Merry Christmas to my friends, readers and followers---no matter your faith---know that at this time when I celebrate the birth of my Savior that I am thankful for you and the many, many blessings I have.
I have so much more than I even remotely deserve. We are loved far beyond our capacity to imagine.
I wanted to leave you with this.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Kindle and e-Publishing 4-1-1--plus writing tools
I finally did it.
So many people have asked me about the indie e-publishing movement and how to get on board and self publish their book that I’ve actually made a link to a short guide on my website.
So in celebration of the 99-cent indie book blowout (click icon to the right), I’ve posted a link to this quick guide.
You can find it here:
But before you go there, I highly suggest you review some of the great tips (new for some, a refresher for others) from my creative writing classes at this link:
One important caveate about self publishing on Kindle—and author JA Konrath said it best in this article from USA Today:
But before you quit your day job to become a best-selling e-book writer, Konrath points out that the vast number of books released in any form, print or e-book, don't sell. To become a successful writer, talent, hard work and self-promotion are important. But publishing remains, at heart, a lottery. "I've always had that caveat. You have to get lucky," he says
Link to the full article is: here
Though that may sound discouraging, it does hit on one note:
We write because we love to write. It’s fun. It’s cheaper than therapy. The bottom line is we continue to write, whether we become writer millionaires or not. There’s got to be a love for the process.
And why does it seem that so many books / discussions about writing deal with the publishing or e-publishing process and not the craft of writing? That’s like wanting to be an Olympic figure skater and obsess over what network will carry the Olympics instead of perfecting your figure skating.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
What is it like finishing a book?
Exciting. Frustrating. A relief. A terror.
Maybe a bit gassy.
Maybe all of the above.
I'm very excited about the release of my next book-- "Ten Thousand New Year's Eves"--(no relation to the movie that is also coming out about New Year's Eve---though (expletive) I have been working on this novel for the past three years)
But what's it like to finish a book? Some writers have routines. They do something. They treat themselves.
Some get emotional and cry.
What do you do?
Well...
...for me I have kind of a state of shock. I feel like I've just gotten off a really bad carnival ride--one of those that thrashes you around. It's like a wave of relief followed by...now what? In many ways, after the final edit, the work continues. You have to put it out in the world. You wonder if anyone will like it. You wonder if it will play well with others, eat its vegetables, and wear its boots in the rain.
You treat it like a child.
And there's the contradiction. It's not a child. It's a thing, but it's a living breathing thing.
For me, I get the shakes. Kind of like the adrenaline dump that you get after being in a minor fender bender. I have a moment of surreal...what just happened?
It's like the dog who chased the car for three years finally caught it.
What did I catch?
You can read the first chapter for free at www.carrawaybaypress.com.
The book is 99 cents through...well, New Year's Eve as a part of the Indie Book Collective Promo.
SHOULD I have a routine when I finish a book? Any suggestions? What do you do? Should it be a major deal, like the writer in "Misery" who ceremoniously has a cigarette and a bottle of expensive wine? Should it be something crazy like putting on a pink wig and doing karaoke night?
I don't know.
Maybe the ceremony for me is that there is no ceremony. Maybe because I feel through promotions that I will still be dealing with these characters.
But I'm open for suggestions....
Maybe a bit gassy.
Maybe all of the above.
I'm very excited about the release of my next book-- "Ten Thousand New Year's Eves"--(no relation to the movie that is also coming out about New Year's Eve---though (expletive) I have been working on this novel for the past three years)
But what's it like to finish a book? Some writers have routines. They do something. They treat themselves.
Some get emotional and cry.
What do you do?
Well...
...for me I have kind of a state of shock. I feel like I've just gotten off a really bad carnival ride--one of those that thrashes you around. It's like a wave of relief followed by...now what? In many ways, after the final edit, the work continues. You have to put it out in the world. You wonder if anyone will like it. You wonder if it will play well with others, eat its vegetables, and wear its boots in the rain.
You treat it like a child.
And there's the contradiction. It's not a child. It's a thing, but it's a living breathing thing.
For me, I get the shakes. Kind of like the adrenaline dump that you get after being in a minor fender bender. I have a moment of surreal...what just happened?
What did I catch?
You can read the first chapter for free at www.carrawaybaypress.com.
The book is 99 cents through...well, New Year's Eve as a part of the Indie Book Collective Promo.
SHOULD I have a routine when I finish a book? Any suggestions? What do you do? Should it be a major deal, like the writer in "Misery" who ceremoniously has a cigarette and a bottle of expensive wine? Should it be something crazy like putting on a pink wig and doing karaoke night?
I don't know.
Maybe the ceremony for me is that there is no ceremony. Maybe because I feel through promotions that I will still be dealing with these characters.
But I'm open for suggestions....
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
WHEW!!! It's done!!! Ten Thousand New Year's Eves is now on Kindle
Thank God!
