5 Tips to Update Your Online Real Estate

By Stacy S. Jensen

In the middle of my submission process in January, I began looking at a few ways to update my website and social media sites. I want to make sure my online real estate is in good shape — in every season. You never know when a prospective buyer, er, agent might pop over for a visit.

Here are five areas to review:  

1. Dust off the welcome mat. You want to welcome guests, so make it easy for them to reach you. How can your visitors say hello or ask a question? Most blog platforms allow you to create a contact form or a page with links to your website or social media accounts. Some people want to Tweet you while others will want to send you an email. Make it easy for them.
2. Check the foundation. Make sure your content is in the best shape it can be. Is your 'About' page current? Have you won a contest that you mention in a query, but don't list it yet on your website? Does your bio still reflect who you are and what you want visitors to know about you? Does your resource page show resources you use? Don't send a blog visitor to a site you no longer recommend. Social media bios should also be checked for needed tweaks.
3. Change the furnace filter. Look for ways to update your site. Did you change the copyright notice on your site? Do you have an events calendar on the front page with no upcoming events? Be sure you are current. If you have social media updates streaming to your website, are you active on those sites? If you haven't tweeted in six months, remove that "live feed" now.
4. Shovel the driveway and sidewalks. Make sure your site is easy for visitors to access. Does your domain name still make sense? Perhaps you began your blog as "mountain biking mama," but now you write under your real name. Consider how people know you and make sure they can find you without hiring a private eye. 
5. Update. You need to use the most updated version of your platform, themes, widgets, and plug-ins available for your site. Also, take time to browse the widgets available for your site. You may discover something new that will make your life easier and your site a better experience for users.

Websites and blogs are part of a writer's portfolio now. Just like you revise your manuscript, you need to do the same with your online presence.

What have you updated on your site recently? Was it a quick fix?

About the Author: Stacy S.Jensen worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for two decades. Today, she writes picture books and revises a memoir manuscript. She lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and son.

Do You Connect With Authors? — A Reader University Post

By Stacy S. Jensen

This is the ninth post in a series of 12 ways to help authors (and your writing) by reading.

Making connections can be an easy task in this digital landscape.

For starters, connect with authors:

• online
• at signings
• on topic

I really enjoy connecting with authors via social media and blogs. If you love an author’s book, social media is a quick and easy way to share an “I love your book” comment with both the digital universe and the author.

Book signings are another way to connect. I read a post the other day where an author reported only a handful of attendees. While plane tickets aren’t always feasible to help an author out, I can keep an eye out for local (or within an hour or two drive) events I can attend.

If an author has a book about a topic near and dear to your heart, let her know. Maybe your book club or your classroom has a question about a story, so perhaps Tweet or email him your question. You may receive an answer.

I remember I tweeted about my son’s first birthday and tagged Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain. We chose to name our son Enzo, after the main character and narrator — a dog. Garth Stein tweeted me back.

Authors use social media differently. Some will friend you on Facebook while others won’t respond to emails. Writing is a time consuming task, so I understand those who don’t use social media channels to interact with fans. If you write, you know how writing your stories and living outside of the voices inside of your head (i.e. family, day job, hobbies, etc.) is often a balancing act. Of course, I really LOVE the ones who embrace social media and add to my experience as a reader.

I’ve mentioned before that my reading list this year is so 2012, but John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, shows a character’s quest to learn more about a book and an author’s reluctance to communicate with fans. This added a lot of tension to the overall story.

How do you connect with authors (and other writers)?

(This post originally appeared on Stacy S. Jensen's blog on March 3, 2014)

About the Author: Stacy S.Jensen worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for two decades. Today, she writes picture books and revises a memoir manuscript. She lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and toddler.

Do You Follow? — A Reader University post

By Stacy S. Jensen

This is the fifth post in a series of 12 ways to help authors (and your writing) by reading.

With so much focus on author platform, you’ll find most of your favorite writers on social media. Here are three ways to follow an author:

• blogs
• social media
• in person

It’s fun to study how published authors use their blog or social media presence.

Are they reaching out to readers, other writers, or book buyers? Do they use a specific social media site like Twitter or Facebook, or do they have a Pinterest board that draws you in for hours?

Some authors share unique details about their books and their characters on their blogs. Some will tweet lines from their books. A Pinterest board may be created to share the inspiration for a book’s setting or a character’s backstory.

Kid lit authors often will share educational materials — how to use their book in a classroom or home setting.

Other writers will share writing tips — how to break through writer’s block, how to deal with bad reviews, or how the rejection never ends.

