Monday, December 26, 2011

A quote from my review of "The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting Published, 5th ed."

Here's a link to the full review of The Complete Idiot's guide to Getting Published, 5th ed. by Sheree Bykofsky and Jennifr Basye Sander  on the book review page of this blog:
http://releaseyourwriting.blogspot.com/p/book-reviews-for-writers-by-writers.html

One important quote strikes me as so relevant for your 2012 publishing achievement goals. Remember, It's hard work.
Here's the quote:

Writing a book is an art
Self-publishing a book is a business.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

2012 Writer's Calendar

Still time to buy your 2012 writer's calendar...

Bylines Calendar for writers is running late this year but now you can view and purchase the 2012 edition of their spiral-bound calendar dedicated to writers. Here's the link: http://bylinescalendar.com.
Great holiday gift!

I decided a few years ago that I needed a paper calendar specifically for tracking my writing. Between assignments, submission deadlines, and those floating ideas that need to be organized somewhere, using an online calendar or Outlook just doesn't have the flexibility you can get with Bylines Calendar for 2012. The publisher was not able to produce a 2011 edition, due to a family medical problem, so I purchased a different one, and really missed my Bylines.

HAPPILY, it's back and you can order it as a gift to yourself, or for a friend, here.
I even have an essay in it this year, so I'll be even more excited to receive my copy.
Helen

Thursday, November 24, 2011

We blog because...


 "Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But since
no one was listening, everything must be said again.
"
    Andre Gide






Thanks to Jan Phillips, visionary thought leader, for sharing this quote, along with her MuseLetter this morning.

Jan is the author of Marry Your Muse, one of my all-time favorite books.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Give Thanks for Brain Food for Writers

Thanks to Writer's Relief for these brain food suggestions for your holiday weekend. Thanksgiving is a perfect time for inspiration, with time away from the computer, family fun, comfort food and holiday memories. So eat well, tell stories, and listen ... the inspiration for your next essay or article might be passed around the table.


We all know certain foods contribute positively to your physical health, and some foods contribute positively (in inches) to your waistline. But did you know that some foods can support brain function—and maybe even make you a better writer?
You might even see some of them on the table this Thanksgiving!

Antioxidants, like those found in fruits and vegetables, offer disease- and age-fighting power to keep your creative impulses firing at top speed. Blueberries are said to be especially powerful.

Omega-3 fatty acids (from fish oil and flax) are said to boost your brain’s gray matter. That’s like building muscle in your mind. Prepare to do some heavy mental lifting…or just impress people with your mental calisthenics.

Choline is a nutrient found in egg yolk or milk that can help ward off senility. Choline also keeps your memory going strong, so you can actually remember whether your character was wearing a red shirt twenty pages ago or a blue one!

Folic acid: One study found that adults taking regular folic acid supplements demonstrated better cognitive function, especially in memory and critical thinking. So if you’re really having trouble getting past a problematic plot point, it may be time to supplement!

Chocolate lovers rejoice! According to WebMD: “A study by food scientists found that the antioxidant concentration in a cup of hot cocoa was higher than that found in either red wine or green tea.” Of course, getting your antioxidants from veggies (sans whipped cream, fat, and added sugar) may be a better bet. But next time your spouse gives you “that look” for drinking hot chocolate, you can say “I’m doing it for my brain!”

Green tea is good for your brain. People who drink green tea regularly fare better mentally when it comes to aging. This is happy news for writers—especially if you’re the type who stays up into the wee hours working on a manuscript; your green tea can multitask by keeping you both awake AND young! Plus, moderate amounts of caffeine are said to boost concentration as long as you don’t overdo it.

There's lots more. Read full article here:  Brain Foods for Creative Writer

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Write today - it's a writer's holiday

Today is I Love to Write Day.
I never heard of this holiday until I saw it on SheWrites.com this morning.


In fact, it is the 10th anniversary of the event - so write something for yourself, and then read more about the history of the event here.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

The true steps to self-pub success detailed here

Jane Friedman, as many of you know, continues to evolve after her long career with Writer's Digest. 
In one of her blog posts she advises a writer about whether to update a book with the current publisher, or because of her following, issue it on her own, for far greater royalties on sales.

Read the full piece here if you wish, but note these salient points made by Jane. These illustrate exactly what you need for publishing success, especially if you plan to self-publish:

  • A strong e-mail list with a good open rate (25%+)
  • Well-established social media network that can help spread word of mouth
  • The right contacts to help place guest articles/posts on the right sites/blogs that target the book’s target audience
  • An existing website that can be quickly adjusted on the fly to focus on the re-release
  • A nice backlog of content connected to the book—or re-purposed from the book—that can be excerpted across sites/blogs interested in your work
  • Resources to hire a good publicist for the first 3 months of relaunch
  • Resources to hire a good cover designer
I know you’re business savvy enough to do this on your own and earn quite a bit of money doing it. The big questions for me would be:
  1. Do you have the time & energy to spend on it?
  2. Do you have the resources to hire help as needed?

