Month: January 2016

Goodbye Traditional, Hello Indie (Part II)

~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 2 Comments

January 20, 2016 I re-blogged a post, written by D. Wallace Peach, “Goodbye traditional, Hello Indie – Part I”. I thought it would be a great thing to re-blog the second part as well, which is just as greatly written! Thank you D. Wallace Peach!

Myths of the Mirror

printing2

Part I of this blog summary focused on my personal experience contracting with a small press. On the whole, it was a valuable learning experience, especially for a new author who knew nothing about anything. My publisher treated me fairly and respectfully, I improved my craft and happily published 6 books. For many authors, this approach may be the perfect publishing route.

Yet, publishing through a small press has significant challenges that are worth considering. As I gained knowledge and skills, it became clear to me that the obstacles outpaced the advantages. In 2015, I experimented and self-published 2 books. The results drove home the stark differences in the two approaches.

In December, I decided to go all indie. I began the process of canceling contracts with my publisher and reclaiming my books with the intention of republishing them myself.

Below, I explain my reasons.

So what were my small press…

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Rave Reviews Book Club Wants You – #RRBC

~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 2 Comments

John W. Howell recommends strongly to become a member of the rave reviews book club. A great opportunity to market your book – help others to market theirs and make great progress in your networking.

Fiction Favorites

a book-club-badge-suggestion-copy-1Anniversary Badge Year 1

As you may know, I am a member of the Rave Reviews Book Club. What you may not know is the reason I joined and what the Club has meant to me. Let me clear these last points up.

I joined Rave Reviews Book Club to become associated with like-minded writers who were interested in promoting each other’s work. At the time, I looked at some organizations and had made the decision not to associate myself with them due to what I considered unusual quid pro quo requirements.

By quid pro quo, I’m referring to the practice of following each other if followed, reviewing each others books if reviewed and other scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours kind of programs. At the time, these practices seemed a little shady to me and so I passed.

Then I had a chance to read a blog by an RRBC member and…

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Why Writing Isn’t Enough—The Savvy Writer’s Guide to Success

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This is another fantastic blog post by Kristen Lamb which helps us writers with our marketing, our author brand and our social media. I admire her for sharing her knowledge with us.

Kristen Lamb's Blog

Image via Drew Coffman courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons Image via Drew Coffman courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

Today, we’re going to do something a little different. You want to know one thing I love probably more than anything in the world? Spotting great talent and getting to share it. Thus, today I would like to introduce you to one of my followers who snagged my attention over the holidays and I asked her to come and share her wisdom today because I think we can all gain something from her (even me because am always learning BAY-BEE!).

I would like to introduce, Britt Skrabanek!

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Indie Author Britt Skrabanek Indie Author Britt Skrabanek

A lot of you may be wondering how I ended up on Kristen’s blog in the first place. She’s pretty big-time, an influencer—she’s worked her tail off to build her brand presence. Many of us look to her for writing tips we can actually use, knowing some esoteric BS like…

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HOW TO AVOID MANUSCRIPT MENTAL FATIGUE.

~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 2 Comments

This is a quite interesting about “Manuscript Mental Fatigue” and might be useful to new writers. I didn’t know it existed and now reading about it seems quite logic to me.

Lit World Interviews

Why are the first few chapters of your book great and then the yawn sets in as you continue reading through your first draft? Did two people write it?

The problem is common, happens to us all, and is something rarely if ever discussed. I believe it is because we know. We. Just. Know.

I call it Manuscript Mental Fatigue (MMF). We put so much into those first few chapters, editing as we go, and you know we do, then we make it past perhaps chapter ten and it’s over. We just write. It’s not that our ideas are but we just aren’t executing them the way we did earlier. A rule given at every turn about something not to do it, but we spent all of that time on those first few chapters. Instead of letting the words flow, we edited and tried to make those first chapters excellent…

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How To Use Pinterest Group Boards to Increase Your Blog Traffic

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This is an excellent post about how to increase your blog traffic by using Pinterest. Thanks so much for the research and sharing, Suzie!! I’m sure it will help many of us! 🙂

Suzie Speaks

Pinterest group boards

When it comes to Pinterest, I’m still very much a newbie. A good bloggy friend of mine, Elena from Fabulously 50 and Living With Batman was (and still is) the biggest influence on my Pinterest activities – after achieving a monumental amount of success with her own account in a very short space of time she very kindly analysed my profile, boards and activity and then gave me a detailed list of things that I needed to do to start gaining traffic to my blog.

