Monday, June 11, 2012

Anthology's Top Ten Lessons Learned

            I am proud to be an author in the Corner Café: A Tasty Collection of Short Stories. This was the brainchild of Dani Greer, owner and chief expert on BBT Cafe with the help of Helen Ginger and Bob Sanchez. Sherry Wachter at Magic Dog Press did the delicious cover.
This project is a study of book marketing 101 and while the results aren’t in yet, the experience has already been invaluable for me. The top 10 lessons I’ve learned are:
1.      Always follow the rules. You don’t want to hold up a project because you didn’t listen or read.
2.      Always listen to the teacher or boss. They are making the decisions and you need to do whatever they ask.
3.      To be part of a group effort, you must put in the effort to do your part. (I have been lax in this area but hope to have a strong finish.)
4.      Brainstorming through emails develops great ideas but can fill your inbox in a short period of time.
5.      Book marketing is an evolving science and if you blink, you may miss the next great marketing idea.
6.      You need to be a member of a tribe, pin daily, tweet, post to Facebook, Google Plus and other things I’ve never heard of but they do sell books. (At least a couple)
7.      No matter how many times you look at the words someone can find a typo in it. (Thank you Dani and Helen for all those versions until we got to the final. I haven’t found any typos yet!)
8.      Hootsuite can schedule posts to facebook and twitter. Who knew?
9.      Screen shots of good things about your books and their rankings are great ways to preserve them for future use and to track results of book sales.
10.  The final thing I’ve learned is that in the book business, you can never have enough contacts or friends to converse and commiserate with. They are a fantastic life line and I am thankful for each of my fellow authors and the others on the Blog Book Tours loop who give of themselves, their talent, and their time to promote others.

Please follow the other blogs in the tour.
June 13 Chris Verstraete http://candidcanine.blogspot.com
June 14 Helen Ginger http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com
June 15 Kathy Wheeler
June 18 Morgan Mandel Double M http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
June 19 Pat Bean http://patbean.wordpress.com
June 20 Shonell Bacon http://chicklitgurrl.blogspot.com
June 21 Alberta Ross http://albertaross.wordpress.com
June 22 Karen Casey Fitzjerrell http://karencaseyfitzjerrell.blogspot.com
June 25 Pat Stoltey http://patriciastoltey.blogspot.com
June 26 SB Lerner http://www.susanblerner.com
June 27 Maryann Miller http://its-not-all-gravy.blogspot.com/
June 28 Mary Montague Sikes http://marymontaguesikes.blogspot.com
June 29 Stephen Tremp http://breakthroughblogs.blogspot.com

36 comments:

  1. Great post, Wendy! Will drop by tomorrow in case your fans have questions.

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  2. Thank you! With all the emails shooting back and forth each day, sometimes it feels overwhelming. This was a great recap of the essentials that we've all learned. (I'm still working on doing the screenshots!

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  3. This IS a wonderful recap! It made all the information that's been running in circles around me sit down and be polite. Thanks!

    Marian Allen
    Fantasies, mysteries, comedies, recipes

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  4. "Whooooo knew?" <---Hootsuite owl. ;)

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  5. Thanks for your recap of all that's been going on. It's overwhelming and yet a real learning experience! Amazing what we discover at BBT Cafe!

    Monti
    Mary Montague Sikes

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  6. Good points! Sounds like a lot of work, doesn't it? ha!
    In Miniature Style II

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  7. This was a great recap of what we have done so far. I think we all agree on the points learned. I especially liked your number 3 point, "To be part of a group effort, you must put in the effort to do your part." That is a real quotable quote. In fact I might just go quote it on Twitter. LOL

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  8. Thank you BBT team! That is one thing I think I forgot to mention. It has been an incredible team effort and I am glad I came along for the ride.

    Red: So glad you got my joke!

    Let the journey continue...
    Wendy

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  9. This is actually not a bad post for writing for publication in general. I like it that you point out the differences between writing alone, and writing that involves others.

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    1. Thanks, Bodie. Sometimes I like to play in the sandbox and sometimes I like to throw sand. Does this analogy work???

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  10. Pulling together a project like this was incredible to watch from the sidelines. Congratulations to Dani, Bob, Sherry, all the authors, and any unsung heroes. The stories are wonderful.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Pat. I've enjoyed the stories as well.

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  11. I, too, enjoy being part of this effort, even though the emails discussions seem overwhelming. I keep thinking there is a better way to exchange ideas, but haven't come up with anything. Anyway, it seems to be working, and we're all learning from the experience. As I love short stories, I think this was a fantastic idea, and helps promote the genre.

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    1. I cringe when I look at my inbox but I do love the ideas and conversations. Well worth the time.
      Wendy

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  12. Double yes on numbers four and seven! :)

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  13. have enjoyed watching the process coming together - and the speed in which it can happen if the team works together - well done feloow writers -we can all learn from this effort

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    1. Maybe next time you can be part of the process, Alberta. Dani is already hinting...

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  14. I loved your list! Especially number 8. *wink* You guys make such a great team. Yippee and congrads to all of you. I love my copy. Excellent coffee, doughnuts, and conversation, down at The Corner Cafe. :-)

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    1. Robyn: Thanks for stopping by. I've missed the cyber conversations with you. I love the reference to doughnuts. My main charcter eats doughnuts at every turn. Made me feel quitly to get back to the book that's due!
      Wendy

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  15. Great post! I'm learning a lot, too, on this fast-paced journey!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. I loved your story in Corner Cafe.
      Wendy

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  16. Hopping over from Helen's to say Hi and good luck with the book! I've got my copy :)

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    1. Jemi, thanks for the hop! Please make it a regular trip. Hope you enjoy the Corner Cafe.
      Wendy

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  17. I've also found Hootsuite to be a handy medum for getting the tweets out, and have to agree teamwork produces great results!

    Morgan Mandel
    http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

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    1. Morgan thanks for stopping by. I"m in awe of how much you get out cyberly in a day!
      Wendy

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  18. I have this on my Kindle. Will be digging into it soon. Assuming my kids ever let me finish the story I have about 2 pages left to read.

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    1. Give them the hose in the back yard. Should give you at least 16 minutes...LOL
      Wendy

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  19. I don't know how you kids can read the group posts in your mailboxes. It's so much easier to go direct to the Yahoo group webpage, and scroll through the messages. Next, next, next. I do all the reading, answering, and moderating right at the site. There are members who are set up for individual emails - I can't even imagine that! Yep, the teamwork - it's like having an entire staff to share the work - very powerful group we have there! Thanks, Wendy. It was a good post!

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    1. Thanks Dani! You get an amazing about of stuff done!
      Wendy

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  20. Sounds like an exciting and productive venture.

    Congratulations all!

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    1. Marilyn: So glad to have you stopping by. Wendy

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  21. Just stopping by to say hi Wendy. Your list is great.

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    1. Bob: So glad to see you here! Thanks, Wendy

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  22. I downloaded my copy and read the first two chapters yesterday. I'll read a few more today. I forgot how much I enjoy and miss reading short stories.

    IS that a pic of Grand Rapids on your banner? I grew up in Michigan and that look familiar.

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    1. Yes it is. It was taken from a window of the Amway Grand Plaza. My fictional town in my books is "Grand River."
      Wendy

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