Does Your Author Bio Need a Check up?

I usually update my bio on my website and social media sites when I have a new book or when something chagnes. It’s a good idea to check these every so often to make sure your information is current — especially on sites that you don’t visit every day.

1. I keep a list of links to all my social media sites to make sure that I check on all of them when there is a change.

2. If your author photo current? Do you look like your picture? You don’t want to surprise people when you meet them in person.

3. Make sure that all your links work correctly. I have an RSS feed on my Amazon author page that stopped working. I had to correct it, so that my feed appeared correctly without an error message.

4. Is your publication list current? If you link your books to your sites, make sure that everything appears correctly.

5. Does your biography need to be refreshed? Did you add publications, skills, or group memberships? It’s a good idea to have a short, medium, and long bio on your website and press kit.

6. You want the “look and feel” to be similar across your social media platforms, so people recognize you. My original website was black and red to match the cover of the first two anthologies I was in. A publicist recommended that I lighten the colors since I don’t write thrillers or horror. My mysteries are light, funny, and often cozy.

7. If you have pinned posts or tweets, make sure they are current and still relevant.

8. If you have an events list, make sure the content is up to date. People who see 2017 events on your site, know that you don’t update your content very often.

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Mary Dutta

I’d like to welcome author, Mary Dutta, to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

A few of your favorite things: Dark chocolate, Victorian novels, New York City

Things you need to throw out: All the organizers, bullet journals, color-coded pens, and calendars that I keep thinking will change my writing process and don’t.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Yellow legal pads

Things that hamper your writing: Internet access

Things you love about writing: Endless possibilities

Things you hate about writing: Plots that resist revealing themselves

Hardest thing about being a writer: Rejections
Easiest thing about being a writer: Jumping into a new story

Favorite foods: Anything pork, anything chocolate

Things that make you want to gag:  Stinky tofu

Favorite beverage:  Gin & tonic
Something that gives you a sour face: Kombucha

Something you’re really good at: Baking
Something you’re really bad at: Skiing

Last best thing you ate: Pepper & egg grinder
Last thing you regret eating: Octopus. I keep trying it and never like it.

Things you always put in your books: Humor
Things you never put in your books: Graphic violence

Things to say to an author: I loved your book!
Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I could write a great book if I just took the time.

Favorite places you’ve been: Petra, the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, the Bronte parsonage
Places you never want to go to again: Any gas station in New Jersey, where you’re not allowed to pump your own gas.

Favorite books (or genre): Wuthering Heights, Mysteries
Books you wouldn’t buy: Sci Fi

About Mary:

Mary Dutta traded New England and a career as an English professor for a new life as a college admissions reader in the South. Her short story "Festival Finale” appears in The Best Laid Plans: 21 Stories of Mystery & Suspense.

Great Advice That I've Learned from Other Authors on My Writing Journey

I am extremely grateful for all the authors who have shared their ideas, advice, and successes with me through the years. It is so helpful as you begin or move along your writing journey. Here are some key items that I’ve learned.

When I’m working on a new novel, I plot out a simple outline. I learned from Donna Andrews to color-code the different kinds of action in your outline, so you can see it over the course of the book. For example, I mark all romantic elements with pink, humorous items are orange, clues are green, etc.

I learned from Mary Burton to keep a running list of over-used words. Add to it as you write, and then at the end of each revision cycle, search your document and remove the culprits. She also calls your first draft the “sloppy copy.” This isn’t “the end” of your project. It’s the beginning of the revision cycle.

I learned from the late Kathy Mix to keep a list of character names for each book. Her rule was to name each character with a different letter of the alphabet. If she already had a Krissy, then she couldn’t have another character whose first name started with a “K.” I build a chart of characters for my books in a series. I create a column for each book and update where the characters appear. I also create a list of key locations. I enter all the important facts, so I can keep track of the details.

Mary Miley gave me some great advice about honing dialogue. She recommends cutting out the unnecessary pleasantries and chitchat that don’t move your story forward.

Elaine Viets said to know your genre and who is publishing in it. Do your research and know the conventions.

