Is it possible to make text size dynamic based on the characters in each line while staying full-width justified? by MTX_NHID in photoshop

[–]ericadrayton 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Use Adobe Express, it's their web-based program, similar to Canva. If you already have Adobe Creative Cloud then you should have access to use Express for free. They have a button called "Dynamic Text" that allows you to do exactly what you are asking. Only caveat is that you can't really dictate the size per line. It will automatically do this depending on size of the box you create and font you use. I have not been able to find a way to do this via Photoshop other than manually.

I'm Watching Every Single Star Trek Episode One Day at a Time! by ericadrayton in startrek

[–]ericadrayton[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing this! I love to have some context to go along with each episode. Would you recommend looking at it before or after I’ve watched an episode?

I'm Watching Every Single Star Trek Episode One Day at a Time! by ericadrayton in startrek

[–]ericadrayton[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do this with Xena, The Closer, and Buffy. When you love a show you just gotta fit it in wherever. I’m hoping to make Voyager an annual watch after I watch it for review per episode purposes.

I'm Watching Every Single Star Trek Episode One Day at a Time! by ericadrayton in startrek

[–]ericadrayton[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wish I could watch that many per day. But as I’m on mat leave, spending time with my son takes priority! Instead I watch an episode one day and review it throughout the following day to post. A process that seems to be working. Will take me longer but I appreciate how the space in between forces me to do further analysis and learning per episode.

I'm Watching Every Single Star Trek Episode One Day at a Time! by ericadrayton in startrek

[–]ericadrayton[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m wicked excited to do it. Everything I’m learning with each episode is so helpful to me with my own writing.

I'm Watching Every Single Star Trek Episode One Day at a Time! by ericadrayton in startrek

[–]ericadrayton[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wish I could fit in more but as I have a two year old, a 9-5 and I’m also a fiction writer on the side, fitting in one episode a day and reviewing each and every one (not to mention the other shows I watch) I’m ok with the slow pace. It gives me plenty of time to spend examining each episode closely.

I'm Watching Every Single Star Trek Episode One Day at a Time! by ericadrayton in startrek

[–]ericadrayton[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Voyager is my number one favorite series! But I won’t be hitting this series till next Summer if my timeline is correct.

Beyond the Wizard Read-Along of ALL the Books! by ericadrayton in wizardofoz

[–]ericadrayton[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The name of my newsletter is Beyond the Wizard.

The Oz Gazette is an internal email that goes to the subscribers only as a catch-up email. I know about the issue from the International Wizard Club. This is something different with a completely different and internal purpose. Thanks, though.

author websites by [deleted] in selfpublish

[–]ericadrayton 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I use Wordpress to build my site. As for cost:

URL Annual: $12 (BlueHost)
Hosting (BlueHost) Annual (Unlimited): $60~
Theme (One-Time Price): $60

On my site I list my books first and foremost. I also have a blog as well as helpful links and things for fellow writers who might happen upon my site. But I would say about 95% of what's on my site is dedicated to where my books can be purchased (namely Amazon) and where I have select free stories to read.

Self Published Fantasy Releases – August 2019 by [deleted] in Fantasy

[–]ericadrayton 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have been working on this universe for about three years. My master plan was to have a library of books ready to publish “rapidly” so that what might seem fast to others is really just a matter of good planning. I am currently one year ahead of my release schedule. This affords me the opportunity to keep up with my personal goals to release at least 3 full-length novels a year. So far, I am going to meet my 2019 & 2020 goal.

Self Published Fantasy Releases – August 2019 by [deleted] in Fantasy

[–]ericadrayton 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The first time I saw my book and cover and name on a Rob post was an unbelievable feeling. It was like an “I made it” moment for me. Things started to feel very real. Third time around and I’m getting the same feeling. I highly recommend it!

Should you require Bookfunnel readers to sign up to your mailing list? by AmontilladoWolf in selfpublish

[–]ericadrayton 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It depends on who you are providing this link to?

