Divinity School

It all went very well once I’d passed a couple of hurdles. Firstly the parking, now I don’t know Cambridge at all well so I’d pre-checked out the car park I needed to head for only to find on entering the city it was already full so ended up at the Grafton Centre and had to hike across town.

Which leads me to my second issue, now more than a little pressed for time and unable to find Divinity I grabbed a passing steward and explained that I was due in the Lightfoot Room in 2 minutes for a Masterclass. She couldn’t have been more helpful and escorted me there herself, however something must have got lost in translation as when I arrived at Divinity my excellent guide passed me over to the stewards there introducing me as being the speaker due to give the Masterclass in the Lightfoot Room – never have I felt less prepared to do anything! Fortunately for those who had bought tickets Rebecca and Debbie had already arrived so they didn’t get me foisted upon them!

The Lightfoot Room

There is a huge amount of support out there from companies, such as Rebecca’s, who provide a wide range of services to Indie Authors to help them get their books into as good a shape as possible before they are launched onto whatever selling platform you opt for.  As the publishing world changes, and it is in a huge state of flux at the moment with everyone trying to see how things work with the rise in self-publishing, Rebecca very much sees her type of company as the ‘gatekeepers of quality’ something that used to be done by publishers when the traditional route was all that was on offer.

The companies that offer these editorial assessment services offer a huge range of differing levels of support and you can pick and choose what you need, obviously cost comes into it but having spent so long writing I feel very strongly you should launch your book out in the big wide world looking as good as you can make it.

Debbie is also advice blog editor for ALLi who again are there to guide and support Indie Authors in becoming as professional as they can be. I am pleased to say I already have Debbie’s book, we follow each other on Twitter and managed to meet and exchange a few words at the end of the talk.

I came away from the afternoon feeling that as an Indie Author anything is possible nowadays, with a little bit of work, maybe a lot of work – it was very positive!

Georgia

Currently reading ‘The Reluctant Jesus’ by Duncan Whitehead

The post Cambridge Literary Festival appeared first on Georgia Rose Books.

Just to get some perspective – all I’d done three months ago was upload my manuscript to Amazon, Smashwords and Kobo. I say ‘all’ as if that is dismissing the 15 months of work it took to get the manuscript to that point but I think for the purposes of this post you know what I mean.

I told a number of people what I’d done – readers of my previous posts will understand my problems with telling anyone, which is a bit of an issue when you’re trying to market a book! Then I turned my attention to Twitter and Facebook, understanding that was the way to go for an Indie Author, in an attempt to start to try and build something. Now, to those of you who are all over this stuff this may be difficult to believe but I have never had any interest in any type of social media, or in fact of any type of networking or really in connecting with other people at all – in my heart I actually believe that I would have no problem in being a recluse.

So Twitter – well the upshot is that I love it – probably a bit strong but you what I mean. It’s easy, I understand it, and I’m building a steady stream of followers and am following in return. I tweet, retweet, favourite and I enjoy the interaction I have with those in the twitterverse. I’ve been introduced to many brilliantly written, informative blogs and am as a result following several – I even have a few followers of my own blog, though I know there is much to do there to improve what I write and attract more to it.

Facebook – well I’m not sure I fully understand it – there seems to be various levels of commitment from ‘liking’ someone else’s page so you get updates to your newsfeed, to having followers and friends – I probably need to be doing more on that – let’s call that a work in progress.

I’ve tried to keep updating my website – I know it’s due an update now – perhaps after I’ve posted this! And I try to blog reasonably regularly but whatever I’ve done is working because my website is moving up the Google rankings to a not to shabby 15^th place the last time I looked.

After a month I decided to publish exclusively on Amazon so that I could take advantage of being able to offer my book for free occasionally and this has meant that there are now several hundred copies of my book out there and I hope that some are getting read – I have a mental image of disconsolate copies of A Single Step languishing on tablets everywhere just waiting to be awoken.

I also joined Goodreads – again a good community feel, building a friends list, seeing what others are reading and receiving offers of books to review etc – all good. A Single Step now has a few reviews – I really had no idea how hard it was going to be to get those and I am hugely grateful to all those who have taken the time. Seriously you have no idea how much it means to an author to get some feedback.

However over and above everything else the best thing has been that via all of the above I have been introduced to many new and different authors and their books – I’ve made a commitment to ensure I review everything I read – I now know how important that is but I keep being seduced into buying, or taking up free offers of books – they all look great – and I now have a backlog. I dread to think what this must be like for a well known author!