Lynda Bishop, my long-term editor, recommends that authors keep a timeline for each book to make sure all events are in order and make sense. This helps with pacing.

In one of her talks, Tina Glasneck told the group to create a calendar for each book launch. Mine starts three months before the launch and runs three months after. Plan all events, interviews, blogs, and media campaigns.

Jane Friedman tells writers that their platform grows from their body of work. An author’s website and blog should be at the center of this. Also, the website and blog should be on the same site.

Frances Aylor and Alan Orloff gave me the best advice for writing. Butt glue (Frances) or BICFOK (Alan). They’re essentially the same. If you want to be a writer, put your Butt in the Chair and Fingers on the Keyboard.

What would you add to my list?

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Samantha McGraw

I’d like to welcome author and blogger, Samantha McGraw, to the blog!

A few of your favorite things: Almost any kind of tea (I love to try new ones!), Chocolate (Everyday!!), Cats (Strays know I’m a cat lover and always find their way to my doorstep.)

Things you need to throw out: Many people would say I have too many notebooks, colored pens, and books, but I say those people are crazy! My closet could use a good decluttering though.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Good lighting, quiet, a cup of tea, and a few Hershey’s Kisses.

Things that hamper your writing: A cluttered desk or a long to-do list that’s cluttering my mind.

Things you never want to run out of: Chocolate and Tea.

Things you wish you’d never bought: I seem to have an addiction to various kitchen gadgets that have only been used once, or never been used at all.

Favorite foods: Did I mention that I like chocolate? Any kind of cheese would be at the top of this list too. And if you’re a chocolate and cheese lover too – try a grilled cheese with brie and Nutella. You’ll thank me later.

Things that make you want to gag: I never liked fish. The taste and the smell are not appealing to me.

Favorite smell: I love citrus smells and fruity flowers. Honeysuckle is one of my favorite scents, it reminds me of my childhood at my grandparent’s house. I have a honeysuckle candle on my desk that I often light when I’m writing.
Something that makes you hold your nose: Bleach. I suffer from migraines from time-to-time and this smell is a trigger so I avoid using bleach whenever possible.

Something you’re really good at: Baking. I love trying new recipes and experimenting with new ideas.
Something you’re really bad at: Crafty DIY projects. I’m one of those Pinterest-fail people!

Last best thing you ate: While I’m sure I’ve had something marvelous since, this question takes my memory back to a few months ago on a girl’s trip to Wilmington, NC. We were blessed with discovering some of the best restaurants in town. Fabulous grilled cheese sandwiches, tapas, crepes, and homemade breads. It’s a good thing I don’t eat like that too often!
Last thing you regret eating: My husband offered me a bite of his dish when we were at a Chinese restaurant. I asked if it was spicy and he assured me it wasn’t. He lied!

 Things to say to an author: Your story is a fabulous escape for me! I loved taking a trip into the world you created.
Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Your work reminds me of ______’s work, but their stories are a little better.

 Favorite places you’ve been: Wilmington, NC, San Antonio, TX, Napa Valley, CA New York City
Places you never want to go to again: The Jersey Shore. It’s a lovely place to visit, but there are A LOT of bridges to cross in order to get there. Bridges are not my thing!

Favorite books (or genre): Mysteries, of course, and Thrillers, but those are also kind of mysterious. I occasionally enjoy Women’s Fiction too.
Books you wouldn’t buy: I’m not a big fan of history or autobiographies unless it’s someone I really admire.

The coolest person you’ve ever met: Hmm, there are a few. The coolest writers I’ve met are Sue Grafton and David Baldacci. I’m a big fan of both so that was pretty awesome. In a previous life, I was an event planner in Washington, D.C. and planned events that were attended by President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore. I also planned a holiday party for Adrian Cronauer (of the Good Morning, Vietnam fame).

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: I once met Steve Guttenberg and Quincy Jones at an inauguration party and didn’t recognize either one.

About Samantha:

Samantha McGraw has a love of mysteries and afternoon tea. Her short story, “Deadly Devonshire,” can be found in the Deadly Southern Charm Anthology. She lives in Richmond with her husband and very spoiled fur baby.  

