Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 58

October 13, 2019

4 Tips for Mixing Truth With Fiction

Vicki Vass, @vickivass

Whoever said reality can be stranger than fiction might be right, at least for me. Reality slips into my cozy mysteries, particularly my Antique Mystery Hunters series. My need to insert reality into my stories might stem from my long experience as a journalist.

When I set out to write my first mystery, I studied Writer’s Digest to learn about the structure, settings and particularly the characters. The magazine advised that characters should be amateur sleuths with a hobby that lends itself to detecting. The creative juices began flowing thinking of ideas. I had no one particular hobby other than reading so I thought and thought until I thought about the antique hunting expeditions. Being in a new to me home, I had spent the past year antique hunting with my two best friends. We would venture to barn sales, flea markets, antique stores and everything in between.

My two characters quickly developed, CC Muller, a journalist who is the encyclopedia of knowledge, and Anne Hillstrom, shopping collector and antique enthusiast. They quickly became the protagonists of my Antique Hunter Mystery series.

Many of their real-life escapades make it into my novels, including a recent setting within a cemetery after the real-life CC found herself locked in a Chicago area cemetery one evening when the caretaker left early. The real version gave way to a scarier more suspenseful version that leads the plot along.

That is how I’ve merged truth with fiction in my series, here are four things I’ve learned along the way about using reality within my fictional stories.

Ask for permission. After I wrote the first book, Murder for Sale, I gave my friends copies and asked them to read it. They were flattered with the content and that gave met the freedom I needed to further develop the characters. I have also subsequently asked them before including bits of real life such as the cemetery scene.

Observe and listen: When I go out, I like to sit and listen to conversations around me. It helps me create realistic dialogue. Now when I am with my friends, I listen to their anecdotes and picture my characters. As in the cemetery scene noted up above, I might not have had the idea to include it if I hadn’t listened to my friend’s story.

Change it up. While my characters may be based on real people, there are definite differences. I have changed their names for the sake of the story. My fictional characters do not physically resemble the real individuals. They have kept some of the main character traits but over the series the fictional characters have transformed taking on traits of their own.

Edit. Don’t be afraid to take out a detail or change something. Sometimes the truth can be mundane or boring. As a former journalist, I had to let go of my need to report on reality or the truth. Instead, I’ve enjoyed the freedom of expanding on real-life actions and sometimes making them bigger than life. And, when it’s not working don’t be afraid to edit it out. One scene based on a real event just wasn’t working within the flow of the story. I felt as if it was slowing down the pace. Finally after much deliberation I removed the scene. Who knows? Maybe it will show up in a future Antique Hunters book.

Thanks for letting me stop by and share a little about my series. Fellow writers, I’m curious, do you find reality creeping in your work? And, if it does, how so?

After turning in her reporter’s notebook, Vicki Vass turned to chronicling the near-real adventures of her two best friends in the Antique Hunters Mystery series. Book 6, A White Rabbit’s Tale, will be released in December. She chronicles her real-life adventures and reads on her blog, Vicki’s Cozy Corner (vickiscozycorner.com). Fleeing from a Chicago blizzard, she now lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband, two Australian shepherds and cats who star in her Witch Cat Mystery series.

Tips for Mixing Real Life with Your Fiction from @vickivass :
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Published on October 13, 2019 21:02

October 12, 2019

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.

Business / Miscellaneous

5 Things To Do Before Hiring a Freelance Editor: @RachelleGardner
When Your Book is Pirated; Other Self-Publishing Questions Answered: @OrnaRoss @IndieAuthorALLI
How to Write a Book with a Co-Writer (And Still Get Along With Them): @sarahstypos @write_practice
How to Build a Long-Term Writing Career: @jamesscottbell

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

London’s ‘Book & Zine Fair’ Spotlights Spanish-Language Content: by Adam Critchley @pubperspectives
Frankfurt’s Opening News Conference Keynote: WIPO’s Francis Gurry: @Porter_Anderson @Book_Fair @pubperspectives
Frankfurt Audio Readies Its Debut, Centered Around a Busy Stage: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Climate Crisis: Frankfurt’s Weltempfang Asks if Ours Is ‘The Last Age?’ @Porter_Anderson @Book_Fair @pubperspectives
US National Book Awards Finalists Drawn from 1,712 Submissions: @Porter_Anderson @KaliMaFaja @LailaLalami @jkbphillips @sarahmbroom @tressiemcphd @carolynforche @jerichobrown @caringerel @azemezi @thatlauraruby @randyribay @lizitasmith and more

Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting

Tracking Writing Goals With Colored Pencils: @aprildavila

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

3 Ways to Refresh Your Creativity: @BeingTheWriter @womenonwriting
5 Ways of Ending an Idea Drought: @PFC_Pup @TheRyanLanz

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

10 Novels about Disappearing: by Abi Maxwell @ElectricLit
8 Books About Idyllic Vacations Gone Terribly Wrong: by Michele Campbell @CrimeReads
The 7 Most Suspenseful Jury Verdicts In Literature and Film: @HankPRyan @CrimeReads
10 Expansive SFF Worlds We Want to Get Lost In: by Stubby the Rocket @tordotcom
7 Books that Put the ‘Psychology’ in Psychological Thrillers: @Lauren_C_North @CrimeReads

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing

How to Use “Tiny Habits” to Establish a Daily Writing Practice: @WritetoDone @NinaAmir

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

The Power of the Writing Tribe: @christinadelay
How to Write a Book as a Side Effect: @pubcoach
10 Things To Know About Being Published: @emma_darwin
Lessons from Taking 40 Years to Write a Book rom @RobGorthy :
How to Be a Writer When You Don’t Have a Chance to Write: @invisiblemoth1
How to Tell if Your Story is Any Good: @_HannahHeath

Genres / Historical

4 Tips for Writing Historical Fiction: @Tudorscribe @CareerAuthors

Genres / Mystery

Crime Writing: Suicide by Cop: @LeeLofland
Is the Cozy Writers Notebook Worth Buying? @LisaLatteBooks
Troubleshoot Your Mystery: @ZaraAltair

Genres / Romance

What You Need To Know About Writing A Great Love Triangle: by Rebecca Langley @standoutbooks
Tips for Writing a Great Love Story: @msheatherwebb @WriterUnboxed

