Chanticleer Book Reviews

Tag: Tips

On the 6th Day, Chanticleer brings to me Six Newsletter Tips| 12 Days of Christmas 2024!

Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas – One Day at a Time

On the 6th Day of Christmas, we wish you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

“But Jiminy Crickets, it’s after December 25th! Is it not too late for the 12 Days of Christmas?” you say.

Not to fear, Chanticleerians! The 12 Days of Christmas begins on December 26th! And it continues to the 6th of January – Three Kings Day. The four weeks leading up to Christmas is known as the Advent.

So if you haven’t finished wrapping presents, sending out those cards, and baking cookies—don’t worry—you’ve got an extra seven days!

Happy Holidays to You from the Chanticleer Team!

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me

Six Geese a-laying

Five Golden Rings

Four Calling Birds

Three French Hens (Chanticleer’s favorite #justsaying)

Two Turtle Doves

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

The 6th Day of Christmas, December 31st, is New Years Eve! Despite not all cultures celebrating in accordance with the Georgian calendar, everyone culture has their own ways to mark the end of one year and arrival of the next. Here are some traditions from around the world!

United States

The Times Square ball drop is a nationally televised event that millions of Americans tune into on December 31st, with thousands more waiting on the freezing streets of New York City to watch in person. The inaugural drop was to mark the start of 1908 but the countdown until the midnight has become a wide-spread tradition enjoyed by folks of all ages.

Denmark

Danes take the expression “leaping into the new year” literally! It’s traditional to jump off a chair, couch, counter, or wherever you can find yourself several centimeters off the ground right as the clock strikes midnight. It is seen as a way to bring good luck into the new year.

Brazil

Since the new year arrives on the same day as the summer celebration of the sea god, these annual traditions overlap. Wearing white, meant to signify purity for the sea goddess Iemanjá, the culminating event of the night, everyone runs into the ocean fully dressed and jumps over seven waves. These jumps and waves are meant to hold wishes and hopes for the coming year.

Ireland

The Irish have many traditions surrounding the new year, including banging the outside of their homes with bread to keep away bad luck and evil spirits. The most heartfelt of these is the setting of an extra place at the table for the evening meal, said to be for any loved ones who have been lost in the past year.

Philippines

While many cultures eat “lucky” foods, such as Hoppin’ John in the southern USA or 12 raisins in Spain, or twelve grapes in Italy, in the Philippines it’s considered lucky to eat numerous round fruits. And not only do they eat round things, they also dress in polka dots! The more round objects the better.

What are your favorite ways to mark the new year? Resolutions?
Thorough house cleaning? A polar plunge?

On the 6th Day of Christmas, Chanticleer brings to me…

Six newsletter tips!

Newsletters are a staple in an author’s marketing toolbox. But hitting the right mark with a newsletter that will attract readers can be elusive. For our Sixth Day of Christmas, we’re bringing you six tips to help you improve your newsletter to attract more readers.

1. Be unique. Create a newsletter that reflects your brand, or your book’s genre, to give your readers an idea of what to expect when they dive into your latest release. Think about color choices, subject matter, layout, and what extras you may want to put into it to keep readers coming back for more. I’ve seen newsletters that offer a recipe, discount offers, and some that even offer birthday wishes to their followers.

2. Write original email subject lines. You’ve got to catch their attention right away, so you better use your writing chops to throw out that hook! Create a phrase that relates to the content of your newsletter, and make it interesting. Think of it as a tagline—something that will excite them enough to open it. This also goes for your preview text.

3. Consistency is king! Do your research to find the best time and day to schedule the release of your newsletter, but note, the best day/time you see today could change in the future so check back every few months to see if the statistics have changed. A simple Google search can help you with finding the most updated information.

4. Keep the topic focused. Your newsletter readers follow you for a reason. They know they can get the information they are looking for when they click to open the newsletter. It could be they are interested in your writing journey, tips, or you! Newsletters are a branding tool that need to reflect what you are creating. It also helps to create interest if you give a little insight into your own life, but just a taste. A photo collage of a place you visited that you reference in your book is a good example.

5. Repurposed content. We all need a few extra hours during the day, so don’t give yourself extra work. Find ways to repurpose the content you’ve already generated. I offer a bit of information, just a short blurb, with a link embedded in the text or through a clickable button that will take them to my website where I have a full article for them to read. This way I am seeing an advantage with my newsletter and my website at the same time!

6. Keep it timely. People are reading your newsletter because they think of you as an publishing insider. Stay up on the topics of the day and provide them with well-researched content, or an honest critique on the top issues of the day.

Stay tuned for the 7th Day of Christmas!

Our favorite part about having the 12 Days of Christmas is that we can have the time we need to celebrate with our loved ones. We have time for wrapping presents, meeting with friends for hot cocoa, and continuing to prepare the Chanticleer Authors Conference and the CIBA Banquet and Ceremony.

Wishing you Happy Holidays from Chanticleer from Kiffer, David, Dena, Scott, Anya, and Argus!

December 31, 2024
On the 4th Day of Christmas Chanticleer gave to me Four Podcasting Tips | The 12 Days of Christmas 2024!

On the Fourth Day of Christmas, Chanticleer brings to me…

Four podcasting tips and a fav podcast!

