Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 177

How Much Should We Take Readers into Account as We Write?

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Social media has made it possible for readers to find out more about and connect with their favorite authors. Authors interact on Twitter, Facebook, and through blogs and websites with their readers.

And readers know how to find them. Author “contact me” links are prominently displayed on sites (or they should be, if they aren’t.)

I’ve noticed a good number of readers getting in touch with me—mostly through email, but also through my Facebook inbox (the second most popular method I see) and through Twitter direct messages.

The interesting thing is that most of the emails I get are readers requesting plot lines or plot points, or giving suggestions about future books.

At first I was really surprised at this. The only authors I’ve ever written are some YA authors I actually know after my son has especially enjoyed a book—because I just wanted to pass along a compliment. I know I haven’t made any plot suggestions to any of my favorite writers.

Then, though, I started seeing the notes as a useful tool. After all, I’m writing a series. Readers know my characters pretty well. And it’s gratifying that they care about them. Sometimes in their emails it sounds as if they would like to write their own fan fiction but would rather me do it.

How responsive should writers be to their readers? Well, of course it’s not a fast food type of relationship where writers just deliver the order. But I think it’s smart for writers to know their readers well. You’ve got to know your target demographic. You need to know what your readers like. And, if you want to continue writing your series (especially if it’s traditionally published…but this goes for self-published books too. Why continue writing a series without readers?) you need to make sure the readers continue enjoying the books.

Whenever I get notes from readers I always respond. I don’t make promises, but I tell them that I appreciate their feedback. Then I add their email/Facebook message/Twitter DM to a Word file that I review before writing the next book. If I’ve got several readers with similar suggestions you better believe it’s something I’ll seriously consider changing.

Things I’ve changed as a response to readers:

I’ve given some characters more time onstage, some characters less.

I’ve analyzed what readers said that they especially liked (there was a particular scene in one of my series that kept coming up)—and provided more of it.

I’ve dropped profanity from the remaining books in my series in response to numerous emails regarding it.

I’ve gone a step farther, too. Besides looking for data from reader emails, I’ve sought out and read any of my stinky reviews online …and analyzed them for a common thread. When I saw something mentioned repeatedly, I made a note of it. It’s not too hard to get past any hurt feelings when you’re being analytical—easier than it might seem, actually.

Where I think this approach would give me more pause is if I had a series with more of a linear storyline from book to book. Like the Harry Potter series. There we’ve got a series with a huge following and dedicated readers…vocal readers, according to Ms. Rowling. She had many letters requesting particular outcomes to the series, but stood her ground and kept to her outline.

But….she had a plan for the remaining books already in mind.

Where I think writers can easily be responsive to readers is series genre fiction where each book is written as a standalone or a standalone with a continuing linear subplot.

No, of course this won’t work for literary fiction. But literary fiction is so rarely in series form that it really doesn’t even apply.

Now this is where y’all convince me I’m completely wrong and it’s all about artistic integrity. :) And I do want to point out that if I strongly believed that the readers were out in left field about something, I wouldn’t change my story. So far, though—the readers have had some remarkable insights.

I change my story for my editors—why wouldn’t I for my readers? Who better to please?

What are your thoughts about our writing our own fan fiction?

Adding Conflict to Our Stories

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I usually don’t open forwarded videos (or forwarded emails of any kind) unless it’s something I’ve heard a lot about or something that’s gone especially viral (and I mean viral in a good way.) This video is a fast-paced 1:46.

You’ve probably seen this, actually…it’s hard to avoid the video online or in your email inbox right now.

As a writer, I found it especially entertaining because I feel like that’s practically my whole life right now—throwing conflict, complications, and assorted drama at my unsuspecting characters.

Need drama? This video succinctly sums up many of the ways to do it (of course, the video’s take is random and campy):

Arguments

Health calamities

Accidents

Physical confrontation

Political intrigue

Sex (which can add a slew of different complications to a story)

The element of surprise (pretty much the running theme of the whole video.)

This video doesn’t even cover internal conflict…which adds even more tension and complexity to a story. Does your protagonist have inner demons? Flaws that are holding him back? Personal struggles he’s up against?

Usually adding conflict to your story is key to fixing a slow-paced or boring story. You also need to know what your character wants most and then throw up obstacles to your character receiving it.

Conflict doesn’t have to be a shoot-out resulting in a victim being dragged off by American football players. For the story I’m writing now, I’ve got conflict as minor as a tedious search for a missing suspect at a busy festival. Then I’ve got conflict as major as a physical fight preceding the discovery of the stabbed victim.

Simple tension in the form of worries can also help readers relate to our main character. Worrying is something we all understand. My protagonist in my current WIP is worried about different people who are important to her. Those characters are creating conflict through their own personal problems (some of which play into the mystery I’m writing, some of which are side issues that act as a subplot and provide tension.)

As we all know, worrying eats up hours for most of us—this keeps our protagonist from his goal, too. The key with worries is that the protagonist has to act on his worries. Protagonists don’t just uselessly worry over stuff or they’d be as boring as we are. :) They’ve got to try to effect change. Maybe their butting in also creates tension and conflict. Sometimes we aren’t happy with people who try to fix our problems for us.

Do you use a lot of conflict and tension in your stories? Is your conflict on a smaller scale, larger scale, or both?

Twitterific

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Twitterific is a compilation of all the writing links I shared the previous week.

The links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 15,000 free articles on writing-related topics. Sign up for our free newsletter for monthly writing tips and interviews with top contributors to the WKB or like us on Facebook.

Don't' forget the new release blogfest that Hart Johnson and I are hosting on June 5th—find more information and sign up here. The best entries get signed copies of our new releases.

Have a great week!

How to Start Your Novel: http://bit.ly/IfpSS1 @joebunting

A roundup of analysis on the MS/B&N deal: http://bit.ly/JPPHVo @Porter_Anderson @JPManga @sarahw @maryjofoley @ThadMcIlroy @mikecane

Updating Traditional Motifs to Create Fresh Fiction: http://bit.ly/Ijs5MY

Style Sheets for Consistency: http://bit.ly/IjsdMt @Artzicarol

Why e-books will soon be obsolete (it’s not just because of DRM): http://bit.ly/InmHF6 @jpatokal

For writers on the go--a $10 folding whiteboard: http://tcrn.ch/IbRLFA @mjburnsy

Mouth-Watering Book Nooks: http://bit.ly/Ijsuiy @BookishWallace

Miniature fairytale for royal dolls' house to be published full size: http://bit.ly/IjsBuk @alisonflood

Character intelligence: a matter of consistency and context: http://bit.ly/IZmG9F @JulietteWade

5 Tips for Making Time to Write: http://bit.ly/IZmNSn @lynnegarner

What Amazon's ebook strategy means: http://bit.ly/IZn2gh

Sites for Ideas and Inspiration: http://bit.ly/IZnjA1 @cherylrwrites

Precision increases plausibility: http://bit.ly/IZnmMc

The Danger of Authors Being Too Clique-y on Twitter: http://bit.ly/IbboPr @roniloren

