Archive for February, 2009
Join The Fight To Give Self-publishers An Even Playing Field
Are you a self-published author who is tired of getting the door slammed in your face by reviewers, contests, conferences and more just because your books aren’t published by a traditional publisher? Join the club! And I do mean join. If we as self-publishers don’t begin to work together to combat the bias against our work, we are going to continue to be treated as and feel like second-class citizens of the writing community.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that poorly written, unedited, crummy-looking books should be given the same treatment as high-quality books. But I am saying that books should be judged on their own merits, not on whether they are published by the author or by someone related to the author, and not by the number of copies that are printed at a time. How can someone judge a book when they haven’t even seen it?
People say authors only self-publish because they can’t get a traditional publisher. That’s not my story. I chose to publish my mystery novel, TOO NEAR THE EDGE, through my family publishing company, PMI Books. I didn’t send the novel to any agents or publishers first. I made the self-publishing decision based on my experience with my two published nonfiction books&ndashone, self-published has sold over 50,000 copies and is now in its 4th edition; the other was published by a major traditional publisher sold about 5,000 copies and is now out of print.
My self-published novel, TOO NEAR THE EDGE has gotten good reviews from online reviewers and won a silver medal for best regional fiction in the 2007 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY) contest. It’s available on Amazon and other online sites, and I can keep it in print as long as I want. But if I want it to sell, I have to promote it, which is harder than it should be due to the bias against self-publishers.
I understand that approximately 800 books are published every day and reviewers are deluged with books to review. But I hate that like a trendy new NYC bar, they man the door so that only the well-connected get in. Reviewers should be in the business of judging books not judging publishers. Just give our books a chance.
And why should self-published authors be given second class status at conferences? Here’s what happened to me after I found out that the annual “Left Coast Crime Convention,” (LLC) meeting&ndasha mystery convention sponsored by mystery fans, for mystery fans&ndashwill be in my area in 2008. I figured this would be a chance to go to a regional conference as an author, meet fans, and maybe even get my book in the “book room” to sell. But, no. It turns out that to be considered an author at the LLC I have to either meet the requirements for active membership in the Mystery Writers of America or be shortlisted for a major mystery award like the Edgar or the Anthony. That means I have to have been paid at least $1,000 in advances and/or royalties for my book, which had an initial print run of at least 500 copies. But even then, I can’t be considered an author at their conference if my book is self-published or cooperatively published. My publisher must have been in business for at least two years and publish at least five other authors per year, none of whom may be an employee, business partner, or a relative of the publisher. And my publisher must be on the MWA list of approved publishers.
Well my publishing company, PMI Books, belongs to PMA, and we are reputable&ndashbut clearly, given all their criteria, they aren’t going to put us on their approved list.
So I tried to get in under award thing. My book isn’t shortlisted for the mystery awards they list, but I wrote them a very polite email asking if the IPPY would qualify me to be an author at their conference. They replied that I don’t meet the eligibility requirements and that awards like the IPPY are not on the list, “since they are primarily awarded to authors from non-traditional publishing houses.”
Enough!! These criteria are outdated, unfair and shortsighted. They arbitrarily exclude books and authors based not on the quality of the books but on the publisher and method of printing. There must be a better way. Self-publishers need to work together to end this bias against us.
I’ve started a new blog&ndashThe Populist Publisher&ndashwhere I hope self-published authors can come together to change our image. I invite you to join us.
Journaling Your Book To Completion
On any given day, how many people, events, problems, projects, family issues, things to remember and appointments are running through your mind? A LOT, right? If you’re writing a book, you have to add on top of that a whole other world of characters, events, settings, plots, (if you’re writing fiction) or stories, bullet points, theories and rhetoric (if you’re writing non-fiction). How do you keep track of it all?
Keeping a journal for your book can be a great tool. In it you can keep your outline, character details, plotting charts and anything else that serves as a guide for helping you stay on track. The following is a simple outline of headings for setting up your daily journal pages to help you with the day-to-day writing of your book.
Word Goal
At the top of your page start out with the date of the writing session and set a goal for how many words you will write for the day. Make the number big enough to challenge you, but not too big that you feel overwhelmed if you consistently miss it. You can also keep the word goal in line with what you’re working on that day. If you are re-writing a chapter instead of creating a new one, then your word count for the day will be significantly smaller. (And that’s okay!)
