Ready to up your game in the world of writing and publishing? Join us on the Writer's Parachute, where we delve into the intricate and oftentimes complex topic of book reviews. We discuss the rules of the game, shedding light on who can review your book, the difference between verified purchasers and other reviewers, and the regulations of popular platforms like Goodreads. But that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Our special guest, the multi-genre author Janet Wolanin Alexander, joins us for an enlightening conversation. Alexander, who has written a memoir, a craft book, and a children's book, shares invaluable insights about the role of an editor, in every genre. She further discusses her bond with horses and how it influenced her writing, emphasizing the significance of passion and personal dreams in crafting diverse narratives. Intrigued? There's more!
The episode concludes with us navigating the complex journey of writing a book, from idea to publication. We share practical tips, discuss the importance of a supportive team, and stress the necessity of the right mindset. Moreover, we explore how understanding that each writer's journey is unique can be empowering. Let us guide you through the labyrinth of writing and publishing on the Writer's Parachute. Jump in, the world of writing awaits!
Author, writer, retired teacher and horse hair jewelry braider, Janet Wolanin Alexander
✨🎙Subscribe to our channel to join our writer community for tips, tricks, author interviews, and more. We can't wait for you to join us as you embark on your writing adventure!✨🎙
🎙📖✒️ 👉 All episodes are available to view on YouTube and listen anywhere where podcasts are played every Wednesday!👈
➡️ Check out our website to learn more about us, our mission, podcast episodes, be a guest on the show, and follow us on social media. ⬇️ https://thewritersparachute.com
As always, we hope this podcast is a helpful landing on your unique, creative journey. 🪂
Ready to up your game in the world of writing and publishing? Join us on the Writer's Parachute, where we delve into the intricate and oftentimes complex topic of book reviews. We discuss the rules of the game, shedding light on who can review your book, the difference between verified purchasers and other reviewers, and the regulations of popular platforms like Goodreads. But that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Our special guest, the multi-genre author Janet Wolanin Alexander, joins us for an enlightening conversation. Alexander, who has written a memoir, a craft book, and a children's book, shares invaluable insights about the role of an editor, in every genre. She further discusses her bond with horses and how it influenced her writing, emphasizing the significance of passion and personal dreams in crafting diverse narratives. Intrigued? There's more!
The episode concludes with us navigating the complex journey of writing a book, from idea to publication. We share practical tips, discuss the importance of a supportive team, and stress the necessity of the right mindset. Moreover, we explore how understanding that each writer's journey is unique can be empowering. Let us guide you through the labyrinth of writing and publishing on the Writer's Parachute. Jump in, the world of writing awaits!
Author, writer, retired teacher and horse hair jewelry braider, Janet Wolanin Alexander
✨🎙Subscribe to our channel to join our writer community for tips, tricks, author interviews, and more. We can't wait for you to join us as you embark on your writing adventure!✨🎙
🎙📖✒️ 👉 All episodes are available to view on YouTube and listen anywhere where podcasts are played every Wednesday!👈
➡️ Check out our website to learn more about us, our mission, podcast episodes, be a guest on the show, and follow us on social media. ⬇️ https://thewritersparachute.com
As always, we hope this podcast is a helpful landing on your unique, creative journey. 🪂
Welcome back everyone to the Writers Parachute. We're a guiding author and writer dreams to a perfect landing. Today we have with us a very special guest. We have Jen and Wallinette Alexander and we're going to talk to her about her three books. But of course we always have the housekeeping at the top of the show. We, of course, would love for you to smash that like button. Go ahead and hit subscribe, and don't forget the bell to get notifications Anytime we have a new episode out for you. You can also follow us on social media. We are on Facebook, instagram, tiktok, twitter and now on threads at Writers Parachute. That's Writers Parachute without an S. So go check that out. And of course, don't forget our website. That's thewritersparachutecom. You can check out more information there. Also, if you would like to get a weekly update in your email inbox, then go ahead and sign up for those weekly updates at sendfoxcom slash thewritersparachute. Of course we'll have all of those links and more for you in the show notes, but don't forget to check those out.
