DO YOU HAVE A "WRITING" GPS?
     If you are going on a road trip, on your way to an exciting adventure at a place you've never been before, what is one of the first things you do before you leave your driveway?
     You set up your GPS with the address for your destination.  Why? So, you can get to where you are going, of course! 
     Seems simple.  We do it all the time.  But if you're a writer, have you ever thought to set up your writing "GPS" before you sit down to write?  And I'm not just talking about word count and plotting.  Because there is so much more to consider to really set yourself up for success in your writing journey. Here are some questions to get your started! 
3 SHORT-TERM GOAL QUESTIONS:

• What projects am I currently working on, and what is my timeline for completing them? 
  • You might have already started your writing journey but it's not too late to think about your goals.  Now that you have an understanding of what it is to be a writer, these questions will help you focus.   I would even recommend revisiting these questions every 6 months to make adjustments if needed. 
• What genre am I writing in, and does it align with my interest and audience?
  • Are you writing in a particular genre because it's popular? Or because you are passionate about the story you have to tell? Can it be both? Of course!  Your story has an audience that will love what you write! 
• What writing routines or habits would help me stay consistent?
  • Some of us like routine and can build good writing habits easily.  Others find it harder.  But honestly ask yourself--are there routines or habits that could help me be more consistent in my writing life?  Think of one or two and focus on those first.  Here are two that worked for me: 
    • Turn off distractions-phone and TV especially.  Even consider technology that removes the temptation of the internet and do your research intentionally later!
    • Find your ideal writing time and make it sacrosanct whether you find yourself in a time of writer's block or not.  SIT DOWN and put something on the page! 

​3 LONG-TERM GOAL QUESTIONS:

• What kind of writer do I want to be known as in 5-10 years?
  • You can think big! It's OK.  Because where you want to be will dictate the steps you need to get there.  
• Do I want to write full-time, part-time, or keep it as a creative outlet?
  • There is no right or wrong answer to this question--and it can change over time.  But what feels right to you, right now?
• Is there a passion project I've been putting off that I want to pursue?
  • Are you writing to earn a living but still not doing what you are passionate about?  Take some time to think about this and if there is a project you have been afraid to start, carve out a day or two to try it out.  It may be that it will re-energize all of your writing life!

These are just a sampling of the questions that will help you set intentional goals for you writing life.  Want to see more?  Click on the link below to learn more about the Author Essential Toolkit and all the practical tools you need to run your author business!
wakeley3.gumroad.com/l/kqxzot

I hope these questions will jumpstart your thinking about your short-term and long-term writing goals!  Keep writing! 

Nancy
Author of the Kate Tyler Series
​Creator of the Author Essential Toolkit

      When I first started writing, I never thought much about the business side of being an author.  But it soon became clear that there IS a business side, and it can get overwhelming if not watched closely.  But it is not always an author's first thought--tracking income for tax purposes, tracking sales and profits, or even thinking about your business goals BEFORE you start writing your first book!  You are at heart a creative, not necessarily a numbers person!  
       I learned by trial and error just what needed to be tracked so that I felt I had some control over my writing business.  I soon began to wonder if other authors felt the same!  I began to pull together the spreadsheets that I'd been using into one toolkit so I could make it available to other authors.  Plus, I added those goal-setting
pieces that I wish I'd had before I started.  
          It will be available to you soon!  More details to come!  It's been a labor of love to pull it all together and put it out into the world!  I know it will help you manage the OTHER side of an author's life!

Which way should I go?Are you struggling to decide how you should publish your book? Should you use the traditional route? Or maybe self-publish? Or should you try a hybrid publisher?
I’ve had to make this decision myself. My first three books were published through a hybrid publisher, and I’ll share my thoughts on that experience. But now that I’ve started a new series of cozy mysteries, I had to go through the decision process again.
Today, I’ll break down the pros and cons of each to help YOU choose the right path!


What are the three main publishing paths?

1. Traditional Publishing: Generally, a traditional publisher will handle editing, cover design, distribution and marketing.
   
2. Self-Publishing: In this option, you, the author, take control of the entire publishing process.
   
3. Hybrid Publishing: This option combines elements of traditional and self-publishing. The author pays for services but gets professional industry support.
   

