By Eldred "Bob" Bird

Besides writing, music is one of my passions. So much so that I volunteer at the Musical Instrument Museum here in Phoenix as a gallery guide. While working my shift recently, I had a thought—there are a lot of people in music that I can learn from when it comes to writing short stories.

The music industry is full of amazing storytellers, especially folk and country music. Somehow these singer-songwriters manage to pack interesting characters, compelling storylines, and tons of emotion into only a minutes long performance. True, the music lifts their tales to a higher level, but the right words still do the heavy lifting.

So, how can we as writers learn from these poets and troubadours? Let’s take a look at some lyrics from a few of my favorite singer-songwriters and see what we can discover.

Characters

If you want to hook a reader right away, a compelling character goes a long way toward doing the job. The problem is how to accomplish the task with only a few lines. Country storyteller Tom T. Hall was a master at this. This is the beginning of his song Faster Horses:

He was an old-time cowboy, don't you understand
His eyes were sharp as razor blades his face was leather tan
His toes were pointed inward from a-hangin' on a horse
He was an old philosopher, of course
He was so thin I swear you could have used him for a whip
He had to drink a beer to keep his britches on his hips
I knew I had to ask him about the mysteries of life
He spit between his boots and he replied

Building the Story

In the first ten or fifteen seconds of the song he manages to create a character we can immediately picture and makes us want to know more about him. He does this by using familiar images such as an “old-time cowboy” and colorful descriptions like “eyes as sharp as razor blades” and “so thin you could have used him as a whip.” The “spit between his boots” puts an exclamation point on the description.

A couple other Tom T. Hall songs that feature wonderful character portraits worth studying are “Old Dogs and Children and Watermelon Wine” and “The Year that Clayton Delaney Died.”

Compelling Storylines

No matter how fascinating your characters are, if they don’t have a story to tell then they’re not going to hold the reader’s interest. This is where we can learn from the story-song writers. These performers manage to pack a full story into such a compact space. It’s like flash fiction set to music.

One of my all-time favorite practitioners of the story-song was Harry Chapin. No one could spin a tale like Harry. Most of his songs were too long for radio play, but a few managed to sneak onto the charts. The most famous of those was Cat’s in the Cradle, the story of the relationship between a father and son. Every verse is a snapshot of how their relationship develops over the years. The first verse creates the foundation and sets an expectation for where the relationship might go:

My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talking 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you, dad"
"You know I'm gonna be like you"

Building the Story

Each new verse builds on the theme until the final revelation. In less than four minutes we see a whole generation pass and a complete cautionary tale unfolds. The fact that the story is told in first person adds to the emotional impact, making the moral of the story even more poignant, as shown by the last couple of lines:

And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

Other examples from the Chapin catalogue I highly recommend include WOLD, Taxi, Mr. Tanner, and Story of a Life. Take the time to listen not just to the words but how they are put together to paint the landscape of each of these lives.

Emotional Impact

As writers, we’re all aware of the importance of an emotional hook, especially when you’re trying to capture the reader’s attention right away. Musical storytelling is no different. In both short stories and story-songs we have limited time and space to accomplish this task, so it’s a good idea to set that stage immediately.

A perfect example of a fast emotional hook comes from Operator by Jim Croce. The whole song is just dialogue—one side of a telephone conversation. Within the first few lines we know what is motivating the singer.

Operator, well could you help me place this call?
See, the number on the matchbook is old and faded
She's living in L.A. with my best old ex-friend Ray
A guy she said she knew well and sometimes hated

Building the Story

With the line “the number on the matchbook is old and faded” we get a sense that whatever he’s dealing with isn’t recent, but something from his past that he’s still holding on to. In the very next lines, we find out what he’s dealing with is heartbreak and betrayal. The chorus shows how he’s trying to deal with these feelings:

Isn't that the way they say it goes? Well, let's forget all that
And give me the number if you can find it
So I can call just to tell 'em I'm fine and to show
I've overcome the blow, I've learned to take it well
I only wish my words could just convince myself
That it just wasn't real, but that's not the way it feels

He sees forgiveness as the path to his healing, but we get the feeling that the scars are too deep. After getting the number, he still begs the operator for help. In the last verse we see his real motivation for attempting to make the call:

Operator, well let's forget about this call
There's no one there I really wanted to talk to
Thank you for your time, ah, you've been so much more than kind
And you can keep the dime

In the end we realize that he’s so lonely and heartbroken that he’s just looking for someone to talk to. That’s his whole reason for dialing the operator—just to hear a friendly voice.

