Sean's Posts - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T08:41:42Zseanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/seanhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/60997023?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://crimespace.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=19soayjdunwxh&xn_auth=noMore Marketing - Going Old Schooltag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-04-01:537324:BlogPost:2813712011-04-01T17:49:27.000Zseanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/sean
<p>These days thoughts of marketing are a near constant. My motto has become “Do more today because what you did yesterday wasn’t enough.” I’m always trying new thing, but recently I’ve been focusing on some old school methods.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It is largely accepted our society is such that technology literally changes from day-to-day. </p>
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<p>As of late the hot button approaches for marketing are twitter, facebook, websites and all things social media. No matter what you’re doing…</p>
<p>These days thoughts of marketing are a near constant. My motto has become “Do more today because what you did yesterday wasn’t enough.” I’m always trying new thing, but recently I’ve been focusing on some old school methods.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It is largely accepted our society is such that technology literally changes from day-to-day. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>As of late the hot button approaches for marketing are twitter, facebook, websites and all things social media. No matter what you’re doing online, it seems there is always one more option available.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Chances are you ended up on this blog entry from a social media site; however, I’ve been using a few decidedly low-tech approaches that have been amazingly successful. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I’ve been targeting book clubs, independent bookstores, and even using some non-traditional retail outlets to expand exposure to <a href="http://www.seankeefer.com">The Trust</a>. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>With book clubs I’ve reached out to friends and friends of friends who are in or know someone in a book club. I have an <a href="http://www.seankeefer.com/excerpt-from-the-trust.html">excerpt</a> from my book posted on my website and I direct them there. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I’ve been prepared to prime the pump by giving away my book to help spread the word, but I’ve been fortunate that readers have been happy enough with the excerpt, and have read the entire book. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>When I’m asked where people can purchase the book, I direct them to local independent bookstores even though it is available from all the major online booksellers.</p>
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<p>Why you ask? More on this in a moment.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I also offer to come to a book club meeting to speak about The Trust. This has been one of the most successful and enjoyable things I’ve done in marketing my book.</p>
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<p>Oh yes, the independent bookstores. Decidedly low-tech. I mailed out a postcard to the stores soon after publication, followed up with an email and then stopped by with book in hand. On occasions when I’ve been traveling and have seen an independent bookstore, I’ll skip straight to the last step. I walk in and introduce my book and myself. After all, my book is a friendly book and likes to meet readers and booksellers.</p>
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<p>I’ve encountered a couple of different reactions from the storeowners with this approach.</p>
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<p>Some will, without even reading the book, take copies on consignment. When they sell, they ask for more.</p>
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<p>However, many of the booksellers will ask for a copy and then have someone will read it. </p>
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<p>If they like it, not only will they stock it but they will recommend it. </p>
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<p>Independent bookstores have fiercely loyal customers and if the owner says to read something the patrons listen. This is also a great way to set up signings to meet even more readers. </p>
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<p>I also have several friends or friends of friends who retail stores and I’ve approached them. They’ve been wonderful in not only stocking the book – generally the only or one of the few books in their store – but also in promoting it. </p>
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<p>I was even lucky enough to have had the opportunity to appear on a local market <a href="http://bit.ly/eHjoRo">morning television show</a>.</p>
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<p>Social media has provided a reach for my novel and has helped me sell a number of copies that I never would have otherwise sold, but in an age where everyone is focused on the latest technology, we as writers need to remember that readers still like bookstores and like being talked to in person. </p>
