Ashley Newell

Yay For Moms Who Get It

4/10/2019

Storytime.

The day, today. The place, Costco.

3 year old is in the cart seat. The 6 month old is in the front-facing carrier/backpack. Why? Because that's the only way I can get two kids into Costco and still have room to get groceries.

All is well. There is a hot dog sample and that keeps 3 year old very happy for our relatively quick trip.

Then comes checkout.

7 month old starts wailing. But I've come prepared! Now I'm pushing the cart with one hand and one elbow, while trying to keep a bottle propped up into the baby's mouth.

It's daytime so the checkout isn't a total zoo. Each open lane is about 3 people deep. I just wheel over to the closest one. The lines move quickly so I'm pushing, realigning, adjusting bottle. Couple in front of me are only buying a gift card so I really need to start unloading my cart to keep things going. Cue me trying to lift a bag of flour with one hand (not the giant one, the moderate "I-don't-need-no-man" sized one).

Checkout assistant AND the mom behind me with her own kid in the cart flock towards my cart, and in the time that I can pull out the bag of bread, they have totally unloaded it.

"You're doing enough Moming," says the lady behind me.

After having two days from Hell with the teething baby, I really needed a moment of "You aren't a total F*** up, Darling!"

So, thank you other Moms.

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Know Your Audience

1/17/2019

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I'm going to tell you a little story, a true story.

A few weeks ago I saw a new post on one of the Writing Forums I follow. It was a new author asking for advice on how to help boost sales on a book he recently published. A very honest question that all writers often scratch their brains over.

A few of us flocked over to this post, honestly wanting to help. But in order to give the best advice, we had to know one key thing:

"Who is your audience?"

The author promptly replied, "I don't have one."

I could feel us all letting out a light-hearted chuckle from over the keyboard. "Allow me to rephrase. Who is your INTENDED audience?"

Author: "I don't know."

Now I could feel the icy cold grip of horror grab onto all of us from across the screen...

It's one thing to start writing for yourself, not even thinking about the potential of anyone reading it. We get our rawest ideas out that way. The very emotional power of a journal, the heart of a song, the impact of a poem. All of these are very good things, and they are good things because they already cater to the question above: "Who is your audience?" You are!

When you take that leap into expecting people to give you money for what you've created, whether that's in writing or in any other industry, you have to realize that most people only want to part with their money if something enhances their life in some way. I don't mean profoundly life changing; we buy a chocolate bar because it brings us momentary pleasure, not because it keeps helps us live longer. An emotional or intellectual connection to something is something that people crave; it gives us a little spark in our day. To follow the metaphor, there are a LOT of kinds of chocolate bars out there; people do not have to just buy the first one that they see on the shelf (though some might). You are trying to sell a brand new chocolate bar in a world full of already established and much-loved chocolate bars. Just because you enjoy chocolate and peanut butter covered dill pickles does not mean that the world will see the appeal and shove their money at you for gifting them this wonderful, much-needed invention. If you want to sell such an item, you have to know who will buy it.

To return to the story, many tried to lead this author to tell us something about this work he published. What genre is it? ("I don't know. It isn't really a genre."). What age group is it for? ("My age, I guess. But anyone really.") What already existing work is it similar to? ("Nothing I know of.")

So here was the predicament. How do you get people to want something that was never meant for them in the first place?

The answer is: Not easily.

While you might be able to win over a few new consumers who are up for a gamble or who are feeling charitable, you certainly won't be in the position to quit your day job.

So what went wrong?

Writing is for the self. Selling is for the consumer.

Whether you are writing for your job, for your essay assignment, or for that next book deal, your revision stage is where you put your audience glasses on.

1) Who is this product going to appeal to most?
2) What do these people already know?
3) How is my work going to expand upon something they already enjoy?

If you are marketing your chocolate and peanut butter covered dill pickle because you believe the world would be better for it, you aren't going to start with the peanut-free crowd. You are going to find out where the pickle-lovers are, how to reach them, and how to get your product into their hands.

