Crush Your Christmas Chores with Canva

December 02, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

It’s no secret that I L-O-V-E Canva. I use the digital design tool almost daily and tell nearly everyone I know about its wonderous capabilities. Today I want to show you how you can use this gem of website to crush your Christmas chore list. The holidays are C-R-A-Z-Y and if your to-do list is anything like mine, it stretches a mile long (and then some). But if you use Canva, you can quickly cross several of those items off your list and get on to cookie eating, carol singing and whatever else your little holiday-loving heart desires.

In the video below, I will show you how to make a:

Christmas Card
Christmas Letter
Personalized Gift Tags
Unique Gift Certificates for Experience Gifts
Canvas Photo Collage Wall Art
Printable Shopping Lists for Gifts and Menus

I will also show you how to download and order these items affordably. Long gone are the days of spending almost two dollars a piece of your photo Christmas cards. With Next Day Flyers, you can get them for almost a quarter a piece!

For a quick sneak peek… here are the items I show you how to design!

If you are short on time and can’t stick around to watch the video, or if you already know how to use Canva and want to jump into the goodness right away, here are the links you need to get going.

CANVA

(for designing)

NEXT DAY FLYERS

(for ordering cards, gift tag stickers and more!)

Alrighty, that’s it! Best of luck as you attempt to crush your Christmas chore list. If you get stuck at all, email me and I’d be happy to walk you through you design debacle. If you are REALLY short on time and you just want me to do the design work for you, head to my online shop where you can pick up your Graphic Creation Package. All of my Thanksgiving Weekend Sales have ended, but I’ve kept this single item on sale at 20% off, just for YOU!!

Happy holidays my word nerd friends!

~ Amanda

Today’s post was made beautiful by CANVA. You can check out my blog archive collection here.

If you liked what you read on my blog today (or are in search of weekly word nerd goodness) and would like to have it delivered to your inbox every Wednesday morning, you can sign up HERE. If you are interested in any of my email lists (with free goodies/downloads!) click the audience that best describes you: Writer. Teacher. Reader. As always, feel free to share this post with others you think might be interested via email, Facebook or Pinterest.

Finally, affiliate marketing is promoting a product or service in return for a commission. When you purchase a product or service through one of my links, I earn a small part of the sale. There is NEVER any extra cost to you. If you looked up the same product on the same site through another source besides my website, the price will still be exactly the same. 100% of the time.

I also NEVER link to products or services that I don't 100% believe in. I will never tout a company or their goods if they are disreputable or if I don't believe them to be worthy of your hard-earned money. In no way are my affiliate links a scam. (Language borrowed with permission from Kristen Kieffer on Well-Storied.com)

Gratitude in 2020

November 25, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

For the past two years I’ve posted something about Gratitude during the week of Thanksgiving.

I wanted to continue the tradition but wasn’t sure what I’d write. What does gratitude look like in 2020?

Amidst a year that has failed in so many ways, I have not ceased to feel grateful. Simply listing all the ways in which my life remained wonderful despite the challenges and disappointments… the people, the adapted opportunities, the safety nets, the love… felt a bit like throwing my good graces in the faces of others who have not been so fortunate.

After an incredibly busy weekend of book launching and selling, I didn’t have time to write you something poetic either. So instead, what I am choosing to offer up, in this week in which tradition asks us to count our blessings, are a few wise words. I want to offer up a collection of reflections and sentiments on gratitude in hopes that these words (although they are not mine) will bring a bit of joy and peace and light into your life.

I hope that wherever you are as you read this and however you are celebrating, that you have many things for which to be grateful. If not, I’d ask you to pause and take a moment to think. You might surprise yourself with the number of good things you can actually tick off on your fingers.

Feel free to share these quotes and images on your own websites and social media pages, so that the good words of gratitude can reach even more readers. And don’t forget to tell those who bring good things into your life just how thankful you are. Trust me when I say they’ll be grateful for your kind words.

