My Picks: Three Articles about Writing
The Writer’s Digest and the Writer web sites contains several interesting articles on writing. Below are the three articles I liked.
The Author Platform Explained
This article contains the best definition of an author platform I have ever seen. The author, Courtney Carpenter, defines it “the turf you claim and name as your area of expertise.” I wish I had found this article years ago. It would have saved me from a great deal of frustration. On the other hand, it reassured me I made the right decision to focus on biography when I set up my web site and blog entitled Every Life Has a Story. Carpenter’s article is based on The Productive Writer by Sage Cohen.n [ Her article is so good, I am thinking about buying the book.]
http://www.writersdigest.com/tip-of-the-day/the-author-platform-explained
E-reading Trends Among Young People
By Dale McGarrigle – December 1, 2014
In his article, Dale McGarrigle discusses the recent trends in E-reading for children ages 2-13 and their parent’s attitudes toward E-books. The article sites information from a report compiled by PlayScience and Digital Book World who conducted an online survey in October 2013, of 603 adults in the United States. When parents were asked what criteria they use to selected e-books for their children: 53 percent responded their child asked for the book; 35 percent because of the price, 28 percent due to positive reviews, and 27 percent because of the author’s reputation.
http://www.writermag.com/2014/12/01/e-reading-trends-among-young-people/
Karen Avivi: Self-Publishing
By Megan Kaplon – June 17, 2014
This article tells the story of Karen Avivi’s adventure with her book Shredded. She found the best way to get her unusual book about a BMX rider out into the world was to self-publish. Publishers had told her it was “too niche” and rejected her manuscript. Not a quitter, Avivi took matters into her own hands. She hired professionals to design the cover and an editor and proofreader to make sure her manuscript was ready to make its debut. Shredded was awarded the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Spark Award in 2013. The award “recognizes excellence in children’s books published through non-traditional publishing routes.”
http://www.writermag.com/2014/06/17/karen-avivi-self-publishing/