A blog on how a writer should blog

At this point I figure every writer has been told that he or she needs to start a blog. Like writing a good book, this sounds easy until you actually try to do it. Well, there’s hope, and help!

My friend and fellow blogger CM Mayo has mastered the art of blogging. At the recent Maryland Writers Association conference she spoke on the subject, and offered to let me share some of the valuable advice in the handout she used. Below you will find part of her list of best practices for blogs.

1. Start with clear intentions.What do you want your blog to do for you? How much time are you willing to spend blogging? What image do you want to project? What kind of readers are you aiming to attract? I started my blog, "Madam Mayo," to help promote my anthology, Mexico: A Traveler's Literary Companion, as well as my other books, events, and workshops. That said, I have continued to blog because I love exploring the form. I now think of my blog as a kind of filter (read about that here).

#2. Open your mind to the many possibilities of what your blog can be and do.Be careful not to jump to conclusions about what a blog is or is not. Guest-blogging on "Madam Mayo," Tom Christensen (whose blog is "Right-reading") wrote: "Just as there is no one way to write a novel, so there is no one way to write a blog. I imagine Joyce's blog would look a lot different from Proust's, or from Kafka's, or from Celine's, and so on." [Ed. Note: Kafka’s blog! What a wonderfully tempting writing exercise!]

Be sure to have a look at my list of top writer's blogs— you might be amazed at how different they are from one another. Writers are forever telling me, "I can't blog because I don't have time to post every day." But why, pray tell, do you "have to" post every day? Or, "I can't blog because I don't have time to deal with all the comments." Who says you have to allow comments? With your blog, you make the rules.

#3. Provide content that is useful, interesting, charming, or at least funny.Because otherwise you will not have readers! This sounds obvious, but for a large number of writers, alas... well, go visit a few and see for yourself.... Writes Tom Christensen (again on "Madam Mayo"), "you have to have something original to offer. Some bloggers do succeed as aggregators of content produced by others, but I think it is more difficult to get by with that approach than it used to be. Sure, many posts can consist of passing along items spotted elsewhere, but unless you create some original content with a unique point of view, it will be difficult for the blog to grow."

#4. Make it clear to a first-time visitor who you are as a writer.Your name, what you write, the link to your books and web page, etc. This information can be contained in a link and/or the sidebar, but make sure it's right up front.

#5. Offer brief posts, as opposed to essay-like posts.There are some notable exceptions, but generally, the better blogs offer short posts (a single sentence to a paragraph or two), that are rich with quality links.

#6. Feature guest-bloggers.A voice other than your own can liven up your blog. Tip: Anyone who is actively promoting something (a new book, for example) is usually game to offer a guest-blog post. I find they are most likely to accept when this does not require more than a paragraph of writing, and when I can offer them a specific date for their guest-blog post. Madam Mayo, for example, hosts guest-bloggers (generally) on Wednesdays with a "5 link format."

#7. Offer lots of good links.For example: if you mention a book, link to that book's page on, say, amazon.com. If you mention, say, Jane Austen, be sure to offer a link to some web page about her. I love to find lists of links. On my own "Madam Mayo" blog, I offer, for example, Top 10 Books read in 2007; Top 5 Pug Videos on Youtube; 10 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Writing Workshop.

#8. Post on a regular schedule.To attract repeat visitors, predictability is more important than frequency. Though certainly, frequency helps. Madam Mayo--- as noted on the home page--- is "updated every Monday and in-between more often than not. Guest-blog posts generally on Wednesdays."

#9. Indulge in a few off-topic obsessions.This tip is from novelist Leslie Pietrzyk, whose blog is "Work in Progress." Guest-blogging on "Madam Mayo," she wrote, " I enjoy feeling there's a person— complete with quirky taste— behind the magic curtain."

#10. "Mine" your blog.Dig into your blog and bring up the better / more interesting / traffic-generating posts and link to them from your sidebar. Some of "Madam Mayo's" post popular posts include "The 3 Questions I am Most Frequently Asked About the Writing Business"; Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, and "Jill Bolte Taylor's TED Video".

In a future blog I will share more of Madame Mayo’s blog wisdom. Meanwhile keep reading her blog.

How Do You Choose a Speaker?

Yesterday was the 20th Annual Maryland Writers’ Association conference that I coordinated. I think it went very well overall, but there was one presenter that I took issue with. As a conference coordinator I try very hard to make sure that I get presenters that are applicable to the audience and also that they can offer something valuable.

