Thoughts on Writing a Series

by Linore Rose Burkard, @LinoreRBurkard

When I wrote my first YA/Suspense PULSE, I didn't expect to write a sequel. Today, having finished three volumes in The Pulse Effex Series, I'm grateful for many readers who wanted more and thus spurred me on.

I didn't plan from the beginning to write a trilogy. But when I stayed in the world of the story, it developed.

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Wishful Thinking (The Writer's Lament)

by Linore Rose Burkard, @LinoreRBurkard

It's summertime and the living is easy….right? Perhaps not. Most of us still slog to the office or work long hours. But whether you get to take a vacation, kick your feet up, enjoy a splash at the shore—or not—I offer this post in the spirit of summer fun.

It happened the other morning as I was enjoying the swing in my backyard. Looking around at the explosion of early summer growth in the garden and flower beds, I saw chores waiting. Chores I hadn't gotten to because of my writing, mostly. And so I did what any writer would do: (No, I didn't don the gardening gloves and get to work.) I wrote a poem! Yes, it's an exaggeration, but I think many of us who tend home and family and garden as well as writing novels will admit to entertaining such "Wishful Thinking."

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How Not to Do A Critique

By Linore Rose Burkard, @LinoreRBurkard

Seasoned writers know that having one's work critiqued by fellow writers (or even savvy readers) can determine the difference between a finished piece that is merely "good" or one that sings. Critique partners can strengthen a manuscript, clean up errors, and make invaluable suggestions that the writer might not think of.

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Should I Give a Webinar? Part III

by Linore Rose Burkard

In Parts One and Two, I discussed fears about giving webinars, and how to put such hindrances to rest. But are there real drawbacks to the medium that offline events don't have? Let's take a look.

PROBLEM: YOU CAN'T SEE THE AUDIENCE

Is this a PRO or a CON? For people who get nervous in front of an audience, this aspect of webinars may be helpful. All one need do is speak in front of a safe, little camera. ;)

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Should I Give a Webinar? Part II

by Linore Rose Burkard

In last month's post, "Giving a Webinar: Should You, Would You, Could You?" I discussed some obstacles that gave me pause before doing my first webinar. Chief for me was a fundamental reluctance to appear on camera. I said we'd talk about the pros and cons of webinars in order to help you decide if you ought to be doing them. But first, I'd like to check out other reasons that may be holding you back from moving into this new technology. Such as:

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Giving a Webinar--Should You, Could You, Would You? (Part One)

by Linore Burkard

I recently gave my first webinar.

In the past, I'd wondered if it was something I could do, should do, or would do. I am a big proponent of continuously strengthening one's platform, and right off the bat, giving webinars in an area of expertise qualifies as a way to do that. I enjoy teaching, and I have a heart for helping other writers. So what was my hesitation?

The idea of being on camera intimidated me.

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Thou Shalt Outline (Before You Write)

by Linore Rose Burkard

One of the most remarkable "God encounters" of my life happened while I was in college. It was a pressure-crunch week with no less than four essays coming due. For some English Majors that may not be too daunting, but for a perfectionist whose self-esteem depended strongly on getting an A or A+ --every time--I felt sadly doomed. (Melodramatic? Yes--maybe that's why I'm a writer!)

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Ugly Duckling Writing

by Linore Burkard

Since surely you are familiar with the fairy-tale of the ugly duckling who became a beautiful swan, I won't bother with a recap. But what is "ugly duckling writing," you wonder?  In a nutshell, Rachel Hauck described it in a recent post here on Novel Rocket, 

"I fast draft a very ugly novel, then I rewrite. Almost from scratch. I layer and fine tune, change and deepen." Rachel Hauck

Since I wrote the lion's share of my current novel, RESISTANCE in little more than a month, the above quote fits my experience for this book. I have a first draft that is, in literary terms, "a very ugly novel." But to me, it's like  gold. Because I know that the finished novel--the graceful swan--is in there, and that I will hone the work, develop the best parts, revise and rewrite and come out in the end with a book that--hopefully--many will want to read. 

