Mama KP Mondays-Process

Tags

Artists, Authors, Create, Creating, InkSlinger PR, Mama KP, Mondays, musicians, Process

It’s that time again-Mama KP Mondays! First, let me apologize for missing last week. I have no excuse except it was Labor Day, and I did anything but Labor that day. I rarely take a full day off, but it was needed. We all need moments of rest, and that was my job last Monday-to rest. I’m not gonna lie, y’all. I suck at it. Taking time to rest and rejuvenate and just BE instead of constantly moving on something or working is extremely hard for me. Am I the only one on this? I’m working hard on trying to find some balance in my days and trying to figure out what, exactly, that looks like. It’s surprisingly hard for me, and I know it is for a lot of you too. And while the topic of balance and rest is coming, that is not my topic for today. Even if I clearly have it on the brain right now. LOL

Today, I want to discuss process. I’m always amazed at how different every author and artist I speak to is and how their processes differ. Here are some of the comments I hear:

“I know some people do it like this, but I do _________. I know it’s weird.”

“I have to have complete silence when I work. No distractions. I turn my wifi off and go to town.”

“I need music, mindless television…something going in the background. Silence in itself is too distracting for me.”

“I have everything plotted out completely. I work off of an outline and bust it out.”

“I can’t outline or think ahead for the life of me. I let the characters do the talking and go with it.”

Isn’t it funny (and I’ll admit that it’s amazing to me), how different we all are? I love the fact that the deeper I get into working with artists, the more it becomes clear that there is no right way to create. And that is the coolest thing to me. We were all created so differently ourselves that it only makes sense that the way we do our own creating would be different, doesn’t it?

Here’s the other thing I find funny though… the comparison factor. Why do we do this to ourselves? We know in our head that there is NO RIGHT WAY or PROCESS to the way we create. We know it, but we still look over to the side at someone else’s process and think, “I wish I could be like that.” or “Look at how they do things and they have such amazing songs, characters, words…If only I could do it like they do.” Or we have it shoved down our throats telling us that our process is wrong because we do it THIS way and not THAT way or THAT way and not THIS way. Honestly, it’s kind of gross when I see someone telling someone else they are wrong because they do it one way instead of another way. We’re all different, so why is one way the best way?

Sure, there are some things that have tried and true processes. Best practices, if you will, that it’s important to pay attention to and be mindful of. I like to think that a huge part of making your art your business is knowing your business, honing your craft, researching and learning those best practices. But in the area of creating…it’s hard for me to agree that there is only one way to create. And I’m tired of hearing creatives tell other creatives and artists that their way is wrong. How deflating and exhausting for the ones that are supposedly in the wrong. And if you are always focused on what everyone else is doing, how are you getting any of your own creative work done? Let’s stop being all judgy, judgy and just focus on getting our own shizz done and loving the fact that we even get to be creative, shall we?

Because there is no wrong way to create. There’s no correct process to finish a novel, write a song, paint a masterpiece, etc. Again, we’re not talking about once you are done creating and want to make money off of it. We’re talking about the act of creating-pure and simple.

So go do your thing. Create like madmen. Figure out what works best for you and kill it. Go hard and love every second of it.

 

Staring Up,

KP

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Chasing a Dream…

Tags

Amanda Havard, Authors, Chafie Press, Chasing, Dreams, InkSlinger PR, literary, novels, public relations, publicity, The Survivor Series

For the past year, I have been telling you how much I love books, authors, and the craft of promoting both. Since I was a young girl, I have been a reader. Most people who know me will tell you I am a natural born seller and promoter. When I entered the book blogging and reviewing world, I knew within an instant that I was exactly on the path I was suppose to take. This past year has been a whirlwind of great joy and some growing pains. One of the things I learned about myself in an even deeper way was that I am meant to help authors get their words out to the world. As much as I have my own words and stories to tell, and I do want to tell them someday, one of my favorite things to do is help other authors.

