The 31 Day Build Your Author Platform Challenge is NOW!
Episode Summary: In this episode, Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid discuss strategies to overcome the summer writing slump and introduce their 31-day platform-building challenge starting June 1st. They also share insights on character development and upcoming events for Lisa's new book, "Hart & Souls."
Key Discussion Points:
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The Summer Slump:
- Definition and Causes: Beth and Lisa describe the summer slump, where writers often struggle to stay motivated due to distractions like vacations, family activities, and pleasant weather.
- Personal Experiences: Lisa shares her struggle with inspiration for her latest book and how she overcame it by understanding her character's emotional journey. This led her to realize her character's loneliness, which helped reignite her writing passion.
- Advice for Writers: They emphasize the importance of connecting with your character emotionally to avoid losing interest. If the writer doesn’t care about the character, neither will the readers.
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Character Development:
- Relating to Characters: Lisa discusses the importance of making characters relatable and giving them emotional growth. For her, understanding her character's loneliness helped make him more compelling.
- Blueprinting Your Novel: Beth talks about her certification in book coaching and the importance of outlining your novel. She suggests asking "why" at every stage to ensure the character's actions are deliberate and meaningful.
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Platform Building Challenge:
- Introduction: Beth and Lisa introduce their 31-day platform-building challenge, designed to help authors develop a solid online presence.
- Daily Tasks: The challenge involves daily tasks that authors can pick and choose from, including setting up a website, engaging on social media, and creating content to attract followers.
- Community Engagement: They encourage participants to share their progress and use the hashtag #wwwplatformchallenge to build a supportive community of writers.
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Upcoming Events and Book Release:
- Lisa’s Book Launch: Lisa announces her upcoming book, "Heart and Souls," and the events she’ll be attending to promote it, including a book launch party at Ruby’s in Folsom on July 27th and signings at the ALA conference in San Diego.
- Kirkus Review: Lisa shares the positive Kirkus review her book received, providing a morale boost and a positive outlook for the summer.
Conclusion: This episode of "Writers with Wrinkles" provides valuable insights into maintaining writing motivation during the summer and the importance of building an author platform. Lisa and Beth's practical advice and personal experiences offer encouragement to writers facing similar challenges. The platform-building challenge presents an excellent opportunity for authors to enhance their online presence and connect with a supportive community.
Mentioned Links:
- Bitsy Kemper's Platform Challenge
- Episode 19 (for full episode on platform challenge details)
- Writers with Wrinkles Website
Beth McMullen
Author
Beth McMullen is the author of the Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls series , the Lola Benko, Treasure Hunter series, and The Secret of the Storm series (Aladdin/S&S).
She is also the author of the Spy Mom series (Hyperion).
Beth lives in Northern California with her husband, kids, and very grumpy cats. She's obsessed with podcasts and might give up writing in order to have more time to listen. Could happen.
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