Have I confused you yet? We all know the collective noun for a group of birds of any type is called a flock.
Many of you might have heard of a murder of crows, or a gaggle of geese…but what else is out there? What other old terms, perhaps used for centuries and now mostly forgotten, lurk in dusty dictionaries and little viewed academic webpages?
I saw the most amazing video posted on facebook this afternoon of a murmuring of starlings. I’d never heard that term before, and it got my brain zipping about with story ideas. Of course I wondered what ELSE might be out here. So to increase your knowledge, and sometimes make you giggle, here are some other collective nouns for birds.
Chickens- a peep of chickens
Cranes- a herd of cranes
Crows- a murder of crows
Doves- a flight of doves or a dole/dule of doves
Ducks- a badling of ducks or a raft of ducks
Goldfinches- a charm of goldfinches
Geese- a gaggle of geese or a skein of geese
Guinea Fowl- a rasp of guinea fowl
Hawks- a cast of hawks or a lease of hawks
Lapwings- a deceit of lapwings or a desert of lapwings
Larks- an exultation of larks
Nightingales- a watch of nightingales
Owls- a parliament of owls
Parrots- a pandemonium of parrots
Ravens-an unkindness of ravens
Starlings- a murmuring of starlings
Swans- a game of swans or a wedge of swans
Teal- a spring of teal
Neat isn’t it? There are more of course… and I’ll not even get started on animals… at least not today!
However… what about our supernatural beings? There is a kiss of vampires… but what else? What are your favorite collective nouns?
I’ve had a number of my author friends, and random people ask me how to get reviews for their books. I’ve also seen here and there authors pouting or complaining they have no reviews. Getting reviews takes a little time, and a little effort. Yes they can happen on their own, but if you want some NOW then you have to work to get them.
So here we go…
Finding reviewers (who aren’t your friends and family) Book Blog Directories
You join up (free) and fill out your profile etc (side note: go to settings and unclick what emails you get- otherwise you’ll get an email if someone sneezes lol)
Next go to groups- there are loads of them, reviewers looking for books to read, ones by genre etc
~~make sure you follow the groups rules! Some don’t allow review requests, others have a place to do it.
If you want MORE lists.. just Google book bloggers directory or similar words. There are a lot out there.
Of course the first link I posted is still my favorite…why? Because YOU can post requesting a review. This means reviewers will contact YOU- meaning they are interested in your book and the likelihood of it getting reviewed soon is high.
Twitter/ Facebook
You have a platform here, use it! Come up with something short and sweet and post now and then. Include a link to your book, either its page on your website or on ie amazon. Include genre. If tweeting, and you have room, add hashtags such as #bloggers, #reviewers
Self Published authors: If you have a Nook copy of your book and put it up through PubIt, make sure you “friend” PubIt on Facebook, because occasionally they’ll do a Reviewers’ Day where book bloggers will put out a call for books on the PubIt FB page, and self-pubbed authors are welcome to list their blurb in the comments and if they’ll interested they’ll request it. Many of these blogs are ostensibly clsoed to indies otherwise, except for that day. (thanks so Amanda for this)
There is a spot where authors can post giveaways- Free Early Reviewers Page. Winners are requested to review. Offer a few ebooks up and cross your fingers.
You can join free (basic) and this gives you an author page you can list your books. You can also request reviews for each book.
Things to remember:
Don’t forget to ask, or say it is appreciated, for reviews to be posted on amazon (or make a list… goodreads, BN etc) as some reviewers only post on their personal blogs unless asked.
Always thank your reviewer at some point (by email is preferred)
Side note: Normally you provide the reviewer with a free ebook. (Occasionally some will purchase on their own)
NEVER EVER pay for someone to review. Tisk. Waste of money. There are sooooo many reviewers out there who will do it for free!
Good luck to all of those looking for reviewers! If you have MORE ideas, or I missed some obvious ones. Please post here and I’ll add. Let us know what worked best for you too!
My most awesome twitter friend Rhi is stopping by today with some awesome tips on how to make a book trailer! Whoo hoo!
