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Hi! I'm Sarah J. Williams, and I'm a children’s book author who has published two books, Sophia & the Dragon: Who Came for Dinner and Sophia & Mr Rocket.

I live with my half-British, half-Swedish family in Örebro, Sweden. My Sophia books are named after and based on my daughter (Sophia is her middle name). The books about Sophia contain helpful tricks, games, and stories that I used to tell my daughter when she was little.

Writing has always been my greatest passion. A fun anecdote is that I created children’s books before I could read myself. When I was little, I folded together paper into miniature books, drew animals, and “wrote” by using wavy lines. Then, I made up stories for the small books, telling anyone who wanted to listen. A shout-out to anyone who used to do the same!

I've written two more Sophia books. They are currently being queried for the Swedish traditional book market. They will be published and translated into English. Furthermore, I have now written my eighth book, which is also currently being queried to Swedish traditional book publishers.

Fun Facts:

One of my favourite books is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. I've reread the books numerous times and still laugh at hearing the word \"yellow\".
My favourite book series when growing up was Narnia.
The children's book author that I look up to the most is Julia Donaldson. She has written The Gruffalo and many other great stories for children.
I have a home library with over one thousand books.
When I'm not writing two books a year, I'm a student and work in psychiatry.
I'm fluent in English as well as Swedish.
My daughter has a dog called Achilles, as well as two cats: Willow and Daizy.
I studied journalism and writing at The Writer's Bureau in the United Kingdom.

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\"Hurry up, we need to go!\"

There is something extra special about Sophia. While other children play at the park, she explores outer space on her magnificent red-and-white rocket!

Sophia doesn't want to get dressed to go out, but Mr Rocket does NOT like waiting!

For every little adventurer, Mr Rocket is here to help make getting dressed fun.

The Sophia book series helps children with daily tasks that may be challenging for parents, teachers and other caregivers. Find out now how this clever book can help your child get dressed without fuss in a way that is perfect for all children: neurodiversity and every child.

Sophia & Mr Rocket is a lovely story about friendship and reaching your goals. It's perfect as a bedtime story for children ages 0-6 and as a book for first-time readers at school.

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\"My autistic nephew loves your stories! I don't know how many times I've read your books. For a long time, your books were the only way we could communicate with our child. They've been such a lifesaver to our family. Many thanks!\" -Anonymous

\"This was a great entry in the Sophia series as a rocket successfully gets Sophia to play games and wear the right clothes like gloves and a scarf. The red and white rocket was a fun, fantastic character. I enjoyed reading it and guarantee you will too!\" -Matt Kratz

\"Read this story to my three-year-old son, who loves everything to do with rockets and the moon. He was intrigued with the story and found it easy to follow with the great illustrations!\" -Tina

\"This book was on my nephew's wish list since reading the previous book, Sophia and the Dragon Who Came for Dinner, written by the same author. She is so skilled at what she's writing, it's a pure enjoyment to read. This book, just like the previous book, has become a book we read again and again during bedtime when he's over, and my nephew LOVES it! He loved the dragon in the first book but adored the rocket in the current read. It's charming and has two games at the end of the book that you can play with your child to get them to put on their outdoor clothes quickly. A read I can highly recommend!\" -R. Connor

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One day, when Sophia is settling down to eat her dinner, she gets an unexpected guest. A dragon has come to dinner! And he doesn't want to share his food. Being a starving, brave and sassy little girl, can Sophia resist eating it all?

Sophia & the Dragon: Who Came for Dinner is excellent for young children and their caregivers. This book is full of fun and is perfect to be read aloud. It aims to encourage children to clean their plates without parents ever having to resort to nagging. A book that your child will ask you to read again and again!

Get a signed copy!

You can purchase personally signed copies of my book by me, the author. Email me through my contact form with the title of the book you would like to purchase. You can choose your text or simply request \"To [insert name]. From Sarah J Williams.\" The signed book is £6.99 or $8.86. Postage depends on where you live and is covered by you. Why not buy it for someone you truly love?

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\"My autistic nephew loves dragons, so my sister bought the book for him. I never believed that the book would become such a lifesaver for him and our families! I've lost count of how many times I've read this book to him. It's perfect for autistic children.\" -Anonymous

\"The book is about bravery, but also kindness and friendship. It helped my children finish their meals. As a bonus, the book has a game at the end, which the reader can play with their child whenever they refuse to eat their dinner. It was great fun!\" - Ben

\"...well written and well drawn with a wonderful little girl and a great dragon 🐉 ! I liked the 'extra game' at the end and would recommend this book to anyone who likes children’s books.\" - Matt Kratz

\"A cute way to encourage picky eaters.\" - Gabrielle

\"...adorable illustrations that both boys and girls will adore. At the back of the book, the author even tells you the caregiver how to read the book and add sound effects for maximum enjoyment. [...] A great addition to your child's library.\" - Natalie Freese

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Say Hello!

I'd love to hear from you. Drop me an email using the contact form below. You can also connect with me on Storygraph and BlueSky.

To inquire about author events: I am currently available for public reading events. Please feel free to contact me directly via the form below for availability and rates.

To inquire about my freelance writing: View my portfolio here. Please use the contact form below to inquire about availability and rates.

To order a signed book: You can purchase personally signed copies of my books. Use the contact form below to email your request. Please include the title of the book you would like to purchase. You can choose your text or request \"To [insert name]. From Sarah J Williams.\" The note is personal and handwritten by the author. The signed book is £6.99 or $8.86. Postage depends on where you live and is covered by you. Why not buy it for someone you truly love?

Sign up for my newsletter below to receive my short story for adults, The Queen of Hearts, for free! (Psst! The signup form is located under the contact form on this page, and the story will be found beneath the picture in the welcome email; scroll down to read...)

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","title":"BlueSky Custom Page"},"meta":{"order":1},"products":[],"galleries":[],"id":"gK5ZubHgi3","assets":{},"schedule":{},"navigation":{}}],"id":"-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU","meta":{"createdDate":"2021-06-09T23:23:09.453Z","customDomain":"sarahjwilliams.com","purchased":true,"slug":"sarah","stripeCustomerId":"cus_Jfi0fmuLTjaTY3","websiteType":"standard"},"navigation":{"blogTags":""},"posts":[{"about":{"content":"

This is an easy-to-follow guide on how to create your author webpage + SEO tips. In today's digital landscape, having a dedicated online presence is no longer optional for authors – it's essential.

Your author website serves as your central hub, a place where readers can discover your books, learn more about you, and connect with your literary world. But where do you even begin? Fear not, fellow wordsmiths!

This guide will walk you through the key steps to creating author web pages that will help you sell books.

1. Laying the Foundation: Choosing Your Platform
Think of your website platform as the ground upon which you'll build your online home. Here are a few popular options, each with its own strengths:

WordPress.org (Self-Hosted): This is a powerful and highly customisable option. You have complete control over your site, but it requires a bit more technical know-how, as you'll need to secure your own hosting and domain name. The flexibility it offers with themes and plugins is unparalleled.
WordPress.com (Hosted): A more beginner-friendly version of WordPress. While less customisable than the self-hosted option, it handles the technical aspects for you. It's a great starting point for many authors.
Squarespace: Known for its sleek and visually appealing templates, Squarespace is user-friendly and offers an all-in-one platform (hosting included). It's a fantastic choice if aesthetics are a top priority and you prefer a more curated experience.
Other Website Builders (e.g., Wild Ink Pages, Webflow, and many others): Many of these platforms offer drag-and-drop interfaces, making them incredibly easy to use, especially for those with no coding experience. They provide a good balance of customisation and simplicity.

Consider: Your technical comfort level, budget, desired level of customisation, and long-term goals when making this crucial decision.

Warning: My personal experience is that Wix.com is the worst:

I found that Wix has the worst customer service out there. I couldn't get hold of them to fix a bug on my website for a whole year! After a whole year, I still hadn't received any help. Instead, I stopped waiting and went elsewhere.
Wix is much more expensive than you think, making it not worth it. With all the features that I needed, I ended up paying $50 a month for it all. Especially if you're a beginning author or a poor creative, Wix is not a good option.
Wix doesn't have as nice designs and layouts for authors as other Website builders.

The list of why I can't recommend Wix.com goes on and on, but I'll stop there.

2. Domain Name and Hosting (if applicable):
Your domain name is your website's address (e.g., yourname.com or https://www.google.com/search?q=yourbooktitle.com). Choose something memorable, easy to spell, and relevant to your author brand.

If you opt for a self-hosted platform like WordPress.org, you'll also need to secure web hosting – a service that stores your website's files and makes them accessible online. Numerous hosting providers are available, so do your research to find one that fits your needs and budget. Just to give you an example, I use Namecheap.com.

3. Designing Your Digital Space: Themes and Layout
The visual appeal of your website is crucial for making a good first impression. Most platforms offer a variety of themes or templates that provide a pre-designed structure for your site.

Choose a theme that reflects your genre and author persona. A dark and mysterious theme might suit a thriller writer, while a bright and airy design could be perfect for a children's book author.
Prioritise clean and intuitive navigation. Visitors should be able to easily find what they're looking for.
Ensure your website is mobile-responsive. A significant portion of online traffic comes from mobile devices, so your site must look and function flawlessly on all screen sizes.

4. Essential Pages: The Heart of Your Author Website
Every author's website needs a few key pages to effectively connect with readers:

Homepage: This is your website's welcome mat. It should immediately grab attention, introduce you and your work, and provide clear pathways to other important sections of your site. Feature your latest book, a compelling author bio snippet, and engaging visuals.
Books: Dedicate a page (or multiple pages, depending on your catalogue) to showcasing your books. Include high-quality cover images, compelling synopses, purchase links (to various retailers), and perhaps even excerpts or reviews.
About the Author: This is your chance to connect with readers on a personal level. Share your writing journey, inspirations, background, and anything else that helps readers feel a connection to you. Include a professional headshot.
Blog: Keep your audience engaged by sharing updates on new releases, events, writing process insights, or thoughts on your genre. A blog adds fresh content to your site and can improve its search engine visibility.
Contact: Make it easy for readers, media, and industry professionals to reach you. Provide a contact form and/or your email address.
Optional Pages: Depending on your needs, you might also consider pages for events, media kits, a newsletter signup, or even a shop for signed copies or merchandise.

5. Engaging Your Readers: Content is Key
Beyond the basic pages, the content you provide will keep visitors coming back.

High-Quality Images: Use professional-looking photos of yourself and your book covers.
Compelling Writing: Your website content should be well-written, engaging, and reflective of your authorial voice.
Calls to Action: Encourage visitors to take the next step, whether it's buying your book, signing up for your newsletter, or following you on social media. Use clear and concise calls to action (e.g., \"Order Now,\" \"Join My Newsletter,\" \"Follow Me on Bluesky\").

6. Spreading the Word: Promotion and SEO
Once your website is live, you need to let people know it exists!

Include your website address on all your marketing materials: Bookmarks, business cards, social media profiles, email signatures, etc.
Share updates from your website on social media.
Consider Search Engine Optimisation (SEO): Use relevant keywords in your website content and descriptions to help search engines like Google find your site. Many website platforms offer built-in SEO tools or plugins.

7. Maintaining Your Online Home: Keep it Fresh
Your author website is not a static entity. Regularly update it with new book releases, blog posts, events, and any other relevant information. Check for broken links and ensure all information is accurate.

Building your author web pages is an investment in your career. It's a space where you can truly connect with your readers and build a lasting platform for your literary endeavours.

Take your time, be authentic, and enjoy the process of creating your online home. Remember that personality, your life stories and authentic enthusiasm are what are selling your books. So show off your handsome/beautiful face, write your web texts with I's and You's, and get cracking!

","tags":"How to create your author webpage\nSEO for webpages\nSEO for authors\nSEO for writers","title":"How to create your author webpage + SEO"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Fai-generated-8966845_640_1745188157787.jpg?alt=media&token=6fa6cc61-e81c-4035-88a8-d30dbddc2c94"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2025-04-21T10:00:00.000Z"},"id":"mhbz9kXBzL"},{"about":{"content":"

I wrote a new book!!!!!!

Yesterday, inspiration struck, and I wrote a children's book in rhyme about the importance of listening and the value of friendship. It's called The Wind Who Forgot How to Listen, it contains 198 words, and it's written for ages 0-6.

I'm thrilled about the new book, which is my seventh children's book that I've written. If you include my 46,000-word-long non-fiction book on how to write children's books (which of course you do!), then I've written eight books in total.

I've already started to send the book to book publishers in Sweden, as the book is in Swedish and I live in Sweden.

The first publisher that I sent it to was Rabén & Sjögren (who published Pippi Longstocking, amongst many other great children's books), the second was Bonnier Carlsen (who, amongst many others, publish the Moomin books).

Let's keep our fingers crossed and wish that I get my acceptance letter for this children's book!

Take care and, (if you celebrate), Happy Easter!

Kindest regards,
Sarah

","title":"Wrote a new children's book!"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Fstorytelling-4203628_640_1744633779101.jpg?alt=media&token=b68280b7-396b-449b-9171-7449c124bc81"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2025-04-14T10:00:00.000Z"},"id":"tTkwrFwMMK"},{"about":{"content":"

My newsletter signup is currently down, and the IT crew are working on it as you're reading this. Hopefully, it will be back and running soon.

No news yet on the latest stories that I've submitted to the publishing houses. So, it's just to keep on writing and send in new stories, I guess. :)

Onwards and upwards!

Psst! Did I mention that I wrote and sent in a new children's book during Christmas? As it's been sent to the publishers, all is very secret still. Too early to hear back from them about it just yet. Hopefully, I can provide good news soon!

Take care and stay safe!

","title":"Newsletter is currently down"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Ftypewriter-5118880_640_1737417908620.jpg?alt=media&token=90074254-a8aa-41c5-bc58-0a24b89e546a"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2025-01-21T11:00:00.000Z"},"id":"tm6PEntrqX"},{"about":{"content":"

This is how you survive rejections. As writers, we get to experience many of them, and it will often take years to get our acceptance letter. But with the right mindset, you can accomplish anything.

Firstly, I want you to remember two things:

1. Your writing isn't garbage. In fact, it's most likely great stuff. There's nothing wrong with your writing ability, that's not why you keep getting rejected. It keeps being rejected because it just wasn't right for the agent/book publisher at this specific date and time. Repeat those sentences until they fully settle into your mindset: There's nothing wrong with my writing ability, and the publishers/agents keep rejecting my manuscripts because they're currently looking for something else.

As the publishers never tell us what they're looking for, we just have to keep playing the guessing game with them and send in our beloved writing willy-nilly. Keep sending your writing to publishers and eventually, you'll get a \"yes\".

2. The most personal thing you can ever give to another person is criticism. This is because it tells more about the other person than it does about you. For example, if someone tells you, \"You're garbage\" then you're definitely not. It's those who say that about you who are not a very nice person. Think about it, and you'll discover more and more how people reveal their most sacred to you when they give criticism.

As you're going to go through hundreds of no's, you need to prepare yourself mentally for it. Having a great writing community online helps a great deal with being your support group. Many of us writers have experienced that the people around us are very poor at providing us with the yearly long stamina that we're going to need to survive rejections in the book industry. Some of them mean well, as they don't want you to suffer. Others just don't understand what it is you're fighting for. And in another camp, you find those who just don't have your best interest at hand.

You find the writing community by using the hashtag #writingcommunity on your social media apps.

If you prepare yourself for that it will take years, and you're going to go through hundreds of rejections, your mindset is going to adapt to it. In the US, I recommend you get an agent first. I know of those writers who have queried 200 agents until they've found their perfect helper. The agent will then try to sell your work to book publishers. In the UK and Sweden, you query straight to the book publishers. They're not as many, too. I don't know about the rest of the world, so sadly you need to find that out elsewhere.

The last piece of advice I can give you is to roll with the punches, take comfort in the writing community when it gets hard (because it is going to get very hard), and keep writing! Never stop writing! Somewhere in your head is a manuscript that's going to be accepted. Keep looking for it!