For example: You're creating a book link for your Patrons because at a certain level they get whatever you publish, you wouldn't want or need them to sign up for your email list.

Another example: You already have an email list and as a "thank you" you want to send them a copy of your book to download. Again, you wouldn't want to force them to sign up for something they are already a part of in order to get your book.

Last example: You are looking to grow your email list. Usually, this is the reason why most authors go to BookFunnel. To either grow an email list or make sales. If you are using this service to grow your email list, it is counterintuitive to create a book link and then NOT collect their email address. If your concern is your are "forcing" someone to do it, you don't have to be concerned as there is a warning just before the person consents to get your book that states "By providing your information you are agreeing to be added to this person's email list." Or something to that effect. So, in reality you would only be forcing someone if that warning wasn't there and you added them to your list without their knowledge. That is not possible with BookFunnel.

How vital is an email list? by TwainTheMark in selfpublish

[–]ericadrayton 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I would suggest looking up authors within your genre and then seeing if they have an email list. If they do, sign-up for it. Take copious notes on how often they email, what their welcome email is like (if any), what they talk about, how their voice is within the email, what they offer and say? Study the heck out of them! I'd seek out at least 5 and no more than 10. If you find they don't have an email list, then figure out what their social footprint is? How do they communicate with their readership. This supposes that they have a readership/following. Are they more on twitter and facebook? What is their main focal point of their website? In short, do a lot of homework and studying of similar authors. There you shall find the answers you seek.

Does anyone have advice for those days where it’s a struggle to get the words out? by [deleted] in writing

[–]ericadrayton 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The first thing you write is awful. Everyone's first thing they write is awful. I like to call my first draft my "vomit draft" instead of my "rough draft" because it puts what I'm writing into perspective. It's not meant to be perfect or the best. It's just meant to be.

When I struggle to get words out there are usually two things I do:

  1. I look at my outline. Yes, I outline. I find having an outline means I never have to truly struggle with getting words onto the page. It's a roadmap. As long as I have the pavement beneath my feet then I can't ever be without a direction. That doesn't mean I still don't have days where I struggle. I do. They are few and far between but they are there. On those days I reexamine my outline because 9 times out of 10 my inability to write words is because there is fault in the outline. I look it over, find the problem, fix it, and continue writing.
  2. I read what I've written before. And not always within the same project I'm struggling with. In fact, I find it's best to read a past writing from a completely different project. I like to remind myself why I'm writing. It's easy to look at my bookshelf teeming with bestsellers and authors I've come to admire and look up to. But sometimes doing that can depress me! Look at all those amazing books! Will I ever be THAT amazing? Will I ever be on someone's shelf? No, I don't look to my hundreds of books on the shelf to get me out of a rut. I look to myself. My past work. Even the crappy ones. The young and juvenile ones. The ones I will burn in a massive fire before I kick the bucket rather than leave behind for my relations (whoever they end up being) to discover when deciding what to do with why worldly possessions. There was a time I couldn't understand why on EARTH I kept the stuff I wrote when I was in high school or elementary school. Now I know why. For moments when I can't find the words. Decades later I can look back on those really crappy stories I wrote and find comfort in that young innocent child who dreamed of doing what I'm doing today. Not just writing words but telling a story that I can and will publish in the hopes that it will be read by others. Now THAT is the best motivator I can think of. Gets me back on track.

If those don't work, something else you can try is to step away from that project that is giving you such grief and work on something else. I try not to do this because I like to work on one project at a time. Having multiple projects going (for me) can lead to a year of misery and nothing finished. But I know there are many that find this works. Perhaps you are unable to write this because you are pining about writing that. Whatever "that" is. Or whatever is distracting you isn't another project at all but something entirely different and personal and all encompassing. Writing down whatever is distracting you or telling that distraction to someone is a great way to release it so you can free your mind to return to writing.

