Writing and Publishing News from

October 8, 2011

Can You Identify Your Book’s Genre?

Filed under: Fiction,Writing — Patricia @ 5:17 am

Do you know what genre you’re writing in? Many authors do not. And the issue of genre seems to become more and more confusing all the time. It used to be there were specific genres—romance, thriller, fantasy, adventure, etc. Now there are new genres and sub-genres. Have you heard of, “steampunk” or “urban life” fantasy? What about “high tech” or “space opera” science fiction?

According to one publisher, science fiction might be a subgenre of horror, time travel is a subgenre of romance, and what is up with the term, “alternative history science fiction?”

How would you categorize your thriller? Is it a political thriller, futuristic thriller, paranormal thriller or a suspense thriller? Have you ever read or written a book that could be considered a docufiction, realistic fiction, dark literature or airport novel?

There are genres in nonfiction, too—true crime, biography, adventure, narrative nonfiction, creative nonfiction, ethnic, self-help, how-to and memoir, for example. And what about the different types of memoirs one can write?

There’s the recovery memoir, military memoir, historical/family memoir, political memoir, situational memoir, travel memoir or inspirational memoir to name a few.

You’d think there are enough genres already used to label your book. But guess again. Authors are still having trouble pigeon-holing their books because they believe that nothing currently fits their particular tome. Some books do not deserve an exclusive label—they fit into one that is already accepted. I’ve met authors, however, who consider their books so unique that they can’t apply any current genres to it. They want to convince publishers (and the public) that their book is a humorous thriller cookbook, a medical adventure with a how-to aspect or, perhaps, a lesbian fantasy romance, for example.

What’s my opinion of genre hop scotch? I appreciate that there are new genres and subgenres being recognized as some of them definitely give a book a more definitive identity. But I would also warn authors against trying to be so inventive with their books that they turn off their potential readers altogether.

No matter your book’s genre, you are going to have to promote it and boy to I have a book for you. It is a reference book. I would also call it an informational how-to. The publisher tagged it “reference/writing.” I guess there is no publishing or business of writing category accepted, yet. And that’s too bad.

Order your copy of Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. http://amzn.to/oe56Ia

While you’re at the Amazon book page, check out the latest review by Anne Schroeder, editor of the SLO Nightwriters newsletter in San Luis Obispo, California. As you will see, this is review number twenty-two.

October 5, 2011

Build Better Characters By Honing Your Observation Skills

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 6:30 am

Do you pay close attention to the people you meet? Do you have good observation skills? Do you listen to the true stories that others tell about people they know and have observed?
This is a good way to build believable characters in your stories, don’t you think?

I knew a writer some years ago who used to sit where people gathered and just observe them. She especially enjoyed sitting on the pier and watching the fishermen, the onlookers, the tourists, the romantic couples, the parents with rambunctious children in tow, the elderly folks out for a stroll on a nice California day and the occasional homeless person enjoying the view from atop the wharf.

Sure, you can purposely put yourself in areas where various types of people mingle—each with a different agenda. You can also pay attention no matter where you are—airport, playground, Little League game, beauty pageant, assisted living facility, art gallery, nightclub, rodeo, even the grocery store. In fact, if you are writing a story that includes a fine artist, a cowboy, someone with dementia, a street vendor or a magician, you might make it a point to go where you will find several people in this category and spend some time observing them.

What should you be mindful of when you are observing someone?
• Their demeanor.
• Their characteristics.
• Mannerisms.
• Style of dress.
• Way of communicating—language, gestures, etc.

Does the person you are observing look others in the eye, smile easily, touch their companion often while talking to them, seem aloof? What are the physical responses that denote aloofness in this person? How would you describe the stance and walk of someone with a cane? How do people relate to their dogs when they’re out walking them? How do others react when they see dogs on a leash?

