Video Blogging

 

No, I am not going to start video blogging any time soon! I thought it might be fun to look into, though. The first thing that I saw when I was searching for an image to use for this blog was that there has been a Video Blog Week as far back as 2009! Where the heck have I been!  

When a non-techie like me thinks of video blogging, I am thinking of using the camera on my laptop, or perhaps have someone tape me using my hand held camera (it does both stills and video). It appears I am a bit out of the loop! There is another option, called Google + Hangouts On Air! I have been to a couple of Google Hangouts (but never hosted one), so I know the basics - you can host up to ten people, and do all kinds of neat things. Until today, I had never heard of Google + Hangouts On Air. What exactly is this new little person?

Google + Hangouts On Air are live broadcasts, with Google handling all of the tricky technical stuff. (Or so they say!) How do you access them? Sign on to Google +, and click on Hangouts On Air (on the left hand side of the screen). A new screen will open. If you have not already downloaded the Hangout Plugin, you will need to do that. (It is free.) 

The next step is to connect Hangouts On Air to your You Tube account. If you don't already have a You Tube account, it only takes second to create one. To connect the Google + Hangout On Air with your You Tube account, there are two steps, The first step is to verify the account by phone (you have to give them your phone number). You will be sent a verification code from Goggle. The second step is to input your code and click verify.

The next step is to name your Hangout On Air. Since this is a video blog, the name should be catchy, the same as for a written blog post. Leave the space where you can invite people blank. Next you click "Start Hangout On Air" (which does NOT actually start the recording. ;-) )

Read the Terms of Service, agree to them, and you can start recording! Note: Before you start recording, make sue that the lighting is good. Back lighting will leave your face in shadow, so you don't want  to do this. Turn around and look at the area behind you, This is what your viewers will see. Make sure that it is appropriate - not cluttered, and not too "busy". A little thought here will go a long way!

I am going to think on this ... you may see a vlog (video blog) in the future ... the distant future! In the meantime  ... have fun with this!

(c) 2000 - 2013 Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction prohibited in allvenues without the written permission of the author.

Good Book Reviewers - A Scarce Commodity!

As a self-published author, getting your book up in print is only part of the game. There is also promoting the book, so that you actually get some sales. The part of promoting your book that I am going to address today is one part of the process, and that is getting people to review your books. It is not as easy as it looks.

The first thing that you want to do is check the Internet and see who is reviewing in your genre, and who seems to be doing a reasonable job of it. I don’t care if all of my reviews are lovely and positive … I want a breadth of reviews that are honest and show differing viewpoints. This gives my target audience something to help them make an informed decision on whether they want to buy my book or not. Some places to find potential reviewers are:

http://www.blognation.com/directories/book-review-blogs

http://www.ebookcrossroads.com/book-reviewers.html

http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/best-book-reviewers-on-twitter_b11136

http://www.theindieview.com/indie-reviewers/

You can also query for potential reviewers on the social media sites – Twitter, Google+, and Facebook. You can also check out the Good Reads site - http://www.goodreads.com/. Things to look for are the reviewers name, their contact information, and where they post their reviews.

You also want to think about whether you want to start getting reviews before your book is out, or whether you want to wait until after it is out. If you do both, you have a chance to put short blurbs either in your book, or on the back cover. Query potential reviews about whether they are willing to do pre-publication reviews, and whether they will do a digital review (which is cheaper than sending them a print book). If you are submitting to a site, read their review guidelines. Also, ask potential reviewers their timeline on getting reviews up.

One tactic that I have tried, with minimal success, is putting a Kindle book up free for a set number of days, indicating that you would like them to review the book if the choose to download it.  

© 2000 – 2013 Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction prohibited in any venue without the written permissionof theauthor.

Review - Self Publishing Books 101

 

Self Publishing Books 101

Helping You Get Published And Noticed!

Author: Shelley Hitz

Self-published

ISBN #978-1-47510459-2

Shelly Hitz is a self-published author, and founder of www.Self-Publishing-Coach.com. She writes and teaches from her own personal experience. While one might say that a small book like this (48 pages) is simply a come-on to go visit her site, that is not a bad thing. This book is filled with usable information, and Shelley’s site is filled with free resources to help individuals (1) get published, and (2) get noticed! These resources take the form of book templates, articles, a newsletter, tele-classes, special reports, e-books, webinars, podcasts, videos and more.

Whether writing or speaking, Shelley has a style that is clear, concise, and that one can easily relate to. She writes and speaks with a purpose, from her own experience. She doesn’t wander aimlessly around. How do I know this? Because I am self-published also … I have taken the same journey that Shelley took into researching self-publishing. In the end, we made the same choices: Create Space for POD books, and Kindle for e-books.    

In a few short pages, Shelley cover a myriad of publication details: what self publishing is all about, prospective costs (and the questions we need to ask ourselves), cover design, software options, self-publishing companies and what they offer, Create Space and what it offers, background on obtaining and ISBN # (and what an ISBN # really is and does for a book), and obtaining a copyright (this is an option, not a necessity).

The information is clear, and offers the reader options. At the end of the book there is a listing of other resources available through Shelley and her site. My advice – this book is a great starter, then head on over to her site! There is no excuse for not getting your material out there!

© 2000 – 2013 Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction prohibited in any venue without the written permission of the author.

Woodstreamwriters.com

 

As writers, we look for very specialized help. I recently met an individual that offers many of these services. I met her in her capacity as a writer, but her chops as a mentor to writers are astounding! Her name is Jamie Morris, and her site is Woodstreamwriters.com. What does she offer? 

In a word - support. Support for writers. She offers support to writers of all levels of experience,  through writing workshops, intermediate/advanced critique groups, weekend writing intensives, and specialized presentations on the craft and process of writing. Jamie offers creative inspiration for writers that is grounded in the principles of the craft.