Today’s Work Will Focus On…
Under this heading you will plan out what you want to handle in the session. Are you writing a dialogue where your main character learns someone’s innermost secrets? Are you doing a scene setter that places the reader in the heart of your book? Are you writing a how-to chapter to explain how the reader can put to use the new strategies you’ve given them on how to be a better networker? Doing this also makes the word goal less intimidating because you immediately see what you’re going to do with all those words!
What Problems Might I Encounter?
There WILL be problems–no big deal. Note what they may be so you won’t get tangled up in the problem as you’re sitting in front of the computer screen. Write down each one. Some examples: “How do I get my character to go from living at home to a place nearer to where all the action is happening?” “How do I introduce the character to the guy who will ruin her life?” “How do I shrink my program down to 5 simple steps that people can remember?” Acknowledging problems really helps to lessen their power over your writing. You aren’t scared away from a problem so easily when you know you can come up with a solution.
Possible Solutions Include…
This is where you’ll do a quick brainstorming of how you can solve the problem. You can try out one of the solutions in your writing session. If that doesn’t work, you’ll have a list of things you can try the next day. What’s great about this is that you’re starting to train your mind to look for answers. You’ll find that when you’re writing consistently, you’ll be thinking about ideas and solutions all the time–in your car, in the shower, while you’re taking a walk. This is really where the magic happens. I truly believe that the bulk of books can be worked out in your head–then you have to sit down and get it onto some paper!
Today’s Result and Where It Will Take Me Tomorrow…
At the end of your writing for the day you’ll want to take note of what you accomplished. Maybe the dialogue you wrote today has opened up another avenue you’d like to explore with your character. Or perhaps you’ve noticed a big hole in the research you’ve done for the biography you’re writing and you realize you need to make a few more calls. I like to print out the pages I’ve written so I can really see and feel what I’ve done for the day. It makes me excited to do more. The idea here is to reward yourself for your work and also see that you have more to do. You’re less likely to get writer’s block if you see that you still have plenty more to say for your next session. But if you do happen to get stuck anyway, go to…
Your Fun Page
This is the page where you just dawdle and dream when the writing isn’t quite happening. I had a page with “Acknowledgments” written at the top. Whenever I didn’t feel like writing, I would go to this page and think about who I wanted to thank when the book was finished! It was fun to add names or cross them out depending on my mood! Having such a page helped me stay connected to my vision of being a published author. Your page could have the list of cities for your book tour, or notes on the introduction you would give before your readings. Keep it light, keep it fun. This way, getting to the end of your book will be a pleasure, not a struggle. Isn’t that the way you want it to be?
Is Proofreading Necessary In Content Writing?
Silly grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, typo errors are few mistakes which are common in any content writing. But if they are not rectified then it brings bad name to your company. And the end result is that your potential customer is gone. That’s why foolproof editing and proofreading is an important aspect of all good content writing. This helps you to revise your article before publishing and also make sure that it is error free. Also in today’s world errors are really costly, thus it is must to have a proofreader.
Proofreader makes sure that all the quotation marks and parentheses are in place. After that comes punctuation. While proofreading any content, all the unnecessary crowding or extra spacing should be removed. Also special attention should be given to the addresses and phone numbers and it is wise to double check the addresses, phone numbers, and spellings of proper names. This helps in avoiding any future embarrassment. Furthermore, it is important to update calendar listings and check bullet placements. Photograph placement is one area which requires thorough attention. It is always said that content writing should be done by keeping content placement in mind as it helps in the correct placement. This makes sure that content is in tandem with the photograph and doesn’t give a jarring effect. Proofreading content isn’t tedious and unexciting job and neither time consuming. It’s the interesting one as by this one get know the latest information along with improvement in their vocabulary.
As per the experts the content written should be proofread just to ensure that your site has professional, organized web content especially company brochures, product information or data sheets and other publications intended for your customers as well as, reports in the public domain. By seeing the emergence of content writing, a sudden rise in proofreading is also noticed. That’s why all those companies offering content writing now also offers proofreading services. This makes one stop shop for all your requirements. Almost all the web content writing companies have expert proofreaders who do the editing and proofreading of the content that eliminates grammatical and syntax construction errors, defects in the flow of the text and smoothes out any glitches in the language.
