Tag Archives: Writing

Write the Dream Conference in KC March 7-9, 2014!

Calling all indie writers within driving distance of KC!

Better hurry: coming this weekend

Write the Dream Conference

Featuring two-time Emmy Award winner Cady McClain!

As well as five other top-notch speakers (hey, including me!)

With sessions on Dreamscaping, Editing, EPublishing, Novel Writing, Social Media, Book Covers, Marketing, Funding, Layout and Design, and Brainstorming. Find out more:

http://www.writethedream.com/the-convention/

From the website: “If you are an aspiring writer who wants to stop talking about writing your story and actually D0 it, then our conference is for you. Please join us in March in Kansas City, Missouri, for your chance to learn the basics of writing and self-publishing your own book and learning from others who have a proven success at reaching the masses. Join keynote speaker, Emmy-award-winning actress, writer, and film producer Cady McClain, who will share with you how she fulfills her own dreams—and hopefully inspire you to do the same.

“Our three-day conference will give you every tool and resource you need to learn how to fulfill your dream of being a published author. You will gain the inspiration to get your story down on paper and take the necessary steps to see it in both e-book form, as well as print. Our conference workshops will include: a set plan to complete that first manuscript; resources to fund your project; tips and tools to help you find a good editor and designer; methods and resources to get your book correctly formatted for distribution; and finally, a plan to help you market and sell your book once it is completed. Step by step, from A to Z, our conference team will walk you through the process— even if you have absolutely no idea where to start. Come for one day or all three— you can choose from three plans that will fit both your time and budget.

“We want to help you share your story…because what you have to say deserves to be told. You don’t need to wait around for the traditional publishers if you want to succeed; all it takes is a good story, will, and determination. Come join us and see what we can do for you!”

Register NOW! http://www.writethedream.com/the-convention/Join us at the beautiful Kansas City Convention Center in downtown Kansas City. For more information about the center, click here. For a complete list of classes and a more detailed description of the conference, click here. To register for the conference or to check pricing, click here. If you would like to register by phone or would like more information, please call 816.896.6802.

Book Reviews: John Locke Didn’t Do It This Way!

I posted this on our Indie Writers Alliance page, then I realized this might be important enough to wave it around on my author site, as well.

To my readers and fans, let me just tell you how very important it is for any author to get good, legitimate reviews for their books. If you give a book a good review, you’ve made the author’s day. On the other hand, if you give it a bad review, there will likely be gnashing of teeth. But even negative reviews are important to readers, if they’re honest–and, ultimately, that’s who reviews are for. Reviews are to help potential readers decide whether or not to buy and read a book. Reviews are good things for the consumers–for readers, the reason we write. Reviews with hurtful language, spoilers, negative because “I don’t read this genre, but I got this book for free”: those are the really lame reviews that no one needs.

Okay, so don’t even compare what I’m about to tell you to John Locke’s, “Hey, I sold over a million books in five months this way!” The following info and link is to help fellow indie authors hook up with potential reviewers in their book(s) genre(s).

What’s different? Locke said nothing about the main and now obviously secret ingredient in his plan: buying reviews! I’m not saying it’s wrong to buy reviews. I’d say it’s wrong if you’re buying positive reviews, fabricated reviews from folks who didn’t even read your book, left out the fact that you bought reviews when you go around bragging to other writers how you became so successful and left this very critical piece of the puzzle out. And then Mr. Locke sells us indies a guide-book about how we can do what he did with the most important part–the real key to his success–never mentioned! That’s ri-ight! He paid over $6,000 for 300 reviews. Now think of it, authors: paying three hundred people to go “buy” your book on Amazon over a few days’ time–the increased sales alone would shoot your title near the top of the rankings. Don’t you think if you’re giving these reviewer folks pretty good money to give a review, and there’s no real control over whether they really read the book or not, that they’ll likely give your book a good review? Especially since, if they give it a bad review, they might not be considered favorably for a chance to get paid to write review again!

Click the Image!

Click the Image!

Anyway, check this out, fellow indies! For $67.00 BookRooster will distribute your book to a genre-targeted portion of their 3,000 plus reviewers, and they’ll keep working at it until you get ten reviews. They don’t promise those reviews will be positive. What are you paying for, then? Distribution of your book to reviewers. The reviewers themselves don’t get paid, but they do get to download your book for free. If you need reviews, this might just be a way to go.

EPublishing Radio Interview

I was just interviewed about my writing career as well as ePublishing by nationally known radio personality and voice talent, Mike Lamb. The half-hour segment will air Sunday, March 31, between 1:00 and 2pm ET on WJML radio:  http://www.WJML.com

Listen to the interview here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/moneyroom/033013-moneyroomshow-hour2.mp3

The actual interview starts at 7:10 into the audio recording.

Check it out!

But, if you don’t get a chance, you can catch it anytime afterwards on a podcast on Mike’s Internet radio website, at: www.MoneyRoom.com, and later I’ll post it right here!

Novel Writing Made Simple EBook is now FREE!

Novel Writing Made Simple — Seventh Edition EBook PDF is now FREE!

Novel Writing Made Simple (PDF) is now FREE!

Novel Writing Made Simple (PDF) is now FREE!

Let’s talk about writing really great stories!

THE Book on Novel Writing.

