Here is a short how to build your instagram following. It’s not the fastest way but it will lead to organic interaction (because who wants to pay for fake interaction?) Some people fall under the trap of wanting THOUSANDS of followers while they only follow a select few. As if that means they are special or “win” or whatever. Thinking of it that way will lead to There are bots and things you can use to follow people and unfollow them. And a LOT of people will do this to build their following so their numbers look impressive. This does not build a good following. Not one that will get you the best interaction.1. Only follow accounts you are interested in having in your feed-regardless of IF they follow you back or not. (Don’t follow to unfollow or to get someone to follow back. People notice and it’s tacky and insincere… and rude.) You want a feed you enjoy so you’ll be more likely to interact with others and be genuine in those interactions as well. If you really want them to follow you back, (don’t message them asking to) then follow them and let them know you are alive by interacting. Liking and commenting, not just right then and there where you like and comment on everything going crazy on their posts, but rather make sure you visit their feed regularly to like and comment. This will not guarantee they’ll ever follow you back, but you’re more likely to catch their attention in a positive way that will make them want to interact with you as well.2. Figure out hashtags and switch them up with posts. Do not use the same hashtags for every post. Create a list of say, 100 or so (It could totally be more) hashtags, randomize the list them break them up into groups of 10-15, then alternate between them. I know you can use up to 30 hashtags before IG deletes the entire caption, but I like to toss in a few post specific hashtags with my posts a lot of the time.3. Post pictures you would want to see. You know what kind of photos you love to see on IG and you’re there to connect with others. So it stands to reason that you’d post the type of photos you like to see. Other wise it’s just going to feel like a chore and you’ll hate it.4. Interact with the accounts you enjoy. As I mentioned above under #1, interact with those whose feed you enjoy. Not all at once but regularly. It is a lot of work, but write it down and make a list of users you really enjoy the most of the ones you follow. Liking and commenting is a GREAT way for other users to see your name and they will be curious and check out your feed and many times will follow you back.5. Study what the accounts you like do and develop your own version. (Type of captions, types of images you like to see, how they use hashtags. etc) Find a handful 5-10 accounts you REALY love and study them. try to figure out what exactly you love about them and why. Once you figure out those details you can then figure out how to use those things to create your own unique feed that will attract the type of followers you want.6. Make sure people can look at your feed so they know if they want to follow you. Your goal is to attract real people not bots. If your personal IG account is private, consider making a second account that can be public. Private accounts aren’t usually followed by anything other than bots and “follow for follow” (another not so great thing to do.)7. Follow for follow sounds great… but really isn’t. It’s tempting to do a follow for follow thread as a way to gain a bunch of followers. But it’s really not. You’ll end up with a feed of random crap. It would be better to make a list of accounts and everyone can just go through them all, and look at each account and only follow those whose aesthetic you enjoy. Granted this isn’t a super popular thing to do because people really just want followers but again, you’ll end up not liking your feed and then there is a lot of unfollowing and it’s just a waste of time otherwise.8. Click on hashtags and see what photos pop up. If you like the majority of those photos, keep that hashtag in mind then add it to your big list of hashtags, and even consider following it. Following hashtags is a good way to fins new accounts that you might like and want to follow.

9. Post often.

Post often about 1x a day. More than that and depending on content you might lose followers. Can you post less than that? Yes. Though having a regular schedule (which I do not) helps build following. I do notice that the more regularly I post the better my follower growth is. It will take time to build a following but you’ll get there!

So often I see friends and family, and even myself let life and stress get to us. It happens, it's a fact of life. But you don't have to say, "I'm okay."

If you can find ONE person to confide in, then please let them know you're not okay.

We all need a shoulder to lean on, a hand to hold, someone to sit next to us in silence, just to remind us we are loved.

It's okay to not be okay.

You are human. You are strong. I don't believe strong means being unbreakable, never slowing, never wanting to quit. Being strong doesn’t mean always doing the impossible. I think it just means surviving things life throws at you. Being strong doesn't mean you are never sick, or never cry, or never fall. It means doing and being those things and allowing them to happen, but at the end you keep moving forward. The fact that you're here and you keep going is proof that you always keep getting up, even when it's hard and when you don't want to. Being strong doesn't mean there's never a moment of weakness, it's knowing you CAN BE "weak" and be sick, cry, sad, tired, want to quit, be stressed, have anxiety, break down, become depressed, etc. because you know that's not the end of your journey, but just a bump on the road to the great things you're destined for and you WILL get back up and move when you're ready to. It's okay to not be okay. Because YOU ARE STRONG and you will get past whatever slows you down, even if it feels impossible in the moment.

