Can I Schedule a 10-Stop, 10-Day Virtual Book Tour in Only 5 Days?
… I sure hope so! Let me explain.
I’ve been challenged by friend and writer Amy Munnell to put my money where my mouth is. You see I’ve just released an ebook, “My Virtual Book Tour Secrets! – A Self-Publisher’s Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Own Successful Virtual Book Tour in as Little as 30-Days.”
And, Amy is a bit, shall we say, skeptical of my claim that I can set up a virtual book tour in 30-days … she knows how much work is involved in setting up a successful virtual book tour, she frequently hosts tour stops for other authors. Anyway, in my enthusiasm - ok, maybe I was shooting off my mouth - I said using my system I could set up a successful virtual book tour in about a week. And, she said, “Prove it.”
The gauntlet had been thrown and I accepted the challenge.
So, during the week of July 7, 2008, I will set up a virtual book tour for, “My Virtual Book Tour Secrets!” And your invited to watch over my shoulder as I document every step along the way and the results I receive. Good or bad.
If I fail to set up a 10-Day, 10-Stop virtual book tour I promise to contribute a minimum of $100 to Amy’s Event: Kia’s Birthday Benefit, which is a really good cause I might add. If you’re on Facebook, you can learn more by visiting her event page at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=21496451465. Anyway, if I succeed, I’ll be able to point to this event as proof that my system works.
You can watch me succeed or fall flat on my face in 1 of 3 places:
1.) My Facebook Fan Page
2.) The Official “My Virtual Book Tour Secrets” Readers Group on Facebook
3.) Or, here on my blog. Bookmark it pressing “CTRL + D”
I’m sure Amy will have something to say too. She blogs at “3 Questions…and Answers: a Blog/Zine about Writers.”
There’s one thing I’m worried about though … I’m scheduled to go on vacation with my family starting July 12th. So my wife will be expecting me to be doing other things, like mowing the grass, changing the oil in the van, packing, etc. Who knows what else?! So I’ll have to use my system and time wisely.
You’re also invited to follow my 10-Day, 10-Stop virtual book tour that will begin on July 21, 2008 and run to August 1, 2008. See the itinerary, which I will post on my blog, Fan Page and Group.
During the virtual book tour I will be interviewed by host bloggers, answer reader’s questions, write and submit guest posts, possibly even do a live teleconference or an interview on SecondLife. All with the intent of generating buzz (and sales) for the book.
If you want to learn how to set up your own successful virtual book tour and sell more of your books, please attend this event … and invite all of your friends to do the same. You won’t be disappointed.
Until next time …
No day without a line.
Are You Overlooking this Simple Readability Tool?
Do you want to improve your chances of receiving an acceptance letter instead of a form rejection in response to your query letters? Of course you do …
How? Simply mirror the readability of the magazines that you’re submitting queries to.
Developed by Robert Gunning, an American businessman, the Gunning-Fog Index is one of the methods used to measure the readability of a passage of English text. The resulting number is an indication of the number of years of formal education that a person needs to easily understand the text on the first reading. For instance, if a passage of text has a Gunning-Fog Index of 12, it has the reading level of a U.S. high school senior, an 8 would indicate that a U.S. 8th grader could easily understand the passage.
Writers and editors who want their articles, stories or essays to be easily understood by a large segment of the population commonly use the Gunning-Fog Index. Texts that are designed for a wide audience generally require a Gunning-Fog Index below 12.
Typical Gunning-Fog Indices of some popular magazines:
12 — Atlantic Monthly
11 — TIME
10 — Newsweek
9 — Reader’s Digest
8 — Ladies’ Home Journal
7 — True Confessions
6 — Comic books
Calculating the Gunning-Fog Index
The Gunning-Fog Index is calculated in the following way:
- Take any passage of text that is around 100 words.
- Find the average sentence length by taking the number of words in the passage and divide by the number of sentences.
- Count the number of complex words, words with three or more syllables, within the passage. Do not include proper nouns (for example, Ravikant), compound words or common suffixes such as -es, -ed, or -ing as a syllable, or familiar jargon.
- Divide the number of complex words by the number of words in the passage and multiply by 100. This will give you the percentage of complex words. For example, 8.3%, not .083.
- Add the average sentence length and the percentage of complex words.
- Multiply the result by 0.4. This result is your Gunning-Fog Index, your readability.
While the index is a good indication of reading difficulty, it still has limitations. Not all multi-syllabic words are difficult. For example, the word “engineer ” is generally not considered to be a difficult word, even though it has three syllables.
While I can’t guarantee that by simply matching your article’s Gunning-Fog Index to that of the magazine you’re querying will result in an acceptance letter. I do feel confident saying that if you thoroughly analyze your magazine market, including its Gunning-Fog Index, you’ll begin to receive more acceptances than rejections.
