NatalieMarie

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]

@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]

@kate-flournoy First of all, I can’t imagine why you would have to have a mentor to succeed. Methinks there have been plenty of authors who have succeeded without mentors. Here are my other thoughts.

1. You don’t need one on one training. You can learn everything you ever need to know from courses, forums, group mentoring, etc, etc.

2. There is…[Read more]

@Emily-D my brain… 😛
*coughs* What, that’s not what you meant? *grins* In all honesty, I think I must’ve short-changed myself when it comes to tools besides my imagination because now that you asked (and ruled out KP) I can’t think of a single one I depend on regularly. Besides ones I’ve invented and they’re more like theories than tools. So……[Read more]

@emily-d

On the same line, if you have a mac, right-clicking on a word and then selecting “look up ‘word'” will bring up a dictionary, thesaurus, and short Wikipedia description of that word. It’s super helpful. If you have a laptop, it’s even easier. Simply hover the mouse over a word and then tap the trackpad with three fingers.

I love macs. 😀