If you already have written articles, then proofreaders in content writing companies can carefully scrutinize it for spelling mistakes, errors in usage of language, grammar, and other inconsistencies. They’ll not only mark the mistakes but also rectify them so that you get the well edited and perfect content. Apart from that they’ll also highlight the problem areas so that you don’t repeat them in the future. So if you’re hunting for a content writing services then proofreader will also be there just to assure you that you’ll be getting the edited and polished content. Moreover you don’t have any doubts when it comes to expertise and attention as these content writing companies will draw on their expertise to for each web content writing project.
Interview With Marguerite Arotin, A Romance Writer In Ohio
Py: How did you get your pen name as Maruerite Arotin?
Marguerite: My real name is Dana but when I decided to write romance, I always knew Dana would be too unisex for the romance market. So I thought about my nickname. My grandma used to call me Daisy and my hubby eventually picked it up too. Marguerite is french for Daisy and I’m part French so I loved that
. Arotin was my late mother-in-law’s maiden name so I took the name in honor of her and plus it flowed nicely with Marguerite. I will be marketing all books under my pen name of Marguerite Arotin.
Py: When did you start reading romance novels?
Marguerite: It was just after I met my hubby that I picked up my very first romance novel. I think meeting someone so perfect for me taught me that true love does exist and that maybe those romance novels I always thought were so sappy could come true. But then I met Phil and the attraction hit me like a ton of bricks. I can’t imagine any other guy who can fulfill my needs as much as he can and I wouldn’t want to satisfy any other man but him. Since I was a bit of a history nut, I picked up a historical by Linda Lael Miller and then got addicted to the genre.
Believe it or not, prior to meeting my husband, Phillip, I was a bit of a young cynic when it came to romance and relationships. I met Phil when I was nineteen years old and prior to that, well I seemed to end up with a lot of jerks. At least I had a sense of humor of my unfortunate social life: I kept telling everyone I might as well adopt a bunch of cats and become the world’s youngest spinster.
Py: What inspired you to write your romance story, The Locktender’s Daughter?
Marguerite: It wasn’t until the unthinkable happened, when my hubby lost his job and I just had a baby, that I even considered writing my own my romance novel. I’ve always loved local Ohio history. I would walk the old towpath trail wondering what life was like back when the mules pulled the boats through the murky canal water. I happened to find some notes for a story I wanted to write, a historical romance set along the Ohio & Erie canal, and decided I would write it. By the time my hubby found another job, I was too caught up in the story to stop writing. As I learned more about my craft, I realized how crappy the first MS I completed was and decided it wasn’t worth revising. But that first story led to a sequel, called The Locktender’s Daughter, and I loved that tale
. I knew I didn’t have enough experience yet to try a large print publishing house or even go for an agent, but I submitted my tale to a few e-book/POD presses and TheLocktender’s Daughter found a home with Wings.
Py: Any tips for romance writers?
Marguerite: I’ve learned that everyone has their own writing techniques and they have to use what works best for them. Some people just allow the story to roam freely and other’s tend to go all out and do full outlines. I do a mixture of both.
I want to add here is how important it is never to give up on your dream. It took me a good two years of submitting The Locktender’s Daughter before I found a home for it. I knew I had a great story, I knew it my heart. I loved Bethany and Tyler too much to give up them. Writing is one of the toughest jobs out there and those rejection letters can hurt. But you have to put it aside and remember that people behind those rejection letters, agents, editors, etc, are not rejecting you and if you love your story and characters enough, you have to keep trying no matter what. I did and I found a great home for Bethany and Tyler
.
Py: Your Contact Information and your giveaways to readers?:
Marguerite: My first historical romance novel will be published with Wings Press ( .wings-press.com/) in May of next year. My site at .ohioromance.net
As far as giveaways, I have the first three unedited chapters of The Locktender’s Daughter posted at my website .ohioromance.net/excerpts.htm
I’ve really got to update my page because it says that TLD is still in the hands of the editors at Wings and it’s already been contracted. Guess when you spend too much time writing, you forget about simple things like remembering to update your site. I’ll get it updated before Sunday. I do post free excerpts in my myspace blog from time to time and have been posting a lot lately from my teenage sorceress for my NANOWRIMO YA project. Also I will be running a contest around May in conjuction with the release of my story, I have no idea of what I’m going to do yet but it will probably have something to do with canal history
.
