Top Ten Tips for the Independent Author - A special guest post by Marla Madison

One of my recent actions for 

Operation Author: 365 Actions to Becoming  A Successful Author

has been to put calls out for writers to guest post for me.

The fabulous Marla Madison has come through for me and sent over this great piece.

Find Marla on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarlaAMadison

Her second novel of suspense, Relative Malice, is available on Amazon: http://amzn.to/mQebPH

Read her blog here: marlamadison.blogspot.com

TOP TEN TIPS

for the Independent Author

1)  Read, read, read:

Being an advocate of reading for writers, I was thrilled to see this was one of Stephen King’s first tips for writers. See all twenty of his wonderful tips at,

 http://www.openculture.com/2014/03/stephen-kings-top-20-rules-for-writers.html

Read the most successful print and eBook writers in your genre, paying special attention to those whose style is most similar to yours. Familiarize yourself with what appeals to readers.

 2)  Hone your skills:

The best promotion campaign in the world cannot sell a book that is poorly written. If you’ve already published, take your poor reviews to heart and use them to improve your next piece of writing.

3)  One of the biggest errors new indies make is publishing too fast:

Yes, you’ll learn what not to do from that first attempt, but in the end it will cost you, as readers have long memories and will avoid your later work. Get it right first!

4)  Bone up on backstory:

One of the most common errors new writers make is thinking the reader must know everything about their characters right away. There are numerous blog sites giving tips on how to handle backstory. Pick one and refer to it when you plan your next novel.

5)  Make your first chapters grabbers:  

A boring beginning will lose your readers. Many of our readers are those who we’ve lured in by using free or discounted promotions. They don’t have a very big investment in your book. The delete key on a kindle is easy to find. I’m an avid reader and seldom read beyond the first chapter if the beginning is boring or poorly written.

6)  Follow blogs of successful writers:

Joe Konrath has sold millions of eBooks. He did an interview in which he gave writers forty-two tips for success. Take time to read them at, http://daringtolivefully.com/writing-tips-from-j-a-konrath

7) Konrath’s main tip:

Butt in chair. Take time to write! The more you have published, the greater your chances of building an audience. Konrath himself writes a minimum of 3,000 words a day and will stay up as late as necessary to accomplish that if he has a day filled with other demands on his time. Pick a time and a number that works for you.

8)  Beware of spending too much time on social sites:

Rather than trying to maintain a presence on every site, pick two and use them wisely. There are many helpful advice blogs out there for specific use of them, especially Twitter and Facebook. My own picks are Twitter and blogging. I have a presence on many sites, but don’t spend a lot of time on them. Trying to do them all will make you crazy and also bite off too much of your valuable writing time.

9)  Join others who write in your genre:

Romance Writers of American and Sisters in Crime are two of the most popular. Find a group in your genre and learn from others’ experiences and advice. Critique groups too are an excellent source of aid if you can find one in your area or though a genre group.

10)  Hire a proofer:

Unless you are an experienced proofer (and even then it is dangerous) do not try to do your own proofing. If you absolutely cannot afford to, remember that it is hard to see your own errors so do it slowly. Read your work out loud. A story can be edited too much but cannot be over proofed. EBook readers can forgive an error or two, but more than that will cost you readers and therefore, sales.

Message from Marla:

Hello writers,

I think the most common mistake we authors make is publishing too quickly. It is easy to get caught up in our eagerness to publish and put our work out before it is polished. I had to re-proof my first novel twice after it was already on Amazon. It was costly in many ways. I don’t do my own formatting so I had to pay my formatter to make the changes and had to pay a copy editor to point out my style errors and mistakes. The time and money involved in getting it right after the fact was considerable.

I’ve been self published for more than four years now and have gathered these ten tips from my own experiences. They are still, and will remain, sensible advice. Hopefully, you will adopt a few that work for you.

Wishing you the best in your writing career

Marla Madison works part-time doing arbitrations for the State of Iowa and the Federal Mediation Service. Working full-time as an author, Marla is busy penning her fourth novel of suspense. She’s Not There, and Relative Malice are now available on Amazon.com in eBook and print form. Her latest, Trespass, is a sequel to She's Not There and will be available soon.

Marla lives on Prairie Lake in northwest Wisconsin with her significant other. Other family members are a dog and cat adopted from a local shelter. Some of her favorite things are playing duplicate and tournament bridge, golfing, reading, and taking long walks with her dog.

