Michael R. French's Blog
November 17, 2023
San Francisco Book Review: Ghost With Two Hearts
"Armed with a stolen samurai sword and a dark family history, Adrian Green embarks on a soul-searching journey of redemption to Japan in Michael R. French’s Ghost With Two Hearts. Confronting the intricacies of Japanese culture and the intrusion of ghosts, he grapples with the fine line between reality and obsession. It’s a captivating exploration of one man’s journey of self-discovery in a richly evoked if unfamiliar land. French seamlessly blends elements of spirituality, romance, and the supernatural, creating a vibrant world in which the boundaries between the physical and metaphysical blur. With nuanced character development and vivid descriptions of the Japanese landscape, Ghost With Two Hearts invites reflection on the complexities of the human spirit and the transformative power of cultural exploration." —Erin Britton, San Francisco Book Review
South Publishing Review: Ghost With Two Hearts ★★★★½
"Eclectic and engaging, French seamlessly weaves fascinating facts about Japanese culture and Shintoism into his insightful and original narrative. A novel that is both character-rich and page-turning, this story will have readers yearning to explore and discover Japan, acting equally as an exquisite work of travel writing and a compelling work of contemporary fiction." Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★½Read the full editorial review at: https://www.selfpublishingreview.com/...
October 19, 2023
READING (AND WRITING) SHORTER NOVELS
Like most of my friends as well as the entire planet, the easiest way for not volunteering or committing to do something is to say, “really sorry, but my time Is not my own.” This usually calms feelings of disappointment, and for me it’s always the truth.As a society, we generally find it hard to say “no.” Yet we’re already stretched thin by work, personal responsibilities, putting out fires, and taking care of mind and body. Common sense about survival fails to come to our rescue. There have always been 24 hours in a day, yet it doesn’t feel that way anymore. Can we outsmart time in some clever way to better prioritize our needs? What stands in our way? Which came first, the slow, steady erosion of our attention span, or the burden we increasingly put on ourselves to do more, see more, read more, and be in the moment more? Invariably, the “how” is eclipsed by “now what?”
My own goal is not just to quit adding to the pile of activities I call “life,” but to whittle the pile down to its most important elements. For me, that includes some reading and writing time every day.
For my reading friends, many prefer embracing specific genres and novelists that they have always found “satisfying.” They escape into the familiar, into a world and characters whose predictability they’ve almost been guaranteed by the author’s previous works. They like predictability. They fall in love with a character. A good story is like a jingle or something your mother told you that you can’t keep out of your head.
Most important, the escapism and “down time” provided by reading are needed by many of us as much as sleeping and eating.
Audio books have been a boon to time-starved multi-taskers whose minds seemingly occupy several universes at the same moment. For anyone whose attention span is more fragile, here’s another time-saver to try.
Forgetting the name of the author for a moment, try reading a short novel (around 55,000 words) that might have all the entertainment value, emotion and depth of a traditional 85,000 word book. As a rough comparison, that’s the difference between reading 200 pages or 300…between taking 8 hours to finish a book or 12.
May not sound like much, but those extra four hours could be spent catching up on sleep, texting, or picking up another book. Seriously. We economize everything else—why not reading, too?
From someone who has been writing and publishing for a while, short novels, like short stories or poetry, are challenging to write. Whether it’s your prose, plot, characters or theme you’re constantly struggling with, there’s little margin for error. Put simply, you have only so many words to work with, and none can be wasted.
Michael R. French’s just-published adult novel, Ghost With Two Hearts, is available online and in select bookstore. Its length is about 54,000 words.
April 19, 2023
The Tail or the Dog?
The relationship between characters and plot in any novel is pivotal and tricky. A story is often plot driven but what I remember most when I finish a satisfying read are the characters. Of course, good plots make characters memorable—how they get in and out of jams, express or repress their emotions, and make sacrifices—but down deep I just like who they are above and beyond what they do. They may start out as the “tail” but they end up as the “dog". My own characters sometimes become friends. At least conversationally. “Hey ———— — should I return my latest, ridiculous Amazon purchase?” Or, “What wine should I bring to this dinner party because my expertise is wine labels?" If they’re going to be my friends, this begs the question about what kind of characters do I like to draw from in real life. Someone different from me, as much as possible, and who strikes me as interesting in conflicted ways. Someone challenged by the limits of both their strengths and their weaknesses. In the end, I hope they are sympathetic to most readers.
