Category Archives: Lizzie’s Scribbles
Social Networking – Does it really sell books?
This is what I think. What’s your take?
Any teacher will tell you that some children get a new concept first time. But for most children a new concept has to be presented in a number of different ways before they gain full understanding. This is referred to as ‘the spiral of learning’ (i.e presenting the same piece of information in as many visual and kinetic forms as possible. This is just as true when we are attempting to bring our novels to the attention of agents, publishers and readers.
Consciously or unconsciously we are applying a method known as The Reticular Activating System.
Pay attention (!) Here’s the science part – The Reticular Activating System acts as a filter for all of the sensory inputs we receive. It decides what is and is not important and what we need to pay attention to. Otherwise, we would suffer from information overload. The ‘filter’ sits between the subconscious and…
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Social Networking – Does it really sell books?
Any teacher will tell you that some children get a new concept first time. But for most children a new concept has to be presented in a number of different ways before they gain full understanding. This is referred to as ‘the spiral of learning’ (i.e presenting the same piece of information in as many visual and kinetic forms as possible. This is just as true when we are attempting to bring our novels to the attention of agents, publishers and readers.
Consciously or unconsciously we are applying a method known as The Reticular Activating System.
Pay attention (!) Here’s the science part – The Reticular Activating System acts as a filter for all of the sensory inputs we receive. It decides what is and is not important and what we need to pay attention to. Otherwise, we would suffer from information overload. The ‘filter’ sits between the subconscious and conscious minds, and is programmed by the conscious mind. It is this ability to filter information which makes the Reticular Activating System so important in achieving our goals.
The short version: to make YOUR novel stand out from the ‘crowd’ you need to get your name and book title across in as many different forms as possible so that it ‘sticks’ in people’s conscious minds. I know this works because when I attend conferences, book fairs and writing events (wearing a name badge) I am often approached by other writers who ask: ‘how do I know your name!?’
How do we achieve an on-line presence?
I believe through some of the following . . .
Blogs
- updating your own blog and/or guesting on other blogs
- following favourite blogs, ticking ‘like’, ‘sharing’ blog posts on Twitter, Facebook, Google + and Linked In
- by sharing through these media your profile, avatar and/or your novel thumbnail will, hopefully, appear in different versions of internet ‘paper.li(s)’ out there – for example The Famous Five Plus, thus widening your appeal
- through activation of SEO (search engine optimisation); every well-aimed click and share will have an impact on your place on the social network rankings
- ensure that your avatar and your profile on Twitter publicise your novels
- don’t forget to include links to your books on amazon etc (using viewbook/bytly/tinyurl shortened links
- ensure that your tweets are a mixture of things about yourself, your writing, use trending hashtags; don’t forget to promote other writers generously
- promote your novel by quoting a review/ or dialogue from your novel in your tweets
- make the potential reader want to download your work by utilising hashtags such as #Fridayreads. #amwriting, #Mondayblogs and genre specific hashtags to bring more traffic (and potential readers) to your door
- widen your net of social contacts – don’t just befriend writers, befriend readers, too. I’ve made lots of friends on twitter and they have loyally downloaded my novels and left reviews
- don’t forget to thank people for promoting you and ALWAYS return the favour
Facebook
- have your own page where you engage with potential readers, many of whom will go on to become your friends. I try to include a photo in my status updates as this draws friends to my page.
- minimise your ‘writer news’ on this page otherwise people switch off and unfriend you
- join some of the many sub groups and dip into them once a week or whenever to talk about your writing and establish a friendly Facebook presence
- build up an author page(s) and LIKE others’ pages when asked. Don’t be shy about asking for LIKES to be reciprocated. It takes a long time to build up these kinds of relationships
- I try to post something every day on my author page, not only about me and my writing but about other authors, too. @sharing’ other author’s posts works well in this case, too.
- I find that Facebook friends like to read about your pets. When it was my parrot’s birthday in February he got over seventy ‘happy birthday’ messages (!)
- join in with Facebook ‘events’ you’re invited to, even if it’s only to leave a passing comment. SEO comes into play with every click.
Consider joining Watt Pad, Instagram, Goodreads and Tumbler etc to get the message about you and your books ‘out there’. Build up your social networking presence gradually, mix it up, be creative. You’re in charge, so make it work for you – – – and remember the Reticular Activating System and utilise it. It’s a scientific fact.
I’ll leave you with the million dollar question:
Does social networking help to sell books?
The jury’s still out – but I believe that (as an indie author) having a social networking presence has helped me to bring my novels to readers’ attention. Finally, I would just say to any unpublished authors out there that, while your time is your ‘own’, get your social networking ducks in a row. When publication day arrives, you won’t have time to establish contacts, develop friendships and ask potential readers to buy your book – you’ll be too busy using social networking to get word out about the marvellous book you have just written.
Author Interview with Luciana Cavallaro
Although not my genre, a great blog post in any case 🙂
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege to be interviewed by Luciana Cavallaro on her great website, Eternal Atlantis. And now, as I write this in my little corner of Vermont, as the summer season shows its first, subtle hints of ripening into a New England autumn, it is my pleasure to return the favor.
I have been a fan of Luciana’s website for quite some time, and really enjoy her work. I’m sure you will, too. She was kind enough to answer a few of my questions recently . . .
