Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 53

March 28, 2020

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 50,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.

Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here.

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on March 28, 2020 21:01

March 22, 2020

Bibliomysteries—Educating Readers in a Fun Way

By Libby Ware and Charlene Ball, aka Lily Charles

A bibliomystery is a mystery where books are involved. The stories can take place in bookstores, libraries, auctions, or old houses, and can involve books, manuscripts, or scrolls. Some bibliomysteries center on books while others have a bookish setting only. Some are centered on murder, others on researching a paper trail regarding an author or manuscript.

We both love reading mysteries and especially bibliomysteries. Her are some of our favorites:

Possession, by A. S. Byatt, involves literary research by two twentieth century scholars who are trying to uncover the truth about a nineteenth century British poet.
The Bookman’s Tale; First Impressions: A Novel of Old Books, Unexpected Love, and Jane Austen; and The Lost Book of the Grail, by Charlie Lovett, are mysteries involving manuscripts. Their protagonists are researchers or booksellers.
The Cliff Janeway series by John Dunning stars an ex-police officer who opens a used bookstore. The first is Booked to Die. Each book features a valuable book or books and Cliff Janeway’s search for the book and the culprit.
Camino Island, by John Grisham, is about theft from the Princeton Rare Books Library and an antiquarian book dealer in Florida. Grisham has written a follow-up book, Camino Winds, which will be published this year.
The Booktown Mystery series by Lorna Barrett is set in a booktown in New Hampshire. Tricia Miles owns Haven’t Got a Clue, a mystery bookshop, and has a habit of finding dead bodies.
The Secret, Book, and Scone Society series by Ellery Adams features Nora Pennington, who owns a bookstore in a small North Carolina village. She uses books as therapy by picking out books that her customers will benefit from. (Ellery Adams has also written other series, for example, the Books on Bay series.)

When we told a bookseller friend that we were writing a bibliomystery, she got excited and said, “My favorite part of bibliomysteries is that I learn something.” In our Molly and Emma Bookseller series, we concentrate on one category of books in each novel. Murder at the Estate Sale is about a secret occult library and a missing 17th century manuscript of magic spells. We are currently working on Murder at the Book Fair, which will focus on Children’s and Illustrated Classics.

Molly and Emma are antiquarian book dealers, and since they frequently travel to book fairs to sell their wares, each book will take place in a different setting. Emma is newer to the bookselling world so Molly serves as a sort of mentor to her, so that readers can learn about the arcane world of antiquarian bookselling through their conversations.

We want to introduce our readers in a fun way to the world of bookselling and to different types of collectible books. In Murder at the Estate Sale, for example, right under each chapter title is a brief bookseller’s description of a different collectible occult book. We got the idea from Lea Wait and her Antique Print mystery series in which she has a description of a collectible print under each chapter title.

We hope that, as our readers pursue murders, kidnappings, thefts, and chasing unsavory characters, they will also have fun learning about rare book dealers, manuscripts, book fairs, and the fascinating world of vintage books.

Charlene Ball and Libby Ware. Photographer Amy Gibbons

Lily Charles is the pen name of Charlene Ball and Libby Ware. Under the name Toadlily Books, they sell antiquarian and collectible books. Charlene and Libby married in 2016 and live about a mile from each other in Atlanta. Find them at lilycharles.com

Charlene Ball is also the author of DARK LADY: A NOVEL OF EMILIA BASSANO LANYER (She Writes Press, 2017), winner of the Sarton Award from Story Circle. She has published short stories and articles in academic and literary journals. Until 2009, she worked as a college administrator and instructor.

Libby Ware is a member of Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and president of Georgia Antiquarian Booksellers Association. She is a fellow of The Hambidge Center for Creative Arts and Sciences. Her debut novel, LUM, won the American Library Association’s Stonewall Honor Book in Literature, a gold medal by the Independent Publishers Association, and was a finalist for Lambda Literary’s Debut Novel Award.

Tips for Writing Bibliomysteries by Lily Charles:
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Published on March 22, 2020 23:02

March 21, 2020

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Business / Miscellaneous

For Publishers and Nonprofits Facing Cancellation, https://t.co/1xgCklUkaP Offers Services Free: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Should I Use A Sensitivity Reader? @helpfulsnowman
No Sales or Lackluster Sales: It Isn't the Reader, It's the Book…Really: @KristenLambTX
Planes, Readings, and Mayhem: 1 Writer's Year on the Road: @Gabino_Iglesias @LitReactor
How to Create a Business Plan for Your Indie Author Business: @miblart @IndieAuthorALLI
How much does it cost to self-publish a book? @BookDesignBook
Why Do Writers Hire Book Coaches? @jennienash @JaneFriedman
Posting reviews when you're a writer: @Janet_Reid
Will the Coronavirus Hurt Book Sales? @MichaelLaRonn

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

Attend the Free SelfPubCon: @AngelaAckerman
IPA and Norwegian Publishers Association Cancel Lillehammer's World Congress: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Jacks Thomas Leaves the UK's Reed Exhibitions and London Book Fair: @Porter_Anderson @jacksthomas @LondonBookFair @pubperspectives
British Book Awards: Ceremony Postponed, Some Winners Announced: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
BookExpo Moves to July in New York City: Coronavirus Update: @Porter_Anderson
Books that were to be presented at London Book Fair: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting

5 Places to Keep Goals … and 2 Places you Shouldn't: @DebraEckerling

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

Best-selling children’s author Mo Willems on sparking creativity and joy: @The_Pigeon @paulsolman
3 Life-Changing Rules for Finding More Writing Inspiration: @KMWeiland

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

8 Stories About What Really Happens on Campus: @ElectricLit @carolinezancan
A Beginner's Guide to African Crime Fiction: @detectivekubu @CrimeReads
Your coronavirus reading list: reader suggestions to bring joy in difficult times: @GuardianBooks
7 Biographies That Are Secretly Memoirs: @jennshapland @ElectricLit
8 True Crime Podcasts to Listen To in 2020: by Lizzy Steiner @CrimeReads
12 Books About Pandemics: @ElectricLit
Italy's Answer to Coronavirus is a Classic Published Almost 200 Years Ago: @alessioperrone @lithub
Sometimes You Need a Book To Just Make You Laugh: A Reading List: @TheNormanNation @lithub
5 Pandemic Books to Enjoy During Self-Isolation: by Tom Ashford @SelfPubForm

Creativity and Inspiration / Motivation

Getting Serious About Your Writing Career: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthors

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing

Making Time To Write: @evmysterywriter @killzoneauthors
You Might Be Scheduling Your Writing Time All Wrong: @MegDowell
The Key to a Writer’s Productivity: Just Say No: @PaulaSMunier @CareerAuthors
“Done vs Good: What I’ve learned so far about getting unstuck”: @nancy_reddy @pankmagazine

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing Quickly

How To Focus And Be Indistractable: @nireyal @thecreativepenn
“Why I’m Not Tracking My Writing Progress Anymore”: @MegDowell

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

Going to Dinner with Your Troll, and Other Tales of Writing Gone Viral: @cmaum @lithub
When You Fear What Others Think: @10minnovelist
Why a Writer Suffers Jaw Pain and How to Fix It: by Ken Marshall @colleen_m_story
26 Things to Remember About Being a Writer: @EdieMelson
11 Library Hacks for Riding Out the Coronavirus: @EveryLibrary
How to Build Your Best Writing Life in 2020: @kristen_kieffer
When hope is hard to find: @hmgardner @TheIWSG
Spring Cleaning for Writers:
5 Tips for Creating a Relaxing Writing Space: by Heather Viera @DIYMFA
10 Lessons from a Decade of Writing: @MBjorkWrites
Writers, Sometimes We Just Need to Admit We Can’t Do It All: @bethvogt @EdieMelson
The New Story Idea You Never Asked to Meet: @MegDowell
Writing Tips In Perspective: @caridubiel
How Italian booklovers are coping in the coronavirus lockdown: @MassimoCarlotto @GuardianBooks
COVID-19: A Writer's Guide to Self-Care: @MBjorkWrites
Margaret Heffernan on These ‘Uncharted' Days of Coronavirus Pandemic: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
“My book comes out next year. Do I even believe in next year?” @lillydancyger @ElectricLit
6 Steps to Setting Yourself up Financially as a Writer in 2020: @sacha_black
Do You Really Want to Be a Writer? @jimdempsey @WriterUnboxed
9 Places To Meet Fellow Authors (And How To Connect Once You Do) : by Rebecca Langley @standoutbooks
Tips for Working From Home: @PenPaperPad

Genres / Fantasy

Five Common Masquerade Explanations and Why They’re Bad: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants
Six Military Blunders in Speculative Fiction: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants
Pro tips for writing and publishing speculative fiction: by Jack Smith @kijjohnson @Janice_Hardy @LindaNagata @TheWriterMag
How Can I Put Swords in a High Tech World? by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants

Genres / Horror

Six Works of Meta-Horror That Break All the Rules: by Sam Reader @TorNightfire

Genres / Miscellaneous

Crossing Genres: A Wild Writing Path: @kathieshoop @WomenWriters

Genres / Mystery

Are Small Town Mysteries Comforting Fictions—or Terrifyingly Relevant? @amykgreen @CrimeReads

Genres / Poetry

A Primer on Speculative Poetry: @BlueTeaEditing @wvancamp

Genres / Screenwriting

Writing The Perfect Hallmark Holiday Romantic Comedy Movie: by Mark Sevi @CreativeScreen

Genres / Young Adult

Awesome Tropes in YA Fiction: @_HannahHeath

Promo / Book Descriptions and Copywriting

Writing A Book Blurb In 4 Easy Steps: @KMAllan_writer

Promo / Miscellaneous

BookBub Reviews Offer an Alternative to Goodreads and Amazon: @annerallen
Social Distancing: The Perfect Time for Digital Outreach: by Sue Campbell

Promo / Social Media Tips

The Essentials of Your Goodreads Author Page: @mindofkyleam @ProWritingAid
Social media doesn't sell books, but… @DanBlank
How to Get More LinkedIn Engagement and Clicks: by Robert Brill @SMExaminer

Promo / Speaking

How Writers Can Craft an Ending for Their Presentation: @YvonneOrtega1 @EdieMelson

Publishing / Miscellaneous

The 3 Levels of Trust in Publishing: @johnpwriter
Publishing's Workforce: Early Shifts to Remote Operations in the Coronavirus Pandemic: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Coronavirus: Macmillan and PRH Ease Library Digital Book Availability: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Coronavirus: Amazon Temporarily Deprioritizes Books and More: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Turkey's ITEF Calls for Fellows; Ferrante Audio Rights Go to PRH: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Coronavirus Has Ground Chinese Publishing to a Halt: by Na Zhong @lithub
Coronavirus: International Publishers Make COVID-19 Research Content Freely Available: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @AmericanPublish
Coronavirus: Sharjah's World Book Capital Ceremony Cancels, as Does Canada's Tech Forum: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Coronavirus: Spanish and Italian Book Industries Sound the Alarm: @Porter_Anderson

Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing

What is Indie Publishing? And How to Get Started in 2020: @ReedsyHQ

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying

10 Things Literary Agents Look For in an Author: @bookendslit @jmcgowanbks
What does it mean when an editor or agent says your manuscript is “quiet?” @TracyMarchini @bookendslit

Writing Craft / Beginnings

5 Common Story Openings to Avoid—If You Can Help It: @JaneFriedman
Middle Grade Critique: @Kid_Lit

Writing Craft / Common Mistakes

The reader should generally know what your narrator knows: @NathanBransford

Writing Craft / Conflict

Creating Conflict in Your Story: @KarenCV

Writing Craft / Drafts

The Freedom of Writing Without Chapters: @Janice_Hardy

Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film

Believe, Care, Invest: Sethe and Others in Toni Morrison’s “Beloved”: @CockeyedCaravan
Believe, Care, Invest: Rahel in Arundhati Roy’s “The God of Small Things”: @CockeyedCaravan
How Edith Wharton's Novel of New York High Society Speaks to Class Divisions Today: @Egangoonsquad @lithub

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

The Coronavirus and the Crisis Novel: by Mark Alpert @killzoneauthors
Pandemic and Pandemonium: Sickness in Horror: by T.L. Bodine
The Subjective Mood: @AdamOPrice @The_Millions

Writing Craft / POV

Tips for Writing Multi-POV Novels with Distinct Voices: @katelizabee @WomenWriters

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

Additional Reading on the Theme of Man and the Natural World: @Sara_HeartStory @DIYMFA
What makes a plot intriguing? 6 ideas: @nownovel

Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar

Capitalizing Disease Names: Why Ebola Is Capitalized and Coronavirus Is Not: @GrammarGirl

Writing Craft / Subtext

Context, Text, Subtext: Understand How Each Works in Storytelling: @SeptCFawkes

Writing Craft / Tension

How to Build Tension in a Scene: 3 Nail-Biting Ways: @suelarkinsweems @write_practice