I’m not a pro, let me just put that out there before you start reading this thinking that I’ve done all of this and stuff. I’ve been part of the book trailer process, the writing, directing and producing part, which is the fun part. I was lucky enough to have a film student take care of the filming, editing and captioning parts, and adding music parts.
All I know how to do is shoot things on my camera . . .
But that’s why this is fun because there’s LOTS of ways to do book trailers! And we should go into all of them! (I should find and post examples too right?)
And we can argue that you don’t need to have a book trailer for your book, you don’t, but they are cool to have, and sometimes they’re fun to make, especially when you get to be creative!
The Text Trailer:
This is simple. If you have Windows Seven, open up Windows Movie Maker. There, blank black screens, some special effects and caption options. You can create a whole book trailer in text only, and you make it fade in and out, you can make it sparkle, and you can make it awesome.
Really, just go play around with it, it’s a lot of fun. You can even add music to it, but if you don’t know how to edit songs, you’ll only get the beginning.
Also YouTube will call you on it if you use something that isn’t free domain. I learned the hard way.
The All in 1 Shot Trailer:
If you have a camera with a movie making function, you can do this. Get creative and draw something on cards, or show different things in succession. You can talk in the background, but it’s better if it’s quiet, and if you have captions you’ll need to have them in print so your camera can roll over them.
Again, this is cool and it works, but you have to get it all in one shot because well, if you don’t know how to edit video and you make a mistake you’ll mess the whole thing up.
And sometimes these work very well!
The Photo Bomb Trailer:
Go to one of the free photo sites and download photos that fit the characters / plot / settings for your book. Then go back to Windows Movie Maker, add photos, captions, music, special effects and voila!
Also be sure to add the cover of your book, and when it’s out and where it can be bought, etc. etc.
The Animated Trailer
This is out of my range of expertise, but it can work if you know someone who can draw and do CGI and animation. You’d have to get them to use stuff like Final Cut Pro to do this, and if you have friends who take those courses and know how to do it, all the power to you!
Me? I can’t draw . . . and I can’t animate stuff . . . so this would have me totally lost.
The Stop Motion Trailer
This just makes me go bug eyes. Maggie Stiefvater makes these and she’s amazing with them. Honestly, some of my favorite trailers. She also write her own music for the trailers and records it in a studio with her sister. I think her trailers are some of the most amazing ones I’ve seen, even though the process to stop motion animation is something that I could never do.
The Cosplay Montage Trailer
You might know some super awesome people who cosplay. What is a cosplayer? They are people who dress up in costumes and pretend to be characters, usually at events or during cosplay shoots in which they pose the way the characters would pose and they pretend to be said characters in their own cool and funky way.
I’m friends with a lot of people who do this, and I think they’re cool.
And if they think your book is cool, they might decide to cosplay YOUR characters. (Okay now you see why they’re cool? Wouldn’t you geek out?) And then you can take pictures, and throw THOSE original photos into the Windows Movie Maker and make up something cool . . .
This is one of my favorite options because it’s just so original, and that’s what you want right? You want your vision of your book, portrayed properly.
Best thing ever? Lots of these cosplayers know how to sew . . . and they often hand make their own costumes. So again with the originality, they are the coolest people I know.
The Landscape Trailer
This is another idea, to take pictures of places that would fit into your book and put those in the Windows Movie Maker (I swear I don’t work for Windows, this is not a commercial for them, I just have Windows Movie Maker and I use it a lot when I’m bored.)
Post Beautiful Creatures Trailer
>
The Whole Shebang Trailer
This is where you get a cast and crew together, get costumes made up, get someone to compose music, get a script, act out scenes, film them in HD, cut, edit them, dub voiceovers, add special effects, the whole deal.
You’re right that sounds expensive, and it is, but again, if you know the right people . . .film students are the best for this, because they always want something for credit. If they like your book, they might be willing to help you out, and you might end up with something that’s semi professional and crazy, sexy, cool.
