Tips to keep you focused as a writer

A good writer needs to be focused, dedicated, and committed. As a writer it can sometimes be very difficult to stay focused especially when there are so many distractions. Here are some tips that can help:

1. Set aside a time each day to write. Turn off the phone and the television.
2. Even if you are not working on any projects, write anyway. You never know when inspiration may come!
3. READ READ READ! It does now matter what you read as long as you read. You have to keep your mind sharp and it is difficult to write when you are not engaged in any outside content.
4. Keep a notepad beside the bed. Sometimes my biggest ideas come at night right before bed or in a dream.
5. Take a walk. You don't want to spend hours in front of your computer. Always give yourself a break and then come back to whatever you were working on.

These are just some quick tips to keep you focused and sharp. I also have several tools that I use as a writer that help me maximize my time. Check out the products (this also supports the site) to the right of this post. Almost every day I use my Kindle, the Livescribe Smart Pen, and Dragon Speech-to-text. These things are awesome because they allow me to get my ideas down quickly. Did you know that the Livescribe also has handwriting-to-text converting software that you can use when you upload your handwritten notes? I use this a lot as well and this saves LOADS of time! If you have any questions let me know. Please let me know how these tips have helped you and if there is anything else that you would like to see on 'The Shaky Shelf'.

Please sign up as a member of the site as well as our email list to receive a FREE ebook!

Make money in between projects with Fiverr and Elance

Hi everyone,

I hope your holidays are going well thus far. I have been engaged in several writing projects recently. In addition to my new ebook which will be finished soon, I have been doing a bit of freelancing. For authors it is sometimes diffficult to earn an income while we are in the middle of any projects. i have found several great ways to earn an income online without the need for long-winded introductions, interviews, meetings, etc. One of the sites is Fiverr.com. Most of you probably know about Fiverr. It is an awesome way to make a little spending cash in between larger jobs. Another great way to earn is through Elance. I have a profile on Elance and I think it is a great program. You can market your skills and even certify your skills for the site. This gives you more credibility with employers. There are no physical interviews or anything like that and this is great for supplemental income. You can sign up for Elance at:  https://www.elance.com/?rid=2TWAX

Some authors may be against doing anything outside of their craft but sometimes you have to eat. I would rather outsource some of my skills from time-to-time rather than being a starving artist. While my books do bring in income, I sometimes need something extra while I am waiting to be paid from my larger more mainstream products.

I hope this post has helped all of you. I will be adding more helpful tips to get you through some of your dry spells. Remember, doing these things does not  not make you any less of a writer or an author. In fact, some of these side jobs can help you hone in on your skills. You can use your writing skills to do things on Elance and Fiverr like blogging, ebook creation, etc. You can develop new skills such as: marketing and SEO as well. These thing will not only put a few extra bucks in your pocket but will help you develop and market yourself more effectively!

A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones

"A Song of Ice and Fire", better known as "The Game of Thrones"
is a series of fantasy novels that were written by George R.R.
Martin. While I cannot truthfully say that I have read these
novels, I can say that they are next on my list of must-reads.
If any of you have seen the HBO series "Game of Thrones", you
would want to read these book as well. While I am partial to
medieval stories, I am not easily amused. Many have failed to
deliver a captivating storyline but that is not the case with
this "Song of Ice and Fire" adaptation. I am a Game of Thrones
fan for life. I would like to do a mini-series about the show.
It should kick off next week. I want to do a brief re-cap
before the new season starts. While I will touch on some of
characters and general gist of the story, I will not be giving
out too many specifics. Like the show, these posts will leave
you wanting more and I shall not disappoint! Stay tuned!

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire

Twitter contest

Hey guys, I am always looking around the Internet for good promotional opportunities. While it is usually a "swing and a miss", I just found something that could truly be beneficial to anyone who is trying to build their following and their brand. I joined a site called myblogguest.com and I found some contests while browsing the forum. One of the contests offers free retweets to bloggers who post information about their contest. It is a really interesting opportunity because we all know that Twitter is extremely popular and can be a powerful tool in any author's toolbox. Check out the contest here:

http://internetdreams.com/social-media/contest-1-win-free-prizes

Higher standards

Recently, I went onto the Amazon discussion boards. Many readers are upset about the fact that lots of Ebooks are being published with a lot of errors. While I would like to say that this is not the case, I must admit that it is the case. While not all Ebooks are riddled with grammatical errors, lots of them are. I was under the impression that this was getting better but I am not so rue anymore. I went to Barnes and Noble recently and read some books via my Nook (yes, that is a cool feature that Barnes and Noble has provided its customers..eat your heart out Kindle, ha ha). It was disheartening to see how many Ebooks has mistakes in them. Many of these mistakes were so obvious that I am led to believe that the person did not even use the 'spell check' feature before converting and publishing their work.