Note to publishers: Your addiction to DRM is killing you: http://bit.ly/IbbUNl @mathewi

The difference between edits and copyedits: http://bit.ly/Ibc3QV @MiriamForster

Discrepancy vs. Disparity: http://bit.ly/Ibcbjg @writing_tips

The Trouble With Tagging and Liking – How an Amazon Tag and Like Aren't Enough: http://bit.ly/Ibchr3 @beth_barany

Writers should broaden their marketing efforts: http://bit.ly/JsSaY3 @KristenLambTX

The Writer's Version Of The Seven Deadly Sins: http://bit.ly/JsSjuB @ChandlerWrites

Choosing a Historical Fiction Topic, or Any Topic: http://bit.ly/IHtlr7 @msheatherwebb

Literary magazines for new and emerging writers: http://bit.ly/IHtxa2 @rebeccaberto

5 Ways to Reduce the Working-Mom Whine Syndrome: http://bit.ly/IHtHOL @jodyhedlund

How to use, not abuse, jargon, slang, idioms: http://bit.ly/IHtYB4 @writeitsideways

Consumers Increasingly Choosing Tablets Over E-Readers, Study Says: http://bit.ly/IEmZ87 @DigiBookWorld

A brief history of Microsoft's e-reader efforts: http://bit.ly/JNhvNN @kevinctofel

How to become an e-book sensation: http://bit.ly/JNib5S @Beverly_Akerman

8 tips to get the most out of attending a writers conference: http://bit.ly/JNiQ7n @michellerafter

What years as an agent brought to 1 writer: http://bit.ly/JNiZrl

15 Ways to Write Tight: http://bit.ly/JNj7qM

Creative Ways to Kill a Character: http://bit.ly/JNm6PW @writersdigest

Is Your Work Commercially Viable? http://bit.ly/JNm9LH @janefriedman

What does the DoJ settlement mean for customers? A summary: http://tinyurl.com/c4b8c8f

Tips for writers who suffer from repetitive strain injury: http://bit.ly/JNmj5R @byRozMorris

The relative respectability of various contractions: http://bit.ly/JNmIFq @writing_tips

Self Publishing on Amazon: Kindle Direct Publishing: http://bit.ly/JNmRIO @woodwardkaren

A refresher on punctuation and parentheses: http://bit.ly/JXQqFZ @livewritethrive

How to Create Distinctive Character Voices: http://bit.ly/JXQBAZ @KMWeiland

12 Ways to Create a Mailing List that Will Sell Books: http://bit.ly/JXQSnt @bookgal

What Not To Do or What 1 Writer Learned from Watching Season 4 of Castle: http://bit.ly/Kn3bX9 @anna_elliott

An example of line editing: http://bit.ly/Ko86Hk @theresastevens

A capitalization refresher, with an infographic: http://bit.ly/Ko8k17 @grammarnet

Five Resources For Freelance Writing: http://bit.ly/Ko8w0p @howtowriteshop

5 Reasons Other Writers Aren't Showing You The Love: http://bit.ly/Ko8Dt0 @jeanoram

Know Your Reader, Know Your Setting: http://bit.ly/Ko8LJ0

In electronic author collectives, writers band together to promote their books: http://bit.ly/IngRDF @robotech_master

Why 1 agent doesn't think New Adult is marketable yet: http://bit.ly/Inmn9u @sarahlapolla

Back away slowly from 1-star reviews: http://bit.ly/Inmsdh @sierragodfrey

The problem with Twitter hashtags and automation: http://bit.ly/InmzWf @KristenLambTX

Why Do Old Books Smell? http://bit.ly/InmBxl

The 7 Bad Habits of Insanely Productive People: http://bit.ly/InmOAF @soniasimone

Make-or-Break Verbs: http://nyti.ms/IkfvHA @sinandsyntax

How to Outline (the Easy Way) Like Janet Evanovich: http://bit.ly/IkfHqk @writersdigest

Social Stereotypes in Worldbuilding: http://bit.ly/K0DdMu @JulietteWade

10 Ways Free iPhone Apps Supercharge Writers: http://bit.ly/Jdp7Fv @jfbookman

1 writer dissects "The Hunger Games" to find 20 things that made it work: http://bit.ly/JdpeRp @annerooney

8 Tips for Naming Characters: http://bit.ly/JnH1Dm @toucanic

Top 5 reasons why Twitter Crushes Facebook: http://bit.ly/JnH56c @speechwriterguy

Self-destructive behavior by writers: http://bit.ly/JnH7ek @sarahahoyt

Think Like a Publisher: Early Decisions: http://bit.ly/JnHc1w @deanwesleysmith

20 Words for That Certain Something: http://bit.ly/JnHg1r @writing_tips

Types of conflict and subtypes of external conflict: http://bit.ly/JnHkhH

5 tips for a successful book event: http://bit.ly/JdqZye @curiosityquills

Story Structure: The Third Act: http://bit.ly/Jdr7xD @KMWeiland

Throughline: Tying Your Story Together: http://bit.ly/JMhoOQ @mooderino

4 tips for writing compelliing erotica: http://bit.ly/JMhBBv

YA Authors on Pinterest: http://bit.ly/JR5I0M

Crime fiction--when protagonists from different series join forces to solve cases: http://bit.ly/JocpS8 @mkinberg

7 things 1 writer learned from working with editors: http://bit.ly/ImlAEU @BryanThomasS

Do Writing Contests Help or Hurt Creativity? http://bit.ly/ImlDQU @jeanniecampbell

How to Form Plurals of Compound Nouns: http://bit.ly/ImlHAg @writing_tips

Train your muse like a puppy: http://bit.ly/ImlKfo @rachellegardner

Perfecting Your First Page: 3 Tasks or Exercises: http://bit.ly/ImlQDJ @janefriedman

Thinking Through a Strategy for DRM: http://bit.ly/IlgZBx @JosephJEsposito

Hiring a Freelance Editor: A Step-by-Step Guide: http://bit.ly/Ilh7AX

12 ways Twitter makes you a better writer: http://bit.ly/Ilh9ZI @eMergentPublish

Setting the Mood with your First Lines: http://bit.ly/Ilhfk7

Tips for ending chapters with a bang: http://bit.ly/IlhGdY @AdriennedeWolfe

How (Not) to Write Great Characters: http://bit.ly/IlhJXf @Ava_Jae

Own the crazy: http://bit.ly/IlhMCw @ChuckWendig @ThereseWalsh

The YA Genre Is Killing Itself: http://bit.ly/JooJlE @fuelyourwriting

The 9 Smartest Things Said about the non-Pulitzer: http://bit.ly/Jop7An @readingape