An easy to understand study manual for the beginning novelist, a reference and review for the experienced fiction writer; Novel Writing Made Simple is a comprehensive guide to the novel-writing craft. Its straightforward approach breaks down the rules and conventions of one of the most revered and subjective of all creative arts to their simplest forms. This thorough text covers everything from storytelling basics to manuscript submission. If you have room for but one writing reference book beside your keyboard, Novel Writing Made Simple is the one to have–and it’s now FREE!

Novel Writing Made Simple (PDF) FREE!

Look for Novel Writing Made Simple in large-format (8.5″ x 11″) paperback on Amazon.com and Lulu.com.

Also available in eBook from Amazon.com (coming soon), Barnes & Noble, Lulu.com and iBooks (Apple iTunes).

THE Book for Novel Writers!

Novel Writing Made Simple (PDF) FREE!

EBOOK ***Coming Attractions*** Contest!

 The

EBOOK

***Coming Attractions***

Contest!

IS NOW OVER: Winners to be announced soon!

The BEST Indie EBook Novels Coming Soon To an EReader Near You!

A Writers’ Contest for Future Indie Writers!

The First Three Pages (750 words) of Fantastic Fiction

No Entry Fee!

Any genre (category)!

Simple rules! Submit:

  1. Up to the first 750 words of your novel
    1. Formatted in MS Word, with one-inch margins, double spaced, and in any very readable font;
    2. No title page is necessary, and the author’s name may appear on the submission.
  2. A synopsis/description of the work of no more than 250 words. We suggest including:
    1. A brief pitch (perhaps up to fifty words—this is your grabber or elevator pitch);
    2. A brief summary (this is the synopsis that you hope will sell your book and help it to become a bestseller—check out examples on Amazon)
  3. Ensure your entry email includes author’s name and story genre (category).

*Entries cannot be presently published as eBooks on Amazon.

Entries will be judged on the author’s storytelling ability, ability to follow the contest submission’s very simple guidelines, and the judges’ opinions of marketability (sales potential).

What do you win?

The First Place entry:

  1. Will be showcased on not only the Indie Writers Alliance blog /website but on Gordon Kessler’s author’s site, as well;
  2. Will be linked to Amazon book page once ePublished.

The First Place entry will also receive:

  1. Free eBook formatting for winning entry for Kindle & Nook (when ready, but must be requested within six months of contest deadline);
  2. Free ePublishing phone consultation for uploading eBook to Amazon and Barnes and Noble, (when ready, but must be requested within six months of contest deadline);
  3. Choice of print or eBook version of Novel Writing Made Simple or EBook Writing Made Simple!
  4. Full, line-by-line edit of entry.

The First Place entry and five Runners Up:

1. Will be linked from Gordon’s and IWA’s sites to authors’ sites;

2. Will be listed on both Gordon’s and IWA’s sites with the stories’ synopses/books submitted for the contest;

3. Will have the books’ cover images or authors’ photos, if available, posted on IWA and Gordon Kessler’s blog/websites.

First 100 entries:

  1. Will receive a free PDF version of Novel Writing Made Simple or EBook Writing Made Simple!
  2. Will receive a single-paragraph summary including strengths and weaknesses of the entry as well as suggestions on how to improve the work (feedback will be sent in the format of an email by March 31, 2013).

Have a story opening? With nothing to lose, it’s a no-brainer: dust it off and send it in today!

Deadline: midnight PST, February 3, 2013 (by email date and time confirmation)

First round judging will be completed and finalists notified by February 11, 2013.

The EBook ***Coming Attractions*** Contest winners will be selected and posted on  http://gordonkessler.com and http://writersmatrix.com/wordpress/ (Indie Writers Alliance’s blog/website).

The EBook ***Coming Attractions*** Contest is sponsored by Gordon A Kessler and the Indie Writers Alliance.

Send entries by email as a single attachment (synopsis and story opening), with “coming attractions” in the subject line, to:

Gordon@gordonkessler.com

Questions? Email Gordon with “question” in the subject line.

EBook Writing Made Simple!–is now available!

Hot off the virtual press–it’s here! EBook Writing Made Simple!

NOTE: Among the many books published concerning eBooks, none are about the actual writing of an eBook novel–until now!

THIS EBOOK FOCUSES SOLEY ON THE ACTUAL WRITING OF NOVELS INTENDED FOR THE EBOOK-READING PUBLIC. It does not deal with the ePublishing or marketing of such work–there are literally dozens of great eBooks out there already to help you with that.

IS WRITING AN EBOOK NOVEL the same as writing a novel intended for the traditional publishing industry? It doesn’t have to be–it can be much better. Why? When writing an eBook novel, you’re writing for the reader and not the uptight, rutted, NYC publishing industry. Find out how, and have fun writing again!

This eBook is especially designed for the beginning eBook writer, but it is also a great guide for the novelist who wants to think out of the box. With the huge new market writers have discovered in writing eBooks, opportunities abound for authors who take a different tack and understand this new venue from a clearer perspective. Writing for reader entertainment by bending and even breaking the uptight traditional publishing industry’s stiff and restrictive guidelines frees the author’s creativity.

Come take a look at the fiction-writing craft from a whole new angle and discover the innovative and effective ways to reach your readers.

From the basics of fiction writing and the strict unbudging conventions of a steadfast traditional publishing industry to how to break the rules for pure entertainment value, this book encompasses it all. A 500+ word lexicon of terms every writer should know is included.