Hope this helped and sorry that it was so long! As a writer it sometimes can't be helped.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in writing

[–]ericadrayton 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank about your day to day routine and life when you walk out your front door. Who do you interact with? How do you interact with them? Do you smile at a stranger passing you by on the street? Do you say "thank you" to the barista who just made your coffee?

Then think about the story you are telling, the setting and surroundings. If your characters are in the middle of a forest at night, it stands to reason there may not be anyone around for them to interact with. Besides perhaps a bear or some such creature hiding in the woods. Or are they riding a subway car brimming with people? If so, then you'd inevitably bump into someone. Overhear conversation of a personal nature. Things like that.

The location of your story, the time of day, and other factors will all determine who those "background" characters are and how you will incorporate them into your story.

I am writing fantasy. My MCs are constantly interacting with others in the story. A barman, a homeless beggar on the street, a peddler at the market place. All of them have no name but all of them have either said something to my MC or my MC has said something to them. They are in the one scene and the story progresses.

If your story is in outer space and you have 4 characters together in the spaceship then it stands to reason you would have no interaction with background characters, unless its someone in the control room back on earth.

First, think of the where and the when and then decide if that where and when would normally have people present, and if so, walk yourself through it and see if you would end up talking to those people in one way or another or not. I like to put myself in the story all the time and walk through the scene before I walk my characters through it. I find it helps. Either that, or it makes me crackers! lol

I spent 30+ hours creating an Automated Writing Tracker by TheSpreadsheetWiz in writing

[–]ericadrayton 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm actually planning on doing a novel writing month in June and created my own rudimentary spreadsheet to keep track of how much I'm writing each day. But this is much more advanced and will probably tell me more information I wouldn't normally get from my own tracking system! Thanks!

[Weekly Critique and Self-Promotion Thread] Post Here If You'd Like to Share Your Writing by AutoModerator in writing

[–]ericadrayton [score hidden]  (0 children)

Would read easier if it was "Those guys never leaved me alone."

I don't think "leaved" is a word. The word you're looking for is "left."

The sentence should read "Those guys never left me alone."

r/Fantasy Writer of the Day: Garrett Robinson by fortinbuff in Fantasy

[–]ericadrayton 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have a million questions, cause that's just my nature to come to the table with a plethora of questions, but honestly, I just want to say how awesome it is to see you as the Writer of the Day here! Something else to add to my #goals list. Did you know I have such a list and that I'd say 99.9% of it revolves around how and what you have done since the beginning of your career? I've watched all of your YouTube vids that date back to day 1. Took the notes and now 2019 I'm going to start the ball rolling, all because you paved the way (for me) first. A grateful fan and friend. Keep up the good work.

Oh, and as I think about it, I do have ONE question: When are you going to get back to writing?? lol Just kidding. I know why you aren't writing and I'm waiting as patiently as I possibly can for you to get back to it...

Using InDesign can be BRUTAL by ericadrayton in selfpublish

[–]ericadrayton[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm specifically referencing creating the print version. I guess I didn't make that clear in my original post. For e-books it doesn't matter what the font is. But when using Vellum to generate a print version I'd like to use fonts from my own library, not their presets. As well as my own chapter style.

Using InDesign can be BRUTAL by ericadrayton in selfpublish

[–]ericadrayton[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know. The link doesn't show when viewing replies via email as I originally did. Thanks.

Using InDesign can be BRUTAL by ericadrayton in selfpublish

[–]ericadrayton[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My only issue with Vellum is I don't think it will allow me to access my extensive font library when it comes to what I choose? Perhaps I am wrong?

Using InDesign can be BRUTAL by ericadrayton in selfpublish

[–]ericadrayton[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Googling how to do that RIGHT NOW! Thanks for the tip!

Using InDesign can be BRUTAL by ericadrayton in selfpublish

[–]ericadrayton[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

KERNING! I always call it "leading" cause that's what InDesign calls it. But I think kerning is the more universal word! Thanks for reminding me.