Dear O'Abby: How do I get blurbs? And do I need them?

Dear O'Abby,

I'm publishing my first novel early next year, and looking at other books in my genre, they all seem to have blurbs from other authors on the cover.  Is this something I need to do, or is it one of those "nice-to-have" things that aren't actually that important?

If they are critical, how do I go about getting them?

Best wishes,

Blurbless

Dear Blurbless,

I wouldn't say blurbs are essential, but they do give another layer of authority to the fact that your book is good.  Not everyone reads them, of course, but certainly, having a great quote on your cover from an author well known in your genre can elevate your book in the eyes of readers.

In terms of getting them, it's really just a matter of asking.

If you're with a publisher, there may be other authors in their stable who you can reach out to.  Your editor may even have an idea already who might be a good fit.  If you're self-publishing, you're going to need to do this on your own.

Find the authors you think would be a good fit and reach out to them.  Make sure you give them plenty of lead time and be gracious and polite if they decline the request.  Reading a whole book is a big time investment, and not everyone has that kind of time.

Make sure you choose writers whose work aligns with yours.  A horror writer is unlikely to want to blurb a romance, and if they do, the blurb is likely to confuse readers more than if there wasn't one there at all.  A writer whose work is similar to your own is far more likely to be interested in reading your book and therefore blurbing you.

Make sure you're clear when you need the blurb, and offer to send the author a copy of the book when it's published.  Small tokens of appreciation go a long way.

And that's really all there is to it.

X O'Abby

#AtoZchallenge Why Interviews are About the Author Not Just the Book

Why Interviews are About the Author Not Just the Book

During our normal schedule, I run the Debut Author Spotlight on Wednesdays on this blog. I ask a bunch of questions (currently 20), mostly about the author. Why? Why not just ask about the book? Because it's only the first book! An author is a brand. Once upon a time, there was a company that only had one product, some corn that was processed into flat pieces and tasted good in milk. Not everyone liked processed corn in milk. They expanded into wheat breakfast products. Now they own a bunch of companies and make a lot more than cereal.

That's how it is for authors. The first book is a big deal. It's quite an accomplishment. But consumers will (hopefully) want more. So the idea isn't just to sell one book. The idea is to form relationships with readers. Once someone likes an author, they'll want not only that first book, but the second and third and some swag and will share on social media and be willing to pick up an anthology because that author is in it... This is how the author brand really works.

A few of my questions come from researching the debut author, looking for something interesting to ask about. More than once, an interviewed author was glad for this personal touch. I imagine the readers of this blog enjoy it too.

I ask for a #writetip. Why? That hashtag has a high search-and-share rate. It also connects the author with other writers. Most writers are also readers.

What ignited your passion for writing? These are great stories to draw in readers and fellow writers.

Twitter's #WriterWednesday has long since been a way to grow the #WritingCommunity.

My favorite question: "Who is currently your biggest fan? What does that person love most (or "ship") about your debut novel?" One day an author will look back fondly on this memory. Also, knowing why someone else loves a book can intrigue a potential reader.

I ask about the big emotions in the book because some readers are looking for books that make them feel a certain way.

Instagram has gained a lot of power with the #bookstagram reading community, so I ask about that.

"How do you hope your book will help readers in their life?" A lot of authors will recognize this question as being about theme without using the word theme. There are a ton of reference books for writers that proclaim that this is the reason people read books. I don't know who the psychologist was that came up with that idea, but it's everywhere. And if an author has an answer that happens to be something the reader wants help with, guess what? 💸💰🤑 Sold. If someone helps you solve one problem, do you go back to them hoping they'll help with another? Chances are you do. That's branding at work.

I ask about a memorable trait or visual oddity of a character. Well-developed characters have something to make them stand-out. (Or stand-out because they lack anything defining, in rare cases.) This gives readers something to look forward to, and shows the author knows how to create a character. Readers will stick around for a character they enjoy.

https://diversebooks.org #WeNeedDiverseBooks - I ask about this because I'm a diverse person and I want to see more books out there that represent more of the population. Even if an author didn't write one, at least being able to name one shows support of a vast audience.

The deciding factor in a publication route (be it self-published, small press, or traditional) is important because readers love to know how an author got to where they are now. It's like the climax of the first book journey.

