Writing Contest for the Good At Heart

"And finally, I believe in my whole race. Yellow, white, black, red, brown --in the honesty, courage, intelligence, durability....and goodness.....of the overwhelming majority of my brothers and sisters everywhere on this planet. I am proud to be a human being. I believe that we have come this far by the skin of our teeth, that we always make it just by the skin of our teeth --but that we will always make it....survive....endure. I believe that this hairless embryo with the aching, oversize brain case and the opposable thumb, this animal barely up from the apes, will endure --will endure longer than his home planet, will spread out to the other planets, to the stars, and beyond, carrying with him his honesty, his insatiable curiosity, his unlimited courage --and his noble essential decency."

"This I believe with all my heart."

As read by Mrs. Heinlein received a standing ovation.

If you can relate to this, then there is a short story contest you need to consider.


The Robert A. HeinleinCentennial Short Story ContestThree prizes will be given for the best original short storiesreflecting the spirit, ideas, and philosophies of Robert AnsonHeinlein.$5,000 first prize$2,000 second prize$1,000 third prizeIf you want a short declaration of who the man was and his works, thengo to this link http://www.heinleinsociety.org/rah/thisibelieve.html






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Victorian Erotica

Many people think that this is a new genre -wrong. The Gothic genre blended with French Erotica and grew into Victoria Erotica. In fact, we are still on the 'light' side of what constituted Victorian erotica. I am not sure many of today's writers want to delve into the psychotic states of the human mind to explore what happens when madness melds with passion.

Today's dark genres, such as vampire, are still lighter than many of the Victorian Erotica stories - some of which are so dark and evil that you won't find them in public domain. They are stored on dusty bookshelves in ancient libraries - probably never to be read again.

If you want to 'taste' a light version of Victorian Erotica then read an old French Gothic story.



Pearls in the Raw, Victorian Erotica Rediscovered

Interesting word - voluptuous. It suggests ample or full, and in the broader sense, given over to the satisfaction of sensual desires. That is no doubt why "The Pearl" is described as "A Journal of Faceteia and Voluptuous Reading." "The Pearl," an underground journal published in Victorian England from July 1879 to December 1880, is an erotic treasure chest.

It is one of many such treasures I discovered while writing my erotic novel set in Victorian London.

The research for this erotic novel took me into the shadow of the Victorian libido. Not only did I have to study the Victorian household, the functioning of gas lights, the complex hierarchy of the British peerage and the many layers of clothing (which had to be frequently removed), I also had to delve into the darker side of the Victorian psyche.

The sexual repression of the Victorian age did not repress sexual desire. Quite the contrary. The popularity of erotic literature, the glut of prostitutes and the proliferation of brothels are historical testament to the sexual appetites of the time. Publicly denouncing sexual behavior did not stop the private exploration of intimate cravings.

Such activities as canings, voyeurism, exhibitionism and illicit sex were commonplace, but always hidden. No one spoke of it, but most found partners to indulge their favorite fetish.

Another Victorian classic, "My Secret Life," first published between 1888 and 1894, was banned for a hundred years because of its explicit content. A Victorian gentleman chronicled his lascivious exploits, using the pseudonym Walter.

Walter's erotic stories are still considered perverse and often pornographic, even with its reissue as part of the Wordsworth Classic Erotica series.

The most interesting aspect of my immersion into Victorian sexuality is discovering the similarity to today's avarice and taboos. Here we are, in the 21st century, still struggling with the same desires and the same denial that those desires exist.

Even with the overt use of sexual images in advertising and with the seeming sexual freedom we are said to enjoy, there still exists an air of repression surrounding sexual activity. It is permissible to be titillated by pictures and innuendo, but when the libido demands more, society says uh-uh, shaking their puritanical finger under our noses.

With the current popularity of erotic romance and the explicit nature of the work, we are once again expressing our desire in words. We really want to be doing it. Much like the Victorians, we find our pleasure where we can. Sometimes that is actual experience and other times it is solely within our imaginations. Erotic literature, be it Victorian or contemporary, serves the same purpose. It provides an outlet for sexual feelings which certainly exist, but often cannot be overtly expressed.

We all crave the thrill of a licentious tryst. The danger, the excitement and the titillation of such encounters, be it now or in Victorian London, are the same. Victorian erotica speaks to the modern libido just as surely as it enticed the nineteenth century reader. The intoxicating agitation of sexual excitement is timeless.

P.F. Kozak is the author of the erotic romance novels Passion, and Sins and Secrets. Visit her Web site to learn more, http://www.pfkozak.com/


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Start Your Writing Career at Wikipedia

What is the #8 the sight on Alexandria? Wikipedia. This is not only the world's largest encyclopedia, but it is a user managed forum. Most of the editors are corporations. This is a great tool for anyone who wants to educate the world on a topic.

Wikipedia is written collaboratively by volunteers. Since 2001, Wikipedia has grown into the largest reference Website with 75,000 active contributors maintaining9,000,000 articles in 250 languages. Visitors do not need specialized qualifications to contribute, since their primary role is to write articles that cover existing knowledge. The objective is to create a human conscious, a collection of the worlds knowledge - to move it from books to the web in 'bite sized' easy to read segments.

This is arguably the only downfall of wikipedia. There is not enough room to study a topic in full depth - say 10 000 words.

But there are other resources: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Main_Page Wiki Books gives away free textbooks .... sort of.

Wikiversity http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Wikiversity:Main_Page offers free education .... sort of. I found a lot of course outlines and syllabus, but almost all the ones I looked into lacked a few fundamental elements - like lessons.

That could be seen in two ways. One, there is a lot of room to grow on wikipedia and there is room for people to build their credentials by editing the encyclopedia. Or, the project is a big bust. Only time will tell.

Editing Wikipedia

Step 1: Register

1. Go to Wikipedia.org,
2. choose a language,
3. create account,
4. follow the instructions.

Step 2: Read the Guides

This will avoid frustration. There are articles on editing, formatting, community rules, About Wikipedia, Editing Wikipedia Pages How to edit a page. If you don't plan to spend a few days reading, yes days, then don't read any farther. This is not a venue for the weak of heart or those who lose interest quickly.

Wikipedia in Brief, spells isn’t acceptable. I would start here.

Step 3: Start Editing.

Okay people, for Pete's Sake, don't write in the text editor. Go to word and do your work. Editing is fairly simple, click the edit link and start making corrections, additions, and rewrites, then click submit.

Like all content management systems, this is NOT WYSIWYG. You'll have to learn a hyroglypic but it won't be any harder than learning HTML. Wikipedia Style Manual. The code is tedious, but it is a very common form of coding - just not a public one.

I doubt you can jump on wiki and start promoting your business. However, you'll be able to have your say, and even though wiki is public, being an editor is something worth putting on your resume, well not being on par with being a DMOZ editor. but you can feel good that you are working for the collective good of all mankind.

Kindle is for US Publishers Only

Kindle is only available to US Publishers.

The current Amazon controversy is confusing. I would think that people were more concerned with the fact that Kindle is only available to publishers who live in the USA. This severely limits the books they can list. It isn’t because they cannot deal with people outside of their country.

The Amazon.com POD alternative works with publishers from around the world. If Kindle went through this venue then they could easily list ebooks from publishers residing in the UK , Canada, and Australia without any problem.

Writers Need To Use an Ergonomic Keyboard

There is only one piece of equipment that every work at home professional cannot do without. That is an ergonomic keyboard. There are many different varieties of ergonomic keyboards. Each has their advantages and disadvantages. But, there are some things you need to consider.

The one thing you want is a split keyboard. The one I use lets me place my hands at a turned position. My shoulders are not forced forward. My wrists are not forced to turn. The palms sit on the support between the back and forward button.

Over the years I've had people ask how I get so much work done, without breaking down, without getting tired. I now have an answer - my keyboard. I proved this just last week. My keyboard broke and although Microsoft has it guaranteed, it will be three weeks before it comes in. I had no choice but to use the cheap flat keyboard that came with my computer.

