Drawing Inspiration from 2020 (and What to Learn from It)

By contributor Macy Cochran

Last year (isn’t it relieving to call 2020 ‘last year’?) was difficult for everyone, even writers who were probably comfortable with being quarantined at first.  So we authors had to suffer through somehow, whether that was reading books or writing them. . . .  No matter the trials and errors of making do with the little inspiration last year brought, here’s how authors at IngramElliott stayed sound!

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​January 2020 brought Robin Elno’s Wild West stories and sent him on a virtual book tour the following month, allowing his audience a chance to connect with his newest Clown William series novel, Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance.  Check in at http://www.ingramelliott.com/news--updates/archives/01-2020 to learn a little more about Elno’s award-winning series.  Flashforward to the end of his virtual tour in March, and read all the praise for his latest novel at http://www.ingramelliott.com/news--updates/archives/03-2020.  Here, you can get to know the author of the much-loved series for both youth and Wild West-loving adults!

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By April, the year was nearly half-way over.  Woo-hoo!  We celebrated by sharing with you some upcoming new releases to help weather the effects of staying indoors during the pandemic and highlighted author interviews with Marsha G. Cook and Jeffrey Meyer on their new releases, inspirations for their new books, and more. ​

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​At the half-way point of 2020 (finally) it was time for us writers to get serious with marketing our works.  Hanging out on social media during quarantine––what better way to pass the time?  Moreover, what better way to market your writing?  Learn all the ins and outs of using social media platforms to reach a broader audience by clicking on our link: http://www.ingramelliott.com/news--updates/archives/06-2020.  

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In August, we offered some more insightful tips on how exactly writers are supposed to build their online platform. Guest Instagrammer and guest contributor Marc Anthony Brown shared his extensive experience in building a strong platform on the book-cover-friendly social media platform.

Between hashtag strategies on Instagram to interacting with fans, http://www.ingramelliott.com/news--updates/archives/08-2020 is where to find this useful info and revisit Marc's excellent recommendations. 

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​Last year, finding the motivation to keep writing through the hard times of 2020 was challenging to come by.  That’s why we brought you a Q&A with Vince Bailey, author of his award-winning novel, Courses of the Cursed.  At http://www.ingramelliott.com/news--updates/archives/07-2020, perhaps you can draw some inspiration from Bailey’s story and how he came to be a writer.

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​Alas, 2020 ended, and perhaps you writers out there used this slow year of quarantining to complete the manuscript of your dreams.  If that’s the case, you’ve heard the rumors of the dreadful editing process. . . .  But don’t fret!  Here’s a relief––even editors need editors!  Though the editing and revision of your novel might sound challenging at first, this blog post might offer some comfort and advice on how to get that manuscript ready for publication (http://www.ingramelliott.com/news--updates/archives/11-2020). 

Writers, though perhaps homebodies at heart, certainly had their fair share of struggles last year, but we remembered one thing if nothing else: writers stick together.  And unite, we did.  With much hope and cheer for the optimistic year ahead of us, let’s reflect on the last one and apply what we learned to further our writing opportunities in the months to come!

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​Macy Cochran is a freelance editor and writer for the Tryon Daily Bulletin. Learn more about how to work with Macy on her website at ElegantEditingServices.com or by email at [email protected]. ​

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