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Novel Authors and Publishers

If you are a novelist, novel publisher, or novel reader, here's a group where you can share more info, discuss strategies, and create partnerships.

Members: 680
Latest Activity: Dec 27, 2023

51 Ways to Blog as a Novelist

We all know that blogging is one of the best ways to get attention in today's Internet world. A blog is a godsend to your website, bringing it traffic, fans, and more. But you have to post regularly.

Stuck for what to blog about? Here are some tips for novelists, but the same tips can apply to writers of nonfiction, memoirs, children's books, business books, and more.

  1. Review other novels, especially from other lesser-known novelists.
  2. Write a blog post using the voice of one of your main characters.
  3. Have that main character tell some side stories not included in the novel.
  4. Write about the setting - time and/or place. Use some of the research you did to ensure that your novel was accurate.
  5. Invite your readers to review your book. Feature their testimonials on your blog.
  6. Interview some of your readers: via Q&A text or via an Internet radio show or via a teleseminar.
  7. Podcast your book, one section at a time.
  8. Write about trends in your genre.
  9. Write about your favorite novelists, especially those that write in your genre. Include their photos and a sampling of their books.

For the rest of the 51 ways, see: http://blog.bookmarket.com/2011/06/45-ways-to-blog-as-novelist-tips-for.html

If you like this list, help me add more. Email: johnkremer@bookmarket.com.

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Comment by Gladys Hobson on April 13, 2009 at 12:19pm
Yes, I agree there. We have three sons and we reached a stage when we were towing the van with a boat on the car roof, three big teenagers with their various needs etc etc. But one by one they refused to come with us. Eventually we opted for a two sleeper van with all mod cons. Then we moved up here. Our extended family a long drive away. So no more visiting grans in snow storms (as we did a few christmases). My mother came to stay for holidays (after she was getting over a cancer op) until she was coming about three times a year. Then four. We were visiting my husband's mother each time we went down (she came here a few times earlier on but it did not work well). Not much time to see other relatives and few came here — out of their way, and my family did not have cars). Eventually my mum got a nasty form of dementia just before she moved here to live for good (we did not know it then) My two eldest sons were married and moved away by then. After my mum died we stayed near my husband's mum in a hotel for a few days during the Christmas period and visited her each time we stayed in the van during the year. She had a fall and ended up in a nursing home. We went down to visit and take her out in the car as before. She had a stroke and we stayed in the van for part of the time so we could visit every day. She died a few months before her 100th birthday. That was a lot of visiting! My mum was nearly 90 when she died. I have not seen a lot of my family but I speak to my sister on the phone. My brother in the USA used to visit but he died two years ago. He was the only one who encouraged me in all that I did. (Probably because he too had moved away from his working class roots and was highly qualified - he lived in the USA) A brother died in Australia - he had deliberately cut himself off from the family. Two sisters are dead. A lovely thing though, my two sons who had moved away (both with families) are now back in this area. Two grandchildren who were living in Germany are now in England. My youngest son (nearly 46) still lives here so I am still head cook and laundry lady! Phew! That's my lot. We live in a market town (the actual setting for my Blazing Embers) in South Cumbria. We have a biggish garden with open views. We have to walk up the road to actually see the sea and about a mile to get a full sweeping view of the mountains. Coniston is about twenty minutes drive. We can walk to the Morecambe Bay coast by the side of a mile long canal. We have fantastic festivals and the place gets packed! (Especially the Dickensian Weekend) All on the Internet! Even so, where we live it is quite and our back garden faces fields and woods. There is a good sized front garden between the house and the road (cul-de-sac) The garden is full of shrubs, trees and a few flower patches. I tried to put some photos here of our trip up to Wasdale today but it takes too long!
Comment by Kristin Callender on April 13, 2009 at 10:46am
Jennifer,
It is a lot of work planning, preparing and cleaning up after a big get together. That's one of the reasons I had no problem going out to visit. Now I guess I'm tired of the work involved with getting my kids (ages 9 -19) all together to run around house to house. I am really starting to feel that it is time to start a new tradition with my kids so when they start moving out and having families they will have a place to come home to for the holidays. But at the same time I still want to enjoy the company of our extended families.

