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The 4 most important elements of a great novel

May 6, 2013 by keithogorek

The Author Learning Center was created with the purpose to help authors learn from other authors to improve their craft, understand their publishing options, plus gain insights on marketing and bookselling. I have made the statement before that I think it is the most comprehensive resource on the web for aspiring authors to learn about writing, publishing and marketing. The latest example that supports my case is this interview with Meg Waite Clayton, author of Wednesday’s Daughter’s among others.

Every good story has a beginning, middle and end. If you don’t have those, you don’t have a story

In this interview, which was filmed at The San Francisco Writers Conference, Meg shares some practical advice on the key elements to include in a novel that is well written. The interview is only three minutes long and definitely worth the watch, but in case you don’t hit play, here are her recommendations.

  1. Focus on the plot–Every good story has a beginning, middle and end. If you don’t have those, you don’t have a story
  2. Let your characters have flaws–Perfection is not that interesting according to Meg. Anger, frustration, shortcomings–these are the things that make characters interesting and help the reader relate to them.
  3. Deliver the details in an interesting way–Don’t just say the person has blue eyes. Describe the eyes as “dirty blue eyes” which tells you something about the person making the observation as well as the person being described
  4. Pay attention to your word choices– She quotes Mark Twain who says the difference between lightning and lightning bug is one word, but the addition of that one little word makes a huge difference.

Posted in Author Solutions, authors, Editing, helpful hints, Indie book publishing, self publishing, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Best-selling author Robert Dugoni shares how rejection can actually help you become a better writer.

April 24, 2013 by keithogorek

I have written many times about how much I respect the way the San Francisco Writers Conference runs their event. The sessions are always quite diverse and the keynote addresses are always top-notch. The other thing I really enjoy is meeting and hearing from authors who have been commercially successful. There are some exceptions, but for the most part, I have found these authors to be humble and encouraging to writers.

Take for example this interview with Robert Dugoni. He is the author of a number of best-sellers, including Bodily Harm, Murder One and The Cyanide Canary. He shares how to turn rejection into motivation to be a better writer.

Posted in Author Solutions, authors, book marketing, Editing, helpful hints, Publishing, self publishing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Will shorter attention spans and smaller screens impact the books we write?

April 21, 2013 by keithogorek

Photo Illustration by C. J. Burton for The Wall Street Journal

Photo Illustration by C. J. Burton for The Wall Street Journal

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal, ran an interesting article titled, The Age of Bite-Size Entertainment, with the subtitle, As the world goes mobile, get ready for more movies, books and music that can be snacked on in a single sitting.

In the opening paragraphs, the writer made these observations.

When soap operas “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” come back to life online later this month, episodes will run for 30 minutes, about half as long as the hourlong blocks that ran on broadcast television for most of the shows’ 40-year run. Why? Because they’re likely to be watched on the go.

Everyone is talking about the binge-viewing craze, but as people increasingly consume TV, movies, books and music on mobile devices, briefer is better. Shorter formats “are in-betweeners, the cream in the middle of the Oreo,” says Jeffrey Katzenberg, chief executive of DreamWorks Animation.

Some of the biggest forces in entertainment are rushing out bite-size portions, not just to adapt to mobile technology but to test the appetite for heartier versions. If a serialized e-book catches fire, publishers will print the novel. A short film that goes viral on YouTube can lead to a feature film or television series. A well-received EP might prompt an album.

I have to admit before this article I had not given much consideration to whether this trend would impact the way we write books. Will we have to develop characters and plots more quickly?  Will the best writers be those who can write the best chapters and then string those together into a book, rather than outline a great book and then write the chapters to fit the outline? In a media and image driven culture, will dialogue become even more important when writing a book?

These are just some of the questions I have been thinking about in light of this article.  At this point, I don’t have any answers, but I wanted to know what you think. Use the comment section to offer your opinions and let me know if you have started writing differently to fit a shorter format.

Some of the biggest forces in entertainment are rushing out bite-size portions, not just to adapt to mobile technology but to test the appetite for heartier versions

Posted in Author Solutions, authors, book marketing, self publishing, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments »

Bestselling and prolific Goosebumps author, R.L. Stine shares how he comes up with ideas.

April 13, 2013 by keithogorek

At the San Francisco Writer’s conference this past year, R.L. Stine, bestselling author of the Goosebumps series gave an amazing keynote address. He had some great insights for all authors, but the thing I was most interested in was his discussion of how he comes up with ideas.  What I have said for quite some time is that authors have to find their own way and  method for writing. In this interview, which is featured on the Author Learning Center, Stine informs and inspires and affirms the idea that there is no formula for every writer to use. Enjoy.

Posted in authors, book selling, helpful hints, self publishing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Phase 3 of a successful book marketing campaign: After your book is available for sale.

April 10, 2013 by keithogorek

This is the third and final installment of the series I have posted on the phases of a successful book marketing campaign.  The final phase “post-publication,” might also be known as liftoff, because your book is now officially launched
and ready to soar. Potential activities during this exciting stage could include the following:

National coverage may be one of your goals, but the best place to start is locally; then expand from there.

HOLD YOUR BOOK LAUNCH EVENT.
Congratulations! You are a published author. Time to celebrate. If fact, this is one of the most important things to do once your book is live. It is a great way to recognize your hard work and share the joy of becoming a published author with others.  Also, don’t think you only need to hold your event at a book store. That is always an option, but you can be creative. I know authors who have held their launch events at a restaurant or a church. Have fun with it.

