Searching for SEO Content and Butter Knives

Indie authors, we are not alone!! I hear that even published authors, these days, are responsible for finding SEO content for their platforms.  Blogging and social media is not enough?  When do we have time for more?!!  SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, so isn't that just Google's problem or the spiders that help websites and blogs 'show up' in search results?  No.  Sorry.  We are now quite encouraged and motivated (as the results are often the difference between lots of fans and no-ownership platforms) to find content that brings in new fans, and helps us connect with readers.

In otherwords, the content part of the word SEO content is the hook: or, the reason searchers go to your blog from their search results page - or, your website, your fb page, and so forth.  So, a book-buying mother, who is looking up fairies might have typed in Fairy Birthday Parties.  She has typed just one of the reasons, as a book buying mother, that she might look up (and go to) my blog with a faerie-based book.

All this leads me to the reason I am writing this post.  If you are an Indie author, think twice - no 13 times - before choosing vlogging as your SEO content.  Shakespeare's Rosalind took up less of his time, honestly; and though he probably didn't shower as often, sleep in his own bed, or smell that good during his musings around between writing time; he did get back to writing as his focus.  Not so sure that vlogging as a mistress muse is as giving, forgiving?  Understanding?  No.  She isn't.  She is quite the demanding whore, as I have found out - and relentlessly impossible to ignore.

Run.  If you have chosen vlogging, you already know.  You need a shower.  You need your 4 food groups on a plate, instead of eating with just one hand.  You need two hand free, not just one holding a caffinated beverage.  We all have needs.  Vlogging extinguishes yours like a prima-donna girlfriend with a hot temper.  I don't want a girlfriend.  I wanted young readers to discover my books. I hope after bags of craft supplies, hours of crafting, videographing, editing, and drinking coffee, they do discover my Faerie Project and love my books.  Try the link if you don't believe me.  I have to go now.  Part I of a vlog post is requiring my undivided and overly-stressed out attention.

FYI: If you do choose vlogging, choose a topic you LOVE.  I'm not sure I even like Faeries anymore, and I have at least 2 more books to go before they love me back, if in fact, our relationships do last through the vlog years.

Is NaNoWriMo a Terrible Way to Write a Book?

Maybe.  I don't know, but it has motivated hundreds of thousands of writers to actually become authors.  In otherwords, to not only write a book, but to market it, sell it, show up (somewhere!) about it, and maybe even read it out loud (with people in the room - gasp!).  If you are an introvert, their type of on-line marketing works to encourage even the most computer cubbied individual out into the cyber world with their own voice, writing, works, and even continue on to creating platforms and indie publishing.  Join up if you are extroverted, too.  There are always places for the socializing and friend listing to occur.  More NaNo's make friends within the month than even Facebook or Twitter.  Valuable peeps to know and work with along the way to published author are worth remembering, here, in this blog post and definitely at the end of this month when that (sometimes elusive) DONE button is to be pushed with the 50,000 words behind it.
Its not the worst way to write a novel.  Probably on a train.  Just guessing.

How to Code a Book Description on the Kindle Bookshelf

Self-Published and Indie-Published authors, watch this short video to learn the basics of coding your Amazon book descriptions.  If you hired someone to put your book into the Kindle book store for you, take a minute to check the look of your book titles and descriptive information to be sure they match with promoted books, which are offered in the online store's platform.  This video tells you how to put your book title listing in Amazon's branded orange, and your first line in bold for ratings within the store.  I put this video together, so comment if you have questions and don't forgett to click on the like symbol.

Watch: How to Code Your Book Description

Bad News for Event Rights

Thanks to all of you who stood up for authors copyrights!!  I did think we made sense and our books and writings are not imaginary dreams.

More bad news, the Portland Pioneer Square event is off and wish I hadn't advertised it.  I hope there's better (less beater) treatment of authors at ComicCon in San Diego.  I wouldn't go now, I do think a bad event will ensue.  Thanks!!

Events are important but not if someone libels/slanders you or your work, especially without even asking you about work.  Make an example of proving for privacy act compliances.

Writing Fiction: An Adventure in Self- and Indie Publishing

New gadgets and devices for reading, promised a whole new publishing revolution for online books and print-on-demand; but, these promises have been broken.
E-books, Kindle books, i-Pads, and e-readers are now as common as i-pods; but, they were once a frontier to be tamed and, alas, there have been many casualties. Will such companies take responsibility for authors who have suffered from online publishing scams, or will they simply call it a cost for gaining independence?

An author can now publish his or her own book, afterall; and, an author can become an independent
publisher, providing a label name for self, friends, and acquaintances who have books to be published. Those