Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 81
January 7, 2018
Finding Silver Linings in Goodreads Giveaway Changes, and 3 Alternatives
by David Wogahn, @wogahn
It seems like indie authors are under siege. First Pronoun, the free eBook distribution service, closed. Then Goodreads announced their free paperback giveaway promotion tool will no longer be free (as of tomorrow, January 9).
I know how upset some authors are about the latter change. But I imagine there are other groups of authors and publishers who see a silver lining.
Producing a quality paperback is more expensive than publishing in eBook format. For those self-publishers who publish in eBook format only, and who want to get in front of the largest audience of avid readers in the world, a high bar has now been lowered.
One of the arguments in favor of KDP Select is being able to give your Kindle eBook away for free, ostensibly to help encourage reviews and build your audience. The new Goodreads program has no such requirement, only that your book is available on the KDP publishing platform.
The program seems to have lost its effectiveness for some people. As shared with The Verge by Lesley Conner of Apex Publications, “We aren’t going to spend the small marketing budget we have on a service that we’ve already noticed isn’t that effective.”
A couple of years ago I read about one self-publisher’s giveaway strategy in the Independent Book Publishers Association Independent magazine: offer one book and do this continuously, well after the release date. Goodreads would give an offer like this the same marketing push as a Giveaway for a new release offering multiple copies.
Could this be a contributor to the ineffectiveness cited by Apex Publications and many others? I think so and I doubt it was Goodreads’ intention that the program be used this way.
2 reasons why I am not concerned
The level playing field perspective
I’m always disappointed when marketing opportunities favor traditionally published books over self-published books for no reason other than the name of the publisher. Anything that provides equal opportunity for self-publishers is a good thing in my mind.
When the Kindle eBook giveaway program was announced in May of last year, the cost was $119 and it was available only to traditional publishers. Self-publishers were excluded.
This new program is a win for self-publishers.
The P&L perspective
How much does it cost the indie or self-publisher to manage today’s Goodreads giveaway? One of my clients was charged $799 by a vanity press for an “Advertising and Giveaway on Goodreads w/ Resubmission & Cover Copy Polish.”
As originally envisioned, authors/publishers would give away several copies of a paperback. Based on this, here is the math for a 10-book giveaway:
Cost of print on demand books. For argument’s sake, let’s say those are $3.50 each, plus tax and shipping (to you), for a total of about $45.
Cost of supplies and postage to mail 10 copies to a U.S. address via media mail. Let’s assume an average cost of $3.50 each, or $35.00.
We’re at $80 in hard costs excluding the time to manage everything.
I realize that under the new policy these costs will be added to the program’s starting price of $119, but at least now the self-publisher isn’t required to invest in a paperback. And if you only give away your eBook, then your investment is essentially the same, assuming you value your time.
A side note about international giveaways: With the new program, it isn’t a question of whether the program will expand to other countries, it’s a question of when. That’s why the announcement says, “New Giveaways created on or after 1/9/18 will initially be open to US residents only.” (Emphasis mine.)
When it finally does roll out for international markets, an eBook giveaway will be a lot less expensive to run because authors and publishers won’t be required to mail paperbacks.
3 alternatives
Consider doing an Amazon giveaway instead. You’ll pay for the cost of your Kindle books, but there is no fee like there is with the Goodreads program.
Try using LibraryThing’s giveaway program. Amazon has a minority investment in LibraryThing but that wouldn’t seem to be enough leverage to force a policy change.
There are many blog tour organizers that offer books to readers on behalf of authors. Most charge a small fee, but it is often less than $119 and there is a higher probability of reviews being posted. Here are 5 random listings pulled from the 40 profiled blog tour organizers in the 9th edition of the Book Reviewer Yellow Pages (disclosure: I am the publisher):
Enchanted Book Promotions
iRead Book Tours
RBTL Book Promotions
Sage’s Blog Tours
Silver Dagger Book Tours
The real test comes once the fee goes into effect. There is little doubt in my mind that the sheer number of giveaways will decrease; the question is whether the new program will be effective enough for those paying to be in it. I for one will be surprised if the new program isn’t more effective.
David Wogahn is the publisher of The Book Reviewer Yellow Pages, published annually since 2009, and the president of AuthorImprints.com. He is also the author of Register Your Book, a Lynda.com publishing course, and a past instructor for IBPA’s Publishing University. Learn more at BookReviewerYellowPages.com.
3 Alternatives to Goodreads Giveaways by @wogahn
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January 6, 2018
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 43,000 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
Estate Planning for Authors: @mlbuchman @thecreativepenn
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration
Hear All of Mozart in a Free 127-Hour Playlist: @colinmarshall @openculture
5 Ways to Inspire Your Writing: @lornafaith
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers
5 Books that Rewrite Magic, Myths, and Ballads: by Jane Yolen @tordotcom
Creativity and Inspiration / Motivation
7 Ways to Boost Your Creative Motivation: @JadieJones1 @colleen_m_story
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing Quickly
3 Ways to Boost Your Word Count Every Writing Session: @Janice_Hardy
Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life
Calendars for Productivity:
Hey, Prospective Authors: You Have Plenty of Time. Just Keep Writing: by Chris Lough and @cloudy_vision
Writers need personal time off: @RosanneBane
Genres / Horror
Setting the Rules in Horror: by How to Fight Write
Genres / Mystery
Mystery writing: the importance of recurring regular characters: @mkinberg
Crime fiction: when characters don’t see others as they really are: @mkinberg
Genres / Picture Books
5 Things to Remember when Writing for Children: @scottishbktrust @AlanDapre
Genres / Poetry
Teaching Orphaned Girls to Be Heard Through Poetry: by Spencer Reece @ElectricLit
Promo / Ads
How Indie Authors Can Sell More Books with a Bookbub Deal: @Bookgal
Promo / Miscellaneous
How to Create Killer Graphics to Promote Your Writing: @EmilyWenstrom
Tips for Increasing Your Sales Rank on Amazon: @kikimojo
14 Ways Authors Can Cross-Promote Each Other’s Books: @DianaUrban
Promo / Platforms
How Beginning Writers Can Build a Platform: Benefits of Branding: @tessaemilyhall
Promo / Speaking
Step-by-Step Guide to Booking Speaking Engagements: @TCKPublishing
Promo / Websites
Unpublished Writers and Websites: Should You Have One and What Should It Say? @JaneFriedman
Publishing / Miscellaneous
Trends in UK, US Holiday Book Sales: @Porter_Anderson
Costa’s Book Award: Five Winners in the UK, One To Win Book of the Year: @Porter_Anderson
Disney Publishing Opens Sixth Annual Campaign to Benefit First Book: @Porter_Anderson
Publishing / News / International Publishing
British Book Awards Add New Honors: Illustrators, Authors, Audiobooks: @Porter_Anderson
One Analyst’s 2018 Look-Ahead: Russian Digital Content Set to Grow Fast: by Eugene Gerden @pubperspectives
Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing
Why You Should Be More Like @andyweirauthor : @jehunter5811
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing
How Long to Hear Back from a Publisher? @LisaTener
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Pitches
How to Write a Killer One-Line Hook for your Book or Screenplay: @patverducci
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying
10 Writing Submission Strategies to Get You Published: @manzanitafire
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Rejections
Why Rejection on a First Book Can Be a Blessing: @HannahFergesen
Rules of Writing: How to Create Your Own Rules: @RuthanneReid
Publishing / Process / Legalities
