Literary Fiction Book Review Award

Oct26

Here is another award that is accepting submission through November 1. I don’t know much about these folks, but I thought I’d pass it along in case anyone out there is writing literary works. They are looking for:

contemporary literary fiction
historical literary fiction
short story collection
science fiction
fantasy
young adult

To be honest, I’m not sure what is considered “literary” works. The word snob comes to mind, but that’s just my gut talking. 🙂 It’s only $55 to enter so that’s not too bad.

Source: Literary Fiction Book Review Award

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Sharing with Writers and Readers: Book Sales: Targeting Education Sellers

Oct23

State_Library_at_NightFor those of you who have books that would fit into a college library or bookstore, Carolyn Howard-Johnson has an idea for you that someone she knows tried and had some success with.

I have tried a similar strategy with my first book (“Rosebloom” which was a IPPY award winner) with public libraries. Most libraries didn’t respond, but a few did. Sometimes it lead to visiting the library and doing a talk about the book (It was for a historical fiction book, though I’m not sure that mattered).

Was it cost/time effective?

I’m not sure. I haven’t had the time to do it again for other books I’ve since published. But it didn’t cost that much to do, it was mostly a time thing – looking up the library, trying to find the person to send the letter to… but it’s another marketing strategy to put on your ever-growing list! 🙂

Source: Sharing with Writers and Readers: Book Sales: Targeting Education Sellers

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Book Marketing Tip: Apply for Awards

Oct15

For midwesterners – I’d also recommend the Midwest Book Award. I agree with Maria – My first book won an IPPY Award (independent Publishers) and my last book was a finalist for a Midwest Book Award. Both organizations have stickers (electronic and paper) you can purchase to put on your books. I find I have gotten more traction from award books from individuals than organizations like bookstores or libraries but then I don’t know who has taken a second look but didn’t decide to pick up my book, and I consider second looks a good thing too! 🙂

And remember – most (if not all) awards can only be entered for the book published the previous year e.g., 2016 award for a 2015 published book. Application dates will vary depending on the award so check them out in the fall of the year you published your book.  You may have until the spring to enter but you may not.

Source: Book Marketing Tip: Apply for Awards – She Writes

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Editing 101

Oct4

Here is the Editing presentation I promised the lovely participants at the Wisconsin Writers Association (WWA) conference this weekend in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. I’ve got it here as a power point and a pdf, depending on the software you have available to you.

Thank you for your patience and understanding!bow

via GIPHY

Please feel free to contact me with any other editing or publishing questions. I enjoy helping fellow writers!

Editing 101  (Power point)

Editing 101   (PDF)

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Christine Keleny

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Book Marketing Is an Emotional Roller Coaster

Sep15

4 rollercI thought I would share this post from Maria Murnane because it illustrates what anyone who is trying to market their work needs: a good sense of humor and persistence.

I have also set up events around my books that no one showed up for. It happens. But then there are events like what I did last evening at the WJ Niederdorn Library in Port Washington, WI and 20 people showed up and we had a nice time together talking about my book. I started out by talking about myself and my 4 other books I have in print (which I had on display, of course) and I ended up selling 5 books – only 2 were the book I was talking about! (So make sure you bring all of your books to any one-book event and business cards!)

And hang in there. Not everything you try is going to work but some things will and that’s what counts.

 CreateSpace Community: Resources: Book Marketing Is an Emotional Roller Coaster

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First 5 steps to book marketing & MASTER Update – 9/9

Sep11

I like that Thomas has contacting a cover artist as #1. You can’t promote anything until you have a cover. And covers (as most other things in publishing) takes longer to accomplish than you might think.
I’d add
– set up a website – it doesn’t have to be much to start, just one page, but hopefully you’ll expand it a bit from there, but take your time.
– I don’t think twitter is a must, but I’d suggest looking into it.

