Deb Simpson's Blog, page 23
October 10, 2011
Book Planning Tool--Mind Mapping
http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2011/10/roger-c-parker-mind-mapping
How to Get Started Mind Mapping Your Book (and everything else)by JOEL FRIEDLANDER on OCTOBER 10, 2011
By Roger C. ParkerI'm pleased to present a guest article today from Roger C. Parker, the author of numerous best-selling books who also self-publishes and runs the Published and Profitable Blog, a source of endless tips for brand-building, graphics, publishing and other interests. I turned to Roger to introduce me to mind mapping and here's his response:Although mind mapping as a creativity and productivity tool has been around for decades, it amazes me that many authors still haven't discovered this simple technique for organizing ideas and creating action plans for planning, writing, and marketing books.I say "technique" to emphasize that mind mapping can be done anywhere, including the back of a napkin, on yellow legal pads, or white boards.However, authors who use mind mapping software on their computers and mobile devices enjoy the most benefits.What is mind mapping?Reduced to its essence, mind mapping is a form of visual thinking that converts ideas and words into easily-understood visuals that let you to display the part-whole relationships that exist in complex projects, like the chapters and contents of a book or the tasks (and deadlines) associated with a book marketing plan.Think in terms of clouds in the sky. Take a piece of scratch paper, and:Draw a big cloud in the middle. Label it My Next Book.
Add several smaller clouds around it, (like planets around the sun). Temporarily label them Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, etc. (Later, you can add the specific titles of each chapter.)
Next to the cloud indicating each chapter, list the ideas you plan to address in each chapter.
The power of mind mapping is that, at a glance, you can see the whole project and how the various parts fit together. From this fresh perspective, you can add, delete, or move chapters and their contents until everything fits together just right.If you're mind mapping on a computer, of course, you can simply drag-and-drop chapters and ideas to different locations.What you can do with mind maps?Here are some of the ways you, as an author, can use mind mapping:Organize your ideas into a table of contents for your book
Plan a book proposal or a book marketing plan
Create an editorial calendar for upcoming blog posts and social marketing
Plan articles, speeches, white papers, and marketing materials like one-sheets
Locate and analyze competing books on Amazon.com
Prepare creative briefs for vendors like web designers
Create a business plan for leveraging your book into back-end profits.
Plan, prepare, and present visuals for meetings—even at the last minute
Click for the complete mind mapFor example, here is the mind map I used as the basis of this article. I created it in bed on my iPad, using Mindo,[1] a $6.99 mobile app. After I finished the map, I exported it as a text file to Microsoft Word, for completion on my primary computer. Download a PDF copy of the map.[2]What features are found in most mind mapping programs?There are over 100 mind mapping software programs available, but most offer the following 12 features. (Note that the terminology, however, is likely to differ from program to program.)Topics and subtopics. These are the building blocks of a mind map. Topics are equivalent to the sections, or parts, of a book. Subtopics are equivalent to chapters. Each subtopic can contain its own subtopics for the main ideas, of topic headings, included in each chapter. Topics and subtopics can include graphics, like photographs, as well as links to files, email addresses, and website URLs.
Icons are symbols supplied with most mind mapping software programs. You can use icons as a type of visual shorthand to indicate topic category, importance, or sequence. You can also use icons to show progress completing a task.
Boundary. Add boundaries to visually group topics and subtopics together by adding a common border and background color. You can also use boundaries to provide selective emphasis.
Comments. Use comments to add brief explanations to topics or subtopics, such as describing the relevance of the topic. You can also use comments to remind you to add more information at a later date.
Notes. Notes are one of the two most often ignored features found in mind mapping software. Notes permit you to add longer text passages, like sentences and paragraphs, to any topic or subtopic. When ideas occur to you, you can start writing your book right in the mind map. Notes are normally not visible, until desired. Thus, you can write as much as desired without cluttering up your map.
Relationships. You can add lines between non-adjacent topics and subtopics, to show cause and effect relationships between them or common characteristics.
Tasks. Mind maps can be used for project management, such as scheduling your writing and marketing tasks. Many programs let you add start and stop dates to topics and subtopics, making it easy to plan, delegate, and track the various tasks involved in complex projects. Another task tool is the ability to add resources to topics, to indicate who is responsible for completing the tasks.
Filtering (or, reporting). Many mind maps can create summary views that display only completed, incomplete, or tasks that are behind schedule. They can display task responsibilities for different individuals or departments.
