indie authors

Got Writer’s Block? 3 Outside-The-Box Ideas To Break Free

Mar 6, 2017 | Authors, Writing

If you’ve ever had writer’s block – and what writer hasn’t? – you know how frustrating it is.

You’ve got a story to tell, it’s banging on the walls of your brain trying to get out, but you writer's block just can’t hear what it wants to say.

Or you want to enter a writing contest and the deadline is looming. You know you have a story in you – you’ve written in that genre plenty of times – but the ideas stubbornly remain hidden in their cozy nooks.

We’d like to suggest a few unique block-breaking methods that you can add to your arsenal. Because we don’t just proofread and edit, we truly want to see indie authors succeed.

In her YouTube video, 3 Unusual Ways to Break Writer’s Block, Proof Positive owner Christie Stratos shares her own outside-the-box ideas on how you can break the block that binds you. Warning: she admits that some of her suggestions are “kinda weird” and might draw odd looks from your family, but hey, what’s a little weirdness between friends?

Awethors Event: Interview with Kelly Marsden

Apr 10, 2015 | Authors

Our fifteenth awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is Kelly Marsden. Kelly isn’t just taking part in Awethors discussions, Cover Wars, and giveaways, she’s also holding an event for Awethors on her blog!

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

I’m really looking forward to the organized chaos! I’ll be giving away ebook copies of my entire Witch-Hunter trilogy, the first book of which will be battling it out in the ecover contest (I hope you’ll all come and vote!).

I will also be hosting an Awethors takeover all day on my precious blog – The Northern Witch’s Book Blog – including lovely giveaways.

There will be a discussion on the Awethors board about who people support in the above trilogy. Are they #TeamWitch or #TeamMMC?

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

My most recent publication is The Shadow Falls, the exciting finale of the Witch-Hunter trilogy. It was a lot of fun to write – it has its own twists and turns and answers all the mysteries of the previous two books (while opening many more). I hope people will appreciate the mix of historical facts and modern trials.

It is available in ebook and paperback through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

I always have music on in the background. I find that the silence is overwhelming if I don’t, and I need something to engage my senses.

It can also help when that one line in a song stands out and directs your thoughts down a track you might not have considered, but turns out to be inspiring.

My music of choice will always be rock and British indie bands.

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

Just one? Okay, in that case I will go with the book on my shelf that has been read so many times that the cover is all crumpled and faded, and the pages are held together by tape: The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell.

My best friend gave it to me for my tenth birthday (actually, the same best friend who, 17 years later, persuaded me to become an indie-published writer), and I have read and re-read it. I fell in love with the characters, and it allowed me to escape to another place full of excitement and loyalty. It was the first book that really inspired me to dream.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

I will endeavour to be there as much as possible, I’m excited to see what is going to roll out. I’m based in the UK, so I’ll be running on British Summer Time!

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Author Bio

Kelly Marsden grew up in Yorkshire, and there were two constants in her life – books and horses. Graduating with an equine degree from Aberystwyth University, she has spent most of her life since trying to experience everything the horse world has to offer. She is currently settled into a nutritionist role for a horse feed company in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

Her first book, The Shadow Rises, was published in January 2013. The entire Witch-Hunter trilogy is now available as paperback and download.

Connect with Kelly

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6905238.K_S_Marsden
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KSMarsden
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KSMarsden
Website: http://kellymarsden.wix.com/home
Blog: http://thenorthernwitchbooks.blogspot.co.uk/

Book links:

The Shadow Rises – free to download
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-shadow-rises-k-s-marsden/1119501646?ean=9781499271607
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=5Xu8BAAAQBAJ
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/476391
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/the-shadow-rises/id921005166?mt=11
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Rises-Witch-Hunter-Book-ebook/dp/B00AWRN8YQ/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadow-Rises-Witch-Hunter-Book-ebook/dp/B00AWRN8YQ
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17972985-the-shadow-rises

Awethors Event: Interview with Claire Plaisted

Apr 10, 2015 | Authors

Our fourteenth awesome author in the countdown until the Get Down With The Awethors Facebook event on April 12 is Claire Plaisted. She has ten books on the market and counting, including romance and a children’s book – quite varied!

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

I am giving away an ebook version of Malachy’s Unit, which is the first book in Garrett Malachy's Unit 2nd EditionEbook Investigation Bureau (GIB) series. I will also participate in the character talks, chat and Cover Wars.

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

My latest work is Book 5 in the Garrett Investigation Bureau (GIB) series. It’s called Mascosta’s Dreamgirl. You can find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Apple and many more online stores.

