Writer

Stats Reveal How to connect With Your Readers

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 16 Comments

The Daily Prompt: The Stat Connection

bar-charts-152544__340

Pixabay

Go to your Stats page and check your top 3-5 posts. Why do you think they’ve been successful? Find the connection between them, and write about it.

Stats for the Cow Pasture Chronicles in 2015:

Views: 5,968
Vistors: 3,365

Top 3 Posts in 2015:

  1. Home Page/Archives – 1,137 views
  2. Submit or Not to Submit – This post had a total of 472 views.
  3. Top 5 Resources for Contests and Submissions – 310 views
  4. About Me  – 162 views
  5. Access Denied – received  116 views.

Top views went to the home page which includes the archives and my latest post. It’s the first impression point of connection. The other posts ranking highest in views offered information.

Writers at all levels understand the value of submitting work for publication. Submit or Not to Submit discussed the time-consuming but necessary tasks, outlined the benefits, and cautions of taking the leap of sending your words out into the world.

Top 5 Resources for Contests and Submissions takes the work out of the submission process by providing 5 resources for the writer who is ready to submit. Putting yourself out there can be intimidating, but the rewards are worth the anxiety. Acceptance promotes confidence, encourages creativity, is one of the best avenues for perfecting the craft, and provides both validation and recognition.

Readers want to know who you are, your credentials, and why your blog exists. An engaging About Me page not only introduces you to your readers, but provides the personal connection so necessary in drawing readers to your blog.

I like tackling difficult topics and Access Denied is one of those posts. Providing  information on the intellectual rights of a writer’s work and how to secure those rights,  after you’re gone.

What was the Connection?  In a word information.

Writers, particularly newer writers, seek out  information that is beneficial to them. Whether it helps them improve the skill of writing or offers the chance for recognition.

3 Things I  Learned by Reviewing the Stats:

  1. My readers want information, even if they’ve heard it before.
  2. Readers want easy access to the resources that help them improve or succeed.
  3. Providing resources and information into the readers mailbox is a win-win for everyone.

What are your blog stats saying about you? What did you learn and will you change the types of posts you write?

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood,  Pinterest,  Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilagood, and Contently.

You Asked: Secrets That Will Help You Get Published

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 9 Comments

Welcome to another, You Asked, the Experts Answer, segment. This week ‘s question is: Is there a secret to getting published in literary magazines?

Well yeah, sort of.  Lincoln Michel, a Buzzfeed contributor, takes us behind the scenes in his two-part article, The Ultimate Guide To Getting Published in a Literary Magazine.

This is one of  the most in-depth articles on getting published I have ever read. We’ve all heard the tips :

  • Submit often
  • Read the magazines
  • Follow the guidelines
  • Proofread

But, we’ve never understood what happens behind the scenes or how literary magazines actually select those they choose to print. Well, now you will. Lincoln goes into great detail about editors, readers, the slush pile, solicited and non-solicited work, and even “carpet bombing.”

“Most editors would probably consider at least 60% of the slush pile to be unpublishable, period. Twenty percent shows promise but needs some work, and 10% is publishable but not in the journal being submitted to. That leaves 10% of work that might deserve real consideration.”

Here’s a few important things I gleaned from the article, but I still encourage each of you to read it in its entirety.

  1. Submissions go first to the slush pile.
  2. 60 % of those in the slush pile are unpublishable.
  3. Acceptance rates are about 1% for good magazines.
  4. Submissions are sometimes solicited by editors or through agents (I had no idea).
  5. 20-100% of works published come from the slush pile.
  6.  Connections are important.
  7. Editors are not the first to read your work, readers are (typically 2).
  8. Readers are volunteers, or students.
  9.  The first paragraph and page is important in making it past the readers.
  10. Persistence in submitting is one of the main keys to success.
  11. Know the Cover letter No-No’s (see the article).
  12. Selective your top 3 to 5 magazines and go for it; again & again.

Where to Find the Right Market for Your Story?

Many sites offer information on Magazines open for submission. Here are my top five resources.

  1. Every Writer’s Resource 
  2. Duotrope
  3. The Review Review
  4. The Writer’s Database
  5. Clifford Garstang’s Pushcart Rankings

I’ve only given you the teasers from the article, but I can tell you it’s one worth keeping for the files. What do you think? Are you seeing submission success? Do you have a favorite market site?

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story. And as always, you can follow me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilagood, and Contently.