Category: publishing

Whut r words

So I usually do writing tips on Friday. World and character development, and other useful writing based posts… Today I have nothing. Layout, and a lot of sleep deprivation, has me melty brained.

It seems to me every writer, especially the indie publishing writer, has that moment… The moment when you look at the paper and just ask “Whut R Words”…it’s not that you have nothing you can write, or no ideas for new stories. It is that in that moment you need a break. A chance to step back and breathe. This is where having other interests help.

To be honest I am in awe of authors who put out a book every month. Don’t they ever feel burnout? Feel like their brains are melting?

Help me out here, tell me how you clear your mind and refocus on the task at hand? What activities do you do when you can’t concentrate?

Cover And Title

So I am down to the last bit on Dream Drips. It is likely to be released by the end of next week. That being said… I needed to choose the next title for my poetry volumes. I really like Ink Splashes. It sounds both serious and whimsical.

May Links


It’s that time kiddos… This is all of where Serena and I can be found in the interwebs.

For me….

Comes see me on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/pattimouse)

my author page on Amazon

This is what’s out for all editions.

================================
A Pocketful of Poetry
———————————-
<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/mVB1np

================================
Creative Juices
———————————-

<Mobi>
https://tinyurl.com/ydgqoept

<Paperback>
https://tinyurl.com/y9s5xrom

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/3J8AKK

================================
word play
———————————-

<Mobi>

<Paperback> http://www.amazon.com/Word-Play-Patricia-Lynn-Harris/dp/1519794983/ref=la_B012U5ZRD2_1_6_twi_pap_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1451694114&sr=1-6

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/bMQ0YB

================================
Sacks of Wit
———————————-

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/bWzaKM

================================
Pip the Pup
——————-
<Everywhere Else> https://www.books2read.com/u/bWzaKM

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

===============================
Bedtime Tales I:
The Teddy Bear Picnic
———————————

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

===============================
Bedtime Tales II: The Princess Lost
———————————-

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

===============================
Life Drops
———————————

<Mobi>

<Paperback >

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/4DlaNP

===============================
Wayward Dreams
———————-–———-

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/m2vjer

================================
Prompted Prose
————————–
<Mobi>
https://tinyurl.com/mqua3so

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/boZzGv

================================
Dream Webs
———————
<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/38rNMZ

===============================
Literary Drops
———————-
<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/md0eWy

================================
Word Petals
——————–
<Mobi>

<Paperback >

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/bMQ0YB

================================
Soul’s Door
——————

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everything Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/47ZpYE

===============================
Music for the soul
——————————

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/bQ9o9w

================================
Poetry Kisses
———————–

<Mobi>

<Paperback>
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1717918581/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ObKwBbE57D724

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/47Zpx8

================================
Temporal Verse
—————————

<Everwhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/4jDOR2

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

================================
Soul Drops
——————–
<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/m0g5QY
================================
Spilled Verse
———————
<mobi> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MXLYKQP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_d7GqCbCJRMQ2X

<paperback> https://www.amazon.com/dp/1794353003/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_krXqCb4AFYYK4

<Everywhere Else>
https://books2read.com/u/3LGr6X
================================

And for Serena…

Her Amazon author page

Www.Amazon.com/author/serenitysfall

************************************
The Death Of Neverland

Mobi – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06VTCKZ3H

Paperback – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1729360181/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_StH1Bb9MJD9M5

Draft to digital – https://www.books2read.com/u/mVB5p5

************************************

Rust, Gore, and the Junkyard Zombie

Mobi – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B7J5FSS

Paperback – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1980471320

Draft 2 digital – https://www.books2read.com/u/47ZAa7

************************************

I think that I will be doing a release link post for Dream Drips soon. I am hoping to release it this month. Serena is still working on Life, Guilt, and Undeath. We will post more information as we have it.

Indie Friday

So… There is so much to being an indie author/publisher that you really don’t end up finding out until you have made mistakes in doing it. To start with as the author you are responsible for every part of the process. That means the writing, the editing, the layout, the cover design, the title, picking the places the book will be available, setting everything for sale, and marketing. Now some of this you can and probably should hire someone else to do.

Personally I always hire an editor. While I am capable of editing, I find that it is better to get a second set of eyes on my work. It makes the chance of unnoticed errors less. I have two that I personally use. One is Kelly at Xterraweb and I also use Deedra Nichole Editing. Both are excellent. Both will not try to change your voice. In your story your voice is what makes your story unique.

After the editor finishes you have to give your story to beta readers. This is a group of people who you trust to read, and give you feedback. This feedback can be anything from suggestions for grammar mistakes that got missed in the editing process (if any) to title ideas or plot holes.

Many people hire someone else to do their covers. I do all of my own covers, and I am always willing to discuss doing covers for other authors. My price would be reasonable.

Now, as for places to publish your book… Everyone has heard about Amazon. That is the basic place for indie publishing. They have a program for Windows and Mac called Kindle Create. This helps with layout. Amazon is the best place for doing paperbacks. The other place I use to distribute my Ebooks is Draft2Digital. They also have audiobook distribution. (Which I am working on.)

Marketing is an area that I am still working with. It is something that I personally not great at.

I am always willing to help new authors, or even discuss the process with those who are already in the know. This is something that I am truly interested in. So, feel free to ask any questions or to just strike up a conversation!

