This week, Alida and Kathryn welcome Scott James back to the Round Table to discuss how we can use genre considerations while we’re drafting to avoid future pitfalls. Scott is a publishing guide with an interesting take on our topic. He also knows how to make sure your novel makes it into the right readers’ hands. He’s got a great tip for making Amazon categories work for you!
VIDEO
AUDIO
Scott Andrew James is a best selling and award winning poet who believes in everyday magic and the healing power of creativity. At home on a 1946 Smith-Corona typewriter with handmade papers and brilliant watercolors, his work has been featured by Tim Ferris, the World Domination Summit, and Creative Mornings. His workshops and seminars have been attended by thousands. He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, daughter, and their pug.
SHOW NOTES
What we talked about:
What does Scott do as a publishing guide? (1:48)
Do writers come with a genre? Or do they come with a story first? (3:40)
Is it sometimes hard to find the right genre and the right readers? (6:40)
What’s the difference between readers and genre? (9:20)
Think about what you want to be talking about. (12:50)
So how can you help find your ideal reader? (16:55)
How can you apply the genre work to your craft? (22:13)
Are the categories so small they become obscure? (26:00)
How do you get into these other categories? (30:40)
One last tip! (35:20)
LINKS
Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group.
Do you enjoy the show?
Do you learn something every week?
Do you feel like you have company on your writing journey?
About Your Hosts
Alida Winternheimer is an award-winning author with an MFA from Hamline University. She pursues her fervor for all things story as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. Two of her short stories were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She is the author of The Story Works Guide to Writing Fiction Series. Alida lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her Golden Retriever, Seva the Wonder Dog. She camps, bikes, and kayaks in her free time. Unless it’s winter, in which case she drinks chai by the fire. You can find more at www.alidawinternheimer.com.
Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.
Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com
0 Comments