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What a Sentence Can Do: James Altucher

February 19, 2014 By Jody Rein Leave a Comment

Sidetracked by a perfect paragraph. Doesn’t happen often.

I run into lots of people dying to know how to get famous and sell books. Lots of other people, including me, earn a living by advising said people. The truth: you can’t get famous through a formula. Social media fame comes from writing really engaging stuff in an authentic voice. Words that surprise, ideas that contradict and twist and grab.

Today, killing time before the Broncos game (known to some as the Superbowl), I jumped on Quora to find an answer to a software question. They made me click on categories & read an article to join the club (a hook I found both admirable and annoying). I read this article by James Altucher because it had a cartoon at the top that reminded me of one my son drew for me.

Skimmed it just to fulfill my “I read it” obligation. Woah…put on the brakes at “have sex more [Read more…]

Filed Under: Platform and Sales, Practical Publishing, Rants and Raves, Writing

Top Ten Places to Discover Books Online

February 7, 2013 By Jody Rein Leave a Comment

Too many bookstores are closing their doors.  How will we find our books?

That’s the rub.

bookstore closedNot a massage kinda rub, but an OUCH! bruising kinda rub.

Plenty of studies show most bookbuyers find books in bookstores or libraries, through word of mouth, regardless of where they ultimately buy them.

Not online. Online is confusing and overwhelming.

A bunch of companies are trying to make online book “discovery” more user-friendly.

Will they replicate the bookstore experience? Never. But if they help readers find worthy books online, and keep the business of publishing good books alive, everyone benefits, even booksellers.

What do you think? Do these spots work for you?

Newest “Recommendation Engines”

1. Bookish was years in the making; it’s the result of a major collaboration between some of the largest publishers in the world. The look and concept is cool: type in a book you love and through miraculous algorithmic juggling, others you will love pop up. Plenty of bells and whistles; plenty of early praise and complaints.  Compared to Amazon: easier and cleaner; both less suspect and less powerful. Good people behind it; good luck to them. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Platform and Sales, Practical Publishing, Self Publishing

Sweating the Exception: An Exhaustingly Bad Idea

November 15, 2011 By Jody Rein Leave a Comment

A worthy hit

Today my friend Michael Larsen, probably the menschiest literary agent on the planet, and I were talking about The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach.  That book, published by the admirable Little, Brown, was a buzz book last BEA.   A first novel acquired for scads of money & published with great enthusiasm–but both Mike and I were underwhelmed by the read relative to the ransom.  Mike pondered:  What does this mean? Is character [Read more…]

Filed Under: Platform and Sales, Practical Publishing, Rants and Raves, Self Publishing, Writing

General Advice

Praise

Jody actually takes the time to digest and understand what it is the writer is attempting to do before offering well thought out input. She has a more creative “big picture” mindset than most. (more)
Joe Lieberman
Jody is the consummate professional; she’s creative, a pleasure to deal with and her knowledge of book publishing is profound. I couldn’t recommend her highly enough. (more)
Madeleine Morel
Jody strives for the best, sets the bar high, and encourages others to do the same. Her success in the world of book publishing reflects her high standards. She knows the business inside and out–and her clients benefit! (more)
Dr. Lucy Spelman
Working editorially with Jody Rein and her team at Author Planet is like getting a graduate degree in writing… (more)
Timothy Ashby
Kudos to Jody! She provided the substance and valuable information we sought. Jody has such an open, upfront approach; it was perfect for our casual atmosphere. (more)
Bonnie F. McCune
Jody’s suggestions are clear and concise, and effectively point me in the direction I need to go with my project. I’ve had a most instructive and enjoyable time working with her! (more)
Louise Hauck
Jody is beyond AWESOME! (more)
Mark Kistler
Thanks to (Author Planet), I have been able to serve as the force behind several events that have resulted in change for good…(more)
Trisha Pritikin
Jody gives thoughtful and thorough assessments, a value to me, and I appreciate it. I take her words to heart.  (more)
Bill Nesbit
Jody has a gift for communicating in a clear, authoritative, engaging way that inspires trust and affection. (more)
Michael Larsen

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Publishing News

Writing a book? Confused about publishing options? Need a marketing plan? Don’t miss the 7th annual Nonfiction Writers Conference—a virtual event unlike any other.

Join 15 top speakers May 3-5, 2017 from the comfort of your home or office. For details and registration got to NonfictionWritersConference.com.

Note: This is an affiliate link. Jody knows and respects the people who run this conference.

RSS General News

  • 10 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About James and Nora Joyce January 19, 2021
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RSS Publishing Trends Feed

  • Top 5 Publishing Articles/Blog Posts of the Week 1/11-1/15 January 15, 2021 PT Editors

Self-Publishing News

RSS Self-pub news from PW

  • Autofiction: What It Is and What It Isn’t January 8, 2021
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  • First Lines: January 2021 January 8, 2021
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  • Pantser or Planner? January 8, 2021
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RSS The Book Designer Feed

  • e-Book Cover Design Awards, November 2020 December 28, 2020
    e-Book Cover Design Awards, November 2020 including The post e-Book Cover Design Awards, November 2020 appeared first on The Book Designer.
    Joel Friedlander
  • Self-Publishing: Carnival of the Indies Issue #123 December 25, 2020
    Self-Publishing: Carnival of the Indies Issue #123 including Darcy Pattison, Frances Caballo, Sandra Beckwith and many others The post Self-Publishing: Carnival of the Indies Issue #123 appeared first on The Book Designer.
    Joel Friedlander

Author Planet, Jody Rein News

Looking forward to the upcoming 2018 San Francisco Writers conference February 14-17, 2018. Jody will be teaching many classes, and offering free coaching sessions.

Hey, hey, teaching again at the wonderful 2018 Willamette Writers Conference, August 2-5 in Portland, Oregon. This time taught a SIX HOUR Query Master workshop–super fun!

Jody is doing the morning keynnote for theCastle Rock Writers Conference 2018, in October, in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Jody was interviewed by Stephanie Chandler in a teleseminar for the Nonfiction Authors Association on April 13, 2016.

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