The answer: We’re not sure. Right now, the FaithWriters’ folks are trying to gauge interest, to determine, especially in this economy, if it would be feasible.

There’s a poll on the FaithWriters boards (click here) – we’d appreciate you letting us know if you’ll be attending – even if you can’t. There are more details on the post, but here are some basics.

A FaithWriters Conference is a special time of inspiration, encouragement, challenge and friendship. Every year it gets a little better, but the fellowship remains the same.

If held in 2012, the conference will be held from Friday, August 10 to Saturday, August 11, at the Holiday Inn, Livonia, Michigan (our usual stomping ground – just outside Detroit).

It will follow much the same format, with the addition of a market/resource area, one on one appointments with me throughout the entire event, an intensive all morning (or afternoon) specialized workshop (limited numbers), and (hopefully) a book launch event for members with newly published books on Friday night.

The price will be kept as low as possible, probably the same as last year (around $80 to $90 for registration). That includes all selected workshops/sessions, together with breakfast, lunch and afternoon break (death by chocolate, which has to be experienced to believe!)

Please stop by the boards and vote! Are YOU planning to go?

Related posts:

1. FaithWriters Conference Line-up
2. FaithWriters “Down Under” Conference Scheduled
3. Are you coming to the FaithWriters conference?

Shea, of course, is a writer – of hymns, many of which, I’m certain, we know by heart. He has inspired many.

And for many, music is an inspiration in writing. Whether it’s gospel music like Mr. Shea’s, contemporary Christian, classical, or anything else, many write better when they have music on in the background. Others, however, like complete silence. And yet others get story ideas from music.

Happy birthday, Mr. Shea – you’ve inspired many of us. Some to write – and some in other ways.

Do you write with music in the background? If  so, what type? Have you ever gotten a story idea from a song?

Related posts:

1. Elephants and Writing
2. What Can You Do with Happy Birthday to You?
3. It’s A Mystery

Click here for the first part of this article.

OVERWRITING

There’s a fine line between excellent writing and overwriting. Overwriting tends to take a good plot and turn it into melodrama. Unfortunately, many unpublished suspense/mystery writers (and some published) mistake melodrama for good writing.

Sometimes the more emotional the scene the better it is to keep your “flowery” writing to a minimum. Here’s a checklist of things to be careful about.

Word choices. I’m sure a lot of my fellow writers might disagree but I think simple is better—especially in suspense. In suspense, it’s all about the action.

Exclamation points. Most writing experts don’t like exclamation points. They say it’s a mark of an inexperienced writer. Use them, but don’t overuse them.

Too many adverbs and adjectives. This is good advice for any genre. I have no problem with an adverb or an adjective, but it gets to be too much when you use two or three or four in every sentence or even every paragraph.

Too much emotion for the situation. Suspense is supposed to be well…suspenseful and that means lots of emotional situations. A writer would be remiss if they didn’t include emotional reactions, but be careful of keeping the emotional reaction equal to the event.

Don’t use ten words when you only need five. We are writers and we love words—a lot. Unfortunately when you consistently use more words than you need, it makes the story drag. Look at this: The huge black dog looked at her, then barked at her, and finally ran toward her. Let’s look at it rewritten. The Rottweiler charged toward her.

Bottom line when it comes to overwriting, write your story and then cut every word you don’t need!!

CREATING TENSION

Every writer knows you must create tension in your story or it becomes…boring. And we never want that, especially in mystery/suspense.

Let me start by listing what tension isn’t (in my opinion.)

1. Tension isn’t having an argument in every scene. For some reason many writers think this is the only way to create tension. It’s not. Use it by all means but use it sparingly.

2. Tension isn’t having angry and bitter internal thoughts in every scene. A little of this goes a long way. Too much and it becomes tiring and makes the character unlikable.

3. Tension isn’t using a trumped up excuse why the heroine doesn’t like the hero.

Now that you know what tension isn’t, let’s talk about what it is. Tension is creating scenes that will make the reader want to know what happens next. Every scene in your story should have tension in one form or another. Some scenes will have “big” tension and others not so big. It may be internal or external. It may be real or imagined, but there should be a sense of unpredictability in every scene to some extent.

