Archive for June, 2010
Book Promotion is Not Book Selling
There is a talk going on right now in one of my author/blogger groups about the difference between book promotion and book selling, and I wanted to talk about it on my blogs.
As a writer, you should know by now that writing the book is just the first step. If you dream of money along with publication, then you are going to have to learn a lot about marketing, networking and book promotion.
I am a virtual book tour coordinator with Pump Up Your Book Promotion, and I have been working a lot with authors to help them promote their books. Everything from setting up a blog to finding podcasts to be a guest on gets covered. Many authors know this and are becoming quite familiar with the virtual tour process.
However, too many authors are still confused about one thing:
Book promotions are not book sales.
My job as a tour coordinator is not to sell your books, strange as that may sound at first. My job is to promote your book. Promotions and sales are two different things.
As much as I would love to sell thousands of books for all of my authors, I can’t. I’m not a salesperson; I’m a publicist. Two different things.
Bottom line? Even if you go on tour (or do some other promotion) and your sales don’t skyrocket, that does not in any way mean your tour or other promotion(s) failed.
The point is to get your name out there so people ‘know’ you. You want to be in the top of the search engines, which will help you heaps when it comes time to sell the books. Promotions and marketing are an amazing help in the grand scheme of things, but they do not directly equal sales.
How to Piss Off Established Authors in Your Genre
EREC – the blog to be reading if you are you are interested in erotic romance e-publishing – posted about the New Non-Erotic Romance Epublisher Desert Breeze and I couldn’t help but be amused.
While the topic of this post isn’t quite technically true – Desert Breeze is setting out to be a non-erotic romance publisher and is managing to insult erotic romance authors – you can’t quite help but laugh.
The quote (also quoted on EREC) from Desert Breeze that gets me (as an amateur erotic romance writer) feeling all warm and fuzzy inside is:
“We want to bring back classic romance storytelling without excessive sex to bog down and hide the true element of the story — Love.”
Because sex and love don’t really ever go together.
To give them the benefit of the doubt, I know what they are trying to say – at least, what I hope they are trying to say. Even so, haven’t they read any good erotic romance? Have they only been reading ‘paperback porn’ which has only one mission: get people nekkid and having sex?
Apparently they have if they feel there has been a “saturation of the market with sex-based storytelling and the decline in quality of the actual novels.”
Ouch.
Given that they’re all playing in the romance genre sandbox, you’d think they could put forth their non-erotic romance stance without spitting on the sand castles of the erotic romance members of their social group.
It will be interesting to see if that description will still stay up over the next few months and how other publishers and authors respond.
Sunday Scribblings 221 – Life Swap
Posted by JM in Sunday Scribblings on June 27, 2010
Is there anyone whose life you would swap yours with? What about for one day? One hour? If you did swap lives and then got yours back, what lessons would you have learned? What would you do differently if you could? Whose life fascinates you? If you wouldn’t swap lives with anyone, why not?
You can never truly know what someone has been through to get to where they are today. Sometimes I wonder what people see when they look at me. Certainly not my past, given how shocked they are when I do choose to share some of the things that brought me to Australia. I learned early on not to judge because you never know.
That being said, despite every negative thing that has happened in my life – and there have been plenty, just like anyone else – I would not swap my life with anyone. Some days, it’s because I wouldn’t want anyone else to have gone through what I went through. On other days, I wouldn’t give up my husband and his love for anything.
One day? One hour? Well, now my curiosity strikes and the ability to come back to my life makes everything a bit more appealing. I would swap. I’m not exactly sure with who – it would take a long time to decide – but I would simply because I love new experiences. (Call it writing fodder.) I’ve also often wondered what it would be like to be in someone else’s head or someone else’s body.
Now just to decide who…
Pet Peeves 11 – So the sky is blue? Wow!
Posted by JM in Pet Peeves on June 25, 2010
Getting right to it…
My lovely pet peeve #11. I was having a writing discussion with someone the other day and a related subject (I won’t say which because it’s an upcoming pet peeve) made me think of this pet peeve:
Telling me what I already know.
