I decided to try an experiment. What would happen, I wondered, if I set-up a crowdfunding appeal on either Kickstarter or Indiegogo? I had written a post, Kickstart Your Indie Project, on Indies Unlimited in favor of Kickstarter, and my fellow IU writer Rich Meyer had written one, Mendicancy – The First Refuge of The Modern Indie, critiquing the idea of independent authors asking for money to fund their book costs. What better way to prove my point that people are happy to fund novels, and to gain visibility for my book at the same time, than to put together a crowdfunding campaign? Continue reading “Not One Stinkin’ Dime”
Author: L. A. Lewandowski
Lois Lewandowski graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Political Science and French Literature. A passion for life lived well is reflected in her novels, Born to Die-The Montauk Murders, A Gourmet Demise, and My Gentleman Vampire, giving readers a glimpse into the world of the beau monde. Lois lives in Tampa, Florida. Learn more at her lifestyle blog, and her Amazon author page.
How To Make Money From Fan Fiction
I would love to be a fly on the wall at Amazon when they devise new programs like Kindle Worlds. They are capitalists to the core, and I’m not saying this is a bad thing. If there is a way to make a profit in the changing digital landscape they will figure it out.
Kindle Worlds is Amazon’s answer to the unsated need for quality fan fiction. Fan fiction, a written piece of work not officially sanctioned by the original creators, is tremendously popular. On the site http://www.fanfiction.net there are hundreds of communities where the obsessed fans can share their stories. The site http://harrypotterfanfiction.com contains over 80,000 stories about the world of Harry, Hogwarts, etc. The fan fiction movement has been growing at a rapid pace and the time was ripe for Amazon to come up with a way to cash in on the trend. Continue reading “How To Make Money From Fan Fiction”
Finding Beta Readers
The process of converting a first draft of a manuscript to a polished novel is a daunting one. The manuscript is like a cake; the batter is mixed, but the wet and dry ingredients may not yet be smoothly combined. Once this mixing is finished we still need to bake the batter, cool the cake and ice it. Beta listeners and readers are a critical resource to consult during this creative process.
Having a beta listener is a great way to start. If you are like me, when you are writing the first draft several options or plot directions will be available. It is immensely helpful to have a person who will listen while you talk through a plot twist. Speaking out loud to an attentive listener will often clarify the best direction.
Beta readers are also known as manuscript doctors. Laurie Boris has given tips on how best to direct a beta reader. A beta reader must know what their specific job is with regard to your manuscript. Handing your manuscript to three friends who love you and asking for general feedback will rarely net you any constructive criticism. This is the point in the process where you need a thick skin and an open mind. It is better to find, for example, a timeline problem now than have it pointed out in a review on Amazon.
The question is; where can you find several people who will be happy to read your rough diamond and feel comfortable giving you constructive criticism? It is easier than you may think. Continue reading “Finding Beta Readers”
Getting It Right: The Sport of Kings
“The depressing thing about tennis is that no matter how good I get, I’ll never be as good as a wall.”
Mitch Hedberg
What do sweat, heaving bosoms, and short skirts have in common? No, not that — Indies unlimited is a safe for work site. The quote above should have clued you in to my topic this month for Getting It Right. Tennis is a wonderful sport requiring skill, speed, mental fortitude, and often, the patience of a saint. A character that plays tennis, no matter the skill level, will give the reader clues to their personality. As a pro once told me, “How you are on the court is how you are in life.” Although I don’t agree 100% with that assessment, I’ll accept it for the purpose of this post. Continue reading “Getting It Right: The Sport of Kings”