Here are some ways to add tension into your story:

1. Unpredictability.

2. Have chapters end with a cliffhanger.

3. Ticking clock. Adding a time limit can create tension. Hunting for a bomb is good, but hunting for a bomb that you know will detonate in fifteen minutes is even better.

4. Surprise yourself—surprise your readers. All that work on that wonderful outline—but that’s all it is an outline—not the story!

5. Foreshadowing. This is a tried and true technique. It means to add some subtle clues in about what might happen.And remember not all foreshadowing clues have to come true.

6. A red herring. This is used most often in mysteries but can be effective in suspense, too.

7. Make things more difficult for your main characters. I’ve been told I’m really mean to my characters.. That’s what creates tension. If life is good for them, who cares?

8. Keep the stakes high.

9. Add a new character

Thanks for the opportunity to share my ideas with you.

God Bless and Good Writing!

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Lillian Duncan lives in Ohio with her husband, four parrots, one Jack Russell, and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She’s been a Speech Pathologist for over thirty years.

She writes the types of books she loves to read, suspense with a touch of romance. Whether as an educator, a writer, or a speech pathologist, she believes in the power of words to transform lives, especially God’s Word.

To learn more about Lillian and her books, visit: www.lillianduncan.net.

Her blog—Tiaras & Tennis Shoes can be found at www.lillianduncan.wordpress.com. Her most recent releases are PURSUED and DECEPTION.

Related posts:

1. Writing Suspense
2. Writing Inspirational Romantic Suspense
3. Writing for Anthologies

It’s time to give a cheer for these awesome FaithWriters’ members and their writing accomplishments!

STEVE W. FITSCHEN had an op-ed piece published in the Washington Times. CONGRATULATIONS!

ANNIE KEYS had a story chosen for publication in Write Integrity Press’s upcoming book, “Lessons From The Heart.” WOOWOO!!

LAURIE GLASS was interviewed on The Christian Authors Show about her book, “Journey to Freedom from Eating Disorders.” SUPER!!

RACHEL BURKUM’s latest book, “Smatterings of an Analytical Loner” – a collection of short stories, poems, and devotional-style pieces, some of which began as Writing Challenge pieces, is now available. WONDERFUL!!

I so love hearing about your accomplishments. Would LOVE for you to share them with me so I can post them here. Either drop me an email at joannesher@faithwriters.net, or post it in the cheering section on the FaithWriters boards – otherwise, I may not find out!

Related posts:

1. Member Shout-Outs!
2. Member Shout-Outs: November
3. Member Shout-Outs for December

If you missed them, be sure to stop by and read the interviews with winner Dee Yoder and other runner up Sydney Avey.

Ann Grover is a wonderful writer (one of my personal favorites at FaithWriters!). A Writing Challenge regular, she has received many ECs, and was 2010’s Best of the Best, as well as placing second and third in earlier years in that contest. And NOW, her novel, “Prairie” is highly commended in the 2011 Page Turner contest.

Read on, and get to know Ann a bit better.

JOANNE: When do you first remember developing a passion/love for writing?

ANN: When I was in Grade 3, my teacher had a little list of prompts on the blackboard for those students who’d finished their work early. Every day, I raced through my assigned work so I could “write a story.” (I still have a few of those stories, as well as the first “story” I ever wrote in Grade 1.) My Grade 3 teacher “promised” I’d be a writer one day.

JOANNE: Is writing a hobby or potential career for you?

ANN: I think, at this point, it’s a hobby, in that it’s relaxing and satisfying, exactly what a hobby should be, filling in spare time and leisurely hours. But like every other writer, I do dream of a day when my creations would develop into a lucrative career, and hopefully without losing its relaxing and satisfying aspects.

JOANNE: Congratulations on placing as a runner-up in the Page Turner contest. Tell us about your reaction when you found out.

