I've recently had some thoughts regarding Amazon reviewers. I've come to recognize that many reviewers fall into certain types. At another level, I suspect that the reviews for each type reflect the personality type that resides behind them. Follow me here. So far I've received 20 Amazon reviews for my book, THE OTHER. Of those, fourteen … Continue reading It’s Just A Review, Right?
Thoughts on Writing
Your Niche Audience
Last Thursday evening found me at the Santa Maria Public Library's Shepard Hall talking about my book and, most particularly, about publishing in today's digital world. The attendees were a mix of young students and mature writers, and not much in between. I had been advertised as a local writer, which appeared to be the … Continue reading Your Niche Audience
The Power Of Free
Yes, I have already written a post about the marketing technique of giving away books. Next to publishing multiple books, it is the most suggested marketing ploy. I mention it once again because I am on the cusp of learning how effective it really is. Six weeks ago I began giving away my eBook, THE OTHER. My … Continue reading The Power Of Free
An Evening With A Writer
This space is customarily devoted to helpful words about writing, excerpts from my personal learning curve. Today I write about another writer. I feel justified in this because this writer is, in fact, part of my learning curve. This past week was spent at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference. An aged institution, with fine old traditions built … Continue reading An Evening With A Writer
Dealing With Critical Reviews
First of all, may I point out that a critical review is better than none at all. Way better, in fact. There are books that have risen from obscurity to notoriety simply because of critical reviews. On a lesser scale, a critical review serves several functions, not the least of which is to cast a … Continue reading Dealing With Critical Reviews
Traditional Publishing? or Self Publishing
Yes, it is the usual quandary. Should one choose representation, assistance, recognition, and maybe an advance on the one hand? Or total control with lots of work (or great expense) on the other? But wait. After months of weighing and considering each approach, I've come across a rather compelling argument for a third. It comes … Continue reading Traditional Publishing? or Self Publishing
Edit Devils
Editing your own book is nigh unto impossible. It's all about left brain language translation of right brain creativity. Your idea generates in your right brain as an entire entity, full-blown and in full color, all its dimensions intact. But when the right brain passes this idea on to be interpreted into language, much of … Continue reading Edit Devils
Talk About It
While it may sometimes seem that everyone in the world is writing a book that is in direct competition with your own, the fact is that there are even more people who haven't written anything at all and who see such an accomplishment as amazing. And there are many who would like to write a … Continue reading Talk About It
Patience and Positive thinking
Can there be any doubt that the most difficult aspect of writing for publication is patience? Even in our virtual world where our thoughts, queries, and questions are whisked away to the desktop of the recipient in an instant, waiting is a large part of the process. Although I have had one agent response in … Continue reading Patience and Positive thinking
Free for a Fee
Yes, from Google and others of the same ilk comes the sales concept of "free". Give away meaningful things in a forthright manner and people will remember; you will store up their good will, excite their curiosity, and eventually, there will be a payday. It works. Everything about the publication and marketing of my novel … Continue reading Free for a Fee
R Lawson Gamble 