WPN, November 2021,
The Nurture Yourself, Support Others, and Sell! Issue
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From Kathleen Kaiser, President
As we near the end of the year, everyone who released a book in 2021 should be looking for contests to enter. Pick ones that have categories that fit your book. Some are listed on WPN’s website - https://writersandpublishersnetwork.com/category/opps/contestsawards/ or Google Book Contest.
For all WPN members, as an affiliate member of IBPA, WPN has one scholarship opportunity for you. Use this link. You must be a WPN member to qualify. More details in this newsletter. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IBPA-PubU-2022-Scholarship
And for everyone joining National Novel Writing Month, which is November, here’s more information you might like. It’s a fun test of your determination, or it might just be what you need to finish that manuscript. I have decided to take the challenge to complete a prequel to my last novel. More info at https://nanowrimo.org/
Finally, consider running ads or sending emails to your lists promoting your book as the perfect holiday gift. It never hurts to remind people of the book at this gift-giving time.
Kathleen Kaiser, kathleen@kathleenkaiser.com
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From Sandra Murphy, Editor
The sudden and overwhelming changes we’ve seen during the pandemic have often meant we’ve taken care of others at the expense of time for ourselves. Staying home has meant less interaction with co-workers, friends, and family. It has affected everyone differently; some embraced the change of pace as an opportunity, and others came to that idea later.
Flight attendants say that when you are traveling with young children or people who need help, you should put your own oxygen mask on first in the event of an emergency. If you were to pass out, who would help your child or fellow traveler? It’s good advice to remember now. Take care of you first or you won’t have anything to give to others.
We’ve learned not everything has to be done at once, or sometimes not at all. As the Frankfurt Book Fair attendees were asked, “How do we want to live our lives now?”
Take care of you,
Sandy, Editor, editor@writersandpublishersnetwork.com
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Ask the Book Doctor About Purple Prose by Bobbie Christmas
Q: My editor marked some passages in my literary novel and labeled them “purple prose.” I prefer to write creative passages and descriptions and often spurn traditional descriptions. By noting some of my creative passages as purple prose, what is my editor saying?
A: The difference between purple prose and flowery, poetic, or literary prose may sometimes be difficult for the writer to spot, but trust me, the difference is huge.
Well-written literary passages evoke images or emotions. Purple prose can evoke confusion or even laughter. READ MORE…
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Bobbie Christmas is a book editor, author of Write In Style: Use Your Computer to Improve Your Writing, and owner of Zebra Communications. She will answer your questions too. Send them to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com or BZebra@aol.com. Read Bobbie’s Zebra Communications blog at https://www.zebraeditor.com/blog/.
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Creative Ideas for a Successful Pre-Order Campaign by Penny Sansevieri
As you create your book-marketing plan, you may be thinking about doing a pre-order as a way of getting some early sales. But it takes more than just making your book available for a pre-order to be successful. When done right, pre-orders can be a great way to engage your existing fans and bring in new ones.
So, what are some effective strategies that can help create buzz and lead to a lucrative pre-order? I’ve outlined some of my favorite ideas below to jumpstart your pre-order marketing. READ MORE…
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Penny C. Sansevieri, founder and CEO Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. She is an adjunct professor teaching Self-Publishing for NYU. She was named one of the top influencers of 2019 by New York Metropolitan Magazine.
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The Publisher Perspective by Jay Hartman, Editor-in-Chief at Untreed Reads
Q: I have a brand-new mystery novel out, and I’d really like to get it into Bookbub for a promotion. I get their newsletters, and it seems like a great way to sell a lot of copies. Is it worth it to spend the time and money to get into one of their promotions? – G.R., Ogden, UT
A: From a visibility standpoint, it might be worth it. From a financial standpoint, definitely not.
Bookbub is a bit secretive as to how they determine which books qualify for their promotions and which ones don’t. The only things that have been confirmed is a) you need to have a bunch of reviews on Amazon and b) your title must be on Amazon.