Podcasting has become a great way for writers to learn and network with other writers as they promote their work. It’s a great marketing tool because you have complete control over your presentation, providing what you think is valuable and highlighting the work you are doing. They offer their guests credibility, helps build community, encourages collaboration, builds brands and promotes work, and it expands your (and your guests’) “reach,” with 45% of podcast listeners also classifying themselves as avid readers.

Podcasting is a learning process, but when done well it can be a fun and valuable addition to your marketing. Here are four tips to get you started!

1. Concept and Niche

Find your focus. Ask yourself what sets your podcast apart from others within your niche. Choose a topic you are passionate about and can discuss in depth, allowing you to claim a clear niche. Define your audience to gain a better understand of who you are trying to reach and how to tailor your content to their interests and needs.

2. Content and Format

Decide on a format (solo host, interview style, panel discussion) and stick to it for predictability. Outline and/or script what you’ll be saying, no necessarily to read verbatim, but as a reference you can turn to if you find yourself lost in your conversation. This will help maintain focus and flow. Find engaging guests by researching and inviting guests who are experts in your niche and can provide valuable insights. You can find them writing events, through your connection on your social media platforms, and on your own bookshelf!

3. Promotion and Engagement

Publish your podcast on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, then utilize social media to share clips, promote new episodes, and interact with your audience. This will encourage listener feedback through reviews, comments, and Q&A sessions.

4. Technical Aspects & Production Quality

Choose a reliable podcast hosting platform to store and distribute your episodes. Use descriptive titles and summaries to attract listeners on podcast directories.Design visually appealing cover art that represents your podcast brand. Invest in a good quality microphone and recording environment to minimize background noise. Learn basic editing techniques to clean up audio, add transitions, and create a polished sound. Strive for a consistent audio level throughout each episode.

One of Chanticleer’s Favorite Podcast is “Author in the Headlights” by Chanticleerian STRIDER KLUSMAN

He interviews authors one on one. Each show will be discussing the author’s books, their goals, the methods, and often madness of writing, as well as the process and tools of their trade. So far, he has interviewed 66 authors such as Tessa Floreano, Kevin Chapman, Timothy Johnston, Dena Weigel, Rick Steinke, Mike Murphy, and many more.

Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas – One Day at a Time

The 4th Day of Christmas

The Four Calling Birds are meant to represent the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Also, the Fourth Day of Christmas is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, and it is considered a day for children. The feast honors the male children who were killed by King Herod in his quest to find the potential usurper (Baby Jesus) to his throne. Today, the youngest member of the family is in charge for what to do, where to go, what to eat for the entire day. The day is also known as Childermas.

Some say Four Calling Birds (song birds). Some say Four Colly Birds (black birds). And then, there is this person’s interpretation of Four Calling Birds on Reddit:

Is this a conference call?

“But Jiminy Crickets, it’s after December 25th! Is it not too late for the 12 Days of Christmas?” you say.

Not to fear, Chanticleerians! The 12 Days of Christmas begins on December 26th! And it continues to the 6th of January – Three Kings Day. The four weeks leading up to Christmas are known as Advent.

So if you haven’t finished wrapping presents, sending out those cards, and baking cookies—don’t worry. Just get it done. Eight Days left until Three Kings Day!

Happy Holidays to You from the Chanticleer Team!

On the 4th day of Christmas, my true love sent to me

Four Calling Birds

Three French Hens

Two Turtle Doves

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Stay tuned for the 5th Day of Christmas!

Our favorite part about having the 12 Days of Christmas is that we can have the time to celebrate with our loved ones. We have time for wrapping presents, meeting with friends for hot cocoa, and continuing to prepare the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference and the 2024 CIBA Banquet and Ceremony.

Wishing you Happy Holidays from Chanticleer from Kiffer, David, Dena, Scott, Anya, and Argus!

December 29, 2024
On the 3rd Day of Christmas, Chanticleer Brings to Me | 12 Days of Christmas 2024!
Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas – One Day at a Time

On the Third Day of Christmas, Chanticleer brings to me…

Three Types of Edits!

Chanticleer is here for you! We offer three different types of editing services to help you get your book to the finish line.

Line Editing

If your story still has developmental issues (dialogue, plotting, character development, etc.), your work would benefit from a Line Edit. Line Editing is a line-by-line edit to make sure that each sentence pushes the story forward and creates just the right amount of pacing and tension. Each and every word should count! This is a collaborative edit that is done with the author in approximate chunks of seventy pages at a time.

Line Edit Review is a final check that all issues and concerns have been addressed by the author and that new problems have not been created in the reworking of the manuscript.

Copyediting includes Style Sheet Generation

Copyediting is a mechanical edit. It focuses on grammar, punctuation, spelling, typos, continuity errors, and timeline errors. A Style Sheet Guide is created that is the basis of your story-bible. The Style Sheet Guide will ensure that your characters’ names, place names, conventions (examples are: Happy Christmas instead of Merry Christmas or blond or blonde or using kilometers instead of miles), jargon, pet names, time frame, and more — the attention to detail that will set your work apart from the fray.

Proofreading

Proofreading with a third set of fresh eyes is the final reading to catch the inevitable typos and glitches. The Style Sheet generated by copyedit will used in the final proofing of the work. After proofreading, your manuscript is ready for formatting. Formatting is determined by the publishing platform.

