Crafting the Perfect Opening Chapter

When it comes to writing, nothing creates a first impression like the first pages of your book. There are multiple elements which should be carefully examined before assuming you will capture your readers' attention.

Does your opening sentence captivate?
Does the character you introduce bring your reader to want to know more about that character?
How well are your words distributed?
Does your vocabulary overwhelm or underwhelm?
Are your descriptions over-descriptive or under-descriptive?
Does your opening chapter leave the reader wanting to read the next one right away? (cliffhanger, etc.)

These are a few questions to ask yourself about every opening piece of each chapter. Especially the first and the last ones. Never oversell or undersell your abilities. Always write for a wide audience with varying vocabularies and reading prowess. (or at least try) Never begin all or even most of your sentences with the same words. This is because the page itself becomes dull to look at. Let alone to read.

Appreciate the curvature and flow of the words themselves and how the architecture of the page appears. Does it look like a child wrote it or does it coalesce with the rest of the movement of your words. Each question should be addressed and every detail looked at thoroughly.



Here is an example of a solid opening page...

                                                             Hard Summer Rain

                    "The deepest of passions run through the purest states of being."

Alexs’ mind was lit up by the veins of lightning travelling across the veil. Karina’s body was set ablaze by his passions which ran so deep for the storms’ awe that Karina’s heart was magnetically pulled to Alex’s proverbial ship of dreams. Her only defense was one so simple, yet so poignant, that he could but venture forth toward his own private destinations of feeling.

No matter how hard they both fought it; sooner or later their powderkeg would explode into an inferno of primal desire. Both were trying to do the right thing. They had rolled into the hotel, sideways and barely kicking. Now, only a few weeks had gone by and their dim light from the past had become a beacon of the now, so powerful and pure that their bodies sought shelter from each other.

 

In the confines of a small suite at a mid-scale hotel in the heart of Miami, Florida; the couple shared numerous heartfelt moments containing all range of emotions and of feelings.

The sky wore bleak, like an ominous call to the darkest of lands. Thunder rumbled across the mid-day skyline. Nothing but the cry of free spirits rolled through the density of the winding, sun scorched backdrop of clouds, reflecting all manner of forms. A whirlwind of gusty rain arrowed its way down from the heavens and pelted the soil with a voracious appetite.

The point gets across. Words are not minced. They describe vividly whats going. Who it involves, what they are feeling and what their intentions are. It sets the stage to keep reading. Great books keep this pace the entire book. Instead of trying to be perfect. Get your point across in a full book first. Then go back and re-write again and again until you are happy. Say what is going on and cover the main points. The rest will bubble forth after you get the frame written.

If you have any questions dont hesitate to ask me. Follow me on Twitter @chrisstormbooks and also at @reach_storm. Facebook.com/AuthorChristopherStorm

Ghostwriting And You: Whoring Your Creative Inkstick For Someone Else's Gain

Are you a writer who keeps busy by way of penning other peoples' ideas for them? Do you find yourself giving away your talents for less than what they are worth? I used to believe that ghostwriting was a great way to make money for myself, but then inquiries became more complex and demanding. The gears of my inner world began turning and then I had an epiphany...

"What in God's name am I doing?!"

It's one thing to write a short story or edit someone's work and add some needed flair for a quick and easy gig. But the whole ball game changes when someone wants you to write a beautiful, detailed Fantasy novel for them. You open up the floodgates of your magical mind-pen and spill oceans of your creative life force onto hundreds of pages. You finally finish the project and feel a great sense of accomplishment and then, suddenly, it hits you... "Someone else's name is going on this book."

You just spent a solid two to four weeks writing a beautiful story for the world to enjoy and nobody is ever allowed to know that you wrote it! To put it mildly, you are selling yourself short. Cutting yourself off at the knees, leaving yourself at the perfect height for anyone with a month's rent to buy your valuable services for a pittance compared to the potential sum to be made if you advertised and sold it on Amazon, even if just as an e-book.

