Wendy wants to talk about blogging, and I want to talk about recommendable books, so let's do both topics. This is the two hundredth thread, after all, and should be something special. Or if not special, then different.
I. I have read several times recently that what sells books is word of mouth, not big promotion budgets. Which is why sometimes highly promoted books fade away and a not name with no budget ends up on the bestseller list. What creates that buzz is recommendability. So what makes a book recommendable? Why do you recommend a book to someone? Why do you read what someone recommends?
II. Blogging. All writers who are published or wish to be published should have a blog. In this electronic world, a blog is the premier way of getting traffic to your website, garnering interest in you and your work, and linking to others. Do you have a blog? What platform do you use? Do you keep it up on a regular basis? Do you keep to a certain topic throughout, or do you simply say what is on your mind? How often do you blog?
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chatty comments about my work-in-progress. I talk about books I have
read. I pass on information I get from books on writing. I pass on
information I researched such as the meaning of color. I check my
blog dashboard (it's like a home page) to see how people found my
blog and if it's a topic I'd like to further pursue, I do so. Some
people advertise their blogs, but the only time I did was a couple
of days ago when Warren Adler (The War of the Roses) inexplicably
agreed to guest host. I have had over 10,000 hits on my blog in the
past eleven months doing nothing but writing articles that were
searchable. By that I mean if someone googles meaning of car color,
they may make it to my blog. So the key is to use plenty of tags. I
use wordpress and like it, because your blog is listed on the main
page when it's posted.
I read someone's blog post yesterday and they said they got 2,000 hits on their blog because of people googling "cheetos." Apparently I've been writing about the wrong topics!
have sloughed off quite a bit (editing my novels, getting a jump on
marketing) but still I've posted 170 articles in the past 11 months.
That's how you get known (at least in a very small way): content,
content, and more content.
Blog? Yes. How many blogs? More than I want to think about. I start up my Sourcebooks/Casablanca author blog this month with the rest of the Romance authors at Sourcebooks, so you all will be getting links (don't want my "sisters" to think I can't hold my own!). Then there's the Paranormal Sourcebooks/Casablanca authors' blog that I'll be involved with. Then there's mine, which you all have gifted with your presence, and another one I'm in the process of working on with a few names you might recognize. Plus there will be guest blogs as my release date gets closer and a few other things I'll blog about anywhere and everywhere once things are firmed up.
Blogs, imo, are grass-roots marketing; a place where anyone and everyone can be accessible and "access" you. One on one interaction which readers love. I'm looking forward to it, but I will admit to writing some ideas down in list form so I don't run out of things to say (I know, surprising, but it COULD happen...)
writing day today. Happy hump day!
Happy 200th thread!
My blog is a ghost town. I started it as a record of my progress with queries and contests. Haven't updated it in a very long time. How do you all find the time to blog? I don't have time to do the dishes, much less blog. I got up early this morning so I could do laundry and some dishes before going to work. This makes me think I need a new gig.
Off to work. Have an inspiring day.
From the last thread: So glad you had a great time, Pat S! Sounds like a great experience.
Is that a loaded question, or what? Ha!
I have read several authors' blogs and this is giving me ideas of what I like to see and what I don't. Blogs are marketing and I think they should be addressed in the same fashion as other media campaigns. Crafting the message and image are critical to building a coherent persona to which people can relate.
As far as recommending books, well, authors are a lot like perfumes, preferences are personal. I rarely suggest anything unless people specifically solicit my opinion.
Way to bait the line Ken.
Ken, thank you. I'lll never forget the comment you left on my crime contest entry. Made me think I might be a writer after all.
Judi, I too keep a list of topics. It does help when I can't think of anything to say off the top of my head.
Atlantis, nice to see you here.
Jamie, it's hard t find time to blog, which is why I've started inviting other writers to guest blog. It's like getting someone else to do your homework.
Judi, when you get closer to your publishing date, I will be asking you to be a guest blogger. You will be in good company: Paul Allen Leoncini and Warren Adler have both hosted.
Wendy, I was going to send you an email asking when you wanted to be a guest blogger, but now is as good a time as any. You don't have to do anything, merely send me an article, the links you'd like me to use, and one sentence about yourself. In fact, you don't even have to write an article. I can use your party one from the last thread.
Lurkers and Wombats: if any of you are published (self or otherwise) and would like to guest host, let me know. The article does not have to be written for me, but can be a reprint of something you've already done.
