As an author, you are expected to provide your readers with realistic characters and interesting stories. They expect each character to have their own distinct voice, personality and mannerisms. Sometimes that can be a challenge!

There are many tools and tricks authors use to nail down a fully-realized character. Some write detailed character profiles, some keep a list or spreadsheet of all the character details, and some use other inspirations. For me, I have a sparkly purple notebook that holds my entire writing world. Every character from every story is listed in there with eye color, hair color and distinct traits like biting her bottom lip wihen nervous or leaving the room instead of facing conflict.

In addition to that, I get a lot of inspiration from music. As I listen to songs, i imagine the characters in my current works and if the words or mood of the song fit them. I usually find one or two songs that I mentally attach to that character, and whenever I'm ready to write, listening to the song reminds me of the uniqueness of their personalities and situations. For example, with my upcoming story Mistletoe Madness, Jordan Sparks' No Air and Next to You make me think of Sage and Scarlett, and 5SOS's If Walls Could Talk is my theme song for a character in my fantasy book Son of Water (coming in 2019).

I share all of this to say, there is no right or wrong way to develop your characters. Do whatever it takes to make them real to you. If you feel their "realness" then your readers will, too.

Happy writing, and go create those amazing 3D characters!

Feel free to share in the comments if you have any tips or tricks you use.

If you're playing around, having fun and don't really care if your writing sells, this post may not be for you. Then again, you may be able to apply this advice to other areas of your life, so feel free to read on.

If you're serious about publishing and marketing your book, I have a word of advice. Beware. There are genuine people in this world who want to be a part of your success, and there are those who are only out for themselves.

Let's talk about the supportive people first. These may be loved ones, friends, readers or industry professionals. They want you to succeed. Some want it because they know and love you. Some want it because it's good for them. Whether their motives are selfless or selfish, they are on your side. Where you need to be cautious is with their expertise. You may have family and friends who love you dearly and want to give you advice; however, they don't know what they're talking about. I had a well-meaning family member suggest if I wanted to be a success that I needed to start writing what people want to read. He had no clue about the young adult market and how popular it is. So, before you start following anyone's advice -- including mine -- make sure that person has the experience and knowledge to voice their opinions. Otherwise, thank them for their advice and forget what they said.

What about the other type of people? Sometimes it's hard to spot them. I've joined several online writing groups, and if you're serious about writing, I highly suggest that you do, too. Goodreads, Kboards and Absolute Write are great places to get started. On these sites you will meet a lot of knowledgeable, helpful people who will give you the good, bad and ugly about the publishing industry. They share their experience and genuinely hope it helps your career. However, not everyone on those sites is uplifting. I've found myself scrolling through posts and getting discouraged because of their tales of "doom and gloom". I've had to remind myself that I'm completely happy with my journey so far, and while I'm sorry for their bitter disappointments, that isn't my story.

Another type of negative person you might encounter is the one who only wants your money. There are a lot of people in this industry who will promise you fame and fortune if you will pay for their service. Be wary of anyone asking for money. There are legitimate services out there, but it's vital you know what you're paying for and what they can guarantee. I've seen new writers spend thousands of dollars for promotions and review services when they haven't checked out the free stuff first. If you're brand new to the writing game, don't fork over a ton of money you haven't earned yet. Check out the free and cheap stuff (like having your covers designed on Fiverr) and build your reader base. Once you've done that, then spend some of your hard-earned cash on promotions and other services.

This isn't a get-rich-quick endeavor. Don't let people con you out of your money because they say they've discovered the way to "easy street". They haven't.

Writing and publishing is a long journey. There will be ups and downs, highs and lows, and having supportive people by your side as you travel this road helps tremendously. Just make sure you can spot who those are, and don't let yourself get bamboozled by the ones who see you as their ticket to easy street.

Let's talk about money and fame! Do you want to make a livable wage from your book sales? if you research a thousand different authors, you'll get just as many answers. Everyone's journey is unique to them, just as yours will be unique to you.

Regardless of whether you follow advice that says you need to pursue a traditional publisher or you should self-publish or you need to be active on Goodreads or Wattpad or Instagram or (fill in the blank) -- the common thread through these writers' sage advice is this:

Write often and write well.

When I find authors I love, I'll read everything they write. If they only have one story out there, then I try to remember to check on them later; however, I don't always. It may be years down the road when I remember them and see if they have anything new (if it happens at all).

If you want to make money from your writing, you need to have multiple titles. When that reader finds your story and loves it, she'll be thrilled to see you have more, and you'll be thrilled that she buys them all. The more titles you have, the more likely readers are to discover you.

Just don't forget about the last part of the advice. Give them your best effort.