The book trailers I’ve done in the past have turned out really well. The people I work with are some of my very best friends and they are incredibly talented, and somewhat related to me (well the girl that cosplays Kaliel is related to my husband’s family) The others just love the storyline, love being able to take these original characters and bring them to life in front of my eyes. All of them are super passionate about what they do and they get uber excited when they talk about different scenes. We’ve even discussed doing blooper reels (yep, we’re gonna spoof my book before anyone else does.) I’m not sure if I’ll release the spoofs yet, but they have some ideas. Of course I’ll be posting the behind the scenes and the outtakes.
I probably wouldn’t have book trailers without these awesome people so finding them and having them on board has made me forever grateful. Honestly, most awesome people in the world.
For all the authors out there, what’s your favorite book trailer? Your favorite method? How do you create your book trailer? Are you for or against them?
I hope I’ve given you some ideas, if you have an awesome book trailer you want to share with me, shoot me the link at rhiannonpaille at gmail dot com.
And stay awesome!
Namaste,
Rhi
Author Bio
Rhi was never a normal girl. She tried, but she couldn’t get rid of the visions, the voices in her head, and the hallucinations. When she was on the edge of crazy someone pulled her back and explained it all. She wasn’t insane. She was psychic, really psychic, too psychic. Her life was an urban fantasy wrapped in a paranormal romance and served with a side of horror. To escape her everyday weirdness she began writing fantasy. She frequents twitter and facebook, but if you really want to get to know her you should visit her site: www.rhiannonpaille.com
Author Heather Cashman is by the blog today to share some great editing tips! Check them out!
I remember when I finished writing my first novel. I felt like I could conquer the world. I thought I had worked a miracle. It was wonderful, complete, and finished. I moved on to the next novel, read many wonderful classic novels with a keener eye, and even copied them by hand to improve my own writing. Then I reread my first novel.
It was horrible.
I began to study the art of writing. I had great stories, but lacked the skills to present them to the world. The only way to gain the skills was through a lot of hard work. The Elements of Style became my writer’s Bible. I searched the MLA handbook, went to my favorite website for grammar (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/), and began to pick each sentence of my manuscript apart.
From that day until its publication, I revised my original first novel more than sixty times. Friends who read the first draft and the last draft were left speechless. This isn’t to say my published novel is without fault, but it isn’t an embarrassment either. I am still learning and honing my craft.
For the first draft, I write without hesitation. I make mistakes, get down the general idea, and make sure the plot is dynamite. Then, I set to my manuscript like a monkey gleaning lice and fleas off its mate.
Below is a brief outline for how I revise: sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph, page to page, and chapter to chapter. These are the things I check, but I am always adding to this list when I find another mistake I tend to make more than two or three times in a MS.
WAIT first. Give yourself time between writing and revising. I like the span of two or three weeks. You need enough time to forget.
SENTENCE check:
1) Spelling. Don’t you dare trust spell check. Use it, but don’t trust it. For example, it might sell me that he should we me.
2) Use a dictionary or suffer an “inconceivable” fate. (“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” ~Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride)
3) Is there a subject and verb? Is it a compound sentence, and if so, does it have the proper conjunction and comma placement, or is it a run-on sentence?
4) Do the reflexive pronouns reflect properly? This is a grammar issue as well as a writer issue. For grammar, know how pronouns work. As the writer, I know exactly who said what in any given scene. That doesn’t mean the reader will.
5) Have you mixed up your/you’re, to/too/two, and there/their/they’re?
6) Check for missing apostrophes on every word that ends in s.
7) Is every word necessary? Words are like make-up. Most often, less is more, and more makes you look fake. Readers like to use their imaginations. If that weren’t the case, they would be watching a movie. Don’t overuse adjectives and adverbs. One adjective is enough; pick the best one. Only necessary adverbs that change the meaning should be included.
PARAGRAPH check:
1) Sentence structure—does it vary, fit the mood of the moment/scene? Short sentences can make the scene move faster.
2) Are you showing, not telling?
3) Use dialogue to reveal your characters’ thoughts, not to expound narrative.
4) Are all the sentences a cohesive unit?
5) Are you structuring so that each character’s dialogue is in a different paragraph? If so, check for discrepancies.
