Audience: Why You Have to Know Who They Are

You have to know who your audience is. Otherwise, you can’t give them what they want. Don’t see the link? Then you should have been with my husband and I when we were trying to pick out an audiobook for a recent road trip.

I had three different books already checked out. I just had to get him to choose one. They were:

Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay and a Mother’s Will to Survive by Stephanie Land. A journalist’s memoir about her struggle as a single mother to survive on a domestic’s salary. Land often contrasts her life with that of the upper middle-class who employed her.

Spying on the South by Tony Horwitz. Over 150 years later, the author retraces Frederick Law Olmstead's epic journey across the American South in the 1850s.

11/22/63 by Stephen King. A high school English teacher has the opportunity to travel back to 1958 and attempt to prevent the assassination of JFK.

But each title got voted down. I knew Maid was going to be a stretch, but it’s my book club book. I tried! Spying on the South also received a no vote because he doesn’t know who Frederick Law Olmstead is. Wait, I stand corrected. He knows who Olmstead is and that's why the book got voted down. 11/22/63 got a no vote from both of us because it is 30 hours long and we only have a ten hour trip. Trying to find 20 hours to finish a book when we get home is not a realistic goal.

Back to the library! By this point I was getting a little slap happy and started suggesting everything with a man’s well-muscled torso on the cover, a solid design element in the romance section. Not that I read romances, but those covers might convince me to give it a try.

This time we came away with:

The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan. A modern middle grade fantasy set in the same world at Percy Jackson.

I Know a Secret by Tess Garritson. A mystery in which a female detective and a female medical examiner work together to solve crimes. Also a TNT series.

Case Studies by Kate Atkinson A private detective takes on three cold cases that took place in or around London.

What does this teach us about audience? Most people read a variety of books. I’m the children’s writer but my husband chose The Hidden Oracle. He also picked I Know a Secret. My choice was Case Studies. I will attempt just about anything except romance.

Another thing to remember about audience – go with the common wisdom and you are going to get it wrong. If you write romance, you are writing for romance fans, not women in general. Really.

We are told men read nonfiction. I’m female and I read nonfiction. My son reads nonfiction. My husband? Almost never unless he is fixing something or building something. Urban fantasy, alternate history and science fiction are much more likely. I paid the price for ignoring this and had to try again.

Which of course sent me to the library and all those romance covers.

--SueBE

To find out more about Sue Bradford Edwards' writing, visit her blog, One Writer's Journey.  Sue is also the instructor for Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults. The next session begins November 18th, 2019.

Read More »

5 comments audience, book choice, readers, Sue Bradford Edwards

The National Book Festival

One of my favorite events of the year is fast approaching: The National Book Festival. Put on by The Library of Congress, it unites authors and their readers.

The format has changed over the years. Until recently, it was held outside in Washington, D.C. on the West Lawn along the National Mall. I have many fond memories ducking in and out of the tents, listening to authors like Lois Lowry, Diana Gabaldon and Neil Gaiman – riveted as they shared their passion for writing with thousands of eager fans.

As it was an outdoor event, we sometimes had to brave the elements. Rain wasn’t enough to stop me from listening to Katherine Patterson, even if I didn’t have a seat and I was soaking wet, standing in mud. There is a palpable excitement that exists among like-minded people who love reading and writing that not even fifty-degree weather and pouring rain can erase.

The festival is now held in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center – still in Washington, D.C. – but it is no less magical. Instead of speaking in tents, the authors and illustrators speak in large rooms which can hold twice the people. And as if having the chance to hear your favorite authors talk about their work wasn’t amazing enough, the festival also offers book-signings, performances, discussion panels, and my personal favorite – The Pavilion of States. Each state showcases up-and-coming authors and literacy movements in their area. It is a treasure-trove for teachers. I walk away with posters, bookmarks, pens, pencils, and a myriad of other freebies that I still use every year.