ANN: I went online, with my morning coffee, to check my emails, and perhaps mosey over to FW for a look-see. Before I could get to FW, my inbox exploded with a barrage of messages, the first from Dee Yoder. I have to admit I was momentarily confused–I won what? Where?–even though I’d gone online purposely to check. Then I was “gobsmacked.” I love that word.

JOANNE: Share a bit about Prairie. Where did you get the idea for it? What’s it about? How far along in it are you?

ANN: Last summer, on our road trip through Alberta, we were having breakfast in a small prairie town restaurant. Nearby, several elderly ladies were enjoying a relaxing Sunday morning coffee together. I could hear bits and pieces of their conversation as they reminisced. One of the ladies said, “In 1946, there were four baby girls born in Campsie.”

Like a video on fast forward, the story took shape in my mind. I saw four girls, their births, their childhoods, the life-changing events they’d encounter living on the prairie in the early part of the century. To be honest, I can’t remember if the lady said four or five girls or 1946 or 1931 or something else, but, Linnett, Emmy, Claire, and Julie, born in 1921, became real people to me in that split second.

The story takes place about forty-five minutes east of that restaurant, in a fictional town called Emerald. The environs are real, however, as well as some of the people. I’ve written three chapters, but I’ve done extensive research, and have a multitude of living resources, including Dan’s mother (age 83) AND Dan’s grandmother (aged 105), who is still agile in mind and body. It would not be impossible for Dan’s grandmother to be the mother of any of the girls in Prairie.

The homesteading era was an important time in the development of western Canada, and I believe it is a story that needs to be told with its distinctly Canadian culture and history.

Unless you are a writer, it may sound strange that when I visit our acreage (near the epicentre of the novel), the land speaks and the girls come alive, and oddly, like nowhere else and no other time, I am inspired.

JOANNE: How did you find FaithWriters and what made you stick around?

ANN: In early 2005, I was part of a homeschooling forum. One day, one of the other moms posted that she’d joined FaithWriters, submitted a story, and had received her first “yellow box.” I followed her link to FaithWriters and thought, “I could never do that!” But, I bookmarked FaithWriters, and eight or nine months later, in the midst of great personal and physical stress, decided to seriously check it out. The rest is history, as they say.

Why do I stick around? The people at FaithWriters have no idea how they became my family and support, always there, always praying, and some caring for me in tangible ways. The years after joining FaithWriters were among the most difficult in my life. I am forever thankful for my FW family.

JOANNE: What kinds of books or genres to you prefer to read and/or write?

ANN: I prefer to read or write historical fiction or historical mysteries. Especially accurate historical fiction that “shows, doesn’t tell,” wrapped up with convincing atmosphere and authenticity.

My favourite historical fiction authors are Edward Rutherfurd and Ken Follett, and for historical mysteries, Maureen Jennings and Jacqueline Winspear.

JOANNE: Tell us about your family.

ANN: I have three brilliant grown children. Seth is 30, Kenan is 27, and Amaris is 22. Kenan has an almost four-year-old named Tanisha, who is beautiful and clever, and Amaris has three-year-old Malaya, who is equally beautiful and clever. I don’t see any of them near often enough.

And there is Dan, the love of my life and forever best friend. He is a cowboy of the “old school” and a gentleman, wise, funny, generous, and kind.

We live on a 30 000 acre ranch and are currently running about 4500 head of cattle. That number will jump in the spring, when the 2500 cows and first-time heifers begin calving.

JOANNE: What are your other passions besides writing?

ANN: I enjoy quilting. I belong to a little local quilting group, and we meet once a week to make items for fund-raising or quilts for chemo patients. I have several projects I’m working on at home, including two queen size quilts. In addition, I enjoy ranch living, travelling, and being with my children and granddaughters.

JOANNE: Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? If so, what do you hope to accomplish in 2012?

ANN: I don’t make resolutions, but I do occasionally have goals, and my goal for this year (as it was for 2011) is to “be back in the saddle again.” I had an accident on a horse in 2010, resulting in a mild concussion, bruises, a torn muscle in my leg, and a huge fear of riding. Actually, it’s not the riding or even a bucking horse that scares me. It’s the “hitting the ground” part. Last summer, I managed a half-hearted, trembling excursion halfway around the round pen on Joe, Dan’s horse, but then he swished his tail or breathed, so I jumped off.