Taking critique like a pro: http://bit.ly/Jopdbp @behlerpublishing

5 steps for testing your opening scene: http://bit.ly/Jopjj7 @roniloren

Tips for writing better book reviews: http://bit.ly/JopFXb @readingape

Ebooks--Pricing, Visibilty & Experimentation: http://bit.ly/JoqIX3 @DavidGaughran

The Key Ingredient for Dramatic Tension–Understanding the Antagonist: http://bit.ly/JoqRK7 @kristenlambTX

Launching a successful blog tour: http://bit.ly/IEyKlo

The Starburst Method: The Character Grid: http://bit.ly/IEyXF2 @woodwardkaren

Tips for writing villains: http://bit.ly/IEzrel

No sympathy for the creative class: http://bit.ly/IHjQI5 @TheMisreadCity

The Introvert Blogger's 5-Step Guide to Acing an Interview: http://bit.ly/IHjTU3 @catseyewriter

15 Tips for Children's Book Authors: http://bit.ly/IHkANo @pictsandprint

The Criterion For Evaluating An Agent: http://bit.ly/IHkPYy

Guest blogger etiquette: http://bit.ly/IHkTrf @curiosityquills

23 Timeless Quotes About Writing: http://bit.ly/IHkVQ2 @writersdigest

10 keys to a great writer's conference: http://bit.ly/IHkYv6 @CherylRWrites

Fantasy characters with disabilities and imperfections: http://bit.ly/IHl7P8 @fantasyfaction

How to be both original and universal: http://bit.ly/IHladM @jammer0501

Do characters really need to be likeable? http://bit.ly/IvMVa1 @JulietteWade

Tips for on-air interviews: http://bit.ly/JPSCNJ @Porter_Anderson @LinLacombe

1 industry insider's acknowledgment of the case for self-pub--with 4 qualifiers: http://bit.ly/JPRoSv @Porter_Anderson @MikeShatzkin

2 Tests That Can Help Writers Sort Through Feedback: http://bit.ly/JPTrGn @jodyhedlund

Tips for keeping your writing fresh: http://bit.ly/JPTGBe @jhansenwrites @MargieLawson

Tenses and Person: http://bit.ly/JPTORg @MistyMassey

Six Great Reasons to Write Your Novel: http://bit.ly/JPTZMu @thecreativepenn

Character stereotypes and archetypes: http://bit.ly/KhgHBT @AlexSokoloff

5 Reasons to Keep Blogging When You Want to Abandon the Mission: http://bit.ly/Khh4fI @originalimpulse

Good Writing Isn't Good Enough Anymore, Especially in Queries: http://bit.ly/Khhhj0 @greyhausagency

7 Tools For Pacing A Novel & Keeping Your Story Moving At The Right Pace: http://bit.ly/KhhmDq @writersdigest

Plot vs Arc: Effecting Change: http://bit.ly/KhhzGB @behlerpublish

The digital-only model is cool for cats - and even Shakespeare: http://bit.ly/INwsA2 @thefuturebook

A look at juries in crime fiction: http://bit.ly/INBDQu @mkinberg

The secret truth about writing: http://bit.ly/INFiOr @speechwriterguy

What are the primary goals of your protagonist & antagonist? http://bit.ly/INFJs6

Tips for creating literary fiction: http://bit.ly/ING2mv

How to cut thousands of words without shedding a tear: http://bit.ly/INGgdl @rachellegardner

20 Middle Grade Fiction Agents: 83 Sales: http://bit.ly/INGmBY @fictionnotes

Tips for designing a story using mood collages: http://bit.ly/INHbe0 @diymfa

Author Blogging 101: Listening: http://bit.ly/INHhCj @JFBookman

Write How You Write, Not How You Speak: http://bit.ly/INHq8W @writing_tips

Sexual Tension Is Not Just About The Next Morning: http://bit.ly/INJTA2 @greyhausagency

Writing and receiving book reviews: http://bit.ly/INKqC3 @beth_barany

Using archaeology to inspire--troglodyte dwellings: http://bit.ly/INKRwl @GeneLempp

5 Things 1 Writer Learned About Self-Publishing: http://bit.ly/INLIwT @elephantguy68

How 1 writer built her author website: http://bit.ly/INNDlc @roniloren

5 Things You Don't Need To Include When Writing Summaries: http://bit.ly/INNPRt @writersdigest

Dos and Don'ts for fantasy language: http://bit.ly/INO3Ie @fantasyfaction

Publishers should focus on the 19% (infographic): http://bit.ly/INOiD0 @galleycat

Reviewing Your Reviews: How to Absorb Feedback from Writing Contests: http://bit.ly/INOMt1 @jeanniecampbell

Resist the urge to explain: http://bit.ly/INPeY8 @TheresaStevens

How to create a remarkable writing voice: http://bit.ly/INQ33b @KristenLambTx

A Third Alternative—the Small Press: by Bharti Kirchner

by @bhartikirchner, Bharti Kirchner

When I first wrote a draft of Tulip Season I believed it fell in the mainstream category (like my four previous novels), but had a mystery element in it. In time, I showed it to my editor at a big New York house. Her response stunned me. She said she liked the main character Mitra, her relationships, the twists and turns, and the Bollywood aspect of the story, but added, “Take the mystery out.”

But the mystery of the disappearance of Mitra’s best friend was at the heart of the story. How could I eliminate that and the severe effect of that disappearance? My expectation has met cold hard reality. I told my editor I’d take some time and think about it. In effect what I did was to put the novel away.

Then my editor left the publishing house, which didn’t make it easy for me. I began to wonder: What should I do with this manuscript? I believed Tulip Season was as a good a book as I’d ever written, possibly better, and that it deserved a home. Every so often I’d take out the manuscript and work on it, aware that it was actually becoming more of a mystery novel. To make a long story short, a friend suggested showing it to a small publisher and after some thought I did. To two of them. Both seemed enthusiastic about the book, the fact that it was an unusual mystery novel, and made offers. I accepted one. Happily for me, Tulip Season: A Mitra Basu Mystery is just out in Kindle and Nook formats, with the paperback to be released next week.

What have I learned? That there are other alternatives to a big publisher. That for each book there is a perfect fit and you have to find it. If you’re struggling to find a home for a manuscript, you might do well to consider all possible venues for publishing, one of which is a small independent press.

Note that small presses come in different colors. There are academic presses (such the University of Michigan Press) which do few trade books, but function more like a legacy publisher. There are small but distinguished literary presses (such as Algonquin). Then there are also e-publishers, who might or might not do print books. Check the history of the press and its reputation before you plunge in. Many websites have “Authors beware” type of information.

What are some other differences? You might get little or no advance money, but can often expect a higher percentage of royalty. Your book may not take as long to hit the market, but you may have to forgo pre-publication reviews (such as in Publisher’s Weekly or Kirkus Reviews). You might work more closely with your press, but may have to assume more responsibilities. If predictions of pundits are correct, small presses will play a big role in the industry in future.