Last year, I stumbled upon Scholastic Books who was giving away free, hardcover, young-adult novels. My heart stopped and I dashed to get in line, jumping up and down like a child. In my opinion, there is no better gift than a free book. I also had the opportunity to hear Stephen King speak. Ever seen a grown woman geek out when one of her favorite authors of all time walks onto the stage? You would have if you’d been sitting next to me.

When I mentioned the festival to some of the teachers in my school, they had never heard of it, and so it occurred to me that, perhaps, there were fellow writers who didn’t know about the festival either. If you are in the general D.C. area, I highly recommend going. Every year I walk away with valuable writing advice. I’m inspired to kick-start a new idea. I’m reminded by the 200,000 plus people who attend, that reading and writing do still matter.

The festival is on Saturday, September 2nd this year. You can find me hanging on the every word of M.T. Anderson, Ernest Gaines, and David Baldacci.

Bethany Masone Harar is an author, teacher, and blogger, who does her best to turn reluctant readers into voracious, book-reading nerds. Check out her blog here and her website here.

Read More »

3 comments Authors, Bethany Harar, book signings, fans, Library of Congress, National Book Festival, National Mall, readers, Washington D.C., Writers

Being First Matters

Being first matters, and no, I'm not talking about sporting events and competitions (although the guy on the left was pretty happy to show off his swimming medals for the sake of this article). I'm talking reviews. I usually read books before they are published and have an opportunity to review these books before most people get their hands on them. I didn't realize what a privilege this was until recently. During a recent blog tour, I got behind on things a bit. I lent out my copy of a book and others had a chance to review the book before I did. Because I also helped promote the book, I read each and every one of those reviews BEFORE writing my own. I've never struggled so much in my life to write an honest review. It took me forever to get my thoughts down on the page.

I would type something and then a little voice in my head would say ' didn't someone already mention that in THEIR review ? ' and I would rack my brain trying to think of who it might have been that said that. I would scour those other reviews to make sure I wasn't plagiarizing...and then I would fall even deeper in the rabbit hole. When I finished my review, I was quite timid to publish it because I was still afraid it sounded too much like everything that had already been said. I concluded that being first matters and if you can't be first, don't read other reviews before writing your own.

Now that I have had this experience, I would update my previous article titled: Tips for Writing Reviews from an Amazon Top Reviewer and add a 5th tip:

5) Being First Matters - If there are other reviews of the same book or product, don't read them until after you have created your own review. This allows you to be absolutely genuine and sincere and your judgment won't be clouded by the opinions of others.

What advice to you have for writing reviews? What experiences have helped shape your review writing process? If you aren't currently writing reviews, what's stopping you from sharing your thoughts and opinions about books and products?

Leave a comment - I'd love to hear from you!

Hugs,

~Crystal

Crystal is a secretary and musician at her church, babywearing cloth diapering mama (aka crunchy mama), business owner, active journaler, writer and blogger, Blog Tour Manager with WOW! Women on Writing, Publicist with Dream of Things Publishing, Press Corp teammate for the DairyGirl Network, Unicorn Mom Ambassador, as well as a dairy farmer. She lives in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin with her husband, four young children (Carmen 9, Andre 8, Breccan 3, Delphine 2, and baby E due in fall 2017), two dogs, two rabbits, four little piggies, a handful of cats and kittens, and over 230 Holsteins.

You can find Crystal riding unicorns, taking the ordinary and giving it a little extra (making it extraordinary), blogging and reviewing books, baby carriers, cloth diapers, and all sorts of other stuff here, and at her personal blog about turning lemons into lemonade! 

Read More »

3 comments book reviews, honest reviews, readers, review ideas, review tips, reviews, sincere reviews, Writers, writing reviews

Forever Young Adult Readers Under Attack

So I write Young Adult. I read YA. I also read romance, mystery, literary fiction, nonfiction, picture books, board books, the newspaper, blogs, and middle-grade novels. But right now, YA readers over the age of 18 are under attack by a blogger named Ruth Graham who wrote a post called AGAINST YA on the Slate Book Review. Her tagline reads, "Read whatever you want. But you should feel embarrassed when what you're reading was written for children."

