Debunking the myth of stolen book ideas

April 29, 2012 in Blog, Industry News | Tags: , , | 2 comments

I recently had the honor of speaking at three different libraries for the First Pages series, made possible by Hennepin County Library and The Loft. This privilege was also a great opportunity to meet writers in one of my favorite environments – the library.

A question that popped up during two of the Q&A sessions regarded the possible theft of one’s book idea(s) during the agent and editor query process. After assuring the patrons that none of us (in publishing) operate under the premises of stealing a person’s book idea, I did come to realize why some individuals worry about such a thing.

Social media has become advantageous to a writer’s publicity and success, and this transparency can sometimes be intimidating. Worries of sharing “too much” of one’s idea and the possible repercussions of individuals stealing one’s book idea are definitely unsettling. However, no writer should work and worry under such a myth.

The Truth: Publishers, editors and agents running a legitimate publishing company have no desire to steal a writer’s book idea, For one thing, it’s a bad business practice on any level. For another, why would we want to risk putting ourselves in the illegal activity of copyright infringement?

 

Reason #1, TIME IS SHORT – For Red Sofa, it takes three of us to answer all the incoming queries. We’re talking about basic responses. Answering book queries is a major time investment. Even if a publishing entity (publisher, agent or editor) wanted to be dishonest and steal an author’s idea, it would a huge investment of non-existent time. In short, we’re already busy trying to do our jobs correctly and honestly.

 

Reason #2, MANY FOLKS HAVE SIMILAR IDEAS (no joke) – Ever heard of the book EAT, PRAY, LOVE? If you were an agent/editor after the popularity of that book (and the release of the movie), there were innumerable queries about others’ experiences of a similar nature. This also happened with THE DAVINCI CODE and TWILIGHT. The world was witness to the hassles JK Rowling faced with HARRY POTTER. With social media, better outlets for communication and more opportunities to put books into the hands of readers, it’s expected to see similar ideas written by different writers at the same time.

Are any of these folks stealing the others’ ideas? No. It’s just a sign of the times; some ideas will occur simultaneously to many folks in locations all over the world. Here’s where it’s up to YOU, the writer, to fine-tune your writing voice, to find your niche, to make your book the best that it can be. This is the only way it will stand out better with editors/agents vs. blending in like a repeat of another book idea.

 

Reason #3, IT’S EXPENSIVE TO STEAL SOMEONE’S BOOK IDEA – Imagine being a publisher in today’s economic climate. Ensuring a book is profitable is absolutely essential. Each book that gets published will hopefully result in more books getting published. The goal is that the demand for books grows, no matter the format.

Now step back and consider what would happen if publishers, editors or agents regularly stole book ideas. We’d be tied up in the courts, spending time and money that could be better streamlined into new books. Our current authors would be unable to focus on their writing, and most importantly we’d all be unable to focus on new books. Who wants to operate on that type of business model? I know I don’t. And legitimate publishing entities feel the same way.

 

Stealing a book idea is reprehensible. Please keep in mind that all of us in publishing know this is a group effort; that it’s better to be unified in the continued future of books and publishing vs. participating in the theft of one’s creative work. Never forget, the primary reason for writing (and working) in this industry is our love of books.

What has your experience been? And how have you faced this concern with your book’s publishing path?

Let the words do the walking

April 16, 2012 in Blog, Entertainment & Fun, Writing Resources | Tags: , | 2 comments

This weekend I had the opportunity to view Bert Stern: Original MadMan at the Minneapolis International Film Festival (which I highly recommend!) Directed by Shannah Laumeister.  this is a documentary about  Bert Stern, who played a major role in modern advertising and photography; as well as the quality we see in these areas today.

To simply say he is talented doesn’t fully reflect the power of his photos, the perspective he added to many advertising campaigns, as well as his ability to bring out the beauty of any person willing to pose for his camera; let alone the personal investment given to portraits of people over the years.

Throughout the film, he was repeatedly recorded saying “I don’t really take the pictures, I just push the button.”  It was the statement of a man whose art came from within.  The creative expressions were never forced.