Have some self-respect and believe in your ability. I would rather write something great and perfect it and wait a year to release it than write something in a month and the client be raking in triple or even much higher if it catches word of mouth like wildfire. At least I get credit for my work, build my portfolio, and gain recognition for my well placed creative efforts.

Intellectual property is a tremendously valuable asset. Especially in the world of writing. Something you wrote in your early twenties and protected with copyright could net you tons of cash in the long term. If a niche opens up and demand increases then perhaps it could make you wealthy with the right marketing later on in life. Just because something doesn't explode into a best-seller overnight doesn't mean it will never become one.

Protect your projects like a newborn baby. Be willing to destroy anyone who steals your efforts and tries to profit from them. People don't succeed by giving away all their best products. They leverage it and stack up residual income over the long term. Even if you are a sub-par writer; Having a hundred sorry-ass ebooks that bring ten sales each per month will bring you a thousand dollars at only taking in a dollar per download.

I know I come across as harsh and cold but at least I speak the truth. I hope that my growing list of readers are gaining the "tough love" style of literary wisdom I impart via StrikeWrite. Sometimes, stabbing people with the tines of honesty trumps massaging them with the sweet cream of warm fuzzies.

By Christopher Storm

Defining Inspiration: Capturing Your Inner Magi

We all live in a world of definitions and labels. The main problem is that most everyone follows societies' "norm" when it comes to stereotypes, labels, and how we are coerced into believing what something must mean. I am here to tell you that the only rules in life are the ones you place on yourself. Too many writers have succumbed to the pressure of not finding their unique voice. It is my firm belief that this is due to how people keep themselves closed in with a pool of sharks symbolizing the few ways they believe inspiration can come to them.

The notorious "writers block" is nothing more than this very concept gone to extremes. When we writers allow others to define the world we live in and the rules we are supposed to live by, along with the descriptions given to us by the iron hand of life; it closes us in and forces us to feel as if there is no hope in creating something magnificent. If you are to become successful in the world that is creation via words, you must be sure to dive into the pool of sharks carrying a harpoon and a ladder. Writing is fun but it also will eat you alive if you don't get a hold of your primal instincts.

I have never experienced true writers block. I have experienced the death throes of procrastination, but only because I may not have been as excited about my current project as when I embarked upon its genesis. If you do not attack your ideas with vigor and assassination instinct then they will run away and find someone else to bless with the power of the magi.

Ideas are to be fed and nurtured once captured. The only way to afford yourself the toll of keeping such precious animals is to steel your will to succeed. This is done by belief. The steadfast belief that you are already a stellar depiction of your best talents. Fuck what other people say. If you know your value then keep at it. The material will come once you convince yourself that you are great. That you and your magi have already woven worlds of great wonder and brilliance.

We all are wizards. Magicians. Weavers of dreams and lands untold. Some have a natural way in doing so. Some were meant to be more on the physical side of life. Creating harmony in other ways. The rules only apply to people who are too afraid to keep them in their own little space while we do what the hell we want. As long as nobody else gets hurt then no other rule or "norm" applies.

So, grab hold of your inner magician. Force him or her to open their mind and show you your true potential. If society tells you that cigarettes or coffee are no good for you and you want to smoke 3 packs a day and down a liter of coffee to finish your manuscript then do it! If someone tells you that you are crazy to go to the laundry-mat at 4 a.m and work on your dreams, then flip them off, grab your notebooks and pens and get crackin'.

How you find your inspiration is just as limitless as how you write your characters or worlds. It only matters that you do, in fact, find it. It's best to release anything you've been told about the writing process if they haven't served you. Do things in odd ways and create your own writing exercises. Flex your writing brain any way you can dream up. Good material will come when it is meant to. Ease up on routines if you need to. Back away from your project and start another one for a while. Do anything and everything differently and then unique material will flow from you like a geyser and crash into the world with such ferocity that every creative corporation out there will be willing to sell their soul to be a part of your team on your way to global notoriety.

