We’re all familiar with portion control when it comes to dieting. Consume just enough to satisfy and not enough to be more than you need. It’s tough when you’re really enjoying what’s on your plate. Resisting that next bite… sometimes it’s really hard.

Excerpts of books are supposed to be that way. They’re supposed to make you crave more. When they’re chosen well, you can’t help but want to continue reading. Since that’s the whole point of the exercise, you want to be sure you get the teaser just right.

And so it is that I’ve spent way too much time this morning trying to pick an excerpt out of one of my books. There are so many turns of phrase, witty comebacks, and action-packed scenes that I love in the book. However, I’m biased. I’m also too familiar with the story. Maybe it’s witty because it ties in so neatly with something that happened before and no one will “get it” until they read the book. Maybe the angst I see in a scene, can’t be seen to others out of context. I also find myself wanting to use the full allotment of words (i.e. if I can post 350 words, I want to post a full 350, not 300), which causes me to skip over what I consider to be great parts because they read best at a shorter length.

For as many great excerpts as I’ve read that make me want to buy a book, I’ve read at least twice as many that didn’t do anything for me. Sometimes I read the excerpt and wonder why in the world the author picked that particular tidbit. Sometimes, I’m just unmoved by the excerpt. Sometimes, it can actually make me not want to buy the book. I certainly don’t want to post an excerpt like that. *shudder*

I think I’ll have to revisit the excerpt-picking tomorrow, when I’ve had more than 2 hours of sleep. (deadline crunch = no sleep) In the meantime: what’s the last excerpt you read that clinched a sale with you? What about it hooked you and reeled you in? And when you finished the book, did you find that the teaser was an accurate representation of what was best about the story?

Sorry to be so late. I’ve actually been thinking about my blog post since my last blog post, but I’m so behind with work right now that I really couldn’t spare even a teeny bit of time to write a blog post. I’m sorry. I suck.

I’m a “pantser” writer. I have no outline, no synopsis, no clue of what my story is going to be until I’m writing it. Sometimes, I can’t even see farther ahead than the end of the scene, let alone the next chapter. There are times when the going is tortuous because my brain is spinning like a hamster on a wheel. It’s getting a workout, but it’s not going anywhere. When that happens, it’s pure misery. I can lose precious time if too many days go by and I’m still lost in the woods.

But then there are the times when a plan comes together. Wondrous moments when an avenue will appear that is so phenomenally perfect I wish I would have thought of it, so I could feel clever. It might sound silly to say “I wish I would have thought of it,” because clearly I did, right? It popped up in my brain, didn’t it? But I’m not sure I can claim credit for something that smacks me between the eyes like a 2 x 4.

I have friends who swear it’s my subconscious at work. That while I’m feeling like my brain is skipping like a broken record (did I just totally date myself by making that analogy?), it’s actually playing with the puzzle pieces to put the picture together. I suppose that’s the most logical explanation, but wow… seriously, sometimes an idea will emerge that pulls together threads I laid out books ago! Sometimes the bow I can make out of it is such a perfect bow that it looks like I must have planned the whole thing all along. When a reviewer says “brilliantly plotted” or “complex and intriguing plot” or “In the hands of a less talented author, such a busy plot may have become difficult to follow,” I can’t help but wonder what they’d say if they knew I didn’t plan it that way? That it was all some crazy fluke that happened when I wasn’t looking?

But, regardless, I soooo love it when it happens. The feeling of discovery and delight is like opening a present that you couldn’t be more happy with. I get so excited, almost giddy. It’s one of the reasons why I stay a pantser instead of trying to plot. Yeah, the brain-dead times are horrible. But those golden nuggets in the muddy bottom make it all worth it. Too bad I can’t take credit for finding them…

Promotion. I, personally, have noticed three types of promotional campaigns from authors — the mega blitz, which can include bottle openers, pop can cozies, and calendars; the going-through-the-motions promo, which is usually bookmarks that get limited distribution and some web banners; and the non-existent campaign. The first two levels have tiers within it, the last is self-explanatory.

