Spooky Writer’s Planner by Loren Rhoads and Emerian Rich



10 Tricks for Writing During the Holidays
by Loren Rhoads

Sometimes, especially around the holidays, it’s hard to find time to do the creative work you want to do. I’ve used a bunch of tricks to carve out time to write. I hope these will inspire you.

1. Make a list. Whether it’s topics you want to explore or scenes that need to be written, it’s easier to begin writing when you have a prompt.

2. Set an alarm. Promise yourself that you will settle down to write as soon as the alarm goes off. Giving yourself the anticipation of writing time can be inspirational.

3. Set a timer. Anyone can write for 15 minutes. There’s something about the tiniest amount of time pressure that tricks your brain into thinking it’s on a deadline. Start a timer on your computer, phone, or in the kitchen. You might find yourself pounding out the words to beat the bell. If the words are really flowing, you can always add a second 15-minute sprint.

4. Make a date with a friend. Whether you sit down together in a cafe or meet online for a video chat, it really helps to know that someone else is working alongside you. The key is to find someone who will write, rather than chat.

5. Put your headphones on. Many writers make a playlist that they listen to only when they work on a particular project. Listening to the same music every time you write can train your brain to provide inspiration on command.

6. Write somewhere else. If you normally write at a desk, try moving to the sofa or the kitchen table or sitting in bed. The simple act of shifting to new surroundings can shake loose the words.

7. Try a different writing tool. Do you usually write on a laptop? Try writing by hand in a notebook or attach a keyboard to your phone. Some writers swear by word processing keyboards like AlphaSmart or FreeWrite, which only allow you to see a small amount of the text you’re working on. That way you’re forced to move forward, rather than editing what you’ve already done.

8. Write first thing in the morning. It’s tempting to start the day by checking email or scrolling social media, but what might you come up with if you listened to your own thoughts first thing in the morning?

9. Write last thing at night. Take a notebook to bed and draft one more scene before you turn out the light. Do the words feel different as you’re settling in for the night?  Maybe your subconscious can solve a writing problem for you in your dreams.

10. Chart your progress. Whether you put a check on the calendar, color in a box on a habit-tracking chart, or note your word count in your planner, record the days you write. It’s addictive to see your progress.

What other tricks have you found for getting the work done? Make your own list, so you’ll have some tools to use next time you feel at a loss for words.

Spooky Writer’s Planner
Loren Rhoads and Emerian Rich

Genre:  nonfiction planner
Publisher: HorrorAddicts.net
Date of Publication:  November 2020
ISBN: 9798560168698
Number of pages:  361
Cover Artist: Emerian Rich

Tagline:    Get organized this year!

Book Description: 

Are you a horror author who wants to take your career to the next level? Do you write dark fantasy, paranormal romance, spooky poetry, or morbid nonfiction? 

Would you like to advance farther in the direction of your dreams?

The Spooky Writer’s Planner includes:
  • 13 months of monthly and weekly calendars
  • Monthly goal and recap sheets
  • Weekly check-ins and note pages
  • Writing challenges, prompts, and brainstorming pages
  • Trackers for submissions, pitches, and contacts 
  • Marketing, newsletter, and blog planners
  • Check-off sheets for website maintenance, social media updates, and expenses

Available in Digital and Print





The quick-download version gives you a digital copy so you can print the pages you need and print multiples of those you’ll use the most. Create your own Frankenstein’s Monster of a planner! These black & white pages are designed to be printed on 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Put them in a three-ring binder or bind them with disks or a spiral, your choice. Use it year after year after one purchase!  

Available from Etsy

The Spooky Writer’s Planner is perfect-bound with a glossy cover, printed on high-quality 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Everything you need is included in one handy book that you can grab and go!

Available from Amazon



About the Author:

Loren Rhoads writes dark fantasy, horror, and science fiction, sometimes all at once. She’s the author or editor of 18 books, including 199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die and Unsafe Words. She serves as a writing mentor for the Horror Writers Association. She has taught workshops on reading your work in public and submitting proposals and pitches to publishers. Find out more about her work at LorenRhoads.com          











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Boss Level by Allyson Lindt – Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza



Holiday Lemon Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

Christmas is getting close, and it’s always been one of my favorite holidays. I love picking the perfect gift for the people I care about and then seeing their faces when they open it. In my younger, less anti-social (or rather, less filled with work during normal hours) days, I could wander the malls forever (back when we had more malls here. And not really forever, but for a while). I love the lights, the people, the sounds, the smells…

And the cooking. I get all kinds of domestic for Christmas. Or at least, a little. I like making sweets. The years have taught me that working with a bunch of guys (is it possible I pull story ideas from previous jobs? I’ll never tell
😉), a lot of them single, means that food makes great gifts for my coworkers.

One year, two of my best friends at work were single guys. I found this cookie recipe and pretty much tried it out on them disguised as a Christmas gift. It went over so well that I’ve made it my go-to every year. I think the response was something like ‘next time you get bored, if you wanted to make these again…’. Making these will occupy my kitchen this weekend, at least for a little bit, because fortunately they’re really quick and easy to make.