If you’d like to hear more of this artist and his ability to evoke strong emotions, I would suggest listening to Time in a Bottle, Another of his most famous songs.

Final Thoughts

These artists are more than just musicians and entertainers, they’re poets, philosophers, and writers as well. Their songs give a window into so many different aspects of life, while managing to accomplish it with an economy of words. This article just scratches the surface. There’s so much more we can learn from their examples.

Your Assignment

Pick some of your favorite artists, dig deep into their catalogues, and really listen to their words. You’re sure to find some hidden gems you can learn from and incorporate into your own writer voice.

Who are some of your favorite songwriters? What have you learned from their lyrics and what kind of effect have they had on your writing? Let us know in the comments below.

About Bob

Eldred Bird writes contemporary fiction, short stories, and personal essays. He has spent a great deal of time exploring the deserts, forests, and deep canyons inside his home state of Arizona. His James McCarthy adventures, Killing Karma, Catching Karma, and Cold Karma, reflect this love of the Grand Canyon State even as his character solves mysteries amidst danger. Eldred explores the boundaries of short fiction in his stories, The Waking Room, Treble in Paradise: A Tale of Sax and Violins, and The Smell of Fear.

When he’s not writing, Eldred spends time cycling, hiking, and juggling (yes, juggling…bowling balls and 21-inch knives).

His passion for photography allows him to record his travels. He can be found on Twitter or Facebook, or at his website.

Top Image by 3422763 via Pixabay

by Penny Sansevieri

For most authors, doing local promotion is low on the list of things they’re doing to market their books. And while national media and nationally focused marketing strategies are important, don't overlook the power of local marketing. By targeting your community, you can tap into the support of local businesses, libraries, and media outlets, creating lasting partnerships and gaining exposure for your work.

Still not convinced? Well, consider this: a number of years ago I met a first-time author who was selling 5,000 copies of her indie published book by doing local promotion. She had her book in nearly all of her local stores, and stores that couldn’t carry the book (like her local dry cleaners) had bookmarks. Her book was literally everywhere. She said she did that because she really wasn’t sure what else to do to promote her book.

Local media loves their local celebrities – and as an author, you’re one of the celebs local media loves. It’s also a great way to get your feet wet doing media and a fantastic way to add media appearances to your website. If you want to build into national media appearances, starting on a local level can be a great way to do that. So where do you start? Let’s dig in!

1. Partner with Local Businesses

One effective way to promote your book locally is by partnering with local businesses. Consider reaching out to specialty stores, such as gift shops, boutiques, or even hardware stores, that align with your book's theme or target audience. These businesses may be open to hosting an event or showcasing your book in their store. By collaborating with them, you can reach a new audience and benefit from their existing customer base.

Another option is to approach local cooperative workplaces like WeWork or Regus. These spaces often host weekly events and are constantly seeking new speakers. Pitch a workshop, webinar, or paid event related to your book's content, or negotiate to have your book prominently displayed within the workspace. These partnerships can provide valuable exposure and networking opportunities.

2. Tap into the Power of Local Libraries

Libraries are an excellent resource for self-published authors. Reach out to your local librarians and inquire about hosting an event or workshop. While you may need to navigate the library's administrative process, establishing a personal connection with the librarians can go a long way in securing an opportunity to promote your book within the branch. Additionally, consider leaving copies of your book at the library for potential readers to discover.

If you're unable to visit the library in person, you can also reach out to librarians via email. Use this opportunity to introduce yourself, provide a brief summary of your book, and express your interest in collaborating on an event or showcasing your book in some capacity. Remember, building relationships with librarians is crucial for gaining visibility within the local literary community.