There have been many others things, too many to go into now and I have realised I’ve not been doing much (if any) marketing of my own book – I don’t want to become one of those people who only send out endless tweets about their own books – but equally I need to send out some! So now support is building – and there is an endless supply of it in the indie world of publishing so I’m going to aim to be a little more proactive and see how it goes – I have another freebie offer coming up – 20^th and 21^st April if you’re interested? So my little call to action there – dates to go in your diary. There will be reminders!!!

Georgia

Currently reading ‘Rock’n’Roll Suicide’ by Geoffrey D West

The post Things I’ve learnt in the first three months of being an Indie Author appeared first on Georgia Rose Books.

So, in summary, I went and it was great! What was I worried about? It’s always terrifying for me to walk into a room full of people I don’t know but I managed it, found a seat next to someone else who was also quite new, I was told,  and I settled down to see what would happen. The theme for the evening was to bring along a 500 word story which was then to be read out and critiqued. I had not brought anything L which was not a surprise – even if I had I know I wouldn’t have read it out – baby steps people, baby steps…

Anyway about ten stories were read and they were really good. Very different, some funny, some sad, some thought provoking and they covered a variety of differing and interesting styles of writing but all were entertaining. The critique and comments made were helpful as any feedback is to a writer.

It was great to be in a room full of people with the same interest though I imagine with a huge range in the type and amount of writing they’ve done or are planning to do and I’m eager to learn more.

Next month’s task is to write a 250 word flash fiction for a competition. Now this is not something I have ever done but I suspect it will be a good discipline for me and will help to tighten up my writing which tends to ramble – if I can only now come up with an idea….?

So I’d encourage anyone to go along to their local writers group. It will widen your horizons, opening your eyes to the way others write and giving you the chance to incorporate something different into your own writing. It will also challenge you to try something different, I’m glad I went though I should add, for those who have read my previous post – there was no one there I knew!

Georgia

Currently reading ‘Deep in the Bin of Bob’ by Craig Stone

The post Writers Group II appeared first on Georgia Rose Books.

‘We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face…………….we must do that which we think we cannot.’

These words are meant for Emma Grayson, the heroine of my trilogy, as she struggles to overcome the tragedies of her past and in this book really has to face her fears when she finds herself in a situation we would all find frightening.

Today however I am taking comfort in them for myself. You see, to date I have been writing secretly. I don’t mean that the people I live with don’t know that I write, of course they do. Otherwise there would be questions. Questions about what I was so engrossed in every moment I’m not doing my day job. Questions about the thousands of hours I spend pouring over words as I rewrite, and rewrite and rewrite. And questions that would have to be repeated in an increasingly louder voice in order to drag me back out of the fictional world I have created in my mind.

Having said that there is still a certain level of secrecy, even in my home, as I’m obsessive about all drafts of manuscripts being password protected, no one ever having any chance to glimpse even a word that I have actually written – until I am ready, really, really ready for them to do so.

When I talk about secrecy here I mean the immediate community around me. I have told those at a distance, safely spreading the word by email, by text once even by word when I managed to work myself up to do it. No it is those closest that I am struggling with. I am fortunate to live in a small, caring neighbourly village and I have lived here for a long time. I know a lot of people and they know me and they won’t be expecting this and I’m not sure what they will make of my book or what they will make of this different side of me.

You see until now I have hidden behind the pseudonym I have created for my writing but this week I have decided to join my local Writers Group  – some of you, those who have already read my book may well be thinking that my decision to join a writers group comes not a moment too soon but as I say I have been writing incognito and I even contacted them under my pen name because I am such an idiot. However I know that at least one other person from my village goes to this group and that will be it, my cover blown. Because word will spread – those who live in villages will know this.

So this is the fear I am facing, I have no confidence, I never have done, not in anything in my entire life, and I am going cold and clammy just at the thought of putting myself out there. I am constantly in awe of all the writers I come across now on twitter, reading their blogs, their websites, their tweets, amazed at the things they do to publicize their books and I feel pathetic in comparison. So this is it, I have to grit my teeth, get on with it and ‘do that which we think we cannot’ in the hope that strength and confidence is gained and it is not just thought that I am a fool.

Georgia

Currently reading ‘Deep in the Bin of Bob’ by Craig Stone

The post Writers Group appeared first on Georgia Rose Books.

