Riley Adams's Blog, page 101

Pre-orders: An Update

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

As I wrote in this post in April 2015 (a post which landed me immediately on a couple of different podcasts to elaborate), I have not been much of a fan of pre-orders.

Why I originally set-up a pre-order

I started a pre-order experiment last October.  At the time, I had every reason to expect that the experiment would be a success.  I’d heard good things about setting up pre-orders on podcasts and from distributors like Mark Coker at Smashwords and Draft2Digital.

Problems during my pre-order

However, I’ve learned I’m apparently too high-strung  to have a ten-month pre-order. I fretted over delivering the book on time during an unusually busy 10 month period (and as I wrote two other books to keep on schedule).  Plus, I was receiving very little income during the pre-order period, despite having a lower price on the release as a pre-release.

It also bothered me that readers seemed confused by the pre-order. I received emails from readers who didn’t understand why they couldn’t yet read the book and why it wasn’t available for pre-order on Amazon.

The reason, FYI, that it wasn’t available on Amazon is because they mark each sale toward the title’s ranking that day instead of allowing the pre-order sales to accumulate and positively impact visibility/ranking on the release day.

The pre-order directly before the release

I never know exactly how long it will take me to write a book, but for some reason it took me very little time to write Cruising for Murder.  It was done in slightly over two months. And, as I suspected, I immediately became antsy once the betas and freelance editor were finished with the manuscript; I was ready to release it.

That was on August 6th. The release date was set for August 20th. I wasn’t sure if I could set the release earlier on Draft2Digital.  I was delighted to discover that I could. I immediately changed the release to August 11th.  I got urgent notices that they needed the final copy right away, so I quickly uploaded the manuscript and back matter.

I abruptly decided to try to set up a pre-order on Amazon for that same five day period. I figured that whatever sales I made in that short pre-order period wouldn’t be enough to mess up my ranking for the first day.

But I wasn’t sure I even could set up a pre-order on Amazon in such a short amount of time.  The final version, according to Amazon, must be uploaded ten days before publication: “Your final version must be uploaded and republished at least 10 days before the release date you set, with the last day for upload starting at midnight, U.S. Eastern time. For example, if you were releasing a book on September 20, you would need to upload and republish it by 11:59 PM Eastern time on September 9 (4:59 AM UTC the following day).”

However,  when I pulled up the window for arranging the pre-order, it allowed me to set the 11th as long as I went ahead and immediately uploaded the final manuscript.

Sales

At Draft2Digital in the week leading up to the release, I had zero sales until the 10th (the day before the launch), when I saw 16 sales.  The next day I had 43 more (these are non-Amazon retailers…Nook, iBooks, etc.)

At Amazon, it was a similar story. Zero sales until the 10th, when I had 33 and then I had 121 on the release day.

So…do readers procrastinate? Would they rather buy a book when they can actually read it?  I can’t blame them because I think I’m that type of reader, myself.

The good things I can say about pre-orders:

Everything was in place on release day.  The retailers were simultaneously ready to sell. Once I upload the final manuscript, I have time to do all the other pre-launch things that I need to do.
When the book released on Amazon, the ‘also-boughts,’ the list of recommended reads that Amazon provides readers populated immediately.  So my book was showing up as a suggestion right away.
I had 3 reviews within 3 days of release. I think that may speak to the fact that the books were delivered on launch day which may have given my most avid readers the chance to read it right away.

Additional notes:

If I had to do it again, I’d make the pre-order period much shorter.

I’d set it about a week out and I’d upload it to both Amazon and Draft2Digital/Smashwords.  Then I’d announce the pre-order in my newsletter.

Not only that, but I’d upload the book to both PODs CreateSpace and Ingram the week before the release and allow them to (usually slowly) go through pre-production approval and become available for order, even prior to the release of the digital copies.

Have you tried pre-orders?  How did they work for you?

An update on how pre-orders worked for one author:
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Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

A weekly roundup of the best writing links from around the web.

Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 30,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.

The Fastest-Growing Format in Publishing: Audiobooks:  http://ow.ly/tzrX302QUaY @maloneyfiles

3 Book Marketing Shots in the Dark:  http://ow.ly/lapU302QRJY @DebbieYoungBN  @IndieAuthorALLI

Pros and cons of Smashwords:  http://ow.ly/sYce302QUkk @LaurieBoris

Taking the Misery Out of Book Marketing:  http://ow.ly/xEvp303cDvQ @rxena77

A Hobbit’s Guide to Launching Your Book:  http://ow.ly/vr3E302QRdG @DanBlank  @WriterUnboxed

Women Crime Writers Are Not a Fad:  http://ow.ly/agGn302QULq @lithub  @RealLiveCritic

Reading Burroughs’ (Tarzan author’s) Biography as a Writer: http://ow.ly/5feJ302QRR4 @DerekKunsken  @BlackGateDotCom

7 Questions Authors Need to Ask About Copyright:  http://ow.ly/6XAV302QUfr @AshKrafton

5 Tips to Master the Perfect Character Arc:  http://ow.ly/Nzzf302QU41 @sacha_black

NetGalley Book Review Program: A Case Study: http://ow.ly/kdCO302QRo5 @dkudler

How to Use Facebook to Reach Niche Readers:  http://ow.ly/SQKW302QR1u @BarbMorgenroth  for @annerallen

Global Reach for Self-published Books:  http://ow.ly/c7UR302QRx2 @HollowLandsBook  @IndieAuthorALLI

Resting Your Writing:  http://ow.ly/VXo1302RAWR @Lindasclare

International Publishing Notes: Canada, Turkey, UK, USA:  http://ow.ly/1dhV303aWyv @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

The Holiday Season Is Looming. Will Your Book Be Ready? http://ow.ly/4QBr302RBtk @BookWorksNYC  @rcutlerSpark

What Should We Write Next?  http://ow.ly/TtfD302RAVD @JamiGold

Let Go of Perfectionism:  http://ow.ly/M3zR303b4PD @woodwardkaren

The benefits of aspirational goal-setting:  http://ow.ly/CJZx302RB8c  @zara_quentin

Use Calibre to Create EPUB & MOBI Versions of Your Book:  http://ow.ly/Oqm7302RASd @carlaking

Getting a Big Name to Write Your Book’s Foreword:  http://ow.ly/2JS4302RARd @jckunzjr

Poland: Bookstores Struggle to Survive:  http://ow.ly/wvTa303aWkY @Porter_Anderson @Polishrights

Publicity stunts as an element in crime fiction: http://ow.ly/ElI0302Vaue @mkinberg

15 Princess Bride Quotes That Explain A Writer’s Life:  http://ow.ly/CNEF302QPYN @LZMarieAuthor

Tips for pitching at conferences:  http://ow.ly/6wxe303aVsg @TerriBischoff

Tips for long-term blogging: http://ow.ly/4Fqt303b4zt

Sisters in Crime on Diversity in Publishing:  http://ow.ly/wA2h303aW9m @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Creativity has its seasons:  http://ow.ly/nm3K303aV6u @austinkleon

Symbols & Context:  http://ow.ly/wJic302QPTg @LZMarieAuthor

10 ways to fall back in love with your art:  http://ow.ly/MLIj302QPOA @gigirosenberg

Addressing the Unanswerable Questions About Writing A Novel: http://ow.ly/twXd302QQ2y @storyfix

Power-up your writing in 5 steps:  http://ow.ly/vLgM302QPDM from Write Track

5 Signs Your Character Is Fully Developed: http://ow.ly/ZNXC302QPnm @mythcreants  by Chris Winkle

On Reading, Imagination, and Pokemon Go: http://ow.ly/FwNf302QPiI @p2p_editor

A Guide to Sparkly Storytelling:  http://ow.ly/AkOb302QPxp by Sheila Wisz Ellayn @mythicscribes

7 Tips for Better Book Swag:  http://ow.ly/6Qui302QQbz @RobinRWrites

6 1/2 Harsh Truths About Publishing:  http://ow.ly/Z09F302QPkP @p2p_editor

5 Essential Elements Every Fantasy Novel Needs:  http://ow.ly/cEcd302QQ6g @ClaireABradshaw  @WritersEdit

Pinterest for Authors:  http://ow.ly/a9zs302QPs5 @WhereWritersWin

How To Get Rid Of Books: the Life-Changing Magic of Thinning the Herd: http://ow.ly/oqvo302QWvo by Nell Beram

Flashbacks: When They’re Not Appropriate and Tips for When They Are:  http://ow.ly/upKj302QWrj @ZoeMMcCarthy