Writing Craft / Voice

How To Find Your Writer's Voice: @Bang2write

Writing Craft / World-Building

Worldbuilding in the Story Grid Methodology: by Victoria R. Girmonde @StoryGrid
Dive into Worldbuilding: Managing Spaces: @JulietteWade
Worldbuilding: Productivity in Your Society: @JulietteWade

Writing Tools / Apps

Best Book Transcription Services for Authors: @DaveChesson

Uncategorized

Be like Emily:
Social-distancing may prove good for book sales:
Tips from an expert on participating in virtual book events:

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on March 21, 2020 21:02

March 15, 2020

Spring Cleaning for Writers

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

It's spring (or very close to it) …and time for my yearly spring cleaning. I've never been an enthusiastic cook, but I have been a fairly enthusiastic cleaner. Somehow it helps clear my head. And, with all the emphasis on hand-washing and sterilizing stuff lately, this couldn't come at a better time.

But it's not only closets and cabinets and surfaces that get the spring cleaning treatment at my house: it's also my computer and writing-related items.

Website Updates: This doesn't have to take long. I like to make sure that my social media links aren't broken, that my bio doesn't need updating, and that my sidebars, header, and footer are in good shape. Is your news/events page updated (this is one that's frequently neglected). It's also a good time to make sure your site includes all the recommended basics for writers. See this article by Gill Andrews for Anne R. Allen to make sure you're not making these 5 common mistakes.

Social Media and Amazon Author Page Profiles: This is another area where I make sure my bio is updated. I like to run a quick check on my privacy settings (especially on Facebook, which always seems bent on invading them). It's also good to review which apps are accessing my accounts. Are all my books linked to on my Amazon Author Central page? Am I still happy with the book descriptions on my book pages? How do the editorial reviews look now–should I add any positive reviews?

Email Inbox : This is one of those areas where I could spend an entire morning cleaning up, so I make sure I have a plan and a timer before I start. I take a look at my newsletter subscriptions and unsubscribe to any I've not been opening . I look up specific senders and delete everything from those particular groups or people. I also check to see if I should set up more filters to help make my email more efficient.

Back Up Documents, Covers, and Other Important Files: We've all heard disaster stories. If you don't back up regularly, do it now while you're thinking about it. Even better, set up a system for the future. It could be as simple as emailing files to yourself. Or you could invest in an automatic backup if you'd like to set it up and forget about it.

Organize Files: For more info on how I take care of this task, see this post I wrote last year. If I don't stay on top of this process, I end up with a confusing mess on my computer of early-stage cover drafts, older and un-updated mobis and epubs, and drafts of everything from translations to outlines.

Newsletters: Take a look at your subscribers and consider weeding out readers who have never opened your emails. This is also a good time to check for duplicate subscribers.

Are your business cards updated?

Are you a spring cleaning nut like me? What kinds of things do you do to keep organized and decluttered?

Spring Cleaning for Writers:
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Published on March 15, 2020 21:01

March 14, 2020

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Business / Miscellaneous

Do this before you promote your next book: @JustKindleBooks @womenonwriting
Aid Your Editor: Five Tips: @mrs_hanni @DIYMFA
How much money do writers earn when they write? @pubcoach

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

Coronavirus: ReedPop Postpones ‘Emerald City'; S&S Exits Bologna; Abu Dhabi Postpones; SXSW Cancels: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Coronavirus: The Brussels Book Fair Is Open for Business: @oliviasnaije @pubperspectives
Coronavirus: CAMEO Awards Canceled; Sharjah Children's Festival Is Off; PublisHer Misses Its Anniversary: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
International Publishers Association Names 2020 Prix Voltaire Shortlist: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Coronavirus: PRH Worldwide Exits Bologna; Amazon NYC To Work at Home; Hay Festival Wales Still On: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
London Book Fair Announces Its 2020 International Excellence Award Winners: @Porter_Anderson
Publishing Scotland: 10 Newly Named International Publishing Fellows: @Porter_Anderson @PublishScotland @pubperspectives
Coronavirus: Madrid Fair Moves to October: BISG and Bogota Postpone – Events Updates, March 13: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting

What’s Missing from Your Goal Achievement Toolbox? @MichaelHyatt

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

Five Fantasy Multiverses: @AKLarkwood @tordotcom
The 20 Most Anticipated Horror Books of 2020: @GiveMeYourTeeth @LitReactor
25 Classic Crime Books You Can Read in an Afternoon: @DwyerMurphy @CrimeReads
The Lure of the Boarding School Mystery: @thrillerchick @CrimeReads
A Brief History of Strong Women in Mystery: @CharlesToddBks @CrimeReads
Top 10 books about toxic masculinity: @anibkatz @GuardianBooks
15 Great Books That Speak to the Lives of Middle-Aged Women: @adacalhoun @lithub

Creativity and Inspiration / Miscellaneous

On the Mathematical Problem of Human Creativity: @Kit_Yates_Maths @lithub

Creativity and Inspiration / Motivation

How to Make It Through the Middle of Your Book: @colleen_m_story

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing

Getting Back On The Writing Track After a Break: @KMAllan_writer

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

The Myth of Author Multitasking: @JudithBriles @JFbookman
What to Create Before You Take a Writing Break: @KMAllan_writer
Building a Writing Community and Magazine for the British and Irish: @Damo_Dangerman @BardIsles @TheIWSG
12 Ways Writers Can Kick Fear and Do Their Best Work: @Frank_McKinley
Writing a Genre That’s New to You: @theladygreer @WriterUnboxed
How Facing Your Space Could Improve Your Writing: @LiveWriteThrive
Harnessing the Power of Writer Karma: @KarenDeBonis
What's the Ideal Writing Environment? @KristinaAuthor
What Authors Can Learn About Writing From Teaching Others: @greggmillman @thecreativepenn

Genres / Fantasy

History for Fantasy Writers: Time Was: by E.L. Skip Knox @mythicscribes
Fantasy Names are Hard: @PhilAthans

Genres / Historical

Using History to Change the Future: https://t.co/Ekz8r8LpTD and @pmterrell @SouthrnWritrMag

Genres / Mystery

How to Write a Mystery Novel: @robertleebrewer @WritersDigest
Crime Writing: Prisoner Weapons: @LeeLofland
Writing Crime: Myths And Misconceptions About The FBI: @JerriWilliams1 @thecreativepenn