It's a strange feeling, finishing a book---but that's really an entire post in itself.
Long story short, I finally found a new cover (I like it better than the one below) and the book is already up on Kindle. I'm selling it for 99 cents until Jan. 2---and I'll be participating in a giveaway where folks can get free copies in mid December. I'll also start shopping around the print rights in the new year.
I'll be posting excerpts, etc. in a couple of weeks.
Meanwhile-- "like" me by following the Amazon link (if you please) and celebrate the release with me.
"Imagine this: It's New Year's Eve and you're at a party, in a ballroom, standing beneath a crystal chandelier. At midnight, you look up. On each piece of cut crystal you see an image of someone else's New Year's Eve. In "Ten Thousand New Year's Eves," Dawn DeAnna Wilson shines a light through that chandelier, illuminating a handful of random (or are they?) characters, luring us in, drawing the lines, revealing a simple but powerful truth--we are all connected."
-----Billie Hinton, author, "claire-obscure"
About the book:
Mallory has a neurological condition which causes her to see certain letters in different colors and taste certain flavors whenever she hears sound. The condition is synesthesia, and researchers believe it may be caused by overlapping brain neurons...but try explaining that to her well-meaning but clueless friend Rochelle, who seems to be more concerned with rescuing animals.
Rochelle takes Mallory to New York City for New Year's Eve to help Mallory forget about the man she has a crush on, and en route to city, their paths intersect other pilgrims seeking a new beginning, including:
Stephen, a washed-up contemporary Christian singer who has "crossed over" to mainstream rock music and is expected to perform in Times Square on New Year's Eve.
Tad, a NYPD wannabe who never finished police academy due to a bad knee.
River, a tree-hugging kayak enthusiast who believes she's in love with Poseidon, the god of the sea.
David, a psychologist who is conducting extensive research about synesthesia...and Mallory...
Wendy, a teenage gospel singing sensation who is madly in love with her minster's nephew, but she cannot tell him the truth about a past relationship.
Liam, a blind man who is not what he seems.
Kelso, a nervous German Shepherd and former police dog who has been traumatized by an event in his past.
The novel takes the reader from North Carolina to Atlanta to New York City, illustrating that all things are bound together in a web of life---all things connect. What we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
It's a strange feeling, finishing a book---but that's really an entire post in itself.
Long story short, I finally found a new cover (I like it better than the one below) and the book is already up on Kindle. I'm selling it for 99 cents until Jan. 2---and I'll be participating in a giveaway where folks can get free copies in mid December. I'll also start shopping around the print rights in the new year.
I'll be posting excerpts, etc. in a couple of weeks.
Meanwhile-- "like" me by following the Amazon link (if you please) and celebrate the release with me.
-----Billie Hinton, author, "claire-obscure"
About the book:
Mallory has a neurological condition which causes her to see certain letters in different colors and taste certain flavors whenever she hears sound. The condition is synesthesia, and researchers believe it may be caused by overlapping brain neurons...but try explaining that to her well-meaning but clueless friend Rochelle, who seems to be more concerned with rescuing animals.
Rochelle takes Mallory to New York City for New Year's Eve to help Mallory forget about the man she has a crush on, and en route to city, their paths intersect other pilgrims seeking a new beginning, including:
Stephen, a washed-up contemporary Christian singer who has "crossed over" to mainstream rock music and is expected to perform in Times Square on New Year's Eve.
Tad, a NYPD wannabe who never finished police academy due to a bad knee.
River, a tree-hugging kayak enthusiast who believes she's in love with Poseidon, the god of the sea.
David, a psychologist who is conducting extensive research about synesthesia...and Mallory...
Wendy, a teenage gospel singing sensation who is madly in love with her minster's nephew, but she cannot tell him the truth about a past relationship.
Liam, a blind man who is not what he seems.
Kelso, a nervous German Shepherd and former police dog who has been traumatized by an event in his past.
The novel takes the reader from North Carolina to Atlanta to New York City, illustrating that all things are bound together in a web of life---all things connect. What we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
On short hiatus for rest of November---why? You'll see
I am participating in TWO major promos for my upcoming novel "Ten Thousand New Year's Eves." The book is finished, though the last three chapters are giving me a bit of trouble in the revision process. Also, I am having the book copyedited by a professional freelance company (I'll be happy to suggest companies for you if you need a good copy editor.)
So to be sure the book is polished and ready in time, I'm taking a short hiatus until December 1. Because it makes no sense to write up the blog and miss my deadline.
If for some reason you did not get your code from the Halloween Spooktacular, please e-mail me at dawndeannawilson@gmail.com.
I will be having similar promos where you can get the book for free, and might even have a "beta" test version of it up on Kindle (to test the links, etc.) for 99 cents (though I can't guarnatee all the typos will be caught in that beta version.
