In the world of publishing, there has long been a common belief that to successfully navigate the complex and competitive industry, one needs to secure the services of a literary agent. While having an agent can certainly be beneficial, the notion that they are an absolute necessity for finding a publisher is not entirely accurate. In fact, in today’s digital age, there are numerous ways for writers to connect with publishers on their own, with no representation.
One of the most effective ways for writers to find a publisher without an agent is by attending writing conferences and networking events. These gatherings offer invaluable opportunities to meet and connect with editors, publishers, and other industry professionals who may be interested in your work. By taking the time to build relationships and make connections at these events, writers can often secure publishing deals by acting as their own agent.
Another effective method for finding a publisher without an agent is by submitting directly to publishing houses. Many publishers, particularly smaller independent presses like us, accept unsolicited submissions from writers and are open to reviewing manuscripts by authors without representation. By carefully researching and targeting publishers that align with your genre and writing style, writers can increase their chances of success in securing a publishing deal on their own.
The rise of digital publishing platforms and self-publishing options has made it easier than ever for writers to bring their work to the market without a traditional publisher or agent. By self-publishing their work online, writers can reach a wider audience and maintain creative control over their projects. While self-publishing may not be the right choice for every writer, it is certainly a viable and increasingly popular option for those looking to bypass the traditional publishing route.
While having a literary agent can certainly be advantageous, it is not always a prerequisite for finding a publisher. By utilizing networking opportunities, researching and targeting publishers directly, and exploring self-publishing options, writers can successfully navigate the publishing industry and bring their work to the market without the need for representation. Ultimately, the key is to be proactive, persistent, and resourceful in pursuing publishing opportunities. So don’t let the misconception that an agent is always necessary for success in the world of publishing deter you.
I am the founder of ArmLin House, as well as the Chief Editor and Creative Director. For over thirty-five year, I’ve worked in technology, business development, marketing, writing, and publishing jobs. In the last 5 years I’ve returned to school and have become a graphic designer and social media video editor. In general, I have A LOT of experience in A LOT of industries and I love to help people, which is one of our main missions as a company. Learn more about me on my LinkedIn page.
Writing a memoir is a deeply personal and often emotional journey that requires self-reflection, honesty, and vulnerability. Not everyone is suited for the task of writing a memoir, as it requires a certain level of introspection and courage to share one's life story with the world. So, who should write a memoir and why?
Anyone who has a compelling story to tell and feels a strong desire to share it with others should consider writing a memoir. This could be someone who has overcome significant challenges or obstacles in their life, someone who has experienced moments of triumph or success, or someone who simply wants to document their life experiences for future generations.
Writing a memoir can be a therapeutic process for some, allowing them to make sense of their own past and come to terms with difficult or traumatic events. It can also be a way to inspire and connect with others who may be going through similar struggles or experiences. By sharing their own story, memoir writers offer hope, guidance, and encouragement to those who may need it.
One way to preserve one's own legacy and leave a lasting impact on the world is by writing a memoir. By documenting their life story, memoir writers can ensure that their experiences, wisdom, and perspective are not lost in time. They can also provide valuable insights and lessons learned that can benefit future generations.
The decision to write a memoir is a personal one that should be made with careful consideration and introspection. Writing a memoir is not for everyone, but for those who feel called to do so, it can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. By sharing their own story, memoir writers inspire, educate, and connect with others in a meaningful and profound way.
We are always open to memoir submissions because we love coaching people write their story as well as help them get their book out to the world. So, if you’ve written a memoir check out our Submissions page or if need help finishing it, Contact us.
I am the founder of ArmLin House, as well as the Chief Editor and Creative Director. For over thirty-five year, I’ve worked in technology, business development, marketing, writing, and publishing jobs. In the last 5 years I’ve returned to school and have become a graphic designer and social media video editor. In general, I have A LOT of experience in A LOT of industries and I love to help people, which is one of our main missions as a company. Learn more about me on my LinkedIn page.
For authors to gain success, they must play many other roles besides writer of books and articles. To sell books, authors must build a strong online presence to connect with their readers directly. One of the most effective ways to do this is with a newsletter and email list. Newsletters and email lists allow authors to communicate with their audience, promote their work, and build a loyal fan base. Let’s explore the reasons an author needs a newsletter.
One of the main reasons an author needs a newsletter and email list is to build a direct line of communication with their readers. By collecting email addresses from fans and followers, authors can send out regular updates about upcoming books, events, and promotions. This direct connection with readers helps authors to cultivate a loyal fan base and create a sense of community around their work. In today’s saturated market, where competition is fierce, having a dedicated audience who is eager to support your work can make a significant difference in an author’s career.
A newsletter and email list promotes an author’s work effectively. Traditional methods of marketing, such as advertising or book tours, can be costly and may not reach the right audience. By sending out targeted emails to subscribers, authors can promote their books, upcoming releases, and events directly to people who have already shown an interest in their work. This targeted approach can lead to higher conversion rates and better engagement with readers.