PAGE check:
1) General formatting errors.
2) The size of each paragraph.
3) Have you included sensory stimulating words for setting, each character, and the mood of your scene?
CHAPTER check:
1) Is the first sentence a hook? This is especially necessary for the first chapter.
2) Does the last sentence leave them hanging? Each chapter should be like a short story that urges readers to continue and leaves them wanting more.
3) Is each character his or her own person, or do they all sound like you?
BOOK check:
When you think you have everything right, read every word aloud—slowly. This is invaluable. I find myself wanting to bold, highlight, and capitalize this point. There are so many errors I find when I read my novels aloud to myself.
After this, I have rounds of readers. First are the people who like me, love me even. They will be kind, perhaps too kind, but will sift out the blazing inconsistencies. Once fixed, I give the manuscript to my critique group and do the same thing. The last place I go is my professional editor. (And she’s a gem. If you need one, her information is on my blog.)
To make an outline like this for yourself, know your own common errors. Do you write like you speak: “me and Dave” rather than “Dave and I” or “Dave and me.” Do you know which version is appropriate? Do you repeatedly use dangling participles? And if you don’t know what a dangling participle is, you should learn the basics of the English language before sending out your first draft.
You will probably never find all the mistakes in your own novel, but your work should be as manicured as perfectly as possible. Too many lice and bugs in your manuscript’s hair will give the gleaning editor-monkey a belly-ache, and it costs extra to take him to the doctor.
Author Bio:
Heather Cashman graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry but has always loved to write, winning her first contest in the second grade. Married since 1992, she has three unique children and has moved from Arizona to New York to Kansas. She loves to kayak and canoe down the windiest rivers she can find. She welcomes opportunities to visit schools, libraries, and book groups in person or via Skype. Born in Tucson, Arizona, Heather currently lives near Wichita, Kansas with her husband and three children.
Her Book!
Your perception will sharpen once you see through a tiger’s eyes.
More than five hundred years after the apocalypse, the survivors of off-grid genetic experimentation have refined their mixed DNA to the point that humans and their animal counterparts share physical and mental links. Varying species have divided into districts, living in a tenuous peace under the President of Calem.
Ardana and her tiger ingenium Rijan leave their life of exile and abuse in the Outskirts, setting out with their twin brothers to redeem themselves and become citizens of the Center. But shedding their past isn’t as easy as they had hoped. When the system that shunned them becomes embroiled in political conflict and treachery, their unique abilities and experiences from the Outskirts make them invaluable to every faction. The runaways become pawns to friends as well as enemies, and with every step it becomes more difficult to tell which is which.
I love a good fairy tale, don’t you? A fantastic story that stretches the imagination, teaches life lessons and contains a happy ending is something that can be enjoyed by anyone at any age, any time. But some things are just too good to be true.
I believe that editing your own book falls into this category.
So your mother was a grammarian and your father a professor of modern world lit, so what? I don’t care if your modifiers are never misplaced and your use of affect vs. effect is perfect. If you won gold medals for having the most descriptive writing and never repeat an adjective—bully for you. It still doesn’t mean you should tackle your own editing.
I hear the rally cries of all you indies out there. I’m not knocking your work, really I’m not. It takes a wheelbarrow load of moxie to produce a novel from beginning to end, cover art, isbn and all. I appreciate the talent and the thick skin; but, as a writer and a book reviewer I can tell you the mistakes are plentiful and obvious. I have never claimed to be an editor of even the lowest level. If I can spot the errors so can the general reading public. Furthermore, since not all readers are writers (hard to believe, I know) they are far less forgiving in their judgment.
Let’s move past the grammar issue. Let’s talk quality of work (I’m making friends left and right here, I can just feel it). A good editor has the skill set to trim your story, fleshing out the meat from the bone. With the precision of a highly trained surgeon they will remove all extraneous material, turning your brilliant, albeit rough ideas into a highly polished gem worthy of hanging in Elizabeth Taylor’s (God rest her soul) cleavage . They can spot even the tiniest head hop. They will call bullsh*t if your character does something…well out of character. They will teach you how to show instead of tell.
