Indy or Traditional

I am a self published writer. All my stories of various lengths have been placed on Amazon and other book selling sites by independent publishers and writers. Deep in my heart, I would love to be a traditionally published writer, but neither version of authorship is all cake and roses. In the long years I have been involved in Romance writing, I have heard many stories about the various traps and tangles that beset either type of author.

Happy Book Birthday!

During a workshop on Marketing for Self-Published Authors I learned about the concept of a Book Birthday. If you have some books sitting on Amazon not really selling any longer, you may create a whole new advertising campaign by celebrating the book’s publishing date as its birthday. Hold Facebook parties, gather a street team to get their friends to buy the book and post reviews. Reviews are key to getting books out there.

Writers Need Calendars

We need calendars not only to remember what day of the week it is. COVID – 19 has destroyed that for many people, but that’s not the point for writers. The point is, if you want to be a real, grownup writer, you need a schedule. If you self publish, you still need to set a date when the book will be finished. You need to set the rest of the dates that a traditionally published author would have. And you need to follow up with some marketing stuff. Let me tell you, no body is going to do this for you.

Help with Self Editing

If I could edit myself, I would cut off at least a hundred pounds of fat and splice in more muscle. I’d remove the part of my brain addicted to sugar and replace that with an addiction of broccoli and carrots. However, that’s not the kind of Self Editing I’m talking about. I’m sharing more tiny hints about the subject that I have learned from several wonderful mentors, either in person or online.

Lost in the Publishing

Stephen King is quoted as saying his first published work went into a fanzine (my experiences with fanzines were in the Star Trek universe). The publisher gave it a title, In a Half-World of Terror, but Mr. King preferred the title he gave it; I Was a Teen-Age Graverobber. To quote the author, Super duper! Pow!

This Newsletter May Already be a Winner!

As a writer, you may have heard that having a monthly newsletter is vital to your growth. As a Romance Writer, that goes double. Fans want to know what you are doing, what your next book is about, and when it will be out. Wow. Romance fans are a nosy bunch.

Part One of My Notes from a Recap of RWA National 2018

Every year, my local chapter of Romance Writers of America has a potluck meeting and those who were able to attend can share what they learned with those of us who could not attend. I try to make notes about the important things but sometimes I get sidetracked. Like by Sara who is a twin and a mother of twins! Teenagers, even. And the anthology Fae Worlds, written by some of my friends in the chapter. And by the delicious food set out for the chapter. Mmmm.

About Me

I’m cheating. I need to get this information all in one place so that I can update my About Me page on this blog. And in the meantime, I can share my intimate details with you. No, no, not THOSE intimate details. Just because I write smut doesn’t mean I want everyone to know my personal preferences. No, I am saving those for my memoirs.

Introducing Renee Grace Thompson

Happy mid-March! I am relieved to know that Spring is just a week and a day away. This winter was particularly hard, so more sunlight is exactly what I need. And today we set the clocks back. Don’t like losing that hour but glad to have the sun hang around a bit.

Pre-Order Your Books Now

At RWA 2016 (That’s author code for the national convention of Romance Writers of America this year) I enjoyed listening to Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords in 2008. This amazing man has had his problems, certainly, but I learned a bunch from his speech.