Back when I first took the challenge of publishing my work one of the things that scared me the most was marketing my work. Having no money and little idea of what to do I turned my attention to what I found on social media.
Some of the biggest named authors (at least that I read) started to do book trailers. Like a movie trailer it is a teaser to get people interested in reading your work.
For a while I went nuts on these. I found that making these is a lot of fun. The optimal length for me is 30 seconds. I have made most of them on line with an online program called one true media. They let you do all kinds of things but if you want to do them for free you are a bit limited on actions.
The nice part about this is that you can directly upload them to YouTube and facebook with just a click of your button. That certainly makes getting them out there easy.
Because I have been so very busy writing and releasing stories by themselves and as part of collections and anthologies I have gotten behind on doing these.
If you would like to see some of my trailers you can find them on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghpjxxgDX14
There are book trailers, poem videos, nature photography videos and even my fun nerf videos
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Twelve years
Today a lot of people are remembering what happened twelve years ago. Remembering where they were, who they knew and what happened. And they should. In today's world where people contemplate making religious/political statements with violence, we should remember those who are the victims of that violence.
That horrible day I was working at a hospital. Not in NYC, no I was working back in NH. There are a few memories that stuck with me from that day. The first was trying to explain to a homeless woman that I was helping in my office why everyone was so upset. You see a lot of us forget that there are people who aren't up to the minute on the news or trends or whatever is on the tv/radio. This woman, who was desperately trying to find a place to live, food to eat and a way to pay for the hospital bill that living on the streets with no medical care gave her. She wasn't asking for much. Just a roof, a full belly and a chance to pull herself out of the hole that life dumped her in. Gently explaining to that all ready overwhelmed woman was a test of my understanding and kindness. I hope I passed that one.
The next memory was of the hospital's clergy woman. She was going from person to person who worked at the hospital, asking carefully what their beliefs were. The carefully I am sure you understand, in these days of political correctness asking someone what religion they are is a no no. But you see she was doing her job, coming up with some way to help those in her care to deal with what many felt as an attack on their beliefs. Being the only Wiccan on staff at the time she had some interesting questions for me on how to help those not of the Judeo-christian belief systems.
The most sad memory for me comes from a older volunteer who was working in my office, helping me with the filing that constantly backed up in a charity office. A very sweet and friendly woman who was very good at helping in an office, she fell apart. At first we had no idea why she just up and left the office and did not return. It was days later that we found out that she had a son working in the World Trade Center. I never found out what happened but for a long time I wish I had time to comfort her before she disappeared from our office.
Today we have learned a whole new lexicon. We expect delays for security at airports, have shows about Homeland security and open debates about guns and fanatics. But what I wonder as I sit here in my home in another country is did we learn anything? Do we understand those of other religions any better? Have we learned that western civilization has some things wrong and some things right? Have we learned that we can't keep doing things the old ways? While our world is smaller than ever, it just might be best to pull back and deal with the problems inside our own countries. The US especially has become a demon in many places for trying to lend what is thought of as aid by some and interference by others.
There are so many places in the world that need help but it needs to be done minus the political agenda and with open minds and open hearts.
That horrible day I was working at a hospital. Not in NYC, no I was working back in NH. There are a few memories that stuck with me from that day. The first was trying to explain to a homeless woman that I was helping in my office why everyone was so upset. You see a lot of us forget that there are people who aren't up to the minute on the news or trends or whatever is on the tv/radio. This woman, who was desperately trying to find a place to live, food to eat and a way to pay for the hospital bill that living on the streets with no medical care gave her. She wasn't asking for much. Just a roof, a full belly and a chance to pull herself out of the hole that life dumped her in. Gently explaining to that all ready overwhelmed woman was a test of my understanding and kindness. I hope I passed that one.
The next memory was of the hospital's clergy woman. She was going from person to person who worked at the hospital, asking carefully what their beliefs were. The carefully I am sure you understand, in these days of political correctness asking someone what religion they are is a no no. But you see she was doing her job, coming up with some way to help those in her care to deal with what many felt as an attack on their beliefs. Being the only Wiccan on staff at the time she had some interesting questions for me on how to help those not of the Judeo-christian belief systems.
The most sad memory for me comes from a older volunteer who was working in my office, helping me with the filing that constantly backed up in a charity office. A very sweet and friendly woman who was very good at helping in an office, she fell apart. At first we had no idea why she just up and left the office and did not return. It was days later that we found out that she had a son working in the World Trade Center. I never found out what happened but for a long time I wish I had time to comfort her before she disappeared from our office.
Today we have learned a whole new lexicon. We expect delays for security at airports, have shows about Homeland security and open debates about guns and fanatics. But what I wonder as I sit here in my home in another country is did we learn anything? Do we understand those of other religions any better? Have we learned that western civilization has some things wrong and some things right? Have we learned that we can't keep doing things the old ways? While our world is smaller than ever, it just might be best to pull back and deal with the problems inside our own countries. The US especially has become a demon in many places for trying to lend what is thought of as aid by some and interference by others.
