Authors- Feedback you must never ignore

Good morning all,

As a debut author and having recently published my first novel, I have found the most useful element is making contact with a reader or two and discussing your book with them.

This is I feel essentially important to improve your work. And certainly better than going for a direct professional review. I am not knocking a professional review, they are most important. But once a review has been done, if they have picked up on small errors it can damage your marketing.

A reader is impartial and I feel enjoys being able to give constructive feedback and helping an author.

So make a few friends on facebook who are readers not authors.

Do not use other authors, they are your competitors no matter how friendly they appear to be. A reader has no other axe to grind than wanting to enjoy your book.

Avoid things like Goodreads or Authonomy, 90% of the people on those sites are other authors wanting to promote themselves and their books. The feedback you are likely to get is going to disappoint. Stick with facebook, twitter and a blog.

I write this particular entry with one arm as usual, my surgery on my left arm has been done, I hope to be able to return to full blown writing in a month or two. I hope, depending on the titanium and the pain going away.

Here is a post I put on facebook

Why do Vampires fear the light? The answers in Origin, the mould breaking Novel as unique as Dracula. http://www.amazon.co.uk/ORIGIN-ebook/dp/B00CTS3ZX0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1369772912&sr=1-1

Have a great weekend all.

Origin Book Release - Limited Editions Prize Give Away

To celebrate the release of Origin, ODO publishing are offering limited edition prizes. 

Just answer the following question

In Chapter 10, how did Jayne Bregger escape the Maintenance Room?

Buy your copy here
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ORIGIN-ebook/dp/B00CTS3ZX0/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

Email your answer to JoannasDawn@hotmail.com by 17th June 2013

Winners announced on 24th June 2013

The first five correct answers will receive limited edition Origin Launch Prizes signed by the Author.

1st Prize T-shirt & Mug signed Glossy Prints.
4 x 2nd Prizes of Limited Edition Mugs
Plus signed glossy copies of the book Cover
Closing date 17th June 2013
Winners announced 24th June 2013

Title your email
Origin Prize Draw
Include your Name and the answer in the main body.
Winners will be notified by email and announced on Origin Facebook Page and Origin Blog

Incorrect Entries will be ignored

http://origin-begins.blogspot.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Origin/189320131192372

ODO publishing is the final decision maker and winners will be drawn at random from the correct entries.

7 Writing Tips

7 Tips for New Writers

My Seven Tips for Writers


1.    Find your writing style and stick with it. My style is fast paced. What is yours?

2.    To be a good Fiction Writer - You need Imagination! Can you visualise the world you are creating?

3.    I started with short stories this is one of themhttp://joannasdawn.blogspot.co.uk/p/short-stories-mars.html … 'Lilly & the Machines'

4.    Good advice to new Authors, start with short stories and try them on your friends.

5.    Be inspired by an Author. My inspiration was the great Isaac Asimov, his advice to budding writers. 'Just do it'

6.    If you get feedback on your story, good or bad. Take it! It's gold dust!

7.      Lastly, when ready. Get a blog, a Facebook page and oh and of course > Twitter to share your work