Canada Activates Its Copyright Modernization Act Five-Year Review: @Porter_Anderson
Freedom To Publish: Henry Holt Defies Trump Order on ‘Fire and Fury’: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Publishing / Process / Services to Avoid
Is that contest or writing award legit? A list of ratings: @JohnDoppler @IndieAuthorALLI
Publishing / Process / Translation
6 Reasons to Read Translated Literature: @NickyHarman_cn @WritersDigest
Writing Craft / Beginnings
Real Life Diagnostics: Is This Opening Working? @Janice_Hardy
Writing Craft / Characters / Antagonists
Start With the Villain: @SPressfield
Writing Craft / Characters / Development
How to Be Your Characters – Inside and Out: @JaymeMansfield
Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists
Writing Active Character Reaction: @Kid_Lit
Writing Craft / Characters / Supporting Characters
The Plight of Cop #3 (Make Minor Characters Add to Scenes): @JeffCohenwriter
Writing Craft / Common Mistakes
3 Ways To Get Rid of a ‘Writing Tic’: @rsmollisonread
Most Common Writing Mistakes: Purple Prose: @KMWeiland
Mary Sue and Why Readers Hate Her: @KristenLambTX
Writing Craft / Dialogue
Tips for Writing Dialogue in Fiction: @GinnyWiehardt
Writing Craft / Hooks
The Impossible Choice: A Surefire Way to Hook Your Readers: @Janice_Hardy
Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film
5 Writing Tips You Can Learn About Tension From “The Lion King”: by Jonathan Vars
Writing Craft / Miscellaneous
10 Quick, Innovative Questions For Your Female Characters: @Bang2write
How to Make a Story Flow: @AJHumpage
Writing By Design: A New Way To Envision Storytelling: @DIYMFA
How To Write About Video Games In Fiction: @FredBobJohn
Why You Shouldn’t Listen to Writing Tips Blogs: @_HannahHeath
Writing Craft / POV
(Too) Close Third Person: by Jeanne Kisacky @WriterUnboxed
Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting
Second Pinch Point: @ml_keller
Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Research
How to Write Horses Wrong: 8 Red Flags: @DanKoboldt
First Aid and Field Dressings for Writers: @slbscifi @DanKoboldt
6 ways research can turn into plagiarism (and how to avoid it): by Gail Radley @TheWriterMag
Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar
3 Cases of Missing Words and Phrases: @writing_tips
Parallel Structure and Parallelism: @NanReinhardt
Writing Craft / Revision
Rewriting: Fixing It Up: @Lindasclare
19 Self-Editing Tips For Your Writing: @WordDreams
Writing Craft / Scenes
2 Ways To Be Sure Your Scene Really Matters: @StephMorrill
Writing Craft / Settings and Description
Writing Descriptive Sentences: 6 Simple Rules: @nownovel
A Look at Masterful Character Description: @LiveWriteThrive
Writing Craft / Word Crafting
The Sentence That Folds Neatly in Half: by Jeff Dolven @parisreview
Other Ways to Say “Use”: A Word List for Writers: @KathySteinemann
Writing Tools / Apps
View Your Research in Composition Mode: @aprildavila
Writing Tools / Resources
Best of the Best: Free Resources to Power Up Your Writing: @AngelaAckerman
Writing Tools / Thesauri
Occupational Thesaurus Entry: Interpreter: @beccapuglisi
The top writing links from last week are on Twitterific:
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January 4, 2018
9 Lessons from Book Signings
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Book signings come in different shapes and sizes. Signing books after a conference panel is one thing. Signing them in a bookstore is something else. Signing them after a luncheon or book club meeting is again a different animal entirely.
Unless you have a large local network, signings in bookstores can be tricky. I’ve found that signings at conferences are mediocre, too. The times I’ve done best were signings right after book clubs or book-related luncheons/events.
Here are my tips for a better book signing:
Make sure there will be books there. While this sounds like a no-brainer, you’d be amazed how much miscommunication can happen between bookstores/conference organizers and the writer. Who is responsible for making sure books are there? If it’s the bookstore, you might want to remind them again in enough time to ensure the books are ordered and at the store.
Group signings, while frequently less nerve-wracking for authors, aren’t great for sales. When readers must walk up to a whole group of writers selling books at the same table (and they have a book budget), they usually feel badly about not buying everyone’s book. Sometimes they feel badly enough not to buy any books.
Ask how to spell every name. Never assume Jill is spelled J-i-l-l. It might very well be Jyll. Better yet, bring paper and a pencils for readers to write out how they want their books inscribed.
Have free things to give out on your table: candy, business cards, bookmarks, and postcards featuring your book.
Get the word out on social media: pin it as an event on Facebook and list it on your website.
Don’t feel chained to the table, especially at a bookstore event. Walking around or standing and handing out book-related promo might bring in more business.
If your signature is awful, a hybrid/italic approach may work better (take it from me). Bring good pen.
Be sure to have a quick and appealing description (logline) of your book at the ready.
Bring a list for readers to sign up for your newsletter.
Do you enjoy book signings? Have any tips that I’ve missed? And a question for you…where on the book do you sign? I’d always been told to sign on the title page….but I’ve had instances where I’d mailed signed books and people hadn’t found my signature because they expected it on the first page of the book. Where do you sign?
9 Tips for Better Book Signings:
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Photo credit: arbyreed via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA
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December 31, 2017
Calendars for Productivity
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Happy 2018!
I’m never much of a fan of resolutions, but I do like making sure at the beginning of each year that I’m organized.
With that in mind, here are the calendars that help me stay organized and on top of everything for the year. Since a writer’s life intersects with their homelife, there are also calendars listed that help organize my personal life. If both parts of my life are organized, there’s a hope of retaining writing life-personal life balance.
Production calendar for publishing
You don’t have to overthink this, and it can always be changed! Plan what you want to accomplish for the year: one book? More? Then pencil in those dates on your calendar for completion. Even better, get on your cover designer’s, freelance editor’s, and formatter’s calendars. Now you have something to work toward.
My cover designer always designs a book ahead for me. This ensures that I don’t run into any scheduling snags. (I do have to write back cover copy for a book that I haven’t written yet.)
Editorial calendar for blog (I use OneNote)
I used to put my blog’s editorial calendar on my Google calendar, but I found it more difficult to see upcoming posts and to make date changes. Now I use a page in OneNote (you could just as easily use Word).
Again, try not to overthink this. This is simply a place where I can list ideas for posts and resources to write them (or at least a note as to where my mind was going when I came up with the idea in the first place). I list all the dates that I blog and then put the ideas/blog titles beside them. This way I never feel as if I’m at a loss for what to post.
Google calendar for life
I use Google calendar for everything else (being sure to back it up). Everything that I need to remember goes on there and I have the calendar email me my daily agenda each day.
A bonus is that now I don’t have as much paper in my house. I copy the stuff over to the calendar and then throw the paper away.
Another nice thing is that I have my calendar with me all the time since it syncs to my phone.
Wall calendar for the big picture
Sometimes, though, the Google calendar isn’t enough. That’s when I’ll either print the month or week view of the calendar or look at my wall calendar. Sometimes, with a wall calendar, I get more of the big picture of how my week or month looks…and any scheduling conflicts that I might have.
Do you use a calendar? What type do you use?
4 calendars to help writers with a more productive 2018:
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December 30, 2017
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 43,000 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.
Happy New Year!