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

My fingers drive me to write, as do my generally noisy characters, who seem to argue a lot at times. I have no idea where the plots or anything else comes from. I tend to do as I’m told. Muse or pixie on my shoulder is what I like to think.

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

There are two books. Valley of Song by Elizabeth Goudge and The Chronicles of Narnia (series) by C S Lewis.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

I’m about 18 hours ahead of the USA, so I will be there for as long as possible, though when it hits Monday here, I have a volunteer job to do.

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Author Bio

Hi everyone! My name is Claire Plaisted. I live in Rotorua, New Zealand with my family and two cats. Rotorua is one of the main tourist stops for a cultural Maori experience with lots of things to do, be it walking, cycling, museums, spa days, etc.

I am an indie author with sidelines in genealogy where I research and format family history books for clients. I have also developed a business to help indie authors self-publish. I have published six books for clients so far.

Plaisted Publishing House will format your draft books into ebook and print format; along with this we will help you find an editor and book cover designer if they are needed. My main aim is to get as many indie authors published and online as possible with reasonable costs. After all, not everyone is computer savvy.

Back to me! I have published ten of my own books so far. Two are short stories and five are part of a series called Garrett Investigation Bureau. I have one erotic fantasy, one children’s mythical story and a contemporary romance under my pen name, Beth Bayley.

I started to write in 2012 quite by accident and ended up with a Regency historical novel, which still needs editing and publishing. From that time on, I have not stopped. My work has been a continual learning curve that includes designing websites and learning how to use Word more efficiently.

At present I am working on a war diary and attending college to help enhance my small business management skills.

Enjoy looking at my books. I will be updating and leaving teasers as I learn to use WordPress more efficiently.

Connect with Claire

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rotosis1

My Buy Links
http://geni.us/3EMp
http://geni.us/O4N
http://geni.us/13o2
http://geni.us/O4O
http://geni.us/2fb1
http://geni.us/vn1
http://geni.us/M8J
http://geni.us/2W5y
http://geni.us/23H7

Awethors Event: Interview with Lisa

Apr 1, 2015 | Authors

Get excited – a brand new book event is coming to town, and you can access it right from your own computer! Get Down With The Awethors is a Facebook event that will take place on April 12 ALL DAY LONG. Whether you want to win giveaways, participate in discussions, or just meet some awesome indie authors, stop by – we’ve got 155 authors coming in and out of the event all day. What could be more exciting than that?

Speaking of great authors, Proof Positive snagged interviews with 12 of the participating authors, and we’ll be posting an interview every day until the event begins. The countdown starts with Lisa, author of poetry and fiction novels alike.

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1. What will you be sharing with the group on April 12 at the Get Down With The Awethors event? Free book giveaway, sneak peek, merchandise, holding a competition, discussion?

I’ll be giving away a copy of my first novel, The Elemental, part I of The Fire Trilogy as well as my second poetry collection, When Words Start To Sing. People can also ask me questions on that day and I’ll try to answer them as honestly as possible. 😉

2. What is your latest book or work, and where can we find it?

My latest is the poetry collection When Words Start To Sing, and right now I’m working on The Empath, part II of The Fire Trilogy. You can find it on Amazon worldwide or ask for it in your local bookstore. They are available as both ebook and paperback.

3. What drives you to write? Music, an interest in the human mind, is it cathartic for you?

Funny you should ask, because it was indeed music. Placebo more specifically. Back in 2009, I saw them live at Pinkpop festival. When they were playing “Come Undone”, it was twilight and we had a beautiful pink-purple sky. Brian, the singer, said the song had come to him in a dream and while he was singing, the outlines of The Elemental popped into my head. For a few minutes, I was in a different world. It wasn’t until much later I remembered that moment. One night when I went to bed, I dreamed about the book and when I woke up, I took it as a sign from the Universe to pursue a career in writing. I listened to nothing else but Battle for the Sun, the Placebo album they had just released at that time, driving everybody crazy. So you could argue it really became the soundtrack to my book. And they’re still very important to my writing. I consider Brian my muse, so let’s hope they go on for many more years. 😉

Also, I write paranormal fiction. I believe there is more between Heaven and Earth. I wanted to show people that being “gifted” doesn’t make you scary or different or abnormal. Yes, it can be dangerous and a burden and all that, but it’s also just another skill. Like some people are really good musicians or carpenters or doctors. My characters are living normal lives, they could be friends of yours. The normality of the paranormal is important to me.