View. Mind mapping software permits you to display as much, or as little, of each map as desired. You can get an overall view by collapsing your map to display just the chapters of your book. Or, you can expand your map to display all the subtopics associated with each chapter. Some programs permit you to temporarily display just one topic and its sub-topics. All programs let you zoom-in to magnify part of a map or zoom-out to display the big picture.
Collaboration. Mind maps are intended to be shared with others. Special "reader" software permits you to share maps with others, like editors and literary agents—even if they don't own the mind mapping program that you use. Other mind mapping programs permit multiple users to share and contribute comments, ideas, and information to mind maps hosted online.
Review. Many programs include a review feature, similar to Microsoft Word's Track Changes command, that permits you to track individual contributions.
Export is the second important, but frequently under-utilized feature. It's important to remember that mind maps are not islands, but are intended to be used with other software programs. Most programs can export the information displayed in a mind map to various word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, and project management programs. In addition, most programs can create graphic files for including in print publications and HTML files for display online or embedded in blogs and websites. Finally, many programs can export, or share, files with other popular mind mapping file formats.
Other frequently found mind mapping featuresMany programs permit you to select from among different map backgrounds, or you can visually brand your maps by adding your own custom background.Some mind mapping programs can automatically number topics and subtopics, or sort them alphabetically. Many offer editing features like Find and Replacewhich can save a lot of time.Why you can't go wrong choosing a mind mapping programMind mapping software programs are available for all platforms, including Windows, Macintosh, and mobile apps for iPhones and iPads.There are 2 reasons you really can't go wrong when you're getting started.Risk free trials. Some mind mapping programs are free, and most mind mapping program offer 30-day, risk -free trial versions. This allows you totry before you buy.
File-sharing. Many mind mapping programs can exchange files with other mind mapping programs, importing and exporting data. This allows you to start with one program and not lose access to previously-created maps if you move on to a different program. (Some formatting may be lost, but the ideas will be there.)
Like all self-employed professionals, today's authors have more to do and less time to do it. Today, efficiency is as important to an author's success as their ability to express their written ideas clearly as possible.Mind mapping can make a major contribution to an author's success by making it easy to organize ideas and schedule tasks at the start of a project. Time spent planning and organizing ideas at the start of a project planning your projects will be more than saved later, when you find yourself writing more in less time. And, you can start planning anywhere, when the ideas strike, drawing mind maps by hand or starting them on your iPhone or iPad, then exporting them to your primary computer for completion.Invitation: if you're using mind mapping to write your books, or are new to mind mapping, share your experiences and questions below, as comments.
Roger C. Parker is a book coach and consultant who has been advocating mind mapping for authors for over a decade. HisPublished & Profitable blog[3] contains numerous mind mapping tips and mind maps of current nonfiction books. Roger's written 40 marketing, design, and writing books, including one of my favorites,
#Book Title Tweet: 140 Bite-Sized Ideas for Compelling Article, Book, and Event Titles
[4]
.If you're looking for do-it-yourself developmental editing tips, Roger invites you to download a free proof of his do-it-yourself guide to developmental editing,99 Questions to Ask Before Writing and Self-Publishing a Brand-building Book. It's a workhorse of a workbook you can immediately put to good use.
How to Get Started Mind Mapping Your Book (and everything else)by JOEL FRIEDLANDER on OCTOBER 10, 2011
By Roger C. ParkerI'm pleased to present a guest article today from Roger C. Parker, the author of numerous best-selling books who also self-publishes and runs the Published and Profitable Blog, a source of endless tips for brand-building, graphics, publishing and other interests. I turned to Roger to introduce me to mind mapping and here's his response:Although mind mapping as a creativity and productivity tool has been around for decades, it amazes me that many authors still haven't discovered this simple technique for organizing ideas and creating action plans for planning, writing, and marketing books.I say "technique" to emphasize that mind mapping can be done anywhere, including the back of a napkin, on yellow legal pads, or white boards.However, authors who use mind mapping software on their computers and mobile devices enjoy the most benefits.What is mind mapping?Reduced to its essence, mind mapping is a form of visual thinking that converts ideas and words into easily-understood visuals that let you to display the part-whole relationships that exist in complex projects, like the chapters and contents of a book or the tasks (and deadlines) associated with a book marketing plan.Think in terms of clouds in the sky. Take a piece of scratch paper, and:Draw a big cloud in the middle. Label it My Next Book.Add several smaller clouds around it, (like planets around the sun). Temporarily label them Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, etc. (Later, you can add the specific titles of each chapter.)
