Preparing my Novel for Publication

Moses Wiggins at Writers in the Brewery, 30 May 2013

2013-06-08T21:52:00.005+01:00

This was a well-attended event starring Moses Wiggins who are: Nicholas John, who writes the stories and sings, and Keith Thompson http://www.densitymusic.com, who sings and plays red-hot guitar.

Open mic:

For this evening, there was a slight change in format, with the 'open mic' part first. To start with, Jane, a writer of historical romances, told us how, inspired by Rob Palmer's talk at Writers in the Brewery in April, she had put two of her existing books onto Amzon's Kindle Prime, where readers can download books for free for a limited period, and had reached 3407 downloads, reaching no. 8 in the Historical Fiction chart. She recommended using the Ebookbooster service www.ebookbooster.com to publicize the book (for $40). The only downside was that she had only made eight sales, but was hoping to get some good reviews from those who'd downloaded it to give some impetus to the books.

There was only one other writer up for the loacl writers reading their work part of 'open mic', and that writer was me; it felt rather like being the support act. I read my short ghost story, Intersection, which seemed to hold the audience's attention. Thank you to all those who came up afterwards and said how much they had enjoyed it.

Moses Wiggins:

Then after a short interval, and a glass of Muddy Wellies ale, Moses Wiggins took the stage, bringing with them a professional set up, including real microphones, amplifiers, computers, videos and lights; the only thing missing was pyrotechnics, although that might have been a good thing in such a small venue. They performed a new Word Song, a clever blend of story telling, music and video that kept us all thoroughly entertained, despite Keith having severe toothache and being on drugs (how very rock and roll!) to kill the pain. After he'd performed a blues song in the style of Seasick Steve, I dubbed him 'Toothache Thompson', which has a ring to it. Keith's playing and Nick's angsty stories made for a most enjoyable evening.

You can see Keith Thompson band on youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/Densitymusic, he is also a frequent performer at New Brewery Arts Blues Nights and a few of his performances are on NewBreweryArts channel http://www.youtube.com/user/NewBreweryArts.

Nick writes regularly for The Stow Times, check out his short stories on their website http://www.stowtimes.co.uk/archive.php, see his short story 'The Cloth We're Cut From' in the May issue for http://www.stowtimes.co.uk/stow_on_the_wold/issues/Stow_Times_May_2013.pdf, or other stories in earlier issues.

They have a performance coming up at Peppers in Gloucester.

Coming up:

The next Writers in the Brewery events are on the last Thursday of each month, doors open 7pm for a 7:30pm start and 9:00pm finish. Price £4, which goes to the venue, New Brewery Arts (as does the bar money), so supporting the raffle which helps with the expenses of the speakers/performers. Events are organized by, creative writing teaching, Dr Rona Laycock.

Thursday 27 June 2013 - Howard Timms will perform his solo play Let the Lady Sing. He is Playwriter at Chicago Dramatists, member of the Cheltenham Everyman Writers Lab and Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre Co, co-founder of Playhouse New Drama. Find out more about Howard on the Playhouse New Drama site howardtimmswritesite.com/
also coming up is the Corinium Radio broadcasts on 5/6/7 July 2013. uk.search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&p=coriniumradio
This includes an event for local writers - WriteOutLoud. There is a short story competition for this, with closing date 13 June 2013 - for details see http://www.coriniumradio.co.uk/writeoutloud/2013/05/12/summer-writing-competition-calling-for-writers-of-any-age/

Writers in the Brewery:

For more about Writers in the Brewery see the New Brewery Arts website newbreweryarts.org.uk/courses-events-and-groups/join-a-group/writers-in-the-brewery-c-453_312_361.html

Previous relevant blogs:

John Gibbons with Armorel Weston at Writers in the Brewery - 25 April 2013
Writers in the Brewery 29th March 2013 - Rob Palmer
Lesley Saunders at Writers in the Brewery – 28 February 2013

John Gibbons with Armorel Weston at Writers in the Brewery - 25 April 2013

2013-05-02T21:37:00.003+01:00

Another enjoyable evening at Writers in the Brewery with poetry and song from John Gibbens, who won the prestigious Eric Gregory Award for poetry at the age of 22, but whose books would not be acceptable to a publisher for another 30 years. Orpheus Ascending, a retrofuture love story, was published by Smokestack Books in March 2012. In the meantime, he has self-published a first fat volume (Collected Poems, Touched Press, 2000) and a poetic study of Bob Dylan (The Nightingale's Code, Touched, 2001), and recorded seven CDs of original songs with his musical partner Armorel Weston.

John read a number of poems influenced by such diverse themes as Tarot, Abbeys, cathedrals and museums, the Beatles, Bob Marley, nosalgia. I particularly enjoyed the witty word play of Alpha-Beatles.

In the next section, he played guitar while Armorel sang a selection of 60s influenced songs with flavours of folk and jazz. Armorel has a great voice, though I could have done without the scat singing at the end of the songs. In my opinion, although it showed off the range of her voice, there is no excuse. Admitedly, I never like scat, no matter who sings it.
John's books are available on Amazon and include:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/John-Gibbens/e/B001KCE48Q/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1367526286&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Collected-Poems-John-Gibbens/dp/0953915301/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367526286&sr=1-3&keywords=John+Gibbens

See Amorel's also sings with the group The Children (http://www.touched.co.uk/phono/children.html), see her website http://www.touched.co.uk/phono/armorelweston.html and her latest CD http://www.touched.co.uk/phono/grace/grace.html where you can find a sample song.

Open Mic:

After the interval, Nick John, who currently writes short stories for the Stow Times, read his latest one, a rather excellent piece about not judging someone on their appearance. We then had a short poem from Jacky, with fine imagery, and a thought-provoking tale from Gill Garret.

Coming up:

The next Writers in the Brewery events are on the last Thursday of each month, doors open 7pm for a 7:30pm start and 9:00pm finish. Price £4, which goes to the venue, New Brewery Arts (as does the bar money), so please also support the raffle which helps with the expenses of the speakers/performers. Events are organized by, creative writing teaching, Dr Rona Laycock.

Thursday 30 May 2013 - Word Song with writer Nickolas John and musician Keith Thompson, who together are Moses Wiggins performing their new show, a music and words collaboration. http://www.brambus.com/moseswiggins/ and http://www.densitymusic.com/. This will be an excellent event.

Thursday 27 June 2013 - Howard Timms will perform his solo play Let the Lady Sing. He is Playwriter at Chicago Dramatists, member of the Cheltenham Everyman Writers Lab and Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre Co, co-founder of Playhouse New Drama. Find out more about Howard on the Playhouse New Drama site howardtimmswritesite.com/

For more about Writers in the Brewery see the New Brewery Arts website newbreweryarts.org.uk/courses-events-and-groups/join-a-group/writers-in-the-brewery-c-453_312_361.html

Previous relevant blogs:

Writers in the Brewery 29th March 2013 - Rob Palmer
Lesley Saunders at Writers in the Brewery – 28 February 2013

Writers in the Brewery 29th March 2013 - Rob Palmer

2013-03-31T21:50:00.000+01:00

Rob Palmer (robpalmer.com), a writer and e-publisher, gave an interesting and inspiring talk on how to write and self-publish best-selling books. Starting by pointing out successful authors such as J.A.Konrath, Amanda Hocking and Barry Eisler, who have done it on their own, he gave us the following facts to ponder. Following the traditional publishing plan, nets authors, on average, about 7% of revenue, whereas a self-publisher of an e-book will net about 70% of revenue. E-books are a growing, and already large, market, which traditional publishers have so far failed to come to terms with. A self-published e-book will never go out of print on a publisher's whim and can provide a long-term income stream.