Business / Miscellaneous
2 Types of Events Authors Need on Their Calendar: @cksyme
Create Diverse Income Streams to Build Your Brand and Income: by Michael Larsen
Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous
UNESCO World Arabic Language Day (the World’s 5th Most-Spoken Language) Features Sharjah’s Al Qasimi: http://ow.ly/O7L030hi1Z1 @Porter_Anderson
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration
5 Ways To Help Inspire Your Writing: @lornafaith
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers
The 7 Scariest Little Girls in Literature: by Natalee Cruz @ElectricLit
Slow Journeys – Why we read: @Roz_Morris@isabelcostello
5 Books That Have Fun Mashing Up Subgenres: @jamesagard @tordotcom
Why Art is So Important During Turbulent Times: @KarisRogerson @LitReactor
10 Fictional Characters That We Just Love to Hate: @Keith_Rice1 @SignatureReads
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer’s Block
What Writers Think about How to Start Writing: @the_writing_pal
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing Quickly
5 Must-Have Habits for Writing a Book in a Month: @NinaAmir
Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life
What will carry you through as a writer: @rxena77
How to Maintain Your Writing Sanity During the Holidays: @SpunkOnAStick @TheIWSG
“I Pretended to Be Emily Dickinson on an Online Dating Site”: by Erin Bealmear @ElectricLit
Self Doubt Never Really Goes Away: @losapala
6 Things Writers Can Do This Holiday Season: @deborahdeetales
Balancing Writing During the Holidays: @AuthorSAT
Genres / Horror
Horror Story vs. Horror Novel: @wickerkat
Genres / Literary Fiction
The UK’s Alarm for Literary Fiction: @JonnyGeller @Porter_Anderson
Genres / Mystery
Internal dialogue as an element in crime fiction: @mkinberg
Genres / Non-Fiction
The business end of biography: @Janet_Reid
Promo / Blogging
How to Use Lists Effectively in Your Blog Posts: @problogger
Promo / Book Descriptions and Copywriting
Book description tips: @AndreaWriterlea
Promo / Connecting with Readers
Finding Your Readers: @tessaemilyhall
Promo / Miscellaneous
Tutorial: How to Open a Zazzle Store: @LynneCantwell
‘5 Things I’m Not Doing to Launch My Book—Plus What I’m Doing Instead’: @DeannaCabinian at @JaneFriedman
Promo / Newsletters
Understanding Newsletter Ads: @MarcyKennedy
Why authors should have a newsletter: @JanalynVoigt
Promo / Platforms
7 Best Ways to Build an Authentic Author Brand: @SmartAuthors
Publishing / Miscellaneous
The Best Tools for Kindle Self Publishing: @kikimojo
Publishing / News / Amazon
10 Myths and Misunderstandings about Amazon: @JohnDoppler @IndieAuthorALLI
Publishing / News / Data
Trends in Children’s Books: Five 2018 Predictions from Scholastic: @Porter_Anderson
Publishing / News / International Publishing
Germany’s Indie Autor Preis 2018 Opens; Healthy Habits for Writers: @Porter_Anderson @thecreativepenn
November 2017 Bestseller Lists from China: Literature and Current Affairs: @Porter_Anderson
Rights Roundup: Deals Reported From Sweden, Poland, Brazil, Spain: @Porter_Anderson
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction Observes Its 50th Anniversary in 2018: @Porter_Anderson
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing
Why Pursue Traditional Publishing? (Are There Enough Good Reasons?) by Kristen Tsetsi @JaneFriedman
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying
Contacting agents when you have a contract from a publisher in hand: @Janet_Reid
Publishing / Process / Legalities
4 Legal Myths for Authors, Debunked: @EmmanuelNataf @ReedsyHQ
Publishing / Process / Translation
Translator challenges: survey respondents state translation earnings are a fraction of their income: http://ow.ly/WMaa30hi2mA @Porter_Anderson
Writing Craft / Beginnings
Plunge into Story Action—and Genre: @kcraftwriter
Writing Craft / Common Mistakes
Don’t Over Explain: Readers Get It the First Time: @ZoeMMcCarthy
Writing Craft / Dialogue
Diversifying Your Characters’ Voices: @beccapuglisi
Writing Craft / Flashback and Back Story
How To Use Flashbacks: @patverducci
Writing Craft / Literary Devices
How Great Writers Develop the Theme of a Story: @mattgrantwriter
Writing Craft / Miscellaneous
5 Tips For Fairy Tale Retellings: @jules_writes
Writing Fiction Using Family History: @anngborn2write
Secret Writing Rules and Why Writers Should Ignore them: @annerallen
6 Tips About Academic Writing: @ThaxRomana
Liberating Over-Burdened Stories: by Chris Winkle @mythcreants
Using current events in fiction: by Brandi Reissenweber @TheWriterMag
Writing Craft / POV
A Character’s POV = A Character’s Truth: @sarahrcallender @WriterUnboxed
Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar
3 Types of Superfluous Use of Semicolons: @writing_tips
Our Love-Hate Relationship with Punctuation: @StephenJSpector @lithub
Writing Craft / Scenes
Writing Scenes That Work (Every Time): @rsmonterusso @StoryGrid
Writing Craft / Word Crafting
What’s Your “Cinnamon Word”? The Stats on How Authors Use Language: @AZinosAmaro
Writing Tools / Resources
Using a word crawl as a writing challenge: @EvaDeverell
Uncategorized
The 7 Differences Between Professionals and Amateurs: @JeffGoins #TopTweets2017
The Ultimate Guide to YA Fiction: by Emma Johnson @WritersEdit #TopTweets2017
Self-Publishing a Debut Literary Novel: The Actions, The Costs, The Results: @hellothefuture @janefriedman #TopTweets2017
And here is the list of the top tweets of 2017 (with the most interaction and engagement on Twitter):
In Defense of Third Person: http://ow.ly/ZRpP30gxu4X @AdamOPrice @The_Millions #TopTweets2017
A Selection of Virginia Woolf’s Most Savage Insults: http://ow.ly/NqCH30h9N9z @knownemily #TopTweets2017
9 Writing Rules Examined: http://ow.ly/j0zB30fGHpB @KathySteinemann #TopTweets2017
How to Show Your Character Is Beginning to Heal: http://ow.ly/O1lH30gdon6 @AngelaAckerman #TopTweets2017
Writing Scene Breaks and Transitions that Develop Story: http://ow.ly/y6wC30fZ5B4 @nownovel #TopTweets2017
How do I do my own audio-book narration? http://ow.ly/4V5h30fSToA @raygreenleyvo #TopTweets2017
Switching From Querying Agents to Querying Publishers: http://ow.ly/6kFz30fo9QS @KristenBrakeman @WomenWriters #TopTweets2017
How to Write a Book With Traumatic Brain Injury: http://ow.ly/5jJT30fuhGZ @AlicePoet @lithub #TopTweets2017
6 Writing Books Librarians Recommend: http://ow.ly/sqr330fSf1N @librarylore #TopTweets2017
What makes a good fiction editor? http://ow.ly/TywC30fm4RV @LouiseHarnby #TopTweets2017
