5 Ways to Earn Money Reading Books!

I recently stumbled across and watched the above informative video on YouTube. In the video, the presenter shows readers five ways to earn money reading! 

There were two ways to earn money by reading books mentioned in the video above that seemed like enticing options for me to try out in the near future. Both options involve getting paid to write book reviews. I may end up testing one or both of these exciting ways to get paid to read books... Then I can write a follow up blog post to discuss my experience with trying out one or both options I am interested in testing out from the above video.

35 Tips For Writing A Brilliant Flash Story by Kaye Linden

 

I read 35 Tips For Writing A Brilliant Flash Story by Kaye Linden, which is short nonfiction book at 96 pages in length. 35 Tips For Writing A Brilliant Flash Story gives writing advice on how to write flash fiction or flash nonfiction.

35 Tips For Writing A Brilliant Flash Story by Kaye Linden is a very quick read with VERY LARGE PRINT!! I have mixed feelings about this book. It's short and to the point, which is a good thing. However, the first 35% of this book didn't resonate well with me in helping to write flash fiction with confidence. I think there is some good stuff in the remainder of this book that may be helpful for writing flash fiction and flash nonfiction.

Below is the summary for 35 Tips For Writing A Brilliant Flash Story by Kaye Linden from Goodreads:

A step by step guide with prompts on how to write a successful fiction or nonfiction flash story.

I am giving 35 Tips For Writing A Brilliant Flash Story by Kaye Linden a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Skillshare - Write Your Personal Story with Roxane Gay

Wow, learning to write a personal essay from Roxane Gay is a dream come true for those that want to learn from the best!

Joyce Carol Oates Teaches the Art of the Short Story via Masterclass

Neil Gaiman teaches The Art of Storytelling Via Masterclass!

Here's another famous author, Neil Gaiman, teaching an online class through Masterclass. He teaches The Art of Storytelling.

Check out the above video trailer to see for yourself what Neil Gaiman will be teaching in his online class.

Flash Fiction Mix-And-Match Writing Prompts by Corrine Kenner

I purchased the paperback edition of Flash Fiction Mix-And-Match Writing Prompts by Corrine Kenner from Amazon due to the great reviews.

I have mixed feelings about Flash Fiction Mix-And-Match Writing Prompts by Corrine Kenner. Yes, this book is as described in that it provides excellent mix and match writing prompts in order to help writers come up with a storyline. The directions are excellent on how to use the book... And there are even additional writing tips, tricks, and hints at the end of the book to help hone your writing skills. I also love how well this book is organized.

However, Flash Fiction Mix-And-Match Writing Prompts by Corrine Kenner is more of a pamphlet than a book at 28 pages in length. I felt like the price of this pamphlet was steep. Additionally, I feel like you could easily find writing prompts online for free to help you become more creative in writing a story. 

Below is a summary for Flash Fiction Mix-And-Match Writing Prompts by Corrine Kenner from Amazon:

Don’t waste time waiting for story ideas to come to you. Flip through this booklet, and you can create characters and plots in seconds. Simply choose a single word or phrase from each of the five sections, in order, and then turn those selections into a sentence. It's easy, because the sections are arranged like parts of speech. Here’s a sample prompt to show you how it works. 1. descriptions (adjectives): vengeful 2. characters (nouns): historian 3. actions (verbs): steals 4. plot twists (objects): movie script 5. settings (more nouns): coffee shop Add a few articles and prepositions, and you have a premise for a story: A vengeful historian steals a movie script in a coffee shop. Look for combinations that amuse and intrigue you. Feel free to make changes, substitutions, and additions. You might find a garbage man in the list — but you’ll soon discover that your garbage man is actually a garbage woman, or a trash-picking hobo, or an environmentally sensitive vampire who sleeps in a landfill. Let your characters drive the story. You can also play fast and loose with the grammar. You’re welcome to turn nouns into verbs, or objects into adjectives. Maybe your character isn’t a ghost. Maybe he’s just ghostly. You can change verb conjugations, too. If your hero isn’t inflicting wounds, for example, maybe he’s the one being wounded. Feel free to make the most of the suggestions in this booklet. Remember that they’re starting points, not final destinations — and let them take you into a story that practically writes itself.

