Series Craft 101 (5 page)

Once you learn the basic concepts of structure, you’ll recognize patterns in nearly everything you read or watch.  (The unfortunate side-effect being the
“twist” endings of many movies and shows will be ruined for you in the middle of watching them.)  The advantage this gives you as a writer is you’ll be aware of expectations and when you may need to shatter them.

A helpful book on this topic is
Beginnings, Middles, and Ends
by Nancy Kress.  I mentioned it earlier, but
Stein on Writing
by Sol Stein also has a section on the topic.

One thing that I didn’t immediately understand when I was first starting out was that authors don’t necessarily write a book in linear order.  If you have a key scene that is clear in your mind, write it first then build around it.  If you have several sub-stories, you can write each one out and then alternate them at the end—with some small transitions usually needed to keep time and pacing consistent.  This was how my first book came together, and I used t
he same technique on at least portions of the others.

No matter how methodical you try to be about typos and errors, no one is perfect.  Having other people look over your work will allow you to correct minor mistakes and refine the quality of your overall story.  Sometimes criticism can be hard to take, but it’s better to do it at this stage compared to after the book has been released.

In some cases, your project may reach the point where hiring a professional editor will make sense.  One tip that I got from an editor in this area is you can often get a lower rate for a fine-tuned revision as opposed to something highly riddled with errors and typos.  Get it in the best shape that you can first—run it by several trusted friends and beta-readers—and it could save you money.

Each time I finish editing a book in my series, I go back and look over my previous books—check both for continuity and for anything I can add (or sometimes remove) to make the overall story better.  To new readers, this gives a feeling that every detail was in place from the very beginning—making it a more enjoyable and solid story.

              Currently, I work with four self-publishing companies.  Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and CreateSpace are both owned by Amazon.  PubIt.com is owned by Barnes & Noble.  Lulu.com has its own system and also distributes to Apple and Barnes & Noble as well.  I’ve had positive experiences out of all of them, and they fit my needs at this stage in my career.

             
The decision of self-publishing vs. traditional publishing is not an “either-or” question.  Many authors I know are now doing a combination of both, and I’m favorable to that philosophy.  In my case, I started my series when I was twenty-four and had no connection to the traditional industry.  I’ll turn thirty this year and have sold books in eight countries across four continents just from the sites I mentioned—something that still amazes me.

             
In the area of deciding on a self-publisher, I just want to say overall to be cautious—just because scams are still rampant.  With the exception of paying for proof copies of paperbacks, I’ve never had a company require payment for set-up costs.  They make income when I sell a book, and it’s a “win-win” situation as far as payment ratios.  Some companies offer optional services like formatting help, cover design, etc.—but they make it clear that they’re optional.  Do your homework, and network with other authors about their experiences.  Check the Better Business Bureau website for any complaints and also a general web search beyond the company’s website.  Regardless to which path you choose to publish, read contracts and make sure you fully understand the terms before you agree to them.

             
One of the myths about self-publishing is that you’re on your own.  That doesn’t have to be the case.  Locally, I team up with other authors on events and split expenses.  Online, I have friends and mentors from a variety of genres, and we pass things along to each other that are helpful.  Most self-publishing companies will respond to specific questions and provide tutorials and resources to make the process easier.

              Even before you finish your novel, there are several marketing books available that can help you get started.  Here are the four I recommend:

Get Known Before the Book Deal—Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow an Author Platform
by Christina Katz

Sell Your Book Like Wildfire
  by Rob Eagar

Guerrilla Marketing for Writers
(2010 Edition) by Jay Conrad Levinson, Rick Frishman, Michael Larsen, and David L. Hancock

The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published
by Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry

              A large portion of my early marketing wasn’t fully intentional—I just made my rough drafts available for free to readers online as I was writing and linked back to my previous books.  The main mistake I see many writers make—especially on Facebook and Twitter—is spending more time begging people to buy their books than genuinely reaching out and interacting.  This can often have a negative impact on readers who might otherwise like and buy the books with a different approach.