Speaker 1:
So of course, we start the show with a topic of the week, so we have been keeping two reviews here in season two. We kind of run the gamut of kinds of reviews, how to get reviews, what to do with reviews. So we're kind of talking about the other side and some of the questions that come up. One that I have to feel quite often is who is eligible to leave a review for your book and what is the difference between verified purchasers and other reviewers, and rules and guidelines for good reads and other retailers. Now, of course, I am not the be all end, all of all knowledge about Amazon reviews. If you would like to see their rules, I would suggest that you check out the community guidelines on Amazon and it will clearly state what is and what is not allowed. However, I'm going to give you a little cliff note version of that. So who is eligible to write a review? Anyone who reads your book is eligible to write a review. Amazon reserves the right to disqualify or not use that review based on their own rules and guidelines. You would have to check with them, if they refuse a review, as to why. They do also require that reviewers have purchased at least $50 worth of merchandise from Amazon in the previous 12 month period to be eligible to review any item on Amazon, and that includes books. So that's who's eligible. The difference between verified purchasers and other reviewers are simply that people who purchased your book from Amazon. They actually paid money or got it for free when it was for free through Amazon and therefore they are considered a verified purchaser. To make sure that your verified purchaser emblem is included, make sure you go back to the invoice receipt from when you purchased the book to leave the review. That way you will get that label of verified purchaser. If you just go to the sales page of the book and leave a review, then you may or may not be recognized as a verified purchaser. So make sure you do go back to the invoice where you purchased the book when you're leaving a review to get that verified purchaser status. They do give higher ranking to verified purchaser reviews than they do to other reviews.
Speaker 1:
Now, other retailers and Goodreads. Goodreads is actually a division of Amazon, but their rules are a little more relaxed and not quite as strict about reviews, because Goodreads is simply about finding books and reviewing them. So if, for some reason, you cannot get your review to show up on Amazon and always has a good practice, even if you are putting your review on Amazon, I would strongly suggest that you also go to Goodreads. Find the author, find the book, leave the review there. I've heard very few times when reviews have been disqualified on Goodreads, but they do have community guidelines there as well and I do suggest that you check those out.
Speaker 1:
There are all other retailers. We have Barnes, noble, kobo, apple Books, thrift Books, books a Million. I could go on and on and on about the different bookstores. You have to go to their website to leave a review. They will have their own guidelines, but generally speaking, they are much more relaxed compared to Amazon, so you are also eligible in the same manner. If you purchase the book from one of these retailers, of course you're going to get a higher ranking for that review than if you're simply going there to review the book after purchasing it or getting it from the library or borrowing it or something of that nature, or getting a free copy for review. So just keep those items in mind. I know, of course this is a Cliff Nose version that can't cover everything in this short amount of time, so if you would like more information about this, please reach out to us here at the Writers Parachute. You can contact us through the website or you can leave us a comment under the show and we'll be sure to get back to you on that, so I want to get on with our show.
Speaker 1:
I'm very excited we're going to be talking to Jan Wellinen Alexander and she is an author, retired teacher and horsehair jewelry breeder. We're going to talk about her three books. Three books a memoir at Home on a Horse in the Woods, a craft book raiding horsehair jewelry and now a children's book, finally Horses. Janet lives in Southern Indiana with her husband, four cats and two dogs. She is a retired after teaching school for 30 years. She is now in her early 70s and is writing her fourth dream horse a chestnut saddlebread mare named Dancer. Mrs Alexander continues chasing her next dream writing another horse book. Besides writing. She loves writing horsehair jewelry for horse lovers. You can always reach out to her at swishtailscom and, of course, we will have that for you in the show notes. Welcome to the Writers' Parish. Janet, how are you today?
Speaker 2:
Oh, I am really excited about this. A little nervous, but I am up for it.
Speaker 1:
Well, I will try to be extremely gentle with you. I know you've done this once before, but we'll get through it. We always do and it's always a fun conversation and I think sometimes nerves are good things. So let's talk about this new book, finally, horses. It's not out quite yet, but this week it's going to be available on October 20th. You can go grab your book. It is up for pre-order right now. We will have the link for pre-order for you and as soon as we get the direct order link we'll have that up for you. So the book starts out with this quote to horse-crazy kids of all ages, may hoofbeats finally accompany your heartbeats. You talk about dreams and all kinds of things and the constant pursuit of them, and I want to know why you felt like this was such an important topic to share with kids and young readers.
Speaker 2:
Because it took me forever to learn myself. It wasn't until I was writing my first book that I discovered this truth that dreams are powerful, and they are. I say hence from God as to why in the world we're here on earth, what we're supposed to do during our time here, what we're supposed to leave behind before we leave, you know. Just divine guidance, I guess.
