Zed Amadeo's Blog, page 8
June 29, 2015
Practical Writing Advice: Know Your Audience
How well do you know your audience?
Defining Your Audience
Do you know who you’re marketing your book to? Better defining your audience can help you build a solid marketing plan without spending time on efforts that are unlikely to reach your target audience. Two resources that can help you define your audience are available for free at All Indie Writers:
Target Market Worksheet
From AllIndieWriters
Although aimed at freelance writers, the Target Market Worksheet is also useful for fiction writers. This diagram gives you a visual way to think about the demographics of your target audience, what your audience is looking for, and how your writing fulfills the wants of the audience. The Target Market Worksheet is available for free at AllIndieWriters.
Book Marketing Plan Outline
From AllIndieWriters
This free outline has a section entitled “Your Target Market” that can help you delve into deeper detail about potential channels for reaching your audience. In addition, this plan has sections devoted to other aspects of marketing your book (such as finances and market analysis) that can help you improve your marketing plan. Available on AllIndieWriters.
Social Media
Once you’ve defined your audience, it is easier to create a better social media strategy for marketing your book. Instead of spending excess time trying to market on every social media channel, you’ll likely want to focus on those that is likely to be used by your target audience. Avoid Social Media Time Suck by Frances Caballo (which I previously reviewed) provides great suggestions on how to do this more effectively – for example, if you write Romance, you’ll likely want to use Pinterest to find potential readers.
When defining and reaching out to your audience, here are a couple of things to keep in mind:
Reach out to non-writers
Unless you’re specifically writing non-fiction targeted toward indie writers, you’ll likely want to include non-authors in your readership. While connecting with other authors is invaluable, be wary of ending up in a circle where your entire audience consists only of other authors. Be especially wary of paying for circular advertising services that consist solely of indie authors promoting their work to other indie authors. For a great post on which book marketing channels may be most effective, check out Nicholas Rossis’ Call to Arms post on the topic.
Reach out to non-readers:
After you’ve defined your target readership, you may want to expand your audience to include other potential groups. The Book Marketing Plan Outline provides some space to think about, using the example of children’s books. Instead of only marketing toward readers, an author might want to consider marketing toward parents and teachers as well.Kristen Lamb’s guide to creating your author platform, Rise of the Machines (which I also reviewed and highly recommend) also provides more discussion on this idea. Lamb’s book suggests levering your other interests beyond writing to connect with more potential readers. Connect with others online or join communities that share that interest and share content related to your interests as well. The people that you connect with this way may later become interested in your writing Consider whether there any other potential audiences you might want to include in your marketing strategy.
What techniques or resources have you used to better define your audience?
Liked this post? Feel free to share!
The post Practical Writing Advice: Know Your Audience appeared first on Zed Amadeo.
June 27, 2015
Nostalgia Sunday: The Tribe
Ah, The Tribe: one of my favorite shows that (almost) no one I know in real life has ever heard of.
So there was this show that I accidentally discovered on WAM! (one of the Starz channels) as a kid that I became obsessed with. The Tribe was this science-fiction show from New Zealand aimed at teens/young adults, about a world in which all of the adults had been killed off by a mysterious virus. The children and teens left were then forced to band together in tribes to survive the ensuing chaos. It only took one episode, and before I knew it I was hooked.
The Tribe was unlike anything else I had seen at the time. Though I started watching the show during Season 4, I quickly went online to find out everything I could about the previous seasons. The show was full of drama and lots of costumes and wacky makeup (each tribe tended to have a distinctive style). The Tribe even produced an album, which I listened to repeatedly. I watched Season 5 as soon as it premiered in the US, and I later on caught up with all of the seasons that I had missed.
The Tribe, cast of Season 1 – from Tribeworld
I can’t even begin to explain how upset I was when I found out that there wasn’t going to be a Season 6. To compensate, I watched some other shows from the same production company, Cloud 9, which featured a lot of the same actors. To fill that Tribe-shaped hole in my soul, I also perused every fansite I could find and read lots of fanfiction. I got ridiculously excited when I found that music from The Tribe was up on Spotify. Now I listen to the soundtrack a lot while editing, and it fills me with joyful memories.
Atlantis High, one of the other shows produced by Cloud 9 – from AtlantisHigh.com
I finally met someone else who was as equally obsessed with The Tribe when I got to college and we bonded over our shared love of the show. So the story continues. Though The Tribe premiered 16 years ago, the show will forever hold a place in my heart.
Was there anything you enjoyed as a child that hardly anyone else seemed to know about?
