Posted on by Alexie Linn

Smash Writer’s Block! Now!

Smash Writer’s Block

I have Writer’s Block as I write this. There are several causes of Writer’s Block. Here are four of them:

  • Hurry-Up-and-Wait Syndrome
  • Being overwhelmed
  • Interruptions
  • Boredom

Hurry-Up-and-Wait Syndrome

It happens when I’m waiting to run the final edit on the latest book. I’m afraid to start the next book because I’ll have to stop to run the final edit or listen to the audiobooks that are in process.

I know I should be using this time to blog about the writing process… but I don’t know what to blog about. I have writer’s block.

Being Overwhelmed

When I know I have only 45 minutes before the chaos begins around me. And my ‘do-today’ list has at least five critical items on it.

Interruptions

When one of my characters has their finger in the dyke, but the phone squawks. There stands my character. Waiting for me to write down what they’re saying besides ‘Help!’. By the time I get back to them, they forgot what they were going to do to save themselves – and the town below.

Boredom

When it seems like my characters are spending too much time sitting down, standing up, or pouring their 25th mug of coffee since climbing out of bed. Why are they there? Why isn’t something happening to struggle their way out of?

How-to Smash Writer’s Block
  • Read a Plot-Builder’s book like Plots Unlimited or Plotto or…
  • Ask your search engine for writing prompts.  Open one… any one of the 84,500,000 results and feed your plot brain.
  • Take a walk and clear your head
  • Have there be a knock on the door. But your finger’s in the dyke and the door is locked. Bellowing ‘Come in’ is not an option.
  • Go down memory lane with your own life experience. Pick an event that made you smile, laugh, cry, or screech. Work it in. Let your characters have their way with it.
  • Call cousin April.
  • Prepare your taxes.

Only you and your proteges can decide what’s next. And all it takes is a look, a word, or a knock on the door.

And have fun! No matter what!

Just one more thing.

Tell me how you smash Writer’s Block.

Email me here at alexielinn@gmail.com.

Oh my! Look at the time! Chaos will begin in 5,4,3,2,1….

The End Stuff

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

Can AI Write Your Book?

Can AI Write Your Book?

I confess! I tried it! I gave collaborating with AI (Artificial Intelligence) a test run. I named her Beulah. Here’s what happened:

Beulah asked me for a topic. I told her to solve an old mystery with three ghosts with three women and two men.

She thought a bit. Then flashed me the ‘writing’ card. Within a couple of minutes she displayed her 1311 word short story.

She had me hooked with the first paragraph. Here it is:

‘The three ghosts were sitting around the table in the old, dusty house. They had been there for years, ever since the murder happened. They were waiting for someone to solve the mystery so they could rest in peace.’

The second through sixth paragraphs weren’t half bad for collaborating with artificial intelligence either:

‘The three women were also sitting around the table. They were the sisters of the murdered woman. They had never been able to find out who killed their sister, and they were hoping that the ghosts would be able to help them.


The man was the detective who was working on the case. He had been investigating it for years, but he had never been able to find any solid evidence. He was hoping that the ghosts would be able to help him solve the case.


The detective asked the ghosts what happened on the night of the murder. The ghosts told him that they saw a woman come into the house and kill the woman. The detective asked the ghosts to describe the woman.


The ghosts said that she was tall and thin, and she had dark hair. The detective asked the women if they knew anyone who fit that description. One of the women said that she knew someone who fit that description.


The detective asked the woman to take him to the person she knew. The woman took him to a house down the street. The detective knocked on the door.’

But then Beulah showed her true abilities. The remaining paragraphs to this short-short were, in essence, a repeat of this:

‘A woman answered the door. The detective asked her if her name was Mary. The woman said that her name was not Mary. The detective asked the woman if she knew anyone who fit the description of the woman who the ghosts had seen.


The woman said that she did not know anyone who fit that description. The detective thanked the woman and left….’

The poor detective continued to ask the ghosts for more details. Then knock on a door to hear ‘no’ to his questions.

Beulah, my artificial intelligence collaborator, was not able to solve the murder.

