over at Murder She Writes.

C’mon over,

K*

Holly asked: How do you know if you have talent or are just wasting your time?

My knee jerk reaction to this question was this: So long as you love what you’re doing it’s never a waste of time. But, I’m sure Holly meant waste of time to get published.

This is one of those gray area topics. IMHO there are two schools of thought on; do you have what it takes to sell. The first thought and most people believe this, and it does have serious merit, is that you must have some talent. Like on American Idol those people who came in and auditioned who were tone deaf? Sorry, no can sing, never will either. Sayonara.

However, those who made it to Hollywood? (and I don’t mean the top 12, I mean all of those who got the gold ticket) The ones who needed a voice coach and someone to guide them and work hard with them? Some of them are recording.

So does the same apply with writing? Lot’s of people think so. Me? Not so sure. I truly believe you can learn to be a good writer. A spectacular writer? Not so much. Why? Because to be spectacular, you need god given talent. But how many actual spectacular writers are there? As opposed to how many good writers? I do think you need one of two things to ultimately be successful. Either voice or the ability to tell a story. The writing? You can suck the big one and learn and hone that aspect. I’m a perfect example. I still have a long way to go, but by sheer will and practice, practice and more practice (as in writing nearly 2 million words in the last five or six years) you do tend to catch on. Pacing is hard to master, plot and characterization? Again imho an evolution.

I also think it’s important to write what you know, and I’m not necessarily talking about writing what you do for a living or studied in college, I’m talking about what you know inside your heart, your soul, who you are. I write passionate characters. I live with a passionate husband, my children are passionate, it’s who we are. We live, love and play hard. But I digress.

So how do you find out if you suck the big one and should read books instead of write them? Put it out to the universe for feedback. And I suggest the universe you chose be top heavy with industry professionals. If you win a read or a crit from an agent, editor or multi published author they have the experience and the eye to be brutally honest. But always keep in mind this business is extremely subjective. While an agent may think you stink, an editor may see gems in your writing. I had a contest judge tell me my entry gave her a migraine and she could not read past the third page. I could read between the lines, she was telling me not to quit my day job. And I didn’t. Then. What I did was, I hunkered down and practiced some more. I found a couple of CP’s, I worked harder. Had I been told by numerous people I was wasting my time, I would have flipped them off and kept writing. I kept writing because I love to write. I kept writing because I knew in the back of my mind if I kept at it long enough, I would get good enough to sell. But I’m stubborn that way.

So, imho, I think, to know if you have what it takes to get published, you need to get your work under the nose of people who know raw talent when they see it, and go from there. But my caveat to that is; don’t let anyone dissuade you. This kind of brings me around to a question that is often asked on the blogs: If you knew you would never sell would you still write? I think, for writers who are just starting out that is an unfair question. We all write for different reasons, so I think one must really step back and ask why they write, and secondly, if its for publication ask yourself, are you prepared to work your ass off and face regular rejection until you achieve your goal?

I hope that answers your question, Holly. If anyone has anything to add, feel free to chime in!

And I am very happy to report the questions are pouring in. So as long as they do, I’ll keep blathering!
Oh, and I won’t be around much today, I’m off with my two daughters to look at wedding gowns! Not for me, for number two daughter! But chat away. I’ll be back.

K*

So Edie posed a question yesterday, wondering what it took to get a book on the best seller list. Talk about a loaded question! I’ll take a stab at it, and my stab is an overall take, sans the many nuances that can and do have an effect on sales.

Okay, so let’s begin with the good book is a foregone conclusion part. Does it have to be a stellar, out of this world book? Not for a vet with a solid readership it doesn’t, but for a newbie? It’s a damn good idea, although that said, I have seen a few debut authors hit lists with a mediocre book. But for a good book, here’s how hitting a list happens:

First and foremost the one ingredient you must have to hit a list no matter what, is your publisher’s backing. There is a lot that goes into this. It begins with buzz in house, then the sales team taking that buzz outside and selling the hell out of your book. Your orders go up and voila you have a major print run (and for the record you do not need a 150K plus print run to hit a major list. It can be done with half that, but it’s unusual, however not impossible). Distribution is also key. The book must be out there for the reader to buy. Not just brick and motor books stores. It needs to be everywhere books are sold! Viral marketing, on line promoting, blogs, mailing masses of bookmarks and trinkets is but a tiny ripple in the buzz pond. It’s distribution and that lovely word co op. What is co op you ask? Co op is that front table at Border’s and Barns and Noble. It’s the # 7 spot on the Bestseller list at the grocery store. It’s having your book face out on that rack in the drug store. It’s real estate, baby, purchased to showcase your book. Book dumps and end caps go a long way.