*************************

Bharti Kirchner is the prolific author of eight books -- four novels and four cookbooks. Her fifth, a mystery novel Tulip Season: A Mitra Basu Mystery is due out in 2012. Her work has been translated into German, Dutch, Spanish, Marathi, Thai and other languages. Her fourth novel Pastries: A Novel of Desserts and Discoveries (St. Martin’s Press) was selected for the Summer Washington Reads program. Darjeeling (St. Martin’s Press), a third novel, received endorsements from top national authors. Shiva Dancing (Dutton), her first novel, was chosen by Seattle Weekly to be among the top 18 books by Seattle authors in the last 25 years. ("A finely crafted novel," says Publisher’s Weekly. "A fresh literary terrain," says San Francisco Chronicle.) Sharmila’s Book, a second novel, was published by Dutton. (“Smart, swift, and funny,” says Publisher’s Weekly.) You can find Bharti Kirchner at her website (http://www.bhartikirchner.com ) or on Twitter at @bhartikirchner.

When You Get Stuck

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

There comes a point in almost every manuscript where I get a little stuck.

I’m either bogged down by the story itself or by outside forces (i.e.—life).

It’s not writer’s block. It’s just…stalling. Not wanting to move forward, not sure how to move forward. Hesitating.

And I have absolutely no time for it. I handed in a book yesterday and I have a book due (different series) July 1. Hesitation is not part of my game plan.

The most important thing is to diagnose what’s behind the hesitation (in my case, very quickly) and order up a quick prescription. Or an emergency surgery.

First of all, figure out what is making you stuck:

You aren’t sure how to approach the next scene.

You aren’t in the mood to write the next scene.

You aren’t sure how to move forward with your plot.

You can’t seem to get the writing done during the day.

Your house offers too many other options for things to do.

Things I’ve done to treat this hesitation:

1) Change of Location. I’ve:

Written at the library.

Written at a diner way out in the country that had no Wi-Fi (and left my phone in the car.)

Written at the coffeehouse.

Taken my children and a large group of their favorite friends to the bowling alley/the skating rink/the swimming pool. I’ve put dollar bills on the table for everyone’s drinks and snacks and written until they all wanted to leave or were all arguing with each other. :)

2) Change of Story Direction (moving forward…not fixing what I’d written before that point.) I’ve:

Merged two characters into one character.

Added a character.

Killed a character.

Inserted an argument.

Turned one character’s wife into his best friend’s wife.

Changed the method of the murder.

Changed the murderer.

Listed 20 or more ways to approach the next scene. Listed 20 ways to end the story. Listed 20 ways for something unexpected to happen.

3.) Change of process. I’ve:

Skipped the rest of the chapter I was stuck on and kept going.

Written the ending of the book first.

Written the ending and then worked backward from that point.

Written the rest of the book out of order on different Word docs (and, no, I don’t recommend this!)

Written the scene I was in the mood to write (the funny scene, the scary scene, the scene when it all starts making sense to the sleuth.)

4.) Change of schedule. I’ve:

Written before going to bed.

Written when the children came home from school while they were doing their homework.

Gotten up in the middle of the night to write.

Written 1/2 a page at 4 different points during the day.

Set a timer and written for 20 minutes, done housework for 20 minutes, written for 20 minutes, paid bills and organized my desk for 20 minutes, written for 20 minutes, exercised for 20 minutes…

I think we all get stuck sometimes. But we can brainstorm ways to get through it. Maybe it’s better if we expect to be stuck, then we can have a plan in place already.

Do you get stuck sometimes? How do you work through it?

Image—Flickr—IndiepoprockJesse

Why One Traditionally-Published Author is Now Choosing Self-Publishing—by Jessica Park

by Jessica Park, @JessicaPark24

I am an unapologetic fan of self-publishing. Massive, foam finger-waving fan. But, for the record, I realize that it’s not for everyone. Big publishers have obvious distribution and marketing power that authors don’t have. They edit your books, provide covers, and more. Well, sometimes more.

But there are huge downsides: advances are minimal these days, royalty rates are crummy, and we wait a year or more after a book as been accepted to see that book go up for sale.

The money, let’s face it, is often completely crummy. Terrible. Pitifully small amounts dolled out over time and delivered alongside truly incomprehensible royalty statements.

Did I try to sell FLAT-OUT LOVE to a publisher? Yep. For me, there was still something to be said for having a big publishing house stand behind your work, so I thought it was worth seeing what kind of offers I could get. I wanted that New York validation. I wanted to hear, “We want you.”

My agent loved this book and was confident that she could sell it. Editors loved this book, too. But what I heard over and over from publishers were two things: 1. The heroine is eighteen years old and categorically too old for a young adult book, and 2. (I’m not making this up.) There are no vampires. “Realistic fiction” has taken a dive in the market and nobody cares about real people.

Okay, I’m paraphrasing that second one, but that’s the gist of it. Look, I enjoy a good vampire story, too, but that doesn’t mean that… Oh, whatever. Then I had editors from adult divisions saying that, while there was so much to love about the book, and it really “resonated” with them, the heroine is too young for mainstream fiction, and they didn’t know what they could possibly do with my little book. (I had a few ideas about what they could do with the book, but I’ll keep those to myself.)

This all seemed silly to me. Am I the only person to have written a book about a college freshman? It’s such a pivotal time in life. Why is this age so shunned in the publishing industry? Flat-Out Love is a unique story, but very often publishers don’t want unique. They don’t want to take on what they consider to be a “risk.” They want as close to a “guaranteed” bestseller as possible.

So I was annoyed. And really angry. I hate, absolutely HATE having to tout my own book, but the truth was that I knew I had written a very strong book, and I knew that it deserved to be published. The feedback I got from publishers about my book confirmed for me how totally out of touch they were with readers because I knew, absolutely knew, that there would be an audience for my story.

Before I had heard back from more publishers (a girl can only take “I’m head-over-heels for this book but we won’t buy it” so many times), I decided to self-publish. The rejections I’d amassed from pubs were, in almost every way, an enormous relief. I’d felt an obligation, almost, to try for a big New York deal. That was dumb. It was solely an ego thing. I realized that I’d been dreading getting into a relationship with a publisher, and I cared about this book too much to give it away for a next-to-nothing advance and then be forced to wait however long to get it on shelves, where it would then likely be hideously overpriced. I love my agent, and it was a little tough to tell her what I was doing, but I knew that I had to make a business decision. As much as I love her, I couldn’t leave the book with her just because she’s such an awesome person. That would’ve been crazy.

Self-publishing gives you massive control over your own work, which I find incredibly appealing. I get to choose my price and cover, and I can make changes to those and to the text at any point. I’m in charge of everything. I get paid monthly, whereas large publishers pay you (theoretically) every six months, and only after you’ve earned out your advance.

