Author Twitter Tweets for the Week of May 30th

Author smarts: Get the CDs and DVDs from the Author U 2013 Extravaganza … order yours today!     http://ncrsusa.com/cgi-bin/store/main-authoru.html


The professional writer says, ‘It is almost certain that most of what I write will not resonate with most people who read it, but over time, I will gain an audience who trusts me to, at the very least, be interesting.’ ~ Seth Godin


Today,
Your Guide to Book Publishing will focus on all things that make you into a marketing guru and influence maker. Award winning author Lisa Alpine will be will be Judith’s guest–the topic is all about narrative non-fiction writing and publishing. Tune in at 6 Eastern, 5 Central, 4 Mountain, 3 Pacific and for our out-of-the-country members and followers … you are going to have to do the clock crunching for your time zone at http://rsrn.us/youpublish.  You can also go to the Home page of http://www.AuthorU.org, scroll down and click on any of the past shows—just click and you are instantly there!



Here’s your Top Ten Tweets for the past week  '

Tweets are faster than a speeding bird … below are Author U’s Top Ten Tweets from the past week that you may have missed …


Success & Resources

Book Design, Internet Marketing and the Nature of Human Consciousness dld.bz/c8REP

15 Questions for #authors- Should You #Self-Publish? http://t.co/2lqmgIF5NT

12 Tips for Authors from Association for Psychological Science http://t.co/gTSuxdlGHD

Infographic: 5 Key Book Publishing Paths”  http://t.co/YQugCRpCrj


Writing
For fiction: Example of a synopsis for a thriller: “Ransom” tinyurl.com/apeqmrf

Savvy writing and author advice from Stephen King and why he doesn’t watch Mad Man. http://ow.ly/lqMRL

Social Media and Marketing Strategies

Is your #book cover tired, old, or just not working? A makeover may be just the perfect thing to rejuvenate your baby! http://ow.ly/lpi0f

Cool and Sometimes Smart General Info

It’s summertime-and the driving can be loose and easy-and accidents happen. Here are smart tips if one does: http://ow.ly/lpp71

Are you traveling this summer? Get inside hotel tips from the author of Heads in the Bed. ow.ly/lqKHn

How to share books & eBooks with soldiers overseas–Memorial Day should be every day: http://t.co/d89qOPgs76


Bonus:  Last week’s
Your Guide to Book Publishing was with Lisa Alpine and “told all” about creating characters and marketing for fiction. Listen in. http://rsrn.us/youpublish  or you can download directly from the AuthorU.org website.

Don’t forget to fill out “About” on your FB page. It’s what people see! Add your URL there.

Not following Author U on Twitter? Change that and follow: @AuthorU

Not in Author U LinkedIn Group? Join on LinkedIn today.

Who’s In Your Mind When You Are Writing Your Book?

At the Author U Extravaganza, it was interesting to hear many authors stumble when asked three simple questions:

1. Who is your book for? 
2. What’s your target market? 
3. Can you summarize your book in less than 30 seconds? 

 And too many couldn’t respond with clarity, or quickly. Oh, they loved the idea and the art of writing. But, really, “You want me to tell you who is supposed to be reading, buying my book? Me?”

Why yes, that’s exactly what was being asked … and expected to be able to give a quick and clear response.

The very first step toward Author Success is to be clear and succinct about who, and what, your reading audience is. The kiss of book death is the response: everybody— It is not everybody.

How about women? Are you writing about women? For women? It’s a basic category, but it is not just all women (or men or children, etc.)—that’s a huge ding if you settle for just that. It may be for women … but which women? Young women? Women over 50? Women who have the child-bearing clock ticking? Divorced women? Working women? Women who homeschool their children? Women who work at nickel and dime jobs? Women who have had cancer? Women who have had a specific type of cancer? Women who are single and loving it? Women who are single and hating it? Women who are serial lovers? Women who have affairs (or want to)? Women who work in health care? Women who were wild in college? Women who were abused? Women who have deep secrets? Women who are getting married? Women who want to get married? Women who don’t want to marry? Women who want to be kept? Women who are addicted … and to what? Women who were raised in cults? Women who just want to have fun? Women who are hoarders? Women who hate cooking? Women who credit card binge? Women who …

You get the picture. Dive down. Drill deeply. Know who you are writing for to the core of his, her, their fiber. What nuances; what hiccups; what the beliefs are. Imagine having your favorite beverage with them. Who are they; what are they; what are they hopes, dreams, fears; what is their background; what brings them to your topic; what will your book do for them?

