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WPN, March 2024
The Changes Are Coming Issue
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From Sandra Murphy, Editor
Changes are coming to WPN. Do you have suggestions to make the website easier to use, the newsletter more varied, or is there a topic you’d like to learn more about? Have you listened to the podcasts? Do you want to write for the newsletter? Generally articles are 1,000 words in length, and the topic must be about writing, selling your work, when to work for free, or the best way for you to be published.
Let us know; there’s never been a better time.
Sandy, Editor, editor@writersandpublishersnetwork.com
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Ask the Book Doctor: About Tight Writing and Voice by Bobbie Christmas
Q: There is someone in my current critique circle who keeps saying, “Write tight.” Is he just being incredibly critical, or is he just trying to say something I should know?
A: “Write tight” is one of the basic tenets of creative writing. In truth it should be “Edit tight.” We need to write first, in any way that comes to mind. After we complete the first draft, though, we need to go back through the manuscript and examine every word to see if it is vital to the sentence, paragraph, or plot. We can then delete almost every superfluous, redundant, or unnecessary word, sentence, paragraph, or chapter. As an example, I could edit your initial question to read like this: Someone in my critique circle keeps saying, “Write tight.” Is he being critical, or is he saying something I should know? Recasting reduced thirty words to twenty-one without any loss in meaning.
Learn More... ______
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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The Publishers Perspective on BISAC Codes by Jay Hartman
Thanks for coming in. Feel free to lie down on the couch over there. Comfortable? Great. You’re in a safe space here. You can always speak freely and say exactly what’s on your mind. Okay? Terrific. Let’s start off with an easy question.
Who are you?
That’s not intended to be a loaded question, but I can practically hear your panic over on my side of the room. It’s obvious you’re somebody different to each person you interact with. Maybe you’re a spouse. Maybe you’re a parent. Maybe you’re an author. Maybe you’re a serial killer who leaves bodies in shallow graves in the Mojave Desert.
Read More...
______
Looking to get The Publisher Perspective? Send your questions to jhartman@mistimedia.com with TPP in your subject line.
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Have a hard time promoting your books? Here’s a good excuse to do it.
Here are some upcoming literary holidays to add to your calendar.
March 2: National Read Across America Day #NationalReadAcrossAmericaDay #NationalReadAcrossAmericaDay2024
March 4: National Grammar Day #NationalGrammarDay
March 14:
National Write Your Story Day #NationalWriteYourStoryDay
March 19:
International Read To Me Day #InternationalReadToMeDay
March 20:
Bibliomania Day (marks anniversary of Stephen Blumberg’s grand heist of 26,000 books) #BibliomaniaDay
March 20: World Storytelling Day #WorldStorytellingDay #WorldStorytellingDay2024
March 21: World Poetry Day #WorldPoetryDay #WorldPoetryDay2024
Courtesy of Digital Hygge.
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Book marketing overwhelm: How to avoid being crushed by Sandra Beckwith January 31, 2024 Reprinted with permission
It's easy to see why so many authors suffer from book marketing overwhelm. There's so much to do! Here's how to avoid it and still succeed.
Raise your hand if you really want to stop thinking about book marketing and just write your next book.
I don’t even have to see you to know lots of hands are in the air.
You could be suffering from the heartbreak of psoriasis book marketing overwhelm.
You’ve learned that it’s not enough to just write a book. If you want people to read it, you have to tell them about it.
Learn More...
And getting your book title in front of the right people takes time, knowledge, and effort.
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Subscribe to the free Build Book Buzz newsletter and get the free special report, “Top 5 Free Book Promotion Resources,” immediately!
Sandra Beckwith teaches authors how to market, promote, and publicize their books. She offers training programs and other resources that take the mystery out of key book marketing tactics and works one-on-one with authors so they get over, under, or around book marketing and sales roadblocks or obstacles. Rather than offering book marketing services, she helps authors discover how to do it themselves. https://buildbookbuzz.com/
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Amazon Advantage vs Amazon Seller Central: Sell Your Own Print Books
by Jason Hamilton, reprinted with permission
So let's assume that you have printed multiple copies of your book and have them stacked in your house, maybe from a boutique printer, or they were shipped to your house some other way.
