To some writers, the title is the first thing that they think about--before writing a word, they know what the name of their book is. The title of their novel is what sparks the beginning of their book. However for other writers, the title is the last thing they figure out. They write their novel, type those two beautiful words, The End, only to realize that they don't yet have a name for their masterpiece. This fact usually becomes most prevalent when the age-old question, "What's the name of your book?" is asked. Typically, if a title isn't yet chosen, that question is answered with something like: "I'm working on it. Deciding between a few right now," when in reality you're really thinking, I have no freaking idea. I wrote a book. That's good enough, right? 

I've been in both situations. I've written six novels, and am currently working on my seventh while in the final editing stages of my sixth. On my first novel, I knew the title before I wrote the first sentence. On my sixth novel, I had to force myself to come up with a title, because I was printing it, and needed to put something other than Novel 2013 on the front page. I kid you not. The document title on my book was Novel 2013 until the day I printed the first draft. That to say, I've been on both ends of the novel naming spectrum. I'll tell you that I'm no title master, nor do I poses a magic wand for naming your novel. I do, however, have some tips that may help you come to that aha! moment when you find the perfect title for your baby--I mean novel. Here are 3 tips for naming your novel. Stay until the end, because some great authors pitched in their two-cents on how they name their novels! 

Outlining & Brainstorming - Start with a Strong Foundation

The goal is for your title to be as true to your novel as possible. I believe that a big mistake some writers make is generalizing, or not writing a title to stand out. They write a mystery, so they title it something like Ashley's Clues. They write a horror novel, and name it Trail of Blood. What's wrong with these titles? There isn't anything inherently wrong with the, however I just typed the latter title into Amazon, and the search resulted in over 24,000 results in its Books section. What about Ashley's Clues? Again, there isn't anything exactly wrong with the title, however it's typical. It's moderately generic. It looks like a title that could fade into a bookshelf without being noticed. Though some good cover art can help with this, why not start with a strong foundation, like a standout title?

Outlining and Brainstorming can help with this. When deciding on a title, write down distinct, short points from your manuscript. Does your main character have an interesting name? Is there a key element that conveys the heart of your novel? Is there an object that is a main theme throughout the book? Play on that. Play on the uniqueness that makes your book your book. I would suggest getting a nice pen--because we all know that nice pens make writing SO much more fun--and some paper, and taking a whole page or two to write down key words that remind you of your manuscript. Write down things that make you smile about your book, and words or sentences that you use when someone asks you that question every writer is asked--what's your book about?

Also, a shout out to Matt Keenan, whose tweet led me to write this blog post!

Best of luck to all of you writers out there crafting your titles and your manuscripts, and remember that with hard work, patience, and the ambition to make it happen, your novel's name will one day be on store shelves.

Connect with the awesome writers who gave their advice:

Lindsay Cummings:
Instagram: @authorlindsaycummings
Twitter: @authorlindsayc
Facebook: Lindsay.Cummings 
Website: lindsaycummingsbooks.com

Jessie Mae Hodsdon: 
Facebook: Jessie Mae Hodsdon
Website: Jessiemaehodsdon.com 

Hope Johnson:
Blog: Missadventuresrussia.wordpress.com

Brian Rathbone:
Website: Brianrathbone.com 
Twitter: @BrianRathbone

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you know that I'm currently "between novels." My beta readers now have the third draft of my book, and I'm patiently (OK, fine, maybe not patiently) waiting for them to get my novel back to me with any more suggestions. For any of you writers out there, especially the ones working on novels, you know the pain of waiting. I've written six novels now, and every time it's the same--I get really excited that I'm finishing a draft, I feel great to be able to rest my writing mind for a bit, and then about two days later I miss my novel, and miss working on a big project. So what should you do between your novels? Besides get four jobs and go to school? (Yeah, I like to stay busy) Here's what I do:

1.) Start a new novel. 

With this tip, I also offer you a caution. I have successfully and unsuccessfully written multiple novels at once. It's a great distraction to get whatever novel you're editing off of your mind, but it can also be dangerous. Especially when your characters start moving between books. If you can handle juggling two story lines, two groups of characters, and two entirely different manuscripts, then have at it, because I can pretty much guarantee you that it's a great distraction! (I'm risking it and am currently working on a crime fiction novel while waiting on my dystopian novel.)

2.) Enter some writing contests. Make some money.