They are an invaluable tool. I argue an absolute must on your first run.
I’m not advocating that you shell out big bucks to have your book edited. If you’re independently wealthy, go for it. The rest of us can join a writers group or find an English teacher looking for a project. Community colleges are overflowing with students in journalism/creative writing/English majors that would relish the opportunity to have their name listed inside the cover of a published book. Don’t forget the huge boom in small publishing. The good ones will give you a complete package with a thoroughly professional product at no charge. If they want money…run. Never, ever, pay a publisher to put out your work.
There is no guarantee that your book will turn out perfect. A contract with Double Day doesn’t make you immune to a misplaced comma. Even the big dogs make mistakes. I’m just saying, your book is your baby. Give it everything it deserves, including a good editor.
Food for thought-
Elsie Love
Elsie Love lives in the western suburbs, a mere stone’s throw from the great city of Chicago. She resides in her garden cottage with her husband, children, and numerous animals that require constant care. Confessions of a PTA Mafia Mom is her third novel. Her fourth book, Sixty Pounds of Sh*t & Counting, is a work in progress and should be ready by next spring. In her spare time, Elsie lunches with the ladies, vacuums, and dreams of running away to paradise to live as a woman of luxury and extravagant means.
You can find out more about Elsie & her work here:
Character Arc: character arc is an inferred emotional or psychological development of a character as it unfolds throughout the story. Character arc is absolutely fundamental to story success. According to Larry Brooks it’ s not only how the character learns and grows as a result of their experiences within the story, but how they apply that learning toward their role as the primary catalyst in bringing about the conclusion of the story.
If the hero has something to learn at the beginning of the story (which should be the case), if they demonstrate (or hide) shortcomings and faults that are constantly separating them from what they need and want to achieve, chances are those are the consequences of having some inner demon that influences their decisions and actions. Where that inner demon comes from is back story.
Character arc and the conflict and tension it causes the main character forms the basis for many movies. The character has a particular viewpoint and through trials and tribulations, his viewpoint is changed, for better or worse. Preferably, the character overcomes his flaws and there is a happy ending or justice is served.
Example: In Michael Clayton, George Clooney’s character starts off with a major weakness: he is cynical and sees no admiral qualities in what he’s doing personally or professionally. However, by the end of the story, he changes completely in order to do the right thing. Storyline: A law firm brings in its “fixer” to remedy the situation after a lawyer has a breakdown while representing a chemical company that he knows is guilty in a multi-billion dollar class action suit.
In one of my daughter’s favorite movies, Beauty and the Beast, we easily see character arc unfold as the story progresses:
Simplified Breakdown:
1. Good looking prince who’s overconfident in himself (Flaws: arrogance and inability to love)
2. The prince gets turned into a monster and we learn that the spell can only be broken when he finds someone who loves him for who he really is (inner beauty)
3. He meets Belle, she’s reluctant at first but then through knowing and caring for her, he gets a more sympathetic heart and she learns to understand him.
4. His arrogance and inability to love is overcome. End of story. His lesson is learned. Lights Film School
Equal Time: there are those who believe character arc is not all about change. Rather it is about growth. They will site examples such as Braveheart and The Fugitive. “Growth is all about whether or not the character is moving towards something or away from something – not whether or not they change. You can grow as a person and still hold on to your beliefs – they just get stronger.”. Jim Hull
Stephen Tremp is author of the action thriller Breakthrough. You can visit Stephen at Breakthrough Blogs where Breakthrough is available for purchase and download to Kindle and Smashwords.
Breakthrough will be available through Amazon next week. Look for Opening this Fall of 2011 and Escalation Spring of 2012!
Breakthrough Synopsis
“A scientific breakthrough of such magnitude it could radically alter the future of humanity—for better or worse—is in the wrong hands.”
A scientific breakthrough in Einstein-Rosen Bridges, or wormholes, is stolen by a group of misguided M.I.T. graduate students. They scheme to usher in a global science-based oligarchy. Greed, betrayal, murder, mayhem, spiritual contemplation, and unconditional love define the power-play struggle in this fast-paced suspense thriller of technology gone too far. As the death toll mounts, will Chase Manhattan and a multi-faceted cast of characters escape their hit list and destroy the discovery which threatens life as we know it?