Genres / Screenwriting

Submitting Screenplays: @RobTobin

Genres / Short Stories

Why You Should Flash Your Fiction: @ClaireFuller2 @A_WritersStudio

Genres / Women's Fiction

Embracing the Women’s Fiction Genre Label: @OrlyKonig

Promo / Blogging

Make Your Blog User-Friendly: @JoanHallWrites @StoryEmpire
12 Web-friendly Formats for Structuring Writing Posts: @brotzel_fiction @hopeclark

Promo / Metadata

7 Kindle Keywords: Use all 50 Characters or Not? @DaveChesson

Promo / Miscellaneous

How to Use Endorsements on Amazon and IngramSpark: @Wogahn
6 Categories of Effort for a Book Launch and Their Collected Tactics: @EJWenstrom
Tactics for a Book Launch: @EJWenstrom
How to Promote a Flash Sale on Facebook and Instagram: by Stephanie Fisher @SMExaminer

Promo / Social Media Tips

10 Ways Writers Can Fail Spectacularly at Social Media in 2020: @EdieMelson

Publishing / Miscellaneous

Hachette USA Cancels Publication of Woody Allen Book, ‘After Listening': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Remembering Publisher Sonny Mehta in London: ‘This Gracious Man': @rogertagholm @pubperspectives
An Interview With the Brussels Book Fair's New Director Marie Noble: @oliviasnaije @pubperspectives
How to Publish with KDP: @harmony_kent @StoryEmpire
Publishing in Times of Crisis: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Coronavirus: Canada's Kobo Joins Mondadori in Providing Free Ebooks to Italians in Lockdown: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @kobo
Coronavirus: Quick Publishing Event Updates – Bologna Cancels: Full List Here: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Coronavirus: Quick Publishing Events Updates – March 12: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying

How to Write a Professional Query to Agents, Editors, and Reviewers: @annerallen

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Rejections

Rejection Reckoning: Why Was Your Book Rejected? @HankPRyan @CareerAuthors

Writing Craft / Beginnings

Real Life Diagnostics: Infodumping in the Opening Page: @Janice_Hardy
Critique: 10 Ways to Write a Better First Chapter Using Specific Word Choices: @KMWeiland
Nail every character's first impression: @NathanBransford
The Stage for Your First Page: @sarahjrexford @A3writers

Writing Craft / Characters / Antagonists

What's in a Villain? by Marissa Frosch @StoryGrid

Writing Craft / Characters / Development

5 Essential Hero's Journey Symbolic Archetypes: @DavidHSafford @write_practice
Expansion Pack: Character Archetypes: @Virgilante @StoryEmpire
Using a Personality Test to Enhance Character Development: @jcwalton24 @DIYMFA

Writing Craft / Characters / Emotion

Writing Characters: Why Emotion Matters: @Lindasclare

Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists

Why We Need to Let Female Protagonists Just Be Protagonists: @_HannahHeath
Advice for Writing Mom Protagonists: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants

Writing Craft / Common Mistakes

Poor Communication Plots: by T.L. Bodine
5 Ways to Ruin Your Creative Writing: by Joslyn Chase @write_practice

Writing Craft / Conflict

Conflict Thesaurus Entry: Having to Work with an Enemy: @AngelaAckerman

Writing Craft / Dialogue

What Your Choice of Dialogue Tags Says About You: @CWCauthorassist @JaneFriedman

Writing Craft / Endings

Writing a Great Last Line: @rxena77

Writing Craft / Flashback and Back Story

Crafting Effective Backstory: @Lindasclare

Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film

Learning From the Movies: The King’s Speech: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthors
Believe, Care, Invest: Our Choice of Heroes in George R. R. Martin’s “A Game of Thrones”: @CockeyedCaravan
Count Dracula: Misunderstood Monster, Bloodsucking Bastard, And Everything In-Between: @chris_shultz81 @LitReactor

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

Let Your Characters Tell the Story: @EldredBird
Let’s Talk About Stakes: by T.L. Bodine
Practical Preparedness for your Heroine Facing a Pandemic: @FionaQuinnBooks @MollyMcKew
Fear: Why Humans Crave Stories That Scare Them: @KristenLambTX
What Authors Need To Know About The Use (And Misuse) Of Synecdoche: by Robert Wood @standoutbooks
Top Ten Ways To Improve Your Craft As A Writer: @10minnovelist

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

Spotlight On Structure: The Story Circle by Dan Harmon: @Bang2write

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Research

What is a rite of passage? @csmaccath

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Concept

Ways to develop plot ideas: by Just a Writing Aid
Visions and Impressions: @SeptCFawkes

Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques

3 Things to Remember When Revising from a Critique: @Janice_Hardy

Writing Tools / Apps

Split and Merge Scenes in Scrivener: @aprildavila

Writing Tools / Miscellaneous

300+ best tools and resources for working from home [2020]: by Maddy Leslie @wearearticulate

Writing Tools / Resources

8 Podcasts That Will Make You a Better Writer: @cmaum @ElectricLit

Uncategorized

Author Debra Eckerling with tips for rebooting your goals this year: @DebraEckerling
Literary handwashing:
Ten Writers Reflect on Their First Big YES: @thebenschaefer @lithub wkb3c

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Published on March 14, 2020 21:02

March 8, 2020

Elements of a Book Launch

by E.J. Wenstrom, @EJWenstrom

Many times, talk about book launches as an event—you find a venue, do a short reading, sign some books, drink some wine, and boom, your book has been launched. Perhaps due to my day job in PR and marketing, but I’ve always thought of a launch as more of a campaign. It’s not just an event (though you can certainly do one if you like–it’s a weeks-long series of promotion focused around a newsworthy moment.

The goal of a public relations campaign is not just to make sales (though you definitely want these). It’s also to raise awareness–help make more readers in your niche aware of who you are. Every book launch is a layer in an overall strategy to keep your readership growing.

Thus, like most campaigns, a book launch isn’t so much about any particular tactic, like a launch party. It’s more about the synergy between your accumulated efforts.

Book launches are an important occasion for an author! It’s a moment to pause and celebrate your accomplishment, and share it with readers for the first time. But also, it’s a moment of impetus in your efforts to build your readership.

I’m currently in the midst of my own book launch moment—and as it’s the final novel in my fantasy series, it’s a biggie! So naturally, I set out to make as much of the opportunity as I could.

When I prepare for a book launch, it’s a cluster of collected tactics, which I organize into six categories of effort.

The Buildup

The Buildup is what you do in the week or two leading up to the release, with the intent of getting readers excited and building buzz.

This is super important! When your book finally releases, you want them chomping at the bit to get their hands on it.