Next to the cloud indicating each chapter, list the ideas you plan to address in each chapter.
The power of mind mapping is that, at a glance, you can see the whole project and how the various parts fit together. From this fresh perspective, you can add, delete, or move chapters and their contents until everything fits together just right.If you're mind mapping on a computer, of course, you can simply drag-and-drop chapters and ideas to different locations.What you can do with mind maps?Here are some of the ways you, as an author, can use mind mapping:Organize your ideas into a table of contents for your book
Plan a book proposal or a book marketing plan
Create an editorial calendar for upcoming blog posts and social marketing
Plan articles, speeches, white papers, and marketing materials like one-sheets
Locate and analyze competing books on Amazon.com
Prepare creative briefs for vendors like web designers
Create a business plan for leveraging your book into back-end profits.
Plan, prepare, and present visuals for meetings—even at the last minute
Click for the complete mind mapFor example, here is the mind map I used as the basis of this article. I created it in bed on my iPad, using Mindo,[1] a $6.99 mobile app. After I finished the map, I exported it as a text file to Microsoft Word, for completion on my primary computer. Download a PDF copy of the map.[2]What features are found in most mind mapping programs?There are over 100 mind mapping software programs available, but most offer the following 12 features. (Note that the terminology, however, is likely to differ from program to program.)Topics and subtopics. These are the building blocks of a mind map. Topics are equivalent to the sections, or parts, of a book. Subtopics are equivalent to chapters. Each subtopic can contain its own subtopics for the main ideas, of topic headings, included in each chapter. Topics and subtopics can include graphics, like photographs, as well as links to files, email addresses, and website URLs.Icons are symbols supplied with most mind mapping software programs. You can use icons as a type of visual shorthand to indicate topic category, importance, or sequence. You can also use icons to show progress completing a task.
Boundary. Add boundaries to visually group topics and subtopics together by adding a common border and background color. You can also use boundaries to provide selective emphasis.
Comments. Use comments to add brief explanations to topics or subtopics, such as describing the relevance of the topic. You can also use comments to remind you to add more information at a later date.
Notes. Notes are one of the two most often ignored features found in mind mapping software. Notes permit you to add longer text passages, like sentences and paragraphs, to any topic or subtopic. When ideas occur to you, you can start writing your book right in the mind map. Notes are normally not visible, until desired. Thus, you can write as much as desired without cluttering up your map.
Relationships. You can add lines between non-adjacent topics and subtopics, to show cause and effect relationships between them or common characteristics.
Tasks. Mind maps can be used for project management, such as scheduling your writing and marketing tasks. Many programs let you add start and stop dates to topics and subtopics, making it easy to plan, delegate, and track the various tasks involved in complex projects. Another task tool is the ability to add resources to topics, to indicate who is responsible for completing the tasks.
Filtering (or, reporting). Many mind maps can create summary views that display only completed, incomplete, or tasks that are behind schedule. They can display task responsibilities for different individuals or departments.
View. Mind mapping software permits you to display as much, or as little, of each map as desired. You can get an overall view by collapsing your map to display just the chapters of your book. Or, you can expand your map to display all the subtopics associated with each chapter. Some programs permit you to temporarily display just one topic and its sub-topics. All programs let you zoom-in to magnify part of a map or zoom-out to display the big picture.
Collaboration. Mind maps are intended to be shared with others. Special "reader" software permits you to share maps with others, like editors and literary agents—even if they don't own the mind mapping program that you use. Other mind mapping programs permit multiple users to share and contribute comments, ideas, and information to mind maps hosted online.
Review. Many programs include a review feature, similar to Microsoft Word's Track Changes command, that permits you to track individual contributions.
Export is the second important, but frequently under-utilized feature. It's important to remember that mind maps are not islands, but are intended to be used with other software programs. Most programs can export the information displayed in a mind map to various word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, and project management programs. In addition, most programs can create graphic files for including in print publications and HTML files for display online or embedded in blogs and websites. Finally, many programs can export, or share, files with other popular mind mapping file formats.