After watching Bert Stern: Original MadMan, it came to mind how Stern’s humble thoughts on his artistry equally apply to writing. Writing is such an isolated task, an internal process that is externally expressed in the form of a book. To be pushed into the task of writing is never a good thing.

I’d like to take this process another step further in encouraging writers to avoid following trends or writing to the expectations of others. Write because you can’t function without doing it.  Let your head and heart do the writing vs. writing with the intention of only gaining exposure and attention from others.

There will be moments when a writer has no desire to tell a story.  That’s fine, as this is a normal part of any creative process.  If anything that’s an opportunity to change the routine, to do some other things, to catch up with friends and family.

I’m very confident that YOU, the writer, will eventually have that special “Bert Stern” moment; something along the lines of, “I didn’t really write the book, I just knew the words to put on paper.”

Have you read the newest Authors Guild Bulletin?

April 12, 2012 in Blog, Industry News, Writing Resources | Leave a comment

It’s that time again, notes from the most recent Authors Guild Bulletin.  I always get excited when a new copy arrives at Red Sofa Literary, as there’s always a guarantee it’ll be full of good information.

For those who haven’t been reading the news about the Department of Justice and its anti-trust actions against several publishers, then it’s time you did.  A quick search on Twitter, Publishers Weekly, Google and more will provide more information than could even be imagined.  Afterwards, let your fingers do the walking to pg. 6 of the Fall 2011/Winter 2012 Authors Guild Bulletin.  (Talk about impeccable timing!)

Other things appreciated in the newest bulletin:

  1. Guild Previews Booktalk Nation – by Karen Holt
  2. Of Digital Parasites and Culture: An Interview with Robert Levine – by Isabel Howe.  I can’t emphasize enough that everyone  needs to read this article.  If you’re concerned about the future of books and publishing, it’ll be worth the read.
  3. A quote from the Guardian, “The roots writers put down later in life often outweigh the accidents of birth.”  Yes!!!

Thoughts, questions, comments?  Let’s discuss. . .

The Telling Room – Doing good things in Portland, Maine

April 8, 2012 in Blog | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

In February I had the opportunity to visit the Telling Room, a nonprofit writing center “dedicated to the idea that children and young adults are natural storytellers. “  I had done my research before arriving in Portland, ME – and was excited for the chance to meet the staff.  The day of our meeting, I decided to walk to the offices, as it was a gorgeous day.  Plus it was a chance to see the harbor – as they have a view of the ships and the ocean water.   Upon entering the offices of the Telling Room, I was comfortable, as it’s a very warm environment.  (Colorful, lots of open space balanced with comfy spots).  It was the kind of place that my former teen self would have gravitated too no less.  (Let alone my present-day adult self)

Immediately I was greeted by Heather, Molly, and John.   To say I felt welcomed would be a serious understatement.  After learning more about the work they are doing, and a chance to chat about where writing & publishing is going – they loaded me up with books.  Not just ANY books.  These were anthologies written by their students.   The Telling Room provided not only the opportunity for these children and teens to write, but published their stories.  I was amazed.  This is the equivalent of framing a child’s work of art, i.e. the perfect way to help instill confidence when creating a new work. 

Now that I’ve had time to read all of the books, I find myself wanting other organizations to do the same thing (for children and teens) in their communities.  The Telling Room anthologies reflect quite a bit of information about the lives of these children and teen writers.  Many have faced displacement, death, violence, loneliness, love, broken hearts, friendships, bullying, hope, kindness, and more.   Any adult would agree that’s a lot to experience, especially when so young.

It’s also evident these young writers are very creative.  In “I Remember a Story,” Alex Yu writes a poem titled Ode to Origami Yoda, where the words are organized to resemble the shape of Yoda (from Star Wars).  “How to Climb Trees” is an anthology from a Fairy House Workshop at the Telling Room, where the writers celebrated imagination without rules or boundaries.  Alexa Carrington writes about learning archery in her essay, Bulls Eye:

“In those moments I wasn’t a feeble, different, awkward adolescent, but a person through and through. Something about the veil of physical education and callow youth, something above the low expectation and so-called ineptitude, I was a girl with an arrow in her arms.  I was myself.”