             
Even if you don’t want to give away portions of your actual books, there is still an opportunity to reach readers through short stories and regular blog posts.  If they get to know you and get to know your characters, it’s a natural transition for them to buy from you.  Focus on establishing positive experiences and relationships, and specific marketing techniques will have a genuine base to hold them.

              When you start talking about your book—in person or online—you may get an opportunity to be part of a chat or Q&A session.  This can often start out in a group environment and later for you personally, especially if you’ve just released a new book.  I’ve compiled this list from dozens of chats, and they also have applications for your blog, website, bio pages, and press kit.

Childhood Questions

Where are you from?

What did you want to be when you grew up?

What was your family life like?

What was your school life like?

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

How do you think your background has influenced your writing?

School Questions
:

What was your favorite subject?  What was your least favorite subject?

Did you have a favorite teacher or teachers?  What made you like them?

What outside activities were you involved in?

College Questions:

What was your major?  Were you ever undecided?

What made you choose your major?

What was the best part about college?  What was the worst?

Career Questions

When did you first begin writing?

How long have you been writing?

When did you write your first novel?  How old were you?

Who or what inspired you to write?

What made you choose your genre?  What make your genre unique?

What jobs have you had outside of writing?

What advice would you give aspiring authors?

What is your current project?

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Do you have a specific writing style?

If you had to choose, which author would you consider a mentor?

Name someone or something that supported you outside of family members.

Can you share some of your current work with us?

What has been the toughest criticism ever given to you?  What has been the best compliment?

Where do you want to take your writing in the future?

What dreams have been realized by the results of your writing?

If you could leave your readers with one legacy, what would it be?

What do you think makes a good story?

Do you see writing as a long-term or short-term career?

If you couldn’t be an author, what career would you have?

What are your greatest strengths/weaknesses as a writer?

Where do you see yourself in five years?

If there was an author you could meet, who would it be and why?

Are there any occupational hazards to being a novelist?

Work Habits Questions

What motivates you to write?

Do you have a regular writing routine?

How do you manage your time?

Is there anything you find challenging about writing?

Do you travel a lot?

What was the hardest part of writing your books?

Where do you get ideas?

Do you ever experience writer’s block?  How do you fight it?

Do you work with an outline?

How do you market your work?

What is your overall writing process like?

Do you write daily?

How do you write your rough drafts (laptop, desktop, pen and paper, etc.)?

How do you handle discouragement?

How do you approach creating a novel?

Do you have a set formula for setting and character development?

What do you think are the key elements of writing?

What resources/books do you think are essential for writers?

How long does it take you to write a book?

Do you have any writing quirks?

Do you ever take news/current events and incorporate them into your work?

Do you ever research legends, myths, history, etc. to get ideas?

Hobby/Interest Questions

Who and what do you like to read?

Have you ever read a book more than once?

Do you keep a journal?

What books and authors have influenced your life the most?

What book(s) are you reading right now?

Are there any new writers who have caught your interest?

Who is your favorite author and why?

What do you like to do outside of writing?

What do you do to relax/unwind?

Do you personally prefer reading ebooks, paperbacks, or hard cover books?

Book/Series Questions

Do you have a favorite character in your book/series?

How much research do you do for a book?

Do you have a book you recommend readers start with?

How many books have you written?

What were the challenges of bring your first book to life?

What inspired you to write your first book?

How did you come up with the titles for your books?

Is there a message behind your novels that you’d like readers to grasp?

How much of the book is realistic?

Are any of the books based on personal experiences or events from your life?

Who designed your book covers?

Did you learn anything from writing your books?  If so, what?

Is there anything specific you’d like to say to your readers?

What was your favorite chapter or part of the book to write?

If your book were made into a movie, who do you picture playing each main part?

What does your family think of your books?

What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned while writing your books?

Do you have a favorite book so far?

Do you hear from readers much?  What do they say?

Which of your characters is most/least like you?  Why?

How important do you think villains are in a story?

Are any of your characters based on people you know?

Do you have a book trailer?  What is your opinion of them?

Genre Question
s
(Can insert genre or generalize.)

What is your favorite (genre) book?

What is your favorite (genre) movie or television show?

What interests you most about your genre?