The final piece of advice I can and will always give anyone who wants to write for a living is this. If you have been barely getting by for ages and never found your way to the top or at least a fair amount of success then it is time to revisit your motivation. Are you beginning to hate what you used to love? Have you tried stepping outside your comfort genre? Is there a place you have always wanted to travel but never found the time to do so? If you approach such questions honestly then you owe it to yourself to be honest about what you do. If your heart beats slower than it used to and excitement has fled for the hills then it comes down to two choices. Shake it up or hang it up. Life is too short to live miserably and not take chances. There is nothing wrong with stopping what you used to love. We all go through processes of great change. The rigors of life sometimes show us things that we need to take heed and bask in its symbolism.


If your magi has grown old and lost its lust for creation and all you have been doing is bleeding it so dry that all which comes out is the dust of defeat and the webs of denial then it is time to allow it to be at peace so that you yourself can find peace of mind and live life in other ways. Never hang it up unless you have exhausted all your options. Sometimes the way to best be inspired is to venture into the jungle of the unknown, armed with the sharp wand of wisdom from days past. Just be sure to bring that ladder of willpower from the pool in case the panther of carnage smells your uncertainty...

By Christopher Storm

"Unputdownable": Capturing And Keeping Your Readers' Attention

I've spoken of the generality of the importance of universal appeal in all details related to your writing. I think now is a great time to discuss the actual methods that great writers use to keep their reader glued to the pages of their books.

In non-fiction, there are fewer ways to perform this task. The key things to keep in mind are research, uniqueness, and the spreading of information. The more research you do about your given topic choice, the more material choice you will have to include in your work. The more unique and obscure your information about the topic, the more it sets you apart from the other books written about the same subject. Lastly, the more you spread out the unique and lesser-known facts pertaining to your subject; The better job of making your work stand out above the rest.

With fiction, obviously, the sky is the limit. But, the less an imagination you have, the less tools you will have at your exposure. Here's a tip that I sometimes give people struggling with "writer's block" or any blockage they encounter in their writing. Give yourself 60 seconds, no matter where in the world you are, and randomly choose an object. Now, time yourself and create a title, main character, and main plot/ story line for a book or story based on the object in question. If you simply cannot do it in 60 seconds then try ten minutes and lessen the time limits each week until you are able to do it in 60 seconds. It's fun and forces your mind to open up to new possibilities.

Getting back on topic... pulling your reader in and keeping them there is something that is developed over time. The more intrigue you create, the more likely your reader will continue turning pages. Give them information, but keep it general. Give them high points. At least three per book/ story. Shock them. Let them steer their idea of the backdrop from time to time. Most any avid reader enjoys being given an opportunity to create their own images of landscapes, characters, and objects at times.

Everyone knows that stories have a beginning, middle, and ending. But, no reader will ever bother getting to the end unless you give them material worth spinning through to find out what happens and how it turned out that way. It's not a crime to write about werewolves, detectives, wizards, and vampires. But, writing about all those things in ways that are not innovative will only make your story fall short of the next great trend or wave. Using dialogue that creates interpersonal appeal for your characters is key to making your reader come back for more again and again. After all, without the characters, the book will just be long, drawn out descriptions of nouns and nonsensical verbiage. It's the characters that the reader cares about. They want to know why they do what they do. How they do it and what sets them apart from any other character they have ever read about. Fail to create beings that have personality and you will surely fail to create a book that anyone bothers to read.

Apart from what I have already stated is the subject of transition. This, in itself, is an art. The transitions from chapters and subplots must make sense or at least make the reader need to know what comes next. Ending a chapter with a description of a flower will do nothing to compel your reader to progress in your book unless you are writing a poetry book. Then, by all means, flower on...