As writers, we're used to writing a lot, and not necessarily getting paid for everything we write. It's kind of a fact attached to writing, even if we don't like it (I know, I'd like to get paid for that killer essay I wrote in middle school, too, but yuh know...). However, something great to do while waiting between novels is to enter some contests and make some money. It's always nice to get a check for something you love, so why not have a go at it? There are tons of contests out there for short stories or essays, and I suggest checking out Writer's Digest and Writers Weekly, because they offer some great regular contests. 

3.) RELAX.

I don't think I need to add anything else to this tip. Maybe order a pizza or something. For real.

4.) Work on your hobby!

I'm sure I can speak for a lot of writers, when I say that when we're working on a novel, our other hobbies might fall aside a bit. I love to draw portraits (Check 'em out on my Instagram!), and when I'm letting a novel rest, I spend a lot more time drawing, and I LOVE it. Pick up that long-lost hobby and get back at it. 

That's it for now! Now go write your novel. Or do one of the above if you're waiting on your novel. 

Until next time...you know the drill! @Elysia_Regina

I was at Starbucks yesterday having coffee with my good friend Jessie Mae Hodsdon (Check out Jessie Mae's blog HERE), and we got on the topic of how writers think differently than most other people. I'm not sure if a "writer's eye" is a learned thing, or if it's ingrained in each and every writer, but the "writer's eye" is a different way of seeing the rest of the world. To give you an example, often people will ask writers how they come up with their ideas. To a writer, it's a no-brainer. You don't just "come up with" ideas. The ideas come to you. This may sound crazy to those of you who haven't experienced it, but to those of you that have, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Most writers don't sit at a magical desk, or drink a magical coffee, and say: "OK, I have to think of an idea now," and sit for hours imagining a best-selling novel out of thin air. I'm sure there are exceptions, and I'm not making anything less of the writers who do work this way, but the majority of writers don't purposely think of an idea for a new novel. Instead, the idea usually comes to them without them expecting it. The idea is inspired by the mundane activities in life, like buying a coffee or seeing a popup banner on a website . It's the typical that creates the incredible.

Every story idea that I've ever had (Unless entering a contest with a prompt, or any kind of contest for that mater, because most contests are meant to have you think about, and come up with a story rather than it happening upon you) has been the result of something typical not looking as typical, or when I thought of a twist on a regular phrase. So how do you see the world with a "writer's eye"? Don't look at the world as what it seems. Instead of looking into a crowd and seeing a hundred random faces, pick out the faces, and then imagine that person's story. I find myself doing this unconsciously, because it's part of who I am, and part of being a writer (It's also a really good way to get distracted in class...oops). Instead of looking outside and hating the weather, think about what the weather means to other people. Think of the stories that have happened under a stormy sky, or the happiness that's occurred under a hot sun. 

This is basically me suggesting that you get out of your comfort zone, and get out of yourself. Instead of seeing the world at face value, think more about it. Let yourself wonder what if? If you do this enough, then I can pretty much guarantee you--as long as it's something that you honestly focus on--that not only will you have a new appreciation for the world, but it will have much more meaning than just day in and day out. After all, isn't that something that we all want? The deeper meaning in our days? 

Until next time, tweet with me on Twitter: @Elysia_Regina , and join me on Instagram! @Elysiawalton

I love social media. When used correctly, social media can help businesses multiply their impact and create the brand image that they desire. Social media used correctly is the difference between a retail store with a professional sign, and a retail store with a 8x10 piece of paper taped to their window.

That said, there are a few companies that stand out with their social media presence. Some companies just do things right. I'm starting a new blog series where I'll be highlighting brands that have great social media marketing. These companies make their social media sites look like a cozy place for their customers to sit by and rely on. There's probably a fireplace and a cup of coffee waiting for them there...

1. Starbucks. If you guys follow me on Twitter (If you don't already follow me, here's a shameless plug to my profile: @Elysia_Regina YIPPEE, let's tweet together!), you know that I'm a Starbucksaholic. I will openly admit this, and I often post on Twitter about strange things that I see at Starbucks. For example, today at Starbucks there was a man with a trash bag full of wool socks. Trust me, I don't make this stuff up. 

Anyway, Starbucks's Twitter presence is impeccable. Their social media team responds to nearly every tweet, and honestly does their best to resolve issues and offer a humorous response when appropriate. They offer suggestions on food choices, and answer questions about their drinks (For example, what their new Flat White drink is).

