World Book Day

Posted on April 17, 2024April 17, 2024 by Genevive Chamblee

April 23 is World Book Day. (Note: World Book Day is celebrated on the first Thursday in March in the U.K.) Reportedly, the date of April 23 was selected as the day of recognition because many famous authors have died on that date, which is a little unsettling for writers when one thinks about it. Authors who have death dates of April 23 include Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1569), William Shakespeare (1564-1616), William Wordsworth (1770-1850), Rupert Brooke (1887-1915), Tim Keefe (1857-1933), Karl Polanyi (1886-1964), P.L. Travers (1899-1996), Harold Arlen (1905-1986), James Earl Ray (1928-1998), and Boris Yeltsin (1931-2007). It was created by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), an organization whose mission is to promote the opportunity for learning for everyone. The first World Book Day was celebrated in 1995.

The purpose of World Book Day is to promote pleasure reading. It’s interesting to hear so many people are turned off by reading when there was a time in history when people begged to learn to read. In fact, some groups of people were denied an opportunity to learn and would have been severely disciplined or even killed in some instances for attempting to learn. And even when reading became more common amongst larger groups, books were too expensive. There was a time in history when owning books was a display of wealth. Much of this had to do with the tedious process required to print a book.

Before television, the internet, social media, and the likes, books/reading was a main source of entertainment. Book reading and book clubs were popular. In a book, the reader can go anywhere or do anything. Books are truly another world. When I hear someone declare they dislike reading, I often wonder why and if they realize how much they are missing. A coworker once confided in me that she disliked reading because it made her think. Of course, the only books she’d ever read were the ones required in grammar and high school. I don’t even know if school book reports are a thing anymore. I remember back in my day (making myself sound ancient) that most of the books on the required reading list found dull and boring. But those just weren’t my jam. The beauty was there were thousands and thousands of other books for me to choose from.

However, perhaps what I found the most interesting was hearing a coworker rave about a book that was a media darling at the time. I won’t name the book, but it was controversial which is why it was trending. However, many writers and critics pointed out how poorly written the book was. This wasn’t a commentary or criticism about content. The author had not done research and elements of the story were just wrong, not to mention the poor grammar. And many people didn’t notice because they hadn’t read any other books. If one is starving, bitter herbs may taste sweet.

That’s all I have on this subject other than to say grab a book and enjoy World Book Day. If you’re looking for a read, I have a few.

What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s time to hit the ice again. Future Goals has arrived and is available.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Order your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Did you miss the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or X (formerly tweet) me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads, Amazon Authors, BookBub, Bluesky, Threads, or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and sign up today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the Bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting lost anywhere beyond her front yard (the back is pushing it as she’s very geographically challenged), falling in love with shelter animals (and she adopts them), asking off-the-beaten-path questions that make one go “hmm,” and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well.

How to Develop a Writing Plan

Posted on April 8, 2020January 13, 2021 by Genevive Chamblee

It’s been a while since I did a writing post, and I figure I’m a bit overdue. Actually, I’m probably overdue on a lot of things, and I’ll be doing a bit of catch up here, soon. However, today what I would like to focus on is how to develop a writing plan.

A writing plan is simply an outline or statement about what a writer hopes and expects to accomplish. Consider it a detailed syllabus of what is to happen with one’s writing. It’s probably best to write this down somewhere (electronically, pen and paper, audio, or a combination) just to serve as a reference and a reminder. How long or detailed a writing plan depends on the writer. However, the more detailed the better. The important thing to remember about a writing plan is it is a guideline and not an absolute. It can be altered whenever necessary. It also does not have to always be followed in order or on a specified timeline. There is much flexibility in a writing plan. However, caution should be given that if one strays often and consistently, then the writing plan likely is not going to be very helpful. If one finds himself/herself regularly drifting from the writing plan developed, chances are the plan needs to be revised or restructured to better fit the writer’s needs.

The first step in developing a writing plan is defining what the writer hopes the writer should make a list of all the things one hopes to accomplish and the writer’s definition of success. Will one define success by sales, accomplishment, readership, completion of a manuscript, etc.
The second step is brainstorming. This means making a list of what must be accomplished in order to achieve step number one. Things listed here could be daily writing goals, procuring writing materials (e.g., computer, flash drives, dictionaries, writing guides, etc.). It may also include identifying locations to write or times that one can write. It could include compiling a list of writing competitions or professional writing organizations to join.
Third, set realistic goals. Sometimes, it’s difficult to know what is realistic and what isn’t. Therefore, it is best to start small and work from there. A beginning writer may not have hours each day to write. Therefore, he/she may need to settle for writing an hour a day.
Once the first three things are done, the writer should create a way to hold himself/herself accountable for adhering to the writing plan. In the past, I used to publicly post my quarterly writing goals on my blog. To avoid embarrassing myself, I did strive to meet those goals. The reason I stopped writing those posts was that my goal timeline conflicted with my posting timeline. Therefore, my goal updates were always going up late and looking confused. However, it did work well for a while. Currently, I use my critique group to hold me accountable. I tell them what I’m working on and what I expect to accomplish. When I’m slacking, I get phone calls, emails, and texts lighting a fire under my feet to get moving. A friend writes a contract to herself, and in that contract, she makes restrictions on herself for not meeting goals. She also rewards herself for meeting goals.
Next, set a schedule of when you’re going to work on your writing goals. Not having a solid plan is the best way not to fulfill goals. It’s too easy to push things to the side and not work on them without some type of schedule. The schedule does not have to be rigid, but it does have to exist.
In addition to a schedule, one needs to make a note on that schedule of deadlines. Using a calendar is extremely helpful in making a visual of when events need to occur and to avoid being sidetracked by other projects. It is easiest to note deadlines first and then prioritize what needs to happen around those deadlines.
Write down ideas. Many times, a good idea will come at an inopportune time. By the time you’re able to begin writing, the idea or motivation is lost. Having a place to quickly jot down ideas allows one to have something to reference at the time that is more convenient for writing. I use a notebook to write in when I can’t use my laptop or phone. If I’m driving, I use the recording app on my phone. There’s no rule that dictates one can’t utilize multiple ways of tracking ideas and thoughts.
Some writers are able to multitask. However, for many, it is beneficial to focus on one project at a time. Many full-time writers split their day into areas. For example, the first three hours may be spent editing a manuscript that has been completed. Then the next three hours may be dedicated to writing new material. The next three hours may focus on marketing. And the remainder of the writing day may be spent on all the other things associated with writing such as responding to readers, updating social media, cover art, itemizing for taxes, ordering writing supplies, researching, etc.
Do the research. Be sure to include research in the writing plan. Many good stories fall short of being great stories due to a lack of research. Think about books or movies when you come to a section and are thrown by something in the text that isn’t plausible or is known to be incorrect. Details can yank a reader straight from the story. This is not to say that writers do not have artistic freedom or creative license. However, it has to make sense of the story.
Look at what other writers use as their writing plan and modify it to meet your own needs and requirements. There are many videos on YouTube of writers imitating the writing plans of popular/famous writers. For instance, there are videos that use J.K. Rowling’s method of writing. The problem is that this works for J.K. Rowling. It may not work as well for other writers, especially writers whose primary source of income does not come from their writing. But again, writing plans are intended to be flexible and should always be personalized. Therefore, it is possible for a writer to use another writer’s writing plan as a guideline to create one that is personalized.
Update frequently. A writer should be sure to keep writing plans updated. The world is constantly changing. Writers need to adapt. Equally important is writers grow. Their growth may warrant a new writing plan. For example, one of my favorite subgenres to write is sports romance. I have written several around hockey. Over the years, the rules of hockey have been changed by the sports commission to make the game safer for players. Stories that I wrote ten years ago could not be published in today’s market unless they were published as retro stories. There is nothing wrong with writing period pieces as long as they are identified as such. Consider the comic, Superman. In the 1950s, Clark Kent dashing into a phonebooth to don his superhero ensemble is not as plausible in 2020 as most places no longer have public phones due to the invention and commonplace of cellphones. Additionally, the public phones that do remain, many are freestanding and not in a booth.
Writers should research all the elements that need to be included in a writing plan. Writing as a hobby and writing professionally is different. Likewise, writing short stories is not the same as writing novels. The industry standards and guidelines often are different for the various genres and types of writing. Thus, when developing a writing plan, these guidelines should be considered so that all elements are included.
Writing plans do not have to be perfect. Spending too much time on developing a writing plan may be counterproductive. The purpose of a writing plan is to act as a guideline to assist writers in writing. However, if all a writer’s time is devoted to perfecting a writing plan, that writer is not spending time writing.

