Category: Writing and Blogging

Making Your Own Cover – For Absolute Beginners

Making your own book cover . Reblogged from Lit World Interviews.

jorobinson176's avatarLit World Interviews

I know that everyone says that we should pay for cover artists and editors, and if we can afford it, I really think that we should. However, that probably makes us hybrid authors – who knows? So, in the spirit of the Absolute Indie, slaving away in a garret with a shortage of funds, we should know how to make a decent cover ourselves. Most people have either an iPhone or an Android these days. These phones take amazing pictures, and have all sorts of features from sepia effects to zoom and macro capabilities. No, no. Come out from under the desk my technophobic scribblers. It’s not that hard, and even pics taken with really old dinosaur phones can be manipulated into really cool covers. Let me show you the basics.

I’m going to be using one of my favourite programmes for this because it’s very easy to use. So…

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Secrets and Lies

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Well, it’s Friday again, we’re about to embark on another weekend. So, what’s on my list of things to do today? Every Friday I try to post a photographic image on my blog. This week I decided to focus on one image that particularly inspired me whilst writing about the Crystal Cottage. So later in the day I will post this special image to my blog. Not telling you what the image is yet as I like, no LOVE, secrets so you’ll just have to wait!

Oh, if you like secrets, deception, hypnotism, art, and myth, then I’ve got a feeling you might like to visit the Crystal Cottage one day. I’ve already been there, and it is a wondrous place.

Finding a publisher: It’s a lot like trick-or-treating

A fun post from Ned’s Blog about Halloween, trick or treating, to find that publisher or agent. Will they take the candy?

Ned's Blog's avatarNed's Blog

image Welcome to a special Halloween Edition of Ned’s Nickel’s Worth on Writing! What makes this week’s NWOW special? In addition to offering writing tips gained from my 15 years as a columnist, I am in Maine this morning dressed as “Pennywise” and waiting in the bushes outside the home of Stephen King!

Why?

Because what better way to kick off a special Halloween NWOW than by scaring The Master of Horror® himself! I’ve been working all week on my scary clown voice and borrowed a costume from my neighbor, who, as I discovered, has a whole closet full of costumes. (I didn’t ask why.)

Shhhhh! Here he comes!

“HE-LLOOOO STEVIEEEEE!!… Ummmm, Mr. King?… Sir? oh crap…”

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I Just Published my Book. Now What?

Excellent tips and advice from Nicholas C. Rossis about marketing self published books.

Nicholas C. Rossis's avatarNicholas C. Rossis

From the blog of Nicholas C. Rossis, author of science fiction, the Pearseus epic fantasy series and children's booksFirst of all, congratulations! You’re now a published author – and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Second, you’d be amazed how often I hear that question in LinkedIn’s author groups. With some 3,000 new books published every day, I have serious doubts that you can just sit back and wait for readers to stumble on your book, or for word of mouth to work its magic. The chances of that happening are probably similar to that of winning the lottery, in which case you don’t even need the long hours and hard work that goes hand-in-hand with a career as an author (if you don’t believe me, you may want to check out this post by Pedro Barrento on Indies Unlimited).

So, what are the next steps after publication? Before I can answer that, I need to ask one question of my own first: is this your first book? You see…

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More writers resources, Memes, and Blog Hops

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Continuing on from my previous Writers resources, Memes and Hashtags:  http://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com/2014/09/11/writers-resources-and-memes/

Here are some more Writer’s resources, Memes, Blog Hops,  Challenges, and Promotional ideas that have caught my eye:

Writer’s resources

Lots of helpful writer resources worth checking out on Elsie Elmore’s blog: http://elsieelmore.com/writers-

and more on Abby Reed’s blog: http://abbyjreed.com/resources-for-writers/resources-a-helpful-list/

Great tips from author Shannon Donnelly about common dialogue mistakes: http://www.romance-ffp.com/the-seven-most-common-dialogue-mistakes/

Lots of tips from Derek Haines on promoting self published books: http://www.derekhaines.ch/justpublishing/10-ideas-to-promote-self-published-books/

Lots of information about WordPress. http://apanache.wordpress.com/about-me/wordpress-tips/

Different blogs that host writing prompts: http://kattermonran.com/2014/10/07/the-world-is-a-stage-and-it-is-time-to-tell-your-story

Memes:

Novel Nostalgias is a weekly feature/meme held every Thursday at Gwen & Kate’s and Along the Same Lines As… is a weekly feature/meme held every Sunday at Gwen & Kate’s Library. http://gwenkatelibrary.wordpress.com/2014/09/14/gwen-kates-1-year-anniversary/comment-page-1/#comment-318

Silver Threading has a Writer’s Quote Wednesday : http://silverthreading.com/2015/02/18/writers-quote-wednesdaydowager-countess-of-grantham-downton-abbey-2015-8/comment-page-1/#comment-11052

Blog hop:

Why I write blog hop

This blog hop was  created by http://follyandbloom.wordpress.com/2014/07/14/the-folly-bloom-blog-hop/

I originally found it via Amandas nose in a book! http://amandasnoseinabook.wordpress.com/2014/09/19/why-i-write/ why I write blog hop.

