Stuff We Love: Turndog Millionaire
How would you describe your experience writing this book?
It was a long process that spanned over six years. I started with a story, and along the way, somehow and very very gradually, I learned how to write. I find writing to be a great escape, and although it’s mentally exhausting and takes a lot out of me, I couldn’t imagine life without it.
I love stories. I love crafting them and sharing them, and when you find someone who connects with it, well, it makes all the hardships and silent moments starring at the keyboard worth it. Beyond Parallel was a heck of a ride, but one I’m so glad to be part of.
You mention on your website that you have a marketing background. How did you go from the business world to writing fiction and nonfiction?
I’ve always enjoyed storytelling, and looking back I think it’s this that drew me toward marketing. Marketing in its most bare form is storytelling. It’s about eking out the true emotions of a product or brand and sharing it with the right people.
It’s a journey, and this is what I love about stories. Back when I first started marketing I didn’t really understand this, but I do these days - I think. As such I love business and the people I meet. I love the variety of what I do, and when I’m able to combine writing and the business world it makes me very happy indeed.
I think my true passion will always remain with fiction though. If I had to choose just one form - which I don’t plan on doing any time soon - it would be writing novels. There’s something magical about creating something from nothing.
You consider each person’s individual story to be an important indication of how he or she should pursue a dream. How has your story affected this novel?
Beyond Parallel was written because of a bad breakup, so my story is very much interwoven. It made me wonder ‘what if’ - not just about that relationship, but my life in general. This is what Beyond Parallel is all about. It’s about the small ‘what ifs’ in life. It’s about those ‘what could have beens’
The great thing about storytelling is that they’re unique. You can choose similar themes and styles, but your story is different to all others. It’s like DNA. You can see where certain influences exist, but each is unique. We’re all special, and whether we purposely share our story or not, it doesn’t change how remarkable you and the story that you’re creating right now.
Is your writing connected to The Turndog Foundation? How so?
The Turndog Foundation is still very new - extremely so in fact. To be honest I have no idea where it will go, I just know I want to give back and help young people fulfil a dream.
I’d like to think writing will be part of this, although I’m not sure how yet: scholarships maybe, or courses or grants or simple help and guidance.
Like my storytelling, it will be rather Nomadic.
Why do you refer to yourself as “turn dog”?
Ha, good question. Matthew Turner is a rather common name. Growing up I was given the nickname Turndog at a Rugby Training session (from a guy named Luke). It kind of stuck, so when I was thinking of a company name - something that would help me stand out - Turndog was top of the list.
It tends to work, too. People rarely forget it, although I must say it usually confuses the heck out of folk :)
What advice would you give to other aspiring authors?
Write. Read. Write. Read
Be varied with your reading and consider as much as possible. I don’t care how educated you are or what you’ve been taught. A good book is in the story, and this takes your imagination and creativity to flourish. In order to make sense out of this though, you need to be inspired.
You need to practice and devour the work of others. You have to take it all on board, let it bury beneath your skin, and then, one day, when the time is right, you’ll create something that simply ‘works’.
Get writing, and when you’re not doing that, make sure a book is close to hand.
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Matthew Turner is a Storyteller who loves to Write, Read & Drink good Coffee. Check out his website, Turndog Millionaire to learn more!
Stuff We Love: Courage 2 Create
We had the pleasure of chatting with Ollin Morales. He is a fiction writer and professional blogger. His blog, Courage 2 Create, chronicles his journey as he writes his first fiction novel. His blog offers writing advice as well as strategies to deal with life’s tough challenges. His blog was named one of The Top Ten Blogs for Writers by WriteToDone two years in a row (2011, 2012).
Why did you decide to create your blog, Courage 2 Create?
A series of unfortunate events led me to creating Courage 2 Create in February
2010. With all I was going through, I literally had no more energy left to do anything other than pursue my passion: which was writing my first fiction novel. Writing the novel was literally the only thing that got me up in the morning and got me excited for the day. It’s what saved me—because the blog was all about me staying committed to that novel, and the drive behind the blog was all about how I was going to develop the necessary tools to overcome my life challenges in order to get that novel done.