I am giving Flash Fiction Mix-And-Match Writing Prompts by Corrine Kenner a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

How to Start a Heartsong Journal ~ AKA An Encyclopedia Of You!!

I use to keep a journal/diary from the time I was in junior high school until 2008. In fact, I made fairly regular journal/diary entries through that time period. I'd never meant to stop keeping a journal/diary, but certain life events happened. So, I was essentially forced to stop keeping a journal/diary. 

I'd always meant to start keeping a journal/diary again, but for whatever reason that hasn't happened. I guess I lost my momentum or rhythm of making journal/diary entries.

But I may have discovered a way to ease my way back into keeping a journal that sounds like a lot of fun. It's called a Heartsong Journal. I learned about keeping a Heartsong Journal from an article I read on Buzzfeed's website titled, How To Start A Heartsong Journal, AKA An Encyclopedia Of You by Rachel Wilkerson Miller. In the article, Rachel Wilkerson Miller wrote the following:

The best way I can explain a heartsong journal is that it’s basically an “encyclopedia of you.” It’s a special notebook, separate from your day-to-day journal/diary/notebook, where you can write the meaningful things that are really close to your heart, and that you want to reference again and again.

To make your own heartsong journal, you just need a notebook you love and a pen! Here are the sorts of things you might want to include in your heartsong journal:

Your Myers Briggs resultsYour love languageYour go-to self care ideasCompliments or kind words that you want to rememberPoems and quotes that speak to your heartPrayers, meditations, or mantras that move youThings you like about yourselfRecipes that nourish your body and spiritA deep dive into your natal chartNotes on your favorite crystals or essential oils

Essentially, anything that matters to you may be kept inside your Heartsong Journal to refer back to on a regular basis.

Click on the above link to read the entire article about making a Heartsong Journal by Rachel Wilkerson Miller. 

Until my next post, happy reading!

Practical Tips For Anyone Who Wants To Write A Book

Do you want to write a book? I know that someday I'd like to write a book and have it published. 

So, when I discovered an article on Buzzfeed's website titled, 16 Practical Tips For Anyone Who Wants To Write A Book by Gyan Yankovich, I couldn't wait to read the practical tips provided.

I really liked the sixteen tips suggested in Gyan Yankovich's article and need to begin implementing them if I am ever going to write that first novel. At least I'm already practicing one of the recommended tips of reading a lot of fiction if I want to write fiction.

Take Off Your Pants!: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker

Paperback Edition

I've had fantasies of writing a novel off and on for years now... But have yet to write or even attempt to write a novel to date. 

Writing a novel seems, well, quite daunting to say the least! I'm an avid reader, but am I able to successfully write a decent novel? How does one even begin going about writing a novel anyway? I scare myself out of trying to write anything before I even start writing my first sentence!

Over the years, I've thought of some great ideas/stories/characters for writing a novel... Or at least I thought the ideas I've had for writing a novel were creative enough to make for interesting reading. But, there is so much more too writing a novel than a so called 'great idea'. Putting all the elements together to write a cohesive novel that is interesting, well written, and something people will want to read has left me from even trying to write a novel at all.

November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and tons of people participate in this annual, month long writing event. And although, I am not even close to being prepared to begin writing a novel, I am very inspired by the idea of finding a way to write a novel in the future.

However, I did began looking for books online to help me move forward and think about writing that first novel. I came across Take Off Your Pants!: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker on Amazon. Libbie Hawker's book on writing has 450+ reviews on Amazon and also a 4+ star rating. 

After reading what Libbie Hawker's book was all about online, I took the leap and read Take Off Your Pants!: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing in three days! I like Ms. Hawker's clear writing style and the outline techniques she lays out for those wishing to write a novel. Ms. Hawker's outline techniques make sense and she gives plenty of examples in her book on how and why the outline works so successfully.

The holiday season is upon us, so I most likely won't even be ready to start writing a novel until the beginning of 2018 at the soonest.