Even unsympathetic characters require a lot of attention and exploration before they go on the written page. Minor characters, too, require serious thought because their place in the narrative can enhance or diminish the total effect. Every blemish—and all novels have them, if a reader looks closely enough—shows.
In Ghost With Two Hearts, there are two main characters, and I like both, but creating one, a computer coder, was easier than fabricating the other—a ghost serving an eternity in Shinto Hell. Making a realistic (at least plausible) ghost, about whom an author can’t do much research, worked out in the end. A lot of drafts were written and discarded over 18 months. I got to invent a ghost who is quite human. She is being tortured by gods (i.e., society) by denying her the right to sleep/dream, controlling her memories, and shutting her off completely from loved ones she inadvertently damaged but longs to be forgiven by and united with. How does anyone escape a fate like that?
We know the need to be loved is universal. In Ghost With Two Hearts, I began to wonder if that includes the dead.
Even unsympathetic characters require a lot of attention and exploration before they go on the written page. Minor characters, too, require serious thought because their place in the narrative can enhance or diminish the total effect. Every blemish—and all novels have them, if a reader looks closely enough—shows.
In Ghost With Two Hearts, there are two main characters, and I like both, but creating one, a computer coder, was easier than fabricating the other—a ghost serving an eternity in Shinto Hell. Making a realistic (at least plausible) ghost, about whom an author can’t do much research, worked out in the end. A lot of drafts were written and discarded over 18 months. I got to invent a ghost who is quite human. She is being tortured by gods (i.e., society) by denying her the right to sleep/dream, controlling her memories, and shutting her off completely from loved ones she inadvertently damaged but longs to be forgiven by and united with. How does anyone escape a fate like that?
We know the need to be loved is universal. In Ghost With Two Hearts, I began to wonder if that includes the dead.
April 15, 2023
The Awkward Art of Asking for Reviews
Dear Fellow Author,
If you’re thinking of asking for reviews from friends and acquaintances you respect and trust, and who know a few things about writing and storytelling, here are ten points you might consider:
1. If friends give you an enthusiastic "yes, of course I'll review your book," best they know the length of your book. If possible, set a soft time goal that's both comfortable for author and reviewer. .
2. Sometimes the best thing a would-be reviewer can do is be straight with the author. An upfront "I wish it were otherwise, but I can't help you" is far better than an endless protraction of good intentions,
3, Take the time to explain to someone that writing is your passion, perhaps even a career, and you would greatly appreciate their feedback. It's okay to mention another obvious thing: What writer or artist doesn't need some kudos or validation, especially in a profession where one can labor largely alone and in silence for a year or two. Once published, you find yourself in survival-of-the-fittest waters, as two or three million other authors are scrambling for reviews just like you.
4. Ask the friend you're soliciting if he or she can possibly read just ten pages. If they like the story, you hope they continue, If not, it’s all okay.
5. If the moment feels right, remind your friend a book is your investment in yourself and your talents. You want to. be taken seriously, without being considered pushy or begging.
6. Tell friends they don't need impeccable writing or grammar skills to complete a review, Two or three sentences should make you happy, as long as they're honest words.
7. You might offer your friends a topic or two that other reviews haven't
covered. Suggest they share their opinions about your main character, for example, or how your surprise ending worked or didn’t work for them.
8. If you do receive a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever, thank them. He or she took time out of their busy lives for you.
9. Be reluctant to ask anyone in your immediate family to review your book. Unless your relationship is exceeding strong and open, it can backfire.
10. I know writers who make the mistake of 'nudging" potential reviewers who haven’t had time to digest the book. Your friends usually don't need a reminder. There could be many reasons for a delay, and they may not have anything to do with your book.
