Stronger Storytelling (Part 3 of 3) Know Thyself: How Self-Awareness can Help You be Your Own Editor

Stronger Storytelling (Part 3 of 3)  Know Thyself: How Self-Awareness can Help You be Your Own Editor

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that every writer has patterns that emerge in their stories. Maybe it’s a tendency to use similar descriptions, settings, or characters. Maybe it’s the go-to words and phrases that become distracting and less effective with over-use. Maybe it’s simply your favorite sayings that seem to become your character’s favorite sayings. In the same ways that we talk in predictable conversation patterns, we write that way, too.


Stronger Storytelling (Part 2 of 3) Choosing the Right Narrator

Stronger Storytelling (Part 2 of 3)  Choosing the Right Narrator

The narrator is the voice that is telling the story. Narrative voice is critical to a successful story because it controls how the story unfolds. Is the narrator a main character, revealing internal struggle and conflict to the audience? Or is the narrator a removed, third-person voice giving a balanced take on the whole cast of characters? Here are a few traditional and not so traditional narrator choices.

The Process of Story Creation: 5 Lessons on Fueling a Creative Life (Part 3 of 3)

By Becky Swanberg — EMoon Lead Content Editor and Middle Reader Novelist


I’ve had the pleasure of talking about writing and editing, how one leads to the other, and how one helped me do the next with compassion. Today I want to talk about some things I’ve learned in regards to finding a creative rhythm of life.

The storied ideal of the creative soul walled up in his/her workshop or studio for hours on end is certainly appealing. Can you imagine writing every time inspiration hit? Feeling the freedom to create without one eye on the clock? Working until all hours of the night because your typing can barely keep up with the steady flow of words? I can’t.

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For most creatives, our work and art fit into the landscape of the rest of our life. This doesn’t mean that we can’t thrive or pursue a craft diligently, but it does mean we have to reconcile our artist soul with our everyday roles. This has been a confusing and disorienting practice for me, but I’ve learned some hard lessons that I’d like to pass on to you.

  1. When it comes to your creativity, figure out what fuels you and what drains you.  Your creative energy is like a well sitting still within you. You add and take from it even when you aren’t creating. For me, things that fuel my creativity are reading, connection with people, music, silence, being outdoors, and getting enough sleep. Those things are probably pretty obvious, right? But the things that drain my creative energy have surprised me: too much media, fears that I’m holding but not sharing, reading too many writing books or articles, clutter, and a hectic schedule.  What about you?

  2. Look for principles, not rules. Any article that starts with “every writer must” makes me roll my eyes and click away. Writing or creating any form of art is an individual and personal endeavor. While there are principles you can apply and wisdom to be heard, there is no one way that fits every person. Instead, I encourage you to find writers or artists whose process resonates with you. I thought I was a crazy person in regards to my own writing habits until I read the essays of Katherine Paterson. The ways she talks about story ideas, developing characters, and even her theology of books rang deep for me. I trust her voice and I heed her warnings, and I hope you can find artists who can lead you in your craft.

  3. Learn to identify with your work without finding your identity in it. At a particularly dark time in my creative life, I read Emily P. Freeman’s A Million Little Ways, a book about uncovering the art you were made to bring into the world. In it, she writes, “You are art, and you make art. But you are not your art. You are God’s art.” When we can see our creative work as an offering and not as an audition, we can rest and create in freedom.

  4. Be a good boss.  This is another principle that I learned from Katherine Paterson from an essay she wrote about how she treats herself. As a writer, she’s her own boss. But she treats herself in the way she might hope to treat an employee. What would that mean for you to be a kind boss to your creative self? If you scheduled a time to work, you would show up. If you’re struggling with a specific aspect, you would offer yourself grace, resources, and encouragement to keep trying. You would value genuine effort over results you can’t control. You’d applaud small victories. You’d avoid the constant loop of criticism and doubt. You’d be on your own team. As ridiculous as it sounds, it has taken me a lot of internal work to learn to be a good boss to my creative self.

  5. Keep going. Those two words are easy to offer but hard to swallow. But in the midst of rejection, creative drought, confusion, and despair, you have to keep going. I was reminded of this just a few days ago when a road trip with my kids took an unexpected turn. After a flat tire less than an hour into the trip, we spent five hours trying to get it fixed. Our plans had to change. We spent a lot of time in frustration. We fought hard to trust God and not turn on each other. But we kept trying to get there. As we drove through the dark, I tried not to think about how we should have been there six hours ago. I forced myself to acknowledge that it was out of our control, but we were still fighting to get there. We had to keep going.

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I offer these points as things I’ve learned, but they are really more like things I have to constantly remind myself. Things I cling to. Things I force myself to believe when this publishing journey feels bleak.

I hope you will consider the ways you can fuel your creativity, and that you will keep offering your words and your art to the world.

Thank you for joining me on this three part blog journey through “The Process of Story Creation.”