Rob recommended getting started by using Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) (kdp.amazon.com)which allows writers to self-publish their books and make them available on Kindle, iPad, iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Mac, and PC. Publishing is simple and can be done in 12 hours. According to Rob, it is worth concentrating on Amazon, which is responsible for 90-95% of sales, and KDP is simpler to use than other systems. A writer needs to get onto KDP, submit the book in Word format, get a good cover designed, add the book as a new title and submit it. The system works equally well for fiction and non-fiction books

Rob suggested that fiction books often sell well if they are part of a series. A writer can sell the first one relatively cheaply, in the expectation that readers will want to read further books, which can be more expensive. However, as readers tend to equate price with quality, books should not be too cheap. It is good practice to ensure the formatting is correct and that the book has been proof-read. Then it needs a compelling product description, a strong hook in the first chapter or two, a great, Kindle friendly, cover (square with colour and legible, attention-grabbing, title etc). After that it is a case of getting Amazon recommendations, and promoting the book.

In Rob's experience, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Google, and YouTube are not very effective. However the KDP Select Programme is, as it leads to better Amazon ratings. Other sites which are of value are Author Central (authorcentral.amazon.co.uk), Goodreads (goodreads.com), WeRead (weread.com) and Shelfari (shelfari.com).

Beyond e-books, Rob suggested CreateSpace (createspace.com) as a good and simple method of printing books on demand. In this case, print rights, translation rights and media rights stay with the author.

Other useful sites include digitalbookworld.com, jakonrath.com and novelpublicity.com.

Rob has a number of books (for self help and publishing guides, see amazon.co.uk/Rob-Palmer/e/B007ZWDUBW), including:

No More Rejections! How To Write and Publish Your Own Fiction Profitably, Quickly and Easily...and Become a Bestselling Author Almost Overnight (How To Make Money With eBooks) amazon.co.uk/Rejections-Profitably-Easily-Bestselling-ebook/dp/B006Z22B8Q/ref=la_B007ZWDUBW_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364762442&sr=1-7

How to Make Quick and Easy Money With eBooks - Even If You Can't Write and Can't Spell amazon.co.uk/Make-Quick-Money-eBooks-ebook/dp/B006WDIVCI/ref=la_B007ZWDUBW_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364762507&sr=1-8

He also has a novel The Lovers from Hell, available from Amazon amazon.co.uk/The-Lover-Hell-Murder-ebook/dp/B00ARJOGBI, or from his website robpalmer.com/books/.

Open mic:

After we all had time to get a hot drink (it was a freezing night), the second part of the evening was an open mic with David Bailey (actor and writer), Howard Timms (writer and performer) and me reading, when our teeth stopped chattering long enough.

Coming up:

The next Writers in the Brewery events are on the last Thursday of each month, doors open 7pm for a 7:30pm start and 9:00pm finish. Price £4, which goes to the venue, New Brewery Arts (as does the bar money), so please also support the raffle which helps with the expenses of the speakers/performers. Events are organized by, creative writing teaching, Dr Rona Laycock.

Thursday 25 April 2013 - Poets, artists and musicians John Gibbens and Armorel Weston, followed by open mic. Check them out on myspace myspace.com/thechildrenofalbion. Find out more about Armorel at touched.co.uk/phono/armorelweston.html and more from John's collaboration with Armorel as The Children touched.co.uk/phono/children.html.
Thursday 30 May 2013 - 30 minute creative wriing workshop, followed by an open mic.
Thursday 27 June 2013 - Howard Timms will perform his solo play Let the Lady Sing. He is Playwriter at Chicago Dramatists, member of the Cheltenham Everyman Writers Lab and Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre Co, co-founder of Playhouse New Drama.Find out more about Howard on the Playhouse New Drama site howardtimmswritesite.com/

For more about Writers in the Brewery see the New Brewery Arts website newbreweryarts.org.uk/courses-events-and-groups/join-a-group/writers-in-the-brewery-c-453_312_361.html

And don't forget it is World Book Night soon on 23 April 2013 worldbooknight.org/

Lesley Saunders at Writers in the Brewery – 28 February 2013

2013-03-08T17:44:00.000Z

It's been quite a while since my last post, but with the Writers in the Brewery now restarted after its winter layoff it is an excellent point to begin again.

Writers in the Brewery 2013 opened with the excellent Lesley Saunders, a writer and poet, unusual in being well acquainted with history and science.

Lesley reminisced about a residency at Acton Court, near Bristol, which Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn visited in May 1535; Anne was beheaded within a year. Acton Court and its associations proved to be an evocative place, inspiring Lesley to write a number of thought–provoking, enjoyable poems about such themes as music and dance, the passing on of messages in prayer books, cravings during pregnancy for rampions (a type of wild flower, prized in Tudor times for its spinach-like leaves, and tasty roots), and the religious turmoil of those days. There were also a number of strong poems inspired by museums and scientific themes, such as technology, medicine, germ theory and astronomy.

After a break, I read my short story: A Question of Time, Liz Carew read one of her evocative poems, and Lesley engaged us in conversation.

For me, it was an enjoyable, inspiring evening, helped along by a couple of bottles of Muddy Wellies ale. It was only a shame how few from Cirencester turned up for such an excellent poet and speaker, though the audience was boosted by some who'd come from the Forest of Dean.

Lesley's book of poetry Cloud Camera is available from amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cloud-Camera-Lesley-Saunders/dp/1901677818/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362762521&sr=1-3, where she also has some books on education.

Find out more about Lesley at her website http://www.lesleysaunders.org.uk/

Let me know what you thought.

Coming up:

The next Writers in the Brewery events are on the last Thiursday of each month, doors open 7pm for a 7:30pm start and 9:00pm finish. Price £4, which goes to the venue, New Brewery Arts (as does the bar money), so please also support the raffle which helps with the expenses of the speakers/performers. Events are organized by Dr Rona Laycock.

Thursday 28 March 2013 - 30 minute creative writing workshop, followed by an open mic
Thursday 25 April 2013 - Poets, artists and musicians John Gibbens and Armorel Weston, followed by open mic. Check them out on myspace http://www.myspace.com/thechildrenofalbion. Find out more about Armorel at http://www.touched.co.uk/phono/armorelweston.html and more from John's collaboration with Armorel as The Children http://www.touched.co.uk/phono/children.html.
Thursday 30 May 2013 - 30 minute creative writing workshop, followed by an open mic
Thursday 27 June 2013 - Howard Timms will perform his solo play Let the Lady Sing. He is Playwriter at Chicago Dramatists, member of the Cheltenham Everyman Writers Lab and Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre Co, co-founder of Playhouse New Drama.Find out more about Howard on the Playhouse New Drama site http://howardtimmswritesite.com/

For more about Writers in the Brewery see the New Brewery Arts website http://www.newbreweryarts.org.uk/courses-events-and-groups/join-a-group/writers-in-the-brewery-c-453_312_361.html

And don't forget it is World Book Night soon 23 April 2012 http://www.worldbooknight.org/

My Related Postings:

Susan Gibbs at Writers in the Brewery, 31 March 2011
World Book Night at New Brewery Arts - Saturday 5 March 2011

New nonsense poem

2012-02-01T20:33:00.005Z

The Fatal Funeral of Uncle Ray

Here is my latest nonsense poem, The Fatal Funeral of Uncle Ray, which I hope you enjoy. I had the following lines going round and round in my head insisting on being written:

'Many folk perished, so it's said, the day
of the fatal funeral of Uncle Ray.'

