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A Feeling She’d Never Felt Before.
Just when Ruth feels like she has her feet firmly underneath her, everything is changing again. Will everything she’s endured keep her rooted in her convictions, or is she floating away? This is the EIGHTH Sneak Peek drop for “The Girl in the Newsroom”. If you missed any you can find them all linked below or on my Goodreads.
The Girl in the Newsroom
Alva Belmont smiled. “Congressman! How kind of you to join us.”
Hal gestured to Ruth. “I believe you know my companion. Ruth Feldman was one of the garment workers on the picket lines in 1909.”
Anne Morgan gasped. “Oh my goodness, Ruth, yes! I didn’t recognize you. How are you, my dear?”
Ruth smiled. “I’m actually a news reporter now.”
Anne nodded. “I remember when you gave that first interview on the picket line. You had them captivated.”
Another woman stepped forward–Pauline Newman, another labor organizer who had worked with Clara Lemlich, but had since fallen out with her. Ruth had ended up being closer to Clara hadn’t seen Pauline since.
“Nice to see you again, Ruth. A reporter you said? Whereabouts?” Pauline asked.
“The Forward.” Ruth remembered Pauline had gotten involved with the hierarchy of the Ladies Garment Workers Union.“And you’re with the ILGWU now?”
“Yes, I’m the Educational Director for the Health Center.” Pauline slipped Ruth a card. “We’ll have to keep in touch. It helps to have a contact in the press to share what we offer.”
Ruth was stunned. Education? Health Center? She knew the ILGWU had made advancements over the years, but how much had changed since Ruth toiled away for pennies and free meat pies at the Triangle. “What are you offering the workers now?”
Pauline smiled. “A lot has changed. Why don’t you visit? We have a full medical center.”
“Can the workers afford it?”
Pauline signaled a waiter for another drink. “They pay a small fee. But the union subsidizes the bulk of it. And we partner with generous hospitals like Lenox Hill.”
How long Ester had suffered with that horrible cough? And Abraham had resorted to a liquid diet when he had a toothache. Ruth had been relatively healthy, but even she had worked through awful ailments. What a difference having access to healthcare would have made!
She felt Hal squeeze her arm. She looked up to see his vibrant blue eyes, sparkling with mischief. He gestured with his head slightly, signaling Ruth to offer her services. She felt his bravery surge through her. Was this what it felt like to have a partner?
“I’ll take you up on that tour.” Ruth said. “I’d love to see your medical center and write about it.”
“Marvelous,” Pauline said. “I’ll write you to set up a time.”
Hal bowed to the ladies and pulled her away. He leant down to whisper in her ear. “How’d that feel?”
“Absolutely surreal.” Exciting ideas swirled through her. “Perhaps I could even get permission to make it another feature.”
Hal shrugged. “You never know until you ask. I certainly think it would be of value.” He patted her hand. “But I’m biased toward anything written by you.”
Ruth had to look away from his intent gaze. Something fluttered in her chest–a feeling she’d never felt before. But before confusion could overtake her, he held out a hand.
Read more of “The Girl in the Newsroom” while you wait for the book!
Find more ways to spoil your inner bookworm!
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You’ve decided to write a book. Yay! But how do you manage your time to make sure you finish it? Learn how to create a writing schedule.
Mastering the Book Writing Schedule
Let’s be real, it’s a lot easier to SAY you’re going to write a book than to actually do so. There’s a reason why the majority of people who set out to accomplish this don’t. But there is a major tool the successful have in their arsenal. A writing schedule. A REALISTIC one. Let’s break down what that looks like below.
Learning Your Writing Style/Stamina
The first thing you need to do is pay attention to how long it really takes you to write a chapter. And how can you best accomplish that?
I used to believe I could only write in long stretches of uninterrupted time. Then I returned to teaching and got into the stage of kid chauffeuring. I’ve realized I needed to tweak my writing style if I wanted to maintain my productivity. Luckily, an author friend of mine recommended Immersive Writing Sessions. These have been life-altering for me! This particular playlist by Abbie Emmons also offers a cute, visual way to keep me on track.
They’re designed to follow the Pomodoro method of twenty minutes of targeted, uninterrupted time followed by a five- minute break. She also has them timed to be four sessions that add up to two hours total. They’re perfect for me to get in my two hours a day while fitting my more on-the-go lifestyle. I can realistically assess when I can grab twenty minutes of uninterrupted time- like right after a class ends before I have to grab my kids or in the parking lot outside ballet. And yet it adds up to two hours of productivity over the course of the day.