The Buildup can include:

Executing a cover reveal
Sending ARCs to your advance readers
Requesting professional reviews from bloggers and publications
Sharing behind-the-scenes insights from your writing process for the book
Dropping hints about the characters or plot

Some of these activities may overlap and run through the next phase, Promotion, but plan ahead so these start releasing a week or two before the release.

The Promotion

This refers specifically to the time-sensitive offer that will inspire your readers to act now, during the launch period.

Without a time-sensitive incentive during the launch campaign, your new release might simply get added to your readers’ Goodreads TBR list, and then sit there for years until readers get to it.

It’s understandable, but it’s not ideal.

You don’t just want interest in your book. You want sales. You want your Amazon ranking to skyrocket.

Often, this means you are giving your book a special reduced sale price for a week or two during launch. Or, you could give away special swag incentives, like a pin or map of the world, if they purchase within a specific launch time frame. Or, maybe it’s both.

The Hustle

Once your book is released and the promotion is live, it’s time for the Hustle. This means you’ve got to identify ways to reach beyond your existing readership and secure opportunities to get in front of new potential readers.

These opportunities might include:

Bookbub or other promotional book sales sites
Events (signings, workshops, cons)
Guest posting for other blogs
Pitching the media in your region or niche
Scheduling targeted advertising online

More General Tips

No matter how you choose to approach your launch, here are a few more general tips to help frame how you approach it:

Coordinate with your publisher–Your publisher may be planning promotion efforts, too. It’s always better to work together. Otherwise you risk repeat efforts or contradictory language.
Consider the time and budget you have available–Any platforming effort can be bottomless if you want it to be. Decide on where your limits are, and let those limits help determine your priorities and focus.
Be kind to yourself–A book launch should be fun. There’s no need to run yourself ragged. Pace yourself, and try not to overcommit, or to put too much pressure on yourself.

Your Book Launch is Yours to Create

When it comes to book launches, there’s as many ways to do it as there are authors. Consider this one author’s framework. Even working within it, there are many possibilities.

Consider, what are you comfortable with? What do you want to try that you haven’t before? How much time can you give to preparing for the launch? What is your definition for the launch’s success? These should all play a role in how you plan your launch.

Above all, be careful of what measuring stick you use to plan and assess your book launch. This is yours, and you can do whatever you want to celebrate your latest achievement! The key is to think ahead about what that is, and how you can accomplish it, so that you’re operating from a plan.

E. J. Wenstrom believes in complicated heroes, horrifying monsters, purple hair dye and standing to the right on escalators so the left side can walk. Her award-winning fantasy series Chronicles of the Third Realm War features a peculiar mashup of Greek mythology, Judeo-Christian folklore, and an extra dash of her own special brand of chaos. It starts with Royal Palm Literary Award Book of the Year Mud (#1), Tides (#2), and Sparks (#3), releasing in March 2020, as well as the prequel Rain (#0).

When she isn’t writing fiction, E. J. Wenstrom is a regular contributor to DIY MFA and BookRiot, and co-hosts the Fantasy+Girl Podcast.

The Book Launch: 6 Categories of Effort (by @EJWenstrom ):
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Published on March 08, 2020 21:02

March 7, 2020

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

New Stuff

Have a tough time fitting writing into your life? Here are my tips in this podcast interview with Top Shelf Editing: http://ow.ly/8Ceh30qnEzX .

Business / Miscellaneous

Six Tips on Working With an Editor: @itshelendarling @DIYMFA
Advice for Women with Book Advances: @AlisonStine @PublishersWkly
When and How Should Writers Negotiate Better Terms? @robertleebrewer @WritersDigest
Saving Time by Delegating Tasks:
The Real Secret to Marketing Your Writing: @DanBlank

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

Simon & Schuster and Ingram Cancel: Coronavirus COVID-19 Concerns Mount for London Book Fair: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
HarperCollins and Hachette pull from London Book Fair as exodus grows: @thenewpubstd
Frankfurter Buchmesse's 2020 BookFest: Open for Publishers' Submissions: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
PublisHer's ‘Remarkable First Year': Bodour Al Qasimi Reflects on the Success: @Porter_Anderson @Bodour @pubperspectives
Coronavirus: Amazon Exits London Book Fair, as Do US Macmillan, Hachette Sales, and HarperCollins: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @LondonBookFair
Coronavirus: Milan's Stefano Mauri to World Book Fairs and Festivals: Postpone: @Porter_Anderson @sensocercasi @luigispagnol @LondonBookFair
Industry Expert Jane Friedman's Guide to Getting the Most Out of a Writers Conference: @JaneFriedman
Coronavirus: Penguin Random House Pulls out of London Book Fair: @Porter_Anderson @LondonBookFair @PRHDigital @pubperspectives
Coronavirus: Leipzig Book Fair Is Canceled; London Still On, Pan Mac Now Out with Hachette Livre: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Audio Publishers Association Names 25th Anniversary Audie Awards: @Porter_Anderson @vermontgmg @pubperspectives
Coronavirus: London Book Fair Is Canceled: @Porter_Anderson @LondonBookFair @pubperspectives
Coronavirus: Reed Exhibitions' BookExpo Issues COVID-19 Statement: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
The UK's 2020 World Book Day: ‘Reading in Sharp Decline': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
PEN America's 2020 Literary Award Winners: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting

Five Writing Resolutions Beyond ‘Write Every Day': by Bess Cozby @DIYMFA
A Guide to Creativity and Time: @WriteNowCoach

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

Why I Don’t Force Myself to Finish a Book (Anymore): @KelsieEngen
“Why I’ll Never Read a Book a Week Ever Again”: @hurleywink @The_Millions
Top 10 books about new beginnings: @jaclynmoriarty @GuardianBooks

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing

Tips for making time to write: https://t.co/ABUQUSUH49 @topshelfedits
I'm interviewed by @topshelfedits on how to fit writing into a busy day: https://t.co/ABUQUSUH49

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer's Block

Lifting Yourself Out of a Writing Slump: @MegDowell

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing Quickly

How to Write Faster: 7 Steps for Writing More Productively: @DaveChesson

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

The Hardest Part About Being a Writer Is That You Are Not ‘Just’ a Writer: @MegDowell
Harnessing Your Passion to Strengthen Your Stories: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants
Does Your Workspace Affect Your Writing? @ecellenb
5 Tips for a Healthy Writer's Life: @KMazeauthor
Is that Me in Your Novel? When Life Imitates Fiction: @annerallen
How to Deal with your Writing Anxiety: 6 Smart Tips that Work: @AdelaBelin @WritetoDone
Protecting Your Digital Identity By Sweeping Away “Footprints”: @cleemckenzie @TheIWSG
Five Things Learned From a Social Media Cleanse: @nmeierwrites @WomenWriters
How to make a zine from a single sheet of paper: @austinkleon
Writing About Your Mom Without Guilt: by Andrea Simon @WomenWriters
Things That Happen When You Stop Chasing Social Media: @alythiabrown.85

