Lorraine Duffy Merkl's Blog
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Jan.02.2012
I went to see the Broadway show, “Seminar.” http://seminaronbroadway.com/
In the play, four aspiring young novelists sign up for private writing classes ($5000 for 10 weeks) with Leonard (Alan Rickman), an international literary figure.
As someone who’s taken my share of writing classes...
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Dec.29.2011
https://www.createspace.com/abna?ref=478921&utm_id=5957
The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award 2012 Contest is calling for entries.
Good luck.
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Dec.29.2011
I truly believe if you want to succeed, you look to those who have and do what they've done.
A couple of posts ago I linked you all to the WSJ story of the self published author who became a best-selling author by listing her ebook for .99. So here goes...
SKINNY FOR SALE!
Fat Chick, a novel (...
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Dec.18.2011
Screenwriter Diablo Cody worked her magic with "Young Adult” as she did with “Juno.”
While others (reviewers and moviegoers) seem to be pre-occupied with the themes of 1) people for whom high school was their glory days; 2) being a homewrecker; 3) you can’t go home again; I got wrapped up in...
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Dec.09.2011
Just in case you missed this article in the WSJ, yet another person self published and hit pay dirt.
I am officially rethinking the whole "get an agent and hope Random House calls" thing.
http://ning.it/uPxFoh
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Nov.04.2011
If like me, you can't always make it to these panel discussions on how to get published, you might appreciate, as I do, when someone video tapes one so you can watch it from the comfort of your Lazy Boy or in my case, the Raymour & Flannigan sectional.
This one is quite informative about...
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Oct.31.2011
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/31/complaint-box-take-the-candy-and-beat-it/?scp=1&sq=complaint%20box&st=cse
This is a link to my latest piece in The New York Times section called Complaint Box. The Times and other newspapers like to run "holiday" pieces or seasonal pieces i.e.:...
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Oct.27.2011
My original title for this post was "How To Milk One Subject For All It's Worth and Get Paid Twice" but I didn't think it would fit in the header box.
Once I got the hang of how to sell essays by using a current topic/trend as a jumping off point, I kicked it up a notch (thanks to the advice of...
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Aug.24.2011
"Your price isn't always your value."
I read this quote in an article about Brad Pitt's new movie "Moneyball" -- based on the Michael Lewis book -- in this week's New York Magazine. Even though the article and movie is about baseball and has nothing to do with publishing, I still saw a strong...
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Aug.09.2011
Dear fellow writers,
In the vein of "never give up," Girlfriendbooks.com just reviewed my novel, FAT CHICK. http://ning.it/pc6uLH. The book came out in November 2009.
Its debut was not heralded in book review sections, nor did I get guest spots on morning shows. My name is not Candace or...
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Jul.10.2011
Or even a current event.
One of the best ways to promote your book is to write an essay/article piggybacking on something hot -- and/or related -- to your topic.
For example, I know someone who wrote a book about fly fishing several years ago. He keeps saying he wants to revive interest. I had to...
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Jun.19.2011
Well, here I go again.
I wrote my second novel. I thought I'd learned all the tricks of trade with the first one. I sent out the manuscript and no one wanted it. I put it aside because I needed distance.
A couple of months ago I contacted a ghost editor who reviews your first chapter for free. She...
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Apr.28.2011
Here's the link to my latest Our Town column titled "When Book Signings Go Wrong" http://ning.it/kC3uRF
It was actually funny. Have a laugh on me.
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Apr.25.2011
In the new issue of MORE magazine, Kathryn Stockett, author of the uber best-seller and soon to be major motion picture "The Help" said that 60 agents turned her down with comments like "this will never sell" "no one will...
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Mar.24.2011
Allow me direct you to my Our Town/West Side Spirit column called "New York Gal"
http://ning.it/hWegkw
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About Lorraine
Lorraine Duffy Merkl is a published author, freelance journalist and advertising creative director/copywriter for print, television, radio and interactive media in New York City.
Her debut novel, Fat Chick, was published by The Vineyard Press in 2009....
Causes Lorraine Merkl Supports
The Legal Aid Society
The Inner-City Scholarship Fund
Lorraine’s Favorite Books
Breakfast at Tiffany's Anywhere I Hang My Hat The Seamstress Living Well is the Best Revenge Lush Life
Lorraine is a fan of