Thursday Thoughts

There is quite a lot coming up for me. I am close to layout for Dream Drips. I will be working on writing the last few poems needed for it.

I am on the editing of the anthology I have previously mentioned titled Under the Mists. We have some really great stories from some wonderful writers.

I have been accepted for the summer edition of Creatives Rising E-zine. I will have more to say about this as the time comes closer to the release.

My Patreon is seeing daily updates this month as I am doing #Mermay.

Serena is still working on her sequel to Rust, Gore, and the Junkyard Zombie. She has been working hard to get the story put together.

I have been working on recording the princess lost in an audiobook. This was put on hold for the last month as I have been adapting to a sleep schedule change. This has left me lethargic and derpy. Thank goodness I was able to schedule my blog ahead.

I also have life, gardening and other bits of creation that will happen. I think that I may do a post about my garden this year once I get it done. We got a tiller this year so I am looking forward to a full veggie garden this year.

I am also planning a trip in June to see people I love. It may mean that I will not be posting the first week of June. I will have to see.

I will be doing the monthly link post on Saturday. I will be doing a post about the indie publishing process tomorrow. Then I am taking Sunday as a break. I have been posting every day for a month. I have no idea what to do for another day. Lol

So what are you doing? Do you like gardens? Which of my upcoming projects are you the most excited for? And a true curiosity… Anything else you think that I need to address?

Thursday thoughts

This week has been a personal mess. So I have been trying to think of topics for upcoming blogs. April will be a huge poetry push. I will likely be posting not only my own poems but I think that I will be posting some of my favorite pieces from poets of the past with information about the poet. Note that I will be sure to credit the poets for their work. Even if most are no longer with us.

I always do writer’s digest poem prompts in both April and November. I am going to try to post the poems with links to the prompts through the month. It is also time for camp nano. I think Serena will be continuing to work on Life, Guilt, and Undeath.

We have decided to do as the first audiobook Bedtime tales: the princess lost. It will give me a smaller recording to start with. I have to record it, and then work on editing the audio until I think it worth publishing. I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist where my published books are concerned. I try to give my readers the best material that I possibly can. Most authors that I know are. I will be posting the link as soon as I have it for the audiobook version of each of the books.

So what would you like to see as far as topics here? Is there a poet who you want to see my favorite poem of?

Talking Tuesday

I got a late birthday present from my mom. She waited until she visited two weeks after my birthday to find out what I wanted. Honestly I can blame my Aunt for the choice of gifts. My aunt read Serena’s Zombie… And just discovered Audible. She asked why I was not doing audiobook options. I explained that the set-up for audiobooks was slightly out of my price range. Mom had me look at the cost again. Turned out that Amazon had a really nice Microphone that was within her budget. She ordered it immediately. It came in yesterday. Now I have to decide which book to start with.

Poetry is a fun option for audiobook. So are the kid’s books. Serena’s Death of Neverland or Zombie are both needing the treatment. And Draft 2 digital works with audible and all of the other places to get audiobooks. I will have to learn about the recording process.

Tell me which book you think that I should do first? I plan to do all of them eventually.

Friday writing

Ok, here is the thing with writing… No writer is perfect. At least not alone. We all depend upon other sets of eyes to catch the mistakes before it goes to print. Alpha and beta readers, editors (of both developmental and copy types), these all give the feedback needed to polish the manuscript for publishing.

Copy editors (like Xterraweb or Deedra Nichole editing) go through the manuscript for grammar and spelling mistakes. They check for tense and wording. These are your basic editor.

Developmental editors (one of the listed also has developmental prices…but there are quite a few out there. Those are the editors I personally have worked with.) work with the author who is stuck. They will help find plot holes and flaws in the characters and story. They help find solutions for the author who can’t see where to go with that story.

These are just before it goes to publish. At publication there are even more possible people involved. It depends upon your book. Children’s books often require an illustrator. Then there is a cover designer. (I do my own. Not everyone does.) Some even use publishers, and marketers.

So everytime you pick up a book… Consider the amount of work it took to get it to you. No author is alone in creating the book. And it takes effort and skill to get it in your hands. Do everyone involved a favor. Review what you read.

Here ye!! here ye!!

PSST! Hey…Hey you! Yeah YOU reading this post! Guess what’s coming??

That’s right, it’s Creative’s Rising EZine time again!!! The Spring issue will be out next month so you NEED to go subscribe and get on this bandwagon!! It will be filled with amazing, talented creatives that you have GOT to see (no, I am not one this time). I am looking forward to seeing this issue!

So get over to this link and subscribe NOW!:
bit.ly/CreativesRisingSubscription You WON’T regret it — I promise!!

Poetry prompts

Here are ten prompts. E-mail me poetry written about these prompts at patti.mouse@gmail with the topic Monday poetry to be considered for being shared on Monday poetry. (I will consider all submissions even if they are not about these prompts… But I reserve the right to only post the ones I think the best).

1.) Spider eggs

2.) A black widow’s mate

3.) Rainbow echo

4.) Monkey bread

5.) Tulips in the snow

6.) Joyous

7.) The mirror lies

8.) Raised up by you

9.) Nothing is impossible

10.) Grace

Well what do you think? I hope the muse is heavy with you in blessings.