The Process of Story Creation: From the Editor’s Side of the Table (Part 2 of 3)

By Becky Swanberg — EMoon Lead Content Editor and Middle Reader Novelist


In the first post of this series, I filled you in on my journey from struggling writer of first novel to struggling writer of second novel. (What a ride!) But how did I get into editing? That’s where we’re headed today.

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I met Laree Lindburg many years back through a local homeschool community. Several years later our paths crossed again, and we began to talk writing. She had recently taken over Electric Moon Publishing as the owner and manager, and I had recently finished my first manuscript. Months later she graciously offered to read my book and was encouraging in her response to my work. She told me to keep writing (a simple message that I desperately needed to hear), and she offered me a job as an editor.

For anyone who loves to read, getting paid to read and share your thoughts with the writer would be a dream job. But there was something especially fulfilling about standing with an author in the creative process. I respected the effort that went into writing the book. I knew the courage it took to let strangers read it and guide the direction. And I felt especially mindful of the sensitive nature of creativity. I knew I wasn’t just offering feedback on their work; I was criticizing something that meant a great deal to them. I was, essentially, weighing in on their art.

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It felt like an immense responsibility and privilege to partner with an author. Two years later, I still feel that responsibility to balance the honest words that will help an author execute their vision while trying not to crush that vision under scrutiny.

As a content editor (sometimes called a developmental editor), I work with the author to finalize their manuscript before it goes to copy edits. This means looking at the overall message (non-fiction) or story (fiction) and double-checking that it is clear, cohesive, and told as effectively as possible. Sometimes there are simple suggestions like defining terms or adding examples, while other times I suggest bigger overhauls like rewriting chapters, adding new ideas, or even cutting pieces that don’t fit the overall book.

I try to ask myself two questions as I consider what revisions to suggest for a manuscript.

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First, I ask, “Do I really understand the author’s vision for this book?” If not, I need to clarify that before I offer suggestions.

Second, before sending out my suggested edits, I consider, “How would I respond if someone sent me this feedback?” Is it needlessly harsh? Do I explain the reasons for changing things? Have I told them what is working well? Am I still fighting for their vision and not mine?

The opportunity to edit popped up seemingly out of nowhere, but there was already so much groundwork from my years of working through my own writing. I’m grateful for the things I’m learning about the publishing process. I’m thankful for the opportunity to help other people prepare their stories. And I enjoy being part of an organization that supports and empowers writers to get the best version of their book into the hands of readers.

The Process of Story Creation: The [Rough] Beginning (part 1 of 3)

By Becky Swanberg — EMoon Lead Content Editor and Middle Reader Novelist


In the fall of 2011, I was deep in the fog of postpartum life. My kids were six, four, two, and 10 weeks, and I had the sudden and strange desire to write a novel.

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Inspired by National Novel Writing Month (known as NaNoWriMo), one night I opened my laptop and started telling a story about a teenage girl who could smell deception.  This chunk of writing time became part of my day, as normal as morning feedings and making PBJ’s, and so every evening from 9:30-11:00, I wrote.

It didn’t feel like work because this voice in my head was telling me her story. I just listened to her, almost like recording the thoughts of a friend, and tried (unsuccessfully) to steer it toward a cohesive storyline.

I wish I could tell you that first novel came together in one beautiful and linear story- but it didn’t.

I wish I could tell you that after revising for two years (which I did), I found an agent and sold that book (I didn’t).

I wish I could say that while I didn’t sell the first one, I did sell the next one. (Sigh). Nope.

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But here’s what did happen. Somewhere in the process of creating stories and daydreaming scenes, a part of me that I had abandoned for adulthood starting to come alive again. I discovered that writing stories made me feel more like myself.

That realization, the understanding that I was much more me when I was writing, brought along some big questions. How do I get paid to do this? Do I need to get paid to do this? And what exactly am I trying to do? As a caretaker with a full plate, the idea of writing for the joy of it made me a bit squeamish. I didn’t have that kind of time, I said.  It wasn’t a season of life to do things for joy, I said. And can you really be a storyteller if no one is reading those stories?

Despite the questions, I did what made the most sense: I kept writing.

That first draft needed work, so I watched YouTube videos on revision, characterization, and genre. I read books on the craft of story and listened to podcasts where authors shared their tools and process. Our family rhythm shifted, so I began waking in the dark to work a bit before the early risers popped out of bed. I embraced writing fiction as a hobby while the question of publication took a backseat. A few years, a couple rounds of reader feedback, and hundreds of hours later, I had a finished young adult novel.

But now what?

I sent it out to literary agents, and for the next twelve months I collected rejection letters. I got some leads and requests for the full manuscript, but they all eventually ended in a no. In the way that writing made me feel alive, rejections letters drained me dry. I had suspected it wasn’t that good. I hadn’t really wanted to publish it. No one sells their first novel, I told myself. It’s fine.

But it wasn’t fine. I tried not to talk about the process of querying (sending out letters to literary agents) because I couldn’t even think about it without crying. I shelved my laptop, read more books, and quietly tried to pretend I had never written a novel at all.