Genres / Fantasy

Magic Vs Psychic: Are They Interchangeable? @cyallowitz

Genres / Miscellaneous

Thoughts on Writing Romantic Comedies: @Ellen__Jacobson

Genres / Mystery

Crime Writing: Ordering Hits Online: @LeeLofland

Genres / Screenwriting

Hannah Heath: 8 Tips for Writing a Good Screenplay: @ryanjoseph87 @phoenicianrises @_HannahHeath
5 More Secrets To Selling Your Screenplay… And Not Your Soul: @Pendensham @CreativeScreen

Genres / Young Adult

Young Adult Critique: @Kid_Lit

Promo / Metadata

Keywords and Categories: Why You Need to Know Them: @DaveChesson @SelfPubForm

Promo / Miscellaneous

Sales Techniques to Help You Sell More Books: @SarahBolme @JFbookman

Promo / Newsletters

How One Author Grew Her Email List by 23k Using a Reader Quiz: @DrDaltonSmith @AuthorMedia
7 Expert Tricks To Improve Your Author Newsletter: @DavidGaughran

Promo / Platforms

Build Your Brand With An Author Tagline: @ajthenovelist @LitReactor

Promo / Social Media Tips

Should Writers Be on LinkedIn? @FinishedPages
How to Optimize Your Online Marketing Plan: A 4-Step Process: @JanetteSpeyer @SMExaminer

Promo / Speaking

Prepare for Public Speaking Like a Pro: @ChrysFey

Publishing / Miscellaneous

What Path Should a Writer Take in 2020? @jamesscottbell
Your Book in Libraries Worldwide Quick and Easy Guide: @IndieAuthorALLI
Report: Simon & Schuster's Date for John Bolton's Book Is Now in May: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Reidy to Staff: ViacomCBS Is Looking to Sell Simon & Schuster: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Hachette USA Employees Walk Out to Protest Woody Allen Book: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Hachette USA Cancels Publication of Woody Allen Book, ‘After Listening': @Porter_Anderson http://ow.ly/YuWE30qnW2x @pubperspectives #wkb88
Coronavirus: ReedPop Postpones ‘Emerald City'; S&S Exits Bologna; Abu Dhabi Postpones; SXSW Cancels: @Porter_Anderson http://ow.ly/Vq5o30qnW3Q @pubperspectives #wkb84
Coronavirus: The Brussels Book Fair Is Open for Business: @oliviasnaije http://ow.ly/BWYB30qnW4y @pubperspectives #wkb84

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Coronavirus: Italy's Creative Industries Warn of ‘a Real Disaster': @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Publishing / Options / Hybrid Publishing

The Pros and Cons of Being a Hybrid Author: @SaraRosett @IndieAuthorALLI

Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing

Business Musings: Stop Thinking Like a Traditional Publisher: @KristineRusch

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying

How to Make a Literary Agent Read your Entire Manuscript: @jmdargz @ReedsyHQ

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Rejections

Six Ways to Rethink Rejections: @brotzel_fiction @hopeclark

Publishing / Process / Book Design

The Making of a Harlequin Romance Cover: @JenReadsRomance @KirkusReviews

Publishing / Process / Legalities

Debunking Copyright Myths: by Janet Fries @Unite4Copyright

Writing Craft / Beginnings

How to Write a Great Beginning Hook: @savannahgilbo @StoryGrid

Writing Craft / Characters / Development

How to Craft Impactful Character Flaws: @kristen_kieffer
The Two Types of Archetype: @DonMaass @WriterUnboxed
Dramatica's Character Archetypes: @SeptCFawkes

Writing Craft / Characters / Emotion

How to Effectively “Tell” Emotions in Fiction: @LiveWriteThrive

Writing Craft / Common Mistakes

TL;DR—Too Long; Didn't Read: @CathyFyock @EdieMelson
Mistakes Many Writers Make: @evmysterywriter @killzoneauthors

Writing Craft / Conflict

Conflict Thesaurus Entry: Family Secrets Being Revealed: @AngelaAckerman

Writing Craft / Drafts

7 Misconceptions Writers Have About Drafting: @alexadonne

Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film

Showrunners 10: The Middle Build of Killing Eve: @StoryGrid

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

What to Avoid with Internal Monologue: @TheRyanLanz
How to improve the flow of your writing: by Michael Bjork
How To Write An Amazing Holiday-Themed Book: by Rebecca Langley @standoutbooks
Taming Your Exposition: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants
How to Tell a Story Within a Story: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants
Nine Ways for Your Hero to Earn the Clues They Need: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants
Are You Writing For Systematic Or Empathetic Readers? by Robert Wood @standoutbooks
What Is a Narrative Device: 9 Types of Narrative Devices: @joebunting @write_practice
How To Write The Black Moment – Top 10 Criteria: @LisaLatteBooks
Become a Writer: Master Fiction Writing with this Tip: @MichaelLaRonn

Writing Craft / POV

POVs in 3rd Person Limited: from Just a Writing Aid
POV: Choosing Between First-Person and Third-Person: @poojawrites @WritersDigest

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

The Collage Method of Plotting: @barbaraoneal @WriterUnboxed
Pantser Vs Plotter: Where Do You Stand? @cyallowitz
Seven Tips to Mind Map a Novel: @mindomo @IndieAuthorALLI

Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar

5 Problems with Parentheses: @writing_tips
The Exclamation Point: It’s More Than Punctuation: @ktsetsi @JaneFriedman

Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques

6 Tips for Using Beta Readers: @moniqueh_author @TheRyanLanz

Writing Craft / Scenes / Conflict

The Seven Types of Narrative Conflict: by Arielle Haughee @FloridaWriters1

Writing Craft / Series

The Joys (and Perils) of Serial Novel Writing: @LW_Willingham @JaneFriedman

Writing Craft / Settings and Description

Describing your Character: The Power of a Single Detail: @MBjorkWrites
5 Pro Tips On Writing Description In Deep Point Of View: @LisaHallWilson
Putting Description into Your Story – Star Trek Holodeck style: @SarahSallyHamer @EdieMelson

Writing Craft / Tension

How Much Tension Is Too Much? by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants

Writing Craft / World-Building

How to Do World-Building Research: by Bucket Siler

Writing Tools / Apps

Writing Tools – ProWritingAid: by Kurt Schumacher @RMFWriters
12 Free Graphic Design Tools For Authors: @DavidGaughran

Writing Tools / Miscellaneous

Making an Editorial Calendar: @WillowWoodford @BethBarany

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on March 07, 2020 21:02

March 1, 2020

Saving Time by Delegating Tasks

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

One thing I'm trying to be better at in 2020 (that I'm not great at overall) is delegating tasks. I've never been a great delegator, usually feeling as if it's better if I just handle things myself.

