Writer in the Making

Revising (Part 4)

06 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Where is your scene happening? Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi’s “Urban and Rural Thesaurus” guides and onestopforwriters.com are mentioned in...

In case you were wondering

05 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A lot happening, but things are going well. Wish for Love releases September 14th and Christmas Therapy has a cover! Wow!

Pep Talk—Your Writer’s Voice

02 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This is the second topic you all chose. Thanks writing community! Your writer’s voice is essential. Why? It’s what makes your writing unique. How ...

Thanks for the support!

02 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I’ll be celebrating my birthday tomorrow, August 31st, but I wanted to take the time to think you all. I’m grateful for your support of this podca...

Pep Talk—Consistency

29 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This is one of the two topics that won the vote! Thanks writing community. So... how do you stay consistent? Let’s see how we can tackle this one to...

Revising (Part 3)

27 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What have I learned so far as I revise? So far I’m fifteen percent into the process, but I can tell a few things already. Have a listen and I’ll s...

Take Your Time

24 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As I revise, I’m tempted to want to rush through the process and get it done. Anyone else feel this way? My advice for us all, is take your time. **...

Revising (Part 2)

22 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“Save the Cat!” Never used it until now but it’s coming in handy. What does this have to do with revising? Sometimes we have to backtrack when w...

Revising (Part 1)

20 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I’m revising and can’t wait to share my first tip with you all! Do you have to use what I use? No, but I will share nonetheless. You’re revising...

Read any good books lately?

16 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I love reading! There’s no stopping it. Looking for something to read? Check out The Color of God’s Eyes by Christina Barr and Christmas in Evergr...

Tips for your Book launch

12 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Now that I’ve held a book launch, any tips? What are some best practices in my opinion? This is only what I did. Looking for any more suggestions, I...

It’s Okay

09 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Have I started the revising process? No. I’m taking a break. Guess what? It’s okay.

Bookfunnel

06 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Looking to grow your mailing list? I’ve recently signed up for Bookfunnel. Have a listen and hear how you can use it to grow your readership. bookfu...

Celebrate where you are

02 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you finished for camp nano or on your own timeline, you wrote a book! That’s an accomplishment! Celebrate where you are. I am.

Camp is over! How did you do?

01 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Camp nano is over! How did you do? Whether you met your original goal or not, did you write? How do I feel about 70K instead of my orginal 90k? Have a...

The Final Countdown

30 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

One more day for Camp Nano! How am I doing still? Have a listen.

The Home Stretch

26 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week has been super busy so here’s an update on my work in progress. I hope you all are still pushing to finish your goal. We’re in the home ...

Camp Nano—Hitting the Wall

23 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Last full week of camp nano. I’m nearly 20k away from finishing but it hasn’t been easy. Ever heard of hitting the wall? This phrase is common amo...

Pep Talk—The Comparison Game (2)

19 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I wanted to do a follow up on the Comparison Game episode. I recently painted a picture this week, and it made me think about what we face as writers....

Writing Dialogue

19 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It’s one of my favorite things to write, dialogue. It comes natural to me to write a conversation. So... how do you do that? How do you write strong...

Plot Twists

18 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

My work in progress for camp nano is coming along. So much so, I wrote a plot twist! How do you write them into your story? Which ones fit best? “1...

Camp Nano Week 2 progress—12K!

16 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

To keep you posted, here’s my process from week 2. I didn’t realize how much I wrote until I checked this past Friday. 12K? I’m still stoked!

Pep Talk—The Comparison Game

12 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Thanks writing community for voting! We’ve been waiting for this topic for a while and I believe it’s long overdue. Should you compare yourself to...

Camp Nano—Freedom with my Outline

09 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I wrote a little over 10K during my first week of camp. How? I have found that there is freedom using my outline. I used to think the opposite, and an...

Thank you—Match-Made Christmas!

08 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Thank you all who supported Match-Made Christmas’ launch!