JOANNE: Where can folks connect with you?

ANN: At FaithWriters, through Facebook, and my blog: a-thousandhills.blogspot.com
Or if you’re taking the long drive up the Alaska Highway in northeastern British Columbia, come to the ranch. Coffee’s always on.

Ann, I sure hope I can take you up on that last offer, and I’m confident you will have MUCH success in your future. God bless, and thanks for sharing!

Related posts:

1. Meet Page Turner Runner-Up Sydney Avey
2. Meet FaithWriters 2009 Page Turner Runner Up, Shelley Ledfors
3. Meet 2010 Page Turner Runner-Up, Debbie Roome

by Lillian Duncan

I love reading and writing suspense. No matter how hard I try to write something else, it always turns into a mystery or suspense. One agent suggested I write an Amish story since I live in Amish country but before the end of the first chapter, I had a dead body. What can I say?

First, let’s look at some definitions. These are my working definitions, and so you’re allowed to disagree.

MYSTERY is a story where the MCs are trying to discover who the murderer is. Somewhat slower paced than suspense but not by much (unless it’s a cozy mystery.)

SUSPENSE is a story where the MCs are trying to stop a murder. Often times the story starts with a murder, but it’s not necessary.

THRILLERS are a subgenre of suspense and usually include a conspiracy of some sort that will affect more than just the MCs. Political and Medical thrillers are common.

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE is a story where the romance between two MCs is as important as the mystery/suspense plot. Romantic suspense follows the same rules as romances, such as using the hero and heroine’s point of view.

There’s obviously a lot of overlap between these genres and sometimes it might be hard to figure out. One of my working definitions is when the main characters can keep their normal schedule as the story proceeds while they search for the killer, then it’s probably a mystery. When the main characters lives are interrupted because someone’s trying to kill them to stop them from exposing the truth throughout most of the story, it’s probably suspense.

My advice, don’t worry about it too much. Write your story then pick the genre you believe is closest. My stories are usually a mixture of mystery and suspense with a romantic subplot (different than romantic suspense.)

Now, let’s take a look at some of the elements of suspense writing.

PACING

Getting the right pacing in your suspense novel is crucial. Too slow and you’ll lose most of your readers. Too fast and you won’t get the depth and layering that makes for a better story.

1. Keep the focus on the story. Every scene should be about the story, not what she had for dinner or how her workday was (unless someone tried to kill her).
2. Fiction is the illusion of real life, not real life. Or as someone important once said “good fiction is life with the boring parts taken out.” (Might have been Alfred Hitchcock.) This is very true for suspense novels. We read suspense for the goosebumps and the worry—not to hear about their day.
3. Build up the excitement and tension of the story. Suspense novels shouldn’t just be one explosion after another. There needs to be a story and a plot that makes sense. We want to root for the main characters and we can’t if we don’t get to know them. Readers need a break from all the action so they can breathe—just not for too long.
4. Showing and Telling. I know you know all about showing not telling, but you should use both techniques in your suspense story. If the pace is too slow get rid of the telling parts and show. If you need to slow the pace a bit, throw in some telling.
5. Short = faster pace. Long = slower pace.
6. Cut the backstory. Backstory will kill the suspense in your suspense novel. If you must include backstory, do it in dribs and drabs not as in information dump.
7. Limit description. If you want to write long beautiful descriptions of sunsets, pick another genre. Suspense is fast paced and it seems to get faster paced with each passing year. You need to include description, of course, but it should be done in such a way that it blends in with the action.

VOCABULARY

Using inappropriate vocabulary is one of my pet peeves as I critique other writers’ work or even when I’m reading for pleasure. The vocabulary you choose should enhance your story, not make the readers scratch their.heads and wonder what the writer is talking about.