When you’re standing in line at the grocery store and you look down and there’s a book dump with a hot new historical, what do you do? You pick it up. It’s called impulse buying, and since we ladies like books, we touch it, pick it up, turn it over and then we are hooked. Do you think you’d have purchased this new-to-you author if the book was shoved in the corner in the back of the romance section at your neighborhood Barnes and Noble? Hell no, but if it was on the new release fiction table in the front to of the store the book has a much better chance. Wal-Mart? Target? Kmart? They sell the hell out of books. Not everyone gets picked up there, but if you’re an established fave or your publisher’s lead title for that month your chances are hugely increased.
The old adage out of sight out of mine applies perfectly. If the book is not in view and no one knows to ask for it, you will never hit a list.

Now, assuming all of the above criteria is met, the next step to hitting a list is velocity of sales. How does one get this? Buy having their publisher strictly enforcing the lay down date. Most don’t, some are Nazi about it. What this means is, Master of Surrender is scheduled to release Tuesday June 24th. Since the books will already be in the book stores before then, if they put the books out before the release date, which is the lay down date, then sales trickle in. So when the actual lay down day comes the book loses velocity of sales, and since velocity is crucial, a book that sells incredibly well may very well not hit a list because sales leaked out the week before. Very conceivably, if a book with less actual sales is held to the lay down date and gets those sales for that week it can hit a list ahead of the book that sold more but had leak out sales. Happens all of the time. So, here’s the thing, lists are great! But at the end of the day it’s always all about the sales. Always.

Now there is the list and then there is the extended list. You can call yourself a New York Times Bestselling author if your book hits at the # 15 spot or lower. # 16 -50 (I think it’s 50 could be 35 or it might be 100) is considered the extended list. NY Times bases their ranking by preorders and how they think based on those orders the book will sell. USA Today is based on actual sales. Not all booksellers report to the lists. Case in point Wal-Mart doesn’t, and hasn’t since earlier this year which sucks for authors whose books fly off the shelves at Wal-Mart but not say Borders. Which stores do report? There is a combination of indies and chain stores who report. It’s a hugely guarded secret.

Now that I have depressed you all, just remember, lists are great! They stroke the ego, they look good in sig lines, and well, it means something, but what really matters at the end of the day is solid sales with no returns!

Feel free to chime in, especially if you can add to this information (I think I’ll hunt down my friend Allison Brennan, and ask her to chime in, she’s a whiz when it comes to hitting a list) or ask a question if you have one.
Tomorrow, I’ll tackle Holly’s question. She wants to know how you know if you’re wasting your time writing (as in how do you know you suck or have the talent to go all the way).

K*

And I mean that in every sense of the statement. Anything I say in reference to a question or advice sought, is, just business. Let me explain: I wouldn’t have this blog if I weren’t in the business of writing. Yes, I started it to garner traffic in the hopes that someone would buy my book. I still hope that, but for me personally it has gone beyond that. I can honestly say if I never sold another book and knew it at this moment I would still maintain this blog. I have built a community that I love, and do not want to give up if I don’t have to. So here I will stay. I created the First Line Contest in hopes of garnering traffic and was hopeful it would inspire someone to buy my book. But as with the blog, the contest has become a personal mission of mine to be directly responsible for a new author selling. Yes, my ego is involved but more than that, I know how hungry we all are to sell, and I want to be able to open that door for someone.

So this brings me to me latest endeavor. A few weeks ago I was chatting with some friends on a private loop and someone suggested I do an anonymous advice column. The advice column part screamed at me, the anon part not so much. I’m afraid I could not disguise my voice, and I really don’t want to. So, here’s the plan: My Tuesday blog will be titled It’s Just Business. I’ll take one or two industry questions from the gallery and answer them once a week. Everyone is free to chime in with their opinion or experience but under no circumstance will there be any flaming. No question is a dumb question. There are lots of newbies out there and to us jaded vets we must always remember, we all started in the same place: 100% ignorant of what we needed to do. This also calls for me to say this as well: We all also started in the same exact place with our very first story: With one word. Some of us have gone on to hit the best seller lists, most of us are still striving for that golden ring, so no sniping please. If you don’t like my advice? Don’t take it. Advice is given if asked for, and not debated. If, as Jack Nicholson perfectly said, “You can’t handle the truth!” Then don’t ask for advice, because the closer we are to the matter of the business at heart the less objective we become. ‘Nuff said on that end,

Now, do I consider myself and expert here? Yes and no. I have a great agent and have learned a lot from her. I have also seen through the actions, reactions and decisions of my friends and colleagues what a bad agent can do, what a great agent can do, what an emotional, knee-jerk reaction can do (it ain’t good). I have great editors. I have seen bad editors. I have seen, heard and experienced a lot in the few short years I have been in this business, and while I may only be offering advice, there are some cold hard facts to back up my advice. And in the vein of It’s Just Business, I won’t pull any punches. I’m a realist and understand the business aspect of It’s Just Business all too well. My father is a self made man and I, a self made women in the business world. I have experience. I have seen businesses come and businesses go, all the while my own business nearly 22 years old is hanging in there through yet another rough economy. Writing is a business. We are all in the same boat and I for one am happy to share what I have learned in the hopes of helping someone along the way to steer clear of my mistakes.

