Gonna Be Honest: Still Not Into It
How AI and my blog can help YOU, plus TONS of writing resources!
*For links and resources, scroll down.*
What I’ve Learned About Instagram
Spoiler: not much.
Since sending out a plea for help, I’ve heard back from a few readers. Here are some things I learned:
You can share someone else’s post to your Instagram Stories by pushing the paper airplane icon. This is a way that Instagram, like Twitter, can (in theory) be used for sharing interesting/helpful info.
Stories disappear after 24 hours unless you save them to your profile under “Highlights.” The can be used for more “day in the life” things you don’t want permanently living on your Instagram homepage.
You can't include links in your posts, but you can include links in your stories.
I made my first reel, which is basically a video that shows up as a post.
The best way to grow your following by pleasing the Insta algorithm is to post every day and post lots of short reels (under 10 seconds). Have I been doing this? No. Will I? Probably not.
You can share a tweet from Twitter to your Instagram Stories, so that’s nice, I suppose.
Someone suggested I create two Instagram accounts, one for my YA writing and one for my newsletter and writing-instruction crowd. Makes sense, but sounds like a lot of work. Will I do it? Remains to be seen.
To be honest… I’m just not into Instagram. I still find the platform confusing and annoying and lacking in the helpful info I get from Twitter.
On Twitter I learn so much about what’s going on in the writing world: events, contests, conferences, news. When the latest big publishing scandal happened, I heard about it first on Twitter.
Instagram doesn’t seem like a good source for information. Maybe because that’s not what it’s designed for. Maybe I’m trying to make Insta my new Twitter in case Twitter dies, but Instagram is something else entirely. My friend says I should just play around with it and have fun, but… (*lowers voice to a whisper*): I find it kind of boring.
Still, I’ll keep dabbling. You never know.
How AI can help you
Despite my lack of in-depth knowledge on the subject, I brought up Artificial Intelligence in a recent newsletter: how I think humans can write better stories than robots, so let’s not freak out. I mentioned perhaps AI can be used as a tool, and here’s one example: use AI to generate images of your characters and settings to assist with your descriptive writing.
I am NOT suggesting AI replace real, human artists for cover art design or book illustrations. No, no, no. Humans make better art than robots, end of story. But, in my workshop on setting, I suggest making a mood board with images that remind you of people, places, and/or vibes from your story. The mood board can help you write descriptions or simply get you excited and into the story-writing zone. Used to be, you’d have to search the Internet for images, but now you have the option of using AI to help you generate them. Could be useful for the next #MoodPitch contest on Twitter!
I created an image of my protagonist Natalie from my YA paranormal thriller novel Not Myself Today using the free Canva AI image generator, and my friend created Natalie using the superior (and non-free) AI software, MidJourney. Even after many tries, we couldn’t get Natalie quite right (AI did NOT understand how to give her a heart-shaped birth mark, for example), but it was fun to do.
Is this a distraction from writing? Probably But sometimes in this long slog towards publishing, you need a little pick-me-up, and seeing a robot come up with images of your characters and settings might be just the thing you need right now.
How my blog can help you
Did you know I have a blog/website? I started this more “professional” (aka I have to pay for it) site back when my oldest daughter was an infant because I had energy to write blog posts but not novels. I don’t keep up with it as much as I used to, but it’s nice to have. Here’s how my blog can help you:
I accept guest posts about writing and publishing. Looking for a writing credit or more of an Internet presence? Send me an email and pitch me an article idea!
I do author interviews like this one. Got a book coming out soon? If you’re the right fit for my blog, I’ll do an interview to help promote your book.
I have lots of helpful articles about writing, like this one on unpopular and unpleasant writing advice you should still probably take. And, according to my stats, this article from 2017 is still BY FAR my most popular one.
Writing News & Resources
For All Writers:
OK, this is just fun: Lit mag Electric Literature posted a Twitter thread comparing US book covers to their British counterparts. I think I might like British book covers better…
NYC Midnight’s Flash Fiction Competition starts TOMORROW (June 9). Register NOW!
#1000WordofSummer runs from June 17 - June 30. Get daily writing encouragement from published authors and join a community of other writers with the goal of producing 1,000 words a day for two weeks.
