3 Things I've learned as a Publisher that Make Me a Better Author by Misty M. Beller

As a full-time writer, I’ve been published by both small and large presses, as well as publishing many of my books myself. For years, I’d been mulling over the idea of starting my own small press, but never felt that peace in my spirit that comes from knowing a decision is God’s will. Then at the beginning of 2018, things began to change. I felt God saying, “Yes. Now.”

The Rule of Five for Writers by Misty M. Beller

John Maxwell, the great leadership guru, has taught for years about his "Rule of 5" daily practice. The Rule of 5 is simply a series of activities that you do EVERY DAY that are fundamental to your success. For John, his Rule of 5 are as follows: every day he reads, every day he files, every day he thinks, every day he asks questions, and every day he writes.

Picture a forest of trees in your backyard - massive pecans and oaks. If you choose one tree to strike at with five swings of an ax every day, eventually you'll cut down that tree. If you take five swings at five random trees each day, what will you end up with? An ugly forest full of scarred trees.

I love this concept for so many reasons, but mostly because it makes succeeding at huge tasks manageable, and helps build productive habits. When you write a book, you most likely use the Rule of 5 concept to make it to The End. Breaking those 75,000 words into a daily count makes the long haul less daunting, right?

This same concept applies so well when growing your email list, or even getting approved for a Bookbub Featured Deal. It's all about being Intentional and Consistent (in that order).

So what are my Rule of 5 for writing and marketing books? What are the 5 things I do every day that help me write books and grow my readership?

1. Time with God. I’ve recently shifted my devotional time to just before I begin writing (instead of first thing in the morning). This new time is when my mind is clearest and I don’t have the craziness of a morning with three kids under the age of 11. The change has been so refreshing!

2. Work on my WIP. Whether I'm in the plotting/planning stage, writing the first draft, or editing, I always touch the book I'm currently writing, because that's what I must do to make forward progress with it. I always have goals for how much progress I should make daily, so it's great if I meet that goal. But even if I don't meet the goal, I need to do something. Because producing regular content is critical to keeping (and growing) a happy fan base.

3. Answer emails. For me, I need to set aside time for this so I can give my responses the focus the recipient deserves. It's just the way my brain works. :) So to give this task the priority it needs, I've made this one of my 5.

4. Prepare for my upcoming book release. When I'm in typical book production mode, I try to always have a book available for pre-order with a firm release date. At the beginning of a pre-order, I create a plan to market the book, although the plan is very flexible! I implement the marketing plan as I go, and it's best done in small, daily pieces. So for today, maybe I need to schedule a blog tour, or maybe I need to schedule free days for the previous book in the series, or maybe I need to write an email to my list. The possibilities are endless, but I should already have a list of my planned actions for the book release, and every day I need to accomplish a small something from that list.

5. Think about Advertising or Email List growth opportunities. Separate from a new release, do I need to submit for a Bookbub or ENT ad for a backlist book? I put reminders in my calendar for when each book is likely due for one of these larger ads, but it's not completely auto-pilot. I still need to tweak submission timing by number of reviews on a particular book or my release plan for other books. For my reader email list, do I have specific list-building tools in process that need attention (like FB Lead Gen ads)? Or do I need to sign up for group giveaways? Maybe my automated welcome sequence needs to be updated.

So there you have it, my Rule of 5 for writing and marketing books this year.

And how about you? What are some of the things you do intentionally each day to keep yourself on track? Please share!

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Misty M. Beller writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love, including her latest release, This Treacherous Journey.

She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and daughters now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

Connect with Misty at her website, marketing blog for authors, Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, Bookbub, and Pinterest. 

This Treacherous Journey:

Widowed and with child, Emma Malcom is fleeing from the reward offered for her arrest. She’s innocent of the dirty dealings her deceased husband orchestrated, but the angry townspeople didn’t stop to listen to her defense before she narrowly escaped with her life. Now, she and her twin brother, Joseph, must battle the mountain wilderness of the Rockies to reach Canada and the clean start she craves. But when a fall from the rocky cliff leaves Joseph wounded and weak, could the strange mountain man they encounter be God’s gift to see them to safety?

