Gerald Dean Rice's Blog, page 47
February 10, 2014
Write Better #Book Descriptions
I just found what I think will be a good aid in writing book descriptions. I’m going to use this to go over all mine. I tend to write a story I love, but struggle to find something interesting to say about it. Oh, and I found this on http://selfpublishingadvice.org/blog/.... Apparently, using this in combination with Words That Sell helps to capture the prospective reader in that crucial initial 30 seconds that decides buying or not buying.
And be sure to pick up a copy of How to Publish on Amazon Kindle, Smashwords, & Nook the Easy Way!.
TELL PROSPECTIVE READERS THE FOLLOWING (ALWAYS)
Fiction or Creative Nonfiction:
the central conflict.
who the main characters are
what are their goals
why they’re not having a good time of it. (Good time = bad novel),
what’s at stake.
where it’s set
why they probably can’t solve the problem (raise a doubt)
February 8, 2014
February 7, 2014
Looking for a Few Good Audiobooks #audible
My wife got me a subscription to ">Audible.com for Christmas. It’s supposed to last 6 months, but I’ve already burned through four of them as of the end of last month. I already have Name Your Link
">F. Paul Wilson’s ">Fear City picked out for my very last book, but I have no idea what I want next. I want something other than a book written by anybody with the last name Name Your Link">King and I figure there’s gotta be a really good horror book by an author I haven’t read before.
So, if you are an author and have your book on Audible, pitch it to me! Longer is better.
Try a free book on ">Audible.com.
February 6, 2014
Cthulhu Man
PORTLAND — Police released a sketch Wednesday of a man who has been exposing himself to kids in Northeast Portland.
The man was most recently spotted Tuesday, exposing himself to a child outside of a home near Northeast 45th Avenue and Stanton Street at 4:45 p.m., said Sgt. Pete Simpson of Portland police.
According to the victim, the suspect ran northbound on 45th avenue, stopped in front of the house and exposed himself, then ran eastbound on Stanton Street.
On Tuesday of last week, the same suspect exposed himself to a woman who was jogging near Northeast 29th Avenue and Northeast Stanton Street.
Read more here.
Read about more monsters in Where the Monsters Are.
January 31, 2014
@Joe_Hill Interview #horror
No, I didn’t interview him, but I stumbled across one he did about his new book NOS4A2. I’m almost done listening to it on Audible and it is excellent. Kate Mulgrew took a little getting used to, but now I’m digging her voice as well (it kind of has a mommy-authoritarian going on).
Darkness suits Joe Hill, but he does his best to avoid the long shadow of his father, Stephen King. Born Joseph Hillstrom King, the 40-year-old author uses a pen name to ensure that he’s read based on literary merit, not genealogy. From his 2007 debut novel Heart-Shaped Box to his Locke & Key comics, he’s carved out his own brand of chilling (and heartwarming) storytelling. In his new novel, NOS4A2, Hill’s exploration of vampirism is proof that he’s a king of the macabre in his own right.
Read the rest here…
January 26, 2014
How to improve your #socialmedia efforts in 10 minutes | Articles | Main
Each of these four actions requires about 10 minutes of your time and could lead to major returns. Do them today.
http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/47808.aspx
January 25, 2014
Butt Poem
Okay, I have been searching for this poem off and on for years. I heard it back when I was in college in a writing class. I don’t remember the author’s name or the name of the poem (you can imagine the search results after typing ‘butt’ and ‘poem’).
But is anyone familiar with this poem? I think the first line was something like, ‘I’m stuck in a butt,’.
January 24, 2014
Running Start
I’m standing in line at Subway and I’ve just heard for maybe the billionth time someone begin a sentence with a ‘starter’ phrase. You know what I mean: the stuff you say before the stuff you want to say? I’m guilty of it myself—at least I have been. As I become aware of when I do it, I try to make a conscious effort to stop.
For instance, when making an important business call, I used to begin with, “Ah, yes—” but once I heard myself doing it, I wondered why I was and then began thinking about it before the person who would eventually be on the other end picked up.
That’s where I hear it for the most part: people on the phone. How do so many have this same learned behavior? I certainly wasn’t taught to say these phrases in these situations and doubt anyone else was.
January 23, 2014
@OldSpice, Meet Your New Mascot @dougandgator971
Forgive the untimeliness of it, but I don’t think the skip has his dance card full yet.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KYH8YXaonuM&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DKYH8YXaonuM
Yes, that is former Tiger’s manager, Jim Leland
You’re Here Now, So What’s Next?
Whether you’ve found this site by chance, clicked on a link from Twitter or Facebook, or downloaded a free copy of 30 Minute Plan, you’ve made it. I’m guessing your likes are walks on the beach, people who like to smile, and horror. But wait, before you just go why not take a look at what else I have?
Like the equally free The Beggar’s Bowl? I know, I know, that cover is awful. I’ll probably do another when I get time, but there’s a lot more to be read! Like Fleshbags or Where the Monsters Are, my Halloween book of shorts The Best Night of the Year. There’s just so many to choose from and considering most are only $0.99 you don’t have to pick just one.
Check out my booklist.
Or my UK booklist.