READ MORE…
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Jay A. Hartman, editor-in-chief at Untreed Reads Publishing, founded Untreed Reads to promote ebooks with an emphasis on independent authors and publishers. He’s written about the ebook industry for fifteen years and previously served as content editor for KnowBetter.com, one of the internet’s oldest sites reporting on ebooks and epublishing.
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Protect Your Inner Life by Michael Bracken
First published at Sleuthsayers.org Professional Crime-Writers and Crime-Fighters
Reacting to Lan Samantha Chang’s essay on LitHub.com, “Writers, Protect Your Inner Life,” Trey R. Barker (my Guns + Tacos co-creator/co-editor) posted on Facebook:
Michael, dressed for the convention that never was. PIC
The essay “at least partially misses what is actually the death of a writer’s inner self: the outer world. The world must take precedence, which makes it incredibly difficult to find time to do the actual writing, much less time to a) think up the story, and b) do the foundational thinking that leads someone to the questions that become the basis for any writing. That is the inner life writers need to protect.
READ MORE…
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In addition to writing short stories, editing anthologies, editing a gardening magazines, Guns and Tacos series, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, and so much more, Michael’s story “Blest Be the Tie that Binds,” was included in The Mysterious Bookshop Presents the Best Mystery Stories of the Year: 2021 (https://tinyurl.com/y9b7x2cy) and was one of six stories chosen by The Book Reporter.com/reviews that stood out in the collection of bests. https://tinyurl.com/4eaxm4dn
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15 Ways Authors Support Each Other on Social Media by Leila Hirschfeld
Previously published at BookBub.com on October 7, 2021 reprinted with permission.
Writing is a solitary job by nature, but for many authors it has felt especially isolating during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has removed pivotal avenues for book promotion (and mingling with readers and fellow authors) by reducing bookstore foot traffic and eliminating in-person events.
Amidst these taxing circumstances, we’ve been inspired by how authors have stepped up to build community and spotlight their fellow writers’ work. With the ever-growing relevance of the digital landscape in the book world, we’ve seen authors flock to social media to connect with and support each other. From recommending books to providing industry advice to hosting book clubs featuring others’ titles, online author-to-author support comes in many forms. In this post, we’ll highlight various ways authors are uplifting their peers through their social-media platforms.
READ MORE…
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Leila Hirschfeld works on the Partner Marketing Team at BookBub, where she manages the social channels for BookBub Partners and helps partners use BookBub’s tools to achieve their marketing goals. Leila is also an author of middle-grade biographies It's Up to You, Abe Lincoln and It's Up to You, Ben Franklin.
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Patricia has been publishing since the 70s and this month will release her 100th book. Starting as a nonfiction author, she moved into cozy mysteries in 2012 with the Klepto Cat Mystery series and this year launched the Calico Cat Mystery series. The newest book is "Claw and Order," part of the Klepto Cat series. Here is a link to most of her books, many on sale for free on Kindle. https://amzn.to/3EGhfhL
Everyone at WPN thanks one of the founders of this organization and past president for such a lifetime achievement and as an example to us all.
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Update on Kindle Vella
Kindle Vella September Bonus Announcement October 18, 2021
We are happy to announce that the September Kindle Vella launch bonus will be $500,000.
For the month of September, bonuses will be awarded to stories with new publishing activity and customer activity such as Faves, Follows, and Token redemption (free and paid). We’ve seen that readers are enjoying stories that are updated regularly, and we encourage you to publish episodes frequently to keep readers engaged.
If you’ve earned a bonus for September, you’ll receive an email and will see the bonus amount posted in your Kindle Vella Dashboard (https://kdpreports.amazon.com/...) today. Your launch bonus and Kindle Vella royalty earnings will be paid out with your total KDP payments in November.
For all authors, we will continue to compensate episodes unlocked using free Tokens at the 200 Token bundle rate through the end of the year. This compensation will be included with your overall bonus amount.
For additional information on Kindle Vella royalties and reporting, you can go here: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G5TFR9WSHB46ZKFN
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Authentic Voices Wanted!