Ipod – The Music Player For All
iPods seem to be taking over the world. One sees them everywhere one goes, being used by adults and children alike. One sees them on the television and in the movies. It seems that people are going insane over them! It is actually not surprising that this little device is attracting such fanatical devotion; it is indeed a fantastic device; it might even be the coolest thing to show up ever!
The iPod is a pocket sized, ultra light hard drive based audio player, designed and marketed by Apple Computers. All the iPod models are user friendly in design, and can be used even by young children. They offer a simple user interface and a scroll wheel to browse the navigation system. Unlike the other portable cassette or CD players, the iPod stores media on in-built memory. What this means is that you do not need to insert a CD or cassette.
An iPod is practical, functional, and cute as well! There are three different sizes and shapes to choose from. There is the skinny little iPod shuffle; the slightly larger but even skinner nano, and the most popular regular iPod that can play all your favorite TV shows and favorite songs.
Some of the other Mp3 players available might have disadvantages if compared to the wonder of the iPod. It is not only a question of how many songs they can hold; the overall quality and the cute look of the little machines are truly matchless. They can hold thousands of songs and pictures, they are so tiny, and they come in such wonderful colors. The iPod mini came in green and pink and blue and other lovely colors. The nano and the iPod now come in white and black. All the colors are hot and look great.
What it has come down to is that when you want to go in for a new music player, you may consider to get an iPod. It will hold hundreds of songs; the battery life is great. You can play it for more than twenty hours before you need to charge it again.
When you buy the iPod, the iTunes software is included in it. This software uploads music and photos in the iPod and it has been likened to a jukebox. The function of this software is to play, store and organize all the music and video files on the iPod. With iTunes, you can connect to the iTunes Music Store and buy music files for playing on the iPod. Although iTunes has been developed by Apple, it will work with Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 operating systems. ITunes is also freely downloadable on the web.
Apple Corporation released the iPod in October, 2001. Since then, the iPod has become the biggest selling portable hard disk player. It has sold around twenty million units in 2001-2005. The way the iPod was initially marketed also contributed to its enormous popularity, with excellent ads playing the coolest tunes in the background.
The tiny size of the iPod is its biggest advantage, and you can take it with you wherever you go. This can have its problems, as the iPod is delicate, and the screen and case are prone to scratching, even during normal use. So now a huge market has opened up, offering cases for your iPod to protect it from damage so that you can take it literally anywhere. The cases have options for clips and straps, so your iPod need never leave your side, until you want to put it away yourself.
It’s Time For Independent Authors To Join Forces
Imagine the power of a website dedicated to Independent authors and their books. A place where readers could find over a million Independently published books at one online location. The time has come for Independent authors around the world to join together on the Internet at one location to sell our books. There is tremendous strength in numbers and with an estimated five million Independent authors worldwide the power of that one destination would change the face of publishing&ndashforever! Even with just 20% of those titles, that combination of forces would be a serious contender to booksellers around the world.
The key to improving our exposure to readers and increase book sales is to combine the efforts of Independent authors on a global scale at one online marketing platform. This will attract consumers interested in books not found in the traditional major bookstore or mass merchant. The website can market to readers and offer a selection of Independently published titles not found in combination anywhere. The future for book sales is the Internet, the only growth area in publishing is the Independent author, and the market is international.
The biggest problem for Independent book sales is a highly decentralized marketplace. This marketplace includes dozens of websites that sell books and services to other authors, as well as hundreds of thousands of author websites and is exactly the kind of environment that depresses our effort to market and sell books to a mass audience.
The six biggest New York publishers will always control the Barnes & Noble’s and Wal-Mart’s of the traditional bookselling world. They will spend whatever it takes and will never allow an Independent presence into their retail accounts. Let them continue spending their money in a market that has been consistently shrinking since the early 1990’s.
When Independent authors organize and guide readers to a central Internet location where books not found in bookstores are available, we’d start to see changes in the way books are purchased, on a massive scale. We will have created a market that the big publishers can’t touch. This would be an Independent marketplace, not controlled by a single online bookseller who takes up to 60% of our cover price.