The Difference Between Beta Readers and ARC Readers:  http://ow.ly/qJ4V302QWlP @MelissaFlicks @BadRedheadMedia

Getting Good Feedback From Beta Readers:  http://ow.ly/q5bG302QW6w @BookBaby @fiedawn

Self-Publishing Companies Through a Legal Lens: http://ow.ly/luhF302QVPJ @HelenSedwick @BookWorksNYC

Are blog hops worthwhile? http://ow.ly/I58K302QVJB @HelenHollick @IndieAuthorALLI

The Office Politics of Workplace Fiction by Women:  http://ow.ly/b6Kp302QVvP @lydiakiesling @pageturner @The_Millions

The Role of Short Private Print Runs:  http://ow.ly/jTZ6302QVcG @DebbieYoungBN @IndieAuthorALLI

When you don’t have a story to work on:  http://ow.ly/MSmC302GSFB @OrlyKonig

5 Easy Ways to Fight Writer’s Block in Your Second Language:  http://ow.ly/zURK302GSBh @ESLWriteAway

Creativity Vs Consumption:  http://ow.ly/1sM0302GSxx @SukhiJutla

Tips for story conflict: http://ow.ly/Xqsl3032BEQ @p2p_editor

Remembering the Worst Book Signing Ever:  http://ow.ly/PoFt302De7g @lorijakiela @lithub

5 Tips for Writing Dialogue:  http://ow.ly/38aK302Dbin @Margo_L_Dill

Parasites: A Primer for Writers:  http://ow.ly/tyK0302DaYU  by Codey Amprim @mythicscribes

Shelters featured in crime fiction:  http://ow.ly/Veie302VakE @mkinberg

Story Structure in Harry Potter Results in a Satisfying Ending:  http://ow.ly/lNv0302DcPD @RiteLikeRowling

Do Ebook Preorders Work?  http://ow.ly/Apds302DcYe @jakonrath

12 Memorable Closing Lines:  http://ow.ly/M4k1302DbxU @TomBlunt

Writers: 6 Red Flags Telling You To Stop And Take Care Of Your Wellness:  http://ow.ly/7kph302Db62 @eahaltomauthor  @colleen_m_story

What Should Fiction Do? The Limits of Cinematic Storytelling: http://ow.ly/FnST302DdKw @bonnienadzam  @lithub

5 Books In Which Superpowers Have Unfortunate Side Effects:  http://ow.ly/RIFQ302Ddrl @finesarah  @tordotcom

Rewriting the 7 Rules of Dialogue:  http://ow.ly/mxxV302Ddwi @readstevenjames

Cliches 101: Links and Resources: http://ow.ly/XHcY302Dd5z @ceciliaedits

Enhancing Argument Scenes:  http://ow.ly/q9sF302DdAl @RayneHall

The Gothic Secrets Every Steampunk Writer Should Know: http://ow.ly/cdwQ302DbfU @standoutbooks

How Genre Categories Can Make or Break Your Book: http://ow.ly/yBFU302DcE2 @RiteLikeRowling

How To Succeed as an Author:  the Secret You Already Know: http://ow.ly/IzGV302C2W7 @BadRedheadMedia

Why Perfectionism Is Holding You Back and How to Fix It:  http://ow.ly/vW2Y302C3AX @SukhiJutla

On the Scarcity of Apocalyptic Fiction in Chinese Literature: http://ow.ly/qLWG302VboB @DennisAbrams2 @pubperspectives

Filtering: HD for your writing:  http://ow.ly/tWCw302y6Ze @emma_darwin

11 Essential Ingredients Every Blog Post Needs [Infographic]:  http://ow.ly/clsX302C3fG @demianfarnworth

13 Questions to Ask Before Submitting to a Literary Journal : http://ow.ly/Cgyo302C3Eu @erikadreifus  @lithub

Making your Character Shine From Page One:  http://ow.ly/3JiM302C2hZ @winellroad

3 Writing Lessons Learned from Hamilton the Musical:  http://ow.ly/G8ck302C38y @JennyBravoBooks

5 factors to consider when choosing your primary social media channels for promo: http://ow.ly/CYAf302C2KV @cksyme

How to Write a Binge-Worthy Book Series:  http://ow.ly/RP5v302C2Zu @JennyBravoBooks

Regionalisms in Writing:  http://ow.ly/4Nid302C3qH @lisajlickel

Violence 101 and How it Differs for Men and Women:  http://ow.ly/Cd8j302C2HC @FionaQuinnBooks  with Rory Miller

The 5 Key Turning Points in Your Novel:  http://ow.ly/mP8n302C3yd @CSLakin

6 Steps to Build the Opening Scenes of Your Romance Novel: http://ow.ly/VLY53033esz @lornafaith

Brazil as featured in crime fiction stories:  http://ow.ly/EBWh302Vaak @mkinberg

Telephones as elements in crime fiction: http://ow.ly/965o3031FfD @mkinberg

The Arab and Latin American Connection: A Trade Delegation Prepares: http://ow.ly/g1Oe302VaR9 @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

4 Steps To Get More Social Media Engagement On Fewer Channels:  http://ow.ly/GR2f302B03Z @cksyme

Writing the First Chapter of a Novel:  Tips and Fixes:  http://ow.ly/r3eQ302B26o @RuthHarrisBooks

The subtle art of translating foreign fiction:  http://ow.ly/oeLc302B2sb @MsRachelCooke

Revising for Pacing:  http://ow.ly/hOOi302B0jw @p2p_editor

How to Use Fear to Beat Resistance:  http://ow.ly/BxMB302B1iv @timgrahl

On Gendered Book Covers and Being a Woman Designer:  http://ow.ly/UoZF302B2IN @JenHeuer  @lithub

Coming to Grips with Subtext:  http://ow.ly/YmHt302B08X @AJHumpage

4 Resources to Help You Brainstorm Your Next Blog Post:  http://ow.ly/Srjh302B0rJ @TheCoolestCool

Facing the Harsh Truths About Publishing:  http://ow.ly/W0Tm302B0ha @p2p_editor

7 Tips for Paranormal Writers:  http://ow.ly/uGvO302B0e8 @WordDreams

An Experiment in Fostering Creative Flow:  http://ow.ly/ybDw302B1qY @barbaraoneal

The Fastest-Growing Format in Publishing: Audiobooks:  http://ow.ly/A8ps302B2CU @maloneyfiles  @WSJ

New Universal Links from Draft2Digital:  http://ow.ly/e9Bn302Uaj4 @IndieAuthorALLI @Draft2Digital @DanWoodOk

Too Distracted to Write? Here’s Your Next Step:  http://ow.ly/D9rv302yxXG @RosanneBane

Making a living from writing books: what works, what doesn’t:  http://ow.ly/ly4l302y6Xa @emma_darwin

Chasing the Clouds of Rights Issues: Ixxus’ Steve Odart http://ow.ly/auhm302SouK @steveodart @Porter_Anderson

The Difference Between Trying and Doing:  http://ow.ly/pALb302yy7D @MichaelHyatt

Making the Black Moment in a Novel Even Blacker:  http://ow.ly/3CED302yxQI @RayneHall

3 Painless Ways to Patch Plot Holes:  http://ow.ly/mu4n302yy6d by Chris Winkle @mythcreants

10 Writing Ideas to Help You Get Creative:  http://ow.ly/EEqq302yxTs @jesslaw

Before You Try to Write a Book, Complete These 3 Tasks:  http://ow.ly/qt9A302yy94 @JerryJenkins

How to DIY Your MFA:  http://ow.ly/tUMq302yy4z @WritersDigest  @DIYMFA

Don’t Wait to Build Your Potential Book-Buying Audience: http://ow.ly/UwIJ302yxZ1 @crystallyn

Last week's top writing links are on Twitterific:
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The post Twitterific Writing Links appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.

Long-Term Blogging, Part II

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

In part one  of this series, I covered setting up a blog and maintaining a blogging schedule.  But that’s only part of the process. Today I’ve got ideas for post content (since our writing is the most important part of our blog) and finding/connecting with an audience (since no one wants to blog to thin air).

Tips for content:

Comments on your blog posts can inspire other posts.  Many times my blog commenters have either asked questions or suggested future posts.

Expand on topics other bloggers have covered (giving credit to the original source). Sometimes I’ll run across interesting posts that inspire me to experiment with a writing or promo approach.  I post on my results and how they might have differed from the original writer’s.

