The Fey Guide to Writer's Burnout / Linky Mashup

The Fey Guide to Writer's Burnout:

Speak - Part 1 – how speaking about my writer’s burnout was my first step to recovery.

Write YOU - Part 2 – writing about yourself can be the easiest form of writing.

Writer’s Meetings - Part 3 – how attending a writer’s meeting could be just the thing you need to feel connected.

Morning Pages - Part 4 – could writing pages every morning in a journal help you?

Free Your Mind with Walking - Part 5 – the benefits of walking/exercising.

One Day at a Time - Part 6 – the wisdom of focusing on the day you are in.

Don't Force Yourself - Part 7 – the dangers of forcing yourself to write.

Alternative Hobby - Part 8 – how an alternative hobby can inspire you.

Patience - Part 9 – the importance of being patience with yourself.

No Stress - Part 10 – none of these tips will help for long if you don't learn to eliminate stress.

How to Be a Writer when You Can't Write - 5 tips to help you feel like a writer (and do writerly things) when you are struggling to write.


QUESTION: Which one of these techniques have you tried? How did it work for you?

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

I'll see you in the blogosphere in 2020!

Can a Book Be Successful without Social Media? / Vlog

Thank you for your interest in this vlog post on Write with Fey!

A writer once asked me if a book can be successful without social media. This is my answer.

Enjoy!

Can a Book Be Successful Without Social Media?

Length: 7:03

The Importance of Diversity in Fiction / Guest Post by Ronel Janse van Vuuren

Today I am hosting Ronel Janse van Vuuren. She is talking about a very important topic. Welcome, Ronel!

***

I read a meme a while back that said something in the line of: if you are going to walk in someone else’s shoes, better get far away before they notice the theft.

The conversation about diversity is easy: when someone talks about being marginalised for some reason, you simply switch topics by saying you are feeling uncomfortable. Like avoiding your discomfort is more important than acknowledging someone else’s Truth.

Editing Techniques PowerPoint Presentation / Vlog

Thanks for you interest in my vlog post about editing techniques!

This was a PowerPoint presentation that I did for a local writer's meeting. I decided to share it because writers have to self-edit/revise. It's just part of our jobs as writers. And in this post, I provide techniques to make reading your manuscript over and over again a bit more bearable.

I hope you find the information useful.

Enjoy!

Favorite Holiday Memory Blog Hop / Sleigh Ride by Elaine Kaye

Hi, everyone! Thanks for stopping by for this blog hop to celebrate my mom's newest picture book SLEIGH RIDE!

Blog Hop Question: What is your favorite holiday memory?

(This includes Hanukkah, Kwanza, Yule/Winter Solstice, Christmas, etc.)

MY MEMORY: I was obsessed with The Nutcracker ballet when I was little. Every day for a year I watched an old tape and fantasized I was Clara. I didn’t know how to dance ballet, but that didn’t stop me from showing off my moves…karate moves. I would jab my fists in the air and punch and kick as gracefully as I could.

Chrys Fey's Advice for No-Show Events

LOTS OF BIG NEWS!!!!!

FROZEN CRIMES: I submitted Frozen Crimes (Disaster Crimes Book 5) to my editor/publisher. Now I just have to wait 90 days or so before I hear back on whether or not they like it.

BAD FAIRY: My mom got a contract with The Wild Rose Press for her debut middle grade book BAD FAIRY!

KEEP WRITING WITH FEY: I signed the contract for the sequel to Write with Fey with Dancing Lemur Press. It's titled Keep Writing with Fey: Sparks to Defeat Writer's Block, Depression, and Burnout. It's MUCH MORE than what you've seen here. And very personal.

How to Plant Red Herrings in Crime Novels / Guest Post by Damyanti Biswas

Please help me to give Damyanti Biswas a BIG welcome. Her book YOU BENEATH YOUR SKIN has been making waves. I am honored to have her on my blog today.

Damyanti Biswas' Guest Post:

One of the joys of reading a mystery novel is trying to address a story question—who was the one who did it? I do not write traditional whodunits---my debut You Beneath Your Skin subverts the thriller genre—making of it a whydunnit. It helps though to have the structure of a page-turner, and that means red herrings.