It’s fun to make up characters. But not every writer can describe their characters so readers feel an emotional connection to them. You want your readers to be able to visualize your characters. They should either like, love or hate your characters. Your characters are effective only if they evoke an emotion—does he make the reader laugh, disgust him, anger him or touch his heartstrings? In order to build characters that stir up emotion, you really must have good observation skills and the ability to describe what you envision.

Observe people and learn to describe them accurately. I also suggest behavior study. Think about how you and/or people you know behave in certain situations. Even watching sit-coms, TV dramas and talk shows can add to your understanding of human behavior and help you to create interesting and believable characters for your stories.

Do you plan to publish the book you are working on? Be sure to order my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book to learn how to navigate the publishing industry. This book is designed to save new authors tons of money and heartache by helping them to understand the publishing industry, their publishing options, the possible consequences of their choices and their responsibilities as a published author. This book covers traditional publishing, self-publishing and the pay-to-publish option. It includes what you need to know about distribution, marketing, and so much more. It’s marked down to $14.95. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

To find out if you are ready to become a published author, download my FREE ebooklet, “50 Reasons Why You Should Write That Book.” http://www.patriciafry.com

October 2, 2011

Plagiarism

Filed under: Authorship,Writing — Patricia @ 5:58 am

“How do I keep someone from stealing my idea?”

This is a question I get from time to time—generally from a new writer who is hesitant to publish because he doesn’t want to show his work to anyone. I often tell these fearful writers that this is something we sometimes worry about when we are new to writing—it is the concern of an inexperienced writer. I recommend that they spend more time perfecting their work and studying the publishing industry than worrying about something as unlikely as plagiarism.

But newby authors want to know how to protect their writing. They want to have more assurance that their work is not going to be stolen. And I’ve found an excellent source for these hopeful authors.

Of course, no one can guarantee that you won’t meet up with a scammer who loves your idea and wants to claim it as his own or an editor who assigns your topic to another writer. It can happen. But it is rare. It has never happened to me, that I know of. But I do see my articles posted all over the Internet without my permission. Does that upset me? Not really. As long as they attribute the work to me, I’m not going to complain.

Having said that, let me introduce you to Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s latest edition of her book, The Frugal Book Promoter. She is one author who has the courage and finesse to discuss the concept of plagiarism and she also offers suggestions for protecting your work. She says, for example, “The most important part of writing, after the process itself, is to be read, to share. Worry about plagiarism keeps inexperienced writers from doing that and produces anxieties that interfere with their creativity.” She says that the kind of plagiarism that authors worry about is quite rare. It’s hard to steal an idea. She also says, what I tell authors all the time, “There are truly no new ideas in the world.” (or There is nothing new under the sun.)

She offers some great ideas for protecting your work—from help understanding copyright to some practical ways to afford yourself peace of mind. She strongly suggests, as I do, that you do NOT ask an agent or publisher (even your editor) to sign a nondisclosure agreement. It would seem to me that if you don’t trust these people with your work, you shouldn’t be working with them.

A bigger concern might be you plagiarizing the works of others. As Carolyn says, “Sometimes our memories don’t serve us, our minds absorb something so completely we don’t remember where we first saw something or our researchers don’t take accurate notes. To protect yourself, research carefully, keep accurate records and assiduously credit others.”

I’m pretty impressed with Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s book, The Frugal Book Promoter (second edition). I’ll be reviewing it for SPAWNews—probably the December issue. Subscribe for this FREE enewsletter at http://www.spawn.org and receive a FREE ebooklet on how to promote your art or your writing.

To learn more about plagiarism and frugal book promotion, order Carolyn’s 413-page book at http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com

I also did an Internet search using keywords, “plagiarism,” “will someone steal my writing?” “can someone steal my idea?” etc. and came up with other interesting articles and resources on the topic. If this is something that concerns you, you might do your own research.

Visit Patricia Fry’s website: http://www.patriciafry.com and download my FREE ebooklet, “50 Reasons Why You SHOULD Write That Book.”