Contact her at: mam887@gmail.com

Her blog: http://marlamadison.blogspot.com

 

Marla's books

A final word from me, referring to tip 1 - I highly recommend Stephen King's 'On Writing' - he passionately advocates reading a lot if you want to be a writer.

I'd like to say an enormous thank you to Marla for contributing, (and what's not to love about a lady who wears such a great hat!)

If you're a writer and would like to guest blog for me - get in touch : amy@tomcatdesigns.co.uk

 

A call for writers and exploring my bubble...

It's been a strange week, for no tangible reasons, I've just been feeling like I'm in a bubble. After some personal emotional setbacks (just stupid stuff, nothing serious, I don't need words of sympathy!)  I've retreated into myself, putting myself out there is uncomfortable this week. 

I have some time out next week and I plan to embrace my inner hermit and mold it into a force for creativity!

I might do a short story a day for a week or something.

My 365 project

 Operation Author: 365 Actions to Becoming  A Successful Author

Hasn't been as focused this week and my seven actions are baby steps and a bit flaky

Action 1
I've sent off the first 10,000 words of  Solomon's Secrets last week to an editorial service in Bristol and this week I've paid for it from the crowdfund budget and arranged for a feedback and advice session with them.

Action 2
I completed editing Solomon's Secrets having had notes back from all of my beta readers now and I've ordered another printed proof to go through.

Action 3
I've made direct connections with a couple of writers that looked interesting on Twitter and having looked at their blogs I've been talking to them about guest blogging for each other or getting involved in blog tours together.

Here's one of the Twitter threads: 

 The other writer I connect with was Marla Madison 

Brandon's blog is: http://fictiondoldrums.blogspot.co.uk/

Marla's blog is:  http://marlamadison.blogspot.co.uk/

I enjoy connecting with other writers and promoting each others work, so look out for some guest pieces in the coming weeks.

Action 4:
I had an idea for a blog post about music associated with my main characters, Sasha Blake and Tom Sheridan. Mix Tape's for Tom and Sasha.

I've started drafting something but it involves some research so I've been working through that. Look out for it on a future blog post

Action 5:
I sent a piece over to Prowess Women in Business on guerrilla marketing about my mini manuscripts.

Action 6:
Speaking of mini manuscripts, I've still been doing them and leaving them around. 

I got chatting to the lovely lady at Bearpit Social yesterday where I stopped for a very nice cappuccino and left a manuscript there

 

Action 7:
I went to a 'Small Stories, Big Books' event with guest speakers Jeff and Ann Vandemeer


I had one 'non-action' this week. An epic fail on my part.

I completely forgot about a meeting I was supposed to attend with Bristol Women Writers to discuss the Books are My Bag event in October. I forgot to put it in my diary!

Sorry ladies, nothing personal, I've just been a bit of a flake this week! 


Now I have a minus-action, I should have a bonus eighth action to make up for it...

Calling all writers...

If you would like to guest post for me, get in touch. I'd love to hear from you.

I look for short pieces, 500 - 700 words. 
Top Tips or marketing ideas articles in particular.

Tweet me: https://twitter.com/TomCatDesigns
Facebook me: https://www.facebook.com/AmyCFitzjohn
or leave a comment

Thanks

 

Excitement, nerves and budget decisions...

I've had a fairly quiet week on the becoming an author front, after my 25 minutes of Wiveliscombe fame last week!

This week for 

Operation Author: 365 Actions to Becoming  A Successful Author

My seven actions have been baby steps and bits and bobs:

Action 1:
I've been making enquiries with several copy editors.

I spoke to Silverwood Books, who I had wanted to publish with but I don't have enough budget to pay for their full editing service, I'm hoping they could still help me in other ways through and I'm trying to arrange a meeting with them.

I met another writer who does copy editing and although I will probably choose someone else, as she specialises in non- fiction, I did make a good connection with another Bristol writer there and will stay in touch with Leah.

I also exchanged lots of emails with a friend of a friend who does copy editing, but again, her specialty is non-fiction. 

I think I might use my friend and fellow writer Jo Reed. She always gives me really useful and constructive critiques at our regular Southville Writers meet up. I'm slightly hesitant though as I'd rather use someone I don't know and I'm also aware that my genre isn't really the kind of thing Jo is interested in.

 
Action 2: 
In the end, I have decided to get a copy edit of the first 10,000 words and a publishing report from Arc Editorial & Literary Consultancy in Bristol - They've been recommended by several people. 