You might have seen this article or heard about it. It's been circulating around Facebook and Twitter, and it has several readers and writers steaming mad! I think the part that is so objective, of course, is the word embarrassed. I'm thinking adults should be embarrassed over much more serious things, such as our infiltration of Facebook, than reading Fault in Our Stars or standing in line for the midnight showing of Twilight. But what do I know? I read YA.

Since I am a YA and MG novelist, I think Graham gives me a pass because I have to read what I write. But still her article really ticks me off. I have had a lot of adults tell me they read my latest novel, a YA titled Caught Between Two Curses, in one day. Should they be embarrassed about this? Should they be hiding their book behind a black piece of construction paper or wearing big sunglasses when reading it on Kindle? Or should I just be happy that of the friends I know who love to read a lot of different genres and types of books, they took the time to read mine? I'll let you know. . .I'm happy.

I've loved children's books since I was young and I've never stopped. My VERY FAVORITE BOOK SERIES EVER is Harry Potter. I haven't read any adult novel that has made me want to read it three times as all 7 of HP have. So, call me stupid. Call me immature. According to Graham, I'm missing out on great literature that will really make me think and stay with me long after I shut the book. ( Full confession: My mom, in her seventies, and I still mourn the end of the TV series, Angel.)

Here's the deal. Has Graham ever been to a Star Trek convention? Has she seen people dress up and act out The Rocky Horror Picture Show? Should these people be embarrassed to dress up as creatures and characters who aren't even real? What does she think about romance readers who visit the fictional landmarks in their favorite books? I mean, she has opened up a (excuse the cliche) can of worms here.

So, I'm curious. What do you think? Do you read YA? Do you read MG? If you do, do you do this because you like it, because you write for the age, because you have kids/grandkids that age? Do you think it matters what you choose to read as long as you are reading and enjoying it?

I just think Graham entered dangerous territory when she started judging what other people read. It's like banning books. You don't have to ban them to stop YOUR children from reading them, just don't let those books in your house. If Graham doesn't want to read YA, then fine. But she doesn't have to insult the people who do--no matter how old they are.

Not only is Margo L. Dill a young adult writer and reader, she also teaches a novel writing course for people who want to write for the young adult or children's market! Find out all the classes Margo teaches and upcoming dates on the WOW! classroom page here.

Read More »

13 comments Caught Between Two Curses, Divergent, Fault in Our Stars, Margo L. Dill, readers, young adult, young adult novel

Reeling in Readers (Or Is Your Bookmark Working For You?)

I often end up published in anthologies, getting an armload of great books in the bargain. And then I wonder how I can get those books out there to readers.

I’ll do a couple giveaways on my blog, promoting the book when it first comes out. And I’ll send a few as gifts, depending on the occasion (Happy Birthday/Father’s Day/Anniversary!) But as for book signings, it’s difficult to talk my way into a major chain, which is the only bookstore option we have left in my area.

One must get creative in finding book-selling venues, so I was pretty excited when (divine) inspiration struck. After I came across a flyer for our church’s fall festival, it was just a matter of convincing the festival coordinator into giving me a booth.

Next, I turned to my friends in the anthology-writing business, asking for book-selling suggestions. And goodness, they had so many wonderful suggestions! When I read, “get bookmarks” over and over and over again, I got the message.

I needed a bookmark. But first, I had to decide what I wanted my bookmark to do. I was paying that little rectangular piece of cardstock to work for me, and I wanted to make sure it got the job done.

I also knew in another month, I’d be getting another box of anthology books (from a different publisher). And to be honest, I have quite a few boxes of books in my office storage unit (also known as “under the bed.”)

So I needed something that would promote me, as well as work for any book. Something like a business card, but also a functioning bookmark.

