Steaming Into 2017

Hello 2017.

I was surfing the internet today looking for inspiring blog posts for the first roundup of the year and an avalanche of great thoughts from the publishing blogosphere came thick and fast.

While the Southern Hemisphere is taking off to the beach and shutting down for Summer, the Northern Hemisphere, where the bulk of the Traditional Publishers have their head offices, are planning and implementing changes.

The demise of publisher All Romance Ebooks hit romance writers hard. A going out of business email on the 28^th of December giving everybody 4 days notice is particularly nasty. Kristine Rusch writes about this and how it might have come about. 

If you are involved in publishing with a small press PLEASE READ IT! Even if you are not, you should read it because this scenario will be played out again and again with publishers big and small. This is a publishing economics lesson!

(And then read part two!)

If you are writing in the educational market then news that PRH is selling Pearson may be a small shock. Is 2017 going to be the year of big change in the textbook market?

Jane Friedman had a great roundup post of the important changes in publishing in 2016.

Jane references the Digital Book World conference, which is on at the moment and there is some great stuff coming out from that. (#DBW17) Porter Anderson talks about the opening day themes and where publishing might be heading in 2017.

Susan Spann is also looking at things writers might need to do differently in 2017. As a writer and a practising lawyer Susan is a fund of great information.

WriteOnCon, the online writing conference, is happening in February. For the first time there will be a charge but it is only $5. Take a look at the Schedule and drool.

Jane Friedman has two great posts on distribution. The new kid on the block, Pronoun, is offering great deals for authors who sign up with them and Should you be in an exclusive relationship with Amazon? (With 50% of print and digital sales, can you afford to turn your back on them?)

Ricardo Fayet of Reedsy has some great observations about author collaboration and how important he thinks it will be in 2017.

In The Craft Section,

How to start a story- Reedsy- Bookmark

Pacing and momentum in revision- April Bradley- Bookmark

Two interesting posts from Sara Letourneau. Writing Blurbs and Plot Arcs, pt 1. Bookmark both.

5 ways writers can screw up their characters

How to maximise your time for writing

Writing your next book.

In The Marketing Section,

7 Bookmarketing services to question- Jane Friedman- Bookmark

Book Cover credits- Mallory Rock

Setting Self Publishing goals, - Bibliocrunch

How to choose the best software for Print Design- Sarah Juckes for Alli - Bookmark

Negotiating Contract Options- Susan Spann

Tutorial on Using Canva for Social Media- Barb Drozdowich- Bookmark

How to market children’s books- Karen Inglis- Bookmark

To Finish,

Joanna Penn interviewed Kris Rusch recently and a fantastic interview it was too. Over the years I have learned a lot about how the business of writing works from Kris and Dean, her husband. Kris is free with her advice and time on her blog and there really is no one better to provide you with the long view in publishing and writing. 2017 is a new year. Kris talks about empowering authors to go out there and kick butt.

Maureen

@craicer

Pic: Flickr Creative Commons – Milo Bostock

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Christmas Craic-er

This is the last roundup for the year. 2016 has been a bit of a rollercoaster with world events. Hopefully 2017 will be more settled.

Last week the folks at the Future Book conference were looking forward to publishing in the future. This is a gathering of publishing industry movers and shakers who try to do some crystal ball gazing for planning. Porter Anderson writes about what issues were discussed and the way that the ‘book’ is making a comeback. An interesting read.

Kris Rusch talks about unexpectedly getting her rights back on some books and what that means for rejuvenating a series. This is a hot topic for authors who are often abandoned by their publishers in mid series. (All the reports I’ve read is that series traction is on Book 5 and publishers are bailing by Book 3 just when it gets interesting.)

Two great posts on the Killzone blog this week.

Larry Brooks on the Bestseller code- he examines that new book about how to make a bestseller and James Scott Bell on the Three Stooges of writing. Yes it is the Three Stooges!

Have you gone on a writing retreat? I go to a friend’s house twice a week to write. No internet...  no housework... no phonecalls... no distractions... It has been the best thing for my writing. Melanie Bishop writes about going away for long writing retreats and what happens to your brain, your soul and your writing.

Kelly McClymer talks about how and why you should be protecting your writing time. Sometimes it’s really hard. (This is why I leave the house... I dream of a little office every time I do the laundry.)

In The Craft Section,

Planning Character arcs- Mythcreants. This is a fascinating look at how to strengthen your characters. Bookmark

Rival Archetypes for your novel –Who’s the best antagonist for your protagonist C S Lakin- Bookmark

Writing while traveling- best tips- If you are traveling this Christmas break- Do some writing on the side.

Developing themes in the inciting incident- Excellent discussion by Sara Letourneau- Bookmark

10 ways to write better plots- Now Novel- Bookmark. Also 50 Creative Writing prompts- Bookmark and Print out!

How to make readers deeply connect with your character –Jeff Gerke (Hijack their emotions!)

In The Marketing Section,

Bookmark the Subscriber Newsletters Report by Virginia King on Molly Greene’s site. Virginia studied author newsletters in depth and found out what works and what doesn’t.

Writers Win has a great roundup of Author Cross Promotion ideas – Get a group together and have fun! Bookmark

Tara Spaldings Book Title generator- for that Christmas writer game that just might generate plot ideas.

Joanna Penn talks to J Daniel Sawyer on audiobook rights. If you thought there was only one right to exploit... think again... and they talk about how overseas authors can get into ACX. (yay!!)

To Finish,

Janice Hardy and Jami Gold are two smart cookies and they have blogs with EXCELLENT writing advice. This week Janice posted a great blog about ways to fight the end of year writing fatigue.

Jami has an exhaustive list of great writer gifts. I’ve got some great inspirations from this list to give myself... and others. Check it out!

I wish you a Happy and Festive Christmas Break... with lashings of plot ideas and laughter and friendship.

I’ll be back halfway through January 2017.

This year's christmas video. Enjoy! 

Merry Christmas,

Maureen

Pic: Flickr Creative Commons All Is Possible/wheatfields

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