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As I tried to ignore the heartache of a “failed” first book, a funny thing happened. A new voice started telling me her story. She was younger, funnier, a bit rough around the edges. Her world was interesting, and I found myself daydreaming about how I would describe it. Scraps of dialogue floated in and out. Scenes fell into place. She talked in my head as I did the dishes or drove to the store.

One night in an act of faith and defiance, I opened my laptop and started tapping out that story. It felt ridiculous to do it all again with no guarantee I wouldn’t end up with another Word document that nobody would read. But it also felt ridiculous to stop doing something I love because of fear.

In those first few pages, I officially met twelve-year-old Ren, the main character of the middle grade dystopian novel that kept me company for the next few years. But in writing, in pursuing and embracing the person who I’m created to be, I also met myself again.

To be continued next week in part two . . .

What Does the Createspace and KDP Merger Mean for Indie Authors?

What Does the Createspace and KDP Merger Mean for Indie Authors?

This week, Createspace (CSP) sent an email to indie authors, announcing it was merging with Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) to become one service. Going forward, indie authors who want to pursue print will need to begin using KDP Print. If we can help you in any way, please reach out to us. We’d love to talk to you. Email us at info@emoonpublishing.com or visit our website at www.emoonpublishing.com.

What Do the KDP Print Changes Mean for Indie Authors?

By Lee Warren - author, editor, and EMoon team member


Amazon announced recently that KDP Print will now make proof and author copies available to all publishers on the platform for the cost of printing, plus shipping and all applicable taxes. Previously, these features were only available on Amazon’s Createspace platform.

This announcement comes on the heels of two others from Amazon about Createspace.

Last fall, Amazon announced it was closing its Createspace e-store. Books published on that platform would continue to be available through the Amazon.com store, as well as redirecting there.

Early this year, Amazon announced it plans to lay off all 58 employees in its Createspace editing, marketing, and design division, saying it was getting out of the author services business.

This restructuring would seem to indicate that Amazon is intending to move all of its self-publishing print operations under its KDP Print umbrella, giving indie authors access to all of their information on one dashboard. Some in the indie author community speculate that Amazon’s ACX audiobook program might follow suit at some point.

Previously, the drawbacks of using KDP Print included the inability to order proof and author copies, as well as not being able to opt for expanded distribution. Presumably, expanded distribution will be available through KDP Print in the future.

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What does all this mean for the indie author?

If you haven’t used the editorial, marketing or book cover design services offered by Createspace, you might simply consider familiarizing yourself with KDP Print or IngramSpark now. That’s not to say Createspace is necessarily going away soon. But given Amazon’s recent actions to bolster and promote KDP Print, you have to wonder if the writing isn’t on the wall.

If you have used the editorial, marketing or book cover design services through Createspace because you aren’t interested in handling the technical aspect of publishing, you’ll need to find an alternative. You can either contract with freelancers or choose a custom publisher like Electric Moon Publishing (EMoon). We can handle everything for you, giving you the control you want while maintaining the publishing rights you deserve.

Current Createspace authors need not fear being left behind during this future possible transition. Industry professionals believe current Createspace users will be grandfathered into the KDP print program. Createspace remains a primary place to publish books as a print-on-demand option and publishers like EMoon, will continue to assist indie authors to use the Createspace platform, moving to KDP Print only as the interface becomes more user-friendly and comprehensive.

Createspace to Cut Author Services

By Laree Lindburg, owner/manager, Electric Moon Publishing, LLC and Signal Speakers


Amazon recently announced their intention to cease author services (editing, marketing, book formatting, design, etc.) through their self-publishing entity Createspace as reported in The Post and Courier.

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This should be no surprise. The massive company is not known for their delicate handling of indie authors—their size makes it almost impossible to work one-on-one in a personal setting. And this is not a terrible loss on the author’s side. As those who use the author services supplied by Amazon may not have needed to sell the farm to pay the ticket price, the end product quality often left much to be desired.

A spokesperson from Amazon shared the company’s thoughts on this move. "After a thorough review of our service offerings, we've made the decision to discontinue Createspace's paid professional editing, design and marketing services. We will work closely with impacted employees through this transition to help them find new roles within the company or assist them with pursuing opportunities outside the company."

This layoff will sadly affect many workers in Createspace’s editing, marketing and design division starting as early as spring 2018. We can only hope Amazon will stay true to its word and assist impacted employees in their quest for new jobs.

If you are a Createspace author you may be wondering how this decision by Amazon/Createspace affects you. Only if you are used to procuring the editing, marketing and design services offered through Createspace, will you notice a change. No concern is necessary on the part of printing as Createspace will continue to print paperback books for indie authors.

Custom publishers, such as Electric Moon Publishing, are set up to support authors who would normally default to the employment of Amazon’s author services. Either way, at Electric Moon we are ready, capable, and eager to work with you on your first, next, or final book project. Along with being personable and friendly, we offer custom illustration, content and copy editing, proofreading, design, e-book formatting and publishing set-up/distribution, paperback/hardback printing through us or POD setup, paperback distribution options, and marketing assistance.