There was a writer I discovered when she had a few titles. Her stories were cute; although, her writing occasionally grated my nerves. I still read her works because the stories were so engaging. Fast forward a couple of years, and she had over 50 titles! 50!!! I picked up a book and began reading it, expecting the quality I'd seen in the past. It was gone. It felt like she'd thrown the story together, and the things that had irritated me about her writing previously were now amplified. I could be wrong in assuming that the quick release of so many titles meant that she'd rushed through it. All I know is her new stuff turned me off.

​So, find that balance of producing new works quickly while taking the time to make sure it's the best you can give your readers. Both you and your readers will be happy you did.

Have you ever gone onto a website or app and seen that it was a "beta" version? What is that all about???

In the technology world, a beta is a version that you're testing to make sure it works as expected, and one great way to do that is to allow users access to the version before it's final. This gives the developers a chance to see how the site or app handles day-to-day use and gives users a chance to provide feedback.

So, why am I talking about beta testing in my Write Advice column? Because, your manuscript should go through its own beta testing before you release it to the world.

Beta readers are invaluable to your success. They give you the truth others might not want to share. They tell you want works and what doesn't.  They make you a better writer.

If it weren't for my beta readers, I'd have an ending for Wished that didn't work. I might never have finished Just Another Stupid Boy. I might not even be writing young adult/teen stories. One of my very first Beta readers (my beautiful sister) read a story I'd planned to pitch to Harlequin. Her feedback was, "I like the story, but your adults sound like teenagers."

I took a step back and looked at my story again. As usual, my sister was right. I started over, this time writing about a teen protagonist. My story What I Hear was born. The teen angle worked (even though the story didn't), and I was hooked on writing teen fiction.

I've learned so much about myself and my writing through my Beta readers' feedback. Even though it hasn't always been easy to hear, I've appreciated every comment.

So, I highly recommend you find some great Beta readers. People who will tell you the truth, who are willing to take the time to read your work in a timely manner, who will give you details on what worked, what didn't and why.

It may not be the most pleasant experience, but it will push you to be the very best version of yourself possible. And that makes the growing pains worth it.

You've worked so hard on your story. You've written a great manuscript. You've chosen a publishing route. You've either pitched your manuscript to industry professionals, or you've been working hard to get everything ready for your self-publishing debut.

So, now what?

If you haven't already, it's time to build your social media presence.

But, you may say, my traditional or vanity publisher will be handling my marketing. Yes, they will handle some marketing for you. But you are not their only writer, and they will expect you to get the word out, as well. 

You will need a website and email address. You need to choose which social media platforms you'll use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. Having an online presence shows your readers and publishing professionals that you're serious and committed to your craft. It lets them know that you're going to be around and won't disappear as only a one-hit wonder.

​Are you going to blog in addition to writing your next manuscript? Blogging is a great way to keep in touch with your readers while they are waiting for your next story.

​Whatever you choose, make sure it's something you can easily keep doing. After all, your biggest job is to write your next manuscript, and your readers will expect both - your social media presence and the promise of a new book soon.

​There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to which social media outlets you use - as long as you have them. So, if you haven't already, get social, my friend! (Feel free to share your site or social media information in the comments so that we can follow you!)

​When you decide to sell your manuscript to a traditional publishing house, your next step is to write a query letter and a synopsis. Entire books are devoted to each of these important documents. And for a creative writer, they can be especially hard because they require a different style of writing than your manuscript did.

But you can do it! You're a writer!

​In this post, I'll give you some basic tips and hints to get you started. To complete your query and synopsis, check out your prospective publisher's or agent's submission guidelines.

​Your query letter needs to be a business letter telling the publisher or agent who you are and a little bit about the work you're pitching to them. It is a LETTER and needs to be written as a letter with all the letter components -- even if the publisher or agent wants you to submit to them via webpage submission. Show your professionalism by giving them an actual query letter. Think of this letter as your author resume and include any professional organizations you belong to, as well as any contests or awards you've won. Show the publisher or agent that you are a professional that they can build a long-term relationship with -- not someone who one day wrote a book because it sounded fun and might be a one-hit wonder.

​Your synopsis is yet another challenge. It has to condense your 60 thousand, 100 thousand, or 300 thousand-word manuscript into 3 or 4 pages. But, it's not a book report. It has to capture your writing style, give them an idea of the tone of the book, AND tell them the ending. Excluding the ending or adding cute little phrases like "read the manuscript to see how it ends" automatically sends your work to the recycle bin. Think of it as a longer, more detailed book blurb. If I were writing a synopsis for my current WIP (work in progress) The Ugly Sister, it would be less of this:

Hailey Knowles is a wild child who decides she needs to get a boyfriend before her twin sister Bailey does.