October 1, 2011

A Major Platform-Building Tip For Authors

Filed under: Article-Writing,Writing — Patricia @ 6:01 am

Are you using article or story submissions to build on your platform and/or to bring attention to your published book? If you plan to come out with a book within the next few years, this is a good time to start. If you have a book that you are promoting, it is never too late to start.

Why write articles and submit short stories when all you really want to do is to get your book published or sell more copies of your published book? Because this is one really good way to become known to a wider segment of your audience in your topic or genre. It’s a way of gaining credibility with your potential readers.

People who happen across your articles in magazines and newsletters related to the theme of your book will be more interested in purchasing your book. Those who are accustomed to reading your wonderful stories in their favorite literary magazines, for example, will likely go out in search of your novel.

As you may know (or sense) writing short stories and articles for publication is a whole different profession requiring different tools, skills, rules and timing than does writing/publishing a book. You might want to read some of my articles on article-writing to get up to speed: http://www.matilijapress.com/articlespublishing.htm

Order a copy of my book, “A Writer’s Guide to Magazine Articles.” It’s $6.50. http://www.matilijapress.com/writingpage.html

Read past blog posts here related to article/story-writing. Use the search feature.

You’ll also find information about article-writing in my books, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and my latest one, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. http://www.matilijapress.com

Basically, you are going to:

• Locate publications related to the theme or genre of your book. Use Writer’s Market. Do an Internet search. Visit a newsstand or your local mega bookstore and scour their magazine rack.

• Study each magazine or newsletter from cover to cover (these might be print or online publications).

• Go to each appropriate magazine’s website and print out their submission guidelines.

• Dig into your stockpile of stories and articles—or write new ones—to fit the requirements of the magazine or newsletter you want to approach.

• Following the submission guidelines, submit your material. The editors may require a query letter first (often for articles) or they might want to receive the completed piece (typical for fiction).

Submit many articles/stories to scads of appropriate publications and include your bio at the end of each one. I might write in my bio for a piece on publishing or book promotion, “Patricia Fry is the author of 34 published books and the executive director of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network). Her latest book is Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author (Allworth Press, 2011).
http://www.matilijapress.com/promoteyourbook.html

Become known in your field or genre even before you become a published author by submitting your articles or stories to the publications your audience reads. You’ll find that name recognition will go a long way toward selling copies of your book now and in the future.

September 29, 2011

Write Books That Are Fun to Read

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 4:42 am

Some weeks ago (September 2, 2011, to be exact) I wrote a blog post about how it’s okay to have fun while promoting your book. We keep talking about how much work it is—and it is. But it can also be fun and I urge authors to let it be fun and to make it fun. I’m speaking to a group at the Camarillo Library tonight in Camarillo, California and I expect to have fun meeting authors and hopeful authors and helping them understand more about the publishing industry.

Most of us have fun when we’re writing. We enjoy the process. We look forward to the time we set aside or can eke out to write each day/week. But what about your audience? Are you striving to make your book enjoyable for your readers, as well? Or do you even think about your readers while you’re writing your book?

I’ve written other posts (and articles) focusing on the importance of your audience. Sure you want to impact your audience with your words. That’s why you’re writing—to inform, entertain and/or share your story with others. But most authors don’t keep their audience in mind throughout the writing process.

Perhaps you are better at this since you’ve read my posts on this topic and realize how important it is. It might be that you consider your readers before deciding how to organize your business book or you give your audience a quick thought as you construct a scene in your story. But what about the fun aspect? Will your readers enjoy reading your book? Are you writing it so that they will have as much fun reading it as you did writing it? Even a mystery, how-to book or memoir can be fun to read if the right elements are present. For example:

• Is your how-to or business book written in a friendly, light manner? Or is it too stiff and serious? I can’t tell you how many people tell me how much they appreciate my easy-to-read, friendly writing style in my informational books.

• Is your historical novel or travel memoir actually enjoyable to read or is dry and mechanical?