All the best of luck and keep fighting for your dream of being a published author!

-----------------------------------------------------

PS! Don't frequently send in the same work to the same book publishers/agents. If they've said no, it will still stand years from now. Accept it and move on. If you haven't heard from them in three months, a no answer equals a no.

","tags":"How do you survive rejections\nBook Industry","title":"How you survive rejections"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Fno-3442954_640_1733576090983.jpg?alt=media&token=5decf2a3-9e81-4c78-a8cf-88dc62514e11"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2024-12-07T11:00:00.000Z"},"id":"qjaEUPMdQq"},{"about":{"content":"

Yes, you read that correctly: I have written two more books in the Sophia book series!

They're currently being queried to book publishers in Sweden. The reason for this is that I currently live in Sweden and it therefore made more sense to start here.

Have you heard of Pippi Longstocking and The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep? They're both rather famous children's books that originated on the Swedish market and went global.

That's what I plan to do too. But if I don't get accepted into the Swedish children's book market, then I'm going to try to publish it in the UK. If all else fails, I'm going to go indie.

But as the indie process costs approximately £1400 (approximately $1,800) to publish just one single children's book, I will need to start a GoFundMe account! Haha! :)

Rest assured, it takes time to publish a children's book. Waiting for every book publisher to reply with a no or yes, takes up to three months. Then it's the publication of the actual book: illustrations, editing, layout and more take six months. And, I have two books that I'm publishing.

But, the process is rolling, and I will let you know about any progress. Hopefully soon!

","tags":"Two more children's books","title":"Two more books in the Sophia series!!!!!"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Freading-3723751_640_1732960425623.jpg?alt=media&token=57337aed-ffbc-4148-8c32-3b9af820f28b"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2024-11-30T11:00:00.000Z"},"id":"vJNM9gF6dX"},{"about":{"content":"

Did you know that the Sophia character and her mum are based on real people?

Yes, that's right!

The Sophia character is based on my darling daughter, and the mum in the books is I, the author.

Yes, I've been painfully told that Sophia looks nothing like her mum or dad. This is because Sophia is a loved child from a previous relationship. She's part Latina, part British, part Swedish - and a lot of fun! She could also be adopted... Who knows! ;)

\"But the mum looks nothing like you!\" This is because I'm a natural blond, but nowadays, I colour my hair in various shades of lovely red.

Red is my favourite colour, and shows up in the colour of my T-shirt in the books. Pink was my daughter's favourite colour, so that's why she's wearing pink and purple. I write it in the past tense, as she usually wears black, white and beige colours now - because she's all grown up.

Another thing is that the books were written for both girls and boys, so I've mixed up the colours.

You'll especially notice that in my second book, Sophia & Mr Rocket. Sophia has a green coat and blue accessories.

I don't follow girl colours and boy colours and let my daughter wear whatever she liked when she grew up. If it matters to you, that's totally fine, though. One of my best friends is transgender, and to her boy and girl colours are very important and real. I completely respect that.

A fun anecdote is that when my daughter was very little, her favourite coat was blue. But when she started nursery in the UK, she came home one day and said, \"Pink is my favourite colour!\" She repeated it like a mantra to anyone and everyone. Thereafter, all had to be pink!

Children should walk down their own paths, after all. =)

","tags":"Books\nChildren's Books\nChildren's Literature","title":"About the characters in the books"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2FWhatsApp%20Bild%202024-11-23%20kl.%2017.16.46_a5fe0fe7_1732378710480.jpg?alt=media&token=7f721028-68c4-4641-bf92-cf50ce3e3205"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2024-11-26T11:00:00.000Z"},"id":"t3pNzAaX3c"},{"about":{"content":"

Pitching Your Book can be hard, but this is how to make it easier: Use an Excel spreadsheet when querying your book/s! This helps you keep on top of your queries.

Do you struggle with remembering who you sent your manuscript to? When you sent it and who to send it to next? Rest assured, I've got you covered!

Right now, I'm busy querying my books to book publishers, and this is how I do it when I keep track of who I pitch my ideas to. Open up an Excel spreadsheet and start writing these things down:

Name the title of the spreadsheet, such as \"The Querying Jungle\" or \"Pitching My Books: An Excel Spreadsheet.\"

Name the first column \"Date:\" which marks when you sent in your manuscript to agents/publishers.

The second column is for who you sent it to. Name this one: \"Sent to.\"

The third column is for which book you're querying. Name this one, \"Book.\"

The fourth column is equally important to know, as it tells how you sent in your manuscript. Name this column, \"How I sent it in.\"

These makes it easier to keep track of things. Is it a landing page on a website, add the link to it here. Was it sent through email, state it here. You'll thank yourself for it when you can't find that email in your inbox because it was sent to a landing page on a website.

The last column is the most important one: Name this one: \"Answer.\" This is for which answers you get to your queries.

Write \"Accepted,\" \"Not accepted,\" or \"Accepted, keep querying.\" The last states that they liked your work, didn't accept it this time but want you to keep sending in more work to them.

--------------------------------------------------

Wishing you all the best in the querying trenches, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you getting your acceptance letter! Good luck!

","tags":"Pitching Your Book: An Excel Spreadsheet\nHow to keep organised when querying","title":"Pitching Your Book: An Excel Spreadsheet"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Fstudents-4190327_640_1732110219669.jpg?alt=media&token=d8911bfc-781d-4988-afd5-1169c08194e4"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2024-11-20T11:00:00.000Z"},"id":"p5AzbMEE24"},{"about":{"content":"

A writer has to eat, too, right? And what better than to start every weekday morning with these deliciously healthy, chocolate breakfast muffins! They're easy, quick to make (and eat) and make for about 14-16 chocolate breakfast muffins.

You'll need:
- 2 cupcake trays, each with 9 holes in them
- 16 cupcake tins
- 3 dl wheat flour (regular)
- 3 dl full grain flour
- 3 dl oats
- 3 teaspoons baking powder (15 millilitres)
1 dl sugar / 1 mashed banana
3 medium-sized eggs
3,5 dl milk
100 gram melted butter
2 dl salted and roasted peanuts
4 tablespoons of cocoa powder

How to:
Heat the oven to 175 degrees Celsius.
Take two muffin trays with 18 holes in total in them. Add a muffin tin to each hole.

Mix all the dry ingredients well in a bowl. Whisk the wet ingredients separately in a smaller bowl. Whisk them well and individually.

Make a deep hollow in the dry ingredients and mix the wet and dry ingredients together with a spatula gently and quickly.

As soon as you can, add the batter to the muffin trays. Fill the muffin tins to the brim. Cook in the oven for 30 minutes.

-----------------------

These breakfast muffins are deliciously chocolaty and nutty. They also make the weekday mornings much easier.

After eating them, I take out 1-3 more from the freezer (as many as you eat each morning). That way, you'll never forget to take out the breakfast muffins from the freezer.

Put in a plastic bag and store in a dark, dry place where you can easily find them when it's time for you to eat your breakfast.

Enjoy! :)

","tags":"Breakfast muffins\nRecipe\nChocolate breakfast muffins recipe","title":"Recipe: Chocolate Breakfast Muffins"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2FWhatsApp%20Bild%202024-11-13%20kl.%2012.31.59_6a93d455_1731497592512.jpg?alt=media&token=c36a8f2f-d4a9-455b-b049-ccafb7d4198d"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2024-11-18T11:00:00.000Z"},"id":"cZ8LHYQHmK"},{"about":{"content":"

On Saturday mornings, three other writers and I, meet up online at a writer's event that we call The Little Writing Café. The authors are from Scandinavia and Asia - and we have a lot of fun together.

At The Little Writing Café, we do something that we call \"sprinting\". Sprinting is a form of writing under deadline.

For example, one of the participants set the timer for 25 or 40 minutes, depending on what the authors feel like. Then you write as much as you can for 25 or 40 minutes.

When the time is up, the author, who has set the timer, says \"Time's up\". We then stop writing and tell the rest of the team how it all went. We continue for as long as everyone feel like it.

This way of writing keeps writing fun, keeps us accountable, and helps us show up for our dream as writers. I get a lot of good advice too from my fellow author friends, and I can provide them with what I know as a published author.

It's great fun!

How do you set up a little writing café of your own? Ask and network with other authors online, and meet up by using, for example, Zoom, Discord, WhatsApp or Teams.

Try to meet up once a week or once every second week, keep writing and have fun with it!

Sometimes, I don't have any book writing to do during The Little Writing Café's meetings. During those moments I have studied, marketed, read books on writing, written blog posts, set up spreadsheets for pitching my manuscripts to book publishers, pitched my ideas to book publishers, et cetera.

There are a lot of things to your life that you have to do too, and there are equally much to the world of an author. Be kind to yourself and your own situation. The importance is that you show up and have fun with it.

Because writing is supposed to be fun. Almost always.

","tags":"The Little Writing Café\nWriting advice\nHow to have fun when you write","title":"The Little Writing Café"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Fcoffee-5589036_640_1731488628604.jpg?alt=media&token=78dc3806-0fe4-43e1-b9ce-f1561fc90876"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2024-11-14T11:00:00.000Z"},"id":"rr9CaCkSJa"},{"about":{"content":"

Right now, the boycotting of some big authors etc is in force, such as Neil Gaiman, J. K. Rowling, Israeli cultural institutions and many others. Some boycotts are new, some are old and more well-known.

But as supporters of the whole human race who are up-to-date with what's going on in the world, how can we possibly keep up? Is it possible, or are we fighting an uphill battle? And, is boycotting a way to stand our ground against what we deem unacceptable behaviour/opinions, or are there better methods out there?

My answer is that boycotting is a great democratic and non-violent practice that has worked for many years to get people and even nations to listen. I could tire you with examples, but will instead just mention a couple of them.

In August 2023, Klook successfully boycotted circuses, performances, shows and animal photo experiences. They did this to help protect against animal cruelty.

In June 2022, 100s of companies boycotted the governmental conference, \"Safe to Be Me.\" It was an LGBTQIA+ conference, however, it was boycotted because of the UK government's active approach to conversion therapy. The boycott was successful, and the conference was cancelled.

If you want to read more about several successful boycotts that happen every year, here is a site that does a full take on the subject: The Ethical Consumer.

$\"A$

Boycotts works!

Buying and talking about what we want more of, is a very good way to reinforce what we want to increase in the world. And going radio silent and holding our wallets shut when something we don't agree with is happening, are clever tactics. The more who do this, the greater impact the boycott will have.

But what do we do when a boycott impacts our favourite authors and books? When parts of our soul are not to be mentioned and maybe never spoken about ever again. Yes, it sounds harsh and big for a person who doesn't love books. But for me, these boycotts are a big problem.

If you understand that loving books is a love relationship which defines a part of who we are as individuals, then maybe you will start to see what a great impact it has on us.

As George Herbert once said, \"Love and coughing cannot be hid,\" and it's true. When you're in love, you want to shout from the rooftops. The same often happens when you've found a book you love.

TV series, films, beauty products, etc often have the same impact on us. Especially if we also define ourselves as beauty gurus, film enthusiasts, book dragons or gamers. Then our love becomes extra hard to hide.

Harder still, is if a book, TV series, song, etc has meant the world to us during a period of our lives which was maybe rocky and otherwise filled with sadness. Maybe it was the Harry Potter book series which got you through high school when you were bullied. Maybe it was Good Omens.

Maybe it wasn't even a hard time you were having. Maybe you had a great time, and you associate the song, book, film, etc with the best time of your life.

Whichever it was, that piece of entertainment and/or characters from it, are now a part of you as much as your DNA is. Marketers know this, and that's why we're such excellent consumers who continue to make more money for corporations and entertainers.

$\"Book\"$

We want more, and more and more. As well as shout out our love for the products to anyone and everyone. Even those who don't want to listen. We all know that they will listen eventually!

But what do we do when we love something so badly and it's being boycotted (often for a good reason)?

My advice to you is what I do myself: I have found a selected few people that I know never spread whatever I say to other people, and I talk about the boycotted books with them. They won't encourage others to read these books, and I won't publicly encourage others to read from these authors either.

They're silenced, but my love for their work of art and what it means to me isn't.

----------------------------------------------------------

So you can still be aware of what's happening in the world, follow the causes you believe in, and boycott even your favourite artists. Life will change for you, true. But maybe it needs to for a greater good.

I will end this by writing what I wrote on Bluesky today:

\"Some authors I understand why we boycott, they were awful people and don't deserve my money. But if we look for Perfect human beings who write books, we'll soon run out of choices and authors. To error is human, after all.\"

","tags":"Boycotting of authors and artists what to do\nCan we boycott our favourite authors","title":"Boycotting books and authors?"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Fsign-2854067_640_1730149270240.jpg?alt=media&token=b6b1577b-6c81-484c-a8da-48dc3816e029"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2024-11-04T11:00:00.000Z"},"id":"gPCxpnUQ4C"},{"about":{"content":"

Last year, I entered a children's literature competition and I want to share the story with you today for this year's Halloween.

The story is less than 100 words excluding the title, as it was the criteria for the contest. It also had to be a children's story and about a werewolf. Some words also had to be in the text, I can't remember which, except Halloween.

Sadly, I didn't win but hopefully, you'll enjoy the story. :)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mum Gave Me a Werewolf!

On Halloween, my mum exclaimed, “I’m going to give you a puppy!”

We went to a dog seller the same day, and every puppy looked the same except for one.

I saw the hairiest, cuddliest, and most frightful puppy I had ever seen.

He had yellow eyes filled with superstition, lots of hair everywhere, and a mouth packed with white fangs.

“He is called Werewolf,” the seller said to my mum. “You can get him for half the price.”

The little Werewolf approached me and licked my hand. That’s when I knew, it’d be him and me forever.

","tags":"Children's story for free\nFree children's story\nHalloween children's story\nWerewolf children's story","title":"Halloween children's story!"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2F2moon-7173968_640_1730147187417.jpg?alt=media&token=d4a2260f-c3f8-4370-8251-a183db91a255"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2024-10-31T11:00:00.000Z"},"id":"wfgMtZjXPX"},{"about":{"content":"

Isn't picking your all-time favourite books one of the hardest things to do? At least, it is for me! lol

Over on the social media app, Bluesky, I have added one book cover a day for 20 days. There are no explanations, no reviews, just book covers in my posts (and an explanation of how the game is played).

So far, I have added 16 book covers and have four left. I've noticed that this game has generated a lot (A LOT) of new activity and followers on my author page on Bluesky.

Especially when I shared the Little Women book cover, it went viral! I had so many interactions and followers, that it took me days to follow back and respond to it all!

So, don't be afraid to join in on games and activities that are played out on social media. You never know where it may lead you. Even if it means answering such hard questions as, \"Which are your favourite books of all time?\"

I wish you a happy week and Halloween!

","tags":"writing advice\nBluesky advice","title":"Author advice for social media"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Fgirl-5717067_640_1729785596933.jpg?alt=media&token=2aa187da-3ec9-48b3-8dbe-8e789fdebc44"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2024-10-29T11:00:00.000Z"},"id":"rNgnBr3mJq"},{"about":{"content":"

I've written two more books in the Sophia series!!!!!!

Yes, you heard me correctly! I've written two more books. They're written for the Swedish children's book market, and I am trying to have them traditionally published.

They will be translated and published internationally too in English regardless of how they're originally published. If I can't break through to the Swedish market, I will try to publish them traditionally in the UK, etc. So, stay tuned!

First, the muse came to me for the first of these two books when I was brainstorming ideas. The second time she came when I was asleep last night!

The first of these two completely new books solves the issue of going shopping with children. The second book is about when Sophia gets lost in the woods and how she saves her own life. Books that every child, teacher and parent should have!

I will keep you posted!

","tags":"New books","title":"Two more books!"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2FBookBrushImage49_1708351495001.png?alt=media&token=e5b0adbc-a4a3-49b7-8868-df5090e2a46b"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2024-02-19T11:00:00.000Z"},"id":"f6fXzxFHsH"},{"about":{"content":"

This is the story of how I decided to become an author, told like the children's book author that I am.