1. Vocabulary can help set the mood. Shrouded in darkness sets a much spookier mood than ‘the room was dark.’
2. Don’t show how smart you are by using “ high-falutin” words. If I have to get the dictionary out and look up a word—it definitely stops the story and that’s not good.
3. Vocabulary is especially important in dialogue. Let kids sound like kids, let a college professor sound like ….well, you get the idea.
4. Technical vocabulary must be explained. If your story features an unusual profession or setting, then find a way to explain the technical terms to the reader. One technique is to have one character explain it to another character who isn’t familiar with the vocabulary.
5. The dreaded foul language conundrum. Suspense and mysteries have bad guys—sometimes really bad guys. And yet some writers want to have them using what I consider silly terms, like “aw shucks” or “fiddlesticks.” Come on, let’s get real. Do you really think a serial killer would talk like that? On the other hand, I believe Christian Fiction should be different from the general market.

The way I deal with it is to leave out the specific oaths and simple tell the reader they cursed. James Scott Bell says he writes them in to help with the realism and then takes them out as he edits. Sounds like a good way to do it if you want that edgy feel.

Be sure to stop by next Monday for more tips on writing suspense – including tips on avoiding overwriting and building tension.

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Lillian Duncan lives in Ohio with her husband, four parrots, one Jack Russell, and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She’s been a Speech Pathologist for over thirty years.

She writes the types of books she loves to read, suspense with a touch of romance. Whether as an educator, a writer, or a speech pathologist, she believes in the power of words to transform lives, especially God’s Word.

To learn more about Lillian and her books, visit: www.lillianduncan.net.

Her blog—Tiaras & Tennis Shoes can be found at www.lillianduncan.wordpress.com.  Her most recent releases are PURSUED and DECEPTION.

Related posts:

1. Writing Inspirational Romantic Suspense
2. Writing Suspense (part 2 of 2)
3. Top Ten Mistakes New Fiction Writers Make – Episodic Scenes

But in the scale of things, it wasn’t so long ago that this would have been impossible. That changed, at least partly, because of a man who died 443 years ago today. In 1535, Bible Translator Myles Coverdale produced the first complete printed Bible into English. The Coverdale Bible made use of other translations of portions of the His Word, including that of Tyndale. It was, however, the first English translation of the entire Bible.

As you likely know, people didn’t have copies of His Word in their homes at that time. Many had never seen His Word (can  you even imagine?). Henry VIII had a Coverdale Bible put into every English Church, chained to a bookstand, so that every citizen would have access to a Bible. Of course, there are still countries, and people, on earth who are not allowed to have God’s Word – and/or where having even one translation is not yet a reality. But we English speakers have Coverdale to thank.

Myles Coverdale died on January 20, 1569, at the age of 80. But his legacy lived on. Whenever you pull out your Bible to add a verse to the devotional you’re writing, for inspiration for your writing, or just to study and/or read, thank the Lord – and Myles Coverdale.

How much of a role does the Bible play in your writing? What if it had never been translated into English?

Related posts:

1. Tackle it Tuesday – Favorite Bible Verse
2. Three Favorite Books of the Bible
3. Dreams: Writing and Otherwise

I hope you enjoyed Dee’s interview last week (link above). Well, she was not the only person recognized in the 2011 Page Turner Fiction contest. Read below as you learn a bit more about one of two highly commended winners – Sydney Avey. And heeere’s Sydney!

JOANNE: When do you first remember developing a passion/love for writing?

SYDNEY: I began writing poetry in the third grade. My teacher sent my poems into the Palo Alto Times and several of them were published.

JOANNE: Is writing a hobby or potential career for you?

SYDNEY: My writing life has some of the qualities of a hobby. It entertains me, but it’s not what I do in my spare time. It has some qualities of a career. It requires knowledge, discipline and growth but it likely won’t support me in the financial sense. It is more like a monastic calling.

JOANNE: Congratulations on placing as a runner-up in the Page Turner contest. Tell us about your reaction when you found out.

SYDNEY: I was on an internet fast in the Caribbean. When I got back to the United States I had a phone message from my sister Cheryl von Drehle, also a member of FaithWriters, telling me I was a runner up. I was shocked. I didn’t expect to place at all. This is hugely encouraging to me.

