Arielle Haughee 25 Sensory Winter Writing Prompts25 Sensory details add realism to your writing and make the reader feel more connected to the work. Let’s get those creative juices going and do some practice working with sensory details as writing prompts. Look at the suggestions below and see if anything stands out to you. Can you combine more than one of these in a story? Scent
Tactile
Sound
Taste
SightThere were so many great images, we included one extra! Have fun and let us know which one(s) you worked with!
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Guest post by Kerry Evelyn 10 Tips for a Successful Facebook TakeoverWhy participate in a Facebook takeover or group hop? Easy! It's a fabulous way to grow brand awareness and grow your readership. So, how do you effectively manage a takeover? I've created these ten tips that will help you knock it out of the park. 1. Brand your graphics.You want to make sure your posts stand out, are recognizable, and represent your brand well. Remember, you're building brand awareness. Use your brand color palette. Keep the graphics on theme. 2. End each post with an action item.You want comments on each of your posts.
3. Introduce yourselfReaders want to know who you are as a person. This connection is invaluable. Share as much or as little as you're comfortable with. 4. An opportunity for market researchTakeovers in groups that match your genre are a great way to discover what readers love! How can you accomplish this? With posts like these:
5. Story Specific ContentPromote a new release, a reader magnet, anthology or short story. Tie in your backlist. Have an action item related to your next story. 6. Everyone Loves a Freebie!What content can you give away to tease your story, world or brand?
7. Grow your following OFF FacebookUse your posts to request follows in other places. Some ideas might include:
8. Number and Hashtag Your Posts Make your posts easy to find for yourself, and readers. Hashtags make it easier for you to find posts to respond on comments. Readers know what to expect during your time. You can easily find the posts for later takeovers to copy or tweak. 9. Giveaways and Prizes Readers LOVE giveaways and freebies. What can you giveaway?
10. Choosing a WinnerThere are so many ways to pick a winner. No need to overcomplicate it. Some of my favorites are:
Pro Tips
Guest post by Elizabeth Little Recipe for Growing Good HumansIn my generation, women were supposed to do it all, do it better than men, and love it. Our anthem was a TV jingle for Enjoli perfume, "I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan, and never let you forget you're a man. 'Cause I'm a woman!" This idea was some bastard child of the women's lib movement but it fit perfectly into the midwestern values my mother taught me; do it all, don't complain. I was thirty years old, on my second husband, second baby, and second iteration of my career. First husbands are a necessary step. First children are the prize for taking that hero's journey. My second husband lived in a beautiful house of large windows, open spaces and mature trees but I still needed to bring home the bacon or there would be nothing to fry up in the pan. That house became the home of my large family day care. My preschool was good but was about to become great. Mrs. Fry came into my life because she needed a school for her grandchildren. She was closing her own successful school to pursue a public speaking career but before going she offered to teach me the secrets of our trade. I leapt at the chance and have been using her simple recipes ever since, not only for teaching, but for human interactions in general. Recipe: Just Go There!(particularly good for difficult transitions)When a parent must a leave a small child with someone else, be it grandparent, Sunday school teacher, babysitter or neighbor, there are often tears and sometimes howling that can go on and on. It is common for the new custodian to try distracting the child with toys or games or promises that "Mommy will come back." There are offers of treats and strained cheerfulness but ultimately both parties end up frustrated. The recipe for a quicker transition? JUST GO THERE! Here is the recipe in action: Child: "I WANT MY Daddy!" Adult: "You want your daddy!" Don't sidestep the issue, show the child you understand! Child: "Whaaaaaah!" Adult: "Wow, you really want your daddy!" By now the child is amazed you listened and understood their position. Usually, the child must cry and scream for hours, and the adult still won't get it. Child: "Yes, I want daddy." Adult: "And he is such a good daddy too." (Really Go There!) Child: "Yes." Ask a question about Daddy to trigger a positive conversation about him, like: "What do you like to do with Daddy?" Child: "He reads me stories." At this point the child is usually getting bored crouched in the corner and talking to you. They start looking around at the toys or snacks or other children. If not, you can talk about the child's family for as long as they like. You can both delight in the wonderfulness of the missing guardian. Sometimes I even ask, "Is Daddy coming back?" Child: "Yes." (Usually said with a pouty bottom lip and a look that says, "Duh!") Adult: "And it will be so great to see him! Shall we draw