WNBA Authentic Voices Fellowship
With a goal to create equity in the publishing world, the WNBA Authentic Voices Fellowship supports voices that have been overlooked or stifled in the publishing world. Authentic Voices highlights diversity in publishing by bringing authentic voices to the table in an educational, immersive, and equity-building program.
Study after study has shown the lack of authors from marginalized communities in the book world. In order to build equity in publishing, we must provide people from underrepresented communities the foundation and tools needed to understand and compete in the publishing world.
The program is a collaboration with Women of Color Writers Podcast.
What is WNBA Authentic Voices?
WNBA Authentic Voices is a fellowship.
We will select a maximum of seven applicants to be mentored through a four-month process of writing, editing, marketing, querying, and publishing.
It is free to apply. READ MORE…
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News You Might Have Missed |
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IBPA Affiliate Scholarship Application!
IBPA invites independent publishers, especially those who have never attended IBPA Publishing University before, to apply for a complimentary ALL ACCESS ticket to attend the virtual and in-person conference.
IBPA awards one scholarship to each IBPA affiliate association and a limited number to other IBPA members not associated with an IBPA affiliate. IBPA considers the following questions when reviewing each applicant:
- How will attendance at IBPA Publishing University assist the individual in his/her publishing career?
- How will attendance at IBPA Publishing University be translated into the day-to-day operations of the individual’s business?
- How will the scholarship winner share the information learned at IBPA Publishing University with their affiliate association or the IBPA community at-large? This sharing may take various forms, such as a published blog post, presentations at meetings, and mentoring of others throughout the year.
- Did the applicant win an IBPA Publishing University scholarship in 2021? To serve as many members as possible, a scholarship cannot be awarded to the same member two years in a row. After two years, scholarship winners are welcome to reapply.
https://www.publishinguniversi...
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Catch a one-on-one interview between an NPR host and some of the sharpest contemporary storytellers going deep on the works that dominate the discourse. No mood, genre, or writing style is off the table and done in a taut 15 minutes (or less!). https://tinyurl.com/t8ndh64d
Recent talks include:
In song and poetry, 'Nina' and 'Just Us' offer ways to start a conversation on race.
Fiona Hill's new Trump-era memoir is less about Trump than it is about us.
Humor, horror, and social commentary blend in Percival Everett's detective novel.
What Maggie Nelson Means When She Talks About Freedom.
Hearing Voices From “The Book of Form and Emptiness”
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Is a Book Trailer for You? https://stressfreebookmarketing.com/6019/create-a-free-book-trailer
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New Booky Call
smartphone app connects readers with books
Posted on October 13, 2021 by Sandra Beckwith
https://tinyurl.com/pcx4btnw
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At Reimagining Bookstores, Provocations fuel drive for sustainable bookselling
A two-day online gathering of 600+ booksellers and publishing industry professionals came to a clear mandate to continue a movement to develop strategies to lead to a more diverse, sustainable, and equitable bookselling trade in America. https://tinyurl.com/u3um6e83
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Apple Books Bestsellers: Clinton and Penny take top spot https://tinyurl.com/cmcty5s9
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IPG Buys UK Distribution Company United Independent Distributors
Its largest acquisition to date, Independent Publishers Group has acquired UK-based United Independent Distributors (UID) to make IPG one of the world’s largest distributors. IPG built the country’s second-largest independent book distributor, trailing only Ingram Publisher Services.
https://tinyurl.com/ye9wnhfm
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11/04/2021 webinar - How to Hook an Agent: Queries and Beyond! $99 No refunds.
You do not have to attend the live presentation. Presented by Writers Digest University.
https://tinyurl.com/4c7ey3ru for the details. WRITERS DIGEST GRAPHIC PIC
11/11/2021 - Social Media Bliss: How You Can Engage with Meaning and without Losing Your Mind $89 No refunds https://tinyurl.com/pkxwxwva
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Frankfurt Book Fair 2021: Attendees Asked to Answer Important Questions
The Frankfurt Book Fair was back to business and in-person, but not everything was back to normal. In lessons from the pandemic, the key theme was “how do we want to live our lives?”
https://tinyurl.com/2jwrcna3
Also a highlight was the CEO panel with a focus on consolidation, consumers, and community. https://tinyurl.com/2b2kabya
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Rugrats Chanukah!