How a Month of NaNoWriMo Can Lead to a Lifetime of Better Writing http://ow.ly/R6VY30fSeMo @grantfaulkner #TopTweets2017
“What I Learned from Failing NaNoWriMo”: http://ow.ly/UqVz30fEVZP @emi1y_morgan #TopTweets2017
Should You Self-Publish or Try to Get an Agent? 4 Questions Can Help you Decide: http://ow.ly/X6ux30h9Mrz @ChuckSambuchino @TheIWSG #TopTweets2017
Historical Novels: Your Research To-Do List: http://ow.ly/I2kK30h9MJg @LydiaYKang #TopTweets2017
12 Unusual And Achievable Productivity Hacks For Writers: http://ow.ly/yiI530f1GrD @Bang2write #TopTweets2017
“The Time I Moved to New York City to Be a Poet”: http://ow.ly/YKRg30f2n2I @Jrbialosky @lithub #TopTweets2017
How Many Words in a Novel? Our Editors Have the Answers: http://ow.ly/xQpV30fv2KD @ReedsyHQ #TopTweets2017
Writing Secondary Characters That Pop: And Sell More Books: http://ow.ly/2n0230fi8hx @jenniferprobst @JaneFriedman #TopTweets2017
The Heart of Picture Books: http://ow.ly/aOme30eSQbq @JulieFHedlund #TopTweets2017
Want to Get More Readers? Get Rid of your Subscription Popup! http://ow.ly/DUpA30fexE4 @annerallen #TopTweets2017
10 essential books for writers: http://ow.ly/hEs030eVvbf @jonreed #TopTweets2017
Podcast interview with publishing expert @thecreativepenn: http://bit.ly/2w3fso0 @writerscast #TopTweets2017
5 Secrets to Writing a Fascinating Memoir: http://ow.ly/b4OR30f2mrP by Dan Emmett @WritersDigest #TopTweets2017
The Birth of American Noir: http://ow.ly/hruW30h8rTd @meganeabbott @parisreview #TopTweets2017
5 Things You Can Do Right Now to Improve Your Manuscript: http://ow.ly/loxw30h8rW9 @LoucindaMcGary #TopTweets2017
How Movies Can Help You Become a Better Writer: http://ow.ly/BPIG30h8s0d by Joan Lennon @scottishbktrust #TopTweets2017
A Guide to Dramatic, Situational and Verbal Irony: http://ow.ly/qBMT30e5tfX @reedsyhq #TopTweets2017
Book Promotion: Do This, Not That: http://ow.ly/3rfb30dZxd1 @NewShelvesBooks @JFbookman #TopTweets2017
How to Take Edits 101: http://ow.ly/n7Sw30eHbjh @ChristophPaul_ #TopTweets2017
Naming Fantasy Characters and Making Sure They’re More Than Just Names: http://ow.ly/vdAr30ecz8N @writer_anthony #TopTweets2017
The beta reading process: 10 critical steps: http://ow.ly/WS3030eF7n4 @kseniaanske #TopTweets2017
5 Tips for Writing Better Subplots: http://ow.ly/HNz730eqAQo @nownovel #TopTweets2017
13 Ways To Help An Indie Author With Their Book Release: http://ow.ly/HwsO30eGmDC @HelenScheuerer #TopTweets2017
What Writers Think about How to Start Writing: http://ow.ly/Nnxn30hrWs6 @the_writing_pal #wkb36
How To Choose the Best Book Cover for Your Book: http://ow.ly/EM1F30e0sye @SukhiJutla #TopTweets2017
Women in Publishing and ‘the Lack of Men’: http://ow.ly/M9xJ30e7sCK @sophiedeclosets @porter_anderson @pubperspectives #TopTweets2017
A Reading List for Stronger Creative Nonfiction: http://ow.ly/UQC130h7Wc3 @kayladeanwrites #TopTweets2017
How to Create Pre-Launch Buzz for Your Book Right Now: http://ow.ly/Tw8H30h7Wf8 @BadRedheadMedia #TopTweets2017
Self-Publishing a Debut Literary Novel: The Actions, The Costs, The Results: http://ow.ly/rKov30h7Wjd @hellothefuture @janefriedman #TopTweets2017
Why Being a Literary Agent Doesn ‘t Make It Easier to Write a Book: http://ow.ly/48cp30dXgdE @kate_mckean #TopTweets2017
7 Book Launch Lessons: http://ow.ly/jdlo30dXhta @sacha_black #TopTweets2017
The Ultimate Guide to Writing Literary Comedy for Beginners: http://ow.ly/61bV30e39zO @paulpaulkeegan @writingtipsoasi #TopTweets2017
10 Questions to Test your Poetry Knowledge: http://ow.ly/PcRL30e39PO by Joanne Jeffries @My_poetic_side #TopTweets2017
Social media tips and platforms for writers: http://ow.ly/7jTZ30dXi5Q @bailey_belmont #TopTweets2017
Writing Memoir: Where’s the Conflict? http://ow.ly/irCO30dXiqe @writingthrulife #TopTweets2017
The Impact of Character Transformation in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: http://ow.ly/EfSu30dXiHu by Cory Milles @savethecat #TopTweet2017
Writing an Action Story: 8 Tips for Zippy Pace: http://ow.ly/SMMT30h7mrX @nownovel #TopTweets2017
5 Tips from Hemingway that Will Make You a Better Writer: http://ow.ly/AOzS30h7mbC @NicoleJBianchi #TopTweets2017
How to Write in an Authentic Historical Voice: http://ow.ly/f4io30h7mg1 @KMWeiland #TopTweets2017
The DIY MFA: http://ow.ly/oOWW30h7mqv @diymfa by Jeff Tamarkin @TheWriterMag #TopTweets2017
Writing Tips: Creating Believable Characters: http://ow.ly/7d2l30cOlbr @grace_writelife @thecreativepenn #TopTweets2017
How Much Character Description Does Your Story Need? http://ow.ly/EpRG30cOkQX @hodgeswriter #TopTweets2017
New to Book Publicity? Go Local First: http://ow.ly/fETd30cOFbi @PublicityHound #TopTweets2017
5 Steps to Better Character Development: http://ow.ly/FLBX30dc1yc @JeremyJmenefee #TopTweets2017
‘Booksellers are alarmed about geo-blocking and its potential effects on ebook sales’: http://ow.ly/boby30dc74a @Porter_Anderson #TopTweets2017
Podcast: @JohnGrisham’s book tour (and his conversations with other authors): http://ow.ly/gBlN30dciYx , http://ow.ly/853W30dctuK #TopTweets2017
How to write better LGBT characters: http://ow.ly/qu5b30cOFwg @daisy_and_me #TopTweets2017
6 Cheap(er) Cities Where It ‘s Great to be a Freelance Writer: http://ow.ly/Tzhi30cOFBY @ElenTurner #TopTweets2017
White collar crime in crime fiction: http://ow.ly/9pwo30dcbCc @mkinberg #TopTweets2017
5 Ways to Keep Your Writing Moving Forward: http://ow.ly/6eZi30cOFH4 @terrywhalin #TopTweets2017
Preparing your Goodreads marketing timeline: http://ow.ly/lW5R30dd3v5 @cincindypat #TopTweets2017
3 Tips For Writing Great Chapters: http://ow.ly/33Hp30h63rI @theladygreer #TopTweets2017
How To Assign A Character’s Race In A Screenplay: http://ow.ly/aejk30bFi1x @Bang2write #TopTweets2017
Want to Become a Successful Writer? Develop Your Intuition: http://ow.ly/M5I430bQhxx @AngelaAckerman #TopTweets2017
7 Things To Do When You Want to Give Up (Instead of Giving Up): http://ow.ly/Zigr30bUieM @DanicaDavidson @WritersDigest #TopTweets2017
J.K. Rowling’s Latest Advice Will Inspire You To Pick Up Your Pen And Write: http://ow.ly/wWm330bvBfY @emmaoulton @bustle #TopTweets2017
Mining Your Life for Your Stories: http://ow.ly/9GyQ30bSwk6 @KateMoretti1 #TopTweets2017
Balancing Writing During the Holidays: http://ow.ly/W64Y30hpOID @AuthorSAT #wkb31
Classic Story Structures and What They Teach Us About Novel Plotting: http://ow.ly/UzaQ30bHYMq @jesslourey @JaneFriedman #TopTweets2017
Storytelling Through Costume: The Woman in White: http://ow.ly/hXUg30aWH3R @gaileyfrey @tordotcom #TopTweets2017
6 Things Writers Can Do This Holiday Season: http://ow.ly/PTvM30hpOmV @deborahdeetales #wkb31
