Tag Archives: write stuff
The Write Connections
While at the Write Stuff Conference today, I picked up my dozen copies of The Write Connections, the latest anthology from the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group. It includes my vignette, “Once More with Feeling,” in which a dying man has a final conversation with his guardian angel.
Always excited to add another publication to my bibliography.
Writing The Compelling Short Story at the Write Stuff
I will be presenting “Writing the Compelling Short Story” at the Write Stuff conference at the Best Western Hotel in Bethlehem, PA on Saturday, March 25. As part of ongoing conference promotion, I was interviewed for the Write Stuff blog. Apparently, they thought I had something interesting to say.
Click here to read the interview!
Click here for more information about this terrific conference!
Book Review: Rise of the Machines by Kristen Lamb
There was once a time when an author’s only true concern was producing the best quality manuscript.
Over the last decade, that has changed drastically with the advent of social media and blogging. Now, writers are expected to have a platform—including a strong online presence—well before their first book is published.
What’s more, unless you’re of the stature of Stephen King or J.K. Rowling, no longer can published authors simply sit back and let others do the work of promotion and marketing. These days, the onus is ON US.
Enter Kristen Lamb, social media Jedi and author of Rise of the Machines: Human Authors in a Digital World. I had the pleasure of hosting Kristen as the keynote at the 2015 Write Stuff writers conference in Allentown, PA where I purchased her book. I was curious to learn more about how to properly leverage social media and my blog to bolster my platform.
In her book, Kristen divides her lessons into five sections, providing a brief history of the publishing industry, the changes that have occurred (and are still occurring), and fascinating insights into human psychology and communication. She also explains why the traditional marketing methods are no longer effective today.
Before delving into specifics about social media sites, Kristen leads the reader through very focused chapters and sections about identifying your short term and long term goals, creating your writers platform, creating your brand, the types of friends and followers who will help writers with these efforts, and what it means to “go viral.”
With those concepts understood, we then delve into specifics about a few of the hottest social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. In addition to providing advice on how to manage your time and content, Kristen also offers tips on social media etiquette, how to avoid conflict and potentially sensitive topics, and handling internet “trolls” who insult and harass rather than politely disagreeing with something you post.
Along the way Kristen’s humor and anecdotes provide entertainment along with education that held my attention and prevented the material from becoming “dry”.
Although I have worked in the IT industry for over 20 years and have a solid grasp of technology, and although I am a published author who is active on social media, I came away from Kristen’s book with insights on how and where I need to improve my approach, especially to blogging.
I only wish I had known about Kristen before I published my first novel in 2009!
Write Here, Write Now!
About This Writing Stuff…
This week, Chuck Wendig and Kristen Lamb eviscerate Huffington Post for exploiting contributors. Kathryn Craft encourages writers to consider how much they’re willing to give away.
Eric Wecks ponders a better info dump while Chris Winkle guides us from concept to story and Larry Brooks leads us even further to story structure. Jane Friedman explains the purpose of author websites, and Konrath dissects Lee Child regarding Amazon’s brick and mortar bookstores.
All that, and a little more. Enjoy!
***Please note that this will likely be the last installment of About This Writing Stuff for at least six months as I have become far too busy. My publisher and I are releasing a new anthology in July, I have a novella coming out after that, and I am writing the first draft of a science fiction novel.
Additionally, I need to pass two more Microsoft exams to achieve my MCSE (Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert). I work in the IT field and–as with writing and most other areas of life–continuing education is critical to success and longevity.***
Scream It Until Their Ears Bleed: Pay the Fucking Writers by Chuck Wendig
Shame on You AOL/Huffington! NO More Literary Booty Calls by Kristen Lamb
How Much Will You Give Away? by Kathryn Craft
Info Dumps Aren’t Evil by Eric Wecks
Lee Child on Amazon’s Real-Life Bookshops-and Why We Should Be Worried by Lee Child
Fisking Lee Child by Joe Konrath
How to Turn You Concept into a Story by Chris Winkle
Let’s Address a Common Misunderstanding About Author Websites by Jane Friedman
A Kinder, Gentler Perspective on Story Structure by Larry Brooks
Visiting the Oldest Bookstore in America–and its Resident Ghost by Gregory Lee Sullivan
Coming Soon: The “Write Stuff” Writers Conference in Bethlehem, PA!