The tools I shared on the blog ended up being helpful to a lot of people and so I kept the blog going. I realized that what I was learning was useful to others on the same path as me: people trying to pursue their passion amid all the challenges they were facing in life.
Have you found blogging to be an important part of the writing process for you?
No.
Don’t get me wrong: in the long-term, having a blog is absolutely necessary for a writer. So that’s why I keep it up and keep it strong.
But blogging isn’t really helpful to the fiction writing process. I think a blog is helpful for developing a strong fan base and readership for your book, and that’s always important. But other than that, writing fiction is a whole other animal: a blog and book are two different monsters. (I’m even discovering this as I try to convert some of my blog’s main ideas into a cohesive eBook. It’s no easy task because the format and style of a blog vs. a book are really at odds with each other.)
In fact, I often think blogging takes too much time away from my fiction writing. This is why my blog has an expiration date: once my first novel is published, the blog will come to an end.
This helps keep my sanity. It also motivates me to write great blog posts for Courage 2 Create because I know I won’t be doing it for very long.
What have some of the benefits of blogging been for you?
It’s allowed me to develop a strong and loyal fan base from scratch, and it has also helped me give back and help my community in a meaningful way.
What have been your biggest challenges thus far?
I would say my current challenge is the biggest: shifting the way I see the world.
You see, for the past few years I’ve defined myself as the “overcoming adversity” guy. But things have started to change so much that this limiting definition doesn’t really fit me anymore. I’m starting to succeed in my writing career and things are starting to look up in my personal life.
It may sound crazy to you, but it is very challenging to start letting yourself accept good things in your life again when so much has gone terribly wrong for you in recent years.
But, I am telling you, it CAN be very challenging.
The first year of Courage 2 Create was about displaying grace under pressure,
during “The Fall” of your life—and it was about dealing with that fall by taking big risks and making bold choices that reflected your deepest self.
The second year of the Courage 2 Create was about being on that floor, after you’ve fallen, and not being able to get up; and it was about how one keeps themselves resilient in that state of inertia—during that dark, frozen winter of our lives.
Now, the third year of the blog is shaping up to be quite different than the first two: its about finally getting up off that floor and accepting a new phase of life that is all about positive growth, constructive change, and genuine, exciting possibility. It’s about waking up to the Spring of your life. A new you—and a new, fresh perspective.
Yes, it is thrilling when you start to see the world open up with greater possibilities, but it can be equally terrifying. The trick, I am finding, is not letting that fear overwhelm that sense of exhilaration so that you don’t “choke up” right before the curtain opens.
For me, personally, I really hope I can learn how to do that and not retreat in fear. But I don’t know if I will succeed in that.
And that’s part of what makes reading Courage 2 Create so exciting, you get to follow my journey and see whether I do, in fact, learn that lesson.
What is the status of your novel now?
I have someone reading a full second draft of it for the first time. I’m currently awaiting her feedback.
Do you have any new projects coming up?
Yes. I am working on an eBook inspired by the ideas and themes of Courage 2 Create. It will teach readers how to remove all their obstacles and get started on pursuing their passions. I hope to debut the eBook in early December.
Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Allow yourself to grow, mature, and master your craft. You’re going to make so many mistakes along the way. And yes, many of those mistakes will be embarrassing and humiliating.
But so what? How else are you going to learn if you don’t get bruised up a bit, every once in a while?
So, don’t stay “at home” all day. Go out and play. Get dirty, get some scars, get bruised up, get into some trouble. That’s how you develop your voice, your style, your themes. That’s how you figure out what drives you and what kind of writer you really are.
Be a little dangerous: don’t play it safe. Safe keeps you comfortable, it keeps you boring, it keeps you from discovering your true potential.
At least, when you are slightly dangerous, you can discover how far out you can actually go, and where your true limits are.
So go be a little dangerous—and find out who you really are.
Putting Yourself on the Market
Writers, don’t be afraid to self promote!