Update older posts (with an eye to not wrecking your SEO).  For those of us with years of posted content on our blogs, there’s always the option of updating older posts with fresh content.  Since it’s not a good idea to repost blogs from an SEO standpoint, it’s probably best to use the older content as the basis for a mostly-new post.

Break longer content into shorter posts.  This approach certainly helps fill up a blog’s editorial calendar. I’ve gone back and forth on this through the years, but now my posts are usually pretty short.  If there’s a complex topic, breaking it down into a couple of different parts can help.  I keep reading that most blog readers prefer short posts since they’re skimming on their phones. I don’t mind long posts, myself … what’s your own preference?

Blog to themes. Personally, I don’t do this, but many of the blogs I follow have themed days: something on the writing craft one day out of the week, a link roundup on another, and something promo-related on a 3rd.   Sort of like Taco Tuesdays or Meatless Mondays for blogs. I think this likely helps with blog planning.

Respond to industry news. If you follow the publishing business (and we all really should), the rapidly changing industry provides much to comment on.

Share resources. This is a favorite of mine, as a blog reader.  I love to hear about the newest apps that are helpful for writers, free courses, and interesting articles.

Readability.  While not related to the content itself, the formatting of posts can impact how widely they’re read and shared.  Many blog readers have tight schedules and are skimming articles on their phones.  It’s important to make posts easy to read by using plenty of white space, bold lettering, and/or headers.

Engagement: 

Share online.  You can reach a wider audience if you share your posts on Facebook, Google Plus, or Twitter

Respond to your comments.  Responding to comments creates a discussion group and can lend almost a forum-feel to a blog. I try to respond to every comment as soon as I can.  I’ve set up the blog so that readers can be notified of replies to their comments.

Visit the blogs of those who comment on your posts.  This is especially important when  building a readership, but is vital later on, too—when we’ve established relationships with our blog readers.

End your posts with questions.  This is a well-known tactic to increase engagement on a post, but I’ve found it’s a great way to learn from others’ methods.

Finally, benefits to blogging: 

Is it worth it?  For me it is.  Blogging has helped me share ideas with other writers and establish online friendships. It’s also given me a chance to thoughtfully consider my own writing and promo approaches and what’s worked and what hasn’t.  Blogging also provides discipline and a nice writing warm up.   It brings in traffic to my website, raising the site’s ranking on search engines. What’s more, it’s given me a platform from which I get public speaking opportunities.

What have you learned about creating better blog content or engagement?  What do you see as the benefits to blogging?

And, as a note to my readers, I did have a release yesterday.  :)  Book ten in the Myrtle Clover series,  Cruising for Murder , launched. 

More tips for long-term blogging:
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Long-Term Blogging, Part I

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

My first post on this blog (which started out at Blogger) was on August 9, 2008.  Tomorrow marks 8 years of blogging.

When I first started blogging, I don’t think I really had in mind how long I would be blogging.  Mostly, blogging was something that my publisher had indicated that I should be doing.

At the beginning, I was blogging with my readers in mind.  That almost immediately shifted since I felt more comfortable writing to writers.  Also, I was trying to work out my writing process as I worked on book three, and talking it out was helpful to me.

In the last eight years, I’ve seen a lot of blogs come and go.  I’ve missed bloggers who have passed away and I’ve missed the ones who stopped blogging.

I’ve picked up  tips along the way…practices that were helpful to me, mistakes I made that I needed to correct, and tips from other bloggers.  Today I’ll share tips for setting up a blog or making a blog serve its purpose better, and tips for maintaining a blogging schedule.  On Friday, I’m covering tips for content and engagement and benefits to blogging.

Tips for setting up your blog:

Host the blog on your website as a page.  This was something I didn’t completely understand the importance of eight years ago.  When we write strong content, we’re bringing in readers.  Why send those readers somewhere other than our website?  I’m pretty sure cost probably played a role in my original decision (I can be frugal), but the yearly cost of this website isn’t cost-prohibitive.

Use your own name in the blog/site domain name.  It builds SEO (helps search engines like Google locate us and our content and books).

Similarly, make it obvious whose blog it is.  I visit many blogs that list only the author’s first name.  I understand wanting to be private, but if  we need to promote the name we plan on writing under.

Share your posts on social media (automation can assist in this).  You can set up your blog so that it posts automatically on your Facebook page or sends a tweet on Twitter.

Think hard about blog post titles.  Using titles that accurately reflect the content of the post pull in readers who are searching for posts on that topic.  It’s a great way to find new blog readers.

Make it easy for readers to share your posts.  There are many plug-ins that can help blog readers to share our posts easily on social media. Click to Tweet is one of the ones that I use.

Don’t obsess over the design.  I’ve noticed an odd phenomenan over the years where bloggers who overhaul their blogs, implementing sophisticated design elements sometimes stop blogging altogether soon after.  I’ve often wondered if that’s a result of their feeling as if their content needs to be as good as their design. The most important thing is the writing on the blog.

Tips for maintaining a blogging schedule:

Editorial calendars can really help with keeping up with our blogs.  If we know what we plan to write about, that’s half the battle.

Having an emergency post in our drafts section is also a good idea.  Life always throws curve balls.

It’s a good idea to have some quick, go-to sources for blog images.  Finding an image to accompany the blog post can be time-consuming. It’s nice to have a bunch of copyright-free stock images in our media library that we can quickly access. Kirsten Oliphant recently listed good sources for images in her post on Jane Friedman’s blog.

Blogging breaks are fine. I usually take two breaks a year and the occasional odd day off when my schedule gets hectic near deadlines.  But I think it’s good if we can say exactly when we plan on returning.  Consistency is important in blogging…probably even more than our frequency.

What have you learned about successfully setting up a blog or maintaining a blogging practice?

Tips for long-term blogging:
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Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

A weekly roundup of the best writing links from around the web.

Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 30,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.

The 3 Golden Rules Of Writing A Western:  http://ow.ly/NElh302xhCV @robertwood  @standoutbooks

6 Tips for OrganizingYour Novel’s Edits:  http://ow.ly/XWK9302xhEz @KMWeiland

Write Your Novel In A Year: Your Mid-Year Analysis: http://ow.ly/jmXl302xhdB @AnthonyEhlers  @Writers_Write

Harry Potter Ebooks Arrive in China, in Both Chinese and English http://ow.ly/VzEN302Sor6 @Porter_Anderson  @pubperspectives

Character Archetypes:  Prophet, Oracle, and Wise Old Man:  http://ow.ly/pygK302xhw2  @HunterEmkay               

9 Steps to a Self-Hosted WordPress Blog in Fewer than 15 Minutes:  http://ow.ly/grVS302xhtZ @lornafaith

Writing: just don’t lose the magic:  http://ow.ly/CFJM301Q4s8 @austinkleon

Zygmunt Miłoszewski on Translation and his Latest Novel, Rage:  http://ow.ly/rkxX302Sokl @Porter_Anderson  @pubperspectives

The Coco Chanel Guide to Sample Pages: http://ow.ly/jHQu302y5z1 @DGLM

Finding your voice through letter writing: http://ow.ly/bUJG302y5OE @MLConklin

Creating depth by using juxtaposition in our writing:  http://ow.ly/BZUB302y5Mi @sacha_black

Mapping Your Book to Ensure it Works:  http://ow.ly/JLuk302y5SK @MartinaABoone

How to Get the Story Out of Your Head and Onto the Page:  http://ow.ly/ROGB302y5wg @jennienash

15 Expert Tips to Increase Reader Comments on Blog Posts:  http://ow.ly/jUG8302y5x9 @NinaAmir

5 Steps To Take When The Writing Gets Tough:  http://ow.ly/4ef4302y5HG @WritersRelief

Internal Dialogue: The Greatest Tool for Gaining Reader Confidence: http://ow.ly/q1d5302y5Q9 @ESimsAuthor

7 Aspects of Writing from Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin: http://ow.ly/l6m1302y5Jy @VictoriaMixon

Dos and Don’ts for writing Book Reviews:  http://ow.ly/qAF4302y66q by Gillian Hamer

Why Authors Running a Featured Deal Should Claim Their @BookBub   Profile:  http://ow.ly/mHLB302y6lW @rickburnes

The Benefits of Talking Through Our Scenes:  http://ow.ly/EehK302y6EK @Janice_Hardy

Avoid the Back Story Swamp:  http://ow.ly/6PCZ302y6P7 @Lindasclare

Your words and your story live in your head: how to stay there:  http://ow.ly/DIYS302y6sI @emma_darwin