Then I asked Beulah to write this blog post. She did a fine job of researching and writing about writing. There was only one thing missing from her oratory. Can you guess what it is?

Okay, I’ll tell you.

Beulah lacked personality. Dimension. Resourcefulness. Ingenuity. She got stuck in an endless loop of knocking on doors; asking the same questions and expecting a different answer. But the end result was always the same. No solution.

At least she didn’t forget to include the peanut butter in the peanut butter oatmeal bar recipe included in ‘The Auctionhouse Murders‘. Neither did she forget to add the page numbers to the book. And not even Beulah knows how many of the now Collector’s Edition copies with errors are out there. Beulah is programmed to do it right the first time, every time. As I said. No personality. No dimension. Just the facts.

In summary. If I ever resort to expose’ blogging or writing for Dragnet, I’ll set Beulah to the task. We’ll be a blur in getting the job done. But as far as publishing an action-packed, people clashing adventure? I might let Beulah help out with a plot twist now and again.

Or… have I managed to add personality and dimension to Beulah’s program? Who really wrote this piece?

Mua ha ha ha ha

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

How-To Train a New Computer

How-to Train a New Computer. Ugh!

Do you dread changing your phone and computer? Do you think you have better things to do than to crack the whip on yet another electronic device?

Me, too. That’s why step one is written in stone. Here it is, chiseled out on my new laptop…

Step One – Don’t fling it across the room!

Take a breath. Sit down calmly and play the game its way. Its maker wrote all the rules. It will play the way it was taught (programmed) until you discover its buttons and tweak it to play your way. You can do it!

When my old laptop took longer to start, open programs, and shutdown than it takes for me to write two chapters, I knew I had to replace it. It’s six+ years old. It had written and published a gazillion words with me.

It’s time for a new computer.

And it was a challenge. A mind-boggling challenge. I’m a writer. I know just enough about computers (and cars) to get myself in deep do-do.

Add technology that has raced in and flew out since I’d bought and trained my last laptop. …Size, prices, operating systems… too many and too much to slog through with confidence.

With books on the fire and deadlines to meet, I couldn’t ease into it.

Here’s what I did:

I made myself go to Walmart and snag the best Microsoft laptop deal from their shelf. I chose Walmart because I could return it fast and easy if it was defective. I wouldn’t waste days and weeks fussing with it.

Next is to spend at least one day learning the machine and its software.  

Here’s what I learned about my new computer:

  • OneDrive is set to grab all my work and send it to ‘the cloud’. It was easy to stop it once I realized it was doing it. Google knew how. It was as simple as ‘right-click, unlink’… or something like that.
  • Microsoft wants to control all my downloads. It was easy to tell it to stop. Once I realized it was doing it. Simply remove the S from windows 11. Never mind that the S might stand for ‘Safety’.
  • Word will not autosave if OneDrive isn’t engaged. It’s easy to ‘control S’ myself to save my work. Once I realized it wasn’t saving every few minutes.
  • Yippee! MS Office can still be downloaded and updated to work offline. Without a subscription. That was a long-haul challenge. But it’s done. I’m free of Microsoft sucking my internet gigabytes and wallet dry.
  • Had I disabled OneDrive before I downloaded my files from the old computer, I may have had less hair-pulling issues finding the file I’m looking for. It’s a good thing I have a glut of hair to work with.
  • Browser screen size matters! The first computer I chose had too small of a browser display to preview and approve my new book. Yikes! I have to have a minimum browser display of 1200 x 600. The Lenovo Series 1 maximum size is 1028 x 768. It would not allow me to preview and approve the book for publication.
I’m slowly training my new computer to play my way.

No games, please. Just write, get email, manipulate pictures, start-up and shutdown quickly. Don’t interrupt me with notifications, ads, or draining the battery and my wallet. And keep me out of the cloud!  

In summary, I and the new computer may become friends yet. Before it becomes obsolete and slower than molasses running uphill in January.

Like everything and everybody… it won’t win unless we let it. It’s up to you and me to figure out how. And we can!

