tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post7236120812087333253..comments2024-03-29T01:48:39.501-04:00Comments on Pimp My Novel: Nine Ways to Give a Better ReadingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-63570091948438999702011-03-28T14:39:06.753-04:002011-03-28T14:39:06.753-04:00So glad to see this article! It's not a topic ...So glad to see this article! It's not a topic you see covered often. I've done 4 readings so far, and this article will help me refine how I approach such events!Christine Frosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15338188548514114093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-79171179814295212122011-03-21T19:30:53.633-04:002011-03-21T19:30:53.633-04:00Few do it well. It's a problem of the same voi...Few do it well. It's a problem of the same voice, however pleasant, going on for too long. My novel is the story of a flamenco singer during the Spanish civil war. I'm from New York and talk through my nose. So I purchased a local flamenco guitarist's CD, picked out five instrumental pieces and began "fitting" passages to them. Then I drove him crazy until he agreed to collaborate with me. People love the show and the books sell when it's over, not before. We've copyrighted and recorded the seven-track creation and my goal is to get a real actress or other professional voice to sign-on and replace me so as to make this a new and successful "musical audio book" concept for an adventurous publisher.highwayscriberyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13766362837248876320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-23757472908152247632011-03-21T10:49:09.901-04:002011-03-21T10:49:09.901-04:00Thank you for the advice, Brad! Frankly the prospe...Thank you for the advice, Brad! Frankly the prospect of doing a reading at all terrifies me, but it'll be handy having a checklist of things to keep in mind if (when) that day comes. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-60920091114012324872011-03-16T21:22:14.812-04:002011-03-16T21:22:14.812-04:00Some great advice there. I will be giving readings...Some great advice there. I will be giving readings soon when my novel is published later this year and I'm petrified. Maybe preparation will make me less scared.Jennifer Lee Thomson, Jenny Thomsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07999487852799181636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-71493255070509650332011-03-16T17:15:02.222-04:002011-03-16T17:15:02.222-04:00Excellent! I have a reading scheduled in a week an...Excellent! I have a reading scheduled in a week and these tips are very helpfulTracy Krausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05066853243062725525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-17229562587617301662011-03-16T15:33:34.843-04:002011-03-16T15:33:34.843-04:00One question that I always get asked: "What&#...One question that I always get asked: "What's your writing schedule like?" <br /><br />And if you are ever speaking to teens, get prepared for a blunt: "How much do you make?"April Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01193292966301864407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-55104371739225960962011-03-16T12:28:23.977-04:002011-03-16T12:28:23.977-04:00Excellent! 'Tis true that some writers are not...Excellent! 'Tis true that some writers are not prepared to reach an audience whilst in person. What helps to sell my novel is to read excerpts in my best Glaswegian I can conjure up; this alone sells books. Authors who write fiction: did you fall in love with and also hated some characters you created? Then read aloud as you created. This is how I engage my potential book buyers and also, jokingly, insist them read my Scottish characters with their best Scottish burr.June, The Pen Goddesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03988780121735492198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-75294538921832655252011-03-16T12:23:07.466-04:002011-03-16T12:23:07.466-04:00Good post! A publisher once said to me, "trea...Good post! A publisher once said to me, "treat your reading like a movie trailer and the DVD extras" and that's worked well for me. A coupe of short sections, some "behind the scenes" stories, some questions and we're done! <br /><br />I went to a reading the other day and it was painful when the author just wouldn't stop reading. The audience was lost and he hadn't noticed. At 15 minutes I was ready to buy. At 45 I was contemplating sneaking out.<br /><br />I think his post is good practical advice except #1. I've yet to see a bookstore prepared to do a sound check.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-73889276945050559982011-03-16T09:40:35.210-04:002011-03-16T09:40:35.210-04:00Brad - thank you for one of my favorite posts ever...Brad - thank you for one of my favorite posts ever! I'm serious - I'm bookmarking this puppy.<br /><br />As a weirdo who loves nothing more than going up on stage - I've done stand-up comedy, among other things - the above scenario is my dream of dreams. Too much fun, right there.Fanfreakingtastic Flowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14363943191354423760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-42281409064192222872011-03-15T21:42:22.253-04:002011-03-15T21:42:22.253-04:00VERY helpful! Thank you. Now, if only I'll rem...VERY helpful! Thank you. Now, if only I'll remember this when I need it!Vicky Alvear Shecterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17570828339389206203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-86518633674497183712011-03-15T21:37:30.290-04:002011-03-15T21:37:30.290-04:00I would be utterly quaking in my boots if I had to...I would be utterly quaking in my boots if I had to do one of these things ;)Trishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-22342471167910618662011-03-15T18:44:49.164-04:002011-03-15T18:44:49.164-04:00Good advice! My novel comes out in December, so I ...Good advice! My novel comes out in December, so I have about 9 months left to get myself ready for those scary readings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-3297479431804339342011-03-15T18:15:59.724-04:002011-03-15T18:15:59.724-04:00Thanks for the advice! I'm not published yet ...Thanks for the advice! I'm not published yet but will definitely try to remember this for future use! (I do moderate a panel at a local book convention, though, so maybe some of these tips will be useful there.)Kristin Laughtinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01536556357622503501noreply@blogger.com