What is a Blog Tour?
It is when YOU appear on various blogs over a certain date range promoting your work.
Are they worth it? Yes! I’ve done two so far and had noticeable increases in sales.
Some of my stops I had people post they had pre-ordered or purchased my story. Others emailed or tweeted they had after seeing a particular interview or blog post.
It is a lot of work, I’ve done over 15 stops in one month- that is a lot of guest posts and interviews to answer, a lot of emails to make sure everything was set up. Should you decide to do one PLAN AHEAD.
Some tips:
1. PLAN AHEAD! Give yourself lots of time not only to set up stops, but to prepare what will be on them as well.
Make a document of stop dates and links and what you need to send out (and then marked when you do)
2. Reciprocate. Offer to promote a host on your blog as well.
3. Mix things up. Try to have your stops a mix of interviews, guest posts or articles or flash fiction, book spotlights etc.
4. Have a tour page with dates and links on your blog and or website. Example
5. Tweet and facebook etc each of your stops.
6. Include a contest somewhere, either on a host blog or make a stop on your own blog and have one there. (I had one on my blog on release day)
Having trouble finding places to stop? Post on facebook and twitter you are looking for people to host you. You may have to tweet more than once! Include a Please RT (please retweet) to spread the word. You can also call in favors, just ask your friends, most people are happy to host. Check out the Book Blogs website for groups on blog tours too.
It is important to keep organized when doing a tour or you can quickly become overwhelmed. To help deal with all the stops, create a Book Kit to speed things up. (See my post on how to make one)
Have you done a tour and did you find it helpful? Have any other tips or questions? Do feel free to comment and share!
So you’ve written a book, or a number of them, and are now a published author. Who hoo!
Your work isn’t over yet. Now you have to market it. That means interviews, guest posts, blog tours and more.
Keeping up with these can be a daunting task and each can be rather time consuming when you have to search around for all of your information to include with each.
Staying organized and making up a Kit for each book will save you a LOT of time.
Basically, a Book Kit is a folder with all of your books information in it. Say you are being interviewed, you answer the questions and have that ready to go- now how wonderful will it be when you attach that to the email, and then with a few simple clicks also add everything else the person wants as well?
First you’ll want to create a folder on your computer and name it something like BookKits.
Now go into it and create another folder with your book name. (If you only have one book still do this! Most likely you will write more, and its helpful to be organized for that NOW)
First, let’s add our photos. Copy and paste these into your book folder.
For sure put in your author photo and cover image. If you have any other photos related to your book add them too.
If you have a number of books you can either put your author photo into each, or just put it in the main BookKit folder.
Now lets do the main part of the kit. Open up a word document. Name it booknamekit.doc
This will be what you can attach and send to everyone. You can also add a note (either in the document, or the email) that they can use whatever they like.
What to include:
Book Title & Author Name
Publisher
Date Published
ISBNs, ASINS
Book description/blurb
ALL buy links
Excerpt
Author Bio
Your links (webpage, blog, twitter, facebook etc)
Your email
A few short select reviews
Other files you can have in your book kit folder:
A file of saved reviews
A folder with copies of various download formats (for reviewers or giveaways)
Files of various general write ups about your book, unused extra guest posts etc
Now you are all set to go! Feel free to tailor to your own needs.
Networking is an essential part of any business. And writing is a business! How can you expand your reach if you are not out and about meeting new people? Online communities are great. I am a huge fan of Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. My writers website – Write On! Online – uses Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and BlogTalkRadio for building and promoting community.
The key, however, is to meet people in real life, expand your social network, and embrace new opportunities.