How to be like Starbucks if you're looking to improve your social media presence, particularly on Twitter? Here are a couple helpful tips:

1. No inquiry is too small. Someone tweets at you saying that they were dissatisfied with the music played in your restaurant. You may not want to respond, because if they don't like your music, then why not just go somewhere else? You should respond, because every customer is important. Sure, they could go somewhere else, but why not WOW them with your public response? Here's an example (I'll be using @ThatSandwichPlace as my business example. I don't know any restaurant named that, and it is purely for example purposes):

HATE TWEET: @ThatSandwichPlace, your music reminds me of a scratched cd playing in my eardrum. Sincerely disappointed, @RestaurantHater123: 

YOUR RESPONSE: Dear @RestaurantHater123: , we're sorry to hear that our music wasn't to your liking. We'd love to make it better next time. Any suggestions? Sincerely sorry, @ThatSandwichPlace

First of all, @RestaurantHater123 will probably be shocked by your response. Let's keep going:

HATE TWEETER: @ThatSandwichPlace, I don't know, some Sinatra? 

YOUR RESPONSE: @RestaurantHater123, We love Sinatra, too! Come by next time, and we'll do our best to get him on the playlist. 

HATE TWEETER: @ThatSandwichPlace Thanks! I'll be back.

Hurray, you have turned a mad customer into a return customer! This may not work in every circumstance, but see how that was turned around? One customer is sometimes worth a hundred customers. If you honestly can't solve the situation, an apology often fixes a multitude of issues. Apologize, and say that you hope their next experience is better. My point is this: someone saying that something wasn't what they expected doesn't seem like a big deal, but it is. If you respond in a timely matter with either help or an apology, most likely that upset customer will turn around and tell their friends how you fixed the issue. Sometimes the "smallest" issues have the biggest impact.

2. Be fun. This is a subjective suggestion, because I know that some brands seek a highly business-like approach to social media. That is fine, but Starbucks isn't like that. I love social media brands that lean toward the light side of things. Are you funny? Be funny! Respond to people with humorous interjections such as Starbucks offers. For example:

CUSTOMER/ TWITTER USER: @ThatSandwichPlace Your sandwiches are cool.

YOUR RESPONSE: @RandomUser, Gee thanks, we think you're cool, too! Come again and we'll be cool together? 

That response is relaxed, fun, and suggests that the customer comes back. It gives a face to your brand. It's not mechanical, it's real. It's sincere, and I love brands and companies that are sincere. It creates a sort of trust between business and customer. Some companies may be scared to be a customer's friend--they may think it's unprofessional--but I disagree with this. Be their friend. Smile, act goofy, shake their hand and if you're That Sandwich Place, make them the best sandwich they've ever had.

In summary, if you want your business's Twitter presence to be similar to Starbucks's, then be fun and treat every inquiry like it's a big deal. This will please your customers and show them that you're real, which are two huge points in this internet age. Until next time!

Connect with me on Twitter where I try to be funny and post helpful things, and follow me on Instagram where I post random photos and lots of selfies. 

Twitter: @Elysia_Regina
Instagram: @ElysiaWalton

I've never done this before, so I thought that today would be a great day to talk about a few blogs that I love. There are so many out there, hundreds with incredible information and tips, but I'll share with you a few of my favorites.

Blog.Nathanbransford.com If you're a writer, then Nathan Bransford's blog is pretty much indispensable. He talks about everything from "How to Write a Novel," to publishing advice, to literary agents. He's consistently writing and adding new useful tips. Check out Nathan on Twitter, too: @NathanBransford 

Veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com If you read the Young Adult genre at all, or listen to pop culture news, you've heard of Veronica Roth. She's the author of the super-popular Divergent series, and is now on Forbe's "Top-Earning Authors" list. This blog address is actually not active now--she moved her website to Tumblr some time ago--but all of her old posts are still live, at least for now. I love this blog so much, because it was created before she was the famous "Veronica Roth." She wrote about her publishing journey, tips on getting a literary agent, and how publishing actually works. It's an inspiring blog, and makes you feel as though she's a regular person...like you can do what she does. She also writes in a humorous style, which I love. Enjoy this blog while it's up, because she said that she'll eventually take it down! You can check Veronica out on Twitter, too: @VeronicaRoth

Thecreativepenn.com Another writing blog, Thecreativepenn.com is one of my all time favorites. This blog is written by New York Times bestselling author, Joanna Penn. I'm pretty sure this blog was one of Writer's Digest's "Top Blogs For Writers," too. I'm 99% sure that it made the list. There's a plethora of great writing and reader advice on here, and I highly suggest you check this blog out. Follow Joanna on Twitter: @thecreativepenn 

YAhighway.com This is a great blog, and I think it's extra awesome, because more than one author writes on it. It's a group of contributing writers that write everything from advice, to book reviews. One of my bucket-list dreams is becoming a contributing writer for YA Highway! They're on Twitter, too: @YAHighway


Those are my top four! I could go on and on, but these blogs will take some time for you to check out. What blogs do you love?


