The weirdest day I've ever had. Also the one that I laughed the most as far as I can recall. (A good sign: my jaw hurts and my eyes are red from crying)
I feel I need to share this with you and I promise it is going to be funny.
For writers it is very hard to convey comedy. What makes people laugh anyway?
I can't be sure, but from today I would say spontaneity and improvisation are key aspects. Something personal as well.
Myself:
I always knew I'm clumsy. The problem is when you don't notice it. I drove to Uni today on my motorbike (first time), came late, quickly sat down and took off my backpack. Oh wait ... where was my bag? Definitely not on my back. I couldn't believe it and tried looking for it, kept checking under my desk. No, it was at home. Stupid me.
For one day this should have been enough stupidity, but it got worse ...
Crocodile:
For class, we were supposed to bring in a newspaper article as inspiration for a story. Now I found the most hilarious happening from last week in a Leicestershire (England) area: a crocodile had swallowed a mobile phone. Now write a story about that! In the middle of writing I just burst out laughing. It was too funny. I couldn't deal with it. Too comical to believe.
In my story, the ranger asked why they knew the crocodile escaped. (That's when I broke off and hid my face, too embarrassed with dripping tears. A friend asked, are you alright? I laughed even more and everyone joined in.)
So this is how it goes on in the end:
"Well, we rang it ..."
"You rang it?"
"Yes, but it didn't ring." (And here I started laughing all over again.)
It took me 20 minutes to write these lines, because I kept laughing so badly. My thoughts always went back to the ringing crocodile, which it apparently really did. Just imagine it having a Britney Spears ringtone "Oops!... I Did It Again".
Couldn't stop laughing. No way. And all the others laughed at me. That just made it worse. I think my sweater is still wet from wiping my eyes.
Comedy Festival
Over two weeks, there are copious acts all around Leicester for the festival. I went to my first comedy gig ever today. Front row (always a bad sign), only male at the front, accompanied by two girls (very bad sign), no one else on our side (very, very bad sign).
My friend's golden silk scarf was the running gag of the evening. The host put it practically everywhere. When he put it on that naked guy (completely naked) to congratulate him on the act, everyone burst out. Not laughing actually. I'm not sure if my friend is happy to have it back.
I was the second running gag. It came out that I'm German, the only foreign in the audience (why did I put up my hand?). So he kept explaining the British ways to me (yes, they do live in houses and apparently their kids can't resist hitting balloons when they see one). I'm good at making a fool out of myself.
The next comedian tried to explain to us what masculinity really means. First he made comments about my two diamond earrings (they are not diamond in any way) and said I should put on my motorbike helmet to hide them. For whatever reason, he then still wanted me to be his role model for his argument. ME! A role model for masculinity? My two friends and me, we started laughing really loud. For everyone who didn't know, I'm gay. The guy didn't get why we laughed, but it was definitely funny.
Now, the next act did something amazing that I want to share with you. Watch the video and tell me what you think of comedy. What makes you happy? How do you put it in words?
I planned to give you my Mozzarella poem on this week's special Sunday post, but I just stumbled across Christine's blog and her Blogfest. Now I'd like to share my experience with editing instead.
Most contestants have submitted prose writing, but I found the editing of this particular poem very insightful. Some may have read this poem before on this blog, but the new version is a first on here.
This is the old poem:
See, the new one is not bound by the generic conventions of the strict form. With free verse, I could increase the speed and make the rhymes less predictable. The short lines also contribute to rhythm and especially in the end convey the hopeful look into the future.
Same as in prose, cutting the unnecessary is important in poetry, as well as showing what is happening. I tried to do that in both poems, but I think the second one is clearer.
Thank you for the challenge, Christine.
PS: A little advice: Write first, edit later. Leaving the poem for a few months has helped me create some distance and an objective view.
I thought I might start sharing some writerly advice that I find every now and then while I scurry the blog world. There is so much to learn for life and for writing. (By the way, you're free to re-post this.)
Nahno
Feature Article: 12 Secrets to Selling More Books at Events
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So you got a book event, great! Now you want to maximize it, right? You've heard your writing buddies talk (or perhaps read online) about the lack of attendance at signings, so figuring out how to maximize the event, regardless of the numbers might be tricky. While I spend a lot of time addressing online marketing, the offline component is one you shouldn't overlook. If book events are where you want to focus, then bringing in some ideas to help you sell more books is something you should consider.