I ask authors to create a question or discussion topic for the readers to comment on. Look at the number of comments versus the number of views of this year's interviews to see why:


Blurbs and Bios end the interview. Hopefully, by that point, the blog reader is interested in the author. A good interview will leave the reader remembering at least one fun fact about the author. A great interview will have the reader sharing something from the post. The best interviews of all, of course, result in the sale of a debut book. It means the reader found a reason to give someone new a chance.

M is for 8 Misconceptions About Writing and Publishing #AtoZChallenge

Misconceptions about writing and publishing abound. Here are the eight I hear most often.

1.  You wrote a book? You’re going to be rich.

Yes, someone said this to me. It took a huge amount of self-control not to burst out laughing. A small percentage of authors can live off their writing. A much, much smaller percentage get rich from it. Most of us are lucky to get a month’s wages out of a year’s worth of writing income.

2.  Once you get one book published, it’s easy to get published after that.

While it is easier to get the second book published than the first, easy is a relative term. It’s still highly competitive and has to be what the publisher or agent happens to be looking for at the time. Unless you’re a household name, there are no free passes.

3.  If I quickly write a book and upload it to Kindle, the money will just start rolling in.

Kindle is home to millions of books. MILLIONS. The only way readers are going to find your book is if you put in the hard work of marketing to bring it to readers’ attention. About a decade ago, authors were making a bundle on ebooks, but that era has passed.

4.  I managed to get a literary agent, now I’ve got it made in the shade.

Finding an agent who is interested in representing you is a huge feat, and I don’t want to belittle that in any way. However, the agent has to pitch your book to publishers, and if there are no takers, you’re back where you started.

5.  I had a friend who is good with grammar edit my book, so it’s ready for publication.

Editing for grammar, spelling and punctuation is only one small part of the editing process. When people hear the word “edit”, they usually think of copy editing. Your book should undergo four levels of editing before it lands in the hands of readers—developmental, substantive, copy edit and proofread. There’s much more to making your book shine that setting commas in place.

6.  Publishers are crooks who take all the money and give authors a tiny share.

In reality, publishers end up with about the same share of the retail price of the book as authors.  Who takes the largest chunk of money from book sales? Retailers take between 40 and 55%. You must also figure in the costs of printing and distributing the book. The author and publisher end up with what’s left.

7.  I’ve written an awesome book, so I need to get it on the market fast.

Nope. Take your time. Make it the best it can be. You can’t predict trends and behaviors. The book that has the best chance in the marketplace is the book that’s well written, well planned, well edited and well designed and these things all take time. Publishing is a marathon, not a sprint.

8.  I keep getting rejections, so I must not be a very good writer.

Every writer faces this thought. Maybe your book could be better, so learn more about the writing craft, get some honest beta readers, attend a conference or take some classes. If you’ve done those things and the rejections continue to roll in, keep in mind that finding the right agent or publisher on the right day for the right project is all luck. Pure and simple. If you’ve honed your writing and haven’t found a home for your manuscript, keep trying. Eventually, your number will be up. It’s all about perseverance.

What were your misconceptions when you first started writing? Share them in the comments below.

*************

Melinda Marshall Friesen writes sci-fi novels and short stories for teens and adults, and she works as marketing director at Rebelight Publishing Inc. She lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada with her family.

The YA Scavenger Hunt is Almost Here!

Want a fun way to spend your Spring Break? Hop on the YA Scavenger Hunt!  This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on a team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!

Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are EIGHT contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of TEAM TEAL and my stop will go live on my Angelic Muse blog on April 2nd, at noon PST. And you'll have two opportunities to win an ARC of Crow's Rest--one in the grand prize, and another giveaway on my page.

There are so many great authors involved this year (including many Fearless Fifteeners and our own OA alumna, Jessica L. Brooks), I feel like I'm in pretty stellar company! I've had a lot of fun researching the author that I'm hosting, and hopefully all you scavengers hunters will too!

A little give and take

Take a close look at the above picture. Can you guess what all five DVDs have in common?

Perhaps I should narrow it down a little more. It does NOT have anything to do with the original book demographic. So you can cross that off your list.

It also has nothing to do with the characters.

Figure it out yet?

Maybe you should look one more time. Just to be sure.

Here's the answer. Are you ready? All five of those DVDs offered a free digital copy with purchase. (Did the answer surprise you?)