Happy Trails and Tales,

Alexie Linn

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channel to not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

Sally’s Character Secrets – Revealed!

Sally’s Character Secrets – Revealed!

Why didn’t I know about Sally’s character secrets? I’m her creator, for crying out loud!

Because, while she came into being through my imagination, I don’t direct her every thought or move. Although I do have to crack the whip to tame her now and again.

Once a character has their own avatar, they take over and tell me who they are, their beliefs, and what they like. And I let them.

Here are a few of Sally’s character secrets that I pried out of her:

  • She wishes she had a greener thumb. Successful gardening is challenge she’s never conquered.
  • A pint of Ben and Jerry’s is her favorite summertime supper… or a pint of red, ripe strawberries dipped in whipped cream.
  • She loves to travel. But hates packing up her van – and unpacking it when she returns.
  • Anticipating a road trip gives her night terrors. She says it would be fine if she could just get in her van and go…
  • Fear of scorpions makes her throw-up. It’s the only creature – so far – that she has to make herself squash instead of relocating it.
  • She has no mirrors under bright lights. Why?
  • She gives pack rats at least a day to move on before she sets the trap to ‘rehome’ them. Then assures them they’ll be happier in their new estate when she sets them free four miles away.
  • She loves living alone. But wants a companion to share experiences with… like the county fair, camping, and making tamales.

Characters grow into their own, if you let them. Each one will speak their own dialogue, if you let them. Even Leon, who has now appeared in two of the Sally the Loner MysAdventures, wrote his own script. He caught me by total surprise when he shape-shifted from a knight-in-shining-armor to a …

I know that there will be more of Sally’s character secrets to reveal as she journeys into her next MysAdventure… and the next… and the next…

But Leon may be done with his shape-shifting stunts… unless…

How are your personas coming along? Are they there yet? Do they ever get there? Only your characters know for sure.

“Mua-ha-ha-ha…”

Happy Trails and Tales,

Alexie Linn

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

Organized Manuscripts – How to Prevent Writer Frazzle

Organized Manuscripts – How to Prevent Writer Frazzle

I don’t know how many books I published before I realized the importance of corralling each work for retrieval. The problem? Disorganized manuscripts were turning me into a frazzled meme.

But when it comes to filing, I can also over file and make the same frazzled meme out of myself just to maintain the system.

Neither under-organized nor over-organized filing works! Both systems were gobbling up valuable writing time.

Finally! I flailed my way to a super simple system for filing each manuscript from moment one of its creation.

Organized manuscripts are happy manuscripts. And prevent frazzled writer syndrome.

Here’s how to kick it off:

Start with a new folder for the new ‘Series’. Next, I open a new folder for each manuscript within the series. Now a specific manuscript within the series is right where I look for it – each and every time.

The cherry on top? It’s fast and easy to save the day’s work to my back-up thumb drive.

It’s working great. It will work even better when (?) I go back to the beginning and whip all my manuscripts in line.

What are the nuts and bolts?

Here’s the simple process for organized manuscripts.

It works whether you write on a computer or on paper, but the terminology here is for a computer:

Start a New Manuscript

Open a new document. Title it ‘___ Manuscript’. Save it in a new folder (within the ‘Series’ folder) just for this manuscript.

In this new folder for this manuscript, I save another new document and title it ‘Cast of Characters’. And here’s three more new documents for the book specific folder:

  • Description
  • Narration Version
  • Audition Script

By inserting the labeled blank documents into the folder at the beginning, I don’t forget to create them while I’m writing the story. Or when I think I’ve finished the book. I’m not finished until the rest of the paperwork is done.

When it’s time to turn the story into an audiobook, I don’t have a panic attack because I forgot to write the ‘Audition Script’ while all those characters were acting out in my mind.

If certain places need research detailed, I add it. And pictures, whether they’re avatars or photos. Outlines and research notes go in, too.

Everything is neat and tidy. And quickly retrievable if I want to change anything or steal from it (I always do!).

