Links to Writing & Marketing Blog Posts

HOW TO WRITE A TERRIFIC REVIEW

By: Writer Victoria Grefer talks about how to write a fantabulous review.

What To Include

1. Is this a genre you normally read?

 

My go-to example for this is of a scifi aficionado reading a romance. It could be the best romance ever written but, chances are, the review would still be scathing. 

Or, another example, if a reader only enjoyed mainstream or literary books they might think it was too predictable for words that the murderer was apprehended at the end of your murder mystery, but that's not a legitimate criticism. Sure, it could be a criticism of the genre but to leave the murder unsolved would have readers howling for your blood. (And murder mystery readers are a clever bunch, so you don't want that. ;)

2. Plot summary

Click here to read the rest of the post (see #1 below)

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If you missed my writing & marketing tweets and retweets yesterday, here they are again: 

1. How To Write A Terrific Review http://t.co/GVTakWmJBg @woodwardkaren
2. Even Alpha Writers Need Beta Readers http://ow.ly/limrF
3. How to Increase Tension in your Story: http://t.co/AttethFYxf @SHalvatzis RT @elizabethscraig:
4. 6 Rules of Thumb From an Editor-Turned-Writer http://t.co/ZMkb2m3AmM RT @evelyn_puerto
5. Writing Fiction: Bring Your Characters To Life With Roz Morris http://ow.ly/ljGUJ
6. Three Tips for Naming Characters http://ow.ly/ljQav
7. Moving Out of Your Writing Comfort Zone http://ow.ly/ljQrY
8. Authors, Consider Blog Talk Radio! http://ow.ly/ljQCu via @mollygreene
9. Notes from Tabor Lane: Today's Links to Writing & Marketing Blog Posts http://ow.ly/ljRVl
10. 10 Points About Possessives http://ow.ly/lkkou via Daily Writing Tips
11. Ten Deadly Marketing Mistakes Almost Every Author Makes http://ow.ly/lklMm
12. It's not enough to write the book. Self-pubbed authors must think about business: http://t.co/zfQKQZq5LO @NatalieGayle1 RT @elizabethscraig
13. How to Nail the Opening of Your Blog Post http://ow.ly/lkoa7 via @copyblogger
14. 4 Reasons Why You Need To Change Your Username On Twitter http://ow.ly/lkoNA
15. 7 Tips To Get More Followers On Twitter [INFOGRAPHIC] http://ow.ly/lkpCR http://ow.ly/lkpPX
16. A Groundbreaking Change for EBook Sales http://ow.ly/lkq1f via @PassiveVoiceBlg
17. What Is New Adult Fiction? http://ow.ly/lkqEA via Galleycat 

I’m always looking for great content to share. If you have a writing and/or marketing blog, or have a favorite that you visit often, please leave a link in the comment section. Thanks for stopping by.

Happy writing & running, Kathy

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GETTING OVER WRITER’S BLOCK: LISTEN TO YOUR CHARACTERS

By: Karen Woodward @woodwardkaren

Yesterday I wrote about world building because I was stuck on my WIP. I thought world building was my problem but it wasn't. I wasn't listening to my characters.

I'm writing a murder mystery and the problem was that I couldn't get my sleuth to talk.

I'd written practically all the murderer's scenes up to the midpoint and had a good outline for where I would go after that, but I was nervous because I'd only written one scene with the sleuth and that scene was mediocre.

I loved my murderer with all his flaws, I felt I knew him. He was the hero of his own story, but he'd made some bad decisions. The sleuth, on the other hand, hid behind a veil. I couldn't reach him, couldn't understand him.

It was a problem, especially since I have a schedule and a daily word count and I just can't afford this thing called 'being blocked'.

Well ... 

Click here to read the complete article (see #1 below)

~*~

If you missed my writing & marketing tweets and retweets yesterday, here they are again: 