If you’re thinking of asking for reviews from friends and acquaintances you respect and trust, and who know a few things about writing and storytelling, here are ten points you might consider:
1. If friends give you an enthusiastic "yes, of course I'll review your book," best they know the length of your book. If possible, set a soft time goal that's both comfortable for author and reviewer. .
2. Sometimes the best thing a would-be reviewer can do is be straight with the author. An upfront "I wish it were otherwise, but I can't help you" is far better than an endless protraction of good intentions,
3, Take the time to explain to someone that writing is your passion, perhaps even a career, and you would greatly appreciate their feedback. It's okay to mention another obvious thing: What writer or artist doesn't need some kudos or validation, especially in a profession where one can labor largely alone and in silence for a year or two. Once published, you find yourself in survival-of-the-fittest waters, as two or three million other authors are scrambling for reviews just like you.
4. Ask the friend you're soliciting if he or she can possibly read just ten pages. If they like the story, you hope they continue, If not, it’s all okay.
5. If the moment feels right, remind your friend a book is your investment in yourself and your talents. You want to. be taken seriously, without being considered pushy or begging.
6. Tell friends they don't need impeccable writing or grammar skills to complete a review, Two or three sentences should make you happy, as long as they're honest words.
7. You might offer your friends a topic or two that other reviews haven't
covered. Suggest they share their opinions about your main character, for example, or how your surprise ending worked or didn’t work for them.
8. If you do receive a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever, thank them. He or she took time out of their busy lives for you.
9. Be reluctant to ask anyone in your immediate family to review your book. Unless your relationship is exceeding strong and open, it can backfire.
10. I know writers who make the mistake of 'nudging" potential reviewers who haven’t had time to digest the book. Your friends usually don't need a reminder. There could be many reasons for a delay, and they may not have anything to do with your book.
April 5, 2023
The Awkward Art of Asking for Reviews
For authors who would like to harvest reviews for their book, here are some thoughts gleaned from my 48 years of writing and publishing.
I'm not talking about professional, independent reviewers who can summon amazing insights about any book. Some are like Olympic judges scoring a diving competition where a final score is based half on degree of difficulty and half on execution. Bookwise, an overall theoretical score of 80/50 means the author rates quite high in complexity of concept, but average on storytelling. A score of 50/80 would signal the reverse. This is helpful information to readers who like to handicap their expectations before turning a single page.
I should also mention small marketing companies that assist in getting your book to groups of hand-picked reviewers. This approach, in my experience, can garner thoughtful reviews. However, there are a number of "review packagers," charging significant fees, with quality control issues. Reviewers are sometimes assigned genres they have no familiarity with, or they speed read your book and miss key points. When you get back a review that bears little resemblance to what you believe you actually wrote, as if AI has had a hand in this, consider that ChatGPT may be the future of mass reviewing.
The reviewers I'm focusing on here are friends and acquaintances you want to respect and trust, and who know something about the craft of writing and storytelling. Before you enter this twilight zone, here are ten points to consider:
1. If friends give you an enthusiastic "yes, of course I'll review your book," they need to know how long it might take to finish your 100,000 word opus. Attention spans are not growing longer and time seems to be shrinking for everyone. If possible, set a deadline to finish your book that's both comfortable to both author and reviewer. I tend to go with two months. I have friends that have been promising me a review for a couple of years. When I run into them at Trader Joe's, they often remind me that my novel is next on their list. While the person is well intended, the "waiting forever" strategy rarely bears fruit.
2. Sometimes the best thing a would-be reviewer can do is be straight with the author. An upfront "I wish it were otherwise, but I can't help you" is far better than an endless protraction of good intentions,
3, Take the time to explain to someone that writing is your passion, perhaps even an addiction, and maybe a career. You would greatly appreciate their feedback, hopefully in the form of a review. It's okay to mention another obvious thing: What writer or artist doesn't need some kudos or validation, especially in a profession where one can labor largely alone and in silence for a year or two. Then, once published, you find yourself in survival-of-the-fittest waters, as two or three million other authors are scrambling for reviews. The numbers game, the sheer weight of popularity, feels to be irretrievably embedded in our reading culture.