\"Once upon a time, there was a little girl who so dearly wanted to write. Every day she sat with her pen and papers. She wrote exhilarating stories about dragons, trolls and brave children were written by her with playful excitement.

Her mum and teachers admired the little girl's ability to capture the reader's attention. 'You're good at writing!' they said. 'You're even good enough to become an author.'

The little girl's eyes sparkled with anticipation. An author? she thought. Since that day, she decided to become a storyteller.\"

I hope you liked my story and that you'll have a very Happy New Year!

","tags":"A free children's story\nA free short story","title":"A children's story: About how I became an author"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Fwriting-923882_640_1704210436021.jpg?alt=media&token=931d5b12-27aa-4d58-8add-f4786fed483a"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2024-01-02T11:00:00.000Z"},"id":"8pNMGiGN6p"},{"about":{"content":"

This year my book club did a really fun thing! Instead of buying each other a book from our wish lists, we made book recommendations off on their preferences.

Through Google Docs we got to fill in a list of the following information:

1. A few of our favourite books

2. Our favourite genres, and our least favourite genres

3. Our favourite tropes, and our least favourite tropes

Then we all got assigned a special someone to come up with book recommendations for.

In my book club, you had to give a minimum of three book recommendations (and a maximum of 5) but I thought that it should have been 1-5 book recommendations.

But I guess if they already had read that one book that I had suggested, then there would've been no point with Secret Santa - Book Recommendations!

Have you participated in a Secret Santa event?

Please read A real-life ghost story for a chilling story this Christmas!

","tags":"Secret Santa\nBook recommendations\nChristmas","title":"Secret Santa - Book recommendations!"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2FUntitled%20design_1702742246318.jpg?alt=media&token=3f6d4659-0f95-42a4-b65e-1314184b3dec"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2023-12-15T11:00:00.000Z"},"id":"fe7sw4XLMB"},{"about":{"content":"

We went to a scary haunted castle show last night where the guide retold real-life ghost stories, as they were told by the witnesses who saw the ghosts at the castle. One of the stories will haunt me forever. This is the story of the face:

The technician manager told his coworkers that he would finish the last job himself, so he sent his colleagues home and was alone in the castle's attic when he felt someone watching him. He turned around and a blond little girl with braids and blue eyes was watching him. He thought it must be a visitor who had gotten lost in the attic, so he moved closer. Quickly he realised that the girl had no body. She was only a face!

He became petrified and couldn't move. Then the face changed form. The girl's braids came loose, her blond hair turned grey, her blue eyes sunk into their sockets and blood ran down her now wrinkled face. The technician manager stared at her but when the face came closer and closer to him his legs were again able to move and he ran all the way down the stairs and out the front door. He thought that he was safe but then the bloodied face came through the front door and pulled him towards her!

He ran as quickly as he could to his car and was so frightened that he had not set foot in the Castle ever since. This happened 30 years ago and even though the manager has been asked to come back to do more jobs in the attic, he has refused. If I had seen that, I can't help but understand him!

Do you have a real-life scary ghost story?

Did you know that I have signed up for a Halloween story competition?

","tags":"Ghost story\nHalloween\nCastle\nThe face","title":"A real life ghost story"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Fpotion-2217630_640_1698663802448.jpg?alt=media&token=de7dfa9d-f278-4a38-8fc9-a979534d4315"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2023-10-31T11:00:00.000Z"},"id":"a22eJKpifQ"},{"about":{"content":"

I'm announcing today that I'm joining a Halloween competition for children's authors between the 29th and the 31st of October this year!

Maybe you also would like to join? :)

","tags":"Competition\nHalloween competition","title":"I'm joining a competition!"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2FWhatsApp%20Bild%202023-01-18%20kl.%2017.42.49_1696883064593.jpg?alt=media&token=c87e5448-7d2f-401a-b121-03017fb9e58f"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2023-10-09T10:00:00.000Z"},"id":"nJB6bSXVkJ"},{"about":{"content":"

The news is that AI-generated books are taking over Amazon and other online bookshops. What is happening is that AI-generated pseudo-books are taking over and spamming online bookshops, such as for example Amazon, and they're even taking real author's names. Authors are currently trying to claim their names back and fight against the AI market.

Amazon searches control the market

Searches on Amazon control the sales on the platform, but now it's turning up poorly written AI-generated books and people are buying them. They're poorly written because the prose and information are unreliable.

If you found this interesting, read: How to Write an SEO blog post.

What book genres

Travel books are what have mostly been taken over by AI-generated books, reports The New York Times. But the AI market has also started to crop up within books about gardening, cooking, programming, medicine, business, crafts, mathematics, religion, novels, and self-help books.

If you found this interesting, read: How to create a great protagonist.

Buyers responsibility

It isn't always easy for readers and buyers to see what is an AI-generated book and what isn't, so they're buying these titles in good faith. You'd think these titles would have a lot of poor reviews from angry readers, but the review column is filled up with AI-generated posts which mislead the buyers.

If you found this interesting, read: Marketing According to Amazon.

What does Amazon say

A spokesperson from Amazon, Lindsay Hamilton, said to Axios, \"We have clear content guidelines governing which books can be listed for sale and promptly investigate any book when a concern is raised.\"

AI-generated book content isn't prohibited by Amazon, but reacts when these books don't comply with its other regulations. Such as disappointing and misleading customers and not abiding by intellectual property rights. \"Amazon is constantly evaluating emerging technologies,\" Lindsay Hamilton continues. \"[But we have] zero tolerance for fake reviews.\"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This blog post was inspired by the Axios article, AI-generated books are infiltrating online bookstores, written by Scott Rosenberg.

What do you think about that the AI-generated books are flooding the online market? Please share your thoughts and the link to this post on your social media. Let's get the discussions started about this!

**To clarify: What is happening is that it's regular people that are using AI to write their books. These people are then putting these books up online and are also flooding them with false reviews, so you can't tell an AI book from a regularly written book by just looking at it online. It's not until you've bought the book and read it, that you can tell it's an AI written book. The people who publish AI written books make a lot of money, and that's why they do this.

","tags":"AI-generated books\nAI written books\nAI books\nAmazon","title":"AI-generated books are taking over Amazon and other online bookshops"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Fai-7977960_640_1692697203148.jpg?alt=media&token=bb14dd6d-253f-4361-9925-8fd41e2b124f"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2023-08-22T10:00:00.000Z"},"id":"q6DZ62gqt7"},{"about":{"content":"

How to write an SEO blog post or article is important to increase your visibility and rank on Google. What I mean by rank and visibility on Google is that you'll be ranked as one of the first when customers do a Google search. That is if you have really good SEO on your website. A good SEO is crucial to be seen and selected by customers on Google.

How to choose a topic

As authors, we need to think about the questions we are most frequently asked about. Ask these questions in Google, for example: \"How do I combat Writer's Block?\" Or, \"How do I publish my book on Amazon?\" These are all valid questions that other authors want to know about. Why not write about the most common questions in different blog posts?

You may also like: \"Marketing According to Amazon\".

How to not copy and paste

Don't copy someone else's work, instead be influenced by it and do your own research on the topic you're writing about. Write your blog post in your own words, never someone else's. To steal someone else's words is plagiarism and falls under copyright law, and you can actually get a nasty fine and a criminal record if you're not careful.

How to SEO like a pro

As a copywriter, I've written many articles and blog posts that are SEO adapted, and the sad thing is that Google keep changing their rules for what is great SEO. But these rules are what have been consistent for many years:

1. Repeat the words you want readers to search for, in the title, in the first sentence and several times in the rest of the blog post/article. In a 1,500-word long article/blog post, I may use the same word/s 10-20 times. Maybe more.

2. Link back to your previous blog posts. This is crucial for a great hit rate on Google. A 1,500-word long article needs 5-7 active links. You need less if the article/blog post is shorter. Google does not like it if you overdo internal links, so don't go on a linking spree.

Check your prose

Remember to check your grammar and spelling. Also, check that your sources are accurate and that you got the right information. I use Grammarly's spellchecker which helps me when I write a blog post. It's an amazing tool.

Add an image to your SEO blog post

Feel free to add an image to your blog post. If it's a long blog post, you may want to add a new image for every new subject line, or every third. It's totally up to you!

Length of your SEO blog post

Don't be afraid if your SEO blog post/article seems too long. 1,500-word blog posts or articles are great for Google hit scores, but any longer than that and you should break the blog post into two or three sections.

You may also like: \"How to Create a Great Protagonist\".

A Call to Action

Call to action means that you ask your readers to do something at the end of your SEO blog post or article. It can be that you ask them to sign up for your newsletter, leave a reply, buy your book or why not get in touch?

--------------------------------------

What did you think of this blog post? Was it helpful to you? Please, leave a comment and share it on your social media. Thank you!

","tags":"How to write an SEO blog post\nSEO blog post\nSEO","title":"How to write an SEO blog post"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Fonline-marketing-g7e2020ad1_640_1690894901632.jpg?alt=media&token=92f8c0ea-5041-45cf-abd0-63e4b434f596"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2023-08-01T10:00:00.000Z"},"id":"t8ZfzebY6u"},{"about":{"content":"

A protagonist, as you may already know, is the main character of your story. The good person who you follow (often inside their head) as the story developes. You can have one protagonist in your story or a few of them. It's totally up to you and your story.

As the protagonist is your main character it needs to be fully developed and interesting. On the internet you can find a hundreds of questions which helps you develop your protagonist. For example, do they have a pet? How do they define themselves: him/her/they? Et cetera.

The answers to these questions are good to know, but when it's time to develop your protagonist I recommend that you focus on the complexity of him/her/they. The complexity that you'll find if you do this will help far more than any other questions ever will.

1. What do he/she/they want?

What do they want is the perfect start for your protagonist. It helps speed along the story, connects the dots and keeps the red thread going. If you write a sci fi story about discovering a new universe, your protagonist might be an explorer a move the story a long with their curiosity. Your protagonist has to want to accomplish something.

2. What do he/she/they need?

Now we're getting to the deep questions! To be able to accomplish something, the protagonist need to change. If they're imature and mean, as Eustace from the book The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. He had some major personality development during the book, and maybe your protagonist needs that too. Take Harry Potter for example. He wants to take down Valdemort but to be able to do this he needs to fully understand the backstory of Voldemort, learn magic, get to know Dumbledore's teachings and trust his friends. He has a long way to walk until he fully understands everything. So does your protagonist too.

3. What is externally holding them back?

The antagonist, the bad person, will be the protagonist's opposite and may guide him/her/them through the story. This means that you can't throw easy challenges at your protagonist and expect your audience to remain interested. The external obstacles becomes more difficult as you make progress with your story. A tip is to write a plot outline that looks like an upside-down V. This is because we want the protagonist to face more and more difficult things. The external forces will challenge your protagonist and let your readers empathise with them.

4. What is internally holding them back?

In the book A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, the protagonist Pip has to struggle with the death of her beloved dog. She knows it's the murderer who have killed him but can she find the murderer before they kills someone else? And, Is the hunt for the killer worth the effort when her loved ones are dying? Internal conflicts are super important to move the story along. To help you to find your protagonist's hidden internal forces you can ask the following questions:

A.) What faults do they have?

You're the author and you know your characters better than they know themselves. Use this to find faults in your protagonist that you can write about in the story.

B.) Which strengths do they have?

This is just as important to understand. By drawing on your main character's strengths you also help to develop the story.

And that's it! That's how you build a complex and deep protagonist for your story!

(This blog post was influenced by Ken Brosky's blog post, How to Develop a Complex Protagonist at www.janefriedman.com.)

","tags":"protagonist\nwriting techniques\nwriting tips","title":"How to create a great protagonist"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Fpeople-g4cff46b97_640_1685700632070.jpg?alt=media&token=e5e9870e-7b15-48bc-9386-1746df7d3fd0"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2023-06-02T10:00:00.000Z"},"id":"hxdJ5MkuUW"},{"about":{"content":"

Most of us authors and writers will come across people close to us (common) and people who are not so close to us (also common) that doesn't believe in our authorship. Writing takes up a lot of our dreams, hopes and time and it's therefore vital that we have full support. But it's not always possible to switch out people in our lives just because they're unsupportive, so what can you do?

I have someone close to me, not my partner, thank goodness, who doesn't believe in my writing. According to her, I'm not an author because I take breaks but which writer doesn't take breaks to be a better creative? That's something that I'd love to know!

But she doesn't believe in me, or doesn't want to understand the craft, and that hurts. Nevertheless, I need to continue my dream as an author. Because it's where it's at: You don't write for anyone else. You write for you.

Let those two sentences sink in. Say it out loud if need be. \"You don't write for anyone else. You write for you.\" They're important words that I hope that you can take to your heart.

Most likely there is a reason behind why they aren't supportive of your writing dream, and it most likely has only to do with them and not with you as a person. It's easy to think that opinions come from people who know what they're talking about. But most likely it is that those that don't believe in your dreams are people who have given up on theirs.

That's why when you embark on a new journey as an author, you shouldn't expect that you'll be surrounded by yes-sayers. Expect instead that you'll meet opposition from people close to you and others. That's why it's so important to be surrounded by good friends who understand you, I'm talking about fellow authors and writers.

You find them in the #WritingCommunity on Twitter and Instagram, and in various Facebook groups for writers. Authors supporting Authors is a great Facebook group that I can recommend. Other authors knows how much it hurts when someone doesn't believe in your dream to be a published author.

That's why we fellow writers can be your best friends and support system. Take help from other writers online. That's crucial when it's hurting and you feel lonely. You need to know that you're not alone in your battle against the odds.

This is a trick I use when I meet someone who doesn't believe in my writing dreams:

Shut their words out of your head, don't listen to them when they give you negative feedback. Change subject immediately directly after they have said their opinion.

Eventually they'll understand that you don't listen to their harsh words and continue to nag about something else. If you want to you may also add a smile and eye contact to the reply, \"Thank you for your opinion, I know that you care about me and means well. Sadly I don't agree with you and will pursue a career in writing.\"

To remain calm, collected and to choose whether to be pushed around or to stand up for one self. That is what it's all about. You have to be the one who draws a line in the sand who says that you'll accept constructive criticism and support, but nothing else. That you believe in your writing is of the most importance.

You have to set boundaries with people, especially with people who isn't treating you the way you want to be treated. They won't like that you protect yourself against their criticism. But this isn't about them and their ego; this is about your wellbeing and writing dream. Remember that!

---------------------------------

To build up your selfesteem, is invaluable when handling other's criticism and harsh words. The best way to do this is to meet with a good counsellor or to look up online speeches by Mel Robbins who is a really good life coach. But often our low self-esteem lies in things that happened to us in the past, therefore, you may need to talk to a professional psychiatrist.

Maybe you were bullied as a child/adult, grew up with a critical parent or you have a bad inner dialog towards yourself. Or you haven't gone through anything harsh but instead have now met a person who needs to work on themselves, and not you.

You have to draw a straight line in the sand with these type of people. Stand up for yourself and stick to it. Never give in, regardless of what they do or say. This is your dream we're talking about!

As far as I know, we only have one life, and it's up to us how we live it. That means that we shouldn't give up on our dreams especially when someone criticises us for it. We can impossibly please everyone and if you are a so called \"people-pleaser\" you're just going to stabb yourself in the foot again and again.

Most people have an opinion about everything in life and if we try to please everyone we forget about who we need to please the most: ourselves. Validate yourself and follow your own inner compass. Don't be afraid of where this journey may leed you. You may end up in therapy with a partner or a mother who isn't supportive. You may end up in arguments who can't be solved with anything else but separation.

Regardless you should trust yourself and ask yourself if you want to have this person on your writing journey? If not, then you need to let go of them. Especially if they bring a lot of negativity into your life.