Lemon Cream Cheese Holiday Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 3oz package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 1 teaspoon lemon extract (you can substitute any kind of extract here. I’ve used cherry and orange as well. Sharper flavors stand out better)
  • 1 1/4 cups flour
  • 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 3/4 cup mini m&m’s
  • Red and green food color (optional)


Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F (176 c), grease 2 baking sheets
  2. Beat together cream cheese and butter at medium speed
  3. Beat in sugar, milk, and lemon (or other extract)
  4. (optional) split mixture into two bowls. Add 2 drops of red food color to one, and 2 drops of green to the other. Divide flour into two equal parts.
  5. Beat in flour, 1/4 cup at a time until blended.
  6. Stir in chocolate chips and M and M’s


  • Drop rounded tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets, 2 inches apart.
  • Using a spoon, flatten each cookie slightly
  • Bake cookies for about 10 minutes, until set and golden.
Boss Level
Three Player Tag-Team 
Book Six
Allyson Lindt

Genre:  Erotic Romance
Publisher: Acelette Press
Date of Publication:  12/24/2022
ISBN: 9781955518291
ASIN:  B0CJ83FY8P
Number of pages:  350
Word Count: 76,000

Cover Artist: Romance Premades

Tagline: Her Fake Fiancé is Her Childhood Sweetheart’s Husband

Description: 

Judith

It’s lonely at the top.

I knew it would be when I clawed my way up here, trading away favors and any personal life to get to where I am today, the head of the hottest new video game company in the industry.

When an old friend calls in one of those favors, I’m happy to help Xander out. His partner, Dominic, needs to impress some conservative clients, and showing up to get-to-know-you dinners with a heavily tattooed man on his arm isn’t the way to do it.

And there are far worse things in the world than pretending to be Dom’s fiancée.

When the fake kisses with Dominic start to feel real, I realize there’s something missing in my life. Worse, I’m starting to realize I never should’ve let Xander get away.

But the three of us together will bring everything we’ve worked for toppling down around us. There’s no way love is worth that kind of sacrifice.
 

About the Author:

Award winning and USA Today Bestselling Author Allyson Lindt is a full-time geek and a fuller-time author. She likes her stories with sweet geekiness and heavy spice, and loves a sexy happily-ever-after. Because cubicle dwellers need love too.












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Spooky Writer’s Planner by Loren Rhoads



10 Tricks for Writing During the Holidays
by Loren Rhoads

Sometimes, especially around the holidays, it’s hard to find time to do the creative work you want to do. I’ve used a bunch of tricks to carve out time to write. I hope these will inspire you.

1. Make a list. Whether it’s topics you want to explore or scenes that need to be written, it’s easier to begin writing when you have a prompt.

2. Set an alarm. Promise yourself that you will settle down to write as soon as the alarm goes off. Giving yourself the anticipation of writing time can be inspirational.

3. Set a timer. Anyone can write for 15 minutes. There’s something about the tiniest amount of time pressure that tricks your brain into thinking it’s on a deadline. Start a timer on your computer, phone, or in the kitchen. You might find yourself pounding out the words to beat the bell. If the words are really flowing, you can always add a second 15-minute sprint.

4. Make a date with a friend. Whether you sit down together in a cafe or meet online for a video chat, it really helps to know that someone else is working alongside you. The key is to find someone who will write, rather than chat.

5. Put your headphones on. Many writers make a playlist that they listen to only when they work on a particular project. Listening to the same music every time you write can train your brain to provide inspiration on command.

6. Write somewhere else. If you normally write at a desk, try moving to the sofa or the kitchen table or sitting in bed. The simple act of shifting to new surroundings can shake loose the words.

7. Try a different writing tool. Do you usually write on a laptop? Try writing by hand in a notebook or attach a keyboard to your phone. Some writers swear by word processing keyboards like AlphaSmart or FreeWrite, which only allow you to see a small amount of the text you’re working on. That way you’re forced to move forward, rather than editing what you’ve already done.

8. Write first thing in the morning. It’s tempting to start the day by checking email or scrolling social media, but what might you come up with if you listened to your own thoughts first thing in the morning?

9. Write last thing at night. Take a notebook to bed and draft one more scene before you turn out the light. Do the words feel different as you’re settling in for the night?  Maybe your subconscious can solve a writing problem for you in your dreams.

10. Chart your progress. Whether you put a check on the calendar, color in a box on a habit-tracking chart, or note your word count in your planner, record the days you write. It’s addictive to see your progress.

What other tricks have you found for getting the work done? Make your own list, so you’ll have some tools to use next time you feel at a loss for words.

Spooky Writer’s Planner
Loren Rhoads and Emerian Rich

Genre:  nonfiction planner
Publisher: HorrorAddicts.net
Date of Publication:  November 2020
ISBN: 9798560168698
Number of pages:  361
Cover Artist: Emerian Rich

Tagline:    Get organized this year!

Book Description: 

Are you a horror author who wants to take your career to the next level? Do you write dark fantasy, paranormal romance, spooky poetry, or morbid nonfiction? 

Would you like to advance farther in the direction of your dreams?

The Spooky Writer’s Planner includes:
  • 13 months of monthly and weekly calendars
  • Monthly goal and recap sheets
  • Weekly check-ins and note pages
  • Writing challenges, prompts, and brainstorming pages
  • Trackers for submissions, pitches, and contacts 
  • Marketing, newsletter, and blog planners
  • Check-off sheets for website maintenance, social media updates, and expenses

Available in Digital and Print





The quick-download version gives you a digital copy so you can print the pages you need and print multiples of those you’ll use the most. Create your own Frankenstein’s Monster of a planner! These black & white pages are designed to be printed on 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Put them in a three-ring binder or bind them with disks or a spiral, your choice. Use it year after year after one purchase!  

Available from Etsy

The Spooky Writer’s Planner is perfect-bound with a glossy cover, printed on high-quality 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Everything you need is included in one handy book that you can grab and go!

Available from Amazon



About the Author:

Loren Rhoads writes dark fantasy, horror, and science fiction, sometimes all at once. She’s the author or editor of 18 books, including 199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die and Unsafe Words. She serves as a writing mentor for the Horror Writers Association. She has taught workshops on reading your work in public and submitting proposals and pitches to publishers. Find out more about her work at LorenRhoads.com          











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