Within hours I felt tired, there was a pain between my shoulders, and my wrists were 'tight.' After a few hours I grew accustomed to this and kept working, but I was aware of the problem. I also noticed that my typing speed slowed dramatically. I can drop the keyboard into my lap, sit with my feet on a footrest, and with the aid of a proper office chair, I can work about two hours at a shot.

When I used the flat keyboard the pain forced me to take a break or slow down every 20 - 30 minutes to relieve the tension. I needed to get up more often. I am not touting this as a perfect tool for working more. I am stating that my keyboard kept me at a comfortable position - just as comfortable as sitting on the couch watching television.

The difference was so dramatic that I sent my husband 2.5 hours away to buy me another keyboard after only a day - I have a great hubby.

This keyboard (Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000) is Vista safe, with a plug-in from the MS website. I have already made back the $70 the keyboard cost me.



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RSI Can End Your Writing Career

In medical terms, repetitive strain injury (RSI) is a cumulative trauma disorder (CTD) caused by prolonged repetitive, awkward hand movements that damage muscles, tendons, and nerves of the neck, shoulder, forearm, and hand, causing pain, weakness, numbness, or impairment of movement. It can be caused by working long periods at a computer, either in a chair with poor support, no foot rest, and using a square or small keyboard.

Typing and clicking a mouse button can be harmful. Injured muscles contract, decreasing the range of motion. As the typist continues to work, the level of stress increases. At first they suffer wrist pain and head aches, but after a while the pain increases.

Professionals that understand the disease know that slowing down for a month or two out of the year, taking breaks, and listening to their body will keep them working. Those who don't listen or make excuses (I can't afford a secretary's chair or ergonomic/split keyboard) end up with a debilitating chronic disorder that can take several hundreds of dollars and more than six months to correct. In effect - they are out of business.

What Happens with RSI?

The sheaths that cover tendons run out of lubrication because they aren't allowed to rest. The tendon and sheath chafe, causing pain. The tendons become inflamed, and pinch nerves. This causes numbness, tingling, or hypersensitivity to touch.

Poor posture can lead to severe neck and back injuries. Repetitive reaching for a mouse can lead to arm and neck strain as well as spinal strain.

RSI is not a medical diagnosis, but a family of disorders, mistakenly called carpal tunnel syndrome. One recent study even reported that frequent computer users are no more likely to develop CTS than non-computer users.

• poor posture


• poor technique


• Do not use a keyboard designed for computer users


• Use a computer more than two hours a day


• Your job that requires constant computer use,


• Don't take breaks


• Use a manager chair, or don't use a secretary's chair


• Don't exercise


• Have stressful deadlines, work 7 days a week


• Work in a high-pressure environment


• Have arthritis, diabetes, or another serious medical condition


• Have long fingernails


• Have an unhealthy, or sedentary lifestyle


• Are overweight


• Don't believe you are at risk

You are at risk of you experience:

• Fatigue


• Weakness in the hands or forearms


• Tingling, numbness, or loss of sensation


• Heaviness Clumsiness in your hands


• You drop things or lack coordination


• Cold hands?


• Frequent self-massage


• Avoid using one hand


• Use your forearm, feet, or shoulder to open doors?


• Not play sports you once enjoyed?


• Have trouble sleeping
• When typing you notice that you are holding one wrist 'up' off the wrist support, or find yourself reaching for keys that you'd normally touch without moving your wrist.

The first sign is often irritability with family members, being short tempered, or having an emotional outburst while working, but without any apparent cause.

When I find myself strained, I wear a fingerless brace like the one above. It supports my wrist and forces me to move in a different patter, it slows my typing speed down, and gives me a chance to retrain my hands to move properly. That said, I haven't worn my wrist braces since buying an ergonomic keyboard.



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Web Hosting For Wordpress

This helps people find the best web hosting sites for people who have wordpress running their blog, or have turned wordpress into a complete website.

They have the best themes I've ever seen. I run seven wordpress blogs and wordpress websites. It is an excellent platform, easier to use than drupal and almost never corrupts. If it does, then I did something wrong. Kaushalshet.com prefers Hostmoster, but I think that Host gator is the best web hosting site on the net.

I even found a few blogger templates to use.

This writer's resource gets 5 stars. I am going to try template #5. I didn't find any 4 column templates. All my sites are set up to take 4 column templates. However, if you use two column wordpress templates and want something different than everyone else, there are some templates here that I'd give a solid 7/10.

But, what gets the full marks is the tutorials that cover more than just 'how to do the basics' and includes full coding in one piece. So many tutorials don't work becuase they ask the user to fill in spaces. These tutorials give all the instructions and don't make assumptions on the user's skills and abilities.

Writing Conference

http://www.dream-realm-awards.net/rules.htm

Or cross-genres of romance, YA or erotic thereof... The Dream Realm Awards are now open for e-books over 40K released in 2007. Entry is $20. You enter with the first 3 chapters or 12K of the RTF file (whichever is shorter)...no art.

If you make the finals, they need the full book. It cannot be a reprint. You can only enter the book in one category (READ the descriptions...though FAIRY DREAMS is sensual romance, it must enter as erotica...their rules), and you cannot enter more than one book per category, though you can enter different books in different categories. There is also a cover art portion, but cover artists have to enter it, AFAIK.

Brenna--

http://www.brennalyons.com http://www.myspace.com/brennalyonsFairy Dreams is the best bar none fantasy romance that I have ever read! The action is non-stop; the deep abiding love so well portrayed that you feel as though you are experiencing it yourself. Regina for Coffee Time Romance






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Epic Fantasy - Can You Define the Genre?

Most authors have no idea what defines their genre. They are oblivious to the things that make their genre unique, what attracts people to their genre. When their books remain unpublished, they claim that publishing is elitist and politically based.

Take some time to learn the truth about your genre, and you'll win a publishing contract.


Epic Fantasy - Its Really About the Meaning of Life


Since the beginning of time mankind has made up epic fantasy stories in the form of myths to reflect his role in the universe. The oldest piece of written work is the Epic of Gilgamesh. It was inscribed on stone tablets a thousand years before the Iliad was written and it is in the genre of epic fantasy. Since this piece was written many more have followed.

We are all familiar with the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece, or the story of King Arthur and the Holy Grail. We are also all familiar with the quest of Bilbo Baggins. Why have these stories and others like them survived for so long? Why are they so fully engraved in our psyche as a race? Is it because they are fun stories? It is true that they are good stories and grand adventures but they also convey a deeper meaning about what it is to be human. And this search for a deeper meaning has been with humans since the beginning of time.

The ancient Greeks created myths that revolved around heroes facing the wrath of a variety of gods. This helped them to understand their place in the world and it applied meaning to their lives relative to the world they lived in. In medieval times humanity changed. The Renaissance brought with it a new understanding of the world we live in. And that new understanding brought new questions. No longer were we subject to the whims of a variety of gods. We, as people, gained a new control of our own lives and we came to the realization that it wasnt gods that controlled us but it was us who controlled ourselves. This made us look inward. It caused us to seek out the things within ourselves that made us like the old gods. This new outlook was reflected in the epic fantasy myths of the times. Heroes looked inside themselves. They took great strides in making themselves better people. They believed that there was a right way to be and this belief is epitomized by the code of the knight.

There are no dragons to slay, there are no more knights, and there are no princesses to rescue. How do these stories of heroic quests apply to you today?

Each character in these stories is given a task of a seemingly impossible nature. And each character has to find his way through a world wrought with dangers, difficulties and obstacles. The parallel here is obvious and we all travel a similar road to that of Gilgamesh and Jason but this isnt the real reason why epic fantasy is so relevant to our lives. This kind of conflict and searching is found in just about every piece of fiction and in every medium. The secret to why epic fantasy rises above all the others is hidden within each story itself.