Genres / Screenwriting

6 Types Of Friends Every Screenwriter Needs: by Amy Sullivan @CreativeScreen

Promo / Blogging

How to Blog Tour Your Book Launch: @daciamarnold @RMFWriters

Promo / Miscellaneous

Before You Market Your Book, Set Your Objectives: @bclearwriting @JaneFriedman
5 ways to make your book relevant to the media: @sandrabeckwith

Promo / Social Media Tips

Maximizing Your Author Presence on LinkedIn: @nedadallal @penguinrandom
How to Win at Twitter: @BCDreyer @penguinrandom

Publishing / Miscellaneous

American Publishers v. Audible Captions: Letters Exchanged With Court: @Porter_Anderson @AmericanPublish
Anthology, Collection, Omnibus, Compilation, Box Set, Derivative Works, Compendium – Differences? @ZoeMMcCarthy
How long your book should be: @pubcoach
Understanding Digital Proofs (includes an Adobe Reader tutorial): by Dmitri Barvinok @FrontEdgePub
In the UK, the ‘Library of the Future’ Looks a Lot Like Lego: @Porter_Anderson @CILIPinfo @pubperspectives

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Poland’s Ameet Partners on LEGO Books; AAP Opens PROSE Awards: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
In Australia, Publishers and Readers Embrace Diverse Books: by Andrea Hanke @pubperspectives
Frankfurt Notes: Spain’s Translation Funds; Germany’s Book Prize Airings: @Porter_Anderson @Book_Fair
Russian Publishing Players Warn of Losses if VAT on Books Is Raised: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Lemn Sissay Designates Befeqadu Hailu as PEN Writer of Courage 2019: @Porter_Anderson @befeqe @lemnsissay @pubperspectives
RH Business Relaunch; VAT on Russian ebooks; Amazon’s Kindle for Kids; Brexit fears; Random House Graphic; Ebooks and Libraries; Nobel Prize Controversy: @TNPS10
International Day of the Girl: NABU Launches Haitian Creole / English Storybooks: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Publishing / Options / Hybrid Publishing

Is Hybrid Publishing Right For You? by Jennifer Scroggins @WritersDigest

Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing

How to Self-Publish on Apple Books: by Kelsey Worsham @WrittenWordM
How to Self-Publish on Google: by Kelsey Worsham @WrittenWordM
How to Self-Publish on Kobo: by Kelsey Worsham @WrittenWordM
1 Writer’s Sixth Year in Self Publishing: Lessons: @misskyokom

Publishing / Process / Services to Avoid

Universal Book Solutions: Anatomy of a Book-to-Screen Scam: @victoriastrauss

Publishing / Process / Translation

How to Increase Your Income as an Author (Without Writing Anything New): by Ofere Tirosh @WritetoDone

Writing Craft / Beginnings

How to Write a Hook by Thrilling Your Reader With Danger: by Joslyn Chase @write_practice
Real Life Diagnostics: Does This Women’s Fiction Opening Work? @Janice_Hardy

Writing Craft / Chapter Endings

Keep the Pages Turning with Mini Cliffhangers: by Rachel Craft @RMFWriters

Writing Craft / Characters / Antagonists

Podcast Episode Covering Villains, Antagonists, Anti-Heroes and Ways to Create Your Own: @genrehustle

Writing Craft / Characters / Development

Tweak Those Boring, Stereotypical White Dude Characters: @helpfulsnowman @LitReactor
How to Use a Little Hurt for Deeper Characterization: @suelarkinsweems @write_practice

Writing Craft / Characters / Emotion

Eliciting Emotion in your Characters and Your Reader: @GriggsWinnie @SKRViLL

Writing Craft / Common Mistakes

When Just Showing Isn’t Enough: by Andrea Lundgren
Avoid Clichés Like the Plague: by Bobbie Christmas @womenonwriting

Writing Craft / Conflict

Seven Stories With Contrived Character Conflict: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants
Conflict Thesaurus Entry: Unwanted Scrutiny: @AngelaAckerman

Writing Craft / Endings

Why the Surprise Ending Ultimately Frightens Us: by H.J. Ramsay @WritersDigest

Writing Craft / Flashback and Back Story

Tips for Writing Flashbacks: @writingandsuch

Writing Craft / Literary Devices

Tone: How to Give Your Writing Attitude: @TCKPublishing

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

Using the Right Tools for the Right Writing Job: @davidfarland
8 Things Every Writer Should Know About Using Footnotes: @LucindaSMcDowel @EdieMelson
Is your writing too hesitant? @pubcoach
The Pros and Cons of Writing Unlikable Characters: @damyantig @TheIWSG
How to Skip Time in Your Story: from Writing Questions Answered:

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

Quick Plotting Tip: Write Your Story Backwards: by Bucket Siler

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Research

GPS Systems: What Authors Should Know: @DanKoboldt

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Concept

Managing Our Ideas: @WritingForward

Writing Craft / Revision

How to Proofread: Tips for a Cleaner Draft: @TCKPublishing

Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques

Thoughts On Getting Feedback:
Why Your Book Needs Beta Readers: by Andrea Lundgren

Writing Craft / Scenes

How to Write Scenes (and What Qualifies as a Scene): @Janice_Hardy

Writing Tools / Apps

A Closer Look at Grammarly: by Monique Danao @thewritelife
The Best Writing Apps for Android and iOS of 2019: @DaveChesson

Writing Tools / Miscellaneous

Can you write a book or a novel with speech recognition software? @writing_tips
4 Top Planners for Writers who Want to See Progress: @the_writing_pal

Writing Tools / Resources

How to Change the Font Size in Dictionaries on the Kindle: @ThDigitalReader

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on October 12, 2019 21:02

October 10, 2019

On Getting Feedback

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Feedback is important for writers, but the timing of it is equally important. I think the best times for us to get the feedback may also change as we continue with our writing career.

When I was first starting out, I was desperate for feedback on my work-in-progress. I wanted to know right away what I needed to improve. I think that’s mostly because I just didn’t have a lot of writing time and I didn’t want to keep doing something wrong to the point where the edits would be awful.

That’s when I joined a couple of critique groups. One of them only met monthly, which was tough on me (at that point, I felt I could use daily feedback). The other was weekly, which was better.

But after finishing my first book, I felt less of a need for immediate feedback. In fact, I found that the critique groups weren’t really giving me what I needed anymore. I’ve always used the analogy of playing tennis and having a hard time finding a compatible partner: either they’re much better than you are and it’s frustrating, or they’re much worse than you are (equally frustrating).

