Yes, it is time for another Writerly Round-Up and here it is. These things made it into my email or caught my attention on social media this week. If you have anything you’d like me to showcase shoot me an email.
Writerly Round-Up (14 – 20 April)
From The Writer’s Dig by Brian Klems
6 Ways To Tell the Difference Between a Supportive and Toxic Writer
It’s a topic writer’s rarely want to breach, but one that definitely warrants discussion. We all want to be humble in our craft, never appearing to be self-obsessed or over-confident or selfish in our abilities or intentions. We want to support writing in all forms, from all individuals, and are quick to give of ourselves, our time and our connections in order to grow the writing community. However, that same community is, unfortunately, filled with individuals that are more toxic than supportive. Being a writer is challenging and competitive, time-consuming and exhausting; a combination that can bring out the worst in certain individuals.
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How Do You Find a Good Editor–When You’re Ready for One?
Kathy, a writer who has attended my Madeline Island retreats and online classes, has almost reached the finish line with her memoir. I’ve watched her work hard over the past few years, creating a strong structure for her book, workshopping her chapters, and fine-tuning. She wrote me this week about her recent trials, trying to find a good copyeditor who will help her catch errors and get the manuscript ready to submit.
Kathy wrote, “I have been working with a copyeditor and am ready to give up on her. I did not have good vibes when we first met but because she came highly recommended, I decided to override any doubts I had. The first thing she wanted me to do was change my prologue from the ambulance ride to another prologue I wrote in 2011. She was very insistent and it was almost if I didn’t agree, she wouldn’t work with me. I haven’t made any decision about what I’m going to do but feel we are not a good fit.
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From the 365 Daily Book Marketing Tips series!
Follow journalists who write about your book’s topic on Twitter. Re-tweet their content, compliment them, ask questions. http://muckrack.com/
To your book marketing success,
Sandra Beckwith
http://www.BuildBookBuzz.com
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Why You Should Consider Advertising to Your Own Fans on Facebook
By: Chris Syme
The chatter about Facebook ads in book marketing circles these days is all about building massive email lists and selling books. And although I am in that corner, I also believe that there are many entry-level advertising opportunities for authors with smaller platforms and budgets to grow their fanbases and email lists without breaking the bank.
Smaller budgets return slower growth, but ads do definitely speed up the process. For authors who are looking to get started in Facebook ads with small budgets, advertising to their own Facebook fans brings both value and return in certain circumstances.
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5 essential book promotion tools for a first-time author
If you have the right tools in your book promotion toolbox, you’ll be able to build a solid foundation for your book’s success. And, just as a screwdriver, hammer, and saw serve different purposes, each one of these five book promotion tools contributes in a unique way.
These aren’t the only tools you’ll need in your toolbox, but they’re the ones that help you build a solid foundation for your book promotion success.
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That wraps it up for this week’s Writerly Round-Up. Before you leave take a moment and watch my updated book trailer for If I Should Die.
Don’t touch anything sharp.