Hunter Hayes Blog | Books

Author Hunter Hayes - Fiction Writer, Blogger of HER Books and other Interesting Publishing ISH.

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The Top 3 Writing Tools That No Aspiring Writer Should Go Without

Well hello there. Yes, I am aware that it's been a while since my last publishing blog post, but a chick's still being an octopus, working on projects. Call me crazy, but I'm genuinely one of those people who believes that you should put the same or more energy into following your passions as you do for the 9-5. If you take a moment to think about it, you'll find that anyone who is really super successful had to put in the time. Just know that I've missed you and that I'm still here, repping for the writers who want to get published and market their books. Me, Me, Me - And The Writing Tools That Are LIT Now back to the subject matter at hand. As I was thinking about what I wanted to blog about, what was clear was that I always want to provide you with information that you can use to bring you that much closer to accomplishing your publishing/marketing/promotion/sales goals. It would have been easy enough to do some research and get some info from the Google God's, but I wanted to share the tools that I've actually used myself and loved. Enjoy, Don’t, F It UP First up is Ginger, a Completely FREE writing tool that I came across on the internet. It's straight fire in a way that makes you want to call it your writing Bae. If there's a spelling or grammatical error in your manuscript (book) then it'll surely find it. For The Multi-Taskers Next is a great app called Textilus. It's super handy for writing on the go. (BTW, I'm using it right now as I sit on the train on my commute into my day job). If you're a fan of Microsoft Word, then you'll love this app as much as I do. You can save, make edits, have your work read aloud to you to see how it sounds and everything. It's spot on if you want to write a few chapters during a time when most people are either sleeping, fiddling with their devices playing games, or complaining about the delays of public transportation. Undiagnosed ADHD Perhaps?

Last but not least, is a website called Q10. If you're anything like me, then you can be easily distracted. The struggle is real when it comes to staying focused on accomplishing specific word count goals for my upcoming 2017 novel some days. I find myself tempted to check my Twitter---and my--Instagram. Then I might get the sudden urge to see what's going on with the YBF and Mediatakeout.com. Yup, blah,blah, blah. But Q10 helps to put a stop to all of that mess by keeping you engaged. It's the next best thing to someone standing over you, daring you to stray away from getting the task done. Well, if you find my 3 Writing Tool picks to be useful, let me know. And if you're not doing so already, feel free to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay on top of new posts and all things publishing!

Until next time.I’m Out.

Hunter Hayes

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How To Find Time To Write Your Bomb A@s Novel

There are only 24 hours in a day, and this Harlem chick knows how demanding it can be. At one time in my life, I had the luxury of writing my little  heart away, but that just  isn’t the case anymore. I now juggle writing with a 9-5 job, which is probably something that I’m sure that a lot of you can relate to. On an up note,  #dreamchaser, there there are other changes that have occurred in my world. Writing itself has opened up lots of doors for me. I’ve taken on work as a freelancer, and that’s actually turning out to be quite lucrative. I basically provide book reviews, product reviews, and content for E Commerce sites. Now you’re probably wondering how I fit all of this into my schedule. Oh, and I also have a blog that I run. I know----I know, damn girl…..

Time Management for Writing Your Bomb Ass Novel:

1. First, of all, I ‘d like to advise that you write down everything that you have to do for the day. Create a To-Do List that’s ranked in order of priority.

2. Determine when you have slots in the day to complete writing work (for me, it’s during my commute which adds up to be nearly 2 hours and a half of time!) You could also wake up earlier, or go to sleep later.

3. Try to automate tasks. I like free websites like Hootsuite and Twitterfeed to assist with scheduling and keeping my blog pages LIT with interesting info.

4. If you’re good at what you do at your 9-5, try and find gaps to get some of your work done. (Disclaimer on this one – Don’t try that ISH, get fired, and then turn around and blame me. But what I will say, is anticipating your supervisor’s needs beforehand helps a lot letting this particular suggestion work for you.

And LAST, but not Least. Squeeze in that time for everything else that you can. Of course taking care of the babies and small kids is a must, but Everyone else will have to respect your hustle game while YOU BUILD YOUR EMPIRE....

I’m out.