Below is a more information about Take Off Your Pants!: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker from Amazon:

When it comes to writing books, are you a "plotter" or a "pantser"? Is one method really better than the other? In this instructional book, author Libbie Hawker explains the benefits and technique of planning a story before you begin to write. She'll show you how to develop a foolproof character arc and plot, how to pace any book for a can't-put-down reading experience, and how to ensure that your stories are complete and satisfying without wasting any time or words. Hawker's outlining technique works no matter what genre you write, and no matter the age of your audience. If you want to improve writing speed, increase your backlist, and ensure a quality book before you even write the first word, this is the how-to book for you. Take off your pants! It's time to start outlining. This revised edition includes answers to the most popular questions regarding Libbie Hawker's outlining process.

I am giving Take Off Your Pants!: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

If you are a a writer, which books/writing resources have you found to be helpful in your writing journey?  

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Calling All Writers!! 20 Podcasts About Writing!!

Are you a writer in need of creative inspiration or need other writing advice while penning your novel, but don't have the time or money to attend a writer's workshop? 

Then checkout a fabulous article I came across on Bustle's website titled, 20 Podcasts About Writing That Will Have You Penning A Bestselling Novel In No Time by E. Ce Miller. In the article, E. Ce Miller writes the following:

Writers get their inspiration from all sorts of places — real life, current events, favorite books, other writers, their own imagination, and more recently: podcasts. Podcasts about writing have been around practically as long as podcasts themselves have been, (with the longest-running writing podcast on this list airing for the first time in 2005!) and they’re the perfect dose of advice, inspiration, and motivation — especially for working writers on the go. Because let’s face it: while most of us aspiring and/or working writers would love to pause our daily lives in favor of losing ourselves in a writers’ workshop for weeks, months, or even years at a time, for many writers that’s not so realistic. These podcasts — as helpful as a creative writing workshop itself, in many ways — might be the next best thing. (With the added bonus of not having to worry about your GPA and your muse showing up in a timely manner.)

Best of luck to you in writing that best selling novel. Good luck! 

Love Reading and Writing?? Become A Volunteer For A Literary Organization!

I love promoting reading and writing!! So when I discovered an article on Bustle this morning titled, 7 Literary Organizations For Volunteers Who Love Reading And Writing by Melissa Ragsdale, I couldn't resist learning about the volunteer opportunities at literary organizations. 

In the article, Melissa Ragsdale wrote the following information in her article for Bustle:

Being a reader and being a good citizen often hand-in-hand. If you're a reader looking to make an impact, you're in luck because there are so many great literary organizations that need volunteers just like you! By working together, book-lovers can use reading and writing to improve our communities and touch the lives of others.

There is so much important work that can be done by volunteering at a literary organization. Many of these organizations are only possible because of the work done by volunteers, and any task you do is immensely helpful. (And usually fun!) You can read with students, and help encourage blooming young writers. You can pitch in at events, or help organize resources. With your unique skills and preferences, you have something special you can bring to the table, and the world will be better for it.

No matter where you are, there's an organization nearby that can use your help. And if it's hard to leave your house, you're isolated, or you're constantly on-the-move, you'll see that many of these organizations are also looking for work that can be done remotely, such as video editing or help with their website.

So, go ahead and click on the top link to learn more!! 

Would You Want to Be 'A Writer in Residence' For the Mall of America?

I discovered an interesting article online from the Star Tribune titled, You could be 'writer in residence' for the Mall of America by Lauire Hertzel. In the article, Laurie Hertzel wrote the following:

Universities have writers-in-residence. As do libraries. As does Amtrak. So why not a shopping mall?

In honor of its 25th anniversary, the Mall of America is looking for a writer to be in residence for five days, to write about a week in the life of the nation’s largest mall.

Before you scoff, think of the possibilities: the workers, the shoppers, the diners, the strollers, the teenagers, the visitors from abroad. The possibilities are rich indeed.

The chosen writer will be flown in (if not local) and housed for four nights at a nearby hotel and given a $400 gift card for food and drink. He or she will also receive a $2,500 honorarium.

“Our goal is to come away from this project with an evocative story about Mall of America that represents the contemporary guest experience after 25 years of evolution as a leading retail and entertainment establishment,” the MOA said in a news release.

Sounds like a great opportunity for writers if you ask me! Click on the above link to find out more information.

Looking to become a published author?

