If you can't get a publisher to accept your book, then it just isn't worth publishing. A well known author made this comment (not word for word) at a writer's conference I attended recently. This comment left me thinking about my options.
Then another author said that the wave of the future is self publishing. He cannot understand how traditional publishing companies are not better preparing themselves for this new trend.
All week I was absorbing and listening to the advice of many. Many people from traditional publishing houses, from vanity press publishing houses and from self published authors. By day three of the conference, my head felt like exploding.
I had started the conference with questions. Do I need/want an agent? Do I try to pitch my novel with a traditional publishing house? What do I need to do next with my second and third novels? How do I go from here? While the publishing company I signed up with for The Goblet did a great job of editing, the book cover and the book trailer, I have not had much contact with them lately. It seems like I have fallen through the cracks because my book has not taken off in sales. I have been left alone with the marketing of The Goblet.
I did get valuable advice from several workshops at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer's Workshop. I did learn several items on improving my writing skills. I also did learn several valuable options on marketing which I am now trying to implement. But I have been left on my own for all of the marketing.
After listening to all the advice and culling through it, I am fairly determined that I will self publish my next book. The top piece of advice that I came away with on self publishing is to not skimp on the editing. Get a good editor. Also, Amazon's self publishing company does offer the best value and the best resources for self publishing. All I need to do right now, is go back through my second novel, use the tools I have learned and then look for a good editor. Then onwards, tally ho!
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Social Media Sights
Before The Goblet was published, I was busy setting up and joining as many social media sites as I could. Whatever was recommended by anyone, I would jump on the band wagon and get myself signed up. I did not always read through all the requirements, but by golly, so and so recommended it so it must be a good site. Mistake, mistake, and big mistake.
I just wanted to do everything I could to get my book out there. Unfortunately, according to the latest tally, there are approximately over 1 million books being published every year. I think I fell off the band wagon due to overcrowding. Not only that but signing up to all these social media sites and every other site for authors, was more time consuming than I had realized. It left me with very little time to work on my blog, to work on my books and have a life. I jumped off the band wagon willingly.
Now I am scaling back my efforts. I recently closed my account at LinkedIn. Yes, there were a number of groups for authors. There were many times when people would start a discussion asking authors to post the name of their book. By the time I would get the link and think about adding my name to the list, I was number 542. I would then stop and think, okay? Who is this benefiting? Who would actually look at the books? Other authors? Or potential readers? I was getting lost in the crowd. After talking to a number of authors at a recent writer's conference, I felt my decision to close the LinkedIn account was a good one. My inbox has been greatly reduced in emails.
LinkedIn did have one or two good groups that would talk about writing. There were a number of writers who would ask valid questions. Responses would be good. However, once again, by the time I got the link, I was number 124 and I felt like my comment would not even be seen. I would read through all the comments and, at times, wonder, wow! talk about egos!
LinkedIn is a good site for people who are looking for jobs, to develop their careers and to network with other professionals. I am not saying authors are not professionals but I am not certain LinkedIn is the site for authors or aspiring authors. It just felt like the sales on Black Friday. Very intense and I was getting knocked down and pushed out of the way.
I just wanted to do everything I could to get my book out there. Unfortunately, according to the latest tally, there are approximately over 1 million books being published every year. I think I fell off the band wagon due to overcrowding. Not only that but signing up to all these social media sites and every other site for authors, was more time consuming than I had realized. It left me with very little time to work on my blog, to work on my books and have a life. I jumped off the band wagon willingly.
Now I am scaling back my efforts. I recently closed my account at LinkedIn. Yes, there were a number of groups for authors. There were many times when people would start a discussion asking authors to post the name of their book. By the time I would get the link and think about adding my name to the list, I was number 542. I would then stop and think, okay? Who is this benefiting? Who would actually look at the books? Other authors? Or potential readers? I was getting lost in the crowd. After talking to a number of authors at a recent writer's conference, I felt my decision to close the LinkedIn account was a good one. My inbox has been greatly reduced in emails.
LinkedIn did have one or two good groups that would talk about writing. There were a number of writers who would ask valid questions. Responses would be good. However, once again, by the time I got the link, I was number 124 and I felt like my comment would not even be seen. I would read through all the comments and, at times, wonder, wow! talk about egos!
LinkedIn is a good site for people who are looking for jobs, to develop their careers and to network with other professionals. I am not saying authors are not professionals but I am not certain LinkedIn is the site for authors or aspiring authors. It just felt like the sales on Black Friday. Very intense and I was getting knocked down and pushed out of the way.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Reviews
Your book is finally published and you wait with baited breath for those reviews. You get a few really good reviews and then you get some horrible ones. Reviews are such a many splendid thing.