And just for FUN, a humorous and clever YouTube video about Editing from Elle Cordova –

The Grammarian vs Errorist – A Supervillain Showdown

The Grammarian has an epic showdown with arch nemesis, The Errorist. Ink will spill.

For more information regarding Chanticleer’s Editing Services, click on the links below:
The Three French Hens gifted on this day represent Faith, Hope, and Love.

“But Jiminy Crickets, it’s after December 25th! Is it not too late for the 12 Days of Christmas?” you say.

Not to fear, Chanticleerians! The 12 Days of Christmas begins on December 26th! And it continues to the 6th of January – Three Kings Day. The 24 days leading up to Christmas are known as Advent.

Some say that December 25th is the first day of Christmas, but we are going with the medieval date of the 26th because revelry could not take place on the 25th as it was a holy day. And the Twelve Days of Christmas are all about revelry!

So if you haven’t finished wrapping presents, sending out those cards, and baking cookies—don’t worry. Just get it done—you’ve got nine days!

Happy Holidays to You from the Chanticleer Team!

On the 3rd day of Christmas, my true love sent to me

Three French Hens

Two Turtle Doves

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

The Third Day of Christmas

The Third Day of Christmas celebrates the Feast of St. John who drank a glass of poisoned wine and didn’t get sick! Many EU countries celebrate the Feast of St. John during the longest days of Summer (June 24th) by dancing around a fire. The best way to celebrate? Drink a lot of wine! Of course, if you have a different preferred beverage, that’s totally alright. We’ve been enjoying TÖST, a non-alcoholic wine recently.

The Feast of Saint John, by Jules Breton, c. 1875

Stay tuned for the 4th Day of Christmas!

Our favorite part about having the 12 Days of Christmas is that we can have the time we need to celebrate with our loved ones. We have time for wrapping presents, meeting with friends for hot cocoa, and continuing to prepare the Chanticleer Authors Conference and the 2023 CIBA Banquet and Ceremony.

Wishing you Happy Holidays from Chanticleer from Kiffer, David, Dena, Scott, Anya, and Argus!
December 28, 2024
On the 2nd Day of Christmas, Chanticleer Brings to Me Two Ways to Link Your Selling Sites | 12 Days of Christmas 2024!

Happy Holidays to You from the Chanticleer Team!

On the Second Day of Christmas, Chanticleer brings to me…

Two ways to link to your selling sites!

Getting people to your online selling sites is a challenge every author faces. Readers want convenient, one-step actions that will take them straight to the place where they can purchase your book, and they want to be able to trust their purchase will be handled professionally. But how do we get them there?

Web Links—A tried and true path

Web links have been used to move people around the internet for as long as the internet has been available to the masses. By linking a URL to a clickable button, word, or phrase you will be opening the doors to your online store and welcoming in more readers with only a click! This process is seamless to the user, as they simply see the new page load.

To get the most out of your web links, always have easily accessible links that open in a NEW WINDOW. Once someone is visiting your site, you want to make sure that your site remains open in his/her browser. Visitors should never have to leave your site to check out your book’s page on Amazon or sign up for your newsletter.

Links should be easily recognizable as a way to access more information. Try to use highly visible and friendly “buttons” whenever possible.

And always make triple sure that your links work!

QR Codes—A new path for speedier and more convenient purchasing power

Because of their ability to be read by mobile phones, QR codes have emerged as a versatile and powerful tool for authors to promote and sell their books. These machine-readable codes consist of an array of black and white squares, typically used for storing URLs or other information for reading by the camera on a smartphone.

With the help of a simple (and free) QR code generator, you can create as many QR codes as you need to get readers directly to your books’ purchasing sites, but there’s much more you can do with them, too!

Place a QR code on a tabletop sign to send potential readers at a book fair to your website or blog. You can link to a specific page, meaning you can give them trivia related to your story, images you’ve created, a sign up for your newsletter or blog, or just get them to your homepage and let them explore!

QR codes can also be attached to documents that live in the cloud, and therefore are not accessible to people without the code. This can be a useful tool for building a community, as readers will be excited to know they are receiving exclusive information.

Using a QR code will give you, and your readers, more power to easily connect and share and purchase! Check out this recent blog post about QR codes for a more in-depth look at how authors can benefit by adding them to their marketing. 🧰

Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas!

“But Jiminy Crickets, it is the 27th of December! Is it not too late for the 12 Days of Christmas?” you say.

Not to fear, Chanticleerians! The 12 Days of Christmas begins on December 26th! And it continues to the 6th of January – Three Kings Day. The four weeks leading up to Christmas is known as the Advent. So if you haven’t finished wrapping presents, sending out those cards, and baking cookies—don’t worry—you’ve got an extra 11 days!

On the Second Day of Christmas, my True Love (or Chanticleer) brings to me… Two Turtle Doves

Two Turtle Doves represent love, loyalty, and friendship.

The Two Turtle Doves are symbols of Love and Fidelity. The turtle dove is monogamous and pairs for life. Males are actively involved in nesting (he will actually sit on the eggs during the day) and taking care of the young after they hatch so his mate can leave the nest to eat, exercise, and take care of herself. In Ancient Grecian stories, they are believed to be a favorite bird of Aphrodite, the goddess of love.