Some years back when I was promoting The Cliffhanger I ended up at a book signing in the driving rain, I mean it was pouring and the store was all but empty. It was amazing I sold even one book, let alone seven. While not a big number, the copies were all sold to people who were seeking refuge in the store from the rain and not there for my event. This signing taught me a lot about events and connecting with consumers in stores. If you have an event coming up, consider these ideas before you head out:
1. Marketing: First and foremost is the marketing of your event. But I'm not talking about the marketing you do in the media (though that is great too) I'm speaking of in-store marketing; this is what most folks seem to overlook. This is where you supply things to the store to help them market your event. Because the first phase of a successful event is driving people to it. Here are a few thoughts.
a. Do bag stuffers. You can easily do this in your favorite computer program, do two up on a page, meaning that you use one 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper to do two fliers. You'll want to ask the store first if they mind that you provide this, most stores or event venues don't.
b. Bookmarks: while most in the industry see these as passé, people still love them. You can do bookmarks and bag stuffers (or staple them to the flier) or you can do custom bookmarks with the date and time of your event. Nowadays it's pretty easy to get these done cheaply. Keep in mind that if you are having the event in a mall or other type of shopping area, you might be able to drop the bookmarks (or bag stuffers) off at the nearby stores to see if they'll help promote the event.
2. Book signings are boring: Regardless of where you do the event, plan to do a talk instead of a signing. People are drawn into a discussion and are often turned off by an author just sitting at a table. Marketing is about message and movement so stand up and speak. If speaking in public is intimidating to you, go to Toastmasters or some other local networking/speaking group and see what you can learn.
3. Unique places: If you want to get more attention for your event, consider doing events in unique places. We've done them in video stores, electronics stores, gyms, even restaurants (on slow nights); doing outside-the-bookstore events is a great way to gain more interest for your talk. Why? Because you aren't competing with everyone else at the bookstore for your crowd. When you do an event at a locale that doesn't normally do events, you'll attract more people just because it's considered "unique."
4. Show up early and talk it up: OK, so let's say you're in the store and there are a ton of people in there shopping (a book event dream, yes?), I suggest that you take your extra bag stuffers or custom bookmarks and just hand them to the people in the store. Let them know you are doing an event at such and such time and you'd love it if they can sit in. You'll be surprised how many new people you might pull in this way.
5. Customize: Regardless of what your talk is about, poll the audience first to see a) what brought them there, or b) what they hope to learn if your talk is educational. I suggest this because the more you can customize your discussion, the more likely you are to sell a book. If you can solve problems (and this is often done during the Q&A) all the better. You'll look like the answer machine you are and readers love that. If you have the answers, they'll want to buy from you. I promise.
6. Make friends: Get to know the bookstore people, but not just on the day of the event. Go in prior and make friends, tell them who you are and maybe even hand them your flier or bookmark (or a stack if you can). Often stores have Information Centers, see if you can leave some fliers there instead of just at the register. Getting to know the people who are selling the book is a great way to help gather more people into your event. If your event isn't in a bookstore but attached to a shopping area or mall, go around to the stores (and perhaps you did this when you passed out the fliers) and let them know you have an event and ask what you can do to help them promote it. If you can rally the troops to help you market your talk, you could triple the numbers of people at your event. No kidding.
7. Take names: I always, always recommend that you get names and (email) addresses from the folks who attended. Signing them up for your mailing list is a great way to keep in touch with them and stay on your reader's radar screen. If you have a giveaway or drawing, great! This will help you to collect names. If you don't, offer them a freebie or e-book after the event. Often if I'm doing a PowerPoint presentation I will put together a set of them (delivered in PDF) after the event. Attendees need to sign up to get them and then once they do, I include them in our newsletter list, which helps me to stay on their radar screen.
8. Pricing: Make sure your book is easy to buy. If you are doing this outside of a bookstore this is easy to do and will help your sales. I find that a rounded number like $10 or $20 makes for a quick and easy sale. If you can round up or down without adding or losing too much to the price, by all means do it.
