Molly Watson

Writing Prompts are a great way to practice writing. Here's one way to do it: https://lnkd.in/gAk8aW5M

1

What if you could erase or change the past? Would you? I don't often get the chance for creative writing but when I do, I like to explore ideas. In this short story, I delved into the idea that someone could rewrite the past to get others off the hook. We should be careful what we wish for. Enjoy. #expressyourtruthwithclarity #shortstory #creativewriting #horror

8

16 Comments

I asked META to provide what it cost to publish a book and this is what I got. I think it's pretty accurate: "The cost of book publishing can vary widely depending on several factors, including the type of book, production quality, marketing efforts, and distribution channels. Here are some estimated costs associated with book publishing: 1. Editing: - Developmental editing: $500-$2,000 - Line editing: $1,000-$3,000 - Copy editing: $500-$1,500 - Proofreading: $200-$500 2. Design and formatting: - Cover design: $200-$1,500 - Interior design and formatting: $500-$2,000 3. Printing and distribution: - Print-on-demand (POD): $5-$10 per unit - Offset printing: $2,000-$5,000 (depending on quantity) - E-book distribution: $100-$500 4. Marketing and promotion: - Social media marketing: $500-$2,000 - Email marketing: $500-$2,000 - Book signings and events: $500-$2,000 - Publicity and PR: $1,000-$5,000 5. Other costs: - ISBN registration: $125-$250 - Copyright registration: $35-$55 - Book formatting and conversion: $100-$500 Overall, the total cost of book publishing can range from $2,000 to $10,000 or more, depending on the scope and quality of the project. Keep in mind that these estimates are rough and can vary depending on your specific needs and goals. Some authors may choose to invest more in certain areas, while others may prioritize cost-effectiveness." Would love to know your thoughts... If you've published a book, do these numbers align with what you invested? If you're considering publishing a book, while self publishing can be done at zero cost, it pays to hire a professional if you want your book to be professional. Post below your experience with publishing.

4

1 Comment

My newest article on my publishing Substack shows authors how to get a strong start at gathering reviews from your release team and through pro reviewing sites. https://lnkd.in/gF7dA_7r

4

Ex Ordo looks at events data through the lens of the research lifecycle. They describe how this data can help you better understand your society’s community and promote the value of your events, journals and programs. #associations #associationmanagement

5

WHY we tell our stories, and HOW we tell our stories, can help us decide how we want to see our work in the world. Join me tomorrow morning at 10am PST for a free 90-minute Zoom class via UCLA Extension on writing micro memoirs to capture the lived moments of your life. #writingclass #tellyourstory

6

3 Comments

Anyone who’s ever written and tried to publish knows how incredibly competitive it is, so it's not surprising that feelings of envy come up for writers. Envy is an inevitable part of human nature. Still, there are ways to let it go: 1. Fess us and name your envy. 2. Head down, get to work, and focus on how freeing it is to fully acknowledge what a waste of time envy is. 3. Boost your inner confidence while keeping your eye on the long game. The future yours for the taking.

20

1 Comment

Come learn about one of the books that made me the writer I am, The Sun Also Rises. We'll talk about language, sexually liberated women of the 1920s, war and impotence, the real people who inspired this landmark novel, and so much more! https://lnkd.in/eedGMMAx

7

What makes a collaborative project work? Trust, mutual respect and each team member bringing a unique set of skills to the project. In this interview, my co-author and I talk about writing Think Like a Sheepdog Trainer: A Guide to Raising and Training a Herding Dog.

12

5 Comments

Our job as writers 🧡🧡🧡 Fresh newsletter hot off the Substack featuring Lisa Cooper Ellison, Hyeseung Song, Hannah Sward, and Steve Almond. I’ve been thinking about how writing helps us understand ourselves, process experience, experience, and especially in the case of memoir, can be a testament to how we have survived. To write is to build rich worlds within us and around us, pull them close like our most familiar blanket. The more we fortify them, they fortify us and yet, we can so easily get derailed when we start thinking about book sales and platform, productivity, and reviews. There’s nothing that shocks me out of my creative process quite like feeling I’m failing at that “measurable” analytics stuff. This piece continues at the link below. https://lnkd.in/grzcbZmp