When it comes to promotion, there is not one right answer. The older crowd probably isn't going to stumble upon your Twitter ads. The younger crowd probably isn't going to see your spotlight on the Shopping Channel. Sure you could book a promotional table at the local vegan cafe, but if your book is "10 Ways To Skin a Rabbit", you probably aren't in the right place at the right time to make a sale.

Keep narrowing down what you know about your audience:

What is the age range?
What is the education level?
What is the shared experience?
What are their common beliefs?

You won't always have a specific answer for all of these, but you have to consider the nature of your product.

I was asked to critique a Christian novel once - trust me, I asked very clearly if she was 100% certain that she wanted me to read it, and that she specifically wanted me to read it for the Christian content of it. "Well, okay, Lady. If you're sure." So I did.

I cannot criticize this writer one ounce. She wrote her first draft for her and then sought input from others for her revisions. She needed to branch out from her perspectives and into the mindset of her potential readers. She knew one thing about her audience: they didn't have to be Christian when they started the book. That's why she asked me to read it. She did not have a large circle of non church going people in her life and she needed to see it from that side.

I read it and gave her my report. It was a very Christian book, but it did not serve either of her audiences well. It was trying to convert Christians to Christianity. There was not enough substance of non-believer for the miraculous understanding of God's love to be profound. For a Christian it was obvious, there was no other way for events to turn out: they will see it was God's plan all along.

Could she have moved forward with her novel as is? Sure. Why not.
Could she have put this book in every home with it as is? Doubtful.

She could have an audience without revising her book. Herself and people like herself who are happy to have literature that just reaffirms what they already believe. And that's fine. Harlequin makes a lot of money re-telling the same story. So does R.L. Stein. But they know how to appeal to the audience they want. This author wanted a broader audience.

Your business proposal has to appeal to the stakeholders you want to do business with. Your essay has to appeal to the sensibilities of your instructor. Your novel has to be of interest to the people you are asking to invest in it.

Why should they buy this product from me?
If your answer is "because I need money," then you need to go back to the drawing board, badly.

If you want a generic best-seller, sell a copy of something that people already love. But if you believe in that chocolate covered peanut butter dill pickle bar, you need to find out who, aside from yourself, enjoys them, and then you go to where they are! You might not make a killing at the local gas station, but you might sell a few cases outside of the maternity clinic!

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Facelift!

1/17/2019

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I know that the landing page of a website is the most important page. It also ends up being the page that I probably look at least on my own website. Let's be honest, the landing page here has been pretty ghastly for a long time. Just look at that mess:

So while not a complete makeover, I've definitely trimmed the fat.

Seriously, people, you can't let me get away with this stuff!

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Tough Times and an Opportunity

1/16/2019

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It's a weird time right now. Everyone seems to be doing a little worse. Every time I speak to someone, it seems like they are losing a job or working their butt off and still not scraping by. And this isn't even considering the mass of people in the US who are working unpaid right now.

It's hitting us at home too. Even a "secure" job like teaching gets its tight spots. I was deemed about 30 hours short of being eligible for EI while on maternity leave - recorded hours, of course, not the physical hours that I went in during my off-hours for meetings, conferences, putting on the spring play, etc. And my husband who decided to become a teacher for more stable work has found himself still on the sub list. Has worked exactly 2.5 days so far this month. He was supplementing with a retail job, but, alas, seasonal layoffs. So we scramble, trying to figure out if paying $3500 for childcare makes it any better if I return to work, or if my husband can balance 4-5 jobs until our infant doesn't cost infant rates.

When times get tough, art shines brighter. I can still be part of this. I've been mentoring, critiquing, and offering editing creative writers for years. My first job was business administration, and that gave me over 10 years of business writing and editing, not to mention the countless resumes I've had to re-write and re-format. And I've been a public school contracted teacher for over 5 years now, teaching the foundations of essays, paragraphs, short-writing, script-writing, and, yes, still helping with resumes and cover letters.

Before I consider myself stuck, I'm going to try to lead with what I do best: make great writing.