1. Getting Over Writer's Block: Listen To Your Characters http://ow.ly/likLr via @woodwardkaren
2. How To Curate Your Way to Quality Content http://ow.ly/lgpus @itsjessicann
3. Is The Muse Upon You? http://ow.ly/lgtZf via @diannedharman
4. Real Life Diagnostics: Is This Opening Working? http://ow.ly/lhcx3 via @Janice_Hardy
5. When Your Character Makes the Wrong Choice http://ow.ly/lhcZb  via @KMWeiland
6. B.I.C. (Bum in Chair) http://ow.ly/lhdao via Writer Unboxed
7. Writing Time: A Guilty Pleasure or a Necessity? http://ow.ly/lhdh4 v ia @JodyHedlund
8. What Do Teens Share On Social Media (And How Are They Managing Their Privacy)? [STUDY] http://ow.ly/lhdKH
9. Wednesday Mailbag: Answers to 18 Self-Publishing Questions http://ow.ly/lhdQB via @jfbookman
10. Notes from Tabor Lane: Today's Links to Writing & Marketing Blog Posts http://ow.ly/lhemo
11. Shift Syntax to Strengthen Sentences http://ow.ly/lhlNN via Daily Writing Tips
12. “3 Reasons for Social Media” ~ by Corey Smith http://ow.ly/lihPk
13. World Building Tips Learned at the Louvre http://ow.ly/lijEK via @Janice_Hardy
14. Advice for trad. published writers now interested in self-pub: http://t.co/BEOsldchGT @jamesscottbell RT @elizabethscraig
15. Trading favors and our integrity: http://t.co/uqb4LDW4Cn @KSElliott_Shark RT @elizabethscraig
16. 5 Classic Character Archetypes in Epic Storytelling http://ow.ly/lilhq
17. Writing Tool: WorkFlowy http://ow.ly/lilrl "...makes brainstorming ridiculously easy"
18. Amazon Launches Kindle Worlds, New Fan Fiction Platform for Indie Authors http://ow.ly/lim5G 

I’m always looking for great content to share. If you have a writing and/or marketing blog, or have a favorite that you visit often, please leave a link in the comment section. Thanks for stopping by.

Happy writing & running, Kathy

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BOOK PIRACY

By: Claire Ryan

Okay, we all know about this. Piracy, the great and terrifying force that’s destroying authors’ means to make a living on one hand, and getting their work in front of thousands of new readers on the other. There’s plenty of conflicting information out there.

Let’s get down to business, shall we? Here’s what you need to know, my dear author friends, in a handy bullet point list.

1. Piracy is not something that can be stopped.

Click here to read the complete article (see #1 below)

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If you missed my writing & marketing tweets and retweets yesterday, here they are again: 

1. What You Need to Know about Book Piracy http://ow.ly/leM0V via @PassiveVoiceBlg
2. 2 tips to help you build your online presence: http://t.co/SCMqiuSSzE @BloggingTipsComRT @elizabethscraig
3. Write first thing in the morning? Are you crazy?  http://t.co/mCxmCU9OLV  @JennaAvery
4. A Powerful Storytelling Tool: Getting Readers to Fill In Your Character’s Blanks http://ow.ly/leL8X via @KMWeiland
5. Facebook Ads vs Promoted Posts: A Side-by-Side Comparison http://ow.ly/leLu8 via SocialMouths
6. The 3 Types of Character Arc – Change, Growth and Fall http://ow.ly/leLEM via @Veronicasicoe
7. Linguistic Quirks: What Wordbirthing & Name-Nicking Can Do for Fiction http://ow.ly/leLRy via Writer Unboxed
8. When Should We Add the (Book) Marketing? http://ow.ly/leM86 via @jfbookman
9. Notes From Tabor Lane: Today's Links to Writing & Marketing Blog Poss http://ow.ly/leNLj
10. What It Takes to Be a Real Author CEO: http://t.co/li9l7wfXIA @KristenLambTX RT @elizabethscraig:
11. The 7 Basic Plots: Rebirth http://ow.ly/lfcKV
12. The Rationale for the Serial Comma http://ow.ly/lfh4J via Daily Writing Tips
13. Letting Go of Security Thinking http://ow.ly/lfOhh via @RachelleGardner
14. 9 Tools that No Serious Online Writer Should Be Without http://ow.ly/lgacq
15. Things A Scene Needs http://ow.ly/lgeAG
16. Tips for Hiring a Book Cover Designer That Will Save You Money http://t.co/GLsXEcC2kK RT @evelyn_puerto
17. How NOT to Self-Publish: 12 Things for New Indies to Avoid http://ow.ly/lgeZd via @annerallen
18. PR and Marketing for Self-Publishing: Do’s and Don’ts http://ow.ly/lgfGn via Writers Unboxed 

I’m always looking for great content to share. If you have a writing and/or marketing blog, or have a favorite that you visit often, please leave a link in the comment section. Thanks for stopping by.

Happy writing & running, Kathy

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18 Links to Writing & Marketing Blog Posts

10 TIPS FOR HANDLING PUBLIC PRESURE AND ONLINE VITRIOL WITHOUT LOSING IT

By: Andrew Jack

There seems to be a spate of authors losing their collective minds of late and making very public responses to people. Almost always these authors are coming off as petty, spiteful and occasionally even psychotic. The responses are doing far more damage to their careers than anything anyone else is doing to them.