Any story, no matter how short or how long , has to have three pivotal moments that captivate your audience in some way. Varying the content of these pivotal moments and how they relate to both your plot and characters will further your chances of making your work stand out in your readers mind. The more you can spin memorable moments; the more your audience will remember who wrote that story they just read.

Just as in anything else in life, monotony kills the lust for life. It will do the same for whatever writing project you endeavor to embark upon.

By Christopher Storm






 

The Importance Of Magnetism In All Aspects Of A Writing Career

The elusiveness of creating a sustainable income as a writer is the number one reason why so many writers give up their efforts. Of course there are many factors that contribute to this outcome. One of the most sweeping reasons that can be applied to writing as a whole is the idea of "magnetism".

Especially in this economic climate, the idea of becoming successful as a writer seems insurmountable by even talented individuals with fair knowledge of the craft. The key is in creating such appeal in all aspects of what you create that it pulls people in from all over the place. This sounds far more difficult than it is in actuality.

I feel the need to state that I am not yet a published author. I do have a book coming out in the next few months, however, I have a few advantages that placed me in the know in terms of the material I cover in this blog. BRAG ALERT: Both myself and my family has been told, since early in my elementary school days, that I have a gift for expressing myself that rivals some of the greatest writers in memory. These were not my words, but the words of my teachers all through my school career. The kicker is that my family, despite being told these things, always discouraged me from pursuing a writing career. They said it was very rare for anyone to make a good living as a writer. Even though all my teachers supported me and I took advanced writing and composition classes at times; The words of my family and so-called friends weighed heavily on me. Rather than going into college and getting a degree related to my one love and passion in life; I found myself entering the field of skilled blue collar labor.

In time, life events forced me to lose my credibility in the field I chose. It took me many years to wake up and realize that i would never be able to please my family and that the opinions of my friends were only a reflection of their own knowing that they were not capable of achieving greatness in the field of writing. For far too long, I allowed others to influence my actions and direction in life. I finally woke up to the fact that this is my life and I deserve to live it the way I want. I am beyond confident that the words of my teachers will finally come to fruition. If not with my first book then the next or the following. Regardless of when it happens, I know in my heart of hearts that my talent will bring great rewards in life. I will not ever give up. I have recreated my belief system as a result of numerous life-changing circumstances. All of the events leading up to today, as well as my plans for the future, are detailed in my upcoming book entitled Dark Secrets: My Unhinged Schizophrenic Life. I give you my word that if you enjoy any kind of controversy or shock value in regards to a person's life then this book will far exceed your expectations.

Getting back to the subject of my blog, this magnetism I allude to is something that is either naturally occurring or learned over a period of time. Regardless of how you obtain it, it is required for any writer to make any of their works a success.

The title of your work must grab the reader. The cover or artwork must pull them in so deeply that they are compelled to look deeper into the pages in between. The hum drum and common themes across all genres has to be tweaked and twisted or completely broken in order to create a "must read" theme in a potential readers' mind. Bold concepts and eye catching fonts that don't distract or fade into the cover need to be correctly integrated into your works. Most importantly, your credibility as a writer hinges on the content of the pages in your work. From the first page's eloquence or inherent immersion to the ending and beginning of each and every chapter, every detail of your story must flow and create an atmosphere that deters your reader from putting that book on the table or clicking off into another part of cyberspace. The middle of the work has to create something unique from the beginning. The transitions from chapters and paragraphs have to make sense and tie into the story in a believable or intriguing way. The ending needs to leave your reader sitting there for a solid 60 seconds at least, feeling good about themselves for choosing to take the time and money to invest in your work. The longer the reader sits there in glee or shock or a heightened emotional state, the better job you have done towards making them a happy customer who is likely to come back eager to make that same investment again and again.

From the images you use to market your name, face, reputation, and story to the marketing strategies and value you provide to your readership; Not one aspect lacks in importance toward your ultimate goal of becoming a renowned weaver of tales and facts. Remember that even the best writers in the business hold lots of room for improvement. They are all guilty of writing sub-par books and works of literature. This should force anyone looking to make a name for themselves to evaluate every facet of what they work on.

