How to be a successful writer - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T19:03:47Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:118110?feed=yes&xn_auth=noThanks for the mention, Grant…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-24:537324:Comment:1189232008-01-24T19:36:58.427ZSandra Ruttanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Sandramre
Thanks for the mention, Grant, and for the most part I agree with you. Personally, I love your cover and it draws me in, and that's another difference between it and mine. Your cover is telling a story, mine is projecting an element/theme. That's an entirely different cover style. The lettering on my cover is also raised, so it looks good in physical form. Add in a whole new design dilemma - some covers SUCK as gifs like this, and I wonder how much designing with amazon in mind is affecting…
Thanks for the mention, Grant, and for the most part I agree with you. Personally, I love your cover and it draws me in, and that's another difference between it and mine. Your cover is telling a story, mine is projecting an element/theme. That's an entirely different cover style. The lettering on my cover is also raised, so it looks good in physical form. Add in a whole new design dilemma - some covers SUCK as gifs like this, and I wonder how much designing with amazon in mind is affecting cover design.<br />
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And I'm not sure which has the upper hand. I think these things go through phases.<br />
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However, I don't think Spinetingler has anything to do with it, in my case. Generally speaking, publishers seem oblivious to it and my role with it. So I'm not sure I can explain the lettering in my case. I certainly hope that my debu…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-24:537324:Comment:1189152008-01-24T19:07:36.163ZGrant McKenziehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/McKenzie
I certainly hope that my debut makes a big enough impact that my name gets larger on the cover for the next one. Not an ego thing, but just like you say I.J., it becomes the brand. The titles of new Pattersons or Crais or Cobens, don't really matter as much as the giant letters of their name saying this is their new one. For my debut, I think the size of my name is probably the right size for me. However, if you look at it beside Sandra Ruttan's upcoming debut (hope you don't mind me posting it…
I certainly hope that my debut makes a big enough impact that my name gets larger on the cover for the next one. Not an ego thing, but just like you say I.J., it becomes the brand. The titles of new Pattersons or Crais or Cobens, don't really matter as much as the giant letters of their name saying this is their new one. For my debut, I think the size of my name is probably the right size for me. However, if you look at it beside Sandra Ruttan's upcoming debut (hope you don't mind me posting it here as an example, Sandra) - you can see how emphasis on the brand name changes things slightly. Sandra's cover puts more emphasis on it being <i>her</i> novel rather than <i>a</i> novel. Of course Sandra has some built-in name recognition with her work on Spinetingler, etc.<br />
<img src="http://www.grantmckenzie.net/extras/SWITCH.jpg"/> <img src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_MlQqdy5Lx-M/R04NU72ggwI/AAAAAAAAAUs/Zeq6t5F8xyA/s320/wbw+cover+uploadsize.jpg"/> Actually, that is rather forw…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-24:537324:Comment:1189072008-01-24T18:33:04.842ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Actually, that is rather forward-looking. I had to complain when my last editor managed to put my name in the tiniest possible print and in black against a dark purple background. I put it to her that an author's name is like a brand, and urged her to have a look at the cereal aisle in the grocery store. :)
Actually, that is rather forward-looking. I had to complain when my last editor managed to put my name in the tiniest possible print and in black against a dark purple background. I put it to her that an author's name is like a brand, and urged her to have a look at the cereal aisle in the grocery store. :) yeah, something about poetry.…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-24:537324:Comment:1188582008-01-24T16:30:35.996ZJohn McFetridgehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnMcF
yeah, something about poetry. Although I never took a poetry course (there are just too few words to hide behind in a poem) the most celebrated profs we had were poets. Oh, and seeing as how I'm Canadian, some short story writers. I just found out that's a specialty of ours andthat the linked story collection was something of a Canadian invention.