The 7 Differences Between Professionals and Amateurs: http://bit.ly/2iZyXIJ @JeffGoins #TopTweets2017
An Agent on Why Authors Need to Dump the Elevator Pitch: http://ow.ly/5mwC30h4AJN @BookEndsJessica #TopTweets2017
The Ultimate Guide to YA Fiction: http://ow.ly/7WUf30h4AQx by Emma Johnson @WritersEdit #TopTweets2017
How to Get Going with MailChimp and Email Marketing: http://ow.ly/VPxn30h4B2j @CaballoFrances #TopTweets2017
How NOT to start your novel: Six First Page No-Nos: http://ow.ly/F3rX30h4Bf8 @annerallen #TopTweets2017
How To Write Creative Nonfiction: http://ow.ly/QFft30aoOg5 @woodwardkaren #TopTweets2017
International Publishers Association Issues Freedom to Publish Manifesto: http://ow.ly/5KE130aTGVG @Porter_Anderson @IntPublishers #TopTweets2017
5 Steps to find Character Names: http://ow.ly/YtmB30a1S4o @nownovel #TopTweets2017
How description works in our stories: http://ow.ly/krwz30auDdZ @PBRWriter #TopTweets2017
How to Write Without Approval: Reasons to Keep Writing When it’s Tough: http://ow.ly/upxW30a3w7K @AGHackney #TopTweets2017
How to Format a Book: 10 Tips Your Editor Wants You To Know: http://ow.ly/B6xb30aUjOS @batwood @thewritelife #TopTweets2017
8 Highly Unusual Writing Residencies: http://ow.ly/jTdy30aapSu @knownemily #TopTweets2017
5 Reasons Fellow Writers Are Essential to Your Writing Life: http://ow.ly/EJTa30aFOF2 @jessicastrawser @WritersDigest #TopTweets2017
The Writer As Public Figure vs. The Writer Who Actually Writes: http://ow.ly/tm4P30h3520 @Ramqvist #TopTweets2017
16 Things All Historical Fiction Writers Need to Know: http://ow.ly/GHf530h354Y @IGLAbooks #TopTweets2017
How to Identify & Avoid Some Common Bad Publishing Deals: http://ow.ly/nARG30h35kq @SusanSpann @RMFWriters #TopTweets2017
The Dos and Don’ts of Dialogue Tags: http://ow.ly/WZtb30h35BM @HelenaFairfax #TopTweets2017
Using Repetition to Produce Parallel Structure: http://ow.ly/OMQn309JKpQ @writing_tips #TopTweets2017
Should You Use Kindle Pre-order? http://ow.ly/AnzD309PdBn @loishoffmanDE #TopTweets2017
6 Best Podcasts For Writers Who Want to Sell More Books in 2017: http://ow.ly/DPX5309HzUQ @cksyme #TopTweets2017
How to finish a novel: tracking a book’s progress from idea to completion: http://ow.ly/MR0Z30a4qZO @Wylmenmuir @beprolifiko #TopTweets2017
A 10-step book launch plan to outrank bestselling authors: http://ow.ly/aRvP309bnjZ @Creativindie #TopTweets2017
Writing, brotherhood, and the narrative of autism: http://ow.ly/GKvG309lHpv @mattmastricova @ElectricLit #TopTweets2017
4 Truths to Change Your Perspective on the Writer/Editor Relationship: http://ow.ly/zfhl3095Tpi @jessicastrawser #TopTweets2017
5 Tips for Querying & Choosing a Literary Agent: http://ow.ly/SXJH309CHvH @BriannaShrum @WritersDigest #TopTweets2017
Hyphenation Rules for 35 Prefixes (and 1 Suffix): http://ow.ly/7sYE309LaE9 @writing_tips #TopTweets2017
What not to do at an author festival: http://ow.ly/AH3230h34mu @Elfwriter #TopTweets2017
Getting Our Books into US and International Libraries: http://ow.ly/1jdM30h34E2 #TopTweets2017
Tackling the Dreaded Synopsis: http://ow.ly/fgdZ30h34Kt @jkolin27 @OpAwesome6 #TopTweets2017
How Much Description Do You Need in Your Writing? http://ow.ly/C5Ul308GIUc @katekrake #TopTweets2017
5 Mistakes Authors Make on Social Media: http://ow.ly/uCLH308PVIs by Michael Cristiano #TopTweets2017
Top 10 Trends in Reading and Book Apps for Children: http://ow.ly/5RjA308BoUa @Porter_Anderson @elisayuste #TopTweets2017
How To Become a Good Writer: 50 Quotes From The Greats: http://ow.ly/1uhP308sWYy @WritetoDone #TopTweets2017
Writing Income: What 1 Writer Made in 2016: http://ow.ly/yLkO308VxXV @KameronHurley #TopTweets2017
Staring into the Soundless Dark: On the Trouble Lurking in Poets’ Bedrooms: http://ow.ly/SGyM308sX3x by Andrew Kay @The_Millions #TopTweets2017
Plotting A Blockbuster Thriller: http://ow.ly/Sixd308wwUh @Chris_Kokoski #TopTweets2017
A Complete Guide and Resources for Choosing Your Book Cover Font: http://ow.ly/du6V3092WBO @publishdrive #TopTweets2017
3 Reasons You Don’t Need Experience to Write a Great Story: http://ow.ly/5uBf30gZLEk @bradtaylorbooks @SignatureReads #TopTweets2017
Pixar & Khan Academy Offer a Free Online Course on Storytelling: http://ow.ly/APdS30gZLKT @openculture @AyunHalliday #TopTweets2017
Selecting the Right Sentence Structure for the Right Emotion: http://ow.ly/djSn30gZLWF @SeptCFawkes #TopTweets2017
10 Tips To Up Your Book Marketing Skills Right Now: http://ow.ly/TpJL30gZMfg @BadRedheadMedia #TopTweets2017
4 ways not to start a novel: http://ow.ly/zLKY307mUaL @jasonbougger #TopTweets2017
How to Find Your Agent Match: http://ow.ly/2Iu6307eqNo @SusanSpann #TopTweets2017
5 Things an Author Did Wrong In Her (First) Novel: http://ow.ly/60Qt307Rj0w @GillianMAuthor #TopTweets2017
20 self-publishing dos and don’ts: http://ow.ly/FOaG307mUSJ @kseniaanske #TopTweets2017
7 Reasons Writers of Serious Novels Should Use Humor in Their Fiction: http://ow.ly/EUyN3079pzT @deangloster @WritersDigest #TopTweets2017
5 successful authors on daily word count goals: http://ow.ly/DxX8307P07s @raimeygallant @benjaminsobieck @heatherezell @pintipdunn #TopTweets2017
Rosarium’s Faces of Diverse Publishing: ‘Just Get Out of Our Way’ http://ow.ly/YMh2308iv5z @Porter_Anderson @RosariumBill #TopTweets2017
First Chapters: Draw in your Reader: http://ow.ly/yF6j307P2Po @annerallen #TopTweets2017
2 Exercises to Maximize Your Creativity First Thing in the Morning: http://ow.ly/8qYU30gZK5r Todd Brison #TopTweets2017
2 Exercises to Maximize Your Creativity First Thing in the Morning: http://ow.ly/8qYU30gZK5r @ToddBrison #TopTweets2017
6 Best Cocktails From Classic Literature: http://ow.ly/b76030gZKiU @rosmance @ElectricLit #TopTweets2017
6 Best Cocktails From Classic Literature: http://ow.ly/b76030gZKiU @rosmance @ElectricLit #TopTweets2017
What to Write in the Bio Section of Your Query Letter: http://ow.ly/w9jx30gZKmP @ChuckSambuchino #TopTweets2017
9 Steps to Self-Publish Your Print Book Using CreateSpace: http://ow.ly/83W930gZL7j @lornafaith #TopTweets2017
The top writing links from last week are on Twitterific:
Click To Tweet
The post Twitterific Writing Links appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.
December 16, 2017
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 43,000 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.
Happy Holidays to all who celebrate. I will be taking a blog break until I return two weeks from today for an especially long Twitterific that will include my top shared links for 2017.