Joseph Campbell, in his book The Hero With a Thousand Faces, outlined the twelve steps that each hero must take on his personal journey to realizing his quest. One critical early step that must be made is the meeting with the mentor. The mentor himself has traveled his own personal journey, learned many lessons along the way and he imparts this wisdom on our hero. Our hero learns some valuable lessons from someone who has been there and done that. This is exactly what epic fantasy does for you. It works as a mentor.

In a beautiful sense of folding in on itself the hero of an epic fantasy story becomes a mentor to you. You travel along with the hero and you learn the lessons that he learns. You learn the value of trust or the danger of greed. And most importantly you learn the value of persisting in your personal quest and following your heart because in the end you see the reward.

Read the stories of the epic fantasy hero and listen to the lessons that he can teach you. Maybe there are no more Dragons and no more damsels in distress but you are in the middle of an epic quest called your life and you must follow this quest to the end. This quest is the search to find the meaning in your life and epic fantasy is the mentor that will help you find it.

Will Kalif is the author of two epic fantasy novels. You can visit his website and learn about creativity, video game design, writing or classical guitar: http://www.stormthecastle.com Or visit his epic fantasy website: http://www.epic-fantasy.com


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Character Communication

Writers need to learn the art of communication. It is vital to the success of their books. It is also vital to character development. Good communication is one way to earn respect for a hero. Poor communication is a great way to make a character look weak.

In fact, a character can improve their communication style as they progress through their book, improving the 'reader's' impression of the character and strengthening the character growth arc...all without giving the character one of the over worn and outdated problems (ie, surviving abuse, afraid of commitments, etc.)




The Six Rules of Effective Communication

Effective communication is vital if you wish people to understand your viewpoint. It becomes even more crucial in professional settings, as fierce competition means that customers must be convinced that your products are superior to your rival's. Unless you effectively communicate the features and advantages of your product, your customers are likely to walk out the door. Communication is equally important in your interactions with suppliers, coworkers, managers, and investors.

The following six rules will help you communicate more effectively, reduce conflict in your organization, and become a better leader.

Rule #1: Organize your thoughts.

Jumbled thoughts lead to incoherent speech. Organizing your thoughts systematically is the first step to effective communication. You should be clear about the message that you want to convey, and it is helpful to have a framework for the conversation. Communication is a dynamic process, so you need to organize and re-organize your thoughts accordingly as the conversation progresses. This presence of mind is essential.

Rule #2: Plan the conversation ahead of time.

When you think through a subject, try to envision what sort of reaction you will evoke. Plan out the different directions that the conversation may go, and prepare your ground accordingly. It helps to consider the personality and behavior of the person with whom you are dealing. How does s/he prefer to work, what is his/her behavioral style? Answering these questions allows you to tailor your approach accordingly.

Rule #3: Be aware of your nonverbal signals.

Did you know much of our communication happens through nonverbal signals? The message you convey through your gestures, body language, and facial expressions will play a huge role in the response you elicit. For this reason, your verbal and nonverbal message need to be consistent; otherwise, you will send mixed signals and not achieve the outcome you desire.

Rule #4: Be succinct.

As they say, less is more. This holds true for communication as well. Your goal in communication is to convey a message and create a certain response. Emphasize your key points simply, and respond to questions directly. Repeating yourself and reiterating your points will only detract from your message.

Rule #5: Demonstrate how the other person will benefit.

When you show how the other person will directly benefit from your offer, you are very close to convincing him/her. To do this, you must highlight the rewards of your offer, and explain how they will improve his or her life. For example, instead of explaining that a new product is more efficient, you might emphasize how much time or money the customer will save. This is the fifth great rule for becoming a good communicator.

Rule #6: Be a good listener.

The importance of listening to the other party and understanding his/her viewpoint is often overlooked. Effective communication is two-way process; if you adopt a one-way attitude, you will fail to create a rapport with your counterpart. By making the other person feel that you value their participation in the conversation, and that you are addressing his/her needs, you make him/her much more willing to accommodate your position. In practice, this means that you must listen patiently and converse accordingly.


Barbara Stennes CSP is president and owner of Resources Unlimited a consulting firm based in Des Moines Iowa. She is widely recognized as an expert on team building customer service creativity and innovation. To learn how Barbara can help your organization please visit http://deBonoOnline.com.











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March is Small Press Month – Author Signed vs. Inscribed

There is nothing more alluring to a book lover than an author signed book. They rarely care if the book is paperback, hard cover, or a CD audio book.

http://www.abebooks.com/docs/RareBooks/Avid-Collector/Mar07/ask-the-experts.shtml

There are special bookstores around the net designed to sell author signed books:

http://www.signedbytheauthor.com/
http://www.booksmith.com/collectibles.html
http://www.alibris.com/

Authors can even sell copies of their book ‘author signed’ on Amazon.com – just make sure that you include in the book title ‘author signed.’ Then explain in your blurb that you will sign a ‘personal copy’ for the buyer. You would not want to sell ‘inscribed’ copies here.

Many authors overlook the option of selling ‘inscribed books.’ These books are often given to people of importance in your life. A writer may offer to host a library seminar and ‘inscribe’ books to ‘the library patrons who supported my career.’

There is a hierarchy to book signatures:

1. Top is the dedication copy. There is usually only one of these.
2. Next, is association copies. These books are signed for friends and relatives of the author, people of note in the author’s life.
3. Further down is the presentation copies. These are signed to people who are not friends, mentors, family of the author. They still include a message.
4. Bottom of the list is a signed copy. Interestingly enough, if a book is signed it is considered sold, even if it is not.

One way to attract people to your events is to offer to ‘inscribe’ all copies sold at the event. Authors are often shocked to see how far a book lover will travel for the bragging rights to having a presentation copy in their library.

This is one way that writers can support their fan base. They can offer to ‘inscribe an association copy’ of their book to any ‘friend’ from their fan group who attends their seminars, or who orders the book direct from the author.

Book Value

The important thing to remember is that your book’s value depends on the signature value. If an author promises to sign an association copy for everyone – then the value is worthless.
There is a general rule ‘the more words, the better.’ This has always held true. When a book lover buys a book, they are buying a copy of the book. When they buy an inscribed book, they are buying a story, a memory, of a time they met the author.

Selling Books

Never underestimate the power of an inscribed book. Many authors have a book signing and feel they must sell their books at a discount. This is not true if they spend the day talking to people, making friends, and inscribing books.

Even an inscription such as “I loved talking to you at the ________ event. It was a great afternoon, and I hope we meet again.”

A clever quote is also valuable, as it gives the owner of the book a glimpse into the author’s life and personality.

First Edition

It is important to protect the integrity of your first editions. These are the ones you want to sign. That is why it is also important to put a date on the book, even if it is a scrawled 01/08.

Art Value

Each author signed book has an ‘art value.’ The selection of a pen should be vital. The author should also practice their signature. A poor signature with a blue Bic pen may actually devalue the book. A felt tip pen, and a ‘fine’ scroll font, will create a page worth showing to friends and jealous collectors.

Conclusion

Many people may think that author signed has little value today. However, most authors refuse to offer the public signed copies of their books. They may give away a few associate books, signed not inscribed, but the number of author signed books are actually diminishing in the market, retaining their value – especially if you become famous one day.





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Online Gaming

My son is at his friends playing with his grandfather. They are playing at an online casino site. They don't play at every site. We check out sites like www.onlinecasinolinks and compare the different casino sites.

I don't let steve play on any web based casino site. I want to make sure they are not phishing sites. Some of them offer free cash. Some of the sites have a limit. This is vital when kids gamble - because they always lose - sooner or later.

Don't gamble online recklessly. Make sure that you protect your identity and your financial information. Never give bank info. Never give your main credit card. We use pre paid ones for my son's gaming.

Sell Books By Becoming Famous

We are doing a few major workshops for Small Press Month. We are hosting one of our biggest workshops this week.

Place: www.inspiredauthor.com (click the chat-room button at the top of the page.
Time: 7 - 9 eastern (come when you can)
Membership: none needed - just enter your screen name and enter


Katie Adams

Katie Adams is a highly successful grant writer. In fact, she obtained over $12 million in grants for her clients in only 3 months! She can help you learn how to get free publicity, money to promote your writing, and much more! If you want to become famous overnight, then be at the Inspired Authors chat on Friday night.