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<p>Don’t overlook the old fashion face to face contact as one of the most tried and true methods of selling you books.</p>
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<p>Oh and as long as you’re here, even though it isn’t in person, why not read an <a href="http://www.seankeefer.com/excerpt-from-the-trust.html">excerpt</a> of The Trust or even <a href="http://bit.ly/hC09p6">buy a copy of your own</a>. A percentage of all sales will be donated to canine related nonprofits. Support K9 rescues! </p>Get in the Dance - The Twitter Dancetag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-03-29:537324:BlogPost:2805892011-03-29T00:07:13.000Zseanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/sean
I’ve been on Twitter a couple of months. It started like this.<br></br><br></br>Day 1 - no idea at all what to do or how to go about doing it. <br></br><br></br>Hashtags? DM’s. Lists. On and on with the lingo.<br></br><br></br>Days 2 – 9 - I waited and watched and still absolutely nothing happened. My mother told me a watched pot never boils so I walked away for a few days and checked back to reap the rewards that had befallen my patience. <br></br><br></br>Still nothing.<br></br><br></br>Day 10 - I did something novel. I sent a…
I’ve been on Twitter a couple of months. It started like this.<br/><br/>Day 1 - no idea at all what to do or how to go about doing it. <br/><br/>Hashtags? DM’s. Lists. On and on with the lingo.<br/><br/>Days 2 – 9 - I waited and watched and still absolutely nothing happened. My mother told me a watched pot never boils so I walked away for a few days and checked back to reap the rewards that had befallen my patience. <br/><br/>Still nothing.<br/><br/>Day 10 - I did something novel. I sent a tweet. Then another. Then the strangest thing happened. Someone followed me. I followed them back. <br/><br/>A thought occurred to me. The people who were following me – who were they following? Who was following them? <br/><br/>Then I discovered lists. <br/><br/>People on twitter – Tweeps I’ve since learned they are called – spend their time organizing followers into categorized lists. Lists are a gold mine of information if you are looking for people who tweet about particular topics. Between the list from people you follow and people who follow you, you can find thousands of tweeps with similar interests. Many of these people have great things to say.<br/><br/>Wow the floodgates opened. I started following other writers, bloggers, publishers, readers, and loads of other people who had interest that touched on mine. Many in turn followed me back.<br/><br/>Since then I’ve found a few things helpful and have a few things that I believe are best avoided.<br/><br/>First, stay active on Twitter. I’ve found it’s a truly a “What have you done for me lately?” proposition. You want to remain engaged with your followers. If not you’re dead weight on the timeline. <br/><br/>Oh and engage in conversations, but if things get too detailed on a topic, send a direct message. This keeps other followers from getting confused or from feeling neglected and at the same time you’re engaging your followers.<br/><br/>Give your followers good content. Good content includes information about your book or work in progress, but it shouldn’t only be about that. Link to your regularly updated blog, retweet interesting tweets, share insight. Keep the mix productive and beneficial to your followers. If your followers are engaged they will help support you, you’ll be followed by others and so grows the network.<br/><br/>Help spread the word for your followers. If you have someone you find interesting, tell your followers about them. <br/><br/>I believe you should avoid tweets that only promote your book or platform in a sales pitch fashion. I also feel that you should avoid saturating the timeline with too many things on one topic. It’s okay to recycle tweets, but after a few appearances on the timeline, those tweets, like extended house guests or 5-day-old fish, may start to smell a bit. <br/><br/>Oh, and just be nice and treat other people with respect or perhaps I should say twitspect. <br/><br/>At the end of the day all it takes is a little planning and a willingness to dive into the deep end of the pool. Engage your followers; let them know you are interested in what they have to say. Thank them when they mention you or retweet something you’ve done. When people thank you return the favor. It’s pretty simple. What comes around goes around. Help out and you’ll be helped out. <br/><br/>It is like the high school dance. It’s fun to lean against the wall and be entertained by what everyone else is doing, but the real fun is out on the dance floor. <br/><br/>So while you’re here why not <a href="http://www.seankeefer.com/excerpt-from-the-trust.html">read a chapter</a> from my book or even <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trust-Sean-Keefer/dp/1937004171/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1301237918&sr=8-1">buy a copy of your own</a>. A portion of all proceeds from the sale of The Trust will be donated to canine related charities. Finally, I'd love to hear your thoughts about this topic.<br/>It's the Lawtag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-03-21:537324:BlogPost:2793712011-03-21T22:39:18.000Zseanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/sean