Rather than out this presenter, I wanted to talk about what makes a good presenter and what you should look for when you are recruiting individuals to present at your meetings, conferences and book clubs.

When you are looking for a person to present information or experience to your group be sure you have done your research.

Do they provide you with the following:

1. Resume of previous work experience that you can validate.
Now this does not mean the references they spoon feed you. This means that you can call the person who hired them and ask if this presenter gave valuable information and presented themselves in a professional manner.
2. Is the information on their website up-to-date. If you scan the website are the events that this presenter attended last year’s events or are they current. Has this presenter done gigs in the last 3-4 months? If not you might want to wonder why. If nobody wants to have them as a presenter there could be good reason for that. Also, if they are not taking the time to update their website they are doing themselves a disservice and that should send up at least an orange flag.
3. Content of the presentation you would like them to give. If they don’t have an actual outline on their website be sure and ask for one to be sure that they are going to be giving relevant information to your audience.

These are just a few things to look for.

Additionally, make sure they have a current photo and bio. Some of the photos that I received were out of date to the point that I didn’t recognize a couple of the presenters from their photo. One of them not only had a different color of hair, but it was a different length and they looked nothing at all like their photo. Your audience needs to be able to recognize the photo in the program with the individual walking around. Networking with these individuals is key to a successful conference.

Also, do your best to have a conversation with your presenter via phone if possible, but at a minimum via email to get a read on how they are going to be as a presenter. You may get fooled by their “interview” voice, but if you’re good at spotting the red flags you should be able to weed out the unprofessional and unknowledgeable ones.

Each time I do this conference I learn something new about how to pick out the bad apples and I’m getting pretty good at it. The conference was a big success I believe and everyone went home with something learned and a new energy to put into their writing.

If you are in the DC, MD and VA area and are looking for speakers for your events let me know. I have a list of those that I recommend and would be happy to share.

10 Tips for Attending Book Fairs

As we move into the warmer weather we'll have more chances to display and sell our work at book fairs and other events. Well, it’s one thing when you’re the star of a book signing at Borders or the speaker at the Rotary Club breakfast. It is a very different thing when you’re one of many authors greeting the same potential buyers. When you are invited to attend a book fair, please remember that you are there as part of a community of writers, not a crowd of competitors. Also, remember that you are a guest there. For that reason:

1. Be on time - Often traffic flow can make getting set up in a narrow hall or at a street fair challenging if people don’t abide by the organizer’s set up schedule.

2. Respect your hosts - Every little rule established by the show hosts has a reason. Follow the rules and if you have questions ask them respectfully. You are much more likely to get what you need, and you won’t put them in a bad mood that could affect the rest of us.

3. Don’t pitch to authors - Don’t practice your sales technique on me. I’m not there to talk about your book; I’m there to talk about mine.

4. Don’t ask for trades - It is not my intent to leave the book fair with the same number of books I arrived with, and if I say yes to you I’d feel funny saying no to others. Besides, if I wanted your book I’d offer you money like everyone else.

5. Don’t steal buyers - If someone is already talking to me it is rude to start talking to them about your book. Odds are they don’t want to offend anyone and so they’ll leave with neither book.

6. Stay in your zone - Similarly, don’t stand in front of my table or booth. You have a space assigned to you. When people wander into that area, speak to them. Not before. Absolutely not after.

7. Don’t chase people down - If she was interested in your book she wouldn’t have walked away. If you make her angry she’ll think we’re all like that and will be afraid to speak to anyone.

8. Don’t whine - If you don’t think the organizers advertised enough, or if you don’t like the weather, the venue, the patrons or the rules, keep it to yourself. The rest of us are trying to remain cheerful and positive, because that’s what attracts potential book buyers.

9. Focus on your book - No one wants to hear about your heart transplant, unless perhaps your book is about surviving a heart transplant. Likewise no one cares that you’re a war hero - unless you wrote a war book.

10. Share - your ideas, your thoughts, your lemonade and most of all your enthusiasm. Positive mental attitude is contagious and if you help create a cheerful and pleasant atmosphere, we may even recommend your book to the lady who doesn’t like ours.

My Agent and Why I Need Her

Susan Gleason is a real-life, honest-to-goodness New York City literary agent. What that means to you probably depends on where you are in your writing career. When I tell some authors they say, “Wow,” like I just told them I won the lottery. Others sneer like I just reminded them of every bad experience they’ve ever had as a writer.

And if I tell you that I e-mailed Susan in early February and she called to reply this week, you might ask why I would put up with such treatment.