So, those are my tips for developing a writing plan. I hope they are helpful? Tell me what tips you have in writing your plans? Are there things I missed? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Also, don’t forget to pick up a copy of my new steamy, sports romance, Ice Gladiators, guaranteed to melt the ice. It’s the third book in my Locker Room Love series.

Taz has problems: a stalled career, a coach threatening to destroy him, a meddling matchmaking roommate, and a thing for his other roommate’s boyfriend. The first three are manageable, but the last… well, that’s complicated. Because as much as Taz is attempting not to notice Liam, Liam is noticing him.

Missed the two books in my sports romance series? No frets. Out of the Penalty Box, where it’s one minute in the box or a lifetime, out is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. Visit www.books2read.com/penalty. Defending the Net can be ordered at www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Life’s Roux: Wrong Doors, my steamy romantic comedy about what could go wrong on vacation, is available at Red Sage Publishing. To order, follow the link to http://bit.ly/2CtE7Ez or to Amazon at http://amzn.to/2lCQXpt.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou. If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Keep safe.

It’s Release Day!!

Posted on February 15, 2020January 13, 2021 by Genevive Chamblee

She’s here. She’s finally here. After all these weeks, mt baby, ICE GLADIATORS is now live. I can hardly believe it. Each book is special. Each release is special. But I’m telling you guys, this one is extra sweet. I listened to the readers for the story that you wanted told. Thank each of you so much for the inspiration, support, and faith.

#LIVE – “𝗔 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗢𝗿𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲.” – Goodreads review

ICE GLADIATORS

Plus, check out book 1 for just #99c!

Available for order!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2Lsg90b

All other links: books2read.com/icegladiators
Book 1 OUT OF THE PENALTY BOX: books2read.com/penalty

𝗢𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿.
Dalek “Taz” Tazandlakova is the epitome of a hockey player—tall, broad, and powerful. As a forward for the Lafayette Ice Water Moccasins, he’s also the physical embodiment of domination and intimidation.
He’s everything Liam Jolivet isn’t.

Liam possesses an inner strength and confidence Taz has never mastered. On the surface, Liam appears to be a perfect match for Taz. The problem is, Liam is dating Taz’s roommate. It’s not the only problem, either. Taz is a “playa” and has commitment issues—along with a pain-in-the-ass coach who’s threatening to ruin his career, and a second roommate who wants to dictate his social life for his own personal gain.
Nevertheless, Taz wants Liam, and Liam appears to want to reciprocate. Do they dare cross the line?

GIVEAWAY: #Win this #GiftCard

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Full-Time vs Part-Time Writing

Posted on June 5, 2019April 2, 2019 by Genevive Chamblee

Unless you’re an heir or heiress, changes are you must work at a job. Contrary to what some may believe, writing is a job. But anyone can write, right? Technically, yes. However, writing involves skills. Yes, anyone can type words but not everyone is a storyteller or possesses the ability to communicate in words clearly. Not everyone knows grammar and syntax. It doesn’t mean these things can’t be learned. It simply means, like mostly everything else in life, the craft of writing must learn.

That being said, many skilled writers are unable to support themselves, at least, initially, with their writing. House mortgages, care notes, insurances, and utilities must be paid—not to mention, groceries. For that reason, many writers find themselves working a nine-to-five (or other eight-hour jobs) to fund the basic necessities in life. This means the writer must seek other employment. But if the majority of one’s time is spent at a full-time job, then the writing often becomes the secondary fill-in-the gaps business. And that can be difficult not being able to do the job full-time that one is most passionate.

However, say that a writer has managed to finish a manuscript in his/her spare time, the writing business does not stop there. There remains editing, proofing, selling, and marketing regardless of the writer is published traditionally self-published. It is the extent of each of those elements which fall upon the writer that varies. It is easy to identify how difficult and exhausting being a part-time writer can be.

So, how does one do it? How is one successful being a part-time writer, or is that even possible? Yes, it certainly is possible.

