Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 146

Protagonists Should Climb in the Front Seat

By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig







When I speak to book clubs and other
groups of readers, I’m frequently asked if my characters are like me.

And they’re really not—the books would be
boring if the protagonists were like me.

But I’m not telling the whole
truth when I dismiss the question. 
Because in some ways, they are.

In particular, I have one protagonist who
behaves very much like me during social gatherings.  Beatrice watches instead of participating.

No matter how much I’m aware of this
issue, it constantly creeps into my writing. 
I know it’s the way this character is. 
It’s in keeping with her personality (and no, her personality isn’t like
mine).  It means that I’ll rewrite a
handful of scenes in each book in this series—either completely rewrite them,
or change the dialogue and action around.

Beatrice is content to watch and listen
to others.  She’s gathering information
and thinking thoughts.  Neither of these
things are good for a protagonist to do. 


Unfortunately, her sidekick is a scene
stealer.  This doesn’t help.  Meadow makes witty observations and sometimes
generates conflict through her plain talking. 
These things would be all right—if the protagonist was on center stage
with the action.

Fixing the problem isn’t too
difficult—it’s mainly just important to be aware
of the problem.  Readers, who usually
identify closest with the protagonist, aren’t going to be excited about taking
the back seat in the story’s action.  Who
wants to watch a watcher? 

Fixing it: If there is a scene where the
protagonist isn’t really doing anything,
or is listening/watching when someone else is doing something, I’ll rewrite the
entire scene.

If there are scenes where it’s mostly a
dialogue problem—the protagonist is listening as someone else is ruminating
about the mystery or asking questions of cops or suspects—I’ll change the
dialogue so that the protagonist is spearheading the investigation.

There are
people like this.  I’m like this.  But this trait doesn’t fit the protagonist job
description.

We should push our introverted
protagonist.  They can be curious,
adventurous leaders who like to take charge and fix problems and save the
world. They’re proactive people. They can and should have flaws…but hanging back to
observe and react shouldn’t be one of them. 
Not on a regular basis, anyway. They’re the ones who need to actively
observe—to take what they see and run with it.

Do you ever have to spur your main
characters to get in the front seat? 

Image: MorgueFile: Jusben

Advantages to Having Your Self-Published Book in Print

By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig





When I first self-published a couple of
years ago, it really never occurred to me to put out print copies of the
books.  I felt print was on its way out,
and that it might be expensive to publish a printed copy. Plus, I wasn’t sure
exactly how to go into print.

But soon after e-publishing the first of
my books, I started receiving emails from readers asking about getting the
Myrtle books in print.  Some of the
readers sounded rather put-out with me. 
“I know digital is The Thing right now,” said one, “but I will never buy
an e-reader. Never. Even though I would like to read your books.”  That’s when I decided to reassess my
decision.



Benefits to print:

Some readers mentioned preferring print
to digital when gift-giving.  They like
having something to wrap and present to their friend.

Popular reader site Goodreads only allows printed books to be part
of their giveaways.  And giveaways
frequently mean reviews.

Another benefit is that the ebook price
for your book looks like a real deal when the print price is a good seven or
more dollars higher.

And, as mentioned earlier, some readers
don’t want to read ebooks.

After doing a little research, I
discovered that it was actually free to upload to CreateSpace and publish to
Amazon, aside from formatting and cover design, of course (and some of you
might be adept enough to tackle those things yourself).  Uploading the files was an extremely simple
process. Most writers choose to go through Lightning Source or CreateSpace.   Jen Talty with Cool
Gus wrote a
nice post last year about their decision to choose CreateSpace.

I didn’t have much time, so I paid folks
to help me with the formatting to print and paid someone to create a full cover
with spine and back, based on my ebook cover. 
After the print copies released, I’d recouped that money within two
months.   This, obviously, will
vary.  Are your ebook sales strong?  Have you gotten any requests from readers for
your book to be in print? Those points can indicate if it’s worthwhile to
invest money in pursuing print.

Author copies of my books (which retail
to readers on Amazon for $10.99) are only $3.41 apiece (my books are fairly
short), plus the price of shipping.  Not
a bad price for promo copies.  The nice
thing is that we can pay for and print books as we need them—we don’t have to
store a couple of hundred copies, that may never sell, in our closet. 

The one-time investment in formatting and
cover design has paid off.  Now I feel as
if I’m connecting to readers who wouldn’t otherwise be reading my books.  The CreateSpace sales have provided steady
income since early summer.

If you’re self-published, are your books
available in print?  Did you format the
text and cover yourself, or hire someone? 
Has the investment in time and money paid off?

Traditional Publishing: One Reason Not to Choose It

By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig





Back in March, I wrote a
post weighing in on the self-publishing vs. traditional publishing
choice.  At the time, I was stunned by a
report from a Digital
Book World survey .  Although I
didn’t mention it in the post, I couldn’t believe that one of the main reasons
surveyed writers said they were interested in pursuing traditional publishing
(76%) was the “marketing support from a publisher.”

At the time, I didn’t really want to
pooh-pooh that on the blog—I wasn’t trying to slam my publisher(s) by outing
this myth.  So I ignored it, figuring
those were just ill-informed writers who wouldn’t be reading my blog anyway.


But now, there’s been another survey
published. The Bookseller’s and
FutureBook’s annual publishing
survey.  Porter Anderson in his weekly Writing on
the Ether column for industry expert Jane Friedman’s blog, quoted Sam
Missingham: “Traditionally published authors say they need more marketing and
publicity support. But self-publishing authors say they want to get contracts
because they think a publisher will give them the very marketing and publicity
support the traditionally published writers say they don’t get.”

It’s time to put this marketing myth to
bed.  Marketing support should not be your reason to go to traditional publishing, y'all. 

There are other reasons to be interested
in traditional publishing.  Some writers
cite validation.  Some hope for excellent
editing.  Some feel strongly about
bookstore distribution.  Some have just
always wanted to see their book on a bookstore shelf.

Marketing support from the publisher
should not factor into your reasoning unless you’ve written a
blockbuster-style, high-concept book. 
The kind of book that really will get
a push from publishers, but doesn’t—ironically—need
a push from publishers.

If you’ve written standard commercial
fiction, most literary fiction, 95% of genre fiction…you’re not going to get much
marketing from your publisher…or what I’m imagining that writers consider marketing support.

You might
possibly get an ad in one of your genre’s magazines…I’ve heard of this occasionally
happening—I haven’t experienced it, myself. You’ll get good shelf placement in
stores on some occasions, depending on your
publisher (more likely if it’s a very large publisher) and their deals with
individual bookstores and chains…I get books on a tower near the B&N café
the first month of the launch.  They’ll
send out review copies for you (usually only for the first book of the series,
although I’ve lately gotten more ARCs). 
They list your book in the publisher's catalog. This is your marketing.  A lot of it depends on print and bookstores,
both of which seem to be on the decline. If you get it, it will be a short-term push…not a
long-term effort. 

They’ve tweeted and done a giveaway for
me on Twitter once.  I’ve written for
Penguin’s blog on several occasions. 
I’ve been interviewed for their newsletter.