If you love to write more than anything else then the "game" is half over in your favor. Take your love for your craft to the highest level imaginable and scour every move you make before publishing something you stamp your name and reputation on.

Best of wishes and luck to you all in 2014!

The Heart Of Fiction: How To Be One Of The Authors That Sells Over 500 Copies

I've spoken about what makes a good book. I've spoken about what it takes to be a good writer. I've also spoken about the importance of brand awareness. The best writers out there have failed numerous times. It is important to remember that a minute number of writers survive making a career as a full time author. It is a fact that out of the almost one million books published worldwide each year, only 10% of them sell over five hundred copies. Even if you self publish and incur all costs yourself and receive all the profit then you will likely make no more than three dollars per copy. Fifteen hundred dollars for a huge chunk of your time and effort is a resounding disappointment to say the very least.

Sure, you can go with the traditional publishers, if they are willing to the risk. You might get a 10,000 dollar advance if you've got something decent. Hardly a living wage. More than that if your skill and marketing and brand all line up in the right way. My point is that if you want to be a full time writer, which at least half of the authors out there desire to be, then having thick skin and a hell of a bag of creative tricks up your sleeve is essential to building that career of your dreams.

The future of writing lies in self published geniuses with endless writing endurance and boundless creativity. Not to mention a solid online presence and multi-layered advertising skills. In my opinion, the overall number of authors in the world will eventually diminish greatly. I believe that time will begin to show just how difficult it is to thrive as an author in a world of visual engagement. They will exist but the backdrop will be far different than today. I can only guess what the world of writing will look like in another fifty years.

Getting back on track, I am here to break you down and build you back up into a lean, mean, creative writing machine. I will go another extreme step further and say that half of the books written are garbage. Yes. I said it. Poorly written, devoid of creative substance, and full of wasted banter and fire pit worthy plots and characters. Movies over the years have had to push the limits that were once looked at as edgy. What makes books any different. The entire psychology of the minds of readers is changing.

There will always be a place for romance and smut in our world stuffed to the brim with sin and desires. But for those who yearn to be thrilled, horrified, mystified, and enthralled in their diet of paper dreamscapes; It is our duty as writers to bring it to the next level. There are writers who only do it part time just to be able to say they have their name on a cover and don't care about the money(or lack thereof). But, there are those, like myself, who live for being able to spin and twist our imagination matrix into myriads of musings for all the world to read. Getting paid some big bucks one day is certainly a goal of mine. I have been waiting all my life to be able to set myself loose in the writing world. I will NOT squander my shot at success. I talk a big game but as my books are released, that game will be backed up in big ways.

In closing, for those who have read all my posts thus far, take them all to heart. And place in the fore of your mind that all of the topics discussed in my blog are required in order to make your books a success. That number is articulated at between 5,000 and 10,000 copies or more. Another important fact to remember is that quality over quantity will create a life for a skilled writer that is far easier than someone who spits out ten books a year filled with dribble that each sell next to nothing. Like an old friend of mine always told me, "Work smarter, not harder." So goes in the writing world. Except the smart part equates the amount of imaginative energy you can output as your fingers glance the keys.

By Christopher Storm
-aka- "The Stormcaller"


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Steven King: Master Of Modern Horror

The next writer being featured here in my writing series is someone who needs no introduction. Anyone who reads or watches any amount of movies has at least heard of the man. A man who is often touted as the undisputed master of the horror genre. He is certainly not the only one. Writers like John Carpenter and Peter Straub have created some nerve tinging tales as well. But King has created characters and stories that will live on well past the time he meets his maker.

Much of what he has written have became instant classics. Carrie, Cujo, It, Pet Cemetery, The Shining, Firestarter, and Christine are just a few that accomplished just that. King has a unique ability to pull us into his stories and draw not just on our fears, but our curiosities as well. He is like a burglar who breaks into our minds and steals our secrets and then uses them against us in order to keep us coming back for more. His books have a certain mysticism to them. His personality and overall voice reaches his readers in a way that make them open their minds to possibilities that things might just exist beyond our physical world who want to devour some part of our being. Be it our flesh, our minds, or our souls.

