Strange, how as a writer, my wish list has altered over time. When I set about my journey of writing The Knight Trilogy, I was possessed by a form of manic romanticism. I spent night afer night, pouring out the story, falling in love with the characters and losing myself in research.
Then came editing and I attacked it with as much of an objctive eye as possible, was cruel and hard as I possibly could be. I revised and edited #1 at least eight times fully over before I felt it was something I could humbly put out to the rest of the world.
I was precious and precocious; sure I could do it alone (after all, there was no way I could afford an editor) I was sure that if I was hard enough on myself, critical of myself then it would be okay. And it has been - just. I got away with it by the skin of my teeth. Book One has had mostly wonderful reviews (75% 4 or above stars) BUT...
...lately I have found myself whimsically fantasising about a new love: an editor. Just as with #1 I have been my own hardest critic. I know I am so much stronger and better than when I wrote #2 but this is possibly why I found myself straying to dreams of being picked up by one of the big 7; not for the security, marketing budget, platform, money, potential movie rights - but because I WANTED AN EDITOR.
As if by magic, something wonderful happpened. I tweeted for Beta readers for #2 'Immortal Beloved' and Several wonderful people came forward. Now, I'm still new to this and I thought Beta readers read for plot and inconsistencies, characterisation etc. (Maybe it is normally) So you can not imagine my crazy delight and wonderment when one of my Beta readers, Tammy, sent me a fully annotated 'critiqued', EDITED manuscript back.
Seriously, I could have cried for joy.
Don't mistake what I'm saying: I didn't want an editor because I was too lazy to revise or edit (I've done even more of that than I did for #1 - to the point I have felt like pulling out my own eyeballs) but it comes down to the simple fact, no matter how good a writer you 'naturally' are, or how objective and critical you can be, you are always going to be standing far too close to the tree to see the whole forest.
So the biggest lesson I have learnt on my journey; LOVE THY EDITOR!
My Books
Saturday, 25 June 2011
Sunday, 19 June 2011
WINNER of The ARC and Bracelet contest.
Thanks to all the wonderful tweeps on twitter for helping with this giveaway and contest. Over three hundred people entered for it which is awesome.
The winner was @ThamyDuff and she has contacted me to claim her prize and forward me her address.
If you didn't win, take heart, there will be more giveaways soon or you can get your hands on a copy of The Forest of Adventures for just 70p / 99c on Amazon Kindle. Links are here on this blog.
Once again, a big thank you to all of you.
The winner was @ThamyDuff and she has contacted me to claim her prize and forward me her address.
If you didn't win, take heart, there will be more giveaways soon or you can get your hands on a copy of The Forest of Adventures for just 70p / 99c on Amazon Kindle. Links are here on this blog.
Once again, a big thank you to all of you.
Saturday, 18 June 2011
Bio Power
Have you realised the power of your Twitter bio?
In just the last month, I've had more than ten people DM me to tell me that as a direct result of my Twitter Bio, they've gone on to search out more about my writing (and have subsequently gone on to buy my book.)
Here is my bio @KnightTrilogy: Bio Married to a handsome giant, mummy to a mud-puddle fairy. Writer of Dark Romance Fantasy / Fairytales. Otherwise completely normal.
Trying to distill your entire self and writing into 140 little characters is a challenge. I'm not saying by any means that mine is perfect, but it seems to be working and communicates broadly my life and writing.
Here is a good example of successful 'informative' style by @ABookVacation: Teacher, book lover, reviewer, and blogger. Reading is my hobby; I try to read one book per day and then post my review. I love fantasy, paranormal, YA, etc.
Here is a good example of successful 'personality' style by @allieburkebooks :
I'm a writer. A nerd. Music is a passion. I am currently in love with more than one fictional character. I love the rain. White lilies. Art. I love... you.
So in the rush of excitement to join the brilliant community that is twitter, how much time did you give to really crafting your bio? It seems that it is more important than maybe some of you relise.
If you have a twitter bio you think is a good example then please post it below to help inspire others.
In just the last month, I've had more than ten people DM me to tell me that as a direct result of my Twitter Bio, they've gone on to search out more about my writing (and have subsequently gone on to buy my book.)
Here is my bio @KnightTrilogy: Bio Married to a handsome giant, mummy to a mud-puddle fairy. Writer of Dark Romance Fantasy / Fairytales. Otherwise completely normal.
Trying to distill your entire self and writing into 140 little characters is a challenge. I'm not saying by any means that mine is perfect, but it seems to be working and communicates broadly my life and writing.
Here is a good example of successful 'informative' style by @ABookVacation: Teacher, book lover, reviewer, and blogger. Reading is my hobby; I try to read one book per day and then post my review. I love fantasy, paranormal, YA, etc.
Here is a good example of successful 'personality' style by @allieburkebooks :
I'm a writer. A nerd. Music is a passion. I am currently in love with more than one fictional character. I love the rain. White lilies. Art. I love... you.