Katie has offered to host a 2 hour workshop to help authors promote themselves and their work, build winning PR campaigns, and launch their careers. Have your questions ready! She is also looking for cream of the crop writers for her new business venture. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime chance.

Authors must be well known even before releasing their first book. This takes a “presence” that is only accomplished by proactive marketing. If you miss this one, you will regret it.










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Small Press Month: Authors Need a Fan Base

Attracting visitors to a website can be difficult. It goes far beyond putting your name out and giving people an invitation to visit your main website. They will not visit to join a newsletter or read your website.

There are several ways to get people to visit a website:

1. Share your space with Visitors. Let them tell stories, write a scene for your characters, join in a 'continued story' by adding a scene. Then, publish their work on your website.

This works, but only if you talk with the visitors. The web owner needs to chat with their members. This is not the business where 'if you make it, they will come.'

2. Offer Something Free. I have heard dozens of writers rail against the idea of writing for free. But, most of them never had a good fan base. I also know two authors who write 'extra' chapters for their books, extra stories about their characters, and other free stories. They offer these as 'read by author' for audio feeds and download, and in PDF form.

Most of these stories can be short, 5 pages long will equal a 5 minute feed. Then, ask the audience for feedback, to offer suggestions.

3. Help Me Write. This is another tool that will attract die hard book lovers. They love to offer advice and suggestions about the characters and settings. Many of them have situations that might flesh out the book. Even if their ideas are not used, story lovers enjoy sharing their thoughts and being part of the writing experience.

4. Let visitors post reviews, comment in a guest book, or participate in a forum.



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Grandfather Story - Share Yours

The inspiration for The Pledge came from stories my grandfather told me. His stories went far beyond life lessons and relating family history. They inspired me. They made me the person I am today. I have read a lot of stories, but for some reason, the stories that grandfathers tell us are the best.

Tell me your story. I will publish some of them into my newsletter. Others will be published into my blog. I’ll share your grandfather’s story with other people. Let me know what made the story so special. Share your pictures. Pictures of where your family came from. Pictures of you with your grandfather. But - no pictures that include people who have not given their permission - or children.

How to Submit: Submit your stories, no longer than 500 words as a comment on this post. I will chose stories to appear in my newsletter and post on some of my sites. Selected stories may include pictures and a link to your website. I will contact you via the contact form on your website. Submit Your Grandfather Story at www.writer-writer.com



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Free Author Promotion Workshop: Three Famous Speakers

We had a great chat on promotion last night. There were a lot of things covered, and we had the author of one of the top SELLING BOOKS book on Amazon (3 days on Amazon and in the top 50 000). Nikki gave us some excellent tips and advice.

We also explained the difference between promotion by spamming your name, and promotion by Branding.

After 2 hours, there were still questions, so I decided to devote tonight's chat on 'becoming famous' without spending money.

I have invited a PR person, Katherine Adams who works with businesses and CEOs. She is writing a book on landing six figure jobs. If she comes, she can tell us more about 'branding' yourself. She won her clients 12million last year - so she is no 'small fish' when it comes to PR.

Mirella Patzer will tell how she became a popular speaker and was invited to speak (paid) in Italy, the setting of her book - all within less than 2 months.

Nikki Leigh will be there. Her current book on promotion has only been on amazon for 3 days and is in the top 50 000 (out of 3 million) selling books.

We also have Lori Chance, a book coach, and a few other tentative speakers.

I am also saving transcripts. So if you were one of the people who felt you just didn't know that you 'could' become famous without a lot of hassle - and you wanted to know more - come to the IA chat tonight.

http://www.inspiredauthor.com/ - Click Chat. You do not need to become a member.

Chat is Every Friday 7PM Eastern

Tonight's event will have the chat room at www.inspiredauthor.com open from 6 - 9+ You do not need to become a member, or enter any personal information. Just type in a screen name and you are in the chat.





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Small Press Month - Seminar

March is Small Press Month. It is a great chance to use this ‘official month’ to promote your small press, your books, and your friends. Most of these events are great promotion for authors. They will help raise the exposure for small publishers among bookstores and libraries, as well as build author’s careers.

The Publishers Marketing Association has a list of great promotion events. There are a few things on the list that every author should be doing all year around.
Over this month I will expand on them and help writers learn how to use them to promote their work.

#3 Hold a How To Get Published Seminar

It may be late to get into the larger libraries, but small bookstores, small libraries, churches, and community groups are always eager to have an author give a how to get published seminar.

The trick is to create a fun seminar that encourages new writers. Tell them how small publishers support and train authors. Tell funny stories, interesting facts, and things you learned along the way.

This seminar should be more than a step-by-step guide to winning a publishing contract. Instead, it should be an interesting glimpse into your journey as an author.

There are two ways to hold an event like this. The first involves charging $10 - $20 for attendance. When doing this, you want to print out a ‘pack’ for the authors to take. It should include a sample synopsis outline, query, formatting guide, a list of ‘common mistakes,’ and a few pointers on how to talk to publishers. You may even want to include a list of places where writers can learn how to write good books, and a short list of publishers.

A free seminar will draw more people. You may use these events to sell tickets to a paid seminar, or sell signed copies of your book. A free seminar may be held in conjunction with other authors in your area.

Don’t forget to call the press and tell them about your event, when it is over ask for a ‘tear sheet’ of the article, as well as a link to the article, for your collection. Never host an event without calling the press. They may not always attend, but even if they do not print the article, a picture of you talking to the press is great ‘PR’ for your website and blogs.

Return to this blog daily, or subscribe to our RSS feed, for more tips and advice on promoting an author's event. All our suggestions will be easy to plan, and possibly 'free' to host.






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Reducing Stress - Reducing Bad Debt

Many writers I know make most of their money writing financial articles. That might be why most writers are so budget conscious. There are many ways to get out of debt.



One of the most common is credit cards for bad credit. I used them once. They are a great way to catch up on your bills and repair your credit. In some cases, it is the only way.

I know a lot more about credit, and have a fairly good credit rating now, partly due to the writing I've done, partly due to the extra income I earn from my novels, and partly due to the new money management skills learned over the last few years.

Save Your Money - Cheap Easy Book Marketing Tips For Book Publishers

These free, cheap and easy book marketing, promotion and publicity tips will get you headed in the right direction fast. It's one thing to write a book, but an entirely different thing to write one that's saleable, viable, and marketable. As a self publisher you can market and promote your book on a shoestring budget, thousands have done it; be careful about your promotion and marketing dollars and don't plunge into unknown waters -- test, test, and test.

Using press releases for marketing or promoting your book or book's website has become increasingly popular as publishers discover the powerful benefits of using press releases. Mail a press release to at least 1000 print and broadcast contacts just prior to publishing your title and again and again after you publish; you can never send too many. When picked up by wire services, a press release can easily end up generating hundreds of mentions for your book.

Send out at least ten press releases to the print and broadcast media in your area every month. Learning to write and use powerful optimized press releases can often drive tons of traffic to your website while providing multiple back links that can lead to increased page rank and numerous top ten search engine rankings for your targeted keywords. Make sure your press release spells out the 'who, what, where, when, and why.'

Mail a press release to all the trade journals in your field over and over again; you can use the same release. Press releases can generate thousands of dollars in sales when picked up by national trade or print media.

Make sure not to overlook the Internet; get yourself interviewed or profiled for sites both about writing, publishing and about the topics covered in your book. Submit articles to online article directories that focus on your book's topic to drive customers to your website. Contact non-bookstore booksellers and offer to leave books on consignment.

Make sure your sales letter or flier is first class; this is your formal presentation of your title to the prospective buyer. If your book solves a problem, focus on this in your marketing. Contact any companies, corporations or organizations that might use your book for promotions; offer significant discounts for volume orders or for thousands of copies offer a specified amount above book production costs.

