Here’s a list of words with their original meanings. Amazing! 😉
Groovy ice cream flavors based on favorite books.
Pics of bookish desserts here.
Now the verdict for the Zimmerman trial is in, an interesting development has occured in publishing.
Monday brought an announcement that one of the jurors had signed with literary agent Sharlene Martin to write a book about her experience on the jury. But by early Tuesday, the juror dropped her plans. While sequestered, the juror had not realized “the depth of pain that exists among the general public over every aspect of this case.”
“The potential book was always intended to be a respectful observation of the trial from my and my husband’s perspectives solely and it was to be an observation that our ‘system’ of justice can get so complicated that it creates a conflict with our ‘spirit’ of justice,” she said in the statement.
Now she realizes that the book could potentially cause more harm. Books have long been known for their ability to heal…not just the author but readers. They also have the ability to inflame. Her decision to step back has proven yet again that the power of books to move us deeply is as potent as ever.
Jessica Negron at Talcott Notch is interested in YA and adult fiction of all kinds. She prefers to work with science fiction and fantasy, romance, and thrillers.
In May, the U.S. Census released statistics for bookstore sales. In March, they rose 1.1% to $931 million.
For the first quarter, bookstore sales were up to $4.03 billion. That’s a 2.2% increase over the first quarter of 2012.
Compare that to the 2.6% rise across the entire retail business, and you realize that books are as important to today’s buyers as designer jeans and bling. Go, books!
This is a link to a great essay about shopping at bookstores for those who still love and cherish printed books.
Here’s a link to a visual montage about the power of books.
Please take a moment to view the new website for Writer’s Resource at WritersResource.us. The blog posts to this site too so if you’re traveling and can’t access your email for the RSS feed, you can go directly to that page and view the latest tips and tidbits.
Authors suspect that the self-publishing revolution has changed the face of publishing but getting information on what has changed–and what is still changing–can be tough. Part of the purpose of this blog is to keep you updated about what’s happening right now.
Self-publishing is a role that many more authors are considering. Bestselling authors are turning away from traditional houses to go that route. But they have built-in fan bases that make it easier for them to succeed. First-time authors should still closely consider the traditional publisher as part of their team. Build for a bit then reconsider self-publishing.
One of the big ways self-publishing has changed things is the understanding that traditional publishers don’t always see the light. They know that a work has quality but might not understand how to market it…or even believe there is a market. Self-publishing something means you can approach publishers later with proven sales figures noted in a query and book proposal.
Unfortunately, self-publishing has also means a lot of people whose goals are better suited to publishing traditionally go the self-pub route. They spend too much money on layout, cover art, setup fees, distribution and marketing efforts only to sell a handful of copies. Knowing which path is best for you–and when to pursue both traditional and self-publishing at the same time–comes from knowing the market, your own goals, trends across publishing and the broader entertainment field, knowing what e-books and print books and even magazines and newspapers are doing, and a host of other things. Writer’s Resource constantly tracks these arenas. No matter when you need to make that decision, call or email for a consultation. Launching on the right path will help you meet your career goals more quickly!
A few weeks ago, I heard that a client I’d ghostwritten a series of juvenile grade books for had signed with an agent. That’s great news, especially in a market where publishers are trying all kinds of new things to recreate their business models.
To make your work as appealing as possible to agents and publishers, follow these steps.
First, make sure your work is the highest quality possible. Get feedback from readers in your audience, revise and edit each draft until the work shines.
Second, hone your query letter!
Third, write a book proposal. Even fiction authors should take this extra step because at some point, agents and publishers will ask them to put together the information in a standard proposal. Juvenile authors writing for children’s audiences through preteen can use a shorter submissions packet; young adult authors should go with the more detailed standard book proposal.
The next step is to research the agents and publishers who best fit your needs. Check out the posts in this blog under Agents and Submissions for information on select places to send your work.
Finally, be persistent! Passion will take you far in this game. The only people I’ve ever known who have failed as authors are the ones who gave up trying.
Recently France announced that it would be providing loans to independent booksellers in its nation that are having cash flow problems. The country is determined to help preserve one of the most important components of any culture, its literature.
Well, we can’t expect the U.S. government to step in anytime soon. So it’s up to you and me to help.
You don’t have to have deep pockets, either. Just commit to buying one book every month from a local store.
If you buy books frequently, commit to buying more than one every month from a local.
Save a bookstore! It could be your own book you’re helping to save!
Those of you who are interested in the novels and other works I’ve written can check out the new website. It’s a fresher look and much easier to navigate. Share with anyone you think might like the books…and thank you for your support!
When you’ve finished that novel or nonfiction manuscript, consider whether it’s truly ready to send out. In this essay about reading, the author notes:
And yet, with all four of these books, the authors had not polished their skills, nor had they sufficiently polished their manuscripts. I’m not just talking about misplaced punctuation or bad spelling, either. I’m talking about basic plot holes; two-dimensional, clichéd characters and situations; unnatural and awkward dialogue; and unbelievable, contrived scenarios that didn’t arise naturally out of the events of the story.
Take care of your readers and trust me…they’ll take care of you!
Here’s a quote from a client. We went through a round of editing on his novel followed by the creation of his query letter and book proposal.
Laine, I’m writing to thank you for all your outstanding work. Five stars!!! As you know, competition is fierce in the writing business. It’s war. I attempted to do what you do. It didn’t work. Thanks again!
