Ruth Ann Nordin's Blog, page 107

If You Don't Comment in English, I'll Delete You

This is the third time now I have gotten a comment that is not in Engligh. I speak and write English. If I write a post in English, then it's common sense to comment in English. I have tolerated this twice now, with a friendly reminder that I do not speak another language (except for a little Spanish). I don't know what you're point is, but if you can read my posts in English, then you can answer in English.

So for now on, anyone commenting in a language that isn't English will be delete...

Self-Publishing Benefit: Write What Readers Want

Now, I'm not talking about writing with the whole "I'll change my style or technique to please the reader." What I'm talking about is self-publishing opens the door for the kind of interaction between the author and reader that allows for focusing our attention on the characters/world that our readers love most. With traditional publishing, the author has to think about what the publisher wants. With self-publishing, that doesn't come into the equation.

So what exactly do I mean by all of th...

On Writing: Make Each Scene Count

Hey, what do you know? I'm actually going to talk about writing instead of publishing or promotion. I don't know if I've ever done an actual "writing" post yet or not...and no, I'm not going back to check. After this, I have some proofreading to do. A writer's work is never done. :-)

Okay, so I do manage to pick up a book and read from time to time. I am also going through a revising of one of my books, and in all of this, I have discovered that filler scenes are boring. These are scene...

More on Making Money as an Author

Alright, so I've received questions since my last "money" post regarding some things I mentioned. I'll address those here. I hate to give out the numbers because whenever I do, I end up losing sales and hits to my sites. I know, I know. There is probably no real correlation, but it almost seems like I'm going to kick myself for this later. However, since those questions have come to my attention, I need the numbers to back up my statements.

I'll also add some more ideas on things you ca...

Beware of MyFreeRead.com

As someone who is opposed to making my readers go through ads in order to access my work, I thought this was important to pass on. Basically MyFreeRead.com allows you $0.20 each time someone downloads your ebook. But that person must go through a couple of ads before they get your ebook. If this appeals to you, go for it. As for me, I will not put my stuff on there. I hate ads and don't think it's necessary for people to read my free ebooks by making them watch ads first.

Victoria Strauss...

Rant: Only Self-Published Books are Poorly Edited

That is just a load of... (fill in the blank). I'll use the term crap.

I am reading an ebook from a small publisher that is recommended by Preditors and Editors, which is the compass many authors go by when deciding who to query. So this "recommended" publisher does have a good reputation. Well, I bought one of their books, and I am finding errors in every chapter that I usually hear people clown self-published authors for. I often hear people say, "All self-published books are poorly edited...

Writing No No's

I've been doing some reading (and some of it has been my own work--LOL) and noticed some things that should probably be on the "Do not do" list when you're writing. Again, I mention that I have either done this in the past or fall into the trap of doing this now, so I know how easy this stuff is to do.

1. Give tons of backstory. This is especially true in the beginning of your book. For some reason, we might feel the need to info dump on the reader. Or we're afraid that the reader will so...

Interesting Blog Post on How Traditionally Published Authors Sell Books

This post is from Michael A. Stackpole. He has traditionally published, so he knows the business. He has also self-published. Since he has done both, this is why I recommend going to his blog and at least checking him out.

Today, I thought I'd pass along his post on "Entitlement? Really?"

To break down a few points, here is what he discusses:

1. Book covers sell more than your prose does. So, have a good cover.

2. Placement in bookstores plays a big factor in whether or not the book sell...

Perseverance is the Name of the Game

One thing I have become convicted of over the past year is the power of perseverance. Usually, I hear this in relation to finding an agent and getting a traditional publishing contract. However, that is just one step toward the goal of getting your name out there. Being traditionally published doesn't automatically mean you'll sell books either. I entered the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award and browsed through the forums over there to see what's going on. I noticed that the authors of se...

Why I Buy Books

The reason why I buy books is why I think most people buy books. So instead of writing this post as a writer, I'm writing it as a reader.

1. Author Appeal - Primary Reason I Buy a Book

90% of the books I buy are because I liked the author. This doesn't mean I know the author, but it does mean that I have (at some point) heard or read something the writer said that made me admire the person. Since I was impressed with the author, I wanted to check out his/her book.

Sell yourself, not your...