Writing can be a minefield. <br></br><br></br>A minefield that can hit you square in the checkbook in more than one way. <br></br><br></br>I’m not talking about editing mistakes, character flaws or even plot inconsistencies. I’m talking legal problems that can arise from your writing – and it may not always be from the words on the page. <br></br><br></br>This blog will highlight a few legal issues that could cause problems but the real goal is to get people thinking about the legal pitfalls that can be lurking on…
Writing can be a minefield. <br/><br/>A minefield that can hit you square in the checkbook in more than one way. <br/><br/>I’m not talking about editing mistakes, character flaws or even plot inconsistencies. I’m talking legal problems that can arise from your writing – and it may not always be from the words on the page. <br/><br/>This blog will highlight a few legal issues that could cause problems but the real goal is to get people thinking about the legal pitfalls that can be lurking on the next page.<br/><br/>However before we begin, my lawyers make me say that nothing in this blog is intended to give any legal counsel. And, hey, everyone’s situation is different so please don’t look at this as anything other than something to get you thinking about issues. If you do have questions about these issues, your situation or anything else related to legal matters, consult with an attorney who is licensed to practice law in your jurisdiction.<br/><br/>Copyright<br/><br/>If you’re a writer the term copyright shouldn’t be a new one for you. Simply put, copyright addresses who owns a particular piece of writing. While you as a writer own the copyright to your work, at some point writers should consider registering a copyright with the US Copyright and Patent Office.<br/><br/>One area where I worry about copyright is on Twitter. There’s a Twitter event know as Sample Sunday or (W)ork (I)n (P)rogress where writers share a portion of their writing for all to see, read, review and perhaps to be stolen in whole or part without the writer’s permission. Proper copyright would be of great use in this situation.<br/><br/>Libel<br/><br/>Generally libel is the publishing of some falsehood about another person. Social media is yet again an arena where I have concerns. Also, it is not unusual to see passages, even in fiction that could give rise to this. Be careful about your status updates, tweets, comments, etc. Once the words are out there they are tough to take back and if they do come back they may bite.<br/><br/>Taxes<br/><br/>Many writers, particularly new writers, don’t understand that taxes are an area of which they need to be keenly aware. However, in being aware of this issue, taxes can be a good thing or a bad thing. As a writer, you still have to pay taxes on money you earn, but there can be a lot of expenses a writer can deduct. Having a good accountant can really help. <br/><br/>Business Organizations <br/><br/>It is not unusual for writers to organize a business for purposes of their writing. There are a variety of business organizations you can use such as sole proprietorships, LLC’s, corporations and others. However it is not always one size fits all. Check with an accountant or an attorney and you can select the appropriate one for your needs and also understand the differences between the entities as well as the numerous advantages each may offer.<br/><br/>Other Issues<br/><br/>There are countless of other legal issues that can take a writer by surprise. <br/><br/>How do limited rights work? What happens if someone steals your writing or even just an idea? What happens if a publisher or an agent violates your contract? What if a publisher or agent alleges you have violated an agreement? Bankruptcy? What if….?<br/><br/>When problems occur, you have to be prepared to address them and sometimes quickly or you could be stuck with some unpleasant results. <br/><br/>This doesn’t mean you need to run out and retain an attorney, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to look around and be prepared. Look into some seminars or conference presentation related to legal issues for writers. Check out writer’s associations who may give recommendations. Even if you just ask other writers what they are doing, this will be a step in the correct direction.<br/><br/>Hopefully no one ever has any problem legal issues other than how to best invest millions of dollars in royalties, but there are a lot of attorneys out there who bank on the fact that you will ultimately need their help and will spend your money with them. <br/><br/>Be aware and think ahead. <br/><br/>As long as you’re here, why don’t you read a bit of <a href="http://bit.ly/fVouuu">The Trust</a> or even <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trust-Sean-Keefer/dp/1937004171/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299331398&sr=8-1">buy</a> a copy of your own.Bite Size Noveltag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-03-19:537324:BlogPost:2788922011-03-19T17:39:33.000Zseanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/sean
As I look around my office the argument could be made I’ve robbed a bookstore or at least was about to open one. There are all descriptions of books literally cascading from the shelves. The Nook has started storing the overflow.<br></br><br></br>These books range from novella to epic novel and all lengths in between. <br></br><br></br>Sometimes for motivation I stare at these books and think of the time put into each one. The countless hours required crafting the stories and tales in my office is…