You are loved.

You are strong.

Don't.

No really. Don't.

You might be asking "why? There has to be sometimes when it's okay to respond."

Unfortunately, the response to that is just "No."

"What if I just thank them for an amazing review?" - No.

"What if they missed the point or didn't understand something in the book, surely it's okay to correct them." - No.

"What if ..." - No.

Reviewers help authors by reviewing their books. If you want to thank them, post a broad sweeping thank you on your blog, your website, your facebook page, or whatever social media sites you're on thanking all reviewers for taking their time to review.

What about good reviews? Should you respond to those? Again, no. Not even to say thank you. While a few might welcome the thank you, they are not as common as you might think.

A lot of readers have voiced that this makes them feel uncomfortable because it makes them feel like authors are following them and not in the good, social media way, but a looking over their shoulder as they write their reviews, scrutinizing them sort of way.

I don't know about you, but I could be messaging my husband on messenger and if he was standing over my shoulder it would still bother me. And if you're thinking "Hey, that doesn't bother me, so it's okay if I do it." Think again. You're okay with it, but you don't know who isn't.

If the above isn't a good enough reason to not respond to reviews, ever, here's one more reason.

Reviews are for readers, not authors.

Yeah, believe it or not, reviewers don't (or shouldn't) write reviews to boost someone's ego. They are to share how they experienced a book, what they loved, what they hated. Whatever they wish to share Reviews help other readers decide if this is the book for them.

Sure, the more reviews a book has the better it is for the author. But that doesn't change the reason the reviews were written in the first place, or the main purpose of reviews.

Some people love "love triangles" and others despise them. If a reviewer says "Ugh, another book with a love triangle! - 2 stars" Another reader might say "Sweet!" and one click.

Should you read your reviews? Eh, it's up to you. Some say to NEVER read them, others say they will always read every single one.

That's a personal decision. But if all you want to do is respond, maybe try to avoid reading them.

However, if you do, screen shot the good ones for when you have an "everything I write is crap" day. If you read the negative reviews, either take it worth a grain of salt, or try to learn from it - even if you don't agree with it.

And yes, even if it's really harsh.

An "I can't believe how badly this was written," review could hurt, but maybe take that mean review and try to see what they meant (sans nastiness) and reread your book or parts of it through their eyes, see if you can see how they'd feel that way about it. Perhaps you'll notice things in your writing that you could improve on.

If a reader says that you only tell, study the difference between show and tell and how to improve. Same with any other critique.

If you read the reviews, don't take them personally, even if they are attacking you as a person, because those attacks really aren't about you at all, but about them. Glean what you can and see if there's something you could improve on, because we should always be working to improve our craft.

If a review really upsets you, and it is okay if one does, don't blast them (even blotting out their name) on social media. Either talk to your significant other, parents, or a private message between you and a really good friend and rant to them to get your feelings out.

But above all, just remember that in the end:

Reviews are for readers, not authors.

And so the end of my first series comes to an end. Is this the last we will see of these characters? For now at least it is. Though they might make an appearance in the future, but there are no promises.

This release is both exciting and sad for me. I'm excited to share Nivian and Kain's complete story with the world. The part that makes me a touch sad is that I've spent several years with these characters and now it's time to say good bye. (At least for now.)

Death is only the Beginning.

Nivian's job is simple. Protect the balance of life and death above all else, even her own existence. So when the sudden and lingering dark presence makes her question if death is coming for her, Nivian is determined to be the hunter, not the hunted. An unknown force is threatening the balance and putting all of existence at risk Tension breaks out between the Watchers and the Dark Guardians with each shift, threatening everything. A struggle for power leads to unimaginable consequences that will endanger everything they’ve all been working to protect, with Nivian caught in the middle. Betrayal will take everything when Nivian is forced to make a choice that will forever alter everyone’s destinies.

Grab the final installment of this epic urban fantasy today!

www.books2read.com/thefallen

While The Hunted series is done, I am still writing. I have new worlds and new characters coming your way soon, and I know you'll love them just as much as Nivian and the gang. And I am beyond excited to share these upcoming series with you!

Be sure to keep up to date with my new releases by signing up for my newsletter!