Actually, I'm a Witch / Vlog

Hi, there! Thank you for stopping by for this edition of my vlog on Write with Fey!

I've got two videos for you dedicated to my short story, Witch of Death.

Enjoy!

Actually, I'm a Witch

Length: 6:21

Witch of Death Reading

Length: 4:34

Total Length for Both Videos: 10:55

Feel free to comment on my blog and/or on the videos on YouTube. To go each video's YouTube page, click on the title located on the video.

QUESTIONS: Do you enjoy reading witch stories? Who are your favorite witchy characters?


Thanks for watching!

Before you go, consider signing up for my mom's holiday blog hop to celebrate the release of her next picture book SLEIGH RIDE.

Blog Hop Day: November 15, 2019

Blog Hop Question for participants to answer in their blog posts: 

What is your favorite holiday memory? (This includes Hanukkah, Kwanza, Yule/Winter Solstice, Christmas, etc.)

All posts will include the cover art, blurb, and buy links for SLEIGH RIDE. As well as her author info.

Sign up here:

Advice for Introverted Writers - Do's and Dont's

Introverts struggle in many public situations, especially those with crowds of strangers. We can usually fake it till we make it, and can also do a decent job of being social when the circumstances require it, but it takes a toll on us. In the moment, it can take a lot out of us to gain the courage to break out of our shells, even if no one else sees it.

GIVEAWAY + Ways to Save Your Documents / Vlog

NOTE: I had to add word verification because of a persistent spammer. Sorry! It'll only be  up a few days.


Thanks for you interest in my vlog post about ways to save your work!

This is a PowerPoint presentation that I did for a local writer's meeting. I decided to share it after seeing several writers on Facebook complaining about losing their hard drive and how their ONE saving technique failed them. It's important to have a few saving techniques to protect your work.

I hope you find the information in it useful.

Enjoy!

Ways to Save Your Work

Length: 10:19

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Feel free to comment on my blog and/or on the videos on YouTube. To go to each video's YouTube page, click on the title located on the video.

QUESTION: How do you save your documents?

Thanks for watching/listening!

Chrys Fey's Advice for Book Events

A couple of years ago I went to my first ever book event/signing as a featured author. The first day was for workshops. I remember roaming around, seeing the people in attendance and noting how many of them knew each other and were greeting each like long-lost friends. I smiled at them, wanting to introduce myself, but not many made eye contact with me. If they did, they shifted away. I felt like a leper.

The New Kid on the Block

The next day, during the signing, although I did meet an author I knew online (yay!), I felt like an outcast.

While I went around, going from table to table to introduce myself and exchange business cards, I got blank stares in return. At one point, when I was introducing myself to one author, a group of three others came up to her, and the four them squealed and showed excitement at seeing each other again. I was literally pushed aside.

My Real-Life Experience in Tsunami Crimes / Vlog

Welcome to a TSUNAMI edition of my vlog here on Write with Fey!

I hope you have floaties. HA-HA!

In the first video, I share an experience that I had on the beach when I was a kid that I wrote into Tsunami Crimes.

In the second video, I talk about the tsunami dreams that plague me and how they helped me with my story.

Enjoy!

My Real-Life Experience in Tsunami Crimes

Length: 7:03

An Anthology to Celebrate the Raid #Area51 - Detective Heavenborn

Don't bother with the raid. Stay home and learn all about it in the comfort of your own home.

Age of Insecurity

GOOD NEWS: 

Hurricane Crimes won silver in the 2019 Readers’ Favorite Award Contest in the Fiction - Short Story/Novella genre! ‬

Write with Fey: 10 Sparks to Guide You from Idea to Publication won bronze in the 2019 Readers’ Favorite Award Contest in the Non-Fiction Writing/Publishing genre! ‬

~*~

It has been a while since I’ve talked about an insecurity…other than sharing my story about my depression and burnout.

So, here is an insecurity that I’ve dealt with on and off since I started blogging and publishing…one I don’t like to talk about…my age.

When I started blogging, I knew I wouldn’t share my age, because I didn’t want anyone to use my age against me, discount my advice as coming from someone “too young,” who couldn’t possibly know anything about writing, etc.

Ghost of Death Reading / Vlog

Hi! Welcome to a ghostly edition of my vlog here on Write with Fey.