I finished it (if a poem can ever be finished) last week and recorded it on Sunday, which was one of the RSPB birdwatch days. The birds seemed to know this and were out in force, singing merrily and loudly all the time. They weren't even distracted when we gave up and fed them, in the hope they would stuff their beaks and shut up. At the time of recording the noise from birds and cars didn't seem too bad but, on playback, they came over very loud. The robin was especially magnificent (I'd heard it practicing the previous week when it had been singing very quietly but it chose to really go for it as soon as we started recording). Luckily on the final recording, (the 7th - it was far too cold to do any more withouth bits dropping off) the birds weren't so close to the microphone and only one car passed. I think this final recording is ok but I can see why professionals use directional mics.

The poem had its first outing at Writers in the Brewery on Thursday 26 Jan 2012, when I also used my kindle for the first time, having just loaded The Fatal Funeral of Uncle Ray onto it. I must remember to choose a larger font next time since reading from it at home is far easier than reading with slightly odd lighting.

The same night at the Brewery, as well as some other readings of poetry and prose there was some excellent music from Keith Thompson, sometimes with Nick John (of Lyadrive) on vocals.

Let me know what you think.

My Related Postings

Showing videos on new youtube channel page
Short funny rhyming poems on youtube
Susan Gibbs at Writers in the Brewery, 31 March 2011
World Book Night at New Brewery Arts - Saturday 5 March 2011

Anna Saunders at Writers in the Brewery - Thursday 23 February 2011

John Richardson at Writers in the Brewery - Thursday 27 January 2011

See Mac McFadden's Writers in the Brewery performance

Roshi Fernando at Writers in the Brewery 25 November 2010

Mac McFadden at Writers in the Brewery 28 October 2010

Skip Walker at #WritersintheBrewery, editor of Wilts and Glos Standard

Showing vidoes on new youtube channel page

2012-01-05T20:20:00.011Z

I hadn't realized it had been so long since my last post - I thought maybe a couple of months but it's been nearly 8 months!

I have been busy editing my novel Inspector Hobbes, which is now ready to go out to agents. Wish me luck.

I've also been making changes on my author platform. The latest changes have been on youtube, prompted by the change to the channel page.

When the channel page first changed, it appeared my poetry videos were no longer available from it, so I selected the option to go back to the previous format. Anyway this is how we resolved it.

Logon to youtube

Use the dropdown list for your account on the top right and select 'My Channel'

At the top of the channel page, again in the top right (just under your account name), select 'Edit Channel'

(if you want, you can use this to reselect the old channel layout)

At the top of the channel settings, select 'Info and Settings'

Enter the title you want to appear at the top of your channel page

Enter the description, although this is only shown (currently) if the channel view asks for more information. Fill it in anyway as it will help with channel searches

If you don't have any already, add some tags

Tick if you want the channel visible or not

Select the 'Default Tab' - this is what I had to change to make the channel open with my videos as the default. By default it opens on your feed, showing what you've liked or favourited (depending on whether these have been marked to be shared - more on this below). To change this select the 'Videos Tab' and also untick the 'Always take subscribed users to the feed tab'

At the top of the channel settings, select 'Featured Tab'

Tick the 'Enable featured tab' and if you want to show your playlists, then select the first option for 'creator' (selecting it just highlights the layout)

At the top right of the channel settings select 'Finished editing'

What is shown on your 'feeds' tab also appears differently, but you can select the options you want:

Logon to youtube

Use the dropdown list for your account on the top right

Select 'Settings'

On the left hand side of the settings, choose 'Share'

Tick the options 'On youtube' that you want to appear on your 'feeds' tab. I've now selected all the 'On youtube' options, but I may change it again later.

If you like my poetry vidoes then you should visit my channel again soon as I'm putting the finishing touches to a new poem which I intend to record.

I'm also on the lookout for some writing competitions and plan to try my luck in some of these.

Short funny rhyming poems on youtube

2011-05-15T18:09:00.036+01:00

I've put 5 short poems onto Youtube but there will be a short break before I put up anymore. This posting gives the procedure used to create and upload the videos, so I know how I did it when I come to make the next one! I hope you find it helpful.

Shooting the video

After an unsuccessful attempt to buy a camcorder from Tesco, I found my digital camera allowed me to record a video that was long enough for my short poems and had adequate sound recording. My videos have, therefore, been recorded with a Canon IXUS 8515.

Choose the location to film and what you're going to wear.
Take a few photo stills first to check the background and to get any snaps you might want to use in the finished video.
Turn off any background sounds - any fans or filters (for instance in a fish tank).
Stabilise the camera and put it into position.
Once the recording has started, wait for about 3 seconds before speaking - so you can edit out any camera click at the beginning - and, for the same reason, wait for 3 seconds when you've finished before switching it off.
Don't speak too quickly.
Take the card out and transfer the files to your computer.

Make into a movie

In Microsoft Movie Maker, make a 'New Project'.
Use 'Import Media' and import your video files and any snaps you want to use that you have copied to the computer.
If not already selected, tick 'View' ->'Timeline'.
If not already selected, use the drop-down box at the top of the screen to select 'Imported media'.
Select the video or photo you want to use and drag it down to the timeline at the bottom and drop there. Drag and drop in all the items you want and put them in the required order. Try to make sure the actual video content starts before 14 seconds or people are likely to stop watching.
On the left hand side, select 'Titles and Credits'.
If the video has clicks at the start or end, drag the beginning or ending bar in so they are missed.
Select 'Starting title or ending credits', enter the text you want.
Choose 'Change the text font and color' to pick the color, font type and size.
Choose 'Change the title animation' if you want to add an effect to how the text is shown (ticker tape, flying in etc).
If you want to add text over the video at different points, right click the video and select 'Title on the selected clip', or use the 'Titles and Credits' option on the left. If you want to add a lot of text at different points, then at the top of the Timeline section select the + magnifying glass to expand the timeline - it then shows smaller intervals and makes it easier to match the size of the text area to the length you want it to display.
For each text section and for each video or photo choose any special effect (eg fade in or fade out etc) but don't use too many as they slow down the loading of the video.
Select the photos and the opening and closing titles on the Timeline at the bottom of the screen and drag in or out the right hand end to make the time they display shorter or longer as wanted (I think the default length is a bit too long).
Right click the photos or video and select 'Effects' to add any effect (don't use too many as it slows down the load time).
You can also add audio tracks, although I used the audio on the original recordings.
Play the movie at any point to check your settings.
When you have something you are happy with select File ->'Publish Movie'. These are the settings I used for this:

Publish to this computer
Next
Enter filename and choose folder
Next
Best quality for playback on my computer
Publish
Play movie when I finish
Finish
Change and re-publish the movie as many times as you want, and don't forget to save it.

Make into a flash video

Once you have something you are happy with then you can upload the Microsoft Movie you made above to Youtube. However, if you want something that will be in a smaller file and will load and run quicker (though with reduced quality) then convert it into a flash video. I used 'Free FLV Converter' from http://www.koyotesoft.com/.
Open 'Free FLV Converter'.
Select 'Conversion to FLV'.
Browse and then select the movie you made above. 'Open' it.
Change the 'Output path' if you want to change the path or name.
I didn't change any other settings as the default ones were the settings recommended by Youtube already.
Select 'Convert'.

Load to youtube

Sign in to Youtube.
At the top of the screen, select 'Upload'.
Select 'Upload video', and select your .flv file.
While it is uploading you can change the details of the video, set the 'Privacy' to 'Private' so you can select the settings you want before you publish it. Or you can change any of these settings after it has uploaded.
Add a title and description.
Set some tags (find ones on similar videos and use similar settings as these will help people to find your video).
Select a category.
If this is the first video then you will have to wait for a thumbnail image to be available. Youtube will give you 3 to choose from, select the one you prefer.
Set any other settings, comments, voting, responses and location if you want to etc.
Run the video and check you are happy with how fast it loads.
Once you are happy, set 'Privacy' to 'Public'.
It is now available to the world (if Public) or to selected users if you use a list.