A basic guide to plotting:  http://ow.ly/m8Ci302y6hH @kseniaanske

Master Outlining and Tracking Tool for Novels:  http://ow.ly/92Bf302y6A8 @iulienel

10 Ways to Add a Spark of Fire to Our Writing: http://ow.ly/Eqnx302y6Ht @kcraftwriter

The Best Place to Reveal Your Story Secrets:  http://ow.ly/Jow1302y6le @Janice_Hardy

Creativity: Think Long Term. Create A Body Of Work.  http://ow.ly/Gzju302y6Mf @thecreativepenn

Writing Composite Characters:  http://ow.ly/aHyY302y6O6 @Lindasclare

The 5-Part Authorpreneur Action Plan: http://ow.ly/8f08302y6KP @InkyBites

Blurbs, Taglines, Endorsements:  http://ow.ly/PC9E302y69l @JJMarsh1 @TriskeleBooks

Story Fundamentals Exercises:  http://ow.ly/9VOo302y6nf  @emma_darwin  @TriskeleBooks

Showing and Telling: cooperation not competition:  http://ow.ly/F17B302y6UX @emma_darwin

Plot and structure exercise:  http://ow.ly/W4u3302yqFc @TraceyWarr1

Using Fiverr for Affordable Book Covers:  http://ow.ly/t5tl302RAbs @BookWorksNYC @stapilus

10 Basic Steps To Setting-Up Your Blog:  http://ow.ly/lLdU302RAgv @jckunzjr

How To Create An Ebook Boxset Or Bundle And Why You Should:  http://ow.ly/t0JF302RAkj @thecreativepenn

How to evaluate contests:  http://ow.ly/XZ7T302RAo9 @Janet_Reid

In the US, UK, and Canada, Harry’s on Another Roll With ‘Cursed Child’ : http://ow.ly/R4S2302VaE8 @Porter_Anderson  @pubperspectives

Why Stories Need Redemption:  http://ow.ly/kMID302RAvN @Lindasclare

Grammar Rules: Split Infinitives:  http://ow.ly/E2Cw302RAzf @WritingForward

How Indie Authors Can Get Their Books Into Libraries:  http://ow.ly/R0Su302RADm @rcutlerSpark @BookWorksNYC

How To Train Your Person (First or Third) to do everything the story needs:  http://ow.ly/Deqd302y6Wn @emma_darwin

Where Does Your Story Actually Begin? http://ow.ly/e9bV302yxqE @vscotttheauthor

How to Write and Stay Sane When You Have Little Kids At Home:  http://ow.ly/AS9s302yxcc @katekrake

3 Things To Remember About Dialogue:  http://ow.ly/RZot302yxiT @AnthonyEhlers

7 Common Novel Writing Tips to Be Wary Of:  http://ow.ly/Aiep302yxvx @nownovel

6 Tips for Accents and Dialects:  http://ow.ly/cUvM302yxup @nownovel

Two Critical Novel Writing Skills:  http://ow.ly/xdzW302yx8F @Chris_Kokoski

What if your plot, or characters just aren’t working?  http://ow.ly/v7hH302yxsg @AnthonyEhlers

38 Resources for Writers:  http://ow.ly/fKNw302yxef @katekrake

Turning the Negativity Train Around:  http://ow.ly/Iape302yxkd @smckelden

Starting a New Authors’ Group: Working Toward the Future:  http://ow.ly/DG0j302yxou @queenskeys

Word-Hacking Emotion:  http://ow.ly/TvV7302yxWz @artofstoriesAB

Making a living from writing books: what works, what doesn’t:  http://ow.ly/ly4l302y6Xa @emma_darwin

Too Distracted to Write? Here’s Your Next Step:  http://ow.ly/D9rv302yxXG @RosanneBane

How To Finish Your First Draft Quickly:  http://ow.ly/dw2L302yxO7 @SukhiJutla

Tighten your writing by getting rid of dialogue tags: http://ow.ly/kg4V302yxPv @RayneHall

10 Mistakes (Almost) Every Rookie Writer Makes:  http://ow.ly/xEyE302yy2G @manzanitafire  @LitReactor

Don’t Wait to Build Your Potential Book-Buying Audience: http://ow.ly/UwIJ302yxZ1 @crystallyn

Too much to do? Prioritizing for the overwhelmed: http://ow.ly/GpLn302RBgb @zara_quentin

Busting Myths about Book Reviews:  http://ow.ly/QEDA302xhN1 @DanaLynnSmith

Roald Dahl’s Twisted, Overlooked Stories for Adults: http://ow.ly/ymNv302xhId by David L. Ulin @NewYorker

10 Popular Tropes in the Historical Romance Genre:  http://ow.ly/DOOP302xhn0  @lornafaith

Don’t Just ‘Put Your Book on Amazon’:  http://ow.ly/avnU302xhg8 @MillCityPress  @amshofner

Writing mistakes to avoid:  http://ow.ly/qU44302xhyY @rxena77

On Literary Plagues:  http://ow.ly/yh7m302xhL2 @TobiasCarroll

Don’t Make This Crucial Branding Mistake In The Name of Growth:  http://ow.ly/wnkZ302xhH1 @taragentile

What Literary Fiction Can Teach You About Genre Fiction:  http://ow.ly/JUJR302xhAn @wickerkat  @LitReactor

Great Scene:  “Double Indemnity ”:  http://ow.ly/SHBM302xhBU @GoIntoTheStory

The Science of Protecting Your Creativity:  http://ow.ly/BQNA302y6gA @Rachel_Aaron

5 Steps to Developing More Discipline:  http://ow.ly/wCjq302y6fU @MichaelHyatt

The Essence of Character and 3 Exercises for Writers:  http://ow.ly/1UlR302y62P @Jo_Furniss

Plot and structure exercise:  http://ow.ly/lqra302y5Zv  @TraceyWarr1

How to Choose the Best WordPress Themes:  http://ow.ly/FXIi302y5Vq @NinaAmir

6 Tips For Getting More Traffic on your Author Blog:  http://ow.ly/IPJv302tcwA @annerallen

If Writers and Poets Billed By the Hour http://ow.ly/5EHT302tkKi @mcsweeneys

3 Things ‘House’ Can Teach Us About Writing:  http://ow.ly/k8bM302tcRb @crisfreese

Chasing the Clouds of Rights Issues: Ixxus’ Steve Odart http://ow.ly/auhm302SouK @steveodart  @Porter_Anderson

Painting Verb Pictures:  http://ow.ly/Uaa5302tcDe @Lindasclare

How to Tell a Murderer’s Story:  http://ow.ly/KDGX302tcap @latillman  @lithub

How to Promote Your Blog Posts: 27 Experts’ Proven Methods:  http://ow.ly/SbK8302G0Ua @wisestartupblog

When to String Words Together With Hyphens: http://ow.ly/Lsv5302tdfA @writing_tips

On the Journals of Famous Writers: http://ow.ly/X4Km302tc4j @BelaborThePoint  @lithub

Distribution, Competitiveness: The Philippines’ Andrea Pasion-Flores: http://ow.ly/LCkT302SnYO @Porter_Anderson  @pubperspectives

Writing Worthy Protagonists:  http://ow.ly/ao5K302tcnS @Lindasclare

How Do You Write a Poem? http://ow.ly/TKI2302qItU @GigglingStream

6 Tips for Defeating Writer’s Block:  http://ow.ly/g9EO302qI1E @LouiseMatchett8

How to Create Striking Similes:  http://ow.ly/mMOR302qI6x @ProWritingAid

How to Write Dialogue in a Narrative Paragraph:  http://ow.ly/jK3H302rXjD @ProWritingAid

How To Use Story Archetypes To Subvert Expectations: http://ow.ly/a8vF302rXge @kayladeanwrites  @DIYMFA

Crime fiction writing: why innocent people confess:  http://ow.ly/4Uhr302sFQ4  @drjuliashaw  @sciam

11 Novels That Take Place During One Summer:  http://ow.ly/Y0B0302rXDZ @carrievasios  @ElectricLit

5 Overlooked Pixar Storytelling Tips:  http://ow.ly/K5wb302sGc5 @RobinRWrites

Sourcebooks Expands Book Personalization to Business Training: http://ow.ly/FviE302SnIb @Porter_Anderson  @pubperspectives

The real truth about writing nonfiction:  http://ow.ly/1xgZ302V5MB @CalebPirtle

The top writing links from last week are on Twitterific:
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Productivity and Intentional Free Time

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I mentioned in April that I was trying a new approach to my free time.  I actually had very little free time and found that the little time I did have was quickly used up as I’d check emails and social media.