Contact a team member at info@emoonpublishing.com for more information or visit us on the web at www.emoonpublishing.com.

A NaNoWriMo Top Ten: Strategies, Lifesavers, and Unintended Consequences (3 of 3)

By Becky Swanberg, author and EMoon Team Member 


NaNoWriMo is a mere two days away. Have you officially signed up? Are you plotting out your story arc? Have you cleared your schedule and loaded up on your preferred form of caffeine?

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Sounds like you're well on your way to hitting that 50,000 word count before December 1. Aside from registering and story prep, here’s a few more things you can do to set yourself up for success.

  1. Carve out time….now. That’s right. When is this novel magic going to happen? Early mornings? Lunch breaks? Late nights? Start to think about how this novel is going to fit into your every day, and allow extra time the first few days. Remember- the daily goal is around 1600 words. Will you break it into pieces? Slay it all at once? Your plan can be flexible, but it helps to hit November 1 with an idea of when this is going down.

  2. Tell your people. Now wait a sec, I don’t mean you need to blast your NaNoWriMo aspirations on all your social media platforms (though if that’s your thing- go for it!) I mean to let the people who are close to you in on this goal. That way when it’s Friday night and you ask friends to see a movie, someone will say, “Where’s your wordcount? Did you write today?” Then you’ll roll your eyes, ditch the movie plans, and feel sorry that you ever told anyone as you open your laptop. But later, when you hit your goal, you’ll be glad your people pushed you to it.

  3. Don’t forget to account for Thanksgiving. NaNoWriMo rookies will find themselves pacing along, coming upon the end of the month with just a few thousand words left and then...Thanksgiving. That turkey coma will not only stall out your Black Friday aspirations, but it will kill a few days of novel writing. Work ahead, or plan makeup time on the back end. And if you’re travelling, don’t even pretend you’re going to hit your word count all those days. Trust me.

  4. Don’t over edit. Your goal is 50,000 words- not 50,000 amazing and publishable words. If you stop to fix, you may kill the flow of your thoughts and feed the ego of your inner critic. Which leads me to my next point….

  5. Ignore your inner critic. There’s a small voice that will tell you this is a waste of time, that your novel is terrible, and that everyone in your life is actually making fun of you behind your back. Turn down the volume on that voice.

  6. Celebrate the glimpses of greatness. Have a storyline come together? A witty dialogue that makes you smile? A phrase or description that came to you in just the right moment? Be proud of those simple things. Sometimes stopping to acknowledge a little something gone right will help you to ignore the other 1500 painful words you wrote. Or the laundry piling up. Or the strange smell coming from your fridge.

  7. Read the pep talks that arrive in your inbox. If you’re official with NaNoWriMo, they’ll send you regular pep talks from real deal authors- and they’re legit, my friend. Some of these authors tried this very experiment and have lived (and published) to tell the tale.

  8. Take yourself seriously without taking your story too seriously. The goal is the quantity of words produced in such a short time. Give yourself the space to hit the goal, but don’t add the pressure for those words to be reader ready by the end. Let your main characters wander and grow and make decisions that are completely unsupported by their backstory. It’s OK. Really. It is.

  9. Be open to what your novel wants to teach you. You may find that the greatest victory of the whole endeavor is learning that you actually don’t have a novel to write. Maybe you’ll discover that you don’t enjoy creating fiction. Or perhaps some things will clarify for you about why or when or what it really means for you to write. How do you push through? What time of day works best? Who are the people in your life who really get it and support you? Those are things that your novel can teach you if you let it.

  10. Prepare yourself for the harsh reality that you might become addicted. You may think you only signed up for a month of this, but then this main character gets into your head and suddenly this novel is nowhere near done. It’s only fair to warn you that the art and craft of storytelling is a complicated hobby rife with writer’s block, endless decisions, and rejection letters. (I mean, who in their right mind pursues an interest where you pour out your soul, send it to strangers, and then they send you rejection letters? Why is anybody doing this?)

The reality is this: in this crazy month of pounding out words each day, you may find that writing a novel brings you joy. That you make more sense when you’re writing. That the every day of life is tamed a bit by the words you give to a story. And if you have the courage to admit that you can’t not write, then you’ll be glad you set out on this NaNoWriMo journey. You’ll thank this horrible first novel for waking you up, and then you’ll start the hard work of doing it all again.

Will I participate for NaNoWriMo this year? I’ve been there done that. I logged the hours, cringed at the writing, and came out at the other end knowing a bit more about story and a lot more about myself.

Happy writing, friends.

Read the two previous posts in this blog series here.

NaNoWriMo: Are You a Writing Architect or a Writing Gardener? (2 of 3)

BY BECKY SWANBERG, AUTHOR AND EMOON TEAM MEMBER


If you were preparing to host a dinner, maybe you’d research recipes, carefully curate the menu, and then make a detailed shopping list. You’d head to the store with the list in hand and buy exactly what was needed. Then, with all these specific ingredients, you’d come home, follow directions, measure carefully, and execute. Nicely done!