Promotion has been a vital part of my career from the beginning. Like many authors, I started out with little support from the publisher beyond cover art (which, in my case, was widely panned) and a handful of Advance Reading Copies. The rest was left to me and I ran with it by arranging various print ads, bookstore mailings, blog interviews, etc. In the end, I believe it was the bookstore mailings (and a book that readers – thankfully – enjoyed) that helped the most. I received an out-of-the-blue email from Susan Grimshaw, romance buyer for Borders, within weeks after I mailed out the few ARCs I had telling me that she was hearing great things about my book from her romance experts.

I continued a similar promotional plan for my next two books, and I continued to hear from booksellers who’d never heard of me until they received a mailing from me. By my fourth book, the publisher took over promotion and started running their own print ad campaigns, e-newsletter blasts, etc. Last year was a minimal promotional year for me because of that and man… I loved not having to worry about promo. I loved saving all the money, too.

This year, I launch two new pen names and that has forced me back into promotion. All the booksellers who know me as one author, now need to know that I’m two other authors, too. Because the genres vary so widely, some of the booksellers/reading groups won’t be interested in my new books. In contrast, there are booksellers/readers out there who weren’t interested in my previously published books that will be interested in my new stuff. It’s enough to drive an author batty.

Now, I confess, for the most part, I enjoy promoting my books. I worked hard on them. I want people to know they’re out there. I don’t enjoy the tremendous outlay of funds, but I’ve seen the investment pay off for me in the long run. Promo is a crap shoot. What works for one author, won’t work for another. So much has to be considered when promoting a book — who the target audience is, whether the print run justifies the expense, whether the book will have decent distribution? In some cases, promotion isn’t going to do any good because the book will be one that’s difficult to find or only appeals to a niche audience that limits its saleability from the get-go. I usually make a list of promotional ideas, then mull them over for days/weeks/months. Some things fall off the list after I think about them enough. Some things surprise me by working out way better than I thought they would. It’s kind of like hitting the lottery and, if you like promo, those surprise payoffs can be great fun.

I’ve found the best way to go about it is to have a frank discussion with my editor about what I’m planning. I check see what they’re willing to pay for and which of my promotional items they might be willing to utilize/distribute. Sometimes they’ll run with my idea and I can leave it to them. Sometimes I’m on my own. I’ve learned to make sure that I don’t spend/work over my resentment threshold. There’s a fine line between doing too little and kicking yourself later, and doing too much and kicking yourself later.

So anyway, want to talk about promo? What’s the best promotional thing/item that you’ve seen from an author? What’s the worst (i.e. you scratched your head and wondered how it was supposed to sell books)

I don’t know about you all, but I’m still wiped out from the holidays and a lingering cold. So I thought I’d keep things simple on this last Monday of the year.

How about a Q & A?

• What was your most unexpected gift?
• Did you get your heart’s desire?
• Did you get any books? Care to share?
• Did you give any books this year?
• Favorite part of your holiday meal?
• Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet?
• What are most looking forward to in 2009?
• Did you catch a cold, too?

* What was your most unexpected gift?
– Frosty the Snowman velour pjs from my hubby
* Did you get your heart’s desire this year?
– I really only wanted a toaster oven and hubby got me one.
* Did you get any books? Care to share?
– No books for me this year.
* Did you give any books this year?
– Yes, The Writing Diet, for my mom who’s always wanted to write a book AND lose weight.
* Favorite part of your holiday meal?
– sweet potato casserole
* Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet?
– kinda, sorta. Still working on it.
* What are most looking forward to in 2009?
– having some time off.
* Did you catch a cold?
– Did I ever.

Happy New Year!

Good morning! Sorry I’m a bit late. I thought about posting last night, but I’ve got a cold that’s really done a number on me. So I thought it would be best to kick off this post after a fresh cup of coffee and a good night’s sleep.

