Why I'm putting my book on Kindle Select

When I heard about Amazon's new deal to give authors an incentive to let Kindle owners "borrow" their book, I was initially against it. I didn't (and still don't) want Amazon to create a monopoly for books.

However, after reading several people's positive accounts of the service, I relented. Since the program was announced, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords haven't done anything to make me keep my book up there, and the benefits seem to outweigh the negatives.

I get money if someone "borrows" my book. I can set my book as free for a few days.

If you want to read Flyday but you only have a Nook, Kindle for PC is a free download, and the book is available in paperback, either straight from me, or from Amazon or bn.com. I'll try this out for three months, and if I decide it's not worth it, it will be back up everywhere on April 19th.

Saturnine is currently undergoing edits, and I still plan to give it a wide release (Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and eventually paperback) as soon as it's finished. Keep checking back for more updates

Fear - and how it affects writers

First off, I did a guest post on my friend Jeff van Booven's blog on atheism. Ooh, ahh.

I am outlining a new book (one of the many I need to finish) and right now I'm in the infatuation stage, where everything reminds me of the book, and I keep thinking of great new ideas.

Who cares if it's a mess of notes, character design, and bits and pieces of scenes? It's my creative mess, and I like it.

But is that really why I'm working on the new book? I could go back and finish editing my last book, if I wasn't so worried over some of the edits.

Fear leads to stagnation.

Stagnation leads nowhere.

Don't get me wrong: lot of writers' fears are certainly right. "Does my book suck?" It's possible. "Will it hit bestseller lists?" Unless you're John Grisham--in your dreams.

Fear can often be grounded in reality. But fear also leads to writers closing Word documents and saying "Maybe tomorrow. Maybe next week." Months like November, when people rush to write 50,000 words, are a kick in the pants. Most of the novels--heck, I would say almost all of them--are terrible.

And then there was Water for Elephants, which started as a NaNo book. What if fear kept the author from writing it?

So let me list my fears...
What if people don't like this book?
What if I can't pull off a thriller/YA novel/etiquette guide for zombies? What then?

Normal enough. But why do we, as writers, edit and re-edit and re-edit and worry that our work won't be perfect? Nothing is perfect. Your favorite book will be the next person's novel-thrown-across-the-room. The novel you throw across the room today could be the novel you fall in love with next year.

So take that fear and put it into your work. Don't let it paralyze you. View it as something positive--something to help you improve. You are, essentially, playing around on a computer until you come up with something entertaining. So go do it.

What are your biggest fears as a writer?

Saturnine cover design

Thanks to everyone who entered my contest on S.M. Boyce's blog to win a copy of Flyday. The winner was chosen and I shipped out a signed copy. The contest is still going on for many other books, so go enter!

And as for Saturnine's cover art ... it's here!

Huge thanks to Robin Ludwig, who designed it. I'll keep you all posted about the release when the ebook is ready--won't be long now.

Recommendations for new writers

Awhile back I wrote something up for new writers, but I can't find it so I'm retyping it. I found these books/resources really, really helpful when I started writing.

Things to read when you are learning to write:

• Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott. Buy this book now. You can try to wheedle a copy out of another writer, but I guarantee they won't give it up.

• On Writing, by Stephen King. Most of it is autobiographical, but several people swear by it so I stuck it on this list.

• In the Palm of Your Hand: The Poet's Portable Workshop, by Steve Kowitt. Read this if you're into poetry.

• The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr. & E. B. White. Classic. Goes without saying.

• Story Engineering by Larry Brooks. This saved my latest novel.

Things to read if you want to go indie:

• Becoming an Indie Author, by Zoe Winters.

• J.A. Konrath's blog: jakonrath.blogspot.com. He writes a lot about self-publishing.

New year's resolution

I have a new philosophy.

I had a rough week, with people telling me I can't do things, or that I'm going about everything the wrong way. Or people in general who are trying to bring me down under their storm clouds.

So starting today, I'm not going to keep track of things going wrong, but things going right.

I have a family where everyone's healthy. Even my youngest brother, who has autism, is learning to talk (thank you Sesame Street). I have many wonderful friends who continue to amaze me every day.

So in the new year, I ask not that things be better ... but that I learn to recognize what I already have.

Win a signed copy of Flyday

The awesome S.M. Boyce is running a giveaway on her blog every day for the month of January, and Flyday's contest starts on the 1st! Contest page.

You can win a free signed copy of Flyday if you're in the US, so go enter on the 1st. And check out the many other books on there.

Writers: know your audience

I had to go to the post office sometime in the autumn, and when I dropped by early in the morning, I was surprised to see a huge line. I'm used to going in the early afternoon, and being one of the few people there. So I got in line and waited. And waited.

One of the workers was trying to explain to someone that he needed to write the send-to address on his package.

"But it has my name on it," said the customer.

"Yes," said the postal worker, "but who are you sending it to?"

Lightbulb moment. The man took out a piece of paper and copied an address onto the package. That stuck with me all day. How can a person expect to mail a package but not put the destination on it? What did he expect to happen?

Well, writers do it all the time.

I see a lot of writers trying to pitch books that really wouldn't appeal to anyone but themselves. Or they might resist making needed edits. If you try to tell them this, they'll say, "But I'm the writer! I decide what happens in the story!"

This is entirely true; however, readers can decide not to read it.

When you're writing your book, in that precious, embryonic stage, definitely write whatever you feel is necessary. But once you open that door to criticism, be ready to take it. Get advice from other writers, preferably, whose opinions you trust.

I see a lot of writers taking off now in indie publishing, and it's clear they didn't just finish a manuscript and upload it. They took time to revise, and they know what sells and can write it in a compelling, illuminating way.

You're not just keeping a journal here. You're writing to help entertain, amuse, or inspire other people. Keep your audience in mind. When you release that book, who do you want to read it?