I’m Laura Kostad, the second place winner in the 2009 Summer Writing Competition. Like many of you, I was just a beginning user on BookRix on June 23, 2009, hoping that my one short story would be noticed amongst all the rest. One month later and I am now a relatively well-known user. Initially, I was enticed by the “Web To Reality” competition and planned to participate in that. (I still don’t have a book finished to enter.) However, my attention became distracted when the Summer Writing Competition was started. I decided to upload a short story that I had written last year, Enigma, and enter it into the Summer Writing Competition. I didn’t expect much to come of it, I was still yet a new user with only a small handful of friends. So I went about getting in touch with close friends and family members, asking them to please read my story and vote for me. At first, their votes are what helped me move on up the line, with about 20-35 odd votes, a few BookRix user votes in between. But soon, with the help of the promotional methods that I am about to describe, it was fellow BookRix users who brought me up to where I finished.

I started a forum under BookRix General. In my forum, I kept updates running on how Enigma was doing as far as the competition. This helped me greatly to gain notoriety as a new user. People were curious, and by the end of the competition, I had several hundred views on my forum. As well as promoting myself on the forum, every time that I saw a user that was not on my friends list on the forums, another friend’s page, commenting or favoriting Enigma, or in the competition itself, I sent them friend requests. We typically exchanged reviews on each other’s books, as well as continued to keep in touch there after. Being polite, cordial, and taking the time to answer all of the friendly mail that you receive from people who either you’ve sent friend requests to, or who have sent you a friend request, definitely makes people want to take interest in your work. When they see that you’re not just using them to gain popularity, votes, or ratings, and you actually want to get to know them, not only do you get better quality ratings etcetera, but you begin to actually become friends with other users (a gift in itself), and they’ll also be more willing to suggest you to their friends without your asking them to do so! Also, when you send friend requests and suddenly accumulate a large number of friends, it’s also good to occasionally send out an email to everyone, reminding them to check out your books, or in my case, read my book and vote for it if they saw fit. I did this 3-4 times throughout the duration of the competition, simply because I gained more friends, and they may not have been aware of the fact that I was participating in a competition or even had a book up on the site. Sending out a kind of “quarterly” message to your friends, helps to keep them informed of what’s going on, and if written correctly, doesn’t nag them, but is just a polite reminder that, “Hey, I’ve got a book in a competition, and I was hoping that you would check it out.”  It usually goes over rather well actually.

To conclusion, my methods aren’t all that unique, or even new; but if you want to make yourself noticed, just take a few minutes out of your busy schedule, sit down and put yourself on the board. Because believe me, you may not think that anyone is going to take interest, but just remember that I thought that too, and well, I thought wrong. Good luck to all of you, and I hope that my methods assist you in your BookRix writing careers!

1) Your name: Lisa McEntyre

2) Titles of the work you have on BookRix

“The Bridge at Bayou Pierre” is in the summer contest.  I also have “Chicken and Rice“ published on Bookrix.

*EDITOR’S NOTE: Both books have since been removed from BookRix. But you can read other books published by Lisa on her BookRix profile.

What inspired these two stories?
I don’t want to give anything away with the first one, since there is a twist at the end.  The second one was inspired by a story from either my grandmother or one of her sisters.  I can’t remember who told the story, but she was trapped in the hen house by a snake.  I just took that in a little different direction.

3) What is your writing method? Do you wake up super early in the morning? Do you burn the midnight oil drinking coffee to stay awake while penning your passion?

I’m a morning person, but I feel like I have to get everything else off my plate before I can sit down to write.  So sometimes, I write in the afternoon!  I tend to stick with something until it’s finished.  When I’m writing short stories, generally I write them in one sitting then go back and edit.  I’m not good at dragging the creative process out over several days.

4) How long have you been writing?

I remember writing little stories in elementary school.  By the time I was in high school, I was cranking out poetry and at work on a novel.  Thank goodness that novel never saw the light of day.  Some of the poetry wasn’t that bad.  I’ve kept some of it.

5) How do you maintain your regular job while writing?

My job was a victim of the economy, so writing has taken the front seat while I’m looking.  I also have a custom arts and crafts business that takes me away from writing sometimes.  As long as I’m being creative, I don’t mind switching to painting or sculpting.6) Do you have special places where you go to write?

I like to write longhand outside if it isn’t too hot.  I live in south Texas, so I don’t get outside on our 100 degree afternoons.  When the weather’s nice I love to sit in the shade with a pad and pen.

7) Do you have any quirks when writing? Do you need to shut off your phone for the weekend or stay away from family and friends?

I need to have quiet.  I like to be home alone.  There are too many distractions when people are moving around the house.  My son will inevitably interrupt me to tell me his latest Halo score or ask where the ketchup is.  If I really need to get something done, I’ll turn the ringer off on the phone.  Sometimes if I’m running an idea through my head and it isn’t ready for paper yet, I’ll go for a long walk or a drive and give myself quiet time to think without distractions.