Other frequently found mind mapping featuresMany programs permit you to select from among different map backgrounds, or you can visually brand your maps by adding your own custom background.Some mind mapping programs can automatically number topics and subtopics, or sort them alphabetically. Many offer editing features like Find and Replacewhich can save a lot of time.Why you can't go wrong choosing a mind mapping programMind mapping software programs are available for all platforms, including Windows, Macintosh, and mobile apps for iPhones and iPads.There are 2 reasons you really can't go wrong when you're getting started.Risk free trials. Some mind mapping programs are free, and most mind mapping program offer 30-day, risk -free trial versions. This allows you totry before you buy.
File-sharing. Many mind mapping programs can exchange files with other mind mapping programs, importing and exporting data. This allows you to start with one program and not lose access to previously-created maps if you move on to a different program. (Some formatting may be lost, but the ideas will be there.)
Like all self-employed professionals, today's authors have more to do and less time to do it. Today, efficiency is as important to an author's success as their ability to express their written ideas clearly as possible.Mind mapping can make a major contribution to an author's success by making it easy to organize ideas and schedule tasks at the start of a project. Time spent planning and organizing ideas at the start of a project planning your projects will be more than saved later, when you find yourself writing more in less time. And, you can start planning anywhere, when the ideas strike, drawing mind maps by hand or starting them on your iPhone or iPad, then exporting them to your primary computer for completion.Invitation: if you're using mind mapping to write your books, or are new to mind mapping, share your experiences and questions below, as comments.
Roger C. Parker is a book coach and consultant who has been advocating mind mapping for authors for over a decade. HisPublished & Profitable blog[3] contains numerous mind mapping tips and mind maps of current nonfiction books. Roger's written 40 marketing, design, and writing books, including one of my favorites,
#Book Title Tweet: 140 Bite-Sized Ideas for Compelling Article, Book, and Event Titles
[4]
.If you're looking for do-it-yourself developmental editing tips, Roger invites you to download a free proof of his do-it-yourself guide to developmental editing,99 Questions to Ask Before Writing and Self-Publishing a Brand-building Book. It's a workhorse of a workbook you can immediately put to good use.
October 9, 2011
Author Event: Chester Campbell!
DATE: October 22, 2011
DAY: Saturday
EVENT: Book Launch and Signing
AUTHOR: Chester Campbell
BOOK: The Good, the Bad and the Murderous
TIME: 2 PM - 4 PM
DESCRIPTION: "The Good, the Bad and the Murderous", the second book in the Sid Chance series, deals with Medicare fraud, drug trafficking, a hired killer, and a crooked cop. It's a nightmare scenario PI Sid Chance finds himself in when he takes a tough assignment – prove a young man just out of prison for murder when he was twelve did not commit a new homicide. Everything is thrown upside down when Jaz LeMieus, the wealthy ex-cop working with him on the case, finds herself accused of a despicable crime and the evidence is damning. When a hit man comes after Sid, all hell breaks loose.
October 8, 2011
Southern Festival of Books is in Nashville this weekend! ...
Southern Festival of Books is in Nashville this weekend! Great lineup--wish I could go every day!!
But, I can't so I am going tomorrow!
I know it will be enriching and thought provoking!
But, I can't so I am going tomorrow!
I know it will be enriching and thought provoking!
September 24, 2011
5 Places to Self Publish your Ebook from The Writer
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September 19, 2011
J T Ellison News!
all 2011 Vol. X
Where All the Dead Lie is almost here!
Taylor Jackson #7 on sale tomorrow, September 20!
Dear Friends,I can't believe it's that time again. But it is - release day is upon us! Where All the Dead Lie will be in stores September 20, and available on your ereaders October 1. The book has gotten some unbelievably cool endorsements from some of my favorite authors: Lisa Gardner, Carla Neggers and Heather Graham, an awesome review from PW and a coveted Top Pick from Romantic Times. The momentum is building, so please, take a moment and order your copy today. The first week of any book's life is incredibly important.Dead Lie is a different sort of book from my previous six Taylor Jackson novels. For one - Taylor is having some emotional and physical problems as a result of the "situation" from the previous book. She is trapped in silence, unable to work, and growing more frustrated by the day. When Memphis Highsmythe offers his ancestral home in the Scottish Highlands for her to recuperate, she jumps at the chance to get away from Nashville, from Baldwin, from her perceived failures.
But the lonely castle on the moors has its own secrets, and Taylor's already fragile state is exacerbated by the creepy solitude. Is she being haunted by the dead... or hunted by the living?
