Are There Icebergs Ahead?

I sent out my newsletter yesterday, where I complained about the heat.
Sorry Northern Hemisphere writers. But while you are getting polar blasts we are getting
record breaking heat waves.- A sign of things to come.

Kris Rusch has been musing on signs of things to come and they make unhappy reading.
Based on Simon and Schuster’s end of year report from their happy CEO,
writers had better be understanding all the contracts that they sign.
THIS IS A MUST READ. (cue sirens, hooters and bells… if you don’t understand IP
then you really really need to read this.)

In news around the publishing blogosphere....
The Man group are pulling out of the MAN Booker Prize.
Hints and rumours are already suggesting they have a replacement sponsor.

Events on the near horizon… WriteOnCon!
Next weekend be prepared for the 3 day online Kidlit writers conference.
Every year I wonder how I can get away from the house and dive into all the goodies on offer
in an exclusive writing cave where I can binge watch presentations. Check out the schedule…
and the price is sooooooo  Cheeap!

Meanwhile in happier author news- Draft2Digital has rolled out a schedules promotion tool for authors.
If you drop the price on all outlets and then have to race round manually requesting a price drop this is for you.
You can check out the link here on The SPA Girls podcast page.
(This is a cracking good podcast for Indie authors.) Dan Wood of Draft2Digital was their guest this week.

Reedsy has a nifty blog with interesting articles.  If you are thinking about your 2019 goals take a look
at How To Start A Publishing Company then read Joanna Penn’s guest Bonnie Baguley on
Why authors should throw out their timeline to success. 

Shaunta Grimes has 25 habits that you must acquire if you want to be a writer.

Harper Glenn has an interesting post on Writer Unboxed- Are you tethered to the wrong story?
This is one of those posts that make sense of that niggly feeling when you open your word doc and frown.

Bang 2 Write has a great website on all things script for authors. This week they had a great article
on why lack of structure is killing your characters and a recent nifty one on Productivity.

Jami Gold has a great article on How Pantsers Develop Characters. If this is you- it’s a must read…

In The Craft Section,

Writing for an audiobook- Writer Unboxed- Juliet Marillier

Tension building elements for characters- Becca Puglisi and

Check out the Character motivations as well.

5 essentials for opening scenes- Mythcrants- Bookmark

All the fantasy character tropes- Reedsy Bookmark

Story Planning - which way is best -Jane Friedman- Bookmark

Writing a novel top editing tips - Joanna Penn

In The Marketing Section

How to setup and edit your Amazon author profile- Nate Hoffelder

How to create eye catching Bookbub ads- Insights- Bookmark

How to get Book Reviews- The Ultimate Manifesto- Archangelink-Bookmark

Using Microsoft Sway - WordDreams

How to check that your books fits accepted industry norms- IBPA- Bookmark

12 Book marketing tips- Marketing for Writers- Bookmark

How to reduce marketing anxiety and confusion- Publishers Weekly

To Finish

If you are looking at your Manuscript and wondering if it is an iceberg on which your writer boat might hit.
A few words of wisdom from Stephen King via Ruth Harris on Anne R Allen’s excellent blog
might be your life saver. The 10% rule and the secret power of …..

Maureen
@craicer

In my monthly newsletter, coming soon, I round up the best of the bookmarked craft and marketing links as well as some other bits and pieces. When you subscribe you will also get a nifty book crammed full with marketing notes. If you like the blog and want to shout me a coffee- hit the coffee button up top. Thanks.

Pic : Flickr Creative Commons Christopher Michel

The Ebb and Flow of Publishing

This week in the publishing blogosphere there was a lot of sympathy for the plight of Eilis O’Hanlon. Eilis has traditionally published her crime novels with her partner. They enjoyed modest success then in the ways of publishing... editors move... the series gets dropped and copyright reverts and the book goes out of print. That is until the book get plagiarised and finds a new success on Amazon.

This week Caroline Paul was shining a spotlight on publishing dilemma. Why boys should read girl books? There are some great arguments for this and a disquiet among authors that the push to be gender specific has not done children any favours. Melinda Szymanik explains this very well in her opinion piece.

