I think this is the first day in a while where I don’t have anything planned for my blog. I have no book excerpts, no thoughts on writing, no ask a character, and the poetry challenge is over. I should post the story I wrote for the ‘We Drink Because We’re Poets’ story prompt. Get that out there before I forget. I feel a little lost since this is the only weekday where I don’t have anything in the ‘schedule’.
Actually, there is an origin post that I’ve been meaning to do. I’m thinking in the future to turn Thursday into ‘Sneak Peek’ day with an excerpt from a future book like Allure of the Gypsies and Family of the Tri-Rune. I’ve netted a few readers with the sneak peeks, so maybe that’s something to think about.
Is there anything that people want to see me write about on my blog?
Legends of Windemere 
I like your posts about writing (technique). But then I haven’t been around that long, so maybe you’ve already done a hundred of them.
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I do one of those every Wednesday, so it isn’t in the hundreds yet. Those and my book excerpts are the only things I’ve managed to keep on schedule.
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I will be watching for them, then.
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They’re all under the ‘Thoughts’ category. Was there anything in particular you wanted me to write about? I’m always looking for new topics.
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I could use some guidance in the book launching department… I read your post on pricing. That’s something I need to think about, as well as how to keep spreading the word. Even tips on formatting the e-book and paper book. How did you manage to list it on amazon AND Barnes and Nobles?
OK, this is probably more than you were looking for. LOL.
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I think I mentioned these, but they were scattered about various posts. I’ll give you a brief once over now.
Amazon is just through the Kindle Direct system, which you can access from the bottom of the site. Look for ‘Independently Publish With Us’ link. I got the non-Kindle readers by using Smashwords, which I’m now off of to try my luck at KDP Select. Paperback was done through Createspace, which has a review system. I will warn you that they don’t put page numbers in, so you have to do that yourself. Found that out the hard way.
Smashwords has a format checker, so if you go through them first, you can get your book prepped for Kindle too. Mostly, do not use tabs on your paragraphs, use section break instead of page break, you need a copyright page (I just copy, pasted, and altered one that I found on Smashwords), and never do more than 4 return strikes in a row. That’s the basics, but it’s actually easier than you think as long as you’re patient.
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What’s a return strike?
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Basically, hitting the ‘enter’ key to move to the next line like at the end of a paragraph or to make space. Like
This (I’ll look foolish if this doesn’t come through correctly.)
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Sooo, if you go through Kindle you are still free to do other readers? I wasn’t sure if Amazon would claim a certain ‘ownership’ of the E-book. And then there’s the whole tax thing… Do I need to do an LLC? You don’t have to answer all of these… We’re all busy!
‘
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And the computer just deleted my response. Amazon only claims exclusivity if you join KDP Select, which isn’t mandatory. I just joined that program last week, so I’m seeing how it’s going. So far, not too bad, but I screwed up my numbers with a free weekend and I haven’t recovered yet. Live and learn. For taxes, I didn’t make an LLC, but I’m going to make a separate account to use for direct deposits. Just to keep my royalties separate and easier to track for tax purposes.
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Thanks!
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I think the previews are a great idea, giving readers a carrot to encourage them to purchase the complete book.
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Thanks. I’ll choose one today. The tough part is to pick one that teases, but doesn’t reveal a spoiler. Unless the use of new abilities can be counted as a teaser.
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I sometimes use WordPress’s Daily Post if I need inspiration. Also, you could do a post on your ideal writing space or your current writing space, or both!
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I think I have a writing space post somewhere in my archive. I remember going on about the dining room table and back pain a month ago. 🙂 I’ll take a look at the daily post when I get stumped. Thanks. I might be limiting my posts starting my next (at least my reader) to start in on Book 5 anyway, so Thursday could end up being a progress update day.
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Do you do weekends? I always skip weekends and only do weekdays. I hear you on cutting back on blog posts though. I also only do one a day on the weekdays.
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I only have one planned per day, but I got into the habit of poetry and other types of posts. I might cut back to that and maybe do another one for lunch. I have to keep the book promotion tweets and updates on my Goodreads Giveaway going.
I technically take the weekends off, but they’re filled with family stuff. I know I’m resting Saturday while my wife handles the toddler and I do laundry. Then Sunday is a family gathering. I always tried to get a little bit of character design and future project outlining in.
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I want to see you write a convention checklist for other authors. Take what you have learned and make it a bit more general for other authors. Hey, you asked
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Sure. I can put that together tomorrow since it’s still fresh in my head. I’ll make it look like a real checklist though. 🙂
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At least you keep a daily blog! If I don’t have anything in particular to say I have this bad habit of not posting for two or three days.
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Daily is definitely a challenge, especially on the weekends. I’m going to try to put up at least a poem on weekends when I might not be around. I wonder if the daily blogging is helping my book.
Did you ever think of doing character origins that explain where they came from or setting up character interviews? I’ve noticed people really love to get inside the author’s head.
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I think it helps. People love to check up on a favourite author every day. I used to stalk Laurell K. Hamilton’s blog religiously.
I have definitely thought of doing character interviews! I am just not sure how to set them up. Maybe announce it a couple days in advance and give people some time to send in questions?
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That would work. I know Breanna Vedsted does her own questions and answers. I just put it up Tuesday mornings and wait for questions to appear in the comments. It’s gotten better every week, but I think this week’s Hellfire Elf interview was a special case. Luke and Nimby got a little, but not as much as him.
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What about what you’re reading? I’m always interested to know which books authors read. Of course, that could just be some peculiarity of mine. 😉
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I can do that. I admit that I don’t read at a fast rate because I spend a lot of time writing.
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Have you interviewed Fritz yet?
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Not yet. He’s this Tuesday. 🙂
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