Valerie Ormond's Thoughts On …

Writing Tips from Valerie Ormond

Author: valerieormond

  • Podcasts for Writers

    Podcasts for Writers

    As a writer, I’ve found podcasts to be an excellent way to learn from other writers – what works, and what doesn’t work. I enjoy watching YouTube videos, classes, and interviews, but there is something about listening to a podcast while working out, walking the dogs, or driving in my car that helps the information settle in my brain differently than watching and listening at the same time.

    One of my favorite podcasts is Carly Kade’s Equestrian Author Spotlight Podcast, and I recommend this to writers all the time, and not just horse book authors. Carly’s guests include tips on writing routines, marketing, and more from authors of all genres, and she makes the sessions fun and supportive. Her favorite hashtag is #authorsunite.

    I’ve been fortunate to have been a featured guest twice including the most recent episode, “On Revisiting a Series, Awards & Dude Ranch Research Trips with Valerie Ormond.” I hope you will enjoy the show!

    Or, listen to the podcast via Carly’s website.

     Need some ideas for more podcasts for writers? Check out DailyWritingTips’ 8 Great Podcasts for Writers and Book Authors.

    If you have any thoughts about Carly’s podcast or recommendations for others, please leave a comment!

  • Write Your Story

    Military, Veterans, Family Members, and Caregivers

    The Workhouse Arts Center will present its first “Write Your Story” course for writers and soon-to-be-writers during the Winter Quarter 2023, as part of the Military in the Arts Initiative.

    The course will be held in person from Jan 10 – Feb. 14, 2023, on Tuesday evenings, 7:00 – 9:00 pm. The location is the Workhouse Arts Center, W16, McGuire Woods Gallery, 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton, VA 22079. Here is the direct link to register: Write Your Story | Workhouse Arts Center.

    Take the next step in getting your story out and making your voice heard. The goal is for participants to walk away with a written product reflecting their work.

    Terese Schlachter and I are both members of Military Writers Society of America (MWSA), and this is an extension of MWSA’s “Write Your Story” programs held since 2014 across the country. This is the first MWSA workshop held in the Washington, DC area in this particular format. We look forward to seeing writers of all skill levels there! 

  • Ten Things You May Not Know About Me

    Ten Things You May Not Know About Me

    Author, blogger, and friend Marcia Meara invited me to participate in her #TenThingsYouMayNotKnowAboutMe blog feature last month. I had so much fun thinking about it, writing it, and meeting her incredibly interactive followers. I hope you will enjoy both this post and Marcia’s blog: The Write Stuff – “Writers Helping Writers” with Marcia Meara & Friends.

    #TenThingsYouMayNotKnowAbout #ValerieOrmond | The Write Stuff (marciamearawrites.com)

    Thank you, Marcia!

  • Copyrighting a Book

    Copyrighting a Book

    I am sharing Reedsy’s blog post on copyrighting a book because this is a question people ask regularly. I recommend reading both posts in this series. The first post outlines the mechanics of obtaining a copyright from the U.S. Copyright Office while the second discusses other important details. Among those details in the second is the following:

    Copyright protection on an original work exists in the United States and the United Kingdom the moment you create that work (and extends for 70 years after your death).”

    Thank you, Reedsy, for this informative post which you can find at How To Copyright a Book: A Definitive Guide.

  • Book Shepherd: Helping Readers Find Books

    Have you heard of Shepherd.com? I hadn’t until its founder, Ben Fox, reached out to me, introduced his concept, and asked if I wanted to create my own personalized book recommendation list for his site. I researched the platform and found authors I knew who had contributed lists and decided to create my own. You will see my list’s book covers throughout this post.

    When I asked Ben if he would share a bit more about Shepherd with my blog readers, he said:

    “I want to make finding your next book a fun experience. I’ve asked authors to recommend 5 books they love around a topic, mood, or theme they are passionate about. The book recommendations that result are fantastic, and you can see Valerie’s fantastic list on the best books about horses and their humans to see the results. Plus we are adding more and more features to help readers find books based on their favorite topic, book, or author.” 

    At just over a year old, Shepherd is growing fast and had more than 100,000 visitors last month, according to Ben. The best books lists cover everything from locations, eras, genres, and more – not just horse books. A few samples include:

    *The best fantasy books that taught me how to write funny (funny fiction, that is)

    *The best books to safely satisfy your lust for action and mystery

    *The best books on the art of writing

    To see why I recommended my five books, please see the best books about horses and their humans. These books include both non-fiction (history) and fiction ( mystery, middle-grade, young adult, and romance) by talented authors Robin Hutton, Sasscer Hill, Sharon Kay Roberts, Brittney Joy, and Carly Kade.

    I would love to hear your thoughts about Shepherd and what lists you would want to create.