Theodore’s Comments (group member since Apr 01, 2017)

Theodore’s comments from the Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie group.

Angel wrote: "I think keeping the bio simple but maybe tell an interesting story about yourself, maybe a little humor added in."

The first part of a bio should tell the author's relevant backstory...it should provide the compelling argument as to why the reader should want to read what the author has to say. Those first few sentences of the bio are important because they are the ones that establish credibility in the reader's mind for the author's ability to produce a viable product. If they are buying a mystery/thriller, the fact the author may have a background in criminal justice establishes immediately the expectation his or her book will provide a good read in that genre. Similarly, a background in clinical psychology may provide potential readers with good reasons to purchase a new authors first romance. I'm throwing these out off the top of my head. But the fact is, you have to tender something to lend credence to your argument that you have the background and ability to create something the reader absolutely, positively must read (isn't that the very definition of marketing in our world?).

Theodore Jerome Cohen Wins Flash Fiction Challenge

https://www.indiesunlimited.com/2018/...

Thanks to you, my readers!!!

Next week’s story, sad to say, is about the disappearance of two teenage lads in Arizona who may have angered the Arizona State Troopers. But we can’t be sure. What do you think? Voting starts Wednesday. Watch this space.

Ted

Alex wrote: "Thanks, Ted, that's a great bio, and one I shall have to use in the future, but for now, the only award I have is for one of my covers, and I can't say that I won it since it was my designer's work..."

How about reviews? Any awards from book competitions? Reader Views? Readers' Favorites? Etc., Etc. Perhaps you need to enter some competitions and get some awards under your belt.

Unraveling the secrets of the Middle East, and, in particular, the mysteries of Ancient Egypt, one of Alex Carver's preferred travel destinations, has always been a favorite pastime of this award-winning author. Now, he's put his finely tuned sleuthing skills to good use by producing the acclaimed Inspector Stone Mysteries series of mystery/thrillers. From the very first book in this series, Where There's a Will, reviewers knew Carver was a force to be reckoned with as Inspector Stone and Carver's cast of characters quickly captured their hearts, minds, and yes, the perpetrators of the heinous crimes described. The question is: can you find them before Inspector Stone, given how cleverly Carver weaves his tales together?

From here you can describe your previous publications, awards, and anything else that strikes your fancy, including your cat, dog, mistress, whatever. (Don't tell my wife I said that.)

Carole wrote: "In the spirit of what everybody has said about valuing the books and all that- I raised all our prices to 2.99. I continued all my promotions the way I had been doing them. We didn't sell a single ..."

I'll be publishing four Flash Fiction anthologies in the first half of this year, the first on February 5th. I originally had intended to price the Kindle editions at $3.99, but recently saw something here indicating the "sweet spot" was around $3. That being the case, I just lowered the price of the two books on pre-sale to $2.99. Frankly, it's not going to make that much difference (Susan still gets her 8-course dinner: two burgers and a six-pack), but who knows...it just might entice a few more readers to Club Cohen.

Alexis wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Alexis wrote: "I can’t spell for sh*t today, LOL."

Ask our so-called president. He'll spell it for you."

Oh, Ted. :D
Are we friends on here yet? :D
Edit: Yesss, we are lol."

Of course we're friends. I consider politics a blood sport, and I take no prisoners. (;>)

Alexis wrote: "I can’t spell for sh*t today, LOL."

Ask our so-called president. He'll spell it for you.

Alex wrote: "This is all just depressing me. I know I have the ability to make a living from my writing, but every fresh piece of news makes it seem like it will be that much more difficult to manage.
Why can'..."

The name of the game is maximizing shareholder value. And they will push the law, and exceed it, to the maximum extent possible. The amount of corruption in our business world cannot be believed. I uncovered corruption in the FDA in 2007 (involving conflicts of interest on an advisory committee) but could not catch the FBI's attention until 2012, by which time the statute of limitations had run out on most of the crimes on which I briefed them.

To Read lists, like the Giveaways, aren't worth a tinker's dam. Time to wake up and smell the coffee, folks.

FYI: CreateSpace is experiencing significant delays in fulfilling orders. They don't tell you this on their Website when you go to order books, but, for example, two books I ordered on January 5th are not expected to be delivered until January 29th. You can bet, however, that if you are ordering proofs, they will go to the head of the line.