Or perhaps you prefer to go the store and see what strikes your fancy. I mean, you have a leaning towards beef, but if you get to the meat section and the pork tenderloin is calling your name- you go with it. Toss in some veggies, a carb or two, and a surprising dessert. Then you head home, excited for the mystery of how this will all turn out.

Whether you cook more with your head or your heart, there’s an ease to it that makes sense with who you are and how you’re wired. The same goes for writing your novel.

I first stumbled across the idea of the two writing personalities while watching a writing class on YouTube. The professor was talking about a writer’s natural bent toward the craft, referring to the two ends of the spectrum as gardeners and architects (often called pantsers and plotters).  

Like most of my experiences with personality types, I found myself surprised how well a simple descriptor could make me aware of things I could only vaguely sense about myself. I was in the midst of writing my first novel, and my husband kept asking me questions about the villain and the ending and the fate of the characters.

“I don’t know!” I would answer, frustrated that he was trying to pin me down.

“Of course, you know,” my husband would reply. “You have to know. You’re the author!”

But what I couldn’t quite explain was this subtle feeling that though I was typing the words of this novel, I wasn’t really steering the ship. The story felt to me like it wanted to tell itself. I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized that this was a common feeling among writers. I wasn’t a psycho; I was a gardener.

Like all personality types, there certainly is room for people to have a bit of both or fall right in the middle, but as I read about the craft and talk to other writers, most people have a strong sense of being one or the other.

Architect vs. Gardener

Writers who see themselves as “architects” tend to write best with a plan. They outline. They timeline. They pre-write with gusto. These writers find that the outline frees them, the work done ahead makes the words come more clearly, and the work done long before they start chapter 1 helps them write most efficiently. Self-proclaimed architects include J.K Rowling, Brandon Sanderson, and John Grisham.

In contrast, “gardeners” are writers who see the process as more of a winding road than a step-by-step process. These writers are more likely to start with an idea, water it (add words and chapters), and then watch it grow. Gardeners do not generally plan a story as much as they discover the story along the way. This doesn’t mean that gardeners don’t think about it ahead of time or do some character development before starting chapter 1--they may. However, the storyline itself is generally more fluid and open to possibility. Famous gardeners include Stephen King, Margaret Atwood, and George R.R. Martin.

And what does this have to do with NaNoWriMo?

As you set out to tackle a novel, understanding your writing temperament can help you prepare and execute more effectively.

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If you’re an architect, you’ll want to spend some time considering your characters, the major scenes, and overall plot progression of your book. You might find it helpful to make some decisions right away: genre, setting, main characters, central conflict, and the point of view that will serve your story best. How will the story open? What do your characters want? What challenges will they face? How will those challenges be resolved?

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Gardeners are more inclined to think about the feel and growth of their story. Are you drawn to a certain voice or setting? Why? What could you add to those elements to create more pieces of this story? Write a short descriptive paragraph about your main character waking up for the day. Did you write in first or third person? Did it help establish voice? Most gardeners who write efficiently say they will try to nail down a general story outline- not a road map but at least a destination for their story. A list of scenes or possible challenges for your main character may help you focus when you come to a wall, when that story seems like it stops growing for awhile.

With National Novel Writing Month just two weeks away, the time for prepping those novels is right now. Hopefully, these tips will help you prepare in a way that is helpful as you sit down each day and tackle that wordcount goal.

Wait- what if you don’t know if you’re a gardener or an architect? I don’t know any magic secrets to figuring that out, but here’s a surefire way: try to write a novel, and I think you will quickly know.

Up for the challenge? Two weeks and counting until NaNoWriMo kicks off. This could be the year of discovering not only your novel ambitions but also what kind of writer you are.

Enter Mike Loomis . . .

Join us this week and throughout the month for a chance to win Mike's book Your Brand is Your Calling: Build a Personal Brand to Reflect and Connect.

All you have to do is either contact us using our website form or "Share" and "Like" our posts on FB, Instgram or Twitter to be entered to win. 

Best of luck!

Happy Monday!

Allow us to introduce Mike Loomis. Mike is a friend of EMoon and possesses vast knowledge on the topic of branding. He helps people launch their dream projects and books. Since starting and selling two businesses, he has been strategic partner to best-selling authors, non-profits, publishers as well as startups, and aspiring messengers.

And he will share a snippet with us during the month of June.

Your Brand is Calling (Part 1 of 2)

by Mike Loomis--author, ghostwriter, branding extraordinaire


“Branding” has become a buzzword. The term has been misused and distorted, but that doesn’t mean we should dismiss the concept.  Branding is a force for personal expression and influence.

What is a brand? 

One of my favorite definitions of a brand is from Seth Godin:

A brand is the set of expectations, memories, stories and relationships that, taken together, account for a consumer’s decision to choose one product or service over another. Design is essential but design is not brand.    