Here’s an example. This passage of text is from an article that ran in INC. MAGAZINE, March 2008:
LIKE so MANY technology entrepreneurs, Williams, whose friends call him Ev, is a software engineer. But unlike many of the most successful, he’s no genius when it comes to programming. His specialty is taking a tiny, almost nonsensical idea and turning it into a cultural phenomenon. “He’s like a master craftsman,” says Naval Ravikant, a serial entrepreneur who is an angel investor in Twitter. “There are entrepreneurs who are financial geniuses, and there are raw coders. Evan is the master of creating a product where there wasn’t one before.” If Williams’s art is the conception of inconceivable products, then Twitter is his chef-d’oeuvre.
- The passage contains 103 words and is 7 sentences long. 103 divided by 7 gives us an average sentence length of 14.7 words.
- It contains 16 complex words (in italics). 16 divided by 103 equals 0.155. Multiply that by 100 gives us 15.5% complex words
- Adding 14.7 (the average sentence length) to 15.5 (the percent of complex words) gives us 30.2.
- Multiply 30.2 time 0.4(constant) gives us 12.08, or a 12 grade reading level.
Simple, once you’ve calculated a few.
So, the next time that you’re sending out a query, match the text of your letter with your magazine market and let me know when you get your acceptance letter. I’ll be cheering for you!
Until next time …
No day without a line.
Want to Improve Your Chances of Getting Published?
Follow the Rule of 12. Simply stated the Rule of 12 is, you should have at least twelve query letters in circulation at all times. That’s right, you should have twelve query letters on editor’s desks at all times.
Now having twelve queries in front of editors is a bit scary, because that opens you up to lots of rejection. And, while it’s part of being a freelance writer, being rejected is hard. On the other hand, having twelve queries making the editorial rounds will have a tremendous and positive impact on your success as a freelance writer.
How? You’ll get better at writing query letters - a good skill for any freelance writer. You’ll receive more acceptance letters. And, since you’re receiving more acceptances, you’ll earn more money. Now that may be over simplified, but I think you get the point. As Tony Robbins says, “Massive action will yield massive results.”
Getting to the point where you have twelve query letters out will take some time. Set a goal for yourself. Try to send out two or even three query letters every week until you have twelve in circulation.
Once you have twelve queries out, one of two things will happen. One, you’ll receive a rejection letter. In that case review your query to ensure that it is clear and concise and send it out to another editor. Two, you’ll receive a go-ahead for the article. In that case, write another query letter and get it in the mail or email, within 24 hours if at all possible, and get to work writing the article.
In time you’ll find that you are receiving fewer and fewer rejection and receiving more assignments. Congratulations on your assignment.
Until next time …
No day without a line.
3 Tools for Increasing Your Productivity
With my goals for 2008 set and put into writing, my thoughts have turned to “how do I keep moving forward on all of these outrageous goals for 2008?”
I must confess up front that I’m a good starter of things but not a good finisher. I have great ideas, but poor follow through. Overcoming this character flaw is also a goal of mine. I hereby solemnly swear to follow through to completion on all of the projects that I start. I’ll post frequent updates on how this is working out, so stay tuned.
Anyway, looking around my home office I re-discovered a few tools that, if I would use them to their fullest extent, would help me accomplish the goals that I set for myself. Here are the tools…
Tool Number - 1: 43 Folders
These are actually 43 hanging folders in the top drawer of my filing cabinet, not the website 43folders.com. They are numbered 1-31 and January-December. The numbered folders are for the days of the month and they are filed behind the folder of the current month, in this case January.
When some task comes across my desk or onto my monitor, I quickly review it. And, using one of “Getting Things Done,” author David Allen’s rules, “If it takes less than 2 minutes do it now,” I handle it. If it is something that requires more than 2 minutes, I decide when it has to be completed, open the corresponding folder, insert either a memo or the actual papers and forget about it. When that day arrives, I pull that folder out and do whatever is in it.
Today’s folder, the 15th, has only 4 items in it — a book marketing resource that I want to review, an affiliate program that I’m thinking about promoting, software that needs to be updated and a letter that needs answered. I also received a notice in the mail that one of my domains is due to expire in April, so I’ll file it in March, I don’t want to take any chances of it expiring.
Then I prioritize the items according to my written goals and do them. Nothing gets lost or forgotten. As a folder is emptied it is moved to the next month.
Tool Number - 2: My Journal
I’ve kept notes of some sort for as long as I can remember. Most often on scraps of paper, and even an occasional napkin, all thrown into boxes. Where, as you can imagine, I can never find what I’m looking for.
Several years ago I learned how to keep a journal from one of my mentors, Jim Rohn. My current journal is a red, 8 ¼” x 5 ¼”, hardcovered book with lined pages. In it I record any useful information that I come across during the day. It may be the lyrics from a song, quotes from a book or a blog that I am reading or even my own observations and flashes of “genius.”
To get the most out of your journal you have to do more than just write in it. You need to read and review it. That way, what you’ve recorded becomes part of you and you can put it to use in your day-to-day decisions.