Good King Wenceslas

Day 2 is also the day that the Christmas Carol ‘Good King Wenceslas” takes place (c. 907 – 935). He was known as the Good Prince of Bohemia. The story tells the tale of his journey through harsh weather to bring a gift of food and firewood to a poor man he noticed while looking out of his castle’s tower during the Feast of Stephen. The song reminds us each and everyone: “Ye, who now bless the poor, Shall yourselves find blessing.”

“King Wenceslas” Art made by Hudson, Scott & Sons for Huntley & Palmers, 1913. Victoria and Albert Museum no. M.367-1983. Image: Gryffindor

Happy Holidays to You from the Chanticleer Team!

Stay tuned for the 3rd Day of Christmas!

Our favorite part about having the 12 Days of Christmas is that we can have the time we need to celebrate with our loved ones. We have time for wrapping our presents, meeting with friends for hot cocoa, and setting ourselves up in the New Year for publishing success (with Chanticleer Professional Services and the Chanticleer Authors Conference).

Wishing you Happy Holidays from Chanticleer from Kiffer, David, Dena, Scott, Anya, and Argus!

December 27, 2024
Top Revision Tips Before a Manuscript Overview from the desk of David Beaumier
You’ve arrived at the last page of your story and written those crucial, beautiful words: “The End.”

Finished at last!

Well done! You deserve some time to rest before you dive into the next step of editing your story.

Now, one key piece of advice here is there isn’t a wrong time to put your work in front of a professional for feedback. While this article will take you through steps that will bring your book to be as strong as you can possibly make it on your own, we all are of different skillsets, so if something isn’t for you, that’s when you bring in a professional editor.

To start out with, what is a Manuscript Overview?

Perhaps the easiest definition can be pulled from our page on providing Manuscript Overviews (MOVs).

It is an objective evaluation of a story idea that is fully formed with a beginning, middle, and end, but still in an early draft stage. The MOV comes before Line Editing and Copy Editing.

No matter who you pick to perform a Manuscript Overview for your book, you should get one. The amount of time and money it saves on editing by being more general and help you go further with your own writing is on thing, but the most important part is it helps keep your book focused and your narrative strong. Traditional Publishing Houses use them, and it makes sense to follow suit.

Typically, an MOV will cover
- compelling nature of story
- dialogue
- character development
- does the scenery and setting work with the story
- backstory issues
- professionalism of editing & formatting
- continuity of storyline
- plotting and plot-hole issues
- writing craft
So, the question remains, how do you get your book to that point: fully formed with a beginning, middle, and end. How do you get it to the best point you can do on your own?

The Reverse Outline

Once you’ve finished your manuscript, even if you already have an outline, you can create one that reflects the actual book you’ve written. From this point, you can edit that outline of your book as is. Working within the outline to create a roadmap to revision often feels much more approachable.

Next off, we have a recommendation from Matt Bell, author of Refuse to Be Done.

Rewrite your book.

You can have the draft you wrote printed out, off to the side, on a separate monitor, whatever feels comfortable, but rewrite it using your new outline as a guide.

Bell’s theory behind this is that you will copy and paste a bad line (or duplicate scene). But you won’t rewrite a bad line.

Not sure where to start in creating your outline? Jessica Brody’s beat sheet from Save the Cat! Writes a Novel can help. Brody breaks down the story into actionable beats you can aim for to keep your book flowing along. Check out her breakdown of story beats here!

Once you’re done rewriting the book, it helps to go through and check to see if you’ve met the goals of a new outline. Ask yourself if your story has a beat and if you can dance to it.

After all that work, you’re probably ready for a Manuscript Overview.

What to do while you wait

A standard Chanticleer MOV takes 6-9 weeks to finish. While that’s going on, we recommend following D.D. Black’s critical advice whenever you’re in writing limbo: Write the next thing.

D.D. Black presented at CAC24! Check out his incredible series here!

Not only will that get you out of your head and allow you to be more objective with your manuscript when it comes back, but it will put you ahead of the game for the next book.

What do our authors say about our MOVs? Read recent testimonials here!

Wow, huge thank you for this second review! It’s so detailed and very much what I was hoping for. The specifics about moving content and clarity are spot on. I knew it needed structural improvements but I was too close to do it. Please pass on my sincere thanks for this work! I’ve only started some of it & already feel a better flow. I’m hoping to possibly even cut about 10k words to make it tighter. – Sheridan Genrich author of REWIRED: Optimise Your Genetic Potential

I’m writing to gratefully acknowledge receipt of the Manuscript Overview of my book. I am so pleased to have this close reading and incredibly helpful insights. These comments are far more beneficial than anything I had expected. It will be a pleasure addressing the editor’s critiques and trying out his concrete suggestions. Please extend to him my genuine gratitude. Chanticleer crows again! – John Feist, author of Edged in Purple and many more

I finally got this copied and read. It’s just what I wanted it to be—a skillful job. I knew there were the kind of holes the editor mentioned, but he’s given me a plan for the revisions. Please pass on my thanks. – Linda Brugger, columnist and accidental author

Please thank the reviewer for a very relevant and detailed review of my manuscript, ANKANAM. I plan to incorporate all his notes! – Vee Kumari, author of Ankanam.

This was just what I needed. I am looking at the book with a new focus and have already started working up the suggested changes. The first thing I did was remove those items the editor mentioned should be deleted. It was a bit painful but necessary. There was plenty of meat in his review, which took me a while to digest, but changes are on the way. These will take some time, but I will likely be interested in the Manuscript Reconciliation process. I can tell the editor spent quite some time researching some of the issues raised in the book, which I greatly appreciated. It helped me see the book more from the reader’s perspective than mine. Please pass along my sincere thanks. – Jim Leonard

Thank you for joining us for this Writer Toolbox Article

There is so much to learn and do with Chanticleer!