Here’s what branding is not: 

Branding is not trying to please the masses, as in, “How can we be more relevant to this demographic?” or, “I need a cool logo.” Branding is not aspiring to a trendy vision to grab market share. This is fake, outside-driven, and gives branding a bad name.

My definition of personal branding is: The public expression of your calling.

Let the simplicity of that definition sink in.

The goal is to be intentional when creating your brand in the age we live in. One hundred years ago, if you were a boot maker, the sign outside your shop would have probably been a huge image of a boot. 

You love to make boots.

I want new boots.

I see your sign, and walk in!

Simple, right? Clearly defining what you offer, in a unique way is the essence of personal branding.

Two keys for a powerful brand - You must be both:

       1 – Authentic  

       2 – Persuasive

Enter for a chance to win Mike's book! Use our contact form on this website or "Share" and "Like" our posts on social media.

Enter for a chance to win Mike's book! Use our contact form on this website or "Share" and "Like" our posts on social media.

Most brands are one or the other. For example: “A blog about my life” may be authentic and true, but will anyone be interested?

Or: “The most amazing keynote speaker on the planet” might sound persuasive, but is it authentic?

A purely factual approach to branding will probably be boring. Hype that’s not grounded in truth will fizzle. An influential brand must be 100% Authentic and 100% persuasive. It’s possible, and essential, to express both.


Mike Loomis helps people launch their dream projects and books. Since starting and selling two businesses, he has been strategic partner to bestselling authors, non-profits, publishers as well as startups, and aspiring messengers. He and his wife live in the mountains of Colorado with their pet moose. www.MikeLoomis.CO.

NaNoWriMo: A Novel Idea for November (1 of 3)

In 2016, almost half a million people on six continents joined the writing movement called National Novel Writing Month. This non-profit (often referred to as NaNoWriMo) is an online community that recruits, supports, and celebrates writers as they attempt to pen 50,000 words in the thirty days of November. Volunteers can use the NaNoWriMo website to mobilize their local participants and schedule kick-off events, writing nights, and other activities along the way.  And on those hard days when the word count is lagging and motivation ebbs, participants receive emails from famous authors who cheer them on from the sidelines.

On Being Uncommon

by Laree Lindburg, owner/manager Electric Moon Publishing, LLC and Signal Speakers


Do you ever feel different, out-of-place, odd? Possibly you have felt as though you didn’t fit in with the crowd? The thing is, we are all different and made to be just that—unique and one-of-a-kind. But often times we don’t embrace this truth about who and how God has created us. Instead, we insist on being the same. Cookie-cutter. Common.

Carey Scott’s newest book Uncommon: Living a Life of Purpose and Pursuit takes the reader on an explorative journey. Using actual examples from Scripture, Carey builds a case that those of us who feel different are actually supposed to feel exactly so because we are meant to be uncommon—and in God’s point-of-view it’s all good.

Being uncommon contradicts the world. The world insists we stay in our weakness and worry dependent upon nothing or no one but ourselves. This leads to sure and steady failure. Which is exactly what the world wants! To be uncommon is to lift up our eyes to the mountains where our help comes from the Lord the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121: 1,2).

We can and should be uncommon in the areas of courage, forgiveness, generosity, obedience, leadership and more. “Fear is a virus,” Carey writes on page 38, “that spreads, and so often it’s what keeps us from choosing the uncommon way.” On page 47 she continues. “But regardless, having the uncommon courage to overcome fears and live different than the status quo takes guts and grit. And God.”

Uh, does anybody else feel like Carey just jumped into your head with a notepad and pencil, wrote down your inner thoughts then published them? And that, friends, is who Carey Scott is. A wife, mother, writer, speaker, and child of the Most High God who does not mince words. She loves Jesus. Studies the Bible because she longs to know her Creator. She’s genuine—the real deal in a world of plastic pretenders. She is uncommon.

And I think I’d like to join her.


This post was inspired by the book Uncommon: Living a Life of Purpose and Pursuit by Carey Scott. You can learn more about the book and order at http://careyscott.org/uncommon/.

Publisher Q&A - April, 2017

By Laree Lindburg, owner of Emoon


In life, one thing we rarely lack are questions. What time is it? When is dinner? How long until we get there? When will my show come onto Netflix?

Book publishing tends to add to the mishmash. One inquiry, in particular, pops up more often than most: 

  • What is the difference between the various types of publishing?

Solid question. How do traditional publishing, self-publishing, indie publishing, and hybrid publishing differ? Which is best for you? Are some just like others only with varied names? My explanation may be slightly different than most given that the world of publishing has evolved more in the last decade+ than other industries. Definitions are constantly being redefined. Mediums are weekly being invented. 

All that said, here goes!

