#254:  Guest post on “Writers on the Move.”  Thanks to the encouragement of Karen Cioffi, one of “the writers on the move,” I’m writing up my experiences with targeted ads directed at the local audience of attendees of the Montclair Film Festival (April 25-May 5).  I will be candid with this series of articles, no matter the results.  Whether positive or negative, it’s a learning experience for me I’m willing to pass on.  The series is titled “Targeting Specific Readers” and the first part, which appeared Wednesday (April 17), is subtitled “The Marketing Conundrum.”  I would be pleased if you follow the series.  (Note: it will NOT reappear here.)

#255:  Major writer goes indie.  Wednesday’s (April 17) NY Times reported that Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and author David Mamet is going indie for his next book.  When he released his last one, The Secret Knowledge: On the Dismantling of American Culture, it sold well enough to make the Times’ best-seller list.  This year, when the author set out to publish his next book, a novella and two short stories about war, he decided to take a very different path: self- or indie publishing.  His reasons should be familiar—he wants more control.  (Note: One other so far, Hugh Howey, author of the Wool SF series, has managed to do both, and keep digital rights separate from paper rights.)

For a writer of Mamet’s stature, there’s probably little difference financially.  The traditional route would give him an advance up front but smaller percentage of the royalties; indie publishing gives him no advance but a larger percentage of the royalties.  The difference for this writer is that going indie allows him more control, particularly on the marketing.  Traditional marketing tends to be pulse-like.  When you’re in the driver’s seat, you can extend your marketing efforts over a longer duration and apply knowledge only you know relative to your book (see above).  We’ll probably see more writers take this route in the future.

#256:  A new release is coming!  I’m in final editing process for the new mystery-suspense adventure in “The Detectives Chen and Castilblanco Series.”  The title is Teeter-Totter between Lust and Murder.  Dao-Ming Chen is framed for murder.  Her partner, Rolando Castilblanco, has to prove she’s innocent.  In the process, they both become involved with people in the illegal arms trade and its relationship with international terrorism.  This is the sequel to The Midas Bomb and Angels Need Not Apply.

Also, don’t miss Detectives Chen and Castilblanco in the recently released The Golden Years of Virginia Morgan.  All Chen and Castilblanco books are available on Amazon at bargain ebook prices.

#257:  FYI:  What do I mean by editing?  Most writers know there are four types of editing—copy editing, line editing, content editing, and proofing.  In the process of preparing an ebook, the author can format it himself or have someone do it (I choose the latter—more time writing for me).  In any case, it has to be proofed.  Is the formatted version a faithful representation of the original manuscript?

Line and content editing I do in the process of writing, thanks to word processors.  I can cut and paste and move text around.  I can decide what to delete, what to change, and what to leave as is.  My first draft is my last one, before copy editing.  I like to be in control, so I don’t like hired people to do my line and content editing for me.  Moreover, my content reflects my style.  (There are good line and content editors out there if you need one, though.  I’ve had some promise not to muck around with my style even.  Still can’t afford them.)

Copy editing can be done by the author or someone else, more often the latter.  It’s a final spell and grammar check, among other things.  I do my own.  When I’m done, I’m ready to send it off to Donna Carrick, my formatter.  (Donna’s an excellent editor too because she’s an excellent writer—I just prefer to do my own editing and save money I can invest back into the business.)  While the editing is going on, Sara Carrick, my cover artist, is reading through the unedited manuscript for ideas for the cover.  We’re a great team.  Moreover, they are extremely patient with me.  So far, we haven’t worn each other out.

In fact, there is no rush.  We take all the time we need to do the job right.  Moreover, this process suits me.  I have many stories to tell.  My muses (probably more like banshees) are always hounding me to get the next one told.  I hold them off as long as I can because I want you, the reader, to have a polished product you can enjoy.  Marketing my books (for me, that means having more readers discover my books) is another question—I might have to ask Mr. Mamet if he has any pointers (and see the first item).

In libris libertas….

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