Flogging the Quill

How to succeed at book readings

Both traditionally published and self-published authors sooner or later need to be able to do a “reading” of their book to an audience of prospective readers, hopefully at a bookstore so they can buy one after your scintillating performance.

But, especially for us on the introvert side of the scale, this is not an easy task. I’ve been presenting material and teaching workshops for many years and have become comfortable with audiences even though I’m a life-long introvert. Except for one time . . .

I had a chance to do a reading for my book, The Vampire Kitty-cat Chronicles, at Portland’s Wordstock Festival a few years ago. It did not, in my estimation, go well. I don’t know what the difference was between reading my fiction and presenting craft techniques at a workshop, but there was a big one. I was nervous and not really well prepared.

10 Tips

So I’m happy to share with you an article titled “10 Tips for Authors Making Book Appearances” by Rae Dubow. I wish I’d had them when I stuttered my way through my attempt. Since then I’ve also seen a talented author do something that’s not on this list that I think works. She talked a little about writing craft, too—at one reading she discussed voice and read from two of her books. I think the audience liked it.

Here’s the list of the 10 items. I wish I’d done a better job with number 5, in particular, and now I know I will in the future.

1. Breathe
2. Look as if you care
3. Bring snacks and beverages
4. Be kind
5. Set it up
6. Please, no spoilers
7. Do not race to the finish
8. Make eye contact
9. Leave ‘em wanting more
10. Have fun

Take a moment and check the article out. It may help you when you need to present your book to an audience of cold-eyed strangers.

For what it's worth.

Ray

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© 2015 Ray Rhamey

Author marketing tips

I suggest you check out this Writer Unboxed post by Jon Bard: The 6 Most Common Marketing Mistakes Made by Authors.

As part of mistake #2, Making your marketing about you, not your readers, is this easy-to-do twist:

Build a marketing plan not around your book but rather around how your book will enhance your reader’s life. Choose your blurbs, jacket copy, and social media language to accentuate the impact your work will have on an individual reader, and work to frame readers’ experiences with your work in that light.

For example, rather than simply tweeting “Download a free chapter of my book,” say something like “Tuesdays are tough and you need a laugh, right? Take 10 minutes to get happy right now by going to (link to free chapter)”. It’s all about the benefit to your reader!

Ray

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© 2015 Ray Rhamey

Have you done “content marketing?”

Came across an article titled “4 Ways to Market Yourself as an Author and Writer.” We’re all pretty interested in that, right? The tips that M. Shannon Hernandez talks about using are:

1. Blog Content
2. Video Content
3. Branded Images
4. Podcasting

Shannon tells us that these are effective ways to build a bigger author platform. I’m sure going to give it some thought.

For what it’s worth,

Ray

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© 2015 Ray Rhamey

An unsuspected roadblock for female authors

I found this article titled “Homme de Plume: What I learned Sending My Novel Out Under a Male Name” by Catherine Nichols, and was amazed to learn of what appears to be a bias against female authors—at least, at female author names.

I won’t tell you the whole story here, but she tried querying a manuscript under a man’s name rather than her own, using the same pitch. In short, she got lots more acceptances when querying under a man’s name.

Check it out, it’s definitely worth reading. The graphic image came from the article on Jezebel.com.

Ray

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© 2015 Ray Rhamey

Is there a library in your ebook’s future?

I came across an article at ALLi, a blog for independent authors, about three services that might enable you to place your book in libraries. Two of the services provide payment for authors, one does not.

Why would you want to be in a library where your book can be read by many for the price of just one sale? For unknown, independent authors, discovery is the reason that makes sense to me. I’ll be checking these out for my novels and, perhaps, Mastering the Craft of Compelling Storytelling.

 The article offers insights on the mechanics and capabilities of the three services, including lists of pros and cons. Check out Ebook Library Services For Authors. An Alliance of Independent Authors Report and see what you think.

Ray

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© 2015 Ray Rhamey

Book review: Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents

Jeff Herman, a long-time literary agent, has published his guide to the publishing industry for more than 20 years. I’ve used it a number of times to research publishers, agents, and editors. It could be quite useful for you to save time, target your efforts, and avoid missteps.

He opens the book with articles with information on the publishing industry and its processes. There are good insider insights that could help you in your quest. In this 2015 edition I found an idea I like: can’t get an agent? Then become one yourself. If you do this, then the sections on book publishers and their editors become your guide to pitching.

