It is the day after Thanksgiving and many of us were greatly blessed to have shared time with our family and enjoyed that traditional meal. Now we are faced with yesterday’s leftovers, maybe even a pot or two still soaking in the kitchen sink. This is the perfect scenario to send writers to their desks to grab pen or pencil, or attack the computer keyboard with renewed determination! There are no story leftovers! Each one must be developed, completed and published!
I don’t know about you, but I’m already looking forward to next year and planning to submit my newly self-published book to several contests. One of the first will be the Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards and their Self-Published eBook Awards contests. There are “early-bird” deadlines and rules to follow, so I’m planning to consult my Personal Marketing Assistant—one of the members of my self-publishing team—for advice. There is also a wonderful website — www.goodreads.com — that provides a whole list of contests, PLUS allows me to acknowledge my favorite books (past and present). THAT is where I hope to see my own books listed someday soon! And there I will find a continuing list of readers who consider my work a “good read.”
There are also the magazines with editors who joined the arena of book award contests. One that is well established and growing is the ForeWord Reviews magazine. It was established in 1998 and now distributes quarterly to 7,500 librarians and booksellers and is available at most Barnes & Noble newsstands. They look at each year’s newly published books for this contest, which is a great avenue for self-published authors to be recognized. Their motto is “great book/independent voices.” I like that and hope my writing will catch their attention.
So it is that my thoughts are bouncing between all the stories and articles floating in my head, and the few weeks remaining in this calendar year. Watching the last leaves fall and snowflakes begin to float through crystal-air, my head is also full of delightful holiday memories. I cannot help but picture myself in the midst of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and the love and laughter to be shared.
SHOULD the writing take a backseat to these activities, I will, however, still have my plan-of-action in place: at least two of my current clients will be published in the New Year; several new clients will become best friends as we get their projects rolling; at least one of my own books will make it to the desks of my self-publishing team; and many book award contests will receive submissions from me and my clients. I am, indeed, FULL of thanks for the blessings of today and the opportunities that await.
 |
ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene Doyle is a Ghostwriter with Outskirts Press, bringing more than 35 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their writing projects. She has worked with both experienced and fledgling writers helping complete projects in multiple genres. When a writer brings the passion they have for their work and combines it with Royalene’s passion to see the finished project in print, books are published and the writer’s legacy is passed forward. |
Self Publishing Advisor 