How To Build Your Fire When Your Wood's Still Wet

with guest Cynthia Herron.

Hi Friends ~ 

I’m delighted to join you today! Thanks so much for inviting me as your guest.

To kick off our fun, I fired up the stove. Scoot close. You can almost smell it! We have chicken fried steak with lots of “crispies,” hash brown potatoes, omelets made to order, and of course, angel biscuits with country style gravy. Oh, and there’s coffee, tea, and juice to wash down all the deliciousness. (And don’t worry about calories. I prayed those suckers right out. 😊)

Now, let’s get started!

When I jumped back into writing several years ago, a lot had changed. My craft was a tad rusty, but even more daunting? Social media. Tribe-building. Blogging. Branding. Website-wrangling. All those crazy, wonderful things that comprise a writer’s platform.

What on Earth did I know about THAT? In addition, I’m pre-published. Just how did one build something like platform from scratch? How did I start? What to do first?

As I toyed with various ideas, I remembered a funny analogy. (Except…not so funny at the time.)

Growing up, Sis and I had chores while our parents worked. Since she was several years younger, she got the easier tasks (isn’t that always the way?) My responsibilities included supper prep, laundry, and general housekeeping odds and ends. Also, in the winter, if the fire was lit, it was my job to keep it going.

Daddy schooled me in safety measures, but of course, he didn’t really have to because I was a teenager. And you and I both know, teenagers know everything.

That’s exactly why, when the wood box got low, I tramped outside in the snow and gathered a few more logs. But I didn’t use the dry logs—the ones underneath the covered tarp out back. Nope. I collected some logs in a different pile because it was closest. Easiest. Also, wettest.

Well, drat.

I hauled the wood indoors and tossed a few of those wet logs on the dying fire. Kerplunk. 

Well, wouldn’t you know it. Those buggers all but doused what was left of the fire. 

“But Daddy said you should use the other wood. I’m telling!”

“You won’t have to, Miss Know-It-All.” I glanced at my sister. “I have everything under control.”

I poked and prodded the remaining embers until, wonder of wonders, new flames sparked to life.

Hallelujah! I raised a fire from the dead! *cue the cymbals*

“See? Not so hard.” 

And then, God smiled. And…probably shook His head.

A few hours later when my eyelids started to swell and my skin broke out in a mottled, pink rash, Daddy didn’t mince words.

“Cindy, you didn’t use that wood out back I set aside? The wood I told you not to use?”

For crying-out-loud, how’d my beloved daddy know? It had taken a while, but I’d brought that measly fire back to life—and the house was toasty warm due to my efforts.

“…Because there was a reason I told you not to use that wet firewood. Besides being wet, those are the logs I wasn’t going to use. The ones with the poison ivy vines still attached.”

Oops. Should have listened. 

Little did I know, one day, that lesson would serve me well as I built my author platform.

It’s possible to build a fire from wet wood, but it takes time to catch. Usually, you first have to arrange dryer pieces of kindling beneath the wet logs. The idea, of course, is to dry out the wet ones, creating the ideal environment for a successful burn.

Let’s equate this to writing.

In this technologically-minded world, bells and whistles abound. For those who aren’t particularly tech-savvy or social-media competent, life’s an adventure. Add writer to that (especially one who’s still a little wet behind the ears and in the initial platform-building stages) and it’s an emotional roller coaster. 

Here’s what I did:

• I started slow. I didn’t jump into everything all at once. I observed others I admired. Edie Melson, Jamie Chavez, Kim Garst, Writer’s Digest, Writer Unboxed, and of course, Seekerville, to name a few.

• I followed experts in various fields and gained confidence through knowledge. A word here. Many refer to themselves as “experts” and aren’t. My rule of thumb is to always choose three or four reliable sources and see if their recommendations are similar and factual. 

• I joined professional writing organizations such as ACFW, ACFW MozArks, and RWA.  Connecting with other writers is important as we advance our craft and grow our sea legs.  

• Because every writer needs an online home, I initially built a simple WordPress site. I’m not too proud to admit I bought WordPress for Dummies to help me with this. (Later, I partnered with Jones House Creative who designed a fresh, new website with a whiter, cleaner presentation.)

• I purchased my domain name. If yours is already taken, use a variation that lets the world know you’re Jane Doe Author. (For instance, mine is authorcynthiaherron.com, not to be confused with another Cynthia who is an artist.)

