Archive for September, 2012

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Can I Write Fiction?

Tuesday, September 18th, 2012

Maybe you haven’t heard. After years of writing nonfiction, I’m working on my first novel. I’m already thinking about my audience. I hope it is you. But if you don’t appreciate a light mystery—if suspense makes you nervous, if you would rather not read anything even slightly romantic, and if too much adventure upsets you, you may not be my audience. If you don’t like reading about animals, learning some interesting things about them and getting to know some charming cats as well as some good and evil people enjoying life and in crisis, well you may not enjoy this book.

Some of you will read it because you know me or know who I am and are interested to see what I might come up with, especially in light of the fact that I can write nonfiction—“but can she write fiction?”

I realize that the pressure is on because this is a first novel, but also because I have a reputation as a writer. Can I uphold it to a degree in a new genre? Heck, I don’t even know the answer to these questions. I’d like to think I’m on the right track. But you, my audience, will let me know.

I can tell you that I have a whole lot more admiration for novelists and I envy you all of your years of writing fiction. I am having a blast. And I’m also finding that it is a lot work—takes a great deal of thought and planning and technique.

Today, I honor each and every one of you fiction writers—those who are in the trenches and writing your first novel as well as those who are promoting your twenty-first novel.

Send comments to me directly. I turned off my comments option because of the huge amount of spam and the small number of legitimate comments. I am always happy to hear from you, though. PLFry620@yahoo.com

I’ve been editing fiction as well as nonfiction for quite a while. If you are ready with your novel, contact me for a free estimate and sample edit.

http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

Posted in Authorship, Editing | No Comments »

The Back of Your Book

Monday, September 17th, 2012

Have you given any thought to your book’s back cover copy? You may just be starting your nonfiction book or you may be nearly finished with your novel. At some point, you will be facing the back cover. What will you write? Have you given this any thought?

First, consider why you are writing something for the back cover. What is the purpose of the back cover copy? Is it just to fill the space? Should you use an eloquent paragraph from the story? Is this an opportunity to show how well you can write? Not necessarily.

This is your opportunity to sell your book—to pique the interest of someone who picks it up or who sees it online. Your job is to adequately describe your book to your particular proposed audience so that they are inclined to purchase it—so that they want to read it. What is the story about? What is the purpose of your nonfiction book? What does it offer/provide for your readers?

The back cover often includes a brief paragraph about the author. Readers may want to know who wrote the book—what is this author’s experience as a mystery writer or expertise in the subject of the book? And whether we like to admit it or not, a photograph sometimes sways us one way or another when we are considering which book to buy.

I like to use bullets on the back cover of my nonfiction books for writers. Then potential readers can see at a glance some of the things I cover in the book. This technique is effective when writing articles, as well. That’s why you often see me use bullets in my blog posts.

You may have your cover designed. Perhaps you are over-the-top pleased with your cover design—you are confident that it will attract your readers. But what about your back cover copy? Have you written it? Are you not sure what to write? Have you even thought about it? Here are some tips: (notice the bullets)

• Write the back cover copy with your audience in mind.
• Once you’ve written it, read it from the standpoint of your readers.
• Study the back cover copy of other books similar to yours
• Run your back cover copy by actual potential readers.
• Have an editor take a look before finalizing.

If you’d like to send me your back cover copy, I’d be happy to take a look.

PLFry620@yahoo.com
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

Posted in Authorship, Writing | No Comments »

Writers/Authors Submission Guidelines

Sunday, September 16th, 2012

I just finished writing the SPAWN Market Update for the member area of the SPAWN website. This month, I included information about Writer’s Market, what it contains and how to use it. I’ve been purchasing Writer’s Market for most of the 40 years I’ve been writing as a career. They’ve been publishing the directory for 92 years.

As a serious freelance article writer for many years, I used to subscribe to the few (then) writers’ magazines and newsletters. I’d seek out their updates as far as editorial and submission changes for the various publications I wrote for and publishers I may want to approach. Then I would note these changes in ink in my current copy of Writer’s Market. This might include changes in editorial staff, addresses, contact info, submissions, etc, I did my best to keep informed as to changes so that I always approached the magazine editors from a professional perspective.