But that's not the case–it's better when I do delegate. It's better when I get help, at least at this stage of my writing career. Here are some of the ways I've been reaching out to get help from others with my writing business:

Cover design: Cover design is one area I've never tried to tackle myself. My design skills with the free Canva program are better-suited to making blog post headers and social media posts. I've been using Karri Klawiter for ages for my covers and it's been a fantastic relationship. We've been working on covers for so long that I now send her just a few details about each book and she somehow instinctively seems to know exactly what I'm looking for. If you're not good at design, I really recommend reaching out to a designer. It can make all the difference in terms of sales.

Editing: I have to have help editing my work. I do cut way back on the time it takes to edit my books (and the cost) by carefully reading the work over, passing the books by beta readers, and using software (ProWritingAid) before sending stories to my editors. I simply can't catch all my typos, continuity errors, etc. Judy Beatty and Zoe Nightingale have been a fantastic help to me. Writers get too close to their work and it's hard to see the mistakes staring them right in the face.

Formatting: I do a lot of my own formatting now, using free software on Draft2Digital. But this doesn't mean that I don't run into issues sometimes. Rik Hall has always been my go-to guy for getting me out of a formatting jam.

Facebook “Parties” for Releases: This falls under the category of “things I know I need to do that I don't have the time to do or don't want to do.” I ran across Marie McNary's “A Cozy Experience” while listening to a YouTube video by Booktuber Courtagionist. Someone who will put in all the work, set up the party, and then I just have to show up? Sign me up! I had a Facebook party last Thursday evening for my latest release.

Tedious Tasks I Might Otherwise Procrastinate: Gosh, where do I start? One big thing that would have taken me a week or more was to change the signup link to my newsletter in every single one of my published books (I changed providers and it created a mess). Uploading audiobook links to Draft2Digital for international UBLs was another. Changing keywords on KDP was yet another. Changing keywords on translations. The list of tedious, time-consuming tasks goes on and on. Fortunately, I discovered my college-age daughter (always in need of pocket money and who follows directions well) was more than capable of doing all of these things for me. Now, whenever I'm faced with something onerous that I don't really have time to tackle, I stick it on a list for my daughter to handle.

Web Design: Yeah, there's no way I can handle web design by myself. You might have noticed my site is under construction right now. :) The site is being redesigned by The Author Site.

Website Issues: Do I have the ability to figure out and fix what's wrong with my website. Maybe. Do I have the time to research it and fall down that rabbit hole? No. My choice for getting my website un-glitched is to contact one of the folks over at Fiverr. I read through reviews to find a good match.

Are you good at delegating your writing business work to others? What other ways do you have to save time?

Save Time by Delegating Tasks:
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Published on March 01, 2020 21:01

February 29, 2020

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Interested in learning how to write a cozy mystery? I have a post up at Top Shelf Edits with my tips. :)

Business / Miscellaneous

What is at Stake When We Write Literary Criticism? by James Wood @lithub
Design Tips for Authors: @HeatherWeidner1
Freelancers: Are you paid what you're worth? @pubcoach
17 Ways To Speed Up Your Computer: @WordDreams
Reading Your Readability Scores: by Rejectomancy
The Wonderful Thing About Line Edits: @peterselgin @JaneFriedman
The Most Difficult Conversation for Writers: @johnpwriter

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

AAP 2020 PROSE Awards for Scholarly Publishing Name Winners: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
At Italy's Bologna Children's Book Fair: A Program on African Innovators: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives @IntPublishers @DubaiCares
Best Practices for Participating in Author Panels: by Phil Stamper-Halpin @PRHDigital
Frankfurt Book Fair Opens Its Sixth Annual Free-Stand Competition: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Coronavirus Follow-Up: London Remains a Go; Publishers, Agents Uncertain About Bologna: @Porter_Anderson @LondonBookFair @pubperspectives
This Woman Created Her Own Writing Conference — Here’s How You Can, Too: @AskJoeyGarcia @thewritelife
AAP PROSE Awards Names Its Five 2020 Winners: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
International Booker Prize 2020: The Longlist Is Announced: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

Writing Ideas that Sing: @Lindasclare

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

New York Public Library's Most Borrowed Books in History: @ellengutoskey @mental_floss
The Ubiquity of Little Women: 11 Books Inspired by the March Family: @elisehooper @lithub
What Causes a Reading Slump? @JodyHedlund

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer's Block

3 Reasons your “Writer’s Block” may not be about the writing itself: @magpie0218 @RMFWriters

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

7 Rules For Telling Better Anecdotes (That All Authors Should Know): by Robert Wood @standoutbooks
Operation Awesome: Why Mentoring Feels Broken Sometimes: @AmrenOrtega
Why It’s Good For a Writer to Be Bored: @MegDowell
The Emotional Side of the Writing Life: @MegDowell
Should Writers Work for Free? @robertleebrewer @WritersDigest
Podcast Interview with Virginia Loh-Hagan: @virginialoh @DIYMFA
How Do Some Authors “Lose Control” of Their Characters? by Jim Davies @lithub
When You Find Out Someone Won a Prize Plagiarizing Your Work: @LalehKhadivi @lithub
9 Brilliant Biographies About Creative Late Bloomers to Inspire Your Journey: @DebraEve
How to Build a Roadmap to the Author Future You Want: @AngelaAckerman
5 Ways Solo Mom Writers Inspire Us: @marika_lindholm @DIYMFA

Genres / Mystery

Plot A Thriller Backwards: @alexadonne
Tips for Writing a Cozy Mystery: @xtinakayebooks