Places to Go:
Low-Maintenance:
“Performance Art” is what we call going into a coffeehouse and reading your script or manuscript, working on a laptop: doing some sort of writerly activity – it never fails to draw attention. Pick your favorite coffee house, hole-in-the-wall diner, out-of-the-house workspace, and go there regularly. You may see the same people on a frequent basis and strike up friendships and conversations. When I had a corporate day job, I would take my lunch hour a few times a week in the eating area outside the building next door. I would see the same people every day, have an occasional chat while eating and/or doing my writing, and have enough distance from my office that I could be productive.
Medium-Maintenance:
Take a class, go to a lecture, learn something new. Granted, those of us in Los Angeles and New York have a lot more opportunities: The Writers Store in LA, Writers Guild of America, the Paley Center of New Media, and others have amazing events. Check your public library and/or local bookstore – Barnes & Noble, Borders, or Mom ‘n Pop Bookshop – for local author-signings, lectures, and workshops. You can even check the community college for extension courses; Sur La Table and other specialty stores have classes and demos. Look for activities that interest you: do some searching and see what is offered. You never know who you will meet or where it will lead you.
High-Maintenance:
Networking Events, Meet Ups, and Mixers are filled with people actively looking to meet others. If you are outgoing, these situations are a piece of cake; for introverts, not so much. If this is not your cup of tea, that’s okay, All I can say is this: give it a shot. Stay 30 minutes or 3 hours. Big crowded events, where you are forced to in a room with total strangers may be overwhelming, but they can also result in the highest rewards. The secret to going to networking events is to be friendly and genuinely interested in what your peers have to say. The people you meet may not be able to help you, but they could know someone who needs what you have to offer. … Most importantly, remember to bring business cards and collect those of others.
What’s Next?
Follow up and follow through. “Friend” your new “friends,” add them on Twitter, Facebook, and any other appropriate networking site. That way, you stay in their head, and vice versa. Opportunities for networking are everywhere: in the line at the grocery store, at your kid’s school, the hair salon. If you are open to meeting new people, the options are endless.
About the Author:
Debra Eckerling is the creator of Write On! Online, a website and community for writers. Debra, a communications specialist and writing coach, is one of the LA Party hosts for Mediabistro.com. The next Los Angeles Mediabistro Party is on Wednesday, April 27 in Santa Monica. For more information and to RSVP, go to: http://www.mediabistro.com/events/view_event.asp?id=16408
Some of you may have noticed I’m big on supporting my fellow authors (whether published traditionally or self pubbed), mainly by doing author interviews.
Making up personalized questions started to take hours (yes literally) out of each day, so I made up a list (SEE BELOW) and ask authors to pick. Unfortunately, the questions aren’t overly exciting.
So, I call out to all my most amazing friends, be you authors or readers! Help me out with some author interview questions. What do you want to know? Give me some interesting ones too, funny, crazy, whatever. Authors are people too and we all want to learn more about them!
Please post below! Post as many as you like, but PLEASE keep them ‘clean’!
Thank you and have fun!
(for those who also do interviews, feel free to nab questions! I’ll be leaving this post up!)
Just to help out some more… Here are some of my questions…
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
What do you do when you are not writing?
Do you have a day job as well?
When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?
How did you choose the genre you write in?
Where do you get your ideas?
Do you ever experience writer’s block?
Do you work with an outline, or just write?
Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?
Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?
If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or getting it published that you would change?
How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?
Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?
Can you tell us about your upcoming book?
Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
How did you come up with the title?
What project are you working on now?
Will you have a new book coming out soon?
Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?
What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?
Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?
Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?
NEW! Oct 2011:
I’ve now started some FUN and Wacky questions for those interviewed on my site. Try your hand at some if you’re making up an interview!
Examples:
Have you ever gone out in public with your shirt on backwards, or your slippers on, and when realizing it, just said screw it?
Do you prefer fuzzy or tub socks?
Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point?
Be honest, how often do you wash your hair?
Do you get road rage? What pisses you off the most about other drivers?
Do you go out of your way to kill bugs? Are there any that make you screech and hide?
I’ve had a number of my author friends, and random people ask me how to get reviews for their books. I’ve also seen here and there authors pouting or complaining they have no reviews. Getting reviews takes a little time, and a little effort. Yes they can happen on their own, but if you want some NOW then you have to work to get them.
