a kernel of an idea. Think of an ear of corn, it takes a lot of kernels to make up one ear of corn. The same is true of writing. This one kernel is the basic idea for the story. Most often it is a what-if scenario. Each step is another kernel of corn.

So many of the emails I received about the platform blog was basically a give-me-a-faster-route to building a platform. There just isn't any. By learning the basic steps, you gain the knowledge and expertise you need to succeed. Of course, you can pick and choose, delete options and you might arrive one minute sooner like on the map. The dangers of missing steps can be disastrous or simply ineffective.

For example, this blog started out a year and a half ago with two followers. The followers were members of one of my writers' group. We all started blogging with small readerships. One fast tracked by joining with a blog following spree and jumped to several hundred followers  and continued to grow, but the quality of followers was mostly writers, not readers. I blogged sporadically; mainly to publicize my own works, and to other writers.

All that changed a year ago. I started getting people who read my books, followed my blog through various sites I advertised my blog on, and in my books. So although my blog/website changed, I grew into a better understanding of who my audience really was...people who wanted to know about me. What I write, how I write, market, and publish is all about me. This blog is all about me and the school of hard knocks that brought me to this point where I am in my life. It was another forward step. Now, I still have fewer followers but more page views. Which is better? Page views equal exposure so my track record looks better.

If I started writing this blog for readers and I haven't self published yet who would my followers be? Now, I've taken another step and expanded my audience even farther by adding my Sunday Stroke Survival. Yes, it's advertising for an upcoming book, but it's about my life as a stroke survivor and a writer. I'm taking the visitor on a journey how my stroke has changed my life and my writing. It's a story about recovery and the steps it's taking to recover.


Every journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.  Is a relatively famous quote. The original saying was coined by a Chinese philosopher, but it has changed to this term in recent years. It still holds true today. The journey is the accomplishment. The steps you take on that journey are just as important as getting there.

So what step are you on in your journey?

Keep writing and loving the Lord.

Tuesday Tumbling Terms and the Indie Author

It's Tuesday so it must be the Tuesday Tumbling Terms. < Quick look at my clock> Yes, it's Tuesday. <Whew!> These days I'd forget my head if it wasn't attached.

Now for the word of the day is...

per·se·ver·ance
[pur-suh-veer-uh ns]
noun
1. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.
2. Theology . continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.

Now while two definitions are given here I could change the second definition to fit this blog by changing a few words to read- 2. Continuance through turmoil to the end, leading to publication.

You can twist anything by changing a word or two in any definition.But in reality, it's the first definition that applies to writers. We write a book and submit to agents who will attempt to sell the manuscript, that's if the agent is interested. The agent could say "no thanks" at any time unless you are under contract. The legalese may mention a termination date for the contract. Most agents will not represent you unless they feel strongly about selling your book. They get no money if it doesn't sell, so they are in it with you. They DO earn their fee. Can an agent carry you under contract without selling your manuscript? Yep, they can and no, they don't like it anymore than you do.

Many would-be authors dream,or start a book but never complete it. So many authors do not edit thoroughly. This is probably the most daunting task next to finding an agent or publisher facing authors. Many give up the hope of publishing after a few rejections. It takes perseverance in spite of all of this.

Even if you did like I did and become an indie author, it still takes perseverance to market day in and day out to eek out a living writing. It still takes the effort to finish a manuscript. It still takes strong editing skills. It still takes everything you need to be standardly published and more.

I often talk about the hats I wear and they are many as an indie published author. I am the writer, the editor, the formater, the proofreader, the cover designer, the layout exec, the marketer, the public relations firm, and mother/wife/grandmother/pastor. It isn't easy, but I do it by choice.

If you decide to follow in my footsteps, be forewarned. There is nothing to stop you except you yourself. There is also a no greater reward for a job well done.

Do you have perseverance or have what it takes to persevere?

Keep writing and loving the Lord.

Tuesday Tumbling Term

re·view  (r-vy)
v. re·viewed, re·view·ing, re·views
v.tr.
1. To look over, study, or examine again.
2. To consider retrospectively; look back on.
3. To examine with an eye to criticism or correction: reviewed the research findings.
4. To write or give a critical report on (a new work or performance, for example).
5. Law To reexamine (an action or determination) judicially, especially in a higher court, in order to correct possible errors.
6. To subject to a formal inspection, especially a military inspection.
v.intr.
7. Law A judicial reexamination, especially by a higher court, of an action or determination.
8. A musical show consisting of often satirical skits, songs, and dances; a revue.