It’s raining here in Southern California. First time it’s really felt like something besides summer. I love it! I have copy edits to work on and I’m going to work on them in my new family room. I’m going to drop the kids off at school, come home and light a fire in the fireplace, and work. I can’t wait.

My family room isn’t really new. It’s the same one that came with the house when we bought it eight years ago. It’s a room that we never really used, even though it’s off the kitchen and much cooler in the summer than the formal living room. That room used to drive me nuts. I always felt like it was wasted mortgage. Even in the new-house-decorating mania I was in several years ago, I couldn’t seem to make that room work.

Then, a week or so ago, the family and I were in WalMart by the electronics section looking in the discount DVD bins. My husband grabbed my arm and said, “Let’s get that TV” and pointed to a $1500 LCD. I gave him the you’ve-lost-your-damn-mind look and kept on rolling. He insisted. Swore he heard them announce that TV up at the front of the store for $500. I looked at the kids. They shook their heads. None of us had heard it. But hubby has man-hearing, which my son hasn’t grown into yet (you know, the kind that can tune out everything while still picking up on electronics deals and sports scores broadcast from a radio on the other side of the parking lot). Turns out hubby was right. Mongo TV was $500, so we bought it and mounted it above the fireplace in the family room.

The TV position necessitated moving the furniture to face the screen (and therefore the fireplace, which had previously fallen into the trap of being an untapped resource. Many a time I’ve watched shows on HGTV and listened to real estate professionals lamenting homes that had fireplaces and didn’t showcase them properly. I’d scowl and think, “You come over here and figure out what to do with that room! I dare you.”). The change in furniture position opened up more floor space, which necessitated more furniture. The windows needed new curtains, too. And I think the wall below the chair rail needs to be a different color to tie it all in together. After all, it’s now the most popular room in the house. It should look fabulous.

Since the kitchen flows off the family room, I think new tile is in order. And maybe matching tile in the washroom or maybe not. I should probably pick up a new washer and dryer, too. (I’m dying over the Kelly Ripa commercial touting a washer and dryer that can wash AND dry in less than 36 mins…) The new tile in the washroom should probably complement the W and D. Foreclosures in California are over 300%. You can’t give away a home right now. So I figure, why not return to tackling all those projects I wanted to do 8 years ago and lost steam for? Get a pseudo new house out of it.

Well… I didn’t actually lose steam for them. I lost time. I gave it all to my career. Revamping the house just fell by the wayside. Who has time to shop for new tile when a book is due? And pleasure reading? Wassat? Going out without feeling guilty? Who does that?

I’m a magazine hoarder, I’m afraid. I find it hard to throw away magazines. I have nearly 4 year’s worth of RWRs stacked up. Crazy. And yet out of all those issues, one from October 2007 caught my eye when I was cleaning out my office (yes, the family room makeover spread like a cancer). Serendipity is my friend. One of the articles on the cover was “Surviving Your Career.” It was written by some of my favorite authors and it’s full of gems like:

“There are times when you simply have to turn off the computer and leave your career behind while you invest in, pursue, experience or commit to something else. Sometimes the best way to refill the well is to dig deeper, and sometimes you have to build a new well.”

– Connie Brockway

and:

“Our spirits need to be replenished. So the next time you’re having a hard time dragging yourself to the computer, maybe you should ask yourself… What have you done for you lately?”

– Lisa Kleypas

And you know what? An odd thing happened when the makeover bug bit me. Story ideas started popping into my head. Bits of dialogue. Fun scenarios. Not a ton, like I used to get, but still more than I’ve had in a while. How cool is that? I’m thrilled! So is hubby, despite the mile-long Honey-Do list I gave him this weekend. I’m crazy busy with work right now, but from here on out, I’m going to make sure to take more “me” time. Tackle projects and goals I’ve put off for too long. Whatever they happen to be. And to do it without feeling guilty about it.

So, there’s the first item for my New Year’s resolution list! What about you? Do you have anything on your list yet?