http://stimulating-conversation.com/ Keep up to date with the latest blog posts from Stimulating-Conversation! en http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2010/03/04/value-critique-groups/ By Judith Marshall When I’d finished the first draft of my novel, Husbands May Come and Go But Friends are Forever, I knew I needed feedback.  I also knew it was too early to hire a professional editor; so instead, I joined the California Writers Club in search for a critique group.  As luck would have it, at the first meeting a woman stood up and announced the formation of such a group.  I immediately raised my hand.  Over the next five years, three other women writers and myself met every two weeks to critique each other’s work.  As a result of this collaboration, my novel was published in September of 2009 and has received seventeen 5-star reviews on Amazon so far. Here are the elements that made our group successful: Compatibility – It’s important that members of the group have the same goal.  In our case, that goal was to be published.  Commitment – At our first meeting ... Thu ,04 Mar 2010 12:22:51 -0600 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2010/02/26/promote-your-book-top-ny-times-best-sellers-list/ By Eric Gruber Although, Mark Hyman, M.D, the New York Times Best Selling author, and practicing physician, had a strong, multi-faceted marketing and sales plan in place, the addition of an article marketing strategy helped him in his successful quest to push his book, UltraMetabolism – The Simple Plan For Automatic Weight Loss to the #2 spot of the NY Times Best Seller List. Dr. Hyman’s article marketing campaign was only one piece of the puzzle, but an important piece that helped him establish key relationships with website publishers that will result in increased, targeted traffic and stronger sales for many months and years to come. By including a targeted article marketing program into your marketing and sales plan, you too could achieve book-marketing success. Doing this effectively requires planning and perfect execution from beginning to end: Step 1: Create An Article That Grabs Readers Interest One of the most important parts of the article is the title. Remember ... Fri ,26 Feb 2010 12:04:27 -0600 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2010/02/19/pineapple-chutney-following-marketing-food/ By Alice J. Wisler When my novel, Rain Song, made its debut, I was eager to promote it with the typical book signings at local stores. I arranged three events and enjoyed each one; people came and bought books. However, I wanted more, something unique, something to stand out. As one friend said, with a wry smile, "You want a following." I grimaced; that sounded lofty. Rain Song is set in Mount Olive, NC and has quirky southern relatives who believe in tradition and unity. They don Mount Olive Pickle Company aprons and make pineapple chutney while discussing the next family reunion. I wanted my novel to expand off the pages and generate some fun in the lives of others today. So, after the book signings, I hosted a Holiday Reunion Open House Event. I sent out printed invitations to neighbors, those in my writers group, friends, church folk, and relatives. I announced the event on social networking sites. I ... Fri ,19 Feb 2010 10:22:55 -0600 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2010/02/11/thursdays-guest-thoughts-charles-salzberg/ by Charles Salzberg                When I finished writing my novel, Swann’s Last Song, I thought the hard work was behind me.  I should have known better.  In fact, it was just beginning.               I wrote Swann’s Last Song, which is what I like to describe as a quirky, literary detective novel, almost twenty-five years ago.  At the time, I was making a living as a magazine writer here in New York City.  Always a novelist at heart, I had reluctantly made the leap into journalism, selling my first few articles to some major publications.  But writing was writing and, as it turned out, being forced to write to length, having the opportunity to interview all kinds of people and research a variety of subjects, only stoked the creative juices.  In fact, the idea for my protagonist, Henry Swann, came from an interview I did with a skip tracer.               But Swann was a different kind of detective novel, because he follows ... Thu ,11 Feb 2010 12:29:05 -0600 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2010/02/10/some-notes-writeon-roundtable-blogtalkradio/ To Lisa Graziano from Leapfrog Press and Peggy Keefe from BookPros, thank you for participating in our show! You had such wonderful things to say, and we love you for it! To those who tuned in, thanks! We took some notes while the ladies chatted, and wanted to give you a brief overview of the helpful tips they gave writers: It is important that the story you are telling be a good one, but it is also important that it has marketability. Publishers want to know that their authors will go out and market their books and garner attention for it. Publicity training is invaluable. It helps authors prepare their book pitch, as well as allows them to practice interviewing techniques. Authors should have a marketing plan. Online media is becoming vital to authors and their marketing campaigns. Bloggers help spread the word. Author facebook pages make them more accessible to their readers. Getting mentioned on twitter allows for more ... Wed ,10 Feb 2010 15:31:21 -0600 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2010/02/04/thursdays-guest-thought-paul-west/ WHY DO I EVEN BOTHER?  