The book has been out for a year now, and I’ve sold over 75,000 copies. I have made more money on this book than I made writing five books for a large publishing house. A lot more. I obviously can’t guarantee these numbers for every self-published book, but even if you sell a fraction of this, you can still earn good money.
I’ve put up one other full-length novel, RELATIVELY FAMOUS, and three e-shorts, and I have zero regrets. Like anything, self-publishing is a learning process, but once you get the hang of it, it’s plenty of fun.

The three most important things to focus on if you go this route are: 1. Get a strong cover. If your book isn’t selling, change it. And then change it again if you want. 2) Price your book smartly. I wouldn’t do anything over $3.99—maybe, maybe $4.99--for an ebook. 3) Pay for a good editor. Or more than one good editor. Don’t put up a totally sloppy book. Even professionally copyedited books have errors, and we’ve all read books published by a huge house that have mistakes. It happens. But you run a much greater risk of errors trying to proofread your own work. I cannot tell you how many times I have read my own book and missed blatant mistakes. You need to get as many people as possible to read you work, including non-professionals (who are great at catching missing words!), because it’s impossible to see typos and such in your own work. I’m sure I still have some. But it’s not a frightful mess.

You’ll be doing your own marketing. Frankly, you’d be doing this anyway (unless, that is, you’re already such a huge success that you can just sit back and watch your sales numbers skyrocket). Bloggers are the powerhouse of reviews these days. I thought that writers were a generous bunch, but even that incredible group is getting a run for their money because book bloggers routinely offer to do whatever they can to promote your book. It’s really amazing. As the population as a whole is learning so much about the book industry (note: See six million articles about Amanda Hocking and Barry Eisler), bloggers and readers are becoming much more open to reviewing and buying self-published ebooks. More often than not, if you ask, bloggers will help and readers will buy.

The market for self-published books is growing, and more and more readers are finding that self-published books are not junk books that were haphazardly uploaded because they weren’t good enough to be traditionally published. Talented, skilled authors are choosing this route and intentionally bypassing the exhausting, often miserable, experience of working for a publisher.

Do I have plans to seek out a New York publisher again? No. Of course, after everything I’ve posted online about them, I can’t imagine that they’d want me anyway. That’s fine. I like working for myself. I have no deadlines, no one to answer to, no nodding and smiling at tragic covers, no wincing when my ebook is priced at $9.99…. None of that.

I am free, I am empowered.

There are some truly wonderful, talented, supportive people who work in publishing. Some authors have great experiences with houses. I can’t, offhand, think of any (Kidding! Kidding! Sort of….) but I’m sure there are some. What I unfortunately hear most often are the ways in which authors are struggling with their publishers, and I have friends who have nearly stopped writing because of what they’ve suffered at the hands of publishers. This is not an exaggeration; it is a painful reality for many authors.

When you sell your book to a publisher, that book is gone. These days, you are unlikely to ever get the rights back, and you will have no control over what they do with it. You may be okay with that, and you may prefer to have someone else in charge of your book. Now that I know what self-publishing can do for me, I’m not vaguely okay with that. I’m happy… ecstatic, actually… to be in such creative control of my work.

I’m writing another novel now, and I realized the other day that had I been contracted for a few books through a publisher, I could not write the story that I’m working on now. This book has stronger language and sexual content that puts it into a different category from Flat-Out Love. I know my readers, I know my audience, I know my market. I know what’s selling. I have a story that I want to tell, and I do not want to be controlled by the constraints of a publisher who in all likelihood would never allow me to stray this far from Flat-Out Love. I’m also working with a small app group and we are building an incredibly innovative enhanced edition of the book that will be loaded with multimedia and interactive and immersive elements. I also couldn’t have done that if I’d been contracted to a publisher.

It’s my book, it’s all mine. And I love that.

Jessica Park is the author of the young adult novel RELATIVELY FAMOUS, five Gourmet Girl mysteries (written as Jessica Conant-Park) , FLAT-OUT LOVE, and the e-shorts FACEBOOKING RICK SPRINGFIELD and WHAT THE KID SAYS (Parts 1 & 2).

Twitterific

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Twitterific is a compilation of all the writing links I shared the previous week.

The links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 15,000 free articles on writing-related topics. Sign up for our free newsletter for monthly writing tips and interviews with top contributors to the WKB or like us on Facebook.

Don't' forget the new release blogfest that Hart Johnson and I are hosting on June 5th—find more information and sign up here. The best entries get signed copies of our new releases.

Have a great week!

Tips for writing about mental illness in your novel: http://bit.ly/Idy7fZ @fantasyfaction

1 writer's process for final edits: http://bit.ly/Ih0UPW @byrozmorris

3 important questions to ask your characters: http://bit.ly/Ih1fSU @livewritethrive

Writing vs. marketing: Those 10,000 hours: http://bit.ly/JBNPD3 @Porter_Anderson

Tips for writing better fiction: http://bit.ly/Ih1kWN @mooderino

6 reasons writers still want publishers: http://bit.ly/I5SZXz @rachellegardner

Tips for writing a synopsis: http://bit.ly/IYHr8r @nicolamorgan

The Importance of Persistence: http://bit.ly/Jlpmlt @thecreativepenn

Most Frequently Challenged Library Books of 2011: http://bit.ly/I5TbWN @galleycat

Study Shows that More People are Reading: http://bit.ly/I5TiSm

A look at common suffixes: http://bit.ly/I5Tz7K @writing_tips

The 10 Bestselling Fiction Authors of All Time: http://bit.ly/I5TBMV @PassiveVoiceBlg

A Strong Take Off? Opening Pages That Hook: http://bit.ly/I5TGQQ @janice_hardy

The basics of POV: http://bit.ly/I5UepK @VirginiaKantra

Sonnet writing tips: http://bit.ly/I5Uk0B @AnnieNeugebauer

Dial DRM for endless debate: http://bit.ly/IGByKL @Porter_Anderson @doctorow @glecharles

Blog tours--tips for finding and querying hosts: http://bit.ly/Ilc9Vj @NickThacker

5 Tips For Writers on Planning Their Con Season: http://bit.ly/I5UmWa @BryanThomasS

When the Dream of Being Published Doesn't Materialize: http://bit.ly/I5UuFi @livewritethrive

3 Things to Know About Exposition & Telling: http://bit.ly/I5UwNp @victoriamixon

10 ways to spark creative connections: http://bit.ly/I5UFQY @cherylrwrites

When to Mail Short Fiction To Traditional Publishers: http://bit.ly/I5UJQM @deanwesleysmith

