Fibro Book Club: The Rosie Project

It's fair to say that The Rosie Project is one of those word-of-mouth novels for good reason. There's a lot to talk about! For me, the book had the stamp of screenplay all over it, and not to the novel's detriment. As author Graeme Simsion revealed in his Facebook chat with the Fibro Book Club last week, the story began as a screenplay, morphed into a novel and has now been optioned as a screenplay again. Personally, I'd love to see it played out on the big screen - though we might need to have long conversations over who would play Don.

I thought the dialogue in the book was one of its absolute cornerstones. As a reader, I really enjoyed the interchanges, the different patterns of the voices, the zing of it all. As a writer, I just want to know how Graeme does it (I asked him in the chat whether he read it out loud, but, alas, he told me that after many years of screenwriting it just comes as second nature now - at which point I made a note to do a screenwriting course...)

It's a lovely, lovely book on so many levels - gentle humour, terrific pacing - but at the heart of it all is, of course, the inspired character of Don Tillman (who has his own Twitter handle if you'd like to say hello). For me, it was all driven by Don - what would he say next, what would he do next - and that made a relatively fanciful story feel real.

I'm happy to join in the general babble of happy, positive word-of-mouth that's driving this novel's success. I look forward to reading everyone else's thoughts here or over at the Fibro Club Facebook page (if you haven't joined us, come and say hello!)

PS: What do you think of this cover from the UK version of the book? 

Who do you think should play Don in the movie?

Weekend Rewind #6: Short

Well, what a week it's been. Down here on the south coast of NSW, we've experienced torrential rain, flooding, and that cold, heavy chill that permeates all your clothing. In Canberra, there's been fierce battle and political blood spilt. In Texas, Senator Wendy Davis stood on her feet for hour and hours and hours while the world watched via YouTube.

You might say it's been a long week.

Which is why the theme for this week's Rewind is: Short. A short post. A post about being short or short skirts or short haircuts or animated shorts or short tempers. Whatever works best for you.

I'm going with a short post. As a blogger, I think it's important to realise that you don't have to say everything all the time. Some of the most popular Fibro posts are just a few paragraphs long. Sentences even.

The rules of the Rewind are also relatively short, so that works well. Link up an old post for some new comment love. Visit some of the other links to share the love around. Oh, and like my Facebook page, if we're not already friends, because that's where I offer the first heads-up each week about the Rewind (Limited Edition).

Thanks, as ever, to everyone who linked up last week. I very much enjoyed reading all your posts about growth. The thing I love about the Rewind is the different approach to the theme that everyone takes. It's a great opportunity to visit new blogs and find new friends. Keep 'em coming!

Okay, that's it.

Ready, set... REWIND!

Social Media for Writers #1: Blogging

"Why do you blog?"

It's a question I get asked a lot, usually by other writers who are wondering how in the world to manage a blog amongst all their other writing commitments.

My answer has varied over the years.

As most regular readers know, I started this blog on a dare. Then I became consumed by it. Then I realised that it was cutting into my writing time in a big way. So I cut back. But I'm still here, for a variety of reasons - love, community, habit, sheer bloody-mindedness.

But it got me thinking.

These days, most writers know that they need to build a 'platform' - that elusive beast from the back of which they will launch their books and other projects to the waiting world. They must, they are told by experts, 'get into social media'. But social media can be a bewildering and unwieldy premise, and they are left trying to tweet and Facebook and Pin and Instagram and YouTube and blog and ... basically run around like headless chickens.

So I thought I'd start a new series and get a few experts in to answer some questions and... well, clear a few things up.

The first person in the hot seat is Jane Friedman, talking about blogging. Jane is the web editor of the Virginia Quarterly Review, an award-winning national journal, where she leads online and digital content strategy. She also teaches digital publishing at the University of Virginia. Before joining VQR, Jane was the publisher of Writer’s Digest (F+W Media) and an assistant professor of e-media at the University of Cincinnati.

She's also very good at answering questions.

Will blogging help me to sell books? How?

Jane Friedman: When done correctly, blogging directly reaches your target readership and helps develop a community around your work. When done authentically, with good content, you'll will develop loyal fans who keep returning for more, plus generate word of mouth and reach new readers. Your blog content is rarely about directly selling books (with the exception of big launch campaigns), but about building an audience who is interested in your work for the long-term (and of course do buy your books when available).

How exactly do I set myself up to make the most of blogging as an author? What should I blog about?

JF: Blog about what obsesses you. Blog about what makes you weird. Blog about what's fun, or what's unique about you. Most importantly, blog about something that you're passionate about and won't become boring within a few months' time. The only way to make the most of blogging is by being persistent and consistent over a very long period of time, and that requires writing about something you truly care about. If you're unsure what that is, practice literary citizenship, as outlined here by Cathy Day.