By Paul West So after years of planning, writing, fretting, emailing, scrounging for extra money, event planning and brainstorming, I finally did it—I self-published my novel, my baby so to speak, First Cause. On one hand, I can’t believe I really pulled it off; I wrote a NOVEL, a full length novel, almost a hundred thousand words, with characters and dialogue and a beginning and ending and some ‘action’ and relationships and scenery and all that good stuff. On the other hand, sometimes I wonder why I bothered in the first place; there are SO many books written in any given stretch of time, so many of them good, so many of them bad, and if you spend much time at bookstores or chatting with ‘creative’ people (don’t get me started on whatever the heck that means), you might realize that the quality, passion, integrity or even marketability of a work doesn ... Thu ,04 Feb 2010 15:06:42 -0600 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2010/01/28/thursdays-guest-thought-with-susan-daffron/ Thoughts on the new iPad, and how it could impact the future of publishing. By Susan Daffron Yesterday, amidst great fanfare, Steve Jobs released the iPad. You might think that as an author, avid reader, and book publisher, I'd be wildly excited about this new gadget. Do I view the iPad as the "future" of publishing? No. Like many techie devices, it has been saddled with an utterly stupid name. Yo Steve, what were you thinking? The feminine protection jokes made at least 79 circuits around the Internet mere hours after the announcement. Beyond the name, I find I have a problem with hoopla-laden technology launches. It feels like déjà vu all over again. Unlike a lot of people in book publishing, I actually come from a computer-related  background. I was a technical writer, wrote computer books, beta tested buggy software, and witnessed a lot of the less savory aspects of high-tech. The music industry already has gone ... Thu ,28 Jan 2010 11:08:46 -0600 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2009/12/03/thursdays-guest-thought-debra-leigh-scott/ The New World of the Independent Authorby Debra Leigh Scott The publishing world has been changing so quickly that even professionals with decades of experience are scratching their heads about where things are going.  One thing is for sure, the old model of publishing is dying, if not already dead, and new models are becoming more and more important to those of us trying to continue our lives as writers.   For many years, the independent artist in music, theatre and film has been applauded and heralded as visionary, brave, innovative.  The independent writer, however, struggled under the stigma of phrases like “vanity publishing” and felt paralyzed by the condescending attitudes towards the independent model in the literary world.  That has finally changed, and there are many respected options now, both for small and independent presses and for the independent author him or herself. One of the most popular is the Publish On Demand (P.O.D.) model, which has changed ... Thu ,03 Dec 2009 10:39:05 -0600 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2009/11/18/thursdays-guest-thoughts-robin-cain/ The Business of Writing                                                        by Robin Cain    I am a writer. That doesn’t necessarily mean I am any good at it or that I am successful. It simply means I spend hours and hours a day converting taps on my computer keys into words I hope someone else will enjoy reading.I willingly choose to spend my days creating imaginary characters and injecting them into the veins of scenes of my own creation. Some are based on experience. Others are based on either divine inspiration, research or a combination of the two. It’s an imaginary world I inhabit day after day and it’s not one many others who don’t participate in the craft can even begin to understand.  I’m okay with that.To be a writer is to have a thick skin and an abiding belief that someone out there (hopefully lots of someones) will enjoy reading what I write. To own the words a ... Wed ,18 Nov 2009 15:19:09 -0600 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2009/11/12/thursdays-guest-thoughts-betty-dobson/ “Never give up. Get the knack of getting people to help you and also pitch in yourself.” ~~Ruth Gordon The Passion of the Choice by Betty Dobson   When I was a little girl, my mother would limit the number of activities I could try and groups I could join…mostly because each one cost money and my five siblings each needed a shot at an extracurricular pastime. My problem was that I had many interests but little talent. Figure skating and gymnastics brought me nothing but bruises. And the Girl Guides were just too squeaky clean for someone with my developing sense of sarcasm.  