Change settings on youtube

You can go back and change the settings at any time by selecting 'My Videos', select the video, and 'Edit'.
If you have Youtube friends or subscribers then they will get an update about your video anyway, but you can also send them a note using Youtube messaging or sharing.
Create a 'Playlist' and add your video to it.
Like it and add it to your favourites.
Select your Channel page, make sure your channel has channel tags and is visible.
Select the 'Videos and Playlist' tab and select the playlist you put your video into and decide how you want all playlists to appear on your channel page and configure any other settings.

Don't forget to tell people it is there - facebook, twitter etc, and, if you have them, put a link to it on your website or facebook page (you will need to allow 'Embedding' of the video in the settings if you want to do this - though this is enabled by default).

Making a video is great fun and it only takes a few minutes to perform the above and upload it. Once it is loaded you can use Youtube->Account->Insight to see how many views you are getting and where in the world it has been seen. Amazing.

Let me know how you get on.

My Related Postings

Add an artist page in facebook

Susan Gibbs at Writers in the Brewery, 31 March 2011

2011-04-08T16:59:00.031+01:00

The Call of the Litany Bird, by Cirencester writer Susan Gibbs, is to be released today, 11^th April 2011. As a trained nurse, newly married to the son of the Governor of Rhodesia, Susan writes compellingly about bringing up a family on their farm in Matebeleland in the midst of the unfolding terror and growing number of atrocities, as rival factions battle for control in Rhodesia, soon to become Zimbabwe. On 31 March, she and Arthur Cunynghame of Loose Chippings Books http://www.loosechippings.org/ talked to Dr. Rona Laycock at Writers in the Brewery.

Susan explained that she began writing for her children, who retained few memories of those turbulent times, after coming across some old notes and press cuttings. It tells of the tensions and horrors of the bush war and the difficulties and pleasures of maintaining a reasonably normal life with Robert Mugabe in power and of the final straw that made the family leave their farm and lifestyle for an uncertain future in Britain. One of the passages she read told how, as a trained nurse, she was dealing with the aftermath of a terrorist atrocity and how her young son was traumatised by what he witnessed. She hoped her book would help the family come to terms with the past and found that writing it all down was a cathartic experience.

She originally thought of self-publishing for family and friends but was persuaded to take it further. She was fortunate to be introduced to Arthur, who after telling us how he became a publisher, explained why he is so enthusiastic about her writing, telling as it does of her family’s survival at a time when many of her friends and neighbouring farmers lost their lives.

After a break for drinks and chats, other local writers read from their work until we ran out of time. Susan is a regular attendee at Writers in the Brewery, and member of Catchword writers group, we are all thrilled to see the success of one of our own writers. A good evening and good luck to Susan!

Susan's book has a forward by Lord Carrington. Lord Hurd of Westwell describes the book as 'Deeply Moving'.

For more on Susan's book at LooseChippings http://www.loosechippings.org/Call_Of_The_Litany_Bird.html

Susan's book is available from Waterstones stores or online http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/susan+gibbs/lord+carrington/call+of+the+litany+bird/8393419/

from amazon as hardback http://www.amazon.co.uk/Call-Litany-Bird-Surviving-Zimbabwe/dp/190799100X

or in kindle http://www.amazon.co.uk/Call-Litany-Bird-Surviving-ebook/dp/B004Q9SRS8/ref=tmm_kin_title_0/279-1850253-2605847?ie=UTF8&m=A3TVV12T0I6NSM

Other events coming up at Writers in the Brewery

28 Apr 2011 - Simone Mansell Broome

Previous Writers in the Brewery Evenings

World Book Night at New Brewery Arts - Saturday 5 March 2011

Anna Saunders at Writers in the Brewery - Thursday 23 February 2011

John Richardson at Writers in the Brewery - Thursday 27 January 2011

See Mac McFadden's Writers in the Brewery performance

Roshi Fernando at Writers in the Brewery 25 November 2010

Mac McFadden at Writers in the Brewery 28 October 2010

Skip Walker at #WritersintheBrewery, editor of Wilts and Glos Standard

World Book Night at New Brewery Arts - Saturday 5 March 2011

2011-03-07T17:29:00.013Z

This was an evening in support of World Book Night. A decent crowd turned up at New Brewery Arts, lured by free Seamus Heaney books. Local writers read from their own work and this was interspersed with readings of favourite pieces by the great man. I really enjoyed Cora Sild, who was brought up near where Mr Heaney lived, reading Blackberry-picking. There wasn't just poetry - I read my fairy story/allegory, All in the Same Boat, and Sarah King read an excerpt from her novel The Durian Tree.

Another good night. Thanks to Dr Rona Laycock for organising it, to New Brewery Arts and Cora Sild for the facility, to everyone who read and turned up to support the evening and, of course, to Seamus Heaney for making great poetry.

More About World Book Night
http://www.worldbooknight.org/

Seamus Heaney's New Selected Poems 1966-1987 from Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0571143725/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0571230962&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1RPPRWZWBV4PWTXK3EDJ

Other events coming up at Writers in the Brewery

31 Mar 2011 - Arthur Cunyngham and Sue Gibbs

28 Apr 2011 - Simone Mansell Broome

Related event coming up - Cheltenham Festival of Poetry

31 Mar 2011 - 3 Apr 2011 Whats on at www.cheltenhampoetryfest.co.uk

Previous Writers in the Brewery Evenings

Anna Saunders at Writers in the Brewery - Thursday 23 February 2011

John Richardson at Writers in the Brewery - Thursday 27 January 2011

See Mac McFadden's Writers in the Brewery performance

Roshi Fernando at Writers in the Brewery 25 November 2010

Mac McFadden at Writers in the Brewery 28 October 2010

Skip Walker at #WritersintheBrewery, editor of Wilts and Glos Standard

Anna Saunders at Writers in the Brewery - Thursday 23 February 2011

2011-03-07T17:27:00.009Z

Anna Saunders was the guest writer at Writers in the Brewery. Apart from being a poet, she is the director of the Cheltenham Poetry Festival (31 March - 3 April 2011) , which will include John Hegley, Angela France, John Cooper Clarke, Sam Riviere, Alison Brackenbury, Pascal Petit plus many others (see www.cheltenhampoetryfest.co.uk).

Anna read a number of poems, inspired by such things as Suze Adams' photos, the sea, romantic love, television, pet names. pet names, a daddy longlegs, illness and sex. The poems were warm, funny, insightful and very enjoyable. I liked that she gave a little explanation before reading them - it helped make them accessible.

After Anna, Sue Chad read a couple of her poems, good as usual, followed by Nicola, a singer-songwriter who played guitar and sang a fun and witty poem about sitting on the Cerne Abbas giant's phallus - she was in fine voice. I read my short story, My Friend Simon - about an alien misunderstanding.

A good evening.

Coming up - Cheltenham Festival of Poetry

31 Mar 2011 - 3 Apr 2011 Whats on

Coming up - Writers in the Brewery

31 Mar 2011 - Arthur Cunyngham and Sue Gibbs

28 Apr 2011 - Simone Mansell Broome

Previous Writers in the Brewery Evenings

John Richardson at Writers in the Brewery - Thursday 27 January 2011

See Mac McFadden's Writers in the Brewery performance

Roshi Fernando at Writers in the Brewery 25 November 2010

Mac McFadden at Writers in the Brewery 28 October 2010

Skip Walker at #WritersintheBrewery, editor of Wilts and Glos Standard

#WritersintheBrewery 27 May 2010 Nigel McLoughlin

John Richardson at Writers in the Brewery - Thursday 27 January 2011

2011-03-07T17:24:00.018Z

This evening Writers in the Brewery welcomed John Richardson ( aka Jay Arr) of Swindon's BlueGate Poets (http://www.bluegatepoets.com/). John read a selection of his love poetry. They were, so he said, part of a lifetime's work that was still in progress. Apart from love, John's poems were inspired by such things as numerology, the power of names, Roy Orbison, Valentine's presents, marriage, wills and the country. I particularly enjoyed one about Isfahan, Iran's third city - wonderful imagery and very evocative.