From our Book Award Program that has Discovered the Best Books since the early 2010s to our Editorial Book Reviews recognizing and promoting indie and traditional authors, Chanticleer knows your books are worth the effort to market professionally!

When you’re ready, did you know that Chanticleer offers editorial services? We do and have been doing so since 2011.

Our professional editors are top-notch and are experts in the Chicago Manual of Style. They have and are working for the top publishing houses (TOR, McMillian, Thomas Mercer, Penguin Random House, Simon Schuster, etc.).

If you would like more information, we invite you to email us at info@ChantiReviews.com for more information, testimonials, and fees.

We work with a small number of exclusive clients who want to collaborate with our team of top-editors on an on-going basis. Contact us today!

Chanticleer Editorial Services also offers writing craft sessions and masterclasses. Sign up to find out where, when, and how sessions being held.

A great way to get started is with our manuscript evaluation service, with more information available here.

And we do editorial consultations for $75. Learn more here.

Writer Toolbox Helpful Links:
The traditional publishing tool that indie authors can use to propel their writing careers to new levels? Check it out here!
June 25, 2024
On the 12th Day, Chanticleer brings to me… | 12 Days of Christmas 2023
Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas – One Day at a Time

The 12th Day of Christmas

The 12th Day of Christmas, also the last day of Christmas, is known as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day. Traditionally, gift giving was centered around Epiphany but commercialization of Christmas and a cultural desire to shorten celebrations has changed this to center around Christmas Day. In many European and Slavic countries, children open their presents from ‘Santa Claus’ on Christmas Day, then families and friends open presents to each other on Three Kings’ Day. Three Kings’ Day, or the Epiphany, is a feast day observed by many Christians.

Below is a photo of an parade that takes place throughout Poland on Three Kings’ Day.

The Epiphany is often celebrated by the sharing of a King’s Cake, something also associated with Mardi Gras in the American south and in France. Baked into the cake was a coin, a bean, or a small toy and the person who found the trinket in their slice was named king for the day! Chew carefully!

A New Orleans’ style King Cake. Try the recipe here!

Elsewhere children are encouraged to place their shoes by the door and, if they are sleeping soundly through the night, the Three Wise Men might leave them three small gifts by the morning.

On the 12th Day of Christmas, Chanticleer brings to me…

12 Social Media Tips!

These days everyone is instantly reachable via the internet. This means, besides using Facebook or Instagram or Twitter to catch up on what your high school sweetheart is doing, social media has become a useful tool for anyone who has a product they want to market or a community they want to cultivate.

But where do I start? Not to worry! Check out our top tips for growing your audience and maintaining your community.

1. Make sure you & social media will be friends.

Not everyone needs to have social media. Not everyone is cut out for using social media as the tool it can be. Before you commit to making that profile, buying a website domain, or getting someone to help you make a trending TikTok, as yourself these questions.

Would spending time doing this bring me joy? Does it feel exciting to me?

Can I do this consistently or do I feel like I will burn myself out trying to keep up?

Are there examples of authors I respect and admire who use social media like this?

Is this something I think my readers would find inspiring, informative, entertaining, or valuable?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, then maybe social media is for you!

2. Pick the right platform for YOU!

Most social media platforms have a preferred content format. Twitter has a character limit, Instagram is designed for photos and short-form videos, Facebook has great group options as well as photo, video, and text options, and websites and blogs can be anything you can imagine these days.

Take a look at all your platform options and pick two you think you can manage. Don’t push yourself to make content that doesn’t feel like you.

Some of the most common combinations are: Blogging & Twitter, Facebook & Newsletters, Facebook & Instagram, or Instagram & Pinterest.

3. Post at the right frequency and time.

Each social media platform is going to have an optimal frequency and time to post to maximize traffic to your posts. When creating your social media, try and take these factors into account.

Post Daily: Instagram and Twitter

Post Weekly: Facebook and LinkedIn

Post Monthly: YouTube, Blog, and Newsletters

Post Seasonally: Pinterest

Now think about when you yourself spend time surfing the web or generally look at your devices. THOSE are the times you want your content to be findable by your audience.

A good rule of thumb is to maximize new content being available between 6am-7:30am, 1pm-3pm, and 5:30pm-8pm on weekdays, and between 9am-1pm and 5pm-8pm on weekends. Fridays are good for visual mediums such as Instagram and TikTok but bad for everything else.

4. Weigh your newsletter options.

Not all newsletter providers are created equal so be sure you find one that has all the features you desire. Some commonly used platforms are Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and Substack. All of these are free to start but require paid plans once you’ve reached a certain number of subscribers or sent a maximum number of email blasts.

If you don’t want to worry about managing an email list, having a blog that you can funnel interested parties to is another great way to build a faithful audience.

Now that we’ve covered the basics of starting your social media footprints off on the right foot, let’s look at some ways to give your content an extra kick!

5. Always use high quality images for your content!

It really does make a difference in how your audience will look at what you post. If you need to add some pzazz or polish some images there are plenty of free online options like Canva or Pixlr.