As an adult, I’ve done my best to overcome those childhood restrictions and experiment with a variety of career options. I excelled in the secretarial arts and demonstrated an early aptitude for data processing. My reward? A data entry job that produced muscle spasms in my right arm within the first year. With the passing ... Thu ,12 Nov 2009 14:25:43 -0600 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2009/10/29/thursdays-guest-thoughts-darren-michaels/ Darren Michaels Flipside Erotica: Both Sides of the Story I have discovered that writing a book is only half of the battle.  Like most people, I undertook this task not knowing where it would lead.  Well as luck would have it, I have finished one book and am knee deep in the writing process for my second.  I self published, and my book can be found on Amazon.com and other online retailers. However, I have discovered the problem with having finished a book is now to try and market it.  I have been able to accomplish a few things on my own, but quickly learned that I am not a marketing guru.   Luckily for me, call it fate or karma…whatever you like, I found a solution.  Alix Taylor, founder of Heetr.com and I connected via Facebook and she has been a Godsend. Now I am getting guest blogging and featured author spots on very recognized review and ... Thu ,29 Oct 2009 14:55:48 -0500 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2009/10/28/wednesdays-wit-whimsy-writers-barcamp-2009/ I just want to share some of the pictures from Writer's BarCamp on Saturday.  Enjoy!   Entry Table The Writer's Lounge Gift Bags Doodle Table Downtown Bryan, TX Session 1 Session with Naomi Giroux Happy Humpday! Wed ,28 Oct 2009 15:06:21 -0500 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2009/10/21/wednesdays-wit-whimsy-resources-future/ Resources for Social Media All of my recent blog posts have been cool information I have gotten from class presentations and class speakers.  So, to go along with that trend, I want to share some info from my Aggie Advertising Club meeting last night.  It is important when you are trying to get into social media for business use that you understand its differences as compared to social media for personal use.  Here is a list of books that have gotten great reviews and would be beneficial for those picking up social media for business: 1.  The Social Media Bible - Tactics, Tools, & Strategies for Business Success 2. Twitterville - How Businesses Can Thrive In The New Global Neighborhoods 3. Groundswell - Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies 4. Social Media is a Cocktail Party - Why You Already Know The Rules of Social Media Marketing Since one of my main roles here at Stimulating-Conversation is social media, I found this really ... Wed ,21 Oct 2009 17:37:30 -0500 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2009/10/14/wednesdays-wit-and-whimsy-new-additions/ Two More People Added To The Team We are proud to introduce the newest team members of Stimulating Conversation, Monica and Sarah.   Monica is one of our best reviewers for Ijustfinished.com, and is now going to be handling all things to do with our book review system.  In the process of updating our site, we are going to make book reviewing a better experience for those who are members of our site.  We are gathering our information and ideas, and with the help of Monica (from an insider perspective) the rejuvenated site will be a lot more functional!   Sarah started with us on Monday, and she is handling a lot of data-entry and bookkeeping.  She is also going to help in the process of streamlining our reviewing system.  Sarah has been working hard, and we are thankful that our backlog of information is starting to end up in more organized outlets.   We are glad to have both of them ... Wed ,14 Oct 2009 15:59:03 -0500 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2009/10/13/thursdays-guest-thoughts-bruce-desilva/ After 40 years in journalism, worrying constantly about getting every fact exactly right, I thought it would be liberating to make stuff up.  So last summer I retired as writing coach of The Associated Press to become a full-time novelist.  My first book, a crime story titled “Rogue Island,” will be published in hardcover by Tor/Forge next year, and I’ve made a start on a second.  Fiction writing has been less work than play for me, especially once I started believing in something that I’d often heard novelists say, but that had always sounded like hooey to me.   