writing – Page 2 – Success Strategies

Readers’ Favorite Summertime Reading Spots

Reading Space

Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.
Lemony Snicket

Reading, reading, reading. It grows the mind, expands thinking, develops insights and helps us think differently. Goodreads asked The question “what’s your favorite summertime reading spot?” Readers chimed in excitedly. Here I share:

Of Books, Places and Reading

Sea front
Patio
On the beach
In a tent while it rains
Outdoors while listening to the birds
Under the big oak tree
At the summerhouse
Coffee house
RV while camping across provinces
On a balcony
Sneak away for an hour in my car
On a boat on a lake
On a chair by the pond
While driving – audiobooks
Airplane
Hammock
Pool
Beach
Picnic blanket
Bed
Nook

Wow, what a list! Yet there’s more. Where is your favorite place? Do share. We would love to hear.

Happy Reading!

Develop Your Brand: A Blueprint For New Authors

Your personal brand is a promise to your clients… a promise of quality, consistency, competency, and reliability.
Tim Ferriss

Many are the desires of the first-time author. Writing is the biggest. Often new authors find it overwhelming to write and see the manuscript to the end. When they do, the next step is often forgotten. Suddenly an author becomes and an entrepreneur – one in which they didn’t anticipate. Developing the book’s brand… yikes!

It’s important to the book’s success and target audience awareness. Essentially, building an author brand is very important because a strong brand helps you stand out, attract readers, and build a loyal fanbase. Here are six (6) steps to get you started:

Build Your New Author Brand

Understand your Brand
- How do you distinguish yourself in the literary world?
Discover your Brand’s Identity
- Reflect: Who are you as an author?
- Who is your ideal Reader?
- USP: What sets you apart?
Create your author persona
- Define your writing style, tone tc
- Design consistent visual identity
- Create author Bio to showcase achievements, background, writing journey
Build your online Presence
- Create author website to showcase books and engage with Readers
- Choose social media platform where target audience hangout
Engage your Audience
- Develop content calendar
- Engage with Readers
- Connect with fellow authors
Launch Book and Grow Brand
- Create buzz and Lunch or Re-Launch your book
- Collaborate to expand
- Keep learning. Keep writing.
- Be flexible and adaptable

There you have it. What has been your experience with the writing process? Do share. We would love to hear.

If you feel overwhelmed, let’s connect.

Not Perfect But…

Don’t be afraid to try

Not perfect but still doing it. Dr. Charles Stanley said it.

Pastor Steven furtick said it about being in his youth and starting a new church with his wife.

Reggae Music Miss Pat Chin said it too. She said when she started entrepreneurship she didn’t know what she was doing. Young. Niaive but she tried big things not realizing they were too big for a new entrepreneur.

Guess what? It worked! Because she didn’t know. She tried, did it and yep success!

Dr Suess’s idea was different. Novel. Untried by others so his manuscript was rejected by many publishers. Then he met a friend who had just received a promotion to of all things… a publisher! The right place. The right time. The dots connected. Today Dr Seuss is a household name worldwide.

So don’t be afraid to try new crazy things! Things untried by others …because … it just might work.

Cheers!

Four Stages Of Elimination In Life…

Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.
John Lennon

Alvin Foo in a LinkedIn post shared his view of the different stages of life. Here is his thought-provoking view. Is it a reality check or a paralysis digger? Hmm, read and decide.

Four Stages of Elimination in Life

At 60, the workplace eliminates you. No matter how successful or powerful you were during your career, you’ll return to being an ordinary person. So, don’t cling to the mindset and sense of superiority from your past job, let go of your ego, or you might lose your sense of ease!

At 70, society gradually eliminates you. The friends and colleagues you used to meet and socialize with become fewer, and hardly anyone recognizes you at your former workplace. Don’t say, “I used to be…” or “I was once…” because the younger generation won’t know you, and you mustn’t feel uncomfortable about it!

At 80, family slowly eliminates you. Even if you have many children and grandchildren, most of the time you’ll be living with your spouse or by yourself. When your children visit occasionally, it’s an expression of affection, so don’t blame them for coming less often, as they’re busy with their own lives!

At 90, the Earth wants to eliminate you. Some of the people you knew have already departed forever. At this point, don’t be sad or mournful, because this is the way of life, and everyone will eventually follow this path!

Therefore, while our bodies are still capable, live life to the fullest! Eat what you want, drink what you desire, play and do the things you love.