6. Don’t be afraid to recycle or double post content.

Not everything you put up everywhere needs to be unique. It’s perfectly acceptable to post the same thing on Facebook and your blog. Or even to repost a similar graphic several times if it’s applicable to everything.

7. Post things you are excited about! Share the new cover for you book, show off a new hobby you’ve picked up, or post a picture from the last time you met some fans.

Don’t worry about limiting yourself to writing related things! You want your fans to enjoy the entirety of you – odd interests, failed attempts, and cozy, lazy days included.

8. Push a preorder promotion.

Is your newest book coming out soon? Consider pushing a pre-order program or just a simple promotion of the work.

9. Invite your fans to events happening nearby! Maybe they’ll show up to say hello and the other writers and businesses will thank you.

Let’s face it, social media can be connective but it still pales in comparison with real human connection. Give folks the opportunity to run in to you at literary events or learn about writers you admire.

10. Show your workspace and favorite writing tools.

Everyone has their own “perfect” creative space. Show your audience what makes yours special!

11. Let fans know what you as an author like to read! There’s always new books to discover.

Top ten lists of your favorite reads of the year or books you wouldn’t be the same person without are a great way to offer some insight into your inspiration and growth as a writer.

12. Don’t just promote, participate.

Share other author’s work you enjoy. Comment on other related posts. Respond to your audience. Creating connection with your audience will provide longevity, community, and other avenues for people to hear about your work.

Here is a list of Chanticleer’s 12 Days Posts with Links

On the 1st Day, Chanticleer brought an invitation to join The Roost, Chanticleer’s Writers Community, with a special holiday offering!

On the 2nd Day, Chanticleer discusses two types of reviews needed by authors and publishers.

On the 3rd Day, Chanticleer honors Three Pillars of our Writing Community: Laurel Leigh and Joan Airoldi in memory, and honors Poet Laureate Rena Priest.

On the 4th Day, Chanticleer discusses ISBNs (and four calling birds).

On the 5th Day, Chanticleer shows off the CIBAs’ (Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards) coveted Blue Ribbons.

On the 6th Day, Chanticleer shares Six Rituals and Routines of Famous Authors.

On the 7th Day, Chanticleer brings the CIBAs Levels of Achievement for all works (manuscript and published) entered in this prestigious book awards program.

On the 8th Day, Chanticleer shares eight SEO Boosts and the AISEO boosting that accompanies each Chanticleer Review.

On the 9th Day, Chanticleer shares the Daily Routines of Nine Famous Authors.

On the 10th Day, Chanticleer shares Ten Publishing Trends for 2024.

On the 11th Day, Chanticleer shares Book Cover Design Tips.

On the 12th Day, Chanticleer shares 12 Social Media Tips and 12 Links to this series of blog posts.

We would like to invite you to join our curated online community The Roost!

We are so proud the community we have on The Roost! It is great perch to hang out on for writers and publishers to hang out in and connect.

We host weekly write-ins, discussions of writing craft books, and advice on the author’s journey. With authors in all stages of the writing process joining us, there is always something to learn on this independent PRIVATE social media site.

Writing may seem like a solitary activity, but stories are told in community.

Whether you find that on The Roost or elsewhere, we’re happy that you are a part of our community here at Chanticleer.

Limited Time Only! Join The Roost during the 12 Days at a discounted holiday price.

Sign up now for $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year.

Valid until January 7th.

Follow this link to find out more information.

And just for fun:

We now have:
- Twelve Partridges and Twelve Pear Trees
- Twenty-two Turtle Doves
- Thirty French Hens
- Thirty-six Calling Birds
- Forty Golden Rings
- Forty-two Geese-a-Laying
- Forty-two Swans-a-Swimming
- Forty Maids a-Milking
- Thirty-six Ladies Dancing
- Thirty Lords a-Leaping
- Twenty-two Pipers Piping
- Twelve Drummers Drumming
It IS crowded in here! 364 Gifts!

We hope you’ve enjoyed our Twelve Days of Christmas series of blogposts! While the Yuletide holidays might be over, we never stop celebrating the wonderful work you put out. We’re honored to be chosen by authors every day, without whom we couldn’t Discover Today’s Best Books! We’ll see you at the Chanticleer Authors Conference in April!

Wishing you a Happy New Year from Chanticleer from Kiffer, Sharon, David, Dena, Vilina, Scott, Anya, and Argus!
January 6, 2024
The Twelve Days of Christmas! On the Second Day, Chanticleer Brings to me…
Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas – A Day at a Time

“But Jiminy Crickets, it is the 27th of December! Is it not too late for the 12 Days of Christmas?” you say.

Not to fear, Chanticleerians! The 12 Days of Christmas begins on December 26th! And it continues to the 6th of January – Three Kings Day. The four weeks leading up to Christmas is known as the Advent.

Some say that December 25th is the first day of Christmas, but we are going with the medieval date of the 26th because revelry could not take place on the 25th as it was a holy day. And the Twelve Days of Christmas is about revelry!

So if you haven’t finished wrapping presents, sending out those cards, and baking cookies—don’t worry—you’ve got an extra 11 days!

The second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me

Two turtle doves

And a partridge in a pear tree

Two Turtle Doves are a representation of love and loyalty and friendship.

Which brings us to why in Japan, Christmas is considered the holiday for lovers (rather than family time). Couples plan romantic dates, special dinners out, and engagement promises.