3. Engage with Local Indie Bookstores

Supporting local independent bookstores not only benefits your community but also provides an avenue for promoting your book. Research and identify independent bookstores in your area and approach them with a proposal. Offer to host a book signing, reading, or Q&A session at their store. This can attract both loyal customers of the bookstore and new readers interested in discovering local authors.

To increase your chances of success, do some background research on the bookstore's audience and tailor your pitch accordingly. Highlight how your book aligns with their readers' interests and emphasize the unique value you bring as a local author. Building relationships with independent bookstores can lead to ongoing partnerships and increased visibility within the literary community.

4. Explore Opportunities at Local Festivals and Street Fairs

Participating in local festivals and street fairs can be a fun and effective way to sell your books. Look for events in your area that attract a diverse range of attendees and have a strong social media presence or reputation for high attendance. Consider sharing a booth with other local authors to increase visibility and attract more visitors.

When setting up your booth, make sure to create an engaging display that showcases your book and captures people's attention. Offer autographed copies as unique gifts, and don't forget to bring some fun swag items such as bookmarks or character trading cards to distribute. These small tokens can serve as reminders of your book and generate interest among potential readers.

5. Target Niche Markets: Wineries and Specialty Stores

Don't limit yourself to traditional book-selling venues. Think outside the box and explore niche markets that align with your book's theme or target audience. Wineries, for example, can be a unique and enjoyable setting for book events. Reach out to wineries in your area and propose collaborating on an event during their slower hours. This partnership can attract wine enthusiasts who may also be interested in literature.

Additionally, consider specialty stores that cater to specific hobbies or interests related to your book. Whether it's a card store, cookware store, or computer store, find a store that resonates with your book's content and approach the owners with a proposal. Offer your book on consignment or negotiate a mutually beneficial arrangement. These partnerships can help you reach a targeted audience and create memorable experiences for potential readers.

6. Harness the Power of Local Meetups and Book Clubs

Local meetups and book clubs provide an excellent opportunity to connect with readers who are actively seeking new books and authors. Utilize online platforms like Meetup to find local book clubs in your area and reach out to their organizers. Offer to do a talk or presentation, or suggest your book as a club selection. By participating in these gatherings, you can engage with passionate readers and gain valuable insights into their preferences.

Remember to bring copies of your book to these events, and consider offering special discounts or incentives for attendees. Building relationships with local book clubs can lead to long-term support and word-of-mouth recommendations, as members often share their favorite reads with friends and family.

7. Leverage Local Media and Establish Yourself as a Local Celebrity

Local media outlets are always interested in highlighting local talent, making them an invaluable resource for self-published authors. Start by pitching your story or book to local newspapers, magazines, radio stations, or TV channels. Craft a compelling pitch that showcases the unique aspects of your book and emphasizes your local connection.

When approaching the media, focus on the human interest angle of your story. Highlight any local ties, personal anecdotes, or community impact your book may have. Offering exclusive interviews, guest articles, or book giveaways can also capture media attention and generate buzz around your work.

Remember, building a local brand presence takes time and effort. Attend other author events in your area to gain inspiration and connect with like-minded individuals. By establishing yourself as a local celebrity, you can foster lasting relationships within your community and create a strong support network for your book marketing efforts. When it comes to book marketing, don't underestimate the power of local outreach. By targeting your community through partnerships, events, and media exposure, you can create lasting connections and boost your book sales. Embrace the creativity and opportunities that come with local marketing, and watch your author brand flourish within your region. Remember, building a local presence is just the beginning of a successful journey as a self-published author.

Have you tried to sell locally? What have you tried?

About Penny

Penny C. Sansevieri, Founder and CEO of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a bestselling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. She is an Adjunct Professor teaching Self-Publishing for NYU. She was named one of the top influencers of 2019 by New York Metropolitan Magazine.

Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most innovative Amazon visibility campaigns as well offering national media pitching, online book marketing, author events, and other strategies designed to build the author/book visibility.

She is the author of 18 books, including How to Sell Your Books by the Truckload on Amazon, Revise and Re-Release Your Book, 5-Minute Book Marketing for Authors, and From Book to Bestseller. She also hosts the top ranking podcast Book Marketing Tips and Author Success.