And more of this:

Being the second-place twin is getting old for Hailey Knowles. Just once, she'd like to beat her sister Bailey in something, and when she sees the opportunity to get a boyfriend, she goes for it.

The first statement says basically the same thing as the second one, but the second one gives the publisher or agent a hint into my writing style and foreshadows that Hailey is the "bad" twin and that she is spontaneous and opportunistic.

Play around with your writing as you work on the synopsis. Take it seriously and spend the time needed to get it perfect.

I do recommend that you find articles and books on writing your query letter and synopsis. Check out the websites for the publishers and agents you're targeting and pay very close attention to any directions or suggestions they make. Don't rush through this important step. If you want your work to be read, a strong query letter and synopsis is crucial.

​And when you get that publisher or agent contract, post here so we can celebrate with you!

You've written a book you're proud of. You know what your goals are and have a realistic expectation of the money you're going to make. Now what?

​If you're looking for a traditional publisher or an agent, then it's time to write a query letter and synopsis, and I'll give you some tips in my next Write Advice post. While it's important to understand cover art for your book. Your publisher has the final say in what the book looks like.

​For my self-publishing friends, you need to focus on your cover art. (For those looking for a vanity publisher, read their terms to determine if they are creating the cover art or if you need to supply it.)

​How important is cover art? More than you can imagine!

Most readers will try new authors based on catchy book titles and cover art. I love light-hearted, funny stories, so I'm on the look-out for covers that make me smile. If the cover has a lot of dark colors or is monotone, then it's probably a drama that's going to make me cry. I don't go any further to see what's inside - even though it's probably a great story - because I assume it's not what I'm looking for.

When I created the covers for Wished and Denied, I used messed-up cupcakes for several different reasons, the top two being, the stories revolve around birthday wishes, and the results of those wishes are unexpected (and a little messy). Most importantly, though, I used those pictures because I thought they were fun, and I wanted my stories to have a fun tone.

So, if you are self-publishing, you need to either create the cover art yourself or have someone else do it. For my novel-length stories (Wished, Denied, Granted, Just Another Stupid Boy), I've created the cover art myself. I love doing it, and since I'm charging more for those books, then it's worth the hours I spend creating and editing the covers. For my shorter stories (A Boy Named series) I hired a freelancer from Fiverr. For $5 a cover, I had a professional create a cohesive look for the series while I focused on my writing.

​Regardless of whether you create the title yourself or hire someone to do it for you, make sure your cover is eye-catching and gives your readers a clue into what they're buying. A great cover can make all the difference when you're building your reader base.

As writers we constantly make decisions - what to write about, characters' names, plot lines, publishing decisions, etc. The list goes on and on.
We also have to think about our brand and who our readers are. Our readers want to know more about us; they want a small glimpse into our lives. They may even consider us a friend. As such, need to make ourselves real to them and let them into our worlds a bit.
However, there's a fine line you have to navigate.
We need to be careful that we don't disillusion our readers. I mention this because I've come to a sad realization. I no longer have a favorite author. I love her talent, her creativity, her storylines. However, I hate her politics, and I've gotten tired of hearing about them. In the past, I'd buy one of her books without even reading the back cover because I knew I'd love it. After reading another one of her aggravating posts on Facebook, I thought about the last time I bought one of her books, and I can't remember how long ago it was! I've probably missed six of her latest titles, and I no longer have a desire to read her work.
It's sad but true.
So, my advice to you, as a writer, keep in mind what your audience wants from you and protect that relationship. My J. Leigh James readers don't come to me for my opinion on current events, and I will never ask them to. If I want to share my viewpoints, I'll either do it from my personal page or I'll create another brand that people will expect those type of messages from. I recommend you do the same.
​Now, please excuse me while I unfollow a former, favorite writer.

Is your writing goal to make money?

​Here's where I give you some very bad news. Most published authors don't make full-time wages on their book sales. I don't have figures for this year, but the last time I heard numbers from an industry professional roughly 10 years ago:

The average book makes 10K over the lifetime of its sales.

​My bet is this has gone up slightly. This figure is based off of traditional publishers who "retired" books after sales dropped off. With authors now able to publish their backlists online, the number has probably gone up.

​If this is still true, then you're going to have to write a lot of books or find other writing gigs to make money as a full-time writer. Most published authors I know have "day jobs" to pay the bills, and their writing is either a little spending money or a supplementary income.

Does that mean you should give up?

Of course not! You might be the next James Patterson or J. K. Rowling. (And I hope you are!) I mention this so you understand how the publishing industry works.

