tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762622439282650752.post1481793827085298698..comments2023-09-17T07:46:57.550-05:00Comments on Charity's Writing Journey: The Top 5 Things You Need to Know--Part 2Charity Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01960821077619680661noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762622439282650752.post-35083468387679461162012-08-14T16:20:16.634-05:002012-08-14T16:20:16.634-05:00That's a great marketing ploy that I haven'...That's a great marketing ploy that I haven't read about anywhere else. I think it actually might be a good post for your blog, Michael.<br /><br />And I'm with Charity. What sites do you recommend?Brooke R. Bussehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17147444223968856153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762622439282650752.post-38935839344313758652012-08-11T15:19:42.774-05:002012-08-11T15:19:42.774-05:00That's a good top 5. I don't have anything...That's a good top 5. I don't have anything to add.<br /><br />Although, if I was talking to a group that age, I would stress the importance of just writing. Starting something. And finding a way to make it a habit.Liz A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16531953467834426316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762622439282650752.post-61943595084419045462012-08-10T11:58:25.867-05:002012-08-10T11:58:25.867-05:00;) It really does.;) It really does.Charity Bradfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01960821077619680661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762622439282650752.post-77467042994750359752012-08-10T11:57:24.025-05:002012-08-10T11:57:24.025-05:00This is great advice! I love the idea of putting o...This is great advice! I love the idea of putting our work in front of readers without "harassing" them. It goes back to that quote I heard once, "Write what's in your heart and let those meant to find it find it." Or something like that. :)<br /><br />Do you have any suggestions for great sites?Charity Bradfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01960821077619680661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762622439282650752.post-68823063979701870602012-08-10T11:50:48.354-05:002012-08-10T11:50:48.354-05:00Thanks E.J. That part is always the hardest becau...Thanks E.J. That part is always the hardest because reader preference is important but so varied. It all goes back to knowing your audience while staying true to what's in your heart for your story.Charity Bradfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01960821077619680661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762622439282650752.post-54165760265333833582012-08-10T10:54:38.242-05:002012-08-10T10:54:38.242-05:00"That is reality. I had to learn to notice th..."That is reality. I had to learn to notice the things that multiple readers mentioned. Those were the things I needed to consider changing. In the end, I had to realize that this was MY story. I could accept or reject suggestions as I saw fit. Even now that I'm working with an editor."<br /><br />Thought that part was particularly insightful and awesome, Charity. So very true. You have to train yourself to feel for what's very important and needs attention, and what might just be a reader preference type of thing. For me, it's an ever-evloving process. <br /><br />Really great post and thoughts! Hope you have a good weekend. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00273059558675234923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762622439282650752.post-80845002695757104282012-08-10T10:28:39.970-05:002012-08-10T10:28:39.970-05:00My advice might be from those that pursue traditio...My advice might be from those that pursue traditional small pubs and that would be in the "marketing" department. Since you aren't going to have the benefit of a billion dollar company to push your book unto the masses, the best kind of marketing you can do is to write.<br /><br />What I mean by this is that I've gathered together all the stuff I cut from my writing over the years and organized them into small novellas. Then I've been posting them for free on a website that has high readership traffic with links back to my book page. I've noticed that since I started doing this, I'm selling two to three more books a week.<br /><br />I know this isn't stellar sales. But I attribute the fact that I've been posting stories related to my writing in hooking people that are natural readers and not so much writers into investigating my book.<br /><br />And the key to finding a website that has high reader traffic is one that hosts stories, has a known contributor base (has been around for years and survives on donations), and has no way for writers to interact. This last part is important. Writers (if given the chance) are so desperate to market their book (because everyone is writing one) that if given comments or an ability to track down a reader on a blog, they will do so and harass that person with "attention". It's the same phenomenon that happens to a book blogger who gets overwhelmed in a matter of weeks by hundreds of requests to review a book.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762622439282650752.post-56131615741008217892012-08-10T10:19:25.680-05:002012-08-10T10:19:25.680-05:00Those are all great, Charity. I think having the r...Those are all great, Charity. I think having the right crit partner can make a huge difference. I know it did for me.mshatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762622439282650752.post-15584960428958733022012-08-10T10:03:40.485-05:002012-08-10T10:03:40.485-05:00Finding good critique partners is so hard! If you&...Finding good critique partners is so hard! If you've got great ones hold onto them. I think I've finally found some real keepers with the ladies at UB.Charity Bradfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01960821077619680661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762622439282650752.post-75739630705109628802012-08-10T09:17:47.250-05:002012-08-10T09:17:47.250-05:00Letting it sit never lasts long for me. I credit m...Letting it sit never lasts long for me. I credit my ability to completely forget the beginning of the story for that one!<br />Good test readers and critique partners are awesome. I'm so in sync with the ones I have now - they understand what I'm trying to accomplish and make great suggestions.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com