With a solid marketing plan, you can make your book stand out from the crowd.

With a solid marketing plan, you can make your book stand out from the crowd.

SCHEDULE OTHER EVENTS.
You laid the groundwork in Phase Two. Now follow through using your press materials to finalize a calendar of events where you can promote your book and signings. Don’t just think locally. As you travel, plan ahead and look for bookstores or venues that might be interested in having you sign your book. Also, if you are part of church, synagogue or organization consider asking the leadership if there are any other potential speaking opportunities.

PITCH TO LOCAL AND WEB MEDIA OUTLETS.
Using the hook you developed in Phase Two, contact local reporters at newspapers and broadcast media (radio, TV) to try to secure stories about your book. Identify websites and bloggers that might be interested in your topic, and make a pitch to them as well. National coverage may be one of your goals, but the best place to start is locally; then expand from there.

COMMIT TO A SOCIAL MEDIA SCHEDULE AND FOLLOW THROUGH
One of the keys to social media is being clear on your audience and message, but it is also important to be consistent. You are trying to build a relationship with potential readers so as in any relationship, sporadic or infrequent contact is not a good thing. . Also the more you give them, the more they will have to promote out to their audience about you.

If you have a blog, encourage reader interaction with your posts. Comments allow for feedback from readers, offering you the chance to learn what they liked and disliked about a certain post or even a certain section of your book. Paying close attention to the words of your followers can help you define your target audience.

EVALUATE AND REVISE YOUR PLAN.
Even the best-laid plans will not go exactly as you thought. Be willing to evaluate results and make adjustments. If something is working, try to find a way to expand your efforts in that area. If something didn’t work, adapt or try something entirely new. Make changes learned from experience to accomplish your goals.

Starting your marketing efforts locally is always a good idea. As you learn what works best, you can adapt and improve your plan appropriately as you gradually expand your efforts into larger markets and non-traditional venues.

Posted in Author Solutions, book marketing, helpful hints, Indie book publishing, Publishing, self publishing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Phase 2 of a successful book marketing campaign: Once you submit your manuscript.

April 7, 2013 by keithogorek

In an earlier post, I introduced the idea that there are three phases of a successful marketing campaign. The first phase is Before You Submit Your Manuscript. Phase 2 is Once You Submit Your Manuscript. This is when you truly begin to prepare the groundwork for the launch of your book.

marketing-381x300Here are the key things to focus on during this critical phase.

• DEVELOP YOUR BOOK’S MEDIA “HOOK.”
Sometimes called the “elevator pitch,” this is the two-minute speech you would give to get media outlets
interested in featuring your book. Above all, make sure your pitch is brief, clear and unique. Don’t just talk about your book, but make sure you talk about the topic of your book in your pitch.

• PLAN YOUR BOOK LAUNCH EVENT
One of the key elements of your marketing plan should be a book launch party. This is a way to generate
interest and start the grassroots promotion of your book. In addition, if done correctly, it may be a way to gain important media attention. Be creative in your planning and location. Tie it in to the theme or subject of your book. And don’t forget to have fun. Publishing a book is an accomplishment. Take pride in your achievement.

Marketing your book takes work, but if you prepare appropriately, it can be a lot of fun.

• IDENTIFY OTHER VENUES FOR BOOK SIGNINGS
Most local churches, bookstores and libraries welcome authors who are interested in speaking or holding
book signings, but they want to plan for them in advance. So even before your book is available, make
contact with locations that you think would host a book signing. However, do not set a date until your book is available for purchase.

•ASSEMBLE YOUR MAILING LIST
When it comes time to invite people to your events, you want to have a quick and easy list you can use to distribute announcements. Prepare that list now, and be sure to accommodate for both email and regular mail.

• SEND OUT YOUR BOOK LAUNCH INVITATIONS
When you approve your author copy at the end of the publishing production process, send out your
invitations to your book launch, and include local members of the media in your list.

• FINALIZE YOUR MARKETING PLAN, CALENDAR AND BUDGET
A sustained effort is another key to an effective book marketing campaign. Establish the discipline of setting a
calendar of your activities for the coming year and planning the investment needed to accomplish those tasks. It will keep you accountable and help you reach your goal of connecting with as many readers as possible.

Marketing your book takes work, but if you prepare appropriately, it can be a lot of fun. This is when you get to take the manuscript that you have worked on for so long and put it into the hands of readers. There is not many things more thrilling for an author than that.

Posted in Author Solutions, authors, Ebooks, Indie book publishing, Publishing, self publishing, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments »

Carl Reiner releases enhanced e-book version of I Remember Me

April 4, 2013 by keithogorek

In an earlier post, I talked about the release of a new book by comic genius, Carl Reiner, titled I Remember Me. In this book, which he published through AuthorHouse, has been praised by comics such as Jerry Seinfield and Jay Leno. 

Now Reiner has released an enhanced e-book that includes video and other images that helps bring the words on the page to life in a new and exciting way.  Here’s a video that provides a preview of the book. It is a great example of how the book is evolving.

Posted in Author Solutions, AuthorHouse, authors, book marketing, Ebooks, Indie book publishing, Publishing, self publishing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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