Business / Miscellaneous
6 Tips to Survive a Writing Disaster:
3 Reasons Your Book Might Not Be Selling: @AuthorMelindaC @IndiesUnlimited
How to Build a Business Around a Book: @JimKukral @thecreativepenn
How to work with difficult editors: @pubcoach
Creativity and Inspiration / First Novels
How to Write Your First Fiction Novel for Adults: @georgialouclark @WomenWriters
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration
200+ Short Story Ideas… And How to Come Up With Your Own: @ReedsyHQ
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Quotes
“The 10 Writing Quotes that Shape My Writing Process”: @rsrajan1
Creativity and Inspiration / Motivation
What IS a Writer’s Job? @FaeRowen
8 Reasons to Write Your Book Now: @lornafaith
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing
6 Habits To Develop If You Want To Be Truly Productive: @KarenBanes
Handling distraction as a writer: @LeeConell @glimmertrain
How to keep writing after NaNoWriMo 2017: @beprolifiko
Finding Work-Life Balance with Writing: @ShelleyWidhalm
How to Schedule Your Writing Time: @paulalandry @scriptmag
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / When to write
Maybe You Don’t Need to Write Every Day: @SchollAnnie @brevitymag
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing Quickly
How to Write A 5 Day Novel: @ScottKing @lornafaith
Got 15 Minutes? How to Write 500+ Words: @colleen_m_story @AngelaAckerman
Professional romance novelists can write 3,000 words a day. Here’s how they do it: @qz @thuhuongha
How to Overcome Perfectionism to Boost Your Writing Productivity: @colleen_m_story @WritetoDone
Creativity and Inspiration / Success
JK Rowling’s 8 Rules of Writing: @RuthanneReid
Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life
7 Ways to Keep Your Book Alive When You Don’t Have Time to Write It: @LisaTener
How Long Is Writing Supposed to Take? @jbakernyc @ElectricLit
Healing from Grief: Pixar’s Up: @mari_ness @tordotcom
Sleep Better with a Shutdown Routine:
The benefits of journaling for writers: @MarshaIngrao @pokercubster
Am I Still a Real Writer If I Don’t Feel Compelled to Write? @egabbert @ElectricLit
“How I Use Yoga to Achieve Writing-Life Balance”: @melissagmcphail @colleen_m_story
7 ways writers can stay sane during the holidays: @pubcoach
5 steps to Creative Focus, in sickness and in health: @knittahknits
How to Get Your Creative Brain to Sleep: @colleen_m_story
Finding Solace in Bookstores, in the Face of Cancer: by Mary Ladd @lithub
Genres / Fantasy
How to Come Up with Names for the Characters in Your Fantasy Book: @JillWilliamson @GoTeenWriters
5 Essentials of Historical Fantasy: by Andrew Falconer @mythcreants
Genres / Memoir
Writing the Memoir: @Lindasclare
Genres / Mystery
What should you know when writing a mystery? @MarilynLevinson
Genres / Romance
Writing Romance? Avoid These 5 Mistakes When Crafting Relationships: @BellaRosePope
Genres / Screenwriting
Screenwriting: THIS Is The Difference Between Amateur And Pro Writers: @Bang2write
Genres / Young Adult
LGBTQ Characters: How to Write for the YA and MG Audiences: @FreemanAloha @WritersDigest
Promo / Ads
What’s Ahead For Facebook Ads in 2018? @cksyme
Promo / Blogging
10 Simple Steps to Steady Blogging: @DanBlank
Tips for better blog posts: @pubcoach
Promo / Connecting with Readers
Generating Book Sales: How to Convert Potential Readers into Buyers: @KimberleyGrabas
Promo / Miscellaneous
5 International Sales Strategies for Indie Authors: @Bookgal
Don’t stop with the book launch: @sandrabeckwith
How to Overcome Book Marketing Overwhelm: @SmartAuthors
Promo / Newsletters
5 Myths About Email Marketing for Authors: @timgrahl
Promo / Social Media Tips
The Writer’s Guide to Social Media Organization: @diannmills
5 Ways to Create Quality Content for Social Media: by Phil Stamper-Halpin @penguinrandom
Publishing / Miscellaneous
Wattpad reports on 2017 trends and what’s coming up in 2018: @Porter_Anderson @AshleighGardner @wattpad
US libraries seek non-English content (greatest needs in Chinese, Arabic, Spanish): @Porter_Anderson
Bowker Data to Power Siteabook; VitalSource To Partner With eCampus: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Publishing / News / International Publishing
Cambridge University Press Content Sharing Platform in Pilot Launch: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Helsinki Literary Agency Authors Win Finlandia Prize and Junior Prize: @Porter_Anderson
Book Aid International on Track in ‘Inspiring Readers’ in Africa: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Pitches
Pitching Your Work at a Conference: by Bryan Fagan @aprildavila
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Rejections
Tips for dealing with rejections: @writingfriend
Publishing / Process / Book Design
5 Ways a Professional Cover Design Can Boost Book Sales: @RicardoFayet @ReedsyHQ
Writing Craft / Characters / Arc
How to Define Your Character’s Story Goal: @kristen_kieffer
Writing Craft / Characters / Development
Brainstorming Your Character’s Emotional Wound: @AngelaAckerman
5 Reasons You Need to Know Your Character’s Emotional Wound: @beccapuglisi
Character Personality, Arcs and Relationships Resources: from Writeblr Connects
Your protagonist’s family: @JohnJKelley @WriterUnboxed
Character Flaws: @ml_keller
Character Turning Points: @Kid_Lit
Finding character voice: from Just a Writing Aid
Writing Craft / Characters / Supporting Characters
How to Tell if That Throwaway Character Is Really a Star: @Janice_Hardy
Writing Craft / Common Mistakes
Being aware of ‘plot armor’ as a writer: @AuthorCoH
Writing Craft / Conflict
How to Write Thrilling Action Scenes: by Vincent H. O’Neil
Writing Craft / Hooks
Hooks versus Themes: @ml_keller
Writing Craft / Miscellaneous
3 Keys to Writing Effective Action Scenes: @LiveWriteThrive
Writing About Emotional Trauma Without Triggering Readers: @AngelaAckerman @TheIWSG
Tips for writing a sword fight: by How to Fight Write
Using a growth mindset to hone your craft: @LisaPoisso
Back to the Future: How to Use Our Craft’s Own Backstory: @barryknister @WriterUnboxed
Writing Craft / Plot Holes
Inconceivable! Dealing with Problems of Unbelievability: @SeptCFawkes
Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting
First Plot Point: @ml_keller
Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Concept
Vetting Your Book Idea: Is it Worth Writing? @StoryGrid
Writing Craft / Revision
Cutting Open the Sausage:A Hard Look at Rewriting: by PJ Parrish
Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques
Tips for critiquing another writer’s work: @writingandcoe
5 Reasons to Kill Your Critique Group: by Bucket Siler
Writing Craft / Series
Walking Away From a Popular Series: @JAWalkerAuthor @RomanceUniv
6 Things to Consider Before Writing a Series: @Janice_Hardy
Writing Craft / Settings and Description
How to Create a Setting From Nothing In 5 Steps: by Jonathan Vars
How to Make Your Descriptions Less Boring: by Bucket Siler
Writing Craft / Synopses
How to write a synopsis for a novel: @NathanBransford
Writing Craft / Tension
3 Tips To Creating A Time Bomb Plot Device: by Jonathan Vars @beccapuglisi
Writing Craft / Tropes
4 Helpful Character Archetypes: @kendralevin
Writing Craft / Voice
What Writers Can Learn About Voice From Opera: @Jeff_Shear @JaneFriedman
Writing Craft / Word Crafting
The Laws of Simple Sentences: by Jeff Dolven @parisreview
End Paragraphs With a Meaningful Punch: @ZoeMMcCarthy
Writing Craft / World-Building
Worldbuilding Round Table with Fantasy Writers: @JCKang804
Writing Tools / Resources
21 Great Podcasts for Writers: @EricaVerrillo
Writing Tools / Thesauri
Occupation Thesaurus Entry: Emergency Dispatcher: @beccapuglisi
Uncategorized
Curation is important to the survival and identity of book publishers: https://t.co/C2Q25RhBjC By Adam Critchley…
International Prize for Arabic Fiction Writers Workshop Opens in Abu Dhabi: https://t.co/bz1L70vqsG…
Using song lyrics? Quotations from films or other books? A free download to help determine fair use from…
Selling African Lit. Rights to Germany and ‘Facing Unfair Assumptions About African Writing’:…
Brazil-Based Lit. Agency Sells Self-Published Authors’ Work to Editors for Translation: https://t.co/dRY5y5zfP4…
Colombia’s Gabriel García Márquez’s Archive is Digitized and Available Online: https://t.co/SpuAnQcLQo…
Ticking Down: Year-End Observations on Publishing Trends From ‘Beyond the Book’ : https://t.co/yTg5rR4Ogo…
The top writing links from last week are on Twitterific:
Click To Tweet
The post Twitterific Writing Links appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.
