Book review: How To Make A living With Your Writing

 

I purchased: How to Make a Living with Your Writing: Books, Blogging and More (Books for Writers Book 3) by Joanna Pen, in hopes of learning tips and tricks of the trade.

Unfortunately, that is not what I found. I am not saying that this was a terrible book. I am saying that the information it contained was basic and rather than delve into details as to the, "how to's" it quickly skimmed through the basic ideas with minimal explanation as to how to make them happen. 

I was looking for more in depth information.

If you are a beginning writer, it is a great book to give you ideas as to how to make money. But, be prepared to do research as to how to make them happen. 

Picture This book review

Resolutions Vs. Goals 

Author interview with GKJ Publishing

What is Blogmas?

 

I have recently learned about Blogmas. It is when a blogger writes on their blog every day for the month of December...much like an Advent Calendar! Only, there is no candy involved. 

So, here I am, making a solid effort to participate this year. I may be a few days late, but I have always said...Better late than never!

Who's in? Will you join me?

When we share our Blogmas posts on social media, we must add the hashtag #Blogmas, this way we can all support one another. 

Covid 19 writing 

Writers Corner: Fall writing tips 

Raleigh bloggers group: Self publishing

I am a member of the Raleigh, NC Bloggers group. Today was my second time attending. Three weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending for the first time. This group is amazing. It is filled with smart, kind individuals who love to share their knowledge.

Today, we had a speaker who talked about self-publishing. It was informative and helpful. I took about a page and a half of notes and came home and immediately applied a couple of things to this blog and my website. www.deannamartinezbey.com 

We met at a local private school and today, I took a few pictures of the pristine campus to share. Enjoy the pictures from today's meetup...

Anna Marie Jehorek spoke 

Missy (Midlife Margaritas) gave me new specs...

For those of us who are directionally challenged

The long hall....

More from Author Deanna Martinez:

Raleigh NC Bloggers Group

Social media course reveal

To outline or not to outline

My latest YouTube video: Social Media reveal

Can earbuds save lives?

Have you ever thought about my proposed title question? Believe it or not, I have! We have all heard about how people have escaped danger by the skin of their teeth because of these little gadgets... walking down the street with them in and nearly getting side swiped by a moving vehicle or someone driving a car couldn't hear sirens or car horns because of them.

Let's take this to a different level...

Does music calm your nerves? Have you ever put your earbuds in to get yourself through a project? Whether it be to help you concentrate or simply not be disturbed by outside distractions? How about at the gym? Do you plug up in order to get through a workout routine? I can answer yes to all of the above.

Now, let's take it to an even greater level...

Do you work or live with someone who gets on your last known nerve? How about a coworker who won't stop talking or a roommate that feels they have to talk to you every waking second of every single day? Yeah, it doesn't get more annoying than that. Or maybe it does?

Do you have a loud obnoxious spouse or children who thoroughly enjoy using their outdoor voices in the house?

Invest in a good, sound reducing pair of earbuds. They just may spare the lives of those around you!

More from Author: Deanna Martinez

Resolutions Vs. Goals

Lilac Sand book review

Self publishing: yes or no?

Self publishing books...yey or nah?

I have been reading an excellent book about how to make money blogging. I plan on writing a post about it in the near future.

In addition to blogging, the author suggests writing books about what you know and self-publishing said books on Amazon.

I have 3 novels published through a traditional publisher. But, I have been doing everything this book suggests and it seems to be working. With that said, I am in the process of self-publishing non-fiction / self-help books.

My hope is to have my first one ready to publish within the next week. I have just finished creating the cover and have already edited the book as it needed some love because I originally wrote it years ago.

I will give you a hint as to what it is about...Organizing and Recipes! That is all I will say at this time. haha

You will see a new post about this book very soon...including the cover, which I am in LOVE with!

If you would like to check out my novels, here is a link to my Amazon Author Page: Deanna Martinez

Helpful information:

Resolutions vs. Goals

Create a personal planner / organizer

Follow your heart, even if the world doesn't look at you as being "normal"

Interview with Chef Duff Goldman

Photo credit: Blake Little

August 15, 2009… I was taking a mid-day nap when my cell phone rang. I did not recognize the number but answered anyway. On the other end of the line was Willie Goldman, Duff Goldman’s brother. At the time, Willie was his public relations manager.

I sent an email to Chef Duff asking if he would be willing to answer a few interview questions for me, as I was a food writer at the time. I was expecting an email interview, but to my shock, they gave me a phone interview with Chef Duff.

After speaking to Willie, I was instructed to call Chef Duff on his cell phone in about ten minutes…I did as I was told.