So, I count by chapter. I know if I keep to this schedule regularly- I can complete 1-2 chapters a week. I’m a slow writer with historical fiction- working on it. But there are also different ways to calculate this. For instance, my author friend who recommended the sessions- she uses Save the Cat and counts by beats. She knows it takes her 16 hours, roughly, to complete a beat.
Drill down what works for you, but first try getting into a regular routine with your writing for a few weeks and pay attention to your output and notice patterns. THEN you can move on to the next stage.
Drafting Your Writing Schedule
Once you can estimate your output, you can look ahead to the calendar. One thing I’ll mention is it really helps if you have a planned outline so you know how many chapters your book will contain. I know I’m alienating pantsers here, but the planning ahead really will help. Check out my blog post on Outlining Strategies to help with this.
For instance, I know my book will have about thirty-two chapters. So, now knowing my usual output each week, I can count ahead how many weeks it will take me to complete the book.
Now, here’s where realism comes in. I also look ahead for what life obstacles are going to impact that. For instance, when the kids are off from school and going to be home disrupting me. When I’m going to have papers due to grade for my students. Or family in town visiting, travel plans, holidays, etc. These things all need to be considered because you will NEVER write as much as you think you will during these life events. So, plan for them instead of being disrupted and feeling like a failure later.
Revisions and Editing
A few things to consider for the end. One. Make sure you build in buffer room. There WILL be other life events you could not have anticipated or planned for. Like the week’s worth of Snow Days that had kids home and threw off my schedule last week. Or sickness, etc. So, make sure you add in an extra week or two for breathing room.
Two. You also need to build in Revision and Self-Editing time. I usually leave myself a few weeks to go through big-scale revisions and self-editing. I also ALWAYS recommend working with a copy editor. So, you will need to build in time for that as well. Most copy editors need at least a month to complete their edits. You will then also need time to implement their feedback.
Final Thoughts on Book Writing Schedules
I know this probably seems like a lot and like it will take forever. Writing a book is not for the faint of heart. There are ways to do it faster. I know there are people who can knock out books in a few weeks to a month. NanoWriMo right? I’d caution that these are the exceptions though. And they have most likely cleared their schedules to completely prioritize nothing but writing for that period of time. That is another approach. Although a more difficult one when you’ve got other obligations.
However, this writing schedule approach is to help you avoid the trap of allowing it to drag on forever. I say this as someone who has fallen into that trap the past few years trying to balance life and this final book of my trilogy. So, finding that right balance of reality vs. upholding expectations is crucial.
Good luck everyone and happy writing!
Do you have any other writing schedule tips that have worked for you? Please leave them in the comments below! Thanks, I look forward to hearing them!
Did you enjoy this post? Here are a few more that may interest you:
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A New Chapter for Ruth
You have had the chance to get a glimpse of some big changes for Ruth, but they just keep coming! Are you getting excited about your reunion with Ruth yet? In case you missed it, this is the SEVENTH Sneak Peek drop for “The Girl in the Newsroom”. If you missed any you can find them all linked below or on my Goodreads.
The Girl in the Newsroom
November 1921
“I told you this one would look perfect on you!” Chayele squealed. She clapped her hands together in glee. “Just wait till Hal sees you!”
Ruth examined herself in the mirror and cringed. The dress was beautiful, but it was so not her. It was an emerald green in a light chiffon fabric she’d never worn before. The arms were completely bare and it had beading at the waist with a flourishing flounce of fabric at the side. “I feel exposed. Look how much skin you can see!”
Chayele clucked. “It’s perfectly modest. I gave you one of my highest necklines. Besides I’ll give you a fur to wear.”
“But I can’t wear the fur indoors. My arms will be on display all night!”
Chayele rolled her eyes. “As will every other lady’s in the room. Don’t you ever wear evening dresses? None have sleeves anymore.”
Ruth felt her cheeks burn. No, she didn’t. Because she barely went out at night. Hence why she felt like a fish out of water accepting Hal’s invitation to accompany him to a fancy charity ball. She knew this was a bad idea. She’d been swept away by the magic of the week.
She’d seen Hal twice more. Once for a movie and once for dinner. Each time she was surprised by how relaxed she felt with him. It was so easy to talk to him and he made her laugh. Often. She couldn’t remember ever laughing this much before. And every moment with him was a new experience. A new world even! She’d never gone to restaurants like this before, where waiters stood at attention ready to replace a napkin immediately after it was soiled.
To be fair, she’d never eaten in any restaurant before that wasn’t kosher. She’d felt a twinge of guilt as they lounged over coffee after dinner and shared a frosted cake for dessert. She knew Tatty would have her head if he knew. But everything had been so delicious and decadent.