So in the rush of excitement to join the brilliant community that is twitter, how much time did you give to really crafting your bio? It seems that it is more important than maybe some of you relise.
If you have a twitter bio you think is a good example then please post it below to help inspire others.
Friday, 10 June 2011
Overheard #1 Mina and Ormus: 'Knights of The Realm.'
Ormus rose his hand and pointed it towards Percy, “Look at him, he’s beautiful isn’t he?”
I turned back to Percy, looked at him through the eyes of one not already in love. Just like Blake, Percy was breathtakingly handsome. His blonde ringlets were swept back into a ponytail, his face and body more carved from stone than grown; his eyes, ice blue. When I looked at him, my own heart gave a small leap, like a fish jumping and leaving ripples.
Ormus continued, “Such beauty – you could hardly believe the violence they are capable of. Their warrior bodies, their grace, elegance; their softly spoken manners – all of it a trick; seducing you, charming you but at the end of days, it hides who they are. It hides what they are.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t follow – they’re the good guys; the knights in shining armour.”
“If that is what you believe then you believe in the stuff of fairytales? Come now, child, you’ve seen them fight; you’ve seen them tear each other apart no better than as if they were animals. They are nothing more than an elite army fuelled by myth and a dangerous desire to reclaim the world. They are clothed in the lies.
Blake is different. The times will change but bad things are going to happen; terrible things. Everything will fall apart. Camelot will burn."
I turned back to Percy, looked at him through the eyes of one not already in love. Just like Blake, Percy was breathtakingly handsome. His blonde ringlets were swept back into a ponytail, his face and body more carved from stone than grown; his eyes, ice blue. When I looked at him, my own heart gave a small leap, like a fish jumping and leaving ripples.
Ormus continued, “Such beauty – you could hardly believe the violence they are capable of. Their warrior bodies, their grace, elegance; their softly spoken manners – all of it a trick; seducing you, charming you but at the end of days, it hides who they are. It hides what they are.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t follow – they’re the good guys; the knights in shining armour.”
“If that is what you believe then you believe in the stuff of fairytales? Come now, child, you’ve seen them fight; you’ve seen them tear each other apart no better than as if they were animals. They are nothing more than an elite army fuelled by myth and a dangerous desire to reclaim the world. They are clothed in the lies.
Blake is different. The times will change but bad things are going to happen; terrible things. Everything will fall apart. Camelot will burn."
Branding - Why it's important.
Branding is the buzz word of the marketing world. Branding helps to sell products and this is as true of books as it is for washing powder.
Now I know some of you are already cringing; I've used the words 'product' and 'brand' in the opening to a post on books - beautiful artful objects. It almost sounds profane doesn't it? But the thing is, the vast majority of writers write for readers; to share their story, connect with others and move them emtotionally, is a large motivation for writing.
Now readership is the best reward and payment a writer can get, but it doesn't pay for the ink, paper and bread & butter. Most writers need to sell books so they can carry on writing.
How do you do this? By being as imaginative and creative as possible, seizing every opportunity that comes your way, no matter how 'small', eccentric, out of comfort zone you may think it is. Most of all do everything you do with a sense of positivity and passion because this translates to others and they will become as much intrigued by your love and enthusiasm, as they are about your book.
There are some basics which are imperative:
A website for your book. If this freaks you out choose a drop and drag system such as www.weebly.com (I use them and I rate them highly) Think imagery: what images, colours really suggest your genre to a reader? Think about the quality of these images. Be a perfectionist and remember less is more. Don't get busy on the background / fancy web templates if it distracts from your key book linked images.
Ensure you choose a colour scheme which you use across all your platforms relating to that particular work (Mine's purple :))
A blog which is seperate from your website and on which you can post flashfiction, write blogs, reviews, do interviews. Link it to your website but remember they serve different functions. Think of them being divided in the following way website = readers and blog = writer friends, blogger friends etc.
A Facebook Page to keep updates about your book and to build a following. You may want to think about advertising it for a month or two but bear in mind it can quickly get expensive; it's a good thing to do in short bursts (set a specific budget)
A Twitter Account - build relationships, make friends and share. Remember your audience are always watching and so make sure that you are mindful of what you are tweeting and recommending. Some of your writer friends material might be highly unsuitable for your YA followers for example. And, as much as they will enjoy reading your writer to writer tweets and friendships, they won't appreciate swearing and sexual references. Use DM messaging for this. (that sounded terribly lecture like - sorry, it's just that I've had friends caught out on this and it has been devestating for a time)
THINK OF THESE ALL AS A FAMILY - they should look similar, share similar features, have links to one another, share imagery and colour use. Use the same profile picture across all of them so people get to recognise you.
There are a million other things you can do to promote your book but if you have these basics in place then the rest will follow and grow from these.