I started a page. MOM'S RED PEN Editing and Tutoring Services. I've spent years wondering if this is something I should get into, but it wasn't until I met up with another professional in the industry that my doubts about it seemed silly. "You're more qualified than you think." And if I really look at myself and what I've done, it's true. Do you have any idea how many aspiring writers go gaga just in finding out that I have a degree? I used to laugh it off, but looking at other people offering these same services, that is often the extent of their credentials. Not to diminish the quality work that editors without a degree can do, I know a lot of great self-made people. The point is that I've got the paper, the experience, and have earned the trust of people for years without considering myself a true professional. Now that times are getting tough, I have to use what I have, and what I have is an opportunity that I've been wasting.

So here it is, MOM'S RED PEN Editing and Tutoring Services, also available on Facebook.
I made a conscious decision to keep my Editing Services separate from this site. So while I may post a few Editing Tip related blog posts, this should be the extent of my advertising on here. And since that's the case, I'm just going to go ahead and plop all of the ways that you can help out:
MOM'S RED PEN Editing and Tutoring Services
Ko-fi.com/anewell
https://www.patreon.com/newellbooks

Of course, there are also the free ways you can help. You can share these pages, send them to your friends and acquaintances who you think would genuinely be interested, and brag about any experiences you've have with my work. And if you have had experiences with my work, you can also help by leaving reviews about them. Reviews make sales, so if you haven't left one yet, take a few minutes out of your day and post a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Chapters Indigo, or even on your own blog.

Times are tough out there, and when we can help each other, we all get to grow.

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Tea Quest: Organic Cinnamon Roobios Chai

12/30/2018

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Most of this tea quest I have had the issue of finding most teas very washed-out in terms of flavour. This was not the case with the Cinnamon Roobios Chai. Strong cinnamon smell and equal in taste, but it mixed with another super sweetened flavour that threw a punch. This was a tea I couldn't finish because it was too much flavour.

Verdict: I will stick to putting cinnamon in my hot chocolate, not my tea.

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Universal Yums: December Box

12/22/2018

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The holidays are here, even in a Universal Yums box. I was super excited to see that this month's box was shipped out extra early, and we dove into it right away! A great way to start into the festive spirit, and a great way to end our yums adventure (for now). I have enjoyed experiencing these new treats, but until we reach a better financial situation, the boxes are a luxury that will have to be on hold. Hopefully it's something we can consider again when I am back to work.

Click through the pictures below for treat-by-treat commentary

The Ballot:

I found my favourite box treat ever in this month's box!

My holiday care-package could include:
-Peruvian Hot Chocolate
-Chinese New Year nut treats
-Polish Peppermint Gingerbread
-Pretty much any cake.

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Tea Quest: Sleigh Ride

12/21/2018

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I can't believe it. It finally happened. I found my tea!

By total random-happenstance at a Christmas party, I picked up the secret gift-exchange box that contained this packet of tea, tried it, and, for the first time in my life, can finally say that I found a tea that is my warm hug on a cold day.

Once again, this is a tea that doesn't actually contain any real tea, which is probably why I like it. It's filled with fruit and nuts and cinnamon. It smells wonderful and tastes like happy.

Sleigh Ride

Verdict: I need to order the big tin, and they sure as hell better not discontinue this after the holidays!

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Universal Yums: November Box

12/14/2018

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This month we took a food tour around the Netherlands. I must admit that this is a country that I have not often considered menu-wise. I'm so ignorant that when the clue in the previous box mentioned "known for cheese" that was more trivia for me than a clue.

Let's explore the box:

Click through the pictures below for treat-by-treat commentary

The Ballot:

I'll be honest, there wasn't a leaping OMG snack for me in this box, but there were a few delightful novelties that I wouldn't say no to.

Our Netherlands care-package could include:
-Jan Hagel the "ugly" cookie
- Orange Pastills
-Paprika chips
-Milk toffee
-Cadillac wine gums

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Universal Yums: October Box

11/7/2018

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I enjoyed this month's Universal Yums box so much that I almost forgot to make this post! I will be honest, I really didn't know what to expect from this box; apparently my knowledge of Russian food culture is extremely lacking because I was very surprised at how wonderfully sweet their desserts are. I could eat everything everyday from this box (except the rye snacks... those were not to my taste at all), and I will be looking for many of these items at our local specialty shops for sure!

