Finally, I will be replacing the Tweetly News with a new weekly update of upcoming literary events happening around the city. I have searched and searched, and I have not been able to find one place that locals can go for a list of all upcoming literary events in the New Orleans metro area. I would love to have a one stop shop where New Orleans literary lovers can go to find information on local authors, events, and programming.

Hopefully, this revitalization of my blog will provide a vital service to our community by getting local authors’ stories out there, by promoting our local bookstores, and by informing other literary nerds of the happenings of our community. If you happen to have information on a great local author or any events happening around the city, I would love to hear about it! I look forward to becoming more of a part of the New Orleans literary circle!

“A question that I always get is ‘Do you wear boxers or briefs?’ My answer is always ‘At my age, Depends.” ~ Stephen King

One of the things on my bucket list is to see Stephen King in the flesh. Last night, on November 12, 2011, thanks to Octavia Books, I was able to cross that off. Stephen King made his very first trip to New Orleans to promote his new book, 11/22/63, about an English teacher named Jake Epping who goes back in time to try to stop the Kennedy assassination. Only 250 signed copies of the book were available, and in a sea about 2,000 fans, I was lucky enough to score one!

Casually dressed in blue jeans and a black jacket, King opened with the quote “At some point tonight, you’ll be alone, you’ll be in the dark, and then you’ll be mine.” He entranced fans for about an hour, giving hilarious anecdotes about being recognized in public, reading an excerpt from his new book, and answering fan’s questions. On his first visit to the Big Easy, he ate beignets and poboys and teased about how if he stayed in the city, he would end up as big as John Candy. He included anecdotes about being berated by old ladies for “those terrifying horror stories” and about being mistaken for celebrities like Frances Ford Coppola and Steven Spielberg.

My favorite anecdote was about a time when he was on a morning show and had stomach problems. He went to the bathroom, which had an attendant that, according to King, was about 100 years old, as that is a requirement for bathroom attendants. The stalls unfortunately had no doors, but King said that he wasn’t worried about doors at this point. He sat down on the toilet, and the attendant approached him and asked if he was Stephen King. He said yes, and then the attendant asked for his autograph while he was sitting on the toilet! “Being an accommodating person, I gave it to him,” said King to a roomful of laughter.

In discussing his newly published novel, 11/22/63, he talked about the amount of research it took him and about the fact that he began writing the book in the 1970’s but put it aside because he didn’t feel it was the right time. He feels that now is the right time because of the similarities between Kennedy’s presidency and Obama’s, and he said that both presidents’ decisions could have taken the country in either a good or bad direction. The inspiration for the novel came when he was 25 years old and sitting in a teacher’s lounge discussing the Kennedy assassination with colleagues. The question of what would things be like if Kennedy had escaped assassination came up, and the idea for this novel was born. 40 years later, it’s finally hitting the shelves to the delight of King fans everywhere. He read an excerpt from the novel and posited that, based on his extensive research, Lee Harvey Oswald was a lone assassin.

King also discussed previously published books and said that The Shining scared him so much while writing it that he frequently had to hide the manuscript at night. He has already written sequels to The Shining and a new Dark Tower book, but he gave no indication as to when we might see them hit the shelves. He also said that he thought Pet Sematary was a piece of horrible writing, which meant that he should have known it would reach #1. He noted that he was extremely pleased with the casting for The Shawshank Redemption and Stand by Me, but he was not pleased with the casting for Stanley Kubrick’s version of The Shining, indicating that he understood why Jack Nicholson was going after Shelley Duvall with an axe. He also mentioned that the kids from It make an appearance in 11/22/63.

On the personal side, King said that he is scared of speaking in front of large crowds, spiders, snakes, the movie Fatal Attraction, and the book The Lord of the Flies. He also said that he’s a New Orleans Saints fan, but his first loyalty is to the New England Patriots.

King was extremely genuine, witty, and charismatic, proving why he is a master storyteller and one of the most prolific writers of our time. I am excited to cross meeting Stephen King off of my bucket list, and I wasn’t disappointed!

