Archive for October, 2008
Which Came First, the Kindle or the Trend?
Last evening on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, I was amused to see an industry familiar topic
arise in a segment called “Old Media, New Media.” The discussion flowed over various subjects, including the recent announcement that The Christian Science Monitor, a century-old newspaper, stopped the presses as a daily print publication. But it’s not packing up shop. It’s simply moving down the digital road and taking it online.
This is not a new discussion. Papers all over the nation are in turmoil, cutting staff and lightening their content to slash spending. The trend seems to be moving away from print material to an online presence. And, while The Christian Science Monitor will still print a weekend wrap up, the national paper’s move to online publishing reflects a significant change in the industry.
Another example of this trend is the newly available electronic book reading devices, such as Kindle and the Sony Reader. But there seems to be a small difference between this example, and that of the Monitor going digital: one is leading the trend, and the other is a result of the trend. Or perhaps it’s more complex – like “the chicken or the egg” riddle … which came first? The Kindle or the trend?
As the discussion progressed, another interesting point arose: that the (more…)
Outshine the Competition: Rainbow Authors Accepting Submissions for Book of The Year 2008
Greetings, Earthlings,
Wordbot here, announcing the exciting new opportunity for GLBT writers and self-published authors.
From now until November 30th, Rainbow Authors, a GLBT online self-publishing company, is accepting submissions for their first annual contest, RainbowAuthors.com Book of the Year Award – 2008.
To enter, simply visit RainbowAuthors.com, and then complete the publishing process by November 30th. Basic publishing is free, and there’s absolutely no cost necessary to submit to the competition for a chance to win.
Entering is simple. Once you’ve published your title with the help of Rainbow Authors and Wordclay’s comprehensive do-it-yourself publishing wizard, send an e-mail with your contact information and a 250 word synopsis of your book to: contest@rainbowauthors.com.
By December 15th, fifteen finalists will be chosen from all participants, based on the strength of their book synopsis. Each finalist will then be requested to send via e-mail the first three chapters of their book for judging.
From the fifteen finalists, five will be selected on January 10th to submit a complete copy of their manuscript. Finally, one winner will be chosen and announced on March 1, 2009, based on the following criteria:
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Originality: Does the book have a good hook?
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Writing Quality: Does your book keep readers with good writing?
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Editing Quality: Is the book edited, free of typos and grammar mistakes?
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Cover Design: What level of quality was put into the cover?
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Back Cover Text: Is the synopsis compelling and clean?
Winning Authors:
The grand prize winner will receive 10 free copies of their book, as well as a professional press release distributed to selected gay media, announcing the book’s selection as Rainbow Author’s Book of the Year – 2008. Additionally, the winning title will be promoted on RainbowAuthors.com and GayBookStoreOnline.com. The four runner-ups will each receive a free copy of their book, and a special mention on RainbowAuthors.com for their participation in the contest.
As a one of many who share a unique, diverse, yet united experience, your story deserves to be heard. Visit Rainbow Authors today for more info on GLBT self-publishing and the chance to showcase your work as the Book of the Year.
Wordbot upload complete.
Transmission ended.
Writers Need to Read-Chefs Need to Eat: Be a Part of the Community
As, painfully to pore upon a book
To seek the light of truth…-Wm Shakespeare
As an example of the service provided by What Should I Read Next, I typed in the title of a book we have discussed here in the past:
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel – David Wroblewski
Morality Play – Barry Unsworth
The Covenant – James A. Michener
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A New Verse Translation – Simon Armitage
Memoirs of an Invisible Man – H.F. Saint
Particles and Luck – Louis B. Jones
The Good Thief – Hannah Tinti
The Blue Star: A Novel – Tony Earley
The Visitor – Sheri S. Tepper
The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci – Jonathan D. Spence
Clara Callan: A Novel – Richard B. Wright
As you can see, several user generated recommendations have been populated here. This is an example of how the future of the literary community may very well develop. If you as a writer are able to get your book out there and get people to read it, perhaps those same readers will add your book to the lists that they recommend on blogs and websites. Perhaps you could even recommend your own book in association with books that you feel would appeal to a similar audience.
