Where's the Buzz?

Posted by Pat Stoltey

The Big Buzz is All About Amanda Hocking

This young lady (age 26) self-published in ebooks and then caught the wave. Everyone is talking about her, including Nathan Bransford at his blog with yesterday’s “Amanda Hocking and the 99-Cent Kindle Millionaires.”

Amanda has a blog called (believe it or not) Amanda Hocking’s Blog. Check out her March 3rd post called “Some Things That Need to Be Said.”


The A to Z April Blog Challenge 2011

If you have a blog, and if you want to build your following and make new friends while bringing a little discipline to your blogging schedule, I dare you to participate in the A to Z Challenge during the month of April. This challenge was created in 2010 by Arlee Bird of tossing it out blog. When he decided to do it again this year, he added blogger helpers to spread the word. To read how I feel about last year’s experience, check this post at Alex J. Cavanaugh’s blog.

You can register at any of the helper blogs, including Alex’s, but the original explanation and blog challenge sign-up is at tossing it out.

Double dare you.


More About Twitter and Those Who Resist

Honestly, writers, Twitter is one of the best tools you’ll ever find to get the word out about your website, blog posts, book giveaways, new releases, and to poll your followers about how to cook a rutabaga.

Author, blogger, and social media guru Alexis Grant (The Traveling Writer) posted “How social media helps us make our own luck” on her blog yesterday. She in turn links to a blog post by Miriam Salpeter called “Why You Should Use Twitter.”

After those two articles, you’ll want to go forth and tweet. I just know it. And while you're on the Twitter site, be sure to follow us at @Chiseledinrock


And finally, a Writer’s Favorite Topics of Conversation

On finding the time to write. For this one, see A. Victoria Mixon, Editor’s blog for the post “9 Ways to Find the Time to Write.”

On procrastination. See The Blood-Red Pencil, one of the best writing/editing blogs on the web, post by Heidi M. Thomas: "How do I Procrastinate?"