Having a blog on your author website

Every author website should have a blog. Why? This can be the place where you display your work; where you display snippets of an upcoming book. Be sure to use your website to the fulliest. If it offers extra pages see what you can do with them. Don't clutter your site but try to get creative with it.

I love to blog. It's a thing I've come to love recently. I also love that I can get followers. I can get frequent readers to pay attention to what I have to say. There's no better way to get people to your author website than through a blog.

Blogs offer so much and you can basically do whatever you want them. So if you have a website right now and you do not have a blog connected to it, figure out what you can do with it to help enhance your author website.

Before we end today's Blog...
Advertise your business with From A Writers POV: http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/advertisingpackages.htm

Signing Off,
Dominique Watson

Guest Speaker Zaria Garrison: Interviews

Today we have a guest speaker. Zaria Garrison. She is a professional in writing, publishing, magazines. Today she is going to speak to us about interviewing. Read her interview below.

Dominique Watson (DW): As an author what are some points to remember when doing an interview?
Zaria Garrison (ZG): As an author I make sure that I always mention my current project, as well as how and where it can be obtained. It's also important to remember to be cordial and pleasant even if the interview is not going great. A fan is listening.

DW: Have you heard of blogtalk radio? If so what do you think about it? Is it helpful for authors and writers?
ZG:Yes, I am co-host of a blog-talk radio show, call On the Hush. It's a topic centered radio show. I think it's a very helpful medium. One of my favorite features is that although it's live, someone can download and listen to it again later. Unlike commercial radio, if someone misses your interview, their chance is gone.

DW: How should authors go about getting an interview?
ZG:Part of being an author is the ability to sell yourself. First authors should research to find out what their target audience is reading and listening to. Then they should approach those mediums with the offer to do an interview.

DW: How can an interviewer conduct a successful interview?
ZG: When I am conducting an interview with authors I try to ask new questions. Most authors have repeatedly been asked the same questions over and over. I like to dig deeper into who they are as a person, and ask those questions they don't expect and haven't given the same answer to 100 times. It's also important to research the person you are interviewing before the interview. Find out as much as possible about them, then asked questions based on the research.

DW: What are some mistakes interviewers make?
ZG: The biggest mistake I think is not treating each interview individually. Each person should have their own questions that pertain to them, not a set of pre-requisite questions that are used for everyone. I have been blessed to do interviews with authors, as well as being interviewed by others as an author. This has allowed me to see the interview from both angles. Because I'm an author, I am able to ask questions as a reader, as well as a writer. I feel that allows me to do a more in depth interview. I'm able to take my experiences as a writer and mold that into questions that another writer will benefit from. At the same time I can take my love for reading and use it to ask the questions that the reader is thinking as well. When giving interviews as an author, I feel my experience doing interviews comes into play by allowing me to be in the shoes of the person asking the questions. I know that they don't want yes or no answers. They want me to think about my answers and give as much information as possible. So I try my best to give the interviewer my all. The purpose of an interview is for the person reading the interview to learn about the person being interviewed. If I give short, rehearsed answers, the person is unable to achieve that goal. I also think that every writer, should take the time to conduct an interview with another person. This will allow them the opportunity to see the interview from both sides. It adds a unique perspective as well as can be used for growth as a writer, and an interviewer.

Great points! As an interviewer, this info helped me take a step back and look at what I'm doing wrong. I believe it's important to get advice on how to conduct an interview and as an author how to get an interview. Zaria is so right. It's all about selling yourself and if you don't know how to do that, hire a promotor!

Before we end today's blog...
Check out what book I'm reading on The Publisher's Choice: http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/publisherschoice.htm

Signing Off,
Dominique Watson

Publishing Stages, Contracts...Do I need a lawyer?

When in the publishing stages some authors wonder if they will need a lawyer. Someone to look over the contract, read the fine print and negotiate the deal. This is only necessary in certain situations. Most of the time it's not needed.
It is wise to have someone read over the contract because most contracts have a bunch of words that we don't understand and we want to make sure that we are not getting ripped off. Some lawyers are not cheap and will charge you just to read a contract.
So my advice is the decision is yours. If you feel safer getting a professional to look at the contract, find someone to do it and push forward with the book.
But...be very careful when getting into an agreement with new companies (someone you've never worked with before)
Do your research on the companies and know what your getting into before you sign.
Before we end today's blog...
Join our network! Get more advice and tips on the business side to writing. www.fromawriterspov.ning.com
Signing Off,
Dominique Watson

Question of the Week

It's Wednesday and we have a new question of the week. Join us and leave your thoughts.
We spoke a lot about character development this week.

"Tell us how you develop your charcaters. Is your method different from the others listed?"
Post your comment below and tune in next wednesday for a new question.

