Tag: blogging

Simply Blown Away

Posted on by staceyjaine in Indie Author, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Writing

EA001BD8-7D73-4A02-8BB4-52C7C290118CWow! You guys… I’m in awe truly. Last night’s blog was written at the eleventh hour… stroke of midnight almost when I didn’t know what to write, so I just wrote off the top of my head. No plan, just freeform instead.

I’m thinking I might just keep it up, because it seems to be working.

So, I thought I’d start tonight with a heart felt THANK YOU because honestly, I’m still so new at this blogging thing. I’m still figuring out what people want to see and what they don’t.

When I decided back in April that I had to either get serious about my blog or give it away entirely I didn’t think anybody would actually want to read what I wrote. I guess now, I’ve just been proven wrong.

So THANK YOU – again – it’s humbling knowing that people are listening. I don’t feel quite as alone as I have felt on this journey from time to time.

Writing is by nature a solitary pursuit. I wouldn’t change it though. I’m feeling very optimistic about my first book that is currently in the hands of an editor. The first three chapters anyway. It’s a trial run but like I said last night I think I may have found my perfect fit editor wise. I hope so anyway.

My writing feels so personal at times that I struggle to share. Self doubt is a horrible thing.

If the edits go well, I think I’ll share the first chapter.

The story has been six years in the making. The first draft was written in six weeks, after I’d picked apart the bones of a previous discarded story. Which, I’m still considering bringing back to life at some stage. It’s got promise if I can do it justice that is.

Faeries are so diverse in nature. Even as I play in the Celtic and Arthurian mythos I find things evolving of their own accord.

It’s quite refreshing really.

 

 

 

Enter the World of Freelancing

Posted on by staceyjaine in Indie Author, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Writing

D6542BBD-7E1E-4B3E-BC84-FB8F7B465751.jpegYes, it’s true writing novels and short stories doesn’t exactly pay the bills. Especially if you’re like me and your story has to be just right before sharing it with the world.

And, while I know nothing is perfect, I still find myself aiming for that perfection, you know?

So, about two years ago, I entered the world of freelance and it hasn’t been easy.  In fact, the hardest thing has been getting clients. You see I struggle to sell myself and hate imposing on people, so sharing my services is not an easy thing to do.

Isn’t it wonderful being an introvert? I don’t like that I am an introvert but I can’t seem to break out of that either.

You’re probably wondering why I’m posting, right? Well, I’ve had a bit of a bad experience. I wrote some articles for a client in various niches and haven’t gotten paid. Hazards of the job, I know but now they are beginning to be unresponsive, which makes me believe I’ve been scammed. As the articles are all my own words but not relevant to this blog, I’m now considering what to do with them.

I’ll definitely keep you posted about my adventures with freelancing. I really should stick to editing and the odd graphic design job.

Speaking of, I’m currently working on a few maps of the towns that feature in my novels in The Eldritch Series. If anyone is interested in seeing their own characters world come to life, let me know in the comments.

Using Facebook as an Indie Author

Posted on by staceyjaine in Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Writing, Writing Advice

facebook-3391214_960_720Facebook.

It’s a powerful tool. It can help you to promote your books and your author brand.

I find it one of the best ways to connect to other people in the writing community.

But knowing how to reach out to your audience on your Facebook page can be a little daunting at first.

So, here’s a few things you might like to think about when creating and growing your own Facebook page.

Know Your Audience

You have to know your audience. Who are your books aimed at? Genre? Age bracket? What makes your brand unique? All of these things matter. Don’t neglect them.

Be Responsive

It’s not just about writing posts it’s about engaging with the people who take the time to comment on those posts. You have to make connections.

Be Consistent

There’s no real secret formula to posting on Facebook pages. Although, I do suggest posting no more than three times a day. Anymore than that and you risk annoying those who have taken the time to like your page.

It’s not rocket science, but these are definitely the best ways to build your brand. I don’t personally pay to boost content on my Facebook author page, but through networking with Facebook groups, and other indie authors who’s pages interest me, I’ve managed to build a page with over 2,500 likes.

What’s up with Social Media?

Posted on by staceyjaine in Indie Author, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Writing, Writing Advice

social-1710317_960_720I came across an interesting post about the pros and cons of social media in a Facebook group earlier that caught my attention. It’s actually what prompted me to write this blog.

Social Media. It’s huge and often daunting.  And sometimes when you’re an indie author and you’re having to do it all, such things can seem a little overwhelming.

But let’s face it, you need a web presence. So you need to be active on some of the social media platforms.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest and Google. And that’s only the first six off the top of my head.

You might think that you need to have them all. Right? Wrong! But you do need a web presence. Readers need to be able to find you and connect, not just with your books, but with you, the author.

The trick? Start small.

Start with Facebook. Why Facebook and not a website? Simple. Almost everyone already has a Facebook profile.  Setting up a Facebook page, when you already have a Facebook profile is easy. People either love Facebook or hate it. I personally love it.

Limit yourself.

Stick to two social media platforms to start with. That way you don’t get overwhelmed.

If you’ve already got Facebook you’re half way there. As a second I’d suggest Twitter or Instagram. Both have huge followings and are easy to learn the ropes of.

Be present.

There’s no point having a Facebook page, twitter or Instagram if they’re going to sit idle. I suggest posting at least once per day on each platform. It’ll take some time but you’ll eventually learn what works, when your followers are active and what content they enjoy seeing the most.

Don’t be afraid to experiment. And use hashtags. How else are you going to be seen without them?

Interact.

Don’t just post content and expect it to do well. It needs to be engaging. Something other’s will want to click on, and you’ll need to interact with others and comment on their posts. This will also help you to grow your audience and gain a decent following.

There’s a lot more I could write, but I’ll expand on what I’ve written here later. For now, the best course of action would be to think about what social media platforms you deem necessary as an indie author or writer and pick your favourites. Remember, the goal here is to not get overwhelmed, less is more. Later, when you have the hang of it, you can increase your viewership, by adding other platforms.

If you want to see what I’ve done with my social media profiles check out the tips and tricks here:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE 5 TYPES OF BLOGGERS

Posted on by staceyjaine in reblog, Stacey Jaine McIntosh

This earnt a reblog, because it’s so so true. And because I think I fall somewhere between blogger number 4 and blogger number 2. But, I’m working on it.

Ragazza Triste's avatarRagazza Triste

In my two years of blogging, with more than 800 followers, thousands of likes, hundreds of comments, I have encountered hundreds of different, talented and amazing writers along the way. I am blessed and will be forever thankful to be a part of this community. WordPress gave me a chance to be different and to embrace my weirdness.

Through the years, I’ve met a variety of bloggers, and I decided to share it with you.

Here it goes.

1. THE PASSIONATE BLOGGERS– I’d like to think that I am one of these people. They are in love with WordPress, they are driven and motivated to read, post and interact with the community. They post according to a coherent schedule, they make sure that their page is designed to attract readers and followers. They also motivate and impel current and new bloggers to do better as their page grows.

2…

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