More Social Networking and Marketing

I went to a workshop on Friday at Cedar Fort Publishing. I learned a lot more about social networking. Nate Moller from Moller Marketing conducted the workshop. We learned how to find the best ‘add words’ on google. We learned the difference between ‘buyer phrases’ and ‘browser phrases.’ If you want to sell your book, browser phrases won’t cut it. We learned about “allintitle” add words, and the list goes on and on. Check Nate out. I'm sure he's willing to come do workshops, and I know he does onlinewebinars. His presentation was great!

I thought I was pretty good at facebook, but I’m not. Creating a fan page was lots of fun. Have you ever done that? It’s not hard. I have to go back and look at my notes and practice all this. But, you know, I was really overwhelmed by it all at first, but I’m getting better at it. Maybe by “baby-stepping” along, I’ll get there. Find me on my facebook fan page. I’d love to have you join. Ask me questions in a couple of days—after I’ve put my notes into practice. If I know the answer, I’ll help you any way I can.

Join me also on Goodreads. Now there’s a site that I love. That is one of the most fun things I’ve done in a long time. What a great way to connect with others. I adore reading anyway, and I’m glad to connect with friends who do also. I love their suggestions and am finding lots of new books to read.

Twitter is still not my strong suit, but I’m learning. I know what a “hash tag” is now, and maybe I know how to use one. Follow me, and I’ll follow you back.

Social networking is a new life that I’m sandwiching in with my other lives. It’s getting to be a lot of fun!! Happy networking.

Christy Monson

http://christymonson.blogspot.com/

http://prophetsinperson.blogspot.com/

I'm Possessed with Possession

I'm late on commenting today. Not because I don't want to, but because I'm captivated!!!

You see, last night I went to Elana Johnson's book launch of POSSESSION!!! (It was superly-awesome-ness!)

So...You'll have to forgive me ...

(I know, I've posted Julian before, but the video is so awesome. I couldn't resist)

Everyone Has a Rejection File

I heard that Shannon Hale saved all her rejections and had them laminated into one long ribbon. She rolls it up and takes it with her when she does school presentations. My friend told me that when she unrolled that paperwidth ribbon, it ran the entire length of the gym.

I have lots of orphan manuscripts. Picture books are a hard sell, so it's hard to stay motivated about submitting. I write a lot, but am sporadic about submitting. I want to send one submission a week, but it's easy to get sidetracked.

I get the nicest rejection letters. I don't save them all, but maybe I should. Rejection doesn't depress me, but it doesn't motivate me either. Maybe whenever I receive a rejection, I should send two submissions instead of one. If it's a really nice rejection letter, I could send three.

I read yesterday that everyone has a rejection file. I guess I'd better get started on mine.

Off to submit.

Linda Garner

P.S.
My article called "His Grace is Sufficient" runs today in Your LDS Neighborhood. It's a compelling look at sexual abuse. You can get a sneak peek at it by clicking here.

Seeing the World

I just read Kate DiCamillo’s web site. (I am looking at web sites to see how I want mine to be.) She describes a writing class she took in college. Her professor read her essay and asked the class what was remarkable about it. He said it wasn’t the writing; it was the seeing that made Kate’s work stand out. She took time to really see the person she wrote about. He went on to say that it was the responsibility of every writer to see the world they wrote about.

Did Kate do that with Because of Winn Dixie, Mercy Watson, and the other books she has written? I think she has. In Winn Dixie there are lonely children and even lonelier adults. We know this because Kate takes time to show us the characters. They become real to us because Kate sees them and tell us about them.

At critique group the other night part of my feedback consisted of:

Let us see the countryside

What are the characters thinking?

How do they feel?

I was not seeing my writing as clearly as I could. I’ve gone back and redone the pages. I hope I don’t make the same mistakes again, but I’m a slow learner and seem to need to be told over and over. (I hope I’m getting better.)

So here’s to Seeing the World! Let’s each set a goal to see the world in our writing.

Thanks Kate for your advice. Point is well-taken.

Christy Monson

http://christymonson.blogspot.com/

http://prophetsinperson.blogspot.com/

Lenny-Lee Fest

It's no surprise that this sunshine:

represents an amazing 11 year-old named Lenny. If you don't know who I am talking about, you can go meet him HERE. 

Here's to you Lenny. May your sunshine always find a space in our hearts. <3

E-books vs. Traditional -- Let the Battle Begin *ding*

So there's been a lot of hoopla over publishing in the last few months with e-publishing vs. traditional.

Some say that e-books are the wave of the future. But to be honest,I've read some pretty awful self published books out there.

I, myself, have always had the goal to get an agent and a publish the traditional way, but I have very close friends who plan the e-publishing route.

I am curious to know how other writers are feeling about this. Do you plan to e-publish? Publish traditionally? Why?

Let's here your opinion and/or plans for publishing.

(If you are at Paper and Parchment, please drop over to my personal blog Checkerboard Squares to see the running comments. Click Here)

Time Out

You probably noticed I didn't post yesterday. I think it's a first. I am spending the week with my adorable grandkids. Hiking, reading, movies, games. They live in Idaho and I don't get to see them often enough.

Catch you later.

Linda Garner