I sent that off this week and expect to hear back in a couple of weeks. Both excited and nervous about it!
 
Action 3:
A former colleague and fan of my books offered to do a proof read of Solomon's Secrets. I sent the book to her and got it back within a few days. She loved it and did it really quickly. Thanks Marion!

I'm now working through it doing another proof read. Most of the mistakes she noted had already been spotted but there were still some that had been missed. The book has now been proof read by five people, and it just goes to show that however good you think it is, someone will always spot something that others have missed. 

My advice to other writers, get at least 5 other people to proof read your work before contemplating publication. This was a lesson I learned the hard way when I had some bad reviews of my first book The Bronze Box. I have since been through it again and done a second edition.

Action 4:
I ordered a batch of the second edition of The Bronze Box, ready to send out to all those that pledged for it as a reward on the crowdfund.

Action 5:
I published an update on the crowdfund to let everyone know what progress I'm making and what I'm spending the fund on.

Action 6:
I have been away this weekend, visiting my sister in Cornwall. I took lots of postcards and mini manuscripts with me and have distributed a few around while we were out and about.

I could have kicked myself though; we spent the day in Plymouth and I left them at the house. 

My lovely sister, who is an artist and does some great work, is going to continue to do some guerrilla marketing for me. I left some mini manuscripts and postcards with her. 

Her business is Woolly Soup and she makes some really cool and quirky things that she sells in galleries across Cornwall.

Action 7:
I've been trying to hold off from getting too involved in writing the next book; Gabriel's Game, but it's swirling around in my head. 

I've been adding to my Pinterest board for Gabriel's Game with research links. 

As you can see from this screen grab, both Tom Sheridan and Sasha Blake are still my central characters but there will be themes around secret societies and ancient libraries

 
I haven't been able to resist doing some writing this week. 

As I'm sure many writers do, I often write in a note book and type up the ideas later. At that stage I can add details and do some editing. I tend to write in pencil, I find I can write more neatly and quickly. Here's a really raw conversation between Tom and Sasha that will be written into the new book:

I've been writing up a few snapshots and scenes. I'm planning to really knuckle down with the next book later in the year by doing NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) again.

On this wet bank holiday Monday, I'm sat in my PJ's with a mug of hot coffee and some 80's-tastic music playing. Seems like a perfect day to get on with some more writing...

Where in the world is Wiveliscombe, and other marketing stories

This week for my

Operation Author: 365 Actions to Becoming  A successful Author

I've been out and about in my home county of Somerset.

My first action was being invited to be interviewed on 10 Radio - A community Radio station in the village of Wiveliscombe in Somerset, just a couple of miles form the small town of Wellington in Somerset, where I grew up.

Suzie Grogan contacted me through Facebook and we set it up. Suzi is a fellow writer, here's her blog: http://nowrigglingoutofwriting.wordpress.com/

She writes non-fiction and has a new book coming out late this year. Shell Shocked Britain; exploring the issues around mental health and the First World War, more details here: http://www.suziegrogan.co.uk/.

A future action will be to write a guest blog for her No More Wriggling out of Writing blog.

While I was in the area, my next action was to put some mini manuscripts and some postcards about Solomon's Secrets around Wiveliscombe and in a few other places on my journey back up to Bristol

Another action is that Suzie is going to write a review of the second edition of The Bronze Box on her blog and I've offered to review her book too when it comes out.

Suzie has also invited me to the launch in Bristol which is in my diary. I'll look forward to seeing her again at that event. 

Speaking of The Bronze Box, another action this week was that I finished proofreading the paperback version and relaunched the 2nd edition. The first edition is now out of print, so anyone lucky enough to have picked up the first edition (in all it's rawness!), hang on to it - when I'm the next JK Rowling it may be worth some money! 



Another action was to get some postcards printed. 
  
I used a local printer in Bristol, Sebright. They were good value, I could go and speak to a human and support a local business. The problem with some of the online printers is, although initially they seem cheap, once you start adding your own images and including postage and packing the cost soon increases and then you get daily spam emails trying to sell you more products.

I always enjoy connecting and supporting other writers and in October Southville Writers are hosting a Books Are My Bag event with Bristol Women Writers at Foyles. 

 
Another action this week as to produce a special newsletter calling for writers in the network to get involved.













Another action is that I wrote an Amazon review for a fellow writer and friend of mine, Nicola Sellars, who's debut novel, Colour Me In came out earlier this year.

