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Home » Archives for Tamela Hancock Murray » Page 44

Tamela Hancock Murray

Should I Be Writing This Genre?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon December 4, 2014
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Often I talk with new authors writing in lots of genres. This is fine if it’s part of your personal writing journey and learning process. I want my authors to enjoy what they’re writing. But when you get serious about publication, know when to choose and what to choose.

One mistake is to write strictly to market when you don’t like the genre. I love to tell the story of a friend who said she knew someone who decided that vampires were popular. This story is timeless, isn’t it, since vampires seem to occupy some place in literature at any time. Anyhow, supposedly he went home to work on a book about vampires. simply because he thought vampires could make him money. I haven’t seen his name on any book, and he started writing about vampires two decades ago. I speculate that he never saw success because he was writing about a topic he saw only as dollar signs. I believe readers will feel this from you whether you know it or not. So choose a topic or genre you have a genuine interest in and love for.

Here are a few questions to think about when choosing your genre. This quiz works for fiction and nonfiction. I will use vampires as the fill-in-the-blank, but you can substitute romance/thriller/prayer/marriage or whatever you like. If you’re struggling between topics and genres, take the quiz as many times as you need, substituting a different topic or genre each time.

1.) Have I read a number of books, both past and present, about vampires?

2.) Did I enjoy the books I read about vampires?

3.) Do I follow authors writing about vampires on social media?

4.) Do I enjoy interacting with authors of vampire novels?

5.) For the most part, do I share the world view of other authors of vampire novels?

6.) When a new book on vampires is released, do I immediately want to get a copy?

7.) Do I have the time, discipline, and will to write about vampires for several years?

8.) Am I willing to research vampire lore to make my book work?

9.) Do I feel a genuine kinship with readers of vampire novels?

10.) Do I respect readers of vampire novels?

11.) Do I feel comfortable around readers of vampire novels?

12.) Do I want to interact with readers of vampire novels on social media?

Your turn:

Do you have a question you’d like to propose as lucky #13?

Why did you choose your genre?

Leave a Comment
Category: Career, Craft, Creativity

Thanksgiving Blessings

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 27, 2014
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In the spirit of gratitude on this Thanksgiving Day, I share with you today’s Gospel reading from The Book of Common Prayer: John 6:26-35 26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto …

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Category: TheologyTag: thanksgiving, Theology

But My Critique Group Likes It!

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 20, 2014
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Over the years, I have received this comment from frustrated authors when a work didn’t hit the mark with me. As someone who penned many books in the past myself, I understand and sympathize with these authors. However, this argument will almost  never get an author another read of the same manuscript — at least in my office. This is because though they are important, crit groups …

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Category: Book Proposals, Craft, Get PublishedTag: critique group, Get Published

Farewell to Heartsong

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 13, 2014
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Earlier this week I received a call from Kathy Davis, acquisitions editor for Harlequin Heartsong Presents. She told me I was the first agent she called. Unfortunately, she had bad news. Heartsong Presents as a line will cease publication next year. I was sorry to learn that Kathy will also be looking for another position. A caring and competent editor, Kathy will surely find a soft place to …

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Category: Book Business, Publishing News, TrendsTag: Heartsong, Publishing News

HELP! I’m a Bestselling Author!

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 6, 2014
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Are you surprised that bestselling authors need help? Don’t be. While they are in an enviable position, that position is not without its hazards. 1.) Performance: Each book must be as good or better than the last book to keep readers reading. 2.) Sales: In direct correlation to the first item, the readership will result in sales. A bestselling author doesn’t want to see a big drop in …

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Category: Book Business, CareerTag: Bestselling Author, Career

HELP! I’m a Mid-List Author

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 30, 2014
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Author Sales are Going Down

In the current publishing environment, many mid-list authors have taken hits. Some mid-list authors can and do keep writing, enjoy healthy sales, and have great careers while rarely hitting a bestseller list. This is a great and rewarding path. However, in recent times, market changes and the closing of fiction lines in particular have left some mid-list authors without a home. Or perhaps simply …

Read moreHELP! I’m a Mid-List Author
Category: Book Business, Career, Get PublishedTag: Career, Mid-List Authors

HELP! I’m a Debut Author

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 23, 2014
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The Debut Author

When considering traditional publishing, new authors may think it’s harder than ever to go from unpublished (or “pre-published” as the popular euphemism goes) to published. However, that’s not the case. The truth is, it has ALWAYS been difficult to become a traditionally published author. When my first book was published in the 1990s, my uncle, a high school history teacher …

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Category: Career, Get PublishedTag: Career, Debut author, get publishied

HELP! I’m a Self-Published Author

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 16, 2014
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Time and time again, self-published authors come to me asking for help. They self-published or published with a very small press and found that doing all of their own marketing and promotion resulted in sales in the three-figure range. Some authors are able to achieve the low four figures but that’s not much better as far as impressing a traditional publisher. A cumulative total of several …

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Category: Career, IndieTag: Career, Get Published, Indie, Self-Publishing

Did I Say That?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 9, 2014
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I think I talk more at a conference in one day that I do in a week at home. (Well, my family might dispute that. Just sayin’.) All that talk means I have plenty of times to say great things, witty things, funny things, and stupid things. Sometimes someone will tell me, “Three years ago you said, blah BLAH blah blah blah blah blah BLAH.” Really? I said that? Well, I probably did. …

Read moreDid I Say That?
Category: Career, Conferences, Get PublishedTag: Talking, writers conferences

Will My Therapeutic Novel Sell?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 2, 2014
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My novel is based on the difficult times I’ve had in my life. Will it sell? The short answer — probably not. Should you write it? Yes. Issues versus story I often see proposed novels that focus on social issues, and sadly, most of them are based on the author’s personal experience with hurt or grief. And because the author is healing while writing the book, the issue comes to the …

Read moreWill My Therapeutic Novel Sell?
Category: Get PublishedTag: Get Published, Issues, Writing Craft
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