Speaker 1:
All right. So I want to know what is kind of the inspiration behind writing a children's book, and we'll talk about why. That's a curious question here in a minute. But I want to hear what you have to say. I didn't intend to write a book.
Speaker 2:
When I wrote my first book, I compiled a whole bunch of writings throughout my life and put them together and published it once and then republished it. And the second publisher asked me a very difficult question why did you write this book? Who is your audience? What are people supposed to learn from it? Which took me months of thinking to try to figure that out.
Speaker 2:
And I think what it is is the value of a dream, that dreams are important. You do need to listen to them. They will give your life a purpose, and I wanted to write. I think that lesson is not only one for adults, but as well for children. So I got the idea, after I wrote two books, of writing daring to write a children's book. I always love children's books, I love the illustrations and I really envy people that can take a complex idea and put it in a picture and instantaneously communicate something that words take so long to convey. It's just amazing to me. Anyway, I thought what I had learned about dreams through my experience certainly applied for children, and had I learned those lessons when I was a child, maybe it would not have taken me as long to change my life, you know, to realize my dream and to improve my life. I find my interest, find my calling, find my love, my passion.
Speaker 1:
Well, you did an amazing job and I love this book and it is such a great book and you know what you're pointing out is a really difficult thing. We hear about people saying, oh, children's books are easy. They're not necessarily easy, because they are very complex terms that you have to simplify in the fewest, easiest straightforward language possible. I mean, you do have the illustrations, which is helpful, because sometimes a picture says a thousand words. But you know, as the author, you have to tell the story first so the illustrator can enhance it. So it is a little difficult and little strategic that you have to think about what words are absolutely necessary and ones that aren't really necessary. So I know that you wrote this Finally Horses mostly for kids and I think you're targeting more like the seven to ten or twelve year olds with this book. But I want to know what you would like for readers to gain from reading Finally Horses.
Speaker 2:
I guess you know what I said before your dreams are very important. You really should give them a shot. You should work really hard towards them. You should not give up on them. I almost gave up several times, which is one of the reasons it took me so long, because there are times when I just gave up pursuit for a year or more. There will be naysayers that listen to them.
Speaker 2:
They're listen to the people that are there to encourage you and to hold out their hand to help you along the way, because you're going to need a lot of help. Writing and publishing and selling a book are way more comprehensive and complicated than I ever thought, and I'm still just at the tip of the iceberg and learning all that and this is my third book. So just you know, don't be afraid to take that step forward. The teacher will be there when you're ready to take that step.
Speaker 1:
Awesome. And I think, too, we also forget that in learning and teaching we're also inspiring others, because I think every time I see somebody reach for that dream or achieve that dream, it inspires me much more to go after my dreams.
Speaker 2:
So that's what we're here for to help other people.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, and so I think you know inspiration comes into that. So I want to know if you go all the way back to the beginning, when you first started out writing and publishing and doing all of this stuff. What do you wish you had known or that somebody had told you?
Speaker 2:
The importance of an editor. My first book, as I said, I didn't intend to write a book, I was just guided to write down these stories. They grew with the pile grew During my teaching years. I had fellow teachers both through them and edit them. Then I joined a writers group and had them re-edited again. Then the pile was big enough to form a book. Two members of my group, generously, were very supportive and they published the first one and one of the girls re-edited it yet again from the perspective of now, these weren't individual stories, they were a. They built upon each other and she had to edit from the perspective of flow and you know, repetitiveness. And I got them published but they didn't sell. So then I learned that you have to sort of plan your book ahead of time for selling. They kind of go hand in hand, that one before the other, like I thought.
Speaker 2:
And the second book was a you know the step by step illustrated guide to braiding horsehair jewelry. And being a teacher for 30 years and having written five bazillion lesson plans, I figured I could be the editor. So I chose to be the editor of my second book. Of course I had a few, you know, family members and friends kind of go through. But I swear I must have gone over that book at least a million times to get it perfected. I was able to do that because that a how-to book is fairly simplistic there's no dialogue, there's no character development. You know, there's this just. You know, straightforward step one, step two, step three. Then, when I got to the children's book, I thought you know, heck, I've written two books now and I've taught for 30 years, so surely I can, you know, write a children's book. And then I met you.