Distributing email to fans helps authors gather feedback and insights from their readers. By sending out surveys or asking for feedback in emails, authors can gain valuable information about their readers’ preferences, interests, and opinions. This feedback can tailor future projects, improve marketing strategies, and strengthen the relationship with readers. In this way, a newsletter and email list can act as a valuable tool for authors to engage with their audience and refine their craft.
In terms of impact, the use of newsletters and email lists has revolutionized the way authors connect with their audience. With social media platforms becoming increasingly crowded and algorithms constantly changing, having a direct channel to communicate with readers is essential for authors to stand out in the digital landscape. Authors who have successfully built and maintained a newsletter and email list have reported higher book sales, increased engagement with readers, and a stronger sense of community around their work.
While there are many ways to promote books, newsletters are still the best way to communicate with readers and build a loyal fan base. The more authors connect with readers through their newsletter, the greater the success they experience. So don’t give up on regularly sending a newsletter to your fans.
I am the founder of ArmLin House, as well as the Chief Editor and Creative Director. For over thirty-five year, I’ve worked in technology, business development, marketing, writing, and publishing jobs. In the last 5 years I’ve returned to school and have become a graphic designer and social media video editor. In general, I have A LOT of experience in A LOT of industries and I love to help people, which is one of our main missions as a company. Learn more about me on my LinkedIn page.
Humor adds depth, engagement, and charisma to any story, even if it’s a serious drama or an exciting thriller. Injecting an element of laughter into the narrative connects readers to the characters, creates a sense of realism, and provides a much-needed break from the seriousness of the plot.
One of the main reasons every book needs humor is its ability to create a sense of relatability with the reader. Humor is a universal language that transcends cultural, social, and linguistic barriers. When readers come across a funny moment in a book, they are more likely to relate to the story on a personal level. This connection leads to a more immersive reading experience and a deeper emotional investment in the outcome of the narrative.
Humor serves as a form of escapism for readers who are dealing with the stresses of daily life. A well-timed joke or witty remark pauses the tension and drama, allowing readers to relax and enjoy the reading experience. This break enhances the overall tone of the book, balancing out the serious moments with moments of lightheartedness and levity.
When characters present in amusing situations, it reveals more about their personalities and motivations. A character who cracks jokes in the face of danger or adversity comes across as more resilient, resourceful, and relatable. Characters feel more authentic and fully developed when put in a playful scene. Funny situations highlight their flaws and vulnerabilities, making them more human and multidimensional.
Comedy engages readers and keeps them invested in the story. A well-placed joke or witty observation grabs the reader’s attention and makes them want to keep turning the pages to see what happens next. Humor can also serve as a form of foreshadowing, hinting at future developments in the plot or adding layers of meaning to the story. By using humor in this way, authors create a more dynamic and engaging reading experience for their audience.
While not every book may need constant wisecracks and banter, humor is an essential element that can enhance the depth of a story. By incorporating humor into the narrative, authors create characters that feel more authentic, plots that are more engaging, and readers that are more invested in the story's outcome. Ultimately, humor is a powerful tool that can enrich the reading experience and make a book more memorable and enjoyable for readers.
I am the founder of ArmLin House, as well as the Chief Editor and Creative Director. For over thirty-five year, I’ve worked in technology, business development, marketing, writing, and publishing jobs. In the last 5 years I’ve returned to school and have become a graphic designer and social media video editor. In general, I have A LOT of experience in A LOT of industries and I love to help people, which is one of our main missions as a company. Learn more about me on my LinkedIn page.
Now that you’ve completed Automatic Targeting for Books with Amazon Advertising’s Sponsored Ads and let the ad run for a while, it’s time to manage the ad. No, you can’t just set it and forget it. There are a number of things you’ll need to do on a regular basis to make sure the ad delivers results.
NOTE: If you haven’t set up an ad on Amazon yet, click on the title above and set up the ad. Then come back here in 2 weeks to a month to start managing the ad.
1. Log in to Amazon Ads and find an Automatic Targeted ad that has been running for 2 weeks to a month.
NOTE: To find a particular ad, scroll through the ads on the campaign list or go to the Portfolios and find it in the applicable portfolio.
2. Click on the ad to open it. Notice the options in the menu on the left. Here’s what they do:
Placements are used to adjust bid strategies for ad placements up by a percentage to gain better ad placement. We will discuss placements in a future post.
Targeting is used to adjust bids.
Negative Targeting allows you to identify keywords that you don’t want your ad targeting, as well as products where you don’t want your ad placed.
Budget Rules adds bidding increases to your ad at special times. For example, adding a bid increase of 10% during Black Friday. We will cover these rules in a later blog post.
Search Terms are the terms that Amazon has decided to target. While you can’t change these, it is important to check them and add the ones you don’t want targeted to the Negative Targeting keywords.
Campaign Settings is where you can change your overall bidding strategy and other campaign specifics.
History provides a list of the changes you’ve made to the ad.
3. Before you start managing the ad, click on Ads in the menu on the left.
4. Go to the campaign details below the chart and change the columns to the ones listed below. To do this, click on Columns on the right side, then click on Customize Columns.