Some authors are absent from social media, but that’s rare. This is where the in person idea comes into play. Why not attend a book signing or a conference where your favorite author is presenting? This is a good way to learn about the writer’s process and work. Most of these events have a question and answer session, why not support them and ask a question in person.

Years ago when readers wanted to contact an author, they mailed letters to the author’s publisher. With social media, contact can be instant. It’s a good way to show your support and learn a little more about the books and writing you enjoy. 

How do you follow authors?

(This post originally appeared on Stacy S. Jensen's blog on February 3, 2014)

About the Author: Stacy S.Jensen worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for two decades. Today, she writes picture books and revises a memoir manuscript. She lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and toddler.

Be A Winner - Marketing Your Book

By Jennifer Lovett Herbranson


It’s Football Time!

Bring on the tailgates, the barbecue, and the excitement. I’m originally from Birmingham, Alabama, and there is nothing in this world like a Saturday in autumn down south.

RV's park themselves outside the game field a week before the game. Crowds litter every available inch of real estate on campus and set up tents, grills, coolers and yes, even televisions. Strange new phrases reappear in the lexicon after a six-month hiatus. “Roll Tide,” “The Swamp” and “Suuu, eee” are heard from Savannah to Texas. Can’t you hear the marching band and the cheerleaders?

What does this have to do with marketing your book? Everything.

Legendary Alabama Head Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant once said, “Everything you ever need to learn in life can be learned on a football field.” With six national championships under his belt, I think he might be on to something. So grab a box of hot wings, a cold iced tea, and some Dreamland Barbecue Sauce. We’re gonna' talk football.

First, what do Peyton Manning, Tim Tebow, and Joe Namath have in common? He married his college sweetheart; he wrote a book about faith; and he played football with my Daddy, respectively. So nothing, really, other than they were all SEC quarterbacks who made it to the NFL.

Quarterbacks are in charge. They read the field, decide the play, and either let go or keep the ball - all before the barreling monster of a defense lineman squashes him to a pulp. In the writing world, you are the Quarterback. The head honcho of your team. The one to decide when to release the ball and when to hold onto it.

And here’s the deal: whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, if you want to sell your book, everyone expects you to do the marketing. Yep you. Even if you get the Big NY Deal, you are still expected to do the marketing because, frankly, there is no reason to gamble on a new or mid-list writer, which means little-to-no marketing money. And who wins? The guy with the biggest motivation and perseverance. They guy who reads the field and decides how to make the plan.

Repeatedly, writers tell me they just want to write. They hate marketing. They don’t want to learn and don’t see the point. I understand. Really. But if you want to sell that book, listen to Knute Rockne: “Build up your weaknesses until they become your strong points.” He is often considered one of the greatest football coaches of all time.

Once you decide you’re gonna' dig in and go for it, the first thing you’ll do as the quarterback is find a way to fend off the defense. For writers, that can be anything. The massive defensive end coming at your left side is self-doubt, the one on the right is procrastination, and the guy coming up the middle? That’s the competition. Finally, that defensive line blocking every move you make? That’s the industry. In spite of all this, crush ‘em head on because “when you win, nothing hurts” and Hall of Famer Joe Namath, veteran quarterback of the NY Jets and the University of Alabama, should know.

And winning is only possible with a Coach. You need a Coach who will yell and scream and holler and cheer and push and hug all at once. In the world of writing, there are a lot of different coaches: writer's conferences, marketing programs, books, mentors. These coaches will teach you to develop, understand and tackle the game plan. Do you understand why you need to market on specific outlets? Do you understand the outlet? Do you know how to reach people online and turn them into readers? Seek out the people who can help you with this. “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.” - Archie Griffin, the only two-time Heisman trophy winner. So get out there, high five the coach and fight, fight, fight!

Why? Because there is nothing sweeter than stepping into a fan-crazed stadium pushing its outer limits with pandemonium. Look around. The world is your stadium and it’s bursting with fans screaming and cheering. The band is playing and the cameras are popping; they want you to succeed. So after you find your coaches, you need a game plan.

Coach Bryant said there are three rules: 1.) Surround yourself with people who can’t live without football. 2.) Recognize winners. They come in all forms. 3.) Have a plan for everything.

In the biz, the marketing plan, or playbook, is called a communications plan. The best way to learn the playbook is find out what is working for other writers. After that, create your own.