Lately, I have been having more and more opportunities to do just this and it has been amazing! Being a part of the blogging community has opened up a myriad of experiences that have blown me away on more than one occasion. With that in mind, I have come to a somewhat scary (in a good way) and thrilling decision. One that could ultimately change my life and place me deeper into the world wherein my passion lies. I promise you I never imagined that I would be in a place to write this blog entry! I have dreamed it, but don’t we all have those dreams we never think will actually happen?? Whether it be because you’re so scared to take that next step, or you never think it could actually happen, you chalk it up to just a dream, right? Well, I have decided that I will not take either of those reasons for an excuse that my dream does not come true. It is with great pleasure that I announce my new endeavor and business…

InkSlinger PR

Helping Authors Get The Word Out

I cannot express to you my joy, excitement, and out-and-out bliss in getting to take this step! InkSlinger PR will be focused on helping authors promote their books and build their brands and platforms. Using digital media, blog tours, press releases, signings, and appearances, I will work tirelessly to publicize for them. A new website is being built as we speak, and I cannot wait to let it go out into the world. I am not taking this step lightly and without careful planning.

After talking about it, sweating over it, and praying it through, I am taking the actual steps to chase this dream down! Can you believe it??

Already, InkSlinger PR is working with a wonderful author, Amanda Havard and The Survivor Series published by Chafie Press! Of course, I am over the moon about this! You can check her and her books out at Http://AmandaHavard.com. You definitely won’t regret giving these books a read. And I’m looking for blogs to take part in an upcoming Blog Tour early this summer!

If you are a blogger that would like to join my Blog Tour database and be contacted as Blog Tours arise, please feel free to contact me at kpsimmon(at)gmail(dot)com. I would love for you to join the InkSlinger PR team! If you are an author who would like to inquire about what I can do to help you, before the website is finished, please contact me at the same address. I will of course let you know when the new website is finished (SOON!!). I know what it’s like to chase a dream, and I can’t wait to help you chase your own dream and get the word out about it.

And there you have it…InkSlinger PR…THIS is really happening…Wow. I’m so overwhelmed, grateful, and blessed. Now…Get out there and chase your dream! Need some help? Call me.

Staring Up,

KP

When I Grow Up

Tags

Authors, Growing Up, illustrators, jobs, literary, public relations, writing

It’s March 1st. Already. I seriously don’t know how that is even possible. Wasn’t it JUST Christmas?? It seems that the year 2012 is already getting away from me.

Most know that I write. If you’ve been reading my blog at all, then you know that most of what I post is about books or writing. Every once in a while I throw in something random about my family or a crazy craft I worked up the energy to do or something I’ve learned, but usually it has to do with my two favorite subjects. Reading and Writing.

So today, I thought I would bring you up to date on my own writing process and where I’m at. You should get ready for this post. It’s going to be short.

My update is: I’m still in the exact same spot as the last update!! I still have a picture book that I need to be sending out and querying like a mad woman, and I still am working on the first draft of a young adult novel. Yep, that about sums it up.

I know you are wondering why I’m not more on top of things, and I give you a straightforward answer to that question. I can’t seem to keep track of my day! I find it extremely frustrating to know what I want to do “when I grow up” now and not be able to do it to the best of my ability. A husband, 3 boy creatures, a full-time teaching job, reading, reviewing, and volunteering at a few things keep me busy. But I don’t want to use any of that as an excuse. I very well could have used the two hours I spent watching Biggest Loser tonight writing or querying instead. I could have, but I didn’t. Instead I sank down onto my wonderful, faithful leather couch and vegged for a bit, while chatting on Twitter too. Does that mean I don’t want to finish this novel or get my lovely Bella picture book published? No. It doesn’t. For me, it means I’m still trying to figure it all out. And that brings us back to that crazy word that always seems to plague me: BALANCE. I’m not sure if I’ll ever master it really.

I’m imagining that you are asking what I want to be “when I grow up” since I mentioned it earlier, and it’s the title to this post. Most people will assume it is a published author (that is part of it), or what I am currently doing full-time (a teacher). But the truth is, in a perfect world, I would be in public relations for authors, illustrators, etc. This last year and a half has taught me some very important lessons. One-I am passionate about books and really great writing. Two-I am passionate about helping authors. It gives me great JOY to see authors become a success and know that I might have had just a little bit of a hand in spreading the word about them and their book. I get a rush when I do it and I feel “at home” in that world. So…when I grow up…I want to be in literary public relations…and then a published author. I would have never imagined that the published author might EVER come second to anything else, but it just did. That really did just happen. Don’t get it wrong. I’m still writing. Not as quickly as I once was, but I am still writing. And I’m definitely still dreaming and working toward that.