Today, there are is so much turnover in the industry and changes occurring faster than the speed of a bullet. Not only that, there are so many magazines and newsletters and enewsletters attempting to inform writers. It becomes difficult to keep up with it all. One way to do so is through the magazine’s (or the publisher’s) website—specifically, their submission guidelines. While, of course, some editors and publishers aren’t very good at updating their guidelines, most, I believe, do a pretty good job of it.

Before you approach any publisher with your magnificent manuscript or any editor with your great story idea, read that publisher’s/magazine’s submission guidelines. If you can’t find it at their website using your most well-honed investigative techniques (which it sometimes takes), contact them and ask for a copy. The publisher or magazine editor that does not post submission guidelines has nothing to complain about when they receive mis-targeted material.

Do you need help locating submission guidelines for some of the publishers/magazines you want to write for? Let me know, maybe I can help.

Or buy a copy of my book, Publish Your Book. I explain how to locate submission guidelines that are well-hidden. And believe me, some publishers do hide theirs. This is just one of hundreds of tidbits you can learn and benefit from in this amazingly reader-friendly, informative book. It’s available at amazon.com and most other online and downtown bookstores.

PLFry620@yahoo.com
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

Posted in Research, Writing | No Comments »

Who’s to Blame for Your Failed or Struggling Book?

Saturday, September 15th, 2012

Over the years, I’ve met hundreds of authors. Some of them are experiencing varying degrees of what they consider success. Many more of them are struggling. Some believe that the publishing system has failed them.

In reality, it is the author himself who has failed all on his own. How? First, he entered into a serious business that he knew nothing about. Let’s use Bob as an example. From the outside looking in, Bob thought he could see all he needed to know about the industry and how to participate as a published author. There were people eager to take his money and produce his book. Bob had met other authors with books, read about them, heard them speak at his church group and civic group meeting about their books. He had attended signings and book festivals. He believed that the book he was writing was every bit as good as some of those he saw on the market and better than many he had bought recently. He was sure that he had more on the ball than most of the authors he met.

Not only that, when he told people about his book, they appeared interested. He had every reason to believe that thousands of people would want it once he published it.

Unfortunately, Bob would most likely end up in the majority group of authors who sell fewer than 100 copies of their books. The number now is right at 78 percent. Why would Bob find himself among the 78 percent of authors who fail? Not because the system failed him, but because he did not take the time and effort to understand the system, his options and his responsibilities as a published author.

Bob remained on the outside looking in. The only involvement he had with the industry, was deciding to go with the first pay-to-publish company he found on the Internet. Soon he had a book to hold in his hands. Turns out it was not a well-written book. Bob was an accountant not a writer. He didn’t know how much better an experienced book editor could make it and why it was important to produce a well-written book. He didn’t have a clear understanding of his audience. In fact, he hadn’t given his audience any thought while he was planning and writing his book. This was simply a book he wanted to write. If he liked it, surely others would, too. And he didn’t know that it was his responsibility to promote his book to this audience. It didn’t occur to him to connect the dots from the process of producing a book to the ultimate end result—people purchasing it. He had no idea how to take his product from point A to point B. In fact, he didn’t even know to consider his book a product.

Just as there is an enormous amount of skill, talent, knowledge, time and energy that goes into becoming an Olympic swimmer, an expert equestrian, a successful restaurant owner or a sought-after actor, for example, so it is with successful publishing.

There’s more to this industry than what you see on the surface. If you want to become a successful part of it, you must invest and immerse yourself in it. The number one recommendation from any expert or professional worth his or her salt is to study the publishing industry.

Here’s my contribution to that end:
“Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author.” Order it from Amazon.com or any other online or downtown bookstore. Also available at my Matilija Press website. See below.

PLF620@yahoo.com
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

Posted in Authorship, Publishing | No Comments »

Go Out and Speak About Your Book

Friday, September 14th, 2012

There are many tasks involved when you take on the responsibility of promoting your book. And if you publish a book, you most certainly have taken on the responsibility of promoting it. If you don’t accept that responsibility, your book will die. That’s the hard truth of it.

