Kimberly A. Bettes's Blog, page 8

Professionalism: A Prerequisite of Being a Professional

I was perusing the twitter the other day, looking for new people to stalk–uh, I mean follow when I came across a man whose profile stated that he was a writer. Always eager to talk to my fellow wordsmiths, I considered following him. As I always do, I ran through his last few tweets to make sure he wasn’t one of those people who tweet nothing but promos for their books, or who only posts their daily unfollow stats. Those are super annoying and I don’t need that jazz clogging up my feed. But he wasn’t one of those people, so I took my cursor up to the follow button and almost clicked it.

Almost.

Just before I clicked the button, I happened to glance over at his photos and what do you think I saw? Yup. A picture of his penis. Now I’m not against penises (peni?) in any way. They’re nice to have around. However, if you’re labeling yourself as a professional writer and you’re on a social networking site looking to meet other writers, I don’t think showing your weiner is the way to go. Now if you’re looking to star in a pornographic film, perhaps that’s an acceptable practice, but not in the world of words. Writers write about genitalia but never do we show ours to each other. Needless to say I didn’t follow the guy, and I now understand why he didn’t have many followers.

This post doesn’t just pertain to the dong dazzlers of twitter. No, it also goes for the topless taunters, female writers who like to flash their boobs and their thong-clad asses in badly taken selfies on Facebook.

It also goes for the self-proclaimed professional writers who like to not only voice their opinions about everything from religion and politics to whether or not it’s acceptable to eat meat, but also cram it down our throats, trying to force us to believe as they believe.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s fine to have opinions. Hell, if you know me in real life, you know I have some pretty potent beliefs and opinions of my own. The difference between the Facebook sopa-boxers and me is that I keep mine to myself. I don’t post my beliefs on social media sites or even on my own websites. Why? It’s simple. I’m running a business here. And if we’ve learned anything at all from the actions of Barilla pasta and Chick Fil-A, it’s that you keep your damn opinions to yourself. The fact of the matter is your beliefs WILL hurt your sales. Not everyone is a vegetarian and the fact that you keep bashing us meat-eaters will cause your steak-loving fanbase to turn against you the same way that homosexuals and their supporters have turned against the aforementioned companies for their views. If you keep shouting from the rooftops about how much you hate the Democratic party, then your liberal fans WILL leave you for someone else. It doesn’t even have to be someone who shares their views. It just has to be someone who doesn’t walk around with a megaphone, shouting their opinions at all who pass by.

Your fans aren’t your fans because of what you believe, but if you constantly point out how different your views are from your reader’s views, then they’ll notice. And if your opinions are wildly different or if you drone on and on about how right you are and wrong they are, then they WILL leave. It’s a huge turn-off for people to be berated and that’s essentially what you’re doing.

If you’ve been paying attention for the last month, you’ll surely have read about how people–most of them other writers–are protesting and boycotting Ender’s Game because of the views of the author. This is a prime example of what I’m talking about. And yet, even though writers are protesting a fellow writer because he shared his views and they don’t agree with them, they still post theirs for all to see.

Are your views and opinions THAT important? Are they so profound that you just HAVE to share them on the internet? Are they important enough to ruin your career? Because that’s what will happen.

Everyone has their own opinions. They don’t need yours. Same goes for genitalia.

If you still don’t believe me, then take a minute and go to Stephen King’s website. Dean Koontz’s website. James Patterson’s website. ANY famous writer’s website. What do you see? More importantly, what do you not see? You do not see political views, religious views, or any other views posted or mentioned. You also will not see nude photos of them. You will see book information because as I’ve told you before, this is a business. Our business is selling books. Our business is not talking politics or religion or posting photos of our nude bodies.

That’s the end of Business 101. Now go out there and be professional.

Yes, No, Goodbye: My Haunted Childhood | Ania Ahlborn | The Blog

A great little tale by the amazing Ania Ahlborn to creep you out on this Halloween. Enjoy!

Yes, No, Goodbye: My Haunted Childhood | Ania Ahlborn | The Blog.

When Do You Need to Secure Permissions? | Jane Friedman

I found this article helpful in determining what is and isn’t safe to use without infringing on copyrights of others. Perhaps it’ll help you too.

When Do You Need to Secure Permissions? | Jane Friedman.

6 Real Serial Killers More Terrifying Than Any Horror Movie | Cracked.com

If you’re like me, you enjoy reading all about serial killers. Who doesn’t?! Well this article is both informative and hilarious. Check it out.

6 Real Serial Killers More Terrifying Than Any Horror Movie | Cracked.com.

What I’ve Learned About Authors This Month

I don’t like to think of myself as naive. I don’t believe the world is made up of rainbows and unicorns. I look at the world around me in an honest and real light. I see the good as well as the dangers. I know people are shady creatures, but what I’ve learned about authors in the last month makes me think I need to paint the world around me a shade darker. I’m seeing it in a light that’s just a bit too positive.