Speaker 2:
It's like, oh boy, did I have a lot to learn and I realized the first of all, people. Today I had a conversation with someone who said that she wanted to write a book and she was gonna write it on how she needed to be a writer and I was the editor. And I switched, by which she meant proofreader, and I tried to go into that. You know, when I had learned that there's many different types of editors in a proofreader it's not really the same as an editor I could see her eyes just kind of blank out. You know, just too much information for her at that time.
Speaker 2:
And yeah, so the importance of a good editor, you made me you're on the reading level so that I could hear the words and the promotion to that particular age group. And it's always helpful to get people to edit your work. I mean just even proofread, because what you intend you're so close to your work, what you intend and you think you were so clear on may not come across that way to someone else. And I love, you know, working with somebody else and seeing their point of view and working with them, because working with you has made my book so much better than it ever was if I had written it by myself. So I learned a lot and I enjoyed it. You were very fun to work with, so I'm happy with it.
Speaker 1:
Well, thank you, and I will just reiterate that, yes, get an editor, get a professional editor. Even I, a professional editor, hire an editor for my work because you get too close to it. It's. You know you're so far in the weeds you can't see the forest for the trees. You know what you mean to say and you think you said it's like. I've even seen people at critique groups where they're reading their work for critique and they will just fill in the words that aren't actually there, because they know what they mean to say but the words are not actually there. So there are so many things that an editor does. You know they don't just look at spelling and grammar and punctuation. They do look at, you know, the flow of the story, the language of the story, the age of the story, the genre of the story and the book, because all of those matter in the way that the book is presented. So I 100% agree with you. Of course I would, but I think it's something important that we all need to pay attention to.
Speaker 1:
It's like I know people complain that you know they're like well, I don't really wanna pay an editor. Well, there's an editor for all price ranges out there, but again, you know it's an investment. It's an investment because you know if you're going to go get your picture taken, you're going to spend the money to get your hair done and makeup and a nice outfit. So it's just sort of the same thing. You're putting the lipstick and stuff on this book so that you can present it to the world. So that's what I would have to say. So now, interestingly enough, you have three books here and they are in three completely different genres. It's like I don't know that I've ever met an author who wrote a memoir, wrote a craft book and then a children's book. That seems like kind of top sketching all over the place.
Speaker 2:
So I'm an odd duck, what could I say?
Speaker 1:
Well, I mean, but I understand. So I just wanna know what advice you would offer to any other author or writer that wants to write in multiple genres.
Speaker 2:
I'd say listen to your heart, listen to your dreams. I mean, I just went from writing stories to getting articles published in a magazine to you know, doing the book, and thought I was finished. And then the horsehair jewelry for me was so difficult to learn because there was no information really out at the time on that taught that. So I learned from people and it was hard to find those people and then I just basically thought, well, now that I know I'm gonna write the book to fill that void, I'm gonna write the book that I wish I had had when I was, you know, desiring to learn.
Speaker 2:
My whole point of that was I love horses and I have learned in my life that they are just not things like motorcycles that you get on and for your ego. You, you know, direct them here and there to do this, and that they are, you know, sentient beings and they are more intelligent and more sensitive than I ever imagined. And they I mean it's important to have a relationship with them and you can learn. They're individuals and you can learn so much from horses. It's amazing. So I get real close to the horses that I ride and I when I learned about horsehair jewelry braiding.
Speaker 2:
I wanted to braid a piece from my horse's tail to honor the closeness of our relationship, so that when I was not riding him, I could, you know, carry him with me and you know, just touch, like I have a pair of earrings and you know, I can just be Carol, you know, carol Burnett, and you know, when I kind of miss, miss a horse, I just, you know, kind of touch him and I, you know, feel connected again. So that was that story.
Speaker 1:
Well, it's amazing that you've been able to weather the path and find your way to these three books. They're all really good. I do strongly recommend them. So this book, finally, horses, is your third book and that you do consider it to be kind of a children's version of your first book at Homen Horse on the Woods. So I want to know for the audience because I actually do know, but I want you to share with the audience what are exactly, how do they relate to one another and how are they different?
Speaker 2:
They're both memoirs in the sense that they're a true story. They're my true story of my dream about horses and my long quest to connect with horses. They both have the lessons about the power of dreams and the power of people who help you along the way. But I would say the children's version is more about the dream and that the adult version has a lot more information, obviously, and it includes stories along the journey and when I reach my dream and I connect with three particular horses, stories about my experiences with them and places they take me and things I learned from them, and just more in depth, yeah well, yeah, and I've read all three books and I would agree with you, I think.