On the other hand, I’ve paid in the past
for the design and creation of my own bookmarks, business cards,
postcards.  I’ve always put together my
own blog tours when I’ve done them.  I’ve
never been sent on a book tour—although I did tour once—on my dime—in a very
small region.  I’ve set up my own book
signings.  I pay for my own copies of
books for promo reasons (I do get a discount) after I’ve used up my contracted
author copies.  I’ve set up my own online
giveaways.  Facebook (2 pages, 2
profiles), Twitter, blogging, LinkedIn, Google +?  Me, me, me, me, me.   I
set them up, I branded myself.  My
website?  Me.  Designed by…me. Paid for by…me.  Press kit? 
When mine was updated, it was all by me for me on the website I designed
and created.

My friends who are traditionally
published came up with their own book trailers. 
I’ve not done this, myself.

This isn’t intended as a slap at the PR
folks at my publisher or any publisher. 
I’m sure they’re overwhelmed with work and represent many writers. It’s
simply the way it is.

If you, in fact, are a traditionally
published author and you’re waiting for your publisher to promote your
book…you’re already in trouble.  If you
don’t earn out, you might not end up with a contract for more books.  It’s the author’s responsibility to promote
and brand…not the publisher’s.

Publishers do differ.  Someone else’s experience will be very
different from mine.  But, speaking as a
midlist author who has a couple of different series who isn’t brand-new to the
business…I know I’m not alone in what I’ve experienced.

If you self-publish, you’ll be doing the
same promo as if you were traditionally published. 

This has been my public service
announcement for writers today. :)  I
find plenty of reasons to enjoy being a hybrid writer…I just wouldn’t list
marketing support among them since I find my efforts a good deal more focused,
long-term, and effective than my publishers’. 

Image: MorgueFile: Edouardo

Twitterific

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig






Twitterific links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming)
which has over 23,000 free articles on writing related topics. It's the search
engine for writers.




November 13-14:  Get
Read – Marketing Strategies for Writers: Dan Blank’s We Grow Media is a  two-day online conference for authors looking
for promotion strategies--and, ultimately, readers.  Speakers include Porter
Anderson, Chuck Wendig, Dan Blank, Jane
Friedman, Therese Walsh, and many
others.  (I'm one of the scheduled
speakers and am also am serving on the advisory board.)  More information about the conference and
registration information can be found here.




If you use the
discount code elizabeth, you receive $20
off the conference price.




There's a new
resource for writers—whether you’re writing your first book, trying to query
agents or editors, or whether you’re working on promo.  It’s Alex J. Cavanaugh’s Insecure
Writer’s Support Group website.  There you’ll find pages of links to
resources—writing tips, publishers, agents, queries, self-publishing,
marketing, contests, and publications for writers. Alex is a friend and
frequent commenter here and very active in supporting writers. Thanks to Alex
and his helpers for compiling the information for the site.




How not to write a mystery: http://dld.bz/cRDgP




34 Strategic Ways To Use Pinterest to
Market Your Book and Your Author Brand: http://dld.bz/cRDgR
@writerplatform

Tips for finding a hungry agent: http://dld.bz/cRDnr

Why 1 writer hates strong female
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6 Personality Types Who Will Fail as
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Hand-Selling Your Book: How Savvy Are
You? http://dld.bz/cRDp9 @angelaackerman

A Reluctant Novelist's Confession: http://dld.bz/cRDpQ @BTMargins @MaryanneOHara

Gothic Science Fiction – a beginning: http://dld.bz/cRDpT @GothImagination

Titles For Aristocratic Characters In
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Seven Stages of Writing: http://dld.bz/cRE5a

Trendy Hotel Wants You to Finish Your
Novel in One of Their Rooms: http://dld.bz/cRE5e
@theAtlanticWire

Being a Writer: Commitment vs.
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Killing the Top Ten Sacred Cows of
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@deanwesleysmith

5 Ways To Use NaNoWriMo As Your Writing
R&D Department: http://dld.bz/cRE7z
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Bad Characters Do Bad Things: http://dld.bz/cRE8P @mooderino

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@jasonsanford

3 Secrets To Writing Blog Posts That Go
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On Keeping a Notebook: http://dld.bz/cNNhm @SarahNumber4 @parisreview

Nonfiction: How to See Yourself Through
an Acquisitions Editor's Eyes: http://dld.bz/cRGGV
@ninaamir

How Self-Published Authors Can Improve
Our Industry: http://dld.bz/cRGHj
@mollygreene

Is crowdfunding right for you? 5
questions: http://dld.bz/cRGJt

3 Sure-Fire Ways to Prepare Your
Characters: http://dld.bz/cRGJw @matty_gibbon

Goodreads For Authors: http://dld.bz/cRGJK @PatrickRBrown

A Dungeons and Dragons Guide to Book
Sales: http://dld.bz/cRGJU @DoSomeDamage

Famous Writers and their Addictions: http://dld.bz/cRGJY @Writers_Write

Adventures in Horrific Fantasy
Literature? http://dld.bz/cRGKe

25 Steps To Becoming A Self-Published
Author: http://dld.bz/cRGKf @chuckwendig
{lang.}

SF--Dragons: Classifications: http://dld.bz/cRHZ8 @fantasyfaction

How 1 author stays organized: http://dld.bz/cRHZJ @ventgalleries

Rejection and Despair:Just Another Day in
Writer Paradise: http://dld.bz/cRJan
@TMRadcliffe

Jump-start Your Writing Routine with
NaNoWriMo: http://dld.bz/cRJbD @fictorians

"Up": High concept or not? http://dld.bz/cRJbF @gointothestory

How to Edit a Book: Long Sentences and
Comma Splices: http://dld.bz/cRJck @EBindery

6 Psych Tips For Creating The Ideal
Workspace: http://dld.bz/cRRH7 @PsyBlog

Tools for Character Excavation: http://dld.bz/cRRKN @YAMuses

New Facebook Feature Spells 'Awesome' for
Blogging: http://dld.bz/cRSdC @JennyHansenCA
@LisaHallWilson

Writing in 2nd person POV: http://dld.bz/cRSm5 @MartinaABoone

Fear and the Second Book in a Trilogy: http://dld.bz/cRSmH @jlizhill

For Biographers, The Past Is An Open
(Electronic) Book: http://dld.bz/cRST6
@npralltech

When 'Show, Don't Tell' is Really Bad
Advice: http://dld.bz/cRSXc @readjennymartin

Authors who reprise the greats need a
bold touch: http://dld.bz/cRSXq
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What did the publisher do to help make
the novel succeed? http://dld.bz/cRSXy
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Character Clichés: http://behlerblog.com/2013/09/04/character-cliches-make-like-a-tree-and-get-outta-here/
@behlerpublish

Script To Screen: "Badlands": http://dld.bz/cRSX2 @gointothestory

Are You Writing in the Right Medium For
You? http://dld.bz/cRSX7 @Julie_Gray

Get in the water already. http://dld.bz/cRSXD

When Science Fiction is Not Science
Fiction: http://dld.bz/cRSXH @AmazingStories0

Tom Clancy's 5 big rules for writing and
life: http://dld.bz/cRY2s @salon

Need an Attitude Adjustment?
Screenwriting Tips on Approaching Your Work: http://dld.bz/cRY26
@nofilmschool

Why Should You Be an Unconscious Writer? http://dld.bz/cRY58 @WriterJimDenney

Write your story--don't worry about what
people will say: http://dld.bz/cRY5F
@RachelintheOC

Embracing Your Dark Side: http://dld.bz/cRY6g @pshares

Tips for making it as a writer: http://dld.bz/cRY6s

Get Past the Fear and Just Write: http://dld.bz/cRY6x @rebeccatdickson

Querying Literary Agents: Your Top 9
Questions Answered: http://dld.bz/cRY65
@thewritelife