There are so many places in the world that need help but it needs to be done minus the political agenda and with open minds and open hearts.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Trying to catch the moon on film
Just the other night the moon was a thin little sliver in the sky. As my hubby and I looked out our kitchen window we saw a perfect image. The fingernail moon with Venus a bright light to the right of it, all framed nicely by the trees across the way. This was an image I could see painted in dark blues, black and glow in the dark paints. Why glow in the dark? Because it would glow in the dim lighting like the moon does. It is something I would love to try and paint in the future but for now I tried to catch it on memory card with my camera.
As you can see the images came out a bit fuzzy. I could not get them to come clear with my camera but I thought i would share them with you all.
As you can see the images came out a bit fuzzy. I could not get them to come clear with my camera but I thought i would share them with you all.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Sending out work for reviews
One of the best things about social media is finding people who are willing to read your work and give you HONEST feedback about them. While I look about the various places that people can comment on my work I have found a lot of interesting comments. Yes I have received two star reviews and while it is a hit to the ego it is also a learning experience. If and this is the important part, if the reviewer actually gives you the reason they gave your tale two stars.
On Goodreads you don't have to leave an actual review when you star a story. I have a few low stars there that I really wish the reviewers had put down why they didn't like my tale. One thing I strive to do in my work is to get better.
Now a lot of people think that reviews that are given from free copies of a book or story is wrong but are they? Even if a story is gifted to a reviewer if the person is honest in what they liked and didn't like what is wrong? I have over the years reviewed a number of books that I have picked up during free offers on Amazon, Smashwords and other etailers.
Also I have offered a number of my works for free, either for a short period of time or in the case of my fan fiction, always. Reviews are one of the ways for a writer to learn what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. The good ones learn from these comments.
Now yes reviews can hurt. Some people seem to believe that they need to tear down writers the same way they tear down artists, singers and actors. The amount of bullying on the web is sad in my opinion. We need to find ways to uplift and not drag down.
But back to the post heading. I have a number of people who have graciously offered to give me honest reviews on both my work in progress and on the pieces I have up for sale. The WIP pre readers make my life so much easier and they will be thanked in as many places as I can get away with. Those who are reading my published work I can't thank on the reviews but I can here.
It is considered wrong to respond to a review. The rules of receiving reviews are complicated and different from place to place. With all the social media accounts out there just finding those reviews can be almost impossible. One thing I have done and plan on continuing to do is placing those reviews I give and those I receive up on my own website.
This can be tricky though. One Amazon alone I have 71 reviews. Not all of them are for my stand alone work. The anthologies i have contributed to have reviews and for the most part those are positive.
So the thing about this blog is that reviews are necessary for growth and that authors need to search out people to review them. You shouldn't expect your reviews to be all glowing and five star. You should take all comments and learn from them but most importantly don't take them too much to heart. Keep being creative and learn but don't let the trolls drag you down. Remember that the things you write, like the art or song from other creative people, is a part of you. How the reviewer sees your work is only a part of what you gave it. The rest is from them. If they are hurt, angry or just plain mean inside then they will say things that are the same. Keep writing things that lift your heart and soul and hopefully others.
On Goodreads you don't have to leave an actual review when you star a story. I have a few low stars there that I really wish the reviewers had put down why they didn't like my tale. One thing I strive to do in my work is to get better.
Now a lot of people think that reviews that are given from free copies of a book or story is wrong but are they? Even if a story is gifted to a reviewer if the person is honest in what they liked and didn't like what is wrong? I have over the years reviewed a number of books that I have picked up during free offers on Amazon, Smashwords and other etailers.
Also I have offered a number of my works for free, either for a short period of time or in the case of my fan fiction, always. Reviews are one of the ways for a writer to learn what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. The good ones learn from these comments.
Now yes reviews can hurt. Some people seem to believe that they need to tear down writers the same way they tear down artists, singers and actors. The amount of bullying on the web is sad in my opinion. We need to find ways to uplift and not drag down.
But back to the post heading. I have a number of people who have graciously offered to give me honest reviews on both my work in progress and on the pieces I have up for sale. The WIP pre readers make my life so much easier and they will be thanked in as many places as I can get away with. Those who are reading my published work I can't thank on the reviews but I can here.
It is considered wrong to respond to a review. The rules of receiving reviews are complicated and different from place to place. With all the social media accounts out there just finding those reviews can be almost impossible. One thing I have done and plan on continuing to do is placing those reviews I give and those I receive up on my own website.
This can be tricky though. One Amazon alone I have 71 reviews. Not all of them are for my stand alone work. The anthologies i have contributed to have reviews and for the most part those are positive.