 In “Because It Was Colorful,” Nirera Uwimana writes about her drawing notebook.  She finds much joy in filling its pages.  Her only “problem” is that it’s not finished yet.  She closes out by stating, the pages are so white that they make me want to draw more pictures.”  My hope is once those pages are finished, someone will hand her another book. 

The Telling Room is a special place and doing good things – outreach to local schools in Portland (Maine), writing workshops with children of all life backgrounds, and most importantly providing permanent place where children and teens can write and create new stories.   In the best and worst of times, preserving one’s imagination is the key to looking forward, to thinking about possibilities and a future.   The Telling Room is making this possible in Southern Maine.

For anyone reading this posting, please take a moment to donate your time in working with children and teens, in whatever capacity that’s comfortable.  If you are a writer or a person who works in publishing (like me) – get involved!  If you can’t participate, make a donation to writing organizations like the Telling Room.  And last but not least, let’s try to make sure that arts organizations like this are given support at the local, state and national levels.  Our children are the future of this country, and wouldn’t it be awesome if each child was given this type of experience?

For anyone who’d like to volunteer or make a donation to the Telling Room:

The Telling Room
Address: 225 Commercial Street, Suite 201, Portland, ME 04101
Phone: (207) 774-6064
Email: writers@tellingroom.org
Website: www.tellingroom.org

1st publishing “myth” to ignore – If I Write a Book, the Readers Will Come

April 3, 2012 in Blog, Writing Platform | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Many of us have (usually) fond memories of childhood and our attempts at running businesses.  Maybe it was babysitting, selling lemonade/cookies in front of one’s home, or mowing lawns.  No matter what, I have a feeling anyone reading this post did the same thing as me – bought books, bought some more books, and used the remaining change on ice cream during lunch time.

Did these “gigs” simply happen because we were willing to do them?  Probably not.   They happened through networking.  Specifically the important adults in our lives more than likely made them happen.  At least until we were able to prove our abilities otherwise.

Now accelerate into today’s publishing environment. In an era of websites, vlogs, blogs, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and other social media sites, one needs to be fully prepared for the before and after process of a book’s publishing life.

Gone are the days where writing a book was the primary focus.  It’s the MOST important part of any writer’s life, and it should be.  Yet, in order to get another book offer, to actually be able to continue one’s writing career, a forward-thinking attitude needs to be present.  Never, never, never assume that just because the book is written that all the work is completed.    There’s the important task of actually selling the book. 

Social media can be a writer’s buddy during the publishing process. . .I promise.  Simply pick and choose the sites that best work for the book – and formulate & execute a strategic plan that will benefit your book’s future success. 

People that I believe to be great resources include: Christina Katz, Rusty Shelton, and Dan Blank. Check out their websites.  Do your homework – and of course have fun while building your social media presence.

The Red Sofa Chats – Angela James, of Carina Press

February 19, 2012 in The Red Sofa Chats, Twitter | Tags: , | 23 comments

Now that we’ve all survived a hectic January, it’s time for the Red Sofa Chats to return. I’m excited to have Angela James as our first guest in 2012. She brings a forward-thinking eye to the publishing table, and extensive knowledge about digital publishing. I appreciate her positivity, advice about publishing and general enthusiasm for life, and wouldn’t have met her if it wasn’t for Twitter.  Thank you Angela for joining the Red Sofa Chats!


Angela’s bio:

Executive editor of Carina Press, Harlequin’s digital-first imprint, and veteran of the digital publishing industry, Angela James is a long-time advocate for digital publishing. She has enjoyed nearly a decade of experience in digital publishing, including successfully launching, building and serving as executive editor for two digital-first presses. Angela frequently travels to regional, national and international writing conferences to meet with authors and readers and to drag them to the digital dark side. She’s the creator of online self-editing course, Before You Hit Send, which she offers to authors at all stages of their writing career. You can find Angela daily on both Twitter and Facebook.

Though Angela does not do much acquiring and editing these days, spending most of her time on the administrative end of things, she continues to edit a small group of authors she’s had a long-time editorial relationship with, as well as the special, invitation-only, Carina Press holiday collections. In addition, she’s been known to be seduced into editing the random novella that catches her attention while she’s browsing the submissions inbox. And Angela is still waiting for someone to write her the ultimate cowboy space opera romance adventure, in the vein of Firefly. For that particular project, she’ll give up sleep in order to edit!


