SPOTLIGHT: NAVIGATING THE NEW MUSIC BUSINESS AS A DIY & INDIE - ANGELA K. DURDEN

Blurb:

Are you a creator of music (songwriter or artist) who thinks the business details will take care of themselves? Wondering why you have only token paychecks to show for hundreds of hours of effort? Listen up: If you are Taylor Swift or somebody else anointed by The Big Three record companies, more power to you. But, if you’re an Indie artist who’d like to take control of your career and start cashing real paychecks, read Angela K. Durden’s book and learn how to avoid common pitfalls and successfully monetize your product by taking care of business details before the first note is played.

Buy it on Amazon!!

Short Bio:

Durden is the author of more than ten business and children's books, most available on Amazon.com. Currently Durden is working on two series of novels. One is based on solving crimes and bringing bad guys to justice. The other series is a wide-sweeping tale of the ongoing war between the sexes. In the works, Durden is partnering with a rock band to put a CD of their music with her stand-alone crime novel. A book on the music business for DIY and Indies is now available on Amazon.com at Navigating the New Music Business as a DIY & Indie.

Author website: www.angeladurden.com

Twitter: @Lovedoggey

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Angela.Durden1

31 Days of Better Blogging: Day 30 - Brainstorming

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Day 30 is all about brainstorming!! 

As a writer, brainstorming is very important to me. Some of the best ideas I've had in my writing and in other areas of my life have come from brainstorming sessions. I've also wondered about my sanity during brainstorming situations. There are some scary things floating around in this head! 

I have five tips for brainstorming. These are things that I use to help me come up with ideas: 

• Listen to music that fits the mood or theme of whatever you're trying to come up with. For example, I listen to a lot of jazz music when I'm trying to develop characters. I like characters who have soft and hard edges like some jazz music so sometimes I grab my headphones, turn up the volume, and lay back on the couch until something comes to me. (Or I fall asleep. Don't do this if you're sleepy.) 
• Write down everything. Dump it all out on a piece of paper, a Word document, a note app on your phone, or even a cocktail napkin. Whatever you have on hand, write everything in your brain on that. When I was working in retail and I came across a brilliant idea, I'd write it down on receipt paper. I ended up with stacks and stacks of little notes but it helped me keep from forgetting my ideas. 
• Phone a friend. Or text. Bounce ideas off of someone you trust who will not judge you if you send them a message at 3 A.M. Especially if that message says something like , "I created a fictional cat in this story because I want a cat and the hubs says we can't have one." (Not that I've sent something like that to anyone.) 
• Get a hobby. I've had some "lightbulb" moments while I was immersed in one of my favorite hobbies. There are several times I've been working on a piece of jewelry and think about what it would look like on a character. Usually a dead character but beggars can't be choosers, right? 
• Have a good sense of humor. Allow yourself to be silly, even more so when you're getting frustrated with yourself or the situation. Find something funny in your brainstorming process and give yourself a good laugh. Don't be so serious! 

I hope some of my tips help with your brainstorming process. What are some things you do to help brainstorm?