This past year and a half has just been one of those times when I discover more about myself than I thought possible. I don’t know if you’ve ever had one of those times when you feel like you are in a time continuum and exactly where you are suppose to be doing exactly what you are suppose to be doing, but I’ve had several of those moments over the past year and a half. Every time I was helping promote another author or networking to help promote other authors. That has been eye-opening for me. We sometimes think we know all there is to know about ourselves once we become adults, and then something happens, and we realize we don’t. And that is my update.

Staring Up,

KP

Dear Author: You Are My Celebrity

Tags

Appearances, Authors, Business, Celebrities, Mom Jeans, writing

I have a feeling that this post might step on some toes. I’m hoping it doesn’t, but I can’t promise anything. Go into this post knowing that it is not my intent to do so. However, I have something I feel like I need to say and in a big way.

Dear Author(s): YOU are MY Celebrity.

Yes, You. The one who spent years wholed up in an office, or sitting on your bed, or in a Starbucks tapping on keys and pouring your heart out onto a page. You who have slashed scenes, killed off characters you adore, love and cherish. You who have learned about Social Media and platforms, workshops and conferences, queries and rejections. You are MY celebrity. I watch movies only when I really, REALLY want to see it, or if I loved the book it is based off of, so I could take or leave those movie actors. Most of the TV I watch is reality, and I’m so embarrassed for some of those “stars” that I truly could care less about meeting them. But YOU…the authors who write the worlds I love to live in and escape to for just a few hours on a regular basis. YOU are who I care to meet. YOU are MY celebrity. While I know this is a bit fan-girly of me to say out loud, I say it because I want you to know how much you are appreciated. How important you are to more than just me.

So, I say this with that in mind…Please realize that you are so much more than just a writer to your readers. I know that many authors do not feel comfortable in the spotlight. I’ve read many say that speaking engagements and public appearances are hard for them. I know that there are those who would rather just write and write and then write again in their favorite quiet and secluded writing world. But in this day and age, you can’t do that. This is the age of people connecting on 800 levels all at the same time at the tap of a finger on their phone. This world wants community and has shown we will find it one way or another. Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, Formspring, LinkedIn, etc., etc. We could keep writing that list for the entire blogpost I think, but why? We all know them, and most of us are members. If you’re a writer, a blogger, a publisher, or an agent, you spend a particular part of your day working on all of the many Social Media outlets you are a member of. Why? Because you have started to understand the importance of connecting with the people in your industry as well as your readers. Which brings me back to the point of this blog post.

Most of the authors I follow on Twitter and other social media outlets are extremely witty and warm. Their tweets keep me in stitches or make me feel like I’ve known them for years. Yes, I know I haven’t known most of them at all. So, when I go to an event, a book signing, a convention, or do an interview, and I finally get to meet them up close, I want to meet my celebrity. Because authors are my celebrities. I want to meet the person in the publicity picture used on their website, blog, or social media profile. The one where you look fancy and put on make-up and are not wearing your “Mom” jeans. You know the picture…the one you put a necklace and earrings on for…I’m expecting to meet that person. And I totally get that your style and my style will probably NOT be the same. I don’t expect it to and I don’t want it to be that way. I love that it is not that way. Truly, you probably wouldn’t want my style anyway. I’m quirky and change my fashion style every day and often enough that it could give someone else whiplash. But that’s me. I’m not going to change it for anyone, and I don’t want you to change who you are for anyone.

I do want authors out there to realize that, while you are doing something creative in the writing business, it is still a business. And while you don’t like to think of it like that, it doesn’t change the fact that it is a business. You play a role in that business-many roles to be frank. You have to write the book, get it exactly where you want it to be, and then hope that people love it and buy it. But it doesn’t stop there. You have to build your platform and connect with people, keep them interested in your books, and ultimately, in you as a writer. But it doesn’t stop there! You have to make appearances and talk about your books and you in front of people and still keep them interested in your books and YOU! While I don’t mean for those public events to sound like a business interview, in a sense that is exactly what it is. We, your readers, are your clients. Like any other business, we have the option to go somewhere else, to someone else’s books.