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Memoir - Essay contest


So if NANOWRIMO doesn't suit your style, how about a fabulous Essay - Memoir contest? This is sponsored by The Writer  magazine and Gotham Writer's Workshop. 
Here are the details.

Entry fee is just $10 and the judge is Lee Gutkind, founder and editor of Creative Non-Fiction.  Ready???

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

NANOWRIMO launches today

Today is the beginning of National Novel Writers Month. If you're new to the concept of NANOWRIMO, a gigantic month of speed writing, visit nanowrimo.org and you’ll see this is for real. A month dedicated to starting or working on an existing writing project. It doesn’t have to be a novel, but a commitment to write every day for the month of November.

By signing up (free) at NANOWRIMO, you’ll be able to log in daily and track the words you’ve written. The goal, of course, is to write a draft of a novel in 30 days, approximately 50,000 words. Think its impossible? You’re wrong. And the motivation is nearly irresistible. You’re accountable only to yourself, and by logging in to track your words, you are setting a goal for yourself to at least try to write every day for the whole month.  You write on your own computer, not online, so your work stays private.
Thousands of participants have enjoyed this worldwide event, making it great fun. Sign up, log in when you write, and the system tracks your word count toward your goal.


So if you need a kick in the keyboard, get going. This is your month to make a difference.

Helen

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Tweet like you mean business.

While Twitter doesn't lend itself to deep conversations, there are still ways you can create a good impression and get results with it.

MediaBistro.com has a article on seven ways to network more effectively on Twitter. The full article is here.
Of course, it all starts with following the right people. Two other helpful suggestions are to retweet useful information, which I've mentioned here before, and to ask questions. It is an effective tool for peer opinions and to let people know what you're thinking about or working on.

I'm at twitter.com#cclarity if you want to follow me.

Helen

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

A new twist: Perseus to offer self-publilshed book production, if you work through agent.

While there are many ebook production services, quite affordable to independent authors, the Bookseller now reports:

US independent publisher Perseus Books Group has launched a distribution and marketing service for authors wanting to self-publish their own e-books, offering a 70% royalty rate to the author.
Called Argo Navis Author Services, it will be offered to authors represented by agencies that have signed an agreement with Perseus, with Janklow & Nesbit Associates the first to have done so.

More details at original post
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/perseus-launches-self-publishing-e-book-service.html

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

"Platform" continues to be the operative word in success for writers

I stress the importance of platform when speaking with writers, especially those trying to attract the attention of an agent and publisher. A strong, polished presence on Facebook, a good blog, and lots of friends on Twitter and now also Google+ seems t be the minimum requirement for the foundation of a solid platform.

Now today, I saw an ad for freelance writer/bloggers for a health/fitness site, and their platform request went beyond the basics to this:

"... Send us 3 pithy, information-packed sentences about yourself, along with your CV (cut and paste, no attachments), 3-5 links to your best published work, and at least 2 links to your social profiles
(Twitter, Digg, StumbleUpon etc.)
"

The hiring firm produces an organic healthy food and lifestyle magazine. By requiring you to prove the strength of your social media connections, you can see they want you to have an audience, so you can not only blog for them, but publicize it everywhere, not just in your online portfolio at Facebook and your own blog. Making money online starts with the sites attracting readers, which pays for advertising. If you can bring the readers, you're ahead of other writers who apply.

If you want the specifics on the above job listing, email me at Helen@releaseyourwriting.com.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Publishing and Rejection

Writer's Chronicle has a long interview this month with Janet Burroway that benefits all of us.

One thing in particular resonates with me now, because two of my clients received rejections from agents today.

Burroway discusses the difficulties of getting published in recent years, and has this to say:

"The agent is now less an advocate than a buffer between the publisher and the writer's unrealistic expectations...  Mergers, takeovers, and the disappearance of companies have become commonplace."

So publishers squeeze editors, who squeeze agents, and sadly they put the squeeze on the writers. High hopes are dashed, because only those with a book that will be the road to success for the agent, editor and publisher will see the light.

That's bad news but points again and again to the need for platform-building and doing good agent research.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Selling books to libraries

Whether we publish traditionally or independently with self-publishing, we know our books get listed in the Baker & Taylor database. This is what most libraries use to find new material, and order books for their collection. If having a listing among the millions of books in B&T isn't enough, you can spend a little money for a direct approach. Maybe you thought you couldn't afford to advertise, but ...





For a fee, this firm offers you a listing in their monthly catalog to libraries. As an example, their half-page ad for one month costs $75. If you need a way to reach libraries, and have your book reach a wider audience, take a look at First Chapter Plus.

BONUS: First Chapter also hosts a huge Blogging Authors, a perfect place for you to participate.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Negative reviews


A bad review can seem devasting to an author, but in truth, it may not cause much harm. 

This is from a journal report in Marketing Science:
"Crunching data that cross-matched book sales against critics’ appraisals in The New York Times Book Review, they found that negative reviews of a new book by an “established” author hurt sales. 

