Writers' & Artists' Blog

Legitimate marketing … or fraud?

If an author asks me to write a review of their book on Amazon I have always obliged (giving them the obligatory five stars of course). One should always have a healthy scepticism when it comes to reviews: especially a journalist’s puff about a fellow journo’s book or an author’s review of a book published by the same house. It’s a natural bit of back-scratching.

But is it okay to take things a bit further, creating discussions around your book on Amazon and giving it a five-star review, through setting up sockpuppet accounts? You may have been aware of the frenzied blogging over this issue in the past weeks. One particular author has been blasted after he apparently admitted to using sockpuppet accounts in a discussion at Harrogate’s crime writers’ festival.

Some authors have been known to take it one step further, writing and posting one-star reviews in an attempt to scupper their competitors. You will remember when Professor Orlando …

Ben Macintyre, writing in The Times, noted that publishers are using digital feedback they receive, courtesy of Kindle and Kobo, to ‘road-test’ new works. The thing about e-readers is that although they let you read in privacy, they record what you’re reading and can measure your responses: they chart when you slow down or read faster; they know when you get bogged down or give up on a book.

Although it sounds good, I am somewhat doubtful that publishers are actually finding time to analyse the data. But this does raise an interesting point. The publishing industry is almost alone in its tendency to ignore some obvious marketing processes other industries abide by. The film business uses focus groups, as does the music business. SlicethePie is just one company that entices music fans to rate tracks on line, paying them between two and ten cents for a written review. It might strike you as odd that publishers do not use focus groups to pre-test forthcoming books. Instead, a …

Michael Phelps started swimming when he was seven, partly to release some of the energy he had after being diagnosed with ADHD.  He was obviously a fast and competent swimmer - but that's not the end of the story.

If he'd never learnt to do racing turns, control his breathing, improve his stroke - he wouldn't have won one medal - let alone 22 Olympic ones.

And what does this have to do with writing?  For some reason writers are assumed to drop, fully-formed, into a sea of creativity and just swim.    They either have talent and float, or none and sink.

Nothing could be further than the truth.  Writing is a craft, and you can take lessons and learn tips to get your craft smoother.  There isn't anyone whose writing can't be improved.

What you can't teach is 'voice' - the unique flavour of someone's writing - their authorly fingerprint - but sometimes that voice is drowned out by a myriad of small errors, and the writer needs help.

There is an ongoing debate as …

Following her highly popular #querytip series on Twitter, literary agent Julia Weber will be sharing more valuable query advice, and real examples, here with Writers and Artists. Follow Julia on Twitter @jawlitagent

                                                  How (not) to behave during the waiting game

Disclaimer: All examples are 100% real… no, honestly they are!

The moment has come. After months and months of writing, editing, proofreading and yet more editing; and weeks of researching agents and perfecting your query letter, the words “email sent” pop up on your screen. Your query is finally on its way through the vastness of the internet to the literary agent(s) of your choice and now… yes, now what? Well, …

Have you been watching the Olympics?  Or is that a stupid question?  I'm not a sporty person (not many bookish people are) but I get huge pleasure from 16 days of watching so many human stories - heartwarming and despairing.

Anyway - today feels a bit like a hangover after a great party - so let's ease back into writing if you've had a bit of a break with a few interesting links.

'Don't give up the day job'  - I have mentioned that writing doesn't earn most authors a lot of money - so what do they do on the side?  A list of 11 authors and their somewhat interesting professions. 

Twitter is a great way to get in touch with authors you admire, I've struck up a friendship with an author recently whose work I've enjoyed over many years.  Back in the wilds of the past, fans used to write to authors, and sometimes authors wrote back.  F. Scott Fitzgerald has some comprehensive advice for the young writer who has got in touch with him.

And finally - Better Book …