1. Why did you choose to become an editor?

My original career was in occupational therapy. I took on editing a decade ago as a side-project, because I loved books and wanted to be involved in their creation. One pregnancy and a move across the state later, and I ended up taking on more editorial work while I took a “hiatus” from my OT job to be a stay-at-home mom for a few years. Things snowballed from there, and I somehow never ended up going back to my occupational therapy career, which is what I’d always intended to do, but instead developed a (mildly successful) career in editing!


2. Are there any projects you wish you could have edited?

Pretty much everything ever written by Ilona Andrews and Nalini Singh, because I love reading their work. I would love to discover a writing voice like theirs!


3. What are you reading right now (for personal reading, for fun)?

This changes just about daily. I read a lot, and I read quickly. I read 330 books in 2011, not including what I read for work. Most recently I read Fair Game by Patricia Briggs and Oracle’s Moon by Thea Harrison. I’m looking forward to the release of the latest J.D. Robb book, and I’m currently reading an older fantasy series by Jennifer Roberson.


4. How do you utilize Twitter? How do you believe it has changed the way we go about publishing books?

Twitter is a fun place for me, so I don’t consciously have a plan for it or use it ruthlessly for just one thing. I do a lot of things with purpose, but Twitter, for me, is a place to hear about the world, interact with people I like, and sometimes be a little silly. I do the occasional promotional tweet, but more often I’m talking about other people’s books. The one way in which I do use Twitter for work is to do a hashtag called #editreport where I give authors insight into what editors are thinking as they read the slush pile.

I don’t know if it’s changed how we publish books, but I do think it’s influenced how we promote them. All social media definitely has had a dramatic impact on how we market and promote!


5. If you had a crystal ball, where do you think (or hope) publishing will be in 5 yrs?

Let’s see, in 5 years I think the digital format will be at least 50% of publishing sales. I believe we’ll have seen a calming of the incredible rush of everyone and their dog to self-publish a book. Digital royalty rates at traditional publishers may be somewhat higher. Advances will be lower, as will print runs. And, sadly, even more brick and mortar bookstores will have shut their doors. But on the upside, readers will have an even more expansive selection of books to read, at a reasonable price!



Thanks so much Angela!  For my readers, what are your thoughts on the future sales #s for ebooks?  And what have your experience been regarding social media and how books get published today?  Angela will be answering questions, so you can be as specific as you want.    The winner will get to select two digital ARCs of the March/April Carina Press titles. The last day is March 1st.

Twitter – How to Use It Effectively

February 8, 2012 in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , | 1 comment

by Gwen Fitzgerald

Every author wants to put him/herself out there, and it’s important to build an online base. But it’s hard to get noticed on a website crowded with people doing the same thing. Twitter is a powerful tool that allows one to give updates consistently, meaning that connections are made and maintained.

For an author, this makes it easier to build a platform while writing a book.  In the long run, this effort and attention will help with promotion and networking. Yes, it can be intimidating and confusing to begin building a Twitter “empire.” The end result is a marketable writing presence before finishing one’s book.

  1. Work Your Profile:

Fill out your bio with interesting information. Make it just a few lines long, but include your genre, your book’s title (or working title,) your passions, and profession. Including this information allows other Twitterers to find and add you.

Link your Facebook and website.  It’s quite normal for people to not use their real names on Twitter, so your Facebook friends might not think to look for you unless this link is established.

Use a relevant photo. Even if you don’t put in a self-portrait, it’s better to put in something that will catch your followers’ eyes. Use your book cover, or find some interesting focus of your writing a la vintage Penguin covers. It can seem tempting to use a photo of your dog in a Santa suit, but when people are browsing their home page, the picture is the main thing drawing their eye. The photo only adds to the recognition.


2.      Follow the Right People:

The best way to get followers is to follow people who will follow you back. While they’re interesting to read, celebrities probably won’t return the favor. Instead, imagine you’re at a networking event, and think about who you’d interact with. Try adding local writing clubs and bookstores; then look through their followers and find other writers, readers, agents, editors or publishers to follow (and interact with them).