Can we, as authors, stop crapping on our fellow authors? Yes another big scandal broke out in the book community (That one who plagiarized a ton of authors.) but ever since then many have taken it as a chance to crap on how others go about their journey, simply because it’s different. To crap on them for a million and one things that have nothing to do with it. I can’t even count the number of times I have see something like “It’s okay if others do XYZ, but I would never do that. I’m not judging, I just don’t respect those who do.” There are people who’ve been saying that anyone who does ACB aren’t real writers, or who get such-n-such accomplishment this way doesn’t actually count. I don’t know a single author who writes a book and thinks, “Gee, I sure hope all my fellow writers love me and thinks everything I do counts.” No. They think “I hope readers love my books and I can pay my bills with the money I make so I can do this for life.” If it’s not right for you, don’t do it. But don’t go so far as to convince yourself it’s bad or wrong across the board. Because, if it’s not illegal it isn’t bad or wrong. It’s just different. Just because doing things one way isn’t for you, does not mean that those who choose those things are less of a “real” author or deserve any less or no respect than anyone else. Chances are, if you run across another author who’s approaching their career in a different way than what is right for YOU, they aren’t doing anything to hurt you, but are instead, doing what is right for THEM in the best way they know how. People do not have to do things the hardest way possible for it to count. Let me say that again. PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE TO DO THINGS THE HARDEST WAY POSSIBLE FOR IT TO COUNT. People do not have to do things the hardest way possible for it to count, for them to be a “real” author, for it to be valid, for them to deserve respect. It doesn't "mean more" to do things one way and not the other. One is just a better fit for some individuals. We are all climbing our own mountains and starting at completely different spots. Whether it’s using a ghostwriter to help flesh out a novel, or hiring someone to create a plot for you, or write your outline for you or get your letters through a boxed set, or writing in a genre you don’t like, or put their books up for consideration for an award, or hire out someone to do all their marketing for them, or whatever. Just because it is not the way you want to go with your craft does not mean they are less of an author, less of a person, or deserving disrespect. Let’s face it. Saying “I just don’t respect…” is you actively choosing to disrespect others for their choices and their journeys. You are not better then them for doing things your way, and they are not better than you for doing things their way. You’re just on different paths. That’s all. I once dated a guy a few years older than me when I was in college who made known that he didn’t respect how I was going through college and that I wasn’t a “real” adult. Why? Because when he was in college he was out of state, and had to work three part time jobs to afford housing, he took up smoking and drinking so much coffee he had constant ulcers. And I was going to college in the town I grew up in and, wanting to minimize my college debt, lived with my parents, who I’ve always enjoyed being around. I had ONE part time job and a full schedule of classes which I sometimes maxed out. I did this to minimize my debt, and allow myself a chance to socialize, I joined my sorority where I met a few girls who I’m friends with even today and can’t imagine not having them in my life. They are like family. I did this, so I could take care of my physical and mental health, I did this so I could sleep and have time to study and get decent grades. He didn’t like that my experience was “easier” and more fun. So he judged me for it and that’s what made him an ass. Did his college experience count more than mine? Nope. Was he more “adult” or deserving of more respect? No. Not even a little bit. Was I? Also no. The paths we took were vastly different and we did what was right for ourselves. (No, this relationship didn’t last long. He was an ass for judging me.) So maybe, we can let everyone do what is right for them. As long as it’s legal, that’s all that should really matter anyway. You don’t have to be friends, or maybe even give friendship a chance, because who knows, you might have a lot to learn from each other even if you don’t think so. They can do them, and you do you.

Don't crap on others because they don't fit into your personal ideal of what you want your author journey to look like

Just virtually fist bump them as you walk on by for having the guts to also go after their dream. Because in the end, isn’t that what we are all trying to do?

Last night I finished my fourth NaNoWriMo attempt and win. This one was different from all the others.

The first year I was addicted and wanted NaNo to last all year long. I was involved with the forums and it was a blast. Every year since has been some variation of that.

2014, 2015, and 2016 wins

Except this year. This year was different.

First I was aiming to write two books (only counting one books words toward NaNo), one of which had a special meaning and dedication but no deadline, the other has a deadline. One that is fast approaching. Unfortunately, and with a heavy heart, I had to set the one without a deadline aside because I wasn't writing either fast enough.

So the book I'd wanted to write this month, the one with the special dedication, was sadly put to the side. The Moirai.

But if you've been patiently waiting for book three of The Hunted, rest assured I will return to it soon. In fact putting it aside has helped me to power through so much of this current book with the deadline so much faster.

I've been rewriting an old book from scratch and editing it at the same time, (because deadlines) which has been a huge struggle in and of itself and it's far from my normal process.

But back to Winning NaNo. This year wasn't different solely because I attempted two books at once. This year has been a year of challenges. One in particular that I haven't spoken about publicly.

I was behind on NaNo since DAY ONE, and even with a few attempts at catching up and getting ahead, I still floundered. My graph never looked like it struggled so hard before.

Win of 2017

There were a few days where I was SO CLOSE to catching up, only to fall behind. The only day in November that I was on target was on day 30. I even managed a few words past my target.