This might not seem like a big deal, but for many buyers, it is. If you watch movies on any kind of mobile device, the choice between a DVD and a free digital copy with the DVD is pretty much a no-brainer. For me, it's what cinches the deal. Why purchase the plain DVD when, for practically the same price, I can get the DVD to watch at home, and the digital copy to watch, well, everywhere else?

Indie authors have something sort of like this. I'm not sure if it's available in traditional publishing (if so, please direct me to it), but the indie version is called:

Not all books/ebooks are enrolled in KM, and even if they are, not all are set up for free when you purchase the hard copy. But you'd be surprised at just how many books are enrolled and how many of the ebooks are free.

I love Kindle Matchbook (link), because it's good for both the author and the reader. 

Author Benefit #1: Additional books in a reader's hands means a higher likelihood of your book being read.

Reader benefit #1: Additional books in a reader's hands means a higher likelihood of their book being read. 

Author Benefit #2: Additional book in reader's hands = higher likelihood of your book being gifted.

Reader Benefit #2: Additional book in reader's hands = higher likelihood of them sharing one of their copies.

Author Benefit #3: The author is saying, Hey, reader, thanks for purchasing this hard copy! You matter to me! As a thank you, I want to give you another version! Keep them both, or give one to a friend!

Reader Benefit #3: The author has just given me an extra copy! I feel special! Shall I keep it? Or give it away? Squee!

There are many other benefits to this awesome feature, but the point is, whether you're an indie author who publishes through Createspace and KDP, or a reader who loves to purchase books from Amazon, Kindle Matchbook is definitely a feature worth checking into. 

For more information about Kindle Matchbook, or to search for participating titles, click HERE. 

Blog Tour Tips for Authors, Part Two: Guest Post by Kimber Leigh Wheaton

We're back with Kimber Leigh Wheaton giving us tips on blog tours for authors. If you missed the first installment, you can read it HERE. 

So you have your list, you have your tour dates, and you're ready to send a request to bloggers. How do they sign up? You can have them reply to your email, but I prefer setting up a form through Google Docs. It's quick and easy. Google walks you right through the process if you've never done it before. The best part—they keep track of the responses 

which you can view on a nice spreadsheet. Don't know what to include on your sign-up form? The sign-up for my Tortured Souls blog tour is live. Feel free to check out my link for ideas.

Make sure your participants have everything they need well in advance, and that they understand any deadlines if they need to send you interview questions, guest post topics, etc. Assume a blogger needs any material from you at least seventy-two hours in advance. It's also fine to send a personalized email the day before a blogger's scheduled post as a reminder. Make sure to visit every participant's blog and thank them in the comments for posting on tour day.

These book bloggers receive tons of requests. How do you make yours stand out? Make your email request very professional. Use your book photo, include the blurb and book links. Spell out exactly what you are looking for from the blogger. If setting up a blog tour, list the dates (hopefully in a nice banner you design on PicMonkey). Many bloggers are happy to post a spotlight if you provide the html, so be sure to offer this as an option.

Offer incentives. For my sale blast, I set up a giveaway with a $25 Amazon gift card prize and allowed each participant to have a slot on the Rafflecopter with their Twitter or Facebook page. For a blog tour, I would recommend holding a host only giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card (go $50 or $100 if you really want to woo bloggers). The blogger will need to enter their post link on the Rafflecopter form to ensure their participation. Also offer a tour-wide giveaway that the bloggers can add to the tour post. Giveaways drive traffic to blogs and are a big incentive for blogs to participate. Consider another Amazon gift card, as well as copies of your book or other swag.

This is a topic I could go on and on about for hours. But this post is already too long. So if you have any questions, pop over to my author blog: Kimber Leigh Writes. You'll find my contact info there and can send me an email if you like. I love connecting with other authors and am happy to help out if I can.

Thanks so much for all of your useful tips, Kimber! :)

~Kimber Leigh Wheaton (@Cymberle) is a YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs, four cats, and lots of dragons. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) She currently lives in San Antonio, TX but has been somewhat a rolling stone in life, having resided in several different cities and states.

Blog Tour Tips for Authors, Part One: Guest Post by Kimber Leigh Wheaton

Today we have the first of two installments on tips for authors curious about blog tours and/or wanting to take advantage of their many benefits. Take it away, Kimber!