Remember, the only thing that won’t eliminate you is the your current families and friends. So, meet more, communicate more, say a hello, maintain your presence, be happy, and have no regrets!

Do you agree with his view of life? Did it put you in a state of melancholy, reflection or glee? Do share, we would love to hear.

Cheers!

When You Don’t Know What To Say…

When you don’t know what to say, listen to your heart.
José Micard Teixeira

“When you get tired of something, don’t sweep it out of your life without first understanding why you attracted it, otherwise you can be sure that it will return, even if it is in another form or in another context. When you stop feeling in love with someone, allow them to leave without thinking that a part of you leaves with them. In fact, nothing leaves. What leaves is only what came, now with more knowledge about who it was while it stayed here. When you feel disrespected, take back the power you gave that person over your life. Do not allow disrespect to turn to indifference and find yourself deposed from the place that was rightfully or lovingly yours in the beginning. When you feel uncomfortable somewhere, leave. All the moments you remain there will only contribute to bringing you even more suffering. Leave and if you have nowhere else to go, leave anyway, because at that moment no place is worse than this one for you. When you can’t say what you want to say, write it down. What is written speaks louder and remains longer in time. When you don’t know what to say, listen to your heart. Everything you need to know has always been there waiting for you. And when you think you have nothing to do, look at yourself and see yourself once more. It may be that this time you will understand everything you have forgotten to.”

~ José Micard Teixeira Excerpt from book “Between Many Truths and Some Secrets”

2023 South Florida Writers Of Color Online Literary Magazine

A collection of poems, writings and gleanings from South Florida Writers of Color.

south-florida-writers-of-color-magazine-2023 Download

By Dr. Ralph Hogges

We Are The Others

By Dr. Ralph Hogges

Not only are the Powerful controlling and dictating the

Denials and Rejections of our quest for Freedom and Justice,

But are also adamantly opposed to Diversity, Unity, Inclusion and Equality.

Now is the Time.

This is our Moment,

For us, United, Organized, Energized and Mobilized,

To Confront and Defeat

Those who use their Power to Control and Dictate our Lives.

Let us remember the Biblical moment in the Bible wherein David stepped up and challenged the seemingly all powerful and invincible Philistine giant Goliath. There were those present who teased David and underestimated his courage and ability to defeat this giant that they all feared.

David was not a soldier.

He had no training in military weaponry.

He was not a boxer or wrestler.

He had neither a gun nor a sword.

He had only a sling and 5 stones.

Goliath had his armor and javelin.

As the battle of David and Goliath began,

David stepped up with Faith in the Power of God, and with a stone in his sling, he hurled it mightily to the center of Goliath’s head. Goliath fell to the ground, dead.

The Last Time I Cried

By Dr. Susan Lycett Davis

The last time I cried

It wasn’t this painful at all

The last time I cried

I sure wasn’t left folded in a ball!

But… Today I cried and it penetrated my soul

As the knee infiltrated the throat in the Fol’

… cause I mustered the courage to watch the tape

All sense of wonder and disbelief left me agape.

The thoughts that went through my head, where not Christian at all

So I feel for the masses who have no hope on which to fall.

Vengeance is mine says the Lord

But Father… I question real hard!

What about humanity, liberty and justice for all

Why are my black brothers taking he fall

People are people, good, bad or indifferent indeed

All genders, all colors, we are all from one ‘seed.’

Today I cried… no, I bawled for George Floyd,

And the ‘81 Black Men And Boys Killed By Police’, Lord!

For Trayvon, Ahmaud and others killed by racists beasts

For mother’s whose heart strings are torn in disbelief!

Black lives matter, All Lives matter

The pain is making me tatter.

Lord I know you are here… so hear my shout!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH… WE’RE ALL CRIED OUT!!

The last time I cried

It wasn’t this painful at all

I’m trusting you Lord to bring vengeance fi true

‘Cause Comeuppance is well overdue!

Writers Abandoned Manuscripts: Suzanne Bennett’s 7 Ideas For What To Do With Them…

Writers always produce more than they share with readers. Even bestseller authors have abandoned manuscripts. This article will give you some ideas on what to do with them.
Writers Write

Loved these Writers Write tips for those who write and have manuscripts that just can’t get done. Suzzanne Bennett shares 7 Ideas of what to do with abandoned writings. Here I share my favorite 3.

