When the writing is done and it’s time to prepare your passion project for commercial distribution, it’s also time to fully enter the digital age. Becoming a published author means putting your brand name and contact information out on the world wide web for all to see. Obviously authors wish to attract buyers for their books,… Continue reading Scams Targeting Authors – Are You Prepared for the Risks?
by L Dalton White So, my first novel was self-published—almost self-everything—and nothing happened. The second time around, I got a new editor, professional book cover and formatting. Nothing happened. The little I knew from an online course on book marketing wasn’t helping. Do it yourself wasn’t getting it done. I wanted something to happen. Spoiler… Continue reading Publishing with a Side of Self-Sabotage
At forty-two, I herniated my L4/L5 disc and life as I knew it was over. Prior to that, I had been that person…THAT MOM. You know the type: the go-to, never-say-no, initiator-and-follow-through-er, full-of-energy-and-ideas, you-can-count-on-me type of person. I wrote course curricula for a start-up camp at church (my brain child), then was director of the… Continue reading My Herniated Disc Prepared Me for the Overwhelming World of Self-Publishing
When it became easy to publish, people published crap. Buckets and boatloads of it. A gate was opened, which was previously closed to just anyone dreaming of becoming a published author. Whether because of budget or ignorance, people published within days of finishing writing and screamed from the rooftops, “Look at me, I’m published!” The… Continue reading Self-Publishing 101: First Impressions
Raymond Esposito kindly gave AHA permission to use his fantastic graph that illustrates the trends and statistics from a Smashwords survey from last year. Enjoy!
So, you are a newbie author and you’re awaiting the release of your book in the next three or four months (heaven forbid, if it’s a longer wait!) After you have wrung your hands and vented to your significant other about why publishers can’t seem to get their act together, you come to a major… Continue reading “Keep Calm and Promote!” by Adite Banerjie
For many, publishing a book is already a complicated enough goal. At the same time, another goal to consider is to just break even on the real money you invested in the book. As I prepare to publish my book in April 2014, I am scratching my head at the different royalties offered by different… Continue reading Royalties – JF Garrard Breaks it Down
No longer is getting published dependent on a wish and a prayer. The traditional publishing houses and their gatekeepers don’t hold the only key anymore. Advancing technology has now made it possible for anyone with average computer skills to publish themselves.
A Self-Publishers Guide to Metadata In the most basic context, metadata means “data about data.” What about when we talk about self publishing—what is metadata? When was the last time you went to the library, pulled out one of the card catalog drawers and rifled through the 3×5 cards printed with the information of each, individual book… Continue reading Getting Your Book Noticed by Ethan Risso
Every budding author wants to see his masterpiece published, preferably by one of the traditional book publishers. After all, that’s where the fame and money is, right? After accumulating a stack of rejection letters, thoughts of ending it all bubbling in the background, reality starts to sink in. There are lots of writers out there… Continue reading “Decline of E-book Publishers” by Stefan Vucak
An adage proclaims everyone has a story to tell. Some aspire to tell their story by means of the written word. Perhaps like me, you sat at a computer, clicked away at the keys until one by one the words appeared, forming into page after page and chapter after chapter. Whether it is a story… Continue reading “Does this sound familiar?” ~ by Philip Catshill
We all like to think appearances don’t matter, that we are nice people and not the kind that judge or treat people by the way they look or what they wear. If only that were true. I personally have never forgotten, a few years ago, watching Susan Boyle shuffling onto the stage for an episode… Continue reading “Judging Books By Their Covers” by Roger Gerald Scott
Have run across a site, mentioned on a LinkedIn group discussion forum, and really want to get this public’s opinion. The site talks about one voice for self published authors and giving credibility to authors that self publish, comparable to those that traditionally publish. It’s set up on a volunteer basis and books are judged eligible… Continue reading indiePENdents Seal of Approval?
Look for the editor who encourages you to excellence. You’ve finished your book, but before you send it off to a publisher or self-publish, you want to be sure that it is professionally edited, so you go shopping. There are just as many book editors as there are writers and publishers, so what can help… Continue reading “Finding the Right Editor: Positive, Not Punitive” by Lori Stephens
Since I started text formatting services a few years ago, the question I get asked most is what is the difference between Smashwords and Amazon and do I really need to publish on both? Estimates vary from person to person but generally it’s safe to assume that, at the present time in the USA, Apple’s… Continue reading “The Differences between Amazon and Smashwords” – Roger Gerald Scott
The other day I heard, “I need help building a social media strategy.” To that question, I responded, “Tell me a little about your social strategy for your company.” I received a blank stare because, of course, they did not have a social strategy for their company… that would simply be absurd.
I know how often authors struggle with the dreaded query, and I am no exception. Not even in the tiniest bit. I wish I was. I wish I knew how to craft the perfect letter. But I don’t. I do, however, know some dos and don’t.
First of all, what is a slush pile? Well, in the golden days of publishing, it used to be a large waste bin next to the submission editor’s desk where he would heave your cherished book, probably without even reading the first page. Today, it’s likely to be the delete button on his e-mail Inbox.… Continue reading “How to Avoid the Slush Pile” by Stefan Vucak
When I started writing, some seven or eight years ago, I had no clue how to do it. I just wrote. There was a story in my head and it came out through my finger tips. But then I started learning there were rules. Basic rules about storytelling and characters. I read a couple books… Continue reading “Plotting Versus Pansing and What to do if You Ever Want to Sell on Proposal” by Stephanie Haefner
Mark Coker, Founder of Smashwords, the leading distributor of self-published eBooks serving Apple, B&N, Sony, Kobo, libraries and more, has published a new report that is a MUST READ for authors…all authors, even if you aren’t self publishing, this information is useful for your marketing strategies as well! Covering pricing, book length, title length,… Continue reading New Report from Mark Coker an Eye Opener for Book Sales Strategies!
Every author longs to see his name in print, published by a major publishing house, readers queuing in bookstores waiting to snap up his book. A nice dream, all right. I’ve had a few myself and makes me continue to write. I haven’t made it yet, but tomorrow is a new day. However, for many… Continue reading “How to Play the Literary Agent Game” ~ by Stefan Vucak
Not long ago, there were only two mainstream outlets for any writer, whether aspiring or already published: traditional and e-book publishing. The rules were set for both and we all knew where we stood…more or less. Every writer wants to see his name in print and share with others his achievement, and perhaps along the… Continue reading “Choosing a Publisher or Self-Publishing” by Stefan Vucak
I get asked a lot– how did you do it? How did you cross that bridge from simply dabbling in your writing to actually becoming published? Today, I’d thought I’d give some thoughts on some of those important beginning steps that I took and maybe you should take if you are serious about pursuing publication. 1. Finished… Continue reading “Baby Steps” – by Jordyn Redwood
We’ve all been there. That opus you’ve been slaving over for months, sometimes many, many months, is finally finished and it’s been edited to death. At least it should have been. With a satisfied smile and a deserved cup of coffee, or perhaps something stronger, you start sending out query emails to eBook publishers, and maybe to some traditional… Continue reading “How to Avoid the Rejection Blues” – by Stefan Vucak
Obviously you want to get it published and become a well-known best-selling author, right? It’s a difficult journey that you must now embark upon, especially if it is your first novel. Your first stop on the road to getting published is putting together a query letter and sending it out to agents/publishers. Your goal is… Continue reading “You’ve written a novel, congratulations! Now what? AKA – 8 Steps to Writing a Query Letter” – by Debra L Hartmann
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