Massimo Marino's Blog: The Ramblings and the Rumblings - Posts Tagged "good-writing"
Awesome Indies... Where?
So... Going around the internet one finds gems and crap. We all know that. Same with books, and nowadays it does not really matter anymore if it is a self-published (indie) or a traditionally published work: you find typos, grammar issues, in both.
With the (r)evolution of the publishing business, most publishers don't have the means to provide the same stringent level of qualities unless you, the author, are able to bring in million of copies sold each year. The vast majority of all others are left practically with the same resources as an Indie writer.
So, how to sift through the slush pile? Well, there are groups of writers/reviewers/avid readers that do exactly that, sift for you to find the really good titles and the promising authors.
Last year I found the Paranormal Romance Guild group. It was mentioned to me as a "tough" group of reviewers who tell you in your face whether you need to write better (in all sense, continuity, plausibility, characters development, grammar, you name it). I was intimidated, they deliver quite a good number of 2 and 3 stars, some 4, and only a few 5 stars. What if, with all the care and effort I put in my writing, I was receiving a 3 star or worse?
The short story: fellow authors encouraged me, telling me that I did not have to worry. I submitted and trembled. Not only I got a 5-star, but my novel was among the finalists in Science Fiction for the 2012 PRG Reviewer's Choice Awards. It ended up winning the Award! www.paranormalromanceguild.com
But what about Awesome Indies. Well, there is indeed a group of reviewers, writers, enthused readers, publishers, editors who got united and established the criteria, and boy, those are quite some criteria, that will work as an Occam Razor to establish whether a book is a valid read, or not so. Mind though, you might not like the story of the books listed there, but sure thing they are well written!
Because of the effort that goes into my writing, with proofreading and multiple editing with paid service (I have a great editor in the person of fellow writer/editor Rebecca Stroud), I was happy I found this group of serious and dedicated writers.
Sure, the criteria are, once again, intimidating, but if you write with passion, sweat, and blood, and you care for your readers, those intimidating criteria are the things you aim to with your writing.
So, I submitted and I cannot tell you the feeling when I received a 5-star review too, as a confirmation of the good work and care.
My novel Daimones has now been added to the ‘Awesome Indies' listings on the Science Fiction page. It's also in the latest ‘New Additions’ blog post.
http://awesomeindies.net/science-fict...
The Awesome Indies listing lets readers know which Indie books are professionally written according to other professional writers and editors. Listing is free, it is not done to milk Indie writers. Placement on the site is made on industry evaluated quality only. This is what makes this site unique.
You may now ask yourself, great, what are these criteria. You have to go and read about it here: http://awesomeindies.net/explanation-...
It is much more than a simple listing of the various check points: Contents, Plot and Structure, Pacing, Conceptually Sound, Engaging, Characters, Wordiness or Overwriting, Point of View, Immediate and Engaging Writing, Grammar Spelling & Punctuation, Warning Signs that Something is Not Well Written.
Each of the above has its own section of criteria. Sounds a lot? Well, yes, it is a lot, and it is a fine sieve. Only the best will pass through, the gross and rough will be caught.
Books listed on the site are also eligible to apply for the Awesome Indies Seal of Approval. This seal is only given to books whose Awesome Indies Approved status has been agreed on by three qualified reviewers. Which means that you have to pass the sieve three times. Time consuming, you bet, and it also means that you might be listed, but you lack that plus to receive the Seal. Encouragement to do even better in the future.
Please let your social networks know about the site, write a blog post about it, like the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/AwesomeIndies and invite your friends to do the same. Indie writers deserve to be recognized as quality writers!
With the (r)evolution of the publishing business, most publishers don't have the means to provide the same stringent level of qualities unless you, the author, are able to bring in million of copies sold each year. The vast majority of all others are left practically with the same resources as an Indie writer.
So, how to sift through the slush pile? Well, there are groups of writers/reviewers/avid readers that do exactly that, sift for you to find the really good titles and the promising authors.
Last year I found the Paranormal Romance Guild group. It was mentioned to me as a "tough" group of reviewers who tell you in your face whether you need to write better (in all sense, continuity, plausibility, characters development, grammar, you name it). I was intimidated, they deliver quite a good number of 2 and 3 stars, some 4, and only a few 5 stars. What if, with all the care and effort I put in my writing, I was receiving a 3 star or worse?
The short story: fellow authors encouraged me, telling me that I did not have to worry. I submitted and trembled. Not only I got a 5-star, but my novel was among the finalists in Science Fiction for the 2012 PRG Reviewer's Choice Awards. It ended up winning the Award! www.paranormalromanceguild.com
But what about Awesome Indies. Well, there is indeed a group of reviewers, writers, enthused readers, publishers, editors who got united and established the criteria, and boy, those are quite some criteria, that will work as an Occam Razor to establish whether a book is a valid read, or not so. Mind though, you might not like the story of the books listed there, but sure thing they are well written!
Because of the effort that goes into my writing, with proofreading and multiple editing with paid service (I have a great editor in the person of fellow writer/editor Rebecca Stroud), I was happy I found this group of serious and dedicated writers.
Sure, the criteria are, once again, intimidating, but if you write with passion, sweat, and blood, and you care for your readers, those intimidating criteria are the things you aim to with your writing.
So, I submitted and I cannot tell you the feeling when I received a 5-star review too, as a confirmation of the good work and care.
My novel Daimones has now been added to the ‘Awesome Indies' listings on the Science Fiction page. It's also in the latest ‘New Additions’ blog post.
http://awesomeindies.net/science-fict...
The Awesome Indies listing lets readers know which Indie books are professionally written according to other professional writers and editors. Listing is free, it is not done to milk Indie writers. Placement on the site is made on industry evaluated quality only. This is what makes this site unique.
You may now ask yourself, great, what are these criteria. You have to go and read about it here: http://awesomeindies.net/explanation-...
It is much more than a simple listing of the various check points: Contents, Plot and Structure, Pacing, Conceptually Sound, Engaging, Characters, Wordiness or Overwriting, Point of View, Immediate and Engaging Writing, Grammar Spelling & Punctuation, Warning Signs that Something is Not Well Written.
Each of the above has its own section of criteria. Sounds a lot? Well, yes, it is a lot, and it is a fine sieve. Only the best will pass through, the gross and rough will be caught.
Books listed on the site are also eligible to apply for the Awesome Indies Seal of Approval. This seal is only given to books whose Awesome Indies Approved status has been agreed on by three qualified reviewers. Which means that you have to pass the sieve three times. Time consuming, you bet, and it also means that you might be listed, but you lack that plus to receive the Seal. Encouragement to do even better in the future.
Please let your social networks know about the site, write a blog post about it, like the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/AwesomeIndies and invite your friends to do the same. Indie writers deserve to be recognized as quality writers!