Well, the question of 'What Should Authors Expect to Earn?' is the title of an article by Brooke Warner, which was published on The Huffington Post website and addresses this very question. In her article, Warner writes:

I see two types of independent authors: The first batch are those who have a legacy project they want to publish beautifully and be proud of. They want their book out in the world and for it to have a fighting chance at getting reviewed, being carried in bookstores, and selling a decent number of copies (maybe 1000 or more). These authors have a very good chance of achieving their goals. The other subset are those who aspire to be career writers. These authors expect to earn out their expenses and to turn a profit on their investment. They want the other things too--to be in bookstores, to be reviewed, etc.--but their expectations are generally higher, and wrapped up in money, because earning out and selling a predetermined number of books is tied together with their perception of success. Thus, more is at stake, and they expect to succeed.

If you're in this latter category, there's good news/bad news. The good news is that it's possible to earn out your expenses and turn a profit on your investment. The bad news is that there's a very slim chance that this will happen with your first book. You need to keep creating content and stacking up more product (in the form of new books) to generate five-digit sales numbers. Very few independent authors reach 10,000 sales, and when they do, they're typically scooped up by traditional publishers. Rusch makes the incredibly good and valid point that the most successful type of authors are those who are publishing every which way they can. Sometimes called "hybrid authors," these are writers who publish traditionally, who self-publish, and who publish in between--perhaps through other independent models, or perhaps publishing some digital-only books.

I found Warmer's article fascinating. I hope you do as well. Click on the above link to read the full story.

Ways to Start Preparing For National Novel Writing Month

Are you planning to write a novel during National Novel Writing Month (November)? If so, perhaps the following article from Bustle titled 11 Ways You Can Start Preparing For National Novel Writing Month Now by Alex Weiss. In her article, Alex Weiss wrote the following:

Whether you're a first time NaNoWriMo participant or a well-rounded veteran, preparing for it is absolutely essential. The first few days, and even weeks (if you're lucky) will go well. It usually isn't until you're a couple chapters in when you realize you have no idea where your novel is going or why your characters are just standing around aimlessly that problems begin to arise. Don't worry; it happens to the best of us. To battle that, though, I've come up with a few tips on getting a basic understanding of your novel, characters, and plot — as well as lifestyle changes to start getting used to. 

Remember, NaNoWriMo is all about getting words down on the page. It doesn't matter if some of your characters go missing halfway through, or if your plot changes dramatically. Just getting to the 50,000-word goal in 30 days is what you need to keep in mind. If you survive the month and finish, you can always go back and rewrite. (AND YOU SHOULD. THIS IS A FIRST DRAFT, PEOPLE.) And getting the first draft out is what it's all about.

Click on the above link to read the 11 ways to prepare for National Novel Writing Month. Good luck and happy writing!!

Looking to Be a Guest Contributor For a Literature Blog?!?

I enjoy promoting book and literary blogs. As I love it when others promote my book blog as well. 

It just so happens that another Bookcrosser, Sarah, has started a new literary blog called Belle's Library, which aims to 'celebrate beautiful and timeless literature'.  So, if you enjoy literary blogs, then I invite you to visit Belle's Library by clicking on the link above!

Also, are you looking for a writing opportunity?! Consider becoming a guest contributor for Belle's Library!

For more information about being a guest contributor for Belle's Library, please read the Submission Information requirements for guest contributors. Any questions you have about being a guest contributor for Belle's Library should be directed to the blog/website owner... Contact information may be found on the 'Submission Information' link above.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Rainbow Rowell On Her Love Affair With Music and Writing

I admit it, here and now, that I have yet to read anything written by Rainbow Rowell... I have heard some pretty awesome things about her  writing and her books from other readers and bloggers. So, with that said, I have added a couple of her books to my reading wishlist.

This past weekend, I came across and article on BuzzFeed titled 
Literature’s John Hughes: Rainbow Rowell On Her Love Affair With Music and Writing by Erica Futterman... Since Rainbow Rowell has recently become a writer whose works I'd like to read, I decided to check out the above mentioned article to gain more insight about the writer herself.

In her article, Erica Futterman writes the following:

As Rowell describes in a phone conversation with BuzzFeed ahead of Landline’s release, her relationship between music and writing is not accidental. “With each book I tend to find a certain mood, and tone, and vibe,” she says. “When you’re connecting to a song and it’s making you feel open … I’m trying to reach that point when I’m writing.” As Rowell writes, she crafts Spotify playlists to serve as soundtracks for herself and her readers. Rowell’s day-to-day writing lifestyle in her home state of Nebraska is a solitary affair, so, for her, music serves as both a companion and inspiration. “I start with 10 songs and then I build and build,” she says. “I go through and think, How do I want this to feel? What’s the vibe going to be?” The result is distinctly different personas for each novel.