I’m guilty of it myself from time to time, but that doesn’t mean one of my higher annoyances on the list isn’t someone telling me what I already know. I’m not a writer who gives much description, so that’s probably what gives my eye a bit of special radar for this.
Some examples.
Salty or watery tears. Why is something so small annoying? Because all of humanity has salty tears. Tears are salt water draining from your eyes. If your character is somehow crying powdered Mountain Dew all over the place, by all means let me know, but don’t tell me about someone’s salty or watery tears. I’ve cried before; I know what they’re like.
The same goes with the blue sky or the blue ocean. Firstly, I have to wonder if people who writer “blue ocrean” have actually seen the ocean. The ocean isn’t just blue. There are greens, blues, and even some purples if you look at things the right way on the right kind of day. I absolutely adore the ocean. Don’t tell me it’s blue. One, it’s not just, and two, blue is too broad a color range for the bits that do fall under it.
Along the same lines, don’t use “her eyes were as blue as the ocean.” No. Blue as the sky, yes. (Though I’d prefer you to be a bit more specific than “the sky” for that one.) Sea green is good too.
Be descriptive, but don’t be obvious. I know the sky is blue. If your sky isn’t blue, please do tell me a bit about it. Go ahead and tell me about the sky in relation to how it makes your character feel, but emphasize the character and not the stuff about the sky I already know.
Politically Correct Pledge of Allegiance
Finally, I’d like to offer up the following, slightly modified, version of the Pledge of Allegiance.
I pledge allegiance
To the flag
Of the United State of America
And to the Republic
For which it stands
One nation
Under God, Yahweh, Allah, Vishnu, Kali, Shiva, Brahma, Saraswathi, Lakshmi, Parvathi, Ganesha, Anjaneya, Gaea, Uranus, Cronus, Rhea, Oceanus, Tethys, Hyperion, Mnemosyne, Themis, Iapetus, Coeus, Crius, Phoebe, Thea, Prometheus, Epimetheus, Atlas, Metis, Dione, Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Hera, Ares, Athena, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hermes, Artemis, Hephaestus, Asclepius, Demeter, Persephone, Dionysus, Eros, Hebe, Eris, Helius, Thanatos, Pan, Nemesis, The Graces, The Muses, The Erinyes, The Fates, Iuppiter, Iuno, Minerva, Vesta, Ceres, Diana, Venus, Mars, Mercurius, Neptunus, Volcanus, and Apollo, Ianus, Saturnus, Quirinus, Volturnus, Pales, Furrina, Flora, Carmenta, Pomona, Portunus, Fontanus, Aker, Amun, Ammut, Anubis, Aten, Bastet, Geb, Hapi, Hathor, Horus, Isis, Khepri, Khnum, Maat, Min, Mut, Neith, Nepthys, Nut, Osiris, Ptah, Ra, Sekhmet, Seshat, Seth, Sobek, Taurt, Thoth, Anu, Ninhursag, Enlil, Enki, Marduk, Tiamat, Kingu, Nabu, Ishtar, Ea, Enurta, Anshar, Shamash, Ashur, Kishar, Tao, Amaethon, Angus Mac Og, Arawn, Brainthus, Belatuadros, Beli, Borvo, Bran the Blessed, Camulos, Cernunnos, Condatis, Dispater, Dwyvan, Dylan, Esus, Govannon, Grannos, Gwyddno, the Horned God, Llud, Lugh, Mandred, Myrrdin