If this is the case, how can you have these books sold on Amazon?
Here’s how: http://tinyurl.com/3y59pv9y
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PW Close-Up: James Patterson's “The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians”
“The book takes us inside the lives, and livelihoods, of the everyday heroes surrounding us in the literary trenches: booksellers and librarians.” http://tinyurl.com/mr4cyyue
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New and forthcoming books by Indigenous authors, from both here in the U.S. and in postcolonial countries.
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7 Indigenous Bookstagrammers and Booktokkers to Follow
What started as a fun project turned into more than 18,000 Instagram followers, well-attended in-person workshops and readings, sold-out merchandise in bedazzled pops of pink, and ongoing donations to fund more than 500 free book care packages sent out to Indigenous youth in 2023.
http://tinyurl.com/4fs47kpz
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Indigenous Children’s Book Authors Band Together
http://tinyurl.com/mr3c5m8k
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Glasgow Worldcon Chair Vows Transparency Following Chengdu Hugos Censorship
Esther MacCallum-Stewart, chair of Glasgow Worldcon 2024, has enacted concrete steps "to ensure transparency and to attempt to redress the grievous loss of trust in the administration of the Awards." She also announced the resignation of Hugos administrator Kat Jones, who participated in "eligibility research" during Chengdu Worldcon. http://tinyurl.com/5fp9k5p9
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Abrams Announces New Kids Graphic Novel Imprint
Abrams Childrens Group launches a graphic novel imprint for young readers, called Abrams Fanfare, which will include graphic novels for early, middle-grade, and YA readers. Look for it this fall.
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Author J.D Barker Apologizes, Dropped by Agent After 'Creepy' BookTok Request
A campaign went out to BookTok influencers asking them to promote an author’s racy book and suggested their promotions should be racy as well. The author says it was sent out by mistake (yes!) and without his approval (?) and he’s apologized. Influencers were to be paid to promote pre-orders based on how many followers they had. The author was dropped by his agent after complaints surfaced about the campaign. No word from the publisher if the book will still go ahead in May, but Barker’s website says it’s soon to become a major motion picture. There are links where readers can preorder the hardcover or audio version. http://tinyurl.com/wmv3am8f
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Bits and Pieces – News You Might Have Missed |
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Resignations, Censures Follow in Wake of Hugo Awards Controversy
Two leaders of the World Science Fiction Society reportedly stepped down from their posts after accusations of censorship in the voting process for the 2023 Hugo Awards.
http://tinyurl.com/2vyww438
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In case you missed it the first time… |
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From Writer Beware: New Terms of Use at Findaway Voices Forces Change, i.e. AI training
http://tinyurl.com/4svatvrr
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Court Trims Authors’ Copyright Lawsuit Against Open AI
Four of six claims made by authors in a now consolidated lawsuit alleging that Open AI infringes their copyrights were dismissed, although authors have a month to amend the complaint.
http://tinyurl.com/yhf82x45
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Amazon Turns $2.7 Billion Loss in 2022 to a Profit of $30 Billion in 2023
Amazon eliminated approximately 27,000 jobs last year, reorganized fulfillment, and are testing Rufus, a user-friendly, conversational shopping assistant—that is AI. It’s not clear how Rufus will help authors sell books. Rufus is in beta testing, but will be available soon.
http://tinyurl.com/27j3652z
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Ready for a new computer? Recycle the old one!
