Clearing Your Head

This week has been a whirlwind of new projects to get stuck into... 

I was talking with a friend recently about the hazard of starting new projects. You know you need to get started but the detritus from the last project or the four others you have going simultaneously stop you from getting into a clear headspace.

Chuck Wendig has written his latest 25 things post on this very topic. (Warning it’s Chuck, be prepared to laugh, wince and cover your ears.)

Bob Mayer has been busy this week attending the Digital Book World Discoverability conference. He blogs about each day's speakers and takeaways for authors facing the Brave New World.

Bob also repeats his rant taking writers to task for not valuing their time and expertise. They shouldn’t appear so grateful to do something for free. His rant got lots of comment and he even has the link to Harlen Ellison's famous YouTube rant on the subject which should be required watching for all writers.

Colin Falconer has an interesting blog post on the changing attitudes of readers and what the future holds now that we have book espresso machines popping up all over the place.

Chuck Sambuchino of Writers Digest has a look at query letters and 9 FAQs about them.

The Passive Guy looks at the changing faces of Sci fi and Fantasy How can you tell the difference? The comments are really enlightening. These genres are really changing with mash ups happening all over the place, Paranormal Steampunk SpaceOpera on a Dystopian Planet anyone?

Marta Acosta has written an excellent blog post on working with Audible Amazon’s audiobook creator service...and what it means to her back list.

The craft list is dominated by tools of the trade,

The book designer has 3 photo tools

Writeitsideways has 3 classic strategies for the bestseller

Crimefiction collective has the most exhaustive list of links for authors using Kindle for publishing or 

promotion...

Bubblecow looks at 10 topics writers should be talking about when promoting their book.

Anne R Allen has 10 ways writer bloggers are sabotaging themselves.

Do you know how to find the perfect niche audience for your blog, the popular Livehacked blog tells you how.

Agent Mary Kole examines author emails; Do you need a business one?

Author PR...If you are stuck, these tips may help you out.

If you need help writing that sexy scene in your YA check out this post.

K M Weiland has another stellar post on writing craft. Why your beginning and ending must link.

To finish,

Two weeks ago I linked to the news that Harper Voyager was opening their doors to unagented subs for a heady 2 weeks. This week Carolrhoda Books is doing the same. Editor Andrew Karre outlines exactly what he wants and when he wants it....

Go on clear those desks get that new project underway... 

maureen

pic from http://www.flickr.com/photos/documentingtrees/131547704/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Spring into Marketing

Ahhh Spring!

The moment when the sun breaks through the clouds and warms your back and then disappears behind rain clouds for another three weeks.

The optimistic scheduling of road works which rely on good weather...reality huge mud holes that last for two weeks causing a hazard before it is dry enough to resume work...

The gentle spring winds...gale force with a wind chill factor of 5.

Spring has great P R.

In the blogosphere there is a marketing focus this week as Amazon Kindle Serials get discussed by authors...is it worth it? Passive Guy takes a look and then the commenter’s weigh in.

Jane Friedman takes Stephen Kings popular rules on writing and changes them to marketing.

Jody Hedlund asks when should a writer stop promoting their book.

In the big picture look at the publishing world, Idealog previews what are going to be the hot topics at Frankfurt Publishers Launch conference. Among the innovators speaking will be Charlie Redmayne of Pottermore...They are keen to help any other world building author do a Pottermore....

J S McDougal is looking at publishers, their fear of piracy and DRM and how it is all tied up with disruptive technologies and the release of bright shiny hardware...MP3 and the iPod, eBook and the kindle...

Joanna Penn is using her Kindle to edit her book for print...a whole nother way to use this tech...Different formats highlight different line edits to be made...just when you thought it was all over after you published...

How much do you know about Foreign Rights? A foreign Rights agent talks about exactly what she does. It will open your eyes!

Writers Digest has 5 ways writers can get the most out of Goodreads ...one of them is to read...

Alexis Grant has a helpful post on how to master Twitter...be a power user....some interesting tips in there.

There is a collection of great craft links.

Kristen Lamb on exploring writing about a character’s inner and outer demons using Black Swan as the example.

Alan Rinzler explaining what it means when an editor or agents says it lacks emotional glue...and how to fix it.

Ava Jae on how to use brainstorming effectively when it is time to edit...(yes you did read that right.)

L B Gale has another interesting post up on what Romance Writers can teach Sci Fi Writers....actually what Romance Writers can teach anybody really.

Carol Riggs talks about feedback feeding into your story....a great guest blog on Janice Hardy’s brilliant writer’s craft blog.

The seven rules of picking character names...and I thought it was open baby name book, close eyes, stab with pin....

To finish, 

Alan Rinzlers post on Book Marketing with 3 experts has been getting another airing around the blogosphere this week. I blogged it in April but check it out again as we are on a marketing focus today.

Terry Pratchett has a new book coming out and it is a Young Adult book...Here is Sir Terry attempting to market it.... ( you will smile...)

maureen

pic from

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rumpleteaser/127509131/