Create a space. Call it ‘graveyard,’ ‘slush pile,’ or ‘bits n bobs
Salvage the Wreck. The ‘To Salvage’ file contains revamped manuscripts that you still consider terrible, but where you hope to find a few nuggets of gold.
Revisit your Graveyard in times of need. Whenever you need inspiration, go to your pile of manuscripts, and start reading. You might just find a darling that once was ‘killed’

These were my favorites. Do you have abandoned writers? What can you do with them? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

The ‘Very’Alternative For Those Who Write …

Success Strategies

Style means the right word. The rest matters little.”
—Jules Renard

Remarkable resource shared in an Authors’ forum. Great ‘very‘ alternative for those who write.

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Need Inspiration To Write? Writers Share 23 Ways…

Success Strategies

Where does a writer derive the inspiration to write?

That was the question a new writer asked on a public forum. Here I share as experienced veteran writers excitedly chimed in.

Writers Inspiration

The desire to be heard
From within
Life experiences
Prayer
Observations and creativity
From being disciplined
Desire to entertain. Seen housands of movies and read countless books.
Culture
Inserting imagination into current events.
Nature. Walking around the beach, rivers, forests. Observing the moon and the stars
Sitting and watching people walk around
Learning something cool and new
My imagination – lot of times from photos of places and people
The need to share what I know
Jesus Christ
Life experiences – history read
Love, hate inferences. Sit in a pub or hotel and watch. Watch as a woman looks at a man with love or fear. See how children clutch at their parents hands
When a writer…

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Self-Care: 9 Ways To Sharpen The Mental Blade…

Success Strategies

Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it’s holy ground. There’s no greater investment.”
Stephen Covey

The concept to sharpen the saw highlights the point that when you have been going, going, and going …and you can’t seem to see any results. Acknowledge that it’s time to stop. It’s time to refresh. It’s time for a break to get the rest you need to start thinking so you can be productive again.

Here are a few suggestions that Brett and Kate McKay shared in their article on how you can fuel your brain’s recovery and sharpen the mental blade:

Read the Great Books
Write a position paper on a topic of your choosing
Listen to a stimulating podcast
Listen to a Great Courses course
Take an online course
Attend a lecture at a local college
Join a discussion group (synergizing mental and social domains!)
Visit a museum
Watch a documentary

Did…

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Let The Adventure Begin!

The ball dropped and suddenly we went from the old to the new. it’s new year’s day at universal and islands of adventure. Beehives of Chattering voices everywhere. I sit quietly People watching cultures far, near, and everywhere. Fun. Rides. Food. Smiles. Tired feet clad in running shoes, t-shirts, jeans, tights; it’s family time you can’t miss.

Lots of gleeful noise amidst the screams of the world famous hulk ride. Twists, turns, ups, downs. It’s like you’re just gonna explode. Why would people do that to themselves?! Omgeee!

There’s Spider-Man. Tired legs allowed the young ones to go do their thing. After men in black, fast n furious, I was missing nothing.

But who am I to complain after enjoying my own knee jerking skydive that only few dared to hit

It’s Started With a Bang

Yep it’s New Year’s Day and it started off with a bang with plans for a year filled with lots of fun, excitement, and thrill. All wrapped in fear of the twists and turns among the unknown. But hey, doing it anyway. You won’t know until you try, right?

Armed with goals to finish my long outstanding book series titled RedLight, I’ll getaway for a solo retreat to think, to plan, to write in a faraway land. A time of peace and quiet. It’s become personal January tradition.

You’ll also like A late January Evening by the seashore

Hope you’ll achieve dreams held dear without fear this year. Need help? Let’s connect.

Cheers

Authors Share 13 Ways To Rid Writer’s Block…

Success Strategies

Overcoming writer’s block isn’t always easy, but it helps to keep a pen and paper at the ready for when inspiration strikes.
Unknown

Many complain of experiencing writer’s block. It refers that time when writers attempt to write and nothing comes. Some complain that it last days, weeks, months. Others say it may even last years. The question came up in an authors’ forum. Here I share 13 tips recommended.

Take a day off from writing
Work on two different books at the same time. If you have trouble with one, move to the other. It helps with the creative process
If you don’t know what you’re going to write there’s no point in sitting down. What you can do is think during the day what the next few pages are going to be like (when writing fiction). So when you sit you know exactly what’s coming
One writer suggested…

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