Writers! Here's how we exercise!

Okay fellow authors and fiction writers - let’s resolve to exercise! No, I don’t mean the gym or (gasp) going outside! I mean stretching out skill muscles. I confess that I stole this one from a creative writing teacher in high school.

Throughout the remainder of January, a public domain illustration or painting will be posted in this blog. Writers, make up your story or even just a concept for a story based upon the image. Write them in the comments below! Let’s share, review, and help each other to work out those gray matter wrinkles!

Fable Preview 3

The final part of the preview has gone missing in a void of editing hell… Whoops.

Consider this picture a visual reference of a book in the midst of the editing process.

Fable Preview 1

Please excuse editing errors. This preview is from a first edit, not a final product.

Please comment below. 

To you reading this:

            Chances are you have been rummaging through your grandparent’s closet or shopping at a swap meet when you found this book.  That, or you are a rotten thief and I hope you get your comeuppance in whatever afterlife you believe in, you bastard.

            That having been said, allow me to explain a few things.  First, that the book you are currently reading and the volumes which follow chronicle what will be my last years on earth.  That’s right.  You’re reading a book by a now dead person.  Get over it.

            Second, because these are the last memories of my time alive and since I used the energy to write some of this stuff down, I’d appreciate it if you’d at least try to read it before tossing this book back into whatever shoebox you found it in.  I don’t know if in the future reading books has been deemed un-cool, but I’m sure if you’re spending your afternoon cracking the covers on old journals, you probably don’t have much of a social life anyway.

            Third, what you are about to read is true, with a little artistic license thrown in here and there for drama’s sake. I am storyteller, after all. I know you probably don’t believe in immortals, magic, or fairy tales. That’s fine. Not all of those things need your belief in order to exist. Not everything is about you, you know. That having been said, one of the reasons why I am writing this down is because sometimes you need people to question their reality just a bit. Not a whole hearted belief, but just question.

            The final reason I am writing this is because of Riley Carter. Understand that I hate him, but years from now there will be a moment when he tries to convince his annoying brats of his adventures (because I guarantee he will have kids when he grows up). And they won’t believe him, because what modern kid wouldn’t think they’re parent wasn’t just pulling their leg. So, here it is, future mini-Carters. A book to back-up your dad’s crazy stories. And if he did something stupid like name one of you after me, I deeply apologize.

Book Publishers Day

Apparently, yesterday was Book Publishers Day and although I saw this come up on several "unusual holiday calendars” I can’t find out what exactly it is. As a book publisher, I had decided to come up with my own definition, or three definitions as the case may be.

1. Just like Administrative Assistants Day, this could be a good time to take the book publishers in your life out to lunch. Might I suggest in a place dark and not too-crowded in case the book publisher you are treating is also a writer and, therefor, prone to anxiety in certain social situations.

2. Read through a guide about how a book is published. This will give you more appreciation to the work that goes into your favorite novel or self-help book and make you less critical of typos. Might I suggest our guide found on this and Sidney Reetz’s websites.

3. Write a review of an independently published work. In fact, forget definitions one and two. Do this! A review is the most helpful thing you can give on this very vague of holidays.

Reviews: The Perfect Gift For Your Favorite Indie Author

You want to get something for that special someone whose book you bought from a local festival or convention. You loved this book (or even just kinda enjoyed it) and wish could give back to the person who put so much time, blood, and tears into telling a story. Good news: you can without spending money or even having to creepily stalk said author.

Write a review.

Reviews are how independent authors get traffic to websites, recognition from peers, and interest in their future work. You might not think that writing a review is really important if it was something you liked. Look at Yelp - most people just go on their to complain. But in a social media obsessed society, you need to record the good with the disappointing.

Below is a list of places for book reviews are that helpful because its where other people go to read about a book they are curious about. Even if you only liked a part of the book, say there was a character you loved, but a scene you thought was too slow, then write the truth. Help out the local authors in your community by giving them a voice online.

Amazon and Barnes and Noble - These 2 seem obvious, but indie author books are available on these platforms, but can get less notice without a community behind them. That’s where reviews come to the rescue.

Goodreads - This is the ultimate in book recommendation websites. You can write whole summaries, send book links to friends, and, of course, write reviews.

BookBub - If good reads is overwhelming with its massive database, this new website for primarily ebooks is not just good for reviews, but also if you are looking for new book samples to read.

Online sources of your local newspaper - Sometimes, the local news will want the opinions of the people posted on their message boards or in response to editorials. At times, especially in the midst of gift-giving holidays, this can include the work of independent authors and artists.

Your Own Personal Social Media - If you are comfortable, post on your Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, blog, or whatever social media outlet you are currently addicted to. A review or book recommendation doesn’t have to be long to help an independent author.