Women buy more books then men; see how you can fit your book into the women's market. If your book fits a specialty market, find a store that fits the genre and offer to leave books on consignment; many publishers have sold thousands of books this way. Make five telephone calls a day that relate to marketing your book.

Arrange to speak at local, regional and national events that relate to your book topic; bring books along and have an associate sell them at the back of the room. Local radio shows and television appearances are good but are often forgotten within hours of the broadcast; make sure to make or get a copy of any television broadcast for future promotions.

I've seen publishers lose a lot of money paying for expensive display ads, so beware if you do this; I don't advise it in the beginning -- get your feet wet first so you know what you're doing.

Be your own publicist and send a press release along with a review copy of your book to publications in your book's genre and to book review magazines. Get as many testimonials about your book, as possible, from experts in the field relating to your title, not customers; use on your fliers and back of books.

Market your book to your number one market first, and then go after the secondary markets. Find a non-exclusive distributor with a good reputation to carry your book for the book store trade, as well as for other retailers.

The success of any book marketing effort depends on a good book and just plain hard work; its been done many times before and you can do it too. Use your book promotion and book marketing dollars wisely; go after the free and cheap resources daily. Make sure to test, test, and test some more before you lay out large sums of money.



For more information on book marketing tips and selling more books go to http://www.TwinPeaksPress.com founded in 1982,






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Book Publishers Best Marketing Tips

Your book selling, book marketing, and book promotion planning should begin before the manuscript is completed. Assuming you're a self publisher or book publisher and you've already published your book, you need to immediately implement a strong, no-holds barred, book marketing and promotion strategy to sell your books fast. You can have the best book in the world, but if no one knows about it, no one will buy it; publicity, promotion, marketing and a focus on selling more books should now be a big part of your daily life.

Don't underestimate the value of a good press release for making book sales. When picked up by wire services, a press release can easily end up generating hundreds of mentions for your book. Make sure your press release spells out the 'who, what, where, when, and why.'

Send out at least 10 press releases to the print and broadcast media in your area every month. Send out the same press release to the editor of your local daily newspaper every week until you are called for an interview or are written up. Make sure you have at least one good press release, written in AP style, which you can send out for the lifetime of your book.

Press releases can generate thousands of dollars in sales when picked up by national trade or print media. Using press releases can be a very effective marketing tool if used properly.

Your sales letter or flier should include an eye-grabbing headline, the benefits to the buyer, the book features, book sales information and testimonials. Create an online contest and list it in online contest directories to drive traffic to your website. Find a non-exclusive distributor with a good reputation to carry your book for the book store trade, as well as for other retailers.

Get as many testimonials about your book, as possible, from experts in the field relating to your title, not customers; use on your fliers and back of books. Make sure to promote and market your book each and every day, both online and offline. Market your book to your number one market first, and then go after the secondary markets.

Every day it's important to focus on a variety of marketing approaches. Submit articles to online article directories that focus on your book's topic to drive customers to your website. Print and online publications provide longevity to your marketing campaign in terms of having something tangible for people to reference ongoing.

When you get a nice write up or feature about you and/or your book, have it laminated and set it up on an easel at trade shows. Build a web site that provides another avenue for ordering, a virtual online press kit and link exchanges with sites that relate to your topic. Women buy more books then men; see how you can fit your book into the women's market.

If your book fits a specialty market, find a store that fits the genre and offer to leave books on consignment; many publishers have sold thousands of books this way. Remember to make sure your book is listed in Books-in-Print; don't assume it's already listed.

It's important to publish a website that focuses on your title; you'll be able to refer editors and customers and all interested parties to your book information with the click of a mouse. Offer to trade writing a monthly column in a trade publication in your books' genre, in trade for display ads on the same page.

Now promote, promote, and promote your book some more! Don't delay another day if you've fallen by the wayside; make sure to focus on promoting, selling and marketing your book each and every day. Use your book promotion and book marketing dollars wisely; go after the free and cheap resources daily.


For more information on book marketing tips and selling more books go to http://www.TwinPeaksPress.com founded in 1982, specializing in help for authors, self publishers, ebook and book publishers with tips, advice and resources, including information on media, library and other mailing lists, and press releases - online, wire service and offline distribution




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Book Marketing - 101

One of the biggest shocks to most authors is the realization that they are expected to promote their own books - publishers do not do it anymore. Today the chances of becoming a famous author are very limited. However, it is not impossible.

First, don't waste your money with local book signings. Yes, they are great if you can get in - free. But, they are a waste if you need to spend money, unless you use the opportunity as a promotional tool.

I teach the editors and authors at Enspiren Press to never use an event to sell books. Each event should be a stepping stone, a promotional tool. Write down funny stories, take lots of pictures, take pictures with people, anything that can be used to write a human interest story. Also, use the event to add a twist that will attract the newspaper. One common one is offering to donate a percentage of proceeds to charity.

This will turn your marketing event into a book signing, newspaper article, a few web articles, and content to post on all of your web lenses, websites, and blogs.

Once you have an idea of what you need to do, you need to figure out a way to finance it. The most common method of financing a book is through a small loan, or credit cards. Sometimes using a credit card consolidation loan will free up enough money to start promoting - cheaper than a small loan.

Buying author copies will release about $5 - 7 per book profit. When the publisher sells 100 copies of your book, you earn .40cents. When you sell 100 copies of your book, you earn $500 - $700.

If you take a look at famous authors, such as Grisham, you'll learn that they sold copies of their book to finance their writing career. Just don't invest tens of thousands of dollars into your campaign until you learn the tricks.

Non-fiction Book Marketing

How you market your book depends on the subject matter, your ability to speak well on the message, your ability to attract attention for the book, current trends in the world market, and a variety of other factors. Regardless of how you specifically market your book, do not underestimate the time, energy, and tenacity it takes to do it well.

Among the marketing channels an author should consider are public relations (PR) kits and press releases to print and broadcast media, Internet marketing, speaking, exhibiting, catalogs, and special and premium sales marketing (markets other than bookstores). Your current client or prospect lists may be your best immediate source of sales. A book should be one piece of an overall personal or business marketing plan.

It is important for these three decisions to be made as early in your process as possible. Do some research and some soul-searching, and you will be poised to make the most of your hard work in developing your book.

Your marketing strategy should include what marketing activities you plan to undertake, along with your budget and timetable for those activities. What are you going to do to be sure your audience knows your book is available and the place where it's being sold?

Most first-time authors are shocked to find out that publishers do very little marketing on behalf of authors. The traditional publisher will get your book into its catalog, on its Web site, and into mainstream distribution and bookstores, but little else.

Publishers allocate a miniscule marketing budget of $500 to $1,000 for a new title with a new author, which pays for a few hundred flyers, press releases to the appropriate news organizations and magazines, and a few dozen review copies to go out on request. Only a few of all books at the major publishers have marketing budgets of $20,000 or more, the kind of budget needed to do a credible national marketing campaign.

Gail Richards is founder of http://www.AuthorSmart.com




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Take Your Book Signing To The Next Level

We've all seen an author stuck in a corner at a bookstore. In most cases they are a little forlorn, lost behind a wooden table. This doesn't need to be the case. Last fall I met a wonderful author who had a brilliant idea. She used tradeshow equipment to bring her corner to life. Now, no matter where they put her in the show, she is able to stand out like she is the focal point of the store.

Most writers never take a look at Trade Show Displays. Most will let you change the images and posters, so you can change the display for each book. Many can be folded down so that a 10' display will fit under your arm, and can be taken to the trunk in 2 or 3 trips. No need for hubby to come along.

Best yet - they have come down in price from the old days. Authors can buy a piece here, and a piece there, until they have everything they need to sell their books.

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Every Author Needs a Flash Drive

Do you have a couple Flash Drives? If not, you need a couple of high-quality ones, now. A flash drive is a USB memory device. They are usually the size of a lighter or lipstick tube. Writers can buy ones from online stores that look like pens. They fit into the USB port, save your manuscript and freelance writing work, and they are often less than $50.00.