Molly Green posted a breakdown of her earnings last year. A few authors are doing this now to explain why they are choosing to self publish. Transparency does educate. Her post makes interesting reading. As ever you should read the comments to get a fuller understanding.

Publishing Perspectives shines a spotlight on a new publishing company. Assisted publishing using people working in traditional publishing. It’s another way people can buy the services of a traditional publisher.

Joanna Penn interviewed Mark Lefebvre of Kobo about their global expansion into Asia and the new opportunities for authors who

publish with them. This makes interesting reading. Kobo is 2^nd in sales of eBooks behind Amazon and they are growing.

In the Craft Section,

When to write the end- K M Weiland- Bookmark

Revelation Midpoint- Sara Le Tourneau- Bookmark!

7 things that will doom a novel- James Scott Bell- Bookmark

10 tips to create a good writing routine

Why every writer needs a VIP- Ruth Harris- Bookmark!

Plot skeletons

In the Marketing Section,

7 ways you can use Pinterest.

Top book marketing takeaways from DBW16

How to get distribution after you‘ve printed the book

How to build a media kit- Molly Greene- Bookmark

Don’t make these rookie marketing mistakes-Miral Sattar

Website of the Week

The cool One Stop for Writers website has got even cooler. Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi have put together visual story maps. This is a handy aid to those writers who struggle with structure. 

To Finish,

Stephen King’s book On Writing is one of those must have craft books in your writing arsenal. Here he has 17 screenwriting lessons. These are really writing lessons regardless of the medium.

Fabo is back! It's that time of the year when NZ's wacky children's writers come out of their writing caves and start another round of story starters for NZ children. 

 maureen

@craicer

Pic from Flickr / Commons  Nedre Leirfoss, Trondheim, Norway 1890

Twists and Turns

Ahh the twisty world of publishing...

This week Barnes and Noble, the biggest bookstore chain in the US (owner of Nook and a model for other chains to follow) introduced a Print On Demand service.

Yes you can upload your MS and they will print it.

They won’t sell it or make it available in their store but they will print it. If you want it sold in Barnes and Noble stores you need to get your MS printed by CreateSpace. (owned by Amazon.) Just reflect for a minute on that last sentence….

Dave Gaughran wonders if the fell hand of Author Solutions may be behind this especially given the “charges” for basic editing etc that you may need.

St Martin’s press an imprint of Macmillan have decided that they will not be shopping for successful Indie authors. This is interesting as they took on Amanda Hocking and sold truck loads of her print books. Are the negotiations too difficult with savvy Indie authors? Digital Reader takes a look at implications.

Publishing Perspectives reports on a children’s book subscription model being trialed in France. This is aimed at libraries and schools first. If it works it will roll on to the English-speaking world next.

Joanna Penn has been attending the Screenwriters festival in London... She is all fired up with what she learned there. This is an interesting read. If you are at all interested in what Joanna is doing she is coming to Auckland in December and wants to meet up with kiwi writers.

Sir Quentin Blake has been thinking about accessibility in his work lately. He talked with the BBC on what he would like to see more of. (We need more of these voices advocating for children!)

Jane Friedman wrote an interesting article looking at the benefit (or not) of creative writing degrees. Some very thoughtful words of wisdom here.

Amazon just bought the .book domain name and a few others…hmm I wonder what their future plans may be.

Claude Nougat has taken a close look at free promotions and finds some surprising information and some great tips. (A must read)

In the Craft Section,

4 ways to write a killer plot twist

Excel at developing characters

Story questions to keep your novel on track (a print it out post!)

Writing humour - K M Weiland

How to make your scenes play out like the movies

6 steps to researching

How to finish projects.

In the Marketing Section,

4 mistakes authors make soliciting reviews

Making a catalogue of your work

Email tactics for writers

Business plan basics for authors

How to do a boxed set

How to do a powerhouse about page

Extra ways to make money as an author

To Finish,

Rolling Stone interviewed Stephen King about writing recently. Writers can take heart, Stephen King still has fears about his manuscripts failing….

***Breaking News*** Amazon and Hachette have resoved their differences and made up…. sort of. Wait until they hear what the Authors Guild wants.

maureen

Pic from Flickr/creativecommons/ Jenn Durfey