If you’re writing non-fiction, find people who are experts in your subject, as well as people who share the same interest. You can find them by searching via hashtags and profiles. At that level, most people will follow you back.  Twitter is a better use of time when interacting with people who are helpful vs. falling into the trap of playing the numbers game.


3.      Say Interesting Things:

You’re building an identity as a writer. So, tweeting about your toast isn’t doing much good unless you’re writing a breakfast cookbook. How about posting a sentence from your novel that you’re particularly proud of or a really interesting piece of trivia from your research? Create posts that force interaction with followers. Create a hashtag (it’s as easy as putting a # symbol in front of a word- after that it’s automatic) and use it to monitor a contest or discussion you’ve created. Post a confusing photo and ask what people think it is. Look to how companies ask questions as a marketing tool. It will result in more interactions and increased traffic to your profile.

Use hashtags liberally. Almost everything you have to say can fit into a hashtag trend, and using hashtags helps people find you. Also, look at the current trends from your home page and post your thoughts using the hashtags.

Post pictures! If you see a funny book title in the library or have a new cover design, take a picture and post it using something like Twitpic. Pictures get people’s attention and are easy for people to follow.

Think about what would make you un-follow a person and avoid doing it! Anything that would be classified as TMI or potentially disrespectful to people should stay off your feed. You don’t want to alienate followers; it’s better to put one’s best foot forward.

Try to tweet twice a day. It doesn’t have to take a lot of energy or time, it just takes a minute to post a picture or some interesting trivia.


4.      Connect Your Twitter Identity to the Rest of It:

Include your Twitter username everywhere possible. Link to your personal Twitter page in the signature of emails, include it on business cards and Facebook – and more. It’s also easy to casually mention your Twitter username upon meeting another Twitter fanatic.  

With the assistance of an app, one can even tweet updates to a blog and post tweets on Facebook. Using a browser like Rockmelt for your social media posting makes it quick to connect to Twitter. There are also programs like HootSuite that are organized so one can hit almost every social media website at once.

One final note: There are people who hate Twitter. Please don’t be one of them. It’s a powerful tool and a great way to connect with people. And almost every design feature can be worked around. You can set your followers to come to you by RSS. If you feel like you don’t have the time to tweet once or twice a day, use a program like HootSuite or SocialOomph to schedule tweets for the future or use Ping.fm to text those tweets. With just a little effort, you can make Twitter work no matter what your style is.

In the end, the most important thing to remember is to put yourself out there. Don’t be afraid to “talk” on Twitter.  Don’t be intimidated to interact with others. Be yourself and express what you’re doing. People will come and be interested. It can only do you good, I promise.

-Gwen is the wonderful intern behind the scenes, who makes life at Red Sofa Literary smoother. :)  She can be contacted at Gwen@redsofaliterary.com or found via Twitter at @GwenFitzgerald

A Penny for Your Thoughts: Queries from 2011

February 1, 2012 in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , | 1 comment

by Dawn

As 2011 is officially over, I thought it would be a good idea to share my observations on the query process.  Specifically in regard to Red Sofa Literary.

In the world of publishing, any agent will confirm that our representative categories are often ignored.  So much that it takes a special dose of patience to avoid being frustrated. Sadly the assumption that our clearly stated submission guidelines will be honored is sometimes too much to ask. 



Observation #1
Here are some of the many categories of book queries received at Red Sofa – that fell outside my representative categories:

Business
College Reference
Religion/Spiritual (a ridiculous amount)
Academic
Genre Fiction (of all types)
General Fiction
Memoirs
Self-Help
Parenting
Medical
Cooking
Poetry
Wedding/Ettiquette
Screenplays

If you take a glance at my agency categories, it’ll be evident I don’t represent books of this nature.

THE LESSON:  Go to any agent’s website and consult his/her representative categories before sending a query. Definitely use the print guides, but take an extra step of visiting agency websites, in order to save time and frustration.