After John, there was more poetry from local writers. Liz Carew's Woodchester poem was excellent.

John has a number of books published http://www.blurb.com/user/jayarr

His latest (as Jay Arr) is nietsa http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1785036?alt=nietsa%2C+as+listed+under+Poetry

and and what do you want? http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1785024?alt=and+what+did+you+want%3F%2C+as+listed+under+Poetry

and he has compiled the BlueGate Poets 2010 Anthology http://www.bluegatepoets.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=277 and BlueGate Poets 2009 Anthology http://www.blurb.com/books/872625

plus a machine for measuring blue is a collection of poems selected by Jar Arr is a first collection of abandoned and neglected poems http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/221545?alt=a+machine+for+measuring+blue%2C+as+listed+under+Poetry

John also has some videos on youtube, check out this playlist http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C8801FC4A84F4BDA

To find out more about John (Jar Arr) and the BlueGate Poets visit the website http://www.bluegatepoets.com/

Previous Writers in the Brewery Evenings

See Mac McFadden's Writers in the Brewery performance

Roshi Fernando at Writers in the Brewery 25 November 2010

Mac McFadden at Writers in the Brewery 28 October 2010

Skip Walker at #WritersintheBrewery, editor of Wilts and Glos Standard

#WritersintheBrewery 27 May 2010 Nigel McLoughlin

Writers in the Brewery April 2010 Blue Gate Poets

Helping your book on Amazon

2011-02-26T10:59:00.012Z

I've been keeping an eye out for tips on how Amazon works and found a few things on Amazon Setup that you can change to help with Amazon sales and with the books profile.

1. (If you haven't done so already) you can go into Amazon and claim your book(s). You will need an Amazon account - you may want to create a new one so you can make any purchases/comments (or reviews of other books) under your author profile and not your customer one. Then simply go to the bottom of the book screen where there is an 'I am the author' connection, as shown below.

2. You can also change the product details, correct names etc in 'update product info'.

3. Add some product tags so that your book gets listed in different searches - anyone can add their own tags to their book (or any other book).

4. And you can help make suggestions to Amazon that increase the chances of your book being listed in these sections when people look at other books (these sections don't necessarily all appear for your book):

Find other books on Amazon that are related to yours and always view them (ask you friends to view them as well) whenever you view your own. (You could even buy them!)

5. Amazon rankings are worked out all the time, but if you ask people to buy your book on a particular day then you have a better chance of getting up the rankings (though it doesn't last long ...). It doesn't have to be just on launch day.

6. Add some reviews of other people's books, especially if they are in the same genre. Use your author profile when you do so. Don't use the review as a chance to plug your book or to rubbish the opposition. It is just a way to help direct people to your profile and from there to your book.

7. On your author profile, make sure you have a public profile, and check the details are correct. Add a photo. Check how much of your data you want to share in past purchases etc. Add a webpage address - this can be your Facebook page.

My Related Postings

Add an artist page in facebook
Decide on a genre

Adding my blog to facebook using NetworkedBlogs

2011-02-20T20:34:00.019Z

Some writer's blogs have an option that allows the blog to be followed using facebook. This is by using the facebook app networkedblogs. As it looked a handy thing, I've added it to mine.

To Add facebook app

In facebook, on your home page

go to the apps (select from the right)

at the bottom select the apps directory, and enter networkedblogs

click on networkedblogs to open the application

then go to the application

allow it permission on you your facebook

NetworkedBlog settings

in networkedblogs application

select the profile

complete the profile information you want

and then add your blog

select blog categories

at the bottom, select advanced and enter a name. This will allow you to access the blog later by using this sort of address
http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/blognameyouenterinadvanced
so you can easily get to and change the settings

Add blog to facebook

on your author page

select apps and add networkedblogs

your selected blogs will appear as a seperate tab, select to post onto the wall and/or onto the tab

at the top right (in networkedblogs from facebook, page or direct) select syndication

Set facebook permissions

grant permissions to access facebook

select the blog from the list of those you have added to networkedblogs

and select to show the blog on your facebook page, or facebook author page

Add a follow me widget

then add the 'follow with networkedblogs' widget to your blog and website

under the syndication button (during setup) select widget and collect the code

in your blog, add an html gadget and paste the code and adjust the size if it is too big

if you are adding the widget later, then, while logged into facebook, go to http://www.networkedblogs/blog/blognameyouenteredinadvanced

at the bottom of the page select 'visit the blogpage on facebook'

next to the 'blog feed details' select 'widget'

choose the widget or badge and get the code

then in your blog or website add the widget/badge code

Each new follower

when users select the option to follow the blog to use this app they have to enable networkedblogs access to facebook

My Related Postings

Add an artist page in facebook

See Mac McFadden's Writers in the Brewery performance

2011-01-26T16:06:00.026Z

Mac McFadden's performance poetry at the Writers in the Brewery evening on the 28th October 2010 was a great evening (see my earlier posting Mac McFadden at Writers in the Brewery 28 October 2010). Those of you who were there may remember a camera close to the stairs and the video from this is now available if you want to see him again. Any of you who missed the evening this is a chance to catch-up.

Mac McFadden at the Brewery Arts Centre Cirencester 2010 (38.01 mins)

Also see Mac's other recordings loaded to vimeo: Mac McFadden on vimeo

Mac McFadden - Tea with the Queen (5.23 mins)
Mac McFadden - Something For The Weekend Hammer & Tongue 2010 (2.22 mins)
Mac McFadden Short Set at Oxford Theatre (6.18 mins)

Follow Mac on facebook http://www.facebook.com/home.php#%21/mac.mcfadden

Other Writers in the Brewery evenings

For more about Writers in the Brewery

http://www.newbreweryarts.org.uk/join-a-group/writers-in-the-brewery-c-312_361.html?p=shop

Coming up :
all at Cirencester New Brewery Arts, 7:00pm

27 Jan 2011 - John Richardson
24 Feb 2011 - Anna Saunders
31 Mar 2011 - Arthur Cunyngham
28 Apr 2011 - Simone Mansell Broome

Roshi Fernando at Writers in the Brewery 25 November 2010

2010-12-01T16:05:00.018Z

This evening celebrated National Short Story Week.

Roshi's first book, Homesick, a composite novel featuring inter-linked short stories about Sri Lankan immigrants in the UK, was published in September this year. She is currently working on a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Swansea and writing a novel. She won the Impress prize for new writers in 2009.

Roshi gave the brave few who ventured out on a bitterly cold evening a fascinating insight into her work. She said that she had been trying to work on a metafiction (fiction about the nature of literature) novel, which wasn't working well, so she tried her hand at short stories. Some of these worked really well. She was influenced by the way immigrants cling to aspects of their own culture, often observing traditions that are neglected in their country of origin. After one of her stories won the Impress prize, an agent wanted to see her work and after much hard work she was published.

At first she was pleased but then found it awkward when stories that had been private were in the public domain, getting attention. This was especially embarrassing with stories that had sex in them. Her editor found the book was sad and Roshi realised that it was because of the issues she raised in it. She does not intend writing another 'issues' book in the immediate future. Now she has been recognised as a writer, she finds it something of a mixed blessing, although it does offer her opportunities. For instance, she has been invited to speak at a literary festival in Galle Literary Festival(Sri Lanka) about Freedom of Speech in Sri Lanka.