And oh my gosh, it works! Within just four months I have gone from receiving 100 views for the month of September 2015 to at least 100 views a day in January 2016. In fact, by the end of this month I’m set to reach 4,000 views just from Pinterest alone. Yes, it’s hardly taking the blogging world by storm, but think about this over…

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How to find a title for your book

~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 41 Comments

You wrote a book. You are writing a book. You are prepared to write a book. And of course, it is important that your book or future book will get a decent title. Catching, attracting curiosity, but not telling too much about its contents. Now, what are you doing?

I have asked as many writers as I could: “How do you find a title – and when do you try to find a title for your book?”

And I got as many answers as I asked authors.

Some of them find them at the beginning, or before they even started. Some can think of a title while they’re still writing and some are thinking forever about it after the book is completed.

For the past few days, I have tried to research some information on how to find a book title for my book(s).

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August 1, 2013, Writer’s Relief Staff wrote about the “Elements of Great Book Titles” and mentions 7 important elements, such as:

  • Poetic language
  • Action words
  • Inherent mystery/conflict
  • Character’s names
  • Place names
  • Quirky titles
  • The One Word Title

Each of the elements is accompanied by several classic examples.

The article as well writes: “When in doubt, get help,” which I think is an excellent advice. I haven’t tried that yet, but I will one day, just to find out, what others come up with.

To read the entire article, please go to http://writersrelief.com/blog/2013/08/great-title-for-your-book-or-story-or-poem/

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The “IndieBookLauncher.com” Website has published a blog post about book titles and gives us a simple formula that will help us create an amazing title:

(essence of your book) + (a twist) = your title

 

This article is divided into several elements as well. I find it quite interesting since there are fewer elements than in the previous article, but the “twist” contains several sub-components. Let’s show you this:

Main element: The Essence of Your Book

Main element: The Twist

Sub-components:

  • Add Perspective
  • Add Imagery, Metaphor or Emotion
  • Use Dialogue from your Manuscript
  • Add Intrigue or Curiosity
  • Add Context
  • Add Comparison or Juxtaposition
  • Add Wordplay
  • Simple Additions or Changes

Main element: Making Your Final Choice

Main element: Testing Your Title

Even though I think the article is quite interesting, it seems complicated to me and at the end concludes with nearly the same idea: “Get Help.”

You will find the entire article here: http://www.indiebooklauncher.com/resources-diy/how-to-pick-a-title-for-your-book.php

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One of the easiest to read, informative and interesting articles about this topic I found was written by Max Tucker on the “Book In A Box” Website.

Max Tucker doesn’t only describe the way of finding a book title in different examples; he as well describes the marketing effect the book title has and recommends us:

“Spend time figuring out the best possible title for your book. It will determine a large part of what people think about your book, and thus, your book’s success.”

Max Tucker also tells us the five attributes of good book titles which are, according to him:

  1. Attention Grabbing
  2. Memorable
  3. Informative (gives idea of what book is about)
  4. Easy to say
  5. Not embarrassing or problematic for someone to say aloud to their friends

At this place, I’d like to recommend reading this article. I find it very useful. It is to find here: http://bookinabox.com/how-to-title-a-book/

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Another blog post I discovered was written by Scott Berkun, the author of six successful books. He gives us the ten main elements in choosing our book title and writes about his experience. “The truth about choosing book titles,” published December 4, 2012.

 

#1: Advice is cheap, decisions are hard

#2: This is all very subjective, even among experts

#3: Many titles are clichés

#4: The title serves many functions

#5: Titles aren’t predictive of sales

#6. We feel different after we read the books

#7: What really matters

#8: What to do: Make a big list

#9: Use modern tools like polling and A/B Testing

#10:  Remember A title is just a sentence

 

I think, Scott’s advice is useful, and I can feel the value of his ideas and recommendation. If you’d like to read the entire article, go to http://scottberkun.com/2012/the-truth-about-picking-book-titles/

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And then, in the end, there are two more possibilities to find your book title: in your dreams – or in the shower… that’s how one of my author friends found hers. 🙂

or

As a last resort: The Book Title Name Generator which can be found here: http://fantasynamegenerators.com/book-title-generator.php#.VqUEao-cHGg

 

Picture courtesy of: http://www.clker.com/clipart-book-with-title.html
Picture courtesy of: http://www.clker.com/clipart-book-with-title.html

 

The “Liebster Blog” Award

~ aurorajeanalexander ~ 12 Comments

Liebster Blog Award

At this moment, I want to thank Byford’s Books for nominating ‘Writer’s Treasure Chest’ for this wonderful award. I believe that the ‘Liebster Blog’ Award is an excellent chance to showcase our work and spread the word about our personal art as well as knowing other blogger’s inspiration.