Where All the Dead Lie was inspired by Daphne du Maurier's classic Gothic Rebecca. I hope you'll enjoy seeing Taylor's more human side. Because even heroes can lose their minds. And writing a book set in the Scottish Highlands was truly a joy, especially since I'm a Wallace on my mother's side! Pro Libertate!
Buy your copy of Where All the Dead Lie today!
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Indiebound
Books-A-Million
Watch the book trailer here
Contest
!I thought we'd do something different this time around. Since this book is, at its heart, a ghost story, I thought it might be fun for you to share your own personal brush with a ghost, or share your favorite ghostly story. To enter, all you have to do is click here and leave your ghoulish tale. On October 1, release day for the ebook version, I will announce the winners.
At stake -
2 copies of the fabulous DVD CASTLE GHOSTS OF SCOTLAND
3 $25 giftcards to the winners' choice of bookstore
5 copies of Daphne du Maurier's REBECCA
and signed bookplates to all entries.
Winners will be drawn at random from the comments - all save 1.
GRAND PRIZE: The creepiest, scariest, spookiest tale will be my Halloween gift to my readers - with your permission and byline, of course. I'll send it to all of my newsletter list and post it on my blog, Facebook and Twitter. Word limit is 1500 or less.
My editor and I will do the judging, so make it good!
On the Road Again...
I'm doing a few signings for WHERE ALL THE DEAD LIE - including several in Nashville. The official launch party is at Mysteries & More in Lenox Village, Saturday September 24 from 2-4 pm. I've heard a reliable rumor that there will be cake, so I hope you'll come help me celebrate. Tuesday September 27, 7-8pm I'll be at the Barnes & Noble in Cool Springs, and Friday September 30 7-9 I'll head west of town to one of my home stores, Reading Rock Books in Dickson. We always have a fun time in Dickson, so if you're anywhere west of Nashville, come by and play with us.
For more tour dates, click here. Just FYI - I've moved my appearances tab to the front page of the site, on the bottom right.
I know many of you won't be able to make the tour stops - unless you're planning to come to Tennessee this week. So if you're buying an ebook, or out of town, but want your book personalized, click here . Kindlegraph will allow me to digitally sign your books, even if you don't have an ereader!
An Award!
On July 9, in stunning New York City, I had the shock of my life when THE COLD ROOM received the prestigious Thriller Award for Best Paperback Original of 2010 from the International Thriller Writers. I can't begin to share how honored I am to be singled out - the fact that it is a peer award makes it even more special. I did manage to contract a whopping case of laryngitis (hysterical dysphonia anyone?) prior to the event, so was only able to squawk my thanks in my acceptance speech. But it was a true watershed moment for me, and I can't say thank you enough to ITW, and all of you, for inspiring me, and allowing me into your minds and lives. It means the world.
More Changes on the Website - and a new look for the continuing
The website has become a dynamic beast, and I'm trying to keep up with the times style-wise while also continuingrinuing to deliver the kind of content you, the readers, care about. You'll see that things have been streamlined, condensed, and made pretty - plus, I'm spending much more time on the blog, Tao of JT. I'm posting there nearly every day - things that tickled me, thoughts on writing - all the zeitgeist that makes up my life. With the multitude of networks, social media ties and all the Internet noise we have to endure daily, I thought it would be nice to have a quiet place for us to talk. So feel free to stop by, ask questions, give me what for - whatever you're in the mood for.
I've also begun working with Odyl, a fantastic internet marketing company, who have designed my new Facebook page. There are treats galore to be had - we're talking sneak peeks, polls, presents, free stuff - the full monty, so be sure to come on over and LIKE the Fan Page to get all the goodies! If you already like the page, look for the Fun Extras! tab in the left column on the page.
Social Butterfly
If you're interested in having me speak in your store or library, or come chat with your bookclub either in person or virtually, please feel free to contact my publicist Tiffany Shiuor contact me directly. As always, you can find me in several places across the web, including my blog on the site - Tao of JT, on Twitter under the handle @thrillerchick, on my shiny new Facebook page, and Murderati every other Friday.
Thank you so much for all your support, and for reading the Taylor Jackson series. I hope this newest installment spooks you!
xoxo,
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September 18, 2011
Author Marketing Kit
http://www.authormarketingkit.com/products.html
The Ultimate Author Marketing Kit!![image error]Now every author and small publisher can afford to have the same industry contacts as the big publishers.
Our Ultimate Marketing Kit will give you all of the contacts you need at bookstores, in the media and even book reviewers, to help promote your book.
