I recently was perusing Susie’s website. One by one I flipped through each of her novels, thinking how good this one was or how I’d need to grab that one on Amazon. Then it hit me. I could actually tell the entire writer’s journey using just her titles! So…
Read the RestArchive | February, 2014
How To Manage Manuscript Feedback
Well, it’s contest time and with that, unpublished writers often get some sort of feedback.
Feedback we want. But often it’s harder to digest than we think.
So, what are you to do with input from readers, judges or critique partners?
Digest it.
Consider it.
Pray over it.
Reread it.
Chew up the meat and spit out the bones.
Not all feedback is good. You have to know that, right?
But how many of you immediately dismiss the good things said and focus on the negative things?
Yeah, I see those hands waving in cyberspace.
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One Thing Marketing: Pieces of a Marketing Plan Part 2
We’re taking a look at the various pieces to include in the marketing portion of your novel proposal. Last time we talked about including a brief intro to your marketing plan and then a list of publications. If you missed it, you can check it out here.
Today, we’ll cover two more sections: Media Appearances and Networks.
Media Appearances
Following the Publications section of my proposal’s marketing plan, I included a list of all the local TV and radio stations at which I’d seek out coverage. I had a little bit of an advantage here because in my day job I work with the media quite a bit. But simply showing your potential agent or publisher you’re informed about your local media and willing to make an effort at grassroots is just plain smart.
Read the RestExtreme Book Makeover: Help! How do I hook my reader?
Any book can be fixed – it just needs and Extreme Book Makeover. Over the past month we’ve been diagnosing common problems of a boring plot and how to fix them. We touched on Story Stakes – and the importance of understanding what your character has to lose. We talked about the Story Question – the fuel for the inner journey. And we discussed the difference between High Concept and Low Concept plots. But those are all big picture issues with plot. Once you solve those, an author must understand the key elements of the Three Act plot to keep the momentum going in the story. Briefly, Act One is the ignition – it sets up the character(s)’ wants, goals and fears, then sets them on a journey into Act […]
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