Welcome to Twitter Treasure Thursday! Earlier this week, I met up with a fellow writer to discuss the importance of building their author platform (blogging, Twitter, Facebook, etc.). As we chatted, I explained to him how nowadays most literary agents expect writers to have these social media sites up and running before they’re published.
Ironically, the day I went to meet my friend to discuss this topic, I came upon an article by literary agent, Carly Watters. In it, she explains why building an author platform is so important. She also offers excellent tips for how to approach and handle various social media websites.
Agents have changed their mind about an author after searching them online. Yikes! How do you avoid that? Making sure you don’t have websites or blogs that are ghost towns. Post regularly. And regularly can mean whatever works for you (once per week or once a day, but no less than a couple times a month!).
To read the entire article, click here!
For more useful advice, follow Carly Watters on Twitter!
Photo credit:
http://ingoodcompany.com/classes/using-social-media-to-build-your-author-platform/
Today’s gem, courtesy of Writer’s Digest and the ever helpful Chuck Sambuchino, focuses on the dreaded synopsis…Oh, come on. Don’t deny it. You’re as “ugh” about this step in the querying process as I am. Thankfully this article makes it a little easier by giving us five tips to use as basic guidelines. So, before you sit down to write yours, check it out!
There are so many aspects to consider when developing our characters. In this awesome article, Kristen Lamb examines one of the most important: WHY? Why do our characters act the way they do? Why are they a control freak, or a know-it-all, or a shy mouse, or an arrogant butthead? It isn’t “just because”. There must be a reason–a why.
I met her last night for the first time and she’s perfect! She had this little smirk on her face the whole time, like she was silently saying, “Yeah, yeah. I’m adorable. Duh.” Stinker. I introduced myself as her “crazy aunt”, and told her we’d throw plenty of tea parties, play dress up, and read lots of books together. She just kept smirking. I could practically hear her little voice saying, “Yeah, I’m on board with the whole reading thing, but tea parties? Dress up? Um, no.”
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