Groundbreaking Tools for Creating eBooks: http://bit.ly/I5VCZw @janefriedman

Being Subtle With Subtext: http://bit.ly/I5VKIn @StinaLL

5 ways to pace your story: http://bit.ly/I5VXva @KMWeiland

Pushing our manuscript to the next level--1 writer's process: http://bit.ly/I5Wa1E @aswinn

How Committed Are You, Really? http://bit.ly/I5Wmh9

Shape Up Flabby Writing with Stronger Words: http://bit.ly/I5WKwd @2KoP

5 Ways to Enhance Your Facebook Timeline Page With Images: http://bit.ly/I5WWeV @smexaminer

Questions to ask yourself when reading your book's 1st 5 pages: http://bit.ly/I5X9yB @4kidlit

Characters Must Grow: http://bit.ly/I5Xem8 @AdriennedeWolfe

Crime fiction--when to produce the body: http://bit.ly/I5XvW9 @mkinberg

How To Dish Out Backstory In Digestible Bites: http://bit.ly/IJLcvg @roniloren

How to Get More Blog Traffic from Pinterest: http://bit.ly/IJLfHo @catseyewriter

The Importance of Persistence: http://bit.ly/Jlpmlt @thecreativepenn

Jodi Picoult and the Myth of the Segregated Marketplace: http://bit.ly/Iz50lL @DavidGaughran

The Writing Life: Fear, Want, Dissatisfaction, Defiance: http://bit.ly/Iz53OC @DavidBCoe

Portraying a multiple individual: http://bit.ly/Iz5bh1 @JulietteWade

2 kinds of new agents: http://bit.ly/Iz5ecI @behlerpublish

The wordplay and music of poetry: http://bit.ly/Iz5g4e @diymfa

Avoid Overactive or Inactive Characters & Subplots: http://bit.ly/Iz5mJ8 @writersdigest

Self-Publishing and Paperbacks — Is Print Still Worth It? http://bit.ly/Iz5o3R @goblinwriter

10 Ways to Spark Creative Connections: http://bit.ly/Iz9id0 @cherylrwrites

Ways to amplify your writer's voice: http://bit.ly/Iz9zws

Are Self-Published Authors Happier Than Traditionally Published Authors? http://bit.ly/Iz9B7s @thecreativepenn

The 3 top monster stories and what keeps them popular in the 21st century: http://bit.ly/Iz9NUt @tordotcom

Book Design: Choosing Your Paragraphing Style: http://bit.ly/Iza4GX @jfbookman

Daring to be an original--voice: http://bit.ly/IzabCc @kristenlambTX

What to Do When You Offend or Disappoint a Reader: http://bit.ly/IzalcK @jodyhedlund

Better Bend Than Break: On Staying Flexible: http://bit.ly/IzbrFs @DelilahSDawson @janice_hardy

5 Ways to Fix a Boring Bio: http://bit.ly/IzbzEV @KeithCronin

The artistic product: http://bit.ly/IsRSOK @Ravenrequiem13

The Secret to Your Next Creative Breakthrough: http://bit.ly/J5G8PI @jeffgoins

5 rules 1 writer lives by: http://bit.ly/J5Gben @mooderino

How Amazon is redefining the book market: http://bit.ly/HXeiqU @InsideRetailau

The Atlantic's List of Greatest Girl Characters in Literature: Really? http://bit.ly/HXeztV @tordotcom @mari_ness

An agent discusses the learning experience of being an intern: http://bit.ly/HXeLt5 @bookendsjessica

Writing lessons learned from "Shatter Me": http://bit.ly/HXeSFa @juliemusil @TaherehMafi

How Authors Should Use Tumblr, A 5-Step Guide: http://bit.ly/HXf07F @galleycat @RachelFersh

Listing and Quoting on GoodReads: http://bit.ly/HXfgmZ @blurbisaverb

Does your story have something new under the hood? http://bit.ly/HXfive @behlerpublish

Worldbuilding--manners: http://bit.ly/IvD5D9 @JulietteWade

Tips for pacing your novel: http://bit.ly/IvFjlU @Mommy_Authors

Retail DRM Is an Apple. Library DRM Is an Orange. http://bit.ly/Ihhzpo @ShiftTheDigital

Why you should have comments, even when they're bad: http://bit.ly/IvFttq @mathewi

Finding People to Read, Review and Recommend Your Book: http://bit.ly/IvGbXM @JFBookman

6 reasons authors self-publish: http://bit.ly/IvGQIE @rachellegardner

Dual duties of chapter endings: http://bit.ly/IvH7eG @noveleditor

5 Words Caught in Semantic Drift: http://bit.ly/IvHQfT @writing_tips

True Fans and Indie Publishing: http://bit.ly/IvI3zJ @jenniecoughlin

Sorting Out the Mess of a Chaotic Book Draft: http://bit.ly/IyW6nX @originalimpulse

The Rejection Generator – Pay Your Dues Fast: http://bit.ly/IyWenG @PassiveVoiceBlg

Post-Publication Depression? The Months after a Book Release: http://bit.ly/IyWsLj @womenwriters @authormonica

Are eBooks Really Good For The Environment? http://bit.ly/IyWFhQ @ebooknewser

When Literary Opposites Attract: http://bit.ly/IyX43B @NewDorkReview

25 reasons 1 writer might hate your main character: http://bit.ly/I6ng99 @ChuckWendig

Lee Child: Legendary Late Bloomer: http://bit.ly/HYoNtV @DebraEve

10 Lies You Might Tell Yourself While Editing: http://bit.ly/I6nFZc @elspethwrites

Publicity or spam? http://bit.ly/JT8GNE @nicolamorgan

Freelance Success Is About Process, Not Personality: http://bit.ly/I9eGoT @JaneFriedman @wellfedwriter

The process of agents submitting manuscripts: http://bit.ly/I9eW7f @SaraMegibow

Dualing with words--action & dialogue: http://bit.ly/I9fdai @kaath09

10 ways to spark creative connections: http://bit.ly/I5UFQY @cherylrwrites

Tips for writing & receiving testimonials: http://bit.ly/JDsI1o @beth_barany

The Art of Collaboration in Writing: http://bit.ly/JDsYNV @mistymassey

Conferences--Where The Editors and Agents Are: http://bit.ly/JDt3B8 @jhansenwrites

Start with Failure: The Advice No Aspiring Writer Ever Wants to Hear: http://bit.ly/JDt8F6 @HilaryGraham @4kidlit

What 1 SF writer learned from watching Star Trek: http://bit.ly/JDtuLO @piperbayard @NicoleBasaraba

Unusual historical settings as story inspiration--Isle of Dystopia: http://bit.ly/HZOr1B @GeneLempp

