Social Networking and Promotion
As some of you know, I'm co-writing a promotion book with Jamie Engle, and as part of the research, I dived into the world of social networking. Holy cow! I don't think I scratched the surface of what's out there.
I came away feeling like it was something that could literally suck up ALL your time, but it's still worth doing IF you learn to manage your time effectively.
I couldn't even begin to list all the sites out there, but here are a couple that are, IMHO, worth it for authors (and readers!):
Goodreads
Shelfari
These two are specifically targeted to and for readers, which means, that while you'll still be authors marketing to authors, you'll also find readers looking for books and sharing their reading experiences with other readers.
Be prepared to run into readers who don't like your books (if they've read them). Don't answer back or flame. Take it on the chin and look for the readers who DO like your stuff. I know it's easy to say, but let the negative just wash off you. You can't please everyone, so don't bleed away your precious time trying.
And if time is a huge issue, consider microblogging...
Perilously your,
Pauline
Monday, June 30, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Covers and Contracts...
I thought some of you might be interested in these links to a discussion about cover art by Kathy's Review Corner. While the discusion focuses on romance novels, writers can still learn a lot from the readers answers to her questions. The discussion is broken into two parts and here are the links:
Part One
Part Two
In other news on the net, writers are again discussing how to handle it when a publishing relationship goes sour. Everything, everything depends on your contract. While other writers can give advice, they can't give reliable legal advice unless they happen to be lawyers.
We had a lawyer come speak to our writers groups about scams and cons, but he had good advice for anyone signing a contract: the only thing that matters is what is written down.
What you think the contract says or what the other party told you they meant don't matter. In a court of law, it's all about what the contract actually says.
If you don't understand what's written, get legal advice. For authors, there are tons of sites out there that break down contract clauses and warn against certain types of language.
Too many authors sign nasty contracts because they are so eager to get published, they forget to protect their intellectual property rights adequately. Too often we're afraid to mess up a deal with reasonable questions.
Learning how to ask intelligent questions about your contract/s is a sign of your professionalism. If it makes a publisher/editor upset to be asked reasonable questions and to reasonably negotiate a contract (note that word reasonable -- how much you can negotiate depends on a lot of factors) that is a huge warning flag.
The savvy writer does their research. The savvy writer is also willing to walk away from a bad cotnract.
Perilously yours,
Pauline
Pauline Baird Jones
www.paulinebjones.com
Pauline@paulinebjones.com
The Key, L&L Dreamspell, Independent Publisher Awards Bronze Medal Winner,
2008Proud member, Broad Universe (http://www.broaduniverse.org)
It was hard not to feel like the gods had sent him a gift for not giving up, but he realized she might not see her arrival in quite the same light. He ran a finger down the smooth curve of her cheek, then across her soft, full lower lip, relieved to see the slow rise and fall of her chest.
from THE KEY
I thought some of you might be interested in these links to a discussion about cover art by Kathy's Review Corner. While the discusion focuses on romance novels, writers can still learn a lot from the readers answers to her questions. The discussion is broken into two parts and here are the links:
Part One
Part Two
In other news on the net, writers are again discussing how to handle it when a publishing relationship goes sour. Everything, everything depends on your contract. While other writers can give advice, they can't give reliable legal advice unless they happen to be lawyers.
We had a lawyer come speak to our writers groups about scams and cons, but he had good advice for anyone signing a contract: the only thing that matters is what is written down.
What you think the contract says or what the other party told you they meant don't matter. In a court of law, it's all about what the contract actually says.
If you don't understand what's written, get legal advice. For authors, there are tons of sites out there that break down contract clauses and warn against certain types of language.
Too many authors sign nasty contracts because they are so eager to get published, they forget to protect their intellectual property rights adequately. Too often we're afraid to mess up a deal with reasonable questions.
Learning how to ask intelligent questions about your contract/s is a sign of your professionalism. If it makes a publisher/editor upset to be asked reasonable questions and to reasonably negotiate a contract (note that word reasonable -- how much you can negotiate depends on a lot of factors) that is a huge warning flag.
The savvy writer does their research. The savvy writer is also willing to walk away from a bad cotnract.
Perilously yours,
Pauline
Pauline Baird Jones
www.paulinebjones.com
Pauline@paulinebjones.com
The Key, L&L Dreamspell, Independent Publisher Awards Bronze Medal Winner,
2008Proud member, Broad Universe (http://www.broaduniverse.org)
It was hard not to feel like the gods had sent him a gift for not giving up, but he realized she might not see her arrival in quite the same light. He ran a finger down the smooth curve of her cheek, then across her soft, full lower lip, relieved to see the slow rise and fall of her chest.
from THE KEY
Friday, June 13, 2008
Did You Hear....?????
One of the questions that come up a lot on the lists, "Why didn't anyone warn/tell me there was a problem with XYZ Publisher?"
Information is important currency to authors. It can save us time--or cost us time and opportunity.
Information can also be the killing blow to a small press publisher.
There is no magic formula for how to foresee if a publisher is healthy or about to disappear. All of us struggle with how and when is the "right" time to share what we know or what we've heard.
While it can be fun to be "in the know," spreading information that you don't know is true can have devastating effects on a small press working with a thin profit margin in a hostile environment. Rumors can even take down a healthy small press. If you've ever played "Gossip" as a child, then you know how quickly information can get distorted, even by well-meaning individuals.
My best advice is: don't pass on information until YOU have personal proof that something is wrong. And then be careful how you share that information and who you share it with. If your careless words caused harm, you could get sued.
Perilously yours,
Pauline
The Key, L&L Dreamspell, Independent Publisher Awards Bronze Medal Winner
2008Proud member, Broad Universe (http://www.broaduniverse.org)
It was hard not to feel like the gods had sent him a gift for not giving up, but he realized she might not see her arrival in quite the same light. He ran a finger down the smooth curve of her cheek, then across her soft, full lower lip, relieved to see the slow rise and fall of her chest.
from THE KEY
One of the questions that come up a lot on the lists, "Why didn't anyone warn/tell me there was a problem with XYZ Publisher?"
Information is important currency to authors. It can save us time--or cost us time and opportunity.
Information can also be the killing blow to a small press publisher.
There is no magic formula for how to foresee if a publisher is healthy or about to disappear. All of us struggle with how and when is the "right" time to share what we know or what we've heard.
While it can be fun to be "in the know," spreading information that you don't know is true can have devastating effects on a small press working with a thin profit margin in a hostile environment. Rumors can even take down a healthy small press. If you've ever played "Gossip" as a child, then you know how quickly information can get distorted, even by well-meaning individuals.
My best advice is: don't pass on information until YOU have personal proof that something is wrong. And then be careful how you share that information and who you share it with. If your careless words caused harm, you could get sued.
Perilously yours,
Pauline
The Key, L&L Dreamspell, Independent Publisher Awards Bronze Medal Winner
2008Proud member, Broad Universe (http://www.broaduniverse.org)
It was hard not to feel like the gods had sent him a gift for not giving up, but he realized she might not see her arrival in quite the same light. He ran a finger down the smooth curve of her cheek, then across her soft, full lower lip, relieved to see the slow rise and fall of her chest.
from THE KEY
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