If yes, you do want to keep this person in your life (and this is without putting sentimental value on them) then you can sit down and chat to them. Explain to them how it makes you feel when they criticise you and are not supportive of your writing. Say, \"How would it make you feel if I wasn't supportive of you?\"

Try to reach the person you care about on an emotional level. If it proves impossible then don't be afraid to ask for help by a couple's or family therapist.

---------------------------------

If you encounter a non-supporter that you don't know that well, then drawing a line in the sand is still your best option. You can draw the line by coming up with a witty comeback, such as:

\"If everyone had an education to support every book they write, we would not have hardly any books at all. Books comes from research, knowledge and imagination.\"

Which was what I wished I had said when I met a critic in nurse at the hospital, when I told her I was a children's book author. She thought that you should have a diploma within education to write for children, even though just having a good idea and great betareaders suffice.

Often we don't come up with those brilliant dialogues until long after so just say what comes into mind. I said, \"I am a mother. That is good enough\". If you can't come up with anything, an evil stare, your quietness and changing the subject just has to be good enough too.

It's a clear line that clearly speaks \"here but no further\".

","tags":"How do I handle people who don't believe in my writing dream?\nwriting dream\nauthor dream","title":"How do I handle people who don't believe in my writing dream?"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Fbooks-g93f599f0b_1920_1654177821453.jpg?alt=media&token=3427cf56-3b2b-433c-8f25-f552f4e7b268"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2023-06-01T10:00:00.000Z"},"id":"iKCqaybIdhsbLDssGqYVB"},{"about":{"content":"

At the beginning of the year, we celebrate World Typing Day. What better time but now to test out your skills in a typing test!

Whoever wins get 15% off on my new merch site.

Please send a photo of how you did to me at contact@sarahjwilliams.com within ten days from now. Whoever gets the best result wins!

Go to Typing Test and select 1 Minute Test and Medium Text. Start Test and get started!

And remember, even if you feel that you got a low score; send it in! You may still win!

WIshing you a lovely start of the week.

Kindest wishes and lots of love,
Sarah

","title":"Type yourself a win!"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Fwrite-gbcd5fcfc9_640_1646062179504.jpg?alt=media&token=82bf27af-a16c-48bf-9483-00702f00fa10"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2022-02-28T00:00:00.000Z"},"id":"rkGQSeyxdjHtFM1lOKvUh"},{"about":{"content":"

Today we're celebrating Cuddle up Day, which is a great day to cuddle up with a great read or to cuddle with a loved one. Therefore, I have listed three cozy winter activities for families to try this month.

1. Read a book
Wheather you read it out loud as a cozy bed night story to a loved one or read it during the day on your own, is totally up to you. We always read three different books to my daughter when she was little at bedtime. It may seem like much but she needed it to wind down before falling asleep.

As an extra bonus, reading out loud to your children increases their vocabulary by over 30,000 words. Words that they'll need when they're at school and in every day life too.

2. Play outside
When my daughter was little, we went outside almost every day. Whether it was to the park or the back yard didn't matter, the importance was that she got to go out to play. Often I brought a ball and we had great fun kicking and throwing it to each other. She especially loved the play area in the park and could run around for hours.

Remember to bring a snack and leave your phone in your pocket. If you can't go outside, no matter the reason, why not build a fort with blankets and pillows under the kitchen table? You can also build a Disneyland in your living room: a swivel chair can be a carousel, and a matress can become a tunnel.

3. Watch a movie
Why not watch a movie with your family? Disney, Studio Ghibli and Pixar are a sure go to but maybe there are other movies that you would like to watch together. You can find many children friendly movies here at Common Sense Media. So, pop some popcorn, cuddle up on the sofa and have a really great time together.

We used to do this every Friday until our daughter got so old that we couldn't agree on which movie to watch. She then wanted to only watch scary movies, or, Marvel movies we'd seen a million times. Not the greatest fun for the whole family. Haha!

I hope these were useful tips for you and that you will have a great Cuddle up Day!

","tags":"#cuddleupday\n#familyfun\n#whattodowithyourfamily","title":"Cuddle up Day"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Fstill-life-ga119692b1_640_1641315304509.jpg?alt=media&token=3c8fcaec-919b-4599-9db0-ddc31af55170"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2022-01-06T00:00:00.000Z"},"id":"blmOYuCgPQsVAy1l6iT7t"},{"about":{"content":"

Now you can order your digital copy of my new book, Sophia and Mr Rocket!!!

It took ages, errors and a lot of hard work to put together, but it's finally here: the eBook. Just in time for Christmas too!

It has the lowest price I could set it as, £1.49, and it's practically a steal for a children's book. Next year it will be £4.99, standard price for an eBook. So make sure you grab your copy now!

Read, enjoy and leave an honest review on Amazon and Goodreads. That would make me so happy!

Amazon download of Sophia and Mr Rocket.

Take care and stay safe!

Lots of love,
Sarah xxx

","tags":"children's book\nbook\nebook\ndigital children's book\n","title":"New eBook out now!"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2FBookBrushImage70993_1638285842288.png?alt=media&token=36d2959a-d07c-4b8e-894d-b4f87fa29ad5"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z"},"id":"bB1Gc62xI692di6SsLIC6"},{"about":{"content":"

I wrote a poem yesterday that I would like to share with you. It's about my life, viewed as a book.

I am me
A unique book of a million pages
Each breath a different word

It tells of who I am
What I want to be
Of my shortcomings
and also my positives

It's a special book
told and made by me
Every page is written in gold
and deep, red blood

I've poured my soul out
on these pages
Beautifully and true

Words from my heart and soul
Slipping through my fingers
Like melting ice

Each word in my book
Tells a different story
Each true
and completely mine.

","title":"Poem"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Fat-home-4980360_1280_1637866490434.jpg?alt=media&token=37bd770c-d7b0-4c6e-a9a1-2ad2660db55a"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2021-12-01T00:00:00.000Z"},"id":"i3yjjy2pxq6i0asK3TWjc"},{"about":{"content":"

I just received ten marketing tips from Amazon on how to market your books. Here's what I learned from their advice:

1. \"Create a compelling cover,\" Amazon writes. We authors need to have a front cover that looks good as a full-sized image and a thumbnail. Both sorts of images are going to be used on Amazon's sites. They have a Cover Creator Tool that can be used to design a front cover.

2. \"Edit and proofread read your book well,\" they write. \"Books filled with typos and grammatical errors may foster negative customer reviews.\" I use two editors and at least two beta-readers when I write.

The first editor is usually from PaperTrue.com, and I contact them before sending my material to my publisher. Then I review what the PaperTrue-editor have found in my manuscript. It's usually several entries, even for a 26-page long manuscript.

Then the publisher's editor will review the manuscript twice, and after each time, it's my turn to approve and disprove what they come up with. Then it's further reviewing (an additional three of them, one of them is reading a paperback version of my book). During this process, I let my beta-readers read the book, too, to find other errors no one else thought of.

So I'm a firm believer that you need a whole team behind you to write a great book. I know of those authors who have ten highly knowledgeable beta-readers and no editor. That works too. Just make sure you have many professional eyes looking through your book before you sell it.

3. \"Write a compelling description of your book,\" Amazon writes. This description is often the blurb from the back of the book. I struggle with writing a blurb, so I co-write it with my editor, and I'm ever so pleased with the results. So, if you have issues with writing a description, don't hesitate to ask someone else for help and co-write it together. Often we're too invested in the story ourselves to write a great blurb ourselves.

4. \"Introduce yourself to your readers,\" they write. On Amazon, there's an Author Central where you can upload your picture, write a short biography, view and edit your list, and create blog posts. Your biography and photo will then also come up on your book's Amazon page. It looks excellent, and I can highly recommend you give this your best effort.

5. \"Promote your book online,\" they write. Amazon encourages you to promote your book on social media. \"Share a link to a free preview of your book with Kindle instant book previews.\" I have profiles on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. I've created ads on Amazon, Facebook and Instagram, which run non stop. I also have an author website with Wild Ink Pages, which I'm currently blogging on. If you're unsure of marketing, it's a great idea to contact a marketing firm such as Wild Ink.com

6. Publish paperbacks and hardcovers through KDP. Through KDP paperback publishing or KDP hardback publishing, you can publish and sell your new book versions in the States, Europe and Japan. You can order proofs and author (wholesale) copies of your books on KDP. \"To distribute your paperback through bookstores, online retailers, libraries, and academic institutions, you can also enable Expanded Distributions,\" the retailer writes.

7. \"Upload videos and book trailers,\" Amazon writes. \"Self-published authors often create video trailers to advertise their books online, and Amazon's Author Pages give you a place to feature them.\"

8. \"Join the Amazon Associates program to earn an additional 4% on each sale you drive.\" You can create custom links to the items you sell and professional interactive widgets. \"When customers click these links and purchase your book, you can earn an additional 4% on each sale.\"

9. \"Add a Kindle Countdown Deals promotion,\" Amazon writes. As a KDP Select benefit, you can run limited-time discount promotions for your eBooks that are available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. It doesn't matter where you're located in the world; you can still run the discounts. People who visit your item page will both see the regular price and the promo price. They will also see a countdown clock showing how much time is left on the promotional price.

10. \"Encourage readers to leave customer reviews,\" they end the advice with. So, for example, at the end of my book, I have a text that says,

\"What did you think of Sophia & Mr Rocket?
A big thank you for purchasing this book. It means a lot that you chose this book specifically from such a wide range on offer. I do hope you enjoyed it.

Book reviews are incredibly important for an author. All feedback helps them improve their writing for future projects and for developing this edition. If you are able to spare a few minutes to post a review on Amazon, that would be much appreciated.\"

I hope that this marketing tutorial from me and Amazon helped you!

","tags":"Amazon\nMarketing advice\nBook sales\nBooks marketing","title":"Marketing according to Amazon"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Fbook-759873_640_1637074199706.jpg?alt=media&token=564958eb-6722-4890-b56e-b9a46f06db8e"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2021-11-23T00:00:00.000Z"},"id":"8YvDowDSXIWOo3XoNdOH5"},{"about":{"content":"

I'm currently having a Black Friday sale on my latest book, Sophia & Mr Rocket!!!

It's now only £2.25 on amazon.co.uk and can be delivered worldwide.

The Sophia & Mr Rocket book is a lovely children's story about friendship and reaching your goals.

Review of my book:
This was a good entry in the Sophia series as a rocket successfully gets Sophia to play games and put on the right clothes like gloves and a scarf. The red and white rocket was a fun, fantastic character. I enjoyed reading it and guarantee you will too! -Matt Kratz

But hurry, the price for the book is constantly increasing without me having any control over it! Amazon set the rules, so if you wait too long, the cost may be another the next day.

This book is a great Christmas present to give to someone you love.

","tags":"black friday\nsale\nbook sale\nchristmas offer\nnew book","title":"Black Friday Sale"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2FBookBrushImage161_1637072234936.png?alt=media&token=ff9e993d-cae3-4095-935c-f2d3b8982cae"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2021-11-16T00:00:00.000Z"},"id":"9Z2Y7TdqVy2k9h5Sff1dF"},{"about":{"content":"

As writers, we may come across the issue of when applying for work, and we need to hunt around for many of our published/unpublished work to send to our employer. And frankly, it takes time. The time that the employer nor we have.

This is why I discovered clippings.me! It saves so much hassle for me that I just had to tell you more about it. But, unfortunately, they do not sponsor me.

Clippings.me tells the employer what you are qualified to write and lists ten links or PDFs for free. The clippings look amazing where it's added with a picture, description of the article, and you can click on them to get to the article itself.

It's a breeze to add a new article too. Just press +Add item to the right under your Portfolio and select Add from URL or Upload PDF. It's so easy it's a pure joy to use!

I have three URLs and one PDF on there, so I don't have to pay anything for my subscription. But, it's so neat and handy, so when an employer asked me for my portfolio a few weeks ago, I was able to send them ONE LINK and ONE LINK ONLY. Just like that.

Because the link is so simple, I could even tell him what the link was over the video call interview that we were having! How awesome isn't that!

The only drawback is that I don't have a clippings.me page for my Swedish articles—just my English ones. I will have to fix it, so I have a Swedish clippings.me too because so many employers nowadays want both my Swedish and English portfolios.

If you're not bilingual or don't work for two language markets at once, you won't discover this issue. If this is the case, I envy you! Working for the Swedish market is so confusing and messy at times.

Some Swedish employers want you to ONLY write in English and therefore request links to your English work. While some only want your Swedish work, and others ask for both.

If you have issues with coming up with what to write on about me on clippings.me then this is what I have written:

\"I'm a content writer, Copywriter and freelance journalist. Author of the published children's books Sophia & the Dragon: Who Came for Dinner, and its sequel Sophia & Mr Rocket.

I write for:
Magazines
Companies
Websites
Blogs
Social Media

I'm qualified in:
Interviewing
SEO
WordPress
Google Docs
Microsoft Office
Marketing
Social Media
Social media marketing

I am open for commission and have thousands of followers on Facebook and Twitter with who I will share my articles. Am a member of The Society of Authors.

Contact me today at contact@sarahjwilliams.com.\"

As you can see, I've listed a quick summary of what I do, what I write for and what I'm qualified in. This helps to make the text as easy to navigate for future employers as possible.

If you want more ideas on how you can update your clippings.me or if you're just curious to read the articles that I have there. Then feel free to go to: https://clippings.me/sarahjwilliams

","tags":"clippings.me\nportfolio\nwriter's portfolio\nhow do I make a portfolio","title":"How to start a portfolio"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2F26991876_10155357866139010_4528269388278181392_n_1636582898075.jpg?alt=media&token=32a348aa-801e-46bf-939f-039820f2fdd8"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2021-11-11T00:00:00.000Z"},"id":"16UKzOS1gJ0OJQkkYgpLh"},{"about":{"content":"

I have ordered my author copies of my latest book and finished with the updates to the text, design and illustrations.

Yay!!!!

It's been so much hard work that I've, the illustrator, the beta testers, the editors and the whole publishing team at Rowanvale Books have put in.

It demands a whole team of people to write a book, I always say. Often new writers don't know this, but it's true. Each member of the team is equally as important but for different aspects of the process.

I always have two different editors working on my text. One who looks it over BEFORE I send it to the publishers/agents. After that, I make good use of the publishing house's own editor to spot any error with the text. Beta-readers, myself and Grammarly spot the remaining errors.

Everyone is so important!

Did you know that I have questions and answers open on my Goodread's page now during June to answer questions regarding my latest book, Sophia & Mr Rocket? Pop into https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... and ask me your questions! :)

Kindest regards,

Sarah

","title":"We finished my next book!!"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2FS%26MrR%20back_1624287137774.jpg?alt=media&token=4f1eab02-2443-4131-be28-4a3226a6f9c6"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2021-06-21T00:00:00.000Z"},"id":"lJOJf1S8TAxX1d7ImXxT"},{"about":{"content":"

I finally have my latest book in my hands!!!!

It's just for me and the beta-readers to go through and find errors and changes that needs to be made.

The book have already had two editors look over the text three times, but we still found things that needed to change. Little things but things nevertheless.

For example, Mr Rocket was spelled Mr. Rocket three times in the book. I can't see how we missed that! But, now it's all fixed and sent in to the publisher.

I worked on the changes until 2pm at night! Needless to say, I was very tired the next day! Haha

I can't wait to show you the finished result! Me, the illustrator Jay Rixon and a whole team at the publishers Rowanvale Books, have worked very hard on this book.

The book is about Sophia and her friend Mr Rocket who is a red-and-white space rocket! When Sophia doesn't want to get dressed her friend Mr Rocket shows up and she is dressed without a fuss. Two clever games features at the end of the book that will help your children get dressed in an instant every time!

Out on 30th of June 2021!

I'll let you know when you can pre-order the book.

My latest book, Sophia & Mr Rocket, will be launched on the 30th of June 2021!!!!

The book is about Sophia, who doesn't want to get her outdoor clothes on. It stars a fun little game at the end of the story, which you can play with your kids. Of course, the book has a great story too, which you can read to your child when going to bed, in the bath or whenever you like.