So the thing about this blog is that reviews are necessary for growth and that authors need to search out people to review them. You shouldn't expect your reviews to be all glowing and five star. You should take all comments and learn from them but most importantly don't take them too much to heart. Keep being creative and learn but don't let the trolls drag you down. Remember that the things you write, like the art or song from other creative people, is a part of you. How the reviewer sees your work is only a part of what you gave it. The rest is from them. If they are hurt, angry or just plain mean inside then they will say things that are the same. Keep writing things that lift your heart and soul and hopefully others.
Friday, September 6, 2013
Stop saying "In my day"
there is an odd thing going on in my day. It seems like I am the pivot in a teeter totter of opinions. Thanks to the wonders of the internet I talk with people of all ages, races, sexes, income levels, political types, music taste or other things and one that that really bugs me is this things were better, are better attitudes that are out there.
The current discussion I am having is with people who are arguing that kids spend all their time texting, playing videos games, etc and don't go out to play. They make the argument that kids don't play outside. Heck you are seeing it everywhere but the thing is I don't see it.
Having a ten year old living at home and owning an xbox, DS and computers I have an idea how much time a kid will spend doing things. Yes, I admit there are days she will sit and watch cat videos on Youtube but most days we have to remind her to come in for dinner and bedtime. She rides her bike, builds tree branch forts, hunts frogs, catches fish with her hands, picks flowers, playing silly games on the playground equipment and just do all the things we used to do as kids.
Is it that she is so different than other kids? I don't think so. I think it is because interacting is fun for her. We allow her to play, don't EXPECT her to. Modern society is constantly scheduling kids to do things and then complaining that they aren't being kids. Yes sports can be good for some kids but we don't need every kid to become sports stars.
Again I seem to be switching themes but it is true. North America, and yes I mean the US and Canada seems to have this thing where if you aren't a TEAM PLAYER then there is something wrong with you. What happened to doing your own personal best?
But back to the original argument. Parents of my age back when they were kids had the early computers and video games. The didn't have cellphones but they spent hours on the phone talking to their friends to the annoyance of their parents. They listened to music on boom boxes instead of IPods but playing them so loud that they couldn't hear their parents anymore than the kids do now.
Yes people don't talk to the strangers next to them on the bus or subway but they are still connected and talking. With texting and twitter they are talking to people from all over the world. And yes they need to learn filtering because now when you say or do something pretty stupid the whole world can know about it unlike the old days when you made pretty much the same mistakes but only your town knew about it.
Yes we have kids sexting and doing selfies that show way too much of themselves but guess what? We had plenty of naked pictures and phone sex in our day. Instead of complaining about our kids, why not go spend time with them, talk to them, teach them and not expect them to know everything at such young ages. And talk to them not at them. Really if you can find something in common with the kids you will both grow.
The current discussion I am having is with people who are arguing that kids spend all their time texting, playing videos games, etc and don't go out to play. They make the argument that kids don't play outside. Heck you are seeing it everywhere but the thing is I don't see it.
Having a ten year old living at home and owning an xbox, DS and computers I have an idea how much time a kid will spend doing things. Yes, I admit there are days she will sit and watch cat videos on Youtube but most days we have to remind her to come in for dinner and bedtime. She rides her bike, builds tree branch forts, hunts frogs, catches fish with her hands, picks flowers, playing silly games on the playground equipment and just do all the things we used to do as kids.
Is it that she is so different than other kids? I don't think so. I think it is because interacting is fun for her. We allow her to play, don't EXPECT her to. Modern society is constantly scheduling kids to do things and then complaining that they aren't being kids. Yes sports can be good for some kids but we don't need every kid to become sports stars.
Again I seem to be switching themes but it is true. North America, and yes I mean the US and Canada seems to have this thing where if you aren't a TEAM PLAYER then there is something wrong with you. What happened to doing your own personal best?
But back to the original argument. Parents of my age back when they were kids had the early computers and video games. The didn't have cellphones but they spent hours on the phone talking to their friends to the annoyance of their parents. They listened to music on boom boxes instead of IPods but playing them so loud that they couldn't hear their parents anymore than the kids do now.
Yes people don't talk to the strangers next to them on the bus or subway but they are still connected and talking. With texting and twitter they are talking to people from all over the world. And yes they need to learn filtering because now when you say or do something pretty stupid the whole world can know about it unlike the old days when you made pretty much the same mistakes but only your town knew about it.
Yes we have kids sexting and doing selfies that show way too much of themselves but guess what? We had plenty of naked pictures and phone sex in our day. Instead of complaining about our kids, why not go spend time with them, talk to them, teach them and not expect them to know everything at such young ages. And talk to them not at them. Really if you can find something in common with the kids you will both grow.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
An interesting idea
Amazon has started a new program that might or might not be a boon for writers. The idea is that you buy an author's book in paper format and you can get the digital format for $2.99, 99 cents or even free, depending on its original price.