“For books by relatively unknown (new) authors, however, negative publicity has the opposite effect,” increasing sales by 45 percent over their expected sales trajectory, they write. Evidently this boils down to increased awareness: the mere act of introducing something to a broader public — even by saying that it stinks — increases the chances that more members of that public will want it anyway."

So cheer up friends, and remember to offer to review books for fellow writers. 
I write book reviews professionally, and while my reviews are not always five-star winners, I almost always get a thank-you from the publicist, and often, from an appreciative author.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

A new hangout, just for writers

Everything old is new again. In addition to Google Plus, which is a new competitor to Facebook, Google has launched  

Google + Hangouts for Writing Groups


MediaBistro.com has a full report and posted a link to a how-to by Mary Robinette Kowal.

In its early stages, it looks useful for writing groups in distant cities, for friends logging in for the commitment to write and then checking back with the group, and creating a structure for discussion or critique. Learn more here.

Mary is one of the people testing the new Hangout for Writers. Learn more and sign up here if you too want to be an early adopter. https://plus.google.com/up/start/?sw=1&type=st

Here's feedback from participants: http://www.jamierubin.net/2011/07/14/my-first-google-writers-hangout/
Helen

Monday, July 18, 2011

Reinforcing the message about the need for a quality book cover.

Those of you who have seen my workshops and presentations on publishing know I always show this slide:


It is important to not only choose a good title for your book, but to make sure your cover has clarity at thumbnail size.

An online colleague, Stephanie Chandler of Authority Publishing, went much further in explaining how a homemade cover can kill your book.  Click here to read her full article: http://authoritypublishing.com/book-publishing/how-a-homemade-cover-design-can-kill-your-self-published-book/

Thursday, June 2, 2011

The value of book reviews

Those of you who hear me speak at conferences, and who follow this blog, know I talk a lot about author marketing. One element is the value of online book reviews. I write reviews for BlogCritics.org, among other venues such as New York Journal of Books, and Salon. Here's an interesting timeline on the power of a review.

I wrote a review for BlogCritics of Think: Straight Talk for Women to Stay Smart in a Dumbed-Down World, by Lisa Bloom on Tuesday. So far, itt has been pushed out to Facebook 35 times and retweeted five times. This is what you want to have happen.

On Thursday,  it was picked up by the Seattle Post Intelligencer (seattlepi.com)



And today, the author, her mother, and daughter were on a CNN talk show. The book's publicist alerted me to the fact that the author's mother said "Seattle PI just called Lisa's book the light bulb of the year for women," which she extrapolated from my comment in the review:  "this year's light bulb moment for women."

Now we all know she meant to say "Helen Gallagher said..." but its fun nonetheless, to have my writing move from my computer to the original review site at BlogCritics.org, then to the Seattle paper's site, and then a CNN talk show.
What's funny to me is that I never mentioned the sex references, and yet that's the hook the media used to make the book newsworthy for a talk show. Think about that - the universal appeal of the book is about women using their intelligence, but as we know, sex sells.

So, when you do your homework, research and marketing, remember to seek reviews of your book... But also work to keep readers focused on the point you're trying to get across.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Ten recommended books for writers... Eleven if you count mine...

Thanks to the researchers at Online College Courses for these suggestions, extracted from their post: 
"50 Books That Will Make You a Better Writer."

Notable Writers (41 thru 50 on their list)
  1. On Writing by Stephen King: The wildly popular horror master writes his autobiography with heavy emphasis on how literature and his struggles with substance abuse came to shape his career and personhood — for good and for ill.
  2. Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury: Ray Bradbury’s excellent essay series hemorrhages joy over the writerly arts, and he sincerely hoped they would come to inspire later generations to pick up their pens and express themselves.
  3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou: Although I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings involves former Poet Laureate Maya Angelou’s memoirs rather than a reflection of her illustrious literary career, it does serve as an intimate, first-person glimpse at one way a writer’s soul might form.
  4. The Believer Book of Writers Talking to Writers edited by Vendela Vida: Everything readers want to know about this book can be found right there in the title. The Believer Book of Writers Talking to Writers comes packed with candid literary discussions by the illustrious likes of Haruki Murakami, Marjane Satrapi, Zadie Smith, Jonathan Lethem, Tom Stoppard, Paul Auster, Dave Eggers and plenty more.
  5. A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway: Writers in search of a little inspiration might want to follow some (but certainly not all) of Hemingway’s actions. Surrounding himself with a new environment, new experiences and some of the most creative people in the world at the time (Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso, James Joyce, F. Scott Fitzgerald and a whole host of others) opened himself to ideas that came to impact his legendary oeuvre.
  6. The Writing Life by Annie Dillard: Anyone dismissing writing as an easy art would do well to pick up The Tinker at Pilgrim Creek author’s memoir. Here, she openly discusses the agony and the ecstasy of literary inspiration and perspiration.
  7. Aspects of the Novel by E.M. Forster: Despite being published in 1972, this series of Cambridge University lectures by celebrated English author E.M. Forster drops some incredibly timeless, even fresh, advice bombs.
  8. The Art of the Novel by Milan Kundera: The Art of the Novel serves as both a work of literary criticism and analysis and a self-reflective career memoir.
  9. On Becoming a Novelist by John Gardner: Writing and other creative pursuits offer up solace for anxieties big and small, an overwhelming, evocative and bittersweet sensation John Gardner relates with deep thought and emotion.
  10. The King’s English by Kingsley Amis: Fans of rollicking semantics debates will enjoy this fun read by a British author who finds himself enchanted by American English.
_________________________________________________
Oh yes, and my book, which did not make this distinguished list:
Release Your Writing: Book Publishing, Your Way

    Thursday, May 19, 2011

    IndieReader now promoting self-published bestsellers.