Ghost of Death Reading

Length: 6:11

Feel free to comment on my blog and/or on the videos on YouTube. To go to each video's YouTube page, click on the title located on the video.


Thanks for watching!

Spice Up Your Amazon Book Pages and Author Profile / Vlog

Thanks for you interest in my vlog post about Amazon book pages and author profiles!

This was a PowerPoint presentation that I did for a local writer's meeting. And I did a workshop for The Wild Rose Press with a text-form of this presentation.

I hope you find the information in it useful.

Enjoy!

How to Be a Writer When You Can't Write

HEALTH UPDATE: My surgery went well, and tomorrow is my 4-week after mark, but I am still restricted with what I can do for another 2 weeks. First, no signs of malignancy! But when I saw my doctor for the follow-up, the first thing he said was, “Wow. You were the real deal!” He added that what he had to do was very extensive and that he wished he had brought me in for surgery sooner. There was a LOT of endometriosis. Everywhere. There was so much that my organs were a bit misplaced, so when they got done, my organs shifted back into place. He said my uterus “sprang” back. They removed the "chocolate" cyst from my right ovary, and they also had to do something with my colon and remove something from the outside of my intestine. So, yeah... lol 

~*~

There are times when you may struggle to write, not because you lost the ability to physically write, but rather that you’re suffering from writer’s block (the condition in which an author loses the ability to create new work or slows down creatively) or writer’s burnout, which is more extreme than being blocked and involves a disconnect between you and writing; the love is (hopefully temporarily) gone, replaced with physical and mental exhaustion…sometimes even emotional exhaustion.

What To Do if an Earthquake Strikes / Vlog

Health Update: I am slowly replying back to blog comments. I will share how my surgery went and the findings on IWSG Day.


Welcome to my vlog on Write with Fey!

Here is a post that just might save your life.

What To Do if an Earthquake Strikes

Length: 8:30

Blogging for Writers: A PowerPoint Presentation / Vlog

Health Update: Healing from surgery. It may take me a while to return visits after, if I am able to (healing is 4-6 weeks). But I will pop in to see your comments and to reply back to them. <3


Hello there! Welcome to another vlog post on Write with Fey. I sure hope you've been enjoying these videos.

This time, I am sharing a PowerPoint presentation that I recorded with audio. I presented this PowerPoint at a local writer's meeting and then at a writer's conference this past April (2019). I wanted to create a video after the wonderful response I got, so that I can share this for others who are thinking about starting a blog or have a blog and they need some ideas.

I hope it is helpful to you.

Enjoy!

Blogging for Writers: A PowerPoint Presentation

Length: 46:45

5 Things You Probably Don't Know About Me / Vlog

Health Update: Healing from surgery. It may take me a while to return visits after, if I am able to (healing is 4-6 weeks). But I will pop in to see your comments and to reply back to them. <3


Thank you for coming to another vlog post on Write with Fey!

This time, I am sharing two fun videos. In the first, I am revealing 5 things you probably don't know about me. In the second, I am showing you 5 odd things you could find on my desk.

Enjoy!

5 Things You Probably Don't Know About Me

Length: 4:59

Writer's Burnout Part 10 (No Stress)

Health Update: I will be having surgery on July 11th (next Thursday) on my right ovary to have the cyst and endometriosis removed. They won't know the extent of things until they go in, but there's a possibility they may have to remove more. I'd appreciate prayers and good thoughts. Also, I have blog posts scheduled throughout the month, but it may take me a while to return visits after the 11th, if I am able to (healing is 4-6 weeks). But I will pop in to see your comments and to reply back to them. 

What is writer’s burnout?

Burnout is very different from writer’s block. It’s worse. Writer’s burnout is something you feel deep down…bone-deep. It’s just like when athletes burnout from working themselves too hard and too much for too long. They can lose their love of the sport, physically and mentally. You can get writer's burnout from doing anything related to being an author.

