Always good to remember…
If you’re a writer, I hope you’re also a reader. I know I am. And I’m not just talking about reading books in the genre that you write it. I also mean books about improving your craft.
I’ve been doing this a while now, so I’ve been to writing workshops or weekend writer events and I’ve gotten lots of suggestions about what to read. I’ve shared some of these books with you in the past: The Writer’s Journey, Techniques of the Selling Writer, Take Your Character to Lunch, Writing Dialogue, Eats, Shoots and Leaves, Woe is I are all some of my favorites. Story by Robert McKee is good if you feel like picking apart you story, but as a book, it’s a bit hard to read. And I continue to write down titles of books I want to take a look at.
Alinka, in this post (The 10 books every successful author needs to read) mentions the book On Writing by Stephen King which I also read. It’s an interesting book, if you want to learn a bit (and just a bit) about how Stephen writes, but it’s more about him and his writing philosophy. She also mentions Bird by Bird, which I also read, but didn’t get a lot from it. It’s a book that is a bit hard to describe. The author talks about writing and hanging in there with your writing but that’s about all I remember. Some people really like that book, though, so don’t just go off of my opinion.
And speaking of reading, I have a few ebooks on sale for the holidays, including my latest historical fiction on the creation and creators of Nancy Drew: Will the Real Carolyn Keene Please Stand up – Just .99!
So Happy Holidays! And Happy Reading!
CKBooks Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality
Here’s another list of gift ideas for writers and readers, this one if from K.M. Weiland’s yearly guide to the top Christmas gifts for writers. (A Jane Austin doll, how fun!)
Source: Top Christmas Gifts for Writers in 2015 – Helping Writers Become Authors
CKBooks Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality
Whether you’re shopping for your librarian friend, literary relative, or yourself, these fun book-related gifts will be memorable and show that you care.
Source: Holiday Gift Guide for Librarians and Book Lovers | American Libraries Magazine
For those who are looking to publish with a big (traditional) publishing house, either while you’re self-publishing or instead of self-publishing (it doesn’t matter these days), Jacqueline has posted some information about the very important cover and query letters.
And it goes without saying (but it’s important so I’ll say it anyway), your manuscript has to be as best as you and your editor can make it.
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Sample cover letters, query letters, and comments on the art of writing them, by Jacqueline K. Ogburn, published as part of a WWW site dedicated to children’s books and the writing and illustrating of them.
Source: Rites of Submission: Cover Letters and Query Letters
CKBooks Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality
Mark Coker shared his Smashwords survey results. Always good to read for any writer who wants to self-publish or is already in the thick of things 🙂
Source: Smashwords: 2015 Smashwords Survey Reveals Insights to Help Authors Reach More Readers
Why not listen to Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett as you give to your favorite charity on #GivingTuesday. (I know it’s a commercial, but I like it anyway and it’s for a bookstore, so hopefully I’ll be forgiven.) I’ve put some literary options here for you, in case these are organizations you’d like to donate to.
Reading is Fundamental
First Book
Proliteracy
Also paypal is adding 1% to your donations today. Take your pick and be generous!
The first brick has fallen. More to follow. Just thought you might like to know.
Alisha Rai’s erotic novel ‘Serving Pleasure’ is named one of the best romance novels of 2015.
Source: Romance finally breaks The Post’s ‘No Self-Published Books’ rule – The Washington Post
Kimberley Grabas writes about genre hopping on Joel Friedlander’s “The Book Designer” site . I am about to do that for the first time and I would have to agree with her, it is probably not a smart move marketing and sales wise.
For those of you who don’t know me well, I have 5 books out in the historical fiction genre, one memoir (not mine) and I am about to publish my first MG (middle grade) adventure mystery story – “Intrigue in Istanbul – An Agnes Kelly Mystery Adventure.”
Why switch genre’s (and age groups)?
I came upon the Flavia de Luce series of Allan Bradley and I was inspired. [If you haven’t read any of Allan Bradley’s books, I’d highly recommend them. They are well written and entertaining.] Because it is quite a jump from adult histfic, I have done more work on the front end to make sure I have the genre and age group down. I have had more readers (over 10) read it ahead of time, had MG readers (5) read it ahead of time and read a lot more in that same genre.
All this will not ensure I do well, but I think it is a good first step. Now I have to figure out how to market to that age group, since it is parents that have the checkbook, it will be an interesting genre to market to. I am told by other MG writers that I need to get into the schools. I happen to have two friends who are MG teachers, so I am going to start there. I am also going to join a children’s writers and illustrators group (Society of Book Writers and Illustrators – SCBWI) as well as talk to other MG writers who are willing to share their marketing wisdom.
Would I do better sticking to my genre? – Probably.
Would I be happy sticking to my genre? – No – to confining.
Do I care? – Not particularly. I still work a day job (helping other writers!) so writing and publishing for myself is the cream in my coffee (if I drank coffee :), that is). And I’m up for the challenge!
I’ll let you know how the jump turns out.
Source: Thinking About Writing in Multiple Genres? Here’s What You Need to Know – The Book Designer
CKBooks Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality
Wow! This post by Mark Coker of Smashwords lets all us indie authors on some very disturbing news – basically the devaluation of an already inexpensive way to read your book.
Amazon is decreasing the fee needed for readers to get into their book subscription service: Kindle Unlimited. Now in India, it has cut the cost of this service from $9.99 to $3! with hints of doing the same in other countries.
Read Marks post and see how some readers are responding. It is sad but not to surprising. And Mark gives us all a way to change this. Please read on!
Source: Smashwords
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