I'm A Twit. Are You? By Morgan Mandel

I confess. I'm a twit. There are lots of us.

We're the ones who pop in with 140 or less character messages, and pop out again.

Some of us cheat and leave more than one message in a row, sometimes about the same thing, sometimes not.

We like to follow people and be followed.

Some of us have fancy backgrounds, some of us are plain.

We often repeat what our friends say. We send replies and put funny @ marks in the post.

We use links and website urls, hoping someone will check them out.

We play favorites and put stars next to special messages.

We may seem clandestine, but we're not. Anyone can join us.

Just go to http://twitter.com and sign up.

Then you can tweet like the rest of us in twitland. Be careful, it's addictive.


Morgan Mandel
http://twitter.com/MorganMandel
PS Please follow me and I'll follow you.

Shine Your Light By Morgan Mandel

It doesn't matter if you blog, write a newspaper or magazine article, or even an entire book.

You're the only person that can share what's inside of you. You may have only a few words or sentences to share. What you have to say may only reach one or a few people. If you're fortunate, more. The important thing is someone somewhere is reading your words, sharing your experiences. You could make a difference in that person's life. Make a sad person happy. Make an uncaring person care. Teach someone something new. There are many effects your words can create, even when you don't know it's happening.

So shine your light, be it big or small. It's what you say that counts.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com

So, shine your light. There's no other like it.

Nothing Dinky About This By Morgan Mandel

Eagle River, Wisconsin

Where will your story take place? That depends on your character.

Here are some questions which may help you decide setting:

Is your character urban, suburban, countrified?
What pastimes does your character enjoy?
Is your character single, married, divorced, separated? Any children?
What family members will the character relate to?
What kind of friends will your character bond with?
Does your character like to hear noise or only enjoys peace and quiet?
What about animals? Does your character require the company of one or more? What kind? A dog, cat, bird, horse?
What kind of job does your character have or is that person retired?
Does your character enjoy traveling?
Would your character rather live abroad than in America?
Or is your character afraid to leave the house at all?
Does your character like company or is your character a loner?

These are basic questions. I'm sure there are lots more, but at least they'll get you started. Answer them and you'll have a clue as to where to place your character. It may even be a quaint Wisconsin town like Eagle River.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com

SWEET ADDICTION By Morgan Mandel

Rascal's DoggySpace Profile Shot

I've got a sweet addiction, but it's not about sugar. It started innocently enough. I was over at Bentley's Corner Barkery with my husband and Rascal talking to Lisa, the co-owner, when she asked me if I'd joined DoggySpace. I'd heard of it, but had never signed up.

Saturday night, I had a few extra minutes after scooping water from the basement, so I put up a profile for Rascal, using a photo taken in the van on the last trip to Wisconsin. It was easy for Rascal to make friends. In 24 hours she already had 142.

Along with the profile shots, each member gets a journal spot, like a blog spot. Also, comment sections. They can give away virtual presents like frisbees or bones to each other.

I started reading some of the posts and they were fascinating. One was upsetting, about people who left dogs tied in their yards when they evacuated the hurricane area. Then there was a dog who suffered from separation anxiety and needed medication because the owner-husband had to go out-of-town for one day.

I'm finding it difficult to tear myself away. The dogs are so precious and the blogs so engrossing.

In a way I'm wasting time there, but not exactly. Most members of Doggyspace use the dog's point of view in their posts, as if the dogs were writing them. So, I'm getting great lessons in going deep into doggy point of view which will stand me in good stead as I continue on with my children's book about Rascal.

If you have a dog and would like to make virtual friends with Rascal, her profile page at Doggy Space is http://www.doggyspace.com/profile/15418.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com
http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com

RAIN By Morgan Mandel

We're nowhere near Texas, where Ike was, yet Illinois still received way too much backlash rain. I believe our neighborhood got close to 7 inches. DesPlaines, not that far away, is way flooded and the river hasn't even crested.