Four Things 'Breaking Bad' Taught 1
Writer about Writing: http://dld.bz/cRY7k
@NaturiThomas

How to choose a theme for your author
blog: http://dld.bz/cRY8E @Belinda_Pollard

8 Book Marketing and Diversification Tips
to Make Money: http://dld.bz/cRCEc @karencv

Don't Let Your Characters Act Like
Idiots: http://dld.bz/cRAQa @JamesScottBell

Three Most Common Story-structure
Pitfalls: http://dld.bz/cR9am @KMWeiland

20 Places to Publish Personal Essays: http://dld.bz/cRxk4 @meghancward

How to Craft Perfect Posts for Facebook,
LinkedIn & Twitter: http://dld.bz/cRxaK
@hubspot

On Keeping a Notebook: http://dld.bz/cNNhm @SarahNumber4 @parisreview

Why you shouldn't ask Beta Readers to do
copy editing: http://dld.bz/cRYAR
@belinda_pollard

Understanding the Hidden Editing in
Hitchcock's 'Rope': http://dld.bz/cRYCd
@nofilmschool

As Naysayers Cleave To Old Ideas, Indie
Authors Keep Moving Forward: http://dld.bz/cRYCp
@RachelintheOC

The Oddest Odd Jobs of 10 Literary
Greats: http://dld.bz/cRZdQ @writersdigest

The CFD–Crappy First Draft: http://dld.bz/cRZdT @niniehammon

How to Write Like Nicholas Sparks: 4
Tips: http://dld.bz/cRZeC @monicamclark

The Strange and Unpleasant World of the
Sock Puppet: http://dld.bz/cRZeM
@cathinnorway

Who Wrote at Standing Desks? Kierkegaard,
Dickens and Ernest Hemingway Too: http://dld.bz/cRZeY
@openculture

10 Ways to Develop Confidence as a
Writer: http://dld.bz/cRZfk @mufidah

5 Tips for Writing Query Letters: http://dld.bz/cRZfB @authorterryo

25 productivity secrets from history's
greatest thinkers: http://dld.bz/cRZzg
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Dan Brown sells more books than Michael
Chabon. Does that make Dan Brown a better writer? http://dld.bz/cRZzu

The 3 best ways to physically describe
your characters: http://dld.bz/cRZzy
@niniehammon

What Makes A Good Short Story: http://dld.bz/cSbv5 @BAShortStories

30 Obnoxious Phrases to Expunge from Our
Writing: http://dld.bz/cSbvF @writerspotlight

Why Don't Writers Have a Lingo for Their
Writing? http://dld.bz/cSbvJ

Word sprinting: http://dld.bz/cSbvP @TheSprintShack

Top Writing Tips for Self-Published
Authors: http://dld.bz/cSbvW @PublishersWkly

5 POVs complete with short story excerpts
that show them in action: http://dld.bz/cSbwe
@JanineDonoho

When Writing Feels Wrong: http://dld.bz/cSbwt @DavidSpinks

C.S. Lewis on Writing and Criticism: http://dld.bz/cSbwv @SilverPetticoat

Self-Publishing: Top Four Lessons
Learned: http://dld.bz/cSbwx @JL_Campbell

Writers on writing about sex: http://dld.bz/cSbw4& @nytimes

The 7 Best Literary Wedding Themes: http://dld.bz/cSbw6 @BNBuzz

10 Tips for Working with an Editor: http://dld.bz/cSbxa @jonestony

8 books about writing: http://dld.bz/cSbxc @elephantjournal

Learning from the homes of famous
writers: http://dld.bz/cSbx8 @BostonGlobe

How 7 Step Plans can be Straitjackets: http://dld.bz/cSbye @JamesPrescott77

Screenwriting: The Simple Things Every
Writer Should Know: http://dld.bz/cSbyq
@scriptmag

Write every day and other lies: http://dld.bz/cSby2 @missstaceymay

Tips for Parting Ways with Your Agent: http://dld.bz/cScNP @ElisabethWeed
@writerunboxed

A publisher tries to understand the
negativity in reader reviews: http://dld.bz/cScNR

Need more time to write? A better way to
tell people "no": http://dld.bz/cScPg
@katecollinsbook

What Would Dickens Do? http://dld.bz/cScPx @Bookkaholic

Is Trope a Five-Letter
"Four-Letter" Word? http://dld.bz/cScP6
@lemmony @pink_typewriter

Hating on Present Tense? A Defender: http://dld.bz/cScPR @Tamfrancis

Writing Tips for Creating a Complex
Villain: http://dld.bz/cScQ8 @melissadonovan

Jennifer Egan And Michael Chabon Reveal
16 Truths About Writing: http://dld.bz/cScXD

When to Be and When Not to Be a Writer: http://dld.bz/cSdyy @BillieMosiman

Don't let your characters over-share: http://dld.bz/cSdyD @alexbilledeaux

The Importance of Reading Out Loud: http://dld.bz/cSdyS @brevitymag

7 questions for an MG lit agent: http://dld.bz/cSdyZ

Writing Out of Middle Age: http://dld.bz/cSdzg @BTMargins @kimtriedman

Behind the curtain: the dark arts of
dramaturgy: http://dld.bz/cSdzm @IrishTimes

First Novels: The Romance Of Agents: http://dld.bz/cSdzw @nprmonkeysee
@hppywrtrMartha

8 Tips For Creating Great Stories From
George R.R. Martin, Junot Diaz, And Others: http://dld.bz/cSdzz
@hughhart

Easy Book Marketing Techniques For
Writers: http://dld.bz/cSdzC @writeonepub

After You Sign The Publishing Contract:
What Comes Next? http://dld.bz/cSeGj
@randysusanmeyer

Branding Yourself. Be Careful Of The Hot
Pokers. http://dld.bz/cSeGn @The_Real_HH

Top Three PR Moves Authors Should Make: http://dld.bz/cSeGr @makasha

10 Dumb Things Stopping You From
Finishing Your Novel: http://dld.bz/cSeGx
@ajackwriting

10 things 1 writer has learned about
author crowdfunding so far: http://dld.bz/cPPqP
@MaryDeMuth

Can a Foreign Language Enhance your
Writing? http://dld.bz/cSeKb @serbaughman
@writeitsideways

Creative Flow: There is Magic in Asking
Yourself The Right Questions: http://dld.bz/cSeKg
@ADDerWORLD

Understanding the Five Phases of Book
Marketing: http://dld.bz/cSeKm @writerunboxed
@BKGKristen

The Top 5 Reasons for Not Doing NaNoWriMo
This November: http://dld.bz/cSeKU @chrisbaty
@ChronicleBooks

What Do Authors Owe to Indie Booksellers?
http://dld.bz/cSeMf @passivevoiceblg

277 Movies About Writers And The Writing
Life: http://dld.bz/cSeMq @thewritermama

A self-pubber's memories of querying: http://dld.bz/cSeRC @GerarddeMarigny

Tips for writing a blog post intro: http://dld.bz/cSeRD @HubSpot

E-readers: the best way to get the
world's children reading: http://dld.bz/cSeRF
@guardianbooks