    Use it as a way to size up the competition, and look up some of the authors to see how they have been marketing to reach best-seller status. Also note, although we always say non-fiction sells best when self-published, the top seller is fiction:

    "Writer John Locke claims the #1 spot on this week’s list with his novel Saving Vegas. Here’s more from the site: “Three of the books on the List were written by the same author, John Locke.  Locke’s book, Saving Rachel, was the first Indie book in history to hit #1 on Amazon/Kindle. In total, he has sold more than 875,000 downloads since January.”

    Helen Gallagher

    Saturday, May 14, 2011

    Who do you write like?

    Thanks to Brenda at Off-Campus Writers Workshop for suggesting this site. You paste in a couple paragraphs of your writing and the software compares your writing to a famous author. It's fun - give it a try at I Write Like.

    See link at right, which you can also paste into your blog.

    Have fun with this!
    Helen

    Tuesday, May 10, 2011

    Guest post: Penny Colman on organizing her new non-fiction release

    Penny Colman is author of the new book released today, May 20, 2011, published by Henry Holt and Co.

     
    Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony: A Friendship That Changed the World









    I asked Penny to share her thoughts with Release Your Writing blog readers on how she managed to structure this complex story. Penny's response...


    I’ve had the feeling before upon signing a book contract, but with this book—Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony: A Friendship That Changed the World—it was particularly intense.  What feeling, you ask?  Panic in concert with the words echoing in my brain:  “And what have I gotten myself into this time!?” 


    Sure, I had tackled big topics before, including a history of burial, the true story of Thanksgiving, a collective biography of eight historic women with widely varying amounts of source material, and the story of Rosie the Riveter. But this book was to be a joint biography that spanned more than ninety years through the lens of a legendary friendship between two very different women that lasted fifty-one years and was at the center of a momentous social movement that is typically trivialized.

    In May 1851 when they met, Elizabeth was thirty-five years old and Susan was thirty-one years old.  

    Of course, I could have started the book at that point, but I was curious about the differences and similarities in how they grew up.  That curiosity certainly ratcheted up my writerly anxieties about how to structure the telling of these separate stories. I spent weeks working through this decision. 

    1. I taped long sheets of paper on a wall and made parallel timelines from their births to their first meeting.  
    2. I used Post-it Notes so that I could easily add or remove items, as I tried to discern a structure.  
    3. Then, one day, I saw it--four time periods that encompassed significant events in both their lives: 1815-1832; 1833-1839; 1840-1847; 1848-1850.  Eureka! 

    With that insight I was able to organize their early years into eight alternating chapters that focused on one and then the other. Here are the title and subtitle of the first two chapters in Part I: 

    “Ah, You Should Have Been a Boy!”
     ELIZABETH CADY: 1815-1832
    "An Affectionate Family” SUSAN B. ANTHONY: 1820-1832

    Part II covers the years from their meeting through the Civil War. The story of what Elizabeth called the “dark hour of woman’s struggle” appears in Part III. Their final years, in which they go from ridicule to reverence, ostracism to embrace, are examined in Part IV. 

    With my structure in place, I set off to write a book that brought Elizabeth and Susan to life for me, and, of course, I hope for everyone who reads Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony: A Friendship That Changed the World.

     

    Thursday, May 5, 2011

    Al Gore's newest ebook

    After delightful presentations to Off-Campus Writer's Workshop and several area libraries in the past month, I'm delighted to direct your attention to David Pogue's column in the New York Times on Al Gore's gorgeous ebook, "Our Choice."


    Here is Pogue's blog post:

    Pogue writes:
    It’s laid out like a book, with 400 photos, illustrations and charts. It works best on the iPad, of course, but the miniature versions on the iPhone/Touch work surprisingly well, too. In both cases, you can zoom out to see scrolling page miniatures at the bottom of the screen for easy jumping around.

    In both apps, the real magic is all the visual elements. You can expand every photo and graphic to fill the whole screen; they look spectacular. At this point, you can interact with them. You can tap the corner of any photo, for example, to see where on the planet it was taken. You can press your finger on a bar of a chart to “explode” it into smaller bars, showing the component data underlying the primary bar. (For example, one bar chart shows the six gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect. Hold your finger on a bar to see it split into smaller bars, showing where those gases come from: transportation, buildings and so on.)

    Some of the illustrations become narrated animations. Some turn out to be movies (there’s a total of an hour of video), most narrated by Mr. Gore."



    This is likely the future of books!