Word Porn!

Words that you just don’t come across on a daily basis but that doesn’t stop them from being beguiling:

Word Porn Wednesday – Basorexia

Bookish and Not so Bookish!

Bookish (and not so bookish) Thoughts #9   http://lipsyy.wordpress.com/2014/09/19/bookish-and-not-so-bookish-thoughts-9/

“Bookish (and not so bookish Thoughts) is a round-up of your week, in and out of book world. A place to store your thoughts, and basically anything you’d like to share on your blog.”  Hosted by http://bookishlyboisterous.blogspot.co.uk/

Sites about professional paid book reviews:

http://www.apennyearned.co.uk/reviews.html

http://www.friendsandmoney.co.uk/paid-reviews.php

http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/index.php?title=Reviewer_Vacancies

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/about/careers/

Challenges:

To Be Read Pile Challenge. “The Goal: To finally read 12 books from your “to be read” pile (within 12 months)” http://tasseledbooks.com/2013/12/17/2014-tbr-pile-challenge/ Hosted by http://roofbeamreader.com/tbr-pile-challenge

Around the world in 12  books challenge, different levels of participation available at : http://www.giraffedays.com/?p=18795/

Feeling Thankful?

Thankful blogging thoughts: http://serinssphere.wordpress.com/2014/10/11/10-things-of-thankful-15/

Thunderclap:

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“Thunderclap is a tool that lets a message be heard when you and your friends say it together. Think of it as an “online flash mob.” Join a Thunderclap, and you and others will share the same message at the same time, spreading an idea through Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr that cannot be ignored.”

Thunderclap promotional device:  https://www.thunderclap.it/faq

Writer’s resources, Twitter Hashtags and Memes

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I thought it would be useful to have a list of resources which would come in helpful especially for people like me who are new to writing, and blogging. So with that in mind here are some bits and pieces I would like to share with you, along with details of blogs who host weekly memes.

Starting of with Mxlexia: the magazine for women who write http://www.mslexia.co.uk. I subscribe to this and find it an invaluable resource for advice, information and interesting articles.

I found this particular on-line Mslexia resource very helpful : Workshop#2 Composing a pitch letter. https://www.mslexia.co.uk/getpublished/pub_wkshop2.php

Pauline Harris: I just came across Pauline recently via Netgalley, I will be reviewing her novel Puppet soon.  Anyway her website is http://paulinecharris.wordpress.com – where you can find advice on developing a platform, twitter, what its really like to be an author particularly from the perspective of a younger person. Pauline is 18.

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Twitter Hastags.

15 twitter hastags that every writer should know about. http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/15-twitter-hashtags-writer/

40 twitter hastags for writers http://www.dailywritingtips.com

More!!! 40 twitter hastags for writers http://writeanything.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/twitter-hashtags-for-writers//40-twitter-hashtags-for-writers/

More unusual hastags I’ve come across:

#aryaclub I found this via http://theprettybooks.wordpress.com. The #aryaclub  “is a young adult book club whose members include Daphne, Stacey, Caitlin, Jim, Asti, Debbie, Caroline, Faye, Charlotte and Julianne. We meet once a month to talk about YA books (and occasionally children’s and adult fiction!), eat copious amounts of food and try not to freak out the only boy…! ” https://www.myindependentbookshop.co.uk/aryaclub

#MSWL: Manuscript Wish Lists from Agents. I Found this via http://ingridsnotes.wordpress.com

#IWSG. Insecure writers support group – http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com – first Wednesday of each month Twitter hastag

#8Sunday Weekend Writing Warriors share an 8-sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. http://www.wewriwa.com/

#BookadayUK via http://prettybooks.wordpress.com

#RBRT Rosies Book Review Team  – below are some useful information about reviewing http://rosieamber.wordpress.com/rosies-book-review-team/  Also http://rosieamber.wordpress.com/resources-for-writers-editing-publishing-and-more/

#30authors. Hosted by the Book Wheel. 30 Authors in 30 Days is a first of its kind event aimed at connecting readers, bloggers, and authors. Hosted by The Book Wheel, this month-long event takes place during September and features 30 authors discussing their favorite recent reads on 30 different blogs http://travelingwitht.wordpress.com/2014/09/09/30-authors-in-30-days-author-ariel-lawhon-on-the-distance-by-helen-giltrow/

