This week one region in NZ was declared a
drought zone and a few others are staring down the barrel. On the official last
day of summer with the temperatures climbing again...anybody want to predict a
wet autumn? What happens if the Rain Gods don’t come back? If we stay forever
in a stuck weather zone...
Ok enough scary story starters.
In the publishing
blogosphere...Everyone was talking about what they learned at Indie ReCon. If
you didn’t check it out last week DO IT NOW. The advice...the posts...the how
to’s...the why’s....
A writing conference that promised
lots...and gave HEAPS...all free. Just scroll down the posts over three days (19-21
on the left.)
Publishing Perspectives had a guest post
with NZ company Vangelizer. Three Epiphanies on Social Media Marketing of Books. They are offering some very cool products to writers out there...but one
of their comments intrigued me. “Make it easy for people to buy your
book once you generate interest.” As a bare minimum, you should have a link
embedded in every tweet and post that takes people to a mobile-optimized site
with a range of global buying options.
This reminded me of Gumroad...the outfit I
told you about in January. They do just that for one off things from ‘content’
creators. I clicked on over to check out new offerings and there was a video with Gary Vaynerchuk about storytelling being the way to create empathy which
you can convert to a sale...(and before you go aaaargh...You are in the
business of selling your stories aren’t you?)
Author Media has ten tips for getting readers to your novel website...
Jane Friedman has interviewed C J Lyons who
is a Hybrid star. This is one of those must read articles to see how to
navigate the Hybrid world successfully.
Another big conversation this week on the blogosphere,
besides Indie ReCon, was Joel Friedlander AKA The Book Designer. Joel has
reached out to all the Indie/ Hybrid people out there and designed a collection of Book Templates you can buy to drop your novel into that saves you the hassle
of converting from Word to POD format...People are raving! The guy is a genius!
Joel talks about how astounded he was at the sheer number of downloads in the first few days along with FAQ’s on his new offering.
In England the talk is all about the
Beanstalk Literacy Charter...with the Children’s Laureate getting behind the ‘fund
a reading teacher in every school...as well as a library.’ I did not realise
that in England a school library was optional! I got a shiver down my spine!
Hilary Mantel has been in the news lately...mainly
for the inept reporting from tabloid journalists who did not check what she actually
said. Here she gives her Ten Rules for Writing and Jolly Good They Are Too!
Chuck’s recent blog has been getting a lot
of comment too. This is the bit where you gasp and say “he actually said that about editing a novel!”
If you remember when iTunes hit the music
industry...Mixtus Media has a look at Five Things Book Publishers should be prepared for.
Writer Beware checks out scammers that tell you to register copyright...let them do it for you...
Biting your readers in the buttocks...The Forest Gump Guide To Writing.
How to create deadlines for yourself...Yes there is a guide.
In Craft,
Edittorrent puts ambiguity under the spotlight with examples...her pet hate as an agent and something everybody
could sharpen up on.
The BookshelfMuse talks to the Plot Whisperer...One of those gotta read interviews, along with What and How to Revise by Darcy Pattison
The Query Letter...Chuck Sambuchino tells
you how to craft it if your MS doesn’t fit the expected box...
In Marketing,
Google authorship and SEO...Did you know
you may not be the author of those blog posts according to Google?
Susan Kaye Quin talks formatting for iTunes. (How to do it without buying a MAC)
Writersinthestorm take a look at setting timelines in your business plan.
Passive Guy looks at Indie Authors and gift cards...I have done this and it is quite a good idea.
Rachelle Gardner wants you to look good on a webcam and offers tips to help.
Sadly we must come to the end...with this
thought provoking post from one of our top writers of Y A about what it means to write for children.
pic.
Special thanks go to the Pulp-O-Mizer website...I had sooo much fun creating this on the neat website! (tho I'll stick to writing...)