I used to watch social media sights and saw that quite a few people were offering reviews for other people. But there would be a catch. They would review your book only if you reviewed their book. You scratch my back and I'll certainly scratch yours. Especially if you give me a good review, was the attitude that I discovered.
Also, there are quite a few people who will review your book. If you want a free review, it could take months upon months to be reviewed. However, for a fee, your book could move to the top of the pile and be reviewed, in a while.
Words of advice. Never pay for a review. Paid reviews are never worth the dollar value attached to the review and some times those reviews don't even happen. Then the author spends a lot of time trying to track the reviewer down who, surprisingly, has disappeared.
I have had a number of reviews. There have been a couple of not so good reviews. I did not take them personally which is something an author really needs to learn to do. I read the review and took note of it. I had hoped to learn something beneficial that I can apply to my next books. But a writer needs to realize that you will never satisfy everyone.
The best thing to do is to learn your craft. Mix and mingle with other writers. Take workshops. Attend seminars. But do not let yourself be swayed by one author. Just because a certain author has had great success with their writing style, does not mean it will work for you. Keep writing and trying to learn. Right now that is what I am doing. I am trying to learn and seek out what is best for my writing style. I can take the many tools I have learned and apply them to my writing. Then try to decipher what will work best for me.
As for reviews, I would not hunger and starve for them. Take whatever reviews you get and make note of them. It is all the process of learning.
I used to watch social media sights and saw that quite a few people were offering reviews for other people. But there would be a catch. They would review your book only if you reviewed their book. You scratch my back and I'll certainly scratch yours. Especially if you give me a good review, was the attitude that I discovered.
Also, there are quite a few people who will review your book. If you want a free review, it could take months upon months to be reviewed. However, for a fee, your book could move to the top of the pile and be reviewed, in a while.
Words of advice. Never pay for a review. Paid reviews are never worth the dollar value attached to the review and some times those reviews don't even happen. Then the author spends a lot of time trying to track the reviewer down who, surprisingly, has disappeared.
I have had a number of reviews. There have been a couple of not so good reviews. I did not take them personally which is something an author really needs to learn to do. I read the review and took note of it. I had hoped to learn something beneficial that I can apply to my next books. But a writer needs to realize that you will never satisfy everyone.
The best thing to do is to learn your craft. Mix and mingle with other writers. Take workshops. Attend seminars. But do not let yourself be swayed by one author. Just because a certain author has had great success with their writing style, does not mean it will work for you. Keep writing and trying to learn. Right now that is what I am doing. I am trying to learn and seek out what is best for my writing style. I can take the many tools I have learned and apply them to my writing. Then try to decipher what will work best for me.
As for reviews, I would not hunger and starve for them. Take whatever reviews you get and make note of them. It is all the process of learning.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Dialogue
The craft of writing dialogue should not be that difficult, should it? I mean, we talk to each other and there isn't any confusion there. Well, maybe not. When we talk to each other, unless we are clear, our words can be misunderstood. Even our body language can sometimes confuse.
Early on I was told that my dialogue was well written. After attending several workshops and listening to several different opinions on writing dialogue, I am not so sure. In fact, I am not very sure about my writing style. But I am willing to listen and learn.
At one workshop, the author told us that there is nothing wrong with he said, she said. In fact, it is being used too little. Too many times, writers use animal sounds (he growled, she roared). When one is writing dialogue, what the character does can show the reader exactly what tone of voice the character is using. In fact, in using a simple exclamation point, this will tell the reader that there is excitement. But don't use more than one exclamation point in a dialogue or the excitement will wear thin.
Another item that was noted was when there are only two characters carrying on a dialogue, there is no need to use the he said, she said after every sentence. In fact, even with two pages of dialogue, just throw in a couple he saids, she said and your readers should be able to follow along pretty well. However, when you have a number of characters speaking, then it would be best to have he saids, she saids after every sentence - dialogue piece.
Also, there was talk about using dialects in dialogue. One writer had a British character in his novel, but he only had him say Cheerio once and a few other British terms, but for the rest of the novel, the author used good old American English in the character's dialogue. I once read a novel (okay, I only read the first three pages) where the entire dialogue was in a heavy African American slang. I was totally confused by the meanings of some of the words and I had a really hard time reading the dialect. It was just too difficult to follow the meaning of what was going on. I put the book down. I suppose it all matters where you want your book to be marketed.