4. Ask the person you're soliciting that if they're not sure they can find the time, can they possibly read just ten pages? Again, set a deadline, like a couple of weeks. Pulling potential reviewers in early increases the chances of them finishing your book. Another hint to help to facilitate the effort? Send them specific links to your book on Goodreads and Amazon. Make things as easy as possible.
5. If the moment feels right, remind your friend that you're not a seller on Amazon looking for five stars about their coffee maker. A book is not a commodity. A book is your investment in yourself and your talents. You want to. be taken seriously, without being considered pushy or begging. You hope your friends can relate to something in their lives that is as important to them as your creativity is to you.
6. Tell potential reviewers they don't need impeccable writing or grammar skills to complete a review, Two or three sentences will be fine, as long as they're honest words. Many readers shy from posting because they're afraid of disappointing the author, or embarrassing themselves by being compared to other reviewers. Assure them that their writing skills don't matter as much as content.
7. You might offer your friends a topic or two that other reviews haven't covered. Suggest they share their opinions about your ambiguous, complex main character, for example, or how the surprise ending worked for them. The last thing you want is for someone to regurgitate the plot. You've already provided that on your book jacket or your Amazon or Goodreads page. Again, you want to read honest thoughts and feelings. I've read lots of reviews, and written a few, too, and it's the sincere ones that inspire others to pick up the book.
8. When you finally receive a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever, thank the reviewers! They took time out of their busy lives for this.
9. Be reluctant to ask anyone in your immediate family to review your book. Unless your relationship is exceeding strong and open, no good will come of this.
10. I know writers who make the mistake of 'nudging" potential reviewers who are "running late" on their promises. They usually don't like a reminder any more than they do a dinner time call from the police officers' benevolent league. Try not to take this reaction personally. If your friend is suddenly on the fence about reviewing you and your work, be mindful there could be many reasons, and they may not have to do with your book.
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4/5/2023 author post....FINAL
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Michael FrenchMar 31, 2023, 3:12 PM (5 days ago)
to P, me
One attachment • Scanned by Gmail
3
Art TuckerApr 1, 2023, 1:04 PM (4 days ago)
Hi Michael! Please resend it with corrections.Many thanks!Art and Polly
Michael FrenchApr 1, 2023, 1:07 PM (4 days ago)
to me
Will send later this afternoon. Thanks.
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 1, 2023, at 1:05 PM, Art Tucker <artotem@artotems.com> wrote:
Great, thanks!
Thanks!
Great!
ReplyForward
Page
2
/2
Page 1 of 2
THE AWKWARD ART
OF ASKING FOR REVIEWS
This is for authors who would like to harvest reviews. I don’t know many who don’t
wish for that. Some suggested guidelines gleaned from my years of writing and publishing
books…
I’m not talking about paying for reviews from talented professionals, who often give
you and your readers amazing insights. There are also small marketing companies that assist
in getting your book to groups of hand-picked reviewers. Yet other companies, charging you a
lot, provide mixed results, according to writers I’ve talked to. The reviewers sometimes have
no familiarity with your genre, don’t like your main character, or speed read your book. When
you get back a review that bears little resemblance to what you actually wrote, and you suspect
AI has had a hand in this, consider that this may be the future.
So what reviewers am I taking about? I refer to friends and acquaintances you respect,
trust, and hope they want to read your book. Before you enter this twilight zone, here are
some things to consider:
1. If the person you approach gives you an enthusiastic “yes, of course I’ll review your
book,” please remind them how long it might take to finish your 100,000 word opus.
Attention spans are not growing longer and time seems to be shrinking for everyone. If
possible, set a deadline to finish your book that’s comfortable for both you and your
friend. I tend to go with two months. I have friends that have been promising me a
review for a couple of years. When I run into them at Trader Jo’s, they often remind me
that my novel is next on their list.
2. Sometimes the best thing a would-be reviewer can do is be straight with you An
upfront, “No, I wish it were otherwise, but I can’t help you” is far better than an endless
protraction of good intentions.