 

Traditional

The most common of the lot of publishing is traditional. These are your long-standing, old school publishing houses like the "Big Five:" Simon & Schuster, Macmillian, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Hachette Book Group. These dinosaurs are the Mt. Everest; many wish to summit. Some attempt. Fewer succeed. Traditional pubs offer contracts where the author's work is 'owned' by the house. Royalties go through the house and a hefty cut is taken before a quarterly/yearly check is sent to the author. Occasionally, though rarely anymore, authors are offered an advance against royalties. A typical traditional house will take 1-2 years to release a book. They market and promote their titles although reports from less famous authors tell me these publishing houses are putting most of their marketing dollars in their "A" list author baskets, leaving those with smaller, less Hollywood platforms to fend for themselves.

Due to the rampant changes in the publishing industry today, traditional publishers are beginning to offer alternative models, such as self-publishing . . .

 

Self-Publishing

Self-publishers traditionally require authors to purchase X number of copies in order to print their book. They care little or none for quality and content. They are not evil but serve their own purpose for larger quantity orders on titles that have already been proven or edited, or the occasional person who simply wants to see their book in print. The author pays for production.

 

Independent Publishing

Independent publishers work with indie authors (those who have decided to take the destiny of their book into their own hands) and help them from start to finish produce their book for the reading population. No quantity requirements. This can often be a cold interaction as many indie publishers do not work closely with authors but require them to do much online--independently. The author pays for production. This option is great for those who know their marketing strategy and already have a platform in place. Individuals who have a following, a going business or ministry and simply need a place to print paperbacks to sell at merch tables during speaking events can find this option financially beneficial.

 

Hybrid Publishing

Hybrid is a newer publishing model, which also has the most fluid definition. Hybrid publishing can be one of a very personal experience between author and publisher. Each are invested and want to see success for the title. Sometimes the publisher charges a fee per project (and retains no rights or royalties) and other times the publisher and author discuss options for payment such as a smaller fee with agreement to share royalties of book sales. This model of publishing is suited well for those who tend toward indie publishing, but who also would like a little more guidance. Indie publishing can be more involved and time consuming for the author, whereas a hybrid publisher shoulders the burden with the author.

 

Which model is Emoon?

Emoon's publishing model is hybrid and a bit independent. If you have had a chance to check out our website, you will notice we offer many services. Anyone can come and ask us for just one of those services, say, a cover design or an edit, and we will happily do so. No obligation to publish through us. We also work one-on-one with authors who desire to tackle the entire publishing package, i.e. cover, interior layout, editing, e-book pub, paperback publishing, distribution, and marketing. This does cost a fee (we do not offer a royalties sharing option), yet the author retains all of the rights and royalties to their work.

And Emoon sticks around to help them succeed. We are like a personal assistant to the indie author. Emoon markets books that we help along the publishing road by posting notices on our social media outlets and offering giveaways and marketing exchanges. We can also create a sales sheet to promote the author's work and will design custom banners for book signings. These amenities are included in full packages contracts, and can also be contracted a la carte.

All that said, Emoon does not accept just any author's manuscript like a self-publisher. The authors we work with us must prove their title of a high enough quality and meet other publishing requirements before we will agree to go into contract as their publishing partner. 

 

Conclusion

I hope this helped you navigate the murky waters of publishing a bit better. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact us through our website or at info@emoonpublishing.com.

Happy weekend to you!

Meet Author Kevin Shoemaker

Kevin Shoemaker published his first novel in 2015 through Electric Moon Publishing. Walk This Way, Walk His Way; Effectiveness Through the Greatest Commandment is a non-fiction biblical narrative encouraging Christians to live in the freedom and power of Jesus Christ. We will go more into that another day, today we would like to get to know Kevin.

Kevin attended Iowa State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. While attending ISU, he met his now wife Barb, on a blind date. They have created a beautiful grown family in Omaha, NE.

Through the writing process of Walk This Way, Kevin began a passion for a company that could nurture and grow the journey all Christians have started. And so was birthed Maker Ministries, an organization whose goal is to develop effective disciples of Jesus Christ. Kevin’s greatest want is to help people live freely in their faith. His answer to the debacle that many Christians encounter is in the Greatest Commandments:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34 NASB).

“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:31 NASB).

Through his novel, Kevin teaches us what exactly these two verses imply, and how to go about implementing them in our daily lives. He makes convincing and encouraging connections for new and aged Christians on what our walks are missing.

Walk This Way, Walk His Way is a great start on a deeper journey to becoming more Christ-like; every day and in every way. A study guide to the novel will be released this summer for bible study groups and individual studies.

The Nudge Part 3: Open Doors

By Jeannie McPherson, Emoon author


Have you heard the story about St. Peter closing certain doors in heaven, at least those labeled” missed opportunities”?  It seems the new resident to heaven did not pay much attention to the earthly nudges God was sending his way. 

I’ve heard many St. Peter jokes, but this one touched my heart when it was shared in church.  My pastor asked, “How many doors has God opened and how often have you turned away due to excuses like time, resources, or skill?”  Previous to this sermon, I gave momentary thought to offering to be a lay servant in an effort to give Pastor a long-needed break.  It likely was not just a coincidence in timing. 