I'm not a reader of horror, but I am a huge fan of Stephen King. His book, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, is one that I routinely recommend to all of my clients. Some of my favorite words that's I've saved over the years that he wrote:

"If a book is not alive in the writer's mind, it is as dead as year-old horse-shit."

Here’s my take:

"If the reader for the book is not alive in the author’s mind, it’s yesterday’s poop.” and “The more you niche yourself as an author, and your book, the bigger your market will become.”

With clarity, your writing, and your marketing, is so much easier. And that’s a very good thing.

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com), an author and book publishing expert and the Founder of Author U (www.AuthorU.org), a membership organization created for the author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 30 books. Her latest, Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms is just out. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Your Guide to Book publishing on the www.RockStarRadioNetwork.com. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com.

Author U’s Top Twitter Tips for the Week

Wahoo! You can now order the CDs and DVDs from the Author U 2013 Extravaganza … order yours today! http://ncrsusa.com/cgi-bin/store/main-authoru.html

Authors: don’t trash everything, you just may have a hidden nugget there: “Mistakes are the portals of discovery.” ~James Joyce

Today, Your Guide to Book Publishing will focus on all things that makes books into masterpieces, both on the exterior and interior. Award winning cover and book designer Nick Zelinger is Judith’s guest. Tune in at 6 Eastern, 5 Central, 4 Mountain, 3 Pacific and for our out-of-the-country members and followers … you are going to have to do the clock crunching for your time zone at http://rsrn.us/youpublish.  You can also go to the Home page of http://www.AuthorU.org, scroll down and click on any of the past shows—just click and you are instantly there!

Here’s your Top Ten Tweets for the past week:  

Tweets are faster than a speeding bird … below are Author U’s Top Ten Tweets from the past week that you may have missed …

Success & Resources

All the CDs and DVDs from the Author U Extravaganza can now be ordered from the website. You can also order all the handouts from the speaker sessions that were taped. CDs are $8, DVDs $. http://ow.ly/l4mrh

10 Biggest Book Adaptation Flops | PWxyz pwne.ws/13oVucZ

Writing 

Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg have teamed up for a dynamic new series featuring an FBI agent who’s on the hunt…http://t.co/3yDgFBTKx9

Handwritten outlines of famous authors [it's what I do with sticky notes] http://t.co/TaraEFkrfs

Social Media and Marketing Strategies

6 Twitter tips for authors and book marketing and Social Media success. http://ow.ly/l2aSm

3 Ways To Measure ROI For #social #customer Service –http://ow.ly/kYtuz

Google+ Gets Dozens of New Features, and a Big Facelift …http://t.co/Fmbw1GS5DJ  

How to Have a Successful Book Giveaway – http://t.co/JgTKiosZtL 

Cool 

This guy is pretty amazing–loved him working with kids with only 4 strings and the ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro. Get a cup of tea or coffee and just listen in. http://ow.ly/l2a4a    

Got kids? Weekend is coming. Here’s over a dozen fun garden projects to do with them this spring/summer. http://ow.ly/lb0mg

Bonus: 

Last week’s

Your Guide to Book Publishingwas with Judith Briles, who delivered a “how to” pot load of information on strategies for authors to create their GamePlan for themselves and their books. Listen in. http://rsrn.us/youpublish  or you can download directly from the AuthorU.org website.

Don’t forget to fill out “About” on your FB page. It’s what people see! Add your URL there.

Not following Author U on Twitter? Change that and follow:

@AuthorU

Not in Author U LinkedIn Group? Join on LinkedIn today.