I could make my own bookmarks, I thought, designing a specific card for each specific book. That seemed like a lot of work—and dang, writing’s hard enough without throwing in arts and crafts. But still, I was on to something. I could design a “fill in the blank” bookmark! I needed more space for that information, so I switched to a postcard. When I finished the design, I’d included the following information:

Front Side:

· My professional byline and a writing tag line (I use a fishing theme on my blog and I incorporated this theme into the card and its graphics)
· “A Latest Release” fill-in-the-blank line

Back Side:

· My photo and website address/contact info

Obviously, I want to sell books at this event. But I also want to hook readers, readers who’ll drop in to my blog and follow me on my publishing adventures. Because I know there’s a swell chance that those readers will buy whatever book I’m lucky enough to reel in next!

(And P.S. If you have any suggestions for book-signings or bookmarks, I'd love to hear 'em!)

~Cathy C. Hall

Read More »

10 comments blog followers, book-selling, book-signing, bookmarks, business cards, Cathy C. Hall, marketing, postcards, readers

The Tale of The Three Authors (And How They Built Their Platform)

Once upon a time, there were three authors. Each had penned delightful books. Each worked hard, building her platform. Let’s see what happens when the Average Curious Reader comes along.

(Okay, you and me, we’re the Average Curious Reader in this scenario. Even though, yes, we’re writers. And I know that the Average Curious Reader may not be aware of “platform,” whereas us writers know all about platform. But for now, let’s think like an Average Curious Reader. Honestly, it’s not that much of a stretch for me.)

First Author underpinned her platform on the pithy power of social media. She worked day and night, promoting her book! A clever tweet and link here, pinning a photo and link there. The face of her book was everywhere!

One day, Average Curious Reader saw a tweet and decided to stop and take a closer look. Hooray! But First Author had no blog, and her website was basically a link to buy her book. There just wasn’t anything engaging enough to push Curious Reader to a sale. So she shrugged her shoulders and moved on.

Second Author’s platform was built on solid ground. She presented a professional website to the world, and had an amusing and occasionally updated blog. She also had a presence on social media, but rarely used it to her advantage. In fact, she rarely used it at all because it just took too much time.

One day, Average Curious Reader finally found a mention of Second Author’s book somewhere and decided to stop and take a closer look. Hooray! But Second Author’s whole presence had that has-been feel to it. Curious Reader wrinkled her nose at the virtual dust and moved on.

Third Author planned her platform’s structure purposefully. Before her first book came out, she designed her website and wrote regular, engaging blog posts. She reached out in the social networks and supported other authors and friends and built relationships.

One day, Average Curious Reader saw Third Author’s book cover and decided to stop and take a closer look. Hooray! She found Third Author’s website and read a couple lovely and current blog posts. She discovered all kinds of interesting tidbits about Third Author and her book and couldn’t wait to get her hands on it! So off she went, straight to her favorite bookseller to buy Third Author’s book.

Sure, we’re writers. But we must always keep a marketing eye on that elusive curious reader. And that’s not so hard, really, when we think about what makes us, as readers, buy a book. Whether we’re self-publishing or going the traditional route, we need a strong platform, with an engaging social network and an engaging and current website/blog.

If you build it, curious readers will come—and buy your book! Don’t you just love it when stories have a happy ending?

~Cathy C. Hall

Read More »

8 comments author blog, author platform, author website, book marketing, Cathy C. Hall, readers, social media book promotion, Writers

Thinking Commercially

Why do you write?
To express yourself.
To explore an idea.
To create a character that interest you.
To explore a difficult topic like immigration, abortion, war, alcoholism.
To weave a spell.
To leave a legacy.
To explain your life to your grandchildren.
To explain how to do something.
To scare someone.
To make someone swoon.

The reasons we write are endless, they are personal. And each reason is valid. But if you want to cross over into the published world, you need one more reason: to sell. To think commercially is a problem for many writers.

For example, let’s say you want to write nonfiction books for kids. The National Science Teachers Association and the Children’s Book Council released their list of Outstanding Science Trade Books for 2013, about 58 books they deem literature that can be used in science classrooms, the best of science and the best of literature combined. I was lucky enough to have my picture book, Desert Baths, named to the list.