Observation #2
Frequency of memoir and fiction queries for Red Sofa in 2011 = 25.8%

Here’s a story: Let’s say you open a coffee shop.  The only thing you will be selling is black coffee and Americanos. Those are the only items available on the menu. Before opening, you’ve of course ensured all print and marketing materials state clearly those are the only options. Assuredly customers will understand this. Right?

Now imagine 25% of your customers attempt to order ham sandwiches and ice cream (every day), despite these items not being available. Despite the clear communication before and after opening the coffee shop. In summary, people ignore the menu.

THE LESSON: Take this “caffeinated” situation and compare it to publishing.  When agency categories are ignored, both the author and agency will walk away unhappy. The most efficient use of one’s time is to explicitly follow the submission guidelines of agents queried. Hopefully this will result in a more successful query process.



Observation #3
Does your memoir really need to be published? Specifically with a large commercial publisher. 

I have to say that with all the memoir queries received, the plethora of material is beyond depressing. Books on cancer, abuse, bad parents, death, the end of the world, mental illness, failed relationships, other world dimensions, hopelessness and more came across my desk. 

Anyone who knows me well will state that I don’t expect happy, Hollywood-like books or endings to books. But I do have to draw the line with the utterly depressive nature of today’s memoirs found in the query pile.  I madly, truly believe we do NOT need any more books with topics of this nature – unless they are innovative, different, or set a new standard.  And of course queried to agents who are actively seeking memoirs. . .

THE LESSON: As Neil Genzlinger wrote in his editorial, “The Problem With Memoirs,” on Jan. 28, 2011 (for the NY Times) “That’s what makes a good memoir — it’s not a regurgitation of ordinariness or ordeal, not a dart thrown desperately at a trendy topic, but a shared discovery.

Maybe that’s a good rule of thumb: If you didn’t feel you were discovering something as you wrote your memoir, don’t publish it. Instead hit the delete key, and then go congratulate yourself for having lived a perfectly good, undistinguished life. There’s no shame in that. “



Conclusion:

Overall I’m hoping this will encourage more than discourage. I’m constantly reminding aspiring authors that all of us are part of the book publishing process. That it’s better shared, than going about alone. The only thing those of us in publishing ask is that basic submission guidelines are followed.  

We all know that writing requires a special commitment and passion for words. So please try to appreciate (and treasure) the overall experience of writing a book, whether you’re published or not. That should be the most basic expectation when all is said and done.

New Year, New Book Idea?

January 14, 2012 in Blog, Query Process, Writing Platform | Tags: , , , | 1 comment

As many folks get back into the regular paces post the holidays, I’m confident there are people who’ve made a resolution of writing a book and getting it published. Maybe others plan on re-writing a previous book idea; either way what it’s absolutely essential that one prepares accordingly (vs. flying by the seat of the pants).

Things to remember:

1.       Will readers want your book? Specifically is there an audience who will clamor to read it? If the new book idea has a limited audience, the odds of gaining the attention of an agent (or editor) aren’t very good. This especially pertains to personal memoirs, of which there needs to be a guarantee thousands of readers would want to learn your life story. And that the individuals approached (in publishing) are interested in seeing a book of this nature.

 

2.       Remember beta readers, as well as population segments who’d be interested in your book idea. It’s one thing to write a book, it’s another to get the input of readers who represent your audience/market. If you haven’t found beta readers within your book’s target audience, it’s time to do so. Some of the best critiques can result from this part of the writing process. 

Ex: If writing a book for teenagers, then find a few teenagers who’d happily read your book. As we all know, most teenagers have no issues in expressing their opinions. Teens who read (and possibly write themselves) will provide much needed feedback on the strength of your book.   

 

3.       Do the necessary homework before approaching editors and agents. I sometimes feel like a broken record, in that I’m always saying this. Yet, it seems that many writers fall into the trap of putting the figurative cart before the horse. In Mike Nappa’s book, 77 Reasons Why Your Book Was Rejected, this is a constant reminder. DO YOUR HOMEWORK–it’s not a choice, this is a mandatory requirement. (Makes me feel better that I’m not alone here.)

