If you weren’t able to catch last Sunday’s chat on hitting goals and next steps, RWchat co-host C.L. Polk created a Storify highlight reel. We celebrated each other’s writing career accomplishments and talked about leveling up. We also discussed reassessing goals and methods, to make sure we’re still going after what we want in ways that are healthy and effective.
Our next chat is about writing strong settings! See you then.
If you weren’t able to catch last Sunday’s chat on the fear of missing out, RWchat co-host C.L. Polk created a Storify highlight reel. We talked about the networking, social media, and publishing options authors might worry they’re missing out on, along with the big money things that might keep us up at night, and the genres we wish we had time to expand into. If you missed it, check out the link! And remember, you don’t have to do everything.
If you weren’t able to catch last Sunday’s chat on summer goals, RWchat co-host C.L. Polk created a Storify highlight reel. Since we’re past the halfway point in the year, participants checked in on whether they’re 50% of the way through their yearly goals, if they need to reassess (“Is this goal still right for me & my career path?”) or course correct (“I’m still aiming for this goal but I have to get back on track.”), and if it’s easier or more difficult to meet goals during the summer.
Join us for the next chat on Sunday, July 16th, where we’ll talk about selling your book!
If you weren’t able to catch last Sunday’s chat on damaging creative myths, RWchat co-host C.L. Polk created a Storify highlight reel. During the chat, we talked about creative myths like the “starving artist,” the “rich writer” (we’re looking at you Richard Castle and Carrie Bradshaw), and “selling out.”
Join us for the next chat on July 9th, where we’ll talk about summer goals!
If you weren’t able to catch last Sunday’s chat on main characters, RWchat co-host C.L. Polk created a Storify highlight reel. During the chat, we talked about our favorite character archetypes, developing backstory, and choosing names for our characters.
Make sure you also check out LaQuette’s guest post on selecting names that speak to the heart of your characters.
If you weren’t able to catch last Sunday’s chat on Author Responsibility, RWchat co-host C.L. Polk created a Storify highlight reel. During the chat, we addressed how much responsibility romance authors have in areas like HEA/HFN, safe sex, and representation, and shared gifs depicting our hopes for the evolution of the genre.
If you weren’t able to catch last Sunday’s chat on Romance Stereotypes, RWchat co-host C.L. Polk created a Storify highlight reel.
Which romance stereotypes would you pay money to have people stop saying to you?
In case you missed the live chats during Marketing Month, C.L. Polk (Witchmark, Tor 2018) made Storify links.
Our first chat was about newsletters and author websites. We talked about building your email list, creating newsletter content, and what info to include on an author site.
Check out the Storify recap on Newsletters and Author Websites.
Our third chat discussed ARCs and reviews. We were lucky to have a number of bloggers, reviewers, and librarians in attendance! The conversation covered building genuine relationships with bloggers, utilizing FB reader groups, and the role of publishers in handling ARCs — and how that differs if you’re indie.
Check out the Storify recap on ARCs and Reviews.
Our final chat covered book launch and release day. We asked participants to wear both their reader and author hats while answering. The chat addressed everything from cover reveals to release day buzz, from pre-orders to backlist, and everything in-between.
Check out the Storify recap on Book Launch and Release Day.
Did you make any changes to your marketing after these chats?
If you’re looking for more information, check out our other Marketing Month posts, including a guest post from Kristan Higgins!
If you’ve spent time researching how to craft a compelling query, you may have noticed most of the good examples end on a cliff-hanger to generate hook. Will he overcome his past? Will she finally learn to trust? Unfortunately, we already know they will. That is the nature of the Happily Ever After. This #RWChat focused on how best to catch the interest of agents and editors when everyone already knows how it’s going to end.
 |
Kim Lionetti@BookEndsKimAfter starting her career at Berkley Publishing, Kim Lionetti left her position as Senior Editor to join BookEnds in March 2004. As an agent, she still enjoys using her editorial skills to help authors shape their work into more marketable products and guiding them to see their writing as part of the “bigger picture. Kim’s obsession with books began in middle school when she was introduced to her grandmother’s collection of gothic romances by Phyllis Whitney, Victoria Holt, and Mary Stewart. To this day, Kim harbors a soft spot for dark, tortured heroes, but also enjoys a good romantic comedy. A member of AAR, Kim is looking for fresh voices and compelling storytelling. Her areas of interest are historical and contemporary romance, women’s fiction, cozy mysteries, and contemporary new adult fiction and young adult fiction (except fantasy or sci-fi). Originally from Pennsylvania, Kim currently resides in New Jersey with her son, daughter, cat, two guinea pigs, and very patient husband, who puts up with her crushes on Mr. Darcy, Eric Northman, blind dukes, and Ryan Gosling. You can contact her directly at KLsubmissions@bookends-inc.com and see her in person at the 2015 RWA National Conference in New York or the 2015 Malice Domestic Convention in Bethesda. |
 |
Ava Jae@Ava_JaeAva Jae is a YA and NA writer, an Assistant Editor at Entangled Publishing, and is represented by Louise Fury of The Bent Agency. Her YA Sci-Fi debut, BEYOND THE RED, is releasing Spring 2016 from Sky Pony Press. When she’s not writing about kissing, superpowers, explosions, and aliens, you can find her with her nose buried in a book, nerding out over the latest X-Men news, or hanging out on her blog, twitter, Facebook, tumblr, Goodreads, Instagram, or YouTube channel. |
Twitter is a great big open platform. Knowing what you should, shouldn’t, and can be doing on it can be daunting. Rachel Miller and Brenda Drake — two twitter powerhouses who have taken the sales and publishing worlds by storm — answered questions on how to leverage twitter for your career without feeling like a book-link megaphone.
 |
Rachel Miller@rachelloumillerHost of #SBizHour, Excellence Officer at Broadsuite Media Group, Chief Listener at Nimble. Rachel is an industry leader in influence marketing with close to a decade of experience building strong brand communities through social media. |
 |
Brenda Drake@brendadrakeBrenda Drake grew up the youngest of three children, an Air Force brat, and the continual new kid at school. She hosts workshops and contests such as Pitch Wars and Pitch Madness on her blog, and holds Twitter pitch parties on the hashtag, #PitMad. When she’s not writing or hanging out with her family, she haunts libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops, or reads someplace quiet and not at all exotic (much to her disappointment). She’s represented by Peter Knapp at Park Literary. Look for her upcoming novel from Entangled Teen LIBRARY JUMPERS, releasing January, 2016. |
Romance Writers Chat 