For me, I find interesting to learn how writers write there books/novels... In this case, I enjoyed learning about Rainbow Rowell's relationship between music and writing and how this helps her creativity while writing her books.

To read the full story, click on the link above!

Why Are Chinese Women Writing Gay Erotica?

I discovered an interesting article in Sinosphere titled Why Many Young Chinese Women Are Writing Gay Male Erotica By Didi Kirsten Tatlow. Curious as why young Chinese women are writing gay erotica, I read the article and learned:

Danmei is part of an ‘‘ongoing sexual revolution’’ with feminist characteristics in China, perhaps the country’s first, said a Chinese academic who requested anonymity. China is currently undergoing a crackdown on pornography that has netted danmei writers and website managers, and closed some sites, sexual rights advocates said. ‘‘The campaign is really having an impact,’’ the researcher said. 

Creating and consuming danmei is a way for women to explore their long-repressed sexuality, said Ms. Jacobs. 

‘‘I think Chinese culture is still harsh on women in terms of how far they can go in developing a fantasy life or erotic art forms,’’ she said. ‘‘I think they have to be very careful in coming out with their fantasies. The norm is stifling.’’ 

So those fantasies, safely projected onto ‘‘other,’’ gay, male bodies, represent a revolt against a deeply conservative culture, which expects passivity and childlikeness from women, Ms. Jacobs and the Chinese researcher said.

Click on the above article to read the full article.

Think Like A Writer!!

I came across an article on the Huffington Post titled How to Think Like A Writer by Carolyn Gregoire. In the article, Gregoire writes:

Writing isn't easy. In fact, it can be painfully difficult. Why? Because it's thinking, but on paper. "To write well is to think clearly. That's why it's so hard," said Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author David McCullough 

Many great writers, including Joan Didion and Don DeLillo, have said that their purpose for putting words on paper is to find clarity with their thoughts, and have described the process of writing as one of becoming familiar with their own minds. 

“I find that by putting things in writing I can understand them and see them a little more objectively," Hunter S. Thompson wrote in a 1958 letter. "For words are merely tools and if you use the right ones you can actually put even your life in order." 

If you're a writer, then you're likely both devoted to your craft and eternally frustrated by it -- and even the most talented writers could use guidance from the greats on how to hone their powers of thinking and get those creative juices flowing. Take a cue from the likes of Henry Miller, Zadie Smith and William Faulkner to get into your "writer's mind" and produce your best work.

Click on above link to read the tips on how to think like a writer! 

What Would Your Victorian Pen Name Have Been?

So, I came across an article I discovered on the Huffington Post website titled, Name Generator: What Would Your Victorian Pen Name Have Been? In the article, I came across the following information:

The Victorian era in particular saw slews of women writing under male pen names, including the Brontë Sisters, who wrote as Acton, Currer and Ellis Bell, and, of course, Mary Ann Evans, who wrote as George Eliot. Of her pseudonym, Charlotte Brontë said: "we did not like to declare ourselves women because – without at that time suspecting that our mode of writing and thinking was not what is called 'feminine' – we had a vague impression that authoresses are liable to be looked on with prejudice."

Click on the above link to read the full story. You may also discover a Victorian pen name generator as well. Apparently, my Victorian Pen Name would have been Laurence Vosper, should I have been a female writer during the Victorian Era who wanted to use a pen name.

Read Why E. B. White Wrote 'Charlotte's Web'

I came across an article titled Read E. B. White's Poignant Explanation For Writing Charlotte's Web by Robert T. Gonzalez. In the article, Gonzalez writes:

One of the greatest children's books ever written, E.B. White's Charlotte's Web is notable not just for its lovely prose but for its masterful handling of themes on death and dying. In a letter written to his editor a few weeks before the book's publication, White explains why a peculiar truth about farms makes them such appropriate spaces for exploring the concept of death, and how this moved him to write the book in the first place.

Click on the top link to read E. B. White's letter to his editor!!