Networthking

A quick hello to a handful of new adventurers to the blog – I welcome you! Pull up a chair and huddle round the campfire, for the stars are out, the moon hangs in the night like a silver coin and the toll is paid for tales of danger, derring-do and shenanigans!

Another apology I’m afraid – I’ve been chopsing on Twitter and trying to get sorted out with editors, agents and fellow ramblers like your truly in order to get a handle on how proceed.

I’m a little dismayed about it, because I can check my stats on the blog and it gets very little traffic from twitter, which does and does not surprise me. It’s a bit of a microcosm (or should that be macrocosm..?) I think because replying is fast and easy and pithy sentiments go down well.

Now I’ve said this before – my blog is my preferred channel to connect to my audience, because I get room to discuss things, but I’m trying to get the “Author Platform” together for Querying agents, but I’m seeing a lot of rejections from what seem to be solid projects.

I’m not an agent or marketing expert (just one of those glib, tuppence-ha’penny indie authors, dont-cha-know, what-what) but when award winning journalists (a friend of mine) and historical fiction authors with a Degree in the Georgian Era are getting shot down in favour of what was deemed “high-concept” I set my jaw squarely and wonder if it’s worth the effort.

“Now, hang on old boy,” you might say, “didn’t you mention platform?”

Good question. I sure did.

In a marketing book I purchased, there is the example of several authors who have no social media interaction at all. They literally just bang out books and reel in the cash, (writers making money? Only the best and the dead!) and don’t do the followers or adventurers thing.

I have it on good authority that some UK domestic agents who have a US arm will not pick you up if your profile in the States isn’t worth it. Furthermore I saw one agent on Twitter admit they had too many Queries that were too short and some too long.

Now, there may be guidelines on their website about this, but too short? That’s the definition of high concept. Here’s an example of what that is:

Tom Cruise in a fighter jet.

High concept pitch for “Top Gun” (1984)

Tom Cruise in a race car.

High concept pitch for “Days of Thunder”

You see what I’m driving at? I have a high concept pitch for Children of The Glyph, wanna hear it? Of course you do!

Welsh psychos fight evil with machine guns and jetpacks.

Arron Owen, “Terrible f**king writer award 2020”

I don’t think Tom Cruise will improve it. However, Asa Butterfield, if you’re not busy, I have a role for you.

So what do you think, fellow adventurers? Is the Networking, Worth and Working? Let me know – and as always:

Have a great day. 🙂