How to Edit for a Friend:  http://dld.bz/cSeRM
@writing_tips

4 Cool Facebook Tools to Run Contests on
Your Timeline: http://dld.bz/cSeRY
@jeffbullas

9 Do's and Don'ts for Creating
Outstanding Facebook Cover Photos: http://dld.bz/cSeSc
@hubspot

5 Reasons Why Journaling is the Ultimate
Tool for Self-Development: http://dld.bz/cSeSe
@JWhite

Blending urban fantasy with legal
thriller: http://dld.bz/cSeSk @mybookishways

How to Sell Your Short Fiction: http://dld.bz/cSeSr @amazingstories0

Publishers Constantly Mistreat Their
Suppliers: http://dld.bz/cSeSs
@passivevoiceblg

Making Your Characters Extreme: http://dld.bz/cSeTj @storyfix

Five Myths About Writers: Busted: http://dld.bz/cSeT7 @chel_c_cam

Concrete Tips for Developing Voice in
Your Fiction: http://dld.bz/cRYqd
@JodieRennerEd

Bowker's new self-pub figures: http://dld.bz/cSjxY @Porter_Anderson @ljndawson
@BeatBarblan

Write the introduction last: http://dld.bz/cRY9e @Belinda_Pollard

The Laws of the (Amazon) Jungle—8 Rules
Authors Need to Know to Stay Safe: http://dld.bz/cRZca
@annerallen

Query pitfalls to avoid: http://dld.bz/cScGA @KeithCronin @WriterUnboxed

Reader pet peeves: http://dld.bz/cScQx @JungleReds

Phrasing for immediacy and power: http://dld.bz/cScX6 @JodieRennerEd

At CONTEC: Content, Technology…and
Questions: http://dld.bz/cSeK8
@Porter_Anderson

Updates on ACX and Goodreads, Thoughts on Freebies

By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig





I thought I’d give an update on both the
audiobook platform that I started doing this spring and the promo efforts that I’ve
made for the past few months.  Maybe it
can give some of you ideas for expanding your content’s reach or for marketing
it.

ACX—Still
steady income for the $0 I put into the process.  Readers are requesting that more books go to
audio (several readers wrote that they’re losing their eyesight and can only
“read” via audio). I hate admitting that I don’t have the audio rights for the
traditionally published books and that I find it less-likely that my publisher
will put them on audiobook.



This time, as soon as the latest of my
self-published books was published, I immediately put the book up for audition
on ACX.  Now I’m already at the point of
reviewing the finished audio.  It’s moved
things through a bit faster. Thanks to Lia Frederick for narrating.

Free
books. I believe that the single, most effective thing I do to move
books is to keep one of them free.  I
keep one of my titles free at all times by listing it as free on Smashwords and
allowing Amazon to price-match it.  I
consider it advertising and it’s the only form of real reader-focused promo
that I do…except for Goodreads giveaways, which I’ll mention next. I do think, however, that this is probably a better practice for writers who have several or more books out.

I’ve found that the freebie also seems to
result in sales for my trad-published titles, even though they’re higher-priced
than my self-pubbed books.  My royalty
checks have been higher as my self-pubbed sales have grown…even for the books
I’ve written under a pen name.  I think
that Amazon does a good job putting my other books in front of the
readers.  I don’t think that Barnes &
Noble does nearly as good of a job in cross-promoting my other titles.

I’ve noticed that although free promos
always work well to keep my other books visible, they do especially well if the freebie is one that has
lots of reviews.  It’s almost as if the
readers are looking at the number of reviews and not the reviews themselves—one
of the books that was recently free has 236 reviews.  But its giveaway was not quite as successful
as a freebie for another of my titles that has 446 reviews, even though I think
the one with fewer reviews probably has more favorable
reviews.

So…what does this mean?  I’m wondering if it means that readers can be
influenced by sheer numbers—an “everyone is reading it” mentality.  Even subconsciously. 

Goodreads.
On that same thread (trying to get reviews), I received a box of ARCs (Advance
Reader Copies) a few weeks ago for the book that’s coming out in December.  I was a little surprised to get them, since I
don’t always get them except for the first book in a series.  My editor’s assistant asked me how many ARCs
I wanted.  The idea these days is to get
as many reviews on the upcoming release as possible.  I think, before online retailing became such
a huge thing, that ARCs usually went out to various print reviewers…then
bloggers, when blogging reviewers became popular.  Now it seems to be readers. I asked the
assistant for 18 ARCs for a Goodreads giveaway.

I’ve noticed that giving away ARCs on
Goodreads sometimes makes traditionally-published authors a little
nervous.  This is because sometimes
signed ARCs end up being sold online on eBay…even before the release.  I’ve heard writers talking about it.  It’s against the Goodreads rules, but
pirating, etc., has never seemed to hurt me or my sales.

The giveaway for the December book had a
good response…Goodreads reported that 1310 people entered it and I had 16
winners, keeping two of the ARCs in case one got lost in the mail or some other
problem.  I’ve found that a good approach
seems to be to send a message to the winners –you can click on their link when
Goodreads sends you the list of winners. 
You congratulate them, tell them when you’ll send the books out (I hear
that you can get one-stars on Goodreads for not being prompt), and possibly
even give them your other contact info so that they can email you or Facebook
you, or whatever.  It makes you a bit
more human, more friendly—instead of just a calculated giveaway.  I don’t ask for reviews when I send my note,
but several readers wrote me back this time (a few on my email instead of using
Goodreads) and said that they were excited to have won and planned to write
reviews. 

As I’ve mentioned before, I personally
don’t find Goodreads a particularly warm and fuzzy environment for writers, so
I just pop in, do my giveaway thing, and pop out again.  You don’t have to hang out there to do giveaways…you
can tweak your settings so that Goodreads notifies you via email when they’ve
picked the winners. You do have to have a physical book for a giveaway
there…they don’t give away ebooks.  But
your books don’t have to be traditionally published to be entered,
either—CreateSpace or Lightning Source works fine.

So, that’s about it for how things are
going for audio and promotion—and what works for now.  Being flexible is good in this business…what
works one month may not work the next. 
We should just be prepared to change course.

What have you found that’s worked
promo-wise lately?  Any thoughts about
Goodreads giveaways?  Anyone doing ACX?

If Your Mystery Needs Complexity

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I’m new to outlining and sometimes
there’s an element that’s missing when I draft outlines—complexity.

I think that’s because I usually add more
layers to my books after the first draft is finished.  Unfortunately, I won’t have finished the
first draft when I submit an outline to my editor...I won't even have started the book... and it won’t occur to me to add
the complexity into the outline before I send it (at least, it hasn’t
before).  This means that I ordinarily
get feedback on my outlines that state “could you please add some complexity to
this mystery?”



(Note to self: it will save us all a lot
of time if I take that step before submitting the next outline.)

I’m imagining that I’m not the only one
who gets this kind of feedback from an editor…at least, I hope I’m not.  Luckily, there are quite a few ways to make a
mystery less cut-and-dried or easily solved. 
Some ideas:

More
suspects. You have to be careful here, because if you have too many
suspects, then readers can get lost.  If
you already have quite a few suspects, then really take a look at them.  Is one of them less-likely as the
murderer?  Can you add to their motive or
give them more opportunity to have committed the crime?  Can you, in other words, make that suspect
appear more suspicious?    

A motive
that is different from the motive you’ve originally promoted as the one tied to the murder.  You’ve got greed or
financial gain as the motive for the murder—with a cast of characters who all
have something to gain from the victim’s death. 
But you could suddenly reveal either a different motive or a suspect with
an additional motive—revenge, anger,
ambition, jealousy.  Maybe the suspect is
trying to cover up a different crime. 