Let’s start with a NaNoWriMo Prayer:

As a NaNoWriMo virgin, I am using this year’s National Novel Writing Month to get the novel together that I’ve been mulling over for 6 years. It’s about time I get this thing down on paper! But writing over 1600 words per day and 50,000 words in one month seems like a pretty daunting task. To keep myself motivated, I’ve been searching for tips and tricks that veteran NaNoWriMo’ers have used, and I’ve compiled these here so that we can all use them as motivation. I have written down my ultimate goal on a sticky note and stuck it in every place I can see: bedroom/bathroom mirrors, refrigerator, computer, work cubicle…it says “Get it down on paper.” A goal in 5 words or less. I challenge you to come up with your own goal in 5 words or less and use it as motivation throughout the month of November. I’ve heard that the third and fourth weeks are pretty rough Post your goals in comments!

Here are some tools and motivators to help get you in the zone:

You Tube Video Spoofs:

These two NaNoWriMo parody music videos are my favorite, but you can visit the You Tube channel here to find more.

NaNoWriMo Motivational Calendars:

Again, these are just a few of my favorites. Check out Deviant Art to find more.

NaNoWriMo Desktop

Camp NaNoWriMo 2011

Cult NaNoWriMo

Wrimo Holiday

Challenge Accepted!

Wanted: 50,000 Words in 30 Days

And now, some motivational pictures and quotes:

Check out Pinterest and the NaNoToons Facebook Page for more!

Finally, something very useful: an Excel Spreadsheet from S.M. Worth to help you keep track of your progress throughout the month. Great for any project!

And, of course, anyone who decides to participate belongs with me here in Writing Wonderland:

Follow my progress on NaNoWriMo! You can also follow the official NaNoWriMo blog, which is run by The Office of Letters and Light, the nonprofit organization that runs NaNoWriMo. I will also post twice during the month of November to keep you updated on my progress. Feel free to comment here with your own motivational techniques!

Happy writing!

June 5, 2011

Friends of the Mad Hatter: Tweeter of the Week

@JaneFriedman

@Working_Writer

News:

http://reut.rs/keVxoL – Digital book companies jostle for dominance in NY via @PublishersWkly

http://bit.ly/khTihr – Poisonous literary feuds: Paul Theroux and VS Naipaul have made up, but other novelists are still slugging it out via @PublishersWkly

http://su.pr/22vkeC – Amazon wants a paperback partner, as Eisler reveals his deal via @thecreativepenn

http://su.pr/1XDtLK – 3 Publishing Trends Writers Must Stay on Top of via @JaneFriedman

http://bit.ly/irNTgT – From Epicenter: 5 Reasons Why E-Books Aren’t There Yet via @PublishersWkly

http://mbist.ro/jqZh0Q – Indie Booksellers Choice Award Winners via @GalleyCat

Tips:

http://bit.ly/m5v4WX – Techniques for Plotting via @elizabethscraig

http://ht.ly/52aug – 20 Tips to Help You Keep Writing via @dirtywhitecandy

http://bit.ly/mUJKTM – 3 Signs You’re Renovating a Condemned Novel via @Writeitsideways

http://ow.ly/1cXkul – The Value of Reading Your Book Aloud via @WritersDigest

http://su.pr/79dVQC – How to write, self-publish, and market a thriller that kills on Amazon via @hopkinsonreport

http://dld.bz/tbyD – Clone Yourself: Marketing Tips That Help You Be In Two Places At The Same Time via @tonyeldridge

http://mbist.ro/lQEHuh – Tips & tools for promoting your novel before publication via @GalleyCat

http://bit.ly/iT53uH – Resources for Young Writers via @elizabethscraig

http://bit.ly/kRiJIt – Constructing Your First Chapter via @elizabethscraig

http://mbist.ro/hLyKiX – Best Publicists on Twitter via @GalleyCat

Social Media/Technology:

http://ow.ly/569PD – How to Develop a Social Media Strategy that Works via @SMedio

http://bit.ly/he9Hzh – Author Blogs – Avoid Common Mistakes when Using Categories via @JFBookman

http://bit.ly/iYM1kK – Introversion/Extroversion and Social Media via @elizabethscraig

http://mbist.ro/leyc8N – 4 tools to promote your author blog on Twitter & Tumblr via @GalleyCat

http://bit.ly/k4TtSS – Twitter Follow Button Simplified via @GalleyCat

Just for Fun:

http://mbist.ro/iGFDlF – Best & Worst Book Trailers of the Year via @GalleyCat

Here is a basic dictionary of Twitter terms to help you get started. The terminology can sometimes be the most confusing part of Twitter.

