Setting Up Signings

When setting up signings with book stores there are a few things to remember. First, you want to connect with the right store representative. Ask for the community relations representative or the person responsible for scheduling signings. Also remember to:

Be Polite. Use your manners. If it’s morning, say, “Good Morning.” Always introduce yourself, get the name of the contact person, and when the call comes to an end don’t forget your thank you.

Be Enthusiastic. If you sound dull and uninterested, the person on the other end will perceive you as someone who will have a similar attitude when selling books. If you’re suffering from a migraine you might want to wait and call on a different day. Simply put, put your best voice forward! Don’t over sell, but remember you are your book’s cheering section.

Be Information-Ready. Have the information about your book in front of you. Of course you know the title, but if asked, can you briefly describe what your book is about? You also need to give your book’s ISBN. ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. It’s like a social security number for your book. These numbers are located on the back cover and uniquely identify your book. A paperback edition and hardback edition of the same book will have different ISBNs.

Be Flexible. You may not get the date or time you want. So be open to the date or time the store has available. If you have another signing booked for that day or time, or truly can’t make that date, calmly explain this to the contact person, and go on to negotiate another day and time that works for you.

That’s it for now.

Happy Signing,

Mata Elliott  

Hangers in Books

In my last post, I made suggestions on how to hook your reader. So what’s next? What does the writer do once the reader is hooked? Simple. Keep the reader hanging on.

First, each chapter should end with a cliffhanger. If you’re familiar with the ABC series LOST, then you know that at the end of each episode, something compelling happened to keep the viewer’s attention so they would tune in next time. It’s the same with fiction. You want to keep the reader absorbed in the plot of your story chapter after chapter after chapter.

How do you end each chapter with a cliffhanger? The same way you hooked readers in the beginning. Create a situation so intense and intriguing that the reader can’t put the book down. As with the ‘hook’ place questions in the reader’s mind that they must have answers to in order to go on with their lives.

For example, last time we looked at the hook sentence for The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards. We discovered a baby was about to be born during a snowstorm. As the chapter closes, the author now provides a sentence to draw us into reading on. Ms. Edwards writes: “I am so sorry. Our little daughter died as she was born.” In this scene, the father is breaking the news to the mother. When I read this the first time I immediately started the next chapter because I wanted to know how the mother would respond to the devastating information. 

There are other factors that keep our readers reading. Readers want characters that are believable and relatable. They want a clear point of view. In other words, they want to be clear about who is telling the story. Readers want surprises in their plots and sub-plots. Predictability is boring. By the way, readers expect a plot. A story without a plot is like a pillow case without a pillow. Flat. Readers want a balance of dialogue and narrative. Most of all readers want honesty. Craft is important but so is heart. Let your story flow from the core of your heart, and your reader will be hooked and hang on from beginning to end.

Write well,
Mata

Hooks in Books

Are your readers hungry for the next sentence of your story? Like a fisherman places bait on his fishing hook to urge fish to come closer, as writers, it is our responsibility to create sentences that urge readers to come closer, take a second look, and continue reading until the last page is finished.

No, we don’t have to write an enticing first sentence. But remember, most readers—agents and editors included—determine if our project is worth reading by the weight of the first few sentences. So we should attempt to write a good hook.  

I admit, developing that ‘hook’ sentence, it’s not the easiest thing to do. As a result, many great stories have died because the first sentence or two or three spanned dull and lifeless. If only the reader knew the rest of the book flamed with excitement, would pull them in and keep them reading.

Now, sometimes the first sentence, or the hook, does materialize without much effort. Grows inside your brain and you plant it on the page in minutes. Other times, though, writing a sentence to hook the reader is grueling—surgery without anesthesia and a licensed surgeon.

The good news is, it is possible for us to write a great hook, and another, and another. It is possible to come up with that first sentence that leaves our readers hungry for more. Is there a formula? I’m really not sure. But I do know there is one thing our hook sentence needs and once you’ve mastered it, no matter what your story line, you will hook your reader.

What’s the one thing? Suspense! Suspense is not reserved for thrillers and mysteries. Suspense appears in every genre and especially in that first sentence. In this case, suspense is creating an atmosphere of curiosity. Suspense raises questions in the mind of the reader. Even if you, as the writer, have implanted one question in your reader’s head, you’ve done a good job.

Here are some examples from three stories I like a lot. The first is my debut novel, Forgivin’ Ain’t Forgettin’. The first sentence of the prologue reads: She’d been taken.

That’s it. Three words. Three words that raise questions. One, who is the female who has been taken?  Is the person a child or an adult who perhaps has been kidnapped? Who has taken her? Where has the person been taken?