Hunter Hayes

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Author 411 - How To Handle Rejection

You did that. You wrote a book, every word of it, and you're feeling yourself, feeling yourself. Next,you take your time, and brainstorm the best query that ever was. You've done your research, and you've compiled a list of top notch literary agents who you've identified as being the best pros to put your work in front of. And then the mail ( or emails) start to arrive---with one rejection letter after another. And they're all saying the very same thing.  No one is interested in taking you on as a client. 

Take a page From Jay Z?

I think that Rapper and business mogul Jay Z said it best with the lyrics; he couldn't see’ em coming down his eyes, so he had to make the song cry. What this means, is that you, as the writer, SHOULD NOT be getting ALL IN YOUR FEELINGS about  a little negativity that you can probably turn into a positive. Before you go leaping off of the closest bridge in defeat, ask yourself a few questions. Did the agent offer any comments in feedback on your submission? If so, utilize that ish, and make it constructive. Do you feel like you sent out the best representation of your work? If not, you may want to tweak it--- or even start over from the beginning. Because after all, this is your life that we're talking about here.

Just Breathe.

Believe it or not, everything will be okay. It's okay to just breathe. Sometimes you may need to take a break from your writing to do something else like hang out with friends, hit the gym, or simply watching some mindless TV. The idea is to take the pressure off of yourself and come back with a clear head. It really does work. Well, I hope you learned a little something something. 

I’m out.

Hunter Hayes

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Pen Names - Use It or Lose It?

I’m going to point the finger right back at you for the answer on this one (nobodies tip-toeing over words, scared to keep it real with you on this writing advice blog). Why??? Because it actually all depends on your lifestyle, and the type of book you are releasing. Is it fiction or non-fiction? Written strictly for adults or for children? Is the content rachet-raunchy or no? These are just a few key factors for you to think about my Author girl/guy friend.

Is the author Name as important as the Book Title?

You might ask what I mean by that. Well, it has everything to do with making yourself memorable. In addition to having a BOMB book cover and an interesting title, your author name does freakin’ account for a lot. For instance, if your author name is Islandia Forrestwhittle, it won’t be any good to the reader who is trying to recall what your name is so that they can purchase the book. And here’s the worst part of it all, while they’re out there doing a search to find you, another book could have them sidetracked which equates to an epic-fail-book-sale.

I’m Hunter Hayes the author. Holla at Ya’ Girl

It’s a different day, but my motto of marketing, marketing, marketing yourself hasn’t changed. Create a super interesting author name if you don’t already have one. It’s just as simple as that. For more info on Pen names and you, check out this expert pen name recommendation title picked by yours-truly.

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To Self Publish or Nah (Go Traditional)?

The road to becoming a published author can be a winding one. This Harlem chick is probably about as optimistic as one could be like---ever in life. Mentally, the glass is USUALLY half full for me, and I hope that you will maintain a positive outlook as well.  There are obviously going to be some obstacles  in the way, so don't let me sell you the Brooklyn Bridge before you know what you're getting yourself into. 

 One of the first things that you'll have to decide once you're done with your manuscript (book), is whether you want to go the route of traditional publishing, or do the self publishing thing. If you choose traditional publishing, then that means that you will be looking for a literary agent or an editor. Just know that neither will make time to read your entire book. Well, not just yet anyway.

 You'll first have to craft what's called a query letter, which is basically a one page letter spelling out who you are, and what your book is about. Oh, and it has to be really,really, really, GREAT, because agents and editors can receive hundreds of submissions within just a weeks time.  Think about what compels you to read  and or buy a book description wise. This is exactly what the Book Peeps want, and believe it or not, they want you to be the next greatest writer of of our time. This is your chance to SHINE bright like a diamond. 

Unfortunately, getting rejection letters is just a part of the game until you find a agent/editor fit that is right for you and your work. As difficult as it may be, try not to take the no's too personal. If a literary agent or editor is kind enough to provide you with constructive criticism, then use it as a tool to better what you've written. Here’s a newsflash. A writer doesn’t always know EVERYTHING just because we are in love with what we’ve written.

 For more on query letters, check out this gem of a writing source. 