Pros and Cons of Each PathTraditional Publishing: Pros:

• No upfront costs: The publisher will cover editing, design, printing, and distribution
  
• Industry credibility: Having a publisher’s name on your books can open doors
  
• Wider distribution: Access to bookstores, libraries, and major retailers
  

Cons:

• Very competitive: Requires querying and waiting for acceptance
  
• Lower Royalties: Typically, 10-15%
  
• Less creative control: Publisher decides cover, pricing, and edits
  
• Long timeline: It can take years from submission to publication
  

Caveats: Lower royalties may be offset by volume of sales, which should be higher with a traditional publisher. You may have less creative control; however, the publisher knows the markets and knows how to promote and position your book for optimum sales potential.
Who is this best for? If you want professional backing, are patient with a longer timeline to publication, and are looking for wider distribution, this option may be best for you!


Self-publishingPros:

• Full creative control: You, the author, decide on cover, pricing and edits
  
• Higher royalties: 35-70% on platforms like Amazon KDP
  
• Faster publishing: You control the timing so a book can be released in months rather than years
  

Cons:

• Upfront costs: Editing, cover design and marketing are your responsibility
  
• No guaranteed bookstore placement: Retailers prefer traditionally published books
  
• Heavy marketing responsibility: Author must handle all promotions and marketing
  

Caveats: Higher royalties are alluring, but to truly benefit from them, sales volume must be high; therefore, your own marketing and promotion efforts are key to success. Some bookstores will carry self-published books, so you must know how to make your pitch attractive to them. Always check your local bookstores that carry new and used books; they may be more willing to carry self-published, especially for local authors. And, yes, you must handle all promotions and marketing, but for many publishers, much of that responsibility falls on the author anyway.
Who is it best for? This option is best for authors who want full control, are willing to invest in their book (editing, cover design, etc.), and are ready to market themselves.


Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Keep scrolling for more content on which publishing path is right for you!


Hybrid Publishing:Pros:

• Professional quality: Hybrid publishers provide editing, design, and distribution.
  
• Faster than traditional: Books can typically be published quicker than through big publishers
  
• Retain some control: Authors have more say than in traditional publishing
  
• Often easier to get accepted: Fewer gatekeepers than in traditional publishing
  
• May give higher royalties than traditional publishers
  

Cons:

• Costs money: Authors pay upfront for services
  
• Varies by company: Some hybrid publishers are reputable, others are vanity presses
  
• Marketing is still largely on the author: Support varies by publisher.
  
• Higher royalties are attractive, but you will need to compare against your initial outlay
  

Caveats: It is important to carefully research the hybrid companies you are considering. Check their websites for membership with IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Assocation). The IBPA promotes Hybrid Publisher Criteria, which includes strict expectations that all hybrid publishers are expected to meet.
IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria - Independent Book Publishers Association
Hybrid publishers do charge a fee for their services; however, if you compare it to the cost of contracting an editor, cover designer, and also your time and effort in marketing and distribution in the self-publishing option, it is well-worth it for some authors. And, while marketing still rests with the author, this is true for many small traditional publishing houses as well.
Who is it best for? Writers who want professional guidance but don’t want to wait years for traditional publishing.
How to choose?What are your publishing goals? Ask yourself these three questions:

1. Do you want the full control found in self-publishing?
   
2. Would you prefer the professional backing of a traditional publisher?
   
3. Would a mix of both work for you in a hybrid option?
   

When I was ready to publish my first book, hybrid publishing was the best option for me. I received excellent support, I had the BEST editor I could have imagined, talented cover designers, and I’ve received ongoing help and support with marketing. But for my new cozy mystery series, I have submitted my manuscript to a traditional publisher. Why? I felt that with cozy mysteries, the market is very competitive and that finding a place in that market as a self-publisher might be an uphill climb. Not impossible, of course, but after researching, I found a publisher that knew my genre and I felt would be a good fit. They do respond to submissions rather quickly, so I felt confident in my decision. So, I asked myself the questions above and decided I wanted professional backing, I could be patient with a longer timeline to publication while I wrote more books in the series, and I wanted wider distribution.
I encourage you to do your research before deciding—I hope these pros and cons have been helpful!


Which publishing path sounds best for you? Comment below!Leave a comment!



