A Dribble of Ink

Publicizing Your Blog

You can set all that up and still get no traffic. Here’s how to help drive traffic to your site for free. Well, there is a cost, but that cost is time, rather than money. The closer you get to 40, the more you realize how very valuable time is.

* Comment on other blogs. People know you exist this way. I still check out every new commenter.
* Answer your comments. You want to appear accessible. Plus, when you answer comments, you encourage conversation.
* Thank reviewers. Even thank reviewers for bad reviews. We feel all special when authors thank us. We may not be special at all, but it is in your best interest to encourage such feelings anyway. Don’t kiss our ass; we can see right through that. Just thank us. We’re more likely to remember you and to blog about you when we have warm and fuzzy feelings about you.
* Consider blogging about bad reviews as well as good ones. This makes you look uber-cool, like nothing can touch you. You may be crying your eyes red, but we don’t know that. We’re just marveling at how awesome you are. Of course, if you’re only getting bad reviews, this will simply make you look pathetic, so use some balance here.
* Shout-out other blogs that you admire, and include a link to that blog, or the particular post that caught your eye. We’ll most likely notice (see below for how) and we’ll appreciate it.
* Consider using Twitter. I have not taken the plunge yet. Try it and see if it’s for you. If you like it, include your Twitter feed on your sidebar. Twitter should have instructions on how to do this.
* Join science fiction and fantasy forums and participate. Yeah, I know. I need to take this advice, myself.
* Ask! Email the blogger/site owner and make a request. Offer to trade links, or to do an article or guest post, or to send a review copy. The worst they can do is say no, but most of the time, bloggers are happy (read: giddy) to help authors out.

[The] folks at Subterranean Press aproached me to see if I’d be interested in putting together a fantasy anthology featuring some of my favorite SFF authors. I replied that I was interested, that goes without saying, but only if part of the proceeds would be used to raise funds for breast cancer research. Bill at Subpress agreed that this was within the realm of possibilities. I will also be donating a sizable chunk of my own advance to support this great cause.

It’s going to be a small anthology, so we were forced to be methodical in terms of contacting authors. It took longer than anticipated, but it would have been bad form to invite many SFF authors, only to let them know that we couldn’t accept their submissions because the lineup was complete.

Though everyone loved the idea and would have liked to contribute a short story, scheduling and prior commitments prevented them from participating. Still, their encouragements and kind words meant a lot to me.

I “borrowed” the title Speculative Horizons from James Long’s blog of the same name (http://www.speculativehorizons.blogspot.com/) with his blessing, and the guy will get a nod in the acknowledgements. As far as I know, our anthology will likely be in the same format as Subpress’ A Fantasy Medley, from which the excerpt from Robin Hobb short story was taken a few weeks back.

Our lineup:

– New York Times bestselling author, L. E. Modesitt, jr.
– World Fantasy Award nominee, Hal Duncan
– New York Times notable author, C. S. Friedman
– Tobias S. Buckell
– Brian Ruckley

These authors bring various things to the dance, and they should offer an interesting mix of styles and stories. I’m eager to see what they’ll come up with!

I have no idea exactly when Speculative Horizons will be published, though I have a feeling it might be in late 2009. Check out http://www.subterraneanpress.com/ from time to time, or keep your eyes peeled for additional info on the Hotlist every time there’s something to report!

The Raven have fought together for years, six men carving out a living as swords for hire in the war that have torn Balaia apart, loyal only to themselves and their code. But when they agree to escort a Xesteskian mage on a secret mission they are pulled into a world of politics and ancients secrets. For the first time the Raven cannot even trust their own strength and prowess, for the first time their code is in doubt. How is it that they are fighting for one of the most evil colleges of magic known? Searching for the secret location of Dawnthief; a spell that could end the world? Aiming not to destroy it but to cast it.

Dawnthief is a fast paced epic about a band of all too human heroes.