yeah, something about poetry. Although I never took a poetry course (there are just too few words to hide behind in a poem) the most celebrated profs we had were poets. Oh, and seeing as how I'm Canadian, some short story writers. I just found out that's a specialty of ours andthat the linked story collection was something of a Canadian invention. What about staying with genre…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-24:537324:Comment:1187532008-01-24T11:33:23.016Zhelen blackhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/helenblack
What about staying with genre but doing different media? For example writng crime for TV? Would that be too divergent?<br />
I've been asked to adapt my novel but I'm wondering if it's that easy...maybe I'm more of a 100,00 words chick.<br />
HB x
What about staying with genre but doing different media? For example writng crime for TV? Would that be too divergent?<br />
I've been asked to adapt my novel but I'm wondering if it's that easy...maybe I'm more of a 100,00 words chick.<br />
HB x You've hit the nail on the he…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-24:537324:Comment:1187512008-01-24T11:31:07.665Zhelen blackhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/helenblack
You've hit the nail on the head there.<br />
I was at an interview yesterday and the PR girl ( and I mean girl - she can't have been older than twelve) was talking about me being a 'brand'. I started to feel like soap powder...but I guess if I were the top selling soap powder I'd swallow it.<br />
HB x
You've hit the nail on the head there.<br />
I was at an interview yesterday and the PR girl ( and I mean girl - she can't have been older than twelve) was talking about me being a 'brand'. I started to feel like soap powder...but I guess if I were the top selling soap powder I'd swallow it.<br />
HB x But Grisham has written a cou…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-24:537324:Comment:1187482008-01-24T11:27:23.926Zhelen blackhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/helenblack
But Grisham has written a couple of different genre books. I loved Painted House...<br />
But I know what you mean about specialising - Jack of all trades as my Ma would say.<br />
HB x
But Grisham has written a couple of different genre books. I loved Painted House...<br />
But I know what you mean about specialising - Jack of all trades as my Ma would say.<br />
HB x I think the key here, George,…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-24:537324:Comment:1186032008-01-24T01:32:01.957ZKim Smithhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/KayCon
I think the key here, George, is your statement to "produce good quality material". If you try to write everything and the kitchen sink, you may not be producing very good quality material. I think I agree with the "specialize" theory, simply because you are able to focus and hone that field to a fine point. I personally would be awful at technical writing.<br />
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Hey, isn't nonfiction and articles the same thing?
I think the key here, George, is your statement to "produce good quality material". If you try to write everything and the kitchen sink, you may not be producing very good quality material. I think I agree with the "specialize" theory, simply because you are able to focus and hone that field to a fine point. I personally would be awful at technical writing.<br />
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Hey, isn't nonfiction and articles the same thing? Ha, ha, ha! You forgot the sm…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-23:537324:Comment:1185522008-01-23T22:05:18.759ZJ. Shanon Roggenbuckhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/runic7
Ha, ha, ha! You forgot the smoking too much and caffiene overdrive. I noticed in High School that most of our great writers didn't become classic writers or timelessly wealthy until after they were in the grave. This thought sure put a damper on the thoughts of becoming a writer. Then I noticed via myself, that writer's, talented or not, just have this urge to write everything they feel, observe, or have an opinion on, then their papers and journals get stuck in all of these obscure areas…
Ha, ha, ha! You forgot the smoking too much and caffiene overdrive. I noticed in High School that most of our great writers didn't become classic writers or timelessly wealthy until after they were in the grave. This thought sure put a damper on the thoughts of becoming a writer. Then I noticed via myself, that writer's, talented or not, just have this urge to write everything they feel, observe, or have an opinion on, then their papers and journals get stuck in all of these obscure areas around the house and occassionally all mixed up, most just can't seem to help themselves, This is very good, Jon, but y…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-01-23:537324:Comment:1185032008-01-23T19:31:59.594ZJohn McFetridgehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnMcF
This is very good, Jon, but you left out 1a: go to school, study creative writing. Spend the next ten-twenty years trying to forget everything that bitter, negative, failed writer taught you.
This is very good, Jon, but you left out 1a: go to school, study creative writing. Spend the next ten-twenty years trying to forget everything that bitter, negative, failed writer taught you.