JOANNE: Share a bit about The Sheepwalker. Where did you get the idea for it? What’s it about? How far along in it are you?

SYDNEY: I wrote The Sheepwalker for women who have lost their generational cover and never had their questions answered about their identity. The generation Tom Brokaw labeled “The Greatest Generation” kept a lot of family secrets and that was true in my family. In The Sheepwalker I explore the effect of rootlessness on the lives, loves and faith of three generations of women.

I drafted The Sheepwalker in NaNoWriMo in 2010. After that, I took a class at Stanford called Gripping Reads and learned the process of revision. I revised it, edited it, gave it to four people I carefully selected for their ability to be brutally honest, revised it again and then sent it to a professional editor. With his help, I now have a manuscript I feel confident about. The next step is to pitch it to agents and publishing houses. Every step of this process has been scary but I have learned so much. I love to learn!

JOANNE: Sounds like it’s been through quite the process already! So, how did you find FaithWriters and what made you stick around?

SYDNEY: A friend in the Sonora Writers Group, Calder Lowe, told me about FaithWriters. I started to do the Writing Challenge as a discipline and got addicted. The Writing Challenge gives me an opportunity to test audiences and see what works and what doesn’t work. Also, I live in a small rural town in the California gold country and I need a network of writer friends. I’ve found that at FaithWriters.

JOANNE: What kinds of books or genres to you prefer to read and/or write?

SYDNEY: I love classic English and American literature and newer fictional works that explore universal themes or take me to interesting places. I like literary fiction but I try not to write it! I like spiritual works that are well written (C.S. Lewis, Charles Spurgeon, Thomas a Kempis).

I like to write in as a broad a genre as possible, general fiction or women’s fiction, for two reasons: I enjoy exploring the complexities of relationships and I want to connect with an audience. That said it might be fun to explore some of the newer genres, like magical realism. Also, I’m encouraged by the trends in Young Adult fiction. Where some genres seem too formulaic to me, the YA market seems wide open to creative approaches.

JOANNE: Tell us about your family.

SYDNEY: My son and daughter-in-law live in Santa Cruz, CA and he is a teacher, musician and surfer. My daughter and son-in-law and my two grandchildren live on an island off the coast of Seattle and she is a grant writer and an author. My husband is a private pilot and has many hobbies. I encourage that because it gives me time to write! We are both active in our church and our community.

JOANNE: What are your other passions besides writing?

SYDNEY: I try not to indulge too many passions besides writing, but I have many other interests. I sing in our church choir, enjoy travel, practice yoga and Zumba, knit (badly), and go to movies and stage plays. I’ve pretty much given up on the domestic arts.

JOANNE: Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? If so, what do you hope to accomplish in 2012?

SYDNEY: Oh yes. I’m a big goal setter. In 2012 I’m resolved to publish The Sheepwalker and start my next novel. I want to exercise my flabby prayer muscles so I’ve given myself four prayer categories: world, work, community and clan. My constant prayer is for a pure heart. Writers are subject to some pretty nasty spiritual conditions.

JOANNE: Where can folks connect with you?

SYDNEY: I’m on Facebook or shoot me an email at sydneyavey@gmail.com. To follow my writing, visit my blog or my author website. I’m not hard to track down!

I’m sure you will do great, Sydney! Thanks for taking the time to talk with us. Praying your resolution gets fulfilled!

Watch for an interview with Ann Grover, the other highly commended winner of the 2011 Page Turner, soon!

Related posts:

1. Meet Page Turner Runner-Up Ann Grover
2. Meet Page Turner Winner Dee Yoder!
3. Meet FaithWriters 2009 Page Turner Runner Up, Shelley Ledfors

by Jennifer Slattery

Finally! After a decade of rewrites, you’ve signed your first contract. Now you can bask in your fame while large royalty checks roll in, right?

Perhaps in a Hollywood movie, but in today’s fight-or-die industry, selling your book to a publisher is only part of the battle. The real work comes long before your baby hits the stores because effective marketing begins and ends with you. Yet, with over 275,000 American titles released each year, what will make readers choose yours?