3. Take the time to explain to your friend that writing is your passion, perhaps even an
addiction, and maybe a career. You would greatly appreciate their feedback, hopefully
in the form of a review. It’s okay to mention another obvious thing: What writer or
artist doesn’t need some kudos or validation, especially in a profession where one can
labor largely alone for a year or two. Then, once published, you find yourself in what
feels like survival-of-the-fittest waters, as two or three million other authors are also
scrambling for reviewers. This competition will only grow. The numbers game, the
sheer weight of popularity, feels to me deeply embedded in our reading culture.
Page 2 of 24. Ask the person you’re soliciting that if they’re not sure they can find the time, can they
possibly read just ten pages? Again, set a deadline, like a couple of weeks. Hooking a
reader/reviewer early increases the chances of someone wanting to finish your book.
Another hint to help facilitate the effort…send along links to your book on Goodreads
and Amazon. Make things as easy as possible.
5. If the moment feels right, remind your friend you’re not a seller on Amazon looking for
five stars about their coffee maker. A book is not a commodity. A book is your
investment in yourself and your talents. You want to be taken seriously, without being
considered pushy or begging. You hope your friends can relate to something in their
own lives that is as important to them as your book is to you.
6. Tell potential reviewers that they don’t need impeccable writing or grammar skills to
complete a review. Two or three sentences will be fine, as long as they’re honest
words. Many readers shy from reviewing because they’re afraid of disappointing you,
or embarrassing themselves in being compared to other reviewers. Assure them their
writing skills don ‘t matter that much. Because they really don’t. However, yours do.
7. You might offer your friends a topic or two that other reviews haven’t covered. Suggest
they share their opinions about your ambiguous, complex main character, for example,
or how the surprise ending worked for them. The last thing you want is a plot
regurgitation. You’ve already provided that on your book jacket or your Amazon or
Goodreads page. Again, you want someone’s honest thoughts and feelings. I’ve read
lots of reviews, and written a few, too, and it’s the sincere ones that stay with you.
8. When you finally receive a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever, thank the
person! They took time out of their busy lives for this.
9. Be reluctant to ask anyone in your immediate family to review your book. Unless your
relationship is exceedingly strong and honest, no good will come of it.
10. I’ve made the mistake of “nudging” potential reviewers, even in good faith, when
they’re late on their soft commitment. They usually don’t like a reminder any more than
a dinner time call from the police benevolent league. For whatever reason, if your
friend is on the fence about reviewing you and your work, be mindful of the favor
they’re doing for you.
post 4:5:23.docx
Open with Google Docs
Page 2 of 2
I'm not talking about professional, independent reviewers who can summon amazing insights about any book. Some are like Olympic judges scoring a diving competition where a final score is based half on degree of difficulty and half on execution. Bookwise, an overall theoretical score of 80/50 means the author rates quite high in complexity of concept, but average on storytelling. A score of 50/80 would signal the reverse. This is helpful information to readers who like to handicap their expectations before turning a single page.
I should also mention small marketing companies that assist in getting your book to groups of hand-picked reviewers. This approach, in my experience, can garner thoughtful reviews. However, there are a number of "review packagers," charging significant fees, with quality control issues. Reviewers are sometimes assigned genres they have no familiarity with, or they speed read your book and miss key points. When you get back a review that bears little resemblance to what you believe you actually wrote, as if AI has had a hand in this, consider that ChatGPT may be the future of mass reviewing.
The reviewers I'm focusing on here are friends and acquaintances you want to respect and trust, and who know something about the craft of writing and storytelling. Before you enter this twilight zone, here are ten points to consider:
1. If friends give you an enthusiastic "yes, of course I'll review your book," they need to know how long it might take to finish your 100,000 word opus. Attention spans are not growing longer and time seems to be shrinking for everyone. If possible, set a deadline to finish your book that's both comfortable to both author and reviewer. I tend to go with two months. I have friends that have been promising me a review for a couple of years. When I run into them at Trader Joe's, they often remind me that my novel is next on their list. While the person is well intended, the "waiting forever" strategy rarely bears fruit.