Impressions: The number of times ads were delivered to customers.
Clicks: How many times your ad was clicked.
Spend: Total charges accrued for the clicks that occurred.
CPC: Cost Per Click or the average cost for the clicks.
Orders: Total orders that occurred from the clicks.
Sales: Value of the books sold from the orders.
ACOS: Like pay-per-click. This is the ad spend divided by tracked sales on the ad dashboard.
If you need more information about each column, hover over the i in the gray circle on the column header.
The 7 columns above contain the most useful information you need to know about ad performance. Ad performance tells you whether you should increase or decrease bids. In some cases, you may need to stop using certain ads because of what the performance shows.
Default Bid Adjustment
In this section you will adjust the default bid in the Campaign Settings based on the ad campaigns performance.
5. Go to the Date Range on the right side of the section and change it to “The Last 30 Days.”
6. Take a look at the overall performance of the ad in the columns. Make note of which scenario below applies.
If the performance has an ACOS greater than 50%, lower the default bid 1-5 cents below the CPC.
If the performance has an ACOS lower than 50%, raise the default bid 1-5 cents above the CPC.
If the performance has an ACOS that is blank, raise the default bid 1-5 cents above the CPC.
IMPORTANT: Suggested Bids are just that, suggested bids. As you adjust bids, keep them low and increase them slowly. If your bids are below the suggested bit it is okay.
7. Click on Campaign Settings in the menu on the left, then go to the Default Bid and change it per the scenario you chose in step 6.
Ad Group Level Adjustments
As was discussed in the post where you created the Automatic Targeted Ad, there are 4 options in the two Targeting Groups. Here you will adjust each slowly so you do not pay too much for clicks that are not converting to sales.
9. Click on Targeting to go to the Automatic Targeting Groups where you’ll adjust the bid for each of the options.
10. Look at how each of the group types is performing. If a type has an ACOS, adjust the bid as was done in the Default Bid Adjustment section. If there is no ACOS, adjust the bid per the group type discussed below.
The Close Match and Loose Match group type is based on keyword searches made by a customer and shows your ad in search results based on similarly assigned keywords.
Loose match: With this match type, customers enter search terms and Amazon delivers ads for books that are loosely related to what the customer expects. In this case, if your book is fantasy and the customer searches for “fantasy books with vampires and werewolves,” your book ad could deliver even if the monster type in your book isn’t the same. Since your book is likely to end up in front of customers that are not necessarily looking for books like yours, increase bids sparingly or not at all.
Close match: With this match type, customers enter search terms and Amazon delivers ads for books that are closely related to the customer’s expectations. For example, if your book is fantasy and the customer searches for “fantasy books,” Amazon could decide to deliver your ad. Since your book will end up in front of customers who are more likely to purchase your book, consider increasing the bid if you are receiving a high number of impressions, clicks, and sales.
The Complements and Substitutes group type shows your ad on book pages that are like your book.
Complements: Your ad will deliver when a customer lands on a book page that complements your book. So here, if your book is about demons in an urban fantasy setting but not related to romance, your book could still end up on an urban fantasy romance book page. Since your book is likely to end up in front of customers that are not necessarily looking for books like yours, increase bids sparingly or not at all.
Substitutes: Your ad will deliver when a customer lands on a book page for a book similar to yours. If you write comedy, Amazon will deliver your book on other comedy books’ pages. Since your book will end up in front of customers who are more likely to purchase your book, consider increasing the bid if you are receiving a high number of impressions, clicks, and sales.
Search Terms and Negative Targeting
In this section, you won’t adjust bids, but you will make sure Amazon is properly targeting your ad. This is just as important, maybe more important than your bidding because you can quickly accrue clicks on irrelevant keywords or dissimilar products.
11. Click on Search Terms.
12. Page through the keywords listed. These are what Amazon has decided to target for ad placement. Write down any keywords that are not relevant to your book.
13. Click on Negative Targeting, then click on Add Negative Keywords.
14. Enter all the keywords you found that do not represent your book.
15. Choose Negative Exact or Negative Phrase as needed, definitions for each below:
Phrase: Includes the exact phrase or group of keywords.
Exact: An exact match for either the keyword or group of keywords.
16. Click on Save to exempt the keywords.
17. Notice there is also an option for Negative Products. If there are books in which you don’t want your ad to display on, you will need to gather their ASINs and use that tab to enter them.
That's it. Complete these steps weekly or every couple weeks. These ads don’t have a high spend in most cases, especially if they are well maintained, so they don’t need as much care as category and keyword ads.
I am the founder of ArmLin House, as well as the Chief Editor and Creative Director. For over thirty-five year, I’ve worked in technology, business development, marketing, writing, and publishing jobs. In the last 5 years I’ve returned to school and have become a graphic designer and social media video editor. In general, I have A LOT of experience in A LOT of industries and I love to help people, which is one of our main missions as a company. Learn more about me on my LinkedIn page.
If you keep a daily journal, where you spill thoughts and track progress on your various projects, there are three items you should add to help increase your productivity. These items are quick and easy to add at the beginning of your journal each day. And they all provide a little kick in the butt to keep your goals on track.
