Tyler Perry's 34 Street Films & the Future of Christian Fiction

This year Tyler Perry Studios formed 34th Street Films to house projects not written or directed by Tyler Perry. We know that Christian Fiction author Stephanie Perry Moore's teen series will become a Made for DVD Series,Georgia Sky under 34th Street Films. However, I wonder what will TPS do for Christian Fiction, especially African American Christian Fiction? Although there is an obvious consumer market for these stories, why are Christian publishers still hesitant about acquiring more? Or should we follow Tyler Perry's lead and create our own?

Day 5: 5 Good Rules about Book Blog Names

We're in Day 5 of Build a Better Book Blog, and we're still at the setup phase.

In Day 4 we discussed ten types of book blogs. Over the weekend you have had time to decide what type of book blog you want to set up or the type you want to refocus your current blog to. Whatever the case it is important to develop a focused idea of your blog. Choosing a name that let's the reading community know exactly what you represent makes it easier to find you and to hang around on your blog. It's one thing to set up a blog, then do nothing with. But if you want to build a better book blog you need to start at the beginning...your blog name.

Today we will talk about the all important blog name, why it's important, and the rules that will help you make your selection.

1. Decide upon a Blog Name that makes the focus of your Blog Crystal Clear.

• The Brown Bookshelf is about? Click here to find out.
• Christian Fiction is about?
• Romance Divas Divine Blog is about? Click here to find out.

The point is a newbie web user will look at the name of the blog and have an idea of what kind of blog it is. The Brown Bookshelf has to do with books, Christian Fiction is about Christian Fiction, Romance Divas Divine Blog has to be a blog about more than one romance reader or writer or both. When you choose your name make sure you choose a name that a fool would know what your blog is about.

2. Choose a Name that brings Readers to You Easy

To read further, please join the FREE Series here.

Photo Credit: Just Your Typical Book Blog

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Day 4: Which of the 10 Book Blog Types are you?

So far this week we have talked about blog setup basics- platforms, templates, and the blogger's vision. But unlike other series on blogging we are focusing on the book blog and its many forms. The shape of these blogs is our discussion today.

There are six basic book blogs:

1. The Book Review Blog
2. The Author FanClub Blog
3. The Publishing Industry News Blog
4. The Blog as Book
5. The Genre Blog
6. Book Alliance Blog
7. The BookClub Blog
8. The Author as Human Blog
9. Bookstore Blog
   

Now that you know what special contribution you would like to bring to your blog, what platform that works best for you, and some design tips and goodies to make your blog stand out you are ready to decide what type of content you want on this blog.

Why do you need to have one clear content focus for your blog?

1. So that you can brand the blog with your unique imprint.
2. So that publishers can identify and validate your blog when they are seeking bloggers to become readers for their house
3. To help your audience find you easier in search engines
4. To stay true to the special contribution you will bring to the blogosphere.

Let's talk about these four forms in detail with some examples to guide your decision making.

1. The Book Review Blog
Example - http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/ and http://neglectedbooks.com/
Book Review Blogs purpose is to review books. Most of the content is blog reviews written by the owner and contributing bloggers.

2. The Author FanClub Blog
Example: http://sherrilewis.blogspot.com
The Author Blog's purpose is to serve as a virtual fan club president. Readers can chat with the author, stay up to date with their schedule, and the author shares his/her writing world with her fancs.

3.The Publishing Industry News Blog
Example: http://www.bookslut.com/blog.html/
The purpose for this type blog is to provide information about the publishing industry, the good, the bad, and the i wish I didn't know so much now.

4. The Blog as Book
Example:
The Purpose for a BaB is to use the blog platform as a writer's notebook, a membership site where bits of the book is fed to their subscribers, or a blog that's content can be repackaged into a book.

5. The Genre Blog
Example:UrbanChristianToday www.urbanchristianfictiontoday.com
This blog focuses on a specific genre, trends, tips for writers and book reviews.

6. The Book Alliance Blog
Example: The First WildCard Tour. http://firstwildcardtours.blogspot.com/
The purpose of this blog is to be the online hub and information center for a blog alliance of book reviewers.

7. The BookClub Blog
Example: www.rawsistaz.com
The purpose for this blog is to serve as an online hub for the members to plan and get together.

8. The Author as Human Blog
Example - http://journal.neilgaiman.com/
I love Neil Gaman's blog. This is a great example of the author as human blog. It's purpose is for the writer to share his/her writing life with not just his readers, but to the world. Author as Human Blogs are some of the best written blogs online. Author as Human Blog aren't always published, but aspiring authors as well.

9. Bookstore Blog
Example - http://inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com/
It's purpose to share what is going on at the store and how it reflects the current state of the industry.

10. a Bonus type. the hybrid.
Example: Christian Fiction www.christianfiction.blogspot.com
The purpose for CFB began with an intent to be a book review blog, but then uncovered stories that needed to be told. This type blog couples the news format and the author as human , but a heavy influence on reviews. See what I mean?

Now that you see all these types you will have a more focued view of your online space. It is important to remember in the beginning of your new blogging platform you are still a novice.

SO the weekend chatterbox question is What type of book blogger are you?

Related Posts:
30 Days to Build a Better Book BLog

Day 3: Blogalicious Templates, Free & Upgraded

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The Christian Fiction Network

Yesterday after I presented Day 2, a member in the 30 Days group asked me, "If she paid a provider to build the blog would she need to know html?"

So far we are having fun at the 30 Days Blog Upgrade Eduspace. We've been introducing each other to our blogs and setting up our first committed blog. As I had expected everyone was gung ho to tinker with their blogs. Therefore the question above and a few others resonate with today's post, "Blogalicious Templates, Free & Upgrade."

