INSECURE WRITERS SUPPORT GROUP

This month marks the anniversary of a wonderful group - Insecure Writer's Support Group. If you are a writer, whether new or old, you have to join the group! The posts are great tools in learning and cultivating skills as well as gaining the much needed support (as we might need help picking ourselves back up a time or two). Make sure you click on the link and definitely check it out! A huge THANK YOU to +Alex J. Cavanaugh for founding this amazing community.

Writer's Cramp

When I first self-published my title I was ecstatic! Of course I had the dream of releasing my beloved story out into the world and the world embracing my writing as much as I adored creating it. However, that dream has been replaced with a lot of hard work and efforts in promoting and working on my writings skills. I was a new fish in a huge evolving pond.

Choosing to self-publish was an easy choice for me. I didn't want anyone butchering my work and as I researched this crazy world of self-publishing it seemed full of glitter and just what I was looking for - cut those middle men (and women) out, I could do this myself! Let's just say I've learned a lot since then.

First, after publishing my book, I quickly learned that I needed to expand my social networking channels. I joined Twitter and Google+ and eventually even made my book its own page on Facebook (there are tons of social media outlets). Since first publishing way back (insert snickering) in 2012, I have worked very hard at gaining followers, likes, and other such annotations.

When researching other avenues to pursue potential readers, I ran across a great tidbit about the blogging universe. I was new to blogging so I did a lot of research and decided to start my own blog. Hence, What Shall We Blog About Today? was born. I immersed myself in the realm and started to learn how to connect with other authors, writers, bloggers, reviewers and readers. It's been a very slow process for me, while others seem to hit the ground running, if you know what I mean.

Now, with managing four blogs and continuing to write, edit and try to pull together book covers, it's all consuming. I do believe though that blogging has helped me, not only to connect with others, also it has helped me with my writing style. Some tools that I love now and couldn't continue blogging without - would be the schedule option under post settings and the labels (blogger). Especially when you are participating in blog tours and such, make sure to open the schedule and create the post for your selected day. I also have a calendar through my hotmail account that I keep all my scheduled posts on to keep me on track.

Awesome Opportunity

If you haven't heard of BTS on-line magazine, then let me introduce you... if you look to the right you will find two widgets for the November Issue - make sure to check it out.

The magazine helps showcase writers and their works. This is a superb opportunity for self-published authors, and very affordable too! The best part, it can help you connect to endless possibilities for absolutely FREE - which is too hard to come by these days.

Attention Fellow Writer & Bloggers

If you are interested in showcasing your work, BTS has a couple different avenues. You can post widgets on your sites, you can blog about the magazine, host hops, and enter for the chance to win prizes such as free advertising and even monetary prizes. It can't hurt to try - right?

If you are interested (who wouldn't be!) send an inquiry e-mail to Babs@btsemag.com.  Please include the e-mail that you want to use, the URL website that you will be using, and PLEASE let them know where you heard this from: Tell them Kristy Nowinsky (K.E.Nowinsky) sent you (please also include my e-mail, KN274@hotmail.com). 

Make sure to like them on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/BtsBookReviews

For more information click here http://btsemag.com/community/monthly-media-kit-team/

Take A Gander

http://btsemag.com/

Wait Watch Wonder: Our Favorite Movies Bloghop

I think that this hop could be fun on different levels. It will sort-of be like seven degrees of sepatration. You write about a favorite movies of yours, visit another site in the hop and comment on their choice, then choose an actress or actor from their movie and write about another movie that they are in... easy enough - right? Join the hop! Visit the site here: Wait Watch Wonder: Our Favorite Movies Bloghop: I have this idea for a bloghop. I have a love for movies so what better way to get a bloghop rolling then sharing our favorite movies. Blog...

April Blog Challenge A to Z: B

April Blog Challenge: 

Day 2: B for Blog

April 2, 2013

"I think therefore I blog"

When I published my book “Going off Dreams” on Amazon this past February, I learned that in order to get more recognition was to start a blog. First I created my series its own website goingoffdreams.com and then my first blog goingoffdreams.blogspot.com. When I started to write about other things besides my book, I branched out. For my love of movies and TV there is Wait Watch Wonder waitwatchwonder.blogspot.com. I have experienced a lot in my life, so when I get the notion I write personal testimonies in my blog titled Faith Warrior at testimonyinlife.blogspot.com. And, naturally – for my blog challenges I have dedicated the blog What Shall We Blog about Today? (kenowinsky.blogspot.com)

My writing was cultivated during the time that I earned my Associates Degree in Psychology, through the University of Phoenix. Grammar and I have never really seen eye-to-eye – you know, it’s never come over on Saturday to share a sundae (Sunday). Seriously though, some of my instructors really taught me some great skills that I’ve utilized in my writing today. For instance, I use to write towards all the time. I had instructors tell me that it should never have the s on the end. Now, when I see read others writing, it is something that I pick up on.

Blogging came to me pretty naturally. I have been keeping journals for a majority of my life. Most of them are devotionals, where I have studied sections of the Bible. I wrote down the passage, the message, and how it pertains to my life. Similarly, when I was in therapy they too suggested journaling. They gave me material to read over, so I would take a section at a time, read it carefully, and then write about it in my journal. This helped me to coordinate any questions I have for my next appointments. Blogging is like free therapy!

It took me awhile to learn formatting and layouts, what worked and what doesn't  I think I am still learning. I’m still trying to get followers and readers to comment – any suggestions? I have actually lost sleep from working on my blogs. It’s a good thing though, because it is something that I enjoy doing. I just hope other readers enjoy it as well.

Until next time or the next… dream

K.E.Nowinsky

March Blog Challenge Day 17

March Blog Challenge

Day 17: When and why did you start blogging?

March 17, 2013

When I was looking into ways to promote my book and to get my name out there, the suggestion was to blog. So, last month I researched free blog sites and enrolled in Blogger.  It was really exciting and it took me a while to learn certain things (and still learning) but I think I am getting the hang of it. The March Blog Challenge has really helped me to find structure and blogging topics. I finally realized too how to organize the different topics. At first I was putting everything on one blog site (goingoffdreams.blogspot.com), and then when I decided to branch out I added three more sites. My personal life and experiences (testimonyinlife.blogspot.com) I put into one site, I am still working on structure. The other sites keep me busy and I haven’t really been able to write as much as I would like for the site titled Faith Warrior. One site that I wish more people would comment and interact with is Wait Watch Wonder (waitwatchwonder.blogspot.com). Here I write about movies and TV shows, something I have always loved.  Of course, goingoffdreams.blogspot.com is entitled Going off Dreams: the journey, here I write about my experiences in writing my first book.

Since I started blogging I realized it is a great way to cultivate many things, like writing techniques, and inner therapy. It is a place you can write whatever you want, people may or may not respond, and either way it’s out there and off your chest. This is one thing that I do need to work on – how do you get your readers to comment and interact with your posts?

Any questions, comments, or concerns are always welcomed. I know I am far from perfect and truly appreciate constructive criticism.  I appreciate you taking the time to read this; I look forward to hearing from you soon! Please – spread the word and share my blogs – Much love J

Until next time or the next… dream

K.E.Nowinsky