Book Marketing and Selling: The Web is the Author’s Best Friend …

You've got to be strategic in how you market yourself and your books. Bookselling is way beyond the bookstore—in fact, bookstores are minor players for many authors. It makes sense to be on Facebook (continues to grow–and change–by leaps and bounds), LinkedIn (business connecting); and Google+ (savvier than Facebook–watch it really takes off next year); to send out tweets on Twitter (if you have different hats of expertise, more than one Twitter account makes sense); create videos for YouTube and actively use your website (You do have a website that is updated regularly, yes?). Don’t forget the Blog–like blogs, cross promote and are a valuable tool.

If you have a new book, make sure you get it posted, with cover on your main pages within these groups. You can get the word out about your books via participating on content sharing sites that would in turn, be able to link back to you. Check out HubPages.com and Squidoo.com—post tips and tidbits—viewers will get use to seeing your name, reading your words and then find your work.

Judith Briles is a book publishing coach and known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com) and the Founder of Author U (niversity (www.AuthorU.org), a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 28 books including Show Me About Book Publishing, co-written with John Kremer and Rick Frishman and a speaker at publishing conferences. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook.  If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com.

Twitter Tips for Authors

Reach Your Audience … 6 Quick Twitter Tips for You:

1. GET the Most Bang

Know when to Tweet and where the audiences are. According toRadiumOne, there are two peak times during the day to Tweet:

10AM to 12PM and 8PM through 10PM

That’s it, at least for now. If you want to see the most shares, with the highest click-through, you should be Tweeting from 12 noon to 2PM. Remember, Tweets are global, which means global times zones. These cover the basics and a broad span to optimize your visibility.

Of course, this content regulation changes based on where your audience is. Key point: Connect with your audience when they are online.

2. Mix It UP

Variety is the spice of life and so it goes with your Tweets. Yes you can self-promote, but your promos are at the bottom of the feeding chain. Don’t OD your followers. If you have a special event popping, do a “fair warning Tweet—let them know that your stream will be heavy for a few days, then get back to supply terrific info.

Mix it up with approximately 40-50 percent of other people’s Tweets (as in a RT-Retweeting) and links; and 40-50 percent keyword/industry related content to highlight and brand you as a key thought leader and expert. When you are linking to your own articles and blogs, those would be included within this percentage. Somewhere in-between the 80-100 percent, you will slip in the straight-out “promo” for yourself to showcase what you do and have.

3. Get Your Peeps Attention

Snappy, Sassy, Salty is what you should be thinking. Grabbers plain and simple and to the point. Peeps like numbers—Top 10 lists, or 5 lists or any lists like Tips, Snafus to Avoid, How to, etc. Give them a promise; ask a question; or a goose, meaning a call to action—sometimes a “go-go-go” does the trick.

4. Watch Your Words

Numbers, meaning characters, count. Twitter is a land of 140 characters, including spaces and punctuation. Do yourself a favor and limit to 120 or so. That allows for easy RTs of your entire message vs. forcing the RT to edit your message so resend to his or her crowd. Seems logical, yet most max out their Tweets. Help your followers out.

5. Don’t Limit Your RTs with the Wrong Handle Usage

One of the great secrets in Twitterland is the misuse of the “handle” of a fellow Twitterer. At this stage in the game, you should know that the “@” precedes your Twitter name. I’m either@MyBookShepherd or @AuthorU, depending on which line I’m Tweeting from.

If I Tweeted:

6 quick Twitter tips to reach your audience pronto

from the @MyBookShepherd and you thought you wanted to share it with your followers, you might say this:

@AuthorU: 6 quick Twitter tips to reach your audience pronto

Nice … but wrong. If you want to start a Tweet with a “handle,” put a period in front of it, like this:

.@AuthorU: 6 quick Twitter tips to reach your audience pronto

That’s because the Twitter elves see it as a reply and it just goes back to me. A better way would be to put it like this:

6 quick Twitter tips to reach your audience pronto @AuthorU

and you get rid of the need for the period and save a character!