The same Mum and Sophia from the first book, Sophia & the Dragon: Who Came for Dinner will feature in the new book. But, instead of the Dragon, we're going to meet Mr Rocket. He's a red and white rocket ship who loves to travel the galaxy. The great question is if Sophia will have the time to get dressed before the rocket ship leaves for good...

The age group is for children 0-8 but I'm going to put it in the 0-3 category on Amazon once it's published. This is because it belongs to that category and because it should be easier to find.

If you want to read the interview with me that Rowanvale Books did, then you can read it here: https://www.rowanvalebooks.com/sarah-j-williams

The interview is filled with information about me and my books. Enjoy!

","title":"New Book Coming Out!!!!!"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Fbooks%20stock_1623359188648.webp?alt=media&token=01f91099-d93f-416a-b24c-4d60b8f807bf"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2021-02-12T00:00:00.000Z"},"tags":{"book":true,"bookLaunch":true,"childrensBook":true,"latestBook":true,"newChildrensBook":true,"sarah_j_williams":true,"sophiaAndMrRocket":true},"id":"bn2eM5kTBYK3NVMxlRn"},{"about":{"content":"

As an author I get to experience a lot of cool stuff, one of them is now when I've been interviewed. I got ten reading and writing-related questions, but there were also personal questions regarding me as an individual.

I talk about my next book too and reveal its title! It will also be revealed what publisher I'm going to publish my book with.

The interview will go live now on Sunday evening GMT, so be sure to follow me on my social media to take part in this exclusive interview as it will be shared there.

You can find me and the interview here on Sunday evening GMT:

My Twitter username is: @Sarah_JWilliams

My Facebook username is: @sarahjwilliams.author

Looking forward to hearing what you think of the interview and my news on my new book!

","title":"I'm being interviewed!"},"assets":{"coverPhoto":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/wild-ink-pages-prod.appspot.com/o/user-content%2F-MbO0GChvbp-03iH7ziU%2Flandscape%201_1623359256822.jpeg?alt=media&token=d2f5b1eb-ab18-4f3f-8d0a-e0c19e04dc1d"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2020-11-12T00:00:00.000Z"},"id":"iwH3NX30D4Qmk2DOf84Dn"},{"about":{"content":"

I'm currently looking for more work experience and therefore I have signed up to help out at the local second-hand shop at the Red Cross.

\n\n

I may also help out with their copywriting tasks too. So, I'll get more writing skills.

\n\n

The work experience means that I'll work in their shop for Thursday's and Friday's every week. Which means that my daughter has to get up on her own those days. Which she doesn't like. And, my husband has to check that she's getting up. Which he likes even less!

\n\n

But, hopefully, the Red Cross volunteer job means that it's easier for me to get a real job. Nevertheless, it's something for me to do. Because I'm so restless! For the longest of times, I've longed for a job which I can go to. I guess that happens when you've worked from home for as many years as I have - seven years!

\n\n

I'm really looking forward to my work for the Red Cross and I start next week.

\n\n

Wish me luck!

","title":"The Red Cross"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2020-08-21T15:04:58.000Z"},"id":"dGngVn10SD2vLE6id6SJI","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

In the book Sophia & the Dragon: Who Came for Dinner it features a magnificent green dragon. But how was it made?

\n\n

This dragon must be my favourite thing about the whole story! He is kind but has a bit of a temper when it comes to his food. Something that Sophia handles brilliantly in the story. I won't say how because it will spoil the ending!

\n\n

The Dragon was made by Jay, one of the amazing artists working for Rowanvale Books. The Dragon was drawn with big teeth and a large belly because it fits his character and the story. He is an enormous dragon after all that cramps into Sophia's house. With great difficulty, I might add!

\n\n

The Dragon has always been green, scaly, have big teeth and a big belly. I made no changes to the original drawing because I thought he was perfect just the way he was.

\n\n

Sophia, however, went through several changes, but that is a whole other story!

","title":"How was the Dragon made?"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2020-07-13T15:41:31.000Z"},"id":"uwqULAgbEcWrUBEWjx8FQ","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

If you're on Twitter you've probably come across the pinned tweet feature. The question is, are you making good use of it?

\n\n

Using the pinned tweet has many advantages. It means that followers can quickly see what your most important tweet is. If you're selling something, this is especially important. Viewers can quickly see what you're selling and share, like, comment and buy your goods. If you got a blog or sell merch, you can also pin it on top!

\n\n

Maximum of pinned tweets are one at a time. But, you can change your pinned tweet as often as you like.

\n\n

For me, I have used the pinned tweet to feature my book, Sophia & the Dragon: Who Came for Dinner. I've listed a short bio for the book and two links to where you can buy it on Amazon (which ships across the globe). The front page of my book comes up automatically in the tweet as it has links to Amazon.

\n\n

I've had in total around 1000 shares on my pinned tweets in total, and have made a few bucks due to it. So, don't hesitate to use it!

\n\n

The current procedure for when to retweet someone's pinned tweet is when they do the same for you. So, if they've retweeted your pinned tweet, retweet theirs! The same should go for when you've retweeted their pinned tweet, they should automatically retweet your tweet.

\n\n

Just be careful so you don't have too many retweets on your own Twitter scroll. This is because a lot of people on Twitter won't follow people who only have retweets in their Twitter scroll. If you want more followers, try to keep retweets to a minimum and provide fresh engaging tweets instead.

\n\n

Those are my tips on Twitter and Twitter's pinned tweets for today. I hope it was of use to you!

","title":"Twitter, pinned tweet"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2020-07-09T14:11:25.000Z"},"id":"eqgZ54XIi7crwE7kgu0QT","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

I've started a new merchandise range over at Teespring! You can find several sweatshirts, hoodies, t-shirts and tote bags with writing and reading-related themes. In men, women and unisex sizes. Now also in toddler sizes too.

\n\n

Available in Europe and The United States, but delivers across the globe!

\n\n

My favourites must be Alice in Wonderland t-shirt and the \"Write much, Worry little\"-tote bag. I own them myself and love wearing them. The tote bags are perfect for a day out shopping and are sturdy enough to hold heavy milk bottles. Or, in my case books! So many books, for when I come home from the library!

\n\n

Check out the new merch here and I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do:

https://teespring.com/stores/the-kitschy-click

","title":"New merch!"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2020-07-01T12:25:24.000Z"},"id":"a68vJoCRRj7aGW2R0NaqZ","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Today I launched my newsletter! It was not as easy as it may sound. Turned out that the information that you get my latest short story, The Queen of Hearts when you sign up, didn't show up on the first newsletter registration bar. So I had to re-do all registration forms for the newsletter!

\n\n

Then, it turned out that only one of the form sent you an automatic email together with a link to the short story. Sigh. So I had to re-do it all over again!

\n\n

Now all newsletter forms on the website works! So take the opportunity and register for a free short story! The story has been corrected by an editor, a beta-reader and me - for your full enjoyment.

","title":"Newsletter signup!"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2020-06-16T15:31:15.000Z"},"id":"fJU8wkGF20OiXphTCMMc","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

I always like things that make the world easier to authors. Book Brush is such a thing that does just that. Ever wondered how you make pretty marketing pictures for your books? Well, the answer is Book Brush!

\n\n

This is not sponsored. I found Book Brush thanks to another author's recommendations and she uses it for all of her book campaigns. So, I decided to try it myself and got four really good marketing pictures for free for my book, Sophia & the Dragon: Who Came for Dinner.

\n\n

If you would like to buy my latest book, Sophia & the Dragon: Who Came for Dinner you can do so here in Europe: www.amazon.co.uk, ,Foyles and ,Rowanvale Books.

\n\n

But you can also reach it here in the US: www.barnesandnoble.com och www.amazon.com.

\n\n

Book Brush you reach here: www.bookbrush.com

","title":"Book Brush"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2020-06-10T12:09:01.000Z"},"id":"bQaPUUqgZprOpinaPB6wj","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

I became a member of clippings.me a site for freelancers where we can show our work to editors. This is what it says in my bio:

\n\n

\"Fulltime freelance journalist and author. A freelance journalist working for the English market. Write articles on the topic of mental health, relationships and history. Author of the published children's book Sophia & the Dragon: Who Came for Dinner.

\n\n

I've written for:\nMagazines\nCompanies\nWebsites\nBlogs\nSocial media

\n\n

I'm qualified in:\nInterviewing\nSEO\nWordpress\nGoogle Docs\nMicrosoft Office 365\nMarketing\nSocial media\nSocial media marketing

\n\n

I am open for commission and have thousands of followers on Facebook and Twitter who I will share my articles to. Am a member of The Society of Authors.

\n\n

Contact me today at contact@sarahjwilliams.com\"

\n\n

After what I've read, it is hard to land journalism jobs without having a portfolio. By becoming a member and having my portfolio at clippings.me I hope this will help me land more journalism gigs.

\n\n

And... you read that correctly! I also became a member of the Society of Authors, the UK union for journalists and authors. Yay! I'm so happy!

\n\n

You can find my portfolio here: https://www.clippings.me/sarahjwilliams and here: https://www.sarahjwilliams.com/portfolio-freelance-work

","title":"Became a member of..."},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2020-05-27T18:10:53.000Z"},"id":"u4LpL1B9i5RWH1bHN7VV","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

This week I've already made the following changes to my website:

\n\n

I've added it to Google, and I've done SEO. Buttons have had their links updated, and I've checked that all links work.

The contact section has had a whole revamp! It's now in English, and I've added where you can get hold of me on social media too.

\n\n

I've also added a whole new page which is called Portfolio Freelance Work, where I have updated two articles that I have written for magazines. My portfolio is primarily for editors to view so you/they can see that I can write good quality articles. (And, hopefully, this means that you'll like it and publish my articles.)

\n\n

I'm also testing WIX' new blog.

\n\n

I hope you like the new changes!

","title":"Updates to my site"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2020-05-25T20:05:12.000Z"},"id":"eOwhfaf6sFcTO5RyCeIna","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Today I applied for membership with the Swedish Author Union (the UK equivalent is Society of Authors). In my case, they wanted to see my published work and, it can be that I get rejected because I published my book in the UK, not Sweden.

\n\n

But, I need to have a UK address to be allowed to register with the Society of Authors. I don't know just yet if I'm allowed to use my husband's parent's address for my application. If I am allowed to, then I'll apply for the Society of Authors in the UK.

\n\n

I would love to be a member of the Society of Authors in the UK the most because they're for freelance journalists AND authors who write for the UK media. Which ticks all of my boxes.

\n\n

You can also be an aspiring author and become a member with the Society of Authors. While the Swedish Author Union requires you to have published work before you join. It also costs 300 Swedish Krona (which is approximate £25) in administration fees for them even to consider my membership.

\n\n

Of course, I paid. Hopefully, I become a member of both unions: the Swedish and the British.

\n\n

Why become a member? Because, if I get issues with payments from publishers or editors, I may need legal assistance. They also helpt with controlling the work environment for freelance journalists and authors, so you're treated fairly by your editor and publisher.

\n\n

I want to become a member for the sake of my safety and the future of the industry. If I become a member I can also put that I am on my invoice. It will make it look more professional.

","title":"Unions and membership"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2020-05-21T15:51:48.000Z"},"id":"df0Edz0C4m0WQcsSLS0Z","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

I've finished and sent in an article to two magazines! I have re-started the writing course that I began in 2007 and have decided to finish it. When I'm finished I'll get a diploma in freelance journalism and creative writing.

\n\n

But, while I'm doing the course I get to send in work to magazines and publishers. Once, the tutor find the piece ready to be sent in that is, and that's what happened the other week. My tutor said that my work was good enough to be sent in to the magazines it was aimed for.

\n\n

I'm so excited! It's been a long time since I wrote for the English market and last time I didn't get any responce from a magazine. Haven't heard a single word. At least when I've been sending in short stories to magazines, I've heard back from them.

\n\n

I think that I'm going to start to send things in through the regular mail, instead of email, if the magazines keep on not replying to my emails. And, send a RSVP along with my article.

\n\n

Wish me luck!

","title":"Sent in an article to magazines"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2020-05-14T13:39:04.000Z"},"id":"lz8XS1F3TBnPTsUj7fwR","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Currently I'm going through new ways to market my sites and blogs. One thing that I've come across which sounds the most interesting is Growth Hacking. Here's what it is, what it can do for you and suggestions on where you can learn it.

\n\n

What is Growth Hacking?

With a mixture of IT strategies and marketing tactics, Growth Hacking sprung from marketing. Growth Hacking is a way of driving more traffic to your webpage and/or blog.

\n\n

Back in 2010 and Silicon Valley, it was Sean Ellis who started the expression Growth Hacking. He needed to hire more staff and he wanted them to be able to do what he can do: company growth by marketing and IT.

\n\n

But, he couldn't find anyone who was able to do his job amoungst marketers, so he started a new word for what he was looking for: Growth Hacking.\n\nWhat can Growth Hacking do for me?\n\nGrowth Hacking is well suited for the small business owner, and is therefore great for us writers. It demands developing skills in IT and with this knowledge you'll be able to grow your writing business really fast.

\n\n

Though, if you're not during a start up stage in your company, Growth Hacking needs to focus on adapting your company to a market which is constantly digitalizing and evolving.

\n\n

With Growth Hacking you can analyze what works on market, quicker than any other tools and classical marketing techniques.\n\n\nWhere can I learn Growth hacking?

You can learn Groth Hacking for free here: Growth Hacking

","title":"Growth Hacking"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2020-01-31T15:55:45.000Z"},"id":"lIwd2Os2aCCfbrEq81xk","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

One of the books that I've found the most helpful to my craft is the New York Times bestseller, Steal Like an Artist: 10 things nobody told you about being creative, by Austin Kleon.

\n\n

It's easy to read the book that is quick to read and quick to learn from. It's 140 pages long but Steal Like an Artist is small and have very few words on each page and many pictures and quotes. Therefore, it feels much shorter than it is.

\n\n

Steal Like an Artist is cramped with valuable advice on how you can find ideas and on how you can develop as an artist. I used it to evolve my writing skills, but you can use it for any other creative profession.

\n\n

One of the advice that Austin gives us is to write what we like, and not what we know. The first advice I got as an upcoming journalist was to write what I knew, and the problem was that I ended up not knowing what to write! So eventually I had to scrap the idea, and I started to write what I liked to write. This advice from Austin has, therefore hit home with me.

\n\n

See what else he has written in his book Steal Like an Artist that resonates with you! You can find the book here on Amazon. I hope it will be as useful to you as it has been for me.

\n\n

Follow your dreams!

","title":"Book recommendation: Steal Like an Artist"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-08-14T12:52:44.000Z"},"id":"8rUrYb6FwTQIWrUc5OZzb","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

\"Notebooks are not to write in,\" some writers have said to me, but I disagree. I have several notebooks that I fill with scribbles, poems, to-do-lists, stories and much more.

\n\n

I am a rather visual person, and I like to hold in my hand and see what I need to do. This is important to me, but I don't judge those who don't need that; who says that \"unless if it's on a computer it hasn't been written.\"

\n\n

We are all different when we write, and when we work, and the bottom line is to find something that works for you.

\n\n

Some also collect notebooks and wouldn't write in them for the world. It's understandable and requires our respect. I collect books and would never mark them, cut them, fold the papers or change them in any way. They are cherished items to me, precisely as notebooks are to others.

\n\n

It's okay to be different! What do you do with notebooks, do you write in them or are they your collectables? Comment below (you go all the way down the page to reach the comment section).

\n\n

Follow your dreams!

","title":"Notebooks"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-08-05T09:22:45.000Z"},"id":"sZOvOXcIkzBrjQ2BewX5t","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Wishing all of my readers and viewers a happy weekend!

Back on Monday.

\n\n

Follow your dreams!

","title":"Happy weekend!"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-08-02T15:42:59.000Z"},"id":"bZJ9sDzEB5bar6vCeC","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

There are many questions regarding my writing that I have both received and seen over the years. Here is my take on them. Today's question is:

\n\n

Which music do you listen to when you write? \n\nMostly I listen to Yiruma. He has composed incredible piano solos that are amazing to listen to while you work!