Speaker 1:
Finally, horses is about chasing a dream and not giving up, whereas at Home, on a Horse in the Woods is more about not only that but the whole journey to how you achieve that dream and beyond. So I think that's amazing. So you also wrote another book, the crap bug. It's called Braiding Horse Hair Jewelry. I'm sensing a theme here. So why horses? I know we sort of sketched around it a little bit, but I really want to hear why horses and why this is so important and how all of these books kind of follow your unique journey.
Speaker 2:
I guess they're kind of my spirit animal. I mean, I don't know. I was born in a big city, little kid, no connection whatsoever to horses, and yet I was fascinated and passionate about them I don't know why. And their magic, their adventure, tension. They're big, they're amazing, they're sentient beings. They have souls. You can communicate, you can have relationships with them. They teach you stuff if you're willing to listen. They're spirit guides.
Speaker 2:
My bliss in life is to ride a horse on a trail and just observe nature and kind of be open to listening. You spend so much time in your life talking, if you like me. I think we can't get to bed at night because our minds are so busy thinking, thinking, thinking. You can't get mellowed-toed or something to kind of shut your mind down, and a much better way is to get on the back of a horse out in the woods and you can't do anything. I mean, there's no fishes to do or social media to answer or tasks to get done. You're there on the saddle in the woods and the only thing that you could do is be in the moment. And that is priceless for people in our society to experience quiet and not having, and to be in the now without concentrating on a list of things to do at hyperspeed, and it's amazing when you kind of shut up Well, you can learn stuff.
Speaker 1:
Well, yeah, you know, and I still agree with that, it's like, you know, riding a horse in the woods or walking in the woods or just taking a walk. It's something about that quiet and that not hurry up and get something done where you can start to actually hear your inner thoughts, because they get so lost in the noise that you're just trying to get from one task to another. And you're absolutely right, it does put you in the moment and it makes you appreciate the quiet because you can hear yourself, you can feel the wind against your face and smell you know, all of the smells from nature and it's just something so different. It really does transport you to a kind of a quieter, gentler, almost more focused place that I find it's like I have to remind myself often to go out and take a walk just so I can refine that center, and I applaud you that you keep finding that center.
Speaker 2:
And the beauty and the magic. I mean the exquisiteness of creation. I mean we have a diverse ecosystem in southern Indiana, a lot of tree species, and I mean you go out there and it just never ceases to amaze me how many different shapes of leaves there are. I mean just simple things, how many species of butterflies there are. I'm always, you know, in awe of things that I observe.
Speaker 1:
Well, and I imagine at this time of year you know, going into Halloween and Thanksgiving, I imagine that the colors of those colors, all these shape leaves is just outstanding and just gorgeous. I wish we had a little bit more of that here in northern California, but you know it doesn't quite. You know have the turn of the seasons as much as you guys do there in Indiana, so I'll have to have you send me some pictures of that.
Speaker 2:
And I'm very blessed that where I ride is a state property and who? I just thank God for, the persons, or person or persons who Um, conserve that for future generations for recreational purposes. Oh my gosh, because it's so hard. I mean, everywhere you look there's another apartment building going up or another CVS or you know a store being built and it's like Where's nature going. But just to thank God that Someone had the guidance and the wisdom to preserve this Beautiful place for a room for over 20 years.
Speaker 1:
That's amazing. So shift gears just a little bit. So we want to know what keeps you motivated, because I would think it would take a lot of motivation to write 3 books.
Speaker 2:
It's spiritual. I mean I cannot write from my mind Like I'm in all of people in my writers group that could come up with these characters from another dimension and write about them, about things they invent or whatever. You know they could come up with these. They stand and pull. I don't know where they pull them up, but they pull them out of the air. And you know I can't do that. I, I write about.
Speaker 2:
I'm inspired to write about what I experience. So it's a different type of you know, writing, I guess, but I'm inspired by by that and I mean by just kind of an inter-calling to write. I I'm inspired by the people that you know, like you, understand the importance of following your dream and help you, and I mean, that's, that's everything you know, someone who really, you know, understands and is willing to help. And let's see what else I don't know and I, you know, just say I don't have children. So I hope that you know, when I leave the earth, that I have something to leave behind.