Even the longer breaks at the end of the day weren’t being maximized.  I’d be trying to remember what great book I’d heard about and look online for books until I fell asleep in the middle of searching.  Or I’d be aimlessly looking for something to watch on Netflix or PBS.org or Amazon Prime movies (we’ve mostly unplugged, so channel surfing doesn’t really happen anymore, but it’s still a long browsing process).

After reading a post by Emily Tjaden called “4 Reasons to Be Intentional With Your Free Time,” I decided to be more thoughtful about my approach to free time.  Whenever heard about an interesting title, I’d either buy/download it then, or I’d add it to my wish list on my account at the local library.

I discovered that each month, sites like Digital Trends, Slate, and  Vox list the best streaming movies for that month.  I’d scroll through, find films that sounded interesting, and add them to my watchlists on Netflix and Amazon (even PBS offers a watchlist now).  There’s also a site called Documentary Addict that is, indeed, proving addictive.

For the past few months, I’ve found that I’ve felt a lot more relaxed in my downtime.  Checking email and social media just isn’t something restful for me.

What’s more, having more relaxing downtime has resulted in less overall stress.  It’s not that my stress is completely eliminated, only that it’s not overwhelming for me.

How has less stress impacted my productivity?  I’ve been a lot more focused and have written more and faster.  My 21st book is finished early and is with my editor.

Is it easy for you to immediately relax during downtime?

Productivity and intentional free time:
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Newsletter Signup Tactics

 

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Writers read a lot about the importance of our author newsletter.  Industry expert Jane Friedman explains it well in her post “Email Newsletters for Authors: Get Started Guide“:

“Emails can’t be missed like a social media post that disappears in readers’ feeds as more posts follow it. You truly own your email list, unlike Facebook or Twitter accounts. And if you use people’s email addresses with respect (more on that in a minute), those addresses can become resources that grow more valuable over time.”

I was a slow adopter to email newsletters, unfortunately.  I couldn’t believe that readers really wanted to hear from me in their email inboxes.  Once I finally realized the value of newsletters and that readers were volunteering to hear from me, I had a good deal of catching up to do.

There are a variety of different ways of getting readers to sign up for our newsletters. Some of them, I think, are more obnoxious than others.   Here are some various methods and my opinion on their pros and cons:

The website popup:

Pros: popups boast a high success rate in converting readers to subscribers.  They can also be modified–you can set the time when they pop up on your site. Recently, the most popular trend has been to use ‘exit popups’ that appear when readers are about to click away from your site.  Cons: Many readers will find popups of any kind annoying.  As a curator, I’m not actually leaving when the popups appear:   I’m pointing my cursor up at the Hootsuite extension to share the post.  The popup covers the material I’m curating, and I have to either rely on my memory for a good headline or else close the popup. I’ve also heard from sight-impaired writers (there are at least two who follow me on Twitter) that the popups make blog reading very difficult for them as it’s not easy for them to figure out how to close the popup to read the blog article.

Facebook ads: 

Another method, popularized by author Mark Dawson, is using Facebook ads to generate newsletter signups.  Mark gave away a starter library in return for newsletter subscriptions and grew his list significantly. Pros:  If done well (Mark teaches a course on doing it well), authors can find quick success in growing their email subscription lists.  Authors have the ability on Facebook to target a very particular audience on the site and reach users that they couldn’t otherwise reach. I had success with this method and quickly added subscribers.  Cons:  Obviously, when running ads, there is cost involved, although we can set parameters for that cost through Facebook.  Another con, for me, was the time-sucking aspect…it’s important to monitor results so we can quickly pull ads that aren’t effective.  The process of creating an effective ad and monitoring results did impact my writing time.

Group giveaways/newsletter signups: 

I’ve been asked several times to participate in group giveaways with other cozy mystery authors.  I’m participating in one even now. This tends to work well–all the participating authors share the giveaway opportunity with their lists and social media contacts.  The readers sign up for the authors’ email lists in exchange for a chance to win a book or other prizes. My results have been good with this approach.  Pros: You’re much more likely to end up with readers who will actually buy and read your books since authors in your genre are targeting their readers with the giveaway. Cons: You must share the giveaway info with your readers to make this successful and fair to the other authors participating…but must tread the thin line to avoid spamming. Important: Need to make sure that readers understand they’re giving permission to be on authors’ email lists for newsletters.

Email tagline:

Here you merely add a signup link to your newsletter signup page as a tagline or signature for your emails.  Pros: Incredibly passive.  Cons: Might annoy friends and relatives with whom we frequently correspond?  If it does, they haven’t told me. :)

How do you find newsletter subscribers?

Newsletter signup tactics and their pros and cons:
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Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

A weekly roundup of the best writing links from around the web.

Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 30,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.

Easy ways to start (and remain) in a scene:  http://ow.ly/YYJr302jbOf @Lindasclare

The Hot Sheet: industry newsletter for authors (30 day free trial): from @Porter_Anderson & @JaneFriedman: http://ow.ly/jycA302FpmY

Going Beyond the Default in Your Worldbuilding:  http://ow.ly/h9nm302jbqq @JulietteWade

A writer on her struggles with depression:  http://ow.ly/th91302jbJO @kseniaanske

9 Productivity Hacks to Help You Meet Your Next Deadline:  http://ow.ly/VNe3302jbfw @emily_tjaden

Frankfurt’s 2016 Rights Meeting: Where the Surprises Are: http://ow.ly/fPe8302FpsF @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives       

Defending Your Style Vs. Being Stubborn:  http://ow.ly/QO7u302kANd @NatRusso

3 steps to a smoother writing style:  http://ow.ly/994g302kAKK @Roz_Morris

Spin doctors in crime fiction: http://ow.ly/DuLB302kATb @mkinberg

Crime fiction that avoids graphic depictions of the victims:  http://ow.ly/QiQh302kAXH @mkinberg

The Benefits of Talking Through Your Scenes:  http://ow.ly/vwps302kAZM @Janice_Hardy

Getting Ahead of Yourself …and Your Reader:  http://ow.ly/ENy5302kB3I @DonMaass

Tips for better co-writing:  http://ow.ly/Otmt302kB1k by PJ Parrish

How to Write an Eating Scene:  http://ow.ly/F4ai302kB2W @jamesscottbell

For Writers: Intro to Disability Vocabulary:  http://ow.ly/gqPa302kAzH @PunkinOnWheels  @corinneduyvis

1 Writer’s Experience With Amazon Giveaways: http://ow.ly/eprv302kAPh @NatRusso

How to Transform Your Story With a Moment of Truth:  http://ow.ly/aykH302kALG @KMWeiland

8 Classic Openings and Why They Work:  http://ow.ly/S9hi302kB6r @robvlock

Write a Sequel That Doesn’t Disappoint:  http://ow.ly/4pOO301Yzce @ink_and_quills

Why are orphans so popular in literature?  http://ow.ly/YvbJ302lGXq @LizMooreBooks  @lithub

Want to Work in 18 Miles of Books? First, the Quiz:  http://ow.ly/thQR302lGIS @anniecorreal  @nytimes

Why US Publishing Needs Indie Presses:  http://ow.ly/cUyK302lGbX by Nathan Scott McNamara @TheAtlantic

The Spanish publishing market: 4 points of concern from Luis Solano http://ow.ly/4xvI302zvBL @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Writing About Love:   http://ow.ly/ceeq302lIFR @isabelcostello  @WomenWriters

5 steps to a more popular book: http://ow.ly/qopi302lJid @jurgenappelo

Copyright: What Every Author Needs to Know:  http://ow.ly/Gvt8302lIl2 @HelenSedwick  @BookWorksNYC

If You Just Keep Writing, Will You Get Better?  http://ow.ly/jMlR302lIyN by Barbara Baig for @JaneFriedman

What does your story assume?  http://ow.ly/hjmk302lId7 @artofstoriesAB

Extras and bonus material for reader retention:  http://ow.ly/mWv5302lJ5v @JamiGold