6. The Great Hashtag Debate

Do you or don’t you use the magic # sign in front of a few words in your Tweets. My answer is a quick “yes.” Limit it to two or three and find your Tweets landing in spots and on other Twitter streams. Most likely, you will gather new followers. Think of Hashtag land is an estate with various houses scattered throughout. If you are an Oprah fan, you will find that she uses #SuperSoulSunday; I’m a The Voice fan—at the bottom of the TV screen, scads of #TheVoice appear throughout the program of other fans Tweeting their likes; and if you watch many of the news programs, it’s common to see their running footers with hashtag commentaries and to hear the anchors asking you to send your comments into the show with a preferred hashtag.

For me, I Tweet often, using #book, #author, #amwriting, #getpublished, #authoru #marketing, #pr, #bookcoach, etc. Areas that I want to reach out to get my words and thoughts out to, as well as connect. The question isn’t whether you should or shouldn’t use them. The question is: when are you going to start?

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd, an author and book publishing expert and the Founder of Author U, a membership organization created for the author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 30 books. Her latest, Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, is just out. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing on RockStarRadioNetwork. Follow@AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” atAuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her atJudith@Briles.com.

Love What You Write … Advice from the Book Coach / Book Shepherd

If you want to write a book, you've got to love the topic/cause. If it’s just something to do, Author U’s question to you is, “Why do it?”

What topics, areas do you know about—either by schooling, life experiences, the school of hard knocks? Are there subjects that you just seem to gyrate toward or that others tell you that you are a wiz at? Is there a deep burning desire to advocate a cause or reach out to help others? Passion comes in to play.

Contrary to popular belief, not everyone should write a book, attempt to create a small press or become an independent publisher. Maybe someone said you should … the real question is, should you? Is there an internal drive that is deep and telling you, “Yes, your thoughts, your words need to be read, seen or heard.” Then go for it. Embrace and wallow in it.

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com) and the Founder of Author U (niversity (www.AuthorU.org), a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. She’s the author of 28 books includingShow Me About Book Publishing, co-written with John Kremer and Rick Frishman and a speaker at publishing conferences. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com.

What “SomeOnes” Are In Your Author Circle?

Authors need feedback, reality checks and plain old-fashion butt-kicking. And they need a little kindness. Few think about putting together an “official” type of board to serve in the feedback/reality check/butt-kicking honors. An Author Inner Circle … a type of Advisory Board.

Who Belongs in Your Inner Circle?

It’s time to create yours. The Author Inner Circle … trusted colleagues, pals, and always someone who has “been there, done that.” Most likely, it’s not going to be your sibling, mom or dad. Not unless they’ve authored or work with authors, publishing, books. You want someone who has got an inkling of what is going on in the publishing business; someone who is connected with others; someone who has a sense of humor; someone who has a kaleidoscope of business experience; someone who will say it as it is and not side-step the elephant in the room (which could be you); someone who loves to brainstorming and bounce off-the-wall ideas around; someone who will move you to action; someone who gets what social media marketing is about; someone who gets your Vision for your book and where you want to go with it.

Here are nine someones that can make the difference between success and failure:

1. You want someone who will say it as it is and not side-step any elephant in the room, including you. Let’s face it; we all get stubborn at times; quite myopic in the author paths we get into our head. You need a reality checker. Who is out there and has the guts to tell you you are off your authoring/book rocker?

2. You want someone who is connected with others and opens doors. Yes you do—someone with a phone call or email can get you to a source—someone who knows someone else that can smooth your way.

3. You want someone who has a sense of humor. Not only can authoring and publishing be lonely it times as you tunnel yourself into the completing of your book—there are booby traps along the way. Having a sense of humor helps; having someone within your Circle can lighten the load and ease the pain.

