For me, marketing during the holiday season used to begin in November.  I pretty much stopped writing when my husband fell ill and for several years after his death. Only now, coming out of widow's fog, have I started to feel like myself. 

The amazing part of grief that I didn't understand until the five-year anniversary, was how much I'd forgotten. Someone described the grieving process as survival. Nothing else matters to the human body except survival because your brain cannot process anything other than grief. If you have had a long marriage, you don't even know who you are. Changing and becoming a new person takes time. You make mistakes, you learn, you grow. That's life. 

Right about the five-year mark, I sat down at my computer and began wondering what it was I did ten years ago. I know I marketed, but where? Well, Goodreads for one. It was great, no fee, just the price of a book and give it away. It was a great way to get books in front of readers. And with Goodreads, you pretty much have a captive audience.

I checked it out; found out my account was still active and that they had added my new books as well. I even had comments on blogs I'd written. I made sure I reached out to everyone with an apology.  I decided to do an experiment and see how the giveaways were set up. I was surprised to see that there is a 119.00 charge but considering how everything has gone up in price, I thought I'd give it a try. There isn't a limit on how long you can run the giveaway for, so I chose to start the giveaway in November and run it through the first part of December. Up to now, I have over two-thousand giveaway participants. 

And that is fun.
Really.
I find it amazing how little it takes to make me happy nowadays. 

The giveaway runs another week so add your name to the mix if you are interested.  If you decide to buy a book, I'll mail you a hand-signed bookmark to keep inside. Just send an email to carroll.louann.com, pic of proof of purchase, and a return address. I'll make sure you get it as fast as possible. 

I don't remember learning how to read. By the time I was in Kindergarten, I was reading my older sister's books. She was almost twenty years older than me. Those books were my escape from reality, and they not only educated me but also introduced me to a world I knew nothing about. I devoured books like chocolate. 

My appetite for the written word continued throughout my life.  I've read many thousands of books. My introduction to writing adult books came when I visited a used bookstore. I scoured the shelves looking for something to read, and I found nothing. This went on for a few weeks. I had my favorite used bookstores in the area, and they'd never failed me before. This time, they did. 

Standing in front of a bookshelf in total desperation, I heard a voice in my head say:  Write a book you want to read. It caught my attention.  I've heard this voice before. The day my father died, the day my husband died, and during other critical times in my life. It isn't a thought, it's a voice, it's male, and it's authoritative. I have no idea where it comes from. Some people have said it's an angel, a guide, a whatnot. Whatever it is, when he speaks, I listen. Except for this one time when he stated the glaringly obvious and I did not need or want his advice. I didn't speak to him for several years. 

I left the bookstore and went home. I had this really old typewriter, like not electric if you get my drift. I wrote my first children's book on it. Thank heaven for White Out. I grabbed some lined paper because I didn't have typing paper and began the process of my first book. A book I couldn't buy so I had to write it myself. It was called Gemini Rising which is now out of print. 

Some people know right away they want to write. They head off to college, take creative writing classes and graduate with a degree in literature. Unfortunately, I didn't have time for that. It would have been nice, but raising three kids came first. And I was determined to be the best mother I could be.  

Everyone is different and everyone has different ways of writing. I have friends who have to listen to play lists, I think that's amazing. Music would interfere with the voice in my head telling me what to write. I do have some basics though, and I thought I'd share them with you. 

Inspiration

You have to have it. I mean unless you are writing a technical book or an educational book. Even then, you have to want to write one. I can't imagine doing anything I don't love so there has to be a spark in there somewhere for you techie guys. 

Are You Born to it, Or Can You Learn the Craft? 

If you are born to it, you get the flow, the music, but you must also learn the craft. There is so much to writing besides inspiration. There is structure, punctuation, genres, marketing, and so much more. There is also the voice, narrative, and character development that is both technical and inspirational. 

Education

Take writing courses. Join writers' groups. Make sure you understand the type of group you are joining. I once joined a group that ended up being mostly poetry focused. I was not a good fit so do a little research before committing.  I don't know if you need a college degree to write fiction, but if you have a journalistic slant, it is probably a good idea. 

Things to Ask Yourself:

Do you like stories? Life is just one big story from a billion points of view. The stories we tell ourselves are sometimes hilarious and sometimes quite critical. We tell stories about the people in our lives, and those people tell stories about us. This is not to say they are lies, or gossip, they are stories we've told ourselves about others when we try to interpret their actions. About the only fundamental truth in this world is mathematics. Everything else is just--a story. 

Write Consistently

As hard as this can be, it is the most important discipline you can teach yourself. Carve out a section of time every day to write. If you journal, that's great. Writing is where the magic happens. 

Silence the Critic

Write your story. Don't think about the technical aspects, just write. Let it flow. Don't edit. Just be with the written word. It is a glorious feeling to let things flow.  The critic can be put on hold until the editing process. 

Motivate yourself. 

Give yourself a routine that fits with your life. Motivate yourself by thinking about that special coffee you like. My window overlooks a seasonal creek, and my house is on the walking trail. I sit at my window and think while sipping coffee and watching people go by.  That is my motivation. Well, and chocolate. 

What it boils down to is write what you love. Find the spark, tend the flame, then let your light shine.  It is a great way to live.