For a while, I just worked solo and didn’t get feedback until it was time to send the manuscript to an editor. Now that’s feedback, ha. I learned that the editorial letters I’d get always seemed scary and overwhelming at first, but then seemed much more manageable the following day. It also helped to make myself a step-by-step list of tasks to complete to break it all down.

Then, I discovered some of my readers were really invested in my stories…to the point that they were happy to be beta readers. Now I send my stories to them as soon as they’re done and before sending them to my editor. Frequently, they have excellent suggestions for changes and improvements. After I make those, I send the book off to my freelance editor. This method has been working well for me for several years now.

Additionally, I read my reviews. Sometimes they sting a bit, but again…readers have amazing suggestions for improvement quite frequently. The bad reviews can really help.

For further reading and thoughts on leaving critique groups, see Kathryn Craft’s “Leaving a Writer’s Group: 5 Reasons it May Be Time” and Lisa Bubert’s post, “Knowing When to Fly: Leaving Your Critique Group.” For thoughts on the importance of beta readers, see Barbara Linn Probst’s post “Beta Readers: Who, When, Why, and So What?”

I’m curious if anyone else has had a similar process in seeking feedback. Did you need it more frequently (or, really, immediately) when you were first starting out? Has your need for critiques levelled off a bit? What’s your current process for getting feedback?

Thoughts on Getting Feedback on Our Writing:
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Published on October 10, 2019 21:02

October 6, 2019

Lessons from Taking 40 Years to Write a Book

by Alistair Robin Gorthy , @RobGorthy

Pariche took over forty years to write – it is, and is not, the same book.

My novel, Pariche, took a long time to write, from the initial germination of an idea, heavily influenced by road-movies then very much in vogue, to what it finally became; the multiple stranded and mixed genre novel it is today. The first point I’d wish to make then is;

Always be prepared to drastically change – or even give up – an original idea if it’s not working.

Pariche, for example, has gone through many transformations, from the time when it mirrored my younger, dare one say, hippy days, through to those of a more mature reflective assessment of the material. It has been a learning process; something that is ongoing. So, to the next point;

Always seek out opportunities to learn.

Be prepared to put yourself out there, with friends or other writers, for critical assessment. I read my work slowly, often aloud, to myself and to others. Discuss, and be prepared to amend accordingly. This, though, also comes up against another equally compelling point; you don’t always have to accept the criticism given.

Don’t give up on being a writer.

It’s your baby, something that has been the product of your creative powers, and it deserves to be heard. The adage is probably true, that there is a book waiting to be written in everyone, but this doesn’t mean that everyone can write. I’d like to think that my writing has improved over the years, and much of this has been because of what I’ve learnt from others. Other things that might be included;

The adoption of good habits.

This means having, amongst over things, a disciplined work timetable and a routine that keeps all interferences to a minimum. My best writing times are in the morning, but;

I keep a notebook (or iPad) handy for when the muse strikes.

You can guarantee that you will forget that compelling scene/line/plot detail that you were thinking of if you don’t have the means immediately available to write it down. The number of times this has happened to me when I’ve been in the shower.

You might like to invest in some writing software, especially if you have a sizeable document with many chapters, characters and multiple strands. The one I use is Scrivener.
Keep on reading – immersing yourself in other people’s writing helps develop writing skills, along with opening up yourself to the ideas of other writers. Needless to say, you should guard against plagiarism and the filching of work that is not yours.
Books are not the only source of stimulation.

When writing Pariche there seemed to be a permanent cinema/TV track going through my mind when thinking of the main character, not least a grizzled John Huston somehow morphing into a cross between Dr Jock McCannon in a Very Peculiar Practice and Leo McKern in Rumpole of the Bailey.

Locations can also be equally important. The novel Pariche is set in America and it was important to make this feel authentic. This was partially helped by having a particular interest in America in the first place, but by also ensuring that part of the novel’s setting was as near to my own experience in the UK as possible – New England, for example – or by visiting certain locations.

Example; an important scene setting episode in San Francisco involves Pariche taking in the scene while he contemplates a forthcoming battle with an arch nemesis. Visiting the exact location actually helped me see that anyone following in Pariche’s footsteps would soon be out of breath after such a steep climb. Needless to say, this was added to the script.

One thing not to forget, though, is that, in the end, this writing is about people, and the core qualities and characteristics you see in the people around you are present in everyone. Just make sure you get your research right. That cafe you might want to pop into, for a morning coffee, in a different time and location might be less receptive to your custom.

A step too far for me would be any attempt to mimic the accent or language that characters might use. Personally, I find attempts to recreate so-called authentic language use off-putting. It is very difficult to pull off, can get in the way of a reader’s enjoyment and understanding, and prevents the reader from bringing their own interpretation or feel to the work.

Let the characters and the storylines loose

Let your character develop their own storylines, something that will help give them greater descriptive depth and as well as giving your overall story multiple strands of interests. Pariche initially started out as a part protest, part self-discovery, road trip. It soon began to develop different academic, romance, political and crime strands, as the different characters were developed, but;

Have an overall structure to your work

I like to have an overall idea of which direction the novel is going, with most chapters mapped out, each with notes as to what happens. The initial writing of each takes place in notebooks before being transferred and edited in Scrivener. This might involve a change to overall structure and chapter order, depending upon how that chapter develops.

Let the actors speak for themselves

I tend to divide time between describing scenes and letting the characters set the tone – if you give characters enough space, they, through dialogue and their interaction with others, will allow all manner of ideas and plotlines, but;

Don’t preach.

I find this most off-putting when I see it in other writers – if you have a point to make, it should be germane to, and not distract from, the plot, and should never make the reader feel that they are somehow being got at, irritated, or condescended to.

In the end, my golden rule about any writing is; was it a good read?

Rob Gorthy was born Alistair Robin Gorthy in Liverpool and brought up at orphanages in Ebley and Painswick, Gloucestershire. After university in Liverpool he taught in Coventry. He has an MA in Philosophy and Social Theory from Warwick university. He now lives with his partner, Heather, in the Cotswolds, where he writes, enjoys theatre, going for walks in the countryside, and birdwatching. He has an abiding interest in US politics and philosophy, reading good literature, and listening to music (Amadeus through to Zappa).