Book Launch Time!!!

05 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Match-Made Christmas is available tomorrow so check your favorite retailers! To celebrate the launch, I have a surprise! As a treat, here are some boo...

Hallmark Book Review

02 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A Down Home Christmas by Liz Talley releases today! Hallmark Publishing gave me the opportunity to review this sweet story, so check out my review on ...

Author Confessions: Book launch

02 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It’s almost here, Match-Made Christmas’ release date! I can’t wait, but I would be lying if I didn’t say I was nervous. True author confession...

Camp NaNoWriMo is back!!

01 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Camp nano starts again today! Are you ready? I am and I can’t wait to finish my next novel. Also, my first short story will be released tomorrow. Ch...

One week left!

28 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On July 6, 2019 Match-Made Christmas releases! This is my first attempt at a book launch. While there may not one for every book, I want to see how it...

Writing Short Stories?

25 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

For Christmas in July, I will have short stories available! Yes, they will be Christmas themed. Visit channillo.com for more info if you’re looking ...

July Camp NanoWriMo

24 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Camp Nano is back for July! Are you signed up for the month? I decided to try again and I’m with my cabin mates from before, along with a few new on...

How to Write from your Outline

21 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

So... you have an outline with acts one through three. Each scene has 1-2 sentences for where it’s going, and you’re set to go. You’re ready to ...

Author Confessions: It’ll Come

20 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s topic is what I’ve been dealing with, so it’s for both of us. Remember, no matter how short or long it takes to write your manuscript, i...

Behind the Scenes of Match-Made Christmas

19 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Only two more weeks before Match-Made Christmas releases! Here’s a behind the scenes the story. Meet Adrienne Fields and Trace Carson! Go to dariawh...

How did Booksprout do?

17 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s another update from booksprout.co ARC giveaways! 4 out of 5 star average for Match-Made Christmas! Looking for reviews? I do recommend Booksp...

Pep Talk—Discouragement

14 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s another one for you writing community! Thanks for your votes. Discouragement. It hits us all in one way or another. I hope this episode encou...

The Bundle

12 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Fictionary and ProWritingAid were recently bundled. I chose to invest in both for a year. Have a listen to hear about both. prowritingaid.com and fict...

Story Origin Update

11 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Wanted to give you all a quick update. So... last time I told you about story origin, I had 17 new subscribers. I now have 96!!! The promotion just be...

Hallmark? What?

10 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

So... I signed up to be a book reviewer for Hallmark Publishing. I honestly forgot about it until they emailed me with a FREE book! I finished Teri Wi...

Story Origin

07 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Story Origin is a marketing tool that can be used for free delivery of your books and email list building. You can integrate your existing mailing lis...

One or the Other

06 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

You’re either writing or editing. Which one are you? I’m the latter. Have a listen.

Meet the Cast: Wish for Love

04 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Another behind the scenes with upcoming Wish for Love! Meet Leah Morris and Cole Parsons. Here’s a sneak peek into their goals, motivations, and per...

Pep Talk—Confidence as a Writer

03 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Time for another pep talk. Thank you writing community for voting! Confidence as a writer won so let’s get to it.

Change of Plans

31 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

So you’re writing a story, but then another one takes over. You’re so close to finishing the first one but the second story pops up. Or maybe you ...

Sometimes you need to think

30 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It’s so simple, but yet we forget the simple things. Having trouble with your story? Well... when was the last time you thought about it? Have a lis...

Guest Blogging

28 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Another way to get your name out there as a writer is to guest post on blogs! Be willing to offer something of value to fellow authors whether it’s ...

Pep Talk—Dealing with Rejection

24 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time for another pep talk. Thanks writing community for voting! Here’s some encouragement for you and remember you’re not alone.

Sparingly

23 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“Use it sparingly.” That’s what I’ve been told and what try to remind myself as a writer. Similes, metaphors, body language, facial expression...