You can email, call or mail things to the bookstores and media contacts using the list. Over 90 percent of our contacts have email address.
Our bookstores are listed in excel and .cvs format, as are the media contacts.
The kit is worth over $1,000.
All of the contacts are up-to-date as of July 2011.
Only $139!!!
Here's What You Get:
Ultimate Author Marketing Kit:
• Confidential Media List
• Book Reviewers List
• Bookseller Associations
• Top 50 Newspapers
Ultimate Author Marketing CD:
• 2,000+ Independent Bookstores across the U.S.
• 4,300 media contacts across the U.S.
• Book Reviewer List in Excel format
• PLUS - Links To All Of The Resources In The Kit
The Ultimate Author Marketing Kit!![image error]Now every author and small publisher can afford to have the same industry contacts as the big publishers.
Our Ultimate Marketing Kit will give you all of the contacts you need at bookstores, in the media and even book reviewers, to help promote your book.
You can email, call or mail things to the bookstores and media contacts using the list. Over 90 percent of our contacts have email address.
Our bookstores are listed in excel and .cvs format, as are the media contacts.
The kit is worth over $1,000.
All of the contacts are up-to-date as of July 2011.
Only $139!!!
Here's What You Get:
Ultimate Author Marketing Kit:
• Confidential Media List
• Book Reviewers List
• Bookseller Associations
• Top 50 Newspapers
Ultimate Author Marketing CD:
• 2,000+ Independent Bookstores across the U.S.
• 4,300 media contacts across the U.S.
• Book Reviewer List in Excel format
• PLUS - Links To All Of The Resources In The Kit
September 16, 2011
Barnes & Noble ---A toy store? What are they thinking?
On a rainy day, not so long ago I stopped in to my favorite placeHad a cup of coffee, found a book to buySaw many a familiar face Now, I mourn as I walk past;
I do not enter the store
I do not choose to step over the chaos of toys that fill the floor.
AARRGGHH!! Barnes and Noble recently began making change to their stores in Middle Tennessee that remove all seating areas from the retail spaces. This is part of a nationwide change to use all square footage as retail sales space. Now, you may think this is not a significant change, but you would be wrong! Part of the focus in B&N stores has been the community outreach and support, serving as meeting places for many book groups, writer's groups, special events, etc. B&N has a long standing history of becoming part of the community where its stores are located, and becoming a "go-to" place for events and meetings, especially those related to books or literature. Of course, both B&N and the community benefitted from this arrangement, as the stores offer a well lit, safe and comfortable option for meeting. And, persons attending the meetings generally purchased drinks, food and books during their visit. But, No more! With the only seating now available in the café areas, B&N cannot serve as an effective meeting place for the book groups, etc. These types of meeting require a space away from the high traffic, open communication, and music associated with the café operations. And, are these retail spaces (where the seating areas were) being filled with more book selections?
NO! They are being filled largely with toys, games and puzzles. I wish this were only for the coming holiday season, and we could see a return to the community bookstore approach of the B&N we loved, but this is not to be. As they fight for their survival, B&N is making decisions that are not too different from their recently bankrupted competition, Borders, who replaced seating areas with toys a few years ago. I wish B&N had used their community connections to ask their customers for feedback and ideas, instead of taking a traditional retail stock-the-aisles-full-to sell-more approach. I would have told them to expand the community outreach, because it was a unique core strength and it allowed customers to see the stores as a part of the community. As a local author, I was a member of a writers group that met at our local B&N for four years, and came to know several of the local B&N employees as friends. These employees took the time to know their customers, and their community. And, I made B&N my go-to place for books, magazines, and interactions with other bookaphiles. I recently did a newspaper interview with another author, who told me that the local B&N store did a better job with her book signings and events, than most of the other bookstores she frequented, including the specialty stores for her genre. The reason for this? The openness and comfort of the store and the knowledge of its employees. One can only wonder what authors will think of the B&N stores now. Since all floor space is now to be used for stock, how will B&N host author events? And if they do host these events, will they see the traffic reduced, as everyone is forced to stand or sit in cramped spaces on folding chairs? Many will say B&N is being forced into this position as Ebooks replace paper book sales. I don't believe that is the cause. I own a B&N Nook reader, and I do purchase Ebooks, but I have made it a practice to buy from the B&N website to support all they do for the community and for authors. Perhaps a better use for some of the retail space would have been to set up an Ebook display like the ones in the music areas for CD's. This would encourage more familiarity with Ebooks, specifically with the Nook, and make trial and purchase more convenient. Surely, there were more options available to an innovative bookseller like B&N. I am so disappointed in the actions that have been taken and the overlooked impact of these action on B&N's loyal customers, who can no longer depend on B&N to be the go-to place to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon (walking out with purchased books in hand) or a place to meet other readers or writers. To other retailers, let me say this " I am not going to be drawn into your store because you put in more merchandise. I will be drawn in because you have something no one else has, whether that is a specific item I'm searching for or a comfortable environment in which to search. The corporate mentality of making all stores identical does not work for me, and actually causes me to buy more online. If you want my money, then you have to win my interest or my loyalty, and this move by B&N (so similar to moves by other retailers) only drives me away. I don't believe that my viewpoint is unique. Instead of listening to numbers, try listening to your customers! B&N, please do not follow Borders. Make your own path forward.