It all started a couple of weeks ago when my twitter and facebook feeds began to fill up with posts about authors who post fake reviews of their books on sites such as Amazon in order to boost sales. They set up fake ‘sock-puppet’ accounts so they can post reviews under different names. Apparently they’ve been doing this for quite some time. Sadly, I knew about this. I’ve never done it, but I have read articles on the matter before. It’s a low-down and dirty thing to do. But apparently there’s something even lower and dirtier that authors can do and they’ve been doing it.

Authors have been buying reviews. Fake reviews. Reviews by people who’ve never even read the book.

Before I go any further let me say this. Reviews are super important to authors. It doesn’t just help the reader decide whether or not to buy the book. It helps the author learn what he/she is doing wrong or right. Furthermore, there are advertising sites in which the author pays money to advertise that their book is on sale or free. In order to do this, they have to meet certain criteria. Mainly, they have to have a certain number of reviews for the book to be advertised. So in that regard, I can kind of see what might drive a writer to do such a thing. BUT I think it’s a dirty shame that they do it.

I had no idea this was happening. I walk amongst the writers, some famous, some not, and never even suspected that this was an issue. I’ve often wondered how authors get so many reviews so quickly when it’s all I can do to get reviews for my work. Not every reader is willing to give up a minute of their time to review a book. Yet some authors just seemed to be doused in them. Their books would come out on the first of the month, and by the end, they’d have hundreds — sometimes thousands — of reviews. It left me scratching my head and wondering how. What was I not doing that they were doing? Why didn’t my books have as many reviews as theirs? Now I know. They were buying fake reviews. Not all authors do this (at least I don’t think, though I’m now doubting everything I thought I knew) but a lot do, and some of them are authors I’ve admired for a long time. At least I DID admire them. I can no longer do that. I can’t admire someone who’s faking it. I just can’t.

As if the fake reviews weren’t enough, in light of Tom Clancy’s passing, I learned that he, as well as James Patterson, don’t even write all their own books. What?! Yes. Apparently, they have other people — unnamed ghostwriters — write their stories for them and just slap their name on the cover. Again, I was shocked and appalled to learn this is happening. Earlier this year, I was wondering how in the world James Patterson could possibly have written and published 11 novels last year. Now I know. He didn’t. I don’t know if he wrote any of them. I’d like to think he did, but then again I’d also like to think that he writes all of his own books.

My mind is reeling at the things I’ve learned in the last month. It scares me to think of what else I don’t know. How many other big name authors aren’t really writing their own books? How many others are buying fake reviews or posting reviews of their own work under false names?

I will say this though. I have NEVER, not ever, posted a fake review for any of my works. I have no intention of ever doing so. I’ve also NEVER bought a fake review. I’ve offered free books in lieu of an honest review which is a common practice in this business (hence advanced reader’s copies of novels), but I have and would never pay someone to write a review, especially knowing that they won’t even read the book. No. Not gonna happen. I want honest reviews from real readers. Not some phony review I bought from fiverr.com. And even though this should go without saying, I write all my own books. Always have, always will.

I plan to make it to the top of this heap of authors one day, and when I do I want to be able to say that I made it honestly. I didn’t fake my way up, I didn’t buy my way in, and I didn’t sell out to anyone or anything to get there.

25 Steps To Edit The Unmerciful Suck Out Of Your Story « terribleminds: chuck wendig

I don’t know about you, but I’m crawling through the pits of editing hell right now, so it’s perfect and helpful that Chuck should post about that very thing today. Turns out, he’s going through the same hell I am. I’m sure many of you are too. Editing sucks. It sucks hard. But Chuck listed some editing tips to help us through it. Enjoy, and good luck.

25 Steps To Edit The Unmerciful Suck Out Of Your Story « terribleminds: chuck wendig.

How To Be Outraged On The Internet « terribleminds: chuck wendig

Chuck Wendig makes some excellent points in his latest blog post, which teaches us how to be outraged on the internet. It’s social etiquette for anger. Good stuff, people.

How To Be Outraged On The Internet « terribleminds: chuck wendig.

My Curiosity Kills

I’m curious by nature. It’s a gift. And a curse. When I see everybody making a big fuss over something (a book, a movie, a song, etc.) I say ‘no way; I don’t care about it.’ But eventually I cave and just have to know what the big deal is. That’s how it started with Twilight. I rolled my eyes at the hubbub over the first two movies. “Stupid teenage girls and their dumb romance story,” I said. Then the third movie came out and the chaos was out of control. That did it. I just had to know what was so friggin’ special about that stupid movie.

So I watched it.

Halfway through the first movie of the series, I was hooked. I loved it, and I’m not ashamed to say it. A lot of authors slam the Twilight series, but I think they do it because they’re jealous. It’s brilliant. Teenage girl, two hot guys in love with her, both of whom have super awesome secrets. What’s not to love about it? It has vampires and werewolves and gorgeous people. Don’t get me wrong, I loathe the twitchy and awkward Kristen Stewart and think that after the third movie, it went off the rails, but the story is fantastic. And yes, I read every one of the books. This is what happens when I give in to my curiosity. Fortunately, I don’t do it often.