Public speaking is a major book promotion activity that many authors pursue. I’ve written a book about how to promote your book through public speaking, book festivals, signings, conferences, interviews and more. It includes being interviewed for TV, radio, podcasts and such as well. It’s all about public speaking and communication. Allworth Press will bring the book out in the fall. Of course, I’ll announce it here. You can actually see it posted at Amazon.com. It’s called, Talk Up Your Book. The book posted at Amazon has the wrong cover on it, though. I expressed my dislike for the cover and they changed it. I love the new cover. I’ll try to keep an eye on it and let you know when it is up.

In the meantime, if you have a book to promote, I’d like to suggest that you take a weekend or a few days during the week and set up some speaking engagements. I spent a recent weekend contacting writers’ group leaders and writers’ conference organizers and managed to set up speaking gigs in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Orange County, Camarillo and Ventura California as well as Las Vegas, NV over the next several months. Of course, you don’t have to travel to speak. You can start locally. Here are some ideas:

• Contact the program chair for local civic groups.
• If your book is suitable, offer to present programs in schools.
• Speak to classes at a community college.
• Get a teaching gig through an adult education program.
• Arrange an author appreciation day (or week) at your public library.
• Do book signings at bookstores as well as appropriate specialty stores.
• Contact people you know who belong to groups. Ask to speak.
• Develop entertaining home parties around the theme of your book.
• If your book is conducive to book clubs, seek some out in your area.
• Create a program to take into local companies.
• Contact hotels in your community and offer to present a program for guests.
• Contact radio/TV program directors and ask to be interviewed.

There are a dozen ideas for getting speaking gigs related to the theme of your book. I’m sure you have others. Contact me and I’ll publish them here.

PLFry620@yahoo.com

http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

Check out my appearances page:
http://www.matilijapress.com/activities.htm

Posted in Book Promotion, Public Speaking | No Comments »

Cleaning the Clutter

Thursday, September 13th, 2012

I’ve spent time this week decluttering my life. I have yet to tackle my desk and we won’t even talk about all of the shelves surrounding me here in my office. But I have stopped the invasive hammering of spam coming through my blog site. Whew, it is sure a relief to no longer be faced with 30 to 100 spam messages at my blog each day. This means that you can no longer comment at my blog site. That part, I regret. I will probably turn comments back on at some point. It usually takes a while for the spam to build and for my patience to wear out. In the meantime, I can enjoy your comments.

I’ve also been unsubscribing to many enewsletters and other regular messages I’ve been getting for months/years and just deleting before opening. What’s the point in that? Do you get enewsletters and notices/announcements from businesses, individuals, organizations that no longer apply to your situation and that you stopped reading months ago? You can unsubscribe, you know.

This will clear your way to actually reading those enewsletters, announcements and notices that are of interest to you and of value to your writing/publishing work.

If you decide to do as I have this week and declutter your life, make sure that you carefully analyze the material before you hit the unsubscribe button. So often, we receive information that is beneficial to our projects, but we don’t take the time to study it and then we go off and make poor decisions that cost us money, time and the success we dreamed of.

Do you have a personal story along these lines? I’d love to hear it.

PLFry620@yahoo.com
http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

Posted in Research | No Comments »

Don’t Let What You Learn at Your Critique Group Hurt Your Manuscript

Tuesday, September 11th, 2012

Are you a new author, writing your first book? Perhaps you have attended a critique group a couple of times and picked up some tips for writing good fiction. I receive manuscripts from hopeful authors who have had such guidance, but who don’t have a clear understanding of how to apply the things they’ve learned from other writers.

They might use dialog to move their story, but it is forced and awkward. They may describe a character, but it is inappropriate to the flow of the story. It might interrupt the story, for example rather than enhance the reader’s experience.