Click on the link below to enjoy PENTONIX’s version of The Twelve Days of Christmas. Pentatonix is a fabulous international a cappello singing group.

Happy Holidays to You from the Chanticleer Team!

On the Second Day of Christmas, Chanticleer brings to me…

Two Essential Reviews

Editorial Reviews

Everyone knows about the Editorial Review. It’s best to start submitting for these once your book is at the Proofreading stage, and once you have a publication date in mind. These are powerful tools filled with blurbs that you can use to market your work.

Of course, the Editorial Review should go on your book’s Amazon page, and every blurb you can pull out can be put everywhere else your book should be marketed. Those different blurbs should appear here at a minimum:
- Your website
- Goodreads
- Barnes & Noble
Beyond that, you can post to places like StoryGraph, and you can use each blurb as a new post on social media. The reason you rotate your blurbs is to make them always feel fresh and engaging to the audience who follows you. The Review can also be used in publishing packets, press releases, and any other way you can imagine!

Manuscript Overviews

Less well-known, the Manuscript Overview (MOV) provides a birds-eye view of your work. This service catches plotholes, character inconsistencies, and those big ideas that authors need feedback on once they feel confident in the story as a whole. The best part is the way a MOV can save authors time and money in the long run by helping them to create the most polished work they can before turning to the next round of editing services.

Stay Tuned for the Third Day of Christmas, and Happy Holidays to all!
December 27, 2022
MailChimp 101: Level Up Your Mailing List from the Desk of Rochelle Parry

An Introduction to MailChimp

MailChimp may be no Rooster, but it’s a great way to start email marketing. With a very low barrier to entry (free!), you can build your audience before your book is published!

Why Use MailChimp?

Your personal email is great for sending messages to a small group of people, but once you get a higher volume of recipients, limits will apply. For instance, Gmail will only allow 100 contacts per outgoing email, with a limit of 2000 emails per day (source). Your email account can be suspended if you go over their limits.

Signing Up

To sign up, just go to MailChimp.com. Of course, there are paid plans, but assuming you’re starting out with fewer than 500 contacts, free will work! They also offer free email support for the first 30 days, so make sure to get your questions in early. Paid accounts can provide 24/7 technical support, add additional users to your account, and would allow more than 500 subscribers (source).

To sign up, create an account with your email, and be prepared to verify. A surprise for most users is that to sign up you have to provide a physical address. This address will appear at the bottom of every email! Make sure it’s not going to give away your location if you’re working from home and are concerned about safety and privacy. Read up on MailChimp’s ideas to provide a less personal address here.

I’ve signed up, now what?

Once you’re in the Mailchimp site, you’ll see a dizzying array of choices. If you have a website, you’ll want to create a signup form. Click the “create” icon, and select “embedded form.” The form includes name and email by default, but other fields are available too.

You can see our Newsletter sign-up as an example here

Once you’re happy with your form fields, hit ‘continue’ and you can copy the code and place it directly into your website. If this is all Greek to you, consider working with a webmaster to get the form to appear correctly. They also have a pop-up form option. If you create a pop-up form, you’ll need to provide your website address to connect it, then add some provided code to your site’s header, which MailChimp explains here.

Your Audience

Get your audience excited!

Once people sign up, they’ll be added to your Audience. “Audience” is where you manage your contacts. If you already have a list of emails you want to market to through Mailchimp, you can add them manually or by uploading a spreadsheet. Make sure you have the email owner’s permission first! The anti-spam laws can work against you if you get a lot of people marking your email as spam (learn about the importance of permission here). If they sign up via your form, they’ve given their consent!

Campaigns

Marketing Campaigns rather than D&D Campaigns

Your outgoing emails are called “Campaigns” in MailChimp. You create your campaign to go out to your audience or to a section of your audience. MailChimp’s design tools are a bit rudimentary, but they do provide templates to help you get started. You can use uploaded images, different fonts, texts and links, and style it to be consistent with your brand. While designing your email to send, you can send test emails to yourself and others to see how it appears in your inbox. Just remember that once it’s finalized, you can no longer make edits. Once sent to your designated audience, you’ll be able to see how many people opened your email in your dashboard via Campaign Reports. You can learn more about Campaigns in Mailchimp directly here.

Thank you for joining us for this Writer’s Toolbox Article, and good luck out there on the web!

Writer’s Toolbox

Writer Toolbox Helpful Links:

Gmail sending limits in Google Workspace

MailChimp Website

Pricing Options for MailChimp

Alternative Physical Address Ideas

How to Add a Pop-Up Signup Form to Your Website

Email Consent and The Importance of Permission

Getting Started with MailChimp Campaigns

Rochelle Parry – Creative Director

Rochelle Parry helps authors and small business owners with their digital marketing efforts by creating custom websites, setting up social media, and publishing print and online materials including magazines and art books. You can learn more at her website: www.megabite.com

I hope you enjoyed this quick introduction to using MailChimp and found some useful tips! There is much more to this service, and hopefully this is enough to get you past the blank white page and into creating some fantastic emails! — Rochelle

Looking for more quality time with Chanticleer?

Take Your Publishing Career to the Next Level – April 27 – 30, 2023! Register Today!

Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.

Join us for our 11th annual conference and discover why!

