FAQ - Helpful Tools
Welcome back to another FAQ. For those of you just joining us, I polled new writers and got their most asked questions and then asked my fellow writer's these questions. Below you'll find one of those questions and answers from each author. The author's Bios and links to their website/Amazon page etc. will be after all the answers. Check them out for some awesome reads!
Here is the fourth of the new author FAQs. Keep on the look out for more in the coming months.
Question 4 - What tools, websites, apps, books, etc, have you found to be helpful in your writing career?
Azalea - I use traditional pen and paper to jot down my thoughts and story ideas. Then I type the story in Microsoft Word.
Tiffanie - I’ve used a few books and websites but nothing really has been overly helpful. The biggest help was my Creative Writing classes I took in college. Now, my biggest help is my writer’s group (Flint Area Writers) that meets every other week. Sometimes I can’t go but the times I’m able I get the best feedback and support.
Jane - I watch a lot of podcasts on YouTube.
My top resources:
Kayla - Google, obviously. Pinterest has some interesting things too, if you are looking for inspiration
Mart - Hum. I love “Writing Down The Bones,” by Natalie Goldberg. It came into my life when words wouldn’t work for me. And also, I love “On Writing,” by Stephen King. His love of story-telling is a good jump start when you need one. Of fiction, I love short stories. Charles de Lint’s collections I go back to over and over. They’re like old friends. Also, I love a collection called “Poison Eaters,” by Holly Black. And Ray Bradbury.
As far as tools go, I have nearly 600 notebooks that I’ve filled over the last 30 years. I have one in my bag and by my bed. Don’t get me started on the fountain pens.
Ravyn - I have so many writing books, but I honestly believe Facebook has helped more than anything. It has let me hear about anthologies to enter in, allowed me to meet new writers and learn from then, and allowed me the chance to grow by having hundreds of mentors and peers.
Sidney - At least once a year I read On Writing by Stephen King and The View From the Cheap Seats by Neil Gaiman. If you're ever feeling down and out as a writer, pick these puppies up. It's good to know that the majorly successful authors in the world go through the exact same up's and down's you do and it helps put your own issue into a better perspective.
Music is a big tool for me while writing. Sadly, I can't listen to music with lyrics when writing; so I listen to a lot of movie score soundtracks. Cinemix, an internet radio station out of France, is my favorite to play while writing.
*** *** *** *** ***
Author Bio's
Azalea - I'm Azalea Fox, a contemporary and erotic romance author. I love reading and writing about regular women and the awesome men who absolutely dote on them. Growing up, my favorite author was Nora Roberts and I used to spend my days indoors reading her books. Now, my favorite things are days by the sea and hanging out with my husband and daughter. When I'm not writing, I'm doing art, reading, or watching movies.
Tiffanie - Tiffanie lives in Michigan. She has her degree in Mental Health, specializing in Child Development and a minor in Early Childhood Education. She puts her degrees to work in her young adult and new adult fantasy writings. Though she has been known to venture off into other genres from time to time, she has been published in the anthology Out of the Green and is currently working on the first novel in her new series, Bound in Blood and Shadows. The first novel, Double-Edged War, was published earlier this year.
Find her at her Website
Jane - Jane has been obsessed with all things books since 2nd grade. She lives in Ohio with her twin daughters.
Find her at her Website or her Youtube Channel
Kayla - I write under two pen names. The first, Kaylie Lanshaw, is a collaboration between myself and another author (Tiffanie Shaw). We are currently writing a New Adult Post-Collapse series set in the year 2044, after a civil war has left the United States of America floundering. Drowning in debt, the country resorts to selling off states to revive the economy. When one of these states is bought by the King of the previously-hidden Vampires, the nation is left uncertain. It comes down to the Prince of the Vampires and a foster kid named Kaelin to prove that inter-species peace is possible. I also write under the pen name Kady Ellis, though these books are still in progress. The first book, which will be out hopefully by the end of 2019, is titled En Pointe, and is a M/M romantic suspense.
Find her at her Website
Mart - Martha J Allard is a writer of contemporary & dark fantasy. Her short fiction has appeared in magazines like "Talebones" and "Not One of Us." Her story "Dust" won an honorable mention in "Year's Best Science Fiction," 19th edition, edited by Gardener Dozois and her story, "Phase" was nominated for a British Science Fiction Award. Her nonfiction has appeared in Lend the Eye a Terrible Aspect and Deaths Garden. Her novel, Black Light, is a tale of love, sacrifice, and rock & roll in the 1980's. Martha is a life-long resident of Flint where she found magic between the cracks of broken concrete. She joined Flint Area Writers at the age of sixteen, and credits the group with teaching her how to write.
Find her at her Website
Ravyn - Ravyn Crescent is a survivor; living in a desert and dreaming of a better world. She lived through physical, mental, and sexual abuse and spent years focusing on helping others escape similar situations before realizing that constantly reliving those traumatic moments were tearing her down. She writes paranormal fiction, fantasy, and spends far too much time writing and researching about serial killers. In her spare time, she makes pet collars and works to educate people about pet nutrition, in whatever time she has left she does freelance editing. She has her own company, Crescent Canines.
Find her on Facebook
Sidney - Sidney Reetz: “That red-headed Devil woman.” Born and residing in Phoenix, Arizona, the caffeine dependent life form known as Sidney started writing in the fourth grade for her own enjoyment. The stories penned back then were during her high fantasy period and involved a lot of dragons, elves and magic. She was ten years old. Needless to say, they were horrible and will never see the light of day – but were fun to write and taught her a lot about discipline. In elementary school she entered the ‘short story’ competition and baffled the organizers when she dropped off a 150-some-odd page manuscript. They must have liked it; she won second place.When not transcribing the Devil’s words, Sidney is an avid crafter and all around nerd. She likes listening to true crime podcast and making themed playlist far too much.
Find her at her Website