You always have a backup of your manuscript, no matter what. You can update it daily. I don't know how many horror stories I've heard of writers who lost an entire manuscript they were working on because the file corrupted, or because their computer crashed.

It happens - often - too often to risk going another week without a flash drive. They are also useful for working between your PC and Laptop, or taking to the library for research.

How to Get Published: Fiction Writing Mistakes

A couple months ago my computer system crashed. Because I had moved to a new town, I took my computer to a new repair technician. An appalling $250.00 later, my computer was returned to me. As I scanned down the list of tasks they had performed, I could not see one thing that I could not have done myself. Not only did they perform tasks I could have executed myself, they used the software I had already installed on my own computer. I sat stunned for a while, then had to laugh. I have been trying to teach my writing students this same lesson for more than four years. With a little knowledge, you can edit your own novels and find out why they are not published.

“How do I get my novel published?” If I had to guess, I would say that ½ of the 3000 students I have taught ask me this question at one time or another. I can usually offer them a quick, easy answer. In many cases, the answer is so easy they reject it as a brush off. But, the truth is, it is often very simple things, and easy to repair problems, that keeps fiction novels from being published by a reputable publisher.

Read over the following list carefully. Learn to understand what these errors are. Use this list as a checklist. I tell unpublished authors to edit their novel for these things, one at a time. Yes, this is a lengthy editing exercise. But, compared to the amount of time it takes to submit a manuscript once, and have it rejected once, the amount of time spent editing will be well spent. By editing this way, one problem at a time, you will learn to avoid these mistakes as you write the first draft, making future novels easier to write.

Learning to eliminate these errors is one-half the battle of becoming a published author. The craft of writing is half learning how to write, and half learning to avoid the things listed below.

I have edited a lot of student manuscripts, both as a freelancer, teacher, and contracted editor for a publishing company and found that the errors listed below comprise at least 90 percent of the problems which keep novels from being published. Most are easy to avoid, if you are aware of them, and can be fixed or avoided easily, once you can spot them.

Read, Read, Read

There is one exercise in my course where writers plan to send their first manuscript. Almost every writer gives me a ‘copy and paste’ listing out of a publisher’s directory. If you have no idea what a publisher is releasing, then how will you know if your book fits their idea of a good book? Read their recent releases. This one exercise can eliminate most of the rejection letters writers receive. Almost unanimously, students who take my advice and read a couple books released by their prospective publishing company, thank me for helping them waste their time. Their book did not fit what that company thought was a publishable novel. Something in their novel was different from what that publisher released. It could have been their grammar style, voice, structure, characters, vocabulary, plots, or missing elements. A dozen things could make that publisher reject your novel. However, it does not mean your novel is not ready to submit.

One truth I have found is; Avid readers make the best writers. This is true, as long as you consistently read novels in the genre, style, and voice you want to read.

If you are an avid reader, then look at the back of the books you are reading. That is the best place to find a publisher.

Are You Ready to Submit

This is the biggest problem. It is the one reason why I tell authors to have a ‘fiction editor’ critique over their novels. It will cost about $200.00, but can save you dozens of rejection letters, maybe years of submitting and rejections, and a lot of heartbreak. However, it is necessary to find a good editor. Have they ever worked for a fiction publisher? How many published novels have they edited? A BA in English, or an ex-teacher will not help you write a marketable fiction novel. You would not ask a airplane mechanic to fix your car. You would never think about asking your neighbor who installs satellites to ‘take a look’ at your furnace because it is making a funny sound. But, every day people pay academic editors to edit their fiction. Or they ask ‘line editors’ to critique their novels when they should be asking ‘content editors’ to help them.

Most of the writers who send me a manuscript to edit or critique send me a first or second draft. The novel is full of grammar mistakes, plot holes, weak characters, and passive writing – which is different than passive voice. This is easy to solve. You will study the craft of writing, so why not learn how to edit?

Structure

It is easy to learn what a story arc is. It is easy to learn how to map a novel, and write your own story arc based on what is on today’s bestsellers lists. There are dozen’s of courses that teach ‘the blueprint of a novel’ and mapping. First, learn what the elements of a novel are. You can do that from any book. Then, find a few good examples of story arcs. Next, write out the events, elements, plot points, and character growth of the novel you are mapping. When done, make it look like the story arc, or make your own blueprint.

It takes about 20 hours to make your own story arc based on your genre, and current bestsellers. You can map anything, structure, plot, supporting plots, character growth, and sub-plots.

When writers rebel, stating that this is formula writing, or that this takes the creativity out of writing, I reply with this story. You have $15 000 which is earmarked for home renovations. Your best friend approaches you, all excited, and offers to do the work for you. You are confused, because your friend is a hairdresser. Would you give a hairdresser your $15 000 to do renovations on your house? What if friends did not want to know what style you were looking for, did not care about your color scheme, and had their own ideas about comfort and luxury? Would you give them your money? However, people ask publishers to do this every day.

Writers need to understand one fact. You are writing for the reader, not yourself. Reader’s demands drive the fiction publishing industry. If the reader does not like the novel, they will not buy it. And, readers do not want wild and crazy stories, they buy novels which promise a good reading experience.

Passive Voice, Passive Writing

This is the single most common error. New writers do not realize that passive writing creates ‘one degree of separation’ between the story and the reader. Passive voice is easy to catch with your grammar check. Passive writing is a little harder. Passive writing is narrative. Narration takes the reader out of the main character’s Point Of View (POV).

If this is your problem, then you need to take a course. If you are not sure, then look through your novel and ask these questions:

· Do characters actually do something, or does the sentence explain what the character did? Jill picked up her milk vs. Jill lifted the glass and took a sip of milk.
· Do you use these words: was, were, had, that, still, felt, noticed, saw, just, nice thought, up, down, beautiful, dark, tall, almost, very, down, up, behind, and pretty. If you find more than five of these words on your pages then you need to learn how to remove them. In many cases these words can be eliminated if you reconstruct the sentence so the main character’s actions are the subject of the sentence.
· Do you stop the action to explain why a character is doing something?
· Are you telling the reader a story? Or, are you writing down segment of the character’s life, as it happens, describing exactly what you, the writer, sees as it is happening?
· Do you use gerunds, ‘ing’, words instead of verbs?
· Do you use weak verbs? Jill ran vs. Jill’s feet pounded the pavement. Jill was angry vs. Jill slammed the door and stomped across the hall.
· Do you summarize? Look at the example above. You’ll notice that the passive examples are shorter than the active examples.
Passive voice is okay in dialogue. We talk in passive voice, so it is okay if your character’s talk in passive writing.

Summary Narrative

Direct narrative

Jill walked down the hall, descended the stairs, and pushed open the door. She crossed the parking lot and entered Kim’s Café

Summary narrative

Jill went to Kim’s Café.

HeadHopping

One scene, One Point Of View. You are not Nora Roberts. You cannot sell the number of novels she can. So, you cannot get away with writing like she does. Make sure every sentence in a scene comes out of the POV character’s head.

I tell my students to try this exercise. Pretend you are standing at a window looking in at the scene unfolding. Beside you stands a blind friend. You are going to tell her what is happening, as it happens. Do not summarize, paint pictures with words.

This is part one of this series of articles. None of the mistakes listed here are arbitrary. They are all based on rejection letters, discussions with publishers, and personal experience. You can break these rules. You can break these rules, as long as you realize that it will take longer to find a publisher who wants your novel. I do know authors who make these mistakes, and sell a novel or two a year. This is not unusual. The stronger your writing skills are, if you consistently study the craft of writing, and if you master the elements of a novel, then you will be able to break the rules and get away with it.

Suzanne James is a published author, a freelance editor who has worked as a publishing house editor, public speaker, and a teacher who teaches the craft of writing and line editing online at www.writersonlinecourses.com She publishes at www.inspiredauthor.com, www.authorsconnection.com . Her private website is www.writer-writer.com . And is the author of “Are You Ready to Submit: A Fiction Writer’s Self-editing guide?”