8 ) What inspires you?

My family.  I remember being a kid and going to my grandparents’ house for the holidays.  As soon as the meal was over, the stories would begin.  I had a great aunt that would have everyone roaring with laughter.  She was a master storyteller.  Inspiration came not just in the stories themselves, but in the lives of the people.  The way they talked and interacted always fascinated me.  I loved to hover around the table at my uncle Ray’s house when there was a hot game of spades going on.  I can still hear my grandfather’s low voice come down the hall in the farmhouse at night.  I get completely wrapped up in those memories, and I hope with my writing, I take the readers there too.

9) Do you want to make a living from your wordsmith skills or are you doing this for fun?

Oh,  I’d love to make a living at it.  I’ve tried.  I’ve got two completed novels and one day I want to see one of them on the bookstore shelves.  Novel number three has a chapter or two finished.  I’m going to keep at it, and keep learning and growing until I see that dream realized.

10) What are your stories about? Are they fiction or non-fiction?

With very few exceptions, I write fiction.  I’m also the editor for a local club’s newsletter, so I do research and write the articles for that.  I’ve written a couple of things for the local paper, but my interest is in fiction.  I’d say my voice  is distinctly southern.  I often write humor, sometimes horror, poetry and literary pieces, but they all have the same style.  I want to take my readers to that lazy, comfortable place where they can meet some great people.  My characters are very important to me.  There’s usually some spunky old woman getting her way, or a young girl facing obstacles, and sometimes there’s a wise person passing on what they know to someone else.

11) Do you have a lesson in your stories? Do you have a philosophical or moral mission you are showing in your work?

In my novels I think there’s a moral lesson.  There’s time to do that with a novel.  Your reader has invested a lot of time in your characters and I think expects more.  I consider short stories entertainment.  I try to give a little vignette, a chuckle, or maybe even a shudder.  I think the longer the piece, the more you owe your reader in terms of substance
In my novels I think there’s a moral lesson.  There’s time to do that with a novel.  Your reader has invested a lot of time in your characters and I think expects more.  I consider short stories entertainment.  I try to give a little vignette, a chuckle, or maybe even a shudder.  I think the longer the piece, the more you owe your reader in terms of substance

12) What advice do you have for other authors?

This is trite, but write what you know.  If the newest craze is teenage vampires, don’t write another one unless you’ve got a truly unique twist.  Don’t do what’s hot right now.  When you’re done, it won’t be hot anymore.  And keep writing.  Get people to read what you write.  Get in a good critique group.  Mom, Dad, and Grandma are great, but unless one of them is an author, their opinion of your work will only take you so far.  Read books on writing.  Take a class.  You can never learn enough about the craft.  When you’re done with something, send it out.  What editors or publishers say about your work is a good gauge of how you’re doing.

13) Please write anything else you’d like for the BookRix blog.

I’ve been in a lot of critique groups and I see writers who come in with the attitude, “This is my baby.  It’s perfect.  To criticize my work is to wound me deeply.”  That’s such a shame.  As a writer, we produce a work.  It’s like giving birth to a child.  You want it to be the best work it can be, and in the end you want it to shine.  In order for it to shine, it has to go through all the hard knocks and criticism out there.  In order to grow as a writer, open yourself up to what others have to say about your work.  Hone it and rework it until it’s perfect.  Then you’re done.  There’s no such thing as a perfect first draft.

BookRix author Katherine Angela Yeboah gives us her tips on writing and marketing
Author of Lucid, out now in paperback and e-book (multiple formats).

How do you find the time to work on your novels?

Good question! In today’s fast-paced world, it is difficult for many of us to find a spare moment in our busy days. Since we can’t make the days longer (trust me, I’ve tried), us writers need to make sure we’re using our time efficiently. Even if you can only write for half an hour, you can make that time count if you focus and give your undivided attention to your craft! You might want to try shutting off the phone, TV, stereo and all those other noisy gadgets that can distract us from our purpose!

How do you motivate yourself?

I like to reward myself for my hard work. After all…I’ve earned it! I’ll tell myself that if I really knuckle down and work my tail off for the next two hours, afterward I can take a break and watch my favorite TV show/eat something delicious/go for a bike ride, etc.
Marketing Tips

Now that your book is published, how do you spread the word to all those lovely readers out there?

The web is a fantastic place to promote your work. There are many social networking hubs and writer/reader related websites (like the wonderful BookRix!!!) that you can join for free.

Okay, so you’ve signed up for a bunch of websites…what do you do now?

1) Share your Blurb.

Post a short and gripping description of your book on every website you can.

2) Write a Blog.