2. Sometimes the best thing a would-be reviewer can do is be straight with the author. An upfront "I wish it were otherwise, but I can't help you" is far better than an endless protraction of good intentions,
3, Take the time to explain to someone that writing is your passion, perhaps even an addiction, and maybe a career. You would greatly appreciate their feedback, hopefully in the form of a review. It's okay to mention another obvious thing: What writer or artist doesn't need some kudos or validation, especially in a profession where one can labor largely alone and in silence for a year or two. Then, once published, you find yourself in survival-of-the-fittest waters, as two or three million other authors are scrambling for reviews. The numbers game, the sheer weight of popularity, feels to be irretrievably embedded in our reading culture.
4. Ask the person you're soliciting that if they're not sure they can find the time, can they possibly read just ten pages? Again, set a deadline, like a couple of weeks. Pulling potential reviewers in early increases the chances of them finishing your book. Another hint to help to facilitate the effort? Send them specific links to your book on Goodreads and Amazon. Make things as easy as possible.
5. If the moment feels right, remind your friend that you're not a seller on Amazon looking for five stars about their coffee maker. A book is not a commodity. A book is your investment in yourself and your talents. You want to. be taken seriously, without being considered pushy or begging. You hope your friends can relate to something in their lives that is as important to them as your creativity is to you.
6. Tell potential reviewers they don't need impeccable writing or grammar skills to complete a review, Two or three sentences will be fine, as long as they're honest words. Many readers shy from posting because they're afraid of disappointing the author, or embarrassing themselves by being compared to other reviewers. Assure them that their writing skills don't matter as much as content.
7. You might offer your friends a topic or two that other reviews haven't covered. Suggest they share their opinions about your ambiguous, complex main character, for example, or how the surprise ending worked for them. The last thing you want is for someone to regurgitate the plot. You've already provided that on your book jacket or your Amazon or Goodreads page. Again, you want to read honest thoughts and feelings. I've read lots of reviews, and written a few, too, and it's the sincere ones that inspire others to pick up the book.
8. When you finally receive a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever, thank the reviewers! They took time out of their busy lives for this.
9. Be reluctant to ask anyone in your immediate family to review your book. Unless your relationship is exceeding strong and open, no good will come of this.
10. I know writers who make the mistake of 'nudging" potential reviewers who are "running late" on their promises. They usually don't like a reminder any more than they do a dinner time call from the police officers' benevolent league. Try not to take this reaction personally. If your friend is suddenly on the fence about reviewing you and your work, be mindful there could be many reasons, and they may not have to do with your book.
Conversation opened. 6 messages. All messages read.
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52
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18 of 414
4/5/2023 author post....FINAL
External
Inbox
Michael FrenchMar 31, 2023, 3:12 PM (5 days ago)
to P, me
One attachment • Scanned by Gmail
3
Art TuckerApr 1, 2023, 1:04 PM (4 days ago)
Hi Michael! Please resend it with corrections.Many thanks!Art and Polly
Michael FrenchApr 1, 2023, 1:07 PM (4 days ago)
to me
Will send later this afternoon. Thanks.
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 1, 2023, at 1:05 PM, Art Tucker <artotem@artotems.com> wrote:
Great, thanks!
Thanks!
Great!
ReplyForward
Page
2
/2
Page 1 of 2
THE AWKWARD ART
OF ASKING FOR REVIEWS
This is for authors who would like to harvest reviews. I don’t know many who don’t
wish for that. Some suggested guidelines gleaned from my years of writing and publishing
books…
I’m not talking about paying for reviews from talented professionals, who often give
you and your readers amazing insights. There are also small marketing companies that assist
in getting your book to groups of hand-picked reviewers. Yet other companies, charging you a
lot, provide mixed results, according to writers I’ve talked to. The reviewers sometimes have
no familiarity with your genre, don’t like your main character, or speed read your book. When
you get back a review that bears little resemblance to what you actually wrote, and you suspect
AI has had a hand in this, consider that this may be the future.