To read my story and all my burnout tips check out:

Writer’s Burnout Part 1 (Speak) Tips 1 - 3

Writer’s Burnout Part 2 (Write YOU) Tips 4 - 8
Writer's Burnout Part 3 (Writer's Meetings) Tips 9 - 11

Writer’s Burnout Part 4 (Morning Pages) Tips 12 - 13

Writer's Burnout Part 5 (Free Your Mind with Walking) Tips 14 - 15
Writer's Burnout Part 6 (One Day at a Time) Tips 16 - 17
Writer's Burnout Part 7 (Don't Force Yourself) Tips 18 - 19
Writer's Burnout Part 8 (Alternative Hobby) Tips 20 - 21

Writer's Burnout Part 9 (Patience) - Tips 22 - 24

Writer's Burnout Part 10 (No stress) - Tips 25 - 26

More Tips to Help You START Reversing Writer’s Burnout:

None of the tips above will help you, truly help you, unless you eliminate stress from your life.

My Experience with Hurricanes + Reading / Vlog

Welcome to another vlog post on Write with Fey.

Hurricane season started on June 1st, so I thought it would be appropriate to share two videos I did for Hurricane Crimes. The first is about my experience with hurricanes. And the second is a short reading from Hurricane Crimes.

Enjoy!

My Experience with Hurricanes

Length: 12:12

My Writer's Backstory / Vlog + Tara Tyler's Windy Hollow Release Day!

Hi, everyone!

Thank you for stopping by my blog today. I have something different for you. I've been making and posting videos on my YouTube channel, and I just got the brilliant idea to post some of those videos directly on my blog as posts. *face palm* I will mix a few older fun or informative vlogs with new ones and try to put up vlog posts 2-3 times a month here on Write with Fey.

I've been trying to find some way to make blogging (for me) more fun. Ever since my worst case of depression a couple of years ago, blogging hasn't been the same for me. Then BAM! I got this idea (moments ago from typing this), and I think this may motivate me. I do really enjoy creating my YouTube videos, so this just may be the answer. Or, at least, a step.

ENJOY!

How I Started Writing 

Length: 5:59

How I Came Up with My Author Pen Name

Length: 4:27

(NEW RELEASE) The Missing Alphabet (A Gregory Green Adventure Series) by Elaine Kaye

Chrys Fey: Many of you know by now that my mom (Elaine Kaye) publishes picture books. Helping her do this has been so much fun. I love seeing the characters I grew up with finally coming out into the world for others (children and adults alike) to get to know.

You may have read about how the teddy bear in A Gregory Green Adventure Series is based after a Cabbage Patch Doll named Sammy. He was my brother's, but everyone loved him.

Writer’s Burnout Part 9 (Patience)

NEW RELEASE FROM MY MOM!!!

THE MISSING ALPHABET

A GREGORY GREEN ADVENTURE

The paper alphabet letters in Gregory Green’s classroom have gone missing, and it’s up to him and his friends to find those missing letters. They go on a hunt through the school, hoping to find them. They spot letters next to things that start with those letters, like B for Bananas in the cafeteria. But will they be able to find the entire alphabet?

The Missing Alphabet is a great story for children learning to associate letters with objects, and four activities throughout the book will further help children to get familiar with the alphabet. 

General Age Range - Kids 5-8 (Story Picture Book)

EBOOK: Amazon / Nook / Kobo

PRINT: Amazon

* ~ *

What is writer’s burnout?

Burnout is very different from writer’s block. It’s worse. Writer’s burnout is something you feel deep down…bone-deep. It’s just like when athletes burnout from working themselves too hard and too much for too long. They can lose their love of the sport, physically and mentally. You can get writer's burnout from doing anything related to being an author.

To read my story and all my burnout tips check out:

Writer’s Burnout Part 1 (Speak) Tips 1 - 3

Writer’s Burnout Part 2 (Write YOU) Tips 4 - 8
Writer's Burnout Part 3 (Writer's Meetings) Tips 9 - 11

Writer’s Burnout Part 4 (Morning Pages) Tips 12 - 13

Writer's Burnout Part 5 (Free Your Mind with Walking) Tips 14 - 15
Writer's Burnout Part 6 (One Day at a Time) Tips 16 - 17
Writer's Burnout Part 7 (Don't Force Yourself) Tips 18 - 19
Writer's Burnout Part 8 (Alternative Hobby) Tips 20 - 21

Writer's Burnout Part 9 (Patience) - Tips 22 - 24

Writer's Burnout Part 10 (No stress) - Tips 25 - 26

More Tips to Help You START Reversing Writer’s Burnout:

If you’re worried that you may never write again, you’re actually in a good place.

