Tag Archives: novel

Amazon Reviews

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If you’ve been following the recent controversies about Amazon’s reviews (and the reviews that show up on other sites), you know the problem: marketers and/or authors are paying for good reviews to help boost their ratings at Amazon and/or sales.

Here’s the flip side of that review process. This article talks about how fans of Michael Jackson are hitting a new biography with one-star reviews to sink the book’s ratings.

The author calls the attack a way to use the right to free speech against the right to free speech. The reviews themselves aren’t flawed. But the engines that rank according to the number of stars on the review clearly is flawed. Any author who’s works are sold on Amazon or other e-retailers needs to be aware of the kinds of social movements that can impact their sales.

Book Contract

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Here’s a very brief overview about book contracts.

One thing to keep in mind when reviewing your contract is when the book is considered out of print. Make sure that you are able to produce ebooks (or even printed books) within a reasonable amount of time after the printed version is no longer available. If publishers retain all the rights through the creation of an ebook version, you can be hung up forever waiting on their publicity department to do anything.

Story Ideas: Tips

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Here’s a post that lists 5 ways to generate story ideas. One of the tips is to read your junk mail…um, OK.

Now, I’ve been writing and editing for twenty years. In my experience, it’s pretty rare that writers actually need ways to come up with story ideas. It’s actually more of a problem to decide which of those ideas is strong enough to support a story, what format that story should take, and how best to put it on the page.

However, the same article suggests taking a small scene from one story or book and expanding it into an entirely new story. I’ve had clients do this with classic works of mythology to great success. And of course there’s the retelling of Gone with the Wind and other classic novels from different points of view that recently have become bestsellers.

So…what’s your take on story ideas? Do they come in a flood or a trickle? What helps, what hinders?

Oprah’s Next Big Thing

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The Oprah Channel has struggled since day one to reach the numbers it had hoped for. Part of the reason is that Oprah doesn’t show up in much of the programming. Another very real issue is simple oversaturation…the channel can’t offer the same thing all the time.

She’s trying a reboot by building on this interview with Armstrong. The struggle she’s facing is just a reminder that even the biggest celebrities can’t market just anything…and they can’t rely on their name along. Quality must always come first.

Takeaway: Know your audience and what they want. When you deliver it, you’ll automatically provide quality content.

Link

Here’s a look at what Writer’s Digest recommends for those first steps when writing a novel.

Writing as a Business

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Very good overview article on thinking about your writing career. When the time is right, my clients and I discuss the business aspects of writing. This ranges from our first contact when they’re wondering whether their work is marketable to considering their audience’s needs during editing or rewriting. When the final product is done, we then discuss market trends that will impact their choice of agents and publishers.

Publishing is a business and, as the author, you must consider yourself the CEO of your book. From start to finish—the germ of a book idea to publication (and beyond)—you must take charge. If you make good business decisions, you will surely experience greater success. If not, then, you could be one of the nearly 78 percent of authors who fail.

Workshop: Query Letters in NC

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Writing the Perfect Query Letter with Laine Cunningham, presented by Alice Osborn

Location: Center for Excellence, 3803-B Computer Dr. Suite 106, Raleigh, NC 27609

Saturday, March 9     Time:  1:30-4:30pm

Fee:  $55 (Early Bird till March 1st)/$75 after

Registration: Click here  

Your query letter is every bit as important as the opening pages of your novel. It’s your first opportunity to show your writing skills to a prospective agent or editor. Make it count! Make it shine! A good query letter should make that editor and agent want to read your material…and it should grab their hearts in the thirty seconds or so they give each query in their pile. In this class, publishing consultant and owner of the Writer’s Resource Laine Cunningham will discuss the three important elements to inject into your query so you can get published. Fiction and nonfiction authors writing books, stories or articles will benefit from this class.

Laine Cunningham’s clients consistently garner attention from the nation’s top publishers and agents. Several of her clients’ books have been shopped around Hollywood and have received film options. She has been quoted on CNN Money, Media Bistro, and The Writer Magazine for her opinion on the end of the Harry Potter series, the “Oprah Effect,” and Sarah Palin’s ghostwriter. She has presented workshops and lectures for The Loft, the nation’s largest independent literary organization; the National Writer’s Union; The Writer’s Workshop in Asheville and writing conferences across the country.

Short Story Collections

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This article from Review Review is probably familiar to those of you who write short stories. Too often authors hear from agents and publishers that their collection is fantastic in so many ways…but they aren’t interested unless the author also has a novel.

I’ve sponsored a writing contest for the last four years. When I first approached the literary magazine that administers the contest, the publisher and senior editor both agreed that short story collections, linked or not, would be accepted and encouraged as submissions.

Last year a collection won first place, and in previous years, collections have placed second, third, or as honorable mention. The Blotter and I are very clear in our support of short stories as viable, living art.

Man Asian Contest

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This article talks about the Man Asian award, which is now in its last year. It’s unfortunate that we’ve lost so many awards for novels and novellas in the last several years. Awards for book length fiction really haven’t numbered all that many to begin with, at least not ones that offer such a substantial prize or influence. But the committee has decided to put their efforts into supporting the Man Booker award. So at least there’s still support for an art form that is truly one of the most important to people from every walk of life.

Contest

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Nautilus Book Award for books published in 2011 and 2012.

The Director, Staff and Judges of the Nautilus Book Awards have announced that the 2013 Nautilus awards is now open for submissions. We appreciate your comments and are happy to answer your questions.

Contest

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Cool contest with cash AND a glass of wine a day for a year as the prize!

Taking a page from the famous literary cafés of Paris, Crook’s Corner Café & Bar in Chapel Hill, North Carolina announces the first annual Crook’s Corner Book Prize, to be inaugurated with an award for best debut novel set in the American South.

Literary Magazine

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Writing Tomorrow is a brand new magazine. We launched our first edition October 1, 2012. We are seeking all types of quality literature and welcome submissions of original, unpublished short stories, novel excerpts, and poems. Our next issue will be out in early February.

Workshop

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BUILDING AN AUTHOR PLATFORM
When: Saturday, January 19, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where: Downtown Thai Restaurant, 202 W. Fourth St.
Register: http://www.wswriters.org/creative-seminar
Cost: $30 (members) / $40 (non-members) (lunch included)
Dena Harris and Chris Laney will help you build your author brand in a seminar that could be critical to your writing career. Sponsored by the Winston-Salem Writers.

Workshop

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Writing workshop and retreat.

WOMEN, WRITING, AND SOUL-MAKING: A TWO-DAY FEARLESS WRITING RETREAT

This two-day, non-residential writing retreat for women in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina, inspires women writers to explore creativity and give voice to their truth in a safe circle.

Workshop

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Writing workshop from Alice Osborn

Immerse yourself in a weekend of writing without interruption in the mountains of Western Carolina. This is your answer to, “I’ll write when I can find the time!” Empowered women are powerful writers—grab your power so you can dream and accomplish your dreams of writing your story! Together over the course of this weekend, we’ll delve into our stories of defining moments, healing and self discovery.