As I look around my office the argument could be made I’ve robbed a bookstore or at least was about to open one. There are all descriptions of books literally cascading from the shelves. The Nook has started storing the overflow.<br/><br/>These books range from novella to epic novel and all lengths in between. <br/><br/>Sometimes for motivation I stare at these books and think of the time put into each one. The countless hours required crafting the stories and tales in my office is immeasurable. <br/><br/>However each and every book in my possession, down to and including <a href="http://www.seankeefer.com/">my own</a>, started with a single letter on a blank page. Even before that each book likely began with an “Ah Ha” moment when it all came together for the writer.<br/><br/>Unfortunately I’ve had several “Ah Ha” moments since I finished my last book. <br/><br/>Fortunately one idea is a bona fide work in progress, but I’ve quickly realized that grandiose plans can sometimes be too much. <br/><br/>Put simply, grand plans a finished book do not make. <br/><br/>I’ve talked to a number of would be writers about their great ideas, but alas, it doesn’t appear these ideas will ever be anything more than just that – good ideas.<br/><br/>There has been much written on how to motivate ones self to write. There are scores of programs, how to books, seminars, websites and even<a href="http://www.seankeefer.com/1/post/2011/02/iphone-a-tool-for-writers.html"> iPhone apps</a> which are designed to motivate. I’ve found a great many of these tools useful, but at the end of the day, they will not make characters magically appear on the page. <br/><br/>Let’s talk about weight loss for a moment. <br/><br/>I equate starting writing to beginning weight loss. If you drop a great deal of weight in a short time, you feel great, but statistically that weight is going to come back. If you pump up your normal word output the product likely won’t be there. <br/><br/>The net result in each situation? Initially you feel great, but end up where you started only to feel worse than before with no progress. <br/><br/>If you want to keep the pounds off, slow and steady beats the quick each and every time. From what I understand 1-2 pounds a week has the best chance of achieving lasting weight loss. The same is true with your writing.<br/><br/>I’ve started to apply the same principal to my writing in an approach I call the bite size novel. It only requires two things.<br/><br/>Write 5 days out of 7; and, write 1 to 2 pages per day. <br/><br/>Watch the math.<br/><br/>My first novel came in at 100,000 words. Let’s say I’d written 1.5 pages, with a page being 700 words, per day. That is 1050 words per day. <br/><br/>To reach 100,000 words, I would need 95 days. Let’s also say that I write 4 days a week or 18 days out of an average 30-day month. Based on this schedule I would go from the first character to completion in just over 5 months – yes, two books a year. If you write more frequently just adjust the formula to see how quickly you can have your novel done. Spoiler – Write seven days and week and you have a novel in just over 3 months. <br/><br/>This approach also builds in the idea of self-motivation in that if you start seeing progress, the progress will manifest into increased motivation. <br/><br/>I am certainly not the first to realize this - really it’s basically common sense. <br/><br/>But I am happy to point it out. <br/><br/>So I say this. If you are struggling to get going on the book you have long thought on, try this approach for a month and if it doesn’t produce results, contact me and I’ll help you brainstorm some ideas to kick start your novel.<br/><br/>As always, feel free to leave your thoughts and as long as you are here, why not read an<a href="http://www.seankeefer.com/excerpt-from-the-trust.html"> excerpt</a> from my book or even <a href="http://www.seankeefer.com/excerpt-from-the-trust.html">buy a copy</a> for yourself.Lessons I Have Learned from Bacarditag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-03-15:537324:BlogPost:2780262011-03-15T22:34:44.000Zseanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/sean
<p>“But why is the Rum gone?”</p>
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<p>Or so said Johnny Depp in one of his pirate movies. I’m certain, for his character in any event, the rum was his muse or at a minimum his motivation.</p>
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<p>However, the Bacardi I‘m talking about is not actually a distilled spirit, but you could call this Bacardi a muse. Of sorts.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Bacardi is one of my Australian Shepherds. He’s also very supportive of my writing; however, I feel his support has more to do with the fact…</p>
<p>“But why is the Rum gone?”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Or so said Johnny Depp in one of his pirate movies. I’m certain, for his character in any event, the rum was his muse or at a minimum his motivation.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>However, the Bacardi I‘m talking about is not actually a distilled spirit, but you could call this Bacardi a muse. Of sorts.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Bacardi is one of my Australian Shepherds. He’s also very supportive of my writing; however, I feel his support has more to do with the fact that on the days I write I’m home at his beckon call. But regardless of the reasons, I’ve learned a number of lessons from Bacardi that have proven most beneficial to my writing.</p>