Black Fox Literary magazine’s next contest theme is Secrets Unraveled! The deadline to submit is June 18, 2023.
Craft First Chapters Contest with cash prizes is open until July 30, and the guest judge, Rebecca Makkai, is looking for stories in all genres, as long as they don’t bore her.
Check out these upcoming online seminars with Jane Friedman from Writer’s Digest University:
Tackle any creative writing project with tons of free online support and accountability with Camp NaNoWriMo — starts July 1.
If sitting at a desk typing away is taking a toll on your body, check out Yoga & Writing At Home Retreat via Zoom from StoryStudio Chicago. July 31-Aug. 4
I updated my list of writing and publishing resources — my very favorite books, websites, and podcasts and writing, publishing, and creative life.
Thinking about self-publishing? This detailed guide tells you all the steps you need to take: How to Self-Publish a Book: A Guide for Aspiring Authors.
For KidLit Writers:
The Searchlight Writing for Children Awards submissions are open from now until August 31. Shortlisted winners have their text sent to agents and publishers, and first place wins a sizable cash prize.
Best Novel Opening for Children’s or Young Adults (novel does not need to be complete)
The Highlight's Foundation is offering three sessions of the Whole Novel Workshop: a life-changing retreat with amazing faculty members for those with a full novel manuscript they want to workshop:
From Bitsy Kemper’s blog: over 75 publishers accepting unsolicited picture book manuscripts.
Check out this incredible list of upcoming events for KidLit writers!
For Querying Writers:
Don’t miss my latest Query Guru post: Comp Titles, Clarity, & Mentioning Self-Published Books
Find a long list of example query letters on Quite the Query.
From The Good Story: Successful Query Letters: 40+ Real World Query Letters with Literary Agent Feedback.
Every Friday, Operation Awesome offers one free query critique through their #QueryFriday contest.
Every month I will chose one subscriber for a FREE submission package critique. Send me your query letter and the first two pages of your manuscript, and, if you’re the winner of the month, I will send you back in-depth feedback on both. Interested in receiving a critique? Fill out the form here.
Twitter pitch contests continue to happen, and though they can be frustrating, it certainly doesn’t hurt to try. (After all, I found my agent through a Twitter pitch party. I am now an official success story.) So mark your calendar for these upcoming Twitter pitch parties. And be sure to read my updated article 13 Things to Know About Twitter Pitch Events.
#PitBLK, June 14-15, for Black writers of all genres.
#PBPitch, June 15, for picture book writers
#PitchDis, June 22, for writers who self-identify as disabled, neurodivergent, and/or chronically ill.
#LatinxPitch, Sept. 15, for Latinx writers of kidtlit.
Writing Conferences & Events:
Hugo House of Seattle is offering a one-day online conference, Write-O-Rama, on June 4. Over the course of the day, you'll take four workshops of your choice as a way to sample classes, teachers, and genres you might not normally sign up for.
The Writing Day Workshop “How to Get Published” Conferences will held both online and in person this year. I attended one of these conferences in person a few years ago, and I thought it was fantastic. I can’t vouch for the virtual version, but there are some benefits: recorded classes, no travel expenses, attend in your comfy pants. Plus, sign up for pitch sessions with agents for $29 a piece. Check out the upcoming conferences:
Chicago Writing Workshop: June 24, 2023 (in-person)
Write Hive’s annual FREE online conference will be held June 9-11. You'll come away from the event with the knowledge, resources, and inspiration to further your career as a writer and creator.
The Chesapeake Writers’ Conference will be held from June 18 - 24 in St. Mary’s City, MD. The conference features lectures, craft talks, readings, panel discussions, and daily workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction
The Institute for Racial Equity in Literacy is back! Join educators in Washington, DC this July (7/16-7/18 or 7/20-2/22) for one or both sessions of learning, including a panel with award-winning authors.
For more writing conferences, check out this list or this list of 19 Writing Conferences for Emerging and Established Writers.
And I still agree with you about Instagram - don't wanna do reels, definitely don't wanna do stories that just get lost, and feel frustrated with not being able to include an occasional link in a post. I'm trying Mastodon, but like you, get most of my info from Twitter.