Welcome to the Blogging A to Z Challenge, where, this month, I'll be focusing on all things writing. This may be a random jumping around of topics within my theme, but hopefully something somewhere will be useful to someone. (V is for vague - see that last sentence.) Check out all the participants here . Now, lets get on with today's letter.
T is for Talking About Your Novel
Maybe you like telling people what you're writing about or maybe you dread it, but either way, it's good practice.
While you're writing, telling a few trusted people that you're writing a book can be great accountability. They will likely keep asking you how it's going. This will hopefully guilt you to stay relatively on task. If you don't have friends or family members who can fill this role for you, because not everyone is always supportive, find a writing group, either online or in person.
No one likes to talk about their book while it's in submission. That's a long, nail-biting process that is full of speculation and despair. Write something else while you're submitting. It will give you something more pleasant to talk about.
Once you have your book in your hand, you're going to have to start telling people about it or it will only ever be in your hands. Use that synopsis, your blurb and your logline and tell everyone about your book. Don't spam everyone at every turn, but do mention it when the opportunity arises. The more practice you get talking about your book, the easier it becomes. After a few times, those couple sentences about your book will just roll of your tongue and sound natural instead of forced by sheer panic.
It may sound weird to think about bringing up your book with people in your daily life, but you never know what people like to read. Toss the information out there and see what happens. The biggest trick to remember is to know when to expound on your couple sentences and when to stop there and move on in the conversation if they don't seem interested. Aiming for the hard sell isn't going to gain you sales, it's only going to annoy people.
Do you enjoy talking about your writing or do you avoid it?
While you're writing, telling a few trusted people that you're writing a book can be great accountability. They will likely keep asking you how it's going. This will hopefully guilt you to stay relatively on task. If you don't have friends or family members who can fill this role for you, because not everyone is always supportive, find a writing group, either online or in person.
No one likes to talk about their book while it's in submission. That's a long, nail-biting process that is full of speculation and despair. Write something else while you're submitting. It will give you something more pleasant to talk about.
Once you have your book in your hand, you're going to have to start telling people about it or it will only ever be in your hands. Use that synopsis, your blurb and your logline and tell everyone about your book. Don't spam everyone at every turn, but do mention it when the opportunity arises. The more practice you get talking about your book, the easier it becomes. After a few times, those couple sentences about your book will just roll of your tongue and sound natural instead of forced by sheer panic.
It may sound weird to think about bringing up your book with people in your daily life, but you never know what people like to read. Toss the information out there and see what happens. The biggest trick to remember is to know when to expound on your couple sentences and when to stop there and move on in the conversation if they don't seem interested. Aiming for the hard sell isn't going to gain you sales, it's only going to annoy people.
Do you enjoy talking about your writing or do you avoid it?
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Prefer paperback? The print book goes live on April 20. Reviews are always appreciated.
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I have told many people about my memoir and am now doing the same for my diary novel.
ReplyDeleteThat's great!
DeleteHi Jean - it's a bit like talking about self ... no-one is really interested ... so get the word out, but leave it at that ... as you say it'll take or not - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteIts helps to find a couple people who are interested to keep you energized. Its just a matter of finding those people.
DeleteTalking about my WIP is a huge part of the process. It helps me brainstorm, and vocalize what I actually want the story to be. And yes, now that my new book's out, I have been using some of the A to Z posts to tell people about it :)
ReplyDeleteThe Multicolored Diary: Weird Things in Hungarian Folktales
I feel the same way. Great things slide into place when I get to talking with the right people.
Deleteoh dear , I dont talk about my writing except for a few writing buddies - indeed most people I know wouldn't have a clue I have a blog. there are people even close to me disinterested so who do I write for you ask? and why so quiet I wonder.? it used to be because I didn't thnk I was good enough but I have dealt with that one and actually respect my writing now so it isnt that. thanks for the pep talking..
ReplyDeleteSometimes you just have to be your own cheerleader when it comes to your writing. :)
DeleteI am terrible at this. Like, epic level 20 bad. It makes me so uncomfortable because it feels like I'm talking about myself and bragging about my book even if people are just asking me what it's about. >_<
ReplyDeleteMy book...it's about these people doing the thing. Yeah. So anyway, how about that weather? :)
DeleteI'm not good at talking about my self or my writing - most people aren't really interested in poetry and get bored.
ReplyDelete