Popular Copyright Myths:  http://ow.ly/2MvB302lIPD @SusanSpann

4 Tips On Creativity From The Creator Of Calvin & Hobbes:  http://ow.ly/e4Hy302lIgC @GoIntoTheStory

10 Classics of Campaign Literature:  http://ow.ly/WPRP302lGtG @WithEdSimon  @lithub

5 Things You Learn from Writing “Bad” Books:  http://ow.ly/NB9k302qwM4 @KelsieEngen

4 Key Ways LinkedIn Helps Authors:  http://ow.ly/dEpy302qwE5 @WhereWritersWin

How To Banish Writer’s Block:  http://ow.ly/ULCM302qwuK @KMWeiland  @thecreativepenn

How to Choose, Develop, & Research a Setting:  http://ow.ly/oKsy302qwB8 @tessaemilyhall

Creating Plot Twists:  http://ow.ly/4wHD302qwHj @AJHumpage

Kindle Scout Case Study:  http://ow.ly/Eeyn302qxc1 @kathay1973  @IndieAuthorALLI

34 Ways to Describe Scents:  http://ow.ly/3hge302qwyg @WordDreams

The Scientific Method of Writing:  http://ow.ly/IyTp302qwQj @AuthorCoH

How to Create an Internal Mindset Conducive to Writing:  http://ow.ly/7LKN302qxpu @AnneJanzer  @JaneFriedman

How to Write an Amazing Short Story:  http://ow.ly/yqyU302qwXD by Alyssa Boorman

How To Master Alternate Point of View: http://ow.ly/4sle302qwUd @kj_bags

Plotter or pantser? You decide!  http://ow.ly/TJNR302qx40 @IndieAuthorALLI  @DebbieYoungBN

Make Your Character Do These 4 Things:  http://ow.ly/RoSA302qIAz @wendypmiller

What’s Stopping You From Publishing? http://ow.ly/Qsd4302qImH @AnnGarvin_

How to Create Striking Similes:  http://ow.ly/mMOR302qI6x @ProWritingAid

6 Tips for Defeating Writer’s Block:  http://ow.ly/g9EO302qI1E @LouiseMatchett8

How Do You Write a Poem? http://ow.ly/TKI2302qItU @GigglingStream

Where to start a book and knowing when you’re done with it: http://ow.ly/WV8m302qIaD @StephMorrill

5 Tips to Beat the Self-Publishing Summer Sales Slump:  http://ow.ly/xYb2302rXAd @JAHuss

What’s Selling: Global Rights Update from Penguin Random House:  http://ow.ly/Sglv302FoX2 @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Housekeepers in crime fiction: http://ow.ly/WTG3302ywXA @mkinberg

How to Use Facebook to Reach Niche Readers:  http://ow.ly/hSMV302yqAH @BarbMorgenroth @annerallen

Frankfurt’s 2016 Rights Meeting: Where the Surprises Are:  http://ow.ly/QFej302DacM @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Five Books Featuring Holes:  http://ow.ly/zNoI302jbRq @tordotcom  @jbushnell

6 Easy Steps to More Pinterest Followers:  http://ow.ly/XjBR302jbo4 @standoutbooks

What Makes A Horror Story Horror?  http://ow.ly/5Ay6302jaZ4 @DBlakeAuthor

Making the Most of a Writing Prompt:  http://ow.ly/hNlT302jbXr  @SuzannahWindsor   @TalValante

4 Tough Questions for Your Critique Group: http://ow.ly/HgSU302jbhx @ramonadef

5 Mistakes Self-Published Authors Make:  http://ow.ly/bIYt302jbHi @rachel5bartee

5 Pieces of Writing Advice to Ignore:  http://ow.ly/Oy7i302dd4O @jamesscottbell

The Ultimate Literary Guide to Whiskey:  http://ow.ly/haBg302h9ec @BryceTBauer  @SignatureReads

Learning From Inexperience:  http://ow.ly/N3Zr302h8pK @DavidBCoe

The Worst Book Signing Ever:  http://ow.ly/5bPl302Dlrv @lorijakiela @lithub

A Snapshot of a 21st-Century Librarian:  http://ow.ly/vPat302DehD @TheresaQuill @TheAtlantic @AdrienneNGreen

Promoting Your Book with Pinterest:  http://ow.ly/wpUd302tiJF @RochelleDCarter @BwkrSelfPublish

How Are Libraries Doing Around the World?  http://ow.ly/onYC302h9oC @asap_jonathon  @flavorwire

How to Use Pinterest to Build an Audience:  http://ow.ly/SH1U302h8nV @EricaVerrillo

Where to begin with folk horror:  http://ow.ly/YbM1302h8Ns @BFI  @AdamScovell

Criteria for a good ending: http://ow.ly/MfeB302h8z6 by Kay Bergstrom @RMFWriters

How ‘Smooth Criminal’ Subverted the Hardboiled Detective Genre:  http://ow.ly/ZAvK302h9vm by Aida Amoako @QueenMobs

Need to reduce wordcount? Be selective with dialogue tags and more:  http://ow.ly/3a3p302h8tt @bentateauthor

How to Use Video Livestreaming for Book Promotion:  http://ow.ly/9Qnw302h8VC  @Bookgal

Scene Description Spotlight: “Unforgiven”:  http://ow.ly/em5l302h9lZ @GoIntoTheStory

Words to describe someone’s voice:  http://ow.ly/IicE302h9Ec @_FYWH

Enhancing narrative by using terminology of the field we’re writing about: http://ow.ly/MuwE302h91D @JerryBJenkins

6 Author Marketing Mistakes:  http://ow.ly/FWzz302h8SY @ceciliaedits

Amazon tries to increase the popularity of e-shorts: http://ow.ly/3fdr302zvq1 @Porter_Anderson @laurahazardowen @pubperspectives

When Publishers Ignore Copyright:  http://ow.ly/nPuK302yquO @MJHealy @pubperspectives

Methods for Distributing Free Books:  http://ow.ly/AxNH302zpmG

Tips for pitching yourself and your book to the media:  http://ow.ly/cQFj302zuDr @SpunkOnAStick @DancingLemurPre

Blogging: An Inexpensive, Powerful Marketing Tool for Authors:  http://ow.ly/mtxH302zuks @annerallen @TheIWSG

5 Lessons for Writers from the Movies:  http://ow.ly/EnBZ302fBWD @MirandaBW  @SignatureReads

5 Guerilla Tactics for Promoting Your Debut Novel:  http://ow.ly/SICI302fAok @manzanitafire

6 Helpful Apps for Writers: http://ow.ly/WUkk302fzi5 @Chris_Kokoski

5 Ways To Kill “Zombie” Prose Before It Kills You: http://ow.ly/yMZb302fzeP @Chris_Kokoski

Building a Better Definition of Science Fiction:  http://ow.ly/RA2t302fwC1 @jeffvandermeer

Tips for Planning a Writing Retreat:  http://ow.ly/nCxg302fA9w @robwhart

How to Create Legendary Villains:  http://ow.ly/XKlK302fAGK @KristenLambTX

The Use of Subtext:  http://ow.ly/AxBO302fCdI @JamesTuckwriter

Ben Lerner: Why So Many People (Rightfully) Hate Poetry:  http://ow.ly/98wV302fwKT @Delistraty

Character Questionnaire: 94 Questions to Ask:  http://ow.ly/cBIN302fBeR @Writers_Write

3 Modifiers Left Dangling Without a Supporting Subject:  http://ow.ly/Zf8a302fAR2 @writing_tips

6 Tips to Increase Your Social Media Shares: http://ow.ly/bFOK302fB1y @tthursb  @SMExaminer

Booktrack and Little, Brown Partner on YA Novellas:  http://ow.ly/4giz302yqau @Porter_Anderson @pccameron

Writer’s block: 3 ways to get over it: http://ow.ly/FxBa302bBP4 @redswanmedia

The Polish book market:  http://ow.ly/qknp302tf17 @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Gone Months Without Writing? Try This:  http://ow.ly/w1v0302ddn7 @McgannKellie

Emotional Wounds Thesaurus: Being Held Captive: http://ow.ly/uAff302ddja @beccapuglisi

Outlining and Tracking Tool for Novels:  http://ow.ly/Sj1r302dcQ3  @FantasyScroll

10 Ways to Add a Spark of Fire to Our Writing:  http://ow.ly/KjGT302ddw4 @kcraftwriter

6 Tips for How to Organize Your Novel’s Edits:  http://ow.ly/Gv1L302dcDj @KMWeiland

10 Sites for Indie Authors:  http://ow.ly/Yr6l302dcxC @EricaVerrillo

How To Create An Ebook Boxset Or Bundle And Why You Should:  http://ow.ly/ZstR302ddLe @thecreativepenn

The top writing links from last week are on Twitterific:
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Distributing Free Books

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

It used to annoy me when I’d read about how important it was to offer a free book to readers for newsletter signups or as rewards for newsletter subscribers.