Wyllt, Oghma, Achtland, Adsullata, Aerten, Agrona, Aife, Aine, Andarta, Andraste, Anu, Aoibhell, Ariadne, Arianrhood, Arnamentia, Aveta, Badb, Belisama, Blodeuwedd, Brigantia, Bridgid, Britannia, Cailleach Bheur, Cerridwen, Cliodna, Clota, Condwiramur, Corra, Coventina, Cred, Creddylad, Cyhiraeth, Damara, Damona, Divona, Druantia, Epona, Erce, Goewin, Habetrot, Henwen, Latis, Le Fay, Marcia Proba, Modron, Morgan LeFAy, Morgay, Morrigan, Nantosuelta, Nicevenn, Nimue, Oanuava, Njord, Freyr, Frigg, Freyja, Nanna, Skadi, Hermod, Odin, Bor, Tyr, Loki, Heimdall, Ulle, Forsetti, Aegir, Ran, Hel, Sif, Bragi, Idun, Balder, Ve, Vili, Vidar, Hod, Ba, Bixia Yuanjin, Cai-shen, Cao Guo-Jiu, Cheng-Huang, Chu Jiang, Dha-Shi-Zhi, Di-cang, Di-guan, Dong-yue da-di, Dou mu, Er-lang, Fan-Kui, Fei Lian, Feng Po-po, Fu-zing, Gao Yao, Gong De Tian, Gou Mang, Guan-di, Gui Xian, Gun, Han, Han Xian-zi, He Bo, Heng O, Hou JI, How-Chu, How-too, Hu Jing-de, Huang Fei-hu, Huang-lao, Huang-lao-jun, Ji Nu, Jian Lao, Jin Jia, Kui-xing, Kwan Yin, Lan Cai-he, Lao-jun, Lei-gong, Lei-zi, Li Tie-guai, Ling-bao tian-zong, Lieu Bei, Long-wang, Lu Ban, Lu Dong-bin, Lu-xing, ma Wang, Ma-mian, Men-shen, Mo-hi-hai, Mu Gong, Mu-king, Niu Want, Nu-gua, Pa, Pa-cha, Pan Jin Lian, Pan-gu, Qi Gu-niang, Ru Shou, San-qing, San-xing, Shen Yi, Shen-nung, Shou-lao, Shou-xing, Shui-guan, si-ming, Song Di, Song-zi niang-niang, Sun-pi, Tai-sui-xing, Tai-yi, Tai-yue da-di, Tao-de tian-zong, Tian Hou, Tian-guan, Tian-mu, Tu-di, Want Mu niang-niang, Wei Cheng, Wei-tuo, Wen-chang, Wen-shu, Wu Guan, Xi Shi, Xi Want-mu, Xian, Yang Jing, Yan-lo, Yao-shi, Yen-lo-wang, Yi-Ti, Yuan-shi tian-zong, Yu-huang, Yu-qiang, Zao-jun, Zhang Fei, Zhang Xian, Zhi Song-zi, Zhi-ni, Zhong kui, Zhu Rong, Zi-yu, Anguta, Aningan, Asgaya Gigagei, Atira, Awonawilona, Big Heads, Breathmaker, Coyote, eohako, Estanatlehi, Evening Star, First Man, First Woman, Gahe, Sluskap, Hio, Irdlirvirisissong, Kanati, Kitcki Manitou, Michabo, Morning Star, Magenatzani, Nesaru, Nokomis, North Star, Ocasta, Olelbis, Rabbit, Raven, Sedna, Selu, Shakura, South Star, Sun, Tekkeitserktock, Tirarwa-Atius, Thobadestchin, Thoume, Torngasak, Twin Thunder Bosy, Wachabe, Centeotl, Chalchiuhtlicue, Chantico, Chicomecoatl, Cihuacaotyl, Coatlicue, Ehecatl, Huehueteotl, Huitzilopochtli, Iztpzpalotl, Iztlilton, Macuilzochitl, Metztli, Mictlan, Mictlantecuhtle, Mictlantecihuatl, Ometecuhlti, Patecatli, Paynal, Quetzalcoatl, Teoyaomqui, Tezcatlipoca, Tlaloc, Tlazolteotl, Tonacatecuhtli, Tonatiuh, Tonantzin, Xilonen, Zipe Totec, Xiuhetecuhtle, Xochipilli, Yacatecuhtli, Apo, Apocatequil, Apu Illapu, Catequil, Cavillaca, Chasca, Chasca Coyllur, Cocomama, Coniraya, Copacati, Ekkeko, Huaca, Illapa, Inti, Ka-Ata-Killa, Kon, Mama Allpa, Mam Cocha, Mama Oello, Mama Pacha Mama Quilla, Manco Capac, Pachacamac, Pariacaca, Paricia, Punchau, Supay, Rucaguary, Vichama, Viracocha, Zaramama, the Triple Goddess, the Divine, Hastur, Cthulu, Yog Sothoth, the Great Old ones, the Elder Gods, and any other gods or goddesses that may be added at a later date as they are discovered,
Indivisible
With liberty and justice for all.