One must remember that many bestselling authors began writing part-time. It may have been while they were a student or intern. How one starts does not always matter. Beginnings must happen somewhere. It’s wise to keep this in mind.
There are plenty of spare moments that one can steal to write. For example, while waiting in the lobby of the dentist office, instead of thumbing through magazines or twitching with anxiety, one could jot notes in a journal or create an outline. While on lunch break, one could write a killer paragraph or map out character sketches.
Part-time writers must stay motivated. Well, all writers should stay motivated, but part-time writers may need more in this area. Full-time writers have an understanding that writing is their livelihood. Not writing to a full-time writer means no income. However, to a part-time writer where his/her primary income is another source, motivation may slag more. Self-deprecating thoughts (e.g., not being good enough, wasting time writing, having multiple other obligations, etc.) may seep in. It’s important to make the most of what available time one has count. It is possible to get much accomplished in a short amount of time.
Ignore word count. That’s right, I said it, and half of the writing community probably just exploded. But I received some sound advice once from a very successful author. What good is it to write 2,000 words in a day if you have to ditch 1,999 of them for being crap? Wouldn’t it be more efficient and effective to write 500 words and have all 500 be meaningful that can be used in a story? It’s a matter of quality versus quantity. I’m not saying that word count goals can’t be good motivators or keep writers on track to achieve deadlines. However, if what is writing is a bunch of garbage, at the end of the day, it won’t matter how many words were written. I listened to a song that was a hit in the 1980s. In fact, it became a number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100. The entire song consisted of 21 words. The words were well-constructed and communicated the artist’s thoughts. The song was over three minutes longs, I’m certain some producers and promoters were concerned at the lack of lyrics. However, what was important wasn’t what wasn’t there but what was there. Good writing trumps bad writing any day. Not meeting a specific word count in a day does not indicate an unproductive day. In fact, writing a lot of gibberish cannot only waste time but may also sway the writer in the wrong direction.
Most writers struggle, and you’re not alone. Let me repeat that. You’re not alone. Reach out to others. If you are short on writing time, a critique partner could be your best friend. A CP may be able to keep you on track or help you create a better story faster. In times that you can’t spend writing, maybe your CP could be making notes for you on what you do have. Using this method allows writers to have their manuscripts worked on even when the author is busy else place.
Recognize the social media lie. I had a difficult time with this one, too. Most writing advice will say to build social platforms. What they don’t tell you is the heaping helping of potholes. For one, many writers fall into the trap of asking other writers (who also are building their platforms) to like their page, join their group, or follow them. Many will, but it’s an empty number. The person may join but never interact or read the posts. The effort the writer is putting in is being lost of phantoms. This isn’t always the case, but it happens frequently enough to mention. When asking someone to join a newsletter or page, be sure this is someone who wants to get to know you and are interested in your work. Likewise, make sure you are interested in them. Get to know them. View their page and actively support their platform. Use social media as a tool to allow people to get to know the writer as a priority. Using social media as solely and primarily a place to make sales may lead to disappointing results. Sure, people may decide to purchase books and merchandise from writers, but this usually comes after they have learned something about the author. This is branding.
The social media market is big enough for everyone, but it is also saturated. The people who have carved their niche did so years ago. Newbies struggle to be found and noticed. The effort being placed in building social media platforms may be better spent writing. Does this mean part-time writers should abandon or not bother with social media? Definitely not. It simply means newbies must balance their time wisely. If writing on social media is the goal, no problem. You’re set. Otherwise, plan your time for platform building so that it does not deplete a large portion of your writing time.

Enjoy sports romance? Check out my new adult romance, Defending the Net, released on November 10. It is the second in my hockey series and guaranteed to melt the ice. It will be sold at Kindle, Apple Store, Nook, Kobo, !ndigo, Angus & Robertson, and Mondadori Store. It is the second in my hockey series and guaranteed to melt the ice. Order a copy now at books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Missed the first in my hockey romance series? Don’t worry. Out of the Penalty Box, an adult romance where it’s one minute in the box or a lifetime out is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Life’s Roux: Wrong Doors, my steamy romantic comedy, is available at Red Sage Publishing. To order, follow the link to http://bit.ly/2CtE7Ez or to Amazon at http://amzn.to/2lCQXpt.

Copies of all my books and stories are available in paper, eBook, and audio on Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. The links are listed in my Writing Projects page (http://bit.ly/2iDYRxU) along with descriptions of each of my novels or stories.

Finally, if you or anyone you know are interested in joining a college Greek life organization, check out my special series posted each Monday for everything you wanted (and didn’t want) to know about college fraternities and sororities. Visit Sorority Bible Table of Contents to view any or all of these posts.

DISCLAIMER: Creole Bayou is not sponsored or being paid to endorse any business, website, person, podcast, broadcast, videos, philanthropy, or products. Any shoutouts given is due to personally liking a product or cause. There is no intention to slight any competitors or introduce bias. If you have a product or service that is related to anything mentioned in this post and would like a shoutout in the future, please do not hesitate to contact via email to inform me of such product or service.

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http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/

Constructing a Writing Plan

Posted on May 1, 2019May 1, 2019 by Genevive Chamblee

Writing a novel can be stressful. From coming up with an idea, transcribing that idea into words (either on paper or electronically), to publishing a process. Getting from A to Z may be a daunting task without a plan. However, there is no need to not have a plan of some sort—even for pantsters. So, here are some steps to create a solid writing plan guaranteed to reduce a writer’s stress and ensure a completed manuscript.

One may think the first step is to develop an idea for a story, but nope. There is so much that needs to occur prior to that. The very first step is to set goals. These could be deadlines, word counts, deciding genre, the location where one will write, time that will write, marketing plan, etc. Goals may be broad or narrow, but they need to be in place. The more specific the increased chance of success, but sometimes being specific isn’t possible or hinders writing.
Before continuing, understand that writing and publishing is a process, and it takes times. For most people (established celebrities excluded), things do not happen overnight. Getting to where you want to be takes time. One of the most important steps is understanding this and being prepared to put in the hard work required.
Another thing to prepare for initially is to expect setbacks, or, as the old folks say, expect the unexpected. This is a “when” and not an “if”. Life happens, and not always in a good way. Things will hit the fan, splatter, and be messy. Arm yourself with a good mop and bleach and be prepared to clean up the fallout. It’s okay because it happens to everyone, and with determination, you will trudge through it. Look at setbacks as learning moments and then keep trucking. Understanding that obstacles may be looming around corners need not throw you off your game if you are properly prepared.
That being said, be sure that you are passionate about writing. Writing can be frustrating, difficult, and isolating. If you want to produce a good, completed novel, you need to love what you’re doing in order to push through the difficult times. Writing a novel is like a marriage—in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for rich and for poorer…remember the poorer. You may find that you will need to miss events or make sacrifices in order to write. Not having a passion for it may later lead to resentment.
Write your goals down or put them in your phone calendar as a constant reminder of what you need to do. It is easy to overlook, ignore, or forget a rule if it isn’t documented. Sure, some people are capable of grocery shopping without a list. However, utilizing a list may simplify your life.
Hold yourself accountable for your goals. Setting goals are one thing. However, if there are no reward or consequences for meeting or failing to meet these goals, often there is not a motivation for achieving the goal. Since the process may be slow (especially in the beginning), it is important to check regularly that you are meeting the small goals that lead to the bigger ones. Think about a person on a weight loss journey. Participating in a weekly public weigh-in may be the determining factor for having a slice of triple-layer chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting or skipping dessert.
Prepare the environment. Gather any materials you will need for writing prior to sitting down to write. For example, if you frequently use a thesaurus or enjoy snacking while writing, have those things ready. There is no bigger waste of time if one has to search for needed items or leave to get something. Consider a school kid who needs to ride the bus each morning but who does not to pack his/her backpack, get papers signed, or decide what to wear the previous night. When the bus arrives, books and other school supplies may be scattered across several rooms. The odds of forgetting something increases. In fact, in the mad dash to gather the items, the child may not hear the bus and get left. Then the parent must drive the child to school, causing the parent to be late for work. Constant tardiness of this sort may lead to reprimands or firing. And all of this happened because time was not taken to gather materials. Additionally, looking for materials may break the writing flow. By the time one returns to continue, the inspiration may be gone.
Get rid of known distractors. If you have a bad habit of checking your phone, turn it on silent, put it on airplane mode, turn it off, put it in another room for it to charge, or you can turn the data off for the app. If your vice is social media, sign out or turn on your invisibility sign. It’s not rude to unplug for a while. Friends and family will understand your need to stay focus to work. If anyone hassles you for doing this, ask yourself if they are really supportive of your craft.
Consistency is key. It may be difficult, but making writing a habit greatly will improve one’s work. A person who writes consistently quickly will find his/her voice. He/she will begin to see patterns in his/her writing, which comes in handy when editing. The writer will be able to identify personal strengths and weaknesses in their works. Even if the effort does not appear to be paying off, one still needs to write or remain involved in the writing process. Sometimes, it is the additive effect, or the sum of all parts, that matters most. Keep plugging at it.
Keep an open mind and be willing to learn. Learning will allow one to grow as a writer. For example, the more one writes, the more one may pay attention to grammar. This may enable to the writer to develop better first drafts or require less editing. (Note “less” not “none”.)
Block out a time to write or a time to work on writing. For example, a writer may reserve Mondays for posting on social media, Tuesdays for marketing, Wednesdays for editing, and Thursdays through Saturdays for writing new content. Or one may decide to write for two consecutive hours daily. Or one may choose to write in a certain location.
Do not be afraid to evolve and change direction. Where you start and think you want to go may not be where you finish. Writing can be a winding path. Explore the various options and find the one that works best for you. However, do not venture too far from your starting path or you may find yourself wandering aimlessly in the wilderness.