4. You want someone who has a kaleidoscope of business experience. Absolutely—one of the key failure factors in the authoring/publishing business is that most authors don’t recognize. This person gets a P & L, understands contracts and negotiating. If they know publishing, it’s a bonus. And a kaleidoscope has a few fractures within it. Let’s face it, who has a perfect, perfect–an authoring, publishing, business journey that has been so stellar that there has been no hiccups along the way. Hiccups are often priceless post recovery. Yes, they don’t feel good going through them, but the education takes you to a new level.

5. You want someone who has got an inkling of what is going on in the publishing business. We all know publishing is in a combo evolution and revolution. Who is out there in the midst of it?

6 . You want someone who loves brainstorming and off-the-wall ideas. Eccentric, a tad wacky—you name it, this person walks to a different tune … most of them you don’t get, but once in a while, your unique and odd-ball someone hits it out of the park.

7. You want a “Go-Go-Go” person who gets you into action. No butt-sitting allowed or procrastination allowed.

8. You want some who gets social media marketing. But there’s a catch, this person has to be able to articulate in your mother tongue what he or she is saying and you understand it. It doesn’t mean that you are going to be the full time implementer of

9. You want someone who gets your Vision for your book and where you want to go with it. They get it; they get you; and they are your cheerleader. They get the Passion you have and totally get the amount of time, energy and money you invest in your Commitment to the Book.

There you have it. Who’s in your Author Inner Circle? Who do you need … and who should you delete?

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com) and the Founder of Author U (niversity (www.AuthorU.org), a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. She’s the author of 28 books includingShow Me About Book Publishing, co-written with John Kremer and Rick Frishman and a speaker at publishing conferences. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com.

Have Book? Talk About It? Don’t Be Boring!Advice from the Book Coach / Book Shepherd

As a Presenter, Being Boring Isn't an Option … The last thing a presenter wants to do is use a white background with a black lettering. Can you spell B.O.R.I.N.G?

As the presenter this is you, your work, expertise, or book that is being presented to the global world. Pick a color—not any color—and start to build your theme image. Do you have a favorite one (bright red will earn you an “F”—it’s a killer on the eyes and can make some feel downright hostile if exposed too long to it)?

Is there a great icon or logo that is used in your work or your book that you want carried on every slide to brand you? How about using a color that you like that you can create a gradient background with? Do you use a specific type of illustration or clip art to enhance your slides? How do you position them—are they straight or angled? How do your slides present—do you fade, fly or flip?

Whatever you do, be consistent, create a style that you use throughout and make it interesting.

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com) and the Founder of Author U (niversity (www.AuthorU.org), a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. She’s the author of 28 books includingShow Me About Book Publishing, co-written with John Kremer and Rick Frishman and a speaker at publishing conferences. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com.

Book Publishing eMarketing Starts with Your Signature

eMarketing is everywhere. For authors, it should start with the signature in each email. What’s in yours?

Start with using upper and lower case letters in your email and website addresses. Email and website addresses rarely are just one word wonders, especially when it comes to book titles. Help your reader to visually get cues to your name and title.Sue@IveWrittenTheMostFantasticBookInTheWorldAndYouBetterBelieveIt.comis a heck of a lot easier to read thansue@ivewrittenthemostfantasticbookintheworldandyoubetterbelieveit.com.

The typical, www.thenameofmybookisfantastic.com is too hard for your reader’s eyes. Not to mention that a whole bunch of letters strung together could actually spell out something that you didn’t intend to say. Help them out—print your websites and emails with caps on your cards, correspondence, emails, letterhead—everywhere.

Guaranteed, you will have a much better chance of them remembering you and your title.

Insert a photo of you or the cover of your book. Get a QR code–with the smartphone becoming the norm–a quick scan of the QR code via the users phone will take them to the site you want them to go–your website, an article, even the link to buy the book.

Use some color–your signature doesn't, and shouldn't be in Times New Roman, black. Boring.

What’s in your signature says a lot … are you taking advantage of it?

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com) and the Founder of Author U (niversity (www.AuthorU.org), a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. She’s the author of 28 books includingShow Me About Book Publishing, co-written with John Kremer and Rick Frishman and a speaker at publishing conferences. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com.