9. Book pairing: One way you might be able to round up is by pairing your book with a freebie. When I paired Red Hot Internet Publicity with a second, but smaller, marketing book I took the awkward pricing of $18.95, bumped it up to $20 (so 2 books for $20) and quadrupled my sales after an event. Now the pairing doesn't have to be a book, it can be a special report or even an e-book that you send to them after the event.
10. Product and placement: As you're doing your talk (especially if it's in a non-bookstore venue) make sure that you have a copy of the book propped up in front of you so event visitors see it the entire time you are speaking. Hold up the book when appropriate and use it as an example when you can. This will help to direct the consumer's eye to the book - and making eye contact with the product is a good way to make sure it stays on their radar screen throughout your talk. When I do a speaking gig at an event that allows me to sell books in the room, I will sell four times more than I would if the attendees have to go somewhere else to buy it, so make the buy easy. If you can, make sure your books are for sale in the room.
11. Ease of purchase: Aside from pricing, if you're doing your own checkout make sure that you have many ways consumers can buy your book. I take credit cards at the event, checks and cash. Don't limit yourself as to what you can take or you will limit your sales.
12. Post event wrap-up: So the event is over, what now? Well, if you got attendees to sign up for your newsletter (you did do that, right?) now it's time to send a thank you note for attending and remind them (if they missed the chance at the event) to buy a copy of your book at the "special event price."
Speaking and book events are great ways to build your platform, but if you aren't selling books there's little point in doing them. For many of us, our book is our business card and thus, if we can sell our "business card" we can keep consumers in our funnel. If your book isn't your business card you still want readers, right? The marketing before, during and after an event is crucial to building your readership. While it's easy to say that events sell books, they often don't. I find that if you don't "work it" you often will find your time wasted. Seek the opportunities when they are made available to you - and then maximize them when they are, you'll be glad you did!
WHO ARE WE
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Author Marketing Experts, Inc. is a full-service book marketing, promotion, and publicity company. We serve authors at all stages of marketing and promotion. We offer a full range of packages and services to choose from. To see a price list or schedule a free consultation, send your e-mail to penny@amarketingexpert.com with the subject line "Author Services Info." You can also visit our Web site at www.amarketingexpert.com.
Reprint permission
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You are welcome to reprint any items from "The Book Marketing Expert Newsletter." However, please credit us as a source with the following paragraph:
Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com
New Media has become our present and I‘m certain it will be essential in our future. That's why I wrote my own hypertext story.
Last year my course fascinated me with a way of writing called "Hypertext". I wasn't aware that I already knew this to some extent - and you do, too. Children's books sometimes use hypertext to make the stories more active for the reader.
So, let me explain how hypertext works: similar to hyperlinks, where a word or word-group leads to a different webpage or subpage, hypertext uses "links" to switch to another part of the story. "Why?", you might ask now. Because it adds interactivity to the reading process.
Actually, there are many possibilities in utilizing hypertext. Some use it, to confuse the reader to extract him from his usual reading habits. Others try to tell stories on the basis of parallel layers that the reader can randomly explore. After all, they always involve the reader experimenting and going on a quest inside of the story.
Iphones already enable users to read ebooks on a phone. Most hypertext still exists online, which makes it somewhat inaccessible for the general public, because they don't want to sit at the computer. What, if ebooks would make use of hypertexts in a way that would especially attract iphone (and alike) users. This way, while you are waiting at the train station, you could not just read a good story, but you could also construct the way you read it yourself.
In my own hypertext story, I tried to give the reader three pathways that are randomly interlinked throughout the progression. By using different colours, the reader can decide between the main branches of the story. In order to get the whole picture of the characters, though, the reader will have to revisit the scenes and explore different pathways. This will in a way bring more knowledge to the reader, but also provide him with various different outcomes. It really is up to you.
If you're curious now, visit this free Google Site and read my story.
It is called Joe on a New Wave. You access the story by clicking on the last sentence. Be aware, there are no obvious links, as it is supposed to be a close-to-real reading experience. Thinking about the links will help to define the story's output.
Other examples of hypertext:
http://deenalarsen.net/rain/
http://www.ryman-novel.com/
http://www.yorku.ca/caitlin/waves/