Freelance Writer

Blogger on the award-winning Tea Cottage Mysteries

Contributing Author to Deadly Southern Charm

Contributor at Huffington Post

Let’s Be Social:

Blog: http://www.teacottagemysteries.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/teacottagemysteries 

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/teacottagemysteries

Receiving Feedback on Your Work

Last week, I blogged about giving feedback to other writers. Today’s post is about receiving feedback and the myriad of emotions that pop up. It’s tough. You’ve worked really hard on your manuscript, and now someone is telling you there are problems or that they don’t like something.

1. You have to develop thick skin if you’re going to be an author. You will always have critiques, criticisms, reviews, and comments. It’s hard, but you need to be realistic (and not emotional) if you want to improve your writing. The GOALS are to get published and to sell books. To do that, you need to hone your craft.

2. When I come back from critique group or get editorial feedback on my work, I try to wait a day before making changes. That usually gives me time to get over whatever emotions spun up from my first reaction to the comments. Scream, holler, run a mile, eat chocolate, dance in the kitchen, practice boxing, or do whatever helps you get centered. Allow yourself a little bit of time for your pity party. Then, pull up your big-girl pants and get on with your writing career. You can be sad or angry for a bit, but don’t wallow in it. If you want to be published, you have work to do.

3. After I’ve given myself some time, I look at the comments and changes. Sometimes, they’re not as bad as first perceived. A lot of boo boos are easily fixed. I go through the document and decide what changes I need to make.

4. When reading feedback from critique group members or beta readers, I look at each comment. If one person didn’t like or get something, it may be an outlier. If the majority of the group had the same comment, I need to look at it.

5. You don’t have to accept every change that’s suggested. At the end of the day, you’re the writer, and it’s your story. You can often negotiate with editors and agents if you feel strongly about something that they’ve asked you to change, but be professional and leave emotions out of it when you approach them. And here’s the BUT — and it’s a big one… If the editor doesn’t budge, you may have to make a decision. Is the change worth fighting for?

   I have been in several anthology projects where a new writer decided that he/she did not want the story edited AT ALL. The coordinator talked to them and explained the editing process that the group decided on was for a quality book (in this case, it was a three-level editing process). The publisher insisted that all stories would be edited. Two of the authors stood firm, and their stories were removed from the book. Decide what you can live with. Professional feedback is to make your work stronger and more marketable.

6. Everyone has ideas and opinions. And everyone will tell you about what they like and don’t like to your face and on social media. Don’t get in a confrontation or a social media war. Even if you delete posts and comments, they’re still out there somewhere in Internetland. It looks defensive and unprofessional when you start a shouting match. It is so easy to bang out a heated response to something, but don’t. It never helps, and it could damage your brand.

   Getting feedback, especially early in your career is tough. If you want to be published, you have to be tenacious and always looking for ways to improve. Criticisms and critiques are a big part of this.

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Kristin Kisska

I’d like to welcome author, Kristin Kisska, to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

A few of your favorite things: I am a beach girl at heart. I love cats, bookstores, coffee, spring flowers, and Chanel No. 19 perfume.

Things you need to throw out: My college textbooks. Someday I’ll get around to organizing my attic.  Maybe in a decade or two.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Complete quiet. No music. Oh, and I need coffee, too.

Things that hamper your writing: Humans breathing near my writer’s cave. I also have a pesky habit of checking Twitter when my creative wave runs dry.

Things you love about writing: Riding a wave of creativity. Every once in a while, one of my characters will do or say something I hadn’t plotted, and it’ll change the course of my story.  I love being surprised, even if it means I have more work to do!

Things you hate about writing: Every time I type the words “The End.” It’s a tease. I can celebrate for completing the first draft, but the next step in the process is to revise the story again. And again. And again.

 Hardest thing about being a writer: Staring at a blank page wondering how to start a story. That first sentence pulls a lot of weight and can be crazy-intimidating. Also, I harbor an inner fear that someday I’ll run out of story ideas, so I keep a running list of random concepts as they pop into my head.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Spending time in a fictional world that I’ve created, with characters I love. The feeling doesn’t get old!