Liked this post? Feel free to share!
The post Nostalgia Sunday: The Tribe appeared first on Zed Amadeo.
June 26, 2015
What I’ve Learned from Writing
I consider myself to be at the beginning of what I hope becomes a fruitful writing career. Over the course of pursuing my passion in writing, I’ve learned some useful lessons that have helped me break new ground in achieving my writing dreams.
What I’ve Learned from Writing
1. Patience and Persistence
A book doesn’t just write itself. As one writing book said, even the most well-written books probably had to go through a series of drafts to reach its current state. Yes, there will be times when I’ll feel stuck in a story, but this is not the end of the world. While this used to frustrate me in my younger years, I now know that instead of giving up on my current piece, what I need to do is continue working through it.
The importance of patience applies to every aspect of writing, from finishing a draft, to editing, to submitting a piece, and growing an audience. Even if my progress seems to plateau, I remind myself that I just need to keep trying. Any road blocks in my writing career are ultimately temporary.
2. Anti-Perfectionism
A first draft is never perfect. Ever. This is something that seems so simple and obvious now, but teenage me thought that every word I wrote had to be absolutely perfect. My need for perfection resulted in lots of writer’s block from fear of writing something that might be less than perfect. Now I’ve come to expect that my first draft will probably be pretty bad, and that’s perfectly fine, because I can always edit it later.
3. Confidence
Taking my writing seriously has made me grow a thicker skin. I used to be terrified of rejection or of someone not liking something that I wrote. Now I’ve come to realize that rejection is normal for every writer to go through, and that rejection can teach some valuable lessons within itself. Being rejected doesn’t define me as a person or as a writer.
When I was younger, I used to keep most of my writing to myself because I was afraid of what people would think. I now understand that my style of writing isn’t for everyone, and that’s perfectly fine, because there are people who do enjoy my stories. I see constructive criticism of my writing not as an attack on my abilities, but suggestions for how I can improve my craft. I continue to pursue my passion in writing because I believe that I have interesting stories to tell. This confidence within my abilities has allowed me to continue trudging along with my writing despite rejection or criticism.
4. The Danger of the Comfort Zone
If I had never pushed myself to try new things with my writing, I’d still be afraid to share my writing with the world. I would’ve never joined a critique group out of fear of criticism. I would’ve never submitted my writing anywhere for fear of rejection. I would’ve never started blogging. Although I am more comfortable with all three of those things now, it’s always a bit scary to try something new. Throughout my writing journey, I’ve learned to push that fear away and explore more aspects of writing. Instead of focusing on my fears, I instead think about all that I want to achieve. With this mindset, I can tackle my fears and continue pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone to grow my writing abilities.
What have you learned from following your passion?
Liked this post? Feel free to share!
The post What I’ve Learned from Writing appeared first on Zed Amadeo.
June 22, 2015
Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Topics
It’s Tuesday! Which means another Top Ten post, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s post is about the Top Ten Topics that The Broke and The Bookish have hosted. All book covers from Goodreads.
1. Books I’d Love to See as Movies/TV Shows
2. Most Anticipated Releases For 2015
3. Books On My TBR For Summer 2015
4. Hilarious Book Titles
5. Book to Movie Adaptations
6. Endings That Left Me With My Mouth Hanging Open
7. Books I Was “Forced” To Read
8.”Gateway” Books/Authors In My Reading Journey
9. Most Unique Books I’ve Ever Read
10. Books I Want to Reread
From Goodreads
What other blogging memes do you participate in?
Liked this post? Feel free to share!
The post Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Topics appeared first on Zed Amadeo.
My Inspiration: J.K. Rowling
The author who sparked my imagination and my love for fantasy.
JK Rowling
The movie that started it all for me – from IMDb
From the moment I saw Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in theaters, I was absolutely enchanted with the world that J.K. Rowling had created. Over the course of my childhood and adolescence, I accumulated a steady collection of souvenirs related to the series: first the DVD of the first movie, followed by lego sets, and the books themselves. I read the entire series and saw all of the movies. Like lots of kids my age, I sometimes wished that I would one day receive my letter to Hogwarts. I soon found myself reading other books in the fantasy genre that would grant me temporary entrance into other worlds of fantasy, and began creating fantastical worlds through my own writing.
Lego Harry Potter – from Gaming Lives
Polyjuice Potion Maker – from Amazon
When the final book was published, I attended a bookstore party to celebrate. I have fond memories of that night, walking to the bookstore dressed in a wizard’s robe for a night of festivities with other Harry Potter fans, culminating with the release of the book at midnight.