I expected to let the book rest during this past busy Christmas season, but I found myself working on it, rewriting and fine tuning.

Changing and deepening.

And, when I think about it, I realize that all of my novels started out as ugly ducklings in some degree or other. In all likelihood, whether you've got one published book or thirty, yours began that way, too. As ugly ducklings.

Newer writers often don't realize that this is not unusual. I hear from some who get so discouraged when faced with an ugly duckling novel that they want to quit. 

So here's my takeaway for them--or for any writer discouraged by a messy novel. 

Don't give up on a book just because you feel, after finishing the first draft, that it is in no shape to get published. The truth is, if you keep working on it, haven't lost your original vision for the work, and are determined to find the real story and make it work--you probably will.

   

There are times when it's right to put a manuscript away in some drawer, never to see the light of day. This is often the fate of a first attempt by writers at novel-writing, and there's nothing wrong with that. We all need to practice and learn somewhere, somehow.

My first hatchling!

But it is not a universal experience. My own first novel must have gone through a dozen drafts before it was publishable. But eventually, it became a swan. I might have given up any number of times when it looked like an awkward, ungainly fledgling--but didn't.    

How to tell if your novel is drawer-worthy or worth editing? 

I believe most books can be salvaged into good works IF the original vision is strong.

What is a strong original vision? A great story!

Do you have a great story? Something that can touch a heart, strike a deep chord with readers? Then keep working on it.

Chip away at that thing until the beauty of it shines, and your ugly duckling is a thing of the past.

After that, you can release your beautiful swan--to an agent, an editor, or to the world.   

Welcome to 2017, and happy writing!

TWEETABLES
Ugly Duckling Writing by Linore Burkard (Click to Tweet)

But to me, it's like  gold~ Linore Burkard (Click to Tweet)

Chip away at that thing until the beauty of it shines~ Linore Burkard (Click to Tweet)

Linore Rose Burkard writes historical romance and, as L.R.Burkard, YA/Suspense. Linore enjoys teaching workshops for writers, is a mother of five, and still homeschools her youngest daughter, preferably with coffee in one hand and her iPad in the other. Linore's newsletter (another labor of love) includes two book drawings per month. For a chance to win one of her novels, simply join the mailing list at either website. (http://www.LinoreBurkard.com, or http://www.LRBurkard.com)

  

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Words are Wonderful Things

by Linore Rose Burkard

Writers are wordsmiths. We play with, struggle over, muddle in, misuse and pluck words into and out of our books or articles with anything from reckless abandon—the heady steam of inspiration—to plodding, pulling-teeth frustration. 

One day's work is like rolling full steam ahead, while another's is a journey on a horse-cart as we struggle to find the right words. If we do, the magic happens, the work sings, and we leave readers happy.

As writers we know perhaps more than anyone, the power of the written word.

And yet--what a struggle we have at times to get those words written.

We may over-write, under-write*, fail to write, or fail to thoroughly edit what we've written.  

Since this is my last post for the year for Novel Rocket, I offer the following words that I've gleaned over the past months to encourage you in your writing journey, whether you are at an acme of success, rolling along on a fast track, or climbing the trenches. (Do we ever leave the trenches? Even J.K. Rowling has to face a blank page when she writes.)

Enjoy the following—and if the shoe fits, well, you know what to do.  

It is never too late—in fiction or in life—to revise. -Nancy Thayer 

Write even when you don't want to, don't much like what you are writing, and aren't writing particularly well. -Agatha Christie 

Forget about all the reasons why something may not work. You only need to find one good reason why it will. -Dr. Robert Anthony 

I don't know of one 'overnight bestseller' that didn't take a year and a half to get there. -Mark Victor Hansen

I mailed a manuscript to fifteen publishers. The fifteenth one said yes. - Max Lucado                           

You cannot cross the sea by staring at the water. -R. Tagore (You cannot write a book by staring at a blank page. Write, now. Right now.)