She produced some hints for aspiring writers.
- Winning a literary prize is a good way of getting noticed!
- Use disparate elements to make a good story (e.g. she wrote one about a mute Muslim boy who was a fan of Charlie Chaplin).
- When a story gets stuck, put some movement into it.
- Make sure you do enough research.

After Roshi, some local writers read some of their work - unusually (possibly as a reflection of National Short Story Week) there was only one poem. I read, No Bed of Roses, a short ghost/horror story that seemed to horrify the audience. Well, someone had to lower the tone.

Roshi on Amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=books-uk&field-author=Roshi%20Fernando

Some previous Writers in the Brewery evenings

Mac McFadden at Writers in the Brewery 28 October 2010
Skip Walker at #WritersintheBrewery
#WritersintheBrewery 27 May 2010 Nigel McLoughlin
Writers at the Brewery April 2010
Jenny Jones at #WritersintheBrewery 25 March 2010
Cherry Gilchrist at #WritesInTheBrewery
Sue Chad at Writers in the Brewery 28 Jan 2010
Writers in the Brewery Nov and Dec 2009 review
Writers in the Brewery Writer's workshop

About Writers in the Brewery

http://www.newbreweryarts.org.uk/join-a-group/writers-in-the-brewery-c-312_361.html?p=shop

Coming up:
27 Jan 2011 - John Richardson

24 Feb 2011 - Anna Saunders

31 Mar 2011 - Arthur Cunyngham

28 Apr 2011 - Simone Mansell Broome

Mac McFadden at Writers in the Brewery 28 October 2010

2010-10-29T18:10:00.009+01:00

Mac McFadden is a performance poet originally from Merseyside but who now lives in Bicester, Oxfordshire. Mac treated us to some very funny and often touching poems, many based on growing up, getting mucky, tragic relations with girls and the difficulties of being a poet in a macho community. Others, such as one about taking tea with the queen in a kebab shop and about a girl with rice crispies in her hair may have been more fanciful. Mac uses ingenious rhymes and satisfying rhythms and tempos while moving between funny and thoughtful works.

For a sample of his work then see this playlist of Mac's videos on youtube, there are not from his performance at Writers in the Brewery but do include one from the night, Marmite:
Mac Macfadden playlist
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=31765B20DB1B7431

His set went down extremely well with a packed audience and caused a few qualms for local writers who were to come after - it was a definite case of 'follow that!' However, we did and, I think, we acquitted ourselves well. Amongst the other readers were Annie - 'poet laureate' from the Forest of Dean and Peter Wyton Gloucestershire 1000 'poet laureate' from Cheltenham. There was a good mix of poetry and prose.

I read Rebel Spirit, a silly poem about my great grandfather's sticky end in a pool of jam. One member of the audience claimed it was brilliant - I should have got it in writing!

My earlier postings on Writers in the Brewery

Skip Walker at #WritersintheBrewery
#WritersintheBrewery 27 May 2010 Nigel McLoughlin
Writers at the Brewery April 2010
Jenny Jones at #WritersintheBrewery 25 March 2010
Cherry Gilchrist at #WritesInTheBrewery
Sue Chad at Writers in the Brewery 28 Jan 2010
Writers in the Brewery Nov and Dec 2009 review
Writers in the Brewery Writer's workshop

Add an artist page in facebook

2010-10-25T15:45:00.028+01:00

Facebook includes an option to create a customised page as well as a normal personal account. Separate pages on facebook get listed in search engines like google.

This is how we added a page.

logon to facebook
go to http://www.facebook.com/help/?page=904#!/pages/create.php
complete 'Official Page'
select 'artist' then 'writer'
enter the name for the page (take care - this can't be changed after it is created without deleting and recreating the page)
if appropriate, confirm that you are the right person to be doing this
'Create official page'
go though the steps to add some content
upload an image
edit page information
complete the wall settings
add some 'info'
complete the settings, switch off 'publicly visible' until you are ready to publish the page
on left hand panel, select 'write something about' and complete some basic information.
If you want additional tabs
select 'Home'
on left panel expand 'more' under 'applications'
select 'adverts and pages'
at the bottom of the list select 'Static FBML' application
and 'add to page'
select 'Home'
on left panel expand 'more' under 'applications'
go through the options one at a time
for additional tabs
edit application 'FBML 1' which is your new additional tab
edit the name of the tab
and enter the text or html for you want to appear in it
'save changes'
'add another fbml box' if you want another one, this is at the bottom of the page
at the top select 'edit' next to your page name
then under applications select the new 'FBML 1' and edit and save as before
if you want to add youtube videos on your additional tab, see http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-customize-your-facebook-page-using-static-fbml/
select 'edit' at the top by your page name, then select 'view page'
drag and drop the tabs to the order you want
remove any you don't want
select 'wall' then add any links you want to be on your link page
select 'Home'
on left panel expand 'more' under 'applications'
select 'wall settings' and change the landing tab to be the one you want to appear first when people open your page
'view page' to check it appears as you want, and, if you are happy, set its profile to public
Connect to twitter if you want your page updates to be notified to twitter
If you have a blog or website, select 'promote this page..' and copy the html given onto them

To edit the page later,

Home
in left hand panel, expand 'more' under 'Applications'
select 'Adverts and pages'

My Related Postings

Linking twitter to facebook and adding twitter to blog
Starting on facebook

Like my facebook page

The easy way to share a blog on social networking

2010-09-02T14:50:00.013+01:00

There are so many different directories and social networking sites that allow sharing of links that it is difficult to keep on top of them all. However, we found a nifty little gadget that does this for you by allowing direct links to many different networking sites all from one simple little icon that you add into your blog (or website).

Go to http://www.addthis.com/

choose the server (website, blogger, wordpress, myspace)

choose the icon you want

then follow the instructions to add it.

Much easier than trying to maintain a list of them.

Staying alert

2010-08-25T12:40:00.016+01:00

I wish I'd found out about this earlier but it's never too late. With Google Alert you can get automatic notifications about new blog, website, etc, entries. When I want to keep track of what is happening at any other event, for instance a literary festival, and to see what others have made of it, then I now use Google Alert. I can even get it to tell me when sites link to my youtube videos. You just enter a set of characters giving the information you are looking for and how often you want it and Google Alert does the rest for you. Switch the Alerts off whenever you want to. Very useful.

I've also seen some recommendations that you setup random searches for any material that you put online, so you can see if anyone else is using it.

Very simple to do. If you have a blogger, google or youtube account (etc), just click on 'my account' at the top and then select google alerts and add any you want. Go to the same place to change them.

(paper stand image from http://www.freefoto.com/ .
This image http://www.freefoto.com/images/04/24/04_24_61_thumb.jpg?ffid=04-24-61&k=Newspapers )

Which blog directories to use

2010-07-28T16:13:00.064+01:00

Whether a blog is a necessary part of generating your author's platform depends upon how you feel about blogging and whether you have anything to write about on a regular basis. This posting is related to how my blogs are being published. As this is a technical one I'm handing over to @whispproduction.

Good luck.

************
Hello authors, and thank you Wilkie.

We have helped with some aspects of setting up this blog as just writing it isn't enough and you have to do some legwork as well. Although having interesting postings is the best way to get your blog noticed, a blog directory needs to have regular postings. Until there are several entries some blog directories will ignore it, no matter how good the content.

There are lots and lots of blog directories around, some of which are no longer used (or don't seem to be). So which should you register with? And what do you have to do to register, and what do you do once you have registered?