 Here’s the flip side. You can self publish. As a writer, it’s  nice to have options, and in this technological age, it’s very simple to do.  With a few point and clicks, you can be well on your way to seeing your work made widely available on the web or have your own printed books in inventory. Can a Sistah provide you with a little advice though? Be professional at all times. Present everything that you do like a business.  Getting your books done via the cheaper route might sound oh-so-appealing, but you should know that sometimes you have to spend money to make some. 

I went all out as a new author; bought galleys, sell cards, hired a pro to do my author website all kinds of ish. You certainly don't have to do exactly what I did. What I'm trying to stress here is that it paid off for me. I got  the attention of 3 literary agents and scored a two book deal with a major publisher. There's another aspect of following this method that you should know about. It's going to take a lot of time. You'll only get out what you put in. Give up early and it 's a wrap HOMIE. One of the best books that I ever read was how to get happily published by Dan Poynter. Think of it as a literary how-to bible because it’ll provide you a solid foundation of what to expect and also, what is expected of you as an author/self publisher. Trust,  It walked me through every step.If you’re interested in copping one of the best books out on the market, here’s the link.  Until next time.

Sidebar : Please forgive me for not getting these posts out as regularly as I wanted to have them go out. Your girl is juggling a few projects all at once. But just keep coming back. Know that I’ve still got your back and I’ll still keep the entries worth the visit. Just remember to pass on what I share to any aspiring writers that you know. Keep it moving, and keep it in the circle.

I’m out.

Hunter Hayes

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When Urban Fiction - Gets Too Real

When you become an author, people are quick to shower you with praises. You’d better believe they’re thinking big things about your writing achievement, even before the ink can dry on the autograph that you just gave them. “Wow, I would love to write a book some day!” “How long did it take you?” “Are you going on a book tour?” The above remarks are pretty popular, at least up there in the top 3  comments in regards to what most authors will hear at some point in their career. 

PAUSE. You’re NOT hearing Hunter Hayes complaining about being placed on a pedestal; admired for work that she’s put lots of unsupervised time and effort into. #FAME This isn’t a blog post about that; those Kanye-West-FLASHING-LIGHTS that can take an AUTHOR from being unheard of, to being super popular. This is about AUTHORS (myself included) getting REAL with themselves. But let’s get my shallow accomplishments out of the way first:

Hunter Hayes got 2 very prestigious literary agents to represent her. Hunter Hayes sold lots of books and nabbed a 2-book publishing deal with a MAJOR publisher. Hunter Hayes managed to get a positive review in Publishers Weekly while she was SELF-PUBLISHED. Hunter Hayes has done many book signings. Hunter Hayes had a poster with her book. Hunter Hayes was a part of the book ads in Essence Magazine.

Now onto what’s important. What’s the REAL STORY behind the books that we’re selling? As an author who has gotten caught up in the hype, I can recollect a journey when I remember high sighing, going straight DIVA, telling a major publisher that “they just don’t get it.” This doesn’t mean that I feel like I was wrong, but as I look back on the situation, I feel like I could have definitely approached the subject differently. And then there was that AHA moment that I just got a few years ago. Do you know that it hadn’t dawned on me to check into EXACTLY how many books I’d sold in my publishing career? How did I know that my royalties were correct? How could I make myself marketable if I didn’t identify and establish my track record? Jay Z says women lie, men lie, but numbers don’t, so where did that put me?

 And here’s a better question? Even if you do decide to do it all on your own terms, do you not think that record keeping is a huge part of making the self-publishing journey? Guess what? Close to 100,000 books sold in this CHICK’s writing career. Better late than never. And now she knows better, which is more than most people can say.#Faith #Eyesontheprize #Lookingstraightahead #Overcomer

If there’s a lesson to be learned then I give you permission to SNATCH A PAGE FROM MY BOOK. 

If you’re with a big press publisher, a small press publisher, or self published, check your accounts (Smashwords, Amazon, Barnesandnoble).

Don’t forget to PAY the tax man. There’s no way around this one. He’ll come for you when you least expect. Most authors are sole proprietors or have established an LLC.

Don’t just give your paper away. Find out about the expenses that you can deduct as a business expense. If you’re running a book ad, if you’ve done giveaways, travel costs---all of that ish. 

Lastly, shout out to the people who held me down at a time when this author needed support, my parents, my family members who always treat me like a celebrity with 4 books under my belt or none at all. Janice, my clique---my cousins Michelle and Kim, you two were exceptionally over and beyond there for me at almost EVERY BOOK SIGNING. I finally get that you don’t need an AUTHOR acknowledgements page to let someone know how much you APPRECIATE THEM. 