Ex:  Sending a query to an agent or editor that is outside his/her book categories=an immediate rejection. A good publishing experience requires one works with individuals who share the same goal(s).  If your book idea doesn’t mesh with an agent or editor’s categories, it’s not a good foundation for a positive publishing experience.

 

4.       Remember that publishers are looking at the bigger picture (in publishing), as well as agents. Do you truly believe your book will sell thousands (upon thousands) of books? Do you have a large enough writing platform to turn the heads of editors and agents? Can you write and do it well? Do you have more than one book in you? Is the publishing process a long-term goal you’ll stay committed to, or is it just a hobby? As Mike Nappa aptly states, publishers need to believe they’ll make a profit on your book. If one is lacking a noticeable writing platform, the ability to write, and/or commitment to helping ensure a profit will be made, there’s a good chance it’ll be hard to win an agent or editor over.  So go back to points #1, #2 and #3. Then make a plan and prepare accordingly.

 

Questions? Thoughts? It’s always a treat hearing your feedback, your personal experiences.

 

The Writer’s Workout – Go check it out!

January 8, 2012 in Authors, Blog, New Books, Writing Platform, Writing Resources | Tags: , , , , | 3 comments

Title: THE WRITER’S WORKOUT
Author: Christina Katz
Pub date: Jan. 10, 2012

As many of you know, one of the books I consistently recommend is GET KNOWN BEFORE THE BOOK DEAL by Christina Katz. I personally believe it’s one of the best reference books for building a platform, let alone experiencing a good writerly experience.  From the first page of that book, it’s evident that Christina practices what she preaches;  that she wants to make sure other writers have the best experience possible with their own personal writing paths.

So imagine my excitement upon receiving her newest book, THE WRITER’S WORKOUT. Over the last week I’ve taken the time to read Christina’s book, and am extremely impressed with the thoroughness of its content. So much information is covered, with every single idea and suggestion very accessible.

You can read the book from front to back, open at random pages, or read the specific sections (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter).  It’s your choice.  One entry a day = the perfect addition to one’s daily writing routine. Yet another reason to add Christina’s book to one’s writing reference library.

There is much to be appreciated about THE WRITER’S WORKOUT.  The “sticky brain” approach, the 500-word dash, the suggestion of saving documents and blog posts that inspire you (to be read again later), honoring introspection (during the writing process), the benefits of “social artistry,” and more.  Christina even includes various exercises for developing one’s book ideas, one’s network, and more.  I especially like her “Take 25 Actions” exercise.  (A great idea!)

THE WRITER’S WORKOUT is an interactive book that only requires you the writer, and a willingness to learn and execute new practices to one’s writing routine.  In the long run, one’s writerly life will benefit from these exercises.

So, do know it should be no surprise that THE WRITER’S WORKOUT will be required reading for my future clients – and highly recommended to my current ones too.

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Last but not least, here are some pages I highly recommend from THE WRITER’S WORKOUT:

#14 – Solvency Plan
#19 – Culture a Body of Work
#21 – Writing Markets
#33 – Target Specific Markets
#38 – Dismantle Dismal Thinking
#49 – Awaken Your Senses
#62 – Lead Later
#81 – Serve Up
#83 – Unblock Yourself
#85 – Settle In
#107 – Prospect From Yourself
#110 – Dig Deeper Say More
#117 – Transform Impatience
#141 – Stockpile Resources
#144 – Stay Strong, Carry On
#177 – Don’t Rush Ripe (seriously folks, a must read)
#186 – Evaluate Your Visibility
#237 – Personal Not Egomanical
#266 – Keep it Professional
#280 – Benefits of Traditional Publishing
#285 – Benefits of Self-Publishing
#295 and #297 – Strut Your Social Side (pts. 1 & 2)
#308 – Go Global
#321 and #323 – Update Your Platform (pts. 1 & 2)
#364 – Flex Your Ideas
 

So enjoy!  And go find Christina’s book, as it hits bookshelves this week! :)

Red Sofa Literary

 

May 2012
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Poll – Red Sofa Literary is curious about your Social Media experiences

What has been your Social Media experience as a writer? We'd love to see what your personal experiences have been.

THE POLL

Thanks!

-Dawn & Jennie

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