Enjoy sports romance? Check out my new adult romance, Defending the Net, released on November 10. It is the second in my hockey series and guaranteed to melt the ice. It will be sold at Kindle, Apple Store, Nook, Kobo, !ndigo, Angus & Robertson, and Mondadori Store. It is the second in my hockey series and guaranteed to melt the ice. Order a copy now at www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Life’s Roux: Wrong Doors, my steamy romantic comedy, is available at Red Sage Publishing. To order, follow the link to http://bit.ly/2CtE7Ez or to Amazon at http://amzn.to/2lCQXpt.

IWSG

Confessions of an Overwriter

Posted on April 3, 2019January 18, 2021 by Genevive Chamblee

My name is Genevive Chamblee, and I’m an overwriter. I find myself not only chatty in conversations but rambling in words. I’m an extrovert and come from a family of talkers (mostly)—a community, in fact. It may seem a copout, but it’s the culture. I’m convinced southerners are born long-winded. This bleeds over into my writing. If you’re a panster like me, this may lead to significant problems.

What problems? First, and probably the most obvious, is publication problems. For self-publishers, this may not be an issue. For writers seeking to go the traditional route, hang on because it’s about to be a bumpy ride. Most genres have suggested word counts. Now, let me stop right there. The word is “suggested”. It is not mandatory. It is not a rule. It is a suggestion that anyone who isn’t a celebrity, bestselling author, or famous media personality should follow.

Second, writing is a business. Agents and publishers are seeking financial gain by selling books. Publishing costs money, and many of those costs are tied directly to the length of a book. Longer books take longer to edit, which means more time an editor must spend working with it. The more hours an editor clocks in, the more the charges. In brick and mortar stores, larger books take up more shelf space. Shipping fees are more. Paper costs increase. Many agents or publishers won’t consider works over specific word counts. Like it or not, right or wrong, they may agents or publishers believe it is too risky to invest in longer books by lesser-known writers. They compare the cost of publishing to the profit they expect to make. The lower the financial investment on the front end, the higher the potential profit.

Second part B, it cost self-publishers. Self-published books need a professional edit—not a computer program or a good friend or even an English professor. Self-published writers should hire a professional editor. There are plenty of self-published writers who would argue this is not the case. But the bottom line is when a book is not edited well, it makes it harder for all writers. Readers are extremely angry when they pay for a book riddled with typos and grammatical errors. And since so many self-published books have not been appropriately edited, self-published books in general been stereotyped as lower quality, and some readers will not purchase a book that has been self-published based on the stereotype.

The argument then becomes that hiring a professional editor is too expensive. Aha! And this is where word count enters. Most independent editors charge per word. Lowering word count prior to sending to an editor may save the writer hundreds of dollars. Plus, it allows the editor to focus on other issues the text may have. The editor may complete the job in a shorter amount of time, which may mean the writer can publish sooner and can begin generating sales.

Three, many readers are impatient and prefer instant gratification. They want their stories short and sweet. Consider the state of traditional newspapers and magazines. Many subscribers get their news online. Why? Because there is no waiting and constant updates. They do not have to leave their cozy bed to venture outside into the blustery January wind and fish their paper from a bird bath. Other readers do not have time to read longer works. They cram their pleasure reading in between work meetings or while commuting on the bus or subway. Binge watching series have spoiled a generation and taught them waiting does not have to be an option. It is not uncommon to see a movie previewing in selected theatres to have spoilers on the internet several hours later. Packages are rushed delivered.

Fourth, if the book is hardback or paperback book, readers may not have room in their backpack or suitcase. Or they may be too burdensome to transport or too bulky for compact apartments. We are a society on-the-go. Smaller books are easier to pack.

But stop! Hold the delete button. Wait a minute before cutting that scene. Many writers get caught up in writing X-number of words because it’s a “rule” when the focus should be writing the story until it is finished. At the end of the day, content is what is the most important and not the word count.

Oh, that sounds like a contradiction. But it isn’t. Here’s the real tea. A well-written story can get away with longer or shorter word counts than suggested by the general guidelines. However, many times, books with shorter word counts are underdeveloped and longer word counts are dragging in parts. In other words, those stories may benefit from additional editing, not because of word count but to improve the quality of content. Again, this is not always the case, and there are exceptions.

Before a writer begins slashing their work, he/she needs to take a critical look at the entire story. Does the story work? Is the plot concise or convoluted? Are parts of the story boring? Are there unnecessary scenes or characters? Are there too many subplots? Has the story become repetitious in places? Is there more than one story, or is the story better told divided into two parts? Are some sections too complicated or complex? Does the story remain on target or ramble? Is there a better way to express an idea? Has the genre of the story been identified appropriately? All of these questions need to be asked and answered before any cutting is done.

I want to discuss the last question a little further, as I feel it often is one overlooked. Has the genre of the story been identified appropriately? Each genre (and subgenre) have suggested word counts. Some genre suggested word counts are higher than others. Therefore, if a writer has miscategorized the genre, the writer may be aiming for the wrong word count. In that instance, a writer may be well in the range of the suggested word count but not know it. I found myself in that position once. I spent weeks agonizing how to cut additional words to meet my goal when I realized my story had grown beyond my original concept. When the idea first came to me, I delayed writing it. After my first draft, I set it aside for several months. As I edited it, I saw plot holes and then a big shock. My “end” wasn’t the end. It was the climax that required a resolution. After more editing to correct the plot, my story switched genres, but I did not realize it. I combed through the story line-by-line more than a dozen times, failing to meet my goal. All the fat had been trimmed, and there was no extra. It wasn’t until I started asking why I couldn’t get my word count to where I thought it needed to be without losing content. It was because I needed the extra words for worldbuilding, something I had not done in previous works. After re-evaluation, I still needed to cut words but not as many.