December 14, 2017
Creating ‘Best of 2017 Tweets’ Posts
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I posted on this last year, but I thought it was worth another mention. If you’re on Twitter, it’s pretty easy to find your best-performing tweets of the year and retweet them (I like to add a hashtag like ‘TopTweets2017′).
There are a few good things about doing this. For one, you can revisit content that’s proven popular for your followers on Twitter. For another, if you share other authors’ posts, it gives you the opportunity to highlight their content again, providing networking, along with goodwill. It can also be nice to stay active on social media during the holidays without being constantly online…simply schedule your top tweets using a service like Hootsuite or Buffer.
To find which posts were most popular for 2017, left-click your profile picture. A drop-down box appears.
Click on Analytics
Click ‘View all tweet activity’ (here you can also see your top follower and other information).
Click ‘top tweets’
Click the drop-down arrow next to ‘last 28 days’ and choose your date range
The tweets will pop up
Twitter also allows you to export tweets, but I found this somewhat less useful because it downloaded all of the tweets, when I only wanted the most popular tweets.
Before sharing any links, makes sure that the links are still good. Sometimes bloggers shut down their blogs or change websites.
Do you use Twitter analytics? Are you using Twitter as part of your social media platform (lots of writers and industry folks there–not so sure about readers).
How to create 'best of 2017' tweets with Twitter analytics:
Click To Tweet
Photo by Joshua Earle via Visual Hunt
The post Creating ‘Best of 2017 Tweets’ Posts appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.
December 10, 2017
Sleep Better with a Shutdown Routine
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I am a horrible sleeper, and I always have been. One of my earliest memories is of watching a backlit, analog clock for hours and hours waiting for the little hand to get to seven and the big hand to twelve (my parents didn’t want me running around the house before then). I must have been three.
One of the reasons I sleep poorly is that my mind is spinning with things that need to get done. I’m frequently so busy during the day that my brain doesn’t have time to process upcoming tasks until I’m finally lying down.
I’ve realized for a while that I sleep better if I review my calendar before going to bed (making sure that I won’t wake up in the middle of the night wondering if my dental appointment was for the morning or the next day). I also sleep better if I do a brain dump of upcoming tasks: everything from errands to housework to writing to promo. Then I organize those tasks into a to-do list (more on my to-do lists in this post).
I hadn’t thought of a name for this process, but author assistant Mel Jolly recently referred to it in her newsletter as a ‘shutdown routine.’
What I especially like about Mel’s approach is that she has instituted a sort of ‘office hours’ setup at her house. She’s not always available nor always working on something. I’ve found that one of the troubles of being a working writer is that I might still be playing around with something at nine o’clock at night.
Mel states:
(You need) something to tell your brain that it’s time to rest now and that there’s no need to keep thinking about work. You’re on top of everything, even if things didn’t get done, they’re on the list. You’ve checked your calendar and you know what’s coming up next.
I like the thought of the last check of email, the last look at the calendar. I like feeling that I’m on top of everything and that I can pick up where I leave off the next day.
As an additional part of my shutdown routine, I shift anything that didn’t get finished that day to the next day’s to-do list. That way I make sure that nothing falls through the cracks.
Do you have a shutdown routine? How’s your sleeping? :)
[bctt tweet=”Use a shutdown routine for a better sleep habit: ” username=”elizabethscraig”
Photo via VisualHunt
The post Sleep Better with a Shutdown Routine appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.
December 9, 2017
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 43,000 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
Stealing Intellectual Property (Contracts/Dealbreakers): @KristineRusch
Hiring a Virtual Assistant: @ChloeAdlerWrite
5 Year-End Questions for Writers: @JL_Campbell @TheIWSG
How to protect your writing from a computer emergency: @trionaguidry @TheWriterMag
Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous
At FutureBook 2017: More Volume in Audiobooks, Impact in EdTech: @rogertagholm @mtamblyn
The Industry is Too Snobbish’: ‘Most Memorable Moments’ of the FutureBook Conference: http://ow.ly/ZmMp30h61aD
Creativity and Inspiration / Careers in Writing and Day Jobs
8 Side Hustle Ideas That Could Make You a Better Writer: @abbigailekriebs
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers
Coping with Reading Guilt in 7 Easy Steps: @NicolaAlter
5 Books With Really Unreliable Narrators: by Gordon Connelly @scottishbktrust
9 Terrifying Books That Aren’t Shelved as Horror: by Stubby the Rocket @tordotcom
“My Life as a Berenstain Bear”: @tajjaisen @ElectricLit
Creativity and Inspiration / Motivation
5 Reasons Jigsaw is the Perfect Writing Mentor: @christophpaul_
12 Tips to Get Unstuck and Finish Writing Your Book: @lornafaith
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing
Tips for Better To-Do Lists:
3 Tips To Help You Carve Out Better Writing Time: @rsmollisonread
6 Tools to Get You Writing: @JoelDCanfield
Tips for Making Writing a Habit:
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / When to write
Waking Up Early to Write: @jamieraintree
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer’s Block
How to Overcome Writer’s Block: A Surprising Solution: @JerryBJenkins
Creativity and Inspiration / Success
5 Things Indie Authors Need to Consider Before Giving Up: @Bookgal
“5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Selling My First Book”: @KnightoftheLion
Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life
Writing While Under The Influence of Depression: @markoneill @thecreativepenn
16 Fun Gifts for Writers: by Kelly Gurnett @thewritelife
10 Gift Ideas for the Reader or Writer in Your Life: by Rachel Fogle De Souza @BookTrib
30+ Gifts for Writers: @JFarrisKnight @WritersDigest
7 Gift Ideas for Writers: @10MinNovelists
Everything You Need to Know about Listening to Music While Writing: @ChadRAllen
Dealing with Conflict on Social Media: @emilyhughes @penguinrandom
Christmas gifts for writers: @KMWeiland
Gifts for authors and writers: 25 hand-picked ideas: @sandrabeckwith
The Ultimate Gift Guide for Writers — 2017 Edition: @JamiGold
Holiday Gifts for Writers: @AngelaAckerman
“Paradoxes of the writing temperament– quiet people who are expressive; private people who want to draw you into a deep experience”: http://ow.ly/F6Lm30gZBZ8
Genres / Fantasy
5 Mythical Monsters From the Edges of the Map: by Joe M. McDermott @tordotcom
What Fantasy Authors Can Learn from Marvel Studios: @NicolaAlter
Designing Your Fantasy Empire: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants
Genres / Horror
Hardwired for Fear: Why We Love to be Scared: @shanedkeene
5 Horror Subgenres That Would Work in a Superhero Film: @benedictseal
Genres / Middle-Grade
“How I Discovered Writing Middle Grade Isn’t Scary”: @amycourage7
Genres / Miscellaneous
How to Write and Sell a Graphic Novel (When You Meant to Write a Novel): By Nate Evans
A Subgenre of One’s Own: by Shawn Coyne @SPressfield
Genres / Non-Fiction
Nonfiction: 9 Steps to Help You Write a Good First Draft in a Month: @NinaAmir
Genres / Romance
Romantic Conflict 101: @jillkemerer
Genres / Screenwriting