Copies of the novel, Pariche, can be obtained at all good bookshops or online. The link to his Publisher’s website is below.

https://www.austinmacauley.com/author/gorthy-alistair-robin

Lessons from Taking 40 Years to Write a Book (by @RobGorthy ):
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Published on October 06, 2019 21:03

October 5, 2019

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Business / Miscellaneous

How to Enjoy Craft Fair Season as an Author (and Sell More Books): @charitybradford
Co-Writing Across Distance: Improve Your Non-Fiction Ideas, Clarity, and Writing Speed: @mkilby @johannarothman @thecreativepenn

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

Mexican-American Author Wins 2019 Top Watty Award: @Porter_Anderson @AshleighGardner @pubperspectives

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

Writers, Remember: The Wand Chooses The Wizard: @MBarker_190
Turn Your Dreams Into A Plot Generator: by Alexis Schaffer @WomenWriters

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Quotes

14 Neil Gaiman Quotes for Writers and About Writing: @robertleebrewer @WritersDigest

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

12 Books That Prove the Literary/Genre Distinction Is Bogus: @AnitaFelicelli @ElectricLit
5 Thrillers Featuring a Small Group of Friends: @cambriabrockman
7 Great Mysteries about Rare Books and Bibliophiles: @MarloweBenn @CrimeReads
Seven of Crime Fiction’s Most Terrifying Marriages: @Gina_LaManna @CrimeReads
Why We Will Always Love “The Masque of the Red Death”: @SD_Sykes @CrimeReads

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing

Do you like binge writing? Here’s why you shouldn’t: @pubcoach
How To Build a Sustainable Writing Practice: @kristen_kieffer
Defeat your procrastination and start writing: a 5-step guide: @beprolifiko

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer’s Block

Beating Writer’s Block: @davidfarland

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing Quickly

How to Consistently Write Faster (and More Efficiently): @DaveChesson @WritetoDone

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

Rob Hart: Five Things I Learned Writing The Warehouse: @robwhart @ChuckWendig
25 Tips for Writers: by Lynne Benton
Finding Balance: @KRBiel @WomenWriters
5 Things That Transformed One Writer’s Writing Life: @LindaCharles167 @jemifraser
One Writer’s Nanny Job to Support Her Writing: @Madeli63 @CrimeReads
How Well-intentioned Loved Ones Can Sabotage Your Writing Career: @annerallen
Finding the Right Writer Organization: @Julie_Glover
Writing and the Creative Life: The Tactile Experience of Writing: @GoIntoTheStory
What Readers Want: Is is a Personal Relationship with Authors? @annerallen
The Creative Introvert: @creativeintro @thecreativepenn
What If I Can’t Write Anymore? @AlisonRagsdale @WomenWriters
How Writing a Novel Is Like a Romance: @Janice_Hardy

Genres / Memoir

Memoir & Legacy: Writing about Summers Past: @writingthrulife

Genres / Mystery

Genealogy Research and the Crime Novelist: @KMLwrites @WritersDigest
Writing Engaging Cozy Mystery Series Hooks: Tips and Tricks: @Ellen__Jacobson

Genres / Romance

Writing the Western Romance: @ninsthewriter @WomenWriters

Genres / Screenwriting

Scheduling and Budgeting Film and TV for Beginners – Breaking Down a Script: @paulalandry @scriptmag
The TV Writer Spec Episode Database: @BittrScrptReadr
Screenwriting: Working as a Writers’ Assistant: Rules – the Complete List: @BittrScrptReadr

Promo / Ads

Should you pay to advertise your book? (Podcast): @BirdsOAFpress @davidpenny_

Promo / Blogging

How the Medium Partner Program Helps Writers Earn Money on Medium: @DaveSchoools @thewritelife

Promo / Miscellaneous

Develop a Reader Base, Not a Fan Base: @NewShelvesBooks @JFbookman
Audiobook Promotion for Indie Authors: @mlouisalocke @IndieAuthorALLI

Promo / Podcasts

How To Map Out A Podcast Script: @hollieivyblog @Writers_Write

Publishing / Miscellaneous

“The People in Publishing I Learn From”: @JaneFriedman
4 Ways Publisher Rocket Helps Indie Authors Thrive on Amazon: @DaveChesson
Steve Hamilton And The New ‘Disruptors’ In The Book Publishing Industry: @crtaylor33 @Forbes
Publishing with an independent press: (podcast): @LouiseHarnby @lemeryqgeq
Pros and Cons of Releasing 2 Books on the Same Day:

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Hugo Setzer Opens the IPA Middle East Seminar in Jordan: @Porter_Anderson @hugosetzer @IntPublishers @eitehadn @Bodour @PublisHerEvents
IPA Middle East Seminar: Digital Distribution, Audiobooks, and Resistance: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
UAE’s Noura Al Kaabi in Amman: ‘Nurturing Talent’: @Porter_Anderson @NouraAlKaabi @pubperspectives
The UK’s Publishers Association Schedules an ‘Urgent’ Brexit Forum: @Porter_Anderson @StephenLotinga @PublishersAssoc
Rising Traction for Indigenous Publishing in Australia: by Andrea Hanke @pubperspectives
Bodour Al Qasimi in Jordan: Take Publishing ‘Safely Into the Future’: @Porter_Anderson @Bodour @IntPublishers @pubperspectives
The Sheikh Zayed Book Prize’s Ali Bin Tamim: ‘Timeless Globalized Values’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
The Author’s Viewpoint: Arabic Fiction Laureate Ibrahim Nasrallah: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
UK Publishers Association Slams Trump’s EU Tariffs on Books: @Porter_Anderson @AmericanPublish @pubperspectives
Frankfurt’s Guest of Honor Norway: Maja Lunde’s ‘Snow Sister’ Film Rights: @Porter_Anderson @majalunde @pubperspectives

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing

3 Ways to Embarrass Your Editor or Agent: @bobhoss

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Pitches

How not to Screw up an Agent Pitch Session: by Linda Maye Adams @annerallen

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Rejections

5 Tips for Surviving Rejection: @ConstanceEmmett @DIYMFA

Publishing / Process / Book Design

Font Tips for Book Covers: by Christine Holmes @FloridaWriters1
Tips from a Cover Designer: @rachellwrites
Trending: Illustrated Romance Covers, Romcoms: @noirbettie @BookRiot

Publishing / Process / ISBNs

How to Get an ISBN Number for a Self-Published Book and Other ISBN FAQs: @ScottAllan2