Nothing will come of nothing. Dare mighty things. -Shakespeare

Every writer I know has trouble writing. -Joseph Conrad

It's not over til it's over, and it's never over. Don't give up too soon, and it is always too soon to quit. -Edward W. Smith

If God didn't have real plans for us and want to use us, he'd take us to heaven. It's that simple—and that complicated. -Anonymous

The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary. -Donald Kendall

Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do (or write) in this world. So long as you can sweeten another's pain, life is not in vain.    -Helen Keller

Writing is like a sculpture where you remove, you eliminate, in order to make the work visible. Even those pages you remove somehow remain. -Elie Wiesel 

You can't think yourself out of a writing block; you have to write yourself out of a thinking block. -John Rogers

In closing, a poem on the power of words. While the poet may have been thinking of the spoken word when she wrote this, it can apply to us who wield the pen as well.

Words are Wonderful Things 

Keep a watch on your words, my darling,

For words are wonderful things; 

They are sweet like the bees' fresh honey,

Like the bees they have terrible stings; 

They can bless like the warm, glad sunshine,

And brighten a lonely life;  

They can cut, in the strife of anger,

Like an open, two-edged knife. 

                                  Mrs. E.R. Miller

To your writing success,

Linore

*For word detectives: Under-write, a compound word, meaning not writing enough, or fully, to describe or portray a subject. NOT underwrite, as to accept liability.   

TWEETABLES

Words are Wonderful Things by Linore Rose Burkard (Click to Tweet)

Even J.K. Rowling has to face a blank page when she writes~ Linore Rose Burkard (Click to Tweet)

Linore Rose Burkard writes historical romance and, as L.R.Burkard, YA/suspense. Linore teaches workshops for writers, is a mother of five, and still homeschools her youngest daughter—preferably with coffee in one hand, and an  iPad in the other. 

For a chance to win a free copy of one of her books, simply subscribe to her mailing list at either of her websites (above). Winners are announced in each newsletter, which now has content for writers, readers, poets and dreamers. (That means you!) 

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The (Honestly) Sneaky Way to Know Your Readers

by Linore Rose Burkard

We've all heard the mantra: KNOW THY READER.

And it's a good one. It makes our writing effective. If we want to reach the heart of a reader we can only do it if we know that heart.

And yet, to some degree, shouldn't writing be all-inclusive? Some writers reach a level of universality so that their words can touch hearts for generations. Certainly this is what defines a classic.

Even so, as any editor or agent can tell you, if you write for the whole world, you write for no one.

Know thy reader is about targeting your work for your specific audience.

So, how do you get to know your reader?
There is no one answer to this question, and it is a cumulative effort, because   you learn over time who your readers are. (Even if you think you know who they are, sometimes the answer might surprise you. Too, if you write in multiple genres, as I do, the answer might surprise you.) This post is focused on only one method, and it's just a start.

That was my disclaimer (in case you missed it). This is not a comprehensive "how to get to know your reader" post.

It's just a little back-door method to getting roughly acquainted with your readership. I'm calling it sneaky, but it's simply a matter of paying attention. And that's why it's honest, and really not all that sneaky. Sorry to disappoint you. There's nothing underhanded about it. 

I'm a big fan of author newsletters. This means I have a mailing list and, like many authors, I do occasional promos to grow my list. You probably do, too. But did you know you can glean interesting information from that list? Have you spent any real time looking at the email addresses on your list? 

It's Elementary, Watson
The back-door, honest, sneaky method to knowing your reader is paying attention to what they reveal from the moment they subscribe. This isn't possible with all subscribers, but for many you'll be surprised what you can tell simply by their email handle. 