I could have chosen to give up on NaNo this year and it wouldn't have mattered. No one would have been disappointed in me, there wouldn't have been any repercussions. I could have had less stress on my shoulders this month.

But I didn't quit.

I didn't quit because I needed a "win." Not from anyone else, but from myself. I needed to see a concrete goal and I needed to hit that goal. Not for bragging rights or to feel special, but to remind myself that despite a rough few days, weeks, months, etc. I could set my mind to something and achieve it.

And I did.

With a lot of struggling, I achieved my goal for the 4th year in a row. I didn't quit, even though there were a million times throughout the month where I thought a win was impossible, where I resigned myself to just getting whatever I could and it was good enough.

There wasn't a single day during this month that I didn't doubt I could win. It wasn't until halfway through day 30 that it felt possible.

And while in comparison of my previous years where I always won NaNo early, sometimes before they would even let you validate it, this year is not as impressive. Sure I won, but I didn't go past 50k the way I did the last three years, yet, to me, it is my biggest win thus far because I had so many challenges.

Sure NaNo was a goal, and a goal I managed to keep even by the skin of my teeth. But, it's more than that. It's a reminder that hard times, and countless obstacles and challenges can slow me down, but they can't, and won't, keep me from reaching my goals.

Publishing is a long, long, long, process. I wish it was simple as waking up in the morning with a bright and shiny new idea bouncing around in my head. Pounding away at the keyboard until it was all out on "paper" and then hitting publish.

I suppose one could do that, but many of us are perfectionists and want to put the best versions of our books out there for readers.

There's so much more to the process than most would think from the outside. There's the multiple rounds of edits, proofing, formatting, etc. For self published authors, and let's face it, even traditionally published authors, there's also connecting with fans, promoting, setting up ads, beta readers, cover design, and so on and so forth.

So, who doesn't dream of being as productive as possible? I mean we all have deadlines, whether they are contractual or self imposed. And I don't know about you, but I hate missing deadlines.

A problem that I have struggled with over and over was lack of focus. Either I never get around to sitting down, or I sit down and do everything under the sun except write. It's taken me a while and a lot of trial and error to find something that works.

It's my hope that something in this blog post helps you out. If not, don't give up. Keep searching for the thing you need. Take stock of what's worked for you in the past and what hasn't. Maybe you'll end up creating a whole new way of focusing that could help many others like you.

So here are a few tips and tricks that have helped me be more productive with my time. Perhaps you'll find one that helps you.

Create a ritual.

No, nothing crazy, no sacrificing books or pens to the writing gods. But set a routine that is the same every time you sit down to write.

Drink the same drink, tea, coffee, whatever your taste buds want. Listen to the same music, sit in the same spot. You get the point. Just do the same thing every time you mean to write.

No it won't become habit the first time, or the second, or the third. But give it two weeks, a month. Test it out. But keep at it, and whatever you do - don't alter it. At least not any time soon. if it works for you, then keep at it. If you want to alter it, do so slowly over time. Nothing big, or you will lose that routine.

Create a schedule.

This has always been something that was hard. I'd go through dozens of different scheduled and stick to them for an hour. But once I wrote it down, everything changed. My productivity went through the roof.

It was still hard to stick to at first, but it helped endlessly and it allowed me to add in much needed self care without guilt that I wasn't sitting at the keyboard typing like mad.

Sprinting.

Don't panic! Not like... running or anything.

Timed writing sprints.

For me doing 20 minute sprints with 10 minute breaks or 25 minute sprints with 5 minute breaks have worked the best. It's enough time to get words on the page, but not so much that I feel like it's never ending. It makes the hard days easier. And on the easy days, it reminds me to breathe and take a break.

Try them out. See which works for you.

Make Music

Create a play list. Either one that you listen to for every book you write or a new one for every, series, or for every book to get you in the mood for that story.

I do all of the above. Depending on my need for new music. I have an overall playlist just to write to, but I'll make a playlist for every book. Those in the same series are also combined. I tend to pick a song that fits the chapter or scene that I'm writing and have it on repeat until I'm finished with it. Then I'll move on to the next song that fits the next scene or chapter.

That's it. Those are the things that have worked for me. I'd love to know what works for you, so if you feel like sharing leave a comment below!

I've always been curious about word counts in books I love as I read, and curious about the word counts of similar books as I'm writing.

Though there's a more important reason to care, at least if you are interested in traditional publishing. Of course, not everyone is.

So this list is for those who are just curious and those who are interested traditional publishing.

So before I get to the list, I'll explain the importance of word count and traditional publishing.