Dale wrote: "Theodore wrote: "This is terrific. Have already submitted my entry."

Me, too. It'll be interesting to see the results. I expect the competition to be stiff."

Will be on an international scale.

Carole wrote: "Voted"

Thanks, Carole. Much appreciated.

Okay…better late than never (the sponsors must be getting up late on the Left Coast these days).

This week’s story is about the environment. I hope you enjoy it.

You can vote here:

https://www.indiesunlimited.com/2018/...

And thanks!

Ted

Dale wrote: "Via a post on Indies Unlimited, I learned about an Art Prompt Writing Contest currently in progress.

There is no entry fee. Entries must be 300 words or less (it's flash fiction) and no previousl..."

This is terrific. Have already submitted my entry.

Ted

Judy wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Theodore Jerome Cohen Wins Flash Fiction Challenge

Thanks for your support last week, Gang!

I'll be back Wednesday with a story about the environment. I had a terrific little sto..."

Thanks, Judy. Voting opens tomorrow (Wednesday). Ted

Dale wrote: "I wouldn't have thought that religious, either, but some people are awfully persnickety about any mention of God. I was going to write one last night alongside the members of my creative writing wo..."

Who knows what people are thinking (or not) these days. G_d is the big bogeyman, to some. Maybe the editors consider it a slippery slope. I just did mine this week on the environment, and so far, it stands. (;>)

Carole wrote: "hahah"

I'm not sure I consider that "religious," but the editors be the editors.

Theodore Jerome Cohen Wins Flash Fiction Challenge

Thanks for your support last week, Gang!

I'll be back Wednesday with a story about the environment. I had a terrific little story about a man and his garden, which I submitted on Saturday for this week's competition, but the editors thought it bordered on the religious, and so, they deleted it.

For those who enjoy a good story, I give it to you below, for your edification and enjoyment. It will be featured in my second book of Flash Fiction that is now on Pre-Sale and will be released on March 5, 2018:

https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Ink-F...


Ted


Farmer

Theodore Jerome Cohen (All rights reserved)

“Alex, I’m absolutely amazed at what you’ve done with this land. Why, two years ago, when I first visited you, it was covered with boulders and small rocks. I figured, there’s no way you would be able to clear the land, much less get some crops and plants into the ground by now.”
“It was quite a job, all right, Reverend. Them boulders was stuck in the ground real tight. Me and Millie—she’s my mule, ya know—had some dickens of a time getting’ ’em out and moved to the side, but by gum, we did it. An’ we didn’t need no help from no one, neither!”
“Well, Alex, I—”
“Yes siree, me and Millie, getting them boulders outta the ground and off to the side. Built me a fence along the road with them, too. You saw that, right? An’—”
“Indeed, I did, Alex. And what a great crop of corn you have this year. I also noticed the beautiful flowers in your back 40. I don’t think I’ve ever seen sunflowers that large.”
“Aren’t they beautiful? Such a golden-yellow color. An’ see, some have reached almost two feet already. There ain’t none in the entire county that can compete with ’em, for sure.”
“I understand how you feel, Alex, but under the circumstances, don’t you think at least some credit might go to the Lord?”
“Now that is a possibility, Reverend. But you should have seen this place when He was working it alone.”

Felicia wrote: "Hi guys!

Are you looking to submit your writing to a literary magazine? I've always thought that this seemed like a great way to get my writing in print, especially as I'm just starting out as a w..."

Felicia...

A word of caution. Many of these literary magazines charge an entry fee. And competition is fierce. Further, if you've ever glanced through several of these, you'll find the winners more often than not hold MFAs from universities and colleges around the country--many of the writers teach as well. So, until you've honed your skills, submitting your stories to these publications can not only drain your wallet, but also, lead to great disappointment.

The best I was able to do over a three-year period was an Honorable Mention in a Glimmer Train competition and some encouraging feedback on one of my stories from the editors of CARVE.

I'm certainly not advising you against hitting for the fences, but just wanted you to do it with you eyes wide open. Glimmer Train, for example, receives 40,000 submissions every year.

At this point, the ONLY marketing I will do are KDP discount sales through eReader News Today (ENT), with at least one Book Of The Day sale, if they will accept one of my Flash Fiction Anthologies for that slot sometime this year. I'm through with all the other noise.