There, you can make announcements such as novel releases, book signings, good reviews your stories have received, etc.

3) Post Photos and Videos.

Upload your book cover, and any promo photos or videos you have created, to social networking sites and content sharing sites such as YouTube, Flickr and PhotoBucket.

4) Request a Book Review.

There are plenty of websites that do book reviews. Lots of them will accept electronic copies of your work (PDF file, word document, etc.) which don’t cost you anything to send. A great book review can create a positive buzz about your novel.

5) Post Excerpts or Sample Chapters.

With your publisher’s permission, you can add sample chapters from your novel to sites like BookRix! Upload the first two or three chapters of your book. Include a purchase link so that readers who are enticed by your free sample know where to go to buy the complete book.

6) Write Articles.

Compose articles related to your book’s topic. If your novel is a murder mystery about a maniac on a killing spree, do a little research on the web (remember to cite your sources) and write an article about famous serial killers. Add a paragraph at the end of the article about your book, explaining that there is an exciting new novel out regarding this subject. You can then post this article on various websites. Don’t forget to include your book’s purchase URL.

7) Create a Mailing List.

Invite those who visit your webpages to sign up so that you can update them on all your publishing news.

8 ) Write Short Stories.

Compose shorts in the same genre as your novel. Send them off to relevant magazines, websites and writing contests. If your short stories get published or receive recognition in competitions, this may help you to form a fan base in your chosen genre. If possible, include an author byline that mentions the book you are trying to promote.

9) Join Groups

Find groups on BookRix, Yahoo, Google, Ning, etc. which relate to the theme of your novel (e.g. vampires, detectives, horses, etc.) There you can make friends that share your interests and join discussions to promote your book.

Katherine Angela Yeboah
Author of Lucid, out now in paperback and e-book (multiple formats)

1) Your name: RD Larson

2) Titles of the work you have on Bookrix

Tahki’s Milk Sky

Losing Touch

Foster Care

Yellow Thunder-bird

Christmas on Red Dog Road

Wind from the Edge of the Cloud

Lipstick and Powder

3) What is your writing method? Do you wake up super early in the morning? Do you burn the midnight oil drinking coffee to stay awake while penning your passion?

I’m a night owl and sometimes I’m awake all night. Once I start to write a story or write a scene in a book I can’t stand to leave it until I see what will happen. I never know how it will go and it’s almost like reading someone else’s story or novel. Of course on long pieces I am dedicated to each section as it comes to my mind.

4) How long have you been writing?

I rewrote the Oz stories when I was a kid; I wanted the monkey to stay around and some of the characters, Gliinda and the Munchkins. I had to make up my own stories for that. I read a lot because I wasn’t very healthy. I wrote and gave a hand puppet play in the local library. I also won two big contests when I was ten and fourteen. As I grew older I thought I might teach art and art history. Then I became a stay-at-home mom and a part time worker. When my children were older I worked at many different jobs. My education is in Criminal Justice so I naturally lean toward mysteries. I guess I would have to say I’ve always been writing.

5) How do you maintain your regular job while writing?

In 2000 I gave up working to write full time. I have never been sorry, not even when I was broke. I made up my mind to do without a lot of things.

6) Do you have special places where you go to write?

I have a huge messy office that looks out into the woods where I see deer, foxes and eagles.

7) Do you have any quirks when writing? Do you need to shut off your phone for the weekend or stay away from family and friends?

I try to stay away from everybody and everything. Most of the time I don’t hear the phone or anyone talking to me. I get wound up in my own stories and other people’s stories so I guess I am just focused.

8 ) What inspires you?

Snatches of conversation that I hear, outrageous behavior I hear about, crimes and news, life events, and, of course, always the dreams. Plus sometime my characters (I call them my people) are so alive that they tell me their stories in bits and pieces.

9) Do you want to make a living from your wordsmith skills or are you doing this for fun?

I keep trying to make a living but if I bring enjoyment and a get-away-from-it story to some other person then I feel I’ve done my job. I make a bargin with every reader that says I will try to write my best if you will be open to read my story. It works for me. I hope it works for my readers as well.

10) What are your stories about? Are they fiction or non-fiction?

I write both but I prefer fiction. I write some political articles and a few how to do articles, I also write essays one of which was published in Guide Posts. I have sold many stories and articles. I’m finishing my fourth book. Evil Angel was just re-released in the US and is at Amazon.com. I wrote Saving Reverend Clayton with Louise Ulmer and Mama Tried to Raise a Lady. I have been published in many anthologies. 1

11) Do you have a lesson in your stories? Do you have a philosophical or moral mission you are showing in your work?

No, I don’t believe that is my calling, although I do have opinions. In Tahki’s Milk Sky I think of it as a cautionary tale. What advice do you have for other authors? Write every day, as much as you can or at least for an hour. Don’t rewrite until it’s dull. Go with your passion for the story. Fix your typos because they will glare to the reader. (This is my personal bugaboo.)