1. On your fantastic website, you mention that you love both Greece and Italy. What is it, specifically, that you enjoy so much about these two countries and cultures?
As a teenager I was drawn to Greece, the history and the magnificent historical sites. There’s a mystical quality to the country which fascinated me and still…
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Beautiful Heroines? Bah! Humbug!
I must admit that my heroines need to have something ‘beautfiul’ about them – but it can be a wit, a great sense of humour of a sense of self.
At 13, when I started getting interested in boys, all the heroines in romances seemed to be head-turning, heart-stopping beauties, with bee-stung mouths. Long hair tumbled to their shoulders or was worn in a carefully tousled chignon, like Brigitte Bardot.
One look, one flutter of those eyelashes, and the hero would be smitten.
I’d already suspected that this was how things worked, because my best friend was beautiful, like a young Elizabeth Taylor.
When we started Grammar School, cool fifth-formers with Elvis quiffs would pass her crooning, ‘Wh-a-a-at is luurve, five foot of Heaven and a pony-tail.’ (The song goes on, ‘the cutest pony-tail, that sways with a wiggle when she walks.’ )
I, on the other hand, was more Beryl-the-Peril – small, sturdy, self-conscious, blessed with hair that frizzed in damp weather and a tendency to flush easily.
How could I ever inspire love?
Because this was how…
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Letter T on The A to Z April Challenge 2014
Another great blog from Rosie Amber’s A-Z -my writing buddy June Kearns this time.
Getting Down With the Kids – World Book Day
My mate Adrienne and fellow New Romantic 4 telling the kids how important reading is. . . someone tell Michael Gove.
I’d been thinking about doing something for World Book Day as it drew closer, remembering that last year it came upon me suddenly and being my first World Book Day as an author, I felt obliged to play some small part. I’d planned a busy ‘three centre’ day, which included collecting train tickets from Market Harborough, a business meeting in Birmingham and a nip to Lutterworth for emergency supplies. So having recently published my debut novel, I did no more than throw a few copies in a bag, vaguely hoping an opportunity would present itself.
I quickly realised dragging a bagful of hefty tomes around with me was folly, so made a swift decision to dole them out to the mismatched selection of females I was to encounter that day. This included the woman behind the glass at the station, a marketing director in a smart city hotel, a Waitrose…
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April A to Z Challenge Round-up of Letters A-E
Rosie has put in a lot of effort to set up this blog, so give her your support. I am day 2 – B for Boot Camp Bride. Go Rosy
Irish Twins **
November 4th – IT’S LIZZIE’S PUBLICATION DAY
When I published Tall, Dark and Kilted in October 2012, I had it in mind to publish a second novel within a year. With Boot Camp Bride (published October 2013), I’ve managed just that! I went from a standing start of 13k words in December 2012 to the finished length of 114k words by July 2013. I spent all of August and most of September editing, cutting, proof reading and finding the perfect cover. I’ve loved writing both novels and I am pleased with how Boot Camp Bride has turned out. I hope you will feel the same way should you purchase a paperback or download the kindle version. Here’s to my Irish Twins . . .
Boot Camp Bride – the blurb
Charlee Montague is an up-for-anything rookie reporter desperate for her big break. She dreams of something, anything, which will take her away from the daily grind at celebrity-driven magazine What’cha! When she is sent undercover to a boot camp for brides on the windswept Norfolk marshes, it seems as if all her Christmases have come at once. Posing as a blushing bride-to-be, Charlee is sent to get the skinny on supermodel Anastasia Markova and her oligarch Russian boyfriend. However, every rookie needs a more experienced partner and Charlee is no exception. At her side (posing as her fiancé), is award winning photographer Rafael Ffinch. World-weary Rafa has recently survived a kidnap attempt in Colombia and is no mood to cut inexperienced Charlee any slack. He makes it plain at the outset of their assignment that there is no room for love in his life. Once the investigation is over, their partnership and fake engagement will be terminated.
From the moment she sets foot in the boot camp Charlee senses that there is more to the simple ‘dish-the-dirt-on-the-A-list model’ story she’s been sent to cover. Journalistic antennae twitching, Charlee decides to carry out an investigation of her own. What’s the real reason behind Ffinch’s interest in the boot camp, super model Anastasia and her shady Russian fiancé? How is it connected to Rafa’s kidnap in Colombia?
In setting out to uncover the truth, Charlee uncovers yet more secrets and puts herself in danger. And, as the investigation draws to a close, Charlee is faced with a dilemma – will she be able to keep her promise, hand back the engagement ring and walk away from gorgeous Rafa’s without a backward glance?
*****
Throughout November, I’ll be hosting four book launches with the other three members of the New Romantics 4. If you attend the Festival of Romance at Bedford on November 9th you’ll see me there and at the Gala Dinner – I’ve been shortlisted for The New Talent Award for Boot Camp Bride. Fingers crossed, eh?
As for Irish Twins – it remains to see if they become triplets as I embark on rom com #3 in December 2013. Being as I return to the magical Highlands of Scotland for SCOTCH ON THE ROCKS, maybe I should change the name to this blog post to Celtic Twins !!
Links to Boot Camp Bride:
**The term Irish Twins is used to describe two children born to the same mother in the same calendar year or within twelve months of each other. In modern use, the term is not intended as an insult, but rather a description of siblings born close together . . . just like my two novels, in fact !!
Lizzie Lamb - author 