So what reviewers am I taking about? I refer to friends and acquaintances you respect,
trust, and hope they want to read your book. Before you enter this twilight zone, here are
some things to consider:
1. If the person you approach gives you an enthusiastic “yes, of course I’ll review your
book,” please remind them how long it might take to finish your 100,000 word opus.
Attention spans are not growing longer and time seems to be shrinking for everyone. If
possible, set a deadline to finish your book that’s comfortable for both you and your
friend. I tend to go with two months. I have friends that have been promising me a
review for a couple of years. When I run into them at Trader Jo’s, they often remind me
that my novel is next on their list.
2. Sometimes the best thing a would-be reviewer can do is be straight with you An
upfront, “No, I wish it were otherwise, but I can’t help you” is far better than an endless
protraction of good intentions.
3. Take the time to explain to your friend that writing is your passion, perhaps even an
addiction, and maybe a career. You would greatly appreciate their feedback, hopefully
in the form of a review. It’s okay to mention another obvious thing: What writer or
artist doesn’t need some kudos or validation, especially in a profession where one can
labor largely alone for a year or two. Then, once published, you find yourself in what
feels like survival-of-the-fittest waters, as two or three million other authors are also
scrambling for reviewers. This competition will only grow. The numbers game, the
sheer weight of popularity, feels to me deeply embedded in our reading culture.
Page 2 of 24. Ask the person you’re soliciting that if they’re not sure they can find the time, can they
possibly read just ten pages? Again, set a deadline, like a couple of weeks. Hooking a
reader/reviewer early increases the chances of someone wanting to finish your book.
Another hint to help facilitate the effort…send along links to your book on Goodreads
and Amazon. Make things as easy as possible.
5. If the moment feels right, remind your friend you’re not a seller on Amazon looking for
five stars about their coffee maker. A book is not a commodity. A book is your
investment in yourself and your talents. You want to be taken seriously, without being
considered pushy or begging. You hope your friends can relate to something in their
own lives that is as important to them as your book is to you.
6. Tell potential reviewers that they don’t need impeccable writing or grammar skills to
complete a review. Two or three sentences will be fine, as long as they’re honest
words. Many readers shy from reviewing because they’re afraid of disappointing you,
or embarrassing themselves in being compared to other reviewers. Assure them their
writing skills don ‘t matter that much. Because they really don’t. However, yours do.
7. You might offer your friends a topic or two that other reviews haven’t covered. Suggest
they share their opinions about your ambiguous, complex main character, for example,
or how the surprise ending worked for them. The last thing you want is a plot
regurgitation. You’ve already provided that on your book jacket or your Amazon or
Goodreads page. Again, you want someone’s honest thoughts and feelings. I’ve read
lots of reviews, and written a few, too, and it’s the sincere ones that stay with you.
8. When you finally receive a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever, thank the
person! They took time out of their busy lives for this.
9. Be reluctant to ask anyone in your immediate family to review your book. Unless your
relationship is exceedingly strong and honest, no good will come of it.
10. I’ve made the mistake of “nudging” potential reviewers, even in good faith, when
they’re late on their soft commitment. They usually don’t like a reminder any more than
a dinner time call from the police benevolent league. For whatever reason, if your
friend is on the fence about reviewing you and your work, be mindful of the favor
they’re doing for you.
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March 23, 2023
WHAT DRIVES AN AUTHOR?
I sat at a typewriter behind a closed bedroom door for a lot of my adolescence. I can’t even remember what I wrote—probably some poetry and fantasies—but I do remember why. I wanted to create a world that I controlled and that made me feel good. I became amazed and confused by the weird person coming to life on the written page. I worried what would my parents think. In reality, I was so ordinary and bland that I couldn’t stand my personality any more than I thought I could change it—but my imagination insisted that I try.
Forty years later, I still have the need to explore any and all things roaming through my heart, mind, and soul. Exploring gets me up in the morning. I’ve come to love my random ideas about character and plot. They don’t always come to fruition, although they sometimes reappear years later in a different guise with fresh impact. Where do ideas originally spring from? A dream or a memory, sometimes. Comments overheard at a funeral. Reading an expression on a stranger’s face. Novels become unique alloys of conscious and unconscious feelings. I think that’s true for a lot of writers.