Start Another New Manuscript

Now, when I get to Book 12 of the series, I simply open the ‘Cast of Characters’ and shop for the carryover characters (or places) from previous organized manuscripts. Then copy and paste to the new work-in-progress ‘Cast of Characters’, etc. document. Easy-peasy. No frustration or frazzle.

Why did it take me so long to figure this simple system?

Oh. That’s right. I’m human. Bleh!

On that note…

Happy Trails and Tales,

Alexie Linn

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

How To Plot…

How To Plot…

The plot. The actions, egadses, and events that make a story a page-turner. Without plot, you have a book of ants, following the lead ant to wherever it got off to before they were all annihilated. The end.

But the mechanics of plotting can be mind-boggling. In a nutshell, it’s a personal choice. Your choice. Here’s a smattering of options:

  • A plot generator
  • Outline
  • Storyboard
  • Start at beginning, the middle, or the end and tie them altogether
  • Build the characters and let them write the plot

Here’s how to use each option above:

Plot Generator

Google found 131,000,000 plot generators in less than 1 second. The one that I paid money for to experiment with gave me several options of first the kind and size of book I wanted to write.

From there, it broke the book into sections with percentages and boxes to write signpost events into.

The generator included a database to add my characters and offered several templates to build the characters. Some were very detailed, others just the facts, and everything in between. It also included a database of places to build and draw from.

There were print alternatives to turn the outline into a guiding light to the actual writing.

Experimenting with the plot generator was a good experience. But I haven’t used it since I played with it. I’ll tell you why a little later.

Plot an Outline

I have used a basic pen and paper outline several times. And I keep going back to it. Why? Because it organizes my thoughts into a beginning, a middle, and an end. When I can see there’s an actual story to tell, I turn my energies to building memorable new and collecting past characters who can tell the story better than I.

Plot with a Storyboard

For the artistic writer, putting the story into picture format first allows the writer to rearrange, rewrite, and layout the plot. I’m not artistic. My art is words. I write in flow charts … and then this happened…

Start at beginning, the middle, or the end and tie them altogether

Some writers do their best storytelling by writing in sections, independent of each other; then filling in the blanks. If I’ve mastered this, it’s been in my sleep. I’m not aware of it. But if this is how you march, do it. There’s no right or wrong way to plot. The end product is what will make or break the tale.

Build the characters and let them write the plot

Bingo! This is how I plot beyond the one-page outline. Why? Because characters are individuals with their own personalities and quirks. Their actions are usually what gets them into deep do-do. Can they slog their way out? Sometimes yes, but sometimes no. Sometimes they need help from another freaky character that has that kink in their DNA.

And here’s the kicker of why I haven’t used the plot generator after playing with it initially. I let my characters do the plotting. This assures me that I don’t have 20 characters that are actually clones of each other and very boring, indeed.

Is it perfect? Nope. But my books are as jaw-dropping to write as they are to read. And I’m always open to more better ways of doing the job.

What is your most productive way to write? I want to know. Email me here to share your quirky ways of getting the job done.

Happy Trails and Tales,

Alexie Linn

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

Profanity in Your Prose – Character Builder? Or Cop-Out?

Profanity in Your Prose – Character Builder? Or Cop-Out?

Do trash-mouthed characters move a story forward? In what way? What do we learn (or teach) from people who seem unable to make a statement or tell a story without vulgarities spewed throughout?

But a tale told without antagonists to spark action is boring to say the least. Not every character in life or fiction is polite, respectful, or happy.

What’s a writer to do?

How can an author build a foul-mouthed, mean, miserable character without spewing offensive expletives throughout the dialogue?

That is the mission of this post… To help you create characters with mind-blowing flaws but make the story reader-friendly and increase your readership base by doing it. It’s all part of the art of emotion-filled prose, my dear.

Do this: Use actions in place of words to build smutty, profanity spewing characters.

Can you love a character who trips handicapped people with their walking stick, cuts full school busses off in traffic, or bullies their way into the front of the line?

He made a fist, his forehead smooshed, he opened his mouth and I quit listening to his story… but trottted away to escape the hot air he spewed.

How about a character who flaunts their wealth while smirking in needy, fire-ravaged or tornado-flattened neighborhoods?