Every game plan should include:

• Target audiences
• Readers
• Interest Groups
• Media (TV, radio, print)
• Bloggers
• Other Writers
• Agents, Editors and Publishers
• Online strategies
• Website and/or Blog
• Facebook Author Page (not the personal one, a professional one)
• Goodreads (for giveaways and author discussions)
• Twitter ('cause it’s fun & all the publishing industry is on it)
• Pinterest (it’s the up and comer)
• YouTube (3rd ranked search engine behind Google and Facebook)
• Face-to-face strategies
• Attend club meetings
• Hold a signing at a hardware store
• Speak (schools, civic organizations, anywhere)
• Messages and themes
• Define the overarching themes in your story and use those to help sell it
• What message are you trying to get across in your novel?

Ask yourself: Who will you market to? How? What will you say? Put all that in your playbook. Be as bold and creative as you can. Include offensive and defensive methods.

You will be successful, but it takes time. Start slow and make small goals. Inch up to national championship status with daily interaction on all outlets. Most of all, hang in there. Writing, just as with “Football, is like life – it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.” – Vince Lombardi.

In the life of writing and marketing, the game never winds down. You play, you practice, you watch game film, revise the game plan, sometimes you’ll even switch out the players. But it is all part of the continual cycle of getting better, finessing your game and playing to win.

Now “Winning isn't everything, but it sure beats coming in second,” said Coach Bryant. “And I ain’t never been nothing but a winner.”

Now, go out there, find your game and Be A Winner!

About the Author: With a combined 12 years of active and Reserve time as a US Air Force Public Affairs Officer, Jennifer Lovett has marketed books, shows, concerts and more. She is currently an Air Force Reserve Public Affairs Officer at Patrick AFB in Florida and in her full-time life, pursuing a career as a fiction writer.

"Like" Our New Facebook Page!

Pikes Peak Writers previously had a regular Facebook account, one that needed to be "friended," rather than "liked." Unfortunately, there is a cap on how many friends a regular account can accept, and we hit that cap last month.

So now we've created a Facebook page that will allow unlimited "likes." This will allow us to continue getting information out to everyone without limiting those who have access to that information.

Pikes Peak Writers uses Facebook to get out information on our upcoming events, such as Write Brains, Open Critiques, Writer's Nights, The Zebulon, and conference announcements. We also share information on our keynotes, such as shared blog posts or news articles. In addition, the Facebook page provides a place for members to connect with each other.

If you haven't liked the new Facebook page, please join us now, and throw us a "like!"

https://www.facebook.com/PikesPeakWriters

Privacy: It Can be Complicated in This Digital Age

By Stacy S. Jensen

Do you ever worry about privacy in this age of over-sharing?

My response varies with the social media outlet, and sometimes the time of day.

Today, we share much of our private lives
through social media.  There's no need to
spy through the keyhole anymore.

Over Christmas, the family of Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg made the news over a privacy issue. His sister Randi Zuckerberg discovered a private photo shared on Twitter. It turns out her privacy settings were not airtight.

If the Zuckerberg family can’t get its privacy settings correct, how are we regular folks supposed to figure this out?

I rarely find out privacy changes through Facebook, the company. Instead, I rely on several writers groups on Facebook or writers on Twitter to share the news.  If something big happens in this area, I expect the news to trickle down in my Facebook or Twitter newsfeeds.

I remind myself that nothing is really private on social media sites. At the end of the day, we’re each responsible for what we say and do online and in person.

Do you:

• ·        Tell blog readers where you live — city or state?

• ·        Write about things your children do?

• ·        Share your real name?

• ·        Criticize agents or other writers?

• ·        Write about yourself or others in blog comments or tweets?

All of these online activities leave a digital trail.

Have you ever googled your name to see what comes up? I’ve done it and found random tweets, comments on blogs and my own blog posts show up.  This information is available for potential employers, agents, publishers and your mother to see.

While the Randi Zuckerberg privacy issue made some people laugh about the irony of it all, it reminded me to check my privacy settings.

Privacy is a lot more complicated today than it was way back in 2007 before cell phones were smartphones or the iPhone was born.

How do you deal with privacy issues with your personal and professional online presence? Are you worried or not concerned at all?

About the Author: Stacy S. Jensen worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for two decades. Today, she writes picture books and revises a memoir manuscript. She lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and toddler. 
Blog: http://stacysjensen.blogspot.com 
Twitter: @StacySJensen

What I’ve Learned on Twitter (in way more than 140 characters) by Cindi Madsen

Any writers out there looking to do more social media? Twitter’s a big one now. I remember being a little hesitant to start an account. I mean, what do you do on Twitter? Does everyone really want to know what I’m eating/thinking/feeling? What I ended up finding was a world of people who like to talk books and music, plus a lot of other random things, as much as I do. For this post, I’m going to focus on what I learned about authors and readers.

