A Season of Change
June 12, 2023 by Denise M. Colby in category The Writing Journey by Denise ColbyI chose the word Change this year because I knew I would have a large season of change in my life. Well, here I am, right in the thick of it and I couldn’t be more excited.
See, my youngest is graduating high school this week. And my middle son graduated college a few weeks ago. We’ve been busy with lots of lasts. Choir and theater performances, award shows, academic awards, you name it, we’ve been at it. It’s been chaos, but it’s been all worth it.
The chaos of getting everything ready and organizing schedules. Trying to get from one place to another and everyone fed on the way. The crazy after the event to go home and prep for what comes the next day. Hurrying from one event to another, getting in line early to get good seats, then finally settling in those seats ready to cheer on your child and their friends. It’s only then, when the show starts and you see it all come together. And all the chaos has changed into something great!
Many people think of the word change, negatively. But I found one definition stating change is to replace something with something else, especially something of the same thing that is newer or better.
Sometimes our writing needs to go from chaos to great
There’s a lot of chaos in the sentences we write. We have more than one way we can portray a character or communicate a scene. And as we try different angles, chaos reigns. But if we stay with it, if we push through the chaos, we see great change. And that’s what we ultimately are striving for.
Embracing this season of change and hopefully the next
I’ve been all in for this season. Embracing every event and enjoying every minute. I’ve taken a break from writing, so that I could be available for my family. It’s shown me a fresh perspective and I’m living my word this year, which is exactly what I wanted.
I’m looking forward to the next few months though, when I should have a bit more time to look at the chaos in my writing again and focus my energies on changing it into something great.
Denise Colby loves to write about her word of the year. Each word builds a new layer in her writing journey (and her life). In 2022, her word was Work. This year, her word is change.
The Brand Challenge; Adding Book Pages To Your Website
May 12, 2023 by Denise M. Colby in category The Writing Journey by Denise Colby tagged as Denise M. Colby, Marketing for Authors, The Brand Challenge, website marketingI talked about a brand challenge a few months back to encourage you to try something new on your website to help you build content and SEO to support your brand. In this post I’m going to dive deeper with my suggestion to add book pages to your website.
First, were you able to do anything on the list from the first brand challenge? I’d love to hear about it. Let me know in the comments below.
Whether you did or did not, let’s try again!
It doesn’t have to be a lot of something, just one thing. Sort of like taking a small bite of the elephant. You don’t need to eat the entire elephant at one time. Many successful websites were not built in one month. They started somewhere first. Then changed or added pages or content later.
Last post, I gave generalized ideas, including adding book pages on your website. For this post, I’m going to expand on this idea.
What type of book pages do you have on your website?
Similar to a blog post, having a page that is focused on one main idea, allows you to use it as a link in other content. This isn’t usually something we think about when building our website pages. Deep linking is adding links that direct the reader to a specific page, not just the front page of your website. The faster they click to the content they want, the happier they will be.
Ideas for pages on your website include a series book page and individual book pages on each book you publish. You can add where to buy for that specific book on the page, but there’s so much other content that can be connected to these pages.
Where to deep-link your book and series pages for brand building
Create a social media post or a blog post on any of the content below and include a direct link to the book or series page it represents.
- Make your characters come alive by talking about them outside of the story.
- Blog post or social media posts about the animals in your book (I have a rooster named Bert)
- Blog post or social media posts for your characters occupation
- Blog post or social media posts for the area or location in your stories (the one-room schoolhouse that was the inspiration to my story)
You can also add some of this content onto the book page itself to give additional context for your readers who choose to want to know more. It’s a way to connect with your readers or potential readers besides just the book.
Another option is to share research gathered for your stories. This could include research you weren’t able to add to your book but you’d like to share. Such when I learned about the first school-teacher who was trained from the school my heroine came from. So I wrote a blog post titled Harriet Bishop, First Public School Teacher in 1847
Frequent small steps add up over time
I know branding and dealing with your website can be challenging, I hope some of these ideas spark something for you to work with. Remember, your content doesn’t have to be perfect. It can even be something you decide to change later on.
I encourage you to do one thing on this list above to help build your brand. It may not seem much. It may seem overwhelming, or underwhelming. But if you do one thing this month, and then another thing next month. Pretty soon, you’ll have many months of blog posts and content that you didn’t have before.
Sometimes we feel this urgency to hurry up that adds extra stress we don’t need as we are busy writing our next book. I’m hoping these ideas help propel you forward in your Author career.
0 1 Read morePhoto Journal of The New York City Library
April 12, 2023 by Denise M. Colby in category The Writing Journey by Denise Colby tagged as Library, Photo Journal, TravelOn my recent trip to New York City, I made a purposeful stop at the main New York City Library. I’ve heard great things about this library and it did not disappoint. As I walked around all three floors, I found myself trying to soak up all the rich history within the walls as quickly as possible. From the high ceilings and stone steps, to the large paintings in the walls, there was a lot to marvel over.
Beautiful Infrastructure
Public Rooms
The NYC Library hosts the famous Reading Room. The Reading room was only open to those working at the time (and thus we couldn’t see in person). But the room across the hall was open and you could sit at the large tables or walk around the perimeter and look at all the paintings.
I now see that the Bill Glass Public Catalog Room is in front of the Rose Main Reading Room. Below is a picture of the Reading Room for reference (which I will have to make another trip back to see). Also included below are photos of the entrance to the Public Catalog Room, which was as far as we were allowed to go near.
Other highlights you will see as you walk around the 3rd floor include the Gutenberg Bible, large floor-to-ceiling paintings, and private room exhibits.