While I was locked away in my own little writing world, summer rolled around again. Honestly, I can't believe it's June already! Summer is here, school is out, and thousands of kids have nothing to do. This is a big time for YA book releases. Maybe you have a book releasing in the next few months. Whether this book is your first or your fifth, you'll probably need to promote it. Sure some publishers do it, but I refuse to sit back and not take an active role in my own marketing. So, what does that mean? Blog Tour!

There are several companies still taking tour requests for July and August. If you haven't put together a list of blog contacts, then I recommend using a company. But be sure to research the company before handing over any money. If you're completely lost, you can go to the home page of my YA/NA review blog, Once Upon a YA Book. On my right sidebar are most of the tour companies I work with along with links. These companies will take care of everything for you, but you'll have to pay quite a bit for the service.

While these tour companies are great, I really think every author should put together their own mailing list of book blogs that post in their genre. When my novel, Shadow Fire, went on sale, my publisher told me one week prior. It was too late to contact a tour company to promote it, so I was on my own. Fortunately I had spent months researching blogs, commenting, and putting together a blogger email list. I created my own sale blast, made a banner on PicMonkey, contacted everyone on my blogger list, and ended up with a very successful sale.

Don't know where to start? If you have an author blog, consider participating in the Feature & Follow Friday through Parajunkee. You'll meet lots of bloggers and have a chance to check out their blogs and see if they are a good match for your novel. Google can be an author's best friend. Here you can get an endless list of people who blog about your genre. Be sure to read the individual blog's policies before adding them to a contact list. Most bloggers will list if they are open to blog tours, spotlights, and review requests. You don't want to spam a blogger who is closed to requests. In addition to creating this list, you also have to maintain it. Check each blog periodically to make sure they are still open to requests from authors.

Be sure to comment on posts when you drop by the blog. Most bloggers love comments and may even remember you when you send your request for promo help. It's important to develop a rapport with as many bloggers as you can. Trust me, this will only help, as long as your comments are not nasty, obscene, or… well, you get the picture. Yes this can be time consuming, but it really is worth the effort.

Plan six to eight weeks in advance when contacting blogs. I'm usually booked out two months in advance with just a few slots left open for last minute requests. If you are looking to secure reviews, consider eight to twelve weeks.

I don't recommend sending out a mass mailing, but sometimes it can't be avoided. If you must send out a mass mailing, try to keep it as personal as possible. Skip the "Dear Bloggers" and just try "Hi". Now this is extremely important! Do not list all of the email addresses in the To: section. Never, never, never! Not only is it impersonal, but it gives everyone's email address to everyone else. There is no faster way to be blacklisted than to pull this stunt. Use Bcc, or whatever software you have to hide the individual recipients.

Such great info so far, Kimber! Thank you! 

Come back June 18th for the second half of Kimber's Blog Tour Tips for Authors! 

~Kimber Leigh Wheaton (@Cymberle) is a YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs, four cats, and lots of dragons. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) She currently lives in San Antonio, TX but has been somewhat a rolling stone in life, having resided in several different cities and states.

Writing: Breaking out of the white mold

photo courtesy of Frerieke via Wikimedia Commons

Hi guys. Today we're going to talk about diversity. Not because I'm trying to be politically correct or because I think this is a heated topic (in fact, I almost *didn't* bring it up because it is a heated topic), but because the more I see YA covers the more I see white females and a whole lot of white males and the more books I add to my TBR the more I see how many white females lead YA literature (that I, myself, read, too--I want to be clear about this). So the reason for my post isn't to stir anything up; it's to ask you, as writers, what you think about it. (I have no idea what the demographics are for authors (white versus everyone else) but to me, white authors seem to take precedence in the media. It's just how it is.)

So. Diversity. Recently, I got addicted to CW's Arrow. Lovemuffin and I watched a ton of shows back to back for an entire weekend, and were only a few episodes in when I observed that almost every scene had a white character right alongside an African-American. This has changed a bit as the series has progressed, but at that point I was like, "Wow. This is so cool." (Keep in mind that I don't watch TV ever, really, so perhaps this is now the norm. If so, whoops.) But to me, seeing both in almost every scene was proof that this wasn't some coincidence; their show was seriously trying to make it happen.

As someone who is very active on Twitter and Goodreads, I've noticed that many of the teens I interact with or follow or "squee" over stuff with are *not* white. And, I've noticed that they read the same things I do. Which means they too are not reading much about characters like them. And that, I think, is  quite unfair.