I was nervous and excited at the same time. I was going to get to speak with Duff Goldman…business owner and Food Network star!

When Chef Duff, AKA, “The Bread Guy”, went to culinary school, he was the only male in an all-female class. He had a lot of informal art training prior to starting school.

In 1998, he started working at, “The French Laundry”, but left because he was lonely. He ended up in Colorado that summer, where his friends encouraged him to stay. Chef Duff took a job at, “The Vail Cascade Hotel and Resort” as a pastry chef. There he learned how to carve ice, create chocolate sculptures, and clean fish (particularly salmon). While working there he also learned that he enjoys curing foods and making sauces.

As time went on, Chef Duff began making and decorating the wedding cakes for the guests of the resort. He made ten generic cakes and suggested they sit and have consultations with the guests in order to personalize their cake. After having a consultation, Chef Duff would draw the cakes for the guests. He took these ideas and is currently applying now at, “Charm City Cakes”.

As he continued to work at the resort, Chef Duff learned new cake decorating techniques that he implemented on the cakes. A friend of his, Mary Alice reached out and asked him to make a wedding cake for her brothers wedding. He agreed and made a six-tier cake that included 2000 to 3000 marzipan butterflies and ladybugs.

Fast forward to 3-3-2002. Chef Duff opened “Charm City Cakes” and the rest is history.

Chef Duff is kind, understanding, helpful and down to earth. The man you see on television, is the man he is in real life. He is humble, happy and funny.

Thank you, Chef Duff, for your time and advice. I am honored to have spoke with you and to have the opportunity to write this article, not once, but twice about you!

More articles by me:

My trip to Colorado

New approach to writing a plot

Baking cookies and writing a plot...

Well, my title is fairly explanatory of what I have been working on in my spare time these days! As per my last post, I have decided to blog for pleasure and not income. I have also decided that in order to maintain my sanity, I need to be writing books. So, I started novel number 4. I have been studying what it takes to create a great plot and began working on mine.

Since the Holidays are here, I have also been spending time baking cookies with my daughter. Just the other night the 4 of us had our annual Christmas cookie decorating contest and we all had a blast creating crazy cookies together.

Thank you to those who reached out with encouragement after my previous post. I am truly thankful for those who care.

Now, go bake some cookies! Here are a couple pictures of mine to help inspire you..

Christmas Organizing book

Changes are coming for 2019

Book trailer: Hot Cocoa, Green Tea and the Man Who Sweetened My Heart

Changes are coming for 2019...I could use your opinions!

Sometimes we take a side road off our best path. Meaning... I have not written books in several months because I was focused on making a go with blogging. I purchased a book that outlined specifically how to make money blogging. I followed the steps exactly how they were presented. The only thing I did not do was start a pod cast.

I blogged daily, applied for and added advertising to the blog, started a second blog, self published a book and mini books. Spent countless hours reaching out to companies trying to gain connections and generate money with blog posts and blog advertising...the list goes on and on. And, as I took it to that next level; from hobby to career, I noticed that my numbers began to grow. I was happy with what I was seeing. Then, BAM! It ended. My numbers began to decrease.

In all honesty, I do not understand what happened. I do not know why or how this transpired. I just know that I feel like I wasted many months of my time and energy. I gave up on writing my books (with an exception of the one I self published...which was a brutal experience in itself. But, I will save that for another day.) and this alone makes me sad.

I could have gotten so much writing done and maybe even finished the book I had in the works. I still wonder if I should continue to push through or stop. I am not one to give up. I keep pushing and pushing until I see the desired result I have in my mind. However, I am beginning to wonder if that is not the path for me...the road I am supposed to be taking.

I was working on a novella series prior to my detour. Now, I want to scrap it and start fresh. This could possibly be the reason or part of the reason I got off track. Maybe I am not supposed to move forward with that series of books.

All this being said, I do not currently have a clear direction for my writing. I would love to somehow combine writing, food and photography into one package. I just don't know how.

2018 was a difficult year for me in many ways, in may areas of my life. I will spare you the details but I am looking forward to and hoping for a year of clarity and peace in 2019.

I am open to all and any ideas you may have on combining my passions into one (as I stated a few sentences ago). Please feel free to share your thoughts if you have any for me.

I am leaning towards letting the blogging go and focusing on writing books once again. Stay tuned for more...

Thank you all for your support. Thank you to each and every person who has purchased one of my books. Thank you for your encouragement, positive energy and compassion. Here's to a fabulous 2019!

More from me:

Self publishing books: yey or nah?

Goals vs. Resolutions

Book trailer for: Hot Cocoa, Green Tea and the Man Who Sweetened My Heart