Publishing / Process / Legalities

Plagiarism vs. Copyright Infringement: by Kelley Way @BethBarany

Publishing / Process / Translation

International Translation Day: Simon Bruni on Penning Paul Pen in English: @Porter_Anderson @SimonBruni @_PaulPen
The Daily Alchemy of Translation: @jenniferlcroft @nybooks

Writing Craft / Beginnings

10 Tips for Writing The First Chapter of Your Book: @jennamoreci

Writing Craft / Chapter Endings

Endings: Where to Start: @HouseRowena

Writing Craft / Characters / Development

Start with Character First: @LauraDrakeBooks

Writing Craft / Characters / Emotion

The 3 Ways to Show Emotion in Your Characters: @LiveWriteThrive

Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists

Destined and Wounded Heroes: by Antonio del Drago @mythicscribes

Writing Craft / Conflict

Key Types of Conflict: Which One Best Fits Your Story? @JordanDane

Writing Craft / Devices / Repetition

7 swift storytelling hacks for back story, description, dialogue, exposition, point of view and plot: @Roz_Morris

Writing Craft / Diversity

“Can I Rehabilitate the Trope of East Meets West?” by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants

Writing Craft / Drafts

How to Approach the Second Draft of Your Novel-in-Making: @EmmanuelNataf @LitReactor

Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film

Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye Offers a Master Class in Craft: @WriterUnboxed @NancyJAuthor

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

Life Into Fiction: Turning a True Event Into a Compelling Story: by Stephanie Kane @WritersDigest
Writing Your Story’s Set-up: @Lindasclare
9 Tips for a Satisfying Plot: @shaelinbishop
“What I Learned about Writing from Narrating Audiobooks”: @AnneJanzer

Writing Craft / POV

POV Basics: @victoria_grif7
How to Write First Person Point-of-View: @WriteToSell

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Naming

How to Choose a Book Title: by Tom Ashford @pbackwriter

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting

How to Tell if Your Story Has Too Much Plot, Not Enough Character: @KMWeiland

Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Research

Unusual Writing Tips: Dealing With Facts In Science-Based Fiction: by Sam Bleicher @thecreativepenn

Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar

This Is the Right Way to Capitalize Headlines: @JohnHMaher @The_Millions

Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques

Accepting Feedback with Grace and Perspective: @WillowWoodford

Writing Tools / Books

11 of The Best Self-Help Books for Writers: @sacha_black

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Published on October 05, 2019 21:02

October 3, 2019

Releasing Two Books on the Same Day

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

What made me decide to launch two titles on the same day? Besides a touch of insanity? I thought I might be able to pick up some exposure and sales for the first book in a new series if I released it at the same time as book 14 in an established series (Myrtle Clover). I was a little leery of releasing an unknown book out of the blue after writing established series for so long (the last time I launched a new series was circa 2012…it’s been a while).

The easiest part was writing two books at once. The hardest was definitely revising two books at once and then releasing them. My family has never complained about my writing getting in the way of our family time…until I decided on the dual release. They were not fans! At one point in the process, I was working 12 hour days 7 days a week on revision and setting up pre-orders.

This is apparently an unpopular approach with writers, as well, since I was unable to find any tips online. :) There were tips on releasing an entire series at once, but not books in different series.

Pros of releasing two books at once:

You can efficiently get two books launched with the same amount of promo effort as one. I made one graphic promoting both pre-orders for Facebook and one to announce the releases on Instagram. I pointed readers to a ‘coming soon’ page on my website that had information and buy-links for both books. I mentioned both books’ info in my reader newsletter.

If you release a new series alongside an older series, you can get some excellent exposure for the new series. I wasn’t sure how to garner attention for the new series at first. When I allowed it to tag along on the older series’ release, sales spiked. After all, there were readers looking out for the release in the older series. Some of them picked up both books.

I found that my sales for the new series rivaled the sales (sometimes even beat) the sales of book 14 in the other series. Once the new series gained some traction, it sometimes beat out sales of the older series. Maybe because it’s easier to commit to a book one than a book 14 in a series?

Cons of releasing two books at once:

The set-up for the launches is intensive. I go ‘wide’ with my books, so I had 5 or more dashboards up. I wanted both books to have a pre-order period, so I loaded them up about a month in advance. I ran into a couple of glitches at Amazon for both titles and keeping up with the glitches (while still wrangling the other business I was keeping up with…a couple of translation releases) was a challenge.

It’s easy to get confused. Tip: make yourself a checklist. During the pre-order period, I had a series of last-minute edits to come in (in stages) as well as ARC reader feedback. Sometimes I couldn’t remember if I’d uploaded a revised manuscript to all the different portals or had been interrupted in the middle before I could. Using a checklist helped me to keep on top of it.

Last minute changes will be stressful. See above. :) I made more last-minute changes to the manuscripts than I usually do and it was a challenge to update documents for two books.

Next time:

I promised my family there wouldn’t be a next time. But…the fact of the matter is that it was a lucrative approach for me. Since the new series is still so new, I’m trying a dual release again next month.

But this time, I’ll be sure to extend the pre-order period. I could have used more time, for sure. And I might alternate days for working on a project (upload everything for series A on one day and series B for another). I’d thought it’d be easier to upload everything for both series when I had all my dashboards open. Instead, I think it messed me up a few times.

Has anyone else been crazy enough to launch two books at once? Do you have any tips?

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Published on October 03, 2019 21:03

September 29, 2019

Writing Engaging Cozy Mystery Series Hooks: Tips and Tricks

by Ellen Jacobson, @Ellen_Jacobson

One of the quintessential hallmarks of a cozy mystery series is a hook such as the amateur sleuth’s hobby (knitting, quilting, gardening), profession (real estate agent, florist, archaeologist), place of business (library, bakery, antique shop), or setting (cruise ship, English village, campground). These recurring themes are an essential part of the series brand and keep readers coming back for more. They enjoy getting a peek into a world with which they may not be familiar or read about an activity that they already enjoy.

The hook for my Mollie McGhie cozy mysteries is sailing. The series is set at a marina in a small fictional town in Florida, my amateur sleuth and her hubby own a sailboat, and the characters in the books are involved in the local boating scene.

One of the challenges I face in writing this series is how to explain about sailing in a way that is, hopefully, fun and engaging to the reader who may not know anything about the subject without boring those folks who are experienced boaters.

I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve learned along the way. I’d also love to hear your thoughts on series hooks as a writer and/or reader in the comments below.