Dialogue can also identify a character. I love to listen to people talk. Everyone has a different way of stating things and talking. I develop characters with certain personality traits of people I know. Then I try to have those characters talk the way that person would talk. This is something I really need to work on. I can sometimes visualize in my head, how a dialogue will go and I will sometimes talk it out loud to see if it makes sense.
Please, realize that I do not have the answers. I am a writer who is working on improving my writing style. There are bumps along the way, where I forget. But I love writing and will continue to learn. I just love to listen and absorb. Hopefully, my writing style will improve.
Early on I was told that my dialogue was well written. After attending several workshops and listening to several different opinions on writing dialogue, I am not so sure. In fact, I am not very sure about my writing style. But I am willing to listen and learn.
At one workshop, the author told us that there is nothing wrong with he said, she said. In fact, it is being used too little. Too many times, writers use animal sounds (he growled, she roared). When one is writing dialogue, what the character does can show the reader exactly what tone of voice the character is using. In fact, in using a simple exclamation point, this will tell the reader that there is excitement. But don't use more than one exclamation point in a dialogue or the excitement will wear thin.
Another item that was noted was when there are only two characters carrying on a dialogue, there is no need to use the he said, she said after every sentence. In fact, even with two pages of dialogue, just throw in a couple he saids, she said and your readers should be able to follow along pretty well. However, when you have a number of characters speaking, then it would be best to have he saids, she saids after every sentence - dialogue piece.
Also, there was talk about using dialects in dialogue. One writer had a British character in his novel, but he only had him say Cheerio once and a few other British terms, but for the rest of the novel, the author used good old American English in the character's dialogue. I once read a novel (okay, I only read the first three pages) where the entire dialogue was in a heavy African American slang. I was totally confused by the meanings of some of the words and I had a really hard time reading the dialect. It was just too difficult to follow the meaning of what was going on. I put the book down. I suppose it all matters where you want your book to be marketed.
Dialogue can also identify a character. I love to listen to people talk. Everyone has a different way of stating things and talking. I develop characters with certain personality traits of people I know. Then I try to have those characters talk the way that person would talk. This is something I really need to work on. I can sometimes visualize in my head, how a dialogue will go and I will sometimes talk it out loud to see if it makes sense.
Please, realize that I do not have the answers. I am a writer who is working on improving my writing style. There are bumps along the way, where I forget. But I love writing and will continue to learn. I just love to listen and absorb. Hopefully, my writing style will improve.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Show Don't Tell
Everybody remembers their elementary days at school when one certain day of the week would be show and tell. We would all wait for this day with great anticipation for our turn to be able to show something treasured and talk about it. Some children would elaborate for a long time about their treasure. Others would run to the front of the classroom, hold up their treasure, give a one word description and then flee back to their desk.
Show and tell. Which does not work for writers. Time and time again writers are told to show, don't tell. Writers are supposed to elaborate on the action surrounding the scene. Giving descriptions filled with adjectives and adverbs are no longer valued. Although for literary works, verbose descriptions are required. Rather, having the characters interact with each other gets the reader involved.
I realize that showing and not telling is a much more effective way of writing. It also gives the writer a bigger challenge of telling, oops, crafting the story. Rather than telling, Sue was extremely irritated with her husband's late arrival home, one can show this sentence by writing, Sue paced by the front door, glancing out the window for her husband's car. She frowned when she finally saw his car pull into the driveway.
I am still learning this craft. There are differences and they can be very subtle. But rather than telling about a character's mood, there are ways to show the mood which will make the reader a more active participant.
The art of writing. The art of writing well. It is a learning process. It is always interesting to read an author's first book and then to read their following books. Sometimes, the reader will see an improvement. Sometimes not.
Show and tell. Which does not work for writers. Time and time again writers are told to show, don't tell. Writers are supposed to elaborate on the action surrounding the scene. Giving descriptions filled with adjectives and adverbs are no longer valued. Although for literary works, verbose descriptions are required. Rather, having the characters interact with each other gets the reader involved.
I realize that showing and not telling is a much more effective way of writing. It also gives the writer a bigger challenge of telling, oops, crafting the story. Rather than telling, Sue was extremely irritated with her husband's late arrival home, one can show this sentence by writing, Sue paced by the front door, glancing out the window for her husband's car. She frowned when she finally saw his car pull into the driveway.
I am still learning this craft. There are differences and they can be very subtle. But rather than telling about a character's mood, there are ways to show the mood which will make the reader a more active participant.
The art of writing. The art of writing well. It is a learning process. It is always interesting to read an author's first book and then to read their following books. Sometimes, the reader will see an improvement. Sometimes not.
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