I’m sure you’ve heard it too, or maybe even said it:  The characters came to life and took over the story.I had a good laugh several years ago when I heard the great Elmore Leonard talk about this.  Once, he said, he called his publisher in a panic because he was only half-way through a novel ... Tue ,13 Oct 2009 15:01:13 -0500 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2009/10/07/wednesdays-wit-whimsy-get-your-creative-juices-flowing/ I am finally back after days and days of non-stop schoolwork and group project meetings.  I am in the Aggie Advertising Club at A&M and we did an exercise at our meeting last night to get us going.  Just look at the numbers and letters, and try to figure out what the sentence is saying.  The capital letters are the first letters of the words you are trying to find. (see answers at bottom) 1. 16 O in a P 2. 36 I in a Y 3. MJ is the KOP 4. 5 S on a P 5. 6 P for a T D in F B 6. 18 H on a G C 7. 30 D H S A J and N 8. 1 W on a U 9. 52 C in a D W T J 10. W F at 32 D F 11. 8 L on an O 12. 9 M to C A C 13 ... Wed ,07 Oct 2009 15:32:55 -0500 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2009/10/02/friday-focus/ Today I was being amazingly productive when the time to leave. One hour a day is free swim at the pool, and I had committed (to myself) that it was time to get back to doing one good thing for me. The problem was I was being productive! So I broke away and had a lovely swim. Now it was time to pick-up the two little girls from Mother's Day Out. I planned to pick them up, and dash them back to the office for Josh to watch while I got back in the groove. The best laid plans. . . On the way out of the building the girls collided. The two and a half year-old took a hard fall, head first on the edge of the sidewalk. She was out cold for a few seconds then pale and listless. No lump for the loud crashing sound produced when she fell. Off to the ER for a CT Scan, no ... Fri ,02 Oct 2009 19:21:41 -0500 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2009/10/01/thursdays-guest-thoughts-tony-eldridge/ Marketing Help: To Pay Or Not To Pay? Author: Tony EldridgeMany authors who visit my blog do so because of the free marketing help and resources that I offer. In fact, I like to tell people that I give low cost/no cost marketing tips for authors on a shoestring budget. Prior to publishing my first novel, The Samson Effect, I was the sales and marketing director for a successful company that created and sold tech video training on the net. It was natural for me to put those skills to work when it came to market my own book.As I started to meet more and more authors—many very talented at their craft—I soon realized that marketing was not a skill many had an inkling about. As time went by, authors began to seek me out and ask for my marketing advice, which I gladly provide. I even spoke at writing groups and conducted book marketing seminars ... Thu ,01 Oct 2009 17:34:26 -0500 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2009/09/25/friday-focus/ This week it's a TGIF, Friday, too many "irons in the fire." But I did get several of my assignment completed. One assignment wasn't completed as needed so I can't count that one as complete. It can be frustrating when difficulties in communications get in the way. Ways to improve communication is a good focus topic for this Friday Blog. So here is my list. Feel free to add to it. Define the topic carefully and fully Besure the components of the project are understood by all Allow some flexability or creativity to participants or just use a cookie cutter When critiqueing the project, identify all concerns or problems that need correction, not just a couple at a time. There maybe a point when the vision isn't communicating and the requester will need to do the task. So much for my two cents on communicating requests. see you on the computer. Naomi Fri ,25 Sep 2009 15:53:44 -0500 http://stimulating-conversation.com/blog/2009/09/24/thursdays-guest-thoughts-chris-kuban/ "How to Keep on Message" by Chris Kuban, CEO & owner of ChemistryMultimedia.com Publicity molds public opinion more effectively than a paid advertisement.  And, your message, as it appears in the context of the 'news, ' or being interviewed as an 'expert,'  carries additional weight in the court of public opinion.   Therefore, keeping on message is the most important part of your job.With the intervention of online sources and the explosion of social media opportunities, the value of being in the media is transcended to infinite abilities to reuse those digital clips in promoting your message.  This fact needs to be reemphasized: if you're on TV, Radio or in Print, those same files are now placed in online digital format 99% of the time thereby giving you the opportunity to reuse those files in marketing, promotion or public relations efforts of your organization.However, the message starts with your initial pitch to media.  You should always remember that in ... Thu ,24 Sep 2009 15:57:22 -0500