On another note, I start college tomorrow! I'll only be attending part-time, but I'm really looking forward to it. I was considering majoring in Creative Writing, but changed my direction and am now majoring in marketing, with a possible minor in Creative Writing. 

Until next time, connect with me on Twitter. I love hearing from you! @Elysia_Regina

I've been blogging since March 2012, which means that you've been putting up with my electronically posted thoughts for almost three years now. For some reason it seems like it's been longer, probably because I've started four blogs in that span of time. My first blog is still live, and you can read my old posts if you want to. Here's a hyperlink to it: JustaTeenWriting. I also started WriteOvertheEdge, which I co-wrote with my author-friends Jessie Mae Hodsdon and Christina Adams. I still miss writing on this blog, and hope to write on it again someday. I also started a political blog called A Cranberry Nation, but I never continued with it. I don't think I ever posted on it, so I won't add a link to it here. I probably started it because I was feeling angry at a politician, or something. Heh, oops. Last but not least is this blog, Elysiablogs.com. I started it because I wanted a fresh look and a new name. If I kept with the teen-thing, JustaTeenWriting would have only lasted for another year and a half, anyway.

To get back to how to start a blog... the first step is to choose a platform. I used Blogspot religiously for the first two and a half years that I blogged, and only switched because I wanted more customization. I now write on a website platform that allows you to have your site set up as a blog. It looks more professional (at least I think it does) than my original blog, and I like the way it flows. You can also add categories, which is something that Blogspot didn't offer. Another option for a platform that is pretty popular, is Wordpress. The only thing I dislike about Wordpress, is the fact that you have to pay for customization and templates. It makes sense, because people should most definitely be paid for their work, but I feel like you can do more with Blogspot for free. Another site that I love is Medium. It's a little different from the other sites that I've listed, because it's more of an open platform. It's a beautiful site, though, and your posts will look professional using it. The only reason I didn't go with it, is because I didn't like the fact that you couldn't have a domain. I wanted to use Elysiablogs.com, and Medium didn't offer that. If you don't care about this as much as I do, though, Medium is a wonderful choice. Another cool thing about Medium, is that it suggests other blogs. This is great for connecting with other writers, and for your work to get discovered more quickly. I'm sure that there are hundreds of other options, but these are my suggestions. Blogspot for its simplicity, Wordpress for a professional, but potentially generic look (unless you want to pay), Medium for its beauty and a co-writing atmosphere, and website platforms for the least expensive way of customization. (I pay a monthly fee).

OK, so you've set your blog up. Now what? Add a domain. Though not necessary for blogging success--there are tons of successful bloggers with a (dot)-something address--a web domain gives your site a more professional, and a cleaner look. It's also easier to tell people where to go to see your work. 

Next step: what are you writing about? My older sister also has a blog, ChaiandOrchids.com, but she writes about totally different things than I write about. Her blog is more of a lifestyle blog. My blog is more informative. What will you blog about? Don't just pick something to appease others. Do you like baseball cards? Write about baseball cards. Passionate about pancakes? Write about pancakes! The most important thing, is to write about something that you have lots of content for. Write about what you're passionate about. I happen to be passionate about writing, which is why I write about writing. I may write about my life sometimes, or my clothing line InspireThreadCompany, but most of my posts have to do with writing. Find what you love, and write about that. 

What about that blank page? One of the hardest parts of getting started, is getting started. Surprised, right? Don't sweat it. Your first post is important, but the more important thing is actually starting. Whether you talk about how to make the perfect blueberry pancake, or what baseball cards are your favorite, you just have to start with something. Then what? Blog consistently. I've gone for a while before without blogging, but I try to blog at least once a week. Try to keep it consistent, because readers like that. They like knowing that you'll always have fresh content. Don't give up, keep writing, and find what you're passionate about.