AME has had dozens of books on top bestseller lists, including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal.

To learn more about Penny’s books or her promotional services, visit www.amarketingexpert.com. 

by James R. Preston

In Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, Gene Wilder in the title role finds a book called How I Did It by Victor Frankenstein. Needless to say, he’s pretty excited. 

As writers, we are about books. Let’s step back and talk about some of them.

There are stories. And there are stories about stories, sort of "stories once removed."  This is a collection of the latter. My hope is to encourage you to read other writers’ struggles so you can say, “Why it’s not so bad that my novel is taking a long time to write." 

This is of necessity a personal collection since I am not crazy enough to begin a literature search on “Introductions to books,” and I felt it was important to avoid spoilers, which eliminated many modern novels. Also, we are absolutely buried in text, swamped with posts and comments on posts and comments on comments, all about a particular story. 

Campfire Chat

No, this post is sort of like a bunch of writers sitting around a campfire and one of them turns to his neighbor and says, “Hey, Irv, how did you come to write The Prize, and Irving Wallace says . . . “

I pulled these references out of my own collection because they illustrate important principles about our art and craft, sure, but mostly because they’re fun. You can sit with Barbara Tuchman when Barbra (yes, that Barbra) comes calling. We’ll do that and we’ll walk through cotton fields at midnight with Thomas Harris as the dogs sing to the full moon. 

And this is homework. If I do this right you will go out looking for certain books, because that’s what we’re here for, isn’t it? Books. Hold that thought. 

Singing dogs, movie stars, what more could you ask for?

Finally, for one more story about a story, I’ll tell the one about how I sold my first novel and sold my first novel . . . and sold my first novel. More on that later too. 

Persistence Pays Off

Irving Wallace, The Writing of One Novel. 

Wallace started work on The Prize in 1946 and finished it in 1962. He tells the story in a book called The Writing Of One Novel. This is an excellent “story once removed,” full of information as valid today as it was when it was written.  “No one writes as well as he would like to; he only writes as well as he can.” Thanks, Irving. If I ever get a tattoo, that’s what it will say. Wallace also provides step-by step procedures — Notes, Outline, Scene and so on, and illustrates them with his own notes. 

He was devoted, he stuck to it, just like... 

Barbara Tuchman, The Guns of August. 

Look for an edition with the Forward by the historian Robert K. Massie. He talks about how Tuchman worked, “four or five hours at a stretch,” writing longhand, then typing, and how when Jane Fonda and Barbra Streisand wanted her to write a script she told her daughter to tell them that "no, she was working."

The result of this effort was a history of the first month of World War 1 that is as readable today as it was when first published. 

Massie includes a swipe at reviewers and I feel compelled to include it here. When The Guns of August came out Tuchman was described as “a fifty-year-old housewife, mother of three, and the spouse of a prominent New York physician.” Right. Like in between picking the kids up from soccer practice and cooking dinner she dashed off one of the truly great works of modern history, and won a Pulitzer. As if she hadn’t written Bible and Sword and The Zimmerman Telegram before Guns of August. 

As Massie points out, "she has a gift for making the people come alive."

And when your characters come to life sometimes they won’t go away. 

He Made Me Do It

Ursula K. LeGuin, The Wind’s Twelve Quarters. Short stories. 

LeGuin was a fantastic science fiction writer in the 60’s - 80’s and in one of her stories she encountered a minor character named Rocannon who would not go away until she told his story. She’s part of this list because in the Introduction to The Wind’s Twelve Quarters, she talks about how he simply would not leave her alone.

If you read about writers and their craft you will encounter this over and over again — one of your fictional creations jumps off the page, grabs you by the throat and says, “Tell my story! I want to be heard!” The LeGuin collection is kind of a bonus in that not only is there an Introduction, there’s also a short introduction to each of the stories. It’s well worth a look if you want to hear a talented writer talking about her work. 

He Might Be Watching Me

Thomas Harris, Red Dragon. 