Gladys,
If the pictures from your blog are some of your daily views I would agree that you are living the full time holiday. As far as spending most of the holidays in a caravan, that is us. Christmas is the worst because by the time you have visited two sets of grandparents, and our respective sisters and brothers, with 4 children there is no space in the van for us. Kid's dream come true, but a parent' nightmare.

Thank you both for your comments.

Kristin Callender
Comment by Jennifer Robins on April 13, 2009 at 10:35am
My family has grown so large we rent a hall for our Christmas party. Some times catered and sometimes we cook with me doing most of it.
Comment by Gladys Hobson on April 13, 2009 at 9:49am
At Christmas much depends on the rest of the family. When you get to our age, holidays are quit affairs. We mostly holiday in our caravan but lately we have an occasional break in a hotel. We live in an area of outstanding beauty, and to us we are always on holiday! We tend to avoid the tourist areas during bank holidays.
Comment by Jennifer Robins on April 13, 2009 at 9:12am
We used to have the whole family over for dinner but now we go to one of our daughters house instead. Getting older and it's too much work for me alone so I'm letting my grown children take over. I still do some of the baking and cooking and we take it over to her house. Many of the others in the family come there also. So we still get together just not at my house anymore.
Comment by Kristin Callender on April 13, 2009 at 9:02am
I added a new post to my blog today. After a very hectic week and a busy holiday weekend I am feeling burnt out. Thinking about changing our holiday tradition to enjoy them again. How do you celebrate special moment or holidays? I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this. Stop by at http://kcsbooks.blogspot.com

I look forward to your comments on this.

Thanks,
Kristin Callender
Comment by Kristin Callender on April 11, 2009 at 12:37pm
Thanks Gladys. I will look into Ernie's website. I saw the interview on yours. Looks great.

I will keep in touch,
Kristin Callender
Comment by Gladys Hobson on April 11, 2009 at 6:36am
I expect everyone has heard of Ernie Johnson and his Bookhouse project. If not maybe you should get to know him as he is showcasing authors and their books. I have done an interview with him on my Writing For Joy web site: http://writingforjoy.blogspot.com with links to his sites to find out more. I am very pleased the way I and four of my books are being showcased. I really admire authors who do so much for others, as I know some of you do.
Comment by Tony Eldridge on April 11, 2009 at 12:40am
I wanted to introduce you to a new contest going on now through April 19th that gives you the chance to win copies of 5 books from book marketing experts who have contributed articles to my blog. What's cool is that these authors have agreed to inscribe the book personally to the winner of the contest. Here are the books:

Red Hot Internet Publicity- Penny Sansevieri
1001 Ways To Market Your Book- John Kremer
The Frugal Book Promoter- Carolyn Howard-Johnson
The Naked Author- Kat Smith
Successful Social Marketing- Dana Lynn Smith
The Samson Effect- Yours Truly (not a marketing book, but a heck of a prize anyway!)

For more information, include all details about the prizes and for the simple rules on how to enter this free contest, visit:

http://blog.marketingtipsforauthors.com/2009/04/contest-win-signed-...

Good luck all!

Tony Eldridge
Comment by Kristin Callender on April 10, 2009 at 5:38pm
Hi Tamara,
The book tour was a success, not so much in sales as in getting my work out there. At this time I do not have an agent and my publisher does not provide much assistance in marketing. I had to find a way to get it out there by myself. I received a lot of emails from authors, aspiring writers and readers. So in that way it was great. It has helped me create a great network of support, like this group. I also received an email from a producer asking for a copy of my book to consider for her next project. Keeping every crossable thing on my body crossed on that. I sent it out a few days ago.

I think the best thing about doing a virtual tour, as a new author, is it gave me a chance to become more comfortable talking about my book and myself in many different ways. I had my second real life signing last week and was much more relaxed than my first. But your results could be different. You never know, you could really do well. Once you do your part of the work it is really all about luck and timing. Let me know if you decide to do one, and how it went.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am glad it is helping other authors.

Good Luck to all of you on your projects,
Kristin Callender
 

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