Was God nudging me, yet again?

I casually acknowledged my willingness to the pastor, thinking he really would not take me up on the idea.  And, for Pete’s sake, he did.  What I discovered is writing a sermon is like writing a good story. And, I see myself as a good story writer. 

The Christmas following 9/11, I included a short story in my holiday cards about Olivia, a dove, who kept watch over the manger the night of Jesus’ birth.  She represented the peace that only Jesus can bring to us individually and globally.  It was written with the plea, “peace begins with me.”

The comments from friends were positive.  The next Christmas I wrote another story, different animal, different characteristic.  Eventually a pattern emerged and I began intertwining the animal characters with one of the Fruits of the Spirit.  My real horse, Charlie, a very big horse, is also called a Gentle Giant (English Shire). He represents gentleness.  Max and Maggie, Labrador dogs, were faithful until their call to eternity.  Eventually I had nine stories written about nine animals and nine fruits found in Galatians 5:22.

Periodically, I would feel a nudge to compile a child’s book with illustrations.  I considered self-publishing, but ran into roadblock after roadblock finding an illustrator.  The nudge grew stronger when I began attending Christian Writer’s Conferences, where I met Electric Moon Publishing.

Even during life stressors, the staff have been there to encourage, give me hope, andwait patiently (one of the short story titles) until I was financially and emotionally ready to put one foot in front of the other.  Even though I had been warned by other authors, I became bent out of shape by the editing process and have come to believe it is an expectation in the publishing world.

I’ve given this project over to the Lord to do something good with it.  He owns it.  I am only the messenger.  This means letting Emoon take leadership when I could not.  If all goes well, I will contribute at least half of the order to churches in high-poverty areas, where few children own even one book.  The remaining first publish run will also be used to serve Jesus, in programs like Samaritan’s Purses’ Operation Christmas Child.  Though only published in English, the illustrations can be understood in multiple languages. 

I don’t know what other earthly “opportunity” doors will open, but Luke 11:9 “….knock and the door will be opened to you” (NIV) is my guide.  From the Sunday I heard the St. Peter story, I made a vow there will be few missed-opportunity doors when I enter heaven.  Instead of looking at a project as work, I try really hard to look at it as a blessing 

The title is still a mystery, even to myself.  If any ideas, please give a shout-out!!! 

The Nudge Part 2: Master Nudger

By Jeannie McPherson, EMoon Author


With dreams, come nightmares. Not that we necessarily want them, realistically they happen. When God nudges us toward and through our dreams, we celebrate and express thankfulness. After many decades, I realize God also nudges through nightmares. After all, I don’t do a very good job thanking God when life is difficult.      

Test-taking was not just figuratively a nightmare for my young self, I had nightmares about the real thing. Writing was my academic salvation and more than once my letter grade went from a B to an A or even a C to a B when essays were a major component of a course. My first college English class was a disaster and no number of nudges were going to help me learn grammar, in all its confusing glory. In other academic areas, professors liked my unique way of expressing thoughts, facts, opinions, or positions. But, I still struggled through test taking.

My first graduate class required writing an essay question on why I would be a good school principal.  In no fewer than 10 rewrites, I shared my story precisely, concisely, and convincingly, to the extent the professor wrote, “You need to write and publish.” Writing was again the easy part.  In my career, I was typically successful writing grants, memos, and emails. In my personal life, I wrote Christmas letters and short stories and dabbled with a few manuscripts, but the word publish was as scary as test taking and nightmares. The word written on a note card was just… a nudge a long time ago.  

I found my career path, and soon started a family. I had fulfilled all the dreams I had conjured up, except for one; becoming a published writer. Retirement brought new opportunities but nothing that pushed me to attempt to concur the publishing world. For fun, I took a week-long writing class with a published author at my alma mater, the University of Nebraska. The writing I submitted brought me more positive compliments and assignments, like “write every day at least 550 words.” We discussed how to get an editor’s attention, thoughts on self-publishing, and lots of “stick with it, you can do it.” All these were nudges, but apparently, these were not enough to fulfill the dream of holding a book with the author’s name, Rogene McPherson.

In April 2015, God connected me with Rebecca, also a writer and survivor of personal tragedy. The complexity of this meeting could have only been organized by God and His angels. This nudge was not subtle. God definitely sent me a message that day. Then only a year later, God was at work, again at Christian Writer’s Conference in Omaha, when I met Laree Lindburg and her sister Erin with Electric Moon Publishing. I was immediately impressed by what Emoon could offer me:

  • Wide basis of technology without my becoming a techie, a valuable asset in the writing world
  • Multitude of services provided by Christian sisters including an editor and illustrator
  • Consistent support even when the proverbial nightmares interfered
  • Honest and educationally sound support when needed

I better stop before I sound like a marketing expert trying to get a job. I really only want to write. All of the Emoon Team providing the support indicated above have been like a gentle nudge. God in my world has a new name, Master Nudger.