1. Note the Week # and Day #
I bet that at the beginning of each new day, the first thing you add to your journal is the date. Or maybe it’s already there, waiting for you. Noting the date is a habit, and we sometimes give it little thought other than it’s #TacoTueday, #WineWednesday, or #TGIF. So, here’s a little something to keep you focused. Below the month, day and year, try adding the week number (1-52) and day number (1-365). Both represent milestones toward fulfilling your annual goals. Looking at week 26, halfway through the year, forces you to face your progress more than entering July, a fun summer month filled with vacations and visits to the zoo with kids.
2. Yesterday’s Failures and Today’s Focus
Yes, I used the word “failures.” After all, how can you improve in life without considering your failures and weaknesses? So, for this one, include things like what didn’t work, what you didn’t finish, and anything else that didn’t go your way in a sentence or two. That’s really all you need because writing half a page or more of the negative things is no way to start a day. Instead, move on to include your focus for the day and how you might remedy past obstacles. Add a few ideas on how you can have a successful day. Maybe set an intention to complete tasks you’ve been avoiding. Keep it short and concise.
3. Must Complete Tasks
Every single day, focus on three tasks that you must complete. These tasks can encompass anything from attending a class to checking an item off your procrastination list. Set your focus as aggressive as you like or spend the day caring for yourself. These tasks are not a catch-up list. “Must complete” tasks should keep you balanced in life and career. Once you’ve finished these items, you should feel as if you’ve accomplished something important.
Now you’re ready to journal and plan the other parts of your day. Address that never-ending task list, packed meeting schedule, ideas that need planning, and whatever else you need to do.
I am the founder of ArmLin House, as well as the Chief Editor and Creative Director. For over thirty-five year, I’ve worked in technology, business development, marketing, writing, and publishing jobs. In the last 5 years I’ve returned to school and have become a graphic designer and social media video editor. In general, I have A LOT of experience in A LOT of industries and I love to help people, which is one of our main missions as a company. Learn more about me on my LinkedIn page.
So you've been putting off writing your author bio. Or maybe you wrote one in 10 minutes just to get it done, then you slapped it up on Amazon Author Central with a dulled-out selfie. After all, very few of us enjoy an afternoon of bragging about our books and other accomplishments. And no one reads them anyway, right?
Wrong!
Your author bio is your business card. It helps you stand out from the rest of the authors out there. Besides showcasing your books, your author bio should reflect your personality and achievements. It affirms that you are a real person, qualified in your field, and worth reading. People read author bios because they want to relate to you and pursue reading your other publications, be it other books, a blog, column, etc. A catchy bios help you sell books!
What's In An Author Bio?
Your author bio needs to speak to your target audience. This is key to ensure the right reader picks up your books. For example, you wouldn’t market children's books to post-apocalyptic zombie readers. And it's short, only 90 words or less, with the following sections:
Writer Profile
Credentials
Interests/Personal Info
Call to Action
Internet Presence
Headshot
How Do You Write An Author Bio?
Sitting down to write your author bio can be difficult. So, before you tackle it, start by answering the questions below. Provide at least 3 short, striking responses for each. These questions will assist you in compiling a striking bio.
1. Who are you writing for? Men or women? Certain professionals? Kids or adults?
2. What are your publications about? What genres do you write? Who are your characters? Where does your book take place? Is there something historic that readers should know about? Are your works funny or serious?
3. What do you know? What special training do you have? What has happened in your life that influences you? What have you experienced that makes you an expert in your field?
4. How are you involved? What do you do to make the world a better place? How are you involved in helping people? Are you solving problems?
5. Who are you personally? What are your interests? What are your hobbies? What do you want people to know about your family life?
6. What do you want readers to do? When people read your bio, do you want them to go to a blog or website? Or do you want them to go to a popular article you wrote? Do you want them to sign up for one of your classes?
7. What are your most important accomplishments? Have you won a contest or award? What can you tell readers to increase your credibility?
Now use your answers to write your author bio in third person. Pull out your most interesting and highest accomplishments from the answers. Start with something captivating from the list that speaks to who you are as a writer. Continue by building your credibility. Add your interests and personal information, and end with a call to action that could lead to a book sale.
After you write your first draft, remove irrelevant words, then remove some more irrelevant words. Get that word count down to 90 or less. Make changes as needed, but don’t spend more than a half an hour on your bio. Ask a friend to critique your draft, then complete your final copy.
Don't forget about your headshot. Forget that dulled-out selfie and go with a more professional and personalized photo. If you are a doctor, the photo better look professional. If you are a horror writer, consider a dark and mysterious background with a raised eyebrow. It's okay to show off your personality, considering your career. A comedian that looks like an accountant won't attract readers.
Also consider that you will need a different author bio for a number of websites, contests, awards, articles, and more. You will also need to update your bio on your own website and social media accounts regularly. So keep that list around because you're not done!
