I’ve already posted on how to utilize Twitter and Tweetdeck on this blog so today I want to talk about how to Tweet effectively. As Twitter has gained popularity it’s become harder to stand out in the crowd. But with a little Twitter Tweaking, you can encourage new folks to visit your site. First, and MOST IMPORTANT, utilize hashtags. A hashtag (#) makes the letters following it searchable within the Twitter universe—even if the person searching doesn’t follow you. For example, when I tweet about My Book Therapy I utilize two hastags—#write and #MyBookTherapy. Important Note: When you space, the hashtag ends. That’s why I wrote out #MyBookTherapy with NO spaces. Second, be creative when you compose your tweets. Avoid the tired old tweet, “Check out my newest blog post.” […]
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Quick Skills: Sellability
Raise your hand if you’ve seen the new movie, The Vow. I haven’t, but I’m intrigued because it contains a twist on the premise of my new book, The Shadow of Your Smile. A wife loses her memory, and her husband has to woo her all over again. My story is different in that my hero and heroine have been married for 25 years, with a family and life. However, their marriage is on the rocks…so while they have a lot to lose, there’s also that sense that they’ve already “forgotten” each other. Still, as I was building my story, I thought – how will this be different? How can I make this story more powerful, with bigger issues to make it stand out in the market? How do I […]
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Quick Skills: A tip to discovering your Voice
The concept of author Voice is so elusive, it’s can feel like a loose football, bouncing around the field (she says as she watches the Giants and 49er’s chase the ball). Just when we think we have a grip on it, it wiggles out of our hands. Voice, easily expressed, is your storytelling style. Words and plot and character – and how you weave these together. Much like an actor dons a role, bringing their own style to a script. Although we can work to recognize Voice and even analyze it by finding great style in other works, we don’t really discover our Voice until we put the pen to page. Until we write words that make our own hearts sing. Here’s a trick I’ve used to develop my voice: […]
Read the RestQuick Skills Class: Discover your Story Question to give your story power
Are you finished with your book but can’t quickly articulate what it’s about? You know it’s a great story, but it falls flat as you struggle to find the right words? Maybe you need to hone your Storyquestion. The Story Question is the conscious, or subconscious question that drives your character – and reader – through the book. It’s the truth they are seeking to find. Or it could be the truth they will accidentally discover. Whatever it is, it’s personal, and something that readers themselves want answers to. Every book, movie, short story – and non-fiction book, for that matter, has a question, however subtle. And, it’s the stories that ask riveting questions through the circumstances of their characters that linger with us. Consider Of Mice and Men. A haunting […]
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