It has been interesting to study the list of about 58 books to see if there are common themes that make these books commercial. Overwhelmingly, the topics are about nature, especially animals. The second most popular genre was biographies, especially of scientists. Some combine the two, such as Wild Horse Scientists, from a series about contemporary scientists and their work. There were some technology books (about the bomb, the Mars rover, or other space topics), one chemistry book, one about the importance of oil, one on botany, and one about forensics.

In other words, there are big gaps in the scientific disciplines covered and there’s a possible window there for a topic, if it’s done well. On the other hand, nature/animals/biographies are proven best sellers, so it may be best to stick to those categories. Ultimately, the decision is up to you, but these are the sorts of things that you need to consider about when you think commercially.

Or, take for example, the popularity of The Hunger Games. Are dystopians still selling? Yes. But their popularity is probably waning a bit and by the time you write, sell and have published a dystopian, it may be the tail end of such books. Thinking commercial means going beyond just a description of a genre to the inner workings of the story to see why it worked. It’s a story of self-sacrifice, courage, facing unbeatable odds as an underdog—and finding a way to come out on top. Its themes are war, authoritarian governments, personal responsibility. The characters are realistic, engaging, sympathetic.

What if you keep those story elements, but recast them as you switch the genre to science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction or even a contemporary. Thinking commercially does NOT mean copying the latest fad. Rather, it’s working to connect with a wider audience. Is your book about an alcoholic step-mother? How can you connect that to a wider audience? What if the story plays off the Hansel and Gretel stories, the step-mother is the witch? Would that stretch out the scope of the story enough to bring in a wider audience? What if the President of the US is the father and his new bride is the step-mother?

Thinking commercially means finding niches in the marketplace that you can fill; it means reaching for a wider audience than your first attempts; it means lifting up your eyes from the keyboard and looking out at the reader to ask, "How can I tell a story that touches you on a deeper level?" That is thinking commercially.


----
Darcy Pattison blogs about how-to-write at Fiction Notes and blogs about education at CommonCoreStandards.com

Read More »

5 comments book marketing, finding your audience, marketplace, niche, readers

Spread the Word: Do Authors Need an E-Mail Newsletter?

After you start publishing work, after you begin building a following of readers, you realize you need to stay connected so you can inform readers of what you're working on or offer writing advice or promote your latest book.

Now, you may be wondering what the best method of communication may be. You've got a website, you promote your work on Twitter and Facebook. Maybe your blog allows for an RSS feed. Do you also need a newsletter?

Before you starting penning a periodical, several questions need to be addressed. What reasons drive your desire to begin a newsletter? Who will read your newsletter? And perhaps the most important question of all: Why should readers peruse your publication?

Why Start a Newsletter?
Obviously, an e-mail newsletter can help you stay in touch with readers and grow a larger circulation base. Do newsletters give all writers and genres a boost?

• Non-Fiction writers - experts on the topic they write about - benefit from this type of promotion. By offering articles, breaking news, and links to other information regarding your area of expertise, readership will increase. In many cases, cross-links with other websites draw additional readers.
• Fiction writers use a newsletter to update fans about the latest news: book or article updates, blog posts, book tours, speaking engagements. Some authors offer book excerpts or links to video or podcasts.

Who Will Read Your Work?

Determining your intended audience will help you decide what type of content to include in the newsletter. Plus, defining your readership helps you focus on places to find potential readers.

Once you've defined who your audience will be, you need to ask why this audience will want to read your updates. Are they looking for specific advice on the topic? Do they want general information about books, articles, blog posts? Are they interested in personal information?

Sometimes, a writer may try to cover all bases. Trust me, as an avid reader of newsletters from several of my favorite writers, their publications don't always contain the information I'm most interested in. But that may be okay, too, since it forces me to check out their websites.

Formulate a strong mental picture about the type of newsletter you want. Play with several different design ideas. Make a list of potential articles. These strategies provide focus for you and the kind of information you plan to impart to readers. I scoured my favorite writer newsletters and found the following items:

1. Top-# lists
2. Features
3. Reviews
4. Q & A
5. Guest Writers
6. Classified

What Elements Haven't I Considered?