Outside the New York City Library
Built in 1906, this building is massive. From the Lion statues and the courtyard, to the park in the backside of the building, it’s quite a sight. If you want to learn more about how this building came to be, check out the history of the New York Public Library.
I thoroughly enjoyed our quick visit to this library. And I look forward to making a return trip some day. Thirty minutes is not enough time for anyone who is a bookworm to visit any library, let alone one as famous as the New York City Library.
4 0 Read moreUse Your Own Photos As Background Images In Your Graphics
March 12, 2023 by Denise M. Colby in category The Writing Journey by Denise Colby tagged as background images, Marketing for Authors, Social Media, Visual Content MarketingBackground images in graphics is something we don’t talk about much. Yet, when you see a social media graphic with a great quote, there most always is a graphic behind the words that helps communicate the message. So, if you plan to create your own graphics, choosing the photos you use in those graphics matter.
What to use as a background image
Nature is a popular choice, especially sunsets, sunrises, flowers, mountains or waterfalls. Images with animals are selected frequently as well, showing them all in their cute glory or in varying circumstances that can be funny or memorable. When we look at humorous posts, an image with a funny face or situation lends to the message.
The colors you use in your backgrounds is just as important. Sometimes the photo itself in the background may drive what color you use for your text in order for them to blend. But keep in mind, colors represent different things to people. Look up color choices, if interested in what emotion you want to convey in your graphics. And then choose your background image color accordingly.
I found this definition on the internet about using backgrounds in graphic design.
Backgrounds are the foundation of a successful composition. Background textures and colors create depth and contrast, allowing graphics to stand out and get noticed. Well-composed background images can help create space for you to overlay text.
Incorporating your brand in your background choices
Something to keep in mind is your brand. What is your brand? Specific colors in your brand? Do you have animals in your stories? Or what settings do you write most of your scenes? These all are ideas of what to use as background images in your graphics.
For example, if you write about cowboys, then horses and sunsets might be good options to include in your graphics. Every graphic should include your branding in some way. And think outside of the box a little bit to expand your branding content.
I found some 12 x 12 paper I liked and gave a historical look that I wanted in my background images. As I started using these to take pictures of books, bookmarks and other small items in my graphics, I liked the results.
Out of the few I first bought, I tend to use the same ones over and over because I like how the wood contrasts with all the types of images I’m creating.
If you know your brand and have a look, this is a great way to build consistency in your content. Try some things. It’s the only way to know what works and what doesn’t.
Taking your own photos and using them as background images
It’s important to note to not just find any photo off the internet. That’s actually taking someone else’s intellectual property. Instead you can find photos for free from certain apps, as well as purchase photos from several different resources.
Taking your own photos is a great way to create content. See if you can find things around you to be used as background images.
Start seeing backgrounds in the world around you
Some of this will take practice, but keeping an eye out for what you like is important. You have a brand and your brand is your style. Think about your readers, but I would focus on things that speak to you as well. A look, a vibe. All of which will come out as you build your content in your social media.
Be careful not to include anything people would be able to recognize. That’s not the point of a background image. And you don’t want something on your graphics that is someone else’s brand.
I’ve created a folder on my phone in my photos that is for background images. When I take a picture of something that I think would make a great background I save it in there so I can find it easily.
A little Disney magic in the background
One of my favorite places to find image backgrounds is Disneyland. Everything is clean and colorful and there are lots of choices available, from rock walls, boards, or the pathways. If you look around you can see things that you hadn’t noticed before, but they are part of the atmosphere. That’s what you want for your background photos. Something that blends in nicely but is clean and aestheticly pleasing.
I love going to Disneyland and taking pictures of the things around me. Disney thinks through everything, and it’s given me some great ideas for image backgrounds. Here are some additional examples:
If you zoom in close on something it can provide a completely different perspective and make the perfect background image.
I hope these examples give you some ideas for you to use in your content in the future.
Thanks for reading!
Denise M. Colby loves to write blog posts on marketing and SEO. She also loves to write about her word of the year. She creates social media graphics to highlight quotes from her word of the year. Take a look at this blog post on her 2022 word Work for additional ideas. Or the graphics created for her 2021 word Wisdom using the 12 x 12 paper mentioned above. Check out the new ones she’s created for her 2023 word Change. Or see more on her instagram or facebook pages.
0 0 Read moreLove & Romance Disney Couples Style
February 12, 2023 by Denise M. Colby in category The Writing Journey by Denise Colby tagged as Denise M. Colby, Disney, romanceI’m a Disney nerd. I love everything Disney, from the movies, the characters, to the parks. A few years ago I wrote a February post titled Dating Lessons from Wall-E. It was one of my funnest posts to write. I decided this February to try and find some other Disney couples to write about.
But first, I googled Disney Couples
Did you know there are a lot of Disney couples? I found two lists with vastly different names on them. Some had duplicates, but some did not. So I decided to create my own list. How many of these couples are you familiar with? Do you know their love story?
- Aurora & Phillip
- Snow White & the Prince
- Belle & Beast
- Wall-E and Eve
- Rapunzel & Eugene
- Anna and Kristoff
- Lady and the Tramp
- Jack Skellington and Sally
- Ella and Kit (from Cinderalla 2015)
- Meg and Hercules
- Mulan and Shang
- Ariel and Eric
Of course there are these main Disney couples
- Mickey & Minnie
- Donald & Daisy
Do you have favorites? Can you can identify which movies these couples are from? Do you know other Disney couples I need to add to my list?
Thanks for playing along with me today. If you are interested in some other Disney-related blog posts on my website, check out my Disney mugs are fun post, or my Christmas & Disney post.
0 0 Read more