As much as scientists talk about controlling the weather, I don't think it can be done. Not counting lives lost, it's sad to see so many people's memories and homes that they've worked hard for all their lives just washed away.

We were lucky. We got off with large pools of water in the yard, a foot or so of water in the basement, and some window well dripping. Not everyone can say the same.

Sometimes life intrusions interfere with writing. When that happens, after everything is back to some kind of normalcy, remember what you can about the experience and write about it.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com

Group Blogs By Morgan Mandel

If you need another Angela Wilson fix, never fear. Angela will be dispensing valuable advice about marketing on Wednesday, September 17, 2008, at my
group blog, http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com, as she continues her tour.

I hope everyone enjoyed her stay and learned a few things. I'll be hosting guests off and on here to offer variety.

While I'm mentioning group blogs, a great one to check each day is The Blood-Red Pencil, at http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com, where you'll get scads of editing advice, kind of like going to class.


Consider joining or starting a group blog, especially if you don't have time to blog every day. They're great for promotion. You'll also get great Google hits.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com

Angela Wilson - Parting Thoughts on Virtual Tours & Final Remarks by Morgan Mandel

Angela Wilson


Angela leaves us with a few parting thoughts today. For More From Angela Wilson, be sure to go to http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com on Wednesday, Sept. 17, when she'll share marketing suggestions.

Conclusion to Series on Virtual Tours

You may not realize the pay off immediately, but you should see additional activity to your MySpace, Facebook and Web site during the tour and the first few months afterward. You should also have a new network of contacts for future tours, book deals or even critique groups. Track your tour in a spreadsheet so you can see what sites were beneficial and which ones may have been a waste of time. Even heavily-trafficked sites can be duds if they don't fit your niche.

If you want your blog tour to be a success, then you have to devote the time to it that it deserves. Enlist the help of friends and family, who can easily respond to comments or other general items while you handle the tough stuff. Also check out listings for virtual tour companies and, if the budget allows, think about hiring someone to do the set up so you can concentrate on networking and sales - and writing.

Thanks for turning the tables & letting me be the guest!
Angela Wilson

http://www.popsyndicate.com/books
www.linkedin.com/in/angelawilson
http://www.facebook.com/people/Angela_Wilson/775118823

Want details on Pop Syndicate virtual tours? E-mail Angela at authorangelawilson@gmail.com.

Pop Syndicate's Group link at Linkedin - http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/130844

Some content originally posted at Mike's Writing Workshop & Newsletter - http://www.mikeswritingworkshop.blogspot.com

A great big thank you to Angela for sharing her Virtual Tour secrets with us. See her contact information above if you'd like to inquire about a book blog tour at
Pop Syndicate.Com.

Angela Wilson With Blog Tour Tips - Intro by Morgan Mandel

Continued from Wednesday - Sept. 10


Angela Wilson is an author, freelance Web content director and Book Blog Editor for Pop Syndicate, a pop culture site with more than 8,000 hits per day. Each week, Pop Syndicate hosts authors on virtual tour. I was fortunate enough to be one of those authors. Here's a link to my interview by Angela that week: http://www.popsyndicate.com/books/story/book_tour_virtual_sitdown_with_morgan_mandel

Enough about me. Once again, I bring you Angela Wilson who'll give you some valuable tips about virtual book blog tours...


Virtual Tours - Part Two
When venturing out into the blogosphere for the first time, start slow. Plan a three-month tour. Secure space on blogs every week during that time. Check the sites each day to be certain your sponsors post your items. Reply to any comments submitted by readers. The personal touch goes a long way with people in an age of impersonal communication.

Send thank you notes to your sponsors, as well as updated newsletters that tell them where you will be featured. Ask them to post that as well, so readers can follow you throughout the blogosphere.

Do not pay to be placed on a blog. If someone wants cash, get site statistics and feedback from other authors before you cash in. Google the sites and see uninhibited feedback about them; don't just trust the owners' word.