Past or present tense?

22 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Which tense should your story be written in? Past or present? “Past or Present Tense: Which is Best?” www.novel-writing-help.com is mentioned in t...

Confessions of an Author: My 100th Episode!!!

21 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I can’t believe this is episode 100! Thank you so much for tuning in all over the world. Your support is greatly appreciated. Tune in to hear more a...

Stay coachable

20 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Some of us do have the natural gift with words, but a lot of us have learned what it takes to craft a story. I had no knowledge prior to publication i...

Are you repeating yourself?

17 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Are you repeating yourself? Whether it’s crutch words such as “like,” “just,” “I admit,” and my personal favorite “well.” Or perhaps...

Blog Tours

16 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Should you do a book tour? Since everything is digital now, what about a blog tour? Is it worth it to spread the word about your book? I’m consideri...

We have another guest!

15 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome my next guest to my podcast, Rachael Bloome! She’s a fellow sweet romance author and if you haven’t downloaded her free novella, Puzzle Pi...

You May Need a Pen

13 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

While I’ve grown accustomed to writing on my laptop, I recently picked up a pen and notebook to help me out of a creative slump. Having trouble with...

Fear of Failure/Success

10 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s some encouragement for my fellow writers. This was not easy to talk about, but I hope it helps you in one way or another. I don’t have all ...

More Tips for your Author Newsletter

09 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Once a month is usually common when sending out announcements, book cover reveals, book launch dates, etc. to readers. Is that it? What else can you p...

Underwriter Tips

08 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Are you an underwriter? What is it exactly? Well... you’ve run out of words to put into your manuscript. If you’re like me, you’re close to the ...

I have a Newsletter!

07 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

My newsletter is here! If you haven’t subscribed to my mailing list, go to dariawhite.com to sign up through the pop up window. What I’ve learned ...

The Write Track

07 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I recently was a guest panelist on The Write Track podcast. I had an awesome time getting to know Valencia Stokes, Rebekah Dodson, and Aksa Mahmood. H...

Bad Reviews

06 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Bad reviews. I hate to break the news to you but they’re inevitable. No matter how hard you work to have a polished manuscript (traditional or indep...

When Should You Start Marketing?

03 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Marketing can seem daunting for a writer. Not only do you want your book to sell well, readers want to connect with you. You’re basically selling yo...

WIP—Wish for Love

02 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Awesome news! Meet the main characters of Wish for Love coming to you later this year! We have our leading lady, Leah Morris, and our leading man, Col...

It’s a New Month! What now?

01 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a new month! Congrats if you made your CampNaNoWri goals, and congrats if you didn’t! I didn’t so you’re not alone lol. Not set topic her...

How Many Drafts Do I Need?

30 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The first draft is only the tip of the iceberg. Your manuscript is no where close to being finished. So... how many do you need?

That Feeling You Get

29 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

With the launch around the corner, how do I feel? Well... this is dedicated to the authors that wonder is there book good enough. I hear you and I kno...

Writing Camp: What Did I Learn?

26 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

With only a few days left, what have I learned from participating in Camp NaNoWriMo? A lot believe it or not. Have a listen.

Staying Focused

26 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Keeping the finish line in view as you write your story. Is the journey frustrating? Yes. Do you get stuck? Yes. Do we quit? No way. I used to play ba...

Are you Querying?

25 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Another episode for my traditional writers! For the manuscripts I did query, what was my strategy? I personally invested and had my editor write my qu...

Pacing your story—part 2

25 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As promised, this is part 2 of pacing your story. Not much different from what I shared in part 1, but I’ll share anyway. nownovel.com and well-stor...

Stop Procrastinating

24 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

You’re sitting in front of the laptop, and you get nothing. Perhaps you have your phone on social media? Does life get in the way? How are you suppo...

Camp NaNoWriMo Update

23 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Another Camp NaNoWriMo update. How’s it going?