1 – Do your research

This goes without saying, but you should make sure that you know what you’re writing about. This doesn’t mean that you personally have to have knitted an afghan, sold a house, lived in an RV, owned a bookstore etc. After all, part of the fun of being a writer is putting your characters in situations you’ve never experienced yourself.

But it does mean that you need to do your research, whether that’s interviewing people, reading books, watching movies and TV shows, attending events related to the hook etc.

Even if you are familiar with your hook, you may still need to do some research. For example, even though I live aboard a sailboat, I’ve needed to ask my boating friends for their input on certain things such as the height of a catamaran and how long it takes epoxy to cure.

2 – Have one of your characters be a “newbie”

Now that you’ve done all your research, how do you weave it into your story without doing a mundane info-dump? In my first book, Murder at the Marina, I found it helpful to position my main character, Mollie, as a “newbie” to sailing. When her husband surprised her with a sailboat for their tenth wedding anniversary, she wasn’t impressed for two reasons: (1) she was hoping for diamonds and (2) she knew nothing about boats.

Because she was clueless about sailing, I could have her ask all the “dumb” questions about sailboats and have her express her confusion about boating terminology, equipment, operation etc. This enabled me to “explain” sailing to her (and the reader) through entertaining dialogue with various characters.

One of the things I’m finding more challenging as I progress through my series (I’m currently working on book #4) is the fact that Mollie isn’t a newbie anymore. She’s lived and worked on their boat for a while, she’s become part of the local community at the marina, and she’s taken part in local boating events. One of the tricks I’m trying out now is to have Mollie explain sailing to new “newbies.” It’s kind of amusing seeing how smug she can be at times and the fact that she surprises herself with how much she now knows.

3 – Use beta readers with a mix of knowledge about the hook

If you use beta readers, consider having some who have extensive experience with the hook and others who know nothing about it. My betas have really helped me with presenting accurate information about sailing in an interesting way that doesn’t go over non-sailors’ heads (or bore them to death).

4 – Keep it interesting

Cozy mysteries are supposed to be fun, lighthearted reads. They’re not meant to be technical guides or textbooks on your particular hook. One of the challenges as a writer is to select those tidbits which will be of interest to your reader, not cram in everything you know about the subject.

For example, I’ve done minor repairs on our marine toilet. I can imagine writing a funny scene where Mollie does something similar, but I certainly wouldn’t go into detail about what types of tools she would need, the step-by-step procedure for connecting the hoses to the holding tank, or what the stock numbers are for the replacement parts. First of all that would be really boring. Second of all, too much detail about toilets is pretty gross.

Instead, I try to write about things that non-boaters might find fascinating in order to provide them with a peek into a different kind of lifestyle. Things like communicating with your partner through hand signals when you’re dropping the anchor, participating in a sailing race, or what it’s like to climb up and down a ladder multiple times of day when you’re in the boatyard.

What about you—what kinds of series hooks do you like reading and/or writing about? What makes them interesting?

Want to know more about cozy mystery hooks? Check out what Elizabeth has to say:

Developing a Cozy Series: Hook

Cozy Mystery Hooks

Ellen Jacobson is the author of the Mollie McGhie Cozy Sailing Mystery series. She lives aboard a sailboat with her husband and an imaginary cat named Simon. You find out more on her website and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Get a FREE copy of her latest release—Robbery at the Roller Derby, a prequel novella—by signing up to her newsletter. Alternatively, you can get the ebook for 99c/99p at your favorite retailer or pick up the paperback edition.

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Published on September 29, 2019 21:02

September 28, 2019

Twitterific Writing Links

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Business / Miscellaneous

How to Establish a Long-Term Writing Career: Insight From Two Literary Agents: @sangeeta_editor @JaneFriedman
Content Warnings: How and What to Include? @JamiGold

Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous

Frankfurter Buchmesse Announces 2019 Film Awards Shortlists: @Porter_Anderson @Book_Fair @pubperspectives
German Book Prize Releases Its 2019 Shortlist: ‘Generational Shift’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Richard Charkin: An Ode to @Book_Fair (His 47th): @pubperspectives
Frankfurt’s Publishing Perspectives Talks: Climate, Women’s Leadership, Blockchain: @Porter_Anderson @Book_Fair @posth
DSC Prize for South Asian Literature Releases Its Longlist: @Porter_Anderson @thedscprize These authors and more: @chillakiles @devislaskar @fbhutto @JamilJanKochai @MirzaWaheed @writernzaman @rajkamaljha

Creativity and Inspiration / First Novels

5 Things to Consider Before Starting Your Novel: @MegLaTorre

Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting

3 Things to Evaluate as We Move into Fall: @EricaVetsch @SKRViLL

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration

Writing to Prompts: @DeniseCCovey @TheIWSG

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Quotes

12 Kurt Vonnegut Quotes for Writers and About Writing: @robertleebrewer @WritersDigest

Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers

We’ll Always Have Paris: On the Enduring Appeal of Ex-Pat Lit: @elliottholt @lithub
5 Books that Give Voice to Artificial Intelligence: @tansyrr @enoughsnark
How to Read Like a Writer: by Bucket Siler
Five Heroines Over the Age of Forty: @unamccormack @tordotcom
10 Debut Novels Nobody Reads Anymore—But Should: @knownemily @lithub
7 Novels About Struggling to Make Ends Meet: @Madeli63 @ElectricLit
Kuala Lumpur Noir: by Paul French @CrimeReads
Public Thinker: Leah Price on Books, Book Tech, and Book Tattoos: @mervatim @LeahAtWhatPrice @PublicBooks

Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing

Get More Done By Giving Yourself Less Time: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthors
10 Ways Writers Can Utilize Their Time: @sherrinda

Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life

The Myth of Author Multitasking: @mybookshepherd
Writing While Parenting: @PGGalalis
The Horror, The Horror: Rereading Yourself: @AdamOPrice @The_Millions
Negotiating Social Privilege as a Writer: @cashewcutlet
12 Tips for the Best Writing Life Ever: @EdieMelson
8 Signs You Are Afraid of Writing: @teachrobotslove @LitReactor
About That ‘Writing Vacation’: @Porter_Anderson @WriterUnboxed

Genres / Fantasy

101 Fantasy Tropes For Writers: @ChrisLukeDean @Writers_Write

Genres / Horror

10 Quick Tips About Writing Horror: @Stevevolkwriter @Bang2write

Genres / Miscellaneous

“In Rural Noir, I Found Myself”: @CrimeReads @LauraSMcHugh
How To Figure Out The Genre Of Your Book: by Robert Wood @standoutbooks