I am the founder of ArmLin House, as well as the Chief Editor and Creative Director. For over thirty-five year, I’ve worked in technology, business development, marketing, writing, and publishing jobs. In the last 5 years I’ve returned to school and have become a graphic designer and social media video editor. In general, I have A LOT of experience in A LOT of industries and I love to help people, which is one of our main missions as a company. Learn more about me on my LinkedIn page.
If you are a writer or aspire to write, you soon discover it’s not as easy as it looks. In fact, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I’ve been writing professionally for over thirty years. It’s a career where the minute you think you’ve mastered the craft, your editor returns a document covered in markups and comments that triples the size of your MS Word file. Hence, writers learn quickly to stick together and become active members of writing communities. And no matter what you write, it’s essential you regularly attend a critique group. Ask the best authors and most will agree, saying they joined one early on and have continued to attend well into their careers.
I’ll never forget bringing ten pages to a critique group for fiction writers for the first time. The pages introduced the fourth novel I’d written, and it had even won a contest that resulted in me signing with an agent. Surely everyone would love my story and say it was the best they’d ever read from a newcomer. That a Big Six publisher would buy it in a second. After all, I had also been a career writer, producing technical manual and business articles for quite some time. Yes, fiction is different, but crafting a world in a novel should be a piece of cake for someone like me.
Boy, was I naïve. Similar to every other new attendee, they nicely called my novel opener crap. My heart dropped. But it wasn’t all bad. They also told me how to fix the plot, describe the setting, and show the characters' emotions. I should have known better than to write fiction in isolation.
Fifteen years later, I’ve not only attended critique groups, but run a group for speculative fiction writers for over five years. My experience with these groups even led to me sitting on the board of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers for nearly five years. Helping fellow writers improve their prose has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done throughout my life.
Two things remain consistent in a critique group. The first is that writers who regularly attend sessions are the ones who finish their projects, acquire agents, and release their work to the public through traditional means or self-publication. The second is that writers who show up irregularly bring previously critiqued pages and still haven’t finished a first draft a year or two later. They show their frustrations in complaints that their jobs are too busy or kid’s soccer games consume too much of their time to write.
Critique groups do more than help you land on bookstore shelves or increase traffic to a blog. Consider, as Watson states, “In 2020, there were over 44.2 thousand writers and authors working in the United States.” (par. 1) Very few of which reach John Grisham’s and J. K. Rowling’s level-of-success. Nor does the number account for all the part-time amateur authors. Amazon alone has published over 6 million books, which includes an estimated 7500 new books released daily (Haines). And according to the AskALLi team, they paid out over a quarter of a billion dollars in royalties in 2019. (par. 18). Who are these people, and how do you compete for your piece of the pie?
With so many writers flooding the market since the invention of the internet and the ability to read electronically, authors must stand out or risk going unnoticed. Or worse, have their prose attacked by trolls. If you hope for any level of follow through and success, don’t skip out on all that a critique group offers.
Sure, when you first start, perfecting the basics is the number one reason other writers should analyze your work. There are so many frustrations, practicing grammar rules, understanding point of view, or properly representing facts to name a few. As you progress, it’s all about your prose coming across as professional, a thing difficult to master without both giving and receiving critiques. As Hickman says, and I similarly remind my group members, “Countless times, while revising my fiction, I’ve realized: I just hammered so-and-so for making this mistake in his writing. I guess, I’d better correct it in mine.” (292).
Yes, criticism is hard to take, but as Kenyon states, “Accepting criticism and learning to edit your own work is another essential skill. There’s a lot of advice out there, and no lack of people willing to comment on your writing. The trick is to figure out which advice is sound (and which isn’t), and how to implement it.” (165). Necessary, especially considering any attempt to please all critics can cripple or block a writer.
Once you’re in one, you’ll realize critique groups are about so much more than the words. “Being with like-minded people who have similar goals can help you get to the next step in your writing endeavors.” (Turner, 60). Week after week, cohorts in your group will drive you forward and keep you accountable because they experience the same highs and lows when completing a project. Fellow members are your cheerleaders, awarding accolades for your success whether it be a contest win or publication in a magazine. And your partners sympathize during extensive blocks or receipt of a tenth rejection letter. Knowing you’re not alone drives your writing.
Publishing is one of the scariest experiences a writer will achieve, whether done traditionally or by oneself. After you complete a project, the guidance senior members provide is invaluable. Fellow members can recommend cover artists or editors, as well as warn about the potential pitfalls such as vanity publishers that take advantage of an author’s wallet. Go the traditional route and you’ll need advice with pitches, query letters, contracts and more.
Once you’re published, it’s time to market your work, and considering most writers are introverts, you want as much support as possible. Begging people to read your work and be kind with reviews is uncomfortable. When you’re told “no thank you” or receive a one-star review, it’s debilitating. Yet again, members of your critique group will come to your rescue, sharing marketing trends such as attention grabbers on social media. It’s critical to understand why certain books are selling better than yours on Amazon. Maybe it’s your cover copy, or maybe it’s your first few paragraphs turning off readers. These are all things that critique group members can look at objectively and provide additional guidance, especially when you adore your book cover, but the rest of the world finds it boring.