I do believe that their are pieces of literature that serve as historical markers but are not particularly great pieces of writing- DH Lawrence is one who comes immediately to mind.
Again we have the personal preference issue here, I dislike Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, but then in general I find the closer one gets to the Russian Revolution the arts in general degenerate.
Love Dostoevsky , Tolstoy , Pushkin , Gogol etc.... I've been reading them since i can remember . (my parents spoke russian in the house so i guess that helped )
Signed books are my favorite, doesn't matter the genre or the notoriety, the more obscure the better. I've several signed books, and charish every one of them. My favorite books, are the classics, horror, fantasy, and phylosophy. The Collected dialogues of Plato were an exspensive buy, and well worth it.
Also have 'Dickens' and 'Lewis Carroll's' leather bound collection
Off to work with me. Try not to kill each other! And welcome to Atlantis! Love to hear a new voice, and your disdain for DB is likely to make you Ken's new BFF!! Later darlings!
Pat B..your crime entry was very good. Stoopid editor.
Welcome Atlantis, it's always nice to see a new face.
Classic lit isn't my long suit. A book has to really grab me for me to expound on it..to date there have only been a few. Mysteries I can't figure out will get me talking in a heart beat.
If Jamie were published I'd be at the book stores..'You've got to read this!' I'm as loyal as a tick when I love an author's work.
I started a blog with Amazon and now I have to figure out how to back to it. Slap forehead. Time is my main concern with all of this. Marketing has swallowed three entire days and that's just for set up stuff.. not any real marketing.
Website, blog, networking, on and on and there is only one of me. Clone machine? Oh and then there is a family and house to take care of. Write? Grrrrr.. I'll just have to hijack the time and tell the world to rot.. nicely of course.
Howdy, everyone, both familiar and new to the thread.
Pat B. I could really use someone to do my homework and my housework and my yardwork and my work-work. Are you volunteering?
I will be able to come back and absorb the session, right?
Wendy, what a lovely thing to say about Jamie's work! Only one reason I do love this group. Folks are so supportive!
Blog? Who has time to blog? I have never had one, and only read other's when someone specifically points me to one. Honestly, there aren't enough hours in the day as it is. Every new thing I take on means dropping or delaying something else. Heck, I'm finding it hard enough to carve out time to breathe, much less blog. Maybe I'll feel different once I get a book published. For now? Not happening.
OK, back to the test logs. Ana one, ana two...
The marketing is good problem to have. I'm trying not to whine too much.
I don't like new things for which I know nothing at all. Makes me squirm.. which seems to be a constant state of being for an author..work, learn, work more, learn more...gasp for breath, repeat.
P.W. this is an ongoing discussion.. not like No Whine which happens on Thursday night which our lovely Pat B. hosts.. Drop by anytime.
Quality Assurance.. is that like Inspector 6?
Wendy, way back in the old days, (maybe around thread 50 or so) I made a comment, and I think even a post about publicity. My remarks were something like the publicity was twice the effort of writing and publishing the book.
I did start a blog, but didnt stick to it, because I really had no idea how they work or how to set it up, and I had no help. At this point, I have finished trying to market my first book, and consider it now to have been a learning experience.
BTW, a great feature of Amazon is that they allow people to post reviews of your book. I would like to thank Pat and Jamie for posting lovely reviews of mine. A large number of good reviews does help sales, and once you are published, you might want to press everyone you know to write a review. Not everyone will, but the more the better.
In honor of the 200th anniversary thread I have posted 2 new Thougtht~Bytes - and because it's Wednesday.
Thought~Byte No. 12
and
Thought~Byte No. 118
Book Review
Why, Pat S, that was a most helpful review. :-) I voted accordingly.
Time for the night class's first exam. Let's see how they do in comparison to the day class. I like giving exams. Except for the glancing around to make sure noone is cheating, I get to sit. Sitting is nice. Grading the tests afterward is not quite as fun, but it beats my pacing and lecturing habit. And I can do some prep work for Biochemistry too. Less to do tonight after I get home.
I am tired. I also want to do some fiction writing. Maybe this weekend. I'm still working on appropriate labs for the lab book. It's a big ol' headache, is what that thing is. I'll be glad to get it done.
Later, 'bats.
John's government cartoon is garnering particular frenzy. I of course have nothing to do with anything :)
I have so much stuff to read, so writing has completely fallen by the wayside. I am hitting the exercise bike with my books. Did dream about writing though... I thought of another book. Yeah, I know finish what I start.
What's the name of your book?