The fact is that agents are part of the yin and yang of the publishing world. For example, there are two kinds of publishers: the small press and the majors. You can submit your manuscript to small press publishers and they may read it and even publish it. Advances, support and distribution will all be small or nonexistent. The majors pay substantial advances, have powerful distribution arms and can offer substantial backing if your book warrants it. However, they won’t look at your manuscript unless they get it from a reputable agent.

Hustlers and crooks aside, agents also come in two varieties. Some will invest the bulk of their time into finding a home for your manuscript. They can do that because you are the biggest name author they represent. But they haven’t brought any publisher a big money maker, so publishers don’t hold them in very high regard.

Then there are agents who HAVE brought money makers to the publishers they work with. They have proven they can pick a winner, so when they talk, publishers are more apt to listen. What that means, of course, is that these agents spend a substantial amount of their time on bigger fish and only take on newcomers if they really believe in their work. Having proven themselves to publishers, they won’t represent anyone who’s going to embarrass them. For this reason, I know that Susan believes in me and my writing.

I met Susan through one of her clients, Warren Murphy. She got another client, David Hagberg, to blurb one of my manuscripts. She’s representing Barbara D’Amato and has asked her to blurb another of my manuscripts.

When Susan called, it was to tell me that one of my manuscripts is with Kensington right now. And that she’s had another to Bantam and Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner Books). It was to share feedback she got from an editor at St. Martin’s Press who was kind enough to recommend changes that could make that book more commercial. To tell me that at Book Expo America she’ll be discussing a couple of my properties with a film rep. And that she’ll meet with me during Thrillerfest in July so we can present a manuscript or two to some industry names in person.

So this is why you need an agent. Not just because they can help with contracts or because they know which editor might want your work (yes, Susan has these attributes too.) But most importantly because, while writing is an art and a craft, publishing is a business and if you want to win big you need someone in your corner who is also inside the business.

Your Dreams as a Cottage Industry

All the talk I’ve heard about Amazon.com’s “attack on small publishers” has been focused on some sort of “restraint of trade” issue, as if not selling on Amazon.com means not selling at all. Funny, I never considered bringing suit when Barnes and Noble and Books-a-Million refused to carry my Print-On-Demand books. Even funnier, the Amazon debate has not at all focused on the injured parties. Amazon’s new policy doesn’t threaten authors as much as it punishes Print on Demand publishers. The first casualty of the new policy may well be PublishAmerica.

PublishAmerica produces their books using the print on demand process but that in and of itself is not a bad thing. No, the problem with PublishAmerica is two fold. First, they hold the rights to books for several years but don’t pay the author for those rights. They may sell those rights, but unlike an agent, they keep half the money they get. So if an author find a larger publisher, well, he or she is screwed.

The other problem with PublishAmerica is the same as the issue with all publishers who sell a Print On Demand package. They don’t invest in marketing or distributing books because they make their money selling books to their authors instead of bookstores. In most cases, not only don’t these companies pay an advance, but the author pays the company to get his or her book into print. Many of these companies give the impression that authors who do business with them have the chance to make money doing it, maybe even get on a best seller list. They feed those dreams but they are so rarely realized that the exceptions are hardly worth discussing.

The truth is, the Print on Demand publishing industry is built on every author’s dream that his book is better than anyone can guess and if he can just get it out there lots of people will want to buy it. The truth is, there’s a reason all those publishers who pay advances rejected your manuscript - they didn’t think they could sell enough of them to make their money back. The truth is, a publisher who will publish every manuscript that comes in the door doesn’t expect to make money selling those books to bookstores. They know the author will buy books to resell and that’s where they’ll make their profits.

And those publishers are only one link in the chain that shackles optimistic authors. The next step is to tell authors that the only reason their books haven’t sold a million copies yet is that they haven’t been marketed well enough, or edited well enough. There are lots of people who are happy to sell you a marketing plan, or take hundreds of your dollars to edit or rewrite your work, and the false prophets are almost impossible to tell from the real deal until you’ve already written a check. There ARE editors who will tell you your book just isn’t good enough for them to put work into. There ARE marketing experts who will tell you that no virtual blog tour or radio appearance will make your book a best seller. Like publishers, the legitimate ones are selective.

So what do you do if you are convinced that the industry is wrong and you’re right? Well, consider doing it yourself. Instead of giving some stranger hundreds of dollars to produce your book so they can charge you for them, go to the library and learn the process to publish yourself. That way you get to keep all the profits, and if your book goes nowhere you have no one to blame but yourself.