Tweet: A post or update on Twitter.

Retweet (or RT): When you forward, or share, someone else’s Tweet with your followers or when they share yours.

Followers: People who follow you, or your “friends,” on Twitter.

DM: Direct message. This is how people message you directly and privately on Twitter.

Hashtag: All hashtags begin with the pound sign (#) and are used to mark key words or topics in a tweet. This was created to have an easy way to categorize tweets.

@: The @ symbol is used to call out user names within tweets. When the @ symbol is used proceeded by a user name (@cheshirescribe) it then becomes a link to that user’s Twitter page.

@reply: A public message that is sent to you via a tweet. They are distinguished by calling out a user name at the beginning of the tweet. You will typically see conversations happening this way:

@cheshirescribe: I need one more follower to reach my first goal of 200!

@KelleeMagee: @cheshirescribe YAY! Am I #200?

@cheshirescribe: @KelleeMagee You are either #200 or #201. Thanks!

Mention: When someone calls out your user name within a tweet, it is called a “mention.”

SMS: Short messaging device or text messaging.

Trending Topic: The most popular subjects on Twitter at that particular moment. Twitter determines these by how many people are using that particular hashtag.

Tweeter: A Twitter account holder that sends out tweets.

Widget: Code that can be placed anywhere on the web (web site, Facebook fan page, etc.) that shows a live feed of your tweets.

URL Shortener: Tweeters use sites such as www.bit.ly or http://ow.ly to shorten links so that they take up less tweet space. You only have 140 characters per tweet, so shortening links is a must! These sites, particularly www.bit.ly, will also provide you with analytics on how many people clicked on the link and shared the link.

So, how do I get started? Here is Twitter’s page on signing up.

Once you’re registered, the best way to start the conversation is to search for lists, groups, hashtags, and other users that are in your industry and who would be interested in your content. Of course, you should also be interested in what they are posting. I recommend going to Twitter’s advanced search site. The site allows you to find tweets based on subject matter, specific people, location, dates posted, and even the “attitude” of the tweet (did the person put a smiley face or a frowny face in the tweet?). Search for your industry/subject, people that you know within the industry, and people in your general geographic area, and follow them. You should also follow major players within your industry. For example, if you are a writer, you would want to follow Writer’s Digest, other famous writers (i.e. Stephen King) and Publisher’s Weekly, among others. Also, look through the followers of the people you are following and through the people that they follow. This will give you a plethora of users to follow.

Once you’ve started following some key people within your industry, start retweeting them. Search for blog posts and articles online that are relevant to the conversation and tweet links to them. And, every so often, tweet about your baby having his/her first steps or about that chatty lady behind you in line at the grocery store. The best way to gain legitimate followers on Twitter is for people to know a) that you’re a real person and b) that you have something relevant to say. A good mix of tweets that proves those two things are your best bet to success on Twitter.

Some other quick tips:

• Make sure that your bio includes your web site and is relevant to what you are doing. You don’t want a bio that says “I love ice cream!” You want to make sure it is professional and that it includes as much information as anyone would need about you. This is what people will read to determine whether or not they want to follow you. You only have 160 characters, so you want to make them count.
• Make sure that the photo you use is professional and is not a logo. Using a logo for your photo will make people think that you are a spammer. At the same time, make sure that you’re not using a photo of yourself drunk at Mardi Gras.
• Make your profile public. The reason you are on Twitter is so that people can find you. If your profile is private, they won’t be able to do so.
• You do not have to follow someone just because they follow you. If what they have to say does not interest you and is not relevant to the conversation you wish to be a part of, you have every right to not follow them.
• Do not set up automatic DM’s when someone follows you. You do not want to send messages that say “Thanks for following me! Check out my website at —-.” This comes across as spammy and may make the person question following you in the first place. If they decided to follow you, it’s because they have an interest in what you are doing. They likely have already been to your web site, and if not, they can find it in your bio.