Remember that, like any other product, books need exposure to gain a fan base. Here are some tips on how to market your work:
- Email, call or tell your friends/family personally encouraging them to check out your work and see if they’d like to support it. Newcomers to PUBSLUSH will be more attracted by books that already have a following; they don’t care if it’s only your Auntie Maud or local barman! The more support you garner, the higher you’ll trend on our page.
- Use social media. Post a link to your PUBSLUSH book page on your Facebook, Twitter, blog or tumblr. Chances are that most people will be more interested in a book written by someone they know than in one penned by a stranger! Be bold!
- Attend open mic nights and writing workshops. Read an excerpt from your manuscript—either the one posted online or a different one—and make sure to tell the audience/fellow workshoppers how they can support the publication of your work.
- Don’t be shy! Whether it’s passing out business cards or mining your mom’s phonebook, be sure to use your resources. We’re not suggesting you turn yourself into Johnny Bravo, but remember that most people are open to supporting fresh ideas and new talent.
Now go forth and schmooze! Please remind your supports that they won’t be charged ANYTHING until your book is selected for publication.
Helpful Tips: Submitting to Pubslush
Hey there Slushers!
Dying to submit, but having trouble taking the plunge? Never fear – help is here!
Your submissions to PUBSLUSH should include the following:
The Hook-Line: Do not underestimate the importance of well-crafted tagline. Your work is listed on a page with at least 5 other submissions, and the first thing your fellow Slushers will see is, aside from your name and title, your hook. This is your first (and arguably most important) opportunity to draw in readers. Spend time on it!
Check out some more things to consider from thebusinessofwriting blog.
About the Book: Difficult to write, but easier than the hook-line! Here are some things to remember:
Let the reader know what to expect. Briefly introduce the who/what/when/where/why, but be sure to withhold enough detail to create suspense. Your goal is to get Slushers to continue on to your sample chapters. Please avoid clichés. Even if your story is a modern take on Cinderella, keep us guessing. Inserting dramatic questions is an easy and popular way to attempt to capture reader attention in a summary. Use them, but use them sparingly.
The best advice we can give is to go to your bookshelf, pick up your favorite book, and look at the back cover/inside flap (or, if you’re too lazy to get up, check out the “Product Description” for books on Amazon). Voilà. That’s how it’s done. Does it look easy? Well, it’s not. It takes practice to create the perfect mini-synopsis, so keep don’t get discouraged and keep trying.
Sample Chapters: When it comes to selecting a sample chapter, go for your very best work. This is not necessarily your first chapter. In fact, it is often not. Writing isn’t easy, and although first chapters are certainly important, they are also perhaps the most difficult to write. They need to introduce the characters, the backstory, the setting, the tone, AND hint at the plot – in short, they carry a lot of responsibility, and are often something you and your editor will perfect together. If you think you’ve really done a stellar job, then by all means, go for it. But if not, try posting a different chapter. One that really captures the essence of your piece and your style as a writer. For PUBSLUSH, a book’s success is based on popular Slusher opinion, so show ‘em your best stuff!
Bio: First of all, if you’re going to submit a story, make sure you fill out the profile page, otherwise everyone will probably think you are a robot. Write in the first person – we’re among friends, after all. Plus there’s the fact that we all know you’re the one writing your bio, not an agent or editor. Not yet. This is absolutely NOT equivalent to a back-of-the-book author bio. Sell yourself and your book – but don’t oversell. Be modest. Don’t refer to yourself as “the next Charles Dickens” or your work as a masterpiece. It is 1) probably not true and 2) a real Slusher turn-off. Be personable! This will probably be the last place a Slusher looks before deciding to fund you, because after loving a piece, everyone wants to “connect” with the author and find out more about them. Take the bio section seriously if you want others to take you seriously (but that doesn’t mean be boring!). List any credentials that you find relevant to your writing. If you’ve written a historical fiction manuscript and you grew up doing Civil War re-enactments, tell us! En bref, let us get to know and like you! It can make a difference.
And please, PLEASE always proofread for typos and use your best grammar.