​Again, I'm going to harp on having goals! If you want to make a lot of money, you'll need to do your research and figure out which path is for you. Depending on which publishing type you choose will depend on how you receive your money and how much you'll make. So, let me go into some things to consider:

Advances
​This is money a traditional publisher pays you before the book is available for anyone to buy. It's a guaranteed amount of money you receive when you enter a contract with the publisher. The upside is it's guaranteed. The downside is you won't make any more money until the publisher has earned back their advance money.

​Royalties
​This is the money you make per each book sale. Traditional publishers will keep the royalties from your book sales until they've earned back the advance. Once that happens, then you'll begin to earn a percentage of the royalties, and that percentage will be outlined in the contract you have with the publisher.

​If you're with a vanity publisher, you'll need to read your contract to figure out how they work the royalties, since each one will be slightly different.

​If you're self-publishing, you will earn your royalties immediately (earn them, not necessarily get paid them). Read the online publisher's guidelines to understand how much money you can make. I've seen ranges of 35% to 70% royalties, but they also charge a small digital delivery fee. So, know how much you can expect on each sale.

​Examples of what you might earn self-publishing
​35% of a $2.99 book = $1.05
​If you wanted to make $20,000 a year, you'd have to sale 19,048 books.

​70% of a $2.99 book = $2.09
​For $20,000, you'd have to sale 9,570 books.

What does this all mean?
​Know how much money you want and understand the effort it's going to take to get it. Most authors don't become successes overnight, and they work really hard to promote sales. If money is your goal, you'll need to do more than just write a good book. You'll also need to research your publishing options and choose the one that's more likely to get you what you want.

​Good luck, and I can't wait to see you in print! Let me know when you have it published so I can check it out!

You've written the best story you know how, and you've made the terrifying and thrilling decision to share it with the world. What's next?

Remember those goals I said you needed? This is where they become vital.

There are three avenues to publish, each with their own pros and cons: traditional publisher, vanity publisher, and self publisher. I'll go into these a little bit, but if you read nothing else, pay attention to this:

Do your research! Not every publisher is a fit for you and your goals. Research publishers and figure out which one best fits your needs.

Traditional Publishers
These are established publishing houses with a history of publishing books and authors who are household names. Publishers like HarperCollins and Penguin. They publish hardback, paperback and online, and they have deals with big box and online stores like Barnes & Noble, Walmart and Target.

If you're thinking about submitting your manuscript to a traditional publisher, here are some things to keep in mind.

1. Many traditional publishers will only deal with literary agents, so you have to sign with an agent before you can sign with a traditional publisher, and sometimes that's as difficult as finding a publisher for your work.
2. Traditional publishing usually pays more than other types. You receive an advance (guaranteed cash) while the book is being produced and royalties if the book sells beyond the advance you made.
3. Traditional publishers will have submissions guidelines you need to follow. This will tell you the genres they are buying, the length of the manuscript and if they are open to new authors.
4. This type of publishing is NOT fast. Your manuscript might sit on a publisher's desk for months at a time before you know if they're interested. Once they say they're interested, it will take several more months to edit and produce the book.
5. You may have little to no say in your book's title and cover art.

Vanity Publishers
These are the companies where you pay them to publish your work. Be very careful with this type of publisher and do your research! Some vanity publishers offer services like cover art design, editing and promotions - so you are getting some support for your money. Some will give you a product without any support or services and will only want to market it to your family and friends.

If you want to use a vanity publisher, here are some things to consider:

1. Compare the costs of the different companies and find out if there is a royalty structure for selling your book.
2. Determine who owns the rights to the book and for how long.
3. Vanity publishing is usually a quicker process than traditional publishing.
   
4. Vanity publishers typically make less than traditional publishers.
5. The publisher may or may not market your book and may or may not have relationships with stores to sell your book.
6. You typically have more control over your title and cover art with a vanity publisher.

Self Publishing
With self publishing, you own the entire process. You decide what you'll do yourself and what tasks you'll hire professionals to do. The quality of your book, marketing and promotions and cover art are all up to you. You determine where your book will be sold, but keep in mind, it probably won't be at a big box store unless you've established yourself as a successful author.

If you want to self publish, keep in mind:

1. Everything is on your shoulders unless you pay someone to do it for you.
2. If you want big sales or consistent sales, you must market, market, market.
3. Self publishing doesn't earn as much as other forms unless you're selling a lot.
4. Each place you sell will have their own commission structure, guidelines and formatting requirements.  Amazon and iBook have different formatting structures, and iBook (at this point in time) can only be published via a Mac.

​No matter which publisher you choose, as long as it's the one that fits your goals, then it's the right one for you. Happy writing, and best of luck on your journey!