a picture for him?" You have demonstrated respect for the child's feelings and understanding of their situation. The child now believes you are not stupid and perhaps can be trusted. They will go play. At this point I would usually give a quick call of assurance to the parent who was out in the car crying. I am sure you can see how useful the Just Go There recipe is. When someone is in distress over a trauma often it makes others feel uncomfortable; as if one should avoid talking about it. Most often the traumatized person just wants to tell you about it. All you have to do is go there with them. You don't need to say "the right thing," or give a pep talk or tell your own similar story. Neighbor - "My dog just died." Me - "Oh no!" Neighbor - "Yeah, I had him for 17 years." Me - "That must be so hard. What was his name?" Neighbor - "Duke. He followed me everywhere." Me - "Oh what a good dog. What kind was he?" Neighbor - "A Golden Retriever." Me - "Awww, lovely." See? So easy. (I had a great dog too! But now is NOT the time to share.) I remember one instance when a student ran up to me on the playground and said "Max hit me." "Oh wow," I said, "Did you just want to tell me that?" "Yep!" said the student as he ran off to play. I learned not to assume what the other person wanted or needed. I simply used the Just Go There recipe. Most times nothing else was called for. When-ThenWhen - Then is an easy recipe that can be used in a variety of situations. It always turns out well if you sprinkle it with a little cheerful indifference. It helps if you can be (or pretend to be) unattached to the outcome. It was our routine to always clean up the toys before snack. Sometimes a child would come to the table for snack without putting their toys away. This was a perfect opportunity for When - Then. (Always Make it short, and direct.) "When your toys are cleaned up then you can have snack." Say it nicely and say it once. I would give my attention to the other children and ignore any whining or rolling on the floor. Often the child would put away the toys and come to the snack table. I would say nothing about the incident and offer a snack with attention and kindness. Sometimes a child would not pick up the toys and miss snack. Could this hurt the child? Of course not, lunch was eaten, and teatime was coming. A missing cup of apple sauce would not impact the health of the child, but the experience would. I accepted the child’s choice and simply went on with the routine of the day. There are no "You should have," or "If you had only." The next When - Then is usually taken very seriously. When -Then examples: "When your shoes are on, then we can go to the park." "When you wash your hands, then you may eat dinner." "When you don't take out the trash, then I use your allowance to pay the neighbor kid to do it." "When you can pay for insurance, then you can drive the car." "When you sell my wedding ring for drugs, then I divorce you." So clear. So useful. Chairs Tip: A Great Recipe for Raising Reasonable |
The wisdom of Elizabeth Little is a unique blend of practical know-how, irreverent humor and a handle on life’s magic. Her deep Midwest roots and stretch of California living have created a woman who understands everything from “Git ‘er done!” to Zen gardening. Mrs. Little has retired from teaching mathematics and currently resides in her Kavanaugh family’s ancestral home in Hamilton Missouri where she runs a small tea shop and writes. |
Jessica L. Beck is an HR Professional living in Florida with her family. She writes on human resources and lifestyle topics with a passion for process improvement in all areas of life so we can cut the clutter and enjoy life more. Find Jessica’s new book, Be Your Own Career Coach: A Workbook to Navigate Career Change, on Amazon. Read more of her writing here: https://jessicalbeckwriting.my.canva.site/ Contact Information LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicacarrarobeck/ Email: jlbeckbooks@gmail.com |
Arielle Haughee (Hoy) is a five-time RPLA-winning author and the owner of Orange Blossom Publishing. She is an editor, speaker, and coach. She is the author of The Complete Revision Workbook for Writers, the children’s books Grumbler, Joyride, Pling’s Party, and Sixth Sunday, the editor of the How I Met My Other anthology series, and the creator of the Focus Journal line of journals. She was also honored with the President’s Award from the Florida Writers Association in 2020. She has a serious reading addiction, fantasy romance her absolute favorite, and loves nothing more than good conversation paired with a good wine. She is surrounded by males at home—a husband, two sons, and an energetic dog—and tries to integrate as much purple and flowers in the house as possible. |
Iqra Mujeeb is an Author and Early Childhood Educator who received her certification from Gulf Montessori Center, Dubai. She currently lives in Karachi, Pakistan with her two beautiful daughters and published her first children's picture book in July 2023. She is always on the hunt for good restaurants, parks, and good books, and also has a passion for baking. Instagram: iqra.writer30 |
Arielle Haughee is the owner and founder of Orange Blossom Publishing.
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