Point to a
different suspect toward the end of the story.  One way to help make the killer’s identity
more of a surprise is to subtly direct readers to a completely different
suspect very close to the end of the book. 


Have your
suspects both lie and tell truths.  In
my books, I’ve got my suspects feeding my sleuths a variety of different
information.  Some of it leads the sleuth
to clues.  Some of it functions as a red
herring.  At times, it’s hard for the
sleuth to distinguish the truth from the lies and it makes it more difficult
for her to solve the mystery when she isn’t sure the information she’s
receiving is trustworthy—or if the source of it is.

Obfuscate.
Give suspects secrets that have nothing to do with the murder.  One reason that your suspects would lie is if they were trying to protect
their secrets.  Most people have things
they’d rather no one else knew about. 
This is especially easy to write if your book is set in a small
town—folks don’t want the whole town to know their business when they have to
live and work closely with a small number of people. There are old scandals,
petty crimes, or illicit relationships they’d like to keep to themselves.  These secrets function as roadblocks, red
herrings, and detours for our sleuths.

Another
victim.  Just when your readers
think they’ve nailed the right suspect—kill the suspect. :) Or, kill another
likely suspect and give the most likely suspect a great alibi.  On that note…

Locked
rooms, iron-tight alibis.   If you
add a bit of impossibility to the story, it not only adds complexity, it helps break up endless suspect interviews.  Then
you can gradually offer glimpses how these situations are possible.

Parallel
subplots.  Bonus points if you can
connect a subplot that develops a character to the mystery somehow.  Maybe it can get the sleuth out of hot water
or provide a clue to solving the case. 
Tie-ins are interesting.

Basically—what can you do to make this
story twist a little?  Brainstorm ways to
play havoc with the sleuth’s investigation. 
Can you derail it temporarily? Send it off in a different
direction?  There are ways to add
complexity without taking it so far as to frustrate the reader (which we don’t want).

Some of these fixes will also work with
other genres.  You can expand on it,
too.  How do you see writers in your
genre add complexity or twists to their stories? 

Image: MorgueFile: Ladyheart

Concrete Tips for Developing an Appealing Voice in Your Fiction

by Jodie Renner, editor, author, speaker





What exactly is “voice” in fiction?

An engaging story “voice” captures us
from the first sentence and beckons us into the story world. Literary agents
and acquiring editors always say they’re looking for fiction with a
captivating, fresh, natural voice. Then when asked to define the term, they
hesitate as they try to capture the elusive “je ne sais quoi” qualities of a
voice that is unique and original, a voice that engages readers and compels
them keep reading.

In a nutshell, the ideal
“voice” is that natural, open, charismatic tone and style that pull us in and
make us feel like we know the characters well — and want to get to know them
better! A strong, compelling voice will bring your characters and story to life
on the page. Voice is personality on paper.



How can we develop an appealing voice?

Here are some concrete tips to help you
develop a captivating voice for your fiction.

~ Relax your writing and let it flow.

Many of my editing clients are (retired)
professionals or academics who want to try their hand at writing fiction. I
help them shake off the constraints of their formal, “correct” writing
background, especially if it includes graduate degrees and a lot of legal,
academic or business writing. With my guidance, they develop a more casual,
accessible, appealing voice and tone for their fiction.

If your writing tends to be overly
correct and/or wordy, you’ll need to concentrate on paring down those long,
convoluted sentences and replacing abstract or pretentious words with strong,
concrete, evocative ones. Focus on writing in a clear, direct, accessible,
casual style that evokes the senses and appeals to the readers’ emotions.

~ Write to one person.

To help develop an intimacy with your
readership and a conversational tone, create or choose one single person you’re
writing to, who is warm, friendly, open to your ideas, interested, and
intelligent.

Create an ideal reader. Write a brief
description of their age, gender, background, home and work situation,
personality, and interests (which of course include reading your kind of
writing!). Get to know them a bit by giving them some positive attributes that
will help you feel comfortable and open with them. Then target your writing to
this person. Relax and let the real you come through.

~ Read and imitate writers whose voice you really enjoy.

Don’t copy their words verbatim, of
course, but immerse yourself in their story world, told in their unique voice.
Read their books aloud to really internalize the rhythm of their language, the
phrasing and expressions and word choices that appeal to you so much. Then of
course adapt the cadence and rhythm and attitudes and vocabulary to your own
situation.

~ Write a chapter in first person, then change it to third person.

One author whose voice I love is Janet
Evanovich, whose spunky, quirky heroine, Stephanie Plum, narrates her story in
first-person point of view. But it’s hard to write first-person well, and it
can be limiting, as you’re confined to scenes where this character is present.
Also, first-person isn’t always the best choice for, say, a thriller, as you
want other viewpoints in there, too, notably that of the antagonist.

But try writing several pages or a
chapter or two in first-person (“I”), to develop your main character’s unique
voice, then just go back and rewrite them in third person (he/she), with as few
other changes as possible.

~ Read your story out loud to test its authenticity and easy flow.


Your writing should have the rhythm and
comfortable familiarity of spoken language. If it doesn’t flow easily, go in
and streamline the language to take out the convoluted sentences, clunky
phrasing, and fancy-shmancy words. Or hire a trusted writer friend or reputable
freelance editor to go through it for you to take out anything that sounds too
formal, wordy, or erudite.

~ Write in deep point of view or close third.

This means the story is unfolding mainly
through the thoughts and reactions and emotions and attitudes of your
protagonist. Even descriptions of your setting should be filtered through your
protagonist’s (or other viewpoint character’s) preferences, views, and mood.
This ensures that your whole novel has a great, unique voice, not just the
dialogue.

~ Give each character his or her own voice.

When you’re writing dialogue, each
character should sound different, with their own unique speech patterns, word
choices, and slang or pet expressions, based on their milieu, upbringing,
education, and personality. For help with this, listen in on all kinds of
conversations, both in real life and on TV and in movies.

Develop an ear for how different people
speak. To improve the idiosyncratic speech of a character in your novel, try
journaling in their voice, in first person. Just write freely, using lots of
attitude! Eventually, you’ll get into their rhythm and find the words that seem
to suit them best.

~ Add emotions and attitude.

Bring your characters and scenes to life
by showing your character’s feelings and reactions to things. Evoke as many
senses as you can to draw the reader into the story world. And show your
character’s moods and attitudes not only through her words, thoughts, and
actions, but also through the tone and wording of the narration, which is
really her observations of and reactions to the people and events around her.

So break free from the constraints of
your background, education, and any work-related writing, and write the story
only you can write, with your unique experiences and personality, in your own
direct, open, interesting voice. Don’t hold back — relax and reveal yourself.

Copyright © Jodie Renner, September 2013

- Readers – Can you share some novels
where you’ve particularly enjoyed the voice?

- Writers – Do you have any more tips for
finding an authentic, appealing voice?

 [GIVEAWAY: Jodie will
gift an e-copy of one of her books to two lucky people who comment
below. Please specify in your comment whether you'd prefer "Sizzles" or
"Thriller." Good luck!]



Jodie
Renner, a freelance fiction editor specializing in thrillers and other
fast-paced fiction, has published two books (& e-books)to date in her
series, An Editor’s Guide to Writing Compelling Fiction: WRITING A KILLER THRILLER and STYLE THAT SIZZLES & PACING FOR POWER (Silver Medal winner in FAPA Book Awards, 2013). For
more info, please visit Jodie’s author website or editor
website, or find her on Facebook
or Twitter.