I have to admit I’ve dealt with very little in the way of vitriol that’s come because of my writing, but I did spend several years as a nightclub bouncer and I spent a good proportion of my teenage years on a stage. I thought I’d draw on some of those experiences and write a guide for writers on how to deal with adversity online.

These are drawn from my experiences, so I’d welcome contributions from writers who deal with serious public pressure (or anyone else for that matter).

Click here to read the complete article (see #1 below)

~*~

If you missed my writing & marketing tweets and retweets yesterday, here they are again: 

1. 10 tips for handling public pressure and online vitriol without losing it: http://t.co/c5GHsUnUcN @ajackwriting RT @elizabethscraig
2. 5 Writing Lessons 1 Writer Learned from Being an Editor: http://t.co/AooOKeGyf5 @DIYMFA @EmilyWenstrom RT @elizabethscraig
3. Why We (and our characters) Fall in Love: http://t.co/Jb9SuPt1eg @FaeRowen RT @elizabethscraig
4. New Smashwords Survey Helps Authors Sell More eBooks http://ow.ly/lbGYL @PassiveVoiceBlg
5. Top 10 Self-Editing Tips http://t.co/fBXo7hQ9mR via @janice_hardy
6. Speculative fiction: the superset of all possible literature http://t.co/v2dzMSmY6s @shunn RT @elizabethscraig
7. The reasons you write http://ow.ly/lc0tX via The Writers Alley
8. Why It Pays To Be Yourself On Twitter http://ow.ly/lc0BU
9. When Should We Add the (Book) Marketing? http://ow.ly/lc0GU via @jfbookman
10. Notes From Tabor Lane: Today's Writing & Marketing Blog Posts http://ow.ly/lc0mC
11. Size Matters, Length Not So Much http://ow.ly/ldnTv
12. Three Ways to Make Your Protagonist More Realistic (and More Lovable) http://ow.ly/ldMVa via @write_practice
13. Good Writing vs. Talented Writing | Brain Pickings http://t.co/V9utOYUovY RT @evelyn_puerto
14. Infographic: 5 Key Book Publishing Paths http://ow.ly/ldNw6 via @janefriedman
15. Things A Scene Needs http://ow.ly/ldNFT
16. Tips For Building An Interesting World http://ow.ly/ldNNn via @woodwardkaren
17. Authors Connecting with Readers: What’s Your Style? http://ow.ly/ldO9Y
18. Is Thinking about Writing .... Well writing? http://ow.ly/ldOCJ

I’m always looking for great content to share. If you have a writing and/or marketing blog, or have a favorite that you visit often, please leave a link in the comment section. Thanks for stopping by.

Happy writing & running, Kathy

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Check out these links to writing & marketing blog posts. Click to Tweet.

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CRITIQUES MAKE YOUR WRITING BETTER, SO GRIN AND BEAR THEM

By Melissa Donovan @melissadonovan

It seems like every writer wants someone to read his or her work and provide feedback so they can make their writing better.

Trouble is, many writers want nothing more than praise. When they hear that their writing could actually use some work, some writers freeze up. Others go through the feedback and argue it point by point. A few will even launch into a tirade of sobbing or screaming.

Critiques are designed to help writers, not to offend them or make them feel unworthy. But the human ego is a fragile and funny thing. Some folks simply can’t handle the notion that despite all their hard work, the project they’ve written is less than perfect.

As a writer, you have to decide whether you truly want to excel at your craft. If you do, then you need to put your ego aside and learn how to accept critiques graciously. If you can’t do that, there’s a good chance that your writing will never improve and your work will always be mediocre.

The Importance of Critiques 

Click here to read the complete article (see #1 below)

~*~

If you missed my writing & marketing tweets and retweets over the weekend, here they are again:

SATURDAY, MAY 18:

1. Anne R. Allen's Blog: Three Keys to Writing Memorable Fiction http://t.co/2M6LoxnHnL RT @janice_hardy
2. Should You Self-Publish? 15 Questions http://ow.ly/l9UUa
3. Notes from Tabor Lane: Today's Links to Writing & Marketing Blog Posts http://ow.ly/l9V6t
4. 2 Dialogue Tips from Studying SitComs: Just Spit it Out http://ow.ly/l9Vdp
5. A Powerful Storytelling Tool: Getting Readers to Fill In Your Character’s Blanks http://ow.ly/l9Vhi
6. How to Make Your Ebook a Run-Away Success: An Interview with Jim Kukral http://ow.ly/l9Vp1
7. SocialBro Now Analyzes The Impact Of The Content You Share On Twitter http://ow.ly/l9Vt5
8. Picking The Right Time http://ow.ly/l9VBD "What’s the best time to insert information, description, dialogue tags, or action?"
9. Discussion: Do Writers Need Social Media? http://ow.ly/l9VHU
10. Bold Storytelling Statements That Are Almost Always True http://ow.ly/la180 via @storyfix
11. Readin’ o’ the Green: the Anatomy of a Free Book Promotion http://ow.ly/lauww
12. How to Create a Viral Book Trailer (or Get 1,000,000 Views for Almost Anything) http://ow.ly/lauFt
13. Write About Life and Death http://ow.ly/lauI7 @write_practice
14. Tweet Smarter with FollowerWonk http://ow.ly/lauKR
15. Publication Prep Part 1 - BELIEVING http://ow.ly/lauNA via The Writers Alley
16. Market sizzles for debut authors http://ow.ly/lauQ4
17. Blog This! Sometimes Going Back to Basics Leads to the Best Posts http://ow.ly/lauUw via @ProBlogger
18. New York Times Bestseller eBook List Shifts to Online Only http://ow.ly/lauWI via @PassiveVoiceBlg

 SUNDAY, MAY 19:

1. Critiques Make Your Writing Better, So Grin and Bear Them http://ow.ly/lbj3a
2. Les Edgerton Shows How to Write Amazing Dialogue–Part 1 http://ow.ly/laXC4
3. Hear Ye, Hear Ye: How to Promote an Audiobook http://ow.ly/laXEE
4. Writing Tip: Clustering http://ow.ly/laXH1
5. Why Do We Keep Making Ebooks Like Paper Books? http://ow.ly/laXJ5
6. Book Marketing Using Paid Promotion: Targeted Email Lists http://ow.ly/laXPL via @thecreativepenn
7. 5 Steps to Take Before You Publish Your Blog Post: http://t.co/njTz8r219g @WhereWritersWin RT @elizabethscraig
8. Notes from Tabor Lane: Today's Writing & Marketing Blog Posts http://ow.ly/laXUR
9. How to Write a Memorable Beginning and Ending http://ow.ly/laXX5
10. What are agents looking for in a writer? http://ow.ly/laXZy
11. Ebooks Responsible for Nearly $1 Billion Growth in Trade http://ow.ly/lb1rw
12. If You Struggle With Plot, Here’s How to Think About It Differently http://ow.ly/lbiMY via @janefriedman
13. How to Use Facebook to Sell http://ow.ly/lbjk5 via @ AmyPorterfield
14. Best Practices for Putting Together Your Digital Book http://ow.ly/lbj8f via @PassiveVoiceBlg
15. How to Use Facebook to Sell http://ow.ly/lbjk5 via @ AmyPorterfield
16. Google+ Redesign: This Week in Social Media http://ow.ly/lbjqz
17. What Writers Can Learn From Dan Brown’s Inferno http://ow.ly/lbjuZ
18. Fact and Fiction: How to Weave Both Elements into a Good Book http://ow.ly/lbjGj via @fcmalby

I’m always looking for great content to share. If you have a writing and/or marketing blog, or have a favorite that you visit often, please leave a link in the comment section. Thanks for stopping by.

Happy writing & running, Kathy

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Check out these links to writing & marketing blog posts. Click to Tweet.

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7 SECRETS TO WRITING PERSUASIVE BACK COVER SALES COPY

By: Joel Friedlander @jfbookman

Every author knows the importance of a well-designed book cover can never be overstated. However, moments after being engaged by your cover, readers are going to flip your book over to read the back cover.

If your cover is good enough to grab readers, your back cover copy needs to convince them to buy. For authors who self publish this can be a challenge because writing promotional copy many not be their area of expertise. Plus, for many authors it’s never easy to “brag” about themselves and their own work.

Here are seven essential tips that provide you with a success formula for creating back cover copy that motivates your crowd to take action.