Here are some other resources that will help you get started:

Inkygirl’s Writer’s Guide to Twitter

Twitter Support Page

Twitter Tips: Twitip

50 Power Twitter Tips

Twitter Guide for Beginners

Also be sure to follow @Twitter_Tips to get regular tips on using Twitter. And, follow me! @cheshirescribe. If you DM me and let me know that you read this post, I will follow you as well! You should also stay tuned weekly for my Tweetly News with the Mad Hatter and check out the Social Media/Technology section, where you can find additional tips/tricks.

May 22, 2011

Friends of the Mad Hatter: Tweeter of the Week

@janewrites

Story of the Week

Hands of Time by @melissalwebb

The Mad Hatter’s Favorite Tweet of the Week

via @AdviceToWriters Good books don’t give up all their secrets at once. STEPHEN KING

News:

http://bit.ly/mCCs2L – PaidContent: Is There A Market For Selling E-books In Brick And Mortar Stores? via @PublishersWkly

http://bo.st/jns8Qh – Mass. bookstore helps teens build their resume, rebuild their lives via @PublishersWkly

http://bit.ly/lzi1eg – E-book buzz buoys CBA conference in Toronto, despite low bookseller turnout via @PublishersWkly

http://bit.ly/kj70ie – Happy news: New bookstore, cafe opens this week in Spring Green, Wisconsin via @PublishersWkly

http://ow.ly/4Y7tz – Amazon to support e-PUB? via @PublishersWkly

http://tinyurl.com/4ynqkbh – E-book trends to watch for in 2011 via @janewrites

http://j.mp/ismpkR – Amazon.com Now Selling More Kindle Books Than Print Books via @Self_Publish

Tips:

http://bit.ly/isnMOV – Show vs. Tell via @elizabethscraig

http://bit.ly/lp5v8e – Genre and Soy Sauce – Finding What You Want via @elizabethscraig

http://bit.ly/mpINbH – 10 Ways to Improve Your Proofreading via @elizabethscraig

http://bit.ly/kknQxX – Tips on Cliffhangers via @elizabethscraig

http://selfpub.me/iWGhBf – Self Publishing Checklist via @Self_Publish

http://goo.gl/XDROf – Bestselling Author Leigh Russell’s Advice to Aspiring Writers via @LynetteBenton

http://bit.ly/koacAp – 10 Simple Ways to Double the Speed of Your Writing via @BubbleCow

http://bit.ly/fYz71M – Copy Editing For Writers Looking To Self-Publish via @BubbleCow

http://su.pr/1YF1c3 – How Writers are Like Road Construction Workers via @thecreativepenn

Social Media/Technology:

http://ow.ly/4W3Lv – Author Blogging and Reader Engagement via @bookbuzzr

http://bit.ly/lR9Qra – 11 Handy Twitter Tools via @TonyNoland

http://t.co/xdDqOxS – How to Use Charts to Research Your Novel via @GalleyCat

http://ht.ly/4VYZt - 3 reasons description is important; 3 ways it isn’t via @dirtywhitecandy

http://bit.ly/lCL1jM – Using Twitter to Grow Your Business via @davidshawblog

http://bit.ly/izdKsi – 45 LinkedIn Groups for Publishing Professionals via @SueCollier

http://bit.ly/lA2dju – How to Make a Super 8 Book Trailer via @elizabethscraig

http://ow.ly/4ZPDI – Top 100 Social Media, Internet Marketing, and SEO Blogs 2011 via @KenBanks

http://ow.ly/4ZNbO – 3 Easy Steps to Increase Sharing of Your Blog Posts via @SocialNetDaily

Just for Fun:

Getting started is the most difficult part, as there is so much out there, it is overwhelming. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, blogging, web sites, search engine optimization, mini pages, Stumble Upon, Digg, oh my! And that doesn’t even scratch the surface. So, where do you start? Over the next few weeks, I will lay out a basic plan and some resources to help you get started with building your online presence. This will not be comprehensive; however, it will give you a basic guide to help you get set up for success online.

What is social networking? Social networking is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building a community of individuals who share interests and/or activities.

Why become involved? Social networking is the marketing of the future. It is a way to engage in conversations with both professionals and customers within your industry that have similar interests. Perhaps the best perk to social networking/media is that it allows you direct access to the people who are interested in purchasing your product.

Types of Networks

There are several types of social networks, and the easiest way to categorize them is into three categories: customer facing, peer facing, and dual.