Twitterific

  by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig









Twitterific links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming)
which has over 23,000 free articles on writing related topics. It's the search
engine for writers.




November 13-14:  Get
Read – Marketing Strategies for Writers: Dan Blank’s We Grow Media is a  two-day online conference for authors looking
for promotion strategies--and, ultimately, readers.  Speakers include Porter
Anderson, Chuck Wendig, Dan Blank, Jane
Friedman, Therese Walsh, and many
others.  (I'm one of the scheduled
speakers and am also am serving on the advisory board.)  More information about the conference and
registration information can be found here.



If you use the discount code elizabeth, you receive $20 off the conference price.




There's a new
resource for writers—whether you’re writing your first book, trying to query
agents or editors, or whether you’re working on promo.  It’s Alex J. Cavanaugh’s Insecure
Writer’s Support Group website.  There you’ll find pages of links to
resources—writing tips, publishers, agents, queries, self-publishing,
marketing, contests, and publications for writers. Alex is a friend and
frequent commenter here and very active in supporting writers. Thanks to Alex
and his helpers for compiling the information for the site.




6 steps to creativity: http://dld.bz/cRwPQ @authorterryo


New Site Links to Writing Tips; Pubs,
Agents, Queries; Self-Pub; Marketing; Contests; and Publications: http://dld.bz/cRCMS @AlexJCavanaugh

Murdering sleeping victims in crime
fiction: http://dld.bz/cRwY3 @mkinberg

Unforgettable Picture Books: http://dld.bz/cR8Ev @womenwriters @cerrieburnell

Characters: Wealth and Glamor: http://dld.bz/cR8QJ @camillelaguire

Suddenly, conferences are all about the
writers: http://dld.bz/cRA2u @Porter_Anderson
@jpfine @psexton1

Tension-producing confrontations between
characters in crime fiction: http://dld.bz/cRCCH
@mkinberg

Novel Revision: Twenty-page Sessions : http://dld.bz/cRE4u

Trendy Hotel Wants You to Finish Your
Novel in One of Their Rooms: http://dld.bz/cRE5e
@theAtlanticWire

A free directory of cover designers,
formatters, freelance editors, and more: http://bit.ly/nolbXq

The Search Engine for Writers: http://hiveword.com/wkb/search

4 Ways to Improve Your Writing: http://dld.bz/cPz2m @ava_jae

How to handle personal attacks on social
media: http://dld.bz/cQtW4 @ellynangelotti

There is no perfect publisher: http://dld.bz/cQvsc @literaticat

10 Rules for Writing New Adult Fiction: http://dld.bz/cQ4Jd @cathinnorway

Thinking or doing--what's more important
for creatives? http://dld.bz/cQBMV @tannerc

Why Your Blog's About Page Is Completely
Wrong: http://dld.bz/cQBQF @JFBookman

The Grief Writer: http://dld.bz/cQd8K @elephantjournal

Five Words to Eliminate from Your
Writing: http://dld.bz/cRcAF @SandraPeoples

Make sure every scene accomplishes at
least two things: http://dld.bz/cRcBr
@projectmgmahem

Being "good enough",
creatively:  http://dld.bz/cRcB2
@tannerc

"Don't ask what I'm writing." http://dld.bz/cRcDf @NYTimes

Author Taglines: http://dld.bz/cRcDx

Use Alltop to quickly go through ebook
and publishing news: http://dld.bz/cRcD5
@ebookfriendly

16 Ways to Get Motivated and Break out of
the Slump: http://dld.bz/cRcDA @brianleeshl

Intuitive Writing: http://dld.bz/cRcDD @juliegray

The Art of Writing Great Google+ Posts: http://dld.bz/cRcDG @copyblogger

7 Clever Tricks to Help You Edit Your
Ebook: http://dld.bz/cRcDP @thewritelife

The Problem with Writing About People You
Know, and 3 Ways to Solve It: http://dld.bz/cRcEj
@Write_Tomorrow @write_practice

3 Ways to Simplify Your Writing Life: http://dld.bz/cRcEx @lydia_sharp

How to Write Effective Endings: http://dld.bz/cRcE2 @ava_jae

5 Ways to Describe Emotions Without
Making Your Character Feel Too Self Aware: http://dld.bz/cRcEH
@Janice_Hardy

Do You Know Your Story's Subtext? http://dld.bz/cRcER @jamigold

25 Blogging Tips for Fresh Bloggers: http://dld.bz/cRcEW @ryanhussey

7 Deadly Sins of Prologues: http://dld.bz/cRcEY @KristenLambTX

Passion: How To Tap Into Yours Every Time
You Write: http://dld.bz/cRcF9
@livewritethrive

How 1 author sells 70-75 books a day: http://dld.bz/cRnG6 @LauraPepWu

Marketing for Introverts: http://dld.bz/cRnG9 @Laura_Gallier

Crime writing--poisons: http://dld.bz/cRnHA @karencv

Common issues in academic writing: http://dld.bz/cRnHB @laurelgarver

In writing, there is no recipe: http://dld.bz/cRnJv

The 3 Pillars Of Selling More Books: http://dld.bz/cRnJx @ebooksandkids
@digibookworld

Exploring Story Concepts Prior to
Writing: http://dld.bz/cRnJP @fictorians

Literally vs. Figuratively: http://dld.bz/cRnJQ @brianklems

What being married to a non-reader has
taught one woman: http://dld.bz/cRnJW
@kelleemoye

Nannies featured in crime fiction novels:
http://dld.bz/cRnKf @mkinberg

WOOL & Brilliant Marketing: http://dld.bz/cRnKh @juliemusil

The Truth About Writing Advice: http://dld.bz/cRnKk @ava_jae

4 Famous Rejections to Give Any Aspiring
Writer Hope: http://dld.bz/cRnKm @paperblanks

Emotionally Investable Characters: http://dld.bz/cRnKn @YAMisfits @LylaWrites

4 Tips to Write a Novel That Will Be
Adapted Into a Movie: http://dld.bz/cRnKr
@write_practice @monicamclark

Making Time to Write: http://dld.bz/cRnKu @losapala

Female Characters in Fictional Roles: http://dld.bz/cRnKw @mooderino

5 Steps for Restarting Your Book
Marketing Efforts After a Break: http://dld.bz/cRnKz
@duolit

Using Taste to Further Your Fiction: http://dld.bz/cRpbR @JodiLMilner

A guide to creating better blog content: http://dld.bz/cRpca @aliventure

Setting Free the Poets: http://dld.bz/cRpcK @asheresque

1 writer/illustrator's  love-hate relationship with rejections: http://dld.bz/cRpdg @MiGWriters @inkyelbows

10 Evil Gremlins of Writers Block Doom a
Good Story: http://dld.bz/cRpdm
@AdriennedeWolfe

Writing Short and Funny for the Internet:
http://dld.bz/cRpdq @scriptmag
@StephanyFolsom

Top 10 mold-breaking fantasy novels: http://dld.bz/cRpdv @guardianbooks

11 things happy authors don't do: http://dld.bz/cRpdx @rachellegardner

Embedding Sensory Details in Your
Writing: http://dld.bz/cRpdy @julie_gray

Feminism in Romance Novels: http://dld.bz/cRpd3 @IzzyFarhi

Write, Direct, Repeat: Working with Line
Producers: http://dld.bz/cRpdC @scriptmag
@kim_garland