What makes Mr. King such a cut above the rest is his natural knack for keeping you glued to the page. His descriptions of both his characters and their surroundings along with dialogue that is often inviting as well as quirky gives you the impression of knowing them in some way. Consciously or subconsciously his characters feel like people we have met at some point in your life. This makes for a more enriching story, regardless of the plots they are involved in.

Another trait of his that speaks to us all is his uncanny ability to vividly describe literally anyone or anything in such a way that comes across as poetic at times. The visions that are imprinted are ones that paint a scene which immerses us in a world away from our own, yet parallel and believable. Yet more evidence of the makings of a true original to the craft of storytelling.

Any writer, new or old, who needs to "up thier game" for any reason and play with the big kids must read King's work. Without it you will miss out on valuable methods and compelling style that is surely to enrich any writers repertoire of unreason. No matter what genre you write in, if you read King then you are sure to glean copious amounts of input on how to build characters and worlds, whether they be fictitious or real. Steven King truly is the King of horror for a reason. Without being immersed in his books, you will be left out in the cold with a fireplace poker in your eye and a madman searing your kidneys with a hint of garlic and olive oil on an open flame in some remote wilderness.



-By Christopher Storm
-aka- "The Stormcaller"

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The Fearless Voice vs. The Ulterior Motive: War of the Words

Sifting through the ashes of burned out dreams and wading through the mire of cliche plots, dull diatribe, and copycat garbage is becoming more and more a daily fight for even the most sporadic reader these days. In performing these tedious tasks, it is making super expectations and critical eagle eyes out of the most attention span deprived readers. Unfortunately, it is making it that much more difficult for even the most seasoned writer to stand out from the crowd without being accused of poor practices of one sort or another.

What most writers fail to realize is that writing requires far more consistency in having a unique voice that rises above all others which separates them from those who write purely for content that they believe will sell more copies and increase the bottom line. The average reader these days is practiced in knowing the motive for the writer who creates their respective works for their faithful customers.

I've spoken of bravery in supporting work that you believe in. Now, I am speaking of bravery in finding your warrior voice that will carry you out of the realm of unknown and into the realm of the up and comers. This voice comes not from asking what people want to hear from you but what your characters want to tell those who venture into the world you build for them to get lost in. The best advice I can give is to allow your story to create itself and not to rely so much on outlines and rules. Creativity is natural and like a beast in the wilderness. Trap it and it can not express its true nature. Set it free and it lives and grows in a manner that nature intended it to. Adaptable and wild. Able to see things from all angles. It makes the imagination wander in ways that do nothing but assist in your ascension of being a creator.

Readers want realism, even in the most fantastic of settings they want to be able to relate to the characters they watch come alive inside their minds. They want their worlds to grow with the story and not be spilled out in the confines of a single chapter. I like to think of writing fiction like raising not a child but an entire planet, all with the understanding that trusting your characters to make that planet as synergistic as possible, regardless of what kind of chaos may ensue or what tales creep up inside the freedom you allow it to have. Drop your expectations and allow your mind to flow the scenarios freely in a way that creates organic growth and your voice will emerge in a profound way that is sure to set you miles apart from the rest.

Patience is key to understanding and accepting the fact that greatest writers are not found within the ranks of Harvard or Yale. They are found within the pages of their mind that spring from a dream they had that woke them in a pool of sweat at three a.m on a Wednesday morning. Confidence comes from knowing that thinking produces boring stories while dreaming produces magnificent wonders that enthrall the masses by forcing them to open their minds and not just think outside the box but to create outside the sphere.

Christopher Storm
-aka- "The Stormcaller"

Namaste<3

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Want to get in on the TRUTH that is protected by murder, espionage, and treason? Check out my up and coming blog, Stormcalling!