12) Please write anything else you’d like for the Bookrix blog.

Joseph Campbell also said, “Follow your bliss and you will be happy.” Writing is my bliss. I hope readers find enjoyment in my words. I feel Bookrix gives me this opportunity. Thank you for interviewing me.

Writing is a solitary activity and it’s not easy to find a place to be alone and quiet.

I have been reading and editing a 100,000 word manuscript and I fund that the more anti-social I get and the more concentrated I am on writing, the more people call me and want to see me.
Perhaps I should take this as a good sign that people sense my confidence and want to be around me, but it doesnt’ help me write and concentrate.

On July 4th, I found a park where no one was doing a BBQ and I was able to read and concentrate on my manuscript.
The library was closed and I needed to find a place to write.

If you have trouble finding a calm and silent area to write, consider asking your friends when they are planning to be out of their homes and ask if you can work at their house. Does a friend own a business and have an office that you could use on the weekends? Look for a small park that few people go to and work there.

Finding solitude is not always easy, but tell your friends what you need and they may know of the perfect place.

Title of the work you have on BookRix: The work I have posted on BookRix is the first two chapters of my mystery novel, Lucid. Lucid is now available in paperbook and e-book, details here.

What is your writing method? Do you wake up super early in the morning? Do you burn the midnight oil drinking coffee to stay awake while penning your passion?:

For me, the biggest challenge of being a writer is trying to find the time to put pen to paper! It took many late nights for me to complete my novel, Lucid. I would work on my manuscript any time, any place…any spare minute I got. The first draft of the final chapter was written on a wad of napkins at a bowling alley!

How long have you been writing?:

Believe it or not, I wrote my first novel when I was only 12 years old! Another novel followed at the age of 16, but I did not finally realize my dream of becoming a published author until earlier this year.

Do you have special places where you go to write?:

In an ideal world, I’d be laying in a hammock outside somewhere, with my dogs at my side. A peaceful beach or tree-lined meadow would suit me just fine! Sadly, in the real world, it’s usually my living room sofa.

What inspires you?:

My novel, Lucid, is a mystery which explores the strange and sometimes frightening world of dreams, and raises the question of whether dreams can actually offer insight into real life events. It was the unusual and vivid dreams that I’ve been having all my life that inspired me to write Lucid. More than half of the dreams described in the story are based on dreams that I actually experienced.

Do you want to make a living from your wordsmith skills or are you doing this for fun?

Making a living as a successful author would be my dream job, because I think writing is one of the most interesting and challenging careers imaginable!

What are your stories about? Are they fiction or non-fiction?

Lucid tells the fictional story of Sloane Solomon, a beautiful young college student who begins experimenting with a very intense type of dreaming known as ‘lucid dreaming’. At first, she really enjoys these dreams because they are much more vivid and memorable than any she has experienced before. But her dreams quickly turn into disturbing nightmares, when she finds herself gazing into her neighbor’s apartment. There, she is confronted by horrific visions of a battered teenager who is being held captive in a tiny, hidden room. Sloane tries to forget the nightmares and chalk them up to an overactive imagination. But the frightening dreams will not stop, and she can’t help wondering if there might be some element of truth behind them. To make matters worse, her neighbor has begun to act very strangely, fueling her fears that maybe he isn’t as innocent as he once seemed. Is it all in her head, or is this mysterious man really hiding a hideous secret in the darkest corner of his home? Sloane is so determined to expose her neighbor and rescue the tortured victim who haunts her dreams, that she hatches an extremely risky plot to uncover the truth. But the answers that await her could turn out to be the most frightening nightmare of all.

What advice do you have for other authors?:

Choose a topic that is extremely meaningful to you. Your readers will sense the passion in your writing and want to turn page after page.

My own question for the Bookrix Blog – What is ‘Lucid Dreaming’?:

A lucid dream occurs when the sleeper becomes aware that he or she is dreaming while the dream is still taking place. The lucid state is often triggered by a strange or unlikely event which suggests to the dreamer that the situation cannot possibly be real. Once the question is raised, a dreamer can try to confirm that they are dreaming by performing some sort of ‘reality check’, such as focusing on their hands. Often, a hand may have an odd appearance in a dream, or have more or less fingers than it should. Other times, the hand may appear normal, but the act of focusing and honing the concentration helps the dreamer to become aware of their situation. Once the dreamer has established that they are definitely in dreamland, the lucid dream can begin. Many people have described these dreams as being far more vivid than regular dreams. Some even relate lucid dreaming to out of body experiences or astral traveling. The mysterious feat of lucid dreaming has been researched by many and coveted by those who want more control over their dreams.