I’ve rarely missed a day of writing (even if it’s just rewriting one or two sentences in a manuscript). I cling to habit and persistence like someone lost at sea with only a life preserver to hang onto. My imagination/Muse would never forgive me if I gave up on her. I wouldn’t forgive myself, either. I wake in the night sometimes and work on a particular story-telling challenge, unable to go back to sleep until I write down my thoughts. They may be gibberish in the morning but, hey, they got me through the night and into the next writing day . I’ve convinced myself a good explorer knows the inevitability and value in getting lost. Freaking out is when things really get interesting.
Forty years later, I still have the need to explore any and all things roaming through my heart, mind, and soul. Exploring gets me up in the morning. I’ve come to love my random ideas about character and plot. They don’t always come to fruition, although they sometimes reappear years later in a different guise with fresh impact. Where do ideas originally spring from? A dream or a memory, sometimes. Comments overheard at a funeral. Reading an expression on a stranger’s face. Novels become unique alloys of conscious and unconscious feelings. I think that’s true for a lot of writers.
I’ve rarely missed a day of writing (even if it’s just rewriting one or two sentences in a manuscript). I cling to habit and persistence like someone lost at sea with only a life preserver to hang onto. My imagination/Muse would never forgive me if I gave up on her. I wouldn’t forgive myself, either. I wake in the night sometimes and work on a particular story-telling challenge, unable to go back to sleep until I write down my thoughts. They may be gibberish in the morning but, hey, they got me through the night and into the next writing day . I’ve convinced myself a good explorer knows the inevitability and value in getting lost. Freaking out is when things really get interesting.
February 6, 2023
GHOST WITH TWO HEARTS
Travel to an exotic country through a novel that’s better than a guide book. 
Available on Amazon
Available on Amazon
January 22, 2023
READING (AND WRITING) SHORTER NOVELS
Like most of my friends as well as the entire planet, the easiest way for not volunteering or committing to do something is to say, “really sorry, but my time is not my own.” This usually calms feelings of disappointment, and for me it’s always the truth.
As a society, we generally find it hard to say “no.” Yet we’re already stretched thin by work, personal responsibilities, putting out fires, and taking care of mind and body. Common sense about survival fails to come to our rescue.
There have always been 24 hours in a day, yet it doesn’t feel that way anymore. Can we outsmart time in some clever way to better prioritize our needs? What stands in our way? Which came first, the slow, steady erosion of our attention span, or the burden we increasingly put on ourselves to do more, see more, read more, and be in the moment more? Invariably, the “how” is eclipsed by “now what?”
My own goal is not just to quit adding to the pile of activities I call “life,” but to whittle the pile down to its most important elements. For me, that includes some reading and writing time every day.
For my reading friends, many prefer embracing specific genres and novelists that they have always found “satisfying.” They escape into the familiar, into a world and characters whose predictability they’ve almost been guaranteed by the author’s previous works. They like predictability. They fall in love with a character. A good story is like a jingle or something your mother told you that you can’t keep out of your head.
Most important, the escapism and “down time” provided by reading are needed by many of us as much as sleeping and eating.
Audio books have been a boon to time-starved muti-taskers whose minds seemingly occupy several universes at the same moment. For anyone whose attention span is more fragile, here’s another time-saver to try.
Forgetting the name of the author for a moment, try reading a short novel (around 55,000 words) that might have all the entertainment value, emotion and depth of a traditional 85,000 word book. As a rough comparison, that’s the difference between reading 200 pages or 300…. between taking 8 hours to finish a book or 12.
May not sound like much, but those extra four hours could be spent catching up on sleep, texting, or picking up another book. Seriously. We economize everything else—why not reading, too?
From someone who has been writing and publishing for a while, short novels, like short stories or poetry, are challenging to write. Whether it’s your prose, plot, characters or theme you’re constantly struggling with, there’s little margin for error. Put simply, you have only so many words to work with, and none can be wasted.
Michael R. French’s just-published adult novel, Ghost With Two Hearts, is available online and in select bookstores. Its length is about 54,000 words.