Just be careful, okay, and don’t feed that cottage industry that makes its money on author’s dreams.

How Can They Find My Writer? by Denise Camacho

There are 1000s of authors on the web these days. More and more are blogging, emailing and have websites to attract readers. One of the things I have noticed about some writers is the lack of presence on the web. It isn’t because they aren’t there, they are, but they have not made it easy to locate them.

Here is a way for the writer’s spouse to do something that is easy and can make a big impact. Do the research! Instead of cruising the web for the latest fashions or music videos, take a few minutes to find out where your author is located on the web. Google their name and/or the title of their book. If they have done it right you should get a hit for them on the first page. If they haven’t you can help.

Most people work with a webmaster to design their websites. Ask your webmaster what they are using for the meta tags for the webpage. The meta tags are hidden inside the webpage html and are accessed by search engines every time someone does a search on the web. If your writer’s name is not in the meta tag then it is less likely you will get a hit on the first page. Seems simple eh? Also, title of the book, publisher’s name, character names etc. Make sure all of these key words and even phrases are in the meta tag for your writer’s website. Then google them again and see if that didn’t help.

Other ways to make your presence known are WebRings (http://dir.webring.com/rw). Look for a webring that is pertinent to your writer and/or your writer’s book. For instance, Austin is a member of the Avid Reader’s WebRing and you will find a link to it on his webpage. This is one way that will allow others to be drawn to your website.

If you are a self-published author join Amazon Advantage and start taking advantage of what they offer. You can update all of the information that is attached to your book on Amazon, including bio, reviews and publisher info. You can even add a blog.

It is simple to make these changes and to research the web to find out where people are finding you, and where they aren’t. Where do authors on the web congregate. Find those blogs and message boards for your writer and sign them up. Get them noticed, get their name out there. It only takes a few minutes to post on someone’s blog or sign up for a webring. And it can make a big difference to your author’s presence on the web.

Now write me back and let me know what you are doing to get your writer’s name out there!

Denise

Book Company Surging toward Monopoly?

I had a great time at the Virginia Festival of the book in Charlottesville hanging with old pals like Libby Hellmann and Andy Straka both of whom have great new books out, BTW. But then I got home this morning to be greeted by an inbox full of distressing e-mails about a Booksurge/Amazon.com conspiracy.

A recent article in Publisher’s Weekly says that Print on Demand publishers are crying foul. BookSurge has apparently told many of them that unless their titles are printed by BookSurge, the buy buttons on Amazon for their titles will be disabled. This news was first reported by BookLocker.com co-owner Angela Hoy. She gives a detailed explanation of how the new program was explained to her on her writersweekly.com blog.

This is indeed a dire report for many of us. Print on Demand is a printing option used by a number of small but legitimate publishers. I have one book placed with a small press, but my others are all published through our own company using Lightning Source as the supplier. Lightning Source is the leader in demand-driven book manufacturing, and because they are owned by the biggest book distributor, Ingram, any bookstore in the country can order from them. That matters because having my book on Amazon.com is important, but not as important as having them in Borders. More than 4300 small publishers get their books from Lighting Source. That’s a lot of people who, based on this account, will no longer be able to sell books through Amazon.

It sounds scary, but I'm at least 3 stops short of panicking. First, the source of all this info, even the Publisher's Weekly article, seems to be the owner of Booklocker. I haven't seen anything directly from Amazon or BookSurge.

Second, I'd really like to see something from Lighting Source on this issue. If they feel threatened they would surely fire a return volley, eh? Not to mention Author House, Infinity, IUniverse, XLibris and every other POD Publisher.

Third, this move wouldn't make good business sense. Amazon is the master of the long tail - small sales on lots of titles. They must realize the hit they would take, in the wallet AND in the reputation, if thousands of books suddenly disappeared from their site - and why would authors and publishers leave them there if they won't sell them? We'd all just start pushing the Borders.com link instead. If you're with Lightning Source you're with Ingram, which means you're on Borders.com (and BN.com and BAM.com) by default. I think very few of us would make the change from LS ($38 setup) to Booksurge ($1,000 setup) while there are other attractive options.

Besides, according to the report nothing will change if you’re in the Amazon Advantage program. We are, and other small- and self-published authors probably should be too because it gives you the power to make changes on your book’s page, add reviews, blog, etc.

So until I hear more I'm monitoring the situation but I'm not freaking about this yet. Right now, it's still kind of a healthy rumor. But let’s be aware and be ready to defend ourselves.