Getting Published Now!

Coronado Adult Education

Spring 2015

Establishing an Online Presence

February 10, 2015

Recap of What We Covered Last Week

“The Great American Novel”

• Great or not-so-great? What you need to know getting started

• Mainstream or genre? Which way should you go?

• Defining your audience and picking a “voice” and point of view

• Getting the sale with a publisher

This Week:Establishing an Online Presence

Establishing an Online Presence

• Review of weeks one through four

– Why write – writing skills in general

– Writing for and selling for publication

– Writing and selling non-fiction

– Writing and selling novels

• What makes your online material unique?

• Beating the competition for “eyes”

• Balancing content and entertainment

• Doing-it-yourself…or…?

Why Write?

• History is what writers say it is

• Picking your medium

• A building block approach

• Due diligence the easy way

“History is what the historians and writerssay it is.”

Norman Polmar(Forty books – and counting)

Recap of What We Talked About

• Telling stories is what we humans do

• Determining the “Five Ws” of writing

• Evaluating the universe of outlets for your writing

• It usually starts with what you read

• Due diligence – the internet and your library

• Do write that “family pass-down”

First - and Essential - Steps

• Content-hungry media

• Recycling and building content

• Building relationships with editors – a win-win for both parties

• Solo or with a wingman? The pros and cons of collaboration

“Writing has to have a purpose; it’s meant tocommunicate something to someone. If you’re notready to write for the general public, then try writingfor a very specific audience, one you know will behappy to hear from you.”

Robert MaselloRobert’s Rules of Writing

Recap of What We Talked About

• Written and online media can’t exist without content

• Above all else – write what you’re passionate about

• John Boswell’s “rules of what to write”

• Getting started and “building up”

• Recycling content and growing your expertise

• Doing something old & familiar and new & exciting

Non-Fiction - The Hungry Market

• Being - or becoming - the expert?

• Pursuing a subject - or letting life happen?

• Scratching itches - or entertaining?

• How much to tell and what’s next?

“A blank piece of paper is God’s way of telling us howhard it is to be God.”

Sidney Sheldon

Recap of What We Talked About

• The majority of published books are non-fiction

• The market is easier to enter than fiction

• This medium returns you to John Boswell’s “rules”

• Being of becoming the expert

• The art and science of query letters

• The full-on book proposal – your audition

“The Great American Novel”

• Great or not-so-great? What you need to know getting started

• Mainstream or genre? Which way should you go?

• Defining your audience and picking a “voice” and point of view

• Getting the sale

“For me, I gotta write, and it’s the adventure of it that’shooked me. As the writer, I can do it all. I get to be theNational Security Advisor who recommends the actionto the President who must commit the forces. I’m thesenior officer who sends his men into action and whofeels the pain if they don’t make it back. I’m the enemyand the defender; logistician and staff planner. Butmost of all, I’m a young man again, that freshlieutenant who must lead his men into battle.”

Dick Couch“So you Want to be a Writer”

Recap of What We Talked About

• Non-fiction is mostly the “what”

• Fiction is primarily the “how”

• There are essential elements to any work of fiction

• We know what readers demand from a novel (DK)

• Plot and character should be your primary focus

• But you weave your style around that!

Let’s get into some specifics of the online “you”

But first, what are you trying to accomplish with the online “you?”

“There is only one recipe for a bestseller and it is a verysimple one. If you look back on all the bestsellers youhave read, you will find they all have one quality” yousimply have to turn the page.”

Ian FlemingHow to Write a Thriller

What Makes Your Online Material Unique?

• Are you providing something people can’t get anywhere else or get as easily?

• Are you aiming at the right attention span of online tourists?

• Determining the right level of effort in refreshing your online content

• Balancing what you give away online and what you want to sell to visitors

Beating the Competition for Online Eyes

• Above all else, when someone “Googles” your name your website must pop up at the top

• It’s not just about getting that initial visitor – it’s about getting him or her to keep coming back

• Most online visitors are taking a break from what they have to do at work or home

• Think of your website the same way as what you write – tell people a story

Balancing Content and Entertainment

• People will tire of the monotonous “professor” telling them “like this damn you” (from Ian Fleming)

• People will tire of dancing bears, dwarfs throwing rose petals and fireworks

• Achieving the right blend and balance is your online presence style

• Take the same approach Urban Meyer has during his coaching career

Doing It Yourself Or Having It Done

• Your website is “you” to people you will likely never meet – but who you want to entertain

• There are cottage industries of books, seminars, tools and coaches to help you build your own website

• There are legions of people and businesses who will do it for you

• If you have the time and energy and want to use your left and right brain – try doing it yourself

Let’s look at some examples of websites of people who write….

Some Writers Who Have Done It Themselves

• Jeff Edwards

– http://navythriller.com/

• Larry Verria

– Site lapsed!

• Janice Steinberg

– thetinhorse.com

Some Writers Who Have Had Someone Else Build Their Website

• Dick Couch

– www.dickcouch.com

• Larry Bond

– http://www.larry-bond.com/

• Your guide for this course

– www.georgegaldorisi.com

Other Websites With Some Cool Features

• Native Custom Stone - Manufactured Stone Veneers www.nativecustomstone.com

• Waggoner Hastings LL - Family Law Attorney www.whfamilylaw.com

• Don Turner Legal Team - Criminal Attorney www.donturnerlegalteam.com

Some Ways to Find More Examples

• “Google” writers you enjoy

• Go online for advice on going online

• Check with local businesses in Coronado

• Our library has additional resources

Website Constants Regardless of Who Builds and Maintains the Site

• You will need to provide the content

• You will want to add content frequently

• You will want to use social media to drive people to your website

• The longer you have your website the more it will become your “professional persona”

“You are the CEO of your own career.”David SonaNavy Transition CourseCirca 2000

Slides Posted:http://www.georgegaldorisi.com/

Next Week

Social Media-Challenges and Opportunities

• Everyone is doing it

• Vote early and often

• Building a following

• Sustaining momentum

Backups

“Being a comparatively successful writer is a good life.You don’t have to work at it all the time and you carryyour office around in your head. And you are far moreaware of the world around you. Writing makes youmore alive to your surroundings and, since the mainingredient of living, though you might not think so tolook at most human beings is to be alive, this is quite aworthwhile by-product, even if you only write thrillers.”

Ian FlemingHow to Write a Thriller