Watch for more posts and videos on a wide variety of topics for authors!  

This poem was inspired by a Frida Kahlo painting called "The Bride Frightened at Seeing Life Open".  


FROM THE GARDEN
 
My love brings me fruit from the garden
Luscious and sweet
Chin-dripping wetness
He brings me pineapples, plantains and potatoes
To feed me, to feed us.
He tells me he loves me and wants to marry me, to become one.
I will feed you red fruits and yellow fruits.
I will smash the coconut for you, and you will drink the milk from it.
The birds will envy us as they gaze down from their perch in the coconut trees.
The grasshopper will not come near
 
I peek out from my safe place of unweddedness.
No, I whisper
I will feed myself.

Don't Stop Believin' !
They say a journey starts with a single step...

Nancy Wakeley
Nov 01, 2024
So, yes, I’m stealing the title of an iconic song by Journey—but as I relistened to it just now, I thought it would be a nice lead-in to what I want to say today.
If you are just starting out on your writing journey, or any other type of creative passion for that matter, “Don’t Stop Believin’”! Take that first step and you will get there.
My writing journey did start with a single step, a single AHA moment when I actually thought I might be able to do this thing…but before that…way before that…came the love and the simple joy of reading. I am dating myself but the first authors I read as a teenager were books by Mary Stewart, Phyllis Whitney, and Victoria Holt. Mysteries, romance, exotic locales, and beautiful prose. Even the titles of Stewart’s books take me back to those days of searching our small-town library for the latest offerings from my favorite authors and being mesmerized by every word when I got the book home: Madam, Will You Talk; Wildfire at Midnight; Thunder on the Right; This Rough Magic. Is it any wonder I recall these books fondly with titles like these?

Fast forward, thirty-some years later, when my daughter went off to college, I thought, why don’t I give it a try…I have nothing to lose, right? I never lost anything. But what I gained by writing—and learning the craft of writing—was more than I could have ever expected.
Follow me for more of the Writing Inspired journey!

“Turning the Page”What I’m reading now and what’s next!
I usually have two books going at once—one will be my “upstairs” book and the other is my “downstairs” book which is all pretty self-explanatory but the “upstairs” book is for reading before I turn out the lights and the “downstairs” book is for —well, for any other time of the day that I can get a minute to read!
Rhys Bowen—Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding (Her Royal Spyness #12)This week my upstairs book is a wonderful mystery by Rhys Bowen; this is the 12th book in Her Royal Spyness Mysteries (and my first book by her) so I have started at the wrong end of things, but I am enjoying it anyway. I don’t think I have lost anything by starting here—I’ll definitely go back and read the others!
C.J. Box—Storm Watch (Joe Pickett #23)See a trend here? I haven’t read all of the Joe Pickett series either—I brought some home from the library for my husband to read and I like a good story with a strong lead character, adventure and it takes place out west which I like. My taste in novels runs eclectic so I can manage a light cozy and thriller at the same time!
What’s next? I’m sure I will be on the lookout for more cozy mysteries since that is what my next book will be (more on that soon!)
And....
Where you can find me…..You can find me on social media, but I’d love to have you subscribe to my Substack where you’ll find even more content than on X, IG or FB. And my website has everything you need to know about my books and where to get them! So be sure to check that out. (My third book Secrets at Deep Lake is on $.99 special during the month of October!)
‘Tis the season for live book signing events so watch for the details in upcoming posts on social media and here on Substack.
Click here for my website:
X: @nancy_wakeley
Instagram: @nancywakeley2
Facebook: @authornancywakeley
Substack: @nancywakeley1

When we ask ourselves “why (fill in the blank), the answer doesn’t often come easily. Why should I consider a career change? Why should I move? Why should I start a diet (for the third or fourth time when it never worked before)? The answers to these “whys” are hard because they usually have bigger consequences. And that’s okay. Take your time with the big ones!
What was my “why?” for writing? I wanted to see if I could do it, basically. I love reading, I’d been told “you write well” (whatever that means!) and I’d read enough bad writing to think, very confidently, that I could do better than what I was seeing on the page! I didn’t have a particular story to tell at the time—that came much later when I began to write my first published novel. (By the way, I couldn’t write better…at first…)
Your “why” might be that you can’t imagine NOT writing and I applaud you for that! You have a story that must come out and the only way for you to do that is to put it on the page. I get it. I also hear from many people that “I’ve always wanted to write but don’t know where to begin.” That’s okay, too. I thought I knew where to begin but I quickly found out that I had a lot to learn about the craft. And, if you are not sure where to begin, THAT must be your first step. If you want to learn to play the piano, you might sit down and plunk out a few notes but eventually, you will want to learn the craft of playing the piano. However you go about that, you are developing a skill that builds on itself until you can either play chopsticks or Mozart. It’s up to you where the ending will be.