Genres / Picture Books

20 Amazing Children's Book Illustrators (and How to Hire Them): @ReedsyHQ

Promo / Blogging

How Often Should You Blog? @AnneJanzer

Promo / Metadata

Better Metadata With Publisher Rocket: @DaveChesson

Publishing / Miscellaneous

The many levels of rejection: @LuWrites
Bloomsbury CEO Nigel Newton Receives London Book Fair's Lifetime Achievement Award: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Cundill History Prize's Peter Frankopan: ‘The Rise of New Powers': @Porter_Anderson @peterfrankopan @pubperspectives

Publishing / News / International Publishing

COVID-19: Bologna Children's Book Fair Postponed to May: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
IPA Condemns China's New 10-Year Sentence for Prix Voltaire Laureate Gui Minhai: @Porter_Anderson @IntPublishers @pubperspectives

Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing

Self-Publishing: The Major Dos and Don'ts Indie Authors Should Know: @ReedsyHQ
In the Self-Publishing Spotlight, MG Author @Brenda_Felber : @SelfPubForm

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying

Agent Spotlight with @Megan_Manzano @NatalieIAguirre

Publishing / Process / Distribution

Do you know your ebook distribution options? @BirdsOAFpress

Publishing / Process / Formatting

How to Format a Book: by Tom Ashford @SelfPubForm

Publishing / Process / Services to Avoid

10 New Publishing Scams to Watch Out for in 2020: @annerallen

Publishing / Process / Translation

Learn how to sell book translation rights: @IndieAuthorALLI
Business Musings: Translations: @KristineRusch

Writing Craft / Dialogue

Rules for Writing Punchy Dialogue: by Terry Tierney @BethBarany
7 Tips to Writing Semi-Coherent Dialogue: @cyallowitz

Writing Craft / Diversity

3 Steps To Writing Diverse Characters: @Bang2write

Writing Craft / Drafts

Drafting in Sequences: by Wendy Heard @WomenWriters

Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film

The 20 Best Legal Thrillers of the Last 20 Years: @DwyerMurphy @CrimeReads
Edith Wharton’s 5 Rules for Novelists: @zarielle @CareerAuthors
Editor Roundtable: It's a Wonderful Life: by Leslie Watts @StoryGrid
What Scooby-Doo Taught 1 Writer About Writing Mysteries: @LibbyKleinBooks

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

How to Introduce Characters: @shaelinbishop @ReedsyHQ
Is Sentimentality in Writing Really That Bad? @egabbert @ElectricLit
Emotional Truths, Insights, And Emotions Are Key To A Great Novel: @CherylRainfield @TheIWSG
What’s Your Context? @61647Edge @FloridaWriters1
Become a Writer: Improve Your Writing Craft Overnight: @MichaelLaRonn
Oxymoron, Tautology, Or Malapropism? What You Need To Know: by Robert Wood @standoutbooks

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

How to Power Your Novel Through the All-Important Second Act: by Wendy Heard @CrimeReads

Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar

Ask the Editor: How Do I Use Italics? by Jeanette the Writer @DIYMFA

Writing Craft / Scenes

How to Set the Scene: @shaelinbishop @ReedsyHQ

Writing Craft / Tropes

The Whiny Wife Trope: @BrynDonovan

Writing Tools / Apps

Changing Scrivener Binder Icons: @aprildavila

Writing Tools / Miscellaneous

The Tools, Tricks, and Secret Weapons of Your Favorite Authors: @helpfulsnowman @LitReactor

Writing Tools / Services for Writers

Junk Book Marketing: Pay-to-Play Magazines: @victoriastrauss

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Published on February 29, 2020 21:01

February 23, 2020

Better Metadata With Publisher Rocket

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

One of the things I want to spend more time on this year is promotion. Last year I was so busy writing (5 books, when I usually only put out 3), that aside from sending out my newsletters upon release, holding Goodreads giveaways, and making sure my SEO was good, I really didn’t do any promo.

Most of my promo practices in the past have revolved around good and consistent metadata (keywords, categories, ensuring the series name is consistent on retail sites) so that readers could find my books easily online. I still am a big believer in this…it takes little time and no money and visibility is so important these days in a crowded marketplace.

I’d read about Dave Chesson’s Publisher Rocket (also known as KDP Rocket) for years and was always tempted to get the software…and then somehow always ended up handling it myself, instead. I’d look for popular keywords the old-fashioned way: by slowly typing my genre into the Amazon search window letter by letter to see the most popular searches.

Needless to say, this was time-consuming. Plus, popular keywords change. I was already familiar with Dave through his Kindlepreneur site, his free book description generator (which I use with every book), and Dave’s guest post here on my site. I’m not an affiliate…I was just desperate to save time, ha. I paid $97 for the Publisher Rocket software.

There were no issues with installation because the ‘thank you’ email from Dave included a short video with instructions (and an offer to immediately help if I ran into problems).

The dashboard is simple and easy to use. If you run into any trouble, just click the ‘tutorial’ link on the bottom of the screen.

When you do, a whole list of video resources comes up.

I concentrated mainly on the keyword search button, although I’m also going to be changing/adding some categories, as well.

Under keyword search, I started typing in different keywords that I thought readers might use to look for my book or for books similar to mine. I used some of the keywords that seemed to have been good choices the last time I checked.

I put in “Southern Cozy Mystery” and this came up:

So, to recap the info ahead (which may be in little print, sorry), I have 1,641 competitors for that keyword…other authors who’ve included that keyword in their metadata. The average monthly earnings of those writers is $1403. There are no Google searches for that term. On Amazon, there were $1,468 searches for the keyword. The competitive score is 56, which means it’s of middling difficulty to rank on Amazon for that keyword (the closer you get to 100, the worse it gets).

I tweaked the search a little by going to the orange button on the top-right and clicked “new search.” I typed in “southern mystery” and this came up:

So, to recap the data above, I can see slightly more readers searched for “southern mystery”…but there are a lot more writers who are using the keyword…6,578. The competitive score is much higher, at 82. The competitive score for “southern mystery books,” a keyword which never would have occurred to me, is much better at 75 and with quite a few Google as well as Amazon searches. That looks like a keyword I might use.

I also played around with the category search, although I was sure I could do no better than the categories I was in (cozy animal mystery). But after a few minutes taking a look at the site, I realized my translators could rank a lot higher if I changed their category. Dave also has an incredibly helpful video on adding more categories than the three it seems we’re allowed.

None of this took long and it was actually really interesting to see the results. Another important thing to note…keywords become more and less popular, so this is a great tool to keep using. And now I feel good that I’ve done something useful to help my books gain visibility.

Have you tried Publisher Rocket? What types of promo activities are you looking at doing this year?

Better Keywords with Publisher Rocket from @DaveChesson :
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