4 Sources for Writing Industry Knowledge

November 18, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

Last week I shared a behind the curtain peek at author royalties. And it got waaaaaay more views that my usual blog pieces. Like double. I like to think that what I share each week is helpful. At least, it’s a goal. I want to share strategies, tips and resources that will help other writers move forward and make progress on their writing journey. But maybe what I forgot is that sometimes the questions pile up because we have no one to ask, and this fact makes these questions seem even more important.

in the publishing industry there is a very limited stock of people who “know” THE ASNWERS. These “in-the-know” people - agents, editors, publishers and authors who have been through the hoops several times - are BUSY people. In fact, they are so busy that it is standard practice to assume non-interest (in you/yourproject), if you haven’t received a reply to your email/request/question/query within six months. SERIOUSLY… if you haven’t gotten so much as a form letter rejection in six months… just move on.

It seems harsh, but this practice is not out of any level of unkindness. It’s simply that these people are too busy to respond to those projects (people) who are not of interest. It is a FACT that replying to the multitudinous volume of things they are not interested in will delay the process of replying to (and working with) the people/projects they DO want to work with. And I guess I can forgive them for that, but it’s still pretty disheartening. How are new writers supposed to KNOW? Through what channel can they learn the answers to their ever-growing pile of questions?

And I think THAT is why my blog post was viewed double the amount of times than my typical analytics show. What do you do when you get good results? You draw from the same well again. So, it with that in mind that today, I want to share a few other places where you can find the answers to THOSE QUESTIONS.

Self-Publishing 101: Author Royalties

November 11, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

A question I get asked frequently, especially when I launch a new book like I did last week, is: what is the best way for me to order your book? What these kind and supportive people are attempting to politely ask is, which way do you make the most money. I know pre-published writers are curious about this too. They want to know, and rightly so, before they put in the blood sweat and tears, how much will they really make in author royalties when all is said and done? And the answer is, it’s complicated.

In the spirit of both learning and total transparency I’d like to share with you the different royalty amounts a few of my books earn via their various sales paths in hopes of educating future self-publishers and also for those of you who want to support me in the best possible way.

10 Things I Love About Close Quarters: A Pivotal Pause

November 04, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

When I was in high school one of my favorite movies was 10 Things I Hate About You. It had everything I loved. Currently trendy actors/actresses, nerdy references to Shakespeare, a good soundtrack and an underdog storyline.

In homage to that 90’s classic, I’m going to tell you 10 Things I LOVE about my newest book, which released yesterday.

#10 - I love that it picks up right where the last book left off.

A Reading Recommendation Round Up: Election Edition

October 28, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

In this divisive world we live in, there are two sides to everything. When it comes to the impending election my husband and I will vote the same, but in the days prior to the actual event of driving to the polls, we’ll reside in two different camps. He is done with the rollercoaster/media storm/online banter. And I get that. It can be… a bit much. I understand that an election can push people towards feelings of negativity, overwhelm, and despair. But I, on the other hand, can’t get enough. Despite already knowing the names next to the bubbles I will fill in with a black marker, I can’t turn away from the commentary, the analysis, the updates and yes… the circus of it all.

We are each firmly rooted in our own space, Camp Escape with my Sanity vs. Camp Can’t Get Enough. What where are you pitching your tent?

No matter which side of this fence you sit on, I believe you’ll find something to enjoy in today’s politically themed book recommendation round up.

First Chapter First Look for A Pivotal Pause

October 21, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

Almost a year ago I released, Close Quarters, the first book in a new series about four cousins who live in my hometown. A lot has changed in our world since last November, but my love for writing about the Ames cousins and their dreams, relationships and drama has not. In today’s blog post I am thrilled to give you a first look at the next installment of the lives of these ambitious, quirky and fun-loving women.

You can listen to the first chapter of the book, here and to learn more about the release details, launch event and pre-ordering, continue to the full post!

For now, I’ll leave you with the blurb from the back of the book. Happy reading!

In A Pivotal Pause, we find the Ames Cousins right where we left them… heading into a brand-new year with plans for making it the best one yet. Kelly is on a mission to balance her family life and store’s success with her husband’s war injury recovery, while Lindsay is determined to maintain her great relationship with her husband. As for the younger two cousins, they have big plans. Mia has decided to spend part of her inheritance on an Interior Design degree at Milwaukee Technical College despite the fact that attending means entering into a long-distance relationship with her boyfriend Teague, and Harper is beyond ready to finally start her post-college life as a social media manager for a cruise line. Getting paid to travel the world while she writes of her adventures? That’s a ‘hell yes’ in Harper’s book.