2

Publishing conferences and book festivals are fantastic, but they're not how you're going to sell books.  Instead, focus your efforts on reaching the people looking for answers, for methods, for a path forward. Empty nesters. New grads. Entrepreneurs. Horse people (people who love horses, not unicorns). 🐎 For you contrarians, yes the people may indeed attend book festivals, because they're awesome! but they are NOT attending book festivals as a way to find a path to their goal.  Launching a book and selling a book require smart strategies. Spend Your Energy where it Counts. Want my book launch plan? comment "book plan" below. Where can you reach your readers? Reach your readers wherever they already are. Hint: they're always together, and always BANGING a DRUM in hopes you will find them. 🥁 CrimeCon. AARP magazine. @Netflix docu-bingers. LinkedIn groups. Newsletter subscribers. Parents' groups. And... podcasts are available all year long.  You can do this.   #booklaunch #lanelit

2

A fascinating perspective on what makes a #writer "operational." "We have to train ourselves. We have to test ourselves. We have to validate and commend and reinforce ourselves." #amwriting #writetip #writingtip #indiepub #selfpublishing

2

When editors get after you to use active v. passive voice, they're not being nags. Well, they are - but there's a reason. Clear writing, including using active voice, makes it easier for people to read what you write. And when information is shared in a way that's easy to absorb, people are apt to read longer. According to this Psychology Today article, in key studies, people read sentences with active voice 1/3 faster than sentences in passive voice - and misunderstood even simple sentences written in passive voice about 25% of the time. Read more about active v. passive voice and 4 other clear writing tips: #writingtips #grammar #writing

24

10 Comments

The tool I use the most when I would otherwise have writer's block is this: I write down everything I DO know about the project or assignment. Sometimes it's little more than my name, the idea or pitch, and maybe placeholders for "hed and dek." It is a super effective trick at getting started when I am stuck. And I have 5 more tricks similar to that one. https://lnkd.in/ePqjJ6Se

9

1 Comment

My word of the week is: misanthrope A misanthrope is a noun (person, place or thing) that describes someone who doesn’t like or trust their fellow humans, and avoids human society. They tend to be cynical and pessimistic, and are often loners. Hmmm, maybe I’m a misanthrope... Anyway, my issues aside, you can also use misanthrope as an adjective (a describing word) – so someone can be ‘misanthropic’. ‘Misanthrope’ has its origins in Greek. It combines two Greek words: ‘misos’, meaning ‘hatred’, and ‘anthropos’, meaning ‘human being’ or ‘person’ (‘anthropos’ is also where we get the word ‘anthropology’ i.e. the study of the cultural, social, biological and evolutionary aspects of human life and behavior). Put them together and ‘misanthrope’ literally means ‘hater of humanity’. When I asked ChatGPT what ‘anthropos’ meant, it said ‘human being or man’. I called it out for being sexist, and it apologised and corrected it to ‘human being or person’. I then asked it for some examples of misanthropes in fiction. The results were all male, and in books by male authors (Holden Caulfield from ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ by Salinger, Meursault from ‘The Stranger’ by Camus, Scrooge from ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Dickens, Ahab from ‘Moby-Dick’ by Melville and Gregor Samsa from ‘The Metamorphosis’ by Kafka). When I pushed it for some female misanthropes by female authors, I got Miss Jean Brodie from ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ by Muriel Spark, Edna Pontellier from ‘The Awakening’ by Kate Chopin and Mildred Montag from ‘Fahrenheit 451’ by Ray Bradbury. The latter is clearly a MAN. I said that and it apologised again and gave me Miss Havisham from ‘Great Expectations’ by well-known female author Charles Dickens. SIGH. It’s a shame that even brand-new technology already has sexism baked in.* This is why I’m a misanthrope. Also, litter. * As an experiment, I also asked ChatGPT who the five greatest tennis players of all time are. I got three men and two women, which I’ll let slide as I didn’t give it an even number. It then described Federer as ‘one of the greatest tennis players of all time’ and Williams as ‘one of the greatest female tennis players of all time’. I DESPAIR. #wordoftheday #wordoftheweek #WOTD #words #wordorigins #copywriter #copywriterforbusiness #suffolkcopywriter #toneofvoice #sexistAI #ChatGPTsexism #ChatGPT ✒️ ✍️✏️🖊️ I’m a copywriter for business, specialising in making boring copy-by-committee into engaging and interesting words that people actually want to read. Head to my website (link in bio) to find out more or to get in touch.

1