THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB discussion

Adopt an artist.

www.ronaldpaxton.wordpress.com

Don’t Curb Your Enthusiasm. Check it out at http://www.marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you,

Marja

I've had a blog going for years, since 2009. Very, very successful at first, it even hit a ranking on Alexa right behind Anne R. Allen's own award-winning highly successful blog. But, alas, that didn't last and it's been floating upwards ever since! You can find it at a Wordpress address and a Blogspot one on Google, here: http://claudenougat.blogspot.it/

So I find that unless you have something really AMAZING to say, it's a waste of time, there are way too many blogs out there, upwards of one billion, as every possible business and your uncle has launched a website !!!

I see many of you write for other bloggers' blogs and that's a good idea - better still, write for a magazine! I'm Senior Editor at Impakter (been at it since 2014), a magazine aimed at Millennials with over 30,000 visitors PER WEEK and growing (that's something blogs can't equal) and I have found the experience highly stimulating.

The magazine is open for contributions, anywhere between a minimum of 800 words to a maximum of 2500 (send a word doc, suggestions for illustrative images, your bio in 5 lines, that's all that's required). The magazine covers a vast range of themes, take a look here: www.impakter.com

If there's something you want to say, we'd love to hear it, come and say it on Impakter and reach out to a new audience!

This week I’m a guest blogger on Patricia Gligor’s site. Please stop in at http://pat-writersforum.blogspot.com/ and read about traditional publishing vs. self-publishing.

Thank you,

Marja

Marja wrote: "This week I’m a guest blogger on Patricia Gligor’s site. Please stop in at http://pat-writersforum.blogspot.com/ and read about traditional publishing vs. self-publishing.

Thank you,

Marja"

NIce post, thanks. I'm glad self-publishing worked for you and I really appreciate that you didn't try to "sell it", indeed, everybody has to decide for herself!

This week’s blog is about the road to self-publishing, the first in a series. Please stop in at http://www.marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ to find out what it’s all about.

Thank you,

Marja

Claude wrote: "Marja wrote: "This week I’m a guest blogger on Patricia Gligor’s site. Please stop in at http://pat-writersforum.blogspot.com/ and read about traditional publishing vs. self-publishing.

Thank you,..."

Thank you, Claude. My regular blog is about the process this week, part of a short series. I have to be honest. I've been much happier as my own boss. : )

Marja wrote: "Claude wrote: "Marja wrote: "This week I’m a guest blogger on Patricia Gligor’s site. Please stop in at http://pat-writersforum.blogspot.com/ and read about traditional publishing vs. self-publishi..."

Oh, I think self-publishing works very well for authors like you who have been traditionally published and have lots of fans! For emerging writers like me with no recognizable name, self-publishing is simply...hell!!! Unless you love to plunge into marketing, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, the whole lot and are great at connecting with people online...And of course, write in a genre that is widely read online too - not my case, alas...

Claude wrote: "Marja wrote: "Claude wrote: "Marja wrote: "This week I’m a guest blogger on Patricia Gligor’s site. Please stop in at http://pat-writersforum.blogspot.com/ and read about traditional publishing vs...."

In answer to the self-publishing comment "self-publishing is simply...hell" You have to consider that when you self-publish, you have all the work of a regular publisher, which is getting the book ready for publication as well as the work of the author, which is the marketing end of it. I know several authors who were traditionally published and who had to market their books because the publisher did minimal if any marketing. And who can sell their own book better than the author?
I just blogged about my journey as a writer and listed several references you might consider: Dan Poynter's book, "The Self-Publishing Manual" (the best place to start!), another is "The Self-Publisher's Ultimate Resource Guide" by Joel Friedlander and Betty Kelly Sargent and a course in marketing by Nick Stephenson called "The First 10K Readers." These will help you with your publication journey. You can see my blog on these references at www.writingontheedgeofreality.esterlo...

Claude wrote: "Marja wrote: "Claude wrote: "Marja wrote: "This week I’m a guest blogger on Patricia Gligor’s site. Please stop in at http://pat-writersforum.blogspot.com/ and read about traditional publishing vs...."

First off, Claude, you (the general "you") need to change your perspective and mind set. Once your book is up, it's time to work hard, but to celebrate, too. Yes, I had traditional publishers, but they were small publishers and I still ended up doing most of the work myself. Writing really is a job and a business, and you have to set your mind to remember that every so often. : ) Start joining online groups that involve your genre, and read the blogs of others. Leave comments and get your name out there. That really is a good place to start working toward name recognition.

You can do it! I write light, somewhat humorous mysteries and now I'm trying something new -- a time travel mystery. Enjoy your writing life. Branch out once you get started and try other genres once in a while. I almost sound like I know what I'm doing. LOL

Rogues gallery. Calling out the bad guys of publishing.

www.ronaldpaxton.wordpress.com

Should you self-publish or not, and how do you do it? Check out Part II at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you

Marja

Part III of my blog about self-publishing is up this week at http://www.marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ . I hope it’s helpful if you’re considering the issue.