December 13, 2022
Film Techniques for Fiction Writers by Jessica Morrell and Other Advanced Writing Class Sessions at CAC 22
The 2022 Chanticleer Authors Conference is offering Advanced Writing Craft Sessions!

Learn from the Best!

CAC22 is offered In Real Life and Virtually, June 23rd – 26, 2022.

Headlining the sessions is:

Master Writing Class – Film Techniques for Fiction Writers with Jessica Morrell

Fiction and memoir need to be cinematic—there’s no getting around that fact.

Especially in this saturated, reality-dominated, and competitive media landscape. Creating cinematic fiction makes great demands on writers—there’s no gigantic screen, no darkened theater to enchant a reader, no actors prancing around a stage, their body language and costumes signaling meaning and subtext. But many film techniques can be translated onto the page from viewpoint to mastering props and subtext. It begins with making powerful choices and identifying key moments that need emphasis, when to whisper and suggest, and when to stage and let the camera roll.

Topics we’ll cover:
- Using viewpoint to establish camera angles and narrative distance, especially bringing your ‘camera’ in close for potency and impact.
- Borrow method acting techniques to create immersive viewpoints.
- Using wide angle or establishing shots to nail down scenes and place.
- Zooming for impact.
- Factoring in the subliminal with sounds, subtext, color, and texture.
- Lighting to create mood, atmosphere, resonance, and obstacles.
- Using props to ground the story and create subtext.
- Scene cuts and cliffhangers to keep suspense percolating.
This workshop will available LIVE and VIRTUALLY for those who register

The inimitable, always-in-demand, Jessica Morrell

One of the primary contributors to the Chanticleer writing blog, Jessica’s tips and advice are invaluable lessons that benefit all authors. Each year we offer writing craft sessions from the best editors and authors in the publishing industry.

Don’t Miss Out!

Jessica will be teaching two classes over the course of three sessions LIVE at CAC22

Your Brain on Writing: How Neuroscience Research Can Make You a Better Writer (2 Sessions)

Writing is a complex process and these days information gleaned from cognitive neuroscience can make a powerful difference in how much you accomplish and how your words affect readers. While writing, all regions of your brain are engaged and on the job. That’s why the more you write, the more neural connections you’re growing. The latest science-based information gives insights on how to form connections and develop powerful habits as you train and strengthen your brain. Reading is also a complex act so we’ll delve into what goes on in readers’ minds and how to capture their interest and keep them captivated. Or should we say captive?

Topics we’ll cover:

An easy-to-understand overview of brain structures and functions. This includes learning the roles of key neurotransmitters, our billions of neurons, and how to better implement them in writing and life.
- Neuroplasticity and how you can change your brain’s structure and function by rewiring neural pathways.
- Understanding the function of the RAS (reticular activating system) and how it helps us achieve goals and leads our future self forward.
- Put your subconscious and unconscious to work by reprograming generating ideas and breakthroughs.
- The function of the vagas nerve, the longest cranial nerve running from your brain to your stomach, and how it affects major body functions from breathing to blood pressure to heart rate. Then we’ll discuss simple practices to stimulate it to support overall and emotional health.
- Practical habits and exercise to put this knowledge into practice.
AND

Dangerous Women with Jessica Morrell

Vampire Juliette and Vampire Hunter Cal — Two Dangerous Women from Netflix’s First Kill

Dangerous women can occupy so many roles in fiction, film, and television. With their complex moralities and motivations, they defy expectations, and can be strong, fearless, and inspiring. Then there are the ones who scare us. Because one bad woman is worth five bad men, so when women plot and scheme and break bad, the results are often disastrous for whoever she’s got in her crosshairs. Because social norms have taught us that women are the gentler and nurturing sex, when they defy norms, the results are combustible.

With that in mind, we’ll talk about female anti-heroes in all their fierceness and intriguing capabilities and how to make their stakes personal. We’ll cover unlikable protagonists, villains, and rule breakers who sizzle on the page, reflect the realities of their society or culture, or are deliciously out of sync. We’ll also discuss roles in fiction such as femme fatale, divas, mommy dearest, and power behind the throne. Characters we’ll analyze characters from well-known tales such as Annie Wilkes of Misery, Sula, Nurse Ratchet, Mrs. Danvers, Rebecca DeWinters, and Mrs. Bennet of Pride and Prejudice.

The workshop will review contemporary women found in TV series and films because in recent years an explosion of strong and norm-defying females are everywhere—including Claire Underwood from House of Cards, Eve Polastari and Villanette from Killing Eve, Cersei Lannister and Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones, Queen Elizabeth in The Crown—disrupters all.

Other Sessions at In Real Life CAC 22
- Why Acting Classes Make You a Better Writer – Nicole Evelina – USA Bestselling Author
- Seven Advanced Techniques for Deeping Characterization – Diane Garland (Continuity Editor) and Jacquie Rogers – multi-award winning author
- Five Things You Need to Know About POV – Amy Peele, Medical Mystery Author
- Writing Intimacy Scenes – Betsy Fasbinder, Writing Coach & Author
- Story Bibles and Continuity – with Diane Garland (World Builder and Continuity Editor)
- and more!
Plus, sessions on the business and marketing side of being a writer!

Register Today!

In addition to Morrell’s LIVE Master Class, you can sign up for her other sessions and the full Chanticleer Authors Conference here.

Reach out to us at info@ChantiReviews.com with any questions!
June 15, 2022