If you’re having fun writing your book, try to pass along some of that fun to the reader. They will appreciate it. No one wants to spend their reading or studying time trying to work through difficult phrases and dour thoughts. We don’t pick up a book because we want to be talked down to or scolded, for Pete’s sake. We read for enjoyment. Whether we choose a book for entertainment value or we strive to learn something, we want the experience to be enjoyable.
Think about that this week as you work on your latest writing project. How can you make your book more fun for the reader?

And don’t forget to start (or continue) working on your marketing plan. Order your copy of Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author today. Amazon has both the print version and the Kindle: http://amzn.to/oe56Ia

You can also purchase it from bn.com and IndieBound.com or Patricia Fry’s website: http://www.matilijapress.com/promoteyourbook.html

September 28, 2011

To Critique or Not to Critique Your Writing

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 4:27 am

Do you know what effect your words have on others? Certainly, you hope to move readers, inspire them, make them think, cause them to smile, give them hope, teach them something new, give them a different perspective—touch them in some way. But how do you know that your attempts are successful?

One way is to test your writing before it goes live. How? Join a critique group.

Sure, there are good ones and bad ones. You’ll come across individuals in some of these critique groups who don’t have much tact or taste. You’ll meet people who are way too opinionated to be useful critics. There are, of course, all kinds out there.

But for the most part, if you go into a critique group with an open mind and a willingness to learn, you’ll grow as a writer. What will you learn?

• How your words affect other people.
• Whether your favorite scene actually works.
• If your message is getting across or is it falling flat.
• Are your characters believable?
• Is your dialog working?
• Does your story flow or are there things that stop the reader?
• Can you write or do you need help?

You’ll also learn how to critique the works of others. A critique group is a give and take proposition, you know. You’ll discover that some people are more sensitive than others about their stories. Some have chips on their shoulders and resist most ideas if it means change. And some welcome any and all suggestions as if they don’t have a mind of their own in the matter of their manuscripts.

Writers of all experiences and skill come to me for help. While some present me with a well-written, well-organized manuscript to edit, others want to know how to go about writing a book. I can usually identify the stage or level of the hopeful author by their email. If they write a coherent, grammatically correct email, they generally have a well-written or fairly well-written manuscript. Those who approach me with an email full of errors or a writing sample that needs a lot of work, I suggest the following:

• Join a writers’ group.
• Participate in a critique group.
• For some, a basic English class is in order.
• I also recommend creative writing courses for some would be writers.

Do you belong to a critique group? I’d like to hear how it has helped you to be critiqued and to critique the works of others. Has it been a good learning experience for you? Has it made you a better writer? Leave your comment here.

September 23, 2011

What Kind of Author Are You?

Filed under: Authorship,Writing — Patricia @ 5:31 am

There are different types of authors. I had a little fun in my workshop conducted at the writer’s conference in Alaska a few weeks ago when I labeled writers. Here’s what I presented.

• There are those who write purely because they have something important or amazing to share and plan to do so in a one book blast. Often, writing is a struggle for them. They don’t consider themselves writers. They are simply using this means to get their message or their story out. I call them One Book Blasters.

• Then there are those who just want to write. They love to write. And they hope to write numerous novels or nonfiction books. How about if we consider these authors Writing Fools?

• There are also Niche Authors—they might write just a few or many books in the same genre/topic. They are attached to or passionate about saving trees, elder care, establishing new FDA regulations or finding a cancer cure, for example, and they produce books in order to do so.

• There are those who are practically plagued by a story or a perspective and they just have to put it in a book and get it published. This might be a children’s book with a message, a memoir they want to write as therapy or an amazing story of survival. The story (true or not) rolls around in the author’s head practically every waking hour and he decides he just must write it. We could call this person an Author Obsessed.

• How about the author who writes books simply to add credibility to the type of work he or she does. An accountant might write books on family budgeting, how to teach kids money-awareness and tips for skirting the mortgage scams, for example. Maybe you’re a job consultant, photographer, veterinarian, plastic surgeon or even hairdresser and you write a book designed to help promote your work or your business. If so, you could be considered a Career-Driven Author

This is fun, isn’t it? Where do you fit in? Do you have another category you’d like to add?