No Words on the Page, But We're Still
Writing: http://dld.bz/cRpdJ @fictionnotes

The Amazon Ad That Scared The Crap Out Of
Apple's Top Executives: http://dld.bz/cRtnr
@passivevoiceblg

Forget the Facts, Tell a Story: Why
Braveheart is a Classic Despite its Inaccuracies: http://dld.bz/cRtnB
@worldsofstory

On Keeping a Notebook: http://dld.bz/cNNhm @SarahNumber4 @parisreview

Twitter for Authors: Book Marketing and
Publicity with Social Media: http://dld.bz/cRtnG
@PublishingGuru

10 Ways to Defeat Obscurity: Tips for
Authors Who Want to Get Noticed: http://dld.bz/cRtnW
@writerplatform

Atypical Protagonists: Six Anti-Heroes
From Great Works of Fiction: http://dld.bz/cRtpb
@readlearnwrite

Getting Back to Work and into the Rhythm
of Writing: http://dld.bz/cRtpc @noveleditor

Reward yourself for writing: http://dld.bz/cRtpe @JennaAvery

Why Writing Horror Is–And Should Be–Hard:
http://dld.bz/cRtxt @kevinlucia

10 Tips for Critiquing Other People's
Writing: http://dld.bz/cRtx2 @writing_tips

10 great books that made awful movies: http://dld.bz/cRtNd

Literary Agent Says TV is Where it's At: http://dld.bz/cRtRs @NYFA

Why 1 Christian writer isn't interested
in writing Christian fiction: http://dld.bz/cRtR4
@kevinlucia

The 20 Best Books in Translation You've
Never Read: http://dld.bz/cRtRD
@publisherswkly @chadwpost

Good Quotes on Life, Writing and Art: http://dld.bz/cRtRT @artsylliu

15 Ways to Move Forward Faster as a
Writer and Author: http://dld.bz/cRtRW
@ninaamir

How to Make a Depressed Character
Likable: http://dld.bz/cRtSn @janice_hardy

One frequently negative reviewer decides
to 'bury the hatchet': http://dld.bz/cRtSv
@pageturner

There are no shortcuts to mastering our
craft: http://dld.bz/cRtSA @EdieMelson
@novelrocket

25 ways to improve your writing in 30
minutes a day: http://dld.bz/cRtSR
@RitaKarnopp1

How 6 of 1 Writer's Books Became Amazon
Best-Sellers in 1 Month: http://dld.bz/cRtTe
@KMLoganWriter

How to Avoid the Slush Pile: http://dld.bz/cRtTM @stefanvucak

7 Ways To Integrate Your Writing &
Your Day Job: http://dld.bz/cRtTR
@LittleReadings

10 personal essay writing ideas: http://dld.bz/cRxau @nytimes

How to Craft Perfect Posts for Facebook,
LinkedIn & Twitter: http://dld.bz/cRxaK
@hubspot

How to Make the Most of Your Chapter
Endings: http://dld.bz/cRxaS @ava_jae

The Rule of Twenty: http://dld.bz/cRxaU @authorterryo

The Johnny Cash Approach to Novel
Writing: http://dld.bz/cRxen @bentguy1

A Career Versus Publication: http://dld.bz/cRxeR @kristinerusch

7 Ways to Get Extra Mileage From Your
Blog Posts: http://dld.bz/cRxfx @heidicohen

4 Tips on the Publishing Experience: http://dld.bz/cRxkq @writersdigest

Sci-Fi Storytelling for Screenwriters–
Structure, Budget, & What's Next: http://dld.bz/cRxkt
@scriptmag

The Character Therapist: Displaced Anger
and Multiple Personalities: http://dld.bz/cRxkx
@jeanniecampbell

20 Places to Publish Personal Essays: http://dld.bz/cRxk4 @meghancward

How to Pick up Your Writing Pace Whether
You're a Tortoise or a Hare: http://dld.bz/cRxkA
@Rogenna

Creating Your Own One-Sheets: http://dld.bz/cRxkD @MBTPonderers

5 Examples of Extraneous Hyphens: http://dld.bz/cRxkF @writing_tips

A Key Book Marketing Principle That
Authors Must Learn (or Not Forget): http://dld.bz/cRxkM
@janefriedman

7 Awesome Crime-Fighting Duos In Books: http://dld.bz/cRxkT @colleengleason

The Mathematics of Writing: Is There a
Formula for Creative Success? http://dld.bz/cRxmg

What To Do Once You've
"Finished" Your Novel: http://dld.bz/cQGpA
@RoganBarbara

There is no perfect publisher: http://dld.bz/cQvsc @literaticat

Five Words to Eliminate from Your
Writing: http://dld.bz/cRcAF @SandraPeoples

50 Cliched Dialogues to Ban From Your
Script: http://dld.bz/cR8Z5 @Mentorless

Content marketing--5 Ways to Tell Stories
that Sell: http://dld.bz/cR9ae @b2community

Three Most Common Story-structure
Pitfalls: http://dld.bz/cR9am @KMWeiland

Making the Switch from Nonfiction to
Fiction Writing: http://dld.bz/cR9av
@jJodieRennerEd

5 online writing tools to boost your
productivity: http://dld.bz/cR9az
@tessawegert

Don't Let Your Characters Act Like
Idiots: http://dld.bz/cRAQa @JamesScottBell

The opening act – what the reader needs
to understand: http://dld.bz/cRAQb
@nailyournovel @KMWeiland

How to structure a premise for stronger
stories: http://dld.bz/cRAQ2 @thewritermag

How to style quotations in a novel: http://dld.bz/cRC86 @glencstrathy

6 Ways to Add Video Marketing to Your
Author Social Media Mix: http://dld.bz/cRC87
@wherewriterswin

Science fiction is no longer a boys'
club: http://dld.bz/cRC8V @salon @PolicyMic

What if Emily Dickinson attended a
writing workshop? http://dld.bz/cRC8Z
@Writers_Write

Writing Secondary Characters: http://dld.bz/cRC9d @Ventureadlaxre
@ScottLynch78

How-to conquer self doubt and write
anyway: http://dld.bz/cRC9u @thefutureisred

Exercising Your Craft: 3 Writers Who Get
Physical: http://dld.bz/cRC9w @pshares

Use multiple tools to promote your work: http://dld.bz/cRCAj @stevebuttry

US vs. the Rest: is American English
Taking Over? http://dld.bz/cRCAp
@TDMcKinnon2012

How To Turn On Your Muse: http://dld.bz/cRCAy @write_practice

Package a story pitch to catch the
editor's attention: http://dld.bz/cRCA2
@thewritermag

How to write a killer script: http://dld.bz/cRCA8 @WaleOwoade

10 Ways to Fake a Professional Edit: http://dld.bz/cRCD2 @thecreativepenn
@skolbwilliams

Writing books--with only 2 pages a day: http://dld.bz/cRCDE @writerunboxed

8 Book Marketing and Diversification Tips
to Make Money: http://dld.bz/cRCEc @karencv

The Furby Way To Make Your Script Stand
Out: http://dld.bz/cRCEd @raindance
@jurgenwolff

Writing Powerful Sentences: http://dld.bz/cRCVw @RachelPhifer1

Why Film & TV Need the Novel: http://dld.bz/cRCVA @shalvatzis

Does writing in different genres turn off
readers? http://dld.bz/cRCVC @tobywneal