All four of the cousins agree that 2020 is off to a great start when a global pandemic knocks the world off its feet and effectively derails all of their plans. Everyone’s smooth sailing suddenly comes to an abrupt halt. Will the Ames girls come together to survive this pivotal pause and get back on track? Or will it all be too much and send them back to bad habits and flawed versions of their ideal realities?

In the second installment of the Close Quarters series, author Amanda Zieba helps us to make sense of the craziness in our world today through the lives of the Ames cousins. Filled with witty text conversations readers have come to love, book titles to usher us through trying times and ultimately, hope, A Pivotal Pause is another excellent family drama.

A Word Nerd Book Review: The Silver Box by Margi Preus

October 14, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

I love books that take place in the Midwest. I love books with beautiful covers. And I love books with exquisite word choice. Luckily enough, I was asked to review a book that fulfilled all three of these characteristics!

You might remember that earlier this year I reviewed a middle grade, historical fiction title by Minnesota author Margi Preus. I was even able to meet her and spend a nerd-tastic afternoon with her in Duluth while on vacation. You can read that past post here but continue scrolling if you want to learn about her realistic fiction mystery series I most recently read.

The Silver Box is the third and final book in the Enchantment Lake series. In order to get caught up and be able to adequately review this book, I had some catch up work to do! I’m grateful to Margi’s publicist Heather Skinner and the University of Minnesota Press for sending me all three books!

3 Reasons to Traditionally Publish — and 3 Reasons Not To: A Guest Post from Desiree Villena

October 07, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

Whether or not to pursue traditional publishing is one of the biggest decisions an author can make — and indeed, one that every author must make if they want to get their book out into the world. This combination of facts can make the publishing crossroads feel paralyzing. You know you have to choose, but how can you be sure that you’re going down the right path?

The short, slightly terrifying answer is that you won’t be 100% certain until you’ve taken it. That said, if you know yourself pretty well as an author and a person, you should be able to get a strong sense of what to do purely through research.

Those who read my previous post on how many agents you should query as an author may already be contemplating this issue. Today, I’m going to build on the points established in that article, as well as introduce some you may not have considered re: traditional publishing! Here are three compelling reasons to traditionally publish your book — followed by three reasons why you might want to go in a different direction.

Preptober: Resources to Ready Yourself for NaNoWriMo

September 30, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

NaNoWriMo is coming.

In case you are new to the writing world, or aren’t a fan of acronyms, I’ll spell it out for you. NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month.

Every November, writers strive to write 1,667 words a day for a grand total of 50,000 words by the end of the month. This is the equivalent of the average sized novel. It’s a huge challenge, but it can be fun too. I personally love these kinds of time-specific goals. I love creating a window of opportunity for myself to really focus and make progress on a project or manuscript.

Some people dive willy-nilly into their drafting on November 1st. I have tried that strategy and found that it can be exhilarating, but also, not super productive. I have had much more success when I planned ahead, when I prepared. Other authors agree and that’s why October, in the writing world, has been nicknamed, PREPTOBER.

In the spirit of preparation, I’m sharing a list of resources you can use to prepare yourself for NaNoWriMo success. I hope that you’ll give one (or some) of them a try and also that you have a really great writing season, no matter how you choose to make progress on your projects.

Canva 101 with the Word Nerd

September 23, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

I’m trying something a little different today! A video! I frequently sing the praises of my favorite digital design tool, Canva. I often introduce workshop attendees and coaching clients to it this incredible tool and they too quickly fall in love. But lately, those people, and those who are unable to take workshops with me due to certain pandemics that will remain unnamed (*cough-covid-cough*) have been asking me for a more targeted and in-depth tutorial on all of the magical things this tool can do. Lucky you, today’s the day!

Speaking of luck. If you’d like to enter WIN IT WEDNESDAY, visit my author Facebook Page and look for the #WIW post for your instructions and to check out the prize I’m offering up this week.

Switching Your Audience Age Group... a Writing Mistake or Benefit?

September 16, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

Today I’m welcoming fellow Wisconsin writer Brenda Felber to my blog. She shares some interesting insights on writing different genres for different age groups. Even though this is a something I too choose to do, I learned a ton of new things from Brenda’s post. If you’ve been considering switching up your writing gears, thought about a pen name or are looking for some book marketing tips, grab your note taking supplies and settle in for a great post.