And what a luxury to sit and take your time over a meal! To not have to worry about doing the dishes and cleaning up once complete. She’d been reveling in this relaxing experience when he asked her to accompany him to the ball.
“Come with me to a ball tomorrow night.”
“What?” She must have misheard him.
“A charity ball. I need a date. Want to go with me?”
“A ball? Like from Cinderella?”
He laughed. “Yup,. But instead of glass slippers they’re collecting money for the hospital. Freidrich and Chayele will be there.”
Read more of “The Girl in the Newsroom” while you wait for the book!
Find more ways to spoil your inner bookworm!
Check out the Amaryllis Co. Shop, fully stocked with custom designs perfect for every book loving Amaryllis Girl! From shirts, mugs, wine glasses, and more, I have curated a shop with all of my favorites! SHOP HERE!
What are Writing Critique Groups and are they worth seeking out?
I recently had an author friend ask me about Critique Groups and how they differed from working with an Editor. I laughed and said they’re like apples and oranges. My Critique Group is composed of other writers in the trenches every day with me, while an editor comes in at the end to help me whip my final manuscript into shape. There’s a reason why of the two, it’s my Critique Group who got an entire paragraph devoted to me gushing about them in my Acknowledgements. So, my answer to the above question is a resounding YES!! Definitely seek one out!
A good Critique Group is a gift and treasure. Over the years, I’ve worked with many Critique Groups and upon examination I’ve identified the traits I feel are the most beneficial and the ones that identify a group not being the right fit. I hope they help you find your own best match.
1. You feel energized and good walking out
Writing is isolating enough. We’re already our own worst critics. So although you obviously want a group to help you identify what’s not working, you hope they do it in a respectful and productive manner.
I once workshopped a piece with a group where they told me every single thing that was wrong with my writing, but did not offer a single compliment about something I did right. Needless to say, I left feeling like a failure and never returned to the group again.
In my current groups, I can almost predict the things they’re going to “ding” me on as I’m writing. They definitely point out my lapses and flaws in my chapters. But they also make sure to build me up and point out what I’m doing right. By the end of a session my creative cup feels full and I’m itching to get back to the page.
2. There is trust and camaraderie.
Sharing a work in progress is like baring a piece of your soul. You need to feel a sense of trust with these people. You also need to feel like you can share the ups and downs and ALL the emotions that go into the writing process.
Not only that, you need to feel like the group will meet you where you are in your journey and help you overcome the obstacles in your way. They are your support system.
Have a writing dilemma and need to talk it through? They’re willing to fit in an as needed phone call to talk you off your ledge. Finding it difficult to find time to write? They’ll help provide accountability to get your butt in the chair.
When you’ve found the right fit, there’s flexibility and acceptance and you never feel alone.
3. There’s continuity and you’re equally committed.
One of the things I find most beneficial about good Critique Groups are they see a project through from beginning to end. However, I’ve also worked with groups that felt like a revolving door of people. It was like starting from scratch repeatedly.
I think this one might depend on the type of writing you’re doing and workshopping. If you’re a short story writer, the style of critique group where you come and go when you can might work. But if you’re workshopping a novel, continuity is key.
It is frustrating to provide backstory for an entire novel when I’m workshopping Chapter Ten because someone is fresh eyes just coming in for the first time. I want people who are committed to being with me, workshopping for the long haul.
I know Critique Groups might not be for everyone. There are some who really do work best in isolation. But for those like me, where a good Critique Group might feel like a lifeline, I hope these tips for assessing your options will help.
Places to Find Critique Groups:
Authors Guilds and Writing Conferences– See my previous post on the benefits of Author Guilds, but one of my benefits was I found both my current Critique Groups through SCBWI. One, I found originally through our regional Critique Group coordinator. The other I found attending our regional Fall Conference. We met in one the workshops and went out to Happy Hour after.
Facebook Groups- There are a TON of awesome writing groups on Facebook. Take the time to just enter Critique Groups, beta readers, ARCs or whatever need you have and you’ll find a tons of resources that can help.
Meetup- There is a Meetup group for everything! So, you can definitely find writers. Depending on your area, you might even have options for either meeting in person or virtually. But, this is another great place to see about finding your people.
Hope this helps! Good luck finding your people!
If you enjoyed this post, explore more of my Empowering Authors to Bloom blog series:
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Hot Off the Press!
I have mentioned in my newsletters that this fall has brought big schedule changes for me, which has meant changes to my writing time. It has definitely meant dedication to managing distractions, but I am excited and proud to say this has not meant changes in productivity. That means Ruth is back again, to share a bit more of what she is up to. Find the latest Sneak Peek of The Girl in the Newsroom below, as well as links to all the other sneak peeks!