And here’s one final note before hitting the delete button. A writer should be confident in their story. Just because a beta, critique partner, sensitivity reader, or editor suggest something be cut does not necessarily mean it needs to be cut. Those groups of people offer suggestions to the writer in order to improve the story. However, it is the writer’s decision what, if any, of those suggestions to accept. Sometimes, a writer’s vision of the story may not be the same as the persons helping. If that is the case, then the writer may need to re-evaluate who he/she has helped.

I once presented a story in a critique group. They suggested I cut my entire first chapter. When I followed this suggestion, the heavy-hand chop devastated my story. The group said it was my ego that made me feel that way. They accused me of being overly sensitive and not objective, and for a while, I thought it might have been. It took weeks for me to see the issue. Each time I read my story, it sounded more and more generic and disjointed. I was not happy.

Yes, the first chapter was bulky and may have been a little “telly”, too. But that was not the main problem. The biggest issue was that part of the chapter was in the wrong place. It needed to be pushed back to chapters three and four. The second issue was the critique group was not the same demographic as my target audience. Third, the main information they suggested I cut was necessary information that had to occur in a particular order to maintain a logical timeline. For example, they would suggest that information be explained later in the story or by a different character. Explaining later would cause confusion and using a different character would cause inconsistencies. Joe can’t explain something to Sally in chapter two if he vanishes in chapter one—unless I wanted to dig my grave in flashbacks. And adding flashbacks would have increased my word count.

In short, I had a problem. I knew I had a problem, which is why I presented it to the critique group. The critique recognized there was a problem. They pointed out valid problems. But they also wanted to take my story and stuff it into a mold of what I consider trendy writing, such as death to all adverbs. One boasted his novel didn’t contain a single adverb. I’m sure that’s great for him and his novel. Didn’t work for mine. As an author, I didn’t ask the questions that I should have to my critique group. Because I didn’t have a firm grasp on my story, I did not enable my critique group to give me the necessary feedback. They did their part, but I hadn’t done mine.

It required a great deal of work, but I managed to get the first chapter where it needed to be. My cuts were in sentence structure. I had to add words to flush out scenes before I could cut to a lower word count. Being an overwriter can be a huge pain in the butt, but recovery is possible.

Enjoy sports romance? Check out my new adult romance, Defending the Net, released on November 10. It is the second in my hockey series and guaranteed to melt the ice. It will be sold at Kindle, Apple Store, Nook, Kobo, !ndigo, Angus & Robertson, and Mondadori Store. It is the second in my hockey series and guaranteed to melt the ice. Order a copy now at www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

IWSG

How to Get a Literary Agent

Posted on March 6, 2019January 18, 2021 by Genevive Chamblee

Today’s topic is nailing getting a literary agent. These tips will provide writers looking for an agent useful advice. So, let’s jump right in and get to it.

Learn the agents who will be interested in your book/novel. This may be done in several ways.
Internet searches
Books (e.g., the Writers Market)
Online websites that list agents and their bios
Professional writing groups
Word of mouth/asking other authors
The acknowledgment section in published books in the genre a writer wants to publish. Sometimes, authors list their agents in the acknowledgment section
Writers conferences
Query letters. A query basically is an introduction/cover letter from a writer to an agent. It should be professionally done, as in edited with proper grammar, format, and information included. It should be under a page in length with concise paragraphs. Make it interesting but saver the flowery language for later. It should give a brief description of the main character(s), plot, and relevant information from the writer’s resume (e.g., previous publications, writing awards, memberships in professional writing organizations, educational degrees, and anything that lend credibility to the writer’s writing ability. Many agents list the guidelines for what they want in a query on their websites.
Create a pitch that shows an agent that the writer is knowledgeable in the genre. This does not mean listing a litany of everything one has ever learned in a creative writing class. But it does mean demonstrating that the writer is competent in subject and theme of critical elements necessary for inclusion in a genre. For example, a science fiction novel needs to have science in it. It’s not the same as fantasy. The two may overlap, but if it’s all mermaids and fairies and no science, it’s fantasy and not science fiction.
Send queries in batches. This is done in steps.
Compile a list of agents that the writer is interested in working with. There should be at least a dozen names on the list.
Prioritize the list to the agents most interested in working with to the least.
Personalize each letter. Do not send mass letters that say “dear sir/madam”. Take the time to address each agent by name and throw in something about the type of client that agent tends to prefer or represent. In other words, indicate that you how done your research and know about the agent and his/her agency.
Know how the agent prefers to be contacted. Most prefer email these days, but some still may be old school and prefer snail mail. Yet, others may have online query forms in lieu of letters.
Mail/email 5 – 6 letters initially and wait for a response. Use any rejection feedback to improve the query. (Note, there is an exception to this that I will address later.) If no offers/acceptances are made and the query has been updated, send it to the next 5-6 agents on the list. Continue this process until agent is obtained or the listed is exhausted. If the list is exhausted and having an agent is still desired, do more research and begin again. Be sure to consider any elements in the story that might be putting off an agent, and be sure that the queries are sent to agents in the desired genre.
Do not send multiple agents in the same firm queries at the same time. Select one. If a writer decides to later query another agent within the same agency with the same manuscript, write a new query. Do not send the same letter. Remember, agents talk to each other.
Understand that obtaining an agent may be a lengthy process. Be patient.
Have a complete manuscript prior to querying. Now, here is a point of debate. The manuscript may need editing, but no agent will expect perfection. (Note: there’s more to this.) However, it should be a final copy, meaning the story has a beginning, middle, end, and has been spellchecked, proofed, in standard font, and properly formatted. It should not be a draft.
Don’t get set on one agent. Keep an open mind and query widely. Although a writer may desire to work with his/her favorite author’s agent, that agent may not be a correct fit.
Understand that landing an agent may not translate into that agent being able to sell the manuscript to a publisher quickly or at all. It may take months or years for an agent to sell a manuscript. Having realistic expectations and acknowledging them may cause an agent to be more willing to work with a writer.
Know the agent’s resume and sell record. If an agent has dozens of clients but hasn’t made any sells, that says something. Be sure to select an agent who is not overextended.
Do not automatically rule out new agents. Some agents just beginning are thirty to prove themselves and work diligently to find new writers publishers. Remember, agents, make a living by selling manuscripts. New agents will work hard to make the sell. Some of the more distinguished agents may take on new writers but prioritize their more established clients. Thus, a new client may not receive as much attention.
Agents are not editors—at least not all of them. While some agents may give editorial feedback on a manuscript, their main job is to sell and not edit. That is why a manuscript needs to be the best that a writer can make it. But in #7, I wrote a manuscript didn’t need to be perfect. And I also said there was more to this. This is it. Most traditional publishers have an editing staff and edit all books to ensure they meet the publishing house’s standard and criteria. However, editing costs money. With the amount of competition that exist and the push to have manuscripts published quickly, both agents and publishers expect manuscripts to be near perfect. Agents need a decent product to sell.
Although agents’ main job is not editing, they will have input to improve the manuscripts. An agent may ask for changes in the manuscript based upon what he/she knows he/she can sell to a publisher. Be prepared to work with an agent on that level.
There are perks to having an agent. However, writers can be successful without one. Many small publishing houses consider working with writers without agents. Of course, self-published authors don’t need agents. That doesn’t mean they can’t have one, but self-publishers are their own agents and aren’t negotiating deals with publishers. The point is, not finding an agent does not mean a writer won’t have a writing career. There are many successful authors without agents. Having an agent is most important when trying to publish with a large publishing house.
Expect reject. It’s all a part of the process. Very few writers land agents with the first pitch or first query. It is not impossible, just difficult.
Now to revisit #4 regarding using agent feedback to revamp query letters. Before using that information to rewrite the query, read it carefully. Many agents are busy and send out form rejection letters. As with everything else, over the years the look of these letters has changed. Templates have been created to make some of these letters appear more personal. One new writer posted to a writing group what she thought was a considerate and glowing rejection letter. Shortly after she posted the letter, several other writers posted a very similar letter from the same publisher. The recommendations for changes were identical, although, the names of the books were personalized in each letter. That is not to criticize the agent. However, basing changes off generic feedback is mostly useless. Be sure that the feedback used is genuine.
Finally, beware of bad agents and scams. Agents do take a part of the money when a manuscript is sold. That is how they make their living. However, writers should not be paying agents unexplained fees. If an agent is asking for money upfront to represent a writer, the writer should be cautious.

