I love lists. Do you subscribe to a list where like-minded people comment, bring up issues related to an area of your interest, share exciting and sorrowful news, note resources, help solve problems and so forth? I am part of two—SPAWNDiscuss, where authors and publishers congregate and a list connected to the Cat Writers Association, where we talk about cats and writing as well as writing about cats.
This morning someone shared a site where you can have your writing analyzed to find out if you write like a famous or well-known author. If you’d like to check it out it’s at: http://www.iwl.me
I have to tell you, it is a commercial site and they do hope to sell you something. But it’s a kick to visit and what a great way to get people to your site. If you have a book or a service to sell, you might use a similar concept in some creative way at your own website. Penny Sansevieri, of A Marketing Expert, always says not to let visitors leave your site without signing up for something. In fact, that’s something I’m working on for my own site as we speak. I just haven’t figured out, yet, what I want to give away.
By the way, I posted two different pieces of my writing at the “I Write Like,” site and got two different famous writer matches. I had to look up the names. One of them actually wrote nonfiction articles as well as novels and was a professor for a while. However, both were weirded out most of their lives, both became involved in cult lifestyles and one committed suicide at a young age. If I was still a young writer, I would not be encouraged by this. But then, I guess there are some successful writers with personal problems.
I suspect that the site is designed on a rotary system where the famous writers’ names come up in a pre-determined order no matter what the writing example. Play with it yourself and see what you think.
Today, I’m preparing for the Ventura Book Festival. I am looking forward to spending the day along the ocean tomorrow where it is much cooler than the triple digits we’ve been experiencing inland this week. I need to pack books, prepare my presentation, finish writing and printout my handouts, gather my promo material, get change, create new credit card slips and so forth.
But first a walk in the cool early morning before it gets too hot to move.
If you are chilling in air conditioning, in front of your computer this weekend, be sure to visit my websites. You’ll find books you can use, a tremendous resource list, tons of interesting articles, information about me and my services and more. http://www.patriciafry.com and http://www.matilijapress.com