writerly ways
Sep. 18th, 2022 09:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessLet's talk briefly about writing as an indie/self published author. A lot ends up on your shoulders including your marketing and often book blurb and cover. The latter can get crazy expensive if you have someone do it for you. On the other hand, it's harder to do than you might think and an amateurish cover screams this isn't as good as you might want it to be. That said, having sold with indie publishers I know I am unlikely to even earn what some cover artists want. It's a catch 22.
But there are things you can do and control. Let's say you get your cover and you're ready, let me suggest reaching out to your local library. A lot of them are happy to have an author talk by a local author and let you bring your book(s) to sell. As I wandered the mothman fest yesterday I ran across an author I've bought from before though wasn't bowled over. However she's a local author and a graduate of my university and I want to help. I ask if she's spoken at our library? NO but I love that libraryI would love to do that.
Okay then. I took her card and promised to turn it over to them (and I will). Now my thought is if you're from that town, loved that library, did you never think to ask them about speaking there? It pays to be proactive. Maybe it never crossed her mind but none the less I will make the introduction.
Also at the mothman fest I bought a bigfoot book from an author (70ish man) who I have read from before and it was okay. However, if I hadn't been swamped by people pushing and with TH I might not have bought this book after all. I would have had time to read the blurb.
Okay let's be honest. Covers and Blurbs matter! Netgalley asks you why you requested the book you did and author, cover and 'description' (i.e. blurb) are options. This Bigfoot blurb was SO defensive that it screamed I'm an amateur with a THIN skin. It goes on to say this is a compliation of my 5 Bigfoot novellas so this is NOT for you.
It goes on to say it's not for expert bigfoot hunters and a few other things. I'm like dude, what are you doing. There are better ways of saying this that doesn't sound like you expect to be criticized. How about 'this is an entry point into the art of hunting bigfoot.' anything but this book isn't for you. Blurb writing is a post in and of itself. What I'm getting at tonight is don't shoot yourself in the foot.
OPEN CALLS
DreamForge Magazine Fall 2022 Window. hopepunk
Cosmic Roots And Eldritch Shores October 2022
Alien Dimensions
Short Story Substack October 2022 Window
midnight & indigo Fall 2022 Window Black women authors only
Fable: An Anthology of Horror, Suspense & the Supernatural. ( i need to send to this)
Mirror World Publishing Is Open To Novels And Novellas
Defenestration: Now Seeking Submissions humor
Links from around the web
Cultivating Autumnal Magic for Writers
15 Things Nobody Told Me About Book Publishing
How Your Author Platform Helps You Do More Than Sell Books
The Catalyst for Character Change: The Dark Night of the Soul
Do You Need Personal Experience to Write About Something?
Case Study: How I Broke Into Traditional Publishing As A Debut Author
3 Things Your Opening Scenes Should Achieve
Why and Where You Should Start Submitting Your Writing This September
Five Self-Publishing Mistakes You Need To Avoid
Ready To Publish Your Writing In Serial Format?.
What Would I Have Done Differently? My Self-Publishing Experience, Part 12
From Betty
Not Just Another Post on POV
Creating Unforgettable Settings, Part 4: World Building
Grow Your Writing Business by Stepping Away From Your Computer
Lessons from a Twenty-Year NaNoWriMo Run (I'm also nearing this nano mark)
How to Hone Your Writing Process With a Step Outline.
Beginnings – Not Just For Page One
Five Underused Settings in Spec Fic
Six Ways to Add Emotion to Your Narration
Fear Thesaurus Entry: Becoming a Parent
Point of View: Is Deeper Always Better?
Feedback and Editing: The Right Eyes at the Right Time
The Seven Deadly Sins of Prologues.
But there are things you can do and control. Let's say you get your cover and you're ready, let me suggest reaching out to your local library. A lot of them are happy to have an author talk by a local author and let you bring your book(s) to sell. As I wandered the mothman fest yesterday I ran across an author I've bought from before though wasn't bowled over. However she's a local author and a graduate of my university and I want to help. I ask if she's spoken at our library? NO but I love that libraryI would love to do that.
Okay then. I took her card and promised to turn it over to them (and I will). Now my thought is if you're from that town, loved that library, did you never think to ask them about speaking there? It pays to be proactive. Maybe it never crossed her mind but none the less I will make the introduction.
Also at the mothman fest I bought a bigfoot book from an author (70ish man) who I have read from before and it was okay. However, if I hadn't been swamped by people pushing and with TH I might not have bought this book after all. I would have had time to read the blurb.
Okay let's be honest. Covers and Blurbs matter! Netgalley asks you why you requested the book you did and author, cover and 'description' (i.e. blurb) are options. This Bigfoot blurb was SO defensive that it screamed I'm an amateur with a THIN skin. It goes on to say this is a compliation of my 5 Bigfoot novellas so this is NOT for you.
It goes on to say it's not for expert bigfoot hunters and a few other things. I'm like dude, what are you doing. There are better ways of saying this that doesn't sound like you expect to be criticized. How about 'this is an entry point into the art of hunting bigfoot.' anything but this book isn't for you. Blurb writing is a post in and of itself. What I'm getting at tonight is don't shoot yourself in the foot.
OPEN CALLS
DreamForge Magazine Fall 2022 Window. hopepunk
Cosmic Roots And Eldritch Shores October 2022
Alien Dimensions
Short Story Substack October 2022 Window
midnight & indigo Fall 2022 Window Black women authors only
Fable: An Anthology of Horror, Suspense & the Supernatural. ( i need to send to this)
Mirror World Publishing Is Open To Novels And Novellas
Defenestration: Now Seeking Submissions humor
Links from around the web
Cultivating Autumnal Magic for Writers
15 Things Nobody Told Me About Book Publishing
How Your Author Platform Helps You Do More Than Sell Books
The Catalyst for Character Change: The Dark Night of the Soul
Do You Need Personal Experience to Write About Something?
Case Study: How I Broke Into Traditional Publishing As A Debut Author
3 Things Your Opening Scenes Should Achieve
Why and Where You Should Start Submitting Your Writing This September
Five Self-Publishing Mistakes You Need To Avoid
Ready To Publish Your Writing In Serial Format?.
What Would I Have Done Differently? My Self-Publishing Experience, Part 12
From Betty
Not Just Another Post on POV
Creating Unforgettable Settings, Part 4: World Building
Grow Your Writing Business by Stepping Away From Your Computer
Lessons from a Twenty-Year NaNoWriMo Run (I'm also nearing this nano mark)
How to Hone Your Writing Process With a Step Outline.
Beginnings – Not Just For Page One
Five Underused Settings in Spec Fic
Six Ways to Add Emotion to Your Narration
Fear Thesaurus Entry: Becoming a Parent
Point of View: Is Deeper Always Better?
Feedback and Editing: The Right Eyes at the Right Time
The Seven Deadly Sins of Prologues.
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Date: 2022-09-19 02:42 pm (UTC)Hahaha, OMG. Seriously!
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Date: 2022-09-20 02:22 am (UTC)