Sprinting to Write

In the novel writing world, SPRINTING is writing as fast as you can in a set amount of time to see how many words you can write. 

Usually, you are sprinting with another writer. It's a contest, but not really. When we sprint, we always congratulate the other person on their accomplishments. I first learned about sprinting through NaNoWriMo, but I found a group on Facebook that I joined, which I prefer over Twitter. 

Now, of course, you COULD write utter nonsense. 

However, if you think about or brainstorm what you want to write ahead of time, sprinting can be the best way to allow your brain to just take off running with that topic. You'd be surprised what your brain will come up with in such a short amount of time. 


Last Saturday, in 1 1/2 hours or 3 sprints, I wrote 1800 words. If I did this every day, I would write about 10 books a year! 

That's a bit unrealistic, considering I don't write every day.

However, if you sprinted once a week for 1 1/2 hours and averaged 1800 words each time, you'd write a novel a year. That's not bad for an hour and a half of writing every week!

Book Cover Reveal by JR Wagner

A Facebook friend and fellow author has just revealed the cover of his second book and here it is:

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NaNoWrimo Winner!

I just finished my Na No Wri Mo, 50,000 word challenge for Book 3, When Dreams Will Come! Yeah!!

Pandemonium

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book did not disappoint. Well-written and well-plotted. Lena changed so much in this book and really grew as a character. I really did not want her to open her heart to another person, but Lauren Oliver did a good job with showing how a person could actually be grieving someone and falling in love with someone else at the same time, blurring the lines between who that person really loves.



The ending chilled me, but I kind of predicted this would happen. The only thing that I didn't really get was Lena's mom. That part went by a little to fast, and I didn't really feel like Lena thought about that as much as she should have. Maybe another paragraph or so, not pages. But I do like Lauren's tighter writing in this book. It moves quickly and is full of action. Sometimes that's a trade-off.



Usually book 2 is just a means to get to book 3, throwing in more complications, which ultimately don't really mean a whole lot. But this book shows Lena's growth and strength of character. At first, I didn't like the switching back and forth of Now and Then, but once I got used to the book's structure, I loved that Oliver chose to tell the story this way. One thing I did miss was her quotes from the Book of Shhh with every chapter, but maybe that's because Lena isn't really reading it anymore.



I can't wait to see what Oliver has in store for us for book 3.



If you haven't read the Delirium series, you should!!! It's one of the best series I've read, right up there for me with Shiver, Hunger Games and Twilight.



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Learning How to Use Social Media

I am learning very quickly that social media is the direct pipeline to my audience. Without it, no one knows I've written a book or what that book is about. Before I published my novel, I started blogging, but never had many followers because, quite honestly, I didn't know a blogosphere from a black hole. Seriously.

Dreaming Dangerously would not have sold as many copies as it has WITHOUT social media. Most of my audience and buyers of my book are on the Internet.

There are so many ways to connect to your audience, but the most important way, is one reader at a time. Make that personal connection. Talk to people who follow you on Twitter, comment on Facebook or message you on Goodreads. Let each person know you care about his or her opinion and what they want from a writer, even if you don't happen to agree with the person. Give away a free eBook or two. That personal touch goes a long way. You are not just looking for people to buy ONE book. You are looking to build a relationship with your audience.

I'm currently learning how to use Twitter effectively. It's all a learning curve, but check out the Indie Book Collective at:
for some wonderful tips.

Dreaming Dangerously broke 200 in book sales!

I'm so happy to announce that so far, I've sold over 200 copies of Dreaming Dangerously. This is with no real advertising budget and mostly word of mouth. Of course I am looking for more ways to expand, but I'm also writing Darkness Descends, which I hope to have out before this summer! Will is dying to tell his story!

For One More Day

For One More Day by Mitch Albom

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I finished this in like two hours, but I loved it. I had to reread the prologue and the epilogue too, since there was a bit of the unexpected. I love how Mitch Albom mixes reality with what occurs in the mind. It makes you wonder what reality really is - is it just what exists presently in our own mind or is it what the constructs outside of our own minds dictate. Since I wrote a lot about what happens in the mind and I have been thinking about it so obsessively for my three YA novels, I love to ponder this question.

I bought this book a couple of years ago when it first came out and I allowed this little gem to sit on my shelf that long without reading it. I love it though and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves their mother or who has contemplated suicide to read it. Wonderful and quick read. Excellently written and edited.



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Making a Book Trailer

Microsoft Movie Maker has gotten so much easier to use!!! I just created another book trailer, and this time it only took me two hours instead of two days!!!

I will be loading the trailer up here, on Facebook and at goodreads as well as amazon, when I get ready to put it on presale.

I'm so excited. I can't wait! But I want to do this right - I'm making sure I have everything in place before I launch the presale.

Here's a prototype of my cover:

goodreads

Currently reading: The Book Thief

I just signed up today for goodreads. I didn't know about it before. It's a place where you can review books you've read and keep track of those books, books you're reading and books you'd like to read. You can also friend people on there, share with Facebook, Twitter, Blogger and some other places. They have an iPhone app, too. Awesome website.

Check it out.

Also, I'm signed up there as my name - Kathie Harsch. I hope to be putting my books up for review soon - Yay!!!