Research--why you should start at the library: http://bit.ly/HZOE4H @EV_Mag

Plotting is Like a Jigsaw Puzzle: http://bit.ly/HZOMkP @fictionnotes

Creative Writing vs Professional Writing: http://bit.ly/HZOWc2 @greyhausagency

Exploding Myths & Destroying Minds: http://bit.ly/HZOZo2 @davidgaughran

Biographical Information in a Query: http://bit.ly/HZP9vI @Kid_Lit

Top 1,000 Best Romance Novels: http://bit.ly/HZPgrb

Writing is an illusion: http://bit.ly/HZPFtF @megmims @Ravenrequiem13

Are eBook Authors Unwittingly Losing Sales? http://bit.ly/J9qram

Some reactions to Tor's DRM-free announcement: http://bit.ly/J9rLKk @robotech_master

3 tips for developing and using a media kit: http://bit.ly/J9sOdk @duolit

Poetry.com Returns: http://bit.ly/J9v7gr @victoriastrauss

Facebook or Twitter, Which Is Better for Book Promotion? http://bit.ly/J9v9oo @goblinwriter

The Poetic Process: http://bit.ly/J9vk39 @diymfa

How freelancers and other writers can use Pinterest: http://bit.ly/J9vyHo @michellerafter

Why The Elements of Style Breaks Its Own Rules…and Why You Should Too: http://bit.ly/J9vAPM @readingape

Professional Editors: The Smart Writer's #1 Competitive Advantage: http://bit.ly/Ilk58P @thecreativepenn @mattgartland

Believable fantasy character design: http://bit.ly/IlkoAu @BenGalley

5 Things Songwriters Can Do To Move Their Careers Forward: http://bit.ly/IlkGYk @cliffgoldmacher

8 Tips to Keep From Going Batty as You Launch Your Writing Career: http://bit.ly/Iq8Z1u @SamuelPark_ @annerallen

The Role(s) of Reversal in Fiction: http://bit.ly/Iq9dWt @BTMargins @lgreffenius

Blog touring--write great guest posts by keeping your stories about your stories: http://bit.ly/Iq9mJn @byRozMorris

Story Structure--2nd Half of the 2nd Act: http://bit.ly/Iq9skj @KMWeiland

What 1 writer has learned about writing a novel: http://bit.ly/Iq9ybz @sarahpekkanen

Inside Amazon's Idea Machine: How Bezos Decodes The Customer: http://onforb.es/Iq9Ij8 @GeorgeAnders

A Bit of Controversy in Your Platform? http://bit.ly/Iqa9di @THahnBurkett

A Quiz About Hyphenating Phrasal Adjectives: http://bit.ly/IGyXQY @writing_tips

Writing is a crazy profession. But you can take control over your stress: http://bit.ly/IGzdzw @sarahahoyt

The New World of Publishing: No Balance: http://bit.ly/IGzhPI @deanwesleysmith

Using archaeology, myth, & mysteries for writing inspiration--fairy chimneys: http://bit.ly/IGzuSR @genelempp

3 things you should know about your story: http://bit.ly/IGzGBJ

Defining a scene and its length: http://bit.ly/IGzKkQ @livewritethrive

Writing & Publishing Terminology 101: http://bit.ly/IGzORO @janefriedman

Stretching emotions in category romance: http://bit.ly/IGzYsk @Louisa_George

Show Your Setting through the POV Character's Eyes: http://bit.ly/IGAgzp @JodieRennerEd

Tips for genre blending: http://bit.ly/IGAC99 @storyfix

Springtime for Amazon? Positive stories on the retailer: http://bit.ly/Ie7kCv @ljndawson @Porter_Anderson @jwikert @brianoleary @gluejar

Writing vs. marketing: Those 10,000 hours: http://bit.ly/JBNPD3 @Porter_Anderson

Freelance Success Is About Process, Not Personality: http://bit.ly/I9eGoT @JaneFriedman @wellfedwriter

Does your story have something new under the hood? http://bit.ly/HXfive @behlerpublish

The process of agents submitting manuscripts: http://bit.ly/I9eW7f @SaraMegibow

The Rejection Generator – Pay Your Dues Fast: http://bit.ly/IyWenG @PassiveVoiceBlg

Plotting is Like a Jigsaw Puzzle: http://bit.ly/HZOMkP @fictionnotes

3 Dos and 3 Don'ts of Requesting Book Reviews: http://bit.ly/IeElei @duolit

How to Cure your Comma Overuse: http://bit.ly/IeErCw @fantasyfaction

Why every man MUST read a romance – and every woman a thriller: http://bit.ly/IeEG0C @speechwriterguy

Worldbuilding--manners: http://bit.ly/IvD5D9 @JulietteWade

How to Give Your Book Cover a Better First Impression: http://bit.ly/IhRB3a @TweetTheBook

A look at Young Adult Fiction: http://bit.ly/IhRGUC @NicoleBasaraba @julie_glover

Believable fantasy character design: http://bit.ly/IlkoAu @BenGalley

An Agent on Adjusting Expectations for Conferences and Critiques: http://bit.ly/IzhNCj @Kid_Lit

Is Your Character Talking the Talk Instead of Walking the Walk? http://bit.ly/IzhRSq @KMWeiland

The "It" Factor for your Protagonist: http://bit.ly/IzhZRS

Figuring Out Your Writing Style: http://bit.ly/IfpQcM @danyelleleafty

Don't Kill ‘Said Bookisms’ On-Sight--by Chihuahua Zero

by Chihuahua Zero, @chihuahuazero

Pick any ten writing blogs in the writing blogosphere, and I bet nine of them will say: "don't use said-bookism!"

This is understandable. Excessive amounts of dialogue tags besides said and asked are often syndromes of an amateur. Pull up a random fan-fiction, and it's likely there's a dialogue tag like laughed or quipped or even the infamous ejaculated.

These types of words pop out and are clunky to the point of being distracting.

However...

Counter-Examples:

...like the good old "show, not tell" rule, the "don't use said-bookism rule'" isn't in effect 100% of the time. Or even 80%.

For instance, I used the Nicolas Flamel series as an example in one of my posts on dialogue tags. While it used the word murmured one too many times, it's still a good series that has a decent amount of popularity. And despite its the almost total absence of dialogue tags, The Chronicle of Vladimir Tod slips some by when there are.

The Book Thief? I spotted a few mentions here and there.

Harry Potter? Slughorn ejaculated at Snape. Really.

Acceptable Uses:

Despite what advice you receive, you can say said-bookisms aren't as poisonous as you might have presumed them to be. Sure, it's lazy and overly colorful if you use a handful of them in one chapter, but or two don't spoil the entire bunch.

You can argue that "just because many works use it, doesn't mean it's good", but I don't think it applies here. Said-bookisms are mostly a mechanical element. They're not lazy plot device or cardboard characters. They're only a link in a long, fictional chain.

There are some cases some borderline said-bookisms that can work. It's safe to use shouted and whispered, to the point they're accepted alongside said/ask. They're volume indicators.

Some said-bookisms are awkward (like laughed and smiled), while there are some other sound tags that work based on context. For example, bark. Can a person bark a sentence? If you stretch the definition. Can you also howl, rasp, and bray? Your mileage may vary.