What is Your 'Genre's Promise'?

This month we will study ‘the fiction novel’s promises,’ and how we use them to write and sell fiction.

There are rules that govern fiction writing. Most are soft rules that can be broken when the story needs a twist or to jar the reader emotionally. Experienced writers can break the rules and still sell their novel. This is not true of the genre’s promises.

Each genre is built around fundamental promises that must be kept if a writer dreams of becoming a published author. These promises define a book’s genre. The following examples give a brief definition of some genres.

· The Heroine is the heartbeat of a romance novel, but if the story focuses on her and not the romance, the novel fits the woman’s fiction genre. The reader expects a certain type of story, character, conflict, and experience, whether it is emotional release, fantasy, or fun.

· The Hero drives a fantasy novel forward, but if a troupe of characters do not accompany him or her, the novel is an adventure, or historical adventure.

· The Victim keeps readers turning the pages of a thriller, if the main character is not a victim the novel is more likely a mystery.

The novel’s readers expect certain elements to be included in a novel, in the right place. When they browse the bookstore shelves, they are looking for a novel that promises a satisfying, emotional experience. The romance reader expects the story will be driven forward by the character's motives and actions. This makes romance novel’s plots character driven. If the situations and events move the plot forward, the romance reader will be disappointed with the story.

Readers also abhor the presence of author intrusions, except in fantasy novels. Author intrusions are situations where the author takes the liberty to resolve a story's conflicts by interrupting the natural sequence of events, or cause and effect, to include a situation from their imagination, instead of drawing on the character's motives and goals. This is true of most situational driven plots.

The fiction novel reader also expects the character to have weaknesses that will make them real. When the reader picks up a novel, they expect a certain aspect of emotional growth in the character. This is true in all genres. The character must grow until they are worthy of a happy ending, even if the reader had a bad day. A novel does not work if the reader resents the character’s good luck or success.

“Will the reader think this character is worthy of a happy ending, one which is denied the person reading the story?” I have helped many writers who were told their story suffered from a weak ending. I suggested that the reader resented the character’s happy ending, believing they were not worthy of it. I asked the writer to read their work, with the genre’s promises in mind, and give the reader what they want and expect. In the writing industry, we call this “meeting reader demands.” After all, this is the purpose of fiction. We write for the reader, not ourselves. If the reader is not happy, there is no reason to publish the novel or short story. If the reader is not happy, they will not buy another one of our books.

However, many writers forget that each genre offers their reader's a specific promise. The reader knows the couple in a romance novel will overcome their problems, resolve the conflicts, and make a life long commitment in the end. The mystery novel promises the reader the detective will have a hard time figuring out who the criminal is, but when the reader looks back at the clues, it will be obvious. The thriller genre promises readers the characters will become emotionally involved in a life and death fight, and the protagonist will not necessarily have a happy ending, but the characters will find the emotional stability and contentment they desire. If the novel does not provide this emotional experience, then it fits the spy or adventure genre.

Writers break their genre’s promises when the character’s personality types are not compatible with each other. For example: when picking an antagonist, or Villain, the reader forgets to make them the opposite of the protagonist, or Hero. To use a comic book term, the Villain must be the Hero's nemesis. This is a very important aspect of most novels.

This is why writers need to understand their markets, genres, and why certain readers are drawn to a particular type of story. Let’s say you are writing about a woman whose nurturing side enables her to defeat the large corporation that is preparing to destroy her home. Logic may indicate the Amazon archetype will be the best character type for this story. No. The Amazon type will die before surrendering their independence, but they will not risk everything save strangers or an ideal like ‘hearth and home.’ This personality type is motivated by self-gain, so there must be a personal benefit before they fight. While they Amazon is the wrong choice for a romance or woman’s fiction, she is perfect for a thriller or Sci-Fi.

Picking a personality type for a character is not hard. The Internet is full of articles and personality tests that writers can use to create the perfect characters. Best sellers are a great place to look for the reader’s idea of a perfect couple, hero, or troupe, depending on the genre. I do not suggest you copy characters from a published novel, but studying what the readers expect in the characters and plot will save months of rewrites, heartache, and rejection for writers of all genres.

The concept of a story’s promise is widely used in the fiction publishing industry. To explore these promises a writer needs to look at several different fiction genres. You will see that different genres can have the same types of characters, similar protagonists and antagonists, the same conflicts, resolutions, climax and black moment. But, they unfold at different paces and have varying emotional impacts on the readers. This is the result of the story's promise.

Here are some examples of how each genre unfolds to elicit different emotional responses from the readers.

· A fantasy novel promises the reader an adventure where a troupe of mismatched characters overcome impossible odds, conflicts, and complete a quest with nothing more than luck, team work, and magic. The character in the fantasy novel may have problems related to their back-story that prevents them from realizing their full potential.

· The thriller promises a roller coaster ride of story twists that create an unpredictable ending.

· A Sci-Fi novel promises the reader a team of intelligent people will survive on their wits alone. They need to dig deep inside them discover strengths, weaknesses, and how to work as a team, if they want to survive.



The Hero in a Sci-Fi who is self-efficient, Type A, and emotionally stable, would be completely unsuitable for the fantasy novel. So, the Sci-Fi takes the character on a journey from self sufficient individualist to team oriented survivor, while the fantasy takes the same character from homebody, or no-body to self-sufficient hero. The difference in these two genre’s promises force the characters down different paths toward their character growth. To some writers, this seems like a minor problem, but it can be a major problem when it comes time to pitching a novel to the publisher.

Broken promises also cause plot problems, especially when the writer puts their own personal wants and needs first. Writers, like everyone, have their own problems. They are on their own journey of emotional and character growth. In many cases, they write a book for self healing, and then wonder why editors don't take the time to read it, or publishers send them form rejection slips. The person who bought a novel chose it because the story promised to reach a need in their lives. It promised a satisfying ending, characters who the reader could care about, and a plot that will unfold in an interesting and entertaining manner. When a novel or short story fails to unravel in the proper sequence, and in an entertaining way, the reader feels let down.

The romance reader wants to read about selfless characters. This reader will not relate to the Amazon archetype’s motives and goals. That is why a clever writer knows their reader and gives them familiar characters. This is why I suggest that all writers join reading clubs, yahoo groups, fan clubs, and even create their own groups and newsletters. These will all give them a chance to study the very people who will be reading their fiction.

These promises are used when writing, submitting, and pitching a novel. New authors can learn how to do this. First, study the genre from published books and the Internet. Second, a smart writer reads their genres best sellers. One habit reappears consistently in the lives of every published author I know. It is secret that takes the mystery out of the craft of writing. Simply put it is, “avid readers make the best authors.”

Published writers and avid readers, can usually list the popular authors and best selling books in their genre, because they read them. They know their market, and they know their reader.

Next, a wise writer makes sure the genre's promises are the foundation of the themes and subplots in their stories. A good story makes the genre's promises a focal point in the story, not just a vague subplot. Taking the time to read best sellers will prove this is a fact, not just a theory.

Finally, they will write their sales pitch, synopsis, query letter, and promotional material around these promises.

There is a big difference between fiction and marketable fiction. In many ways, the craft of writing is unforgivable, but a skilled writer can use the rules to free themselves from the formulas that are used to create marketable fiction. All a writer needs is a little creativity and a solid understanding of the elements that are common in all good fiction. If you are ready to write your break out novel, or if you are trying to write your very first novel, then it is time to start focusing on the genre’s promises and using them to meet the reader’s demands.

Most importantly, you need to remember one thing – have fun.



Suzanne James is a published author and freelance content/line editor, and author of “Is Your Manuscript Ready To Submit?” To date she has edited 10 published novels. More than one was nominated for, or won, national awards including the EPPIE.

She has taught more than 2000 writers in her online courses, How to Write and Edit a Novel, Write Well: Prose to Proofreading, and How to Write Romance at www.writersonlinecourses. She also teaches at writer’s workshops and continuing education course in Southern Ontario.