Now as a writer and author, we are mostly concerned with 1-4 definitions of this word.

Which is better no review or a bad review? We all want reviewer to say wonderful things about our baby, don't we? Any review is free publicity, right? Wrong. But what if it isn't good? I've been an indie author for almost two years now and I can say, to me, a bad review is worse sometimes. As my momma used to say, "Opinions are like a$$hole. Everyone has one."  Some things to think about when leaving a review or comment...

 

The Reviewer
While most people are hesitant about writing a review of any kind, they are not opposed to reading them. People tend to look at stars or symbols when choosing books. Personally, I tend to read the reviews, and then review the reviewer. If they consistently write bad reviews, then why are they reviewing in the first place? What it boils down to is attention. What does it say about someone who leaves consistent bad reviews...they have a really sad life when they have to cut someone down to feel better.

If the reviewer has given a mixture of review, I tend to pay more attention. They know their own mind and they are a fair judge of what is right. So in short, grade the reviewer or source.

What Does It All Mean
So what do bad reviews say about you as a writer? Possibly nothing and possibly everything. If the review is about formatting, you may want to redo it. If the review focuses on what is wrong with the book, they probably do it consistently. So take these with a grain of salt and consider the source.

If they are known for balanced in their reviews. I'll consider these more heavily weighted reviews than those that are not. If they say it's bad then it probably is and needs more editing.

My Way
I prefer the tempered approach of reviewing that isn't always given. I learned this method with customer service auditing. Everything is not all bad nor all good. Everything has strong and weak points. For example, if the story is good but the grammar is bad, then I'll say so. By the same token, God forbid, the story is bad and the grammar is excellent my review will be balanced. Although that's the main reason I read is for the story. Now if is totally stinky, I won't review it. Personally, I hate the star rating system. It's too confining and an easy out for laziness.

I always make a point of writing a review of what I read, that's just me. I don't expect everyone to have this standard. Though, it would be nice from a writer's stand point. It's an affirmation and acknowledgement of someone's effort. If writing was easy everyone would do it. Some writers slave at their writing for decades before they publish, or at least a couple months of sweat and furrowed brow to produce a book. Comments would be nice, but the fact is many don't. From over 1,000 book sales I might receive 1 review. So if everyone goes by my standard, my novels must be really stinky or only read by non-reviewers.

So what do you think of reviews and reviewers?

Keep writing and loving the Lord.

Word Power Wednesdays & the Indie Author

Gumption-
   [guhmp-shuhn]

1. initiative; aggressiveness; resourcefulness:
 2. courage; spunk; guts:
3. common sense; shrewdness.

I remember the first time I heard this word used by my grandmother although the way she said it meant audacity. Now being a grown-up (sometimes) and a grandmother, I found myself using this word yesterday with my own grandchild so I decided to look it up.

Gumption is something every author needs, not just indie authors. It pretty well sums up the indie spirit. It takes initiative and guts to go out and put your neck in the noose for everyone to see. It takes common sense and resourcefulness to market your books. It plain takes courage up to the eyeballs to accept criticism from total strangers in the form of bad reviews, emails, and assorted other things.

I have done little marketing since the first of the year and my last royalty check was meager, $22 from Amazon which is by far my biggest money maker. Sad, but life has a way of interfering with my writing life since I can't divide myself as Michael Keaton did in "Multiplicity." But still  common sense, reigns supreme. It is with shrewd intuition that I listen to my body and sometimes just stop to smell the flowers.

Which brings me to another point. Two years ago, my husband and I were walking through Wal-Mart. We ran across a rose bush which had seen better days. In fact it was discounted down to a couple dollars. I looked at the tag and told him I'd take it. He argued with me. He said he'd buy me a healthy rose bush to add to my rose garden. I won.

I brought my poor rose home. I took it out of the pot, dug a hole, filled it with manure. I watered the rose bush in, clipped all the dead branches off, and waited. A few months later there was a small bud of a rose on the green stem. I continued to cluck over it. The bloom opened to the size of a salad plate. A beautiful tangerine colored rose, just the one for that month. The next month there were five buds. This year, this raggedy bush that we bought two years ago, shot out two inch canes with twenty buds so far. It stands almost six-foot tall with new growth.

My husband is lost for words when he looks at it.. I brought in the tag which was on the rose when we bought it, it is called "Faith." So as a writer, think. With enough manure, time, faith, and skill what can be produced. Now that's what I call having gumption!