Word choice: http://dld.bz/cRCW6

Author Media Kit Components: http://dld.bz/cRCYV @Girl_Who_Reads

The Audience is in Control – Give People
What They Want at a Reasonable Price: http://dld.bz/cRCZm
@passivevoiceblg

11 Creative Film Interpretations You
Probably Hadn't Considered: http://dld.bz/cRCZx

Why Book Reviews Are Important On Amazon:
http://dld.bz/cRCZ8 @JeanetteCates

6 Ways Twitter Lists Can Help Build Your
Author Platform: http://dld.bz/cRCZH
@JFBookman

Ten Commandments of Book Marketing: http://dld.bz/cRCZK @bookbuzzr

Writing emotions: http://dld.bz/cRCZQ @glencstrathy

Amazon Kindle Matchbook For Authors:
Prepare Now: http://dld.bz/cRDaP
@JeanetteCates

A Quick Tip to Drive More Sales to
Amazon.com: http://dld.bz/cRDgG @Bookgal






Issues as publishers
try edging into the "self-publishing arena": http://dld.bz/cRHg5 @OrnaRoss @Porter_Anderson

What if You Have No Time to Promote?

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig







I recently had someone email me asking
how he could most effectively promote if he had no time at all to promote.

I know there have got to be plenty of
writers in the same fix.  If you’re new
to publishing and you start researching how to market your book, you could end
up very overwhelmed, fast.

The problem is that our books don’t sell
themselves.  It’s fine not to do any
promo, but we can’t expect to be making money if we don’t.

I asked the writer how much time he
actually had.  If he really had as little
as he said (which was basically no
time), I figured he could at least:


1) Be part
of a group blog in your genre with a large cast of contributing writers.  There’s a big if with that, though.  IF you have a decent bio at the bottom of the
post, links to your website, and preferably a book cover or a headshot to go
along with your post every month.  I’ve
seen it all with group blog posts. I’ve seen bylines that only had first
names.  I’ve seen no attribution at
all.  I’ve seen bios that were so cutesy
that they gave no promo info at all…never linked back to a website or a
buy-link or a book page. I’ve searched on Twitter for authors of posts and came
up with several writers and had no idea which was the blogger.  Pointless for someone who is trying to
promote by spending the little amount of time they have in blogging.

2) Guest
post.  Guest posting on a blog
with good traffic (frequent commenters, a lot of followers)  can bring you some new readers.  You can decide how frequently this guest
posting will take place. I know some writers who have a regular gig
contributing to some sites…they’ll have a guest post every month or every
couple of months.  Again—it’s important
to make sure your bio, links, and cover are on these posts.

3) Goodreads.  This can be an intimidating place for writers
because it’s intended as a reader community and you’ll run into rough reviews
there sometimes.  But it’s also a good
place to go where the readers are. So
often in our promoting, we’re networking with other writers.  Set up a profile there and link to your
book.  It doesn’t take long.  If you have a print copy of your book (even
from CreateSpace, etc.), then you can enter your book in a free giveaway
there.  Just decide how many copies
you’ll give away, if you’ll open it to international readers or domestic only,
and the dates that folks can enter the giveaway.

If you think you might have a little more
time…but not much more:

Choose a
social media platform that isn’t too intimidating for you and post
updates regularly there.  You don’t have
to be on them every day and you don’t have to spend gobs of time there when you
do log in. You can choose how frequently you do it—twice a week? Once a week?
You can even use a free program like SocialOomph
to automate the process…but then you’ll need to respond to any comments for
your updates, so automation only goes so far. 
Twitter and Facebook are all about interaction. Well…except if you’re
what’s considered a “broadcaster.” I’m a broadcaster on Twitter—I send out
tweets but don’t interact on my page. On Facebook, I engage in
conversations.  Google Plus is another
option, although you can’t automate there. 


The catch: although you’re promoting,
these updates you post don’t need to all be about your book. The key is
developing a brand for yourself and raising your online profile.  So post a variety of different things—cross-promote
a friend’s book, share a news story (perhaps one that even ties in with your
book’s theme somehow if you want to tie-in), even…well, post pictures of your
pets.  I hate to say that, but honestly,
we’ll get a lot less scorn and a lot more love on social media from readers if
we post pictures of our cat instead of asking people to buy our book.

Blogging? 
I love blogging and having my own blog, but it’s probably not effective
for someone on a real time crunch because you should post at least
regularly…once a week at minimum I think. 


That was my advice, but I’m interested in
hearing yours.  If you only had a small
amount of time to devote to promo, how would you spend it?



And today, I wanted to let my blog readers know about a new resource
for writers—whether you’re writing your first book, trying to query agents or
editors, or whether you’re working on promo. 
It’s Alex J. Cavanaugh’s Insecure
Writer’s Support Group
website.  There you’ll find pages of
links to resources—writing tips, publishers, agents, queries, self-publishing,
marketing, contests, and publications for writers. Alex is a friend and
frequent commenter here and very active in supporting writers. Thanks to Alex
and his helpers for compiling the information for the site.

Novel Revision: Twenty-page Sessions

Guest Post by Jack Smith








You can handle novel revision in many
different ways—probably too numerous to mention.  One method: You can
rework pages one at a time, trying to get everything right before going
on.  A second: You can take the novel section by section, attempting to
get everything right.

Or how about this third
method?   Once you have a fairly complete draft, just commit yourself
to twenty-page sessions of revision. 

Unless you hit real snags, you can do
this in about two to three hours.

Here’s the kinds of things to look
for/work for:




-Characters
that seem rather flat.  What can you do to spice them up a
bit?  Maybe some interesting description?   Maybe an interesting
remark in a scene?  (If this changes the nature of the scene too much,
this will of course require more time and effort.)

-Plot
details.  Did you leave something out?  Do you need to take
something out that you won’t be dealing with after all?  Do you want to
echo something or foreshadow something?

-A
descriptive passage to make a setting
more interesting.  Or a setting more important? 

-A passage
that is confusing or cumbersome to read.

-Bloated
sections, whether expository, descriptive, or scenic where you could cut
some and achieve more impact.

-A hint at
theme or idea, whether in character thought or dialogue.

-Dull
writing that needs spiced up to fetch your reader’s interest more.

Okay: All of this sounds like the typical
fare.  But what’s daunting is a long laundry list of changes you so often
face before you can put your project to rest.

But do it in twenty-page sessions where
you can make incremental progress.   If you’re absolutely burned out,
do it while you’re watching TV.  Do it while you’re listening to
music.  Some days you will simply read over the twenty pages and not
expect to accomplish a lot because you just don’t have it in you to get very
serious. But you’ve still gone over those twenty pages, and you’ve taken care
of the kinds of problems that really jump right out at you (or some of them
anyway). Other days you’ll feel more like revising, and you can dig deeper and
make more content changes (e.g. rewriting scenes) or structural changes (e.g.
relocating a section of the novel) that seem too daunting on certain
days.  On the days you don’t feel like tough work, just note what you need
to deal with later.

Revision at twenty pages a day is usually
doable, and it’s not a huge task to face.   Over time you’ll probably
accomplish a lot.  In three months, you will have gone over a 300-page
novel six times.  Surely something will come of that.




Jack Smith

Write
and Revise for Publication , Writer’s Digest, 2013, and Hog
to Hog, winner of the George Garrett Fiction Prize, Texas Review Press, 2008.