    Helen

    Tuesday, May 3, 2011

    What came before the internet, ebooks, and tablet computers?

    While ebooks have been around for a long time, it's only the launch of the iPhone and iPad plus ebook readers like Kindle, Nook and Sony that have created the market that now spends about $90 million per month on ebooks. (pw.org). "For the first two months of 2011, e-book sales were up 169.4%, to $164.1 million, equalling the sales of trade paperbacks for the two-month period; trade paperback sales were down 22.5% for the two months at the 19 reporting publishers." [source pw.org].

    But what came before? Today's guest post from Online Colleges takes us back to the original 'technologies' used in the act of reading: From the stylus to moveable type - enjoy this compendium of literature's long history. Who could predict it would end up in a multi-billion dollar digitial industry?

    Read full story here: http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2011/05/02/10-technologies-that-changed-literature-forever/

    Guest Post by Online Colleges

    Tuesday, April 26, 2011

    Book Country: Penguin's author site and print-on-demand

    Penguin Group USA is launching a site for fiction writers - for posting work-in-progress, getting critiqued, even getting published.

    Later this summer the site will generate revenue by allowing users to self-publish their books for a fee by ordering printed copies. (The books will bear the stamp of Book Country, not Penguin, and the site is considered a separate operation from Penguin.)

    The site will also explain the business of finding an agent, marketing and promoting a book, using social media and handling digital and subsidiary rights. Penguin hopes the site will attract agents, editors and publishers scouting for new talent, and allow writers to produce work with more polish and direction than they could otherwise.

    More melting and morphing of the industry into a model that is accessible to all authors, not just the top tier.

    Keep an eye on Book Country, and read Release Your Writing: Book Publishing Your Way if you need to gain clarity on your publishing and marketing options.

    Friday, April 22, 2011

    Another great blog sample

    At a lively workshop at the Des Plaines Public Library last night, I used "Julie & Julia" as an example of what can happen if a writer is motivated to start a blog.  The Adult Service Librarian, Christine Posinger, shared another great example of a blog:
    The Pioneer Woman.

    Take a look at the blog to see a perfect example of focus, great use of photos, the author's consistent "voice," and the wonderful platform created by a blog, links to her books, links to her Facebook and Twitter pages, and audio. It's a great example. If you're wondering where to start, the easiest way is... just start.

    Go to blogger.com or wordpress.com and sign up for the free blog. Blogger is easier to use, but Wordpress has cooler designs and features.

    Saturday, April 16, 2011

    Writer's Support Group in Lake Zurich

    While presenting a publishing workshop this morning at the ELA Public Library in Lake Zurich, I learned they have a Writer's Support Group that meets monthly, at 9:30 a.m. and at 6:30 p.m.

    Full details are here on their monthly calendar. Their next meetings are on May 9th. If you're in the area, its a great opportunity for networking or to discuss your work-in-progress.

    Friday, April 15, 2011

    Why authors need a sense of humor

    The Onion, America's best satirical journal, has a funny article on the exaggerated realities of author book signings:
    http://www.theonion.com/articles/author-promoting-book-gives-it-her-all-whether-its,19985/

    My upcoming events are at Book Tour.com -- I'll save you a seat ....

    Cheers,
    Helen Gallagher

    Sunday, April 3, 2011

    Self-Publishers Online Conference May 10-12, 2011

    http://www.selfpublishersonlineconference.com/If you've never participated a virtual conference, this is the one to attend.

    The conference includes 16 experts, Q & A sessions and a virtual exhibit hall. If you need marketing and promotion expertise, for your current or future books, this is the place to be. See full agenda here. Conference dates are May 10-12, 2011, and you can attend by computer from the comfort of your own home.

    I'm able to offer you the link to register at a discount. Ready to sign up?
    When the registration form asks for a Coupon Code, use  Helen11  to receive a ten-percent discount.

    NOTE: Early-bird pricing ends April 15th.
    
    

    Friday, April 1, 2011

    Favorite quotes for today


    Two very different quotes are making me happy today:


    "We are what we repeatedly do. 
    Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." 
     Aristotle   



    "Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice Doggie' until you can find a rock."
    Will Rogers  

    Saturday, March 26, 2011

    Timely quote

    I love the imagery in this quote from Geoffrey Nunberg in the New York Times Book Review section on March 20, 2011 about the enormity of data in our world today. He is speaking of the proliferation of information and internet chatter that has removed writing and reading from a solitary pursuit to a community activity.

    "It's as if we've torn down the walls of the library, and now the
    reading room is full of street people."

    I picture the area around the New York Public Library  suddenly becoming the basis for all the chatter and cross-talk taking the place of lovely books. On my first visit to that venerable institution, I enjoyed the beauty of the reading room, years before technology overtook quiet. Not finding a single book available for browsing, I asked the desk attendant, and was told "If you want a book, fill out this slip to ask for it and wait while someone brings it to you."  Growing up in Chicago where I could browse the library from the age of 5, and take home as many books as I wished, the New York experience left a mark on me. I've been collecting books for my personal library ever since.