So, are you ready to join a critique group? If you answered “yes,” finding one is easy. Check with your local writers group or ask a writer friend for a referral. They meet online, in person, over email, on social media and more. “Whichever type of group you choose affords you the benefit of connecting with other writers, socializing and growing together in your craft.” (Charles, par. 8).
It’s time to break that shell! Come out of hiding. You are a writer, and there are many more of us ready to help you succeed. Your lifeline awaits.
Works Cited
AskALLi Team. “Facts and Figures about Self Publishing: The Impact and Influence of Indie Authors.” Selfpublishingadvice.org, 22 Jun. 2020. selfpublishingadvice.org/facts-and-figures-about-self-publishing-the-impact-and-influence-of-indie-authors/.
Brande, Dorothea, et al. Becoming a Writer.Harcourt, Brace & Company, 1934.
Charles, Tami. “Finding Your Squad: 4 Benefits of Joining a Critique Group.” Writersdigest.com, 16 Feb. 2018, writersdigest.com/publishing-insights/finding-your-squad-4-benefits-of-joining-a-critique-group/.
Hickman, Kirt. Revising Fiction: Making Sense of the Madness, A Comprehensive and Practical Guide to Self-Editing. Quillrunner Publishing, 2009.
Kenyon, Nate, et al. On Writing Horror: A Handbook by The Horror Writers Association.Writer’s Digest Books, 2007.
Turner, N.A.. How to Writer a Short Story: Everything You Need to Successfully Write and Publish Your Short Stories. Turner Stories, 2019.
Watson, Amy. “Number of Writers and Authors in the United States from 2011 to 2020.” Statista.com, 29 Apr. 2021, statista.com/statistics/572476/number-writers-authors-usa/.
Haines, Derek. “There Are Now Well Over 6 Million Kindle Ebooks On The Amazon Store.” Justpublishingadvice.com, 24 Apr. 2021, justpublishingadvice.com/there-are-now-over-5-million-kindle-ebooks/.
I am the founder of ArmLin House, as well as the Chief Editor and Creative Director. For over thirty-five year, I’ve worked in technology, business development, marketing, writing, and publishing jobs. In the last 5 years I’ve returned to school and have become a graphic designer and social media video editor. In general, I have A LOT of experience in A LOT of industries and I love to help people, which is one of our main missions as a company. Learn more about me on my LinkedIn page.
Today, I decided to share a paper I wrote a few years ago, when I returned to college for a short time. Surprisingly, I had to retake an English class because it had been too many years since I'd had one. I could have challenged the class, but I thought it might be fun to retake it. What's funny is that they were willing to accept credits for English classes that are much more complicated.
Anyway, this paper is all about writing inspiration, which is one of our biggest challenges. I hope you can find some inspiration in it.
What do you think of when you hear the name Weird Al Yankovic? Do you giggle a little or jeer? Do you find him brilliant or just another rip-off artist? Regardless of your opinion, he has successfully entertained his fans for over forty years. A fact that makes him a creative genius for this comedy fiction writer. And after listening to his interview on the podcast How to Write Funny, it’s clear that whatever writing project you tackle, all writers experience similar highs and lows. Discovering that Weird Al can conquer this hurdle, and has consistently produced award-winning comedy, also makes him a true inspiration.
Al Yankovic, better known as Weird Al, is only five years older than me, which means I have witnessed his career firsthand. And I’ve remained a fan even though a long time had passed since I had viewed any of his videos. How could I not be? I’m a lifetime connoisseur of bizarre and dark comedy, and it’s my favorite genre to write. Catching up on his songs only took thirty-minute on his YouTube channel and an hour on iTunes. As I watched his old work from the 1980s, it was like a blast to the past in a time machine, during the early days of cable television and the birth of MTV. Don’t get me started on the big hair, shoulder pads and leg warmers.
Since Weird Al released his first recording in 1976, he has written 150 parodies and original songs, sold 12 million albums, and performed 1000 live shows. Mandatory Fun, released in 2014, hit #1 the first week it was out (qtd. Wikipedia). How has this guy been able to parody so many records over the years and with such continued success? Well, his podcast interview provided all the insight needed to answer this question.
As I hit the play link to start the podcast, I wondered what I’d take away from a discussion with Weird Al. After all, he has spent most of his life writing lyrics, and I write fiction. Then again, the two formats have one thing in common. Storytelling has been around in many forms since humans developed the ability to communicate their tales. Even his preference for parodies date back to the 14th century, with the lyrical form gaining popularity in the 1700s (qtd. Wikipedia). Bottom line, whatever the format of the narrative, we’re both attempting to entertain. If my hunches were right, I would learn from his methods and success no matter the medium.
First, I found that past influences, including bullying, shaped his life and career. Probably one reason he spends a lot of time in his head, an activity in which I can relate. Weird Al’s reminiscing about the harassment he endured flashed me back to episodes with my own tormentors, so skilled at delivering burning humiliations that tied my stomach into knots. Dickkers, the interviewer, pointed out that these incidents lead some comedians to dark places, where a need for revenge becomes the inspiration for their jokes (qtd. Dickkers). This is not my process for writing comedy and refreshing to find it’s not Weird Al’s.