Follow the Clues
People choose email addresses based  on who they are, their likes, dislikes, character qualities, favorite color, you name it. Take a look at some of the "clues" I've gotten from subscribers.
The following are all from actual email addresses on my list. 
"voodoo doll."
"coldhearted"
"Granny of 2"                                                        
"the b1tch"                                             

"sassy"

From the above emails, I can tell that a few of these subscribers likely aren't Christian readers. This is interesting, since my books are written from a strongly Christian worldview. I like that. 

I also gather that I may have younger people as well as "granny of two." Since I now write YA as well as historical romance, I like that, too.

How else can an email address help?

Domain Names
Domains are another clue. If I subscribe to a list with my preferred email address, it bears my website URL because my domain is my name. (Linore (at) LinoreBurkard (dot) com) So anyone curious about me can check out my website if they choose because I've given it to them in my email. If they do, they've just discovered quite a lot about me. So take a peek for domain names in the addresses on your list. You may learn something about a few readers.

Again, you won't learn a great deal about most of your list this way, 
but it's a clue to the mind of some readers. Think of it as a head's up, a way to know something about some of them.

If you're like me, you'll pray over your list.  And don't think praying for readers isn't helpful for you as a writer. Prayer can help you think of new things to offer in your next newsletter, or even your next book. Also, it gives you an opportunity, as all focused prayer does, to hear God speak to your heart.
And that is never a waste of time.

So, go check out your list. And know thy reader!

TWEETABLES

Know Thy Reader by Linore Rose Burkard (Click to Tweet)

If you write for the whole world, you write for no one ~ Linore Rose Burkard (Click to tweet)

Linore Rose Burkard writes historical romance and, as L.R.Burkard, YA/suspense. Linore teaches workshops for writers, is a mother of five, and still homeschools her youngest daughter—preferably with coffee in one hand, and an  iPad in the other. 

For a chance to win a free copy of one of her books, simply subscribe to her mailing list at either of her websites (above). Winners are announced in each newsletter, which now has content for writers, readers, poets and dreamers. (That means you!) 

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In Writing, Little Can Be Much

by Linore Rose Burkard

This past week I took part in "National Life-Chain Sunday," during which I stood on a sidewalk with a few dozen other souls, holding a sign for passing drivers to read.

My sign had only three words: 

ABORTION HURTS WOMEN

Short. Succinct.

Sufficient.

Because little can be much.

I could have chosen a different sign, such as one bearing five words:

LIFE: THE FIRST INALIENABLE RIGHT    

This one, too, packed a big punch in few words. 

There were other signs available. But all had only a few words because they needed to be read quickly by drivers going by. As I held the sign and watched the traffic passing, I saw that we had three to five seconds, on average, in which a driver could read the message. 

In case you haven't noticed, getting attention online is not all that different.

Instead of driving past, readers surf by your carefully crafted blog headline, or email newsletter subject line, or expensive ad. Blogs, landing pages, newsletters and ads all share the need to grab attention and hook a reader--or they're gone (in three seconds or less, according to some pundits).

Copywriters know this, and make an art of crafting the perfect headlines to catch the attention of their audiences. But what if novelists practiced this? Not just creating the attention-grabbing line, but doing it with as few words as possible.  I wonder if we would become stronger writers. 

Because in many instances in writing, less is more. Little can be much.

Take description. A newer writer shared a chapter of her book with me recently in which she described a main character who had not yet entered the story in person. The description was complete, head to toe, and not badly written. The problem is that it read like a catalogue, perfectly normal, not remarkable--in a word, utterly forgettable. How much more effective had she merely singled out one characteristic of that character? He might have had a noticeable scar, or tattoo. He might have limped when he walked, or spoken with an accent; The distinct feature isn't important in itself--but ONE distinct feature would have made this character memorable, whereas a dozen did just the opposite.

Less would have been more. 