Click through the pictures below for treat-by-treat commentary

The Ballot:

For our Russian care-package, we would gladly accept:
Anything made with baked milk!
- Korovka Baked Milk Biscuits
-Tula Pryanik
-Korovka Fairy Tale Roll Cake
-Forest Fairy Honey Peanut Delight

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NaNoWriMo & Coffee

11/4/2018

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Already this is a strange post for those of you who know me well. NaNoWriMo? Sure, you knew it was coming and shouldn't be surprised at all. Well, maybe a little bit surprised about my doing it with a one month old and nearly three year old toddler, but then you'd also realize that the crazier it seems, the more likely I'd be attempting it.

No, the part that has you boggled is the coffee. "But," you might begin to ask, "you don't drink coffee?" And that, my friends, is completely true (except, apparently during intense exam marking trapped in a little room in June for 6 straight hours, then I will down all of the ice caps! "But, that's not exactly coffee either," you might say, and you'd be completely right, it's pretty much a chilled melted down Coffee Crisp, which, oddly enough, I don't like eating either, not that I really enjoy the ice cap, it's more of a survival necessity that at that point...

But I digress... This post is intended to be celebratory, encouraging, and a little bit pathetic. So let's begin with celebratory!

CELEBRATORY:
I am 4 days into NaNoWriMo and have fought my way to being 2 full days ahead of the expected word count! Much rejoicing! Secondly, do you remember any of my mentioning on pretty much every media platform that I wanted to put together a parent-writer write-in where there was on-site childcare? Well, it is done. I have a venue, and I have a few willing participants. Every Monday for November I will be taking up my post, ready to greet other writers who struggle to attend regular writing events. This is a huge achievement for me; I threw an idea out into the world and I made the world respond!

ENCOURAGING:
You might also be aware that I performed a pretty sudden social media disappearing act this past year. I had a surge of writerly spirit lift me into a variety of writing support groups, and then I noticed that my writing dried up, and then so did my participation. So this is where you come in. Writing is a very isolating activity. And outside of NaNoWriMo, it can feel like a fool's errand - and let's face it, NaNoWriMo is already a pretty big fool's errand. I've got two kids to juggle, a husband facing a career crisis, and I'm am going to have to make some pretty important decisions about the future of my own career going forward. I don't want to drop the writing ball again. I want to bring you more stories. I want to get out with the other writers. I want to meet my readers.

I am going to need help to keep this going. I am going to need your help. I need your help already. I need just a couple of people to take enough interest to ask me how the projects are going. I need just a couple of people to remind me about the parts of my books and stories that you liked; please, gush away and often!

As you've probably guessed, we've already transitioned into the PATHETIC:
Now, before I continue, I need to emphasis that IT IS NOT pathetic to ask for help, but the truth is that it somehow always feels like it is, at least for those of us who would rather trudge though Hell alone than bother anyone with our problems. It's a very vulnerable place, asking people to help you feel that you matter. It's a very vulnerable place asking people to help you get through your day. I hate it. But I hate the silence more.

This is where the Coffee comes in. I have recently signed-up for a page on Ko-Fi, a site that allows creators to be vulnerable and ask for small contributions to help us get through the day or the week, and so it is framed as a cup of coffee. The idea of supporting an artist can seem daunting when you yourself are not as financially secure as you would like to be, but one genius behind this website figured out that when you change the frame, you change minds. I have already given a few coffees anonymously to people I don't know well, but who I've encountered on or offline on a couple of occasions. I personally found it easier to justify, despite my own current lack of income, that I could still afford to buy a good person one cup of coffee. And so I am putting an idea out into the world again and hoping to make the world respond - one cup of coffee at a time.

So I will ask, if you can spare it, for that one cup of coffee, even just one to take with me to my Monday write-in's this month. That's only 4 days. 4 cups of coffee.

And if you need that occasional cup of coffee, send me your Ko-Fi address. Send everyone your Ko-Fi address. We can all spare one cup of coffee.