The important thing about marketing is not to wig-out about it. Do what you can when you can. Remember, WOM – Word Of Mouth is just as important as the social media stuff, so let everyone you know, know about the book you are working on!
Christine

Thomas M. Watt's avatarThomas M. Watt

indiana jones

Contrary to amateur belief, it’s most beneficial for an author to market their work before it is published. This way, potential readers will have something to look forward to, much like the opening weekend of a new blockbuster movie. That’s why we see trailers for movies that aren’t going to appear in theaters until much later; to generate some hype and anticipation.

If you’re like me, promoting your work is alien to your nature and feels like an insult to art (I am trapped by this deep-seeded ideal that beauty should be recognized the moment it is seen, and is apparent enough in itself that it should never have to be pointed out to anyone. Then I remind myself that Van Gogh never sold a painting).

Fortunately, the world wide web holds an endless bounty of information, and enough google searches will get you off the sidewalk and onto the…

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Writing Fiction: 10 Ways To Keep Readers Hooked

Aug25

Here are some techniques to add intrigue to your writing from John Yeoman. But of course, as with most things, used too much they can become annoying to readers, so be careful and judicious when adding such things.

Writing Fiction: 10 Ways To Keep Readers Hooked | Write to Done.

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HarperCollins Will Close of Authonomy Writing Community in September

Aug22

I was not aware of Authonomy before I read this article about it going away, but it sounded like a smart way for both HarperCollins’ and writers to find each other and get some good feedback in the process.

I don’t know anything about HCs’ HarperImpulse or the Borough Press, but maybe those are other options for those that want to get in with a traditional publishing house.

HarperCollins Will Close Authonomy Writing Community in September | The Independent Publishing Magazine.

So You’ve Decided to Submit Your Manuscript (Guest Post)…

Aug9

I tend to write and share posts about self-publishing because I think that it makes sense for most writers to go that direction, and for a myriad reason. But what I suggest to any of my clients or writers I am talking to who want to go the traditional route is to do both: self-publish and try and get a traditional publisher. It used to be that you couldn’t do both, but that is not the case any longer. The better you do as a self-published author, the more likely you will be picked up by a traditional house.

Of course, there is no reason at all that you can’t just go for traditional publishing but be prepared for a lot of work and a long, long wait. Of course, there are always rare exceptions to this, but this is the norm. That’s just one reason I suggest, while you’re working on getting traditionally published, self-publish and start building a fan base. It can only help!

Thanks to Chris (from Reading Ape’s blog) and Helen Jones for the post.

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Chris The Story Reading Ape's avatarChris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

article-new_ehow_images_a02_05_ag_submit-play-literary-agent-800x800

If you’re serious about being traditionally published you will need an agent. The majority of publishers don’t accept unsolicited manuscripts, so finding someone to represent you and your work is essential for getting that elusive book deal. I’ve been down the submission path myself (and have the pile of rejection letters to prove it). As it turned out, I wasn’t ready at the time, and neither was my book, but I didn’t let it get me down (too much). Instead, I went online, joined a writing forum, read as much as I could, attended a seminar and gave my book to several more people to read. And I learnt a lot, both about the type of book I was writing and about how to submit to agents. So I thought I’d share it with you.

  1. Stick to the guidelines. Now, this may seem pretty basic stuff, but it is so

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Everything you ever wanted to know about middle grade…and were willing to ask

Aug8
image from jmdeditorial.co.uk

image from jmdeditorial.co.uk

As some of you know, I’m writing my first MG story (so far the title is “Agnes in Istanbul – An Adventure Mystery) so when I come upon something related to middle grade fiction, I read it. In case you write in that genre or are thinking about it, here is a post that discusses what makes a story MG vs, say, YA. If you read these genres to educate yourself what these aged kids are reading, you get a sense of what they are saying.

I think it is always a good idea to read in the genre you are writing. It’s not that you have to copy things others are doing, but there are some basic concepts that writing for MG that are good to know, some of which is mentioned in this post by Micheal Canon and Molly O’Neill.

Everything you ever wanted to know about middle grade…and were willing to ask | Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

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