Diversity for kids.
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Writer Beware – Muddy explanation of the rules often means writers give up more rights than they realize when entering a contest. Here’s an example: https://accrispin.blogspot.com/2021/10/contest-alert-bardsys-short-and-long-of.html
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WOW! Women on Writing Fall 2021 Flash Fiction Contest
https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php
$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 30, 2021.
Seeking short fiction of any genre between 250 and 750 words. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, communication, and well-rewarded recognition to contestants. Reprints are okay, simultaneous submissions okay. Open internationally. Limit 300 entries. Top 10 stories are published in the WOW! Women On Writing e-zine, and contestants are interviewed on WOW's blog, The Muffin.
First Place: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
Second Place: $300, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
Third Place: $200, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
Seven Runners-Up receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards, publication, and interview
Ten Honorable Mentions receive $20 Amazon Gift Card
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Skyrocket Press Novel Writing Contest
https://www.skyrocketpress.com/submissions for more details
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 30, 2021. The winner will receive a $250 prize (via Paypal) and publication. Honorable mentions may also be offered a publishing contract. Round One: Submit the first ten pages of your novel or non-fiction book and a one- to three-page synopsis. Those selected as finalists will advance to Round Two. Round Two: Finalists will be asked to submit their complete manuscript.
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The James Dickey Prize for Poetry Entry Fee $25
The contest winner is published in Five Points and is awarded $1,000. Submissions open through December 1, 2021.
www.fivepoints.gsu.edu/james-dickey-prize-poetry/
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New England Crime Bake Annual Mystery Conference for Writers and Readers
Crime Bake 2021 is ON! Guest of Honor is New England’s Own Hank Phillippi Ryan.
Nov. 12-14, 2021 (in-person) at the Boston/Dedham Hilton
Nov. 14-20, 2021 (exclusively online)
Current COVID Policy as of September 24, 2021:
For the safety of speakers, volunteers, and attendees, mask-wearing will be required at all Crime Bake events. In addition, all speakers, volunteers, and attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test within 48 hours prior to admittance. Also, the Dedham Hilton is open to the public. The hotel is following the current Covid protocols outlined by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as found here:
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-mask-requirements
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The Midwest Mystery Conference (formerly known as Murder and Mayhem in Chicago)
https://tinyurl.com/4mr49nmr Only $25!! November 5 and 6, virtually
Please note that all times are listed in Central Time.
Friday, November 5h Sessions take place on Zoom
5:00-5:30 pm Welcome with Dana Kaye and Tracy Clark
5:30-6:15 pm Keynote conversation with Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman
6:15-7:00 pm Small group networking at the virtual bar
Saturday, November 6 Sessions take place on Crowdcast
9:00-9:15 am Welcome with Dana Kaye and Tracy Clark
9:30-10:15 am Crime and Comedy with Wendall Thomas, Spencer Quinn and Mia Manansala
10:30- 11:15 am The Next Generation with Raquel V. Reyes, Wanda Morris and Ashley Winstead
11:30-12:15 pm Keynote Conversation with Sherry Thomas and Sandra SG Wong
12:30-12:45 pm Halftime Giveaway with Dana Kaye and Tracy Clark
1:30-2:15 pm Old-School Crimes with Nev March, Lori Rader-Day, and John Copenhaver
2:30-3:15 pm Stop the Ticking Clock with Julia Dahl, Matthew FitzSimmons, and Yasmin Angoe
3:30-4:15 pm Leave it to the Pros with Alverne Ball, Sarah Stewart Taylor and Joanna Schaffhausen
4:30-5:00 pm Closing with Dana Kaye, Tracy Clark and Lori Rader-Day
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