Instead, he escaped through an obsession with Mad Magazine. Mine was watching hours of The Three Stooges reruns and every science fiction and horror B movies that aired on Chicago’s local television stations. In my teens, building worlds with pencil and paper provided a means to create, control and release the pain. Common themes if you grew up in the 70s and 80s, and proof that laughter is the best medicine, or at least a way to survive childhood before the internet.
While continuing to listen, Weird Al’s upbeat nature drew me in. He’s authentically himself in real life and his music videos. The more he spoke, the more I liked him, and the more I wanted to learn from him.
There’s a high-level of consistency regarding Weird Al’s career, including him staying true to his brand. From the very beginning, he quit college radio when producers restricted his show’s format and personal expression. After hearing this, I felt jealous he was so comfortable with self at an early age. At 55 I’m still struggling to figure out who I am as a comedy writer.
And speaking of comedy writing, Weird Al’s lessons on making people laugh included familiar rules I’ve strived to master. Like all writers, he starts with an idea, expands upon it, and completes many drafts. He works in layers, starting with a strange and stupid premise he builds upon to deliver the punchline.
As a song writer, he’s a poet, rhyming his way to laughter with his outrageous lyrics. His resources are a little different, although maybe they shouldn’t be. When the conversation turned to rhyming dictionaries, I was quick to google resource like rhymedb.com and rhymezone.com and stored them away in my browser’s bookmarks. He’ll be with me in spirit when I call upon the sites to twist and turn a character’s dialog.
“Fat,” a parody of Michael Jackson’s “Bad” hit, is a perfect example of his style. I re-watched this play on America’s obsession with food while eating a salad. When he sang, “Don’t you call me pudgy, portly or stout…” in a fat suit, struggling to jump the turnstile in a New York subway tunnel, a spit-take of dressing droplets escaped my mouth and landed on the computer monitor (Yankovic).
Weird Al is so much more than a writer. During the podcast he talked about trying to master Michael Jackson’s moves in “Eat It,” but no matter how hard he tried, he came off ridiculous. Call it luck, but his awkward lashing of limbs was the best part of that video.
Being comfortable with his nerdiness works. His career would fall flat without this ability, and he’s the first to admit this. I see him as one with his material and that helps the spectators relax until he hits the crowd with another of his absurdity.
His outrageous social commentaries capture attention—another reason for his success. Either he makes light of humanities atrocities or pokes fun at popular culture. Quite a spectrum of audience participation, considering the peoples of the world endlessly hand him ideas for his parities.
I’m drawn to his more controversial parodies because the lyrics make me uncomfortable to the point I laugh. Others may find him offensive for this reason. I argue that 90% of comedy is at someone’s expense, and there’s no denying Weird Al is a master of knowing who to spotlight at any period in recent history. He also deserves credit for making fun of himself in the mix.
With such variety in his work, it’s understandable he confessed in the podcast to becoming bearish when he writes. Like most authors, he struggles to complete projects. Hearing this, I let out a long exhale. The program had reached a point where we could commiserate about how miserable editing can be. Instead, he kept on a positive track, which was exactly what I needed. He reminded me that the pain writers undergo while finishing prose is just another part of the process. In the end, we should enjoy the high and physical release that comes along with the final save of a completed manuscript. If only I could replay this message, day and night, through AirPods.
Moving on, minus my self-pity party, I felt encouraged finding out that Weird Al can take up to a month to perfect the lyrics in a parody. This is the same time I’ve invested in writing eighty-thousand-word novels during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). With a lot of patience, I’ve completed this contest three times. Thanks to Weird Al’s advice, I was seeing the light.
Over the years, Weird Al has remained consistent with production. He obsesses over new ideas and keeps going until a parody is finished. He understands the importance of letting the words flow in the first draft. And he works through the highs and lows, accepting that not everything works. I long for his drive to keep the creative spark alive and finish projects no matter what it takes.
Sometimes walking away is necessary to clear your head. Then, resuming on another day with a fresh look and positive attitude is all that’s needed to complete the work. Other times, a piece is only fit for the trashcan. A repository that sends chills up my spine. Not all writing is created equally good, but disposing of prose is like asking an author to gauge out an eye. Again, Weird Al and I are similar in that every word has a place, whether released to the public or stored in a folder—paper or electronic—for some fan or opportunist to uncover when I’m dead.
Weird Al’s most valuable message is that he hasn’t changed the way he creates. Instead, he feels he’s gotten better at it. And it’s not just about the words. He mentioned staying focused and organized with all that he does, and I doubt he takes no for an answer. After years in his industry, he’s observed firsthand the success of peers with similar principles. Because he gets things done, his music continues to be relevant and his career persists.
As the podcast neared the end, his support for fellow comedians and the future of comedy kicked into high gear. The Internet opened creative arts for the newer generations of comedians like it did for other types of writers and musicians. Many artists have stopped seeking agents and managers and production companies. Nor do we see each other as competitors. Self-publication is the route I chose after a lack of progress with an agent and publisher. My professional writing career has spanned over three decades, and with it comes a community of people ready to share their knowledge of craft or lift each other during dry periods. Weird Al made it clear in his How to Write Funny podcast interview that he too is always there to help fellow performers.