That is it for this post. Don’t forget to visit Creole Bayou again. New posts are made on Wednesdays. Furthermore, my special series on Greek life, sororities, and everything parents or students wanting to join a sorority (or fraternity) should know is posted each Monday. If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors.

Enjoy sports romance? Check out my new adult romance, Defending the Net, released on November 10. It is the second in my hockey series and guaranteed to melt the ice. It will be sold at Kindle, Apple Store, Nook, Kobo, !ndigo, Angus & Robertson, and Mondadori Store. It is the second in my hockey series and guaranteed to melt the ice. Order a copy now at www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Life’s Roux: Wrong Doors, my steamy romantic comedy, is available at Red Sage Publishing. To order, follow the link to http://bit.ly/2CtE7Ez or to Amazon at http://amzn.to/2lCQXpt.

ISWG

How to Write a Kissing Scene

Posted on February 6, 2019January 18, 2021 by Genevive Chamblee

In novels, especially romances, kissing scenes can be some of the most powerful and important scenes. Because of this, writers need to be well versed and take special care in designing and developing these kinds of scenes. Here are ten tips to help create a dynamic scene.

Decide what type of kiss it is. Is it loving, playful, revengeful? Is it consensual or reluctant? Knowing the type of kiss helps set up the appropriate body language that accompanies it and communicated emotion.
Avoid the kiss being robotic, scientific, and clinical. If the kiss reads like DVR instructions or a paint-by-numbers, it probably needs toning down a bit. It is not necessary to provide step-by-step on every minute detail of the kiss. In general, kissing involves one person’s lips intentionally touching another person somewhere. (There are exceptions to his, and but let’s not get into all that. For now, allow this definition to suffice.) Using this definition, it is unnecessary (and redundant) to write something such as, “He kissed her with his lips.” Kissing scenes work best when they appear natural and effortless. It shouldn’t be relayed as a series of conscientious physical movements.
Take time with the first kiss. Build up to the moment. Create tension. Usually, but not always, the first kiss is the one that is the most exciting. Notice I said “exciting” and not “loving”, although, it also may be loving.
Do not overlook the emotional elements and internal sensations. How the characters feel while is really good stuff and story material. Are their toes tingling? Hearts thumping? Hair about to singe from their scalps? Or are the characters repulsed? Do they feel dirty, ashamed, or guilty? Did the kiss make their blood boil hot or chill ice cold or both? Or is there something more happening? Perhaps someone feels disappointed or jilted.
In a kissing scene, it is crucial for the writer to show and not tell. Telling would involve something along the lines of, “The kiss made her happy.” Instead, show the joy light in her eyes or her swooning as she walked. Better yet, have the male swoon. Readers don’t get to see that too often.
Don’t forget to write the characters’ reaction to or after the kiss. A kissing scene has its own mini-arc. a. The tension leading up to it. b. The physical act. c. the post-kiss reaction. Is the character relieved, regretful, or elated? Has it changed (for better of worse) the relationship between the characters? Is it a pivotal or eye-opening moment? Will it alter the characters’ outlooks, perspectives, or motivations? How will the kiss impact the characters for the remainder of the story? Will it lead to more or something else?
Go for it. Don’t be afraid to write the scene. If it’s the first kissing scene a writer has written, it may feel a bit embarrassing, awkward, or uncomfortable. Write the scene first and worry with editing it later. Just get it on paper with inhibition. The more a writer works with it, the better (and easier) kissing scenes become. Being too anxious about it will make writing it worse. This often is the part of a story (along with sex scenes) writers worry about being judged, especially by family and close friends. Given that writing is usually personal to start, it may be difficult for a writer to write something that mostly is reserved to be private and intimate and not for public consumption (unless one is a voyeur which is a completely different topic). Put fear aside and jump in head first.
Make the emotions and kiss relatable. As with method acting, writers should understand the characters and write what is felt in the moment. That does not mean the writer must write from a particular character’s POV, but the writers should convey to the ready what the character authentically is feeling. The scene shouldn’t be written as if it’s some aloof occurrence, unless, of course, it is some aloof occurrence. The emotions the characters feel in the moment should be written in a way that readers feel them, too. The best way for that to happen is if the writer fully commits to writing the scene.
Understand that there are several ways to write a kissing scene. Since not all kisses are “romantic”, sometimes a writer may want to get in and out, sort of speak. Therefore, a writer may choose to pare down the scene by spending a sentence or two on the kiss instead of developing a more elaborate description.
Keep in mind the age and skill level of the characters. Some characters may be more experienced or suave than others. A fourteen-year old’s first kiss is likely to be different than a thirty-year-old—although, there may be some bumbling thirtysomethings out there.

BONUS TIP: Don’t be afraid to play around with it and have some fun.

Don’t forget to visit Creole Bayou again. New posts are made on Wednesdays. Furthermore, my special series on Greek life, sororities, and everything parents or students wanting to join a sorority (or fraternity) should know is posted each Monday. If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors.