4. What’s your favorite book in the world? One you couldn’t imagine having lived your life without reading.

Oh, terrible question! Just one… Arrggh! Well, if it’s just one book, I guess it would have to be Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. There’s so much in it. I’ve read it hundreds of times and I still discover new things or new emotions when I read it. I mean, Tolkien and more recently JK Rowling certainly changed my life, but Jane Austen is responsible for the hopeful romantic I am today. Yes, hopeful, not hopeless. I believe everybody will find the love they need. It’s finding out what you need that’s the hard part. I feel very blessed in love through life.

5. When will you be at the Awethors event on April 12? All day or at a certain time?

Pretty much all day, assisting DM Cain (author of The Phoenix Project and Chronicles of Chaos), answering people’s questions and making sure nobody gets left out.

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Author Bio

Lisa is the author of the poetry collections Nothing is Forgotten, When Words Start To Sing and The Elemental, part I of The Fire Trilogy. The Elemental is her first full-length novel. She has a background in social services and music, but writing has always been a part of her daily life. One night she dreamed the outline of The Elemental and took it as a sign from the Universe to pursue a career in writing.

She grew up in a small town in the Netherlands where her parents always taught her to think outside the box. She has a degree in social studies and joined the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids as an adult.

Lisa loves London, according to her “the city where magic dwells,” and can often be found there. She still resides in the Netherlands, however, with her partner and their dog, Miss Ginger Rogers, and if you’re lucky, you may find her in her favourite coffeehouse, Barista cafe.

Lisa is also a freelance copywriter for CAPSLOC, a music venue in The Netherlands, an editor for Folk Harp Folks, a magazine published by The Dutch Folk Harp society, and she writes a weekly column for her local newspaper.

Connect with Lisa

Website: www.the-elemental.co.uk
Blog: www.themoderndruidess.wordpress.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/theelemental
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Lisa_Elemental
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/628519.Lisa
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOoWcrbEWpIm31mP3owna_A

Which Book Challenge is Which?

Jan 12, 2015 | Authors, Genre Talk

Ever wish you read more in a year than you do? Ever wish your reading list was more diversified? Look no further, book challenges are the thing this year. Never have we seen so many book challenges of different types or so many readers participating.

Here are some great ones to join:

Book Riot’s 2015 Read Harder Challenge

This is an extremely diverse list that will have you reading all over the world, all genres, and even some different age ranges. If you’re looking to broaden your horizons, this is the book challenge for you. 24 challenges included.

Popsugar’s Reading Challenge 2015

This challenge will get you well read in no time. You’ll read something from every category you can think of. It’s not as culturally diverse as Book Riot’s challenge, but it concentrates heavily on book settings, plots, and conversation pieces. You’ll have lots to talk about with your friends. 50 challenges included.

Goodreads’ Yearly Challenge

Every year, you can challenge yourself on Goodreads to read a certain number of books in 365 days. You can pick 20, you can pick 200, but the great thing is that it measures your progress for you. If you have an account, just enter the number of books you’d like to read throughout the year. Every time you finish a book you’re reading and enter the info into Goodreads as usual (you don’t have to do anything special, just make it as read), your count for the year will increase automatically. It plans how many books you should read per week/month/whatever makes sense for your chosen number and tells you if you’re on track or behind schedule. What kinds of books you choose to read is up to you.

Bingo Challenges

There are Bingo book challenges all over the Internet. Goodreads groups have them and so do many book blogs. The idea is to fill out as much of a card as possible and, of course, try to fill out a row to make BINGO. Many of these are themed. For example, some revolve around Victorian authors and books, so you’ll have to read books from certain years, certain authors, and about certain subjects, all from the Victorian era.

For tons more challenges from some blogs you have and loads you have not heard of, visit You, Me, and a Cup of Tea’s 2015 Reading Challenges page.

Proof Positive’s challenge to you is to make 2015 a year of indie reads, whether you read on your own, as part of a group, or as part of a challenge. Support your indie authors throughout the year, and don’t forget to leave reviews for them in as many places as possible. It helps them out a lot.

Happy reading in 2015!

5 Simple New Year’s Resolutions Every Writer Needs to Keep

Jan 5, 2015 | Writing

Not sure what goals to set for yourself as a writer in 2015? Proof Positive has some ideas for you that will help keep your writing career on track whether you’re a first-time author or a highly published author.

Write every day. Stop rolling your eyes. We don’t mean you necessarily have to write some of your novel every day. You could write a poem about how difficult it was to get your kids to bed that night; a haiku about the horrible/perfect/head cold-inducing/makeup-ruining weather; a dialogue between you and your character about why he or she does or doesn’t like the direction the story is going and what you could do differently in his or her favor. In other words, ANYTHING to keep your creative juices flowing and your sense of writing accomplishment high. Remember, you don’t just write, you are a writer, and writers are always writing, no matter the subject or the format.