I am proud and thankful to be given this opportunity to share a few drops of information about me if you like.

There are a few rules:

  • Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you
  • Answer the 11 questions the blogger gives you
  • Nominate 11 bloggers that you think are deserving of the award
  • Let the bloggers know you nominated them
  • Give them 11 questions of your own

 

My questions from Byford’s Books:

If you could have afternoon tea with one fictional character who would it be?

I strongly think it would be Dirk Pitt, the manifold hero in numerous action books and stories, written by Clive Cussler. I am fascinated by a Character this eclectic that a heroic character can cold-bloodedly kill – and still be loved by women and readers (I figure in most cases they are one and the same.) As a side note, I would be quite curious if it’s true that Dirk Pitt makes ladies’ blood boil. Mine hasn’t even steamed for quite a while…

 

If you could live in a book, TV show or movie, which would it be?

That’s difficult to answer. But I’ll try. There was a TV show a few years back which I loved: ‘Leverage’. I think it would have been enormous fun to be part of this group of people. A thief, a hacker, a former insurance investigator, a fighter and weapon expert and a professional scammer form a team and start working for the good side.

 

Which book has influenced you the most?

I think I can with a clear conscience say it was James Clavell’s ‘Shogun’ who has as well impressed as also influenced me the most. John Blackthorn, the protagonist, is, in my opinion, one of the most complex characters I’ve ever read of. This book is, and I believe, justifiably so, called one of the best books ever written.

 

If you could time travel would you go to the past or the future?

To the past. (And please, don’t ask me why… I might reply that I loved the long, beautiful dresses that were worn by women back then.)

 

What is your favorite quote?

“Don’t let anyone ever make you feel that you don’t deserve what you want!!!” (Patrick Verona in ‘Ten things I hate about you’.)

 

Which author inspires you?

There are many authors. But I think I am inspired by Eric Van Lustbader, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Marc Olden – and many more.

 

Which author (dead or alive) would you want to be trapped in an elevator with for 24 hours? (I don’t mean dead in the elevator with you!)

Thanks for the clarification. *chuckle*

I would say; I’d love to be trapped in an elevator with Jane Austen. She seems to have been not only an excellent writer but also a unique and straightforward personality.

 

Where would you like to be in 10 years time?

I can’t tell you. Sometimes I’m not exactly sure where I’ll be in two weeks.

 

Who is your favorite band/artist?

Another hard question to answer. There are many great musicians. Before I start creating a list with 25 country music singers, be informed that I love country music, and it is quite hard to decide on one of them being my favorite.

I am, however, a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen!

And: there is one Country Music Band whose songs have helped me through a hard time in my life and which I will always be grateful for: “Brian Lynn Jones & The Misfit Cowboys”. They might not be known all over the world. But they’re amazing!!

 

What is your favorite movie?

I feel like being 300 years old replying to this question: My favorite movie is ‘Casablanca’… ugh… I’m so old fashioned!!

 

Tell me one random fact about yourself?

My favorite color is ‘teal’.

 

Thanks for reading!

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER

Check out my Facebook Author Page

Welcome to my Website

 

Here are my nominees:

Nominees

  1. Novels by Jennifer Hinsman
  2. Veronica Bale’s Blog
  3. Chris, The Story Reading Ape’s Blog
  4. akrummenacker
  5. August McLaughlin
  6. Bette A. Stevens
  7. Blondiewritemore
  8. Kristina Stanley
  9. Suzie Speaks
  10. Jens Thoughts
  11. Rachel Poli
  12. Walk On

 

My questions for you all: (Some borrowed from Byford’s Books)

  1. If you could have dinner with one fictional character who would it be?
  2. If you could live in a book, TV show or movie, which would it be?
  3. Which was the book that has impressed you the most as a kid?
  4. If you could pick a random spot anywhere on Earth, where would you like to travel right now?
  5. What is your favorite book quote?
  6. Which author inspires you?
  7. Which celebrity (dead or alive) would you want to be trapped in an elevator with for 24 hours? (I don’t mean dead in the elevator with you!)
  8. Is there any place in the world you would rather live than you do now?
  9. Who is your favorite band/artist?
  10. What is your favorite movie?
  11. Tell me one random fact about yourself?

 

Enjoy your Award and keep writing!!