DON'T wait until the book is written and ready to publish (I made this mistake) - Start at least four months before, post teasers, get the title out there, do giveaways etc. And even if you haven' written a novel yet, but write poetry, shorts and flashfiction, think long term and start to build your empire LOL!
weebly site in practice visit http://www.theknighttrilogy.com/
Writer's site http://katiemjohn.weebly.com/
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Knight-Trilogy/125849864124174
Now readership is the best reward and payment a writer can get, but it doesn't pay for the ink, paper and bread & butter. Most writers need to sell books so they can carry on writing.
How do you do this? By being as imaginative and creative as possible, seizing every opportunity that comes your way, no matter how 'small', eccentric, out of comfort zone you may think it is. Most of all do everything you do with a sense of positivity and passion because this translates to others and they will become as much intrigued by your love and enthusiasm, as they are about your book.
There are some basics which are imperative:
A website for your book. If this freaks you out choose a drop and drag system such as www.weebly.com (I use them and I rate them highly) Think imagery: what images, colours really suggest your genre to a reader? Think about the quality of these images. Be a perfectionist and remember less is more. Don't get busy on the background / fancy web templates if it distracts from your key book linked images.
Ensure you choose a colour scheme which you use across all your platforms relating to that particular work (Mine's purple :))
A blog which is seperate from your website and on which you can post flashfiction, write blogs, reviews, do interviews. Link it to your website but remember they serve different functions. Think of them being divided in the following way website = readers and blog = writer friends, blogger friends etc.
A Facebook Page to keep updates about your book and to build a following. You may want to think about advertising it for a month or two but bear in mind it can quickly get expensive; it's a good thing to do in short bursts (set a specific budget)
A Twitter Account - build relationships, make friends and share. Remember your audience are always watching and so make sure that you are mindful of what you are tweeting and recommending. Some of your writer friends material might be highly unsuitable for your YA followers for example. And, as much as they will enjoy reading your writer to writer tweets and friendships, they won't appreciate swearing and sexual references. Use DM messaging for this. (that sounded terribly lecture like - sorry, it's just that I've had friends caught out on this and it has been devestating for a time)
THINK OF THESE ALL AS A FAMILY - they should look similar, share similar features, have links to one another, share imagery and colour use. Use the same profile picture across all of them so people get to recognise you.
There are a million other things you can do to promote your book but if you have these basics in place then the rest will follow and grow from these.
DON'T wait until the book is written and ready to publish (I made this mistake) - Start at least four months before, post teasers, get the title out there, do giveaways etc. And even if you haven' written a novel yet, but write poetry, shorts and flashfiction, think long term and start to build your empire LOL!
weebly site in practice visit http://www.theknighttrilogy.com/
Writer's site http://katiemjohn.weebly.com/
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Knight-Trilogy/125849864124174
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Book & Bracelet giveaway
My very talented friend, Pippa came to see me this weekend having made a whole collection of gorgeous costume jewelery based on 'The Forest of Adventures'.I am going to be selling various pieces through the official website at http://www.theknighttrilogy.com/
To celebrate the opening of the Knight Trilogy jewelery shop, I am going to do a giveaway of a signed ARC copy of 'The Forest of Adventures' and a bracelet, like the one shown here.
HOW TO ENTER:
All you have to do to enter the giveaway is copy and paste this link http://www.theknighttrilogy.com/ along with a tweet comment of your choice from your twitter account.
If you've already read it and fancy adding something creative then feel free :-)
DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE @KnightTrilogy in your tweet so I can track your name and enter your name!!
CONDITIONS:
This is an international giveaway open to all my twitter @KnightTrilogy followers.
All those who create a RT tweet with a link to the website will be eligible for entry.
A name will be randomly selected on Saturday 18th June and the winner will be announced via twitter.
A direct message will be sent to the winner.
The winner must respond within 48 hrs to claim or another tweep will be selected.
CONFUSED?
Just tweet me :)
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
'Unearthly' by Cynthia Hand.
Synopsis:In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Review:
I happened to start reading this during a very long hospital appointment wait - boy was I glad I'd stuffed this in my bag on the way out the door! I found it completely absorbing from the start. Within pages I knew I was in the sure and talented hands of an accomplished writer.
The first person present tense approach made it easy to live Clara's life through her eyes. Christian is a handsome protagonist, and the focus of her 'purpose' but there is a sense right from the beginning that he is not all what he seems to be - but not in the recently established way.
Tucker, a handsome Rodeo boy avoids being a cliche in the most delightful manner and makes an interesting character - in some ways I think he is more the hero of this book than Christian.
My only criticisms are so minor and would *spoiler* that I'm not going to bother being pinickity.
A great read, devoured in a couple of sittings and I'm looking forward with anticipation to reading more of Cynthia's work.
Rating: 4.5 /5 stars
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