Read wisely. Of course you should read whatever books interest you, but some strategy to forward your knowledge in your field of writing is a good idea. Whether you make sure to read more books in your genre, more lit theory books, or more bestsellers, you will improve your craft by understanding it through others’ eyes. That perspective is priceless. That perspective gains you wisdom you can’t gain just by writing.

Make an investment to force yourself to publish. There was a blog post in 2014 by a writer who bought himself a laptop just to force himself to write to make sure he didn’t waste the money he’d spent. It worked, and he wrote every single day at lunchtime and found that he wrote far more often because of it. You may not want to spend quite that much money, but a smaller investment, like buying a really beautiful, inspiring notebook for yourself, can force you to prove the money wasn’t a waste; it was a means to secure your writing career. And that is worth every penny.

Enable yourself. Whatever inspires you, whatever gives you the jumpstart you need, don’t deny yourself, and don’t feel silly about it. Your confidence in allowing yourself to draw, take karate, eat out by yourself, take on DIY projects that are achievable, etc. will improve your confidence when it comes to writing. Even small things like making sure you have your favorite kind of pen in every desk, coat, and notebook you use will boost your belief in yourself and your investment in your writing career. Nothing is too small and nothing is ever silly.

Get your name out there. You can do this in so many ways, including keeping your blog updated at least once a week, even if it’s just with your struggles as a writer; interacting with other writers via social media; starting a YouTube channel on…anything; submitting works to various publishing houses and literary journals no matter how small or large; reviewing books on Goodreads; joining a writing group in person or online. Your author platform starts by putting yourself out there, and the Internet has made that the easiest thing in the world. You’d be surprised how easy it is to get involved in your author platform once you get started.

How many of these goals are on your New Year’s resolution list? Let us know in the comments below how you plan to make 2015 your best writing year yet.

eBook Plague – Errors Aplenty

Aug 7, 2013 | Proofreading, Proofreading errors, Writing

“Annoying.” “Very irritating.” These are just a couple of the most common descriptives readers are using when talking about their frustrations with the numerous errors in e-books.

These readers are asking Amazon and other e-book distributors for refunds without finishing the books….and they’re getting them. This should be Chapter 1 in the “Don’t Let This Happen To You” handbook for indie writers.

It’s such a prevalent problem that there are entire forum threads in which readers are complaining about this problem. To give you some idea of their feelings, one of those readers said, “I really believe that writers need to make an effort and deliver a product worthy of what we are paying for it.”

Another contributor voiced a similar feeling, which sums up the sentiments of most, “When I pay for a book, I want it to be done correctly.”

Yet another reader had great advice for writers, “Stand out in the crowd – make that effort, and give readers the best experience possible. They’ll thank you with repeat business and recommendations.”

Information like this is extremely valuable to indie authors because it gives us important insights into what readers want, don’t want, and won’t tolerate. And let’s face it – once you turn a reader off with so many errors that they can’t read on, they’re not likely to give your upcoming books a chance.

So how can an author produce the cleanest copy and best possible experience for his/her readers? Some rely on proofreading software, but that doesn’t always do the trick. Here’s why:

1. Much like spell checking tools, many times it will allow incorrect words to remain unquestioned because they’re spelled correctly.

2. It won’t always pick up repetitions of words or phrases and so many other things that require a trained human proofreading eye.

3. OCR (Optical Character Recognition) scans are notorious for misreading certain letter combinations, especially in certain fonts: “th” can be misread as “til”, “1” instead of “i” or “l”, and “rn” is misread as “m”.

Rampant misspellings, punctuation errors, characterization problems (among the top three complaints), and spacing issues should all be corrected before you publish your book, especially if you introduce it through a limited time free offer – lots of readers take advantage of those offers, and word will quickly spread if they are annoyed by errors. As the saying goes, “you never get a second chance to make a first impression”.

Don’t take chances – nothing beats the accuracy of a sharp, trained, professional proofreader’s eye.

indie authors

Got Writer’s Block? 3 Outside-The-Box Ideas To Break Free

Awethors Event: Interview with Kelly Marsden

Awethors Event: Interview with Claire Plaisted

Awethors Event: Interview with Lisa

Which Book Challenge is Which?

eBook Plague – Errors Aplenty

Our Website Got a Redesign!

How to Choose Comp Titles: Mix and Match Multiple Aspects of Your Novel

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