I am not the grammar police. I commit many structural sins with regard to sentences. However, one of the easiest things to correct is spelling. I am not saying that Authors should be perfect with no flaws. However, I am saying that we need to be more mindful of what we publish. You do not need editors to find the errors that I found. We have to hold ourselves to higher standards. Just because it is easy to publish an Ebook doesn't mean that we should throw caution to the wind. Our readers are looking at us very closely and they do not like what they see.

Hardest part of being an Author?

What is your biggest challenge as an Author? For me it has to be procrastination as well as marketing. Procrastination can shoot you in the foot before you even start because there is always something else that you could be doing. However, pushing past that has great rewards so sometimes I have to literally throw myself into it no matter what. Marketing is also difficult unless you understand things like demographics, niches, etc. I am learning as I go along and there is no shortage of lessons.

Writer's Group

Hey,

I have started a writer's group at:

http://bookblogs.ning.com/group/writer-s-group

Come check it out and feel free to join, it's gonna be a blast! Be sure to spread the word! If you are not a member of the site..join now, it's free.

Also, don't forget to check out my new Ebook..only .99 at Amazon!

http://www.amazon.com/College-Boot-Camp-ebook/dp/B008FQGD9S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343624838&sr=8-1&keywords=college+boot+camp

Readers Post Here!

Hey Readers,

What types of books do you like and want to see published? Let the Authors know. It would almost be like having stories that are tailored to your specific interests. The only way for the market to stay on track and for Authors to continue to produce excellent reads if for you to tell us what you want.

Don't be shy, would you like to see an alien who falls in love with a teddy bear, or a poodle that turns into a superhero only on the first full moon of the season? No matter how crazy, funny, scary, or weird..we want to hear it.

Maybe you have been wanting to finish that custom deck but there are no books out that explain how to create exactly what you want..tell us!

Authors Post Here!

Have you recently published any good books? Tell us about it! Let us know your name, title of your book, price, brief synopsis, reviews (if any), and url where we can find your book.

There is no shame in wanting to get the word out so feel free to post! Be sure to let your friends know about this site so that they can check out your work and maybe even post some reviews for you here!

Be sure to tweet/like and share this page so that we can promote all of the up-and-coming Authors!

Have some fun!

Looking to relax a bit and step away from the writing? Check out my other blogs..you'll be glad that you did!

http://pique1.blogspot.com/
http://thelounge123.blogspot.com/

Spread the word!

Your Absolute Faves!

So..

What are your favorite types of books? I like many types of books including: Self-help, Mystery, Fantasy, and Science Fiction. As a Writer, I think that it is important to be open to different genres. You never know where your next source of inspiration msy come from.

What will you be reading tonight? I know that sometimes buying a whole bunch of Ebooks can get expensive. however, there are free alternatives in the Android market. One of the apps is called Wattpad. There are stories that aspiring Authors write as well as some public domain works. If you are itching for a good book..hobble on over to the Google Play marketplace and check it out!

College Boot Camp

Hi everyone!

So I decided to kick this blog off with the introduction of my new Ebook. It is entitled "College Boot Camp and it is for sale on Amazon.

This is an important Ebook and I have it at a low price point in order to get it into the hands of as many people as I can. This book is packed with great college advice from someone who has been there. I have learned many tricks and tips that will help you get through school faster and save you boat loads of money.

You can't afford to drop the ball on this one. This little Ebook is worth much more than I am selling it for. Check it out before the price goes up in December!

Be sure to leave a review as well.

http://www.amazon.com/College-Boot-Camp-ebook/dp/B008FQGD9S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343317845&sr=8-1&keywords=college+boot+camp

If you want your ebook reviewed and/or featured, please send me a message with the digital copy attached. I will try to get to as many as I can. While I cannot promise a review on every book, I can give your book a mention on the site.