Beth Jones, The Hungry Freelancer, Serves Up Some Juicy Bits

My guest today is the author of a slew of books like, How to Save Money Without Going Crazy, 99 Writing Prompts for Romance Writers, as well as several books on home-schooling, dating, free lance writing, and many other subjects. She holds a degree from University of Hawai’i and is a full-time writer. When she isn’t crafting words, she can usually be found chasing her two little boys around or cuddled up to a good book. Please give a warm welcome to Beth Jones!

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up in southern Kansas, the daughter of a writer. I think since my dad was always working on a story, it really helped spark my own interest in books, reading, literature, and creating stories.

What do you do when you aren’t writing?

I home school my two little boys. That keeps me pretty busy.

Do you have a day job?

I actually work full-time as a freelance writer, author, blogger, and writing consultant.

When did you start writing, and when did you finish your first book?

I wrote my first eBook in 2011 and published it on Smash Words. It did horribly. I didn’t market it and didn’t really know what I was doing. My second book, The Coupon Diet, was much more successful an each book since then has just sold more and more copies.

From where do the ideas for your stories come?

I primarily write non-fiction self-help eBooks. I get most of my ideas from my friends, honestly. When I hear someone complaining that there isn’t enough good information available to help people learn how to write from home, it always sparks something in me that wants to help…and an eBook is born!

Do you ever experience writer’s block?

I don’t necessarily run out of ideas, but I do tend to get frustrated with my writing and have to take a break now and then. When I ever need inspiration, I just have a conversation with someone about something controversial. It’s usually enough to get me writing again.

Do you outline or write “by the seat of your pants”?
I tend to write a loose outline and follow that, but I always leave room for modification and change. When I write fiction stories, I typically don’t use an outline.

What author or book influenced you most in your writing?
I’m a huge Neil Gaiman fan. I also love Alice Sebold, C.S. Lewis, and J.L. Bourne.

What challenges did you face in getting your book published?
The biggest problem I have when it comes to writing eBooks is simply finding the time to sit down and write. I also have carpal tunnel syndrome, so I can only write for a certain amount of time before it simply hurts too much to do so.

If you had to go back and do it again, is there any aspect of your novel or getting it published you’d do differently?
I would have worried less about things like the cover and description of my book and focused more on getting the word out to people about it.

How do you market your work? What works best for you?

I use a variety of marketing techniques, but I heard someone once say that the best way to market your book is to write another one. This works pretty well for me.

What was your favorite part of this story to write?

My most recent book, “How to Save Money Without Going Crazy,” is designed to give moms and dads a variety of simple, easy-to-implement ideas for saving money. Nobody wants to read a 300 page book on saving money. They want something simple that’s going to give them what they need to know and in a way that’s reasonable.

Tell us about your writing environment. Is it messy or neat? Is there a cat on the desk or a dog at your feet? Do you use pen and paper, laptop?

I just moved to a new state, so right now I’m using my laptop. I prefer to write on a desktop computer with the company of my fat cat, Boo.

What about your process? Do you produce consistent daily or weekly word counts or do the words rush out all at once and leave you with a dry spell?

I write daily for at least a few hours. I tend to have several projects going at once so I try to work on each one at least a little bit each day.

What project are you working on now?

I’m actually working on a full length zombie novel which is a bit out of the ordinary for me, but I’m enjoying the process.

What was the toughest criticism you received as an author? What was the best compliment?

The worst review I ever received simply said “I knew all of this already. This book sucked.” The best compliment was when someone said I had helped inspire them. That felt pretty amazing.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Keep writing even when it’s hard. Write, write, and then write some more. The more you write, the better you’ll become.

Is there anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Thank you for taking the time to review my work, to send emails, and to contact me with questions. I love hearing from my readers!

Where can we find you on the web?

Readers can find me blogging at The Hungry Freelancer or making noise over on Facebook.

(Blog Note: Pictures lifted from Beth’s very own Facebook page.)

About Ol' Big Jim

Jim L. Wright is a storyteller with a lifetime of experiences as colorful as the characters he creates. Born and raised in Piedmont, Alabama, Jim’s connection to the land, history, and people of the region runs deep. His debut novel New Yesterdays is set in his hometown, where he grew up listening to stories of the past—stories that sparked his imagination and curiosity for history. Today, Jim lives in Leeds, Alabama, with his husband Zeek, a tour operator who shares his passion for adventure and discovery. Known affectionately as “Ol’ Big Jim,” he has had a diverse career that includes time as a storekeeper, an embalmer, a hospital orderly, and a medical coder. There are even whispers—unconfirmed, of course—that he once played piano in a house of ill repute. No matter the job, one thing has remained constant: Jim is a teller of tales. His stories—sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking—are often inspired by his unique life experiences. Many of these tales can be found on his popular blog, Ol’ Big Jim, where he continues to share his musings with a loyal readership. Jim’s adventures have taken him far beyond Alabama. For seven years, he lived in Amman, Jordan, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. His time there, spent in smoky coffee shops, enjoying a hookah and a cup of tea while scribbling in his ever-present notebook, deeply influenced his worldview and his writing. When Jim isn’t writing, he’s thinking about writing. His stories, whether tall tales from his past or imaginative reimagining is of historical events should read from his past or imaginative reimaginings of historical events, reflect a life lived fully and authentically. With New Yesterdays, Jim brings readers a rich tapestry of history, fantasy, and human connection. Visit his blog at www.olbigjim.com to read more of his stories, or follow him on social media to keep up with his latest musings and projects, one of which is a series that follows Bonita McCauley, an amateur detective who gets into some very sticky situations. His book, New Yesterdays, can be found at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.

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