Screenwriting: Great Scene: “Saving Private Ryan”: @GoIntoTheStory
Addressing the passage of time in a script: @GoIntoTheStory
Genres / Short Stories
Transforming a Short Story Into a Novel: @marybracht @WritersDigest
Promo / Blogging
10 rock-solid reasons why every indie needs an author blog: @SmartAuthors
Promo / Book Reviews
Book Review Sites To Help You Get Into Libraries and Stores: @NewShelvesBooks
Promo / Miscellaneous
3 Essential Questions for Every Author: @JudithBriles
Promo / Newsletters
Author Newsletters: How to Avoid Spam Filters: @GlennJMiller
Promo / Social Media Tips
Goodreads Quick Start Guide for Indie Authors: @CaballoFrances
Promo / Speaking
Prepare to Present with Confidence: @DonnaGalanti @WriterUnboxed
Promo / Video
Using Patreon and YouTube to Grow a Writing a Career: Case Study: @JaneFriedman @jayonaboat
Publishing / Miscellaneous
How to turn a literature and creative-writing teaching background into an editorial business: @LouiseHarnby
“16 Things I Would Tell My Younger Writing Self”: @AnitaFreshFaith
Barnes & Noble Wants to Clear ‘Tchotchke’ Clutter, Sell More Books: @PassiveVoiceBlg @JeffreyT1
Approving and Paying for Your Audio Book: @AngelaQuarles
3 Reasons Why You Might Not Want a Hybrid Publisher: @LizbethMeredith @JaneFriedman
Publishing: LGBTI-Friendly Workplaces and Content: @michielams@Porter_Anderson
Publishing in Political Times: An Anthology in Sexual Assault and a ‘Negro Motorist’ Guide: http://ow.ly/pgT730h1XKI @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives #wkb88
Publishing / News / Data
New World Literacy Report: Boys Lagging Girls by 18-Points: @Porter_Anderson @UNESCO
Publishing / News / International Publishing
Scotland Creates Its Own Book-Giving Tradition with #ScotBookFlood; Open Road Update @Porter_Anderson
Russia’s Clever Publishing Adds North American Market through Quarto: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
HarperCollins India and Hindi Pulp Fiction: @Porter_Anderson @SurenderMPathak @pubperspectives
Irish Author Sally Rooney Wins the UK’s Sunday Times/PFD Prize: @Porter_Anderson @sallyrooney
European Publishers Slam ‘Unwarranted Delay’ in VAT Reform for Books: http://ow.ly/1jUu30h30iA
Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing
Indie publishing the 2017 way – video chat with sci-fi author Nick Cook: @Roz_Morris @CloudRiders
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing
3 Ways to Survive Waiting in Publishing: @LovettRomance @DIYMFA
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Pitches
An Elevator Pitch for the 8-Second Attention Span: @Bookgal @BookWorksNYC
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying
The Conflicting Advice You’ll Receive on Query Letters: @JaneFriedman
Publishing / Process / Formatting
Print Ready Files from InDesign or MS Word: @IndieKidsBooks
Writing Craft / Beginnings
5 Tips to Start Your Book or Film With a Bang: @patverducci
First-Page Critique: Setting and Character: @AlpertMark
Writing Craft / Characters / Development
5 Tips for Creating Complex Characters: @_HannahHeath
How to Choose Character Fears: @Je55ieMullin5 @YAtopia_blog
Help With Character Creation: @MarchMcCarron
Bringing Dead Characters to Life: @Kid_Lit
Understanding your character’s lens: @AnneGBrown @WriterUnboxed
Writing Craft / Common Mistakes
Show, Don’t Tell? Sometimes Telling is Important: @NovelEditor
Writing Craft / Diversity
When It Comes to Inclusivity in Publishing, Editors Also Play a Role: by Jennifer Baker @ElectricLit
Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film
5 Things Learned From Dead Writers: @thewritertype @Bang2write
Writing Craft / Literary Devices
How Literary Themes Are Presented in a Book Series: @SaraL_Writer
Writing Craft / Miscellaneous
10 Reasons You Should Be Writing 10-Minute Plays: by Ross Brown @scriptmag
How to Write Foreigners in Dialogues: @Melfka
Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting
The Midpoint Reversal: @Janice_Hardy
The Act Two Disaster: @Janice_Hardy
Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar
5 Examples of Repetition and Redundancy: @writing_tips
Writing Craft / Revision
5 Gripping Ways to Revive Your Story’s Messy Middle: @DavidHSafford
5 Marie Kondo Practices For Your Revisions: @jjbrinkmeyer
Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques
When To Share Your Writing With Others: @JillWilliamson @GoTeenWriters
Writing Craft / Settings and Description
Authentic historical detail enriches your fiction by triggering memories: @RuthHarrisBooks
A Look at Masterful Character Description: @LiveWriteThrive
Writing Craft / Word Crafting
Squash These Wordy Phrases: @ZoeMMcCarthy
Writing Craft / World-Building
Worldbuilding for SF and other fiction, reimagined for roleplayers: @Roz_Morris @fictoplasm
Creating a Fictional Religion: by J. W. Barlament @mythicscribes
Writing Tools / Apps
4 Ways to Make Notes in Scrivener: @Gwen_Hernandez @WriterUnboxed
Writing Tools / Resources
Writing Tools To Help You Plan Your Book: @AuthAccelerator @AngelaAckerman
The top writing links from last week are on Twitterific:
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December 7, 2017
Tips for Making Writing a Habit
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
One of the hardest things about writing is the sitting down and doing it. Usually, once you start, it gets a little easier from there.
Building a habit of writing is one way to be more productive. When writing becomes a natural part of your day, it makes the process that much easier.
At this point, writing has become almost like muscle memory to me. The stories are all different, but the process is the same. I may not feel an ounce of inspiration when I sit down at my computer, but soon I’m getting caught up in my story again.
Tips
Write at the same time and at the same place. The writing space doesn’t really matter, as long as you’re comfortable and the set-up is somewhat ergonomic. The idea is simply to send a message to your brain that it’s time to write.
Set up a ritual of sorts surrounding the writing, so that writing naturally comes next. Basically, you’re setting up cues similar to the assigned writing spot above. For me, it’s getting dressed, going downstairs, letting the dog out and feeding the dog, and sitting down to write.
Have a good idea of what you’re going to write that day…either by noting where you left off the day before and what you want to accomplish next, or by thinking it over while you’re going through the motions of your pre-writing ritual.
Know what helps you be more productive. Do you write better when it’s completely silent? If you’re fitting in writing on your lunch break then, can you get away from the office? Sit on your car? Or, if you’re someone who needs to write with background sound, make sure to have music available.
Know when you’re most productive during the day. If it’s first thing in the morning, do as much as you can the night before to smooth the way for your early morning writing session. If it’s at lunch or at night, do the same way–the idea is to remove impediments to your writing.
Keep your goals simple and easily reached. (Set S.M.A.R.T. goals.) I’ve found it more important to have a habit than to have a tremendous daily word count. Slow and steady wins the race.
Possible issues: The only problems I’ve had with writing habits is being flexible when my plan for the day goes unexpectedly out the window. Now, I’ve gotten better at hitting a reset button and making sure I hit my writing goal later that day (even if it’s an unusual time for me to write).
Do you have an established writing habit? What are some of your tips for creating a maintaining one?
Tips for Creating a Writing Habit
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Photo via Visualhunt (Olu Eletu)
The post Tips for Making Writing a Habit appeared first on Elizabeth Spann Craig.