1.  People are different.

Yes, I knew this before. But people have a lot to say about characters in the books they read, whether they love them or hate them. They fall for different love interests. They connect with different heroes and heroines. Sometimes personal experiences will affect how readers react. Sometimes they pick up a book and hate it, then give it a chance a few weeks later and love it. So what does this all mean? How does this knowledge help me?

Well, I’ve got a couple books coming out at the end of this year. When people don’t love my characters the way I do, or my writing style, or the cover, or the fact I use “the” all the time, I’m going to try not to take it so personally. I’m not pretending it won’t hurt, but I think knowing that some people will love it, some people will hate it, and some people will have mediocre feelings about it, will keep things in perspective. I read an excellent post from Beth Revis, who talked about how some people don’t like chocolate, puppies, bacon, or Harry Potter. Great, bestselling books have thousands of 1-star reviews. Remember that if (or most likely when) you get one. But...

2.  Do NOT respond to negative reviews or bash people who didn’t like your novel.

Trust me, you don’t want to do this. It’s unprofessional, and people won’t want to read your book, so just don’t. You know how on “American Idol” or “So You Think You Can Dance?” or whatever competition show you watch, there’s one person who talks back to the judges and looks like an ass? Do you want to be that ass? (Hint: No, no you don’t.) The publishing industry is a tight-knit community. If you offend publishers or agents or authors or book bloggers, your name will soon be mud and no one will be talking about your actual book. But they will talk about you and how unprofessional you are.

3.  People see your tweets.

Yes, that’s the point. But think about it when you post your 140 characters. Think it doesn’t matter? Tell that to the Greek athlete who posted something racist on Twitter right before the Olympics. Guess what, she’s out of the competition now, something she trained for her whole life, all because of one tweet. Even if you delete it, a simple screen capture will be proof forever.

4.  It’s called social media. Be social.

Find common interests with people. Respond to their comments. Interact—do not just tell people to buy your book. It feels like spam and soon you’ll be down followers. Before I knew what I was doing, I wasn’t interacting with people and Twitter was dull. Once I found people to talk my favorite books with, I finally saw what all the fuss was about. I know different groups, we have different jokes, and I learn about their lives. That means that Twitter now takes up some of my time, but since I’ve met so many cool people, I’m okay with that. I reward myself after writing with some tweeting.

The world’s changed. We now have to be out there, creating our platform, doing blog interviews, and trying to make a name for ourselves. But it’s also a great opportunity to connect with people you’d never otherwise meet. So jump in and have some fun.

And good luck squeezing everything you want to say into 140 characters or less.

About the Writer:  Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes this makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She lives in Colorado with her husband and three children. Look for her YA novels, All the Broken Pieces with Entangled Publishing, and Demons of the Sun with Crescent Moon Press, to be released Fall 2012. More information can be found on her website: cindimadsen.blogspot.com.

Thirteen Things Writers Need to Know About Twitter By Patsy Terrell

Twitter’s 140 character limit may seem confining for authors accustomed to writing books. But the social media site offers opportunities for writers to connect with each other, publishing professionals and potential readers.

Thirteen Things

To enjoy Twitter you must build a network. Twitter is as interesting as the people you’re following. If your Twitter Stream isn’t holding your attention, follow smarter people.

Add a profile and photo so people can start to get to know you.

On Twitter you can make connections not bound by geography or past experience.

With Twitter you can have conversations with people you could not call on the phone or ask to meet with.

Engage and interact with people on Twitter. Talk to people, retweet posts you find interesting, connect with conversation.

You can also use Twitter to consume information. Search out people and topics you’re interested in, and that information will be delivered to your Twitter page.

Do more on Twitter than promote yourself. If you wouldn’t want to read your own Twitter Stream, work harder at it.

Connect with other writers, editors and agents on Twitter. Learn what is happening in the market, read what agents and editors are looking for, and commiserate with other writers.

Experts on the details you want to work into your novel are as close as 140 characters. You can search out people who live in almost any corner of the world and who know about almost any topic.

Twitter is one way to position yourself as an expert, and start building the all-important platform. Share your knowledge as well as your message.

Twitter can help drive people to your content – be that a blog or a book. But add something of value to the Twitter conversation instead of only promoting your work.

Twitter is made up of other real people, just like you. You wouldn’t go to a dinner party and start pushing your business card into the hand of every person you meet. You’d have conversation. Do the same on Twitter.

If you decide to hire someone to manage Twitter for you, look for someone who understands marketing, not just the logistics of Twitter. Twitter is just one tool you can use in your marketing plan.

BIO:  Patsy Terrell is a writer, artist and public relations professional who currently makes her home in Kansas. She helps clients clarify their marketing goals and then identifies the tools to accomplish them, incorporating traditional and new media depending on their needs.