Signing Off,
Dominique Watson

Guest Speaker Margie Church Character Development

On Sunday I spoke about how to develop your characters and where they come from. I'de received an email from someone and wanted to share my thoughts.
Today we have a guest speaker. Margie Church. She is a published author, freelance writer, and executive editor for Class Act Books. Today she will be speaking to us about character and story development.
Dominique Watson (DW): What has been your experience as an author?
Margie Church (MC): I have been a professional writer for about 30 years. I began my career in news writing and editing, moved through corporate ranks in advertising/marketing communications/public relations, and eventually began writing and editing for magazines. I have been writing and editing for magazines for 12 years. Last year, I wrote my first novel, "Awakening Allaire." It got rejected with only a very short description of my problems. Six weeks later, I finished the revision and resubmitted the manuscript. "Awakening Allaire" was published August 1, by Class Act Books. I recently received a contract from Class Act Books for the sequel, "Avenging Allaire," which will come out November 1. I also received one from Guardian Angel Publishing on my children's book, "First Spring."
DW: How do you form your characters?
MC: Initially I have some idea of what the hero and heroine will be like, physically and emotionally. I look at pictures of models to get some physical ideas. I research names and "wear" those for awhile to see if they fit the way a character behaves. As the drama plays out, I develop more characteristics I like to fully define them and the supporting characters.
DW: Do you use character profiles?
MC: Yes, I do. I keep a cheat sheet of the characters that identifies their physical descriptions, and every pertinent detail, including who they are related to, where they came from, what their name means, nicknames, etc. Sometimes as the story ramps up, I forget specifics or I have a character who only made a brief appearance. The "cheat sheet" helps ensure I am consistent. Also, as I develop dialog, it ensures that I am writing the story and the character's voice consistently.
DW: What are some common mistakes writers make in dialogue?
MC: There is a tremendous amount of leeway in dialog from word choice and language pattern points of view. Frequently, I see authors having trouble "keeping in character." I see, for example, a young woman or teenager suddenly using very formal words and phrases, inconsistent with how the character was initially defined or for a person of that character's age. The character stops or starts using contractions when they speak. They may start to swear uncharacteristically in a scene or start talking like a preacher when they've been a guttersnipe. I've done it myself. I sit back and say, Geez, he doesn't talk like that or that phrase doesn't sound like her, and I rewrite it. Try to avoid point of view switches. This also is referred to as head jumping. Imagine who has the most at stake in a scene and write it from his or her perspective. It takes some practice but words such as "think, feel, thought, imagined, hoped, etc. all indicate a point of view switch. In love scenes, it is acceptable to switch perspectives once. Usually a scene break mark is used to indicate this. I also see authors using just about any sentence as a dialog tag. Dialog tags should reflect who or how something is said. A good example: Peter spun on his heel and shouted, "Drop it now!" An improper dialog tag would be something like: Averting her eyes to hide the truth, "I don't know why he left." The clause also is a dangling participle and needs to be fixed. Corrected: She averted her eyes to hide the truth and whispered, "I don't know why he left."
Not every line of dialog needs a tag. Use them for clarity and to add emotion.
DW: What is the proper set up for dialogue?
MC: Each character gets their own paragraph for dialog and for action.

Some authors are hesitant to put the action before the dialog as in this example: "I can't believe you dropped that," she wailed, falling to her knees. It is more powerful to set the dialog up this way: She fell to her knees, wailing, "I can't believe you dropped that."

Don't over-use character names in dialog.

For proper punctuation technique, I strongly recommend The Chicago Manual of Style. It answers just about any style question you might have. It is available on-line, too.
DW: What are some key points in focusing on characters and the story?
MC: I have a tendency to give great insight to how my heroes think and feel in the story and the heroine somehow ends up being window dressing. I sit back after I write a scene and look for balance. I examine whether I've given each character time to express their emotions and illustrate their motivations. If I have a character pulling out a gun and shooting somebody, but haven't given the reader any clue they were capable or motivated somehow to do it, it's not believable. I'm always asking myself, does that make sense? I write suspense so I don't want to give the plot away, but I must give each character enough reason to behave the way they do. For example, in my WIP, my heroine came off a bit cold and stand-offish. I gave her a sister to talk to so the heroine could retain her private ways in the story, but she showed a warmth and caring with her sister that readers needed to see so they could care about my heroine, too.
Don't skimp on self-editing. Enlist the help of skilled people you trust to tell you the truth about your story and the way it's written.

As an author, I believe this info was very helpful. One thing I do as well as Margie is create the character profiles. As a professional writer, it's helpful. I did not do this when I first started out writing but after a while I learned that it was helpful. So I truly encourage that. I hope this interview was helpful and you all were able to take something away from it.
Before we end today's blog...
Get your thoughts on The POV Lounge. http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/guestspeaker.htm
Signing Off,
Dominique Watson

This Week's List of Services

From A Writers POV has a new Service list this week. Browse through the links below to find the service you are looking for!

1. Not Just A Bookstorenotjustabookstore@att.net
Best Sellers, New Releases, Urban/Christian Fiction, Self Help & Motivational,& Local Authors

2.Reflections of a Mississippi Magnoliapatricianeelydorsey.webs.com"a celebration of the south and things southern" in poems

3. Accomplice Press, LLC.
www.accomplicepress.com
Your partner in good reading.

4. Fulfilling Your Writing Needs
Freelance Writing & Editing

5. Business Name: Faith Travel 4 U
Business URL: www.faithtravel4u.com1
Virtual Travel Services

6. S. F. Morris Publishing on Facebook.
Editing, Book Cover Layouts,
Book release information and more.

Before we end today's blog...
Get your business on this list next week! www.fromawriterspov.webs.com

Signing Off,
Dominique Watson

Developing your Character

I received an email the other day about developing characters and I wanted to share it with you all. Here's the question:
"My question is that your characters are easy to read and develop an understanding of. Does that come from experience or is there a trick to putting such life, realism and credibility into a character?"
My response:
"When creating characters, I try to create someone that's relatable. Someone that I know my characters will be able to understand. Some characters I know but most of them are for me to create someone I know people can relate to.
The characters truly depend on what what your storyline is about and what you're trying to get across to your readers. I always pick someone that's normal but has a flaw, as we all do. Sometimes I like to create people that need a change. So through out the story they will have to change. I think developing your character depends on what you are trying to tell in your story.
Some people create characters before they create storylines again it all depends on you and what you are trying to create."
Before we end today's blog...
Do you have a writers question? Looking for advice and tips on a writing subject you have not seen here yet? Contact me and I'll answer it here for you!http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/yourrequests.htm
Signing Off,
Dominique