A great way to see "less is more" in action is to read effective tweets on Twitter, bumper stickers, or, my favorite, T-shirt slogans. The element of surprise, of juxtaposing an idea with an unexpected parallel, seems to work quite well here. Perhaps the principle of a startling analogy is something we can keep in mind when writing our own headlines or other copy--or even a character description. 

See how the following t-shirt slogans are short and sweet--and effective:       

• A SISTER will give you the shirt off her back....it's probably yours anyway. 
• IRONY. The opposite of wrinkly.
• Relish Today.  Ketchup Tomorrow.
• At my age I've seen it all, I've heard it all, I've done it all. I just can't remember it all.
• This IS my Sexy Lingerie.
• I'M ALWAYS LATE. My ancestors arrived on the Juneflower.

The comedic aspect of the surprising parallel needn't always be present as in the above examples. Even a serious writer can use a startling juxtaposition to make a point. 

• PAIN AND SUFFERING IS INEVITABLE.  But misery is optional. 
• There is no worse robber than a bad book. (Italian proverb)
• Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. (S.Kierkegaard)
• It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...(Dickens)

Whether you feel juxtaposition (a la the startling parallel) translates to writing fiction or not, it is probably a worthwhile endeavor to learn to use the principle, at least in marketing copy.

I'd like to be purposeful about trying it, as I tend to be wordy if left unchecked. And in writing, as we've seen, less can be more.

Little can be much! 

TWEETABLES

"Because in many instances in writing, less is more. Little can be much." ~ Linore Rose Burkard (Click to Tweet)

ONE distinct feature made this character memorable, whereas a dozen did the opposite.~Linore Rose Burkard (Click to Tweet)

Linore Rose Burkard wrote a trilogy of regency romances for the Christian market before there were any regencies for the Christian market. Her books opened up the genre in the CBA. She also writes YA Suspense/Apocalyptic fiction as L.R. Burkard. Married with five children, she still home-schools her youngest daughter, preferably with coffee in one hand and an iPad in the other. Her latest book, RESILIENCE, is "spine-tingling suspense, where teens carry rifles instead of school books and where survival might mean becoming your own worst enemy."   

"INTENSE!"

It's a great time to be a fan of YA novels! L.R.Burkard is back with the next tale in her dystopian series, and the bar of excellence is raised to new heights with this top quality literary offering!

                                --Deena Peterson, Blogger, Reviewer

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Staying in Touch with Readers: Newsletters, Part Three

By Linore Rose Burkard

In Part One of this series we discussed the benefits of offering a newsletter to readers. In Part Two, the content you might include in one. 

This post deals with two additional common questions about author newsletters:

• How do I build a subscriber list? and,
• What email service should I use?

Getting Started  

Everyone has to start from scratch. Don't be discouraged if you've neglected this component of your online presence; it's never too late to begin (and rarely too early) whether you've got numerous books out there or aren't yet published. Either way, if you have no list yet, once you've decided on content (which you did by reading part two of this series, right?) the next step is choosing a service provider.

Service Providers

The good news: Nearly all  email management providers are free until your list reaches about 2,000 subscribers. That gives you time to hone your skills while growing a list without spending a dime. Some commonly used services are MailChimp, MadMimi, and ConstantContact. You can find other providers by paying attention to your inbox. You are undoubtedly on many mailing lists yourself--take a look at the bottom of the emails you like the look of, and see what other people are using. Compare prices for when your list is big enough to warrant a paid subscription. You don't want to have to switch providers later. (Yes, it can be done; but not without hiccups. In my case, when I tried to switch my providers, I discovered my current service would stop supporting the numerous images I include in my newsletters. Since I keep an archive, that was a drawback for me.)  