Recycling one million laptops saves enough energy to power 3,500 U.S. homes for an entire year, according to the EPA. There are also precious metals inside the computer, and they should be reused to save resources. The article, first written in 2016, has been updated in 2024 with tips on where to go, how to remove your information, and more. Save your work, save the planet.
http://tinyurl.com/36sx3kun
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Opportunities
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102 Traditional poetry manuscript presses that do not charge reading fees
https://authorspublish.com/102-traditional-poetry-manuscript-presses-who-do-not-charge-reading-fees/
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Backbone Press Annual Poetry Chapbook Competition
https://backbonepress.org/how-to-submit/
$20 entry fee. Deadline March 31, 2024. Chapbook-length manuscripts are 20-40 pages. A $250 prize, (20) author copies for personal use and distribution, a $250 travel stipend for a reading, and a 45-minute free book publicity consultation with Gold Leaf Literary.
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Carefree
https://carefreemag.com/submissions/
Carefree is looking for pitches that speak firsthand to the Black woman’s experience. Various columns in their newsletter open for pitches. Pays $100.
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March
The Women In Publishing Summit
When? March 6-9, 2024
Where? Virtual
Open to authors, aspiring authors, and publishing professionals alike across a variety of genres.
About: The biggest 4-day online conference for women and those who identify as women in publishing. Our conference helps aspiring and published authors grow their craft and publishing professionals expand their network and skills.
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Murderous March 2024
March 8 @ 1:00 p.m.-March 9 @ 6:30 p.m.
All Virtual Event
Guest of Honor:
Edgar Award-Winning and Best-Selling Author Naomi Hirahara
https://upperhudsonsinc.com/event/murderous-march-2024/
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New Orleans Book Festival, New Orleans, Louisiana March 14–16
March 16th at FAU Campus in Boca Raton, Florida.
Honoree Joyce Carol Oates. Authors Guild members are FREE at tickets fauevents.com with the code word: LIBRARIAN, but you'll need to purchase lunch if you're staying the entire day. Lunch options on the ticket page. Event runs 11-4. Book signings and photo ops.
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Thursday, Apr 18, 2024, 7:00 a.m. Saturday, Apr 20, 2024, 11:55 p.m. (CST)
Three-day hybrid writing conference hosted by Chicago-North Romance Writers featuring
Pre-conference half-day masterclass taught by Lani Diane Rich (additional fee, may attend virtually only without attending conference)
Headliners Beverly Jenkins and Kate Clayborn online for virtual only or in-person at the Renaissance Chicago O'Hare Hotel, where the room rate is $149/night plus taxes. In-person attendees will have access to the virtual platform, too. Access to all the workshops and recordings will extend sixty days post-conference. https://chicagospringfling.com/
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April 20-21 LA Times Festival of Books, USC, Los Angeles, California WPN has a large booth!
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Pikes Peak Writers Conference
April 25-28, 2024 Colorado Springs, Colorado
How much? $474
Who typically attends? Authors, agents, editors, publishers, indie professionals.
About: A 3-day fiction-writing conference for writers of all levels, indie and traditionally published, featuring craft and business workshops, acquiring editors/agents, and well-known authors across a variety of genres.
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Inkers Con
June 7-9, 2024
Dallas, Texas, but online access to the event will be released on July 20, 2024.
How much? $649.
Who typically attends? Any and all indie authors are welcome! If you’re published, aspiring, or advanced there’s a place for you at Inkers Con.
About: workshops and panels in writing, marketing, and business practices.
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Moonlight & Magnolias for Romance Writers
October 3-5, 2024
Atlanta, Georgia
How much? $295-$420
Who typically attends? Romance Writers
About: Crowne Plaza Atlanta, NE Norcross, October 3-5, 2024. This year’s theme, “Soar into 2024,” invites writers to Strategize, Optimize, Adjust, and Rise in their writing careers.
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SelfPubCon (Alliance of Independent Authors)
October 21-22, 2024
Virtual Only
How much? The event is free and open to everyone on the day of the conference and for 48 hours afterward. However, you can purchase an all-access pass to the entire conference archive for $199 (six-month pass) or $499 (lifetime pass).
Who typically attends? Indie writers from all around the world.
About: #SelfPubCon offers 24 sessions over 24 hours of excellent self-publishing webinars and presentations. Watch the conference unfold live from wherever you are in the world. Presentations, interviews, panel sessions, debates, and more.
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