Blog Addict
Posted by JM in General, Time Management on June 22, 2010
Though humorously portrayed, too much blogging, like too much of pretty much anything, can be bad for you.
You knew that.
But could your blogging be ruining your writing abilities? In writing communities, this can be a very hot topic. What writer would want to do something to permanently ruin their ability to write?
You writing stopping your creative writing sounds a bit far out there, and it is. Blogging in itself won’t ruin your creative writing abilities by any means. It may influence them, but it won’t ruin them.
As a blogger, what you have to worry about is blogging too much. Do you spend more time blogging than you do creative writing? And no, you can’t count your character blog(s) as creative writing. It’s still blogging.
Do you blog more about what you’re going to write than you do actually writing? Do you spend more time reading other’s blogs than you do writing?
As with everything, moderation is key. I’m a feed reader woman myself with entirely too many blogs on it, but I still only spend a half an hour maximum reading it. I have a weight loss blog site, a personal blog, and a book/character interview blog. With those three combined, I still don’t spend more than an hour blogging.
The thing about blogging is that it can easily sweep your time away. If you want to know how much time you’re taking for both blogging and creative writing, keep track of the times and what you do during the day. If you’re spending more time blogging than creative writing, then something needs to change.
That is, if you want to get that novel done any time soon.
Write Like an Australian – A Lesson in Fast-Paced Writing
If you’re a non-Australian looking for a good lesson in fast-paced writing, then you need look no further than Australia.
One of the first things I noticed about Australian language and speaking, besides the actual accent, is the habit of the majority of Australians to interrupt. But far from simply being a very rude country all over, it’s actually the way of the language.
Maybe it’s because Americans have guns, so if you piss them off you could get shot, but Australians don’t place such a high importance on waiting until a person is completely finished speaking. Instead, if they think they know what you are going to say, where you are going with the conversation, or even if something relevant has popped into their minds, they won’t hesitate to speak up.
I’ve puzzled over this for a while and come to the conclusion that Australians place more importance in the ideas and messages being conveyed rather than the actual words.
How does this help you with your writing?
If what you’re working on is starting to turn yawn-inspiring, take a lesson from Australians; don’t be afraid to interrupt your characters. Be it their inner monologues, discussions with other characters, or even switching perspectives from one chapter to another. Don’t place the ultimate importance on what they are saying or thinking.
Don’t be polite to your characters.
If you want to try this out in exercise form first, take two characters and write a scene (or more) consisting of interruptions galore. Just remember that moderation is usually a good thing.
Note: I’m not trying to start some ‘my country is the best’ war or anything. Any comments I make are out of good humor, as it is the Aussie way to make fun of everyone (including each other), and these traits have been rubbing off on me over the past near two years.
Pet Peeve 10 – “Dialogue tags?” she asked. – Part Two
Posted by JM in Pet Peeves on June 18, 2010
Dialogue punctuation. This is something that not so much annoys me but also tends to stick out more in your writing than a great, big red check mark across the page.
I think some writers get confused by the quotation marks. No worries. Just forget them. Use punctuation and capitalization like you usually would!
If the dialogue ends a sentence and a new sentence begins after, you punctuate the same, quotation marks or not.
With dialogue:
“I told you why!” Billie began twisting the ring on her finger. “I told you twice.”
Without dialogue:
She had told him why. She had told him twice, in fact.
If the dialogue doesn’t end the sentence – if you’re using dialogue tags – then you punctuate with a comma. This is the tricky one though, because even if you use an exclamation mark, question mark, or hyphen, you lowercase what is outside the quotation marks. (Unless it’s a proper name, but you know that.)
“What do you mean, twice?” he asked.
“I meant what I said!” she said, now pouting.
“But I-” he began.
“Twice,” she said. “Twice, twice, twice. How hard is that to understand?”
Of course, you should not be using so many dialogue tags, but now you understand why I’m saying. Don’t let the quotation marks screw you up too much. They are your friends.
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