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<p>Bacardi’s self-appointed job is to let the neighborhood know when a cat is in his yard. Frequently the cat alarm is sounded in the wee hours of the morning. However, when he sounds the alarm he sounds it with 150% conviction. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I’m rarely thrilled when Bacardi starts barking at 3:48 am, but I’ve learned that if you have a job the time of day shouldn’t matter. Bacardi barks at cats, he never misses the chance to do it and he always gives it his all. I write, I can always go back to sleep or back to work, but if I don’t stop to write, and, like Bacardi, give it my all, I feel I’ll be the lesser writer as a result.</p>
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<p>When he’s not barking at cats, Bacardi’s favorite activity is to run around his big back yard. His favorite time to do this is first thing every morning. After his run he can get to the more important tasks of the day (more on this in a moment.) </p>
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<p>It occurred to me that this is what I needed to do with writing (after making sure Bacardi has had his turn in the yard, of course.) I get up and I write. Writing is what I love and Bacardi taught me to make it the first thing I do everyday. The rest of the day will be waiting for you.</p>
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<p>After the cats are cleared and the yard has been patrolled (and after a bite to eat of course), Bacardi takes a break. Normally, as is the case as I write this, this break consists of a nap, but Bacardi’s philosophy is spot on. There’s simply no need to run yourself ragged 24/7. Work hard barking at cats or running around the yard, or writing, but take a break every so often. It will give you more focus to bark at cats, or even to write. </p>
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<p>When I walk into the house after any period of time away Bacardi is so excited you would think it was the first time he’d ever seen me. One day I realized that just because something is familiar doesn’t mean you can’t get excited about it. When I’m editing my writing, it may be the x to the nth degree time I’ve looked at it, but I always try to follow Bacardi’s lesson and get excited about it and throw myself into it with exuberance.</p>
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<p>Finally, Bacardi has a couple of places around the house he likes. It may be a window to look for cats or it may be under the table in the dining room for a nap. He can also be a bit mischievous so if he gets too quite for too long I take a moment and go look for him to make sure trouble is not afoot. Usually I can find him in one of his normal haunts; however, sometimes I have to go look for him. On these occasions, I usually find him in a new spot with a dog bone or just napping. Point is, be like Bacardi. Don’t be afraid to stray from the normal or to break the routine. I try to do this with my writing and feel this has been on of the most important lessons Bacardi has taught me. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Well, that and that I probably spend too much time watching my dog, but I’m pretty sure that I will be okay as long as he doesn’t start talking to me.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So while you’re here please feel free to read an <a href="http://www.seankeefer.com/excerpt-from-the-trust.html">excerpt</a> from my book or even <a href="http://amzn.to/gJMRz7">buy a copy of your own</a>.</p>Just Ask...tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-02-06:537324:BlogPost:2676652011-02-06T15:50:31.000Zseanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/sean
<p>Research is always a tricky thing. I've heard different, if not competing views, from almost every writer with whom I discuss this subject. Some advocate for only internet using the Google approach. I'm not the head cheerleader of this movement, but I will say that you can find a lot of info on virtually every subject. Also with Google's satellites and imaging, Google also makes it easy to visit about anywhere without leaving the comfort, or the shackles, of your writing sanctuary. I…</p>
<p>Research is always a tricky thing. I've heard different, if not competing views, from almost every writer with whom I discuss this subject. Some advocate for only internet using the Google approach. I'm not the head cheerleader of this movement, but I will say that you can find a lot of info on virtually every subject. Also with Google's satellites and imaging, Google also makes it easy to visit about anywhere without leaving the comfort, or the shackles, of your writing sanctuary. I certainly see the merit of this, but I believe it is a rather sterile approach to the process. It's like looking at a photo of a Costa Rican beach and then attempting to describe the feel of the sand beneath your feet. From a purely visual exposure through a separate media, I just don't think you can do justice to the cool feel of the sand beneath your feet - even though the air is so humid and heavy it could only be described as "wet." The pure visual exposure can never let you fully understand what it is like to be suddenly attacked by an iguana who wants to fight you over a piece of fruit. <br/>Other folks advocate traveling to the area or region you are going to be writing about to get a taste of the local flavor and to interact with the locals. I'm not really the cheerleader for this movement either. Charleston, South Carolina is perhaps my favorite city and I would hate to have a weekend visitor attempt to a paint an accurate image of the city scape. I just don't think a weekend in a locale gives you much beyond what the tourist brochures provide.