I buy many presents online and cannot comment on them, they have left my hands as gifts, are usually not something that I am the least bit interested in and strangely enough I don’t generally receive reviews from my nearest and dearest on what they thought of my offering which I could feed back. An example at the moment in my “Purchases to be reviewed” list on Amazon is an Anatomical Poster of The Brain (don’t ask) but what do you say about it in a review, it’s a poster with various detailed pictures of the brain on it – it kind of does what it says in the description, I assume it’s accurate but I don’t know and I can think of nothing further that I could comment on.

I have though, nearly, always made an exception for books, well ever since getting my kindle, feeling that someone’s creative work should be commented on though this is always easier of course if I loved the read. That’s why I said nearly, it is not so easy if you didn’t really like the book. I am however taking a different view on that now that find myself in the position of author with several hundred copies of my novel out in circulation and with a need to know if anyone out there is actually reading it, liking it, loathing it whatever I would gladly soak up any feedback going.

I didn’t realise when I published how few people out there do actually put in reviews. They can’t know how important they are to authors, especially those new to the world of writing. I would therefore encourage all to feedback somehow, either via the review process or privately through an author’s website – it really does all help (as I now take a deep breath and tell myself firmly – be careful what you wish for!)

I look forward to hearing from you.

Georgia

Currently reading ‘Blood-Tied’ by Wendy Percival

The post Reviews appeared first on Georgia Rose Books.

Helen Hart of SilverWood Books recently sent out a tweet pointing to what I found to be an extremely interesting, though equally daunting, post by Jane Friedman giving an Author Platform Definition – I encourage anyone who is thinking about writing, is writing or, like me, has already written something to read this in full because it seems you need to get going on building this platform as early as you can.

When I was first submitting my work to literary agents I was asked to add in any accomplishments to my submission package only to find sadly that I had none, at least none that were relevant, not thinking agents would be interested to read that I’d once reached the heady heights of Grade 4 violin and had a qualification to teach riding. I had been too busy writing to think of anything else that might be required by the publishing world and that is clearly a mistake.

The post written by Friedman reads like a list of desirable accomplishments the like of which I can only remember being as intimidated by as those expected in an accomplished woman in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Miss Bingley stated that “‘A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing and the modern languages to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved.’

‘All this she must possess,’ added Darcy, ‘and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading.’”

I have always loved Elizabeth Bennett’s response, “’I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any.’”

Friedman tells us, “Platform is not about bringing attention to yourself, or by screaming to everyone you can find online or offline, “Look at me! Look at me!” Platform isn’t about who yells the loudest or who markets the best.

It is more about putting in consistent effort over the course of a career, and making incremental improvements in extending your network. It’s about making waves that attract other people to you—not about begging others to pay attention.”

In true Elizabeth Bennett style I am determined not to be intimidated by this thing called platform, though, as I attempt to overcome my many shortcomings, I am fully aware and in agreement with Friedman as she ends her post “It’ll be a long journey.”

Georgia

Currently reading ‘White Teeth’ by Zadie Smith

The post Author Platform appeared first on Georgia Rose Books.

If you do take advantage of the freebie, firstly thank you for the interest, I hope you enjoy it but secondly it would be great if when you have read it you could leave a review.

So what else – ah yes – the paperback! I have been surprised by the number of people who have contacted me wanting a paperback version so having been kicked up the backside by a recent blog from Hugh Howey I have uploaded my book via Createspace and I have a proof in paperback form on its way to me.  Now I should say I’m extremely excited about the thought of actually holding my book in my hand but at the same time I’m tempering my excitement against the fact that I’m going to be disappointed with it. I shall explain – in order for me to get this set up for free via Createspace I had to sort out all the formatting myself and my limited IT skills have been sorely tested.

I’m not so concerned about the internal bits they looked pretty good – as far as I could tell. It’s the cover.  I was told when growing up that patience is a virtue but I have found out through this process that it is one I do not possess. I have found out that when I want something done I want it done now. This has meant that rather than spend a little more time trying to find someone who would be able to put the words that I wanted onto what will be the back of my book I just made a half arsed attempt at it myself and regretted it as soon as I hit the submit button. I know next week I will have to redo this and could kick myself but there it is, there is always something else to do – I shall let you know once I am happy with it and it is available!

Georgia

Currently reading ‘White Teeth’ by Zadie Smith

The post Free ebook appeared first on Georgia Rose Books.