Category: Networking

Book Reviews, Networking

Tweeting for Self-Published Authors

That’s right, you can now follow us on Twitter. 

Find us at twitter.com/spadvice. We’re brand new, so find us and add start following!

Don’t forget, we post a weekly book review of a self-published book (submitted by the author). These blog posts will also appear on Twitter via Twitterfeed.com, adding even more exposure for your self-published book. To submit your review, please send it to selfpublishingadvice@gmail.com with a .jpg image of your cover. Self Publishing Advice will post your review and cover image on our blog.

Karl & Kelly
selfpublishingadvice.wordpress.com

Networking, Self-Publishing

Self-Publishing’s Ask the Book Doctor

Q: I started writing books this summer, when family problems started. My books are interesting, or so say my friends, but I feel they lack something, like maybe they are weakly written. I know “big” words make a book seem like the author is intelligent, but it makes it harder for ten- to fifteen-year-olds to understand. So I ask, how do I make my book more interesting without using “big” words?

A: You pose an interesting question; should you write to impress your readers or entertain them? Do you want your readers to think highly of you or of your books? Today’s books entertain, rather than impress. You’re already on the right track to avoid words that others may have to look up in a dictionary.

Big words don’t make a book interesting; conflict and tension do. Fascinating characters do. Realistic dialogue that moves the story forward does. Unique plot turns and unusual situations help, too.

Because you just started writing books this summer, don’t despair. Most writers spend years honing their craft. At least you have begun. Not only do you need good ideas and a strong desire to write, you also have to learn as you go. Besides reading books about how to write a good story, spend time reading or rereading books by authors you admire. Analyze what makes you like that person’s writing and why you enjoyed reading the story. Apply those techniques (but not the story ideas) to your writing.

Also, know the market you want to write for. If you are writing for young adults, read the books young adults are buying and analyze what makes those stories interesting.

Above all, don’t get discouraged. Join writers groups and discuss your issues and learn from others. Do not, however, discuss your story lines. Talking about them not only gives your ideas away but also drains energy from the ideas. Instead, use that energy to write down your ideas and turn them into books.

Bobbie Christmas, book doctor, author of Write In Style and owner of Zebra Communications, will answer your questions, too. Send them to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com.

Choosing a Publisher, Networking, Self-Publishing

Self-Publishing and Online Marketing

Leading traditional book publisher, HarperCollins, recently initiated an online social networking and self-publishing operation that is designed to flesh out new titles to pull into their traditional publishing program. This provides concrete evidence that self-publishing is the real deal, despite what detractors may purport.

Among the many advantages of self-publishing, as in part demonstrated by HarperCollins, is the ease of online social networking and media access, which provides outstanding viral marketing potential for authors. Outskirts Press is offering a free 30 second book teaser video for authors initiating the process this month. What a cool and effective marketing tool.

Traditional publishing is looking to the pool of self-published titles to bring to the market. The good news is that the market is already there for self-publishing authors. Make sure your publisher offers a variety and adapting base of marketing support and options following publication. The potential is huge.

Have fun and keep writing…

– Karl Schroder

Book Promotion, Choosing a Publisher, Editing Your Self-Published Book, Networking, Self-Publishing

TOP 7 TIPS FOR SELF-PUBLISHING YOUR BOOK THIS YEAR

The second-most common New Year’s resolution is to publish a book (the first is to lose weight). Now with the advent of Web 2.0 and digital print-on-demand technology, at least accomplishing one of your top New Year’s resolutions is a snap. Here’s how you can do it.

#1 – Identify your goals
Is your goal to make a lot of money or to find a lot of readers? Perhaps your goal is more modest – to have a book that you can share with family and friends, or to have a book that shares a certain belief or experience. By identifying your goals early, you can increase your chances of choosing the right publishing path to meet them.

#2 – Identify your weaknesses
Publishing a book is different from writing one; it is a business rather than an art. Unless you have the technical and financial know-how (or the patience, time, and money to absorb the learning curve) you will be better off having a company publish your book for you rather than trying to do it yourself.

#3 – Investigate your publishing options
There are three main roads to publication:

  • Traditional publication, where a publishing company accepts your book and purchases the rights to it in exchange for an advance on book royalties. You will still be required to market your own book.
  • Independent self-publishing, where you keep the rights to your book and undergo the arduous task of starting a publishing company on your own in order to print, distribute, and market it.
  • Full-service self-publishing with a print-on-demand company, where you keep the rights to your book and pay experts to perform the publishing tasks for you, although you are still required to market it yourself.

#4 – Recognize the advantages and disadvantages of traditional publishing

The main advantage to traditional publication is that they pay you for your book up-front. However, that is also their disadvantage; since traditional publishers take a financial risk on each book they publish, they often only accept books by celebrities or from authors who have already published previous books successfully.

#5 – Recognize the advantages and disadvantages of independently self-publishing
The advantage of independently self-publishing your book is that you retain your rights and all the control to your book. The disadvantage is that it is time-consuming and very risky to self-publish a book by yourself, due to the up-front financial investment. Distributors rarely work with one-time authors, so once you have books printed, you may find it challenging to move them from your garage and into the hands of readers.  

#6 – Recognize the advantages and disadvantages of full service self-publishing via POD.
The majority of new authors self-publish their books through a print-on-demand publishing company.  Like independent self-publishing, full service self-publishing authors keep their rights.  Another advantage is that the financial investment is much lower (usually less than $1,000).  The disadvantage is that POD books share the same marketing hurdles as independently self-published books – getting into the hands of readers is a challenge, although most full-service companies typically include wholesale distribution and online listings with major e-retailers to assist the author in getting started.

#7 – Just do it
Your manuscript will not publish itself, so the last tip is the most important. You have to be motivated to reach for your dreams. To publish your book traditionally, buy the latest edition of “The Writer’s Market” for contact information of nearly every mainstream publisher. To independently self-publish your book by yourself, buy the latest edition of “The Self-Publishing Manual” for the financial models and technical specifications you will need to adhere to. To publish through a full-service print-on-demand book publishing company, read “Self Publishing Simplified.”

All three books can be purchased via Amazon.com.

Have fun and KEEP WRITING!

Karl and Kelly

Book Promotion, Networking

Self-Publishing – Finding Versatility in Your Writing

Comedian Steven Wright once dryly noted, “I’m writing a book. I have the page numbers done.”

Writing is something that takes time and effort. In fact, it can take several years to produce a manuscript ready for publication. But that doesn’t mean your writing has to sit on your hard drive collecting digital dust. Using your written material more than once can be a great way to stay motivated and market your writing to readers.

This advice holds true whether you are writing a book, a poem, or a blog entry. Some may find this concept to be similar to recycling—diluting to the original work.

I tend to dislike the term “recycle” too (unless it has to do with conservationism), but recycling your writing is absolutely necessary. There is no other way to keep up with all the self-marketing and promotion you will be doing.

Once your book is published, consider repackaging your chapters into articles. Obviously, this is much more applicable to non-fiction than fiction—but even fiction chapters can be repackaged or modified into short stories or “excerpts” for duplicate use.

Give this a try: When you are finished with a chapter of your book, repackage it into a stand-alone article or excerpt by adding a beginning and ending paragraph to it. Now you have a stand-alone product that you can use to promote your whole book when it is published!

Again, one of the many benefits of self-publishing is the exclusive ownership rights you retain that allows you to use your work, however you see fit and for your benefit. 

I hope that helps. Keep writing!

