What would YOU teach young creative writers?

 

Hello from Crippled Beagle Publishing Headquarters in Knoxville, Tennessee!

My team and I will soon plan the lessons for my third UT KidsU Creative Writing Camp, and I’d love to know what YOU think the students will enjoy! My previous lesson plans are great, but I’m always looking for new ideas.

The “campers” are grades (rising) 8-12, and we meet for four hours per day, Monday – Friday, June 26-30. On Monday, they’ll be quiet. By Friday, they’ll all be best buds on Snapchat.

The camp is held at the University of Tennessee Conference Center on Henley Street. UT gives me a huge classroom with a projector screen, a computer, flip charts, markers, tables, and chairs. I can rearrange the furniture and raise/dim the lighting. I’ll likely have 15 to 20 students, total.

If you were going to teach a week-long camp for young creative writers, what would you want to include? I can’t wait to read your ideas!

If you know a young person or parent who may be interested in camp information, please share my contact information or forward this email. Parents may learn more and register students at this link: 

Creative Writing (Grades 8-12, rising) - 23SUKU354 (utk.edu)

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE for your creative ideas!

Xoxoxo 

P.S. Remember, I teach adult (18 and older) classes, too. The next one is in June. Here's the full list: Language and Writing (utk.edu)

Be realistic, embrace retail reality, and find those readers!

Greetings from Crippled Beagle Publishing headquarters in Knoxville, Tennessee. Speaking of Tennessee, did you know that La Vergne, Tennessee, is home to Ingram Industries? Ingram leads the WORLD in book distribution. Crippled Beagle Publishing uses a combination of Ingram (through subsidiary IngramSpark) and Amazon-owned Kindle Direct Publishing to distribute clients’ books.

Ingram wholesales to over 40,000 retailers, including retailer Amazon.com. According to Statisica.com, Amazon has WELL over 2 BILLION website visits per month.

While we all love libraries and bookstores, Amazon.com offers an easy and economical route for readers to buy books, granting you incredible opportunities to grow readership, especially if you are putting consistent time and energy into your marketing efforts. The fact is that the majority of books are sold on Amazon.com.

This bar chart shows how important Amazon is to independent authors across the world. (I’ve actually heard many times that Amazon sales are closer to 80%, and I don’t doubt it.) I don’t like that brick-and-mortar bookstores are struggling, but I do like that busy authors can economically focus their efforts on online marketing and grow readership. Amazon understands this, which is why Kindle Direct Publishing is the preferred print-on-demand distributor AND why Amazon and KDP provide many tools to help authors succeed. TIP: When you market your book online, be sure to include the URL (web address) that takes readers to your website or your buying page on Amazon.com. Make doing business with you easy😊.

If you’d like to read the article behind this graphic, visit: Chart: Amazon Dominates Book Sales Almost Everywhere | Statista (https://www.statista.com/chart/28042/share-of-respondents-who-bought-books-from-amazon/).

HAPPY MARKETING!

Jody

Get media coverage without exhausting your brain and keyboard

Research pays off. Have you ever wondered how certain books get so much press? There are lots of ways to gain media coverage for your book, but the task can be confusing and daunting. One internet search query can turn into hours of tedious reading. Here are two tips to help you get more coverage without exhausting your brain and keyboard.

TIP #1 

Reverse press contacting - Look for successful books similar to yours (genre, content, audience, theme, region, etcetera), and see what press they have gotten. Then, contact those press outlets. If you aren’t’ sure how to tell if a book is successful, visit the book’s Amazon page and look for rankings and reviews.

TIP #2

Go where you will automatically be liked. Instead of trying to convince someone who rarely endorses authors to endorse you, go where you will more likely be liked! (I made that one kind of a riddle-tongue-twister😊. If you see a write-up, hear a podcast, or read a blog post about a book, contact the source. The source likes books and authors, so he/she may like and promote your work, too. I learned this technique from my father when he coached me on dating. He said, “Jody, I always liked the girls who liked me. That made the whole process easier.”

Happy marketing!

xoxoxo

If you would like to know the next, best step in promoting your book, book a "Next Steps Call" here: https://calendly.com/jodydyer/free-first-consultation

Get creative and collaborate with illustrators and artists, but also be creative and cost-conscious!

Hello from Crippled Beagle Publishing Headquarters in Knoxville, Tennessee. The dogwoods are blooming, and I am feeling energized by the spring weather and scenery. How about you?

Lately, I’ve been answering lots of questions about book illustration, artwork, and photography. There are multiple ways to find the right illustrator for your work. Here are a few “fancy” methods I’ve tried, all of which have been successful.

• Word of mouth – I created a post on social media and asked for recommendations.
• Online marketplaces – I’ve used Fiverr, Reedsy, and Upwork to find subcontractor talent.
• Canva – Often, I can create artwork or use royalty-secured artwork through my pro account with Canva.
• Friends and relatives (mine/clients’) – Ask around in your social circles. You may be surprised at what talents are hidden among your family and friends!
• Clients – Many of my clients provide their own photography or artwork, which adds to the creative experience while saving them money.

Visit www.crippledbeaglepublishing.com and go to the bookstore page to see lots of cover designs created by all the above.

If you do decide to collaborate with an artist, there are a few issues to consider. For that reason, I created a short guide to help you. If you would like my “How to Work with an Illustrator Tip Sheet," email me at jody@crippledbeaglepublishing.com.

Happy springtime from East Tennessee!

xoxoxo

Jody