Think you've thought of everything? Think again. Here are a few other considerations:

• How often will I publish a newsletter? Weekly? Monthly? Only you know for sure how much information you'll have to make a newsletter a worthwhile reading experience.
• Will I write every article? Depending on the scope of your publication, a newsletter can be a time-consuming project. Can you afford to pay others to write for the newsletter?
• Should I offer a premium subscription or should my newsletter be free of fees? Once again, the size of the project may point you toward the best answer for you situation.
• Does the publication need a copyright? Good reasons exist why you should copyright you work: a copyright establishes public record, copyright registration is necessary before filing an infringement lawsuit, and in some instances, a copyright lawsuit victory can include attorney fees and court costs. (No, I'm not a lawyer and I don't play one on TV, so you may want to double check with your legal counsel prior to filing a copyright.)
• What service should I use to distribute work? Some of the most commonly-used programs include Yahoo Groups, Constant Contact and Aweber. Sure, other distribution systems exist. Best advice is to ask fellow writers what does - and doesn't - work, based on their experiences.

Still interested in starting a newsletter for readers and potential audience members? E-mail newsletters make great promotional tools. But, a newsletter also requires a time investment. Make a decision that works best for your writing situation.

by LuAnn Schindler. Check out more of LuAnn's work at her website.

Photo by LuAnn Schindler

Read More »

3 comments author promotion, connecting with readers, email newsletters, LuAnn Schindler, newsletters, readers, writer promotion

Writers - A great community to join

I've always known that I wanted to be a writer. I know there are lots of conversations of the solitary life of writers, but I also know that within the writers' community exists a rare camaraderie. Writers are a lucky bunch of folks, exchanging tidbits among themselves.
In recent months I have had the pleasure of speaking with several writers and they have been amazingly warm and forthcoming about their support. Some have even eagerly suggested writing tricks and others have offered to read my writing.
Although I've been too busy and have not joined a local workshop group, I have writer friends who rave about the amazing support they have found sharing their work in a group of other folks who love writing.
Writers lend their support to other writers as easily as they fill a blank computer screen.
An even larger group of folks to tap into as a writer are avid readers. They often have marvelous insight into a writer's abilities...and inabilities. I've had lots of those recent conversations, as folks make gift recommendations, and have often learned a depth from readers than has astounded me and made me think, especially when I'm writing.
So, whether a writer or a reader, I'd like to thank you for the influences you have brought to my writing and reading.
Is there any book, any writer or reader who has influenced your writerly/readerly life? Give them a shout out now and celebrate what they have brought to your blank page.

"Happy New Year!" to all the readers of WOW! Women on Writing and may all your writing dreams come true for 2010! Elizabeth King Humphrey is a writer and creativity coach. Besides contributing to AOL's ParentDish, she blogs at The Write Elizabeth, delving into creativity in everyday places.

Read More »

1 comment readers, reading, writers' community

What if a story could save your life?

by: LuAnn Schindler

A friend once asked me how many books I've read. Wow. I can't even begin to imagine the number of books I've read. Both of my parents were teachers, so I grew up in a family of readers. During elementary school, I remember trekking the block and a half to the library on Saturdays. I read every Nancy Drew book, some of them twice. By junior high and high school, my literary tastes changed, and I read everything required in school as well as multiple mysteries my parents had on the shelves at home. And once I went to college, I majored in English, so naturally, I read non-stop!

But the next question from my friend caused me to pause. "Have you ever read a story that saved your life?" Hmm. Well, there's... No, what about... How do you answer this question? I've read many books that resonated with me or what's happening in my life, but did these books save my life?

It depends on how one defines 'save'. To Kill A Mockingbird saved me from spreading prejudice and injustice. The Great Gatsby saved me from greed and misplaced love. Macbeth saved me from using ambition in the wrong manner.

Still, I'm not sure if I answered my friend's question. Is it possible for a story to save someone? Or do we simply relate to the ideas within the pages and apply it to our lives?

Read More »

1 comment LuAnn Schindler, readers, reading, relating to a story