Building the List     

Once you choose a provider, you'll have the means of sending email to a list. So now you need people to send to. It is perfectly fine to ask friends and family to subcribe to your list to help get it started. But then you need to extend your reach. The time-honored method of doing this is to offer potential subscribers something in return for their email. You've given out your email to numerous people because they've offered you something free in return, right? Most often it is an information product, a how-to, an exclusive report, etc. Now it's your turn. Create a PDF that you can offer as a perpetual freebie for new subscribers. The key is to offer something that interests your readers, entices their curiosity, promises to solve a problem, or will help them in some way. 

But I'm Just An Author

But I'm just an author, you say, I can't solve anyone's problems or offer exclusive content. But you can! Offer an original short story, a chapter of a book you've written, or, (as I currently do) an Epilogue to a book that isn't in the book. This helps me capture emails from readers who buy my book from Amazon--readers I have no way of knowing about until they subscribe to get the epilogue.

If you have no original content at the moment, share a collection of work from the public domain, a time-saving list ("Top Ten Links to Find Free Books"), a "Best Of" list, etc. This method works beautifully for non-fiction authors; they can put together a report or "How-To" based on the content of their book. Fiction authors can find ways to do something similar. For instance, I have free PDFs that I've offered in the past based on the era of my historical fiction. 

Opportunities

If free content still seems difficult for you, try encouraging sign-ups to your list by offering a unique opportunity such as a chance to win something. People love to win things and you'll win new subscribers. This works well if you have a book to offer, but it can be someone else's book, or any other prize your readers might want. 

Now What?      

Once you decide what to offer and make it a PDF, your service provider allows you to upload it and  include a link to it in an automated message to subscribers. Your work there is done. From time to time, you may wish to change your free offer. (Some freebie offers work better than others.) You can even choose to offer more than one incentive, say, two PDFs, or a podcast, or private video. But once the offer is in place, your job switches to promoting it. A great offer is wonderful but only if people know about it. (The beauty of putting it in the back pages of a book is that it stays there for readers as long as your book is in print or available as an ebook.) 

Final Word: Don't Spam!

Whenever possible, have people subscribe via the sign up form your email service provides. You place the code for the form on your website (or other landing page) and direct people to it so they can subscribe themselves, usually via a double opt-in procedure. The service captures their IP address and thereby protects you from being charged with spamming. If you subscribe people yourself, be very sure you have their permission. 

So--now you have the wherewithal to get started. Review Part One and Two of this series, choose a service, grow a list, and soon you'll have a solid plank in that elusive author platform that agents and publishers are always looking for from writers!  

Linore Rose Burkard writes Inspirational Romance and, as L.R.Burkard, YA/Apocalyptic Suspense. If you're in or near the Dayton/Cincinnati Ohio area, join Linore  and a great line-up of authors and presenters at the WRITE ON! Christian Writers' Conference later this month. For full details and registration click HERE.

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Staying in Touch with Readers: Newsletters, Part Two

by Linore Rose Burkard

Last month we looked at Author Newsletters, discussing the why and wherefore. This month we'll look at the what (what content to include) and next month the how (how to get one started).

What Do I Put in A Newsletter?
Your audience has subscribed to your list because they've read a book you've written or are considering reading one. You've caught their interest as a writer. Therefore, the first order of business is giving them book news. No new releases right now? Give an update on progress of your next book. New contracts, a stellar review, an article related to your book--it all fits.

Other Content Ideas:

• You're a writer! Share some new writing. 
• Be sure to include a copyright notice (the little symbol will do) if it's something you plan on using in a book someday.  
• A Calendar. If you're actively doing speaking engagements, or have any upcoming author-related events, share them with your fans.
• Make sure to tell them they're the first to know!
• What made you write that book, or is motivating your next one?  
• A good back story can be the catalyst that makes a reader purchase a book.
• See a current headline that dovetails with content from your book? Share the link.  
• Example: When a sizable solar flare hit, I shared a link to that story since my YA, PULSE, deals with a catastrophic solar flare that takes down the electric grid of the nation.  
• Other books in your genre catch your eye? Your audience will be interested. 
• Share direct links to Amazon. (This is a nice way to support fellow authors, too.)
• What do you know about your audience? Share content that appeals to them. Non-fiction authors have a far easier time doing this, but even fiction writers can find areas of interest in their book. 
• Example: My regency romances take place in the Jane Austen era. So, I often include links to JA news and events for readers of that genre.  
• For fans of my YA Pulse Effex Series, I share articles related to disaster preparedness and homesteading.   
• Do you have a blog or write for one? Share links to those posts.
• Spirituality: I often have something related to Christianity, whether a poem, a meaty quote, a short devotion, or book recommendation.
• Reviews: Not only for your book, but ones you write for other books. Include purchase links to the books you review.   
• Have you written non-fiction articles about something that ties to your books? Run it in the newsletter. 
• Example: I've written dozens of articles about life during the Regency. After using them as the main article of a newsletter, I often package them into illustrated PDFs and re-use them as perpetual freebies on my website.  Freebies are important, because your newsletter has to answer one question for your subscriber--even the subject line that lands in their inbox should strive to answer this all-important question; namely:  

What's In It for Them?

One pitfall to avoid is having your newsletter be all about you and your book(s). Such content gets tired quickly. Everyone who opens your email is asking on some level,  What's in it for me? So make sure there is something in it for them. How? Run a giveaway, give them chances to win a free book or other neat prizes. If you don't have a current contest or giveaway, find someone who does (in your niche or genre) and share news of that.

Better yet, get in the habit of creating little free PDFs they can download.
In the past, I've offered free PDFs such as:

One of my free PDFs

• Jane Austen-related word searches
• Historical costume articles, richly illustrated
• Short accounts from 19th century sources in the public domain, such as, "Extraordinary Escape of an American Traveller." (sic)
• Recipes for a Regency Tea.
• The Prayers of Jane Austen   
• Myths and Mysteries of the Regency
• the possibilities are limited only by your imagination!

Reader Engagement

Free PDFs increase reader engagement. And if you can increase reader engagement, you'll grow loyal readers who can't wait to open your newsletters. 

For my regency fans, I used to run a monthly "Jane Contest." I'd choose a quotation from one of Jane's books (or even her letters) and ask readers to identify the character speaking. All correct answers went in a drawing for a free book, or other prize. (Janeites adored this contest.) Anything that gets readers clicking a link, answering a question, entering a drawing, etc. will up your engagement level.  Using polls and asking for feedback on a book's title or cover are more ways to increase engagement.

Perpetual Content

Somewhere in the newsletter should be links that stay permanently. Your website link, your Amazon book page, facebook fan page, twitter profile, even your Pinterest boards, if they can tie to your writing. For new subscribers who haven't yet read your work, keep a thumbnail of your titles with links to purchase. One of my favorite perpetuals? A "share this newsletter" button!

In Closing:

Some people may read your newsletter because they're interested in you. But most readers are far more interested in the What's in it for me? question.

Don't forget to answer it.

I won't tell you how often to send your newsletter. Opinions vary widely on that, and it all depends on what your goals are. But since most authors are busy people, once a month is probably often enough to help readers remember you and to share whatever's new.

Finally, people who read newsletters are, well, readers. Keep it interesting, offer a variety of content, and you'll keep subscribers happy, engaged, and coming back for more. When at long last you  announce a new release, your subscribers will include many who feel they know you, and are eager to get that next title.

Next Month: HOW to start that newsletter and mailing list. 


Linore Rose Burkard wrote a trilogy of genuine regency romances for the Christian market before there were any regencies for the Christian market. Published with Harvest House, her books opened up the genre for the CBA. She also writes YA Suspense/Apocalyptic fiction as L.R. Burkard. Married with five children, she home-schools her youngest daughter, preferably with coffee in one hand and an iPad in the other. Her latest  PULSE EFFEX SERIES, takes readers into a "chilling possible future for America."