Speaking of books and recommending, the voice captivating element for an author for me is their voice. Someone I like, the voices ring clear and distinctly while reading. Others not so much, and ones I drag myself through- I hear an annoyed me as the voice.
I think I'm going to come somewhere between plogger and clogger. There are still some basic things I have to do too... Oh good heavens.. wheeeee!
Off to start dinner
Recommending--I may recommend a non-fiction book to many people and do so for many reasons. But a novel? I consider the person's interests and the other books I know he's enjoyed. Not everyone will love every book. My mother tried to get me to read Angela's Ashes several times. No, Mom. It doesn't appeal. Not the subject matter, not the style. I will take recommendations from people who know what I like to read.
Blogging--I may be odd-man out on this. Blogging may be the newest and best way to market, but it reminds me of teens who think their every word is news- and noteworthy. A general, What's up with me, including new releases and upcoming books, is cool. A daily life log? No. I don't ever want to try that. Was it Vivian who mentioned it's like a diary? I never kept a diary either. Maybe a monthly update? Every two weeks? I don't know what works best. I'm sure you guys can point me in the right direction.
Hello to new faces.
Wendy, dear, is your book also available on Borders? I'll be getting a borders gift card soon and will purchase from them, if they have it. I'll want it signed, of course. I'm collecting signed Wombat books.
I write articles about writing, the same sort of thing I post here on gather. What is really great about it is that I have my own data base of articles. If someone reneges on being host for a nowhine discussion at the last minute, I can go and pull something from there.
So, for those of you who are newly published and trying to make your way in the blogosphere, it's something to keep in mind. If you eventually do a blog tour, you won't have to fret about what to say at all those different sites. You mine your own work, update the articles, and there you have it.
Guess blogs are the new personal websites (in the same way brown is the new black. Or is it gray this season? But I digress.) I don't visit any blog regularly (well, maybe Judi's because she guilts us into it. LOL) so I don't see them as a great marketing tool. Because so many people have blogs, the only people who are going to visit are people who already know of you. I think better time would be spent marketing to people who don't already know of you. Now, how you go about doing that is another matter. I don't have a clue. Or a blog.
A blog tour? My head is swimming as it is..honestly I'm working on my last memory cell. I'd never remember where I was supposed to go.
I'm thinking maybe book plates would be a good idea.. then I could send you the personalized signature without the poor book bouncing all over creation.
I don't know if it's on Border's Jamie.. I'll look. I do have the ISBN # if you could order it that way.
I'm completely wiped out. Too much excitement for this woman. Coffee, Project Runway and then prolly bed..zzzzz
Jamie, Frogger was a favorite video game of mine as a kid. Should I mention the only place that had it was a dive bar on a backstreet? The place really salty dogs would hang. Safe, but on the seedy side. Of course as a kid I was oblivious to all of it.
The brain is short circuiting as I transition into my new courses. Thus the weird sentences that keep spewing forth, some less comprehensible than others. I promise I'll get better soon. Too lazy to revise a particularly heinous statement about authors' voices above. I think you all can figure it out, but what a doozy!
I've been blogging for about 3 years, but can't say I've very steady at it. My favorite blogs are eclectic, which tends to be considered a no-no, but so be it. The reality is, I don't have time to do it, but post articles anyway, since I like the form. I'd be much more motivated if I had a book to promote. I also minimize talking about work related things (to avoid conflict of interest), which means that I'm not blogging about VoIP, my daytime area of expertise, except to promote speaking engagements or my published articles.
I was introduced to blogging by a few friends in VoIP, including Tom Evslin, who writes a wonderful eclectic blog called Fractals of Change. Like many of the wombats, Tom is a novelist, though he went the self-publishing route. He started the blog up when he retired a few years back.
Another friend of mine, Paul Hoffman, was the working group chair for the IETF group ATOM, that wrote the protocol which is designed to be a successor to RSS (used in most blogs). His blog is Lookit. I learned a lot about the technical side of blogging from chats with him in cool places like Paris and San Diego.
I'll write about books in another post. I recommend books to people if I found them to be memorable. My Gather profile has a list of some of my favorites.
We'll miss you.
Pat S., sounds like you had a great time. Ken a link to one of his videos once; must have been a very intense experience.
Beth, have a fine trip and bring back stories and photos for us.
What makes me recommend a story? One that is good. both in premise, characterization, and craft. I like one that stays in my mind long after I finish it.