Customer facing networks are one-way sites that allow you to communicate directly with customers; however, they do not encourage feedback from customers. It is possible for individuals to leave feedback, but it is not common. You have the most control over these types of networks but it is difficult to get the word out that you have actually posted something, and you do not usually receive constructive feedback from customers. These types of networks include YouTube and static web sites.

Peer facing networks are networks that allow you to make connections with other professionals in your industry. These networks encourage communication and idea sharing among professionals and typically have individuals create profiles, connect to each other, and build their networks. These types of networks include LinkedIn and other professional networks.

Dual networks allow you to communicate both with customers and with peers and/or other professionals. Most of these networks encourage two-way communication and feedback among its members. These networks are where you communicate with friends and family, customers, and peers, all in the same place. You can release information as well as obtain feedback. You have the least control over these networks, but they also give you the most access to the general public. These types of networks include Facebook and Twitter.

Your best strategy would include building an online presence encompassing all three types of networks.

Where to Start

The first thing you should do is research the social media sites for your particular industry. Each specific industry has its own specialized sites where you can engage in conversations about your product. Since I am a writer, I will provide specific resources for other writers as examples; however, I encourage you to do your own research and find these specialized sites within your own industry. Here are a few places where you can get started:

Wikipedia’s List of Social Networking Sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites

Writing: Goodreads, LibraryThing, Redroom, She Writes, Shelfari, BookTour.com, Digital Book World

Blogging: Blogger, ExpressionEngine, LiveJournal, Open Diary, TypePad, Vox, WordPress, Xanga

Microblogging: Foursquare, Jaiku, Tumblr, Twitter, Google Buzz, Qaiku, Plurk

Social Networking: ASmallWorld, Bebo, Cyworld, Facebook, Hi5, LinkedIn, MySpace, Ning, Tagged, Yammer

Events: Eventful, The Hotlist, Meetup.com, Upcoming

Social Bookmarking (Tagging): Google Reader, StumbleUpon, Diigo, CiteULike

Social News: Digg, Mixx, Reddit, Newsvine

Document Managing/Editing: Google Docs, Docs.com, Dropbox.com, Syncplicity

Multimedia: Flickr, Photobucket, Picasa, Vimeo, YouTube, Viddler, Livestream, Skype, Ustream, Pandora Radio, SlideShare

Helpful Tools to Manage All of Your Social Media: HootSuite, Ping.fm

I also recommend searching on Google, especially Google Blogs, for industry specific sites, blogs, and social networks.

Useful Tools:

• HootSuite: A site that allows you to manage all of your major social networks in one place. Login to Facebook (personal and fan pages), Twitter, LinkedIn, and others and release status updates to all at once. You may also schedule your updates to happen at specific times and dates. Create several updates and schedule them for a few hours apart to make it look as if you are updating throughout the day. You can manage up to 5 networks for free. You can even link in your blog so that when it is updated, a message goes out to all of your social networks.
• Ping.fm: A similar tool to HootSuite, this is another gateway for multiple platforms. You can manage all of your social networks in one place. You may not, however, schedule updates as you can with HootSuite. This tool is completely free.

Getting Started

Once you have researched the best sites, I would recommend implementing three to start: Facebook, Twitter, and one other free specialized network for your industry. These are the easiest and the most widely used networks, and it won’t cost you anything to get started but time. Go online and create profiles on each of these sites, ensuring that your profiles are 100% complete. Here are some quick tips:

1.       Make sure that your profile picture is professional and personal. Logos are fine for websites, but customers want to see that there is a face behind the logo. And they don’t want that face to be drunk at Mardi Gras.

2.       Your bio must include all appropriate information to your product or business, but it must also be personal. Tag yourself as a person, not as a company or product. Also be sure to include your website, Twitter handle, Facebook fan page, and/or blog address in your bio.

3.       Ensure that your status updates are varied and relevant. If you just send out updates promoting your product or business, people will designate you as spam and will not follow you. At the same time, you do not want every update to be about what you ate for lunch today. Include things in your updates such as relevant articles in your industry, new blog posts, sharing of ideas, and cool events taking place.