Maybe it’s not right. Maybe it gets you upset that it matters. I’m sorry about that, but the reality is…I get just a little fancier for you if I know I’m going to be meeting you, even if there is the CHANCE of a meeting. I want to feel like you did the same thing. Because I’m a business woman as well as a reader and reviewer. I’m probably not going to stop reading your books just because you decided to wear your “Mom” jeans or forgot to brush your hair…BUT I can promise you that I will talk and talk and talk about you and your books more if I feel like you put the same effort into meeting me.

Please know this is not a superficial thing. THIS is a business thing. You are an author, and you are the only person that is going to sell  your books, and yourself (that sounds SOOO bad I know…), in the way you want to be remembered. So, before you head out to your next event, book signing, panel, convention (BEA is looming…)…remember that YOU are MY celebrity, and a million other readers as well.

Staring Up,

KP

4500 Tweet GIVEAWAY!!

Tags

Authors, Between, Blogs, celebration, competition, fiction, followers, Forbidden, friends, Harlan Coben, Jessica Warman, Legend, Marie Lu, Retweets, Shelter, stories, Story, Ted Dekker, Tosca Lee, Tuesdays at the Castle, Tweets, Twitter, writing

I can’t believe it, but I have actually hit my 45oo tweet on Twitter. Yes, I know this is completely silly, especially when I see people who have tweeted 30,000 140-character quips or more. But, for me, I never thought I would even BE on Twitter, nevertheless tweeting 4500 times! So, I thought I would have a bit of fun with this moment. I am holding a book giveaway to celebrate the fact that I say a whole lot of short blurbs on a crazy, addictive social media website! 😉 There are 5 books you can win, and there will be 3 winners. That’s right. THREE! So here’s the dealio on the giveaway…

In order to win, write a 450 word (or less!) quick story and comment below on the blog.  You can write any piece of FICTION you’d like…There are no words you must use or specific plot points I need to see. Just let your imagination go. I am an ecclectic reader and love many different types of books, but if you REALLY want to get a leg up, here are a few things that I LOVE…

1. Really good romantic tension-Please keep it PG-13 & under…
2. Stories that make me ask, “WHAT If??”
3. Well thought-out, honest characters

I know 450 words is not much, but I also know there are a ton of amazing writers out there. I can’t wait to read what I get in the comments section. All entries should be up and in the comments, retweeted, linked, whatever…by Midnight Central time on Thursday, August 11th! I will choose a story winner and that person will get to choose 2 books from the 5. Then, all of the entry author’s names will be put into a hat and I will choose 2 to win 1 book each. You get 1 entry for writing a 450 word or less story and placing it in the comments below. You can get extra entries by doing the following:

1. Link to this blog on your blog-3 extra entries (Just comment below and let me know your blog-I’ll check it out & subscribe to it.)
2. Retweet this competition to your followers-2 extra entries (Make sure you put @kpsimmon so I see it & can follow you.)
3. Be one of my follower’s on Twitter-1 extra entry

So…You can get up to 7 entries to win at least 1 book, AND you can win 2 books of your choice by writing a quick story in 450 words or less! You can decide to enter the competition by doing one of the above but not writing a story. You just won’t be up for Your Choice of 2 books. Here are the books that are up for grabs!

• Legend by Marie Lu (This is the ARC-due to hit stands November 29, 2011)
• Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George (This is the ARC-due to hit stands October 11, 2011)
• Between by Jessica Warman (This is the ARC-book just hit stands last week)
• Shelter: A Mickey Bolitar Novel by Harlan Coben (This is the ARC-due to hit stands September 6th, 2011)
• Forbidden by Ted Dekker & Tosca Lee (This is the ARC-due to hit stands September 13, 2011)

All entries should be up and in the comments, retweeted, linked, whatever…by Midnight Central time on Thursday, August 11th! Thanks and I hope you have fun doing this! I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Staring Up,

KP