The final book – from Wikipedia
It is not only Rowling’s fiction that inspired me. I had known some bits of her biography previously, but hadn’t known the full extent of her struggles around the time she wrote Harry Potter until I read an article about her in Reader’s Digest: “J.K. Rowling and the Flames of Failure,” an excerpt from her commencement speech at Harvard.
The woman herself – from Telegraph
During the time Rowling wrote Harry Potter, she had become a divorced single parent who was struggling financially. Yet through this time of difficulty, she still found the effort and the inspiration to write the book that would enchant and inspire readers around the globe.
Even all of these years later, I still feel the magic of Harry Potter’s world. While it’s a long-shot that I would be ever able to achieve J.K. Rowling’s level of success, I still carry the hope that one day someone could read something that I wrote and become inspired to write themselves. Beyond that, Rowling reminds me that no matter how difficult life becomes, I always have my passion for writing to grant me comfort and keep me moving forward.
Which authors have been particularly inspiring for your creativity?
Liked this post? Feel free to share!
The post My Inspiration: J.K. Rowling appeared first on Zed Amadeo.
June 21, 2015
Nostalgia Sunday: Shrek
The film that I have seen at least a hundred times!
Shrek
From Wikipedia
I loved Shrek when I first saw it in theaters back in 2001. My mom later got me the movie on VHS (remember those?) when it became available, and believe me when I say that I watched that tape over and over. So much so that I nearly had the movie memorized. I especially loved the karaoke dance party at the end of the VHS version:
Even now, whenever I watch Shrek, it brings back all of those nice memories from my childhood. It’s become somewhat of a tradition for me to watch it every year. Shrek never fails to make me laugh, and always leaves me with that warm, fuzzy feeling. Listening to the soundtrack leaves me feeling similarly. Who can forget “All Star” from the beginning of the movie?:
I loved Shrek then, and I still love it now.
Which films from your childhood do you still enjoy watching today?
Liked this post? Feel free to share!
The post Nostalgia Sunday: Shrek appeared first on Zed Amadeo.
June 20, 2015
What Does Your Creative Schedule Look Like?
When do you feel the most creative/productive?
I found this link awhile back about the the Daily Routines of Famous Creative People that I thought was really cool:
From Podio
It’s interesting to see how these creative people balanced other aspects of their lives, such as their day job and exercise, with creative time. I was especially interested by how they fit sleep into their schedule (Kafka seemed to have survived on two naps a day!). We primarily remember these people for the great works that they produced, but it can be easy to forget that they were normal people – they still had to find time not only to devote to creating, but to fulfill their other responsibilities in life, while also being sure to devote time to themselves (such as time to sleep!)
Throughout my life, I’ve tended to be more of a night owl. I used to get most of my writing done between midnight and 3 AM. As I’ve gotten older, this has changed for some reason. In college, I tended to wake up an hour earlier so that I could get some writing done before class. Currently, my writing schedule varies a lot – while I always set aside a solid chunk of time to devote to blogging or editing, the actual time of the day when I start working isn’t set in stone and usually changes from one day to the next.
What time of the day do you normally feel most productive or creative?
Liked this post? Feel free to share!
The post What Does Your Creative Schedule Look Like? appeared first on Zed Amadeo.
June 18, 2015
My Inspiration: Silent Hill
Ah, Silent Hill. My first introduction to horror.
Silent Hill
From Wikipedia
Although I’m an avid fan and writer of horror today, I haven’t always been that way. In my younger years I was often too terrified of scary movies to really enjoy them. That all changed when I received a Playstation 2 for my birthday one year and borrowed Silent Hill 2 to play on my new console.
Silent Hill 2 is the story of James Sunderland, an ordinary man who receives a letter from his wife Mary telling him to meet her in Silent Hill, the town they visited for their honeymoon. The twist? James’ wife has been dead for years after succumbing to a mysterious illness. He decides to take her up on the letter anyway, and travels to Silent Hill for a chance to see her again. Only Silent Hill is no longer the idyllic town he and his wife once visited.
James, the protagonist of Silent Hill 2: From Talk Amongst Yourselves
Though Silent Hill has become a town constantly bathed in darkness, James is not alone. He encounters other people wandering through the streets of Silent Hill, lost souls like himself. One of these is Maria, a near doppelganger of Mary, but with more attitude:
Maria: from the Silent Hill Wiki
James doesn’t only find other humans in Silent Hill. Monsters seem ready to spring at him from every corner. The most famous of them is probably Pyramid Head. As I once jokingly told a friend, Pyramid Head freaked me out so much that my descendants many generations from now will probably be born with an innate fear of Pyramid Head.