First, you have to know if you're writing a short story, a novel, or an epic. And these can change based on what the publishers want for the genre, but the generic industry standard word counts are as such:

Flash: 1-1k

Short Story: 1k - 7.5k

Novellette: 7.5k - 20k

Novella: 20k - 50k

Novel: 50k - 110k

Epic: 110k+

I've seen a lot of debate about the above chart, but it is what it is. It's been the industry standard for a long, long, long time now. Yes there are trends where some readers and/or authors demand a book not be called a novel until X number of word count. But preference isn't what makes the rules. It's just what it is and has been.

Either way, when you are trying to traditionally publish, whatever genre you are writing in, you need to make sure you follow the agents/publishers guidelines! I can not emphasize how important that is.

And moving on!

If you want to traditionally publish you will quickly find out that publishers and agents will expect a certain word count for the book you're submitting based on genre. For this blog post I will talk mostly about Fantasy.

I'll say now, that there will be rare exceptions, but we will stick with the general expectations and not get too into the outliers.

After scouring the web, the word count number I found for fantasy novels, that agents and publishers are looking for, should range around 87-113k.

Much shorter than that and it doesn't fit the expected story that agents and publishers look for. Longer than that and it is believed that the author doesn't know how to edit down their book and that the MS holds a lot of unnecessary fluff.

But readers keep saying they want longer and longer novels. Yes, but that's something indie authors are more freely able to deliver. Traditional publishers are looking for something that fits their standards.

I've heard (bu have yet to find the source) that Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas was originally closer to 200k and rejected over and over until it was closer to the 100k mark. Because it did so well is the reason I believe they gave her the freedom to reach outside the expected norm, which is why her later books are quite a bit longer.

if you plan or wish to try traditional publishing, I highly recommend you research what word count agents and publishers are looking for. It is different for Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Memoirs, Nonfiction, and so on.

So now on to the list. Again, this is sticking straight with fantasy series of YA, NA, and Adult.

THRONE OF GLASS

Throne of Glass - 113,655

Crown of Midnight - 114,494

Heir of Fire - 163,266

Queen of Shadows - 183,840

Empire of Storms - 195,332

GAME OF THRONES

A Game of Thrones - 292,727

A Clash of Kings - 318,903

A Storm of Swords - 414,604

A Feast for Crows - 295,032

A Dance with Dragons - 414,788

LORD OF THE RINGS

The Hobbit - 95,022

The Fellowship of the Ring - 177,227

The Two Towers - 143,436

Return of the King - 134,462

THE HUNGER GAMES

Hunger Games - 99,750

Catching Fire - 101,564

Mockingjay - 100,269

DIVERGENT

Divergent - 105,143

106,028

110,354

MAZE RUNNER

The Maze Runner - 101,182

The Scorch Trials - 96,869

The Death Cure - 87,385

HARRY POTTER

Philosopher’s Stone - 77,325

Chamber of Secrets - 84,799

Prisoner of Azkaban - 106,821

Goblet of Fire - 190,858

Order of the Phoenix - 257,154

Half-Blood Prince - 169,441

Deathly Hallows - 198,227

TWILIGHT

Twilight - 118,975

New Moon- 132,758

Eclipse - 148,971

Breaking Dawn - 186,542

HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

If conforming your book to word counts is not for you, that's okay. It's okay to aim for the word count that you want. There's a rare chance that you find an agent or publisher who is okay with you going outside their norm. And it's more than okay to go with your own word count and self publish.

No one will force you to write something you aren't okay with.

In the end it is up to you and what you want from publishing, and what your goals are. Don't let anyone tell you that your goals aren't what they should be. Only you can know what is right for you and your journey.

Is there a book or series you want to know the word count for that I didn't mention? You can look up word counts HERE.

I'm also happy to add to this list at any time. So if you don't see a series listed and you're interested in the word count, just leave a comment and I'll add it!

Sometimes as authors we get so into a groove and don't want to stop until we are out of fuel. But sitting goes a number on your body and with NaNoWriMo starting today, it's important to remember to not over do it and cause lasting pain.

I've done it. Taken on a project with a crazy deadline where I sat in front of my computer and did nothing but write for two weeks to get a story out. But when I finished I was in a lot of pain. Because I didn't stop to care for my body.

Writing is physically hard on your body. Most wouldn't think it, but sitting for long periods of time is probably one of the worst things you can do for your body.

So I found a few short videos that pinpoint the areas that effect writers the most.

So maybe save these videos and when you're writing this month, take a few minutes a day to do one or two. These videos are all roughly 10-15 minutes, including the introduction and chat at the end. So, really, they are all short and at a beginner level.

Yoga for neck and shoulder pain.