Thank you,

Marja

This week I talk a bit about the process for self-publishing ebooks. If you have a moment, check it out at http://www.marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you,

Marja

The last post about self-publishing is up this week at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/. If you have the time, please stop in and check it out.

Thank you,

Marja

Do you write notes to yourself while you’re working on a project? Check out the possible problems with that habit at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you,

Marja

Mother Possum – interesting name. Find out who she is in this week’s post at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you,

Marja

I’m a guest on Pat Gligor’s blog today at http://pat-writersforum.blogspot.com/ . I hope you have time to stop in.

Thank you,

Marja

This week’s post is about surprises, both good and bad. Please check it out at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you,

Marja

The latest stop on my BORN TO DIE Virtual Book Tour is with the tour operator, Reading is My Addiction. Kind of a neat interview. See it at:
bit.ly/1OX307t
Born To Die: A Detective Al Warner Suspense

I’m a guest on Evelyn Cullet’s blog today at http://evelyncullet.com/blog/ . If you have a moment, stop in and learn about a new time travel mystery.

Thank you,

Marja

This week’s blog is about writing action scenes. Please check it out at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you,

Marja

Today I’m doing a guest post on Jean Henry Mead’s site at http://mysteriouspeople.blogspot.com/ about my new book. Hope you can stop in.

Thank you,

Marja

Jean Henry Mead is my guest on my blog this week at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ . She talks about her new book and how it came about.

Thank you,

Marja

With summer here, this week’s post is about the weather in stories at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/. It can play a big part in a story (or lots of little parts).

Thank you,

Marja

Read some thoughts on Independence Day at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you,

Marja

As an author, do you ever walk in your protagonist’s shoes? Check it out at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you,

Marja

I’m a guest on Amy Reade’s blog today. Please stop in and learn a bit about me and my latest book at http://wp.me/p3YJIY-jA .

Thank you,

Marja

Need a chuckle? Check out the “Herbs and Herb’s” blog today at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you,

Marja

Are there enough hours in a day to solve a crime? Check it out at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you,

Marja

Amy Reade is my guest this week. She’s discusses how character names can have an impact in a story. I hope you’ll join us at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you,

Marja

New post. Please check it out.

To learn more about myself and my books please check me out.
http://neilostroff.blogspot.com/

My new blog about dating for men...

https://andrewculyer.wordpress.com/blog/

Andrew Culyer

Hello, I have updated my blog in the group 'I'm not a keeper' - it's called 'How to get stuck in a rut, I mean plateau'. Please check it out:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Thanks, Andy

This week I come to you as a nit picky reader instead of a writer at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ . I hope you have a moment to check it out.

Thank you,

Marja

This week’s blog is about Me and My Shadow at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ . Who’s the Me and who’s the shadow?

Thank you,

Marja

New Blog Post

Authors and Bloggers: Don't Discount Your Audience: http://wp.me/pwlMY-1ON

This week I share a few promotional tid bits that seem to work for me at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ . I hope you have a couple of minutes to stop in.

Thank you,

Marja

This week’s blog is a break from the usual at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ . If you enjoy pets in books, you may like this one.

Thank you,

Marja

I've a blog that includes enamel art from my kiln, poetry, shorts, and the first chapter of my historical novel 'Tom Fleck'. I post occasionally from my travels and writing.

https://1513fusion.wordpress.com/

best wishes
Harry

Checkout my new blog all about books!
http://thebookhunter13.blogspot.com/?m=1

This week’s blog is about two of an author’s favorite words. Read about it at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you,

Marja

This week I’m doing a little writer cheerleading at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/. See if it helps, even just a little.

Thank you,

Marja

I've been interviewed on Wayne Turmel's blog :
http://wayneturmel.com/2016/09/buckle...

It's interesting being interviewed about story-telling, you tend to go deeper into the consciousness than on a normal day.

Wayne is the author of 'The Count of the Sahara.'

This week’s blog is about titles, and it includes a little self-promotion. “Having a Great Crime – Wish You Were Here, A Sandi Webster Mystery” has just been released in both ebook and paperback versions. Please check it out at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you,

Marja

I’m a guest on Pat Gligor’s blog today at http://pat-writersforum.blogspot.com/ where I present two new books. I hope you have a minute or two to stop in.

Thank you,

Marja

This week’s post is about author events, both good and bad. Please check it out at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you,

Marja

Each character in a book needs a distinct voice. Check it out at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you,

Marja

Marilyn Levinson is my guest today at http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ where she talks about edits and being edited. Hope you can stop in.

Thank you,

Marja

My political and cultural satire, Threeway: A Short Novel for a Long Season, about a heavily sex-fueled three-party presidential election, can be read in serialized form on my blog, "What a Preposterous Ottoman."

Right now, we're about halfway through. In today's post, I put the squeeze on the reader, but you can go to the bottom of the blog, and catch up on the action. Buy the book if the spirit so moves you. Enjoy, comment, share.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...