I do not enter the store
I do not choose to step over the chaos of toys that fill the floor.AARRGGHH!! Barnes and Noble recently began making change to their stores in Middle Tennessee that remove all seating areas from the retail spaces. This is part of a nationwide change to use all square footage as retail sales space. Now, you may think this is not a significant change, but you would be wrong! Part of the focus in B&N stores has been the community outreach and support, serving as meeting places for many book groups, writer's groups, special events, etc. B&N has a long standing history of becoming part of the community where its stores are located, and becoming a "go-to" place for events and meetings, especially those related to books or literature. Of course, both B&N and the community benefitted from this arrangement, as the stores offer a well lit, safe and comfortable option for meeting. And, persons attending the meetings generally purchased drinks, food and books during their visit. But, No more! With the only seating now available in the café areas, B&N cannot serve as an effective meeting place for the book groups, etc. These types of meeting require a space away from the high traffic, open communication, and music associated with the café operations. And, are these retail spaces (where the seating areas were) being filled with more book selections?
NO! They are being filled largely with toys, games and puzzles. I wish this were only for the coming holiday season, and we could see a return to the community bookstore approach of the B&N we loved, but this is not to be. As they fight for their survival, B&N is making decisions that are not too different from their recently bankrupted competition, Borders, who replaced seating areas with toys a few years ago. I wish B&N had used their community connections to ask their customers for feedback and ideas, instead of taking a traditional retail stock-the-aisles-full-to sell-more approach. I would have told them to expand the community outreach, because it was a unique core strength and it allowed customers to see the stores as a part of the community. As a local author, I was a member of a writers group that met at our local B&N for four years, and came to know several of the local B&N employees as friends. These employees took the time to know their customers, and their community. And, I made B&N my go-to place for books, magazines, and interactions with other bookaphiles. I recently did a newspaper interview with another author, who told me that the local B&N store did a better job with her book signings and events, than most of the other bookstores she frequented, including the specialty stores for her genre. The reason for this? The openness and comfort of the store and the knowledge of its employees. One can only wonder what authors will think of the B&N stores now. Since all floor space is now to be used for stock, how will B&N host author events? And if they do host these events, will they see the traffic reduced, as everyone is forced to stand or sit in cramped spaces on folding chairs? Many will say B&N is being forced into this position as Ebooks replace paper book sales. I don't believe that is the cause. I own a B&N Nook reader, and I do purchase Ebooks, but I have made it a practice to buy from the B&N website to support all they do for the community and for authors. Perhaps a better use for some of the retail space would have been to set up an Ebook display like the ones in the music areas for CD's. This would encourage more familiarity with Ebooks, specifically with the Nook, and make trial and purchase more convenient. Surely, there were more options available to an innovative bookseller like B&N. I am so disappointed in the actions that have been taken and the overlooked impact of these action on B&N's loyal customers, who can no longer depend on B&N to be the go-to place to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon (walking out with purchased books in hand) or a place to meet other readers or writers. To other retailers, let me say this " I am not going to be drawn into your store because you put in more merchandise. I will be drawn in because you have something no one else has, whether that is a specific item I'm searching for or a comfortable environment in which to search. The corporate mentality of making all stores identical does not work for me, and actually causes me to buy more online. If you want my money, then you have to win my interest or my loyalty, and this move by B&N (so similar to moves by other retailers) only drives me away. I don't believe that my viewpoint is unique. Instead of listening to numbers, try listening to your customers! B&N, please do not follow Borders. Make your own path forward.
