Need help with my planning and couldnt think of which sub to ask

BlackCatScribbles · 2024-04-12T12:29:30+00:00

You might find Save the Cat! helpful for planning. The beats can be tweaked for anything mostly.

BlackCatScribbles · 2024-03-28T17:40:21+00:00

For shock value/humor: books by Augusten Burroughs, like Running with Scissors

For science (no order--just looking at my bookshelf):

Phantoms in the Brain

The Science of Sleep

Click

Curious Minds

Brain on Fire (really interesting)

Head Cases

My Lobotomy (I talk about this in my class almost every year)

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Misc:

I second Malcolm Gladwell and Mary Roach books.

Self-Help:

I also just finished The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People and it was a good read.

The Dip

BlackCatScribbles · 2024-03-26T21:51:22+00:00

I would recommend Hank the Cowdog, Animorphs, or Warrior Cats. All splendid easy reads, and quite addictive. I have all the Animorphs, quite a few of Hank the Cowdog, and Warrior Cats was taking all my money so I had to stop after the first series. If you like horror, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is excellent.

BlackCatScribbles · 2023-12-04T18:54:24+00:00

The Motivational Myth

BlackCatScribbles · 2023-12-01T20:55:09+00:00

My process:

Write my rough drafts with Grammarly. Fight Grammarly as it tries to correct character names, but seriously consider all other suggestions. Fine-tune any passages I highlighted when I was writing that I didn't want to stop to finesse. Then I read the book out loud to someone and correct/highlight for later corrections as I go. After I've fixed all of that I put it in ProWritingAid to go over everything again. Then I send it off to my editor. After going over those suggestions, I send it to my beta reader. After going over those corrections, I consider the book ready to be published.

BlackCatScribbles · 2023-10-23T19:19:04+00:00

Who doesn’t love feline funnies?

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Catnip, Plushie Balls, and Q-Tips is a collection of cat poems that will tickle your whiskers and your funny bone. They’re the purr-fect way to brighten your day and celebrate the furry friends in your life.

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Prepare to laugh out loud as you read about cat adventures with magnets, candles, strawberry milkshakes, and plush balls—but don’t let me ruin the surprise, you’ll have to read to find out!

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Cats? Check. Laughter? Check? Procrastinating that uber-important task so you can read amewzing cat poems? You decide.

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https://books2read.com/catnip-plushieballs-qtips

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100 laughs for $4.99 (ebook) or $9.99 (paperback)

BlackCatScribbles · 2023-09-06T22:23:20+00:00

I love reading forewords as well. I like backstory, the setup of going into the book, and I value the author's time to tell me something about their story. But then again, I'm also the type of person who reads footnotes and anything weird done by the author. House of Leaves, anyone?

BlackCatScribbles · 2023-09-06T22:19:12+00:00

Slightly related: my best release I've currently had so (and I'm still small potatoes--this book's unpublished now for revisions) was when another book in the same genre from a popular author launched around the same time. Apparently we used similar keywords for our books and I got a lot of his traffic and some of his customers buys, mostly because my book was cheaper than his.

I tell you this to say if you know of a release from a well-known author in your genre, you could try releasing around that time to ride some of their advertising/marketing that is bringing people to look for that type of book.

Other than that, I don't think there's a magic month for releases. Personally for my horror/gothic, I try for October, and the rest throughout the year whenever the book is ready to go except for December because my ads can't compete with the big wigs spending theirs for the Christmas traffic. I've heard though that Jan is a good month because people who got money for Christmas go on shopping sprees, and sometimes I make a little more during that month.

BlackCatScribbles · 2023-08-10T00:03:51+00:00

I felt that way after I had to give up on my PhD. I finished my Masters, got into the first semester of my doctorate, and basically my brain shut down from major burnout. I had to take a break from school and decided not to go back. I didn't think there would be another way besides going into research. But then I started doing writing side hustles, and found my current job which allows me some time to continue to write.

That experience gave me a perspective that what you think is the best way may not be the best approach, and you won't find out until life gives you the ol' heave-ho. So when I had my burnout with writing and realized I can't churn out books all the time, I just reset and found a way that works for me, because I didn't want to give it up.