Do I need huge numbers of friends/followers for it to work?

JF: No. A small, targeted, loyal following is best (the 1,000 True Fans concept).

Top three tips for making the most of blogging as an author

JF: 1. Make sure people can subscribe via e-mail and RSS. This functionality is built in to most platforms, but not everyone uses it or makes it available to their readers. Don't expect people to keep visiting your site to see if there's new content.
2. Wherever else you're active online, be sure to point people to new blog posts.
3. Writing for online is not the same as writing for print. Your headlines have to be clear, literal and descriptive; your copy needs to be broken up for easy reading. If you're new to online writing, spend 1-2 hours reading the most popular posts at CopyBlogger to start learning best practices.

Biggest mistakes authors can make with blogging

JF: 1. Lack of focus. You blog about anything and everything. Your audience doesn't know what to expect, and you don't become known for any particular type of content. If your blog title is not self-explanatory, make sure you have a tagline that explains what your blog is all about and who it's for. If you can't express that in roughly 10-20 words, you probably need to rethink your blog.   
2. Lack of consistency. You don't have a regular schedule, regular series/categories, or regular themes.   
3. Lack of patience. It takes time to build a following. It also takes time to get good at blogging and understand what people respond to. Many authors abandon their blogs too soon or too early, before they've reached the point where blogging offers benefits and opens up opportunities.

Three authors you think are using their blogs well – and why
1. Joanna Penn. Strong focus and consistency, with multimedia elements. (AT: Read Joanna's Fibro Q&A about self-publishing here.)   
2. Chuck Wendig. Strong, unmistakable voice, not afraid to offend people who aren't part of his audience to begin with.   
3. Chris Guillebeau. He was able to develop a strong following in under a year by being super-focused on his mission and audience.

Like to know more about blogging for writers, follow Jane on Twitter (@JaneFriedman) or visit her blog for writers.

So, tell me, what do you blog about? Why do you blog?

Nice weather for ... talking about the weather

Every conversation I have had today has involved the weather. Every single one. The boys and I woke up and had one of those 'gosh, gee whiz, it's raining' kind of conversations.

I dropped them at school and called The Builder. We had one of those 'good grief, how wet is it?' kind of chats.

I went to a cafe, and was asked if I'd removed my flippers at the door.

I ran into a friend I hadn't seen for ages. Opening gambit: "Nice weather for ducks!" (Yes, really.)

I called a contact from the car. "Is it pouring in your neck of the woods?" (Sorry, I can't help it.)

I went home and decided I would not post a Facebook update about the weather. And I didn't. Well, not really...

Then I went out into the backyard. And discovered a river running through it. And a frog pond that had grown to Olympic-pool-sized proportions.

So I gave up immediately, took the image you see with my little duck friend, and decided if you can't beat them, join them.

How about this weather???????

*Just a reminder to all friends of Fibro that we are holding a live Facebook chat with the fabulous Graeme Simsion, best-selling author of The Rosie Project, tomorrow night (Tuesday 25 June) at 8pm. All questions about writing, reading and books welcome. Come one, come all! Details here.

Weekend Rewind #5: Growth

Hi everyone!

I can't quite believe it's Friday again already. I had so many things on my To Do list this week and Friday is here and I haven't actually done any of them.

Anyhoo.

Thanks to everyone who shared their Lesson posts last week. I'm pretty sure there was something in there for everyone!

This week's Weekend Rewind theme is: GROWTH.

Personal growth, plant growth, child growth, fungal growth... any kind of growth you like.

The rules for the Rewind remain the same: link up an old post for some new comment love, then pop around and visit as many other blogs as you can. Remember to leave comments! Comments are what makes the Rewind go round. Plus, keep track of the Rewind each week by liking my Facebook page. 

Okay team - ready, set... Rewind!

Can you whistle?

So, can you whistle?

It's easy, remember? All you do is just pucker up your lips and blow*.

Except I can't. Whistle, that is.

Oh, I make this kind of pathetic, hideous, high squeaking noise. Nothing tuneful. No control. Just wispy squealing.

The boys think it's hilarious.

Mr6 can whistle. Boy, can he whistle. Theme tunes from Harry Potter, Star Wars, Young Justice League. Lovely, tuneful LOUD whistling reverberating around the house.

It drives me crazy. Particularly when, as now, I'm trying to concentrate and he's feeling particularly joyful because he's home from school, in his dressing gown, having a sick day. His joie de vivre cannot be contained and spills over in outbursts of uncontrolled whistling.

Some might say I'm just jealous.

Those people have not lived with an enthusiastic whistler.

So, can you whistle? Or do you too live with an enthusiastic whistler?

*Actual quote: "You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and... blow" - Lauren Bacall, To Have and Have Not