Speaker 2:
And for me that'll be in the form of my books.
Speaker 1:
Right. Well, and you know what you mentioned there about. You know you write nonfiction. It's it's truth from life as you experience it, and there's a huge value to that. I've. I've written nonfiction. I prefer writing fiction just simply because my imagination goes bananas. It's like somebody could say something to me and I could come up with 20 different stories about that. But that's just me and it was like I. You know, I think that came from me being an isolated kid and I had to entertain myself, so you know.
Speaker 1:
But you know I would I have a much harder time writing as you do. You know life experience, because I always want to add my own little flair and my own little curve and my own little ideas. So that's why I'm better suited to fiction. But you know, but there's sometimes what you do. I mean I said there's nothing wrong with what you do. In fact, what you do helps people like me come up with all the crazy ideas.
Speaker 2:
It's kind of scary to open yourself up, you know to, you know to your inner self, often kind of risk people's judgments, but you know, then you have to look at it, it helps other people, so it's worth it.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely. There's always somebody out there that is desperate to hear what you have to say. So, whether it's fiction or nonfiction or somewhere in between, somebody is wanting to read it. So here on the writer's parachute, on season two, we've been focused on reviews, so I want you to write a review for your new book, finally, horses.
Speaker 2:
If you are a kid, or maybe even an adult, who has a big dream and are not sure that it can come true true because it is so big Should you go after it, or should you not? Perhaps this book about a girl who has a big dream and is in that is at the same place you are and dares to go forward. It learns some things along the way. I might have some inspiration that would help you make your decision.
Speaker 1:
Amazing. I've stores. I've read Finally Horses. I love Finally Horses. I truly encourage you, if you have any kids, or if you're a kid at heart, go grab a copy of Finally Horses. So what's next for Janet Alexander?
Speaker 2:
My first book was first published in 2017 and republished in 2019. And it consists of a lot of horse personal horse experiences, and the last ones, of course, were on the horse that I had at the time, named Highlander, the wonderful horse that I trail about for 20 years. So I have more stories of him because he lived until 2021. So I have stories and I've stories that I've written about him that are not yet published. He passed a year ago, sadly and immediately, god bless me with another horse.
Speaker 2:
It's actually a friend's horse named Dancer and she is officially retired from the saddle red world, but she's very healthy and the vets that she needs to be riddened for her health. You don't need exercise to keep healthy, you don't just sit in the room. But her rider no longer rides her and asked if I would be interested. Oh, my God, she's a dream. She's another dream. So now I'm writing stories about her and starting a new pile, so maybe there will be a second version of at home on a horse in the woods. This time it could be at 70 and still at home on a horse in the woods.
Speaker 1:
Well, I love that as a great title, so we're going to have to wait a little while, or do we have?
Speaker 2:
to wait a while.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, Okay, all right. Well, of course, we'll have to have you back when you're ready to launch that second follow up book to at home on a horse in the woods, 30 years in the making. Maybe we'll play with the title there. So we want to know where listeners can find your books.
Speaker 2:
Put that down. Books can be sold wherever books are sold. That includes online stores such as. Amazon and also bookstores like Barnes and Noble are best. Yet your local independent books. Are we going to support those independent books they also. If you want an autograph, you can write to my webpage, s w I s h t a I l scom, and you can order them for me and I will be more than glad to send you an autograph copy.
Speaker 1:
Okay, so now can they purchase any of your books as an autograph copy at your website? Yes, so that's swish tales, calm. Of course, we'll have that link for you, along with the retail links to purchase her book from the different retailers. You're also active on social media, so where can they connect and follow you?
Speaker 2:
I'm most active on Facebook and I'm being encouraged to to also become active on Instagrams and Twitter.
Speaker 1:
Okay, which is now acts that we still call it Twitter here, but thank you, and we'll have the link direct links to follow Janet on her social media. You have any upcoming events, giveaways, signups or anything else you'd like to share with our listeners?
Speaker 2:
Well, once a filing horses gets published on October 20. I will have some children's activities up on my website that are free, that you can download.
Speaker 1:
Okay, all right, as soon as we get that link from, janet will add that to the show notes. So what she's saying is, after October 20 or on October 20 and beyond, the activity sheets that go along with the filing horses children's book will be available for download on her website, but we will get the direct link for you. I believe it's activity and coloring sheets, but you can go there and check them out. Was there anything else you wanted to include before we go do our tip of the week?