There is a website that provides Independent writers and authors an opportunity to market their writing to readers who otherwise would not be exposed to our work and: (1) Offers a single global platform for Independent book sales, and (2) Gives the writer real independence from other online web sites in the traditional marketplace, thus giving the author tremendous exposure to readers and a far higher return on each book sold.
The website exists; in order to attract readers and increase sales we need to add more Independently published authors and their books. It takes lots of titles to draw book consumers to a single online location. That’s why it makes more sense to join forces globally rather than continue to divide an already highly fragmented market.
Join The Fight To Give Self-publishers An Even Playing Field
Are you a self-published author who is tired of getting the door slammed in your face by reviewers, contests, conferences and more just because your books aren’t published by a traditional publisher? Join the club! And I do mean join. If we as self-publishers don’t begin to work together to combat the bias against our work, we are going to continue to be treated as and feel like second-class citizens of the writing community.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that poorly written, unedited, crummy-looking books should be given the same treatment as high-quality books. But I am saying that books should be judged on their own merits, not on whether they are published by the author or by someone related to the author, and not by the number of copies that are printed at a time. How can someone judge a book when they haven’t even seen it?
People say authors only self-publish because they can’t get a traditional publisher. That’s not my story. I chose to publish my mystery novel, TOO NEAR THE EDGE, through my family publishing company, PMI Books. I didn’t send the novel to any agents or publishers first. I made the self-publishing decision based on my experience with my two published nonfiction books&ndashone, self-published has sold over 50,000 copies and is now in its 4th edition; the other was published by a major traditional publisher sold about 5,000 copies and is now out of print.
My self-published novel, TOO NEAR THE EDGE has gotten good reviews from online reviewers and won a silver medal for best regional fiction in the 2007 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY) contest. It’s available on Amazon and other online sites, and I can keep it in print as long as I want. But if I want it to sell, I have to promote it, which is harder than it should be due to the bias against self-publishers.
I understand that approximately 800 books are published every day and reviewers are deluged with books to review. But I hate that like a trendy new NYC bar, they man the door so that only the well-connected get in. Reviewers should be in the business of judging books not judging publishers. Just give our books a chance.
And why should self-published authors be given second class status at conferences? Here’s what happened to me after I found out that the annual “Left Coast Crime Convention,” (LLC) meeting&ndasha mystery convention sponsored by mystery fans, for mystery fans&ndashwill be in my area in 2008. I figured this would be a chance to go to a regional conference as an author, meet fans, and maybe even get my book in the “book room” to sell. But, no. It turns out that to be considered an author at the LLC I have to either meet the requirements for active membership in the Mystery Writers of America or be shortlisted for a major mystery award like the Edgar or the Anthony. That means I have to have been paid at least $1,000 in advances and/or royalties for my book, which had an initial print run of at least 500 copies. But even then, I can’t be considered an author at their conference if my book is self-published or cooperatively published. My publisher must have been in business for at least two years and publish at least five other authors per year, none of whom may be an employee, business partner, or a relative of the publisher. And my publisher must be on the MWA list of approved publishers.
Well my publishing company, PMI Books, belongs to PMA, and we are reputable&ndashbut clearly, given all their criteria, they aren’t going to put us on their approved list.
So I tried to get in under award thing. My book isn’t shortlisted for the mystery awards they list, but I wrote them a very polite email asking if the IPPY would qualify me to be an author at their conference. They replied that I don’t meet the eligibility requirements and that awards like the IPPY are not on the list, “since they are primarily awarded to authors from non-traditional publishing houses.”
Enough!! These criteria are outdated, unfair and shortsighted. They arbitrarily exclude books and authors based not on the quality of the books but on the publisher and method of printing. There must be a better way. Self-publishers need to work together to end this bias against us.
I’ve started a new blog&ndashThe Populist Publisher&ndashwhere I hope self-published authors can come together to change our image. I invite you to join us.
Is Writing a Skill, Craft, or Gift?
Whenever you gather writers together they talk about writing. There are many different types of writers. Those who prefer to compose in long-hand or can only write on an old-fashioned manual typewriter. Those who write to music, demand complete silence, or create best surrounded by noise. You have the writers who must plan and outline before they can begin and those who find even talking about a project before it is drafted can stifle their creativity. But one of the most controversial divisions among writers is about whether writing is a skill, craft, or gift.