If you’re looking for a literary agent, he asks them a number of questions that can help guide and focus your queries (he also discusses how to write query letters and book proposals). There’s personal information that could help you connect with an agent (not all agents answer all questions, but their answers are helpful nonetheless). The questions he asks include:

• Describe what you like to represent and what you won’t represent
• What are the best ways for writers to pitch you?
• When and where were you born?
• Do you charge fees?
• Describe your education and career history
• Why and how did you become an agent?
• Would you do it over again, or something else?
• List some representative titles you have placed
• Describe yourself as a person
• Do you miss the way the business “used to be”?
• How would you describe the proverbial “client from hell,” and what are the warning signs?
• Describe your job and what you like and don’t like about it

If you’re working on getting your book traditionally published, I think Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents could well give you an edge in opening that door. Highly recommended.

For what it’s worth,

Ray

The book categories that grew and shrank in 2014

While it is true that we should not write for the market but for ourselves, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to know what readers want to see these days. If you’re in a hot-selling category, that could be reassuring. If not, it just means make your story the best it can be—books sell even in declining categories.

An article titled “The Hottest (and Coldest) Book Categories of 2014" reports that the self-help and graphic novels categories had the fastest print growth among adults. The juvenile segment performed much better overall than adult, and the winning category there was science fiction/fantasy/magic category.

It’s enlightening. check it out.

For what it’s worth.

Ray

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© 2015 Ray Rhamey

Encouraging words for Indie authors

I’m an Indie author (the evolving preferred label for self-published authors) and I edit and design books for Indie authors. In this article by Lorraine Devon Wilke on Huffpost, “Is Self-Publishing Killing Books? My Journey With After the Sucker Punch Answers the Question.” BTW, nice cover design—clarity and mystery.

Lorraine has good words for we Indies. For example, these:

“. . . there is no shortage of talent out there in the great, undiscovered public.”

While she admits to there being no scarcity of self-pubbed books that fall far short of professional in cover design and narrative quality, she points out the good flip side:

“. . . not only do I believe self-publishing isn't killing books, I believe it's actually enlivened the marketplace, bringing a fresh, less structured, less filtered, more open life to the entire literary industry. And how has it done that?”

The answer involves gatekeepers, a parallel that she makes with the music industry. Worth a read.

Meanwhile, there’s a shortage of submissions to the Flogometer, so send yours in for a free critique and insights from readers.

Ray

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Submitting to the Flogometer:

Email the following in an attachment (.doc, .docx, or .rtf preferred, no PDFs):

1. your title
2. your complete 1st chapter or prologue plus 1st chapter
3. Please include in your email permission to post it on FtQ.
Note: I’m adding a copyright notice for the writer at the end of the post. I’ll use just the first name unless I’m told I can use the full name.
4. Also, please tell me if it’s okay to post the rest of the chapter so people can turn the page.
5. And, optionally, include your permission to use it as an example in a book on writing craft if that's okay.
6. If you’re in a hurry, I’ve done “private floggings,” $50 for a first chapter.
7. If you rewrite while you wait for your turn, it’s okay with me to update the submission.

Flogging the Quill © 2014 Ray Rhamey

Why Agents Reject 96% of Author Submissions

Author Heather Hummel specifies 5 problems that cause 96% of submissions to be rejected by agents and offers solutions for each one in this article. The problems she addresses are:

1. Failure to follow submission guidelines
2. Genre confusion
3. Your query letter sucks
4. Nonfiction is a different beast than fiction
5. Spelling and grammar

Heather is a “photonovelist” who combines a love for photography with writing. Her published works include two novels, two non-fiction titles, and essays.

Of course, fixing the problems Heather lists are no guarantee of making it into the magical 4%. The nature and perceived marketability of your story still control the outcome. Back when I was submitting to agents I assure you that I made none of those errors yet, despite “I love the writing” responses I got, I also got “I don’t know where to sell it” responses.

Ah, well.

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Seeing as how my FtQ writing book is subtitled "Crafting a novel that sells," perhaps it won't be totally inappropriate to include here a new review titled "One of the best" that I found on Amazon.

"This is one of the outstanding "how to" books about writing. It is full of meaningful examples and clear, concise explanations of what to do, what not to do, and how to improve one's writing. So many books on writing promise to teach but the few lessons contained in the work are lost among too many words about the author, the point being made, or the author's experiences. FTQ is more like a handbook that you can refer to over and over without having to slog through hundreds of words that obscure the point being made. I keep it right beside two other favorites, Self Editing for Fiction Writers by Dave King and Renni Browne and On Writing by Stephen King.I highly recommend this book for aspiring writers and for experienced writers."

For what it’s worth,

Ray

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© 2013 Ray Rhamey

Hey, look me over

Hi. I'm Patch, the cat who became, unfortunately, a vampire kitty-cat. And who also goofed on setting up the link that follows (paws are not terribly compatible with keyboards)--it's been fixed, so please take a look.

My associate Ray has generously loaned me this space to ask you if you'd please visit my new website and give us any feedback--but mostly, just enjoy it.

There's a video and a new photo album (send us your kitty-cat photos!).

Meanwhile, keep on purrin'

Patch