When should you review your journal? That’s a good question. Mr. Rohn advises, and I agree, that you should review each day’s entries at the end of the day. Review each week’s entries at the end of the week. Review each month’s entries at the end of the month. And, you guessed it, each year’s entries at the end of the year. All of this reviewing does take some time, but I think you will find the time invested will return dividends beyond your expectations.
One more thing, I record the date, time and place I’m at with each entry. This helps give the entry meaning when I do my reviews.
Tool Number - 3: Kitchen Timer
My final tool, believe it or not, is a simple digital kitchen timer. I use it to set deadlines on tasks I am performing.
For example, I might give myself 30 minutes to check email, research an idea, read some blog posts or whatever. At the beginning of the task I set the timer and dig in. When the timer goes off, I stop. Without the looming deadline I often get sidetracked and forget about the other things I need to accomplish that day. The next thing I know, it’s time to call it a day. And there are still 4 more things I wanted to accomplish. These self-imposed deadlines are a powerful tool that helps to keep me focused on the task at hand. In a comment on Problogger.net, Millionaire Mommy Next Door agrees that her “favorite productivity tool is a digital kitchen timer … The timer keeps me focused, motivated and targeted on the individual task at hand.” Even self-made millionaires use kitchen timers;-).
Why do I use a digital timer? You can’t believe how loud and distracting the tick-tock, tick-tock of a mechanical timer can be when you are trying to concentrate. Believe me when I say that it can stop you in your tracks.
Well, these are three of the tools I plan on using more throughout the remainder of this year to keep me focused and on track as I work to complete the challenging goals that I have set for myself. If you have a favorite tool, please share it in a comment.
Technorati Tags: Goals | Productivity | Time Management | Writing Tips |
5 Tips for Writing a Novel
Many people dream of writing a novel but don’t know how to begin. Here are 5 tips for writing a novel that will help get you going.
Novel Writing Tip #1:
In one sentence, state what your story is about. This sentence will help you stay focused on your novel as you write and it will help you stay on track when you get frustrated halfway through your novel. Here’s an example. “A man travels 35 years back in time to prevent his wife’s murder.”
Novel Writing Tip #2:
Draft an outline. It doesn’t have to include every detail of your story, but it should give you some idea as to where your story is heading. Think of an outline as the skeleton of your novel. You’ll flesh it out as you write.
Novel Writing Tip #3:
Save your research until the very end. Over researching can kill your novel before you even begin writing it. Don’t get caught up in researching every detail of your novel either. When you come to a part that requires more research, mark it and keep writing. You can come back later to fill in the blanks. This will save you time because you will be looking for answers to specific questions instead researching everything about a subject only to leave most of it out of your novel.
Novel Writing Tip #4:
Set a schedule. Get out a calendar and set a realistic deadline for yourself. Decide in advance how many words you’re going write in a day. Pick any number for starters, say 500 and go from there. After a couple of days you can adjust this up or down as you see fit. For example, if you average 500 words per day you will have completed a 75,000-word novel in less than 3 months. Allow for the unexpected when you set your schedule and remember to be flexible.
Novel Writing Tip #5:
Write fast. The faster you write, the better you write. Don’t think while you’re writing. By writing fast you quiet your inner critic. The part of your mind that tells you, “That’s not good enough,” “That’s the wrong word,” or “That stinks. You can do better than that.” When you write fast your writing will be more conversational and easier to read. The easier your writing is to read, the more your readers will enjoy reading it.
This isn’t all you need to know to write a novel. You need to understand dialogue, setting, point-of-view, conflict, editing, etc. But by following these 5 tips for writing a novel you get writing, you get started and that’s half the battle. You’ll pick up the other details as you work through your novel.
I’d be glad to buy a copy of your novel when you’re finished with it, as long as you autograph it for me. 
Happy Writing!
A Database of over 1550 Current Markets for Your Fiction and Poetry
Like many writers, professional or otherwise, I’m constantly looking for publications to submit my writing to. Earlier today I came across a searchable database of fiction and poetry markets.
Duotrope’s Digest is a database of over 1550 current markets for short fiction, poetry, and novels/collections. They update their information daily and check all listings at least once a week to ensure the most up-to-date database possible.
At Duotrope’s Digest you can limit your search by genre - action-adventure to western, length - drabble to novella, payscale - token to professional, media - electronic to print, as well as other criteria.
For example, I searched for a market for a literary novella that is paying and is an electronic publisher and I got 3 matches. I then did a search for a science fiction publisher of flash fiction that is a print publication and is paying and I got 27 matches.
Each listing has a “Details” link where you will find more information about each publisher as well as a link to the publishers website.
Visit and bookmark Duotrope’s Digest so the next time that you’re searching for a publisher for your short story you’ll have 1550 available at the click of your mouse.
To your writing success,
William
Technorati: Fiction Markets | Poetry Markets | Writing
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