 Things you never want to run out of: Highlighters in all colors. I’m a huge fan of the “rainbow editing” technique, so I use them to help me revise my stories. Unfortunately, they tend to run dry faster than I like, so I stock up whenever I see them on sale. Back to school shopping season is a good thing!

Things you wish you’d never bought: Pens. I placed a large order of purple-ink pens to hand out at my book signing events. The first batch I received had black ink. I contacted the manufacturer and offered to return them in exchange for the correct color, but they told me to keep the bad order and sent me the new ones. Now I have hundreds and hundreds of pens.

Favorite music or song: I’m a big 90s music fan, so I’m waiting for the 80s craze to fade out. One of my favorite songs from the era is “Hey Jealousy” by the Gin Blossoms.

Music that drives you crazy: Rap music.

 Favorite beverage: Coffee (I take mine with cream, no sugar)
Something that gives you a sour face: Sweet tea.  I enjoy iced tea, but if it’s sweet, I go running the other direction. By admitting this publicly, I risk getting evicted from Virginia. 

 Things to say to an author: “I loved your story, especially the twist at the end.”
Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: “When is the action going to start?”

 Favorite places you’ve been: Savannah, Georgia. Destin, Florida. Prague, Czech Republic. Venice, Italy. Exuma, Bahamas. Sydney, Australia. Bali, Indonesia. (in no particular order)
Places you never want to go to again: Charleston, West Virginia.

 Favorite books (or genre): I love domestic suspense, especially if it’s Southern fiction. Right now, I’m reading WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING. I also love anything written by Mary Kubica.
Books you wouldn’t buy: Science fiction. While I enjoy watching it in the movies, reading it doesn’t interest me.

 Most daring thing you’ve ever done: In my 20s, I bought a one-way ticket to Prague. I didn’t speak the language, and my parents tried to talk me out of going, but I found a job and an apartment and lived there for three years.

Something you chickened out from doing: Sky diving. Never will I ever.

About Kristin:

Kristin Kisska used to be a finance geek, complete with MBA and Wall Street pedigree, but now she is a self-proclaimed fictionista. Kristin contributed short stories of mystery and suspense to seven anthologies, including DEADLY SOUTHERN CHARM (2019). She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Vice President of Sisters in Crime-Central Virginia, and James River Writers. When not writing, she can be found on her website~ KristinKisska.com, on Facebook at KristinKisskaAuthor, and Tweeting @KKMHOO. Kristin lives in Virginia with her husband and three children.

Let’s Be Social:

Website - www.KristinKisska.com

Twitter -  @KKMHOO    

Facebook -  KristinKisskaAuthor

Critiquing Others' Work

I’ve been a manager, a college instructor, and an editor at my day gigs for a lot of years, and feedback seems to be an hourly thing in those worlds. There’s an art and a science to reviewing and critiquing another writer’s work.

Here’s what I’ve learned.

1. Their manuscript is their baby. They have spent hours, days, weeks, and years on this, and no one wants to hear you call their baby ugly. Feedback often triggers emotional responses. I try to do the “sandwich” method. Mention something positive or something you like. Then discuss the problem areas, and then sandwich it in with another something positive.

2. I try to add comments throughout the work when I think word choice is good, when something is funny, or when there’s good tension. This way not all the red marks are of the “you did this wrong” variety.

3. If it’s a spelling or grammatical error, I mark it. If it’s a subjective thing, I try to state how it made me feel or what I interpreted. That way, it’s one reader’s opinion, and not a pronouncement on the person’s abilities or character. It’s the reader’s opinion of the work.

4. At work, I use different colored pens if I’m editing on paper. Nobody likes getting a document back that looks like a bloodbath of red ink. Sometimes, that can’t be helped with electronic editing. One of my critique group members uses the highlighter feature in Word instead of track changes. She picks colors for different things like yellow is a problem, pink is something funny, and blue is something she really likes. That way, my page looks like a rainbow instead of thousands of little comments in the right margin.