Genres / Mystery

The Female Carries the Mystery: @SPressfield
Baby’s First Mystery Fiction: @mollsotov89 @CrimeReads
I talk cozy mysteries in this podcast with @PodcastWhythe : @lpoling
Cozy Mysteries: When Your Sleuth Figures Things Out:
How To Write A Cozy Mystery – 10 Essential Elements of Cozies: @LisaLatteBooks
3 Reasons Female Writers are Addicted to True Crime: @FinishedPages @womenonwriting
Writing a Legal Thriller: A Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Tips: by Ed Rucker @WritersDigest

Genres / Non-Fiction

11 Ways to Improve Your Nonfiction Writing: @NinaAmir
Using Personal Pronouns in Nonfiction Book Writing: by Melissa Drumm @TCKPublishing

Genres / Romance

Golden Tips from RWA 2019: by Fae Rowen

Genres / Science Fiction

How to Publish Your Science Fiction Novel: @robertleebrewer @WritersDigest

Genres / Screenwriting

Great Scene: “Up”: @GoIntoTheStory
10 Keys To Great Screenplay Endings: by Mark Sevi @CreativeScreen

Promo / Book Descriptions and Copywriting

How Great Amazon Book Descriptions Help Indie Authors Sell More Books: @Bookgal
Tips for a Great Amazon Book Description from @Bookgal :

Promo / Book Reviews

How to Get Book Reviews as a New Author: @MegLaTorre

Promo / Miscellaneous

5 Ways To Improve Your Marketing By Varying The Length Of Your Writing: by Robert Wood @standoutbooks

Promo / Newsletters

Create an Author Newsletter Before You’re Published: @EJWenstrom @DIYMFA

Promo / Platforms

Branding Checkup: @DebraEckerling

Promo / Pricing

Amazon’s Unwritten Print Pricing Rule: @JohnDoppler @IndieAuthorALLI

Promo / Social Media Tips

7 Mistakes to Avoid While Promoting Your Book on Social Media: @danielamcvick @shaylaleeraquel

Publishing / Miscellaneous

How to Launch Your Book: @JillWilliamson @GoTeenWriters
Forbidden Books From Around The World in 2019: from Global English Editing
Opinion: The Trials and Tribulations of DIY Audiobooks: @AndreneLow @IndieAuthorALLI
Jesseca Salky Opens New Agency; Wattpad Partners in Latin America: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
An Interview with Pro Lyricist Justine Perry: @justine_perry @mellamusic
Hearst Launches Two Book Imprints, Partners with PRH on Distribution: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives

Publishing / News / Amazon

Points, Counterpoints: The Publishers v. Audible Lawsuit Lines Are Drawn: @Porter_Anderson @devlinhartline @LoisABridges
Amazon Original Stories Buys Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro Stories: @Porter_Anderson @RealGDT @pubperspectives @AmazonPub

Publishing / News / International Publishing

Bologna Tours Rodari Show; Denmark’s UNSILO Signs Cambridge: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Jordanian Publishers’ Union’s Fathi Al Biss: A Need for ‘Better Interaction’: @Porter_Anderson
Kamila Shamsie’s Rescinded Nelly Sachs Prize Fuels Criticism: @Porter_Anderson @kamilashamsie @alisonflood @KristennEinars1
China Bestsellers for August: Back to School and Light Fiction: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
South Africa’s Snapplify Announces US$2 Million in New Capital: @Porter_Anderson @Snapplify @pubperspectives
Four Viewpoints Ahead of the First IPA Middle East Seminar in Amman: @Porter_Anderson @HugoSetzer @IntPublishers @pubperspectives

Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying

Why Writers Shouldn’t Query Self-Published Books: @MegLaTorre

Publishing / Process / Book Design

The Cover Two-Step: @MelindaVan

Publishing / Process / Contracts

What Writers Need to Know About Morality Clauses: @carrievmullins @ElectricLit

Writing Craft / Characters / Antagonists

Persuasion and Your Story’s Moral Antagonist: @DonMaass

Writing Craft / Characters / Arc

Translating the Hero’s Journey Into a Linear Plan: @susanjforest @sfwa

Writing Craft / Characters / Development

The Beginner’s Guide to Props – Using Them to Show Character: @sarahjrexford @A3writers
Quick Character Quiz: @KMcCaughrain

Writing Craft / Conflict

Inner Conflict That Sparks Readers’ Emotions: @LiveWriteThrive

Writing Craft / Flashback and Back Story

How to Write Amazing Flashbacks: by Dana Isaacson @CareerAuthors

Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film

Sue Monk Kidd’s 10 Most Helpful Writing Tips: @Writers_Write

Writing Craft / Literary Devices

Assonance: Definition and Examples from Literature: @TCKPublishing

Writing Craft / Miscellaneous

Editor Roundtable: The Girl on the Train: by Leslie Watts @StoryGrid
What is “Gritty” Fiction? by T.L. Bodine
Make Room for Your Reader With an Interactive Reading Experience: @kcraftwriter @WriterUnboxed
Unusual Writing Tips: @aroomofmyown1 @WomenWriters
Six Common Forms of Bad Writing Advice: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants
How to Get the Most Out Of Your Characters: @AJHumpage
38 Americanisms the British Can’t Bloody Stand: by Gyles Brandreth @lithub
On Psychotherapists, Confessors and Other Narrative Conveniences: @emma_darwin
How to Evoke Reader Emotions With “Surprisingness”: @KMWeiland
Advice on Writing Thieves, Assassins, or Other Stealthy Characters: from A Thief’s War
4 Ways to Write a Better Novel: @Janice_Hardy

Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques

The 50 BEST Online Critique Circle to Take Your Writing to the Next Level: @ReedsyHQ

Writing Craft / Scenes / Conflict

Conflict Thesaurus Entry: Being Offered an Easy Way Out: @AngelaAckerman

Writing Craft / Series

How to Write a Series: 5 Lessons Learned: @scalkins3

Writing Craft / Settings and Description

Is It Better To Set Your Story In A Real or Fake Location? @StephMorrill

Writing Tools / Apps

Why Scrivener Is a Good Tool for Writers: by Rick Bettencourt @FloridaWriters1

Writing Tools / Resources

The 50 Best Writing Websites of 2019: @ReedsyHQ

The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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Published on September 28, 2019 21:02

September 26, 2019

How Great Amazon Book Descriptions Help Indie Authors Sell More Books

by Penny Sansevieri, @bookgal

The following is an excerpt from Penny Sansevieri’s newly released book, How to Sell Books by the Truckload on Amazon – 2020 Updated Edition! Learn how to turn Amazon into your 24/7 sales machine!