Did you start a blog after I posted this? I'd love to see it! Comment here or tweet me at @Elysia_Regina. 
Have something you want me to blog about? Comment here, tweet me, or shoot me an email mailto:Elysiaregina@gmail.com

Someone from Twitter requested tips on plot development, and I thought that the best way to give these tips would be on my blog. By the way, check out Trent Latta on Twitter, who was the guy that requested the tips. His Twitter handle is 
@TrentLatta.

First, let's look at what plot development actually means. Here is the definition of plot development:

Plot: Also called storyline. The plan, scheme, or main story of a literary or dramatic work, as a play, novel, or short story.
Development: The act or process of developing; growth; progress:

Essentially, plot development is the growth of a storyline. 

Here are my top two tips to help with developing your plot. 

1. It's All About the Story

First of all, if you want to create great plot, you need a great story. I don't mean that you have to stumble across a diamond of a story--of course that helps, but not the point--what I mean, is that you have to create a story that means something to you. This is one of the biggest keys in plot development, because without being hooked on your story, you'll probably get bored part way through it and give up. Find a story that you're connected to, and you'll love it enough to stay with it through the end. 

2. Character

If plot development is the growth of a storyline, then character is a key factor. One of the biggest parts of a story is how your character grows. Even if they grow into something bad, you want to see growth in your characters, especially your main character. Find the factor--or factors--in your character that needs to grow. What do they need to learn? That's what you need to ask yourself, because when you find what your character needs to learn, and how they need to grow--no matter the direction--you'll find how to develop your plot.

These were just a couple of tips, but remember that with a strong story and the knowledge of how you want your character to grow, you'll be on the path to a plot line that will have your readers unable to put down your book. Find how your character changes, and then follow the changes. 

This is just a piece of plot development, and I'll probably do something more detailed later explaining the beginning, middle, and ending of a story, but until then, enjoy these tips!

If you have something that you want me to blog about, send me a tweet! My Twitter handle is @Elysia_Regina 

 A big part of writing, especially if you're a new and unproven writer, is to get your reader to the next chapter. You'll probably sell more books this way, and people will enjoy your writing more. The goal of hooking your reader, is to have them fall in love with your ideas, your characters, and your world. How do you do this? Let me give you some tips.

1. Keep up the Pace

I had a writing mentor for a number of years through middle school and high school, and a big thing that she taught me was to keep up the pace. Don't get distracted with insignificant "fluff". Get to the point. Each scene in your novel should help propel it to the next stage; you shouldn't include unnecessary scenes. If a scene doesn't further the plot, cut it, because it'll only hurt your reader's attention. I don't mean for you to cut character or scene description; you need those things, and they do build plot. However, that scene where your character texts for a few minutes, or goes to the hardware store for a hammer she never uses? Unnecessary. Cut it. If you cut the unnecessary, and keep to the important, your reader is much more likely to stay hooked through your book.

2. The First Chapter

Most writers know that their first chapter is uber important. A mistake that a lot of writers end up making has to do with them knowing this fact. They think that they need to cram everything into the first chapter in order to "get everything in". They try to include every character, location, detail about their character's psyche, and so on. Don't make this mistake! All this will do is overload your reader with details that they won't remember, and bore them with backstory. What should you include? Introduce a couple key characters. Your main character, and a supporting character or two. This is my suggestion to you. Do writers do this differently some times? Absolutely. Is it always a bad idea to introduce numerous characters in your first chapter? Always is a strong word, so I would say no. However, in most cases, you don't want to introduce too many people in that first chapter. Dust your reader with character and information. Give them a taste of what's to come. Remember, if you get full on the appetizer, you won't have room for dinner. 

3. Leave Them Hanging

Lots of writers do things differently than I do, so know that there isn't necessarily a right or a wrong way to do things. I'm just speaking from my own experience. In my experience, when I'm reading a book and a chapter ends on a cliffhanger, I'm much more likely to keep reading. It's that feeling of reading at two in the morning, knowing that you have to be awake in a few hours, but you can't put the book down. Why? Because you didn't expect for that "one last chapter" to end with a question that you just needed an answer to. Your goal at the end of each chapter, is to get your reader to read the next chapter. Entice them, and think about if you were reading your book. What would make you want to keep going? What would make you want to stay up the extra hour to find out what happens? 

That's it for today! Follow me on Twitter for more frequent updates. Here's my Twitter handle: @Elysia_Regina. I'd love to connect with you!

Keep writing, keep reading, and never give up on your dreams! 

You're all awesome!

-Elysia