Why do I say that?

Interview with Space Coast Book Lovers Event Planner, Teri Dees Edney

Teri Dees Edney is the marketing manager for author Robbie Cox, and she is also the much-loved and deeply-respected event planner for Space Coast Book Lovers, a unique and special experience for readers and authors that takes place on the Space Coast of FL every year in June. I have been an attending author (along with M.J. Fifield) since it's debut year (2017).

Welcome, Teri!

Writer's Burnout Part 8 (Alternative Hobby)

What is writer’s burnout?

Burnout is very different from writer’s block. It’s worse. Writer’s burnout is something you feel deep down…bone-deep. It’s just like when athletes burnout from working themselves too hard and too much for too long. They can lose their love of the sport, physically and mentally. You can get writer's burnout from doing anything related to being an author.

To read my story and all my burnout tips check out:

Writer’s Burnout Part 1 (Speak) Tips 1 - 3

Writer’s Burnout Part 2 (Write YOU) Tips 4 - 8
Writer's Burnout Part 3 (Writer's Meetings) Tips 9 - 11

Writer’s Burnout Part 4 (Morning Pages) Tips 12 - 13

Writer's Burnout Part 5 (Free Your Mind with Walking) Tips 14 - 15
Writer's Burnout Part 6 (One Day at a Time) Tips 16 - 17
Writer's Burnout Part 7 (Don't Force Yourself) Tips 18 - 19
Writer's Burnout Part 8 (Alternative Hobby) Tips 20 - 21

Writer's Burnout Part 9 (Patience) - Tips 22 - 24

Writer's Burnout Part 10 (No stress) - Tips 25 - 26

More Tips to Help You START Reversing Writer’s Burnout:

Sometimes, the best thing we can do is not write, to not even try to write. Yes, I said it. As I mentioned before, trying to write can make things worse, especially if you apply force. And there are times when we really do need to put our time, creativity, and soul into something unrelated to writing.

TIP#20: Find an alternative hobby.

Rescuing Mara's Father by Diane Burton / Character Interview for Lukus

Today I am hosting Diane Burton for her Rescuing Mara's Father blog tour, and she is sharing a character interview for her character Lukus.

Welcome, Lukus (and Diane)!

Hi, Lukus! What is Rescuing Mara’s Father about?

Writer's Burnout Part 7 (Don't Force Yourself) + GIVEAWAY

ANNOUNCEMENT: I'm on Pinterest! Better late than never, eh? I tried to find many of you already. Follow me, I'll follow back. :)

~*~

What is writer’s burnout?

Burnout is very different from writer’s block. It’s worse. Writer’s burnout is something you feel deep down…bone-deep. It’s just like when athletes burnout from working themselves too hard and too much for too long. They can lose their love of the sport, physically and mentally. You can get writer's burnout from doing anything related to being an author.

To read my story and all my burnout tips check out:

Writer’s Burnout Part 1 (Speak) Tips 1 - 3

Writer’s Burnout Part 2 (Write YOU) Tips 4 - 8
Writer's Burnout Part 3 (Writer's Meetings) Tips 9 - 11

Writer’s Burnout Part 4 (Morning Pages) Tips 12 - 13

Writer's Burnout Part 5 (Free Your Mind with Walking) Tips 14 - 15
Writer's Burnout Part 6 (One Day at a Time) Tips 16 - 17
Writer's Burnout Part 7 (Don't Force Yourself) Tips 18 - 19
Writer's Burnout Part 8 (Alternative Hobby) Tips 20 - 21

Writer's Burnout Part 9 (Patience) - Tips 22 - 24

Writer's Burnout Part 10 (No stress) - Tips 25 - 26

More Tips to Help You START Reversing Writer’s Burnout:

The worst thing you can do while suffering from writer’s burnout, in my experience, is to force yourself to write. Doing this will only make it that much harder to write. You will form a resistance to it.

Meet the Muse / The Co-Parent Project by Sandra Dailey / Guest Post

Please help me to welcome Sandra Dailey, a fellow The Wilrd Rose Press author. She's sharing her newest release with us and talking about her muse.