Speaking of characters that demand attention . . . In Forward to a Fatal Interview, Thomas Harris describes how he wrote Red Dragon, mostly at night, in a small house in the middle of cotton fields. He often walked at night, accompanied by a pack of stray dogs that had attached themselves to him, and who would sing to a full moon. If you’ve guessed who Harris thought might be watching him, why, yes, it’s that gourmet cook Hannibal Lecter. Harris’ essay is a great read and illustrates the writing process, but I don’t recommend it for late at night. 

Girls Don’t Do That

Robert A. Heinlein, Red Planet.

This early Heinlein juvie (a YA in today’s terminology) was nearly edited to death. Among other things, Alice Dalgliesh, the editor, said girls don’t shoot guns. Oh, yeah? My mother, born the same year as Heinlein, learned to shoot first with a shotgun and later with a deer rifle. ‘nuff said. Also, Willis, The Martian pet, sleeps in the same bed as his “owner” and that’s not cool either. Heinlein gave in, accepted the changes, but years later a new publisher brought out an “unexpurgated” edition.

If you want more information look for an essay called “Red Planet, Blue Pencil.”

Podkayne of Mars - Girls don’t do that redux.

Podkayne wants to be a spaceship pilot <fill in the resistance>. But this book and its Introductions — there’s more than one — make this list because they are unique. In this case, the publisher changed the end. Yep. Years pass, new publisher. Restore Heinlein’s original end? Maybe. How about a vote! Readers contributing their thoughts and indeed the end . . . Well, I promised no spoilers. I also promise that reading this “Story once removed” is well worth it. 

How I Did It

Ok, the hour is late, the campfire is down to glowing embers and we all need to slide into those sleeping bags because of course we will get up in the morning and write. But I promised so here it is, one more story. 

I broke into selling fiction with a science fiction story called, “Law of the Instrument” that I sold to Analog Science Fiction. I started a non-sf thriller called Leave A Good-Looking Corpse, and about that time I went to a writers convention in San Diego, where I saw a flyer for a contest that was part of a convention in Seattle. Send in the first chapter and an outline, win a prize! Well, my father had recently relocated to Olympia, Washington and if I went to the convention I could visit him. I didn’t have a book, but I had enough so I entered. 

And promptly forgot about it. Until I got a letter saying that I was a Finalist. Yow! Frantic rush for plane reservations, hotel reservations, talking to my Dad, and so on. 

I won. And an editor said, “Tell me about the next book in the series.” She wanted it. If I could keep it up she wanted the whole series.

Twists and Turns

A few months later my agent called to say the editor had left the company, but she had passed my book on to another editor. In short order, I was back on the street. 

My agent said not to worry because a friend of hers was an editor at an even better publisher and she wanted to see the book. That editor liked it! She liked the series! Then she left the company. I was back on the street. 

Then my father was diagnosed with bone cancer. The book is dedicated to him.

I was out of time. A traditional publisher would take a year or more to get the book to market and I didn’t have a publisher yet. So I self-published and my dad got to hold the book and read the Dedication. 

Then I was picked up by a West Coast publisher and the rest, as they say, is history. 

“If you cannot read all your books . . . fondle them—peer into them, let them fall open where they will, read from the first sentence that arrests the eye, set them back on the shelves with your own hands, arrange them on your own plan so that you at least know where they are. Let them be your friends; let them, at any rate, be your acquaintances.”

— Sir Winston Churchill 

A Great Book that didn’t make the cut. 

J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings. Look for a new edition with all three volumes presented — correctly — as one novel. This one was eliminated from this Writers in the Storm essay because the lengthy introduction is more about the history of the book than writing.

Now it’s your turn. Tell us a story about a story down in the comments. I really want to hear from you; we don’t get to “talk” very often.

About James

James R. Preston is the author of the multiple-award-winning Surf City Mysteries. The sixth, called Remains To Be Seen will be launched at Men of Mystery in November. Kirkus Reviews called the Huntington Beach background in Remains "sparkling." His most recent works are Crashpad and Buzzkill, two historical novellas set in the 1960’s at Cal State Long Beach. Kirkus Reviews called Buzzkill “A historical thriller enriched by characters who sparkle and refuse to be forgotten.” His books are collected as part of the California Detective Fiction collection at the University of California Berkeley. 

Find out more about James at his website.

Top image from Depositphotos by artursz