She hosts two sites designed to teach new writers, and help published authors promote themselves. www.inspiredauthor.com www.authorsconnecction.com

Her personal website is at www.writer-writer.com



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Editing Is Your Friend

As an editor, I find many writers have either edited their work too much or too little.
The key is to edit well enough to create a great story, but not too much that your work no longer has heart.
A lot of novel authors believe the golden word limit is 100 000. This is not always the case. Many publishers, big and small, prefer the word limit to be around 90k or even under. One of my publishers is UK hardback publisher Robert Hale Ltd. Their word count is approx 73 000 words. Always check the publisher’s guidelines, if possible.
Now some writers will be horrified that their beloved opus is a massive 300k words, and they refuse to cut a single word from it, but honestly think of the bigger picture — money. Publishers are companies out to make money, some foster careers, too, but mainly it is money and it is silly to think otherwise. For them to make money they have to create marketable books that will sell. If your book is a massive tome, do you think that the average publisher is going spend an awful lot of time and money on something that will be priced above all the competition?
When writers are confronted by the prospect of cutting words, they panic and think it can’t be done without destroying plots and characters.
In actual fact, most writers will learn that there is a skill to trimming word count. Once that skill is learnt, they can apply it to other works, and also this will change the way they write future manuscripts.
Sometimes, the act of cutting words from the manuscript is simply a case of re-writing the odd paragraph, of eliminating passive writing or over telling, deleting repeated or redundant words. Look for instances where you have explained the same thing more than once, but perhaps in different ways or by different character’s viewpoint. There are many good websites built to aid writers in writing the best work they can. I have a list on my website of several such websites.
http://www.annewhitfield.com/writingwebsites.html

In the end, write the story of your heart, but edit it with a business mind and the chances are you’ll have a better prospect of becoming published and the journey with your future editor may be also smoother.
Good Luck!
Anne Whitfield, author and editor.
http://www.annewhitfield.com






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Book Proposals 101.: What Publishers Want

Lots of writers like to talk about writing books. You hear very few talking about writing book proposals. Maybe that's why it's easy to forget that a strong book proposal is the first step to getting a great deal for your non-fiction book. It's where you make the big pitch and tell the editor everything that's going to make him or her want to buy.

A book proposal is also a great time saver for you because you'll find in the course of researching your book proposal whether or not your idea is viable, or whether your category is already crowded with similar books. Here are the parts that make up a book proposal, and a few tips on how to make it really stand out to a potential publisher.

Title Page
This is the first page of the book proposal. Your title should be centered and printed about two-thirds of the way down the page. In the bottom left hand corner you'll type in your name, address, phone number, email address and the name and contact information for your agent.

Overview
You'll want to have two to three pages explaining the overall premise of your book. You'll also want to include a Table of Contents that shows what points will be covered in each chapter.

Bio/Credentials
This isn't just your usual resume stuff, this is a big opportunity to sell yourself as THE person to write the book. Write it in the third person starting with your education and credentials. You'll want to point out any experience that specifically relates to the subject matter of the book. Have you written articles or previous books on the topic? Note those as well. List any public speaking that you have done and will do in the future, including television and radio interviews. Include a really nice photo. It doesn't have to be a glamour shot, but you do want to look interesting and engaging. A 5"x7" is fine.

Competition
The publisher will want to know if there are books similar to yours already out there. It will help them to see that there is a market for such books. At the same time, you'll want to point out how your book will be different, or better, than what's already out there. Do not trash someone else's work. It's bad form. It's enough to say a competitor's book left something out, or doesn't cover a certain aspect. If you don't know what competing books exist, you can look them up in Books in Print. Most libraries have it in the reference section.

Outline
This will be your chapter-by-chapter outline showing what you will cover, point-by-point, in each chapter. You can plan on allotting about half a page per chapter.

Sample Chapters
This is where you get to show that you really can write! You should submit at least three chapters of content. It doesn't have to be the first three chapters, but if you haven't written anything yet those may be the easiest to do. Then again, some writers like to start in the middle of a book! The main key here is to be good--no typos, no misspellings and no factual errors.

Marketing
The marketing section of your book proposal is so important that many publishers will often read it first. So make sure you spend the time to make this the best it can be. Lay out your whole marketing plan here. Explain who your target audience is, how big it is and why they will buy this book. How do you plan on reaching them? Are you buying your own advertising? If so, in what publications and what is their combined circulation? Will you be reaching out to book clubs, corporations or college classes where you book could be taught? How can you make your book stand out against the ones that are already out there? You want to make the case that there is a ready made audience out there and all the publisher has to do is reach out and grab them by signing you.

Promotion
Remember, a publisher wants to acquire you and your connections, so this is another important section of the proposal. How will you put yourself out there for your book? You'll want to explain if you'll be doing public speaking, or maybe you have a huge list you communicate with via newsletter every month. How many are on your list? If you plan to hire your own publicist, put that fact in as well. Do you have famous connections that will help you get great blurbs? Do you have a budget? If so, how much? Yes, they do want to know if you plan on spending some of your own money!

Publishing Details
Here you'll detail the length you propose for the book (in words) and whether the book will have any illustrations or photos. You'll also want to give an estimate for the time you'll need to turn in the finished manuscript.

And that's it. When your proposal is done you might want to hire an editor or a book consultant to go over it and give you some strong feedback. That way you'll know you have it in the best shape possible and you can feel confident when you're sending it out.

About the Author:Author and Writing Coach Sophfronia Scott is "The Book Sistah" TM. Get her FREE REPORT, "The 5 Big Mistakes Most Writers Make When Trying to Get Published" and her FREE online writing and publishing tips at http://www.thebooksistah.com/




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Comments From A Book Reviewer

For the past several years I have been reviewing books for my own site, Bookpleasures.com, as well as many other sites. I am also a regular contributor to the Canadian Book Review Annual.As editor of Bookpleasures.com, I would like to make a few comments about book reviewing and what to expect, particularly from Bookpleasures.com.

Today, with the advent of the Internet, there has been a proliferation of book reviewers, whom I shall classify as the good, the bad and the ugly.Those falling within the last category are ones that you have to be particularly on the look out for, as their only interest is to receive complimentary books without bothering to review them, or if they do review them, their reviews are very short and without substance.On the other hand, there are many serious and excellent reviewers, who devote a great deal of their time and energy in reading and writing a review.

Unfortunately for the authors, sometimes reviews are not exactly very complimentary. However, it is to be noted that it is not the objective of a reviewer to be a salesperson or a public relations representative for the author. If the criticism is constructive, a great deal can be learned from the review, particularly if the reviewer is also an author.

From the point of view of a reviewer, what I find most annoying is receiving a book without first asking me if I would accept to review it. Bookpleasures receives on average about 20-30 email requests per week. These requests are forwarded to our reviewers, who communicate directly with the sender of the email.In all probability, there is a 20%-30% chance that a request to review will be accepted by a reviewer. The reason why a book is not accepted is wide and varied. Many of our reviewers have a backlog that they would like to clear before accepting new assignments, or the subject matter is not one that interests any of them.

What I like to see in a request is not “hype” but rather a brief resumé of the contents of the book, who the author is, if the book is published by a main stream publisher or is it self-published, and if the book is available on Amazon. Bookpleasures also conducts e-interviews with some authors, and if the author is open to have himself or herself interviewed, please indicate.

If you are a publicist or publisher, don’t be afraid to put Bookpleasures as well as other book reviewing sites on your emailing list. You never know when something catches our eyes. Sometimes you may be publicizing a particular book, and our reviewers will look to your site and see something else that interests them.

As for the time frame, this all depends on the reviewer. Anywhere from one week to three months is the norm. You can ask the reviewer to give you some idea as to his or her time frame. You can also inquire as to his or her credentials. Bookpleasures does provide links to the reviewers’ site that should give you some idea as to their experience.

I do hope this is of help to some of you.


Norm Goldman is a free lance book reviewer and travel writer. He is editor of Bookpleasures.com, a book reviewing site, and sketchandtravel.com, a travel site that melds words with art.

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