    Monday, March 21, 2011

    Again: Self-publishing trumps traditional...

    Jane Friedman at Writer's Digest has a splendid and generous post about people choosing self-publishing instead of a book contract with a traditional publisher.  Read more here.

    If you don't have time, return to the post later and learn from the most successful self-publisher I know of: JA Konrath, who says:
    A virtual shelf, like Amazon or Smashwords, carries all my titles, all the time. And I don't have to compete with a NYT bestseller who has 400 copies of their latest hit on the shelf, while I only have one copy of mine. We each take up one virtual space per title. … Virtual shelf life is forever. In a bookstore, you have anywhere form a few weeks to a few months to sell your title, and then it gets returned. This is a big waste of money, and no incentive at all for the bookseller to move the book.

    Saturday, March 19, 2011

    Writing with a non de plume: What's in a name?

    The folks at Writer's Relief have put together a good article on the pros and cons of writing under an assumed name.
    I generally advise against it today, because of the online marketing needed for visibility. It seems doubly complex with needing two email addresses, business cards, a different blog identity,and so on.  Read the full article here.

    As the article states:
    The minute you decide to take on a nom de plume, be prepared to stick to that name in your correspondence and at writers’ conferences and book signings. You want people to associate that name with you, not give them a slew of different names to remember.

    Hint: If you do choose to go with a pen name, choose a name that’s not too generic or linked to someone else. Try an online search of your prospective name to see what comes up.
    Thanks to Ronnie at Writer's Relief.

    Tuesday, March 15, 2011

    It's award season for books

    One of the best ways to create a long-lasting buzz for your book is by winning an award.

    One of the first reputaable award campaigns to run in early 2011 and include books published in 2008 through 2011 is the
    http://www.indieexcellence.com/

    Sunday, March 13, 2011

    Catholic Writers Conference Online

    For the third year in a row, I'm a conference participant at the unique Catholic Writers Conference Online. The event runs from March 21 through 27, 2011. 


    The current conference schedule is here, and as a reminder, this conference is open to all, is free, and you participate by online chat, in forums, or via phone.

    Take note of the pitch sessions - your chance to pitch live to at least six agents and editors on the schedule.

    My topic is "Power Blogging for Writers" on 3/21 at 7 p.m. Central time, but take advantage of the richness of presenters, topics and variety at this free event all week long.

    Friday, March 11, 2011

    Day 5: Words Matter Challenge: Captivating words

    I have a long list of favorite writers, not for their story-telling or engaging commentaries, but for their way with words.
    among the best are Nicholas Delbanco and Alain de Botton. These are essayists, who whenever writing, are writing to me, with carefully chosen words, painting pictures. In "The Art of Travel," when de Botton describes gazing up into an apartment in Amsterdam, I'm right beside him as he describes what he sees in the apartment, and whispers how he longs to be up there, in that chair, reading a book, and looking out on the city he's in.

    In "Lastingness," when Delbanco teaches me about creativity and graceful aging, he teaches me about life as he tells the story of his experiences in Provence, in Madrid, and back at home reading a pile of favorite books.

    Thursday, March 10, 2011

    Day 4: Words Matter Challenge: Mangled Metaphors

    Grammarians must have cringed when author Studs Terkel stated: "Nothing happened nowhere."

    As writers, we know what he meant. -- There is always a story to be found, and sometimes the backstory is even more revealing. Whether writing fiction or non-fiction, our job is to write the truths that live beneath the surface.

    But mangled language can also be great fun:

    mangled           words           result in      hurt          feelings       


    Can become

    Wangled          mords           insult           flirt           healings.


    Thanks to Jerry for the creative boost.

    Wednesday, March 9, 2011

    Day 3: Words Matter Challenge: Favorite quote about words

    I have an entire collection of quotes, offering inspiration and wit for writers. My favorite, short but sweet, is by Rita Mae Brown:

    "Never hope more than you work."

    I am often inspired by the brevity and simplicity of quotes. Another, by Henry Ford, is "Think you can or think you can't. Either way you're right."

    The importance to me is the glimmer of motivation that comes from such a  tiny suggestion. With "Never hope more than you work," it serves to remind me that, as writers, we can't just wait, to be discovered, to sell our work, or to get published. We can't hope it will happen. We have to make it happen.

    Tuesday, March 8, 2011

    Day 2: Words Matter Challenge: Most important document

    The most important document that inspires me in my career is De Profundis, by Oscar Wilde.
    Written to his friend, Lord Albert Douglas, while Wilde was in prison, this is an essay of over 50,000 words, written over the winter months of 1897. While it may not be a document that changed history, it was created while Wilde was jailed for public indecency. The indecency? Having a male lover in the year 1897.

    Beyond the poignant essence of this massive letter, it resonates with me for the precise, clear writing under adverse conditions. You see, Wilde was not only in prison, but he was allowed only one sheet of blue onion-skin paper per day. At day's end he had to hand the day's page back to the prison guard in order to receive another sheet of paper for the next day's writing. And as you can see, he used every inch of the paper.