One thing that took Christian Fiction Blog to a new level a few years ago was changing the layout to something unique. There are so many blogs out there, and unfortunately many of the book blogs look more boring than a public library design wise. While others have so much book graphic clutter that it hurt your eyes to focus, so you give up and move on.

• Wouldn't it be nice to have a blog, readers love to turn to to find a great book?
• Wouldn't it be nice to have a blog designed in a way that readers actually stick around and read excerpts and reviews?
• Wouldn't it be nice to know that your blog represents what's special about the story you want to share with the world?

When I launched the blog I picked the white minima design that was offered through Blogger. I am a big fan of white space and black text. My aesthetic is toward a clean design. I guess my architectural background may be to blame. I also believe that it is important for readers to be able to see your text. As more internet users use their mobiles to log on, it is important to note that good design isn't just about the blog being pretty, but it being user friendly, especially on the eyes. For a while I transitioned from one Minima template design to the next. Last year, however, I changed the game and picked a clean, hipper XML design with a universal color palette that also honored my need for white space.

I think the red, white and blue has taken good care of Christian Fiction Blog. But I'm also a free spirit. I don't like to get too attached. Christian Fiction has had this design far longer than the others, so it's time for an upgrade.

Before I make a change I want to chat with you about your blog template and design. For next to nothing you can customize any blog with very little knowledge of code. So don't worry. In fact, I will not break down graphic design how to's, the html color map, defining design & layout terminology, or the power of Corel and Photoshop. Nope. I' m talking free or dirt cheap, easy and super easy upgrading.

Let me introduce you to some free downloadable template sources for your blogs and some blog layout divas and divos who can upgrade you.

To continue you must register to 30 Days to Build a Better Book Blog. Come on. It's free. You can start your 30 days whenever you wish, step away from it and come back later. No worries.

Related Posts:

Day 2: 5 Book Blogs for 5 Blog Platforms

Day 1: If you Knew why your Blog was Special...?

The Before the Big Day: Why is Blogging having a Resurgence?

Day 2: 5 Book Blogs for 5 Blog Platforms

After yesterday's post I received three kinds of responses:

1. Is it too late to join (quick answer No. rolling admission, just pick up at Day 1)
   
2. I don't have the time to commit, but I will some day. (quick answer, just register and pick up at Day 1 when you can.)
3. Do I build a blog now and how?
   

Let's pause at the last response. "Do I build my blog now?"

Yes, but you build it first on pen and paper. You don't want to set up a blog one place then learn later that it would be better supported someplace else. It is critical to take the time in the beginning to plan and research the tools you need to build a better blog than what you have.

There are five questions that will help you make your best choice:

1. Am I willing to self-host this blog? That means will my blog sit on my server or do I need a an open source blog that is free to build online.
   
2. Does my blog need to be able to perform simple functions or advanced ones? For example can I feed my constant contact mailing list into my feed.
3. How is easy will it take to set up?
4. What parameters do I have to layout and design? (something you talked about in the message board)
5. Is customization a must for me?

As I describe the three main blogging platform out there, you check off which platforms say yes to the answer to your questions. I will provide great examples of each platform here at 30 Days to Build a Better Book Blog.

It's not too late to sign up. You begin your course at Day 1 and work yourself up at your own pace.

Day 1: If you Knew why your Blog was Special...?

Eight years ago while I sat watching television in a hospital bed I saw a commercial that changed my life. “BET books launches a new inspirational novel line –New Spirit—with the debut of its first Christian romance title Jacquelin Thomas’ Prodigal Husband, a love story about...” I couldn’t believe it. Someone had written a romance about black people, about black Christian people. I was excited and couldn’t wait to get that book in my hands. However, I couldn’t go out and get the book, because I was bed ridden. So I wrote the name of the book down, called my mom and my dad and asked them to get the book for me. I read the book in two hours.

Today I receive a new Christian novel every week. Truthfully, I could receive a new book every day. Some times during the year I literary receive a book for every day. One more thing...All of these books I receive for free. In fact, all these books I receive before they hit the store shelves and sometimes I receive books before they find a publishing house. Isn’t that something?

Six years ago before I began I had no clue there were other bloggers out there doing what I did. I had no clue there were book review blogs online. But by the end of that year I knew why I was doing it and for whom I was writing to. Christian Fiction Blog was launched the summer after I began.

So what happened? What changed me?

Welcome to Day 1 of 30 Days to Build a Better Blog: If You Knew Why Your Blog was Special...

To read the full post, go here to register for this free book blogging event.

The Before the Big Day: Why is Blogging having a Resurgence?

The story behind Christian Fiction Blog is very simple. I ran out of book review space for the paper I edited. We decided to put what we couldn’t afford to print online. Rejoice News was the publication. They gave me the books to do at will. I created Christian Fiction Blog, because those were the books that were not getting space in the pub. Six years ago and more so today Christian fiction titles have little room in periodicals. One of the reasons why the blog has become popular is because I began at a time when contemporary Christian fiction coverage was nil, and I stayed around even when bloggers had left the platform to explore podcasting and Nings and such.

At the top of the year many print mags folded or went online[especially Book Review publications,] businesses dropped advertising relations to explore more pr opps, blogs like Huffington Post and Perez Hilton were being legitimized, and blogs were reporting news faster than traditional media. Most importantly, with the invention of Smartphones, more and more people are coming online and searching for items that aren’t being covered on websites or news sites, but via blogs.

You can be that resource for not just online users and your community, but for the reading community at large. It is all up to you.

30 Days to Build a Better Book Blog is designed to help you answer the questions, you have about blogging. I am glad that you are here. If you have not signed up for the session, email me at deegospel pr at gmail dot com. We begin tomorrow. Content for this event will not be on this blog.