• I started a blog. At first, my topics were all over the map. When I nailed down Heartfelt, Homespun Fiction as my tagline, I shifted my thoughts to encouragement-focused content. Ozarks trivia, slice-of-life vignettes, and motivation remain near and dear to my heart. No—blogging isn’t a must and you don’t have to do it. Writers write books, so that trumps blogging, however, be aware your online home is yours. Not some other medium’s whose algorithms are ever-changing. 

• I started a Facebook author page. Many writers feel comfortable with just enabling the “follow” button on their personal profile. This allows your fans to follow your public updates so that’s an option if you’d rather do that. 

• I opened a Twitter account and set up TweetDeck (to better organize my connections). 

• I created a LinkedIn profile (which lends a sense of professionalism) and I connected with authors, editors, agents, and industry contacts. Let me add—I don’t accept every invitation that comes my way. Call me a meanie, but a “professional clown” and I don’t share the same goals and objectives. Unlike Facebook or Twitter, LinkedIn isn’t the place to post personal updates. It’s a tool best used to showcase your attributes, accomplishments, work experience, publishing credits, etc. We might share blog posts or encouraging graphics, as well.

• I started a newsletter. I use MailChimp, and while there’s a bit of a learning curve, I’ve never looked back. Again, a newsletter is yours. So much more could be said here, but please check out Does a Newsletter Scare You? Five Ways to Rock It! 

• I joined Pinterest. Since my tagline is Heartfelt, Homespun Fiction I create boards and I pin with that in mind. Some of my boards are fun and creative, while many provide story inspiration and motivation. And yes—I do use secret boards for story ideas. So. Much. Fun! 

• I entered writing contests. Contests are a wonderful (unbiased) way to improve our writing and boost our self-confidence.

Now, let me just say, these are ways I chose to build a platform from scratch—things I felt I could successfully navigate without wrecking my writing time and without being a total slave to social media. You may choose other avenues that better suit your needs and personality. Totally okay. (As of July 2017, here’s a list of the Top 15 Most Popular Social Media Sites via Dreamgrow.)

As other Seekerville guests have mentioned, writers needn’t (and shouldn’t) feel like we must master it all. If our heart’s not in it, it shows. Dazzling Dinah may be all that and a bag of pork rinds, but some of us have different tastes and that’s where we’ll excel. 

Here’s what I learned:

• Listen to those we trust, those with a little more expertise. 

• Ask questions. 

• Learn from our mistakes. 

• Increase our odds of success by trying proven methods.

• Embrace what works. Discard what doesn’t. 

• Create something new.

• Adjust as we grow. 

• Reinvent as necessary.

• Don’t try to be Wonder Woman.

Here are some additional insights: 

• How to Love Twitter Without Going Crazy (My Unofficial Guidelines)

• Social Media Etiquette: Let’s Review

• Should Writers Blog? 

Here’s the bottom line:

• As with anything worthwhile, a writer’s platform isn’t built overnight. Rarely, do we burst on the scene with an immediate following. Connections, real connections (not just numbers) take time. No worries! We’ve all been there. We grow our presence by blessing others first. 

• My personal motto? Dedicate→encourage→serve→ bless. 

• And remember—there is no dumb question. (Over the years, I’ve asked a ton of questions!)

What about you? How did you build your platform and grow your presence? What tips would you share? Any pet peeves concerning social media? What things can we help with you with today? 

If you’re a reader, what draws you to an author? Besides great stories, what makes you want to know them better? 

Leave a comment for a chance to win lunch, coffee, and books on me!

(Winner announced in the Weekend Edition.)

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Original Image Credits: Pixabay

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Author Cynthia Herron writes Heartfelt, Homespun Fiction from the beautiful Ozark Mountains. A hopeless romantic at heart, she enjoys penning stories about ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances. 

Cynthia has a degree in psychology and a background in social work. She is a member of ACFW, ACFW MozArks, and RWA. 

She is a 2017 ACFW Genesis Finalist, a 2016 ACFW Genesis (Double) Finalist, and a 2015 ACFW First Impressions Winner. Her short story Words from the Heart appears in The Story Anthology (Karen Kingsbury/Family Fiction) via Salem Publications, 2014. 

Besides writing, Cynthia enjoys spending time with family and friends. She has a fondness for gingerbread men, miniature teapots, and all things apple. She also adores a great cup of coffee and she never met a sticky note she didn’t like.

“Cindy” loves to connect with friends at: http://www.authorcynthiaherron.com/

She also hangs out here:

http://www.twitter.com/C_Herronauthor
http://www.facebook.com/authorcynthiaherron
http://www.pinterest.com/cynthia_herron/

For love, fun, and encouragement ~


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