The Girl in the Newsroom
November 1921 Ruth’s brain whirred as she typed away on her typewriter. She’d been regularly writing more feature stories and breaking news assignments. She’d even been called into the editor-in-chief, Cahan’s office at least once now for a face-to-face. He actually knew her name!
David assured her he always did, but Ruth still doubted. She knew she had him to thank for this new attention, but David insisted it was her own doing. She believed she had the talent now and was capable. But she knew David was the one who gave her the push and she still relied on his input heavily. He was also the one who magically made assignments appear on her desk.
She knew there were whispers. She heard them. The other reporters, wondering what was going on between her and David. She also noticed Shayna and the other females in the office appearing colder and less friendly towards her. She’d arrived crying on Chayele’s doorstep not that long ago when the women had purposefully stopped talking and stepped away from her in the elevator when she entered one day. Chayele scooped her up in a hug and told her to ignore them.
“They’re jealous.” Chayele rubbed Ruth’s back in swirling circles. “Unfortunately, even though it’s tough enough breaking into this man’s world, us women like to somehow make it harder. Instead of patting each other on the back for success like the men do, we get petty and vindictive and ice each other out.
It was the same for me in nursing. I’ve always been a good nurse. I held my own in the most stressful situations during the war and picked up a decent amount of medical knowledge along the way. I earned my way into surgeries. But as soon as other nurses learn I’m married to a surgeon, forget it. I’m a pariah. It’s lonely, but I move on and focus on the work instead.”
She heard a throat clear, jolting her from her musings. She looked up and saw Hal standing before her. Her stomach dropped and her heart began to flutter.
“Hal! What are you doing here?” She bolted to her feet, banging her knee on the typewriter in the process. She rubbed her knee and tried to hide her cringe.
He reached out and his face clouded with concern. “Oh, are you alright? I didn’t mean to startle you.”
She waved him off. “I’m fine. Just a klutz.”
“Well, that didn’t go quite as planned.” He smiled. “Although, I did want to surprise you. I’m in town for the week and was hoping we could go for another walk.”
“Oh.” Ruth glanced around the newsroom. Sure enough, some eyes were definitely darting towards her and the Congressman.
She knew she crossed the line about familiarity with subjects a while ago with her letters. But this would be declaring it to the whole newsroom. Why did he have to appear at her work?
“As wonderful as it is to see you, I have a big deadline and now’s really not a good time.”
His face fell. His excitement dampened. “Oh, I see. Your deadline’s important, of course. I just came all this way and am only here a few days. I was really hoping to see you.”
Ruth’s stomach turned. What was she doing? She wanted to walk with him also! Taking a deep breath, she decided it was time to channel Chayele. She needed to stop caring what everyone else thought.
“You know what? The article can wait. “I’d love to take a walk with you.”
Hal’s eyes lit up again and he grinned. “Great! We’ll keep it short.”
She grabbed her hat and coat and ignored the stares as she followed him from the newsroom. They descended the stairs together to the street below.
Have you read all The Girl in the Newsroom sneak peeks?
Find more ways to spoil your inner bookworm!
Check out the Amaryllis Co. Shop, fully stocked with custom designs perfect for every book loving Amaryllis Girl! From shirts, mugs, wine glasses, and more, I have curated a shop with all of my favorites! SHOP HERE!
Diversifying Income – The Way to Actually Make Money as an Author.
*This post is part of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Monthly Blog Hop. (click the link for details on what that means and how to join.) The first Wednesday of every month, we all post our thoughts, fears or words of encouragement for fellow writers. This is my September IWSG Post. To see the other authors participating, click HERE.
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September 4 question – Since it’s back to school time, let’s talk English class. What’s a writing rule you learned in school that messed you up as a writer?
I honestly don’t have much of an answer for this one. I’m back in the English classroom teaching so I guess I could say something I’ve changed my tune over in teaching my students. I used to believe that formulaic writing was inhibiting or potentially stifling. I steered away from templates or formulaic methods of storytelling. However, I’ve now found that to be the opposite of true.
I am now a die-hard outliner and I’ve also found since giving my students templates to help them structure their writing, it actually makes them more creative. It’s like it takes the pressure off so their creative juices can then take center-stage. What about you? Have any of you found this to be true?
Moving on to my other thoughts this month-
What does Diversifying Income Mean?
We, as authors, are ingrained to believe it’s next to impossible to make a living off our writing. And that’s true to an extent. We will most likely not, at least not off our book sales alone. Unless you’re pumping out a book a month or are one of the few isolated household names. But for the most of us, we’ll need to find other income streams besides book royalties. And that’s where Diversifying Income comes in. It’s establishing additional income sources.