\n\n

When I'm writing on my current work in progress, Thomas then I listen to 30 Seconds to Mars. It's a sci-fi book, and it fits the style of the writing perfectly!

\n\n

What do you listen to?

\n\n

Remember to follow your dreams?

","title":"Answering questions no 3"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-08-01T19:59:32.000Z"},"id":"6WS9bRF14CZOMPePJRK6","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Over the years I've received and read many questions on writing, uniquely my own. Here is my take on answering some of them!

\n\n

What are your writing routines? \n\nMy goal is to write from 8 am to 5 pm every weekday, but the truth is: I'm ill. I need to sleep around 18 hours a day, and therefore, I work around it. Currently, that means that I write non-stop between 2 pm and 5 pm every weekday.

\n\n

It's not much, but it's what I can manage now when I'm not feeling well.

\n\n

It's something that I advocate too; that we shouldn't give up on our dreams just because our life isn't what we wished it to be. It's a bit like squeezing in exercise every day; you have to be imaginative.

\n\n

If you don't feel like you have the time to write, pick up a pen and paper or your phone, and write whenever you got a spare moment. It can be when you commute, wait in line, when your baby is asleep, during your lunch break, by getting up 15-60 minutes earlier every day, and more.

\n\n

You can squeeze in your hopes and your dreams into your daily life, and you'll feel so much happier for it!

\n\n

I hope this was helpful to you. Remember to follow your dreams!

\n\n

Tomorrow I will answer the question: Which music do I listen to when I write?

","title":"Answering questions no 2"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-07-31T12:07:00.000Z"},"id":"rQy0Uebtn6CUDQqvWpT0","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Over the years that I've seen and received many questions. Here is a list of a few of them and my answers:

\n\n

Why do I write?\n\nIt is almost impossible to answer this question without being poetic. I write because, without writing, it doesn't truly feel like I'm alive. Writing is an extension of my soul and a way to get my thoughts on paper.

\n\n

If I didn't write me a.) would lose a significant part of what makes me who I am, and, b.) I would probably go insane. I think that this is the case for many writers, journalists and authors: we need to write to remain sane and just like with any profession: it's crucial to who we are. At least if it's a profession we're so happy with that, it completes us.

\n\n

That's why I love writing so much: because it completes who I am.

\n\n

Tomorrow I will answer the next question: What are my writing routines?

#writer #author #freelancejournalist #Freelancer #freelancer #Writer #Author #journalist #whydoiwrite #whydoyouwrite #sarahjwilliams

","title":"Answering your questions"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-07-30T14:10:39.000Z"},"id":"cLccrIjNqw1vqxng4ncYI","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Today I've written six letters to libraries in Kent, where I used to live and still visit often. I have friends and family there, and something that I love visiting is libraries.

\n\n

There are some remarkable libraries in Kent and Gravesend's one of my favourites. High, whitewashed ceilings, white decor and blue walls. The style looks Ancient with a Roman entrance door on the outside and Greek pillars on the inside. It's beautiful!

\n\n

I sent my book, Sophia & the Dragon: Who Came for Dinner to six libraries in Kent, just a few that I have visited over the years:

\n\n

Gravesend Library\n\nMaidstone Library\n\nCanterbury Library\n\nHerne Bay Library\n\nMeopham Library\n\nDartford Library

\n\n

Six remarkable libraries that I love very much! I hope that they'll enjoy my book and that many readers will enjoy it too.

\n\n

Remember to follow your dreams!

","title":"Sending my book to libraries"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-07-29T13:52:35.000Z"},"id":"6LhmLEFXTrG7MVfhYGIH","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Hi!\n\n\nI'm currently working hard to get an eBook published of Sophia & the Dragon: Who Came for Dinner.

\n\n

It's been a roller coaster so far!\n\n\nAt first I had to make a kdf template of the digital book that fitted the template for Amazon KDP. Once that was done I needed a pdf of the front page of the book and to fill in a lot of information about the book on https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/ and then I also needed to name my price for the book.

\n\n

I wanted to offer the eBook for £0.99 but the website didn't let me set that price, so I set it as the lowest amount possible which was £2.99 for the eBook of Sophia & the Dragon: Who Came for Dinner.

\n\n

Long story short, I got an email back from Amazon that requested confirmation from my publishers that I held the complete rights to add an eBook of my book. I also needed to comfirm that I was the author and writer of the book.

\n\n

I got in touched with my publishers and they sent me an email which confirmed that I had full rights to publish the eBook. I confirmed that I was me by using my logins and email address of my Amazon account (which was my Swedish real name account; I use a pen name).

\n\n

But because I use a pen name and because my contract with my publishers are in a different name than my pen name, I encountered big issues with Amazon: they didn't allow me to publish. They said that my proof was unsufficient.

\n\n

I have had to send off my request to publish an eBook on Amazon to my publishers, Rowanvale Books. They haven't gotten back to me yet but I asked them if they could publish the eBook for me, as I thought that that would be the easiest solution to all of this mess.

\n\n

Have you encountered a similar issue or know what I can do to sort out this mess?

\n\n

Remember to follow your dreams!

\n\n

Sarah xx

\n\n

#SarahJWilliams #author #writing #Sophiathedragonwhocamefordinner #sophiaandthedragonwhocamefordinner #ebook #amazonkdp #publish #publisher #email #eBook

","title":"My eBook update"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-07-24T13:25:05.000Z"},"id":"bHFGfm71DxnipBHpp6j","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Many writers who have created a magic system says that there is no right or wrong when you create a magic system. However, you're going to create your own rules that can't be broken. If you write that the magic user ends up in pain for using magic you can't write that he/she can use it unaffected. You need to be consistent and keep to your own rules.

\n\n

Some magic systems are not named or explained and fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson calls these systems for \"soft magic\". \"Hard magic,\" he says has written rules that are clearly stated in the story. You'll find \"hard magic\" in for example the trilogy Mistborn and \"soft magic\" in The Lord of The Ring. Though, it's fine if you want to mix between the two.

\n\n

You need to have fixed rules for your magic system, because a magic system can create difficulties for you when you're telling the story. Sanderson says that this is going to help you when you're writing your story and it will also make the story seem more real to the reader.

\n\n

Kristen Kieffer has listed six steps for how we can create a magic system:

\n\n

STEP #1: DEFINE ITS USE.\n\nHow does magic manifest itself? What fuels its use? How does the user summon magic, and what abilities does it give the user?\n \n\nSTEP #2: IDENTIFY ITS USERS.\n\nWhat are magic users called in your story world? Is magic inherited, gifted, obtained, or learned? Are there different factions of magic users? Can anyone use magic, or is it exclusive to a certain few? \n \n\nSTEP #3: OUTLINE ITS LIMITATIONS.\n\nIs magic or the source that fuels it a limited resource in your story world? Can magic be stolen or quelled? What effect does the use of magic have on the user? Is there a cap on the users' magical abilities? How could a magic user be defeated?\n \n\nSTEP #4: ESTABLISH ITS DANGERS.\n\nCan magic be used incorrectly or for selfish purposes? Can it be used to harm others or cause destruction? What dangers does magic pose to the user, whether directly or because the use of magic is scorned or envied by society?\n \n\nSTEP #5: EXPLORE ITS ORIGINS.\n\nHow was magic created? Where does it source its power? Are there different types of magic, or did magic diversify over time? What important historical events in your story world were affected by the use or failure to use magic?\n \n\nSTEP #6: CONSIDER ITS CULTURE.\n\nIs magic kept secret in your story world? If so, why? Are there magical societies or a hierarchy of magic users? Is a magic user marked by their clothing, appearance, or some other distinguishing factor? Do magic users have their own language, religion, festivals, or other cultural hallmarks?

\n\n

She continues on the topic that you also need to ask yourself if the magic system is going to have a small role in the story or a larger one. This is totally up to you and God speed in selecting what fits your story best.

\n\n

You can find Kristen Kieffer's blog post here and Brandon Sanderson's here.

What is your take on creating a magic system?

\n\nRemember to follow your dreams!

","title":"How to create a magic system"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-04-22T09:22:00.000Z"},"id":"zZSe5myPINZdl3ttRnN9","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

\n\n

One way to create a plot twist is to steer the reader to a certain ending or event and then change it completely to something unpredictable. You can also take a scene in the book and tweak it into another direction and see what happens.

\n\n

Rachel Scheller from Writer's Digest says this about creating plot twists. Ask yourself the following:

\n\n

\"What do I need to change to create a more believable world for each separate twist I’m including?

\n\n

How can I drop the gimmicks and depend more on the strength of the narrative to build my twist?

\n\n

Will readers have to “put up with” the story that’s being told in anticipation of a twist ending, or will they enjoy it even more because of the twist? How can I improve the pre-twist story?

\n\n

How can I make better use of the clues that prove the logic of the surface story to create the twist and bring more continuity to the story—but only after the twist is revealed?\"

\n\n

She also says that readers want their emotional investment to pay off. This means that the plot twist never can happen in a way that makes the reader feel fooled, betrayed or embarrassed. A good plot twist deepens, never worsen, a readers investment in your book.

\n\n

What you're after is that regardless of how many reads your book, no one is going to spot your twist before it happens. You succeed with this by coming up with every single way an event can play out and then forget about them. Come up with several new events and toss those too. What you're left with is an unpredictable event.

\n\n

Another way to create a plot twist is to spread out tiny, tiny clues to what's going to take place. Too small to be noticed right away and you do this by distracting the reader by mentioning the tiny clues while something else, big is happening. This means that he/she will be focused on something else. When the reader reaches your plot twist he/she should think, \"Of course, this should happen. How didn't I see it coming!\"

\n\n

A common plot twist is to take a good character and turn him/her evil. Because this is an obvious plot twist it can be hard to discise it until you want the reader to find out. Besides, when the reader finds out that the protagonist (the main character) is evil, they're also going to want to know why they're evil. Therefore, you may need to explain this for a long period of time after your plot twist.

\n\n

One plot twist that you can try is to kill a character that seems unable to die. He/she can, for example, seem unable to die because it's one of the main characters in the story or him/her have been a part of the story from the beginning. Or, the reader deems him/her safe because the character can have had a few - or many - near-death experiences and survived them. (SPOILER!) For example, is when one of the main characters in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time dies.

\n\n

Two other plot twists are that your main character turns out to have killed one of the enemy's relatives, and the other is when it all seems peaceful you give your protagonist more to deal with. You can also kill off your main character. The main thing is that the reader feels that \"of course this was going to happen\" AFTER the event occurs. A plot twist has to be understandable.

\n\n

What is your take on plot twists?

\n\n

Remember to follow your dream!

","title":"How to write a plot twist"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-04-15T09:55:00.000Z"},"id":"ovvgzvHv9ZcEJ38Nc1BN","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Have today begun and finished an article for Cosmopolitan magazine, UK. The article is about teenager's and young adult's mental health.

\n\n

I have yet to figure out a good title for it. As it's for the course I'm currently doing with Writer's Bureau, I will first send my article into them for evaluation. Wish me luck!

\n\n

Remember to follow your dreams!

","title":"Article for Cosmopolitan"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-03-21T14:53:40.000Z"},"id":"0kfr5RUeLS6dZhLlOUKr","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Even though I've had a sleepless night tonight I would like to make an announcement: I have started and finished Into the Lane this past couple of days!

\n\n

Into the Lane is a romantic story about finding love on a bus. But things are not what they seem, and they definitely don't go as planned. The short story is made for Woman's Weekly magazine and will be posted to them shortly.

\n\n

Wish me luck!

\n\n

Remember: Keep following your dreams!

","title":"Short story: Into the Lane"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-03-01T04:37:00.000Z"},"id":"ggZW7lXjYAAXCXwRE22H","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

It's time to share another poem. This one I wrote too when I was young, Autumn 2001, to be more exact. This poem doesn't have a name.

\n\n

If I had you here tonight

Would you listen and would you make it alright?

\n\n

I hear your voice

echo through my heart

I remember my last choice

and then my depart

\n\n

I stand here on my empty road

I want you near, I feel so cold.

\n\n

I said no more,

and continued into the emptyness

I threw the masks I wore,

and am left bare in my loneliness

\n\n

I'm but a pale picture of she I used to call Me

I'm only a failed mixture of someone who wants to be free

\n\n

I lost you,

in my search for completion

But it was torned in two,

and I was convicted for treason

\n\n

I'm calling you that used to whisper soft words of hope

But the only thing left is this letter in a shattered envelope

\n\n

Please, answer my cries,

that echoes through my night

I have now silenced my lies,

and taken up my fight

\n\n

You that held the key

to my heart

Bring back the one I called Me,

you are my last mark

\n\n

I need to come back to you,

But will you listen, and will you care?

For I have nothing else to do

Because only you can end this despair

\n\n

Yet again, I find the poem to be inconsistant and erratic. For example, the structure: Sometimes it rhymes four times and four lines, another section only have two rhymes and two lines. But maybe it only bothers me?

","title":"A poem"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-02-20T10:44:00.000Z"},"id":"1E6qyDVvSFXAXTgZBMrJB","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

I often write poems, here is one that I wrote when I was young.

\n\n

\"Devil's Heart/Black Rose

\n\n

Oh, beautiful rose of mine,

How you have sprung this lovely spring.

You gave it all to me,

Still I can not feel a thing.

\n\n

As black as my heart might be,

You are still inlove with me.

Or maybe you just have yet to see,

How crypled my heart is?

\n\n

But, how I love you

under the fogs of mist.

You are the bright horizon

at my dark, night sky.

\n\n

So, I ask in my own devilish way:

Where have you been

In this endless night of mine?

\n\n

Because, when your calls echoes

through the silence,

I can not see me calling back.

\n\n

Oh, Devil's Heart of mine,

What have you done to my life?

Blackened by other's hearts

I can not see what you mean to me.

\n\n

Oh,how I love you,

My black rose with thorns,

But you are just as blind as me\".

\n\n

The poem demands a bit of work. For example, it isn't consisting when it starts with a rhyme and then continue without it. But, I decided to keep it as close to the original as possible and post it here on the blog. I hope you'll enjoy it!

\n\n

Keep following your dreams!

","title":"Poem"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-02-13T16:06:00.000Z"},"id":"dRqZnQnGVET6q9hoK2au0","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Finally finished writing Winds of Change! Have sent it off to be looked over by two friends of mine, I'm excited to see what changes they will come up with!

\n\n

After the short story is completely finished it will be sent off to The People's Friend Magazine. We currently have a death in the family so it may take a while until the short story is ready to be sent in. But, stay tuned! I will get there! Haha

\n\n

Keep following your dreams!

","title":"Finished Winds of Change"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-02-11T15:36:00.000Z"},"id":"4GenyR6X8Foi5UKcGRb5","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

As an artist, you may think that you can carry it all on your own, but there is where you thought wrong. As artists, we need to surround ourselves with great influencers to create something new and to find our voice.

\n\n

You don't have to find out who you are first to write, all you need to do is start writing and then after you've been published for a great while; THAT's when you should begin to evaluate who you are as an artist.

\n\n

However, to begin.

\n\n

Pick an artist who inspires you and looks at what inspired him/her. For example, my picks are Oscar Wilde, Rosamunde Pilcher, Robert Jordan and Emily Dickinson. Let us look at who and what inspired Wilde and take him as an example. Then do the same for everyone who inspires you.

\n\n

Oskar Wilde was inspired by his lover, the poet Lord Alfred Douglas. It is said that Lord Douglas inspired him to write The Picture of Dorian Gray, one of my absolute favourite books. Whistler, the upper classes, art, beauty, politics and the search for happiness and pleasure are also said to have inspired Wilde to write.

\n\n

Now I need to surround myself by Wilde and what inspired him. The trick is to get into his head and THINK as he did.

\n\n

Now, look at those artists that inspire you: What style did they write? Who and what inspired them to write? Get into their heads and find your voice!

