tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14401984.post983964153501266859..comments2024-03-09T12:39:14.950-08:00Comments on Sharing with Writers and Readers: Writing First Draft? Then It's Also Time to Promote!Carolyn Howard-Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041591136206289558noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14401984.post-61742865125008064692012-06-10T16:36:04.415-07:002012-06-10T16:36:04.415-07:00Wow, thanks for the Rowse example, Nina. It adds t...Wow, thanks for the Rowse example, Nina. It adds teeth to a theory to have a good success story like that. (-:Carolyn Howard-Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15041591136206289558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14401984.post-61999758808444431752012-06-10T15:00:05.453-07:002012-06-10T15:00:05.453-07:00Great points, Carolyn. Also, blogs are hard to rea...Great points, Carolyn. Also, blogs are hard to read as books; the last post is always first. Fans will want to have the book in hand rather than just read the book on line. They also like the "souvenir" of their favorite blog or blogged book or blogged book author. Plus, they will want the extra material and the "revised" edition that will be produced by editing what appeared on the blog. <br /><br />Darren Rowse of www.problogger.com (who has a book by the same name) had readers of his blog asking for him to make his 30-day series, 30 Days to a Better Blog, into an ebook. He didn't think it would sell because it was on his blog for free. It's his bestselling product.Nina Amirhttp://www.howtoblogabook.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14401984.post-41286510845242493032012-06-10T14:55:59.340-07:002012-06-10T14:55:59.340-07:00There are some publishers who are turned off by pr...There are some publishers who are turned off by previously published material, it's true, Karen. However, more publishers like the fact that the material has gained an avid and loyal following. Step #2 handles the question of "Why would anyone buy if you give it all away?" You don't give it all away. You keep some for the printed or digital versions. I had a long conversation at the BEA blogging event with some Wiley editors; they LOVE blogged content. F & W Media loves blogged content. Many other publishers do as well--I could name more (and you can find them in my book). Just look at how many blog-to-book deals have been made in the last 10 years. You can always come up with a content plan that keeps enough content off the blog to make a publisher happy, if that concerns you, but this is a superb way for indie publishers to devlop a plan for successful publishing, for sure.Nina Amirhttp://www.howtoblogabook.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14401984.post-79090587851999221332012-06-10T14:50:50.808-07:002012-06-10T14:50:50.808-07:00It was available in Kindle, but someone must have ...It was available in Kindle, but someone must have complained that something was technically wrong with that version. It's being looked at by Writer's Digest and hopefully will become available again this week. Thanks so much!Nina Amirhttp://www.howtoblogabook.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14401984.post-53392181928595847832012-06-10T11:59:37.241-07:002012-06-10T11:59:37.241-07:00Karen, regarding your last question. I sure do get...Karen, regarding your last question. I sure do get your point. Having said that, I've always thought the argument that a book doesn't contain anything that can't be gotten free on the Web a fallatious one. There is, after all, probably NO information that isn't on the Internet. Still there are other reasons to buy a book. I think CREDIBLITY is a big one, especially when there is much on the Web that isn't credible. Another is convenience--having one reference that brings valuable information to one source.<br /><br />Of course, fiction and poetry are another matter. And I think maybe even then, many want the author's work in one place. Maybe signed.Carolyn Howard-Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15041591136206289558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14401984.post-91084371278196909372012-06-10T11:51:57.175-07:002012-06-10T11:51:57.175-07:00Great post and easy to follow steps! I would thoug...Great post and easy to follow steps! I would though be careful if you intend to publish traditionally. Publishers may not be interested if a lot of the book's content is already free and public.<br /><br />But, for self-publishers it's a great way to hook readers. Pay special attention to #2 on the list above - if you give it all away, why would anyone buy?Karen Cioffihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15492421057039326702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14401984.post-54877314021782367842012-06-10T06:19:10.377-07:002012-06-10T06:19:10.377-07:00That does help and actually that is what I do now ...That does help and actually that is what I do now on my blog, write vignettes, personal thoughts, and short news reports, but I am going to add a weekly blog post on corruption. I think this is a wonderful addition and there is certainly plenty of material both in Costa Rica and around the world. Thanks for your great responses and I love the book, Nina. WANT in Kindle form.sarah corbett morganhttp://www.scmorgan.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14401984.post-12917831262134300792012-06-09T21:18:48.312-07:002012-06-09T21:18:48.312-07:00Carolyn offered some really great advice already. ...Carolyn offered some really great advice already. I'd definitely get a lawyer's advice on what material I could post. In the meantime, you could also make a list of the themes, issues, subjects, places, etc., in your creative nonfiction project and begin blogging about those. Tie them into any current news stories as well.<br /><br />This really isn't blogging a book as much as blogging to promote the book, but you'll be creating a readership for your topic and some great SEO around your keywords. Then when you have the go ahead from your lawyer to actually bog your book--or all of your book, you can do so and you'll already have a readership interested in the topic. You may already have worked your way up the search engine results pages as well.<br /><br />You also could post vignettes you will use in the book that are unrelated to the most volatile parts of the book--the ones pertaining to conflict areas.<br /><br />I hope that helps.Nina Amirhttp://www.howtoblogabook.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14401984.post-53198406729903624762012-06-09T09:15:44.869-07:002012-06-09T09:15:44.869-07:00I wish I could help a lot with that, but it sounds...I wish I could help a lot with that, but it sounds like a case for your lawyer. Here's a plan of attack, though. You've sort of done that here--but you haven't used your name or Website. Set one up for the THEME of your memoir and start using that. Then talk about it as you have here. That will set up an air of mystery about it. But run a sample of the site/blog or whatever else you're doing by your lawyer to get input on the legal remifacations of certain kinds of statements. The ones he or she passes on, you can pursue judiciously without getting a check on every sentence.<br /><br />I would think you could still get by with something a plan sort of like this: Coming! A memoir of family secrets no one wants told. <br /><br />You might also consider publishing under a pseudonym, which I almost never suggest (see my posts on this blog by searching on "pseudonym" for more information--or see the index of my Frugal Book Promoter (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo) to find entries in it on the same subject).<br /><br />Hope this helps.<br /><br />Oh, bytheway, I fictionalized my memoir for some of the same reasons. It is rooted in truth, but better as fiction. It is now only available as a used book, but you might want to see how that worked for $1. used. (-: It is at www.budurl.com/ThisIsThePlace. You might enjoy it in this coming political campaign.Carolyn Howard-Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15041591136206289558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14401984.post-35130880740974402192012-06-09T07:03:32.695-07:002012-06-09T07:03:32.695-07:00Great post. I have most of your pointers down, alt...Great post. I have most of your pointers down, although I have to admit, I am not as regular at posting as I should be. I have a question, though. I'm writing a creative nonfiction memoir and the subject matter is a bit delicate. I am still in the midst of a legal fight and consequently have not mentioned my book or any of the details surrounding our case. Don't think it's wise or in good form. So, how do I get around that and still post about the subject matter without jeopardizing our situation?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com