More Links and Food for Thought (Updated -- Twice))

I'm heading out of town tomorrow. Not quite that far. :) But you can read about it here.

As you may guess if you click there and read the post, changes are afoot. I'm not sure exactly when, where, how or other details yet, but you'll know. Eventually, we'll all know. :)

Meanwhile, we all need to work on building our platforms now.

So here are more links, which I hope will be helpful.

10 great ways to get noticed as a blogger. Via Bucket List Publications.

What's the difference between Wordpress posts and pages? Via Silicon Beach Training.

Tips for working with a content strategist. Via Wood Street Inc.

Why smart authors are cutting Amazon out. Keep in mind, Penelope Trunk has a HUGE platform, but she's worked hard for it. That's what indie authors should do. I'd read her advice, if I were you.

How to win in Amazon's KDP Select program, if you're idea of winning is working your fingers to the bone writing constantly, cranking out books, only to split your earnings with this man ...

Everything's fine ... with me.

... so he can throw a little money to his A-list authors for their advances.

Touchdown!

To be or not to be: a Kickstarter project. :)

Random House imprints taking direct submissions! Well, well, well ...

When social media goes bad.


PS: Rare photo of the iceburg that sank the Titanic to be auctioned.

PPS: Getting ready for the New Year (or the Apocalypse, whatever comes first). Via ThisTrailerSucks.com.



UPDATE: Simon & Schuster joins forces with the horrible Author Solutions to rip writers off. What a horrible surprise. Not! :)

Quotation for the Week of November 25

Early Thanksgiving Post

Pretend this me, screenwriting

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I'll keep this short. Here are some screenplay resources of possible interest.

International Screenwriters' Association -- Writing Gigs

Google presents: Jane Espenson



Happy Thanksgiving!

PS: Liz Phair is awesome. :)

Quotation for the Week of November 18

 "True artists ship."
-- Steve Jobs

Make Smart Use of Social Media (Updated)

Writers need to spend less time doing crap with social media, and more time making meaningful use of it.

It's fine to make friends and network using various types of social media, but you need to manage your time and not get carried away or distracted by endless chit chat. Time management is key for all business owners, and that includes writers. So make whatever you do or write worth your effort.

Here are what I hope will be some helpful links:

How to drive sales through social media.

Why small businesses need Instagram.

Instagram: the most powerful sales platform on the Internet?

Go for the gusto, dude!

Don't rely only on Amazon to sell your books!

Ignore the doomsayers.

This photo says it all! :)

Quotation for the Week of November 11

“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.”
-- Lao Tzu



Remember? :)

Fearless Wealth Creation

This is a writer's worst enemy. Not just the fear of the blank page, either. It's the fear that you're worth nothing.

Writers are the only people who go into business not expecting to make money, because they do it for love. This confuses the issues.

You can work at a job you love and be paid what you're worth. This isn't a sin. There's no shame in seeking to be paid for your work, even if you enjoy doing it.

The thing is that if you want to be a real indie, you have to be willing to take risks. You must overcome your fears and think of more than just immediate return on investment.



Video via Michael Allen Ellis

PS: Are you in the writing profession or the writing business? (Thank you, C.D. Reimer!)

Quotation for the Week of November 4

"I will play to the people. I don't play to the Government of anything... I'm playing to human beings, and to deny me that right and turn music into some kind of political joystick is quite repulsive to me, and really, really wrong."
-- John Lydon


 

Keep Reading, Keep Networking On and Offline (Updated)

When it comes to being a true indie author, one must be prepared to innovate. Use all your resources. Don't just blog, Facebook and tweet and expect people to come to you. You need to think like a business owner. Reach out to potential partners. This could include other authors, other writers, editors, other publishing professionals, screenwriting professionals, and other people involved in the television and filmmaking industry.

And, of course, one should reach out first and foremost to family and friends. Anyone who's familiar with one's work should be contacted and kept abreast of one's progress as an indie writer.

Ideally, one should keep an email list of contacts, so as to keep people informed of the latest significant developments, such as reviews, new releases, awards, interviews, events and other news.

This can be handled through Facebook page messages, or LinkedIn messaging, as well as emailed newsletters.

However, ironically, there's really no substitute for actually going places and meeting people. :)

Me and reader, Paul Downie, at THE Brentwood Library

Now ... here are some links of possible interest:

Barnes & Noble finally gets to the UK! I guess.

Random House and Penguin merge. So ... it's the 1980s all over again. But have they fixed the broken publishing business model? That's the question.

Google is like Apple, with devices in three sizes. Awesome.

Are you afraid to innovate?

Finding a job you love: myths and reality.

A must-watch video on crowdfunding!



UPDATE: Austin Film Festival takeaways.