Some authors take whatever blog space they can get – which is not a bad idea when you are first starting out. Other authors, both experienced and new, have specific criteria for blogs that feature them, including a certain number of hits per day and demographics. (See Cheryl Kay Tardiff's blog about her criteria.) When first starting out, some big-name blogs may be reticent to host a small-time author, e-published or self-published novelist. Be prepared to take what you can get, then build on that as your career grows.

Not a blogger but excited at the prospect of using this free interactive tool? Don't jump into the blogosphere on a tour. It is hard, detailed, sometimes mundane work. It can be overwhelming for authors who don't have the experience with the programs. (Yes, they are out there!) First, start a blog at a free service like Blogger or Wordpress, play around, see how it works and your comfort level with it. Also read other blogs and see what they are saying. If you don't like to blog, or don't want to learn how, consider hiring a virtual PR firm. There are those now that specialize only in virtual tours, and work to play your columns and excerpts on sites that fit your target market.

Only experienced bloggers should venture into contests while on tour. The best ideas I've seen so far come from authors in different genres. Delia Latham and Michelle Gagnon asked readers to post comments on all blogs where they were touring. Then, the authors collected names and emails from those posts, put them in a hat and chose a winner. Another author sent readers directly to their guestbook, and chose a winner based on signatures during tour time. As a virtual tour host at Pop Syndicate, I can safely say the most streamlined method is using a guestbook. That places all contest entries in one place, instead of over several blogs on the Web.

Do not expect your virtual tour host to handle the contest. Most blogs and sites will not handle details of a contest, but will be happy to post contest details. Write your own contest copy and allow hosts to tweak as necessary for their site.


Until Tomorrow,
Angela Wilson
http://www.popsyndicate.com/books
http://www.linkedin.com/in/angelawilson
http://www.facebook.com/people/Angela_Wilson/775118823

Want details on Pop Syndicate virtual tours? E-mail Angela at authorangelawilson@gmail.com.

Pop Syndicate's Group Linkedin link - http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/130844

Some content originally posted at Mike's Writing Workshop & Newsletter - http://www.mikeswritingworkshop.blogspot.com

Angela Wilson, Book Blog Editor, About Virtual Tours, Intro by Morgan Mandel - Pt. 1

Can't afford to travel? Consider a virtual book blog tour. Here's the first of three installments where Angela Wilson, Book Blog Editor for Pop Syndicate, tells you what you need. Angela Wilson is a freelance author publicist, an author, freelance Web content director and Book Blog Editor for Pop Syndicate, a pop culture site with more than 8,000 hits per day. Each week, Pop Syndicate hosts authors on virtual tour. And now, here's Angela...

Virtual Tours
Authors have found an innovative way to use the Web to promote themselves and their work. Virtual author tours, or book blog tours, are fast becoming an inexpensive way to meet new readers and further develop your fan base.

Blog tours allow authors to post content on a variety of sites during their heaviest marketing season. It's a great way to get your name up in Google searches, and introduce yourself to new readers. It's not difficult, but it is time-consuming, and any author who goes this route should be prepared to give up a little writing and a family time to fulfill blogging obligations. Don't let that time element scare you. With proper planning – and short-term tours – any author can manage to do it.

Standard items you need for your tour:

One-page bio. You can use the one you have in your media kit, but make certain it is written in Web-friendly language.

Q&A. Make a list of the most common questions you get from both readers and interviews. Intertwine a few questions unique to yourself, or allow you to offer up unique tidbits about yourself and your writing. Answer them and you're good to go.
Columns. Have five to 10 columns about anything – writing, life, balancing career with family, your latest FAB review. Use one column per blog submission. Use the ones that are best suited for a particular blog. For instance, you will want to send a column about writing to a blog about writing. You want a good variety of columns because you don't want to be too repetitious. Readers want fresh content, and you don't want them to get bored by reading the same copy on different sites. There will be times when you need to write a new column, but at least you will have a stash to get your started.