When setting up you will need to create an account your chosen directory. Make sure you have your email details and the rss/atom/feed address (in blogger you can get this by logging on and going to 'Settings'->'Site Feed' and copying the link from there), and the URL of your blog (http://xxx.blogspot.com). Consider what type of blog you have (Technical, Entertainment, Arts etc) so you know where you want it listed. Also, create a blog description you can copy during the setup. If you have a picture handy you can add this with the profile details, where this is allowed. It's obvious, but do remember to save the logon id, email and password information you use so you can access the directory later.

Once you have created the account and linked to the blog, look in your email for a mail from each blog directory service as they require confirmation that you are the owner and this is normally done through an email prompt. Technorati and bloglines send a unique code which you will need to include in a posting. Until this is done you are not identified as the blog owner.

We logon and check the blog directory entries at least every couple of weeks. We've found they benefit from regular maintenance in the form of visits and searches using the blog search tools the directory provides just to make sure it is refreshing with the new postings. It makes sense to use the blog directory anyway as it is providing you with a free service and it is only polite to use it if you want to reference your blog. For this reason we'd recommend not using all of the blog directories that exist (though it depends how much time you want to dedicate). The ones you use are up to you. To provide you with a starting list the ones we have registered Wilkie's blog with are below. If you have found this blog entry then one of these is likely to have helped you find it - if you know which, then we'd love to know. If you have no idea then don't worry.

Directories:

www.technorati.com
This was going through a period of change when we registered the blog and was reconfirming ownership of all blogs registered in a bid to tidy up it's lists. It took two goes but it did eventually accept the blog. It has good search facilites and regularly updates with the new blog postings. It seems to be quite widely used and we have found references to it from quite a lot of places. If we do a Google search on the blog then it's reference for the blog appears in the results.
http://www.bloglines.com/
It was only after registering on this blog directory that searches using http://www.ask.com/ started to show results on Wilkie's blog, so this is a good one to do. This is also the one that Wilkie uses most to view other blogs.
http://www.blogcatalog.com/
This has good referencing in it and has the advantage of allowing you to link to other social media like twitter, facebook and others. It also allows you to establish a blog network. We logon and check the blog regularly with this. There is sometimes a bit of a delay in picking up new postings so occasionally we have asked it to refresh the entries. If we do a Google search on the blog then it's reference for the blog appears in the results.
http://www.bloggernity.com/
If we do a Google search on the blog then it's reference for this blog appears in the results. Registering on this directory moved the returned results in Google for it up the results.
Google reader
This is available as part of the google set you get when you start a blogger blog. Just login to Blogger, and choose 'my account', and add google reader.

The more often you post the more likely other blog directories will find the blog. We didn't specifically register with any of these (or we hadn't at the time of this posting), but after several months of postings their robots or search bots started to pickup up this blog (we know this from the list of bots given in the stats for the blog in feedburner.com).

SimplePie, Caibu, BlogPulse, BlogSphere, Cuill, IceRocket, MSN News Blogs, Moreover, Planet, PubSubHubHub, Radian 6, Search Bot, Sphere, Twingly, ia archiver bot

Each of the ones we manually linked to (apart from technorati's which is still under development) also allows you to create a button with a link from your blog to the blog directory. The buttons created look like this:

If you register with the same directories and you want the same buttons as this blog then you can use the following code. To add it to a blog created in blogger (in blogger designer create a new gadget of type html and copy this code into it). Here is the code:

For individual buttons:

bloglines - do a google search for bloglines buttons as this is the easiest way to find them, choose the one you want and copy the code (http://www.bloglines.com/about/subscribe)

bloggernity - at the very bottom of the webpage select 'link to us', select the button and copy the code

blogcatalog - logon, on you page, select 'blog catalog button', select the button and copy the code.

If you found any other directories helpful, then let us know.

If you want to register with lots of blog directories and are looking for a list then we found this very good, resonably recent list, compiled by iWoodpeckers http://www.iwoodpecker.com/submit-blog-to-50-free-working-blog-directories/

Good luck with your platform and book.

Sprucing up the website

2010-07-26T20:12:00.002+01:00

Building a website and an author's platform can be a big distraction, or would be if I had to try to do it all myself (finding out how to first). Luckily when I decided my website wasn't up to scratch and wanted to rebuild it I had help. In the review with Whisp Productions, we looked at what other writers were doing on theirs, how they laid them out etc. What follows is a guest posting from Whisp Productions with details of the changes they have made to my website that we hope will be useful as we're assuming that other writers, like me, need some technical help with some aspects of building a platform. So over to Whisp.

********************

Wilkie's previous website was a fairly simple site as it was built using Frontpage with a few buttons to navigate around the page. This worked ok, but the main problem we found was that the website took up the whole of the screen and wasn't very easy for a reader with a wide screen to read. When we reviewed other websites with Wilkie we found that the ones we liked best were those with a more blog-like layout, that didn't display text across the whole width of the screen. The rebuilt website now has more blog-like pages that appear in the middle of the screen. It also allows the website to look similar to this blog (which was previously changed using the new template editor - see Using Bloggers new template designer).

It was rebuilt using the RVSiteBuilder tool on Wilkie's hosting service, so unless you use on the same service, sharing the instructions on how it was generated won't help. However, what may be of more interest are some of the additional bits and pieces that we added to the website. We hope you find the following useful.

ADD ADDITIONAL META DATA

1. We do not want search engines to archive every page (especially those with time dependent material or competition information. So we added a meta setting to each page where Archiving isn't wanted:

<meta name="ROBOTS" content="NOARCHIVE" />

2. We added another meta settings, to tell mobile phones to format the information differently for the small screens.

<meta name="viewport" content="width=670, initial-scale=0.45, minimum-scale=0.45" />

ADD A SITEMAP

3. The file sitemap.xml is for search engines. If you keep it up to date it tells them which files on your site have been changed so it doesn't have to search them all. Put it in the root directory. For example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
- <urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
- <url>
<loc>http://www.yourwebsitename.com/index.php</loc>
<lastmod>2010-07-20</lastmod>
<changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
<priority>0.9</priority>
<loc>http://www.yourwebsitename.com/pagetwo.php</loc>
<lastmod>2010-07-20</lastmod>
<changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
<priority>0.9</priority>
...
</url>
</urlset>

ADD A ROBOT FILE

4. The file robots.txts also gives instructions to search engines. This tells them which parts of your website not to look at. Put it in the root directory of the website. For example,:

User-agent: Googlebot-Image
Disallow: /

User-agent: taptubot
Disallow: /iphone/
Disallow: /mobile/
Disallow: /m/
Disallow: /mobi/

User-agent: *
Disallow: /adirectorynottobesearchedbyanybot/

Sitemap: http://www.yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml

ADDING WEBSITE ICONS

5. We added a favicon.ico file. This is a very small image file that appears in internet explorer at the left of the address box. Again, this is in the root directory.

6. We added an apple-touch-icon.png file. This, like the favicon.ico file, is an image file that is used by iphone apps to display with the website.

ADD A LINK TO YOUTUBE

7. Add a connection into Wilkie's youtube videos. For this we've used a video strip. The code for this can be built on youtube, but we added a line before and a line after the code that youtube gave us. The lines we added are:
<div>
...
</div>

We built the youtube code as follows:

Goto youtube home page. You don't need to logon.
At the bottom of the page click on the 'Developers' link.
Click on the 'Widgets' link.
In the 'Widgets' description in the middle, click on the link to the Video bar wizard.
Fill in the information:
Horizontal or vertical.
Untick the popular video feeds unless you want these too.
Fill in the name of the youtube channel you want.
Then click to show the code and copy it to your website.