The Importance of Brand Awareness In Modern Marketing and Publishing

In a competitive business such as writing it takes creativity that reaches above and beyond content. The greatest content can be down on paper, but if people don't feel a connection to the surface of your product then you might as well throw away your dreams of becoming successful in the world of words. It's no secret that we live in a visual world far more today than even ten years ago. It takes memorable elements added to great writing skills in order to excel in the business.

People want to be able to relate to the person they are reading. They want to feel a vested interest before making the decision to buy your book. First and foremost, your cover must grab their attention within one to eight seconds if you are to stand much of a chance. It must appeal to their sense of intrigue in some way. Obviously, as everything else in life, you can not please everyone. Your cover is a representation of your book. So, if it appears that you didn't place much thought or creativity into it then that is going to be the message to the observer. This is guaranteed to effect your sales.

The title of your book is an all important element as well. It must describe the depth or emotion of your book in a compelling way without seeming too cliche or conveying a theme that has been overused. The font used must be bold without overtaking your cover as to detract from its message. The color used also needs to stand out without overriding the image on the page. The synopsis on the back cover is something that many authors disregard or fail to place much effort into. It needs to describe, in a compelling manner, the overall theme of your book while creating within the prospective reader a sense of interest that makes them want to know more about what is inside. In terms of content, as many authors already realize, books that offer a chapter or a few pages of text on Amazon(a must for any book seller) always gain much more of a fighting chance than books that do not offer this benefit. This is a chance to show off your work and make the reader want to be able to finish the book. If you do not deliver on this then hang it up. Your words back up your name, which brings me to my next point.

Your name and brand as an author is the single thing that is one hundred percent unique to you. All other concepts and plots, covers, colors, and themes will always overlap with another work in some way. However, your name itself, along with your photo is what differentiates you from all other writers out there. If you practice consistency and use the same image among all social media sites as well as your books then, over time, your face and pen name become what is known as a brand. Steven Kings' face and name is one of the most well known faces in all of literature. He has been consistent and his work has become well known. His face pops up in cameos in the movies filmed from his books. People love what he does and his brand is known the world over.

If you want to take one step further, some authors use a quote to go along with all their books that might compliment their theme or brand that they build. For instance, Danielle Steel always uses the quote, "She'll keep you up all night." This creates a sense of what she writes about as well as etches into her readers minds something to make them remember her by. Although I am just getting into the business, my brand is something i am being consistent in. My theme is something that relays a personal story about my life. My quote that will be seen with all my books is, "He strikes your heart and drenches your soul." It not only tells potential readers about my work; It relays something intimate about who I am as a man.

No matter what you do or are doing to build your brand; The trick is to be consistent. Change things up if you feel the need to but try your best to find something that resonates with you as a writer. Something that builds a sense of excitement and allows those who come to know your work to be able to keep a marker or image in their minds of who you are and what you write about. The better the connection you are able to create with your reader; The better chance you have of them coming back to read the next book or blog that you write. Never allow yourself to be discouraged by low sales or lack of clicks because, one day, the right domino may fall that spreads your words across the globe like wildfire. What we deliver is something that never needs to be redone again. Once you create something, it doesn't need to be renewed. It is there for all time as a representative of what you love to do.

By Christopher Storm
-aka-The Stormcaller

Post Script: If you want to know the truth about what goes on behind closed doors in the rooms of the elite and what we as united spirits can do about it then check out my blog, Stormcalling

One Wild Write: The Depth of What Is Required In Today's Competitive World of Writing

With the advent of the ebook revolution, many things have shaken the once well defined writing field to its foundations. Now, its time to bring in the bulldozers and backhoes because the game has changed forever. The days where the publishing companies, with their piles of manuscripts, would throw half of them in the garbage with not even hardly a glance are going the way of the ancient history. Those same publishers realize the threat of self publishing and now have no choice but to step up their approach.