As I stated previously, these are just some tips to get you started, but this does not skim the surface of what you can potentially employ. Social media can quickly become a time sucker, but it does not have to be. If used correctly, you can harness these online networks to help you build your brand and marketing strategy to reach a wider base of customers than you ever thought imaginable.

Sources:

Wikipedia.com

www.ceciliatan.com

I have been named a Stylish Blog by Closet Writer (Thanks!), and in return, I am supposed to tell you 7 things about myself and then pass the award along to another blogger. Here are 7 things you likely do not know about me:

1. I am a Disney fanatic, especially with Winnie the Pooh. I have a giant stuffed Tigger that I hold tight and a real life Tigger, a Yorkie-Pomeranian mixed 11 lb. puppy. I am SO excited about the new Winnie the Pooh movie coming out this summer!
2. I used to be the mascot for our AAA baseball team here in New Orleans, the Zephyrs. I still moonlight as a mascot from time to time at other places as well.
3. I have 5 pets – Tigger, an Australian Shepherd named Indiana Jones (Indy), and three cats – Aurora, Fiona, and Ellie. My house is a zoo!
4. I am attending the New Kids on the Block/Backstreet Boys concert in Lafayette in June, and I’m excited about it. Embarrassing, yes, but when I was a teenager, it was cool. I promise.
5. I have mild OCD. Isn’t that natural for most writers? I have to do everything in threes: I have to kiss my husband three times before leaving in the morning, if I’m knocking on someone’s door, I must knock three times, etc. It’s a coping mechanism so that I can feel like I have control. I know this. It just makes me feel better.
6. I LOVE polka dots and the color green. I have several outfits to prove it.
7. I miss 24 and Lost desperately. I haven’t been able to find any shows good enough to replace them. There are decent shows now, but none that keep me at the edge of my seat like those two did.

And now, to announce the blogger to which I bestow the Stylish Award (drumroll please!):

Congratulations to my friend Sam Adamson @FutureNostalgic! Here is his blog: http://future-nostalgic.blogspot.com/

Hope you learned some interesting things about me!

The following are June’s rules/guidelines for writing mysteries:

• Readers want to solve a crime/puzzle before the detective.
• Keep the action moving. Don’t get bogged down in backstory.
• Create a plot outline, including the beginning, the crime, uncovering clues, the climax, and the ending.
• Create a lot of trouble for the protagonist.
• Create scenes.
• Introduce the detective, culprit, and crime early.
• Hook readers right away. We live in a society of instant gratification.
• The crime must be violent (usually a murder) and believable.
• The culprit must be physically able to commit the crime.
• Don’t try to trick your readers.
• Don’t make the detective the killer.
• Plant red herrings generously. Plant real clues subtly.
• You must have different suspects with motives.
• Wait as long as you can to reveal who did it.
• Do your research.
• You want to create suspense in your books, no matter what genre you write.
• You get more charge out of a disaster if it takes place at the end of a scene.
• Give the readers only enough information for them to figure it out – they will fill in the blanks.
• A reader can’t be in suspense if he/she doesn’t know what’s coming.

Happy Writing!

Here is Robin’s advice on being a writer:

• Be a keen observer – ponder the way people do things and why.
• You already know more than you think you know. If you are an avid reader, you already know how to be a writer.
• If you really want to write a novel, you have the talent to do so. If you didn’t have the talent, you wouldn’t be compelled to write.
• What is voice? Your unique way of telling a story, the choices you make as a writer, your tone and style. Voice cannot be taught; it is innate.
• Craft is the learned skill that can be honed and perfected.
• Someday can easily turn into never. Don’t say “someday I’ll be a writer.” You need to make the commitment to write NOW.
• Writers tend to be perfectionists. Give yourself permission to write badly. “You can change a bad page, but you can’t change a blank page.”
• Have good “writing hygiene.” Set a routine so that your brain knows that it’s time to write. Create a ritual to ease you into it.
• Make time for your dream. When you make the commitment to write, take it just as seriously as the commitments you make to others. Give yourself just 10 minutes a day to write, and you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish.
• Write from a place that scares you.
• Persistence counts for more than talent. You have to show up at the page again and again, get rejected again and again, revise again and again, until you’re tired of it.
• The joy of writing is in the journey, not in the destination.

Stay tuned for some final advice from award winning local author, June Shaw!