If you are writing fiction, attend critique groups, of course. Take the book manuscript you are working on and listen to what the others suggest. Notice how your story affects them—do they laugh/cry in the right places? Did they enjoy the segment you read? Did they find it entertaining or was it painful for them to hear? Sure, there might be one among the group who has a rather warped outlook on what comprises good writing. Spend some time with these folks and you’ll learn who to listen to most. And it isn’t necessarily the one who says, “I love it!” every time you read. It is those who give you the most useful critique. Those who help you to make your story better.

You’ll learn by critiquing others, as well and by listening to how others critique your fellow writers.

But also, you should be reading the type of book you are writing. Lots of them! Whether it is a light mystery, young adult adventure story, children’s book for ages 8-12, your spiritual memoir or a how-to book, find others for exactly the same audience and study them.

You can no longer comment at this blog site. I turned off my comments option because there was just too much spam coming through. I mean a LOT—30 to 100 per day or between 400 and 700 a week. It just became way too overwhelming. If you wish to comment or reach me, please use this email address: PLFry620@yahoo.com.

http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

Posted in Writing | No Comments »

How Fame as an Author Could Change Your Life

Monday, September 10th, 2012

Do you adore the process of writing? Are you happiest when you are in your writing room creating a book, fleshing out a story or revising something you wrote? Maybe you are contented, but you still yearn to make it big as an author.

Have you ever thought about how your life could change if this happened?

Look at some of the big name authors—in particular, those that seemed to become overnight successes with their first books. Now they are wealthy and popular, but imagine how their life has changed. No longer are they free to sit quietly and write what they want. There are constant demands being made on their time. They have responsibilities toward their readers, fans, publishers. They must live up to an image that has been created and they have a percentage of critics to go along with fans.

Sure they can afford to travel, buy things, move into a lovely home with a view. But do they still have the freedom to do that writing that once brought them so much joy?

I want to let you all know that I’m going to have the comments aspect of this blog turned off due to an extremely high instance of spam messages coming through. I am scheduled to do some traveling soon (some for pleasure—some for work) and it is especially annoying to have to spend time either while traveling checking and deleting thirty to eighty spam comments per day or hundreds of them by the time I get home. Occasionally, I get a legitimate comment—I love it when you comment—and that’s why I go through all of the comments that come in so carefully—so as not to miss yours.

From now on, however, I invite you to contact me through one of my websites or my email address. Comments will be closed—at least for a while.

http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com
PLFry620@yahoo.com

Posted in Authorship | No Comments »

7 Secrets to Getting Your Book Reviewed, Continued

Sunday, September 9th, 2012

Yesterday, we talked about how to make sure your book is one that reviewers would want to review. Today, let’s consider reviews for books that are already written:

3: Make the most of what you have. Okay, your book is a done deal. How can you maximize your book review options? Get personal with your book. Dissect it and jot down what you find. For example, what city is the story set in? Pursue reviews in regional magazines in that area. Do you have a section in your budgeting book for teaching children money-awareness? Parenting magazines might be a good secondary review option for this book. Is your book clean and honorable? Consider reviews in religious magazines. Maybe your novel has a séance scene. This may provide an opportunity for a review in a metaphysical or New Age publication.

4: Locate appropriate publications and websites. You probably have magazines in your genre or topic on your own book shelves. Start there. Scan magazines at your local library and bookstores. Study Writer’s Market to find additional magazines related to your book’s theme. Do a Google search to locate even more magazines and newsletters. Here’s a link to one newsletter directory. http://www.newsletteraccess.com

Likewise, there are hundreds of online review sites. Seek out those related to the theme/genre of your book. Here is an online review directory to get you started: http://www.acqweb.org/bookrev.html

You’ll find additional book review directories on the resources list at http://www.matilijapress.com and also in my latest book: “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.” This book is available at Amazon.com and most other online and downtown bookstores. Or order it and many other books for authors at: http://www.matilijapress.com

5: Contact appropriate reviewers with your review package. I suggest sending a query/introduction letter or email asking if you can submit your book to them for review. Include some quality promo material related to your book—in particular, a color cover image. Some magazine websites post book review submission guidelines. Adhere to them.

