WWoW! Memes for Authors

WWoW! Simple Advice for Authors. 

WoW is a Smart & Savvy Group of Authors who host this weekly feature each Wednesday.

While we don't claim to be experts, the goal is to impart what we've learned about 

writing, editing, getting published, book promotion, and more along the way.

Today, I'm sharing about memes. I had no idea what this word meant the first time someone used it with me. So, let me explain...

When a writer begins their career as a published author, we're encouraged to start a blog to interact with readers. This is one of those "sounds easier than it actually is" pieces of advice. A blog takes a lot of thought but here is a SIMPLE way to get started before you know what to blog about.

Memes: a meme is a weekly blog feature posted across multiple blogs centered on a common theme. A blogger can choose weekly to participate so if you need a break, you take a week off. One of the most recognized memes was Six Sentence Sunday. The organizers just discontinued it - it grew huge - but several off-shoots have now taken root in the blogging community.

Let me suggest some common memes that I participate in. There are many, many more - these are just a few. Check them out and see if you might fit into any of these groups. Then jump on in and you've got yourself a weekly blog feature with the benefit of a group of people interested in the mutual success of your blogs.


Sexy Snippets

This has become my new Sunday post. In Sexy Snippets, participants select seven sentences from a WIP or published manuscript. This gives you the chance to feature a piece of your work, along with a short book promo weekly. See a sample of my Sexy Snippets. This meme operates out of a facebook group. You can sign up weekly at the Nuthouse Scribbler's website. The heat level in this meme runs across the board from sweet to spicy. As a participant, you are encouraged to read and comment on as many others as possible.

Tantalizing Tuesdays
Participants select a photo of their choice and write an original 200-word story to post every Tuesday. It's an awesome way to keep your writing sharp because telling a story in 200-words is not always as easy as it sounds. See a sample of my Tantalizing Tuesday post. This meme operates out of a facebook group where you can sign up weekly and also has a website. Erotic Authors will be most comfortable with this group. A special note about this group is that as a participant, you're expected to read and comment on the other stories - they extend you the same courtesy. Hey, it's guaranteed blog traffic!

Hump Day Hook
Wednesday, commonly referred to as Hump Day, has a few different variations of Hump Day memes. In Hump Day Hook, participants select only one paragraph from a WIP or published manuscript. This provides you with the opportunity to post a piece of your work and a little book promo weekly. It's easy because you've essentially already written the post. See a sample of my Hump Day Hook. This meme operates out of a facebook group and has a website where you can sign up weekly. The heat level in this meme runs across the board from sweet to spicy. As a participant, you are encouraged to read and comment on as many others as possible.

Saturday Spankings

This meme is for authors of spanking fiction (but there are other genre-specific memes out there too). Participants post a brief sample of a spanking scene from their book and can include a short book promo. Again, this is an easy meme because you've essentially already written the post. See a sample of my Saturday Spankings. This meme operates out of a website where you can sign up weekly. It's important to know that as a participant, you are expected to read and comment on the other posts.


Thursday 13
This meme is not exclusive to authors. But it's easy and can be fun if you get creative. Participants simply post a list of any 13 things. You include your link on the group's website and others will pop around from blog to blog reading the lists. Here's a sample of one of my more creative Thursday 13 posts. I've hosted other authors as guests for this feature. I've also posted 13 sentences from one of my books, listed 13 character names, quotes, super heroes, chick flicks, romantic places, etc, etc... the list is endless and can always be used in a way to promo your writing.

SO, what other memes do you participate in? COMMENT BELOW and INCLUDE LINKS so we can learn about all the opportunities for weekly posts.

Now, I didn't mention WoW as a weekly meme because we're taking it to it's own blog. There's one other post this week at Tammy Dennings Maggy's blog where she shares about blogging. You can follow us on twitter at #WWoW. Or find us on facebook at Words of Wisdom. And soon we'll be opening our official WWoW blog - details to come!