So, if you have a question send it to Karin@KarinTabke.com and next Tuesday I’ll pick one or two. I will not use real names either. Oh, and I reserve the right not to answer any question that I think is too personal, inappropriate or obviously not serious.

So, bring it on, and if there is interest we’ll keep going, if not? We’ll kill it and find something else to chat about.

K*

what else? American Idol (with a twist) over at Murder She Writes today.

C’mon over.

K*

David Cook that is, and by a whopping 12 million votes! Whoo hoo, about 30 of them were mine, and my mother-in-law added her fair share. I’m so happy. And I have to admit there were come classic moments on the final show this year. The Love Guru, and Gladys Knight’s Pips were hysterical! Okay so when they announced David…Cook we all jumped up whooping and screaming. My mother-in-law called all shrieky excited and I just felt so very happy for David C. He’s a great guy, and I will totally buy his CD’s.

Speaking of music, I’m going to download that Cold Play song, and the One Republic song and Father Figure. How could I forget Father Figure????

Sigh, I’m very happy right now. And weirdly enough I would not have been upset if Archie won, but I am so totally elated David C did. Okay, I am off to download some musica and then write. I wrote a very sexy scene today and as I wrapped it up I sat back and smiled. It was one of those scenes where when I read it back I couldn’t believe I wrote it, it was that good. Now I just need to find a way to write every scene that way!

Ciao for now, and whoo hoo!!!!

K*

And I missed it. Sort of. It was my oldest son’s birthday tonight and I had a houseful. I was unable to sit and take notes but I did watch and listen in between the chicken parmesan and the birthday cake. After the show, my mother-in-law and I had # 01, 03, and 05 on speed dial on three different phone lines. We called for an hour and a half. I think all tolled we got in about 30 votes for David Cook.

That said, I think it was obvious by David A’s second song that kid came to win. I have never seen him so focused or really sounding as good as he did tonight. That isn’t saying David Cook tanked, he didn’t, but well, he just didn’t seem to shine the way the other David did. But despite that, I still think David Cook is the man to beat, and most definitely the man who will go on to break chart records. He has the sound, David A doesn’t.

And even after the obvious, I think David A’s crazed teeny-bobber cheering squad will vote him in as the next American Idol. C’est la vie. The good news is, we will all be hearing more of David Cook, and very soon.

and for those of you wondering, Kristi Yamaguchi won Dancing with the Stars Tonight.

So? Who got your vote and who do you think will be the next American Idol?

K*

My chapter desperately needs entries for our main fundraiser the Heart to Heart contest!!

This is a fabulous contest with lots of published judges and the feedback is fantastic! PLease help!

~~PERMISSION TO FORWARD GRANTED~~

The 2008 Heart To Heart Contest sponsored by the San Francisco Area Romance
Writers is open for entries.

WHAT’S NEW for 2008
~This year, entries will be accepted electronically ONLY. Save on paper and
postage!
~All entries will be judges by at least 2 published authors!
~Scoring based on 20 key areas guaranteed to make your entry shine!
~All entries will receive 4 scores. The lowest score will be dropped and the
average of the remaining 3 scores will constitute the final score!
~Contest entry fees will be accepted by Paypal or check!
CONTEST CATEGORIES: Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Single Title, and
Historical

WHAT TO ENTER:
The magical scene in which your hero and heroine meet for the first time,
maximum 15 pages (optional one-page set-up, unjudged)
ENTRY DEADLINE: June 6, 2008
FINAL ROUND JUDGES – Historical – Jessica Faust
Single Title – Jennifer Jackson
Paranormal – Lucienne Diver
Romantic Suspense – Kim Whalen
Tie Breaker – Roberta Brown
FIRST ROUND JUDGES:
All first-round judges are trained, experienced critiquers and published
authors
For contest overview, official rules, entry form, and score sheets go to:
_http://www.sfarwa.com/_ (http://www.sfarwa.com/)
Questions?? – Contact Regan Taylor, Contest Coordinator at:
_Taylorheart2heart@gmail.com_ (mailto:Taylorheart2heart@gmail.com)

K*

Hop on over to Murder She Writes and find out!

K*

But I tell ya, I was a wee bit nervous when it was just Syesha and David Cook standing there. I was so relieved when they said he was going up against David A. I can assure you, I will have the phones in my house set to speed dial next Tuesday night and rabidly vote for David Cook!

Is it me or is my life flashing before my eyes? It seems like just yesterday this season of Idol began.

Have a great day. I’m heading up to Tahoe tomorrow night for a few days of much needed R&R but will be back in time to see my son and his date off to Senior Prom on Saturday. Whoo hoo! The last one!!

K*