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Staying in Touch with Readers: A Word About Newsletters

I've been doing a newsletter for my readers for years and have seen many, many writers and authors ask such things as:

• Do I need to do a newsletter?
• Why is it important?
• What would I put in it?
• How do I do it?

Each of these topics could easily fill a post, so I'll answer two in this post and two next month. But don't take my advice as gospel truth, or the whole truth--I can only share what I've learned and I certainly haven't learned everything; moreover, some authors might be so dang successful (or have  additional experience) that, for them, it precludes the need or desire to have a newsletter. Most authors can benefit from offering one, however, and it is to them I address the following.

Do I Need a Newsletter?

If you want to keep in touch with readers in a way that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram  and other social media aren't conducive to, yes. In other words, if you want to reliably share more with readers than what you can fit into a short post, a Tweet, or other interfaces. (Blogs can fit more and, in some cases, may substitute for a newsletter, but they have one major drawback, which I'll address in a moment.)

Why Is It Important?

None of us control Facebook and Twitter. They could choose to erase your account (it has happened to some!) have a glitch and lose your "following," or decide one day not to allow fan pages--who knows? Even more to the point, you can't message all your Facebook contacts at once, and if you're smart you wouldn't  want to. Most "friends" aren't your target audience.  Even those who join your fan page may not ever see your latest post.  Facebook isn't set up to help you reach the masses. (Advertising is different.)

The same is true for Twitter followers. Don't spend enormous amounts of energy trying to grow a following. Twitter has its place in a good marketing plan, but most followers are not targeted. Like Facebook, most of them aren't particularly interested in your books or what you have to say. When you send a marketing tweet out there, it's like casting a line into the ocean. Sure, you might snag a fish or two--I've done it. But it's a heck of a lot easier to get bites in a pond you've stocked yourself. Essentially, your mailing list is a stocked pond.  (Hash tags try to get your Tweet into Twitter's stocked pond, but it's still ocean-sized.)  

I have a blog. Isn't that good enough?

An example from one of my past issues.

You just can't fit all this stuff in a post.

(Don't worry--I like things pretty,

but your newsletter can be single column, text only!)

 Blogs are great to reach more people, but here's the drawback for authors. Like with FB and Twitter, you don't control the platform. You can't see who your readers are; you can't reach them individually or set them up into sub-groups (such as, Influencers, Launch Team, etc.).

When you have your own mailing list, you can see who is subscribed. You can send to all of them or to any sub-set of them whenever you need to. You can tailor your content to include much more than what is appropriate for a single blog post, too. Finally, (and this may be available on some blog platforms) you can track every click each mailing gets. Want to know how many took you up on your free offer? Any good  service provider will track that. How many clicked through to your book page on Amazon? It's in the stats. You can even see who opened your mailing--and who didn't.

All of that information is helpful. It teaches you what works, and what doesn't.

There are strong reasons to be involved in Facebook, on Twitter and other social media. Each "tool" in your marketing plan has its use. But having your own mailing list is something that stays with you over time--no one else can shut it down but you. Another key difference is that everyone on your list has given you permission to contact them. You're not just throwing  a line into the ocean. To put it another way, social media works best as a "one-to-one" reach, whereas a mailing list is a mass strategy.

Next month: What Would I Put in a Newsletter? And, How Do I Do It?

Post Scriptum for those interested: My newsletter archive isn't complete, but you can see actual examples of past illustrated issues HERE--without subscribing.  

Linore Rose Burkard wrote a trilogy of genuine regency romances for the Christian market before there were any regencies for the Christian market. Published with Harvest House, her books opened up the genre for the CBA. She also writes YA Suspense/Apocalyptic fiction as L.R. Burkard. Married with five children, she home-schools her youngest daughter, preferably with coffee in one hand and iPad in the other. Her latest  PULSE EFFEX SERIES, takes readers into a "chilling possible future for America."

    

   

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