Nicki and I meet regularly for lunch and I think of it as an opportunity for us to mentor each other. We bounce ideas off each other and share some inspiration. This kind of informal arrangement with someone like minded is a really useful way to stay motivated and fresh.

Bonus 8th action this week.

I like to engage in conversations with people on twitter and connected with Jono Young. I asked what tip he would offer for marketing what you do and here was his response:

 

Thanks for contributing, Jono.

Have you got a marketing tip you'd like to offer to other creatives?

 

Bumper Crop of 14 Marketing Actions for Writers

I must get out of this habit of doing 14 actions in a post. My excuse for not updating my 365 day project; Operation Author: 365 Actions To Becoming a Successful Author - is that I was on holiday in Portugal last weekend. 

We had a lush time Dolphin watching, kayaking and just chilling out.

Most of my actions for the past two weeks have been related to the completion of my crowdfund.

After a last minute push I reached my target.

3 days left at this point

This is my first action. Pictures of me looking pathetic seemed to work!

My only action while I was in Portugal was to write the Solomon's Secrets hashtag on the wall of a pub!







Action 3:
Another action was to contact all of the fabulous people who supported my crowdfund and update them.

In the end, having taken off the pledges for the event that didn't go ahead, I had much less than the £1000 I asked for.  But it does mean I have some options. I'll publish with Amazon, as before, but look at other ways to get some copies print on demand and I can pay for a professional copy edit.

Action 4:
My next action is to put a call out:

Can anyone recommend a good copy editor, preferably in Bristol, UK?

Action 5:
I met with Olly at Fundsurfer to talk about the end of my campaign and what comes next. They are going to keep the publicity going, their first author to successfully complete a fund is a great good news story for them. But I have work to do too...

Action 6:
I drew up a spreadsheet of publications where Fundsurfer could send a press release to and sent that across. Fingers crossed something will be published in one of the literary, writers and / or business publications that we're targeting.

It's great to have professionals draw up the piece and to be working in partnership with them by supplying information. 

For me, one of the biggest things that is making a difference to this 365 project is reaching out to others and boosting my platform by spring boarding off others. 

My advice to any writers out there looking to grow their audience - get help. 

You can only do so much on your own - but whatever you do, don't be tempted to delegate all of the marketing to someone else. Think of it as a partnership and by working with others you can promote them too. Always give back.

I've been busily promoting what Fundsurfer do to anyone interested in crowdfunding because it's been such a positive experience for me, even though I didn't raise enough money to publish with Silverwood books, which is a shame. Maybe the next book!

Action 7:
With that in mind, I gave a talk at North Bristol Writers group about crowdfunding. They are planning to crowdfund the publication of their short story anthology.

Action 8:
I also gave a talk at a women's networking event in Bristol, The Queens Power Lunch. I met some great people and ate some fantastic Caribbean food. 

I went partly to talk about my work with Outset, supporting local businesses, but to my delight, they were more interested in my books. I talked about both The Bronze Box and Solomon's Secrets. I also talked about my experience of crowdfunding.

Action 9:
At the lunch I also caught up with the fabulous Rachael Gelndinning of Bristol Prospectus and she has invited me to contribute. I'd love to contribute to this site, I need to get writing.

Action 10:
I've been playing with video and audio recently and have some partial projects on the go, including some sort of book trailer. 

Here's something I recoded previously, where I talk about the books, that I may or may not use in the future: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ui7N8C19_k

Action 11:
I sent a news piece to Linda Parkinson-Hardman for her Women on the Edge of Reality blog about my crowdfund. She has featured me previously on a Thursday Throng Interview and has supported my crowdfund too. She's an awesome lady!

Action 12:
I asked an upholsterers in Bristol if they had any leather offcuts and they sold me a lovely piece of leather that I've been using for mark 2 of my mini manuscripts. I enjoyed the experiment last time and got a tweet from someone but this time I wanted to make them look more like real old manuscripts instead

 

Action 13:
I went out and about in Bristol and left these in various places. 

Look out for them around Easton and Stokes Croft in particular. I've already had a tweet from one lovely person - Thank you Alice Matthews - I get so excited when people get in touch, it makes it all seem worthwhile!

Action 14:
I'm going to get some flyers professionally printed and went into Sebright. I hope to be able to pick them up next week and start distributing them. 

Thanks to everyone who's helped me get this far.

What marketing actions have worked for you recently?