It's Friday once again (time to celebrate), which means the Turndog Tales are here to rock your world. I've looked through my Twitter feed and these are the stories that stood out (most of them for the better). Have a read and enjoy your weekend. Would You Snub A Million? You know self-publishing's building steam when authors start to turn down huge amounts of money because the deal isn't good enough. Of course, this is still the minority, but we're seeing more circumstances like this all of the time. It makes you feel fuzzy inside, doesn't it? Hugh Howey is starting to appear in places like the Wall Street Journal, discussing why he took the deal he took and why he turned a few … Read More »
Welcome to Friday, the day we all get excited because it means relaxation, unless you're a writer, entrepreneur, or other nomadic maniac, in which car you'll probably have a busy - albeit fun - few days ahead :) The Turndog Tales is here to share my favourite stories of the week, so please devour as much as you like and share the joy. Let's do this: Trump the Amazon Machine David Gaughran is a man who speaks sense, so when this post popped up on my screen and looked at how Amazon recommends books to people, it caught my eye. It looks at the brick and mortar method of book selling, and how the mysterious algorithms at Amazon HQ have a canny way of keeping customers happy. It isn't a … Read More »
Happy times, the weekend is nearly here and The Turndog Tales is ready to welcome you to it. I've gathered my favourite stories from the past week and ready to share them with you. Sit back, relax, and get ready for a few golden eggs. Launch Your Book In Style I've spoken of this a few times in recent weeks, and my own Launch Day is still fresh in my mind. Dana Sitar offers a post full of tips on getting the most out of your big day. There are many things you can do, and it can easily get overwhelming, but these offerings may help keep you focussed. Launch day isn't the be-all and end-all, but it sure can help. Are you ready to make the most of it? Click Here Would You Like Some … Read More »
Welcome to another edition of the Turndog Tales: a post about all the other great posts I've come across this week. I hope the following tit-bits keep you going for the rest of the day and start your weekend in style. Let's make it a good one. We All Judge A Book By Its Cover I know we're told we should't, but we do, and when you think about it, is there anything wrong in doing so? A book is about the writing, of course, but visuals play an important role in stimulating your mind. Nick Thacker talks about creating your cover and the role it has in your story. Whether you pay someone to do it or design it yourself, a cover is a vital aspect of your book. Fiction, non-fiction, or anything … Read More »
Friday is with us once more, which means it's time for some Turndog Tales. I've added my fave stories of the week, so sit back, relax, and soothe your brain :) Structure Thy Story This post by J.E Fishman looks at the vital aspect of story structure, which let's face it, is always on the mind of a writer. You want your story to spring surprises and flow and excite the reader, but certain rules need to be followed and abided by. This post offers a few great tips and I think they may help settle some worry. Certainly worth a read. Click Here Voice Is The Virtue I came across two posts this week that focus on voice, which is a subject that's always on my mind. Dan Blank and Kristen … Read More »
Ahhh weekends, you have to love them, and what better way to kick it off than with The Turndog Tales: the best news of the week. These are stories I've fallen in love with this week. I hope you enjoy, feel inspired, and start your weekend in style. Simply Inspiring This post may mean more to me because my next novel is somewhat relevant, but it is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Julie Forward DeMay is no more, but her words and life lives on with this book. The Duolit girls have got involved and started a campaign that I'm sure many will get behind. I'm certainly hoping to help where I can. I suggest you read and discover the inspiration for yourself. Click Here Spread Your … Read More »
The end of a big week is over for me, and with it brings another Turndog Tales. It's been a crazy, hectic one, but I've still had to time to trawl Twitter. These are my favourite stories from the last week. I hope you enjoy: New v Young Adult I personally found it quite difficult placing Beyond Parallel into a genre, and from what I hear, many writers face similar difficulties. This post by Mallory Ortberg looks into the growing trend of New Adult, a potential genre that may lay just around the corner. This is the sort of genre that Beyond Parallel fits in, so it's a post that was of particular interes. All in all, quite interesting Click Here Go In Person I love the online world, … Read More »
Welcome to the first Friday of 2013, and therefore the first Turndog Tales of the year. This week I've been getting back into the swing of things, and my Twitter activity has been slowly getting back to normal. These are my fave stories from the last seven days. The Routines Of The Richly Famous Writers are a fairly crazy bunch, and the routines of the famed are often varied. This great list from Maria Popova provides quotes and insights into some of the best writers of recent years. How do you fair when you compare yourself to others. In the end of the day we should compare ourselves to others, but it's nice to see how the best go about it. Click Here What 2013 Will Hold It's the time … Read More »
It's Mad Friday, the final Friday before Christmas. The shops are busy, the bars are chaotic, and I come at you with the Turndog Tales. Consider this the lull before the storm :) Here are my favourite stories from the past week. Merry Christmas and enjoy: Howey v James Steven Pressfield is a legend, and this post is interesting to say the least. It will take you a while to read (it's looooong) but boy is it full of cool, funky stuff. It looks at, among other things, the benefits of Hugh Howey's recent deal, when compared to someone like E.L James. Self-Publishers getting signed up by the big boys will continue to happen in the future, so the more we understand this process, the … Read More »
It's the first Friday in December, which means Christmas is getting closer. Have you done your shopping yet? It's once again time for some Turndog Tales, so let me share my favourite news from the past seven days. Let's get this thing under way... Writing Whilst Exercising Rebecca Skloot wrote an interesting note this week about her homemade treadmill desk. I'm not sure if I like the idea of walking and writing (I'm not sure if I could do it), but boy is it interesting. Exercise is important to a writer (we sit far too much), and this DIY effort is very cool. Like I say, I'm not sold on the idea but I find it fascinating. What do you think? Click Here Indie Publishing In … Read More »
