Comments on: A Few More Answers

By: Daan Van der Merwe

Daan Van der Merwe — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:28:20 +0000

Randy, thank you very much for that confirmation.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:42:26 +0000

Hiya, and thanks for the feedback. I’m pretty sure my struggles are related to my maturing “voice”, since it’s becoming easier for me to figure out which POV the next scene should be in as I log more writing time/experience. I’ve just recently come off of revising a novel from 4 to 2.5 (*smile*) POVs, since the v1 felt too cluttered. So I’m a little gun-shy about adding more. Thanks again!

By: Karla

Karla — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:29:43 +0000

NaNoWriMo rocks! I am quoted several times in Chris Baty’s book, NO PLOT, NO PROBLEM (he founded NaNoWriMo). NaNoWriMo has given me great lessons in sticking-your-butt-in-the-seat-and-writing-no-matter-whether-you’re-inspired-or-not!
I think this is my fifth year. I have “won” every year. It’s a blast and I highly recommend the experience. I hope to do the screen writing one in the future but had to pass this year.

In this season of my life it gives me great practice and some material to use later when my kids are older and more able to do without Mom. It helps me feel like I’m at least making some baby steps toward my dream.

You have to do it “seat of your pants” if you haven’t worked on an outline ahead of time. I’ve done it both ways. You definitely can’t be picky and be editing all the time because word count is more important in this exercise. However, I do a little editing anyway and it seems to add to my word count that way, too, as long as I don’t get obsessed with it. Sure, the first draft is crappy — but again — it’s something to work on later.

I would love to be “buddies” with other Randy Ingermanson students. Feel free to e-mail me if you’re doing NaNoWriMo so I can add you to my buddy list on the site!

By: mary andrews

mary andrews — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 21:54:41 +0000

Regarding Mary’s comment. From what I understand,it is very attractive to agents and publishers to present a high virtual profile as a means of promoting your work. All investors want to know how marketable you are. Though conventions are great PR, the web covers the globe.

If you can tell these people you have a website, a blog, you are a member of many groups/organizatios online and/or off… If you present them with a marketing strategy (blog tours to promote your book, hi profile interview sites, etc) your disability becomes less of a hinderance(if it was one before).

In fact, I know of one new writer (Jaimeson Wolf)who among many, many other things started up a blog about about what it was like to have a disabilty. That blog was almost immediately picked up by a publisher and is scheduled to be released as a book.

There are also many online conventions which you can attend and further your career. The annual FREE MuseOnlineConvention just ended a week ago. I almost unwittingly sold a book at one of the classes last year, and pitched a couple more at this one (one of which is now a solicited submittal).

We live in wonderous times, Mary. Never count yourself out–make lemonade. (smile)

Hope this helps or gives you some ideas.

By: Camille

Camille — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 01:22:18 +0000

Karla, I/we need your email. camilleeide at verizon.net

(sorry Randy & blogfolk, no other way to get it)

By: D. E. Hale

D. E. Hale — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 03:07:20 +0000

Yes! Nanowrimo! I LOVE it, and look forward to November every year. I’ve “won” three times and I look forward to completing again this year. It really is fun, and it forces you to write whether you feel like it or not. Also, I’ve learned a lot about myself from it. I’m a very pro-outline kind of gal, but for all my Nanowrimo’s I’ve just started at the beginning (with no clue where I was going)and you know what? All three of my winners were pretty decent stories. I even managed to get all the loose ends tied up at the end. It taught me that I don’t HAVE to depend on an outline. *Although I still prefer to use one…lol*

By: Craig Smith

Craig Smith — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 12:06:01 +0000

I recently got my novel published with a smallish publisher. And I was wondering how do you go about promoting your book with local book stores. Do you just approach the manager? or how does it work? And do you have any other tips for promoting a book?