Wicked Wednesday - examining newsletters

One of the most handy tools a writer can use is the newsletter. You can promote your new book, share a contest, and tease your readers with a new project. Newsletters are a special tool in our arsenal because they're all about the readers. Or, at least, they should be.

My newsletter - Geeks, Freaks, & EEKS! - is one year old this month. It was intimidating when I started. I use MailChimp, and it took a little while to get the hang of it. Now it's easy to piece together a bulletin when I've decided what I want to say.

I worried that no one except a few friends would sign up for it. I pointed readers to the little widget on the sidebar of my blog and website. All you have to do is put in your email address. So simple! I was right to worry. Very few people subscribed.

Why? How could I entice readers to sign up? I offered contests just for my subscribers and a couple more folks added their names to the list. When I toured earlier this year, I gave the most points on my raffles to those that signed up for my newsletter. It attracted another dozen readers.

Now that I've reached the anniversary of my newsletter, I'm re-examining what I want to do with it and how to draw new subscribers. I've done a bunch of research, and here is what I have planned:

1. I will be sending out my newsletter quarterly instead of every month. (And for special events like book releases.)
2. There will be something in each newsletter exclusively for subscribers that won't be released anywhere else until at least two days after the newsletter has been sent.
3. I'll be attracting new subscribers with a free book.

Oh yes. You read it right! New subscribers to my newsletter will receive their choice of either The 13th Floor Complete Collection or Of Blood and Sorrow. (Sorry I cannot give away my Dice & Debauchery books.)

I'll be sending out my anniversary newsletter this Friday (August 14th). One lucky subscriber will win some swag including one of my special Christine Rains dice. So if you do sign up, you'll not only get a free book, but you'll have a chance to win some more cool stuff!

It's all about the readers.

Do you have a newsletter? If you do, what tips can you share about how to attract subscribers?

Anthologies seeking submissions - September 2012

It's that time of month again. I don't have any idea what I'm going to write for a short story this month yet. I'm browsing a couple of sites to see if my muse perks up at anything.

URBAN FANTASY ANTHOLOGY - 1-time print (Elektrik Milk Bath Press); h/f/magreal/humor/lit (fic). Pay: $30. Words: 1k-5k. RT: <6 weeks. Reprints: query. E-subs: PREFERS. Angela Charmaine Craig, Editor. Deadline: October 31st or when full.

URBAN GREEN MAN - 1-time print (Edge SF & Fantasy); f (fic/poem). Pay: 3½¢/word (poem=$20). Words: <5k. RT: <3 months after DL. Reprints: no. E-subs: ONLY. Adria Laycraft & Janice Blaine, Editors. Deadline: November 30th.

SONG STORIES - 1-time print/eAntho (Song Stories Press); sf/f/h (fic). Pay: 1% per 1k words. Words: <5k. RT: <2 weeks. Reprints: query. E-subs: ONLINE FORM ONLY. Wakefield Mahon, Editor. Deadline: December 1st or when full.

YOU'D BETTER WATCH OUT! - 1-time POD/eAntho (Cruentus Libri Press); Christmas-themed h (fic/art). Pay: shared royalty, £3/150 copies sold. Words: 2½k-7½k. RT: receipt=<1 week; final=<2 weeks after DL. Reprints: yes. E-subs: ONLY. Kevin G. Bufton, Editor. Deadline: October 31st.

STORY QUEST SHORT STORY CONTEST - annual; sf/f/h (fic). Words: 1k-3k (strict!). Fee: $0. 3 Prizes=$175 +pub (of all short listed stories). Reprints: no. Judges: Gerry Huntman, Esme Carpenter, Warren Goodwin, & Daniel I Russell. E-subs: ONLY. Contact: Gerry Huntman. Deadline: October 31st.

ZOETROPE: ALL-STORY SHORT FICTION CONTEST - 16th annual; all genres of literary fiction (fic). Words: <5k. Fee: $20. 3 Prizes=$1750 (& 7 HMs), lit agent consideration. Reprints: no. Guest Judge: Karen Russell. E-subs: ONLINE FORM. Queries or questions only. Deadline: October 1st.
(I usually don't post contests that have a fee, but the first prize in this one is absolutely amazing. For those of you who have $20 to spare and a polished short story, this is a great contest.)

A couple of great contests

Roland Yeomans is having a fantastic contest with prizes including

an autograph from Robert Downey Jr.,

an autographed copy of Michael Whelan's book,

AND

an autographed photo of Alexander Skarsgard!

*FAN GIRL SQUEAL*

All you have to do is write a post or an Amazon review of Roland's book,

END OF DAYS.

You can find the details here on his blog.

I have his book. I need to get reading and write that review before July 4th!

In celebration of 100 followers, Allison at

GEEK BANTER

is having a drawing to win any one book by

Terry Brooks.

How to pick only one?

Allison has a great blog with book and geek fun.

Here's the post with the details.

Giveaways, contests, and more giveaways

You still have a few days to enter the David Salnave holiday book giveaway on my blog. He'll make you laugh and he'll make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. Perfect holiday gift.

We all love giveaways. Free stuff! It's even better during the holidays when we're spending too much money as it is. Here's a list of fantastic contests and giveaways. Click, enter and be merry!

Cherie Reich is giving away six critiques on her writing blog and three books she's reviewed on her book review blog. She's an editor and an awesome critique partner. A critique by her is a fabulous gift to yourself. Plus, books. Need I say more?

Heather at My Demon Spirits is having a holiday short story contest. Stories can be funny, uplifting or scary, and must be no longer than 500 words. First place winner gets a $25 Amazon gift card. Second place wins an e-reader cozy and third place a leather writing journal. Great prizes!

It's Melissa Bradley's birthday at Melissa's Imaginarium. Leave a comment on her birthday post to win a copy of any of her stories. I'm in the mood for cake right now.

inkPageant is giving away a ten page critique by Eschler Editing. Again, what better gift could you give yourself than helping to improve your craft.

All Things Urban Fantasy is giving away a free eARC of Thea Harrison's True Colors. Awesome paranormal romance.

The magnificent and hilarious author Gini Koch is having a contest with several gift packs. Just tell her which ones you'd like, your favorite holiday tradition, and how she's the bestest author out there!

J.C. Martin is giving away a copy of Kathleen S. Allen's Witch Hunter. More wonderful paranormal fun!

Paranormal romance author Yasmine Galenorn is giving away an ARC copy of Shaded Vision, the next book in her Otherworld series. Excellent series.

Win a Kindle Fire or a $200 Amazon gift card HERE!

Allison Pang offers you a chance to win a Nook as part of the Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop Part 2. All you have to do is write a hedgehog haiku. Here's the link to all the contests in the Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop.

If there's any you want to include, please leave a link in the comments section. I'll appreciate it as much as everyone else. Happy Friday!