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SECOND THOUGHTS AND A FREE COPY

You have to be pretty alert when you’re choosing a title for a novel, and it seems my brain was dozing when I chose the title: ‘Me, Dingo and Sibelius’. 

Is it an autobiography, I’m asked? Is it about music? Is it a handbook on How To Write Your Will? Actually, it’s a novel about a young woman who’s given up on dreaming. She’s the wrong side of thirty, still a virgin and the only provider in an all-female dysfunctional family. Mum, sister Georgie, niece Rosie, are all blonde, slim and gorgeous. Charlie looks like her deceased Dad. 

But you never know what’s round the corner – in Charlie’s case, an inheritance of over a million pounds, a very sexy solicitor and a rapids results course in business management! 

So, I’m thinking of reissuing it with a new title and a new cover, but in the meantime I’m going to offer you a FREE KINDLE DOWNLOAD ON AMAZON FOR THREE DAYS. Who knows? Enough of you may read and review the book to give it a kickstart and save me the effort of designing something new. But if not, I’d really appreciate your suggestions for a new catchy title, that doesn’t give the wrong impression. 

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ALL ABOUT VERBS AND ADVERBS

IMPROVE YOUR WRITING - CHOOSE EFFECTIVE VERBS, CUT OUT ADVERBS AND BRING COLOUR TO YOUR WRITING

There are commonplace verbs and there are specific, descriptive verbs. If you need to add an adverb, then you’re not selecting the most effective. For example:

He walked slowly down the street

He sauntered down the street (Removes the need for an adverb)

He walked jerkily down the street

He staggered down the street.

Now you can expand.

WHY IS HE STAGGERING? IS HE INJURED?

He staggered down the street, clutching his left arm. The blood oozed between his fingers. (This tells more but also creates a picture)

OTHER SITUATIONS – PERHAPS HE’S UPSET?

He stumbled down the street, oblivious to the crowds of shoppers who called insults after him.

IS HE HAPPY? (Even more expansion, and a scene the reader can visualise)

He waltzed down the street, hugging an old lady here, snatching a kiss from a young mother pushing a pram there, throwing a fistful of coins in the tin of a beggar.

They stared after him. Was he drunk? On drugs? Had he won the lottery? None guessed the real reason.

This is the writer, showing the reader what’s happening.

HOW TO MARKET YOUR BOOKS

MY ANSWER TO A NEW WRITER'S QUERY

I have a Facebook Creative Writing page, plus my general FB page. I'm also a member of a Writers Online page and two or three local community pages (in the UK).  I have a Twitter account, a Linked-In account, rarely used. I don't use Instagram or anything else. I do have a big email list, but I try not to over-use that, as I don't want to appear a pest! This blog is my favourite outlet.

Mainly I use Facebook when I have a new book published (13 so far, all with KDP and Amazon). I always post on FB when the latest is published. I have both Kindle and paperback versions for all but the first few books, and I've found that offering the Kindle version free for 3 days at the beginning is a good way to get yourself rated on Amazon. In return for a free copy I ask readers if they could spare time to write a review. The percentage who do this is quite small, but it all helps.

I think I've posted before that I do more publicity leading up to school holidays, Christmas etc, especially for my middle range children's fiction and for light holiday reading for adults.

The other thing I do a lot is to choose an interesting, funny or dramatic excerpt from one of the books and publish it on FB with some comments or request for opinions. This often generates some interest and sales. For example, one of my books has an offbeat version of Heaven, angels, etc, and I asked FB readers how they themselves viewed Heaven.

With KDP you can also purchase authors' copies half price. If I'm involved in, say, a Christmas Fair, or an event for writers or giving a talk, I take along a few to sell. Sales this way are usually small but it gets your name recognised. I'm also planning to offer some talks to local schools.

There are so many other ways. I'd love to give my time 100 per cent to the writing, but there ain't much point if you don't get people reading!

Finally, if you haven't yet reached the stage of marketing and selling, check out my book on HOW TO WRITE FICTION.