Audio interviews. If you have them, use them, giving credit to the group or business that conducted the segment.

Book trailers. Be sure these are up and ready on YouTube, and forward the EMBED code to your tour hosts.

High- and low-resolution JPEGS of yourself and your cover art. Try to include a few different poses of yourself, maybe one relaxed at home and a studio shot. Adjust the size so they can easily email, or post them in the media section of your Web site for downloading.

A list of blog tour stops. Post this on your Web site, blog, MySpace, Tagged, Ning, Facebook, and give copies to your blog tour hosts. Also send out to your listserve or everyone in your address book.

Leave yourself open for unique items requested by various Web sites. If a site receives thousands of hits per day, you will want to work a little harder for them than a site with 12 hits. Be sure to save all documents with your name and the content. For example: AngelaWilson.Q&A.doc, AngelaWilson.mug.JPEG, etc.

Don't sweat it if you don't have everything now. Just get the basics together and add to your tour folder when you can. Remember that Web 2.0 will demand audio and video elements – the two most lacking – for future audiences. Start off with at least three unique columns and add to those when you can.

Until Tomorrow,
Angela Wilson

http://www.popsyndicate.com/books
www.linkedin.com/in/angelawilson
http://www.facebook.com/people/Angela_Wilson/775118823


Want details on Pop Syndicate virtual tours? E-mail Angela at authorangelawilson@gmail.com.

Join Pop Syndicate.com Group on Linkedin - http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/130844

Some content originally posted at Mike's Writing Workshop & Newsletter at
http://www.mikeswritingworkshop.blogspot.com

Sneak Preview of Virtual Tour Guest, Angela Wilson

Angela Wilson

A Hint of What's to Come:
I'll be hosting my first virtual tour guest this week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday when I turn the tables on Angela Wilson. You see, Angela is the host for a great many virtual book tours at Pop Syndicate.Com, and I might add that she does a marvelous job. Her topic will be no surprise - Virtual Tours.

I met Angela Wilson at the Love is Murder conference a few years ago when she was recording podcasts for authors. At the time I was impressed by not only her outgoing personality, but also her talent and smarts. Since then, I've bumped into her and traded anecdotes many times on the Web.

To give you a little bit about her background, Angela Wilson is a freelance author publicist, an author, former journalist, and freelance writer and director of Web content and programming for clients through Learfield InterActive, a division of Learfield Communications in Jefferson City, Missouri. She is also the book blog editor at Pop Syndicate, a pop culture review site. Her passion is writing fiction. Between PC crashes, a PC to Mac conversation, and doting on spoiled cats, she toils over her erotic thriller and an urban fantasy series.

I invite you to stop over here Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week and leave a comment. Angela says she's also open to questions, so think over what you might want to ask her during her tour.

Until then,
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.com
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

End Of Watch Contest at Morgan Mandel.com

I'd been so busy with blogging and promo, I'd neglected my website. To make up for it, I spent all weekend doing updates, changing the look, and putting up a new contest. I had some issues with the navigation bar, but hopefully they've been resolved.

Anyway, I've got a new contest you can access by clicking the Two Wrongs cover on the main page, then the contest tab on the navigation bar. The page you get will explain the rules.

END OF WATCH by Edward M. Burke and Thomas J. O'Gorman, makes not only absorbing reading, but it's also a great pictorial and coffee table hard cover book, with over 575 pages and 400 photos.

Hopefully, after you get your contest info, you'll linger longer at my website to check out more nooks and crannies. Say hello to Rascal while you're at it.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com

Word of Mouth by Morgan Mandel

We're going to see the Dark Knight today. Everyone says it's a great movie, so I'm really looking forward to it.

Word of mouth is a powerful tool not only in the movie industry, but also with books. A publisher's backing, as well as a well-thought out author's marketing plan, can contribute to book sales, but ultimately it's recommendations that seem to sell the most books.