How lovable is a person who spits on the sidewalk in front of you?

What’s the character of a person who tosses litter (or puppies or people) out the door or window?

These are just a few of the ways to build a nasty character without ever having them waste valuable words that move the story forward every step of the way.

What action stabs your instant reject button for an individual in real life?

There is so much more to a person (or character) than the size of their vocabulary… If profanity is required to tell the story… is it a story or a rant?

On that note…

Happy Trails and Tales,

Alexie Linn

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

A Day-to-Write?

A Day-to-Write?

At last! A day off the Tilt-a-Whirl called a summer job to get my latest wip (work in progress) past the first 3 paragraphs and the initial characters built…

The laptop is open and booted; the 5 email accounts have been addressed and emails deleted; my website stats are foreboding because there’s been no time to promote and sell either. Word is open. The Description, Cast of Characters, and Chapter One stare back at me. Now what?

My eyes gaze out the window at the tall pine forest that house the pointy-eared squirrels and jays I perch among. I toss a handful of peanuts in the shell out the gaping door for them to snack on and entertain me.

I add to my list of what I must do today – my only day-to-write before the 4th of July celebrators converge in full force.

What was I thinking? Where’s the time to write while I’m working?

I’m in it. The time is now. Right this minute. I switch gears to have a chinwag with myself, ‘This is not your first rodeo. With 30 odd books up and running – at least 80% written and published while working a fulltime managerial position – you can do this!’

Realizing this is my only ‘day-to-write’, I put this blog post on hold and switch to the Description page. Here’s the nutshell description:

Auctionhouse Murders – Description

Sally’s mother came for tea – 20 years after her death. The reason for the visit? To charge Sally with the task of clearing her mother (Sally’s Grandma Lydia) of three murders.

Then continuing with the ‘day-to-write’ attitude, here’s the opening chapter:

Sally the Loner Cracks the Case of the Auctionhouse Murders

“It’s true, Joany. She sat right there and ordered me to go solve those 75-year-old murders!” Sally leaned on the broom she was torturing with vigorous sweeping. “It makes no sense! But, my mama, the drama queen and director, will have her way.” She choked the broom handle and attacked the dust-free tile again, muttering.

“Auntie! You’re 87-years-old! The scene of the crimes is 1,800 miles away! The witnesses – if there were any – are long since dead.” She shook her head, her mouth gaping at her spunky aunt. “How do you plan to fulfill her wishes? Better yet, what will happen if you just let it go?”

Sally leaned on the abused broom again, “Hmmph! Oh, Joany girl.” She spoke succinctly, “She’s my mother. She WILL have her way.”

Joan threw her hands up into the air, “Alright then. What’s the plan? I’m not letting you get into this alone.”

Sally leaned the broom into the corner, plonked on the chair next to Joan, smiling. “Good girl.” Yanking a notepad and pencil out of her apron pocket, “Here’s what I was thinking…”

What do you think? A bestseller that you can’t wait to pre-order?

And how are you coming with your own bestseller? Grab the time. Hi-jack the moment. And get ‘er done!

Plus! In case you missed it…

Did you get the memo on ‘Adventures in Retort Canning’? Did you know you always wanted to know about that? Check it out!

Happy Trails and Tales,

Alexie Linn

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

Oops! Did I do that? Website Frenzy Exposed

Oops! Did I do that? Website Frenzy Exposed

Apparently, I did. Because nobody else is responsible for my website. What did I do? Or not do as this case may be…

Your Website is your storefront…

I posted a book with no link to learn more and buy it. Kind of like placing the can of cat’s food in their bowl without opening it – then leaving for two days.

I have lots of excuses – including ‘senior moment’ – but it doesn’t matter. I embarrassed myself and frustrated possible readers by not finishing the business at hand. Maintaining my website.

Your website is your store front.