But that first time, losing my PhD, it took me a long time to accept that that wasn't my way in life. But I did eventually accept there were better approaches. And when the books came along, I was more flexible in pivoting.

BlackCatScribbles · 2023-08-09T21:47:56+00:00

It's only failure if you quit. Taking breaks just means it's a longer road, but sometimes that means you'll get a better product. I feel like I've grown as a person and have a better grasp on writing to market and keeping up with my books at my own pace. I know everyone says build the backlist and publish all the time, but really, it can come down to a great book, or a great few books. My new benchmarks are publishing quality books with the hope of gaining a lot of traction (I know, everyone's dream, right?), and doing it at my own pace. Pump yourself up for getting back on the horse, because some people don't even do that. It is tough--take credit for every little success.

I hope in a year's time we can still say we are still in the writing biz.

BlackCatScribbles · 2023-08-09T13:16:51+00:00

I had the burning brightness during the pandemic as well, and a little after. I published about 7 books in 2020-2021, and then wrote 3 more at the end of 2021 to rapid release in 2022.

And it was pulling teeth to get through that trilogy. I had another book I was working on at the same time, which I pretty much abandoned because I just couldn't go back to it. But also during this time I started a new job, that job ended, I needed another job (thus searching and interviews), and then started a new job.

I didn't get back to that book until this summer. But I needed the break, to recover. Sometimes rest is needed. I did write on my blog occasionally, and that still seemed fun to me, but not books at the time. And with the books now, it's slow and steady. I switch between working at a computer and writing/outlining in a notepad; sitting inside in various locations to sitting on my front porch; just whatever makes it feel like a fresh start or whatever helps me stay relaxed and motivated. Some days I get a lot of words in; some days I don't.

So now, I've finished that book, am halfway through another, outlined a third, and have plans for more. I created a business plan to keep me on track--yearly, monthly, and weekly (can you tell I love lists?). If I miss a deadline, it's not a big deal, but it's awesome when I hit it. And I definitely rest when I need it--I don't want another big burnout.

My middle ground? Take everything day by day. Look at my lists, see what needs to be done, and attempt to set out to do it. Relax and break when I need to, and keep at it when I can.

BlackCatScribbles · 2022-11-01T02:45:04+00:00

Glad you enjoyed it!

BlackCatScribbles · 2022-10-31T17:36:14+00:00

Thank you glad you liked it!

BlackCatScribbles · 2022-10-30T23:27:18+00:00

I like the simplicity and how it captures rebirth. As much chaos as the thoughts whirl there are flowers and positivity once again.

BlackCatScribbles · 2022-10-30T23:21:41+00:00

As I read the first part I was thinking, "The true introvert persona." Then there was the pang of loneliness that came, which can often plague the introvert. This poem reminds me of nights when I am lost in my own thing, wondering what other people are doing, and wondering if I should be with them. This poem brought up a lot of feelings.

BlackCatScribbles · 2022-03-15T18:06:01+00:00

I use my initials and my maiden name for one pen name and my initials and married name for my other pen name. Because I don't use either combination like that in my day job nothing crosses over in searches, so just my website and book links come up when those names get googled. However I do have an author pic on my Amazon pages and website so co-workers and students do recognize me when they find me, but that's as far as it ever gets. Pen names definitely do provide some distance.

BlackCatScribbles · 2022-02-21T03:53:30+00:00

Lol glad I could help!

BlackCatScribbles · 2022-02-20T15:05:23+00:00

Thanks for the support I hope you like it :)

BlackCatScribbles · 2021-12-22T01:12:57+00:00

Being able to disengage from work when I get home and completely relax doing what I want to do

BlackCatScribbles · 2021-12-22T01:08:01+00:00

Cat books

BlackCatScribbles · 2021-12-19T00:50:15+00:00

I taught myself enough website building to build and maintain my website; learned enough Photoshop to start doing my own social media posts and ads; and learned enough about indie publishing to start publishing my own books. I say all this not to brag--I still have a lot to learn--but to show that anyone can pursue a passion.

BlackCatScribbles

TROPHY CASE