by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I’d been hearing that author notes could be a nice website ‘extra’ for readers or newsletter subscribers, or serve as promo copy on the product page for Amazon.
I’d experimented a little in my newsletters and on Amazon, but decided to take things a little farther this time. I decided to try journaling a book while I wrote it. I posted the journal on Google Docs, shared it so that anyone with the link could view it, and mentioned the journal on my website.
At first, I was a little worried. Writers’ lives aren’t the most interesting and was the writing process really going to draw readers in? Especially mine? I’m very routine-driven. Writing at 5 a.m. isn’t maybe the most fascinating thing in the world.
But then I became a little more observant about what was going on around me while I was writing. How was I managing distractions? How focused was I on the story? When and where was I getting my ideas? And I found that there were stories around the story.
I don’t give any major spoilers, just hint at some of what’s going on in the story that I’m writing. That can naturally lead into the genesis of the characters and how I feel about them. Who or what helped to inspire their creation. The origination of the supposedly fictional settings (that have a lot in common with real locations).
We can add images from the web, personal photos, links, and other things to make the journal more visually interesting.
I decided to pin the link to my journal at the top of my Facebook page. From there, it generated a lot of interest and readers reached. My post read: “What goes through a writer’s mind while working on a book? It can be surprising. 
Follow along as I write the next Myrtle Clover mystery, A Body in the Trunk.”
It’s also nice to post it on Facebook because readers can comment there. I disabled comments for the document on Google Docs, because I had the feeling it would turn into a real mess….comments are really intended for edits between project partners and are inline there. I’d say that the lack of ability to host comments is the only real problem I see with putting the journal on Google Docs. You could, of course, set up a similar journaling project on your blog—each entry could engender comments.
Do you use author notes? Journal books? What ‘extras’ do you include for readers?
Photo via Visual hunt
Journaling a book as a reader extra: Click To Tweet
That was a fun journal to read. Thanks Elizabeth!
Thanks for coming by, Erica!
Not sure I’d be that exciting either. I’m sure it’s a good draw for authors with a solid fan base.
My life is exciting only on the merely microcosm level. :) It’s more the suspense of…who will get in trouble today? The dog or the cat?
I used to write in a journal in high school. That’s great it’s made you more observant. My life isn’t exciting enough for one.
You know, I have the feeling that readers might not *expect* our lives to be exciting. Or that maybe it depends on the genre. I might expect Lee Childs’s life to be exciting, but probably not most writers…we’re just so introspective and observant that maybe we move through life slower. My most exciting entry so far is when I hurt my back. :)
I think a way to make the journal more interesting is by adding pictures and including our character and setting inspirations. I’ve reached the conclusion that periodic posts are better than daily, too.
Wow, Elizabeth, this is a great idea! I’d never thought of doing that! I’ve toyed for some time with the idea of doing a newsletter, but there’s always the question of what to include (among other things). This sounds absolutely fascinating. Hmmm…..food for thought!
It’s so ridiculously easy to pull off, too, unlike so many promo endeavors. After all…writing is second nature to us!
I wonder if I could journal the life of a publisher? I guarantee no one would want that job after reading what I do in a day. LOL
I wouldn’t want to do what you do!
What a neat idea – I enjoyed that. I also saw that picture of Danielle Steel’s desk and shared it online! LOL
Thanks! Isn’t that desk so over the top?!
What an interesting idea! I do enjoy your posts. Cheers!
Thanks so much, Joy!
I’ve found it very interesting to read your journal and get some insights into the daily life of a writer. I’d love to see Diane do one from the perspective of a publisher as well.
Thank you! I love the writing life.
Maybe we can get Diane to do this! I have a feeling she’s slammed until January (putting together an anthology, among everything else), but maybe next year? Diane? :)
I was reading through this post and saw Skins. Wait – I grew up going to Skins! Then I saw McCants – I went to McCants! (Although that was long before they replaced the windows. It was much creepier back then.) I’m not sure what the difference is in our age, but we shared an old stomping ground! Thank you for sharing this idea. I might give it a try one day.
Too funny! Wow, small world. I graduated from Hanna (now the ‘new’ McCants) in 1989. :)
Hope you’ll give the idea a go! It’s a fun ‘extra’ for readers, I think.
I graduated in ’83 – a few years ahead of you. It really is a small world! It’s good to make that connection.
It sure is. Thanks for coming by! :)
Love the title. Always a little afraid of trunks (both types … Detroit is nearby). Had a creepy old trunk in the attic of a house we bought … empty though. Thankfully.
They’re sort of coffin-esque, aren’t they?
Detroit would be a good setting for so many books…
Hi Elizabeth – thanks for these thoughts … once I settle in to Canada I should look into this more … cheers Hilary
Canada! I’ve missed this news! Best wishes for a good move.