The same goes for writing. A lot of you reading this are already on your writing journey. Some of you have published already. Some are struggling to get even the first sentence out and some can get 50,000 words down easily. Wherever you are in your writing journey, and after you’ve answered the question “why” you want to write, I believe that studying the craft of writing is imperative. No matter what genre you write in and no matter what your goals are, there is something to be gained by understanding the basics of storytelling—and that’s what writing is all about—telling a story. Whether it’s poetry, short story, novella, sweeping multi-generational saga, romance, or mystery, it is a craft, and a writer should be engaged in an ongoing process of learning, understanding, and improving. If storytelling is intuitive to you, that’s great! Think of it this way: for an intuitive writer, studying the craft of writing can be an editing process where you can learn to ‘tighten’ up your prose or your dialogue, or help you work through a plot that is going off course or not going anywhere!
As you can see from the picture above, I own a lot of books on the craft of writing. I’m going to be delving into it more in the days and weeks ahead, so I hope you’ll take this trip with me!

​If you’ve missed me on social media, I can happily say “I am back”!
If you haven’t missed me then I hope that we can connect now and that you will enjoy my musings.
Today I am thinking about routines. Sometimes we all need a break from our predictable daily habits. But often we wish that something unexpected would happen and then when it does, it throws us off a bit—we weren’t ready for it, it’s upsetting our plans, or other obligations, and we don’t want to say ‘yes’ to the adventure!
That’s me sometimes. But I’ve found that rejecting it is not a good way to gather memories, experience something wonderful, and engage with new people or places.
Lynda Barry, a well-known cartoonist, says to “expect the unexpected, and whenever possible, be the unexpected”.
Is that the key? To “be” the unexpected”? Be spontaneous, impulsive even? For planners, it’s a challenge to be anything other than organized, engineering what happens in our daily lives.
Either way, we know that life throws us curve balls and we have to try to catch them and deal with them the best we can. Sometimes we are better at it than others. I do challenge you to be the unexpected when you can. Maybe it’s a simple gesture to a friend or a stranger. Maybe it’s saying yes to the next thing that you are asked to do and embracing the experience!
I hope that something unexpected and wonderful comes to you soon and that you will welcome it and create a memory!

To Our Veterans on this Veterans Day 2023:

Just as I believe that this universe, this world, and our humanity were brought into existence by a higher power, with an intelligence that has no boundaries of time or space, I believe this great nation was brought about for a purpose. It didn’t come from nothing. It came from an idea, a belief that as our Declaration of Independence states, “all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”.

Men and women have bled and died for this belief. They have fought against tyranny from the very beginning of our country, first winning a victory to set our own course as a nation with a new vision and a concept of government that had never existed before 1776. Over the last almost 250 years, our armed forces have fought for liberty for liberty’s sake, to hold back the tide of armies that have threatened that same liberty in every corner of the world.

They have fought to keep our own country united because, as President Abraham Lincoln said in 1858, “a house divided against itself cannot stand”. These are words that are especially true today.

Our veterans, and our active military, have been the bulwark, the first line of defense against those who would take away that liberty. Each one of you is part of that line both in your past service and in the lives that you lead now. We offer you our humble thanks and gratitude for your service.

I believe that we are stronger as a people and as a country under God’s protection and blessings. This nation is one nation under God, and you are honored today in that belief. ​

I have some great news for you!  The third in the Kate Tyler series will be here soon!  I won't give away too much, but Kate is facing her biggest challenge yet--and it is very personal.  It is a heartwarming story that I know you will love.  

Stay tuned for a cover reveal and more information on
when and how to order!

Signed copies will be available.