    I had the pleasure of viewing this document on display at The British Library in London. It was a marvelous, moving experience for me to see it firsthand. Imagine the mental clarity needed to write under such circumstances, and receive inspiration from the conviction and focus of this writer.

    As it exists now, available at Project Gutenberg.org and on Wikipedia, the enormous letter remains as it was written, and was apparently never revised when Wilde was allowed to take it with him upon release from prison.

    Monday, March 7, 2011

    Monday, March 7: Is there a word that has changed, or could change your life? What is it, and what difference would it make?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet#HistoryDay 1 of the Words Matter Week blog challenge:
    For details, see  WordsMatter.Naiwe.com here

    PROMPT:  Is there a word that has changed, or could change your life? What is it, and what difference would it make? 

    As a warm-up essay, I'll start the week with the word: INTERNET ...  Talk about a life-changing word!

    Since first used by the U.S. government in the early 1960s as a resource-sharing electronic communication device, and early use in academics, it rapidly led to a brief life as nationwide free dial-up internet service (read full history here at Wikipedia), we've  been given unforeseen opportunities to expand communication, knowledge, resources, improvements in science, medicine, job creation, and business. Technologies came before such as flight, radio, and television, but none have brought such rapid change to so many people.

    We might wish to take back a few of the mistakes along the way, improve the learning curve, and shorten the digital divide that has created a benefit that favors a class of people who can afford it. But I doubt anyone wants to go back to the days before the dial tone, modem screeching, busy signal, "you've got mail." early days of the internet.

    We fear what may come of a society already reeling from tech-overload, multitasking and absorption in the chaos of streaming video, tweets, chats, and millions of conversations lacking in substance. But still we rush to the lure of exploration with the internet's riches - web sites making our travel plans, worldwide communication, 24x7 live video news from around the globe.

    The internet has indeed changed my life, and that of everyone I know. It became my career about 15 years ago.  People who chose to disregard it can do so. In fact, it is as simple as turning off a switch. We  can revel in a view of history through museum exhibits, scholarly dialog, and reading the works of great authors from past generations right on our computers and digital devices.

    Humans have developed all of this in the span of a single decade, so much, so fast, I feel I can almost see tomorrow.

    Helen Gallagher

    Tuesday, March 1, 2011

    Blog daily during "Words Matter Week," March 6-12, 2011

    The National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE.com) invites you to join us March 6-12, 2011 for the fourth annual Words Matter Week.


    As evidence that we haven’t advanced too far down the slippery slope of slop and drivel, Words Matter Week has rolled around once more. Billed as a time to celebrate the importance of words, Words Matter Week is celebrated annually online as well as on campuses, libraries, and in communities nationwide.
     
    “Words are the foundation of civilization,” says Janice Campbell, Director of NAIWE. “In every aspect of life, personal or professional, words form the basis of relationships with others. The written word preserves and transmits knowledge, evokes alternate worlds, and provides endless food for thought. Words Matter Week gives us the opportunity to celebrate words and focus on why they matter.”

    Learn more at the Words Matter Week Website,http://WordsMatterWeek.com.
    I'll be blogging each day for the challenge, and hope to see you there. 

    Thursday, February 24, 2011

    More on BN.com Pub-It

    Per my October 6, 2010 post, PubIt, from Barnes & Noble is a great way to put your ebook on sale today for the BN.com Nook ebook reader. PubIt is their digital self-publishing platform for authors and independent publishers. Under the PubIt model, authors are charged no startup fee and will receive a royalty that ranges from 40% to 65%,

    The process takes about 15 minutes and you'll need to have an electronic copy of your book ready to load.
    What you'll need:

    1. Your final manuscript in Word, html or a few other formats. Note that you can't load the book as a PDF, which is common for other ebook sales sites. BN,com puts the book into their unique ePub format for the Nook.
    2. A copy of your cover, in a large size, such as 700 by 2000 pixels.
    3. An "about the book" and "about the author" blurb.
    4. Your desired selling price. For help, look at the current best-selling Nook "Flying Off The Shelves" link here.
    5. Your ebook's ISBN if you have one. (If you don't have one, one will be assigned.)
    6. Some of you may not like this part: To earn and get paid royalties, you have to provide your soc.security number and link to your bank account. Read the terms, conditions, and privacy statements if this is of concern to you.

    Ready to start? Sign up here - it's free.

    Tuesday, February 15, 2011

    Improve your writing with better words and a handy phrase counter

    A few years ago my presentations to writers included a demo of Visual Thesaurus. Its great to take a step back and analyze our writing. Liven up your next editing session by using the Visual Thesaurus to find a better word for "ordinary."



    And now, thanks to the Phrase Frequency Counter from writewords.uk, you'll never waste time editing out all the redundant, useless language you use when filling a first draft of an article, essay or manuscript.

    We all know how to say things the long way, but we can learn to be precise, crisp, and effective, instead of voluminous, clumsy, and wordy.