Obviously, you need a fabulous cover that targets readers of your particular genre and the back cover blurb has to grab them. But that’s not enough, especially in today’s economy. To generate sales, you need to create and sustain a buzz for you and your book. Ultimately, effective marketing increases your online presence and saturates the print media with relevant and well written articles.

Find Ways to Increase Your Name Recognition
According to marketing experts, name recognition increases credibility and helps the product or author to stand out among similar items. Politicians are aware of this. According to experts, voters often vote based on name recognition. This logic applies to consumers as well. If a reader’s never heard of you before, it’ll be more difficult to earn the sale. The converse is also true. If a reader recognizes your name, they’re more likely to give your novel a second glance.

Find Ways to Saturate the Internet
Increasing your online presence is a great way to introduce yourself to potential readers. There are numerous ways to do this, but blogging may be the most economical and effective.

Writers who are serious about their craft will start and maintain a personal blog long before their first novel goes to print. This accomplishes two things: it increases your name recognition and develops a loyal fan base. Terry Burns from Hartline Literary Agency says, “Don’t wait until you have a book out to build your website. By the time the book comes off the shelf, you’re behind the curve.”

Develop an Interlinking Network
Once you’ve blogged for a while, find ways to branch out. Spend a few hours per week visiting other blogs. Leave thoughtful comments that link back to your personal website. Find ways to guest blog for others. Guest blogging points their readers back to you while increasing your name recognition and search engine ratings. If you find interesting posts, ask the authors if you can repost them. Most bloggers will welcome the free publicity and will gladly link to their article once it’s posted on your site.

Make the Search Engines Work For You
Increasing your search engine ratings is like accepting free advertising. There are numerous ways you can increase your search engine rankings. Relevant tags followed by relevant content and keyword friendly post titles help. Notice I said relevant. Search engines are smarter than one might think and scan through the content of your article almost instantaneously. Adding a bunch of keywords to your title will only help if your article has the content to back it up.

Linking to other related articles in sites will also help increase your ratings. When a person types key words into the search engine, the search engine scans innumerable sites looking for related content. Millions of sites have the same keywords in their titles or on their web pages, but the ones with more related links pull up first. If you write about historical fiction, link to historical fiction sites and encourage historical fiction sites to link back to you.

Don’t Neglect the Print Media
Successful writers know how to write effective press releases. According to media experts, seventy-five percent of news stories come from press releases. A press release is not a synopses or back cover copy. It is an article that informs, ties into a hot topic, or provides entertainment while pointing the reader back to you or your book.

Effective marketing takes a great deal of work, but it is well worth it. Name recognition is key. By increasing your web presence through quality blog posts, guest blogging and interrelated links, you can increase your search engine ratings, resulting in free advertising. Well written articles and press releases increase your credibility while introducing you to an ever-increasing audience. The results will be increased sales and an ever-widening reader base.

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Jennifer Slattery is a freelance writer, publicist, and the marketing manager of the literary website, Clash of the Titles. In 2009 she won the HACWN writing contest in the book category, and placed second in the 2010 Dixie Kane writing contest in the inspirational category. She placed fourth in the 2010 Golden Pen and third in the 2010 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest.

Related posts:

1. Writing Challenge: Commenting Time!
2. It’s A Mystery
3. The Most Viewed Articles on FaithWriters

No – not an email. Not jotted a couple words in a card. Sat down, with a pen and paper, and WROTE a letter?

That long, eh?

I’m guilty too – the art of letter-writing has diminished, if not disappeared, over the past years – and decades.

Well, this week (January 8-14) is Universal Letter Writing Week. People are encouraged to put down their electronic devices and hand write letters to folks.

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE getting letters in the mail – especially if they’re handwritten. It makes me feel treasured that someone would take the time to do that, when an email or text would be much easier. You too?

Of course, it has been a LONG time since I actually hand-wrote a letter to anyone. But that is going to change. Before the next week is up, I plan to handwrite a letter to someone (who? I dunno. But watch your mailbox LOL). I’m a writer, after all.

How about you? Are you joining me?

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