If you are invited to send the book, package it carefully along with your brochure, promo postcard, business cards and a cover letter. In the letter, remind the book reviewer that they requested the book for review. Be sure that your contact information is included.

Most online review sites offer a submissions page. Follow the instructions there.

6: Keep accurate records. Log every review package and book that goes out—when, to whom and be sure to log the contact information.

After two or three weeks, if you have not heard from a reviewer who requested your book, contact him/her and ask if they received the book and when they have it scheduled for review.

7: Express your gratitude. Once the review has been posted, send a thank you note to the reviewer.

Unless your book is seriously obscure, you should be able to land book reviews in dozens of publications. And the book doesn’t have to be hot off the presses. Maybe you neglected to solicit book reviews when the book was fresh. Don’t let that stop you from trying to get some publicity now. Go ahead and contact appropriate book reviewers. If it is a worthwhile book, most of them will say, yes.

How much will this cost you? Absolutely nothing! It is a rare reviewer that will charge for a book review in a magazine or newsletter. Sure, there are book review site where they charge. There are publications devoted to book reviews that charge. But, magazines and newsletters that include a book review section, rarely charge for a book review. They offer them as a service to their audience.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

7 Secrets For Getting Your Book Reviewed

Saturday, September 8th, 2012

Every author has heard the term Book Review. Many of them consider a book review to be an honor bestowed only on famous and lucky authors.

Some are aware of the pre-publication book reviews, but have been duly warned that these reviewers will NOT review books by unknown authors. Is this your belief?

Okay, let me say that you are right and wrong. I’ve certainly known of the coveted pre-publication reviewers, such as the editors of Kirkus Review and Library Journal, to review books by unknowns. In most cases, it seemed to be because the books were so well suited to the public library system. Think about that when you plan your next book!

As for the rumor that, if you miss out on getting your book reviewed by a pre-publication reviewer, you’ve lost your chances of a review forever—hogwash!

Here’s another myth I’d like to expose: You can get your book reviewed, but you’ll have to pay for it. No, no, no! Well, let me say that there are certainly a lot of review sites cropping up that require payment for reviews. But I have to tell you, they are not the only reviewers in town!

There are hundreds of FREE book review opportunities for books in all genres and topics. Here are my suggestions:

1: Write a book that reviewers will want to review. Now this sounds like a big fat no-brainer, doesn’t it? But think about it. What more could you do to make your book in progress more appealing to reviewers—more appropriate for a larger number of reviewers?

I advise authors to build promotion into their books—in other words, to add wider dimensions to attract a larger audience. This practice will also attract a greater array of reviewers.

2: Seek out magazine book reviewers. Not every magazine runs book reviews, but many of them do. Editors of some literary magazines and others that publish fiction, review books. Some genre fiction magazine editors publish book reviews—this might include science fiction, romance, horror, young adult and children’s.

Likewise there are hundreds of consumer and association/trade magazines that run book reviews on appropriate books. My book on presenting a Hawaiian luau on the mainland was reviewed in dozens and dozens of cooking and foods magazines. My writing/publishing-related books have been reviewed in numerous writing and publishing magazines and newsletters. There are magazines in every category imaginable—business, child-rearing, pets and animals, public speaking, finance, fitness and health, education, sports, hobby and craft and on and on and on.

Again, the more aspects you have skillfully worked into your novel or nonfiction book, the more potential you have for getting your book reviewed.

Here’s an example: Write a book about a run-of-the-mill factory worker and his life after divorce and your book will likely appeal to a relatively narrow audience of reviewers. Add the fact that he (or another character) are dealing with an affliction such as deafness or ALS, for example, and they have a therapy dog that saved someone’s life, and you’ve expanded your options. Now you may get a review in fiction and relationship magazines as well as those related to handicaps, ALS/deafness, therapy dogs and animal heroes.

To find publications and sites where they post reviews, study Writer’s Market and other directories of publications. Do an Internet search to locate directories of book reviewers.

Watch for more secrets to getting your book reviewed in tomorrow’s post.

Posted in Book Promotion | No Comments »

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