Month: August 2014

How to Write a Clean First Draft

Puppy BathI had to open my big mouth, didn’t I?

A few weeks back, in the response to a comment on one of my posts here at IU, I remarked that I save a lot of time in the editing phase by writing “really clean first drafts.” Of course, somebody had to go and ask me how I do it.

That meant I had to deconstruct how I do what I do. First, I found a calm, quiet place, and sat there with a meditation pillow and a candle, and communed with my muse for a while. Then I had a glass of wine. Okay, maybe I had more than one glass of wine. Anyway, I came away from it all with the conclusion that it’s a whole host of things. Here, as best as I can, is my prescription for writing a clean first draft. Continue reading “How to Write a Clean First Draft”

Thrifty Thursday: Savings to Sing About

HowlIs your pocketbook howling at the high prices of e-books? You’ll find some tail-wagging good deals here on Thrifty Thursday with our wide selection of low-priced and free indie titles!

Authors: if you have a book priced at 99¢ or less (that’s right, post your free eBooks here, too!), follow the instructions below and post it.

Readers: if you see one you like, click over and buy it. How easy is that?

We will convert your link to a clickable book cover. Do not attempt to insert an image in comments on your own. Just put the following information in the comment section:

1. Book title

2. Author name

3. A one sentence blurb (not a Faulkner sentence, either. Be reasonable.)

4. ONE link to download the book (only secure retail sites – Amazon, Smashwords, B&N, Kobo, Apple/iStore, or Sony)

5. Whether your book is free or 99 cents (and for how long/what dates)

Then let your friends and fans know your book is available here today. Use the share buttons below, or copy the link in the address bar above and share the news on your favorite social media platforms. The more, the merrier, right?

So let’s give it a try, shall we? Please make sure to follow the RULES above. Now, go ahead and tell the world about your cheap read. IU is a safe-for-work site. PLEASE do not post links to erotica, religious, or political titles.

(Post your FREE eBooks here, too!)

[Note: if the book cover images below do not display properly, please check your AdBlock settings.]

Pick this week’s flash fiction winner

vote here1There are a lot of good entries for this week’s flash fiction challenge. Now, IU readers get to pick their fave.

Remember, the winning entries will all be included in the next edition of the IU Flash Fiction Anthology.

Check out this week’s entries here. Make your decision, then use those share buttons at the bottom of the post to spread the word.

Voting polls close Thursday at 5 PM Pacific time.

Who wrote the best flash fiction entry this week?

  • Christian Adrian Brown (65%, 91 Votes)
  • AV Carden (14%, 19 Votes)
  • necwrites (9%, 12 Votes)
  • Dick C Waters (3%, 4 Votes)
  • Nelson Q. Lewis (3%, 4 Votes)
  • Rod Hall (1%, 2 Votes)
  • Ed Drury (1%, 2 Votes)
  • Morgan Winters (1%, 2 Votes)
  • Philip van Wulven (1%, 1 Votes)
  • Mathoska (1%, 1 Votes)
  • Helmy Parlente Kusuma (1%, 1 Votes)
  • Jessica (1%, 1 Votes)
  • SC Turnbull (0%, 0 Votes)
  • juliaproudwriter (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Pauline Creighton (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 140

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NOTE: Entrants whose submissions exceed the 250 word limit are eliminated from the poll. ONE VOTE PER PERSON, please. Duplicate votes will be deleted. The results displayed above are unofficial until verified by administration.

What My House Taught Me About Selling Books

IMG_8907Sometimes the obvious smacks you in the face. I hate it when that happens. But sometimes, lessons are learned where you least expect them. And surely enough, determining a house-selling strategy made me realize I had to change my philosophies when it came to selling my books.

My house is unique and custom-built. It’s in the wilderness, yet convenient to Spokane. It’s considered “green,” yet it’s not rustic. It’s luxurious, but it’s not outrageously expensive. When it went on the market, I knew it wouldn’t sell to anyone in the immediate area. It’s not for them. It’s perfect for city folk tired of the rat race. It’s for wildlife photographers and naturalists and outdoorsmen and retiring business executives and celebrities looking for complete privacy. It’s for a diverse, yet specialized, demographic.

After nearly a year on the market, there’d only been one showing. Why? Because putting a house up on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), Zillow, and Trulia is like putting a book up on Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble – and expecting that to be enough. Continue reading “What My House Taught Me About Selling Books”