Speaker 2:
I would. I don't know if this is what you're looking for, but I would just like to end with a huge compliment to you for all your help. I mentioned a little bit before, but one thing I want to point out is that you have the patience of the saint, and I love how you are a good. You're a teacher. You just don't do things for me. Instead of feeding me fish, you teach me how to fish so that I can fish for myself in the future, and I have had such a phobia about technology and you have been so patient and guiding me through that. You're amazing. I mean, it's it's truly hard to find these days Someone who can actually teach you how to do something that you find so difficult and they probably find easy. But they care so much about you and you're learning that they stick with you without getting frustrated and giving up. So kudos to you, Donna.
Speaker 1:
Thank you. Wow, I don't know. I think I'm going to clip that out as a recommendation for my services. Thank you, that was extremely generous and I'm I'm a little flustered now. Oh, wow, I flustered, donna. Oh, I know. Well, thank you. Thank you so very much for those words, but we'll go ahead and jump over for our tip of the week. So a little bit about what we're talking about. So tip of the week is I talked to Jan a little bit in the green room about you know sort of what she's talking about, about this business mindset and all the technology and the promotions and the marketing, all the hard parts of having a book, writing a book and publishing a book.
Speaker 1:
So I want you to just think about it all as a journey. Yes, there's a lot of technical aspects. Yes, there's a lot of technology involved. Yes, there's a certain mindset that you need to have. But it's sort of like climbing the mountain. You know you're going to start small and you're going to go over the nearest hill and make sure that you did it well, and then you're going to get a taller mountain and you're going to go over it. You're not going to tackle Everest on your first try, and even then, there are so many people beyond me. There are so many other people, too, that were willing to help you. There are all kinds of tools and tips. If you need more tips, go back and look at our past episodes. We have a tip and a topic every single week on every single episode, and some extra ones that I've added in, but there is the information out there.
Speaker 1:
If you cannot get through it on your own, find your team. Don't just settle for those who are around you and expect them to have expert advice. They may or they may not, or they may not understand why they did things a certain way. That may not work for you. Assemble a team. Get those people together. Find the right editor for you. Find the right illustrator for you if you're doing a children's book or something that needs illustrations. Find the right writing group for you. Find the right critique group for you.
Speaker 1:
Play around with some of the apps and programs to figure out what works for you and what doesn't Work for you, because I guarantee you one thing that I do know Everybody's journey is different. How they get there is going to be different. The way that they get there is going to be different. People prefer certain apps over others for different reasons. I talk about this.
Speaker 1:
I like the voice or speech to text options because I'm really really busy. But I'm very particular about the apps that I use, because I prefer the ones that do a recording and then a transcription rather than direct transcribe. Because I tend to get excited and I talk really really fast and then it has to jump ahead to catch up and though so there may be a paragraph or two or even up to a page that just goes missing, whereas if I have the recording then I can go back and recapture that, but if I'm just talking it's kind of gone into the ether. So that's one of those things that works for me. That may not work for somebody else. Somebody else may not have the problems that I have with getting excited and speaking too fast to keep up with the speech to text, but I want you to think about it.
Speaker 1:
It's your race, it's your journey, it's a marathon, it's not a sprint. Nobody's going to say it has to be done in a certain amount of time. Of course they're going to encourage you to keep moving forward, but that's it. That's all. That's required is progress. So if you can't find help, if you're struggling, please reach out. If you need some recommendations, you can reach out to us here on the writer's parachute and we'll see if we can't direct you towards some professionals and non-professionals out there that may be able to help you.
Speaker 1:
But do put that team together. Keep it to yourself and just say it's my journey, I can get through this, I will get through it and eventually you'll get to Everest and I guarantee you'll climb it with style, without any problem. It's not as hard as it seems. I think fear keeps us from going forward a lot more often than reality, but that's OK. Sometimes fear teaches us a lot of good things too. So I know that's an unusual tip of the week, but I wanted to share that with you and I am so thankful for having Janet here with us this week, and I'm so grateful to be the host here on the writer's parachute, guiding author and writer dreams to a perfect landing. We hope that you find this a safe, creative space for your dreams to land to. Until next time. Have a nice week. We'll see you next time. Bye, bye.