In the meantime, here's the 4-1-1 for the upcoming novel:
Mallory has synesthesia: her brain is wired so that she sees letters and numbers in color. Recently, she has noticed certain tastes that occurr when she sees certain words. Her friend Rochelle, fearing that Mallory is developing an unhealthy crush on a psychologist who is researching her (David), whisks her away to New York for New Year's Eve. This novel follows the paths of Mallory, David, and others who are seeking out their new beginnings that night. These seekers include a police academy drop-out, a washed-up Christian rock singer, a schizophrenic kayak enthusiast, and a neurotic bomb-sniffing dog. These characters are unaware that they are actually linked to one another as midnight appraoches...
So to be sure the book is polished and ready in time, I'm taking a short hiatus until December 1. Because it makes no sense to write up the blog and miss my deadline.
If for some reason you did not get your code from the Halloween Spooktacular, please e-mail me at dawndeannawilson@gmail.com.
I will be having similar promos where you can get the book for free, and might even have a "beta" test version of it up on Kindle (to test the links, etc.) for 99 cents (though I can't guarnatee all the typos will be caught in that beta version.
In the meantime, here's the 4-1-1 for the upcoming novel:
Did everyone get a coupon code?
I just wanted to double check to be sure that everyone who particpated in the Spooktacular got a coupon code. If you didn't, please e-mail me at dawndeannawilson@gmail.com and I will get it to you ASAP.
Thanks to all those who made the blog hop possible.
Thanks to all those who made the blog hop possible.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Tips for a sore "mouse muscle"
I want to talk a bit about the physical aspect ofwriting---since we rarely think of writing as physical unless we have a problem. I’ve complained about arm and hand strains before to a massage therapist. I still don’t know what it’s properly called, but I call it the mouse muscle, and it seems to be right around the elbow. A while back, it got incredibly sore and I had to use the mouse with my left hand (I’m right--handed), which feels very unnatural. I’ve also been known to have a flare up of carpel tunnel every now and again.
I confess, before I had carpel tunnel, I didn’t really understand how debilitating these repetitive motion injuries could be. For me, thankfully, relief came from massage therapy, arm braces and Advil –the arm braces were very helpful because when I sleep I rest my head on my hand, which I’m sure doesn’t help.
I think that it is technically a type of tendonitis that gives an ache to the mouse muscle, which is kind of like tennis elbow (which I’ve learned has very little to do with playing tennis).
I’m in that “ounceof prevention = pound of cure” club, so here’s some tips I’ve gathered on how to take care of your hands. (oh, and my lawyer wants me to insert a disclaimer –i.e. I’m not a medical doctor, if you try this stuff and die, don’t sue me, yada, yada, yada…)
Use of the proper technique when using your mouse can help. Here are some useful diagrams at this occupational health website:
For me personally, massage therapy has helped a lot---particuarly with my mousemuscle. Parafin wax treatments have helped my hands and wrists.
Also, ake time to stop and stretch. Ask your doctor / nurse / massage therapist to show you some useful stretches to help. A good yoga routine could be helpful as well.
I’ve found it helps me to perform a workout that involves the muscles in a different range of motion (kayaking, for example).
Check the height of your office chair. I’ve found if mine off, it will knock everything else out of kilter.
Here's some more info:
Good exercises--
http://www.livestrong.com/article/218011-how-to-exercise-the-mouse-finger/
What to do if it hurts:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/395316-what-to-do-for-tennis-elbow/
Anyone else have any methods that help you'd like to add?
I confess, before I had carpel tunnel, I didn’t really understand how debilitating these repetitive motion injuries could be. For me, thankfully, relief came from massage therapy, arm braces and Advil –the arm braces were very helpful because when I sleep I rest my head on my hand, which I’m sure doesn’t help.
I think that it is technically a type of tendonitis that gives an ache to the mouse muscle, which is kind of like tennis elbow (which I’ve learned has very little to do with playing tennis).
I’m in that “ounceof prevention = pound of cure” club, so here’s some tips I’ve gathered on how to take care of your hands. (oh, and my lawyer wants me to insert a disclaimer –i.e. I’m not a medical doctor, if you try this stuff and die, don’t sue me, yada, yada, yada…)
Use of the proper technique when using your mouse can help. Here are some useful diagrams at this occupational health website:
For me personally, massage therapy has helped a lot---particuarly with my mousemuscle. Parafin wax treatments have helped my hands and wrists.
Also, ake time to stop and stretch. Ask your doctor / nurse / massage therapist to show you some useful stretches to help. A good yoga routine could be helpful as well.
I’ve found it helps me to perform a workout that involves the muscles in a different range of motion (kayaking, for example).
Check the height of your office chair. I’ve found if mine off, it will knock everything else out of kilter.
Here's some more info:
Good exercises--
http://www.livestrong.com/article/218011-how-to-exercise-the-mouse-finger/
What to do if it hurts:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/395316-what-to-do-for-tennis-elbow/
Anyone else have any methods that help you'd like to add?
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