Simeon Grant makes bad choices. His deceased wife and twin babies are lost to him now because of his reckless decisions, and the penance he pays by living alone in this mountain wilderness is only a small piece of what he thinks he deserves. When a city woman, heavy with child, appears on his doorstep with her injured brother, her presence resurrects the memories he’s worked so hard to forget. And when she asks for his help to travel deeper into the mountain country, he can’t help wonder why God would force him to relive the same mistakes he’s already suffered through. Or maybe taking these two to safety could be the way to redeem himself.

But when their travels prove more treacherous than he imagined, Simeon finds himself pressing the limits of his ability to keep Emma and her brother safe. Can he overcome the past that haunts him to be the man she needs? Will Emma break through the walls around Simeon’s heart before it’s too late, or will the dangers of these mountains be the end of them all?

The Power of a Bucket List by Misty M. Beller

Misty M. Beller

What prompted you to start writing? Did you always dream of having your stories published? Was it something you began on a whim? Author Misty Beller shares what made her decide it was time to put her imagination to work. ~ Dawn

The Power of a Bucket List

This morning, I was telling a friend how proud I was that he’s taken the initiative to accomplish something he’s wanted to do for years. In his case, the accomplishments involved Invisalign and a pretty serious diet, but it made me think back to several years ago when I first created my bucket list.

The idea of a bucket list been on my mind for a while, and I finally took the initiative when January 1st rolled around. You want to know what was the first item I listed?

“Write a novel that's published.”

Yes! Reading has always been a huge part of my life, but as I held pen and journal in hand, I put words to the secret dream I’d never admitted to anyone.

Now that I’d actually recorded that dream on paper, I realized I had to do it. I made the commitment.

So, I had a general idea that I wanted it to be a Christian western romance. But where to start? That blank Word document seemed much more daunting than it had for any college essay or work memo. Somehow, all the thousands of novels I’d read didn’t give me a clue how to start my own!

I finally decided I needed to find a good book to help me plan, so off to the library I went. I stumbled upon (i.e. God led me to) the best possible book to help me get started with a great plan: Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell. For all you writers out there, I can’t recommend it highly enough! 

From there, I soaked in every bit of writing instruction I could from some amazing groups and individuals. Midway through that first story, I discovered this neat group called the American Christian Fiction Writers. Wow! 

Writing and I have had a love affair since then, and I’ve spent countless hours sitting with my laptop pouring out words onto the screen. God has blessed my journey as a hybrid author, and now with six books released, I have the special privilege of a full-time writing career. I pray for His guidance and inspiration for every new story. Writing is in my blood. It’s my passion. A true gift from my Heavenly Father, and I pray daily that he uses the words for His purpose.

But now, as I begin my eighth novel, my mind drifts toward that bucket list. Who would have thought it would turn into all this? What other dreams has He planted for me there? What else will I miss if I don’t take action?

What about you? What’s on your bucket list? What’s the next dream you’re going to pursue?

The Lady and the Mountain Promise

Lilly Arendale has fought the anger of prejudice all her life. Her Guatemalan mother and wealthy English father were very much in love and gave her the best of upbringings, but their family was never accepted in either country. Now, orphaned and alone in the mining town of Butte in the Montana Territory, the effects of racism have left Lilly with a one-year old daughter and a fierce desire to avoid men at all costs.

Marcus Sullivan is a born adventurer, and the new preacher in town. He’s not afraid to take a few risks and his ways may be unconventional, but he’s determined to add some joy into the lives of these townspeople. Especially the beautiful young mother who won’t have anything to do with him.

When the threat to Lilly intensifies and her worst fears comes true, how can she find the strength to release control of the one thing that matters most—her daughter’s life? As Marcus steps in to help, the danger only escalates. Has he finally taken a risk he can’t overcome?

Misty M. Beller writes Christian historical romance, and is author of the bestselling Mountain Dreams Series, including her latest release The Lady and the Mountain Promise.

Misty was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. About eleven years ago, she made a career change from farm life into the business world, where she worked as a Senior Manager and Director of Process & Training. She’s now loving the life of a full-time writer, wife, and mother.

You can find her on her website, reader blog, marketing blog for authors, Goodreads, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.