August 2011 Blog Posts (17)

Well, I've been doing mine so I've been giving this a lot of thought. I've posted a discussion topic on the Marketing and Publicity group with a list of all the things I've done to optimize my website. Do come along and see if you could use some of my ideas or add to my list …

So, who tried to get their picture added to Google searches?

Hmmm?

You bunch of slackers.

I did and here are the results!

http://writing.thebookmonkeys.co.uk/2011/08/techno-geeky-nonsense-2-author-photo-in.html

In a week of filled with the impending doom of the future (and fortunes, or lack thereof!) of writers and authors, I continue my series on self-publishing.  This week I speak to Scooby's own Debbie Edwards about the three books she has published via her indie press, Purple Ray Publishing.

To read more, please go to my…

The ebook is coming soon......

Keep a look out mid September for the ebook, ipads at the ready.

Reasonably priced too, roughly the same a fancy coffee.

F

In the second post in tall tales & short stories', Diversity Matters, series, Wendy Meddour tells us about hens in wardrobes, stereotypes and how "most of my characters are ‘outsiders’ in some way – they’re marginal or looking in. But I know that something unites them all. Whether Muslim, super-intelligent, daydreamers, visually-impaired, shy, quirky or plain old daft - they all want the same thing in the end: to feel at home in this strange, old, beautiful,…

Ahhhh! I forgot I was supposed to blog yesterday and had no idea of what to put. But inspiration strikes, why not actually try to write something useful for once instead of daft writing advice?* So here's something interesting to you writer-y types who might be trying to get your face out there...

 …

This week I've started a new series called, Diversity Matters, and in my first post, Phil Earle, discusses his book Being Billy and writing gritty teenage fiction.

'During writing I became really fixated on the truth of Billy’s story, of not sugar-coating the pill if you like. As an avid reader of young adult fiction I like to be told how it is. I don’t want the author to hold my hand and tell me it’s all going to be alright, as that strips the…

A bit late with a blog post this week. We've just got back from a private retreat up in the Shropshire hills around Ludlow. Yeah, Ludlow, the place that was on TV a couple of weeks ago. How current and cool are we?

http://writing.thebookmonkeys.co.uk/2011/08/private-retreat.html

I guess there's only one subject on most people's minds this week. But are you a part of the problem or a part of the solution?

http://www.whoatemybrain.com/2011/08/on-writing-and-rioting.htm

I have worked with Wendy Hue on several manuscripts, and gave her editorial feedback on two drafts of her recent self-published book, Tópé Arrives. I have always been impressed with how passionate and articulate Wendy is. You will see from the interview below how hard she has worked to develop, and ultimately self publish, her novel after having doors closed on her from the publishing…

A fellow children's writer pal made the following comment to me recently: ""I firmly believe [self publishing] is the way forward for authors. The good old traditional publishing path and paperbacks are on a slippery slope to becoming niche and non-mass-market. Trying to get published in the traditional way is not a viable business model any more, unless you're very lucky. It just doesn't make sense to send out your novel and sit around for years hoping that…

The Saga Habit isn't just for the over 50s - you may all be at risk!

http://www.whoatemybrain.com/2011/08/saga-habit.html

If a picture paints a thousand words then surely you need a thousand words to paint a picture? No, you need more. A common mistake the less experienced, but ever hopeful, dreaming writers of this aged but optimistic world make is to cut...

http://writing.thebookmonkeys.co.uk/2011/08/amazing-writing-tips-3-purple-prose-is.html

Two weeks ago on Saturday, 23rd July, I ran my one-day writing workshop: Writing Children's Books and Getting Published. I thought people might be interested in hearing more about how I run a workshop like this one, so I asked an attendee if she could give a description of her experience.

Continue to read this post here. 

... on being bullied at school:

http://anovelway.blogspot.com/2011/08/in-response-to-amanda-craigs-article.html