And in specific cases, like explained, admonished, and quipped:

I'm guilty of overusing "explained.” "Explained" are among the words that I tend to overuse, and will certainly be on my edit list. But I think other writers had that same compelling feeling to add it in, and decided to keep them in.
I actually saw "admonished" in an old collaboration project. I wanted to delete it due to being wordy, but they voted to keep it. They said that it elaborated the sentences meaning, even though it's just a fancy word for "friendly explanation.” Thoughts.
"Quipped?” Get back on me about that.

Why You Need to Know This:

The point is that like any type of story mechanic, said-bookisms aren't 100% bad. They can be (and often are) misused and overused, but their presence doesn't condemn a work.

One reason why it's important to know this because over-thinking this can spoil your enjoyment of reading. It's good to keep a critic's mind open when reading, but for a few months, my mind kept seizing onto these words that my mind has long glazed over before several blogs pointed out that they were "bad.”

It wasn't until I read a couple of fantastic works my mind dropped this peeve and filtered them.

So, put down that gun, and worry about something else.

Chihuahua is a young, aspiring writer who loves writing, reading, music, Chihuahuas and dark chocolate. CO can be found at Thoughts of a Young Aspiring Writer.

Blog Image—Flickr-By krazydad / jbum

The One Thing You Should Do to Sell More Books—by Nick Thacker

by Nick Thacker, @NickThacker

Twitter, social media platforms, Facebook pages, Google+, Pinterest, in-store signings, KDP Select, etc. All of these things are great innovations for authors, and can certainly help you get your books in the hands of more readers, but there's only so much you can do.

· After you've built the coolest Facebook page in the world, you have to tell people about it.

· After you've scheduled a million tweets promoting your new follow-up guide to your main character's life, you have to tell people to retweet it.

· And after you've booked a solid month of in-store signings, bookstore visits, and airplane kiosk drop-ins, you need to tell people about it.

As you can see, if there's one thing all of these promotions have in common, it's that they only work IF you can figure out how to tell people about them!

The catch-22 of it all is that self-promotion is supposed to be ABOUT telling people what you're up to!

So what can you do to guarantee that you'll get in front of hundreds—or thousands—of potential buyers?

I could say write, but I think that's obvious. J.A. Konrath writes a lot about the fact that he’s so successful is because he has a large backlist of books available.

Instead, I'll say write for other people.

As in write guest posts.

You may have come across a blog or website that featured an article written by someone other than the owner of that site (like this post!)--this is an example of a guest post.

The benefits of having your work posted on another site are many. First, you're getting exposure—for free. You're able to send targeted, ready-to-buy leads directly to your site, or your book's sales page. You can start conversations with people whom you may never have had the chance to meet, and you'll be able to extend your reach through this leverage.

I'm currently on a guest-posting binge, and I call it my "blog tour." These days, you can pay someone else to plan and run a blog tour for you, but I think most of the hard stuff can done on your own. I've identified the main concepts behind blog tours, especially as they relate to authors. Feel free to add in your own ideas:

1. Figure out what your "niche" is. If you're a fiction writer, this can be tricky—the people who read vampire dramas aren't always the same people who frequent paranormal websites. Identify some target markets that coincide with some of the subject matter of your book, and see if you can write a few posts in that niche.

2. Write a lot. Obviously, you're going to need to have a lot of content ready to go when you start the tour. If you can, start writing immediately--there's not really a limit to how many posts you can run, but I do recommend trying to shoot for at least 10-15 posts, each on different sites.

3. Start planning early. When I started my tour, I prepared a spreadsheet of the target blogs and websites I'd like to see my post on, and then identified the ways I needed to reach out to the bloggers. Also, I planned some good post headlines so I wouldn't need to write the post and decide on a topic at the same time.

4. Go for broke. Don't settle for small, silent blogs that are so desperate for content they'll bend over backwards to have you visit. It's great to help out the little guys, but it's even better when it's mutually beneficial. Try to "target" blogs that have a decent amount of activity—a few comments on each post, a regular posting schedule, etc.

5. Make sure you have time to continue writing your books. You're probably not in it to be the next great blogger—you're just using your blog platform and guest posting to reach out to people and build your author brand. Give yourself space to continue writing the stuff you love.

So, how do you find the blogs that you’ll be guest posting on?

· First, look through your RSS reader for those blogs you currently read. Don’t be picky, either. There’s a good chance that since you read that blog, it’s a good fit for the audience you’re trying to attract to your writing.

· Next, look on the blogs to see if there are guest posters. You’ll usually see this at the top or bottom of the post. It’ll say something like, “This is a guest post by…” These sites are great to write for, since they’ve already established that they accept guest posts.

· Then what you’ll want to do is single out the blogs that have posted guidelines for guest posts. These are the easiest to approach, since they’re comfortable with guest posters already, and are most likely used to unsolicited guest post submissions.

When you have a list of some great blogs, start pitching. Here’s what a pitch for a guest post might look like for you:

“Hi there!

I’m a huge fan of your site—been reading it for years, actually.

I’m trying to promote my next book, and I was wondering if you’d accept a guest post from me? I have one that I think would match your target audience perfectly, called, “[blog post title idea]”. Let me know what you think!

[Your name]”

Change it to your liking, but be sure to:

1. Thank the blogger for their hard work on building an awesome blog.

2. Be concise. Don’t waste their time with links to your book, your background, etc. Just pitch and win!

3. Add some information about the post. If they want the entire post, send it in the format they prefer. If not, give them an idea for a title that would fit in well.

Last, but not least.

Finally, don't give up. I've built a few blogs over the years, and every time I've gotten discouraged from writing so many posts that no one seemed to be reading, I'd give up. Now, my blog is getting some decent readership and it doesn't seem to be slowing down.

The difference this time, I won’t quit. I've pushed through the initial phase of slow growth, and I think if I stick with it, people will start to notice. If you take the same approach, and consistently add value to your readers' lives, you'll start to build a platform as well!

What do you think? Having a blog can certainly be a headache when you've got so much else to focus on as a writer, but it can also be a huge blessing—publishing companies are looking for authors who've started to build their own platforms now, and if you can do it well, you might just have a book deal on your hands!

Nick Thacker is a blogger, writer, and author of fiction thriller novels . He likes to “hack” his life, and help people to get more done and write better . You can subscribe to his mailing list here .

Post Image: 401k/Flickr

Platform Building for Writers—Getting Started

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Starting out with book promotion can seem like a tremendous undertaking. And it is. But the important thing to know is that anything you can do online to promote your book or create a presence for yourself online is going to help you sell books.

For tips on starting out with platform building (the very basics…some of which I’ve seen established writers forget to cover), please join me at Barbara Hightower’s blog, Author Services at the Bistro.