\n\n

Keep following your dreams!

","title":"Find your influencers"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-02-08T15:32:49.000Z"},"id":"aRhnLrhEeGlHTLwPlO8a","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

To send in your manuscript to publisher after publisher is - to say the least - a daunting situation. The worst is that you often won't find out why your book was declined and it leaves you guessing. For a lot of us, it can also make us start doubting not only our manuscript but our capability as writers. This is why we need to keep our head cool through this process and keep sending our manuscript to the publishers.

\n\n

Don't give up! Remember, it is only those who keep trying who will eventually be a published author. No matter the excuses.

\n\n

But what can you do to keep going? What motivates me? I get a lot of declines but I need to keep sending my material in and this is what I do to motivate myself:

\n\n

1. As soon as I've finished a manuscript I start writing on my next one. I don't stop, I keep going.

2. I have a few post-it-notes in front of my desk which motivates me. They read: \n\n\nA: \"You can have everything you want when you're patient\".

B: \"The trick to being published is about sending your writing to the right place\".

C: \"What received a no was that specific manuscript submitted to that specific publisher, because it wasn't right for them at that specific time. I'm still a great writer and there is another publisher who's going to want my book\".

\n\n

Keep following your dreams!

","title":"How to keep sending your work to publishers"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-01-21T16:09:00.000Z"},"id":"iQO0FJEkMwCwH9zBSkS","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

I'm currently writing on a new romantic story for People's Friend, called Winds of Change. It's actually a very old manuscript which I started to write several years ago for People's Friend but never finished.

\n\n

We should never toss anything we write because we never know when it will be useful again, the same goes for this little manuscript.

\n\n

I'm not sure how many words it's going to end up at but I'm roughly guessing at between 2000 and 3000 words. Which would fit nicely into one of People's Friend's short story sections. The story is about Rosalind and her daughter Beatrice and their quest for a good marriage for Beatrice. Will her father accept the marriage or will she need to find another match?

\n\n

I still haven't heard back from People's Friend and Woman's Weekly regarding two other short stories that I've sent to them. Fingers crossed!

\n\n

Remember, keep following your dreams!

","title":"Winds of Change"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-01-18T19:26:00.000Z"},"id":"59TzlMleOj3CtvrFDpQ1C","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Just finished reading The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and it's a remarkable read. It's completely written in American slang which takes a bit to get used to - if you are a grammar nazi like me - but once you have, it's well worth the read.

\n\n

The book begins with Star going to a party where she meets her best friend, who she hasn't met for a while. A shooting starts and Star makes a run for it but the danger doesn't end there. It ends with her watching her best friend die at the hands of the police and the rest of the book is about how she, the law and her neighbourhood handles the murder.

\n\n

QUOTE FROM THE BOOK: \"Sometimes you can do everything right and things will still go wrong. The key is to never stop doing right\".

\n\n

The book is about Star and her neighbourhood's quest to be taken seriously and not as a threat because they're people of colour. It is also about love, friendship, family and hope.

\n\n

If you're going to only read one book this year, read this one! It is well worth the hype.

\n\n

And remember, keep following your dreams!

","title":"The Hate U Give"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-01-16T19:00:00.000Z"},"id":"dbTIM1FQW0jCkUtTRLdF","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

I'm currently negotiating with my book publisher for my book \"Sophia & the Dragon: Who Came for Dinner\". There are quite a few things that I want them to do for my book:

\n\n

1. Add a Look inside on Amazon

2. Translate the book into Swedish

3. E-book for Kindle, smartphone, iPad

4. Audio-book: Apple CarPlay, Google Auto, Amazon

5. Publish the book in many more countries

6. How to purchase my book on my website

7. Libraries orders the book

8. Major bookstores sell the book

9. Prices to win? Update the front of the book

10. Update book cover with critic's opinions of the book

\n\n

Not all of these things can be done by the book publisher but where they can't help you they can point you in the right direction. So, if you have a book, don't be afraid to contact your publisher and see what they can do to maximise your sales.

\n\n

Keep following your dreams!

","title":"Negotiating with publishers"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-01-14T16:04:38.000Z"},"id":"ez9L0FLwyWIttiZ80Dl5m","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Just finished reading this little gem, Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. The book features Mia and Pearl who moves into a new neighbourhood and the impact they come to have on Richardson's family. But it isn't only Richardson's who are affected by the newcomers, Richardson's comes to change Mia and Pearl too.

\n\n

I can highly recommend this fantastic little read! It's full of profound life lessons and words for thought. It isn't, however, a fast read, so bear that in mind. But overall it's a charming read, which is safe even for the most sensitive reader.

\n\n

Keep following your dreams!

","title":"Little Fires Everywhere"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-01-09T10:49:00.000Z"},"id":"8KHn1tAAL6cxOPOxRO","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Many writers wonder how they can increase their income, but look no further: here are the tips!

\n\n

1. First, write a book and publish it.\n\n2. Publish your book in many countries. As many as possible.\n\n3. Publish an e-book of your book.\n\n4. Write several articles, short stories, YouTube-clips and blog posts based on your paper.\n\n5. Publish your book in many languages. For example, Spanish, Mandarin and Swedish. \n\n6. Publish an audiobook of your novel. \n\n7. Publish a comic book based on your manuscript.

\n\n

It's important to remember that you hold the copyright for your book, now and 70 years into the future. You also need to think about what you need to multiply your earnings by re-using and recycling old material.

\n\n

No book should be written only once and then be forgotten, instead, spread your earnings by multiplying what you publish.

\n\n

Keep following your dreams!

","title":"How to increase your income"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-01-07T19:15:00.000Z"},"id":"l58nof2BZbAbBnRlHxkkp","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Early bird catches the worm, or does it? Yes, of course it does but that doesn't mean it needs to be done every morning nor does it have to be done at all. The importance is that you find a time during the day (or night) when you write. It doesn't need to be at 5 am in the morning, it can be whenever. Really. The importance though is that you take your writing serious enough to write every day.

\n\n

In my case it means getting up at 5 am.

\n\n

I get up, I start my morning routine and I sit down at my desk. Life is peaceful at 5 am in the morning. No one in the house are up yet and I get a few undisturbed hours of writing done. Needless to say, this is my most productive writing time. It's amazing!

\n\n

When do you make time to write? Keep following your dreams!

","title":"Getting up at 5 am"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-01-04T04:43:00.000Z"},"id":"x7PlUoZNjlvvSt2yJ8zOe","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Are you a beginning writer and have plans to start on your first book or want to start writing for magazines? Look no further, my blogged is packed with advice on what you need to do to start your writing plans for the new year!

\n\n

If you want to become a writer, the first thing I would suggest is to find time and a place to write. I address more in detail of how you can do that here.

\n\n

The second advice if you want to be a writer is to buy yourself this year's copy of Writers' & Artists' Yearbook. It's packed with contact details of every publisher, agent and magazine that you need to send your work to.

\n\n

My third advice if you want to be a writer is to read the writer's guidelines that most magazines and publishers have. No one is going to look at your work without it being fully finished, you therefore need to finish and correct it yourself before you send it in. Even agents can have these requirements.

\n\n

Short stories, articles and book manuscripts often have to use double spacing, large margins and be printed on only one page. Make sure you follow these requirements to the letter. If you want to receive a reply, send a stamped envelope with your address along with your manuscript.

\n\n

Often magazines, agents and even publishers wants to know if you have more things that you've been writing on. Therefore, don't contact them after the first mauscript you've written. Contact them after you've atleast got three or more in your backpack.

\n\n

Best of luck on your new career and keep following your dreams!

","title":"Writing plans for the new year?"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2019-01-01T13:20:00.000Z"},"id":"stHVNow7Lxo5BFiVevUV","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Wishing you a happy new year and great year to come, with lots of published work! Remember that nothing comes to those who give up, you have to keep sending in good quality work to eventually get published. It sounds like a silly thing to remind you of but it's a uphill climb to be published in a new place and every encouragement is well needed. I believe in you!

\n\n

Keep following your dreams!

","title":"Happy New Year!"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-12-31T13:06:00.000Z"},"id":"hIofO3xKWWQjoE7jnmRwl","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

This and next week I'm taking a well deserved break from blogging and writing, to celebrate the holidays with my family. But, of course I want to stop by briefly to wish you good tidings!

\n\n

I hope that you will have a great holiday and keep following your dreams!

","title":"Merry Christmas!"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-12-25T13:03:00.000Z"},"id":"sVZDzrd3ECcolrzXsFUhT","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

I've been battling illnesses lately therefore it's taken me considerably longer to finish my short story for Woman's Weekly. Today it's finally finished and I'm looking forward to hearing back from them. Can't wait!

\n\n

Still waiting to hear back from People's Friend on a short story I sent to them. As it can take a while to hear back from the magazine that you send stories and articles to, I recommend that you use an Excel document to keep track of what you send in, to whom and when. It can also be a good idea to write down how you sent it in: through post or e-mail and to which specific address or person you addressed it to. Try to be as specific as possible, you'll thank yourself for it later.

\n\n

What are you working on? And, keep following your dreams!

","title":"Keep track of what you send"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-12-21T12:46:00.000Z"},"id":"jJpHGETrRQmjWWlTN3k","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Lately, on Twitter, there has been a considerable ordeal regarding JK Rowling's writing space, and it's ridiculous because as writers we need somewhere to write. It doesn't matter if it's a studio or the kitchen table (which was my go-to place before we moved into our house and I got my dream library. It's an office actually, but it has 1000 books in it).

\n\n

It doesn't matter where you write, your preferences or what resources you got: make do with what you got. You don't even need to write from home if it suits you better. You can visit your local library, coffee shop or friend's house. I've spent many writing hours outside my home, together with a friend or on my own.

\n\n

I'm not going to go much into how to decorate your writing space because it can vary so much from person to person. The trick, however, is to surround yourself with things that inspire you. When you write away from home or your kitchen table, this can mean buying an inspirational laptop cover, a notebook and keeping a few Post-it notes with inspirational quotes.

\n\n

If you have a desk, decorate it with items that inspire you. I have an ink bottle and a small statue of another writer, Homer which encourages me to keep writing.

\n\n

Keep following your dreams!

\n\n

#writingtips #writer #writingadvice #writing #author

","title":"Your writing nook"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-12-19T05:47:00.000Z"},"id":"7K23gfduXeDoOtv9PJrs","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Last week I started on a short story which I got the idea for from an old essay that I wrote for English class. I store it all in magazine files, and it's become quite a few cutouts and texts over the years.

\n\n

Save everything you write and whenever you need a new idea, revisit your file and be inspired! If you hate everything you write, try to overcome it but why not save what other people have written and be influenced by them?

\n\n

Keep following your dreams!

","title":"Save everything you write"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-12-17T05:27:00.000Z"},"id":"sOG0D1Ir4dKXUsICsS8","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Have you ever ended up feeling at loss of what to write and on how to write it? There is a simple solution to your problems: scrap filing.

\n\n

Gather all the magazines that you like to write for and start cutting out each article that you like. Glue them onto a piece of paper, store them in a box or store your cut outs in a magazine folder. If you're a author you can instead copy sentences that you like into a note book.

\n\n

Needless to say, you should never copy someones' work but there's nothing wrong with being influenced by and stealing a few ideas. After all, we need to read far and wide to be able to develope our writing skills.

\n\n

Remember though that the current magazine won't feature anything on the same topic soon again, but their rival magazine will.

\n\n

I hope this has given you a few ideas on how to use a scrap file and what to use it for. Keep following your dreams!

","title":"Scrap filing"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-12-14T05:18:00.000Z"},"id":"aGW8ZSNWakjNaPK8o5a2","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

The biggest trick to succeed with social media is to give your readers/viewers something that they want, without expecting something in return. Imagine what needs they may have and give it to them. It can mean that you're good at for example photographing and are telling them how to take great pictures. Keep a theme on your social media and only give them what they want to know more about.

\n\n

This is very important, but sadly many forget about this, and that is to write back to everyone who writes to you. If you have a thousand comments every day, this may not be possible but do try to comment on as many people as you can. Pick people at random when you reply but make sure you answer people in the bottom, middle and at the top of the list. This is to make sure that people who scroll through can see that you are an active commentator even though you can't possibly reply to them all.

\n\n

Don't be a narcissist and just focus on your own thing. I see so many writers on social media who only post about their books and never engage with other readers and writers online, but they also have zero engagement from fellow followers. The most important thing I can teach you is to comment much more on other peoples social media than you focus on your own. This is how you get other active users to visit, follow and comment on your social media.

\n\n

Lastly, follow other channels to learn what works and what doesn't and keep publishing exciting content. This will also help you realize what trends are on in your current field.

\n\n

I hope this has helped you understand the tricks to social media. Keep following your dreams!

","title":"Sociala media, how to"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-12-12T05:17:00.000Z"},"id":"aCPinGtti6cFHgMvgDybu","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

We've all seen the little notes but how can we use them to our advantage when we write?

\n\n

1. Use Post-it notes to write down your positive affirmations and mottos, such as \"I can have everything I want when I'm patient\", \"I am a published author\", or \"The world doesn't reward perfection. It rewards productivity. So stop worrying about being perfect and get the car moving!\" Keep the notes in front of you where you're writing, stick them on your computer or your notepad. Fridge and bathroom mirror works just as well. The importance is that you can see the notes often every day.

\n\n

2. Keep one post-it note for every type of task that you need to do. For example, allocate one for Twitter, another for your blog, a third for your Homepage, and so on. Keep them all, and it's going to be much easier to get a good look at what you need to do. If you want to be even more efficient, you can write these notes into a block calendar and schedule when you're supposed to do each task.

\n\n

3. Write down solutions to regular problems that you encounter in your work. For me, it's that I have a big issue with rejections and it is a regular occurrence in the life of a writer, and I keep a few Post-its that motivates me through this. For example, I use notes that says \"What gets a no is that specific text, because it wasn't what they needed at that specific time\", \"When self-doubt tells you not to do something, still do it! You are far better than you think you are\" and \"A writer without ideas is like a chef without any ingredients\".

\n\n

I hope this has helped you in how you can use Post-its in your writing career! Keep following your dreams!!

","title":"Post-it notes"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-12-10T05:16:00.000Z"},"id":"n7QXf2JdgOLPGqnxwTlKN","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Currently writing on a new short story for Woman's Weekly called The Beginning of the Day. The story is about a woman who is in search of a husband and it's filled with wit and romance.

\n\n

If you would like to know how to write for Woman's Weekly, please check out their guidelines here: Woman's Weekly's guidelines.

","title":"The Beginning of the Day"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-12-06T12:17:49.000Z"},"id":"7CJQDAfJUOG4suIsA2JCy","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Many people don't understand the point of blogging and can't see the great things it can do for our businesses. As an author it's a great idea to blog, especially if you have it attached to your upcoming book and webpage.

\n\n

So what does it do? If you update your blog regularly it's going to increase your hit rate on search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo. In short it means that people can find you easily when they search for you. The more you post, the higher you will climb the ladder and drive traffic to your book.

\n\n

Just make sure that you have a theme on your blog and keep posting good content!

","title":"Blogging: A way to success"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-12-05T15:43:36.000Z"},"id":"wr5RAnQRE8tY5Vi0DxdYN","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

I recently read this marvellous little book and enjoyed every minute of it! Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine begins with an introduction to Eleanor's life which shows that her days and weeks looks pretty much the same. On weekdays she goes to work and avoids her co-workers - whom she finds annoying - on Wednesdays her mum calls and on weekends she spends them alone with two bottles of vodka.

\n\n

Most of her days are spent alone. She has no family that she meets and no friends. However, it all is going to come to a complete change!

\n\n

I loved this book so much! I have heard how others found it depressing, but I can't disagree more. It's a book (when reading in it's full) is a hopeful and encouraging read. I loved Eleanor and her quirks, she was a nice change to other main characters that I've experienced. Eleanor isn't perfect in any means, and she shows us reality with all its faults. It's refreshing and intriguing to read.