Pyramid Head, the monster of my nightmares: from the Silent Hill Wiki
What stuck with me about Silent Hill 2 was not only the horror, but the emotional impact that the story left on me. As you travel through Silent Hill, more of James’ backstory unravels. By the end of the game, you realize that James and almost everyone he encounters in Silent Hill is a troubled soul. I don’t want to spoil anything specific for anyone who hasn’t yet played the game, but James’ story is not one that you will soon forget.
Years after I played Silent Hill 2, I was still curious about the towns horrific origins (which are hinted at but not fully explained in SH2) and the continuation of the storyline. I ended up playing two of the sequels years after I played Silent Hill 2. Although I’ve already read tons about Silent Hill 1, I’m still working on finishing the first game in the series. I’m not usually one to spend too much time wondering about symbolism, but some of the fan theories are fairly thought-provoking for a lover of the series.
From Wikipedia
From Silent Hill Memories
Also, the music. I listen to tracks from Silent Hill 2, composed by Akira Yamaoka, to this day, often while writing or editing. The Silent Hill 2 OST provides the right mood and atmosphere for a lot of the dark fiction that I write. One of my favorites is Theme of Laura, which plays during the intro to Silent Hill 2.
From the emotional story, to the troubled characters, and the atmospheric setting, Silent Hill 2 was my first taste of what became a love of horror. Who would’ve known that one game could lead to such an intense new interest?
Has there ever been a movie/show/game that sparked your interest in a new genre?
Featured image from Gamespresso
Liked this post? Feel free to share:
The post My Inspiration: Silent Hill appeared first on Zed Amadeo.
June 15, 2015
Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My TBR For Summer 2015
It’s that time of the week again! Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Here’s the ten books I’m most excited about reading this summer. All book covers from Goodreads.
1. Talasam by Kate Whitaker
2. The Immortal Circus by A.R. Kahler
3. Within Emerald Forests by Heather Hamel
4. furtl by Strobe Witherspoon
5. The Solace Pill by Jason Werbeloff
6. Where Spiders Fear to Spin by Peter Dudar
7. Make Something Up by Chuck Palahniuk
8. My Work is Not Yet Done by Thomas Ligotti
9. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
10. Marrow by Tarryn Fisher
Which books are you most excited to read this summer?
The post Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My TBR For Summer 2015 appeared first on Zed Amadeo.
Practical Writing Advice: Rethinking Your Author Platform
Building an author platform today is a vastly different process than for authors in the past. Kristen Lamb’s Rise of the Machines can help you create a solid platform in today’s shifting digital world.
Rise of the Machines: Human Authors in a Digital World by Kristen Lamb
From Goodreads
Even as a child of the digital age, figuring out how to build my brand online can be confusing, especially when it seems like there’s always a new social media platform being created. Kristen Lamb’s Rise of the Machines can guide you in creating your writing brand no matter which platforms you decide to use.
Lamb has a rare ability to touch upon the more abstract concepts involved with building your brand while grounding them in practical advice for how to use social media and your blog. Although Lamb does provide tips for the most common social media platforms, her advice can be applied to any platform. Rise of the Machines emphasizes the importance of creating a conversation online, and not simply throwing information at people and hoping someone will find it interesting. One section of the book is dedicated to separate advice for fiction and non-fiction authors to follow, as certain strategies are likely to work for one but not necessarily the other.
One of the takeaways I got from this book was that it is okay to expand the topics I blog about and share on social media. Although it’s okay to blog about books and writing, that doesn’t need to be everything that I write about. Yes, I’m a writer, but I have other interests outside of writing, and it’s okay to share those online. Even though you are a writer, you don’t necessarily need to target every post at the writing population. Unless you strictly create works for writers (such as non-fiction books on writing craft), you don’t want to forget about the large segment of your potential audience that doesn’t wirite. Thus, it can be helpful to expand your content to reflect your other interests and let your 3D personality shine through in your online bios.
Lamb’s guide provides plenty of food for thought for rethinking and building a solid author platform. Rise of the Machines is available on Amazon in both paperback and eBook format.
What books or resources have been influential in changing the way you think about your author platform?
If you found this post helpful, feel free to share!
The post Practical Writing Advice: Rethinking Your Author Platform appeared first on Zed Amadeo.