Until next time.  I’ll keep you posted. I’m out.

Hunter Hayes

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Should You Pay Someone Else to Promote Your Book?

The answer is NO---and YES. Let  me first say that no one, absolutely NO ONE, can promote your book better than YOU. I’ve been in the publishing game for several years now, and though it does happen, I have to tell you that it is RARE for an author to put in $0.00 towards promotion. So believe Hunter Hayes when I say that I’ve put in my fair share of dollar bills.

“Ain’t Nobody Got No Money to Do All That.”

By that I mean the larger publishing companies. They used to do it all of the time; huge multi-city book tours, ads in magazines, the full spectrum. But marketing and promo budgets aren’t what they used to be. Nowadays, only big name celebrities get access to that type of top notch treatment. Do you know why the Celebrities get those perks? It’s Because those big name Celebs have already established a platform (audience and fans). 

So what does that mean for Authors like us seeking a bigger platform? That we have to work a little harder (okay, who am I fooling? A LOT harder) to be seen. The good news is that there are several options out there for us that won’t break the bank, but YOU HAVE TO UTILIZE them. Making social media  work for you is a great way to start.  You can design the HELL out of your pages with the help of FREE online sites like Canva. You can set up FREE online accounts with sites like Crowdfire (search for people using #’s even). And If you’re lacking on time, you can automate your posts for FREE with sites like Hootsuite.

Twitter 

Facebook

 Instagram  

More on Promoting yourself on these types of sites will be in a separate blog post, so stay tuned. 

Now onto the big question: But if you’re going to pay somebody, who should you pay to promote your book?

I’d say stick to online sites with a track record. For me, AALBC.com added a big boost in getting my name out there when I was newbie. Troy Johnson runs the website, and he’s really good at addressing the concerns of new authors. What’s BOMB is that there are different payment plans and different offers to suite your budget. Take advantage of all that the site has to offer; put your author profile up, visit the forums(don’t spam though), and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.

What SHOULDN’T you pay for? PREACH. Companies offering to tweet the news of your book with low followers or ones that have low engagement (re-tweets and such). Ask yourself what it really is that their service can offer you for your hard earned money. Nope. She, Me, Her won’t be doing that again.

I could go on, but I won’t. I have to give you a reason to keep coming back to this publishing blog, but as you can see, I do know what I’m talking about. Keep in mind that I just came back on the publishing scene but please believe that my numbers will rise. When you give to others unselfishly, the returns are limitless. I’m encouraging you to follow me on EVERYTHANG because I’m promising to make this publishing trip worth your while.

In true HARLEM GIRL MODE, I will begin a habit of ending these posts most accordingly.

I’m out.

Hunter Hayes

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The latest Tweets from Hunter Hayes (@Hunterhayesbook). Fiction Author. Writing and Publishing Blogger. Harlem Go-Getter Chick. New York, NY

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4 Reasons Why You Might Want to Change Your Book Cover Now

1 - It Doesn’t Convey Your Storyline - It’s like having a Sci-Fi book with a photo of a couple kissing; just all wrong. As a writer who has been published by a major publisher and self-published, what I’ve learned is that book lovers don’t always have to be so LITERAL.

2 - The Need to Be On Course With the Competition -  What you want to do is search out books in a similar genre and create a list of the most POPULAR titles. Ask yourself a few questions. What is it about the cover that drew you in? How is the font style? Does the title placement go well with cover? Does the book list an illustrator or cover creator?

3 - Your Book is Really Old - Not AARP old, but old enough that it could use the facelift. Picture you, working out, feeling and looking good, but gray hairs have begun to sprout from your hairline.Then you decide to get a little dye in your life---and boom, you’re instantly RENEWED. 

4 - You Need That Book Groupie Love - And what author doesn’t want MORE readers? If you’ve been out of the book game for a minute (as I have been), you can gain a whole new reader base and create book fans that will only MOTIVATE you to complete that writing project that you’ve been working to complete.

Here’s a great a great article for writers which supports even more reasons why you might want to consider making the change. If your books are on Amazon, the change is mad-super easy.