The Waiting Game

22 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

For all my authors wanting traditional publishing, this one’s for you! Though the majority of my work is self-published, I did query my most recent ...

Long or short book?

22 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Is a longer book better than a shorter one? Does it matter? Does it depend on the story? While my personal goal as a writer is to write a 100K novel, ...

Writing 13K in 4 days

18 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

So... yeah, 13,324 in four days. I’m currently at 26,456 in my work in progress. Is there a secret to this? Have a listen.

Pacing your story—part 1

18 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Don’t move too fast but don’t drag your story. What do you do? This is my personal opinion on how I write. Part 2 will cover more research.

WIP—Christmas Therapy

17 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Christmas Therapy, a new sweet romance coming soon! Meet the main characters! My own way of doing a behind the scenes/meet the cast. I used onestopfor...

My Writing Sprints

17 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

So I decided to experiment with the writing sprints this week. How have they worked so far? Have I made any progress? Should you try it as a last reso...

A Mailing List?

16 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Now that you’re gaining a following, how do you keep track of readers? How do they know new works are coming out? An email list? Though social media...

How many words per chapter?

16 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What’s a sufficient word count for your chapter? When is it over? Have a listen.

Should I Write in Sprints?

15 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What’s a writing sprint? Time set aside where you do nothing but write with no distractions. It can range from 30 minutes to 2 hours. For those of u...

How I Write

15 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s a typical writing session for me. Do I write so many words a day? Is there a deadline as an indie author? Music or silence? Outline or no out...

Should I Fast Draft?

15 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How fast do you write? Should it matter as an indie author? What steps need to be taken if you do? What if you don’t finish by the date you original...

The Story behind Match-Made Christmas

13 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How did my newest release, Match-Made Christmas, come to life? Well... though an indie author, I decided to query this story to a publisher that I tho...

Sizing your Paperback

12 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Trim size and paper color. How do you pick for your paperback?

The Middle

12 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We know how to open a book and that the climax brings our story to an end. What about the middle? It shouldn’t drag but don’t rush it either.

Just Don’t

12 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dedicated to the Writing Community. Just don’t.

Paperbacks? Ebooks? Both?

11 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Though ebooks have become popular, does that mean a good old fashioned paperback book has died? As an author, do you need both? viladesign.net is ment...

Launching your Book

10 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Now that the release date is in July, how will I be promoting Match-Made Christmas? Is there a formula for a successful book launch? While I can only ...

Christmas & Paperbacks in July!

09 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Instead of releasing Match-Made Christmas later this year, it’ll be available on July 6, 2019! Christmas in July! Not only that, you’ll have the c...

Can I Do it Alone?

09 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Is the writing community important? Should I get involved? Hear from someone who thought she could do it alone as an indie author. It was me and it di...

Should I Be Exclusive?

08 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Amazon KDP or Amazon KDP Select? Learn the importance of building deep and wide with your books and not constricting yourself. Again, the final decisi...

Sifting through Feedback

08 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Yay! You got your feedback from critique partners, beta readers and your editor. Now... what? Which advise do you listen to, especially if it’s your...

Should I Do a Giveaway?

06 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

ARCs copies and giveaways? Are they worth it? How much is too much? Booksprout.co and booklikes.com are mentioned in this episode.

Camp NaNoWriMo

05 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

So I decided to participate in Camp NaNoWriMo for the month of April. I’m assigned to a virtual cabin with about ten other writers. Give all my cabi...

Our First Guest!

05 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This is what happens when you step outside the box. Fellow writers notice! Welcome our first guest, Sadie Chelsea, thehonestwriter.org you can also fo...

Never give up

04 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The key with writing is to keep going. You can do it!

I’m Stuck Now What?

04 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

So you’re writing and you hit a mental block. What now?

Your Social Media Platform

04 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s face it, everyone these days is mostly on social media. How do you approach it for your author platform? Listen in for my opinion. Don’t for...