Now that social media is the twenty-first century stage, holding oneself back seems insane. Artists find their audience and are better equipped to communicate with fans. Weird Al foresaw this transition early in his career and has grown with the times by keeping his work on demand, for all to see.
It’s a good thing that we writers stick together like a twelve-step program. We are honest about what we do, like Weird Al was in his podcast. As hard as this job is, at least I’m not alone. It’s how I know that all the characters who haunt me daily to release their stories will flow yet again. Weird Al’s advice provided a boost I need to get there. And later, my experiences will allow me to pay it forward to another writer.
I am the founder of ArmLin House, as well as the Chief Editor and Creative Director. For over thirty-five year, I’ve worked in technology, business development, marketing, writing, and publishing jobs. In the last 5 years I’ve returned to school and have become a graphic designer and social media video editor. In general, I have A LOT of experience in A LOT of industries and I love to help people, which is one of our main missions as a company. Learn more about me on my LinkedIn page.
In a previous post, I showed you how to Remove The Extra Sections, Breaks, and Spaces Before Submitting or Formatting Your Book. This is not the only messy situation you might encounter in your manuscript. Your punctuation can be just as inconsistent, which causes major issues when formatting your book. Plus, your book looks sloppy, and sloppy books get bad reviews. Below is an example of inconsistent punctuation.
Forgive my pathetic use of ellipsis and em dashes while you take a look at the punctuation in red. See the em dash after "mood?" Now look at the em dash between "him" and "as." I've seen many manuscripts with this inconsistency throughout, or there's a mix of en dashes (shorter) with em dashes (longer). The best and proper punctuation format is the longer em dash that is after "mood." Now look at the quotation marks and notice they are not the same type. We all know you should always use the pretty slanted symbol before "Mitchel," but the straight quotation marks somehow seem to sneak their way in. The final example is the ellipsis. For formatting purposes, always use the one that displays as one punctuation mark and not 3 periods. The reason for this is that 3 periods in an eBook will separate, so you could have one period on one line and start the next line with the remaining periods. An ellipsis will stay with the preceding text.
Once again, you can simply use Find/Replace to fix these issues in a blink of an eye. Here's how.
1. Open your manuscript in MS Word.
2. Open Find and Replace with CTRL+H. Or locate the Editing section on the Home tab and hit the down arrow on the Find option on the upper-right side, and choose the Advanced Find… option.
NOTE: In some cases you can copy a symbol from your manuscript such as straight quotes, or you can use a carat code (^), or use the Special pull down at the bottom of the Find and Replace dialog box. Note that not all punctuation has a caret code, so the process below is a bit inconsistent.
3. Find straight double quotes ( " ) using ^034 and Replace by typing in the fancy double quotation mark ( “ ). The correct left or right will insert where needed. Rarely, a quotation mark inserts backward, but the only way to find it is by reading through the text.
4. Find straight single quotes ( ' ) using ^039 and Replace with fancy single quotation mark ( ‘ ). Again, the correct left or right style will insert, but they too can insert backward on rare occasions.
5. Find em dashes with 2 dashes ( -- ) and Replace with actual em dashes (—) or ^+ or select it from the Special characters pulldown at the bottom of the Find window.
6. Find ellipses with three separate periods ( ... ) and Replace with the ellipsis character (…) or ^0133. Note there is no ellipsis option under Special Characters.
7. And don't forget to save your changes.
More About Caret Codes
At this point you might be wondering how to find other caret codes for other forms of punctuation. Here's the easiest way to find them in MS Word. This is so much easier than doing a Google search, which I did countless times to no avail. Please let me know if you find a decent list of them. I couldn't even find these instructions anywhere, so I had to figure it out myself.
1. Click on the Insert tab, then go to the far right, to the Symbols section.
2. Click on Symbol, then More Symbols. A box of symbols will pop up.
3. In the top box, find the punctuation or symbol you need and click on it.
4. At the bottom right, find the Character Code and From fields. Click on the from option and choose ASCII (decimal).
5. Make note of the character code for use in Find/Replace. Enter it there with a preceding caret (^) and a zero (0). For example, if you looked up the ellipsis in the symbols, you'll find the character code 133, so you’d enter ^0133 in the Find field.
Now go spit shine that manuscript and impress agents. If you're self publishing, you'll save yourself A LOT of time.
If you come across something you don’t know how to fix, go to Services > Ask a Book Formatting Question in the menu and let me know how I can help.
I am the founder of ArmLin House, as well as the Chief Editor and Creative Director. For over thirty-five year, I’ve worked in technology, business development, marketing, writing, and publishing jobs. In the last 5 years I’ve returned to school and have become a graphic designer and social media video editor. In general, I have A LOT of experience in A LOT of industries and I love to help people, which is one of our main missions as a company. Learn more about me on my LinkedIn page.
