Learning On The Job

I’ve been thinking lately about the way publishing works these days. 

Ten years ago it was find an agent or editor and pitch your work. Keep trying and learning and maybe they will like it and you will get published. 

Five years ago it was ditch that traditional route and self publish... just put it out there and find your audience. 

Now it feels like a convergence.

To succeed in this business you have to go in with an attitude of learning and improving your craft. This applies for both sides of the publishing coin. This excellent post by Jamie Raintree explores the ‘act as if’ mindset and planning your career first.

While you are digesting that, Jane Friedman has written about standing out to agents and editors.... This is good advice people.

As you are learning about the publishing business stop and look at Kris Ruschs deal breaker posts. This week she looks at agent contracts.You should be keeping one eye on the gold and both eyes on the scams and navigating your way around.

Publishing Perspectives has an interesting interview with Sarah McIntyre, the illustrator behind the campaign #PicturesMeansBusiness. This is a great campaign and a must read for every children’s book author and publisher out there!

Lindsay Buroker is a great writer and one of the hosts of SFF marketing podcast. She writes an informative blog as well. Recently she wrote about genre hopping and how to do it successfully as a writer.

This week Wattpad introduced inside the story advertising. This was predicted about three years ago as one of those ‘and then the world will have gone to hell’ scenarios. But Wattpad being digital and wanting to help the authors has said use the space between chapters. Is it a win/win?

In the ‘what will they think of next, Section,

Augmented Reality. (A.R.) Now think of bookstores. Now put the two together. It’s like playing Pokemon Go on the bookshelves. Especially designed for kids...

In The Craft Section,

Two great articles on writing dialogue- Bookmark Both

Fantastic dialogue tips – Now Novel and Editing dialogue- Jane Friedman

Writing sex scenes

5 crime fiction blunders to avoid

3 ways to build a better plot- Janice Hardy

Writing complex characters- K M Weiland – Bookmark

Writing from the opposite genders point of view

Building and keeping suspense

Character Arc development – Jami Gold Bookmark

In The Marketing Section,

5 guerilla tactics for promoting your book

When you’ve finished your first novel, what do you do- Anne R Allen-Bookmark

Keyword use on Amazon- Penny Sansevieri - Bookmark

The importance of your author photo

Print is still important- Elizabeth S Craig- Bookmark (and read comments)

Marketing on a budget

Creating the author business plan- Janice Hardy - Bookmark

To Finish,

These days you can write from anywhere and many writers do. Give me wifi and a coffee is the writers cry. However to be a productive digital nomad takes a little more savvy. Here is a list of productivity tips for your next foray of writing in the wild... or your nearest coffee shop

Maureen

@craicer

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Pic: Flickr/ Creative Commons/ Pedro Simoes