Your website needs to:

  • Be focused on what you’re selling – as an author, your books are your bells and whistles. Not the attention grabbers that will snag your visitors and pull them off your site.
  • Be attention grabbing without bribes. If you distract your buyers with an abundance of free stuff for signing up, you’ll get sign-ups for the freebies. And that’s it. Setting up and maintaining a mailing list is great. But consider these three things first:
    • The time and energy required to write and put into play the freebies.
    • The time and energy to continually feed your email list posts of more freebies.
    • The time and energy to keep your email list viable. The people who actually want to know about your new book – and will buy it. The number of ‘clickers’ makes all the difference in ranking. Non-clickers must be eliminated for better rankings across the board. There are other ways to keep bona fide readers informed. See the P.S. below for other ways…
  • Be easy to find – Keep your domain name simple, easy to remember, and easy to type into a browser. It should match your author name or something that appears on each and every book you write.
  • Be easy to maintain — Post a book cover; link it to the description page; include the link to BUY NOW. Simple – if you don’t get distracted.
  • Be affordable – I don’t affiliate with even one website provider. The reason? So far, in my tenure as a several websites owner/maintainer/operator, only one gave me the real cost up front of owning/renting the site. And they don’t offer affiliate links. It’s this one… the simplicity of WordPress.com for my simple (?) little AlexieLinnAuthor.com business. Find the real and true cost of a website before you build it just to get a gut punching surprise at every billing cycle.

On that note…

Happy Trails and Tales,

Alexie Linn

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on by Alexie Linn

Writing is Fun and Easy! Is there More To It?

Writing is the Fun and Easy Part! But Is There More To It?

If my treasured coffee mug wasn’t ‘Joan’s Dazzling Mug’, it would be the ‘I’d Rather Be Writing’ mug.

Writing engulfs, excites, and challenges my brain. The other steps of being a professional in my craft irritates and frustrates me. But it must be done if my creations are to entertain and fill a need in someone else’s life.

What’s the process when the current book has passed its almost final edit? Is it time to succumb to the call of the chaise lounge and bon-bons? Hmm… not quite. There’s still a few chores to complete before I can say ‘finis!’. So, onward with the to-do list of what this indie publisher does just before and when the writing is done…

First, remind yourself that ‘Writing is Fun and Easy’!

  • Share the news that a new read is on the way through social media and your email list (at least 3 times).
  • Final edit and format the manuscript for the intended market (Ebook, print, screen…)
  • Write the description – a long one and a short one.
  • Design and build a cover – I use Canva but there are others to choose from, including hiring others. Ask Google for a million leads.
  • Share the news that a new book is on the way again.
  • Upload to the marketplace(s) – currently Amazon and Draft 2 Digital for me.
  • Post the news that a new book is up and running.
  • Set-up the advertising you choose to get your book in the face of prospective readers – Amazon ‘Sponsored’ for one.
  • Write the narration version for the audiobook, don’t forget the minimum 1-minute to maximum 5-minute retail sample after ‘The End’.

Say again that ‘Writing is Fun and Easy!’

  • Be sure Goodreads has picked it up (set-up your Goodreads account if you haven’t already done so) and set the giveaways to run.
  • Collect the ‘additional categories’ your book should be listed in if Amazon Kindle is one of your marketplaces. I use Publisher Rocket (Competition Analyzer then Unleash the Categories) for this to save myself 62 hours of research headache.
  • Request (in Amazon Author Central) that your book be added to the additional categories you collected. Please be sure the additional categories are applicable to your book.
  • Post your book to the Audiobook service you use to get it narrated. My choice is ACX, but there are others.

One more time… ‘Writing is Fun and Easy!’

  • Post the book and description and purchasing links to your website.
  • Blog about the book.
  • Respond to any comments or requests that arrive.
  • Check your website stats to see what is getting attention through what source and expand on what’s working.
  • Learn more about promoting and selling, including a You Tube book trailer video. Here’s an example.
  • Take a breath… Ahhhh…
  • Start your next book if you haven’t already.

And there ya’ are. Done! Bring on the chaise lounge and bon-bons! I’m pooped.

But remember that ‘Writing is Fun and Easy!’

Next!

On that note…

Happy Trails and Tales,

Alexie Linn

P.S.  Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and  follow me on Facebook.  New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!