I have one series where almost every character is a different nationality specifically because I wanted it to look like a skin rainbow when the entire group hung out. My other series? Well, let's just say I saw them all as white Cali kids. Of course, neither of these make me (or anyone else) a better or worse author, but after watching Arrow I got to thinking: How hard would it be to throw in a nationality or two (even as secondary characters), and why don't we, as a society, do it more often?

Like I said, this post wasn't to start anything, but to see what you guys think. Sometimes books are best written to where the readers can decide for themselves what nationality a character is. But, I tell ya what: I can't even imagine how frustrated I would be if almost every book cover and character showed a Portuguese girl (when I am so *not* remotely Portuguese at all). It would probably be fine at first, but after years upon years of this, I'm pretty sure I'd be like, "Can't they find anyone else to put on their covers? Don't they know there are many more people in this world besides girls with dark hair?"

The mic is on! I'd love to hear your thoughts. :)

***Note: It occured to me days after writing this post that I had seen another post recently about diversity by Aimee Hyndman. You can check it out here.

The Publishing World....in GIF form :D

Sorry about the linky post today, but with a new book that just released (A Bandit's Stolen Heart, check it out!!), a manuscript nowhere near done that is due in a week and a half, and a nice little cold that decided to take up residence, I thought it might be best if I spared you what was sure to have been a medicine-fueled ramble-fest and instead shared a few amazingly funny and awesome gifs relating to the publishing world today :)

Ever wondered what the publishing process is like? Nathan Bransford did an amazingly awesome gif post about it :D

The Publishing Process in GIF Form

And here are a few more great links for some publishing and author life gif funnies :)

Life in Publishing

Life in Authoring

On Publishing: The Literary Agent Process

The Magic In Middle Grade: Remembering Your Audience During Revisions - Jennifer Nielsen

The middle grades are a wonderful time for readers. Books for this age boast heroes such as Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, and Roald Dahl’s wonderful Matilda. There are classic stories such as A WRINKLE IN TIME or THE WESTING GAME that will live forever, and amazing newcomers that are added to our favorites shelves each year.

However, authors who write middle grade novels face specific challenges. Most are solved by one simple trick: remember your audience.

The middle grade reader might be as young as 6 and as old as 15. Within those ages, there is obviously a huge span in maturity, reading ability, and interests, so please consider those variations in writing your specific book. However, there are some traits that most middle graders have in common:

* A growing curiosity about the world.

* A love of “useful” knowledge (information they can bring into their own lives).

* A maturing sense of humor.

* A sense of idealism and fair play.

* An aptitude for moral questions and gray areas in judgment.

* A loyalty to their peers and value systems.

These very traits are what make some of the biggest middle grade books so popular. As the story’s hero wrestles with his moral boundaries, the reader begins to define his as well. As the heroine fights the injustice in her family or peer group, the reader identifies similar injustices in her own life. The more that you can help your reader connect to your hero through their shared traits (even if the conflict is far beyond a normal child’s experiences), the stronger their bond will be to your story.

During revision, it’s also important to remember a few key points about middle grade readers. After each chapter, consider pausing to ask yourself these questions.

Question

1. Would a real person of my character’s age behave this way, or have I distorted typical behaviors to accommodate my plot?

Why is this important?

Middle grade readers are the most likely of any age to spot a phony character and feel cheated for it. They can accept and even identify with a character of extraordinary traits or abilities, but only if that character’s actions and motives are believable. If you don’t personally know someone in the age for which you are writing, it’s time to get to know them!

Question

2.  How old is my main character compared to the expected age of my reader? Is the character’s gender the same as I expect for my readers?

Why is this important?

Middle grade readers are usually quick to figure out the age of the story’s hero. Although they will make exceptions, they generally prefer to read about a character who is slightly older than them. The crossover between boys and girls who will read about the opposite gender is growing, and there has also been a greater willingness by girls to read about boy characters than the reverse. Yet, this is still an important point to keep in mind.

Question

3. What are the stakes if the hero loses?

Why is this important?

No matter what type of book it is, middle grade readers love stories where losing has major consequences. As you revise, look for places to raise the stakes and make life even harder for your hero.

Question

4. Are there places where humor can be added?

Why is this important?

It’s certainly not mandatory to have humor in a story, and absolutely true that there are many wonderful stories where humor doesn’t play any role at all. However, if you have the type of story that can benefit from some humor, then readers will love it all the more!

