I’ve been racing around the country on a lightening tour
dropping in at all sorts of stunning places and meeting all sorts of amazing
people. Meanwhile the publishing world keeps ticking on.
In case you didn’t know... Amazon owns Goodreads. This
didn’t matter so much as Goodreads continued to do their thing... until today when they launched a hand picked also recommends eBook deal service. (They know
all about you... so it was inevitable.)
Writer Unboxed has an interview with Magdalene Thomas about
the secrets of how to work the Amazon algorithms. This is going to mean much
more now that Goodreads is doing the same thing.
Steven Pressfield has an interesting article on the steps
you need to think about to find a great title for your book.
Publishers Weekly have an article on how to update a children's book.
Publishers Weekly have an article on how to update a children's book.
Kristine Rusch has an interesting article on option clauses. These are important in a contract
but authors often don’t understand how important. The choice of words in an
option clause confers power in a contractual relationship. Kris points out the
pitfalls. This is a must read!
Getting motivated after having time away can be a struggle.
Chuck understands and so he has written a great post on the toxic myths that ambush the writer and stop them from writing. (Warning, its Chuck so be
prepared!)
Kristen Lamb has also been looking at the hard truths of
being a professional writer. She offers some words of advice about getting over
the first draft.
Elizabeth Spann Craig has a useful article on tech tools to help with promotion.
If you drop into Twitter chats, sometimes the hour goes so
fast that you miss some of the gems under discussion. Rachel Thompson has a
popular Twitter chat on Book Marketing and she posted a link to the Storify version of the chat today. Take a look- So much great information there.
In The Craft Section,
The pre edit checklist- Bookmark
How to create your own galley proof- Janice Hardy
7 ways to write crisis scenes- Bookmark
Two Bookmark posts from C S Lakin 5 tips to make writing adaily habit’ and ways novelists can
break structural rules.
In the Marketing Section,
Jane Friedman on getting started with email lists- Bookmark
Molly Greene –Using Fiverr- the author’s secret staff
Fantastic author newsletters - Bookmark
Penny Sansevieri has two great posts on Marketing for Self Publishers and Part Two Bookmark
To Finish,
The wonderful Maria Popover from Brain Pickings was invited
to give the commencement speech at her Alma Mater. She has an inspiring speech on Cynicism and Hope. Just the ticket if you need to re focus yourself.
Our culture has created a
reward system in which you get points for tearing down rather than building up,
and for besieging with criticism and derision those who dare to work and live
from a place of constructive hope. Don’t just resist cynicism — fight it
actively, in yourself and in those you love and in the communication with which
you shape culture. Cynicism, like all destruction, is easy, it’s lazy. There is
nothing more difficult yet more gratifying in our society than living with
sincere, active, constructive hope for the human spirit. This is the most
potent antidote to cynicism, and it is an act of courage and resistance today.
Maureen
@craicer
Holiday pics...
This is where I went... and Yes it looks like this!