Now it is a boon because it should help sell those paperbacks that authors have and give the reader a digital format to take with them on trips. The catch being I am not sure if this will be changing the ebook version's price all the time. I don't have an issue if someone who purchases say Endings in paperback for $5.99 gets the digital copy for free. This would bee a good thing for me but if they put the digital copy for free for everyone then I am screwed.
I am going to have to wait and see. If it messes up I will update you and change my listings. For now Endings, Revenge, Fall Into Nightmares and Love, Loss and Loneliness have been enrolled. As I don't plan on doing the rest of my books outside of the way I have them all ready this won't kill me.
With the change of the season it looks like people are buying. Okay one sale on Amazon and three on Barnes and Noble but I take them where I can get them of course. It helps me to feel that producing my words is reaching people.
Now it is a boon because it should help sell those paperbacks that authors have and give the reader a digital format to take with them on trips. The catch being I am not sure if this will be changing the ebook version's price all the time. I don't have an issue if someone who purchases say Endings in paperback for $5.99 gets the digital copy for free. This would bee a good thing for me but if they put the digital copy for free for everyone then I am screwed.
I am going to have to wait and see. If it messes up I will update you and change my listings. For now Endings, Revenge, Fall Into Nightmares and Love, Loss and Loneliness have been enrolled. As I don't plan on doing the rest of my books outside of the way I have them all ready this won't kill me.
With the change of the season it looks like people are buying. Okay one sale on Amazon and three on Barnes and Noble but I take them where I can get them of course. It helps me to feel that producing my words is reaching people.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Cleaning up old files and finding gems
All day I have been blogging all over about the files I have found while cleaning and organizing my computer. Something all writers need to do is to try to keep their ideas and fragments organized. I wont say i have been the best at this but I am enjoying sorting things into new categories that will hopefully get more stories finished. Who knows. So many titles, so many stories and I just want to write them all!
Here is another gem I found. I believe I started this one around the turn of the century. It is a bit old but hey not as old as some of my other incomplete tales!
***
Here is another gem I found. I believe I started this one around the turn of the century. It is a bit old but hey not as old as some of my other incomplete tales!
***
New friends
Chapter one
Just who is this
stranger?
He came around the corner to a battle taking place. One of
the large ones had hold of a woman. She was fighting with everything she had.
He could see her right arm hanging, bloody at her side. She held some type of
gun/rifle in her left and was firing repeatedly into the beast. It gave a great
howl as the bullets struck it and charged the woman. Swinging with it's great
paw, it knocked the gun out of her hand and grabbed her by the leg. Hefting her
up, with it's claws sinking into her ankle, he lifted her up so that she
dangled, head down, above the street. He was sure she was done in but she just
twisted around and kicked with her free leg, jarring the beast enough that it
let her go.
As she crashed down to the littered and broken pavement he
rushed out from his hiding place and shouting out strange words flung his hands
forward. A light of pulsing blue flared out and struck the beast in the center
of the chest. It howled loud and long, as it dissolved into the air. He walked
over slowly, keeping an eye out for the beast's mate. When he reached the side
of the woman he was amazed to see her still breathing. Landing on your head
from three feet in the air could easily crush the skull. She moaned and opened her
eyes. There was a dazed glaze over them. He reached down and eased her head off
the ground.
Reaching into his hip pack he pulled out an ampoule and
broke it under her nose. Hoping she would react normally but you could never
tell on this messed up world. She started up, sneezing. "*What?!*"
She pushed back at his hand.
"Take it easy, now. I'm here to help." His voice
was deep and smooth. The woman without meaning to, relaxed. "Let me look
you over. You're covered in blood." He lowered her back to the pavement
and slid his hands over her body, about an inch away.
"Not good here," he whispered more to himself than
the woman. "The arm is broken in two places, compound at the elbow."
He moved down to the leg the beast had held her up by. "The knee is all
torn up," then the ankle. He hissed, "punctures. Not good."
Enya tried to get her eyes to focus. The blow to her head
had addled her senses. "Who?"
Bending over her was a man with long, thick, black hair. He
was doing unpleasant things to her but his voice held her still somehow. She
felt trust. This bothered her but she couldn't remember why. "Why?"
As he moved to set her arm she passed out from the pain.
"Not good, but it will be easier if you're not awake
for all this, little one." The man continued working her wounds until he
had them set and bandaged. Then he reached inside his shirt and pulled out a
small silver cylinder. Placing it to his lips, he blew. Within a few moments a
small car rounded the corner and stopped by his side. A small furry woman got
out the passenger door and knelt down next to the man. "Careful, she's
been badly injured."
******
Gotta love stories where the main character falls through a time/space pocket to another world right? I know there is a lot more to this one out there...can't wait to write it!
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