\n\n

All in all, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is a beautiful read which I can highly recommend. It also holds a twist at the end. ;)

","title":"Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-11-11T13:02:56.000Z"},"id":"7O6sYDGN38nLPLWDEfKpH","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Finished a new short story for Woman's Weekly and can't stop humming the song The Lady in Red. The story is about Angela who is feeling under the weather and ends up in an unexpected situation. By loosing her footing she eventually finds new meaning in life. The colour red has a theme throughout the story, in various ways...

\n\n

If it isn't accepted by Woman's Weekly, I'm going to re-write it and send it on to Reader's Friend. In the future I'm planning to collect all of my short stories into a new book. Similar to what many other professional writers have done. The best short story collection I know, must be Maeve Binchy's. If you haven't read them yet, I can highly recommend them.

\n\n

What are you currently writing/reading? :)

","title":"The Lady in Red"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-08-30T13:34:31.000Z"},"id":"kTb5prwfJ65vZuNQ0t0Q","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

In every single movie I've watched and in every video game I've played, I've held a great fascination to the misfit, the outsider, the bad person. He or she, that only knows how to play by ruining the whole situation. He/she that is the reason to why you're concurring tasks and leaving your comfort zone.

\n\n

That person is my favourite.

\n\n

You probably recognise Loke in the movie Avengers who when he tells the crowd to neal, gave me goosebumps. A tyrant, a sadist and an outsider. He is hardly my only bad-guy-crush either, and it all started when I was little and prefered Skeletor in Hi-Man over anything else. Shredder in The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles soon followed and later manipulative, ruthless and selfish vampires in True Blood. It probably doesn't come as a surprise that Mr Gray in 50 Shades of Gray and Slytherin in Harry Potter are two more favourites.

\n\n

Why is this type of people intriguing to me? What is it inside of me that compels me to like this type of humans? Reading the report by Gregory Louis Carter at the University of Durham sheds a new light on things.

\n\n

In his investigation, he let 128 women rate who's personality that they found more attractive. One one side was the man who desired attention, admiration, favours, and prestige, the manipulation, exploitation, deceit and flattery of others, a lack of remorse, morality concerns and sensitivity, and cynicism. On the other side was a male who had a personality that didn't comply with narcissism and psychopathy.

\n\n

It turned out that most of the women prefer the personality with the psychopathic and narcissistical traits. However, how can this be?

\n\n

Another research shows that we desire the psychopathic trait when we elect our leaders, which were conducted in 2010 by Scott Lilienfeld at Emory University and forensic psychologist Steven Rubenzer and Thomas Faschingbauer, professor of psychology at the Foundation for the Study of Personality in History, in Houston, Texas. They asked biographers of each president to take a personality test based on what they thought that their subject (president) would answer. This is the score they came to:

\n\n

1. Teddy Roosevelt\n\n2. John F. Kennedy\n\n3. Franklin Roosevelt\n\n4. Ronald Reagan\n\n5. Rutherford B. Hayes\n\n6. Zachary Taylor\n\n7. Bill Clinton\n\n8. Martin Van Buren\n\n9. Andrew Jackson\n\n10. George W. Bush

\n\n

What the biographers didn't know was that it was a test for psychopathy and the results showed that the more psychopathic the president was, the higher it ranked on the psychopathy test. The top president (Teddy Roosevelt) scored highest.

\n\n

Why is it that women are more drawn to narcissists and psychopaths? Also, why is it that all humans seem to do so when we elect a ruler? Please give me your thoughts below!

#psychopath #badguy #whydoifallforthewrongguy #whydoikeepfallingforbadguys

","title":"When you like the bad guy"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-08-29T17:34:05.000Z"},"id":"b8ZpgByWHMXdS8LuHKZV","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

A writing teacher once told me that a writer without ideas is like a chef without ingredients, and as it's painfully true to our craft what do we do when we find ourselves without writing ideas? Luckily, there are many ways in how to see them, with or without a muse.

\n\n

The foremost thing you need to do is find out what you like to write about and surround yourself with that subject. Don't just look at what is currently written within your favourite subject, look at what's being written in other countries and what has been written in the past. Look at history books to find characters which interest you and other readers.

\n\n

Try to look at a new angle, could you mix the subject with another one? For example, \"how to go to a spa on a small budget\". Here you combine luxury and make it accessible at a low cost.

\n\n

Another idea is to take a well-written subject and twist it a little to make it into something new. Glittering vampires, anyone? Alternatively, why not combine a love story between a zombie and a human? All of these have already been done, but it helps you think outside the box and make new combinations which compel new readers.

\n\n

Is there a dream you've had or folklore which inspires you to write? Maybe a historical event or a mass murderer? Don't just surround yourself with things that you're interested in writing about, surround yourself with what can make interesting combinations.

\n\n

To store my writing ideas, I keep them in a small notebook that I always carry with me. Ready whenever I need it. I also brainstorm ideas once a month, so I know what to write and never run out of ideas.

","title":"How to find writing ideas"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-08-28T14:27:51.000Z"},"id":"mZFsRcyFBrB6VzhXMszy","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

This summer I have focused on writing for the amazing magazine Woman's Weekly which is located in the UK. What I'm focusing on is writing short stories in 2000 words.

\n\n

Woman's Weekly have strict guidelines that are important that you follow from start to finish. You can get their guidelines by e-mailing them at WomansWeeklyPostBag@timeinc.com or read this blog post.

\n\n

First of all, Woman's Weekly doesn't accept short stories by e-mail so you will need to send it to them by snail mail. Print your story and put it in a large envelope which is posted to their address Fiction Department, Woman's Weekly, 161 Marsh Wall, London, E14 9AP, United Kingdom. If you send your story from abroad, you need to include an international reply coupon.

\n\n

In the letter, you also need to include a stamped envelope with your address on it. Make sure that you have enough stamps on the envelope for Woman's Weekly to send one A4-page. They won't return your whole manuscript, but instead, tell you that they've received it.

\n\n

On to the manuscript: It needs to have large margins on the sides of the document, and the space between the lines needs to be 2.0. This is because the editor wants to be able to make notes in your text.

\n\n

On top of your manuscript, you need to write your name, address, e-mail, webpage, the title of your short story and word count. Then on top of each page, you need to write your name. It's a good idea also to include a page number on every page.

\n\n

Make sure that your story is written on a computer and then printed. Woman's Weekly won't accept handwritten work.

\n\n

So which type of work are they looking for? They're looking for short stories that consist of 1000 or 2000 words. However, they are also looking for serials that includes of 3, 4 or 5 parts. Each serial needs to be in 3,400 words.

\n\n

They also say this about serials: \"For serials, please send through a short outline detailing how you imagine each part progressing and giving an indication of the genre and characters. If we think your serial outline shows promise, we will contact you about writing the full story\".

\n\n

They also mention that it can take up to sixteen weeks for them to consider your manuscript and that they are unable to respond to you on e-mail.

\n\n

I hope all of this will be of help to you when writing for Woman's Weekly Magazine UK! Wishing you all the best of luck and let me know if Woman's Weekly has published your work.

","title":"How to write for Woman's Weekly Magazine UK"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-08-24T09:34:00.000Z"},"id":"bLhsxCfH7fv1NcY9Scgcw","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

When you're a professional writer, you also need to re-use your work to make \"new\" material. This is an essence of how to make more money out of your writing.

\n\n

For example, if you have a document which has been declined by one magazine, make sure to submit it to the magazine's competitors. Often one piece that works in one magazine works just as well in their competitor's so make sure to check out their market too.

\n\n

If you have had your manuscript declined you can also re-submit it to the same magazine a few months or a year later. If it is an excellent text, it's a great idea to submit it once again. Magazines changes editors rapidly and a new pair of eyes may retake a look at your work and give it a new chance.

\n\n

Also, you can re-publish manuscripts that have already been published in a magazine. When you do this, you need to take off around 20%-50% of the original price. Let us say that you first sold your text for £100 - to round up the numbers - then you can ask for anything between £50-£80 for your old article. Best of all, you don't need to change a word.

\n\n

However, you need to check your contract with your first magazine to see if it is okay to re-publish it with another magazine. If you don't have a deal, you should be in the clear to re-use your work, but if you feel insecure always double check with the editor.

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I usually wait around 3-6-12 months until I re-submit an old article/short story, it all depends on how often the magazine publish a new magazine. If it's daily, I don't wait too long until re-submitting it while if it's a monthly magazine I may wait 6-12 months. Though, if the piece was previously declined, I send it to a different magazine straight away. Then it's no point in waiting around.

\n\n

If you're working on the American market, you need to go through agents to re-submit old texts. As I haven't had anything published in the US, I am only focusing on the British market.

I hope this was useful to you and wish you the best of luck in your writing career!

","title":"Re-using old materials"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-08-22T17:50:33.000Z"},"id":"hgpRwoMJemivNhECrpW2","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

For any creative artist, we often forget that we need to re-charge and take time off work to regain our productivity and well-being. This year I have therefore taken three weeks off work to charge my batteries.

\n\n

Taking your time off can be hard when you're unused to it. But there are a few things which will help you to calm down:

\n\n

1. Read a book. Only 6-8 minutes of reading is enough to support your heart rate slow down. \n\n2. Go for a walk where you can see a lot of trees. Just being able to see trees is proven to be calming.\n\n3. Mindfulness, yoga or meditation. I do this a minute here and there throughout the day, and it helps me lower my stress levels.\n\n4. A short nap. If your day is too stressful, schedule in rest during your lunch break, 15 minutes of sleep is enough to increase your health. \n\n5. Speak to someone who makes you happy. Talking to friends and family reduces our stress and improves our wellbeing.

\n\n

I hope this list helps you as much as it helps me!

","title":"A time off"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-08-21T18:28:10.000Z"},"id":"thlgt5uVdQYSkiskmgBO","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

Finding time to write can be tricky for most of us, especially if we lead busy lives with work and small children. This is how I found time to write even when I held down a full-time job, school and had a small child.

\n\n

1. Download a writing tool to your phone (for example Word or a free app) and take your child outside in the stroller. Find a bench and sit down to write while you push the stroller back and forth.

2. Put on your child's favourite TV show and write for 15 minutes. Repeat once a day.

3. Get up a little bit earlier and write before you need to get ready for work/school.

4. Use 15 minutes of your lunch break to write.

5. If you're a night owl, go to bed a little bit later to write.

6. While on your commute to work/school: write.

7. Keep a notebook and pen in your pocket and write down things for your book throughout the day.

8. Download a writing app onto your phone and write down things for your book throughout the day.

9. Set the alarm on your phone and write when the bell rings.

10. Cook a quick meal, so you get more time to write.

11. Watch less TV, so you get more time to write.

12. Get off a stop earlier on your commute home and write on your phone while walking.

13. Write on your phone or in your notebook while you're waiting in a queue.

14. Write while you wait in a phone queue.

15. Go on a holiday to write.

\n\n

Even if you only get 15 minutes to write every day, be happy and content with it. I know a few people who have managed to finish a whole book by writing only 15 minutes a day, so if you can get that be proud of your efforts! Wishing you all the best of luck and please share which techniques you use to find time to write every day. \n

#howtofindtimetowrite #writingtips

","title":"15 ways how to find time to write"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-07-31T15:10:50.000Z"},"id":"jng40WopKB7ao6IK2oAx","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

(Posted 24 July 2018) Hello everyone, hope you are all doing okay in this summer heat. I am fortunate to have two AC, and this has made writing and working much more manageable. What do you do to keep cool during summer?

\n\n

I've just been in contact with Woman's Weekly to get their guidelines for short stories. You guessed it, and this is because I am currently writing on a new short story for them! I'm so excited! Can't wait to hear back from them and start to do some professional writing. I have already finished the base for the story which lists everything that's going to happen. Once that Woman's Weekly contacts me I can start writing and adapt it as I go along with their criteria.

\n\n

Just as the last time that I wrote a short story for Woman's Weekly I found my inspiration from a dream I had. This story, even though I was told it was an enjoyable read, it didn't get accepted. But I am going to re-write it in a few months time and send it in again. Hopefully, it fits them better at another date.

\n\n

So this is what's going on in my life, please let me know what is happening in yours?

#tips #writing #shortstory #WomansWeekly

","title":"Nice summer wibes"},"schedule":{"publishDate":"2018-07-24T12:19:47.000Z"},"id":"pfBruK2CX9Bj43p3JusZy","assets":{}},{"about":{"content":"

(Date 20 July 2018) Looking forward to a holiday when you can focus on your writing to end up not writing at all? This is a common occurrence for most writers. Try these five tips to combat writer's block!

\n\n

1. Learn which hours that works best for your writing and also find a place which keeps you inspired. It can be a secluded place in your home or at a local library or coffee house. Don't be afraid to experiment in finding what is right for you! Listen to your thoughts regarding what you choose, maybe you would like to write in your dining area, but the painting on the wall isn't inspiring you. Feel free to change and arrange your private writing area until it suits you.

\n\n

Some people only want to write when they're inspired, but I choose to write between 9-5 every weekday and compensate for the time lost if I have a meeting in the middle of my workday. Find out what works for you!

\n\n

2. Have you found a good working routine and are still experiencing writer's block? One of the most common issues is that you may be suffering from perfectionism. Keep in mind that the world doesn't reward perfectionism, it pays productivity. Therefore you can turn off the word correcting function on Word and focus on just writing.

\n\n

Corrections are supposed to be made afterwards and remember that no one can write an excellent text on their own: we all need help! Therefore, once you're finished with correcting your version ask a friend or specialist to take a look at your writing. Don't worry about being perfect, no one is.

\n\n

3. Are you unable to figure out what's going to happen next in the story? This has happened to me, and it's very annoying! But there is an easy way out of it. The solution is to look at other's writing, movies, series, news reports and history books as an inspiration to your writing. History books are probably the best inspiration for your writing. Remember that there is always someone or something that has happened before that would fit your book entirely. Don't be afraid to look!

\n\n

4. Maybe you have everything else sorted, and you still can't manage to get yourself to write a single word. The reason for this could be because it's a massive task you're undertaking and the pressure on you is too hard. The way to combat this is to break down your goal into small sections. Make a task out of writing 500 words every day. Don't be satisfied until you've done so!

\n\n

5. It can be hard to start with a task, and the tactic is to use the 5-minute method! The method consists of tricking your mind into believing that you should only write for 5 minutes. Set a timer and once you have started, you will most likely snooze the alarm and continue working. The important thing is that you start and the rest will sort itself out.

\n\nThere are many more tips and advice on reader's block, but I will write more of them another time. I hope these solutions helped and best of luck!

#writersblock #tips #organize

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LOREM IPSUM es sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Volutpat ac tincidunt vitae semper quis lectus. Consequat nisl vel pretium lectus quam id leo in. Et odio pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas egestas fringilla. Aenean vel elit scelerisque mauris pellentesque pulvinar pellentesque.

At tellus at urna condimentum mattis pellentesque id. Tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac. Viverra ipsum nunc aliquet bibendum enim. Et tortor consequat id porta nibh venenatis cras sed felis. Tortor pretium viverra suspendisse potenti nullam. Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia at quis.

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For speaking engagements, NAME is exclusively represented by The Literary Agency.\n

To inquire about having NAME speak at your event, please contact NAME, JOB TITLE at The Literary Agency at NAME@email.com.

For film and television rights, NAME is represented by NAME at Agency. Please contact NAME at NAME@email.com.

For literary rights inquiries, please contact NAME of The Agency at NAME@email.com.\n

For all other inquiries, please contact NAME of The Agency at NAME@email.com\">NAME@email.com.

For speaking engagements, NAME is exclusively represented by The Literary Agency.\n

To inquire about having NAME speak at your event, please contact NAME, JOB TITLE at The Literary Agency at NAME@email.com.

For film and television rights, NAME is represented by NAME at Agency. Please contact NAME at NAME@email.com.

For literary rights inquiries, please contact NAME of The Agency at NAME@email.com.\n

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