Mark Kamibaya

I’m actually making a blog too, @kate-flournoy , mainly to give me practice in writing and sharing my work regularly. My blog is mostly for non-fiction though, articles and snippets of stuff, but I also hope to use it to build my platform. (I’m not overly concerned with that at this point though. I’m just focused on developing my writing…[Read more]

@That_Writer_Girl_99 thank you. That means a lot. 😉

@Overcomer I know! I’ve missed you. 🙂
That sounds like a great book, and that is an excellent thought. I have a grand total of two colleagues (@Daeus @Hope) but we have strengths and weaknesses that balance each other out, so we can all learn from each other and teach each other in different ways. You’re right; those partnerships are crucial.
A…[Read more]

Hey, @kate-flournoy ! It’s been a while. 🙂

I was just rereading a book (I highly recommend, especially for new or struggling writers) called “Writer…Uninterrupted,” and it asked that I make a list of people who were on my writing “team,” like “List the one teammate you would call when you are in trouble on your quest.” I realized that I…[Read more]

@emily-d Let’s see. fantasynamegnerators.com is one of my favourite resources. I noticed a few people said their brain, and I agree, but I’m also going to add my friends’ brains. 😛 Nothing helps me more than brainstorming and picking the brain of my alpha-alpha-reader. 😀

@Daeus thank you. Good thoughtful answer. Believe it or not I actually hadn’t thought about it one way or the other; doing long term or not, but now that I have, it’s a definite yes. I never really set my heart to do anything unless I’m going to do it long term anyway. 😉 If it was just for promoting myself— yep, website. But since I feel like I…[Read more]

@bethanysinkyroses That’s awesome–are there any specific books that come in mind that changed you that you’re open to sharing?

@bethanysinkyroses Fantastic. As much as I do love hitting people with peppermint sticks, an alternate approach seems wiser. 😉

@kate-flournoy If getting a good mentor is possible, I’d definitely seize on the opportunity. Like @his-instrument, I downplayed the importance for a while. Then I found one. And while I currently only have one on the publishing/marketing/business end of things, it’s insanely helpful and is going to help me avoid a lot of pitfalls. If I could find…[Read more]

@epicaddie2 Halt’s glaring at me? Uh oh. Please, can you disarm him?

@kate-flournoy All in all, I like it.

I was thinking for a while if it would be better for you to not have a blog and have an email list only, but after reflecting on it, I don’t think that would be best. That is, as long as you plan to blog for a while. Is blogging something you see yourself doing for many years to come, or are you mainly…[Read more]

@Daeus how dare you shove your superior experience off on me!

No, you’re right. I guess I wouldn’t go so far as to say I haven’t done any planning— I have a basic idea of what I want. The blog actually serves two purposes for now (or once I get it running). The first is to help other writers by sharing what I learn. The second is to promote my…[Read more]

@kate-flournoy Sure. I only have one rule. Don’t pick apart my brain.

And actually, if you don’t mind me saying so, I wouldn’t start your blog and then come up with your plan for building your platform. I would come up with your plan first and then (if it’s the right thing to do) start a blog.

Thanks @Emily @Shannon. 🙂
And actually it wasn’t too hard… it didn’t involve any real ‘blowing’ which was kinda disappointing, but maybe that’s just the advanced techniques. 😉 It was sort of just like playing with modeling clay.
10,000+ degree modeling clay. 😛 Over a torch that could probably singe your eyebrows off from five feet away if you…[Read more]

@Daeus yep. Been thinkin’ about it for two years.
One word— school. *headdesk* I’m technically done, but there was extracurricular work that I didn’t know about, so I’m racing to finish that up and then HOPEFULLY I can actually get started with platform stuff. 😛 I’ll be beginning with a blog… and once I’ve got that relatively stable…[Read more]

@kate-flournoy *cackle* *cackle* Yes. Indie is good. Have you thought about starting a platform anytime soon?

@epicaddie2 I’ll pray for you.

@Dragon-Snapper *sniffs* Music used to be one of mine too, actually. Until I got a hearing problem that made it so I can’t wear earphones. *weeps pathetically* I’d use it both for inspiration and to drown out the noise around me (our house has an entirely open floorplan so there’s not a whole lot of quiet ;P) but blasting it loud enough without…[Read more]

@His-Instrument @Daeus @Dragon-Snapper thanks, guys. You people are the best.

I definitely agree with you about being cynical of most authors out there, Daeus. If I did seek out a mentor, it would be for the marketing/publishing side of things, even though I’m going indy.
Honestly, I feel like I can learn just as much about actual writing…[Read more]