I admit that I like to stir the fire a bit because I can argue all three points and depending on how my own writing is going at the moment I may find that one viewpoint carries more weight for me personally.
I know as a teacher of writing that writing is a skill. I have taken people, young and old, who loathed writing and believed they would never be able to write — and provided them with basic tips and tools to become good basic writers. I have taken good basic writers and given them the support and direction they’ve needed to become skilled writers. I’ve watched skilled writers with practice and determination become proficient writers. I have seen this in the classroom, at writing conferences, and in newsrooms. I have witnessed this transformation enough to know that writing is a skill that can be taught and a skill that can be learned.
I know as a writer, editor, and reader that writing is a craft. As the definition reads to craft is “to make or produce with care, skill, or ingenuity”. A skilled writer can capture our interest and convey information, but a writer can also craft a story, poem, or essay that touches our emotions as well as our brains. For those who have gone beyond simply skilled to be craftsmen and craftswomen they can rely on their knowledge, experience, and instinct to create writing that does more than simply delivers — it also sings.
I know as a writer and reader that writing is a gift. Some writers simply possess a special quality that allows them to step beyond and above the huddled masses. For some it is a special ability to shape words into images and ideas and for some it is a unique vision of this world (or another) that speaks to our souls in a way others cannot.
Are writers born or made? Many people argue that some gifted writers are born, but I am not convinced. Perhaps you could have some predisposition but I believe that writers are made. They are made in the rocking chair when Mother reads “Goodnight, Moon”; they are made under the cover with a flashlight when you simply must finish “The Hobbit” for the first time; they are made when you proudly pocket your first library card; they are made when you fill your first notebook; they are made when you submit your first poem, article or story for publication; they are made when you receive your first rejection; and they are made when you turn the computer on every day to write.
I believe some writers are supremely gifted but even so does that mean it was a gift given to them whole or was it a gift developed through years of reading, writing, talking, and thinking about words?
So, I believe, writing is all three — a skill, a craft, and a gift. Some writers find their ability spans all three while others never progress past the level of skill.
It’s A Great Time To Be An Independent Writer
The world of publishing is about to change. It’s an exciting time to be an Independent author. This long ignored group is beginning to organize and establish an entirely new marketplace for selling books. A community introducing voices never heard and stories never told to the world.
What they need is an on-line destination created for Independently published writers to promote and sell their books.
It is difficult to be an Independent author. The term “self published” is often used and misunderstood because major components of the publishing industry, including the six largest publishers, have been successful in attaching “poor quality” to the term “self-published.” The term Independent author best describes the decision many writers have made to publish on their own.
The fact that someone decides to become an Independent author does not mean their writing is not good. It means they have made the decision to publish Independently and remain in control of the work creatively and financially. Being an Independent author is hard, doors slam and there are plenty of “do not enter” signs, which is the reason many Independent authors give up in their quest to sell books.
Many Independent authors feel strongly that their pay-for-printing publisher does not care whether they sell a single copy of their book. The printer’s profit is made in the printing itself, not the final sale of the book. These authors cite instances where messages are sent proclaiming, “Buy this service and you will sell books,” only to find the statement hollow and without merit or success. In the end the only thing the Independent author has is an extremely fragmented market.
The hope for increased sales of Independent books is through banding together as a single community speaking from a single platform, authors helping create their own market for readers looking for new voices and interesting stories. As an Independent writer and author, trust in the fact that this community will be an opportunity to sell books and gain respectability in the marketplace we so richly deserve.
The dynamic of the market for book sales is about to shift and the Independent author is in the right place at the right time to take full advantage. There has never been a better time to be an Independent author. Countless opportunities are opening that offer more exposure to a wider audience than ever before.
Strength is in numbers, so we need to have a gathering place for writers and authors, a community where we will be heard by readers searching for voices never heard and stories never told. The world of traditional brick and mortar publishing is struggling, over the course of the past fifteen years the market has been shrinking. The six largest publishers are forced to push more copies of a handful of authors out into stores each and every month. This is negatively impacting overall sales at a time when book retailers, wholesalers, and distributors are consolidating and demanding change. The problem is that the big companies do not have answers.