5. As an author, if you want all warm and fuzzy comments, let a family member read your work. That is always good for the ego, but you need to build a network of other writers and super readers who know your genre and who will be brutally honest. They can find plotholes, story issues, and redundancies. They will tell you when it’s boring or when you’ve gone down a rabbit hole. I appreciate it when my critique partners and beta readers point out things.

6. I try not to give feedback when I’m tired or stressed out. I don’t want my mood to jade my comments.

7. If someone has a reoccurring problem, I’ll make a note the first time. Then I will highlight it if I see it again (and again and again). Examples of this are misspellings and overused words.

8. When I finish a critique of someone’s work, I always send a note along with my notes and suggested changes. (At critique group, we do this face to face.) I do a little summary of what I like, what works for the story, and the highlights.

9. Your time is valuable, and you should be writing your next book. I always like to help authors where and when I can. But time is limited. Occasionally, I have to say no or not right now because of other commitments. Sometimes, there’s a compromise like critiquing a few chapters or the first fifty pages.

10. And what do you do if you read something that you think is just terrible? I have stopped reading before. And I tell them why. Usually, it’s because they’re not sure what their story is … it’s a romantic science fiction piece set in the American West with aliens and a touch of dystopia, vampires, and time travel with cats, suspense, and a main character with amnesia. I prefer to read mysteries and thrillers. I tell people up front that I don’t know other genres as well, and I probably wouldn’t be able to give them the critique they need on the conventions of their genre. And other times it’s because the work really isn’t ready. My friend, Mary Burton, calls your first draft the sloppy copy. That’s the one you need to work on and polish before you get to the editing and critiquing stages.

Social Media and Book Promo No Nos

We all want to promote our work and events, and social media offers us lots of opportunities. Here are some things you should avoid.

1. Don’t be a leech. If another writer is promoting her work, having an event, or doing a cover reveal, don’t hijack the comments to promote your stuff. I am a part of several anthologies, and we’ve had people tag on to our promotions with comments like, “Hey, if you like this, you’ll love my book at this link.” That’s a quick way to offend others and get your comment deleted.

2. Automatic messages are annoying when you get so many of them. I’m not sure that unsolicited ones are effective. These are canned and impersonal. Be social. Chat and share posts. Don’t depend on an automated email to build your audience or sell books.

3. Be creative with your social media posts. Show interesting things and your sense of humor. All of your posts shouldn’t be “buy my book” or “like my page.” If you have hobbies, pets, or visit cool places, incorporate those into your posts.

4. Don’t spend all of your time on your sites marketing your stuff. These platforms are for social interaction. You need to like, comment, and share others’ posts.

5. We all need beta readers, forewords, reviews, and blurbs. Make sure you have a relationship with other authors before you make requests. You need a peer group that you can seek help from. I’ve had complete strangers from other genres ask for a review or a blurb and then put demands on it. Be polite. You’re asking a favor. Ask for help and make it easy if you want something from somebody. (When they agree, I always send a synopsis and short bio to help them with titles and character names.) Also, give them as much lead time as possible. Everybody has his/her own deadlines.

6. Authors and bloggers are busy. Don’t ask people out of the blue to read your 200,000 word manuscript unless they extend the offer to you. I love to help other authors, but I have to guard my writing/editing time, too. I joined a critique group and have beta reader partners. We all agree to read and provide feedback on each others’ work. They also understand my genre, so they know the conventions. Find a critique group or partner to exchange manuscripts. Many times, you can participate in writing workshops that include feedback sessions.

7. if you’re looking for reviews and you’re targeting book bloggers, read their reviews and look at their site. Make sure your book fits the site. Many post genres that they are interested in and their requirements. Some put out calls and other don’t accept unsolicited requests. Follow instructions. You’ll have more success.

8. Use book events, workshops, and conferences as opportunities to network. If you take pictures or do a post, make sure to tag that person. Also, later if you do want to contact them for some reason, you have a relationship.

What would you add to my list? What are some of your social media pet peeves?