Title: The Co-Parent Project

Author: Sandra Dailey

Genre: Sweet Romance

Length: 276 Pages

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Format: Print and Digital

Buy Links:

Wild Rose Press: https://bit.ly/2EmYPGj

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NocQ9P

Barnes and Noble: https://bit.ly/2IrWA8V

Interview with Kim Mendoza, Cover Artist for the Disaster Crimes Series

Everyone, please help me to welcome Kim Mendoza, cover artist from The Wild Rose Press and the woman who had created all of the covers for the Disaster Crimes Series.

Welcome, Kim!

~*~

1. How did you become a cover artist?

I was working in the chapel in the U.S. Army and had nothing to do day-in and day-out. Then the graphic designer quit to have a baby and I asked if I could take her job. That was my first exposure to graphic design, which I did as a career for fourteen years. Then, I published a book with TWRP (way back when it first began). At the time, there were only two artists and one of them was one of the owners. The company was growing so fast, and they needed more artists, so I applied and got the job.

Writer's Burnout Part 6 (One Day at a Time)

NOTE: I am one of Janice Hardy's part-time contributors for the year. I'll be contributing 4 guest posts to Fiction University. My first post is 6 Gadgets to Take to Your Next Book Event.

What is writer’s burnout?

Burnout is very different from writer’s block. It’s worse. Writer’s burnout is something you feel deep down…bone-deep. It’s just like when athletes burnout from working themselves too hard and too much for too long. They can lose their love of the sport, physically and mentally. You can get writer's burnout from doing anything related to being an author.

To read my story and all my burnout tips check out:

Writer’s Burnout Part 1 (Speak) Tips 1 - 3

Writer’s Burnout Part 2 (Write YOU) Tips 4 - 8
Writer's Burnout Part 3 (Writer's Meetings) Tips 9 - 11

Writer’s Burnout Part 4 (Morning Pages) Tips 12 - 13

Writer's Burnout Part 5 (Free Your Mind with Walking) Tips 14 - 15
Writer's Burnout Part 6 (One Day at a Time) Tips 16 - 17
Writer's Burnout Part 7 (Don't Force Yourself) Tips 18 - 19
Writer's Burnout Part 8 (Alternative Hobby) Tips 20 - 21

Writer's Burnout Part 9 (Patience) - Tips 22 - 24

Writer's Burnout Part 10 (No stress) - Tips 25 - 26

More Tips to Help You START Reversing Writer’s Burnout: 

One Day at a Time

Yes, I know you’ve heard this one before. Everyone who has ever been in a tough spot has heard the phrase “One day at a time.”

But it’s a good one.

Looking too far ahead can stunt our growth, paralyze us, and prevent us from going forward. Looking too far ahead can be…in one word…daunting.

Meet the Muse / Music Boxes by Tonja Drecker / Guest Post

Please help me welcome Tonja Drecker to Write with Fey for her release Music Boxes! This story is wonderful. A real magical, mysterious adventure into the ballet world.

Music Boxes

By Tonja Drecker

Middle Grade Fantasy / Performing Arts

158 pages

Dancing Lemur Press

Release date: March 5th, 2019

Ages 9 to 12

ISBN-10: 1939844568

ISBN-13: 978-1939844569

Interview with Lori Graham, Editor of the Disaster Crimes Series

I am thrilled and honored to have my editor, Lori Graham, from The Wild Rose Press here today. She is the one who gave me a chance and brought me into the world of publishing when she saw something in Hurricane Crimes and offered me my first contract.

Welcome, Lori!

1. What’s your editing process?

An author submits a query along with a synopsis and the first five pages of the manuscript through our query email address. This query goes to the senior editor from the appropriate genre line for the initial review, and if appropriate, the query is assigned to an editor.  The initial review will look at whether or not the manuscript would be a good fit for our publishing house, both technically and subject matter.  There is a meeting then between that editor and the senior editor to decide upon a contract.  Once a manuscript is approved, there are several rounds of edits, and each editor has their own style with which they do this.  For me, I do an initial review editing everything that comes up which could involve pacing, point of view control, and plot issues as well as some punctuation, grammar, etc. With the second and subsequent edits, we go deeper into that polishing process.  The final edit looks at formatting, chapter length, etc.