Originally posted on Chris The Story Reading Ape’s Blog: Originally posted as the Dun Writin’—Now Whut? series on this blog, EDITING 101 is a weekly refresher series for some of you and brand new for others. Courtesy of Adirondack Editing He Said / She Said: Dialogue Tags “Can you pass the salt?” Richard asked. “Like hell,” Katherine muttered. “Did…
via EDITING 101: 06 – He Said / She Said: Dialogue Tags… — Don Massenzio’s Blog
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Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality
ALLi’s Watchdog points out the hidden pitfalls of 12 services commonly marketed to indie authors.
Source: 12 Self-Publishing Services Authors Should Beware | Self-Publishing Advice Center
CKBooks Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality
Oh, the humanity: Am I the only writer who fears he’s lost the magic every time he sits down at a keyboard? Ah, but then what made me think I had any magic to begin with? Writers wear two colognes, “l’insecurite” and “l’arrogance,” and never have to purchase either one–they’re pheromones. “Writers rush in where […]
via Finding a Publisher — Mitch Teemley
CKBooks Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality
Not exactly what we mean by “launching” your book 🙂
Are you currently writing a book? Is there a little niggle in the back of your brain that is telling you, “I wonder if I should start working on a plan for my book launch.” Kathy Meis of Bublish has put together some nice information about what to think about and put in your book launch plan. There are many things you can do, and Kathy doesn’t mention them all, of course, but she’s got some good ideas and reiterates things you probably already know but haven’t gotten around to doing.
Keep in mind, even if your book is already out there and you want to implement some of these things, it’s really never too late. Earlier is always better but do what you can when you can and slowly work you and your book into the reading public’s eye. She is definitely correct in that if you want your book(s) to be a commercial success, you have to treat your book like a business, which requires time and a bit of money.
Thanks for your insights, Kathy!
NOTE: I am not endorsing Bublish or Alliance of Independent Authors in any manner – I actually don’t know anything about them other than I’ve heard their name around the book word.
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Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality
(image from imgflip.com)
Cynthia from Goodreads, explains the difference between “Friends” and “Followers” for authors on Goodreads, plus a few other helpful tips. The Friends/Followers thing was definitely something I didn’t know.
And if you’re an author with a book and you’re not on Goodreads, put it up on your to do list. It’s a great place for any reader and any author.
Source: Goodreads | Authors & Advertisers Blog Post: Best Practices for Building Followers on Goodreads
“One of my goals on this blog is to share my self-publishing mistakes so you don’t repeat them yourself. I’ve already discussed the importance of spending your money wisely with my artic…”
Great opening paragraph to a good post by Michel Sauret (no I didn’t spell his first name incorrectly – what parent does that to a kid!) about Publishers Weekly paid reviews. Check it out (and his Kirkus article)! I’d think long and hard before I spent money on a review for all the reasons Michel says in his Kirkus posts. I’d rather spend my money on facebooks ads or on travel to actual bookstore, libraries, book events… I think my marketing dollars are better spent getting more Average-Joe/Jane reviews. I haven’t cracked the library barrier (other than person to person), but I’m not sure getting a paid review from say Kirkus or Blue Ink will get me looked at anyway. Obviously PW Select is not the way to go, either!
You can get a free review from Library Journal and Foreward Review (a new co. in the review business) if you plan ahead – get them the galley or book 2-3 months ahead of your publishing date. I wish I could make myself do this, but I have not been able to hold onto a finished book for that long. I’ll have to try it sometime, but it’s a lot to ask when a review from one of these places might not even get noticed. It is a risk you take.
Library Journal will also review already published books, but it would only be if one of their online magazine folds wants to read it and post a review. I sent my Agnes Kelly MG mystery adventure (Intrigue in Istanbul) to one such reviewer and never heard back. It cost me the printing cost of the book and shipping, so I wasn’t out much. If you go to their site and read their submission policy, you’ll be directed to how this works.
Michel said it cost $50 for a Midwest Book Review. Midwest Book Review didn’t used to charge for reviews. That’s new to me. I’ve had a few of my books reviewed by them (before they charged for it) and I’m not sure how much the reviews helped, though $50 is not too much to charge, in my book.
I’d love to hear other author’s insights or experiences. How do you get your reviews?
Some interesting information for authors everywhere! Like that ibooks bestseller list too! Thanks for gathering this information, Amy!
I actually haven’t read or heard that a prologue is frowned upon. Maybe because someone in the book world thinks a writer should be able to catch a reader’s attention in the beginning of the book without such a device, which is why most writers use a prologue, is it not? I don’t have any problem with prologues and I don’t mind going against what something thinks a book is supposed to be like, if it works for the story. That is the most important thing, as the noted books in this blog illustrate.
“Loving Frank” by Nancy Horan is a great example of a book with an effective prologue.
In Elmore Leonard’s famous 10 rules for writing, the second rule is: Avoid prologues. “They can be annoying,” he wrote. “A prologue in a novel is back story, and you can drop it in anywhere you want.”
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Interesting news from book business and Thad Mcilroy. I also know a print book author that got her book in a local (Wisconsin) B & N store, I think primarily because of a supportive store manager. She had to show the manager her book promotion plan and she let her do a reading and stock her book – Tween/YA fantasy fiction. For others, it might not be as easy going (per the article). Slowly, slowly, they are learning that self-published authors are an asset.
In its latest effort to reclaim lost territory from Amazon, Barnes & Noble will sell self-published books, in print, in its stores.
Source: B&N to Sell Self-Published Books In Stores
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Janice Hardy give writers some practical information about how to make sure your plot and your scenes are needed for the story and some ideas on how to correct things if they are not.
Source: Author, Jody Hedlund: 5 Reasons Your Plot Stalled
CKBooks Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality
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