If people have read your book and like it, thank them for the compliment. Then mention if they really enjoyed it, would they please tell a few friends either in person or online.

Also, it doesn't hurt to donate your book, especially to booksellers. If they like it, you've got a great selling campaign going.


Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com

DON'T BE A CHICKEN By Morgan Mandel

I played tic-tac-toe against a chicken at Lake of the Torches Casino on vacation. The chicken won!

Anyway, chickens usually denote fear and not taking chances.

Some writers spend a lot of time working on their manuscripts and getting them just right. Then, afraid to find out if their work qualifies to get published, they never submit it. They're too afraid. The manuscript just sits in a box or under the bed or somewhere else collecting dust, when it could be enjoyed by readers.

Don't be a chicken. Take the chance and submit your manuscript. You'll never know unless you try.

Morgan Mandel
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://www.morganmandel.com

TIME FRAMES By Morgan Mandel

While I was at the Apple Fest in Eagle River, Wisconsin, I had to ask the vendor what date it was before I could write out a check for the earrings I wanted to buy.

A few times I had to think twice about what day of the week it was, since this vacation started on a Wednesday, instead of the usual Friday.

Then, after trying to dodge the raindrops on the way to work, when I got there it seemed like a Monday, though it was Thursday.

It's easy to get mixed up about time. That's why when you're writing your manuscript you need to insert subtle hints here and there about the time of day, season, day of the week and year.

Here are a few easy ways to do this:

Time of day - Describe the sun coming up, or going down. What does the moon look like?

Season - Raking up leaves, throwing snowballs, watching new buds come up, feeling the hot sun on your feet at the beach.

Day of the week - Monday blues, Tuesday settling down to work day, Wednesday hump day, Thursday can hardly wait to go out Friday night, Friday pizza night, Saturday cleaning house day, Sunday church day.

Year - This will depend on when you set your novel. If it's during a bygone time, you'll need to insert hints about happenings then. The main thing is to keep track of when the novel starts, how many years it spans. You may need to show the change of seasons or the aging of your characters.

Hope this helps you keep track of time. If you remember to drop these hints in your manuscripts from the start, you won't have to go back later and try to figure out the time line. Believe me, it's not easy to figure it out later. I know from experience.

Morgan Mandel
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://morgansmultimedia.blogspot.com

BE PREPARED By Morgan Mandel

As I rushed to get ready for work,I was glad I listened to the weather forecast last night - rain and lots of it was predicted. I already had a rain coat, umbrella, cap, and extra plastic cover for my computer case ready. My grubby, ugly gym shoes were also ready instead of the nice, clean white ones.

It turned out it wasn't raining as much as I thought it would, except under the trees where the accumulated water spouted out.

The catch is the heavy rain hasn't started yet. Remnants of the hurricane are predicted to hit Illinois. At least I'll be protected on the trip home.

When you're a writer, you also need to be prepared. Producing a grammatically correct, unique and spellbinding manuscript is not enough. You need to be ready for the future. That means starting another one right away and working extra hard to get it done.

Why? Because if a publisher or agent likes your manuscript, the next question will probably be, "What else to you have?"

If you have another one or two ready, especially if they're part of a series, you may be lucky enough to clinch a multi-book contract.

So, your book is finished. Don't just sit back, relax and congratulate yourself. Get back on the treadmill and do another.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://morgansmultimedia.blogspot.com

Be a Turkey - Stand Out From The Crowd by Morgan Mandel

I could have saved these vacation photos for around Thanksgiving, but couldn't resist posting them now. My good friend, Jeanne, in Wisconsin, has a backyard that's like a wildlife reserve. Not only do deer, rabbits, squirrels, birds, chipmunks, raccoons and sometimes a bear visit, but lately she's had a mother turkey and her nine offspring coming over for freebies.