For more fun and for additional assistance with your writing and publishing efforts, check out my websites. Read my articles, sign up for my online courses, purchase some of my books, consider using some of my services and/or ask me to speak at your conference or to your writers’ group.

http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

September 22, 2011

Tips for Writers and Authors

Filed under: Book Promotion,Writing — Patricia @ 4:06 am

Things are hopping here in the offices of Patricia Fry and Matilija Press. My most recent interview—related to book promotion and my new book, Promote Your Book, is live. Listen here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/acmedia/2011/09/20/250-ways-to-promote-your-book–patricia-fry

Also, the book is reviewed in the October 2011 issue of Freelance Writer’s Report.

I’m receiving inquiries as to my editing work from all over the world—several are from authors I met in Alaska a few weeks ago. I had a booth at the Central Coast Book Festival Sunday. I will speak in Camarillo, California next week. I will take my books to a book festival in Ojai next month and I will sit on a panel of authors later in October. I teach a freelance writing session at the Ventura College in November. And I still must find time to spread the word far and wide that Promote Your Book is now on Kindle. This means doing an email blast to my list of hundreds of clients, customers, colleagues, acquaintances and so forth.

Is your book promotion dance card also full? If not—and if you want to sell books—you really do need to start reaching out and promoting your book. If you need help with that, sign up for my online Book Promotion Course. Check it out here: http://www.bookpromotion.htm

I want to share with you a really clever and useful article I read yesterday in my recent copy of Freelance Writer’s Report. This article was written by a savvy freelance writer/author whom I happened to meet a few years ago in Arizona. We’ve stayed in touch. She is quite prolific and professional—I see her writing-related articles everywhere. Often, they appear in the same issues as mine do. The writer’s name is Kathleen Ewing. If you are doing your homework and studying the world of freelance writing (if that’s your field) and publishing (if you are an author), you are probably familiar with this name.

Her recent article is called “The Writer’s Toolbox.” She wrote that she found herself recently in a situation where events and activities were happening all around her that were article-worthy or, at least, that rated a photo account in a local publication and she was caught without her writing tools.

She has since created a writer’s toolbox which she keeps in her automobile. I’d like to urge you to read the article yourself, but I can tell you that her suggestions are excellent. She recommends, for example, that you put together some items to keep with you in your purse, backpack, glove box… They include a disposable camera, a lens cloth, a photo-release form, a small tape recorder, mechanical pencils (she says that pens stored for long periods can be unreliable), etc. And she even explains how to safely store some items and which brands of some items are best.

Now there’s a writer with ideas, imagination, grit and she is a self-starter. I’m impressed. We should all be so clever and disciplined. Way to go, Kathleen.

September 7, 2011

Use Your Writing Skills to Promote Your Book

Filed under: Book Promotion,Writing — Patricia @ 4:12 am

Yesterday we talked a little about writing for magazines and newsletters as a way to promote your book. Do you regularly submit articles or stories to magazines/newsletters in your book’s genre or topic? If you don’t, you should. Why?

• If you’re seeking a publisher for your book, your long list of magazine/newsletter credits will be an impressive plus in pitching your book.

• This is a good way to build credibility with your audience in your topic/genre. If you’ve been submitting articles/stories while writing your book, when it is published, you’ll have a built-in following of readers, some of whom will most likely purchase your book.

• Once your book is published, you can continue to submit articles on new trends in your field and news related to your topic, for example, or stories in your genre. Promote your book in the bio at the end of your story or article.

How do you get your articles or stories published?

• Seek out publications in your topic/genre and study them. Consider magazines and newsletters that you are familiar with and use the Writer’s Market to locate additional potential markets for your articles/stories.

• Come up with article ideas that definitely fit the publication and make sure it is something they haven’t recently published.

• Choose from your array of short stories within the genre of your book and start offering them to appropriate magazines and newsletters. Or write new stories for publication.

• Submit excerpts from your fiction or nonfiction book for publication. Many magazines accept book excerpts.