This time, the main takeaway is that it never hurts to follow and participate in the trends that other readers follow. As a writer, you hope to create an audience and communicate to individual readers. Every line that you write and every idea that you convey is part of the overarching drive to share your beliefs.
According to Compete.com, about 15,000 unique viewers went to www.whatshouldireadnext.com last month. And this is only one of hundreds of sites and communities out there that exist as resources for readers! 
Once more I’ll read the ode that I have writ.
Once more I’ll mark how love can vary wit.
-Wm. Shakespeare
Runner-Up Winner of Wordclay Short Story Collection Contest Published: Growing Up Girl Now Available
Announcing the release of Anne Greenawalt’s Short Story Collection, Growing Up Girl, published by Wordclay. Greenawalt was selected as the Runner-Up in Wordclay’s previous Short Fiction Collection Contest, and as a result, her amazing book is finally able to reach millions of readers around the world.
Who is Anne Greenawalt?
Greenawalt is a writer, a feminist, a swimmer and a Buddhist (not always in that order). She was pleasantly surprised when she received notification that she’d won Runner-up Prize in the Short Story Collection contest.
“I can’t even describe how excited I was when I opened the e-mail,” said Greenawalt. “I had to read it about 10 times to make sure I wasn’t mistaken.”
Greenawalt was born and raised in Mechanicsburg, PA, where she currently lives. In 2006, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing and women’s studies from Hamilton College. Then, in 2007, she graduated with a Master of Arts in creative writing from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England.
What is Growing Up Girl?
Underage tattoos. Pagan ceremonies. Electric blue underwear. Food fetishes. Skewed truths and compulsive liars. Statues of Artemis and shields of Medusa. Pancake parties and spaghetti dinners. Need we say more?
Title: Growing Up Girl
Author: Anne Greenawalt
ISBN: 9781604812336
Price: $12.50, plus shipping
Purchase Greenawalt’s winning collection Growing Up Girl>>
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Current ASI Contest:
Don’t forget, ASI’s new publishing imprint Words of Belief is now calling for submissions to its Holiday Story Writing Contest. Details include:
» SUBMIT STORIES ABOUT THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS OR HOLIDAYS
» E-MAIL UP TO THREE SUBMISSIONS WITH COVER LETTER
» CHANCE TO WIN $500.00
» FREE TO SUBMIT ENTRIES FOR CONSIDERATION BY JUDGES
» ACCEPTING FICTION, NONFICTION & OTHER STORIES
How to Publish a Book the Smart Way: Five Questions You Must Answer
Like many writers, you too might have a deep driving desire to publish your works. But where do you start? Book publishing is a whole new world separate from writing, so don’t worry if you have questions.
But while you’re narrowing your search for a publisher, whether you chose to publish with new-school publishing companies like Wordclay, AuthorHouse or iUniverse, or you want to take your shot at going the traditional route, it’s best to have a plan in mind for your work. It’s never too early to start, and it’s actually best to think about these five questions even before you start writing your book.
1. Identify your target audience. If your first thought is, “Well, that’s easy: everyone!” then you might need to reevaluate your approach. Really get specific: Mothers? Working mothers? Disabled middle-aged males? Singles who love healthy cooking? High school math teachers who love punk rock? Consider characteristics such as age, gender, career, income, residence/location and education. Perhaps there are multiple groups of people that would be interested in your book, but it’s best to narrow your focus from the start so you have a clear target.
2. Identify the competition. Let’s face it: the book market is large and thus, highly competitive. But, with a little detective work, you can use this to your advantage. So put on your best detective hat and cloak, and grab your handy magnifying glass and (more…)
Behind the Scenes: Chip Kidd Discusses New Releases & Book Design
Recorded at the Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival in Seattle, The Sound of Young America recently posted an interview with the infamous Chip Kidd, an accomplished designer who has created book cover for authors like Michael Crichton, David Sedaris, Cormac McCarthy and innumerable others for more than 20 years.
Listen to Kidd discuss his design experience working within traditional publishing as well as his experience writing comic novels, The Cheesemonkeys and The Learners.
<<Chip Kidd by The Sound of Young America>>
For more information about Kidd and his recent releases, check out Good Is Dead.