Now, some time passes and along comes 50 Shades of Grey. As usual, I rolled my eyes and waited for the cloud of horny housewives to pass me by. But it didn’t end. It just got bigger and bigger until finally, I caved. I began the first book in the trilogy with nothing more than curiosity. I had no expectations whatsoever.

Let me just say that I think it’s great for any author — no matter how long they’ve been in the game (Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight was her first book and a smash hit) or what genre they’re writing — to hit it big. I think it’s wonderful that they can make the kind of money these two women have made off their books.

That being said, I believe this should’ve been called 50 Shades of Crap.

I fought my way through the first few chapters, hoping that it would get better, or at least get good enough to allow me to overlook the terrible writing. Unable to take it any more, I stopped reading and started skimming, flipping through the next few chapters to see if at least the sex scenes were as good as everyone was making them out to be. After several chapters of that, I gave up. I found nothing likable, nothing redeemable or interesting about the book. It was written horribly, and I just can’t believe that so many people love it so much.

And now they’re making a movie of it. Blows. My mind. But still, I’m happy for E.L. James. She’s made a lot of money off those books, and made a name for herself. Good for her.

I suppose the moral of the story is: my curiosity will lead to disappointment half the time and enjoyment the other half.

FREE Book!

Call me crazy (many others have), but I’m giving away my book THE DAY BOB GREELEY DIED. You have today and tomorrow (Friday 23) to pick up your FREE copy at Amazon. So hurry! Click that link and get over there before it turns into a Black Friday sale at Wal-Mart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s August, 1952 in the small town of Sweetwater, Missouri, where a deadly drought has the residents begging for rain, and with it, mercy. But on this particular day, just another in a long line of dry days with three-digit temperatures, mercy will not be given. As the mercury rises and the power fails, gossip runs rampant and tempers flare, causing a handful of the most prestigious members of the community to point their fingers at Bob Greeley. Until today, Bob has lived among them as a friend and neighbor, but with his fate in their hands, that’s about to change.

REVIEWS

“…this novel is spot on. It is the story of what gossip and crowd mentality can do, and it’s not very pretty. This novel will make you think twice before you judge others…” – Independent Review

“…I felt like I was there.” – Independent Review

Is Cursive Dead?

Have you all noticed that schools are failing to teach kids how to write cursive? Some schools don’t teach it at all, while others basically just teach kids to write their name in cursive. That’s it. I think that’s sad and WRONG. I know several teenagers. They can barely read cursive and it takes them a long time to sign their name. Getting them to write anything else in cursive is impossible. They simply don’t know how.

It’s pathetic, and I won’t stand for it.

I get that most people don’t write things down with pen and paper. I’m probably part of a dying breed. I am constantly writing lists, leaving notes for myself and my family, writing checks, and jotting down story ideas. The average Joe doesn’t do all that these days. What, with all these fancy schmancy technological devices and whatnot, there’s no reason to ever pick up one of those old cave utensils known as pens and pencils. I get that. But there will possibly come a day when the power fails and the computers stop. Then what? No one’s gonna know what to do. Except for me. I’ll be sitting on the sideline documenting the whole ordeal WITH MY PEN AND PAPER.

So I decided today that I won’t let this happen. I may not be able to teach all kids how to write cursive, but I can sure as diddly make 2 of them do it.

Today when I picked up my 14 year-old son and 15 year-old step-son from school, I had a sheet of paper prepared for each of them. There was a different sentence on each side of the paper. Simple sentences. I instructed them to write each sentence 20 times. IN CURSIVE. Believe it or not, this was my step-son’s first time writing cursive. EVER. To make it worse, he tells me that when his teachers learn that he can’t write cursive, they tell him he doesn’t have to. They say he doesn’t need to know because he’ll never need to do it. Angry isn’t the word to describe what that made me.

Anyway, My step-son set about writing his sentences with no problem. I had to show him a few things, but he picked up on it and wrote them beautifully, although slowly. My son on the other hand threw a huge fit and argued about how he didn’t need to ever write cursive so there was no sense in learning. He was bulking and refusing to write them. “Fine,” I said. “If you don’t want to write the sentences, you have to write a paragraph – at least 7 lines long – telling me why you don’t want to write them. And you have to write it in cursive.” Apparently this struck his fancy because he immediately wrote the paragraph. Part of his argument was that writing cursive is ‘stupid’ and ‘hard’ and ‘only old people do it’.

*Shaking my head*

I don’t know what to think or feel about this whole situation. I’m only 35 years old. In my day, we learned to write in cursive way back in the first grade. It’s absurd to think that there are grown-ups out there now who can barely sign their name, much less read or write it fluently. I’m sad, people. I’m sad and feeling very frustrated about the whole thing. But I’ll tell you this much. My son WILL be writing 2 different sentences, 20 times each, every day until he’s familiar with cursive writing. And if he refuses, he’ll be writing page long essays explaining to me why he shouldn’t have to write them. IN CURSIVE.

So what do you think about the whole matter? Am I overreacting?