Bloging. Well darn Pat B. I know I should, just haven't had the time to do it yet. Not even sure what type I want. I've heard several suggestions. I'll probably do a combo of methods.
Hi and bye...I'll try to catch up...I'm just taking a break from my writing cave...hmm the sun is gone. Oh, it's night, lolol!
Ken, I blame you :-)
Safe trip Beth and have fun...
Collections sent me one of my items, jill. Now if I could only get the other one...
Thanks for the wishes, gang. I'll miss y'all. Should be able to check in once or twice, but without a laptop, it'll be what it will be.
Yes, Collections is pretty quick on shipping. Was your other item back-ordered? Even those come fairly quick. I haven't bought anything more from them. Have wanted to, but my phone bill (includes the cost of getting my phone and internet installed) was $199.92 cents. Stoopid phone company.
Like The Way of the Gun.
Parker: What are you going to tell God when you see him?
Longbaugh: I'm going to tell him I was framed.
Bren, dear, never say goodbye, even in jest. I'd miss you far too much dear.
Beth, happy vacationing to you, and I'm sure you'll find a stray, available laptop along the way! Soooo excited and happy for you! Can't wait to hear all about it!
Jill and Sia and all the rest, I'm too tired to do much else tonight.
Sy, darling, caught your 9-11 article. My thoughts are with you, and all your fellow New Yorkers, to the folks in PA and Washington, and to all of us who remember 9-11. I'm a patriot. Regardless of our politics, our differences, our beliefs, may we all remember we are Americans, and join together in remembrance of those dear innocents who died. Love and blessings to us all.
Goodnight my dears and my darling s!
Need to catch up on the last part of the last thread. Skimmed part of it and it looks like I missed a lot.
James: A couple of good blog links in your message upthread a ways. I bookmarked both of them.
Beth: Vacations are great! I need one again. This last week has been stressful.
On topic: I've started several blogs, but have only sort of kept up with my theoretically every other month e-zine. I find that if I blog consistently that's the only writing I get done. The e-zine is also a time sink, but I love it, and I can do it while getting other writing done. It isn't without cost though. I've done the e-zine for around 10 years, and most years the number of words I write for it would equal at least one and often two novels.
Book recommendations: I was once a big fan of Phillip Jose Farmer. I still sort of am, though he doesn't know how to end a book or a series without ruining it. His "Lovers" is a classic, and his "World of the Tiers" series is great escapist stuff, as are the first two books of the Riverworld series. (The third is mediocre and the rest are junk) He's almost forgotten now, but is brilliantly imaginative.
I bought one of those little mini-laptops a couple of days ago, the Acer Aspire 1. Just trying it out as a "write anywhere' machine. I'll let you know how that works out. So far so good. The computer is about the size and weight of a hardback book--a little longer but thinner than most hardbacks. Keyboard is a tad cramped, but usable. Screen is smaller than I like it, but the portability makes it worth it. The version I bought uses Linux, which I'm comfortable with, but some people might not be. The interface is easy to use, and the computer has OpenOffice built in, which means I can read and writer Word files pretty much seamlessly. The version I bought has no hard drive and no CD-Rom/DVD-Rom. It uses a flash drive as a hard-drive equivalent, and to transfer data to and from it, you put a flash drive into the USB port. There are versions with traditional hard drives and Windows, but I didn't feel like paying the extra bucks for that. This is a writing appliance. If I need more I'll use my laptop.
Glad your aunt is out of the hospital, Dale. The mini-laptop sounds interesting. About how much do they cost? I never get any writing done on my laptop because it has internet capability. Maybe if I got something that I couldn't play games on or surf the net I'd be more productive.
Pat is joining the Clan of Kilt, I see. Is there a twirling initiation process?
It would be cool to read a book based on people you know (or their ancestors), Mike. I thought maybe you stole a tractor at Husker Harvest Days and were involved in the slowest high-speed car chase of all time. This happens when people don't check in as much as usual. I make up stories about them in my head.
Okay, gotta get ready for work.
Jamie, the Clan of the Kilt? Sorry, I haven't worn a skirt in years. Can one twirl in jeans? And I do have to laugh at you making up stories in your head about absent friends. I should stay away for a few days, just to see what you'd come up with for me! It would likely involve running off to join either the circus or the CIA. One never knows which way I'll jump at any given moment!
Dale, the mini laptop sounds cool, but I can't write without regular wombat breaks. I know Judi has recommended the AlphaSmart for internet free writing. I just can't imagine where I'd be writing that I wouldn't want to have my laptop with me. I never seem to get the chance to run off to Borders and just write.