The advice was all well and good, but it rarely got into the nitty-gritty of it.  How exactly were we supposed to give away these freebies?  Surely I wasn’t expected to monitor signups and send out individual emails to subscribers?

The same problem would arise when I’d be invited to participate in group giveaways or when I’d need to submit advance review copies.

How was I supposed to share these files with subscribers or reviewers without manually sending them out?

Method 1: 

At the time, MailChimp (free newsletter software … at least, free for 2,000 or fewer subscribers) did not host files for giveaways.  This meant I needed a workaround.  After a good deal of research, I adopted this approach to use my book A Dyeing Shame as a reward for signing up for my newsletter: For the download links, I used Amazon’s free cloud storage.  I logged in with my Amazon login.  Then I created a “bucket” called “dyeingshame”  and uploaded 3 files: Kindle, epub, and PDF.  When I selected each file on the site, a side menu came up.  I chose ‘properties’, then ‘permissions’. Then I clicked  the green arrow for ‘add more permissions.’   I then used the drop-down menu to select ‘everyone. and saved it.  A minute later, the file was showing as public. I copied the file url and hyperlinked it to the ‘download’ text image on the webpage landing page I set up for newsletter subscribers.

It wasn’t hard, but it was convoluted and took a little time.

Method 2: The good news is that MailChimp now hosts files.  You upload the book files (epub, mobi/Kindle) and then link to the files instead of attaching them in your newsletter campaign.  If you run into any issues, you can always choose my previous method.

The only negatives that I’ve experienced are readers who have had technical difficulties when downloading the files.  I came up with a standard explanation of how to navigate the downloading and reading of the files, but it did eat up some of my time (and, yes, my readership includes many senior readers … many of them are quite tech-savvy on e-readers, but some are not. Your mileage may vary as to whether this proves an issue).

Method 3: That’s one reason why I was excited to hear about instaFreebie.  If a reader runs into a problem, they’re the ones running interference.   You upload your book’s epub file, cover, and info to their site (they will convert the epub to a mobi file for Kindle readers or a PDF).

(Sorry for any blurriness below:)

Showing a successful upload:

Once it’s processed after several minutes, click ‘new giveaway’ and ‘create quick giveaway.’  You’ll then see the page below:

You have the option for setting an expiration date for the free book or a limit to the number of copies that are allowed to be downloaded.  Important to note…instaFreebie will share your free book on their site or allow the freebie to be public unless you uncheck the boxes allowing them to do so.

They provide you with a link to the book for your reviewers, newsletter subscribers,  giveaway winners.  The site suggests that you could even use it for beta reader sharing. You  insert that link on emails to reviewers, new subscribers (using automation … provide the link for your landing page for new subscribers), and winners:

The readers/reviewers click on the link and get three options for receiving their book, along with any tech support they need.

The premium version of instaFreebie removes the need for us to set up the link through MailChimp–it collects email addresses and automatically connects them to our MailChimp account.  But, sadly, I find myself again too frugal to use the premium version of a service.  :)  I’ll continue with my email automation through MailChimp that I’ve already set up.  But that is an option for you, if you want integration with MailChimp without any hassle.

There are other methods of sharing files …NetGalley, for instance. But the cost is prohibitive, I find.  BookFunnel is another option, but there is a $20 a year cost …I’d like to hear your thoughts if you’ve used them.

This is an area that’s changing all the time, so I’m interested to hear how you distribute free copies of your books.  What service do you use or do you handle it manually?

And a note that I’ll return to the blog on Sunday this week so that I can have extra time to finish up my book and send it to my editor!  :)

Methods for distributing free books to reviewers and readers:
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Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

A weekly roundup of the best writing links from around the web.

Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 30,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.

3 Steps to Write an Antagonist You Hate:  http://ow.ly/n2533027zLA @reagancolbert97

The English World’s Richest Prize for Short Story (Open for Submissions):  http://ow.ly/2n25302teCb @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Instill the Joy of Reading and Storytelling in Children:  http://ow.ly/EYuE302lR5q @jemifraser @TheIWSG               

Mastering Different Writing Styles:  7 Tips: http://ow.ly/omus3027AqF @nownovel

Worldbuilding for Realistic Fiction:  http://ow.ly/xXsm3027A2d @artofstoriesAB

5 Must-Dos for the Proactive Author:  http://ow.ly/ElfC3027zCS  @LovettRomance  @DIYMFA

Skipping Time in Your Story:  http://ow.ly/ZKfX3027A77 @artofstoriesAB

4 Mistakes That Can Cost Your Book the Bestsellers List:  http://ow.ly/j7gx302u3WO by C.S. Plocher

Live-in nurses in crime fiction:  http://ow.ly/u87P302tfqA @mkinberg

A Simple Approach to Building a Better Email List:  http://ow.ly/LBhX30264lT @storyrally

Crime fiction: sleuths who read about sleuths: http://ow.ly/kRoi302lt9X @mkinberg

Amazon’s team of old-school book reviewers influences readers:  http://ow.ly/BLDn30264nO @gonzalezseattle  @seattletimes

China’s ‘3 Book Program’: Chinese Publishers Are Introduced to International Exports:  http://ow.ly/oZak302te8m @Porter_Anderson @InfoJedi

An in-depth look at what, how, and why books sell:  http://ow.ly/zn493026450 @ElectricLit   @TheLincoln

What a Media Kit is and Why You Need One:  http://ow.ly/p5vG30264qJ @MFlicksAuthors

Marketing into an increasingly annoyed readership:  http://ow.ly/Uo9X30264la @Janet_Reid

Book Distributors Compared:  http://ow.ly/CuLv30264gk @111publishing

The when and how of starting a street team: http://ow.ly/B3lz30264th @kerrylonsdale

Leaving Your Comfort Zone: Reading Out of Genre:  http://ow.ly/JWP230264wp @j_s_brown  @WomenWriters

UK: why are there so many new publishing imprints? http://ow.ly/9Z3u30263Y6 @carmitstead  @GuardianBooks

Taking the Audiobook Plunge? Read This First: http://ow.ly/twiY30264zm @DianeRinella  @AngelaAckerman

What Editors Wish You Knew about Meeting with Them at Conferences:  http://ow.ly/ajUV30264xF @KarenBall1

Amazon Is Quietly Eliminating List Prices:  http://ow.ly/4ON230264ak  @DavidStreitfeld  @nytimes

Newsletters: The Hidden Secret to Marketing? http://ow.ly/kdbu302tivY  @RochelleDCarter  @BwkrSelfPublish

World-Building Tips and Tools:  http://ow.ly/KGig302lQvC @AlexJCavanaugh @TheIWSG

Storytelling About Storytelling: A Swiss ‘Summer of Darkness’ App:  http://ow.ly/VHRX302tdNQ  @anindita @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Subplot Survival 101:  http://ow.ly/CE6Z30254pu  @ClareLangleyH

How to Notify Amazon Buyers about New Content in Your eBook:  http://ow.ly/cbQC30253yC @Martinthewriter

Tips for better dialogue:  http://ow.ly/KdOA30253TF @AuthorKJ

Writing A One-Page Business Plan: 5 Questions A Self-Publisher Must Ask: http://ow.ly/vofs30253v3 @jckunzjr

Not sure how to use your Amazon affiliate links correctly? Ask Amazon:  http://ow.ly/YN3C30253Kd @eNovelAuthors

4 essential elemenst for the first 5 pages:  http://ow.ly/tMtG30254eO @swkehoe

Point of View Confusion:  http://ow.ly/8trL30254s6 @CandaceWillms  @IndiesUnlimited

Lessons Learned: 5 Tips for Episodic Writing:  http://ow.ly/iL8u30253MO @inkylinks

Why Your Readers Are Your Greatest Asset: http://ow.ly/2oAf30253qH @PublishingSpark

6 Easy Steps to Planning Out Your Novel:  http://ow.ly/4alK302543j @LMacNaughton

Tips for recording video and basic equipment needed: http://ow.ly/Bnw830253im @shelleyhitz

How Writers Can Bring Setting to Life through Personification:  http://ow.ly/w41p30253Bg @CSLakin

Metrics Are Worthless…So What Should You Focus on Instead?  http://ow.ly/ExNZ30252By @Bookgal