Keep writing and loving the Lord.

Word Power Wednesday on Tuesday & the Indie Author

Yes, I know it's onlyTuesday, but tomorrow I have an interview with Angel Haze scheduled so stop back on by for that too.

Yes sir-e-bob, it's that time again. Time to play Word Power Wednesday.

The word for today is...

win·ner
 
noun
1. a person or thing that wins;  victor.

Now whether you are a multi-published author, or a best selling author, or a regular Jo like me who stumbles along with gaining infamy, or a wanna-be...you are a winner!

I know at times it is hard to realize this fact in most of our lives. We wake up this morning, do our regular Wednesday morning rituals, and go on with our day. But as an author it's doubly hard to feel like a winner...especially if you are an indie author.

Many indie authors look at their sales daily...a huge mistake. Nothing will defeat and depress you more than your sales numbers going nowhere. I know I've been there and still there from time to time. I no longer look at sales figures daily. It's once a month tops when I download my sales worksheet from Kindle. It's an accounting thing for me. I like to know where I stand on a monthly basis.

Some food for thought on how Indie authors and standard published ones are WINNERS...

• You are writing!
• You finished your novel or nonfiction!
• You edited or had your novel or nonfiction edited!
• You published your novel or nonfiction!
• You may sell one copy or several thousands with an indefinite shelf life!
• You may or may not be writing another one or two or three!

These are MAJOR accomplishments in themselves. That makes you a winner over everyone else who tried and failed or just dreams of being a writer.

Here's are some more things that makes you a winner...

• You are creative.
• You are being proactive. (this word is for another blog)
• You are selling your masterpieces even if you do not feel that your first adventure into self-publishing is a success.
• You write weekly if not everyday.
• You have learned you are not alone.
• You have conquered your fears and taken a step forward.

• You have outlined, character sketched, plotted and written YOUR story to the best of your ability.

So how do you feel now?
This is for all those authors and wanna-be authors out there.We, including this one, will get there. We ARE WINNERS!

 

 Keep writing and loving the Lord.

Word Power Wednesday

As you followers can probably tell, I'm trying a lot of new things with this blog. For one, I'm blogging daily, at least for a while until life gets in my way again.

I've also created themes for the days of the week using the first letter of the weekday and converting it to something writerly. Writerly, is that a word? I'm not sure. I'll have to look it up.

Some of you may know that English is not my first language. It is actually my third, but I have lived here, in the US, consistently for almost forty years so it has basically become my primary language. I still get confused with all the there & theirs out there. (Whew, a minor tongue twister) There are a huge host of words in the English language most foreigners stumble on or with.

What words can do...

They can make you smile...

They can make you cry...

They can make you angry...

They can make you sad...

They can make you happy...
They can cause hate...

They can cause love...

They can scare you...
They can give you hope...

Just to name a few. Words can make you run the gambit of human emotions. As an average Joe, words should be used with caution.

My momma always said, "Be careful what you put in your mouth and what comes out." She was right. Once a word is spoken, it is out there and you can never take it back. No matter how much you apologize...it is there in the hearer's mind forever.

Kind of like the internet. I yahoo'ed/googled myself this morning and found an old website I had a decade ago. No, I no longer carry this website, but there it is. All my blogs, my books, news articles where my name was mentioned, what I've done, college awards and recognitions are there for all eternity.

One of grandsons posted something on Facebook. It was highly inappropriate. First he's too young to have a Facebook page and the comment was one he thought was funny except it offended friends I have there. After Grandma threatened him with a bar of soap to clean up his filthy mouth, he posted an apology. But did it change the fact that he'd done it? No. All my 200+ friends saw it. To make matters worse all those who commented on it also had it on their pages for their umpteen zillion friends to see. The internet can be a dangerous place. If you think no one will know it's you...wrong! There is always a way of finding such information.

As authors, we use words to paint pictures in the mind of the readers. They have power. Strive to increase your power every day. In my downtime, (OMG, she has downtime?) I will play word games online. I subscribe to word of the day type sites. I use a thesaurus when I write. I do dislike overuse of words. I find it extremely irritating making me yell at the author to find another word already. I'll do this with comments on those I edit...Find another word. Another sticking point is words which you show off your word power and make the reader pull out a dictionary.

So in your arsenal of word power enrichment, you need a good dictionary and thesaurus. These are the two most important tools an author needs. Even if you use the online versions of these books, it has the same result...better word power.