Let’s look at another work, The Darkest Child by Delores Phillips. This novel has a first sentence that leaves you with questions as well. The sentence: Mama washed the last dish she ever intended to wash. I am drawn to ask 1) Who is this woman Mama?  2) Why is this the last time she will wash a dish?  3) Has Mama decided this is the last dish she’ll wash because she’s angry or sick?  And how old is Mama? I immediately picture her as an older woman with graying hair, but is she?

I also read The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards, a story with a marvelous hook, in my opinion. Sentence one reads: The snow started to fall several hours before her labor began. So many questions here. First, is someone about to give birth? Who is it? What are the circumstances surrounding the birth, other than it appears a winter storm is in progress? Will the storm impede the mother’s trip to the hospital?  Maybe the snow isn’t a major player at all. Maybe the baby is a major player to come forward in the story considering the first sentence suggests something about the timing she or he was born.

Remember, even if the question the reader raises is totally off course for the book, the fact is you’ve got him or her asking a question or two. You’ve most likely gained their attention and probably gained a committed reader. So keep up the good work and work those hooks!

Write well,

Mata

Next time: Hangers in Books

My Space to Create

It’s my belief that every writer not only should have a special place to write but requires, and certainly deserves, a special place to write. A place set aside solely for writing, a place where creativity thrives.

Since every writer is different and has a specific way of approaching their work-in-progress, each writer’s space will be unique. Your writing space or environment should represent you. It should be an area where you feel refreshed so that you’re ready to write. It should have at least three of the following things.

One must is comfort. How will you sit and write if you are not comfortable? If you choose to sit at a desk or café table, find a chair that feels good to your back and backside. Nothing like a sore back or bottom to stifle your creativity.

I confess, sometimes I’m a bed writer. Hey, I did not say bed wetter. I said bed writer. The inspiration to write can strike at anytime, including in the middle of the night. So, I reach over and grab my laptop and write. I’ve discovered, though, writing in bed can also trigger a back and/or neck ache. So I purchased a stiff and sturdy back pillow. It’s great and extremely comfortable. I don’t have a Snuggie yet, but during cool/cold nights a Snuggie or something like it probably isn’t a bad idea. Keep those shoulders warm and relaxed. 

A second thing one might consider is inspiration. Encarta Dictionary defines inspiration as stimulation to do creative work. So depending on who you are and what puts you in the flow of the creative, inspiration can be a million different things. I’ve heard a lot of writers find music inspirational as they write. Others enjoy writing outside in a park or garden. One thing that inspires me is walking. I’ve found that a brief walk sets me in motion for writing. Often while I’m walking I noticing nature--the colors of the foliage, the sounds at every turn, the shapes of the clouds. Some may think that colors, sounds, and shapes pretty much stay the same, but as the time of day changes or the seasons change, it’s amazing how much everything around us changes. The heated, muffled breezes of summer sound very different than the ice driven howl of the wind in winter. Therefore, following a walk, I’m pumped for writing, especially those descriptive scenes that can be a challenge.

I also have a passion for candles. Above one of my writing desks, a candelabra is attached to the wall. There are three small wells for candles and depending on my mood, I alternate scents. Vanilla is my favorite scent. It calms me, adding stability to my writing process.

Privacy is a third consideration. Writers need a place that’s all their own. Yes, it may be difficult to create such a space with little ones under feet or big ones, too, such as significant others or siblings or parents. But just like showering requires a closed door, often writing will, too. When we’re preparing our work for presentation and publication, concentration and limited interruption is vital to the success of our work.

Until next time, write well,

Mata

It's Time to Write

The saying is cliché but oh so true: Time flies. It seems to me time is flying faster than ever before. That said, there are many days when finding time to write is a challenge. So, I no longer hope there’ll be enough time in the day to write, but I intentionally make writing a part of my day.

It's difficult to implement some days, but I am not allowed to watch my favorite television programs until I have invested in my writing. I don’t always write at the same time of day, however I’ve found fifteen minutes here, thirty minutes at another point keeps my writing moving forward.

Of course, what works for me may not work for you. You may need to actually schedule a set time to write. Or perhaps replace a television show or even a chore with writing. I’ve certainly had to do the latter. Although a crowd of dirty dishes left in the sink bugs me, my writing is equally important as a clean kitchen. I’m not saying just let the house go, but don’t stress if you have to do the dishes after you write. You might also express to family members how important your writing is to you and have them pitch in around the house more. 

Here comes the pain! If we want to complete our writing projects, we may have to pass on one of those chats with friends. As writers, isolation can be an issue so maintaining friendships are vital. But if you have to temporarily hide out--or in, ignore the phone, or disregard your emails, go for it. 

Let's not be afraid to set boundaries around our writing. It takes time to write, so make time to write.   

Next time: My Space to Create