How to write effective book titles:  http://ow.ly/92fX30253b8  @Peter_Rey_

5-Minute Book Marketing for Indie Authors:  http://ow.ly/GeJm30252sg @Bookgal

How To Use Snapchat To Build Your Unique Readership:  http://ow.ly/rOlq30252p6 @K8Tilton

The Platform Building Step You’re Probably Missing: from Fix My Story http://ow.ly/SsWb30252mA

Turn your Book into an Audiobook in 6 Steps:  http://ow.ly/rELc3021P7i @clairedeluana

Tune in to the @ReedsyHQ  live chat on FB each Wed. at 3p ET (now). http://bit.ly/28TpYzb . Today’s topic: blogging

5 Tips to Keep You from Being Overwhelmed:  http://ow.ly/4XD63021OD6 @CSLakin

Writing Crime Fiction in the Era of Black Lives Matter:  http://ow.ly/RvIn302qxOq @RachelHowzell @BillLoehfelm and Henry Chang @lithub

Book Promoting: Is $1.99 The New 99 Cents?  http://ow.ly/KdQI3021Oic @Martinthewriter @IndiesUnlimited

6 Reasons to Power Up Your Productivity as a Writer:  http://ow.ly/eHOz3021O5I  @AGHackney

Indie Authors: Book Promotion Tools and Tips:  http://ow.ly/7qEW3021JkW @sabsky

What Should You Put in Your Email Newsletter?  http://ow.ly/5Qvp3021Jga @kikimojo @JaneFriedman

Book Promotion: Do This, Not That:  http://ow.ly/ivSs3021J3y @PamelaBeason @JFbookman

When an Internet Skeptic Takes to Twitter:  http://ow.ly/EEIA302lHYH @svenbirkerts @lithub

Tips for Author Blogs:  http://ow.ly/d9vA301YAQO @krgpryal  @WomenWriters

Writing in 2nd person POV: http://ow.ly/Ghfw301YBnb @LindaKSienkwicz  @WomenWriters

Character Thoughts: Direct and Indirect Interior Monologues:  http://ow.ly/3j7s301YBxa @FictionNotes

Making your Character Shine From Page One:  http://ow.ly/Ru6o301YBSm @winellroad

5 Secrets of Complex Supporting Characters:  http://ow.ly/eKpD301YBZo @KMWeiland

Book Marks: The book review aggregator:  http://ow.ly/zmvt301YB0k @lithub

Symbolism & Setting:  http://ow.ly/fSDz301YBAY @KristenLambTX

5 helpful hints for writing at night:  http://ow.ly/pFst301YCdM @pubcoach

23 Ways to Defeat the Sagging Middle:  http://ow.ly/FsKn301YBtI @FictionNotes

How To Track Your Word Count & Set Writing Goals:  http://ow.ly/tKkq301YALW @SukhiJutla

Use Minor Characters to Flesh Out Your Protagonist:  http://ow.ly/6tAV301YC7N @KMWeiland

How to Create an Internal Mindset Conducive to Writing:  http://ow.ly/G9hM301YClR @AnneJanzer  @JaneFriedman

Why Calvin and Hobbes is Great Literature:  http://ow.ly/yX2Q302lHKg @GabbyBellot @lithub

How to Use Whatsapp in India: http://ow.ly/9I8P302kHNQ @ritesh_kala @IndieAuthorALLI

Tools to Manage Metadata:  http://ow.ly/DSBb302lFg0

Overcoming Book Signing Fear:  http://ow.ly/ynat302lJOm @ChrysFey @TheIWSG

4 strengths of fish-out-of-water stories:  http://ow.ly/aJJx302lsDh @LaurelGarver @jemifraser

How Publishers Abuse Termination Fees:  http://ow.ly/1yPf302ltg2 @PassiveVoiceBlg @victoriastrauss

US French Embassy Releases Its 2016 Translation Report:  http://ow.ly/P5xw302kmkY @DennisAbrams2 @pubperspectives

How Writers Can Bring Setting to Life through Personification:  http://ow.ly/hvkF301YAbN @beccapuglisi

Dictating a Book? Tips for Editing the First Draft: http://ow.ly/uMpP301YyWl @CKmacleodwriter

How NOT to dictate your book:  http://ow.ly/F40B301YxUc by Wendy Jones @IndieAuthorALLI

A Look at How Horror Author @peterstraubnyc   Crafts His Opening Chapters:  http://ow.ly/QqrV301Yzii by Tina L. Jens @BlackGateDotCom

6 Ways to Set Up Scrivener for Writing:  http://ow.ly/roPK301Yz6x @CKmacleodwriter

4 Steps to Break Grammar Rules with Style:  http://ow.ly/OigW301YAif @Julie_Glover

6 Ways to End a Book in a Series:  http://ow.ly/jpaf301YzZh @RobinRWrites

Brushing up on character mannerisms by braving public spaces: http://ow.ly/6xhx301YzNr @joannaslan

Radio Tips for Indie Authors:  http://ow.ly/iYLb301Yyte @RachelAmphlett  @IndieAuthorALLI

How to Choose a Domain Name for Your Author Website:  http://ow.ly/mC8M301YA76 @JFbookman

3 Tactics To Make You A More Productive Writer:  http://ow.ly/jVZ1301YA3k @sacha_black

Crime fiction featuring the dark side of fashion design:  http://ow.ly/sWqu302kAU6 @mkinberg

When You Don’t Want to Write:  http://ow.ly/OLx4301VR7f @msheatherwebb

#NEABigRead: Stepping Up Its Game for Diversity, Relevance:  http://ow.ly/YKrZ302kmqj @Porter_Anderson @amystolls @NEABigRead

Conflict in every scene? Disasters in every act? Yes and no: http://ow.ly/KUS2302kAJu @Roz_Morris

Links I shared last week:  http://ow.ly/fPI4302kmLq .All the links I’ve shared (30K+, free and searchable): writerskb.com @Hiveword

Romance Writers of America Discuss Sales, Globalization, and Diversity Challenges:  http://ow.ly/VVXF302km9C @Porter_Anderson @rwa

Adverbs Are Overwhelmingly, Indisputably the Best Part of Speech:  http://ow.ly/lPOU301VQ4c  @colindickey

Rentrement of Compulsion: How to Write a Rondeau (Infographic) http://ow.ly/j5Tc301VQm9 @lwlindquist  @tspoetry

A Less Lonely Way to Get More Writing Done:  http://ow.ly/MuSy301VRiS @Janice_Hardy

A Tale of Two Writers:  http://ow.ly/DEBg301VRps @storyfix

In Defence of Clichés:  http://ow.ly/XQs2301VPM4 @JoEberhardt

How One Writer Overcame Fear and Got a 2nd Chance:  http://ow.ly/6oDL301VRdp  @thereallisakerr

When Marcel Proust Was an Anxious Debut Novelist:  http://ow.ly/K30U3027tRf @lithub  @billcart67

The Fabulist and Fantastic Edges of Contemporary Southern Women€s Poetry:  http://ow.ly/oP6F302xhXc @ElectricLit by Stacey Balkun

There is more to war poetry than mud, wire and slaughter:  http://ow.ly/EdIU3027ttg by Andrew Motion @GuardianBooks

Write a Nonfiction Book: Your 5-Minute Plan:  http://ow.ly/K1yA302brD8 @angee

How to Create a Book Cover Using Canva:  http://ow.ly/CGKV302xhr6 @lornafaith

How to Write an Email Sequence to Keep Readers Hooked:  http://ow.ly/rwxP302brJy @HennekeD

Education in Storyworlds:  http://ow.ly/hFgN302brPf by A.D. Shrum

A Story Opening To Avoid:  http://ow.ly/uv7t302bBJP @angiehodapp @agentkristinNLA

Breakdown Boards:  http://ow.ly/lSsM302bBNh @SPressfield

The Polish book market:  http://ow.ly/qknp302tf17 @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Writer’s block: 3 ways to get over it: http://ow.ly/FxBa302bBP4 @redswanmedia

Ultralight Lit: Choosing What to Read on a Long Hike: http://ow.ly/STFs302dcdg @robmoorstuff  @Powells

Tips for creating an effective website:  http://ow.ly/YRnK302ddzZ @DanBlank

10 Tricks for Getting Your Book Reviewed by a Book Blogger:  http://ow.ly/ux6H302ddDd @BakerviewConsul  for @annerallen

4 Ways to Make Your Writing More Interesting:  http://ow.ly/XSsp302dd9C @Rachel_Aaron

The top writing links from last week are on Twitterific:
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