ADD A LINK TO TWITTER

9. Add a connection to Wilkie's twitter so that a subset of it shows in the side bar.

In twitter.
At the bottom of the page, select 'Goodies'.
Click on 'Widgets'.
Click on 'My website'.
Then on 'Profile widget'.
Complete the Settings, Preferences, Appearance, Dimensions to what you want.
When it looks like you want, click on 'Finish & grab the code'.

ADD A LINK TO THIS BLOG'S POSTINGS

10. We also added a link to this blog on the website so that the titles of the last 5 entries are shown. We've done this using the www.feedburner.com services that can be linked to your blog.

In feedburner.com.
Logon.
Choose your blogname.
Select 'Publicize'.
Choose 'BuzzBoost'.
Change the settings to get what you want.
Copy the code that is given.

Wilkie's Related Postings
Some of the above settings and files were used before the site was rebuilt and the instructions for these were included in some of Wilkie's previous postings.

Changing my website for #iphone users
How to #twitter your blog updates and add twitter to #website
Adding a website icon for iphone and stopping page not found for mobiles
Adding free blog subscription options
Add blog to website
Starting an author's platform

Skip Walker at #WritersintheBrewery

2010-07-15T15:14:00.012+01:00

On 24 June, Writers in the Brewery were pleased to welcome Skip Walker, editor of the Wilts and Glos Standard.

Skip spoke about her career, as a reporter and editor. Following Oxford, she became a trainee journalist at the Daily Express, where she spent far too long in the pub but did receive a good training. After three years she moved on to working for Distillers, becoming assistant editor of the house magazine (where she was not allowed to mention Thalidomide). She moved on to be editor of the SWEB in-house journal and then to working on an encyclopaedia for Robert Maxwell. After time spent at Weapons and Warfare and Camera magazine she moved out west. She became a district reporter in the Forest of Dean, then editor of the Marlborough Express (which failed, though it was failing before she got there!), and worked for the Dursely Gazette, the Stroud News & Journal and finally the Standard.

Skip suggested that writing as a journalist was not difficult, providing you like sticking your nose into other people's business. You have to be interested in people and then start writing the story at the beginning and end when it stops. Accuracy is important.

She talked about how easy it was for a writer to get into print in the Standard, if they were not expecting to be paid, though up to 40 stories per week are not published due to space constraints. If a writer wants a little money, she recommended approaching Cotswold Essence, which pays £60 for articles!

It was an interesting, informative, encouraging and amusing evening. Thanks to Skip.

There will be no Writers in the Brewery in July, because of an exhibition. Our next speaker, on 26 August, will be broadcaster, writer, poet and ecologist, Matthew Oates.

Contact Skip

http://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/contactus/aboutus/
mailto:skip.walker@wiltsglosstandard.co.uk

Writers in the Brewery

http://www.newbreweryarts.org.uk/join-a-group/writers-in-the-brewery-c-312_361.html?p=shop

My Related Postings

#WritersintheBrewery 27 May 2010 Nigel McLoughlin
Writers at the Brewery April 2010
Jenny Jones at #WritersintheBrewery 25 March 2010
Cherry Gilchrist at #WritesInTheBrewery
Sue Chad at Writers in the Brewery 28 Jan 2010
Writers in the Brewery Nov and Dec 2009 review
Writers in the Brewery Writer's workshop

Using Bloggers new template designer

2010-07-07T20:00:00.013+01:00

I've just had to redo a step in generating my #author's #platform. My posting Making a blog on #blogger look more like a website detailed the many changes we'd made to my blog to customise it and to make it look more like my website. We lived with it for a few weeks while we looked at other people's websites and blogs, and came to the conclusion that we had gone the wrong way. Instead of making the blog look like the website we should have made the website look more like the blog! The shorter lines of text generally found on blogs was much easier to read than the wide lines allowed on the website. So we decided to change both the blog and the website again. We started with the blog and found that blogger now makes customisation changes much easier. Although you can still amend the html as we mentioned before, there is now a template designer that does it all for you.

In blogger,
go to 'Design'
then select the new option 'Template Designer'.
Choose the template you want and customise the fonts and colours, and choose a new background. The template will be applied to your current blog.

The only problem we found with this was that all the gadgets we had on the site were moved into the side bar, including those we had at the bottom of the blog. However, the 'Layout' option in the new 'Template Designer' allowed us to move them back where we wanted.
Then the only other thing to do was to reapply a couple of the html change that we had before.

This included adding back the options available from feedburner to add links at the end of every post to share the blog. See Include options on #blog to add the posting to #social #bookmarking sites
And also, to remove the blogger navigation/toolbar bar that appears at the top of the blog (if you want to that is).
Near the top of the code, just before
/* variable definitions
insert the following code

/*remove toolbar start*/#navbar-iframe {display: none} /*remove toolbar end */

The next job was to make the website look more like the new layout of the blog. This was also easier to do that we expected as the site hosting my website now also includes a design tool. So we have rebuilt the website too.

Good luck .

My Related Postings

Making a blog on #blogger look more like a website

Include options on #blog to add the posting to #social #bookmarking sites

#WritersintheBrewery 27 May 2010 Nigel McLoughlin

2010-06-09T20:53:00.018+01:00

On 27 May 2010, Nigel Mcloughlin http://www.nigelmcloughlin.co.uk/ an Ulster poet, now based in Cheltenham, visited Writers in the Brewery. Nigel has been short-listed for the prestigious Hennessy Award and placed in the Kavanagh Awards and The New Writer Poetry Prizes. He is Reader in Creative Writing at the University of Gloucestershire and Course Leader on the MA in Creative & Critical Writing, as well as being editor of Iota magazine. http://www.iotamagazine.co.uk/ . In this role, Nigel said that contributors’ poems are judged anonymously so that content stands on merit, not on the writer’s reputation. He talked about his life and read from his works, including his recently published collection Chora. He read poems about Ulster, homelife, wildlife, music and observations. It was a witty, warm, moving and compassionate collection that I enjoyed very much.

After the interval, I read my short story "The Love Rat" about Cupid appearing as a rat to bring love to two lonely people.

My Related Postings

Writers at the Brewery April 2010
Jenny Jones at #WritersintheBrewery 25 March 2010
Cherry Gilchrist at #WritesInTheBrewery
Sue Chad at Writers in the Brewery 28 Jan 2010
Writers in the Brewery Nov and Dec 2009 review
Writers in the Brewery Writer's workshop

Writers at the Brewery April 2010

2010-06-09T20:52:00.017+01:00

On 29 April 2010, Writers in the Brewery welcomed some of Swindon’s BlueGate Poets http://www.bluegatepoets.com/. They are a poetry group which aims to advance the enjoyment and development of reading, writing and listening to poetry by encouraging local talent and voices at every level. The group’s founders are local poets, who, collectively, have years of experience of organising and running poetry groups, workshops and participating in the Swindon Festival of Literature. The group takes its name from the blue gate at the Richard Jeffries house, where it meets. Richard Jeffries http://www.richardjefferiessociety.co.uk/ was a famous writer and naturalist living in Coates near Swindon.

It was an enjoyable evening with this warm and friendly group, who presented their work with great enthusiasm and chatted about their poetry to a disappointingly small audience. We did clash with the final pre-election leaders’ debate but I’m glad I attended the brewery instead. I especially remember a great little poem about a seahorse and a very effective sestina but many of their works struck a chord.

After the interval, I brought the tone down with my nonsense poem about the sad demise of a gardening gourmet.

My Related Postings

Jenny Jones at #WritersintheBrewery 25 March 2010
Cherry Gilchrist at #WritesInTheBrewery
Sue Chad at Writers in the Brewery 28 Jan 2010
Writers in the Brewery Nov and Dec 2009 review
Writers in the Brewery Writer's workshop