Hidden Gems at Goodreads

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A commentator on this blog wrote: “I have been using Goodreads for a while now and I had no idea about the author program or how to really get the most use out of it. I am hoping that now, that I have claimed my book, to become part of the author program, I can make better use of the site.”

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Here on this blog you will find many Goodreads topics, such as: How to sign-up with Goodreads and add friends – old and new ones - and where to meet people, for sample top readers and the most popular reviewers.  If you are blogging, you might have incorporated your blog to your author page on Goodreads, added your book trailer or you have publicized your book signing.

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Did you realize how many writer forums and groups are on Goodreads?
Just go to the top of each page and click on Groups. A new page opens and shows “Recently Active Groups”, “Featured Groups”, “Goodreads Author Groups” etc. and one the right hand site of the page “Browse by Tag”. This is were all the groups are listed by over 1,000 keywords. For sample:

• Book Club
• Historical Fictionistas
• Non-Fiction
• Young Adult Book Groups
• Suspense
• Super-Natural
• The Perks Of Being A Book Addict
• Womankind Worldwide Book Group
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As you can see, when you scroll down on the right hand site, there are ten-thousands of groups!!!
Books & Literature (26598) Business (1393) Entertainment & Arts (2222) Friends & Common Interest (6914) Geography (490) Goodreads Authors (2535) Just for Fun (22709) Organizations (3365) Student Groups (6129)
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There is even a group that encourages Author-Publishers (Indies) to promote their books – a rarity at Goodreads, were obvious self-promotion is not well received otherwise.

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A hidden gem for authors to meet readers.
Almost all are public groups. Anyone can join and invite others to join. However, it’s not a place to blatantly tout your books, with the exception I just mentioned.  ”Authors are welcome and we support authors in many ways, but the group is primarily geared towards readers. Authors should join and participate in the group as a reader first.” Once you are known in these forums, your author site and your books will automatically read and often reviewed.
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I was talking recently with an author, who desperately wanted more reviews. When I asked him how many reviews he has written in the last year, he stumbled … and said: “well, NONE so far”. Shall I say more? Don’t forget:

To be a Goodreads member and to benefit, especially from reviews, requires that you are a bit more active on this site, for sample in shelving books of other writers, in participating from time to time in forums, read books and review them. How could someone expect to receive reviews if they are not writing some for others? Be a good pal in this book community!

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Hyper Smash
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Pingates

 

Writers Retreats and Workshops

Writers retreats and workshops are a wonderful opportunity to load the batteries, make new friends, learn a lot about writing and book marketing and overcome writers block. Not to speak about the recreational aspect…

Here is a short excerpt of what’s offered for authors in 2011 in Canada:

BANFF Alberta, Canada

Writing With Style (Fall) Program dates: September 11, 2011 – September 17, 2011
Application deadline: June 15, 2011

More:
http://www.banffcentre.ca/programs/program.aspx?id=1081

SALT SPRING ISLAND, BC, Canada

Program Length 8 weeks, several times a year
Group Ratio 1-5
Program Focus Autobiography/Memoir, Fiction Novelist Pearl Luke, MA, 21 years writing/teaching/ editing experience; winner 2001

Commonwealth Prize for Best First Novel in Canada/Caribbean; nominee for the 2008 IMPAC Dublin International Literary Award.

More:
http://www.be-a-better-writer.com

TATAMAGOUCHE, NS, Canada

Program Focus Fiction, Non-fiction Independent Writing Retreat 2011
July 24, 2011 7:00 P.M. –  29, 2011 1:00 P.M
Gwen Davies is a writer, creative writing teacher, and the founder of Nova Scotia’s summer writing retreat Community of Writers. Her short stories have appeared in literary magazines including The Antigonish Review and Pottersfield Portfolio, and in The Blue Jean Collection from Thistledown Press. She won the Javier de Mier Literary Contest in Madrid, Spain (in translation) in 2002. Gwen has also worked across Nova Scotia as a journalist for the Globe and Mail, CBC Radio, Atlantic Insight Magazine and others. She graduated with a BA Hons from Wilfrid Laurier and a BJ from King’s, and is an active member of the writing community of Nova Scotia. http://www.writers.ns.ca/Writers/D/daviesgwen.html

More:
http://www.tatacentre.ca

Hunts Point Nova Scotia

FREDERICTON, NB, Canada
Program Focus Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Children’s: July 4-8, 2011
Time: One-day workshops run from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Evening workshops run from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Getting Started Non-Fiction Writing for Fun and Profit
Workshop in Creative Short Fiction
The Thrill and Romance of Popular Fiction
Write in Nature Murder and Mayhem
Mystery Writing Pitching the Publisher
Life Lines: Writing the Stories of Your Life
Going Whole Blog: Writing for the blogosphere

More:
http://www.unb.ca/cel/programs/creative/maritime-writers/index.html

TORONTO, ON, Canada
The Humber School for Writers
July 9 – July 15, 2011
Program Description AM classes, PM lectures, readings, one-on-one meeting with instructor
Program Length 7 days Group Size or S:T Ratio 80
Program Focus Fiction, Poetry
Faculty 2011: Richard Bausch, David Bezmozgis, Wayson Choy, Bruce Jay Friedman, Julia Glass, Isabel Huggan, Alistair MacLeod, John Metcalf, Kim Moritsugu, Nino Ricci, Olive Senior, Guy Vanderhaeghe,
Erika de Vasconcelos, Frieda Wishinsky

More:
http://creativeandperformingarts.humber.ca/writers/index.html

More on Writer’s Retreats in the USA will follow.