They constantly search for new writers but the demands of the business make it harder for them to create successful authors. The marketplace has been structured by their own hand to allow only a small window of opportunity for new authors to make their presence known. Retailers are geared towards instant success and immediate sales, while the system is not in place to allow that to happen. As a result the big publishers are in a quandary.
At the same time, Independent authors are about to make a statement that will surely rock the traditional world of publishing. They are on the verge of making a huge impact never before witnessed in the industry. No longer will Independent authors and small publishers have to struggle in the old ways of selling books. A truly limitless, global audience waits.
Independent writers and authors are about to emerge from the shadows and take their rightful place in the market. This is a brave new world for readers clamoring for voices never heard and
stories never told.
They need a site that will introduce readers around the world to books they might never have found, and provide an opportunity for the Independent author to expand their audience like never before. The site exists, and is welcoming Independent authors and their books.
It is extremely difficult for major publishers to sell all of their titles. What chance does an Independent author have of making a real dent and sell enough copies to warrant continuous shelf space and sizable reorders? Not impossible but not probable either. The future for the Independently published book is sales through the Internet. There are tremendous possibilities in those areas without having to fight and scratch for inches inside a traditional bookstore.
The big six have not figured out how to utilize the Internet to their advantage, but when they do, they will monopolize your opportunities. Beat them to it. Join the new community, the online market for your books. The future for substantial sales of Independently published books is not the local bookstore, but at the independent author’s online bookstore.
Imagine This, Part 2
Imagery and Characterization, can the two ever meet outside of an English class?
Seething volcano or skittish bird, what image best fits your characters and why would anyone care? Last time I talked about giving a unified imagery set to your main characters. I outlined how choosing basic element properties to your characters creates adds texture and EASE to a character arc. We went with the basic earth, air, wind, and fire possibilities. But let’s say you want to go one step further. How would that work and why?
Make your imagery more specific. First off, add metal to your list of elements. Then while you’re at it, maybe add all the elements of the periodic table. What if your hero is a tinman in search of a heart? Give him metallic colors to wear and surround himself in. Make him bendable, but when he adjusts to the heroine it gives him a sharp edge to his words and actions.
Now start picking out words to use for your hero. Match it with all five senses, but make sure to pick words that reflect both the good and the bad. You want to be able to indicate your character’s changes from a problem through growth into happiness (and love). Confused? Try these examples. For sight&ndashmetallic and reflective. When people look at him they see themselves reflected back, not the man himself. When you describe him and his environment surround him in chrome and give him a tin car toy collection. Let the heroine see him as childlike but cold. Then as he grows around her, you can add color to his clothing and surroundings.
Sound&ndashtinny, brittle. You don’t have to make his voice sound tinny or thin. That’s not hero-like! But he can speak with a brittle edge or it can grate like metal on metal. He can hit something that clinks. When he’s depressed he can have a hollow echo to his tone, but as he warms to the heroine, his voice gets depth and color. Eventually&ndashat the end&ndashsomeone hears his heartbeat. Even the music he listens to changes from Metallica to country&ndashor maybe that’s too much of a stretch.
Touch&ndashsharp but malleable. Initially his touches are cold and angry words hit like shards. But as he changes, his rough edges smooth. His face is not chiseled but pressed or shaped. Then when he smiles he shows a kind of light (heroine’s reflected light). She warms him (because metal doesn’t carry his own warmth), but he protects her and brings out her child-like qualities (because he’s a tin toy).
Now you add taste and scent. Truthfully, with a tin toy image, I stick with cold feel, metallic taste, and sterile scent. None of that is erotic or hero-like. So if you mention these things, keep them at the beginning of the book, letting the negative words drop away as he changes for the better. He is, after all, gaining a heart and growing into a real boy. But remember, he can be a geologist or a metal worker. He can work in a sterile room or be comfortable in clinical settings.
So now you get the idea, but don’t just stop there. Make your images very specific. My hero in Tempted Tigress is a Chinese ink and brush set. He’s a scholar and when he feels drained, I say that his words were like ink mixed too thin. His body is thin and pointed, and during the love scene, his touch paints words on her.
My heroine in Cornered Tigress is a cat. Every time she enters a room, she experiences it first through taste and scent. When she’s afraid she tends to go into tiny enclosed spaces. You can use anything that sparks your imagination, so…go wild!