Establishing Your Goals
I’ve said before, every author is different and has different expectations for their author career. Some people have a day job and are doing this as a side hustle, others are retirees just doing this to fulfill a lifetime dream. And then there are the folks who actually want to try and make a living from their writing. I fall into the latter category and want to share my personal experiences in hopes it will help others find their way.
I published my first book in 2021. I was still working another job at the time. But I decided to take the scary jump and walk off the cliff to write full-time. I’m not going to lie, it has been a HARD road since then. And I’m still finding my way. There are definite feast and famine times. But I have made money and the key to doing that has been by Diversifying Income Sources. By doing this, you can build a flexible patchwork quilt of income sources that together can provide security. Here are ideas for doing so.
1. Speaking Engagements
Everyone has a different comfort level with speaking in public. But it is one of the simplest ways to add to your author income. And depending on what your book is about, there could be a broad range of topics you can discuss. Children’s authors can do school visits, Genre authors can find audiences who will want to hear more about their expertise, Other authors might want to hear about your writing tips etc. It definitely is worth considering how you can add speaking engagements into your repertoire.
I’ve had decent success with this in doing speaking engagements with Historical Societies, Women’s Clubs, Book Clubs, Author Guilds, and museums etc. One additional word of advice, do NOT do a speaking event for free. I know it is tempting to accept to get the “experience” but your time is valuable. Many places will say they do not have the budget to pay you up front and will instead offer you the opportunity to sell your books at the event. This has backfired on me and not been worth it.
I booked a speaking engagement with a museum for Women’s History month. They promised to take care of all the advertising and to pay me by book sales. I spent hours preparing a detailed presentation and showed up to 4 people. There weren’t even posters up at the museum pointing to the event space. I now know I will only accept an engagement if I’m paid up front so my time is covered.
2. Freelance Writing & Content Creation
Evaluate your fields of expertise and see if there are places where you can freelance. For instance, children’s authors can expand into the Educational Market with Work for Hire projects. These could range from How To books to short historical or science based books on outlined topics. For more on this check out this fantastic book on Writing for the Educational Market by Laura Purdie Salas. There is also a great website by Evelyn B. Christensen about where to find publishers accepting Work for Hire writers.
Your freelancing also does not have to be limited to your book topics.There are magazines and online publications ranging on topics. Think of where you have “expert” knowledge.For instance, I write historical fiction, but I have celiac disease and was once employed at a hospital to educate others on the gluten-free lifestyle. I’ve used this experience and knowledge to freelance and publish a range of articles in publications nationwide.
3. Teaching, Coaching, Editing, Consulting etc.
Share your knowledge and expertise with others. There are so many flexible ways you can do this. For instance, I offer developmental editing services to authors.I also coach other authors about the self publishing process. I am also now a college adjunct teaching writing. But I also know authors who substitute teach, copy edit, offer graphic design and website design services and more.
These have been some of my most successful ways of Diversifying Income so far. Some other ideas I either want to try or know others have had success with are:
4. Online Courses & Educational Content
Creating an online course and some e-books on Author businesses is on my to-do list.Unfortunately, there is a large amount of prep and time that goes into creating this content. However, once it’s done it’s an “evergreen” source of income you can leave to earn money in your sleep. Once you figure out how to market it that is.
5. Merchandising
This is one I’ve started, but need to expand upon. I’ve created book themed merchandise and been very successful selling it in person at festivals and markets. Especially around the holidays. But, what I want to really work more towards is having it, again be an “evergreen” source, selling for me on Etsy. I have an Etsy store already, but I need to work towards getting more traffic to it.
6. Crowdfunding & Patronage
I have not had much success with this one. But I know other authors who swear by it. I know authors who have had great success monetizing their newsletters on Substack, others who have built VIP communities on Patreon and people who have funded their publishing expenses on Kickstarter. I’d say gauge what your goals are and see how you can market and garner interest to supporting them. The big question would be, what do your supporters get from you for it though?
7. Affiliate Marketing
This one is honestly over hyped in my opinion. But, I do take part in affiliate marketing and it does earn me some money. From my experience, unless you’re willing to go full-on influencer and put a decent amount of time into building up a ton of traffic to your website and social media accounts, you’re not going to make too much money from Affiliate Marketing. But, it’s still something and the point of this is the threads in the quilt right? So, make sure if you’re sharing links anywhere, they’re affiliate links. Never miss an opportunity to earn a commission off a shared link.
I hope this gave you some decent ideas to try. Do you have other effective income sources that I missed? Please share in the comments, I’m always open to learning and trying something new. Thanks!