#SOTuesday Shout out Tuesday. ” Tuesday so often gets left out of things on Twitter and in real life. Music Monday  Hump Day. Follow Friday. Hungover Saturday. Hungover Sunday. And never forget about Throwback Thursday. Never forget.” http://www.20somethingawesome.com/tag/hashtags-that-should-be-trending

Weekly Memes:

Teaser Tuesdays meme I discovered via http://cleopatralovesbooks.wordpress.com. It is hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Who has the following weekly memes: Musing Mondays, Teaser Tuesdays, WWW Wednesdays, (three questions – what reading what finishing what reading next)  Friday Finds, and My favourite find Saturdays. http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/

Top Ten Tuesday “Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We’d love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!”  Broke and the Bookish. http://www.brokeandbookish.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html

One liner Wednesday Linda Gill.

” The rules  are as follows:

1. Make it one sentence.

2. Make it either funny or inspirational.

Have fun! ”

http://lindaghill.wordpress.com/

“Waiting On” Wednesday Found via http://lunaslittlelibrary.wordpress.com/ Waiting on Wednesday #39 Weekly meme hosted by Jill on Breaking the Spine. http://breakingthespine.blogspot.co.uk/Upcoming releases that you just can’t wait to  read.

Celebrate the small things. Friday don’t take things for granted – – – Found via /mscoffeehouse.wordpress.com. Hosted by http://viklit.blogspot.co.uk/  Co-hosts: http://dianawilder.blogspot.co.uk/   http://www.thecyborgmom.blogspot.co.uk/ http://lgkeltner.blogspot.co.uk

SOCS Streams of consciousness Saturday posts SOCS. This one I found via irenedesign2011.com. Host is http://lindagill.wordpress.com

The Sunday post: ” It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.” http://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2014/09/sunday-post-124.html

Inspiring places blog hop http://cateartios.wordpress.com #inspiringspaces bloghop.

Sharing The Bloggy Love http://confessionsofabookgeek.wordpress.com/features/sharing-the-bloggy-love/

@fantasyfaction. Lots of interesting Writing articles http://fantasy-faction.com/category/writers

Romancing September – Rosie – http://rosieamber.wordpress.com/2014/09/09/romancing-september-romancingseptember-day-9/

The bookshelf Tag – Answer questions about books than tag 5 other bloggers to do the same. http://justinaluther.wordpress.com/2014/09/09/bookshelf-tag/

Stacking the shelves via confessions of a book geek – tynga’a reviews.  “We are all book lovers and the need to share our enthusiasm is sometimes overwhelming. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!”  http://www.tyngasreviews.com/2012/05/staking-shelves-official-launch.html

And lots of resources on Sherrey Meyer’s site:

http://sherreymeyer.com/suggested-reading/general-writing-resources/

http://joannegphillips.wordpress.com/self-publishing-guide/

http://goinswriter.com/resources/

Jane’s Writing Advice Archive

http://www.joanhallwrites.com/writing-resources/

http://www.myriteofpassage.com/

http://www.thebookdesigner.com/

The All-Time Best Resources For Writers

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Tips on book covers – The Glasshouse http://jaglassbooks.wordpress.com

List of small press publishers – http://madeleineswann.wordpress.com

The womentoring project http://womentoringproject.co.uk/

There are still a few publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts. Lou Treleaven has compiled a very useful list: http://loutreleaven.wordpress.com/2010/07/21/childrens-publishers-accepting-unsolicited-manuscripts/

No doubt I haven’t mentioned everyone! Too numerous to include but I will be adding to this list in future posts. Hope it proves a helpful resource to fellow writers and bloggers.

17 Bestseller Tips – from Trade Publishers

Tips from Savvy Writers on selling books.

ebooksinternational's avatarSavvy Writers & e-Books online

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If you ever see Marketing and Advertising from traditional puplishers, it’s for their Bestseller authors only, such as: Advance Book Reviews, posted on their book’s cover, Book Tours and Signings of celebrity authors, media coverage including reviews, speaking engagements, and placing at major bookstores who report to Bestseller lists.  How can author-publishers use the methods of global trade publishers to promote their self-published books?  You don’t need to travel to the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany, like Johannes Kepler did in 1620 – yes, self-publishing was en vogue already four hundred years ago!

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7 Million Self-Published Titles:  Stiff Competition
Since 2010 roughly 7 million new self-published books appeared, almost all at online retailer’s websites.  And these titles will be offered for many years to come, as most of them are in digital format. The “gold rush” seems to be over and self-publishing has been dropping almost 50% per…

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Fantasy Faction’s Interview with Editor Abigail Nathan Interview – Part Two

Fantasy Faction’s Interview with editor Abigail Nathan of Bothersome Words Writing and Editing Services. Part One – What is it like being an editor?

via Editor Abigail Nathan Interview – Part Two.