She offers individualized support, through coaching, editing, and literary critique services. Her aim is to help you move your project forward, and to help provide direction and insight. On her site you will find a listing of AWA (Amherst Writers and Artists) workshops, book writer's workshops (great for those with a WIP), book writer's critique group, and more.

Jamie also offers a newsletter that you can sign up  for on her site, along with a multitude of testimonials, and a clear vision of her credentials and coaching style.

 If you are looking for help in any of the above areas, check Jamie out. She is easy to talk to, highly creative, and wants to see those around her succeed!

(c) 2000 - 2013 Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction in any cenue prohibited without written permission of the author.

Patricia Kelly Designs

 

This week I am going to be talking about quite an interesting lady that I met on Facebook. Her name is Patricia Kelly, and she is a graphic designer. This is a good lady for any author to know! As we all find out sooner or later, we are the ones who have to promote our own work (especially those of us that are Indies). Aside from editors, proof readers, and beta readers, we need people in out network that can help us with the visuals for promoting our work. (I am most definitely NOT artistic in any way, shape, or form!

Patricia is based in Palm Beach, Florida. She is a graphic artist, production assistant, and does photo retouching.  She has experience in ad layout and design, and has strong skills in Adobe Photoshop. She also works with press releases ... that could very well come in handy for an author! Patricia works with both Mac and PC. 

There is quite an interesting portfolio of her work up on her site. Wherever you are in your WIP, at some point you have to think about promotion. It might be a good idea to keep this lady in mind!

More information can be found on Patricia Kelly's site. Those who know me will understand why her landing page brings a smile to my face!

(c) 2000 - 2013 Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction in any venue is prohibited without written permission from the author.

Outline For A Mystery Novel

I tend to work from outlines, even with my fiction writing. It flows, but I need to have some kind of foundation to get a grip on what I am writing, In the first chapter I look at introducing the main character, and setting the tone for the story – I am working on a mystery, so I set the plot for the mystery itself, and what needs to be solved. The time and place of the mystery itself needs to be clearly set. This can get tricky, because often a mystery that occurs in the present is based on actions in the past.

In the second chapter, I start setting out clues … some of which may be real, some of which may be false. There needs to be a few twists and turns in this story, after all! Secondary characters may also start appearing as soon as the second chapter. A little “back story” on my characters – I do a complete identity sketch on each of my characters: their name, where they are from, what their physical characteristics are, what they do for a living, where they live, what they wear, what their beliefs are, what their goals are. This helps me to keep things straight, and to keep each character and their relationship with the other characters authentic.

In the third chapter I want my characters to start following leads. To start trying to solve the mystery. Odd facts start popping up, some leads end up nowhere, other leads bring out information that sheds new light on people and events. This is the chapter that I introduce a sub-plot … something for the reader to follow that has nothing to do with the mystery being solved. The sub-plot for me has to be two things: interesting and relevant.

In the fourth chapter the plot thickens! Clues start coming together, and suspects start revealing themselves. Clues may disappear, or people may disappear. Suddenly there is more of a sense of urgency to get this mystery solved, before something else happens, or someone else gets hurt.

In the fifth chapter evidence that is coming out of the investigation starts to point at a specific suspect, or group of suspects. A solution begins to reveal itself … although this may not be the right solution, or at least not the complete solution.

In the sixth chapter the sub-plot takes precedence. This generally has to do with the main character, and addresses what makes them tick, what drives them, that little something in their own background that has them taking the actions that they have taken.

In the seventh chapter  things start to get a nit sticky. Hidden motives, and hidden relationships start to reveal themselves.

In the eighth chapter the main character in some way reveals the results of their investigation. I try to put things together in a way that makes sense, but that does not reveal the solution to the mystery.

In the ninth chapter my main character is going over their actions, the clues that they have revealed, and the information they have gathered. Basically, they are looking to see what they may have missed. At this point, I will bring out critical evidence that has somehow been missed up until now.

In the tenth chapter I bring things together, and the mystery is solved. I love dramatic resolution, and I love justice for all!

This is my basic outline for mystery writing. Things can be adjusted, more chapters can be added, but the basic ingredients need to be there: there needs to be a crime, the crime needs to be investigated,  there has to be tension and drama, and my primary character needs to be deeply involved.

Here’s to a good mystery!

© 2000 – 2013 Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction prohibited in any venue without the written permission of the author.

Holiday Promotions

Barely into July, and I am already thinking about promoting my work for the holidays! Not really all that unusual ... I have to decide how I am going to promote, where I am going to promote, and then find out how much it is going to cost. And I want the promotion to start soon after the beginning of November, so that people have the time to order my books, get them, then send them out as presents. 

I am going to be doing half-page ads in  the October edition of Attune Magazine, a quarterly devoted to personal growth, poetry, and metaphysical themes. I am also going to be doing videos for my site pages and to pout up on You Tube. Okay ... I am not going to do them myself, I am going to have them done by Mary Nale, the founder/editor for Attune Magazine.

Here is a link to an awesome video that Mary did for co-author Brad Tesh and my self for our book  "Seek Joy ... Toss Confetti". If you want to see more of Mary's portfolio, click here.

I will also be promoting through my Twitter, Facebook, and Google + accounts. If I get terribly brave, I might even chance trying to set up a Google + Hangout! That is still in the "iffy" stages! ;-)

And yes, I still have to WIP's ongoing: an e-book on decision making, and another e-book ... the first in what I hope will be a series of mysteries. I am looking at an issue here, though. I want to self-publish, and Create Space wants bucks per page after an author hits the 110 page mark. That will one heck of a short mystery! ;-) Do it in parts, perhaps? ;-)