Enjoy sports romance? Check out my new adult romance, Defending the Net, released on November 10. It is the second in my hockey series and guaranteed to melt the ice. It will be sold at Kindle, Apple Store, Nook, Kobo, !ndigo, Angus & Robertson, and Mondadori Store. It is the second in my hockey series and guaranteed to melt the ice. Order a copy now at www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Life’s Roux: Wrong Doors, my steamy romantic comedy, is available at Red Sage Publishing. To order, follow the link to http://bit.ly/2CtE7Ez or to Amazon at http://amzn.to/2lCQXpt.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click Newsletter and signup today.

IWSG

How to Write a Successful Blog

Posted on January 2, 2019January 18, 2021 by Genevive Chamblee

Several years ago, when blogging was in its infancy, many writers took to blogging forums as a way to expose their work to audiences. They had something to say and wanted their voices heard. Others flocked to these forms as a type of public journal/diary or as a way to connect or translate their personal stories, struggles, and dilemmas to others. It allowed the blogger an avenue to freely express himself/herself to others in a fairly anonymous way, meaning the blogger didn’t have to use his/her real name or look anyone in the eye. They could speak a truth without direct confrontation or judgment, a.k.a., behind the security of a computer screen. Readers, in turn, not only had these blogs draw them in to make them feel cathartic and not alone but also entertained them. They began to demand more from bloggers. They sought a degree of authenticity and more than random ramblings of mundane daily life or fanciful story times. Themes—an expectation of what one was to read—were desired.

As the blogging community became more populated and crowded, blogs became more competitive for space and viewership. Thousands existed. Everyone had a story, and they all floated in the same realm, sort of speak. Eventually, SEOs became the predominate way blogs landed in front of readers. Not long after that, clever bloggers found ways to manipulate SEO algorithms to boost sales by jamming them with spam, false data, inflated data, and other unwanted and/or useless content. This caused search engine programmers and social media platforms to crack down even harder, thus, making many blogs lost in cyberspace unable to be located by most readers. Paid and sponsored blogs took over. It seemed the days of “grassroots” blogging were gone. With the increased popularity of vlogging and snapchat, it may seem blogging is dead. However, that isn’t true, but it has changed.

Blogging is now more platformed-based. Think of it like a bookstore where everything is departmentalized. Before blogging was like a library—a wealth of various information stored in on building that easily be located by a simple look around. Bookstores are more complex libraries, dividing and separating by content, author, and title. It’s more specific in it’s holding. Blogs that are categorized incorrectly may experience a more difficult time attracting viewers. Therefore, it is important that bloggers understand a few key concepts in order to create and/or maintain a successful blog. Here are some tips.

Make sure the material is relevant. That seems a little odd to say because everything has an audience. However, some audiences are larger than others. Despite the size of the audience, readers want good information that is updated and current.
Style and entertainment. It isn’t enough to duplicate what is out there already. Many topics have beaten to death, resurrected, and killed again. Readers are looking for new information, or at least, common information presented in a novel and refreshing way. Adding a unique perspective is a must. Readers want to be entertained.
Don’t waste time. Readers are busy, and many read blogs when they have downtime or are on the go. However, many more are looking for specific information and want to extract the information and carry on. Thus, they aren’t looking to spend ten minutes reading exposition. In vlogs, they simply hit FF. They want the facts and nothing but the facts. So, the faster a blogger gets to the meat of the story, the happier readers are going to be.
#Hashtags. There is quite a bit of debate over hashtag use. Either they are loved or despised. The best is to use them wisely. Here’s the rub. When hashtags first were a thing, they were useful because there weren’t that many being used. They quickly gained popularity. The truth is, they remain useful in quickly locating and linking similar information. The difficulty is that the net is now flooded with them and using unpopular or the wrong ones may miss the target audience. Hashtags also tend to change frequently. That is trending one day may not be the next. Since blogs are stationary, attached hashtags may become stagnant after a short time. What is more, SEOs began flagging posts with too many listed. Using more hashtags than an SEO’s allotted algorithm quota may create a red flag that will cause a search engine to dismiss a post as spam.

Some readers find the use of hashtags annoying and heavily criticize them. The best advice for bloggers is to use standard hashtags in moderation. Use the one that will best categorize the post and not use more than 2-3 in a single post in social media ads or 10-15 on the blog site.

Find affiliate sites to link. The more places readers can find a blog link, the more traffic a link will get. Also, it never hurts to help a local or new business. Spread the love.
Collaborate with other bloggers. Consider allowing them to write guest posts. Not only will this add content to the blog, but it will also provide exposure to a wider audience for both bloggers.
Post regularly. The frequency of posting is debatable. Some will argue, bloggers should post daily. That requires a severe amount of time, not to mention content. But higher frequency isn’t guaranteed to increase readership. Besides, it’s better to have less of something good than more of something bad. High-frequency posting has worked for some. For others, it has not. What has been proven is consistency. When readers know when to expect posts, they look forward to reading them.
Don’t sign up for space holder subscribers/readers. Often, there are sights that are follow-back sites where the owners/creators mutually agree to follow each other’s blogs. Yes, follow. That person did not say anything about reading. This means a blog could have 5,000 followers but only 4 people out of the 5,000 take the time to read the posts. For the blogger, the post will not receive any interaction or likes. Thus, the blog won’t grow. A more sophisticated form of this is bots. These are computer accounts designed to increase numbers on paper but are meaningless. It’s the equivalent of printing paper money but not having the gold to back it.
Know the function of a blog. What does the creator want the blog to do? Is it to sell a product? Is it to provide information to the public? Is it to voice a political view? The more consistent a blog is in content; the more loyal readers will be.
Don’t become discouraged by low readership. Building a blog takes time. It may take several years to grow it, and it is not always easy work. However, writing it should be something the creator enjoys. So even if there are no readers, the blog will still be fulfilling to the creator.
Don’t be scared to set goals. Setting goals is a good way to keep motivated and productive. If one wants to grow their blog by five people each month, then set the goal and work towards it. Look for ways to make the small goals happen, and over time, one will have a large result.
Use social media to advertise. For example, if a blog is about DIY, then create a Pinterest account and post photos with links back to the blog.
Include images. Readers like visuals.
Create intriguing titles that make readers want to click and read the article. If it sounds interesting, they will come.
Use keywords. This is along the line of hashtags. Including keywords will help readers find blogs when searching.
Write it. There is no way a blog can be successful if it is never written. Many things about the process will be trial and error. Some topics/posts will strike more of a cord with readers than others.
Following all of the best advice isn’t a guarantee for success, but it can set one on the correct path.

Enjoy sports romance? Check out my new adult romance, Defending the Net, released on November 10. It is the second in my hockey series and guaranteed to melt the ice. It will be sold at Kindle, Apple Store, Nook, Kobo, !ndigo, Angus & Robertson, and Mondadori Store. It is the second in my hockey series and guaranteed to melt the ice. Order a copy now at www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Life’s Roux: Wrong Doors, my steamy romantic comedy, is available at Red Sage Publishing. To order, follow the link to http://bit.ly/2CtE7Ez or to Amazon at http://amzn.to/2lCQXpt.