Book recommendations? I rarely make them. If asked, I'll discuss whatever I'm currently reading, and if the other person finds it interesting, they can go find it. But almost nothing makes me say "Oh, you just have to read this!" And almost always, other people's recommendations don't work out for me. I was hounded into reading "The Lovely Bones", and liked it more than I thought I would, but most of the time, it's a dead waste. If you're wondering, I'm currently on a David Sedaris kick (I've gone through just about everything), and I'm reading Catherine Asaro (sci-fi/fantasy). I've also been carrying on about "Slave" by Cheryl Brooks, though another wombat read it and said "Ick! Not for me!" Ask me tomorrow, and the list would be entirely different.
Back to work with me!
I've got socks on for the first time in months.. Fall is near..sob!
If any of you have a chance do drop by Sy's 911 post, very moving.
It is becoming very clear there is only one of me and so I'm going to have to decide what marketing I can do and let the rest go for a bit. Too much of anything is too much and I have no intention of abandoning everything else for a single purpose...not healthy.
Off with me.
That's why the cops were chasing you, silly. You stole the tractor and headed for Mexico. Or maybe it was the combine you stole. I didn't think you'd actually bought a tractor. *evil smirk I almost never talk politics on gather. That and religion are two topics I try to stay out of.
I'm in need of some caffiene. No Frappacino in the vending machine. What is a girl to do?
Saw Jill's icon - Hi Jill!!! Pat B - you said something about guest blogging? I'm there. As soon as I get a release date we can plan it. My local Borders wants me to do a signing - it's so freakin' hard to pitch something when you don't have a cover. Can't wait to get it.
HOpe everyone is well.
Totally stoked, the interview was a sucess . . I start this weekend, second shift. . . Ooooh-Yeeeeahhh!!!
I was actually going to volunteer to drop a frappacino off but had to run back home and deal with a message instead of visiting at Webster Bldg. about some stuff with Brad like I'd planned.
Paul, congrats on passing and the new job!
Mike, stay away from farm machinery. In spite of that song "she thinks my tractor's sexy", I'd really rather go to the drive-in in a Porsche or Beamer or Lamborghini or something.
Jamie, low grades don't mean a bad teacher; it means the students have failed to respond properly to the beatings! (See, this is why they finally let me stop doing the training classes!)
It's probably going to be a working night for me. If I can get this stupid, never-ending project done by noon tomorrow, I can take half a day off and enjoy my out-of-town company. If not, she gets to spend the afternoon with hubs, wondering where the heck I am!!
Ok, until later my dears!
Today I had a meeting that lasted an hour and a half. In the meeting, I learned that I should not do meth. Yeah, why are we having a meeting on this?
I don't find tractors the least bit sexy and country music makes me go into convulsions. Literally. On long trips, the kid turns on country music to amuse himself by watching my convulsions. Then I'm bound to be inspired to make up my own lyrics about drunk hounddogs stolen by a drunk exgirlfriend in a rusty pickup truck pulling a trailer of drunk cows that accidentally drives into the fishin' hole while avoiding a tornado headed for the trailer park and they all tragically drown. But hey, I'm creative that way.
Busy editing, if anybody's interested, left a couple examples. . . ???
I don't know that the one tractor I looked at was so bad. It had internet access, gps, 8 speaker stereo, warmer/cooler, a seat that was as comfy as a Caddy, and enough power that if you can't find a parking spot you can just park on top of someone. Oh, and in another display you could get a dvd player and screen to put in your tractor.
Beth, happy vacation! When you do post articles on your website, make sure they are search engine friendly. That way people besides your friends can find you. That's why I blog -- the search engine is built in.
My top blog posts:
The Origin of the Grim Reaper -- 516 views
Describing a Scene in an Interesting Way -- 328 views
The Moving Finger Writes and Having Writ Moves on -- 312 views
WOOT to Paul's new job!! Sorry about the grades Jamie.. hums a country song..giggle.
Mike I don't even want to know why one would need a dvd player in a tractor.. ac, music system..yes..dvd..hmmmm. That would make tractor tipping very expensive.
Search engine built in Pat? Do tell, I'm all ears.
Today I crashed and burned.. the most productive I got was laying in bed reading a copy of my book... smiling like a fool. Of course I found things I didn't like and thought I could have improved with this or that.. does the urge to edit ever end? It doesn't look as if it does.
I am gonna play with China photos for a while and clean up my house. College football is on - yay!