• Develop a rapport with various magazine/newsletter editors by being a prolific and reliable contributor.

• Keep improving your writing skills and continue learning about your field or genre so that your contributions are more valuable to magazine editors as well as their audiences.

If you aren’t using your writing skills to promote your book, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to build credibility in your field/genre, create an audience base and sell books.

This promotional idea and hundreds more are fleshed out in my latest book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author (Allworth Press, 2011). Order your copy now. It’s never too soon or too late to create a powerful marketing plan for your book. Without a plan, your book will fail. Learn more about this book at the book’s Amazon page. http://amzn.to/oe56Ia

Visit me here: http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

August 17, 2011

It Takes a Village to Build a Good Book

Filed under: Authorship,Writing — Patricia @ 5:02 am

As most of you know, I work with clients on their book projects. I edit and do some consulting work. I teach several online courses: on writing a book proposal, book promotion, self-publishing, establishing your platform and others. I also field questions throughout my work week from hopeful, struggling and some pretty savvy authors as the executive director of SPAWN and as an experienced professional.

Earlier this week, after I responded to a couple of questions with regard to a client’s book in progress, she wrote back saying how much she appreciated my advice and guidance. She said she just couldn’t have accomplished as much as she has without my help. That’s when I responded by saying that it takes a village to build a good book.

I thought about this statement and realized how very true it is. An astute, aware author can learn so much, gain incredible insight and benefit from the experiences and wisdom of others if only he or she will reach out.

This morning, again, I suggested to a new author that she join a writers club and start attending their critique group in order to learn how to strengthen her writing and appropriately focus her book. A good critique group can do wonders for a writer who doesn’t yet have a handle on how to adequately (or eloquently) communicate through the written word. For some, eloquence comes naturally. For others, simple communication is a struggle.

But who should you listen to? How do you locate a suitable critique group? How do you know when they are pointing you in the right direction?

Sure everyone has an opinion and not all of them are useful. That’s where intuition (that gut feeling) comes in. If the critique makes sense to you—if your writing is better when you apply certain techniques or rules—then probably you are on the right track with this suggestion. If you’re still confused after someone helps you with a paragraph or a chapter, if members of the group do not agree with the advice, if it just doesn’t feel right, perhaps the suggestion isn’t valid.

And it depends on who the guidance comes from. I’m working with a client as we speak—trying to get him to change the title and cover of his pending book. From my point of view, which is enforced by years of publishing and book marketing experience, his title and his cover design are all wrong. Yet he has been attached to the title and the concept since even before he began writing the book. I’ve tried to persuade him to give up his cover idea a couple of times before. Now that I see the reality of his vision, I am even more adamant that he reconsider. It’s a case where the book cover and the content are at odds with one another. The cover, in my opinion, speaks to a different audience than the book, itself, does. Not a good marketing move.

The author is still thinking about my advice.

This author has accepted my suggestions on many points. He has also solicited feedback from other members of the “village” by sending sections of his book to appropriate medical professionals. And he is listening to them with an open mind and incorporating their expertise into this book in order to benefit his readers.

A lot of authors bring others into their books before making any solid publishing decisions. What do I suggest to authors? What sort of feedback do I recommend?

For Nonfiction:
• Ask key people in your industry or field to fact-check your text.
• Request additional resources.
• Brainstorm your title/subtitle with colleagues/friends.
• Show your cover design around and listen to the feedback.

For Fiction:
• Ask members of your audience to test read your book.
• Ask a few experts to fact-check your historical data, etc.
• Discuss your cover design with artists, authors and publishers.

For a Children’s Book:
• Invite children’s librarians and educators to examine your book for age appropriateness.
• Ask an expert within the subject matter to review it—animal behavior, dental health, ecology, child psychology, etc.
• Read it to children and observe their reactions.

As an author, you have many things to think about. Take the extra step before you publish or even before you write your book and get some peer and experienced feedback. Use what you learn to make your book the best that it can be.

http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

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