The days of innovative, engaging, and, yes, personal marketing have arrived. Readers want to feel important, too. Technology has opened up a whole new world of interpersonal communication via social media. So many so called marketing gurus claim that numbers do not matter. This is only true if you don't use them to your advantage. If you fail to engage with your followers then they will fail to support your endeavors. Anyone who says having a million followers doesn't matter is delusional. Anyone who believes that they can write a book, place it on Amazon, and send out a few posts to their circles of a few hundred people and expects to sell thousands of copies their first day has also set themselves up for a rude awakening.

Talent is important. No argument there. But, if you have just written the next smash hit book of the century and you don't place your faith in it in tangible ways then nobody will buy it because they will not know its even there. I have a belief that 70% of all authors fail to do hardly any sales due to either poor writing ability, lack of investment, and lack of engagement with potential readers, or a combination thereof. I also believe that the next 20% sell books but far from enough to make a living writing full time. Lastly, I think the numbers sit around 9.5% of writers who make anywhere from a modest living to a comfortable living. The final .5% make a killing or at least enable what might be called a "rich" lifestyle.

I believe that if you have some natural talent and are not afraid to invest heavily in your work then you are ahead of the the curve. The rise of the indie authors will eventually filter down to those who have ability because those without talent will have no choice but to give up due to lack of sales. I think the giant wave of writers will eventually be hacked down by a large number. It might take ten years for this to happen but I feel it is inevitable. To get yourself in that top 10% you have to put in time and money. Plain and simple. There is no choice but to organically and financially diversify your social media endeavors to include a couple hours of engagement each day. If you have a day job then create time to write. Even if its just for an hour a day or night. You will eventually yield results. Be patient but, most importantly, be consistent.

I am full of advice and am just now getting to the point where I can back up my words with action. This blog is not to brag about my writing prowess. It's here to give a fresh, reality check style take on becoming a writer. Writing is my absolute passion. My one true love. It is my solace and outlet for all that will become my future in life. My drive and willpower is unstoppable. I have the talent and the dedication to live my dreams. In order for any of us to become highly successful at what we do; We must love every facet of what we do and feel it to be fun and something that brings us true joy. For me, writing fills me with that everlasting river of all encompassing wonder and excitement. If you do not love to read and write then I will tell you that failure is certain. If you feel it to be just a job that may or not pay the bills then I guarantee your failure. But, if you have a love and appreciation for the craft then you have just as much a chance for success as myself or any number of other authors out there.

So, garner an army of followers across all social networks. Communicate with them. Compliment the posts you enjoy. Begin conversations with others writers and, more importantly, other readers. Don't be afraid to ask them what they would love to see in their favorite genre. Ask hundreds. Create polls. Be ruthless in your pursuit of knowledge. Gather statistics about successful books and what makes them great. Follow the exploits of great authors. Cross reference your data and combine it with current trends and make sure you are getting honest feedback from your targeted demographic. Knowledge truly is power. Wisdom comes from knowledge of yourself. So, reach deep inside yourself and pull out the roots that spread any doubt in your capabilities. Do not bite off more than you can chew, though. Do not make promises to your fans that you can not keep. Once you have a following, even if you have not yet written a book, those followers count on you to deliver when you say something. Lose that and you lose your trust that took you so long to build with them.

Competition is fiercer than ever. There are plenty of hungry writers out there. Waiting to take your place in the market. If you do not attack it with every molecule of your being then your place will be lost. Your pen must become an extension of your hand. Your fingers an extension of your keyboard. Your mind must become a wealth of imagination and an extension of your wildest dreams. There are zero rules to content. The plot and characters and their worlds and surroundings are begging to be birthed onto paper and screen. New ideas and concepts are waiting to be expressed in the latest non-fiction that sparks a revolution of much needed growth in our world.

Thank You & Namaste <3
Christopher Storm


Post Script: Like this blog? Check out my other blog here.