Hanna Etu: Writer and Book Coach

*******************MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY**********************

“We are powerful because we have survived.” ~Audre Lorde

People have been asking me about my skincare routine lately, which is so funny to me given how it took me three decades to start caring about this sort of thing. I've always had sensitive skin issues and suffered from psorasis, but I never really understood what a skincare "routine" was until recently.

Since cosmetics are expensive, most of my skincare routine is Aldi or Dollar Tree. Being cost conscious, it's at least a good place to get started.

Before bed, I wash my face with a salicylic acid/tea tree oil face wash, then use a caffeine serum for under my eyes. After that, I put prescription Tretinion for my acne and retinol cream for my face. I let that soak in for a few minutes, and then I use a vitamin C cream under my eyes as well as a Derma Prep (hyaluronic acid & squalane) cream to moisturize my face.

This has been working for me, but it may or may not work for you. If I'm unsure how my skin will react to something, I will test a tiny bit on my arm before putting any cream or serum on my face, just to be safe. Do what works best for you!

Struggling to find some time to sit down and write? Come join us monthly over video call (cameras optional) to write together. We'll check in on our writing goals and challenges, and get down to work! Sessions are free to all subscribers of my Substack (which is also free!): https://hannaetu.substack.com/

******WRITING TIP WEDNESDAY******

5 Free Ways to Start Promoting Your Writing Today:

1. Start an email newsletter/Substack: engage a following with consistent content about your process, your writing journey, or an issue you care about.

2. Join a Facebook group for writers that allows promotion. You have to be selective, because some groups get spammy. Some are well-moderated and allow for weekly promotion.

3. Apply to be a guest on a podcast. Look for podcasts that host writers of your genre, and sign up to be interviewed.

4. Submit a guest post on a popular blog or website: Think about a stance you feel strongly about and write it out. Pitch it to an online publication related to the subject matter.

5. Talk about your writing: This seems like a given, but it's not. Don't be afraid to talk about what you do, in social settings, all the time. People will remember and store that information for later.

This week in my Substack, I'm talking about the question I'm asked most frequently: "Is This Worth Writing?" I'd like to reframe this question, because you can argue that just about anything is worth writing. The truth is in the amount of work you're willing to dedicate to your book. Check out my Substack here:

https://open.substack.com/pub/hannaetu/p/making-something-worth-reading-is?r=7aueqa&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

*******************MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY*******************

“If I wait for someone else to validate my existence, it will mean that I’m shortchanging myself.” ~Zanele Muholi

My newest calming activity has been cross stitch. I picked up a cheap beginner's kit at Aldi a couple of weeks ago, and I'm pleasantly surprised at how relaxing it is. You can see how goofy my skills were at the start, but I'm getting better. I'm learning to accept that life is a state of constant learning, and flowing with the journey, the ups and downs, helps reduce so much stress. I think cross stitch is going to be my calming little fidget habit for a while.

If you didn't see this week's Substack post, I'm starting monthly, virtual co-writing sessions exclusively for subscribers of my Substack. We'll hold this space regularly for you to write quietly for an hour and exchange a little chit chat with other writers. You can sign up for my Substack here: https://hannaetu.substack.com/. Our first meeting will be June 30.

******WRITING TIP WEDNESDAY******

Did you know that song lyrics are heavily copyrighted?

Ever notice how quickly a YouTube video is taken down when it contains a copyrighted song?

That's how closely protected songs and song lyrics are. The bigger the artist, company, or label, the bigger the stakes.

You may see lyrics in some of your favorite famous memoirs and think, "If they can do it, so can I!"

Not so fast. Writers or celebrities with a lot more money than you or I can easily drop hundreds of dollars for permission to use just one line of a song in their book.

Yes, you read that right. Just one line in a song could cost hundreds of dollars to use.

It may feel essential to the narrative when you're writing it, but really think if it's worth the licensing fees or the cost of getting sued before adding song lyrics to your book.

You can always reference the title of the song without penalty as long as you stay away from the lyrics.

But really, what can a song lyric say about your experience that you can’t say better yourself?

This week in my Substack, I'm announcing a new subscriber-only perk: monthly co-writing sessions! If you're unfamilar with body doubling, it's a helpful strategy for many folks in helping them focus. Use these sessions as an excuse to get some writing done. Subscribing to my Substack is completely free:
https://hannaetu.substack.com/