If you’d like to play this week’s WIN IT WEDNESDAY and the chance to win your very own autographed copies of Captured on Camera and a book of your choice of a book from Amanda’s publication list, head over to Amanda’s author Facebook page after reading the blog and comment on the Win it Wednesday post.

Update in Progress: The Importance of Presenting Your Current Author Self

September 09, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

Pause for a second. Close your eyes. Think back to the writer you were five years ago. What had you accomplished? What publications and books attached to your name? What speaking gigs were under your belt? What organiztions were you a part of? What projects had you started and completed? What social media platforms were you active on?

Now fast forward. WHERE are you, as a writer, today? WHO are you today? WHAT projects, achievements, books, awards have you attained? My guess is that this current version is quite a bit different than the writer I asked you to first envision.

Now, open up your website or document that contains your author bio. Which of these two versions of yourself and your career presented? If it’s the first, then you are selling yourself short.

Learning with the Word Nerd

September 02, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

One of the many crises currently facing our nation is the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming school year. No matter how kids are doing school, it’s likely very different from the status quo. Even though I’ve moved to teaching at the college level, I see the panic, frustration and worry via my educator husband, sons, friends and former co-workers. I know that this is hard. It is different than anything we have experienced before. (Trite saying #1… in case you are going to count!) I wanted to do something to help. So, last week I started a new Facebook page called Learning with the Word Nerd. On it I plan to share resources, books, tips, and ideas for teachers and parents who have suddenly become at home educators.

To play this week’s WIN IT WEDNESDAY, message me the title of the wordless book I recommend in the Reluctant Writers Video embedded in this post.

10 Social Media Post Ideas to Market Your Writing

August 26, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

In January I did a business deep dive. I wanted to learn all the things when it came to running a small business. Because as a writer in today’s world I am in business for myself. I’m an authorpreneur. I truly spend just as much time, if not more, marketing and selling my books as I do writing them.

I learned so much that I created an entire eCourse so that I could share all that goodness with others who were interested in achieving their own authorpreneur goals.

But then, I couldn’t stop. I kept learning. I kept finding great ways to spread the word about my work. I kept a list in my phone notes app so I wouldn’t forget. Last week when I checked that list it was pretty substantial. Sometimes the hardest part is figuring out what to say about your work, but now I have a list from which I can build social media posts, blogs and more. I figured my list could be helpful for others as well, so today, I’m publishing it on my blog.

Grab a notebook and a pencil, because you’re gonna want to write these down.

Amazon vs. Bookshop: A Two-Sided Discussion on Book Buying and Affiliate Links

August 19, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

There are plenty of reasons to love Amazon. They have nearly everything, from my favorite bamboo toothbrushes to these great shorts that have become my new summertime go-to (no matter the occasion). Amazon is affordable and ships quickly. However, recently, some people have wanted to steer away from this online powerhouse. They’d rather spend their money with small businesses and support local companies. And quite honestly, I see both sides.

As an author who uses KDP (Kindle Direct Press) to self-publish my books, I do not have qualms about using Amazon Affiliate links on my website and social media. It is through their platform that I am able to be an author and run my small business despite my small budget. And so, I don’t feel bad returning business to them. However, I also love buying books in person. Ever since I could drive, I have chosen to meet friends at bookstores to hang out. Whether we buy anything or not (okay, let’s be honest, I usually do) I enjoy the atmosphere, proximity to caffeine and access to thousands of adventures at my fingertips. There are two sides to this book-buying coin.

In the book world, this debate has taken the spotlight… TO ENTER THIS WEEK’S WIN IT WEDNESDAY, EMAIL ME YOUR RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION AT THE END OF THIS POST!

Character Vision Boards and Mood

August 12, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

One of my favorite times of day is 6:45 PM. It is at this point in the day of our quarantine routine when my sons put in a movie and more or less settle down for the day. It is a time of day when we can all be in the same room together, but we don’t all have to be doing the same thing. This is frequently a time when I get work done.