Click here to read the complete article (see #1 below)

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If you missed my writing & marketing tweets and retweets yesterday, here they are again: 

1. 7 Secrets to Writing Persuasive Back Cover Sales Copy http://ow.ly/l8bHx via @jfbookman
2. 5 (off the wall) tips to get back on the writing track by Casey Voight via @TeamMegaphone http://ow.ly/l8cSD
3. 5 Tips for Submitting to Writing Contests: http://t.co/0S14rBVZRB @EDFsChronicles RT @elizabethscraig
4. Ebook Publicity: A Checklist for Success http://ow.ly/l7Rvq
5. Writing an epic--getting stuck: http://t.co/qJADUrbkKy @matty_gibbon RT @elizabethscraig
6. So why is it BENEFICIAL to enter a (writing) contest?  You know, besides the obvious - winning prizes http://ow.ly/l7RUC
7. The Death of a Pseudonym http://ow.ly/l7S69 via @PassiveVoiceBlg
8. 17 Steps to a Reader-Grabbing Title http://ow.ly/l7Sl9 via @KMWeiland
9. Seven Ideas for Crafting Creative Book Reviews http://ow.ly/l7Srg via @JodyHedlund
10. Notes from Tabor Lane: Today's 18 Links to Writing & Marketing Blog Posts http://ow.ly/l7Oii
11. 45 Synonyms for “Old” and “Old-Fashioned” http://ow.ly/l85uX via Daily Writing Tips
12. How Ian Fleming Turned James Bond Into A Bestseller http://ow.ly/l86qB
13. Three Ways to Make Your Protagonist More Realistic (and More Lovable) http://ow.ly/l86xa via @write_practice
14. If You Could Do Anything for a Living, What Would You Do? http://ow.ly/l86M6 via @jeffgoins
15. Discussion: Do Writers Need Social Media? http://ow.ly/l8aJd via Writability
16. 3 Ways to Improve Your Website Design http://ow.ly/l8aSh via @JaneFriedman
17. Want More Retweets On Twitter? Use An Exclamation Point! [STUDY] http://ow.ly/l8bkn
18. Six Core Issues Facing Writers Today http://ow.ly/l8793 via Writer Unboxed 

I’m always looking for great content to share. If you have a writing and/or marketing blog, or have a favorite that you visit often, please leave a link in the comment section. Thanks for stopping by.

Happy writing & running, Kathy

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Check out these links to writing & marketing blog posts. Click to Tweet.

18 Links to Writing & Marketing Blog Posts

4 THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN CHOOSING A TITLE FOR YORU BOOK

By: Karen Woodward @woodwardKaren

Just as a great cover will help sell a book, so will a great title.

That's what I've been doing for the past few days, researching how to create the perfect title. I'm kicking myself for not doing this while Chuck Wendig had his Titular Titles flash fiction challenge.

Here's what I've learned so far. A great title is:

1. Easy To Remember

Click here to read the complete article (see #1 below)

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If you missed my writing & marketing tweets and retweets yesterday, here they are again: 

1. 4 Things To Keep In Mind When Choosing A Title For Your Book http://ow.ly/l5Ysd via @woodwardkaren
2. Publishing With A Small Press: Yes, No, Maybe? http://t.co/kKGffZG4Yk  @mollygreene RT @elizabethscraig
3. 12 Most Annoying Ways to Tick People Off on Social Media http://ow.ly/l5r9u
4. How to get better feedback: http://t.co/tOBrhvt3pj @berkun RT @elizabethscraig
5. Ebook Boxed Set Tips and How Tos http://ow.ly/l5txi
6. What Do Aaron Sorkin, Stealing, And Advice About Writing Have In Common? http://ow.ly/l5tE6 via @woodwardkaren
7. How to Promote a Book with Video http://ow.ly/l5u24
8. Google Hangouts App: One Giant Leap for Chat Kind http://ow.ly/l5uCP
9. Notes From Tabor Lane: Today's Links to Writing & Marketing Blog Posts http://ow.ly/l5pc1
10. Blood-Red Pencil: How To Pitch  A Self-Published Novel to A Publishe... http://t.co/uj05iLfOtK RT @janice_hardy
11. Supporting Characters  By Rita Karnopp http://t.co/W003i2U1J4 via @mizging RT @disorderlywords
12. Ten Keys to Success & Survival in The Romance Industry http://ow.ly/l5Jk3
13. 25 Things You Should Know About Outlining http://ow.ly/l5JAE
14. What Are You Feeling In This Moment? http://ow.ly/l5Khm
15. Are Pain and Suffering Necessary? http://ow.ly/l5Lh8 "Writers, you don't need to suffer! And other tips"
16. Things That Drive An Editor Crazy http://ow.ly/l5Ns0
17. Answers to Questions About Tense http://ow.ly/l5Ygj via Daily Writing Tips
18. Revising Made Simple: Start Where You Are http://ow.ly/l5YIp 

I’m always looking for great content to share. If you have a writing and/or marketing blog, or have a favorite that you visit often, please leave a link in the comment section. Thanks for stopping by.

Happy writing & running, Kathy

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Check out these links to writing & marketing blog posts. Click to Tweet.