    Thursday, February 10, 2011

    For Memoir Writers: a recommendation

    For my publishing clients who are working on memoirs, I always recommend they take a look at the memoirs by Patricia Hampl.Her memoirs include The Florist's Daughter, Blue Arabesque, and If I Could Tell You Stories

    At Hampl's site, I now see she has a new book, and if you're working on a memoir, analyzing what works, you might want to take a look at the book: Tell Me True: Memoir, History, and Writing a Life (Co-edited with Elaine Tyler May)

    "Balancing precariously between history and literature, memoir writers have finally found their place on the bookshelf. But increased notoriety brings intense scrutiny: memoirists are expected to create a narrative worthy of fiction while also staying true to the facts. Historians, too, handle tricky issues of writing from "real life," when imagination must fill gaps in the historical record.

    Patricia Hampl and Elaine Tyler May have gathered fourteen original essays from award-winning memoirists and historians. Whether the record emerges from archival sources or from personal memory, these writers show how to make the leap to telling a good story, while also telling us true.

    Contributors: Andre Aciman, Matt Becker, June Cross, Carlos Eire, Helen Epstein, Samuel G Freedman, Patricia Hampl, Fenton Johnson, Alice Kaplan, Annette Kobak, Michael MacDonald, Elaine Tyler May, Cheri Register, D. J. Waldie."
    More here: http://patriciahampl.com/test/tellme.html


    Helen Gallagher

    Monday, February 7, 2011

    For Teen Writers: The Right Kind of Social Media

    Harper Collins has launched InkPop - a social media site geared to teen writers, and aspiring writers. Book projects are chosen to be reviewed by Harper Collins editors, there is a weekly writing project, pop culture news, videos, teen trends and more.



    It looks like a worthy place to hang out, both for teens and adults writing for teens:

    Along with searching for more manuscripts from our inkpop community, we’re also working on developing more outlets where readers and writers can just get their ideas in front of editors here. We realize that writing a full novel is difficult and not something that every teen can do every day. We also realize that they are full of great ideas and we want to empower our members to share those ideas with us, so that instead of editors in a room creating books that they think teens will like, teens will really be helping to create the books they want to read.

    Wednesday, February 2, 2011

    Write your way through a snow day!

    No school, no work, no errands, so write your way through the day.

    As long as you have heat, and electricity to power your gadgets, relax into today's blizzard and use the time to move your writing along:

    1. Write an essay, poem, or letter to the editor of your local newspaper about the magic of a "snow day."
    2. Call a friend or family member, because you have the luxury of time to chat today.
    3. Look up magazine submission guidelines and write a good query for an article. This might be the day you get a paying assignment.
    4. Got a current writing project that just isn't moving? Sit down with it and see what you can do - delete, edit, shake it up, and get it moving ahead.

    Stay safe and enjoy the day.

    Helen Gallagher

    Tuesday, January 25, 2011

    Guest post: Writing Rituals of Acclaimed Authors

    As we enter cold and flu season, take to your bed if you feel ill, but don't stop writing.

    Did you know T.S. Eliot practically welcomed a cold? He found that writing while so afflicted greatly helped him concoct unique, gruff voices either for different characters or in the creation of harsher scenes.



     
    That's less harmful than Honore De Balzac's writing motivation: "To keep writing, he drank from 50 to 300 cups of coffee per day. Balzac infamously died of health problems related to caffeine poisoning... Turkish and Parisian blends particularly piqued his fancy, providing him with enough fuel to keep him writing throughout the evening and on into the night."



     Perhaps Philip Roth's methods [and I note he is still living] are a better model to follow:
    "Philip Roth — much like Vladimir Nabokov — prefers this physical calibration when writing. In addition to this healthy habit, he also pushes himself to walk half a mile for every page he completes. Despite age starting to plague his body, Roth continues this ritual to benefit both body and mind. As with Haruki Murakami, he believes that clarity and creativity come when all facets of a person operate in peak condition.

    Toni Morrison rose before dawn to write her way into the day, and Gertrude Stein used her car as her personal space to invoke creativity for writing poetry.




    These whimsical author writing rituals, and over a dozen more come to us courtesy of a colleague, who wishes to remain unlinked.

    Friday, January 21, 2011

    Susan Orlean on publishing today

    Susan Orlean, one of my favorite authors, has a "Free Range" blog at The New Yorker. It includes a great post about finishing a book that she worked on for six years. She details the process of publishing a book and how it has changed. Read the full delightful post at her blog.

    She cleverly describes the old way:
    1. Think of a book topic.
    2. Find a publisher who likes the idea.
    3. Write the book.... and so on.

    And the new way, which begins with:
    1. Think of a book topic.
    2. See if the domain name for your title is available. If not, consider changing the topic.
    3. Does the book title/topic morph easily into a Twitter hashtag? If not, consider changing the topic.
    4. Set up the Facebook page for the book and a fan page for yourself as Joe Blow, Author; send out an e-mail blast to your entire contact list asking people to “like” your fan and book pages.
    Sound familiar?  It's the PLATFORM discussion I've been having with you for a year now. Only Susan Orlean is much funnier than I am. Enjoy,

    Helen Gallagher