Except that on the particular night I’m going to share with you, I was tired. Not sleepy, per say, but mentally drained in a way that wouldn’t produce quality work. I’ve learned that when you work from home, and everyone else is also ALWAYS home, it simultaneously feels like you are ALWAYS WORKING and NEVER WORKING. Any available pocket of time feels like it should be utilized to cross just one little thing off the to-do list. The ever present awareness of this fact kind of made me crabby, and knew that if I did manage to get into a good flow and was asked to stop to get milk, clean up a spill, restart the movie, fill in any child like request – I’d likely lose my sh-, patience. And yet, I didn’t want to waste the hour and a half of semi-preoccupation the movie time would afford me.

So instead of pulling out my computer or a paper copy of my manuscript in progress…

INTRODUCING: Win it Wednesday! Message/email me with the secret code word (hidden in this blog post) for a chance to win this week’s prize, a Target gift card.

How Many Agents Should You Query Before You Decide to Self-Publish?

August 05, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

Today’s guest post is jam-packed with solid information about the querying process comes from Desiree Vilenna, a writer for Reedsy, a marketplace that connects authors and publishers with the world's best editors, designers, and marketers. She’s taken out as much of the guess work as possible in this incredibly informative post. I won’t waste another second of your time with my rambling, and let you dig right in!

For authors teetering on the fence between traditional publishing and self-publishing, it can be tough to know how many agents to query before you forge ahead with the latter. Fortunately, I’m here with an answer: you should query exactly 20 agents, no more, no less, before you decide to self-publish. That’s it, folks; that’s the post!

Just kidding — as nice as it would be to have such a clear-cut answer to this question, the real answer is obviously much more nuanced. How many agents you query before you self-publish (if indeed you choose to do so) is ultimately up to you as an author, and only you can know when you’ve hit your limit. That said, there are a few specific factors that will very much affect that limit — so to help you come up with a solid game plan, here are the three main things you’ll want to consider as you determine your ideal “query number”!

Interview with Wisconsin Author Jamie Pacton

July 29, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

Last month I read the book, The Life (and Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly. I loved it. I loved so many things about it. The book takes place in the Midwest, is written by a Wisconsin author, honestly handles relevant topics and is a girl-power book to boot. When I reached out to the author via Instagram for an interview and she said yes, I fell in love a little bit more. Below is a conversation I had with author Jamie Pacton about this, her first book, her life prior to writing it and what lies ahead in her writing career.

Amanda Zieba: I think that often times we all just assume big time writers only live on the coasts and so I always get excited when I find another Wisconsin author.

Jamie Pacton: Ahh, I love Wisconsin. I moved here many years ago to go to Marquette, and then I moved away and came back two more times. As you might be able to tell from KIT (and you’ll see in my second book, LUCKY GIRL), the cities of Milwaukee and Madison are close to my heart. I also included other WI places I love in these stories, so Kit’s visit to the Joan of Arc chapel was drawn from my own visits there; the kite festival by Lake Michigan is something I have taken my children too; and, in LUCKY GIRL you’ll see the main character, Jane, go to The House on the Rock; an aquarium store, St. Vinny’s thrift store, and, the Farmer’s Market in Madison; and, then she heads to Milwaukee with her bfs for a visit to the (marvelous) art museum and Pfister Hotel.

I’m deeply inspired by my surroundings and I think stories are everywhere. It’s been my great joy to share some of my love of places in Wisconsin with readers. :-)

Overcoming Distraction: A Guest Post by Rochelle Melander

July 22, 2020 by Amanda Zieba

Note from Amanda: Today’s blog post comes from the incredibly talented writing coach Rochelle Melander. While Rochelle and I have never met in person, our online lives have crossed more times than I can count… through SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), blogging, social media and even each other’s reading lists. Not only do I highly recommend Rochelle and her resouces for others, but I also partake of them myself. Whether it is through a coaching session or through reading her books, I am always finding nuggets of wisdom to mine and apply to my writing journey. This was especially true when I read her most recent book, Level Up: Quests to Master Mindset, Overcome Procrastination and Increase Productivity. Today Rochelle is going to give you a taste of all she has to offer in this book by walking you through one of the quests. So, roll up your sleeves and get ready to dig in!

Think back to the last time you played a game. Whether you were playing against the game or a family member, you were probably excited about scooping up power-ups, defeating the villains, and claiming your win.

In my book Level Up, I use gamification to help people overcome their most persistent problems and move forward with their writing and life. Each chapter is a quest—a challenge to help you master something you’ve been struggling with.

Today I’m sharing a quest to help all of us tackle multitasking.

What? Who does that?