Question

5. Where does the story slow down?

Why is this important?

Some middle graders are more committed readers than others. To reach the greatest number of readers, learn to see the places in your story that kids will want to skip, or worse, just put down your book! Look for ways to maximize action, draw your readers into the next chapter, and that either explore the familiar in a new way, or else introduces something new in an exciting way.

And finally…

Remember that middle grade readers live in the stories they love. While the book is in their hand, they are the hero of that character’s adventures, experiencing similar emotions, dilemmas, and tests. Give them a story where they can one day write and tell you how they are just like the hero, how they wished they had that same power, or skill, or experience. Write the story you wish had existed when you were that age. Or for that matter, that you still wished you could read!

JENNIFER NIELSEN was born and raised in northern Utah, where she still lives today with her husband, three children, and a dog that won't play fetch. She is the author of The Ascendance trilogy, beginning with THE FALSE PRINCE; of The Underworld Chronicles, beginning with ELLIOT AND THE GOBLIN WAR; and will write the sixth book of the Infinity Ring series. She loves chocolate, old books, and lazy days in the mountains.

For most kids, accidentally starting an interspecies war would be the biggest event of their lives. But for Elliot Penster, it was only the beginning. When the Brownies, who are on the hopelessly losing end of that war against the Goblins, make Elliot their King, there’s one Brownie who isn’t celebrating. And he’s just made a deal with the Goblins to get rid of Elliot.

“Nielsen cleverly keeps the action and humor flowing from one silly obstacle to the next... This quickly addictive page-turner also entices readers with many sensory details, such as tenacious Gripping Mud, surprising tasty turnip juice and a tingly invisibility potion gone wrong... Definitely a series to invest in...” – Kirkus

“Oh dear. Funny names (Fudd Fartwick, Tubs Lawless) and unexpected events (almost being scared to death) tumble through the pages, and Nielsen writes about them with tongue in cheek.” - Booklist

Find ELLIOT AND THE GOBLIN WAR in the following retailers!

Indiebound

Amazon

Barnes & Noble 

Social Media Sites: What's Your Fave?

Confession: I've just started using Pinterest, and whoa, my productivity? Done. 

DONE, I tell you. 

But there's also Twitter and Facebook and Tumblr and, of course, blogs. Those suck up time out of my days, too. Anyone who can balance ze Internet and real life is my champion. For reals. 

Now tell me:

Do you blog/Tweet/Facebook/Tumbl/Pint? If you do more than one, which is your fave? 

Bonus points if you link to your pages! And if you'd like to find more authors/bloggers on either Tumblr or Pinterest, check out YA Highway's awesome roundup.

Now if you'll excuse me, I must continue adding pictures to my Jensen Ackles board on Pinterest. *stares at all the pretty* Feel free to follow me over at http://pinterest.com/amparoortiz/ 

Can't wait to follow you back!! 

Happy Monday! :)

Books On Craft: Which Are Your Faves??

So. Writing is hard, isn't it? Like, really, really , really hard.

But you knew that already.

And since you knew that already, you've borrowed or bought books on craft. Or, if you're like me, Googled books on craft, then stared at the laptop screen for an embarrassing amount of time. 

Why? Because there are so. Many. Books.

And they all look fascinating. And perfect. And oh-so-right for me.

That's why I'm sending out a call for help: 

Which is your favorite book on ze craft of writing? 

Bonus points if you tell me why :)

Happy Monday! And thanks in advance!!

Open Thread: Authors vs. Their Work

So. I've been thinking a lot about authors and their online platforms these past couple of days. Specifically, the kind of reputation an author has with those who follow their blogs, Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr accounts (whether they're hilarious/informative/inspirational/etc). In some cases, we might even buy an author's book because we like their online platform, even if the author writes in a genre we don't typically read (confession: I am SUPER guilty of this and am in no way ashamed of it).

But I'm curious about something else: what happens when things go south? Let's say you discover an author through the blogosphere/Internet, like their perspective on writing/life, and fall head over heels  for their books. What if the author does something that disappoints you? Not as a reader, but as a person (i.e. their attitude toward something you take seriously isn't respectful or tactful). 

This leads to today's open thread question: does an author's reputation come into play when you're choosing between reading their work or not? Or does content trump reputation?

I'm really looking forward to your thoughts!