Note the one turkey on the railing scooping up the best of the food, while the others stay below.

Authors also need to stand out from the crowd. Though many of us find it against our nature, we need to get out in the spotlight and be noticed. The more we do, the more we'll stand out.

Today I'll just cover how to improve on the basics to stand out. Some other time I'll give examples on more far-out things to do. (Maybe around Thanksgiving, so I can put up another turkey photo.)

You should at least:

1. Set up a website
2. Do blogs
3. Distribute bookmarks
4. Distribute business cards
5. Do book signings
6. Belong to a writing group and attend meetings
7. Go to conferences
8. Join listservs and other online groups

Turkeys do all the above, but better.

To go beyond the basics:

1. Website - Get a designer to do your website, such as Diane Whiddon-Brown at http://novelwebsitedesign.com
or, if you'd prefer to do your own, either vary the template's colors, fonts and structure, or make up your own design.

2. Blogs - Change the layout from the normal template, use a catchy title, add links, a blogroll, photos, a sitemeter, a bookmark, guest appearances, to your blog. Check out other blogs for appearance and content. There's always room for improvement. Leave comments on other people's blogs. They'll remember.

3. Business cards &
4. Bookmarks - Don't just distribute these at normal places, like book signings, book stores, goody tables at conferences. Give them to waitresses when you pay your bill, leave them at rest stops when you travel, leave them on bulletin boards, do a co-op with authors in other states.

5. Book signings - Don't sit at the table next to your books, waiting for browsers to notice you. Get up and approach people. Enter into conversation with them. If possible, put your book in their hands for them to look over.

6. Belong to a writing book and attend meetings - Contribute to your chapter by being an officer or being in charge of the Christmas party or some other event. Join in aloud in the critiques. Let chapter members know about your book signings and what else is happening in your writing life.

7. Go to conferences - Not only attend conferences, but participate in panels. Also, help in some other way, such as registration, timing editor appointments, setting up the goody table, etc.

8. Join listservs and other online groups - Be active online by contributing what you've learned. Respond to posts by others, congratulate them on their successes.

So, be a turkey. I dare you.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com

The Blood-Red Pencil - Morgan Mandel

I'm excited to announce that I'm one of the participants in a brand new blogspot called The Blood-Red Pencil. I invite everyone to come on over to http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com. The Intros are up for you to read about our bloggers who will share their perspectives on the various aspects of editing manuscripts.

Also, please read my post about Backstory and leave a comment.

See you over there,
Morgan Mandel
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com
www.morganmandel.com

Let Your Light Shine By Morgan Mandel

They say a pregnant woman has a glow about her. So should an author. To get people hooked on you and your books, be sure to let your light shine.

How?
Be enthusiastic.
Be friendly.
Be caring.
Be outgoing.
Be prepared.
Be everywhere.
Be smart.
Be everything.

Not easy, but only the uninitiated think it is!

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com

I'M SO SPOILED By Morgan Mandel

I'm so spoiled. I can type my manuscripts on a computer. If I make mistakes I can fix them. If I want to move sentences, paragraphs or pages, I can do that. If I want to print, I just connect a USB cord to a printer, press a button and get as many copies as I want.

Whatever did authors do before? Good grief, they had to write with pen or pencil on paper. Or type on a typewriter that didn't have the auto correct when spaced backwards. Then, if it was before the copy machines, they had to use carbons to make copies, or worse yet, type extra ones and hope they didn't make mistakes.

I've been complaining because lately on vacation I've had a hard time connecting with my network card to the Internet. Thank goodness, I finally got mine working right today. But whatever did authors do before the Internet? How did they ever get their names out there?

I'm so spoiled.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com

Tweets for Today

• 20:10 After dinner went to Hoggie Doggie's in Woodruff, WI. for chocolate covered soft serve ice cream.Why can't I eat like this all the time? #
• 21:32 New author? Need promo ideas? Read my blog today at morganmandel.blogspot.com #

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