Whether we’re talking about Amazon, or any other e-tailer, book descriptions are more important than most authors realize.

Too many times I’ll see blocks of text pulled from the back of the book. In theory, it’s not the worst idea. However, it may not be the greatest idea if your book description isn’t strong to begin with, or if the book details are just slapped up on Amazon—or Barnes & Noble, iTunes and so on—without giving an eye to things like spacing, bulleting, shorter paragraphs, and boldface.

In this section we’ll discuss some ideas about book descriptions specifically, and then review some tips you may want to consider in order to enhance your own book description for maximum effectiveness on Amazon.

Is Your Book Description Memorable Whether It’s Scanned or Read Word-for-Word?

Most people don’t read websites; they scan. The same is true for your book description. If you have huge blocks of text without any consideration for spacing, boldface, bulleted lists, short paragraphs, or some other form of highlighting that helps the reader scan, it’s unlikely to attract readers. When your description is visually and psychologically appealing, it invites the reader to delve in instead of click off.

Book design, meaning the actual font on the pages, adopts this strategy, too. By having wide margins (referred to as gutters in the book design world) and spacing, and, in nonfiction, bulleted lists and even boxed-in pieces to highlight particular text, you invite the reader to read instead of doing a quick scan and rushing on.

Our minds are image processors, not text processors, so huge pieces of text that fill a page overwhelm the mind and, in fact, slow down the processing time considerably.

When we’re looking at websites, our attention span is even shorter than it is while reading a book. Even sites like Amazon—where consumers go to buy, and often spend a lot of time comparing products and reading reviews—it’s important to keep in mind that most potential readers will move on if your description is too cumbersome.

How can you make your description more scan-friendly?

Headlines: The first sentence in the description should be a grabber, something that pulls the reader in. This text could also be an enthusiastic review quote or some other kind of endorsement, but regardless, it should be bolded. In the case of your Amazon book page, you could also use the “Amazon Orange” to set your headline apart from the rest of the text.
Paragraphs: Keep paragraphs short at 2-3 sentences max.
Bolding: You can boldface key text throughout the description. In fact, I recommend it. Just be sure you aren’t using boldface too much. Don’t highlight two or three sentences in bold, because it’ll have more impact if you do just one sentence or a few keyword strings.
Bullets or Numbers: If your book is nonfiction, it can be very effective to bullet or number as much of your information as possible. Take key points and the “here’s what you’ll learn” elements and put them into a bullet point/numbering section that’s easy to scan and visually appealing.

Use Code to Enhance Your Amazon Book Description and Headline

How do you spruce up the text styles within your book description? There are several types of code you can use to enhance your headline and description. Keep in mind that you can’t make these changes to your headline via Author Central; it all has to be done from the KDP Dashboard. Although this won’t affect your algorithm per se, it will help make your book description more visually appealing.

Here are some of the coding enhancers available:

Bolding: The text you want bolded
Italics: The text you want italicized
Headline: The text you want for a headline
Amazon Orange Headline: The text you want for a headline in Amazon Orange

You can add in numbered lists and bullet points, too.

Answering Readers’ Most Important Question: “What’s in It for Me?”

The biggest challenge authors face is writing a book description that effectively highlights the book’s benefits for readers. This matters whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, and it’s a crucial part of any book description.

Remember, with 4,500 books published every day in this country, you can’t afford to have a vague, meandering book description. You must state clearly why your book is the best one they can buy.

This leads us to the differences between fiction and nonfiction when it comes to book descriptions.

Nonfiction

First off, it’s probably very likely that whomever you’re targeting already owns a few titles similar to the one you just wrote. Then why on earth should they add yours to their collection?

While you’re powering through your book description, keep in mind that you’re likely serving a very cluttered market. You need to be precise and vividly clear about why your book matters. You should hook the reader from the first sentence, and remember to make a personal connection with the reader via the book description.

Nonfiction shoppers are more often than not looking for the solution to a problem. They’re not browsing for their next beach read. So your book description needs to zero in on what that problem likely is, plus they need to feel like you understand them, and they need to be convinced you’re the best person to help them work through it.

And if you’re a noted expert in your field, with accolades to back it up, work those in briefly, because in this day and age it truly does set you apart. So do reviews by other experts in your field or industry, but keep them short and sweet—excerpts of the best parts are plenty. Save your full bio and complete reviews for the other sections Amazon gives you.

Fiction

Fiction is a bit tougher, because it’s easy to reveal too much, or not quite enough. For this reason, I encourage you to focus on developing your elevator pitch (see below), because that’s going to be your cliffhanger, or your readers’ key interest point in the book. Every other piece of the story anchors to that.

When it comes to fiction, buyers have a lot of options, so be clear about what your book is about, and lead with the hook. Your opening sentence should be the best you’ve got—because it might be the only chance you get. And don’t confuse not giving it all away with being vague. If you’re vague, the potential reader won’t experience the emotional connection they need in order to make them want to find out more. So give them a story arc to latch onto and leave them needing more.

Keep movie trailers in mind while you’re writing your fiction description. They often do an outstanding job of giving enough of the story to get you hooked without revealing so much it prevents you from watching it.

Book descriptions, whether on Amazon, iTunes, or Barnes & Noble, are your sales pitch. Ultimately, descriptions will or won’t sell your book, so make sure yours is tightly written, exceptionally engaging, and most of all, turns a browse into a buy.

Penny C. Sansevieri, Founder and CEO Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. She is an Adjunct Professor teaching Self-Publishing for NYU. She was named one of the top influencers of 2019 by New York Metropolitan Magazine.

Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most innovative Amazon Optimization programs as well as Social Media/Internet book marketing campaigns. She is the author of eighteen books, including How to Sell Your Books by the Truckload on Amazon, Revise and Re-Release Your Book, 5-Minute Book Marketing for Authors, and Red Hot Internet Publicity, which has been called the “leading guide to everything Internet.”

AME has had dozens of books top bestseller lists, including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal.

To learn more about Penny’s books or her promotional services, you can visit her web site at www.amarketingexpert.com.

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Published on September 26, 2019 21:02