IWSG

Defending the Net Released

Posted on November 10, 2018January 18, 2021 by Genevive Chamblee

It’s here! It’s finally here! YEAH! It’s the release of my sexy sports novel, Defending the Net, that follows the romance of goalies Brighton and Gatien. These bad boys of hockey bring back the term body-check. I am so excited and stoked that words can’t express it enough. I can barely believe it is happening. That means this day must be celebrated (as if I haven’t been celebrating the entire week).

Let me tell you. This week has been insane. I’ve had tons of tech issues. I was beginning to think my life was a remake of Maximum Overdrive with the way my electronics began taking a life of its on.

My email went all wonky, and important messages were being directed to spam. I have no idea when it started doing it, but I’m assuming it has been several weeks, maybe even months. If anyone emailed me within the last couple of weeks, I’m still going through all of it and am responding as fast as I can. Second, my blog cropped up weirdness and began posting at random time after the clocks were set back for the time change. First, it defaulted everything to noon. Later, I noticed some had reset to 9:00 AM. I’ve had to go in twice now to fix it back to 10:00 AM CST, but don’t be surprised if my post comes in at some other time.

Then, my Facebook page decided it didn’t want to allow me to post anything there. Nope, nothing. And then, when I finally managed to get it to upload and it was incorrect, it wouldn’t allow me to delete. I had to have others go into my page for me, and it even gave them problems. So, who knows. I guess the stars just lined up, and said, “Not today you won’t.” But, oh yes, I will because today, is the day. DTN is released, and I couldn’t be happier. Every mishap has not deterred it from happening, and I’m overjoyed to be sharing it with each of you.

Jumping right in with tons of info in this post.

BLOG

So, to recap, anyone following knows that I have been posting every day since October 28 with special posts leading up to the release. That has been tons of fun. Each has provided some type of insight or relates to DTN. Here’s a quick rundown of posts.

Love & Sociopaths (Halloween inspired and not at all demented and dark)
Kissing Smooch Smooch
Romantic Horrors (Another Halloween inspiration)
Real Talk About Your Characters Writing Tag (A fun way for writers to talk about their WIP and books. I used DTN characters to complete this tag.)
DTN: What’s That (A synopsis and background of DTN)
The Quick and Dirty Guide to Hockey (The rules of hockey explained)
An Interview with Myself (Answering FAQ about DTN and other matters)
Beer Facts (Cause hockey players drink beer)
Presenting the Sigma Male (Step aside alpha. There’s a new man in town.)
Saint Anne, Louisiana (All about the hometown of DTN)
Defending the Net Playlist (The music I frequently listened to or was inspired by while writing DTN)
Meet the Players (All about the characters of DTN)

All of these posts are on my blog. Also, let me remind everyone that my giveaways are still going happening.

CONTESTS

Contest #1

Today is the last day to win a free DVD from Hot Tree Publishing when you grab a copy of DTN. Visit their Facebook page for all the details. (Hot Tree Publishing Facebook)

Contest #2

Win a free signed copy of Out of the Penalty Box, my first hockey romance that was released earlier this year. All one has to do to enter the giveaway is:

Follow this blog on Creole Bayou
Like this post/leave a comment
Join my Newsletter/Mailing list at https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/

BONUS ENTRY: For anyone who follows steps 1-3 AND preorders a copy of Defending the Net, your name will be entered twice for a chance to win. Just post a copy of your order receipt below or email it to genevivechamblee@yahoo.com

It’s that simple. A winner will be chosen at random. The giveaway ends 11/11/18 at 11:59 CST.

Contest #3

For a chance to win a free copy of DTN, post a picture of the DTN cover on Instagram and tag me in it so I’ll know it’s there. My Instagram is genevivechambleeauthor if you would like to leave me a message or comment on any posts. The giveaway ends 11/30/18 at 11:59 CST.

Or if you prefer, you can post a picture of the DTN cover on Twitter and tag me there. My twitter is @dolynesaidso. The giveaway ends 11/30/18 at 11:59 CST.

WHERE TO PURCHASE

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/b…/show/41207644-defending-the-net

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2L8LWQn
All Links: books2read.com/defending

WHERE TO WRITE AND READ REVIEWS

I always love hearing from readers. If after reading you would like to tell others about the experience, I’m on both Amazon and Goodreads. I will list the links below. I appreciate honest reviews, so whatever you have to say, feel free to post it. Even if you decide you do not want to write a review, please consider stopping by Amazon, Goodreads, or both and giving it a star liking/ranking.

Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/genevivechamblee

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16429845.Genevive_Chamblee

“I want to read DTN but…”

Here’s the tea.

A common question that I have been asked and have addressed but would like to address again is DTN’s relationship with my first sports novel, Out of the Penalty Box. I am frequently asked if DTN is a sequel. No, it is not. OotPB is the story of Aidan and Christophe. They make an appearance in DTN as do some of the other OotPB characters, but DTN is the story of Brighton and Gatien. DTN can be read as a standalone. However, OotPB is available for purchase as well. (Or if you participate in one of my contests, you may win a free copy of it.)

Another common question is one needs to have an in-depth knowledge about hockey to enjoy DTN. No. I do my best to explain any technical terms or rules within the story. But for those who want to know more prior to reading, I wrote a post (A Quick and Dirty Guide to Hockey) that covers this topic. But also remember, DTN is first and far most a romance.

Many of my characters speak French, Cajun French, or French Creole. Sometimes, readers have a concern that they will not be able to understand because they do not speak these languages. Know that I do my best to explain each foreign word/term either directly or with context clues. I also keep the usage of any of these languages to a minimum. Therefore, the story is easy to read and understand.

Some ARC readers have asked if the story of Brighton and Gatien will continue. It depends. If enough of you say that you would like to read more about them, then please let me know in either an email or comment on one of my social media platforms. I main goal is to entertain my readers. I have said it several times, without my readers, none of this would be possible. I cannot express my gratitude and appreciation enough.

Do you have time to read it? I’ve been informed by ARC readers that DTN goes by quickly because of the pacing. It’s also not 100 billion pages that will take months. Thus, if you’re pressed for time DTN may be a book for you.

You’re still not sure because it’s, “eh, just another romance”. With DTN, I try to go beyond typical romance and bring both drama and comedy. I want to do the unexpected and break stereotypic molds. My characters may not be typical or react as most. I also appreciate diversity. Hopefully, readers will find characters they can connect or relate. I like bringing giggles when least expected, too.

Yes, but is it sexy? Oh, yeah. DTN is steaming hot. Any hotter and the ice rink would be a sauna.

TWEETING ON TWITTER

Okay, so I guess that’s all I have for now. Today, I will be around for most of the day on Twitter. If you have questions or want to chat about DTN, my novels, or anything else, tweet me @dolynesaidso. Drop in and say hello.

Keep your eyes peeled for other adventures today. Who knows what I may have spring up later?

ebooks

BLOG

CONTESTS

WHERE TO PURCHASE

WHERE TO WRITE AND READ REVIEWS

“I want to read DTN but…”

TWEETING ON TWITTER