<br/>I have found a method that works for me. First, I write about geographical areas I know. I want to make sure that I'm 100% accurate when I am talking about a place. I want to make even the locals find something new to them. Fortunately I've traveled a good deal otherwise I would be limited as to where I had available to me as settings. I believe that if you write about an area you know then it will show.<br/>Now when I need to know facts, the nuances of a profession or things such as techniques, procedural matters or otherwise, I just ask. I have found that most people with a particular skill set or specific knowledge are more than happy to have an eager audience who is willing to listen. In the off case where a person will not talk to you, I have two techniques that generally will get them to speak to you. One, do a little research in advance and learn who is recognized as another "expert" in the area. If they don't want to speak to you simply say something like, "Thank you so much for your time. I had one final question, as a back up I am going to call Mr. or Ms. So and So. Is it okay that I tell them I have spoken to you?" Or, secondly, try this. "Thank you so much for your time. You're the first person I called and wanted to see if you could suggest someone I could speak to who would be as knowledgable as you on this subject." Generally one of those two will either get the person talking or they will give you a promising lead. Just keep in mind, it is a rarity that people won't talk about themselves and what they do.<br/>One additional point, if you know someone who has a personal relationship the individual you need to speak to, by all means take advantage.<br/>Remember, don't be worried about rejection. If you're rejected, try again. The simplest thing you can do is just ask. However, a word of caution, don't get bogged down in the research. After all, the goal is to write and if you are researching, you're not writing.</p>
<p>Follow me on Twitter <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/#!/TheTrustNovel">@TheTrustNovel</a></p>When to or When not to Sharetag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-02-05:537324:BlogPost:2673262011-02-05T03:30:00.000Zseanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/sean
<p>One question I have struggled with and, likely will continue to just be befuddled about, is when do you share what you have written. Particularly when the writing is going to be fiction length.<br></br>I struggled with this concept while writing The Trust. Not knowing the protocol - translate that I just had no clue when to let others read what I had written - when I finished the first draft of the Prologue to The Trust, I decided to have another set of eyes look over my efforts. <br></br>Not a…</p>
<p>One question I have struggled with and, likely will continue to just be befuddled about, is when do you share what you have written. Particularly when the writing is going to be fiction length.<br/>I struggled with this concept while writing The Trust. Not knowing the protocol - translate that I just had no clue when to let others read what I had written - when I finished the first draft of the Prologue to The Trust, I decided to have another set of eyes look over my efforts. <br/>Not a success at all, but then not the biggest of failures. The feedback I received was that the several pages of text read well, but since the Prologue actually was taking place in the middle of the book's timeline, it was only a slight bit confusing. If anything the response and feedback was just, well, rather blah.<br/>The main feedback was there simply wasn't enough there to know if it was good or not.<br/>So I decided I needed to be a bit guarded in how I shared it. This ultimately ended up with me not showing any further portions of the book to anyone at all until I was done. I should point out that this gave rise to many questions as to there being any progress at all.<br/>Probably not the best of ideas - but it then again worked for me. <br/>If you use my approach you'll be, well, writing in exile and in some ways in a vacuum. That and all of the edits - and there were many - had to be done on one time. <br/>Writer's groups come to mind for me here. I didn't use a writer's group for the actual writing, rather I would talk plot ideas to anyone who would listen. If you use my approach and don't share till you're done, then the idea of a writer's group along and along sorta gets thrown by the wayside. <br/>If you do let people read along and along, I believe that it would be of benefit to generally try to keep people reading in order that way they have some sense of where the story had been. The pitfall of having only a partial chapter, and perhaps pitfall is too harsh of a word, is that context can be a problem. <br/>So is there a right or wrong answer as to when to let others read? Likely no. For me I've found that if I have the entire product then then the feedback I get is better because it lets me take everything in context.<br/>Well, at least a context that works for me.</p>
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