The Point: Getting professionals to help design a catchy, engaging and relevant book cover can earn authors both the sales and recognition they deserve.
Books Stand the Test of Time: Selling Your Book in a Lean Economy
-‘And what have I to give you back, whose worth may counterpoise this rich and precious gift?’- Much Ado About Nothing-Wm. Shakespeare
There seems to be a serious financial crunch going on these days. One thing that you can take comfort in as an author is that reading books is still one of the most cost-effective entertainment options out there.
Most people will devote hours and hours to reading a book. Compared to music, movies and the Internet, books give you good bang for your buck. If you are planning a promotional event, mention this to the people that stop by. The only gasoline they will use is the little bit it takes to get them home, then they can find themselves absorbed for days in your novel. Even if the whole economy collapsed and Y2K came back to rain down ash and cinder upon the modern world as we know it, the last person left could still enjoy your book.
When it comes to investing in the future of your writing, you are the key to selling your book. If you are willing to put the time in, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to sell a few copies everywhere you go. It is likely that if you present yourself in a professional manner, people will not even realize that you might be self-published. Admittedly, most Americans still don’t know what it means to be self-published. If you are doing a book-signing at their local bookstore and your book looks good and you are confident about presenting it in its most impactful light, they will probably assume that you are a famous and successful writer, you just don’t happen to be one of the few that they have heard of.
There are high-priced, high-tech text-delivery systems on the market. I encourage all of you to get to know the advancing industry of e-readers and Kindles — if only to make sure that someone who prefers the new technology isn’t left out when it comes to picking up your hot new bestselling title. (Wordclay and many other publishers out there are making it easy to make your book available in the new formats.) But as it stands, the good old printed and bound book rules the market and is likely to do so for the near-term in the least.
-‘To be a well-favored man is the gift of fortune; but to write and read comes by nature.’ – Much Ado About Nothing-Wm. Shakespeare
Words of Belief Launches Holiday Story Writing Contest: Fiction & Nonfiction Submissions
Author Solutions Inc. recently launch a Christian self-publishing imprint named Words of Belief, which opened its first annual holiday story writing contest on Monday, October 6, 2008.
Writers can submit up to three entries of both fiction and nonfiction for free. The only requirement is that you register with Words of Belief (which literally takes two minutes), and then you can e-mail your entries to contests@wordsofbelief.com.
Participants are also required to include a standard cover letter as well as contact information, so be certain to review the guidelines before you submit.
Read the complete guidelines here>>
Deadline for Submissions: 11:59 PM EST, November 21, 2008
Winning Prizes
One Grand Prize winner will receive…
» $500.00 check
» One printed and bound copy of the published Anthology
One Editor’s Selection will receive…
» $250.00 check
» One printed and bound copy of the published Anthology
Thirteen additional finalists will have their stories featured in the Words of Belief Anthology to be published by the end of November, which means the finalists will have their copies in time for the holidays.
All non-finalist participants receive…
» One electronic copy (e-book) of the published Anthology
How is Words of Belief different from Wordclay?
Good question, with a good answer. True, the publishing wizard is powered by the same user-friendly technology, but Words of Belief offers authors free ISBNs upon publishing, which means that all WOB authors receive free, unlimited global distribution for each title. Explore their site, and feel free to post questions or comments about WOB or their contest here whenever you desire.
Five Big Mistakes to Avoid When Writing the Back of Your Book
You’ve written a manuscript, and you’ve witnessed weeks turn into months as you reworked and edited your piece. Whether you’re ready to publish now, or you’re just batting the idea around, there’s one critical piece of copy that you need to write: your back cover text.
Here are the top five mistakes that self-publishing authors make when composing blurbs:
1. Not editing (or running a spell check). In this day and age, spelling errors are inexcusable. Poot yor dockument in a werd procesing proghram and be shur. And, I cannot reiterate enough how important it is to have your work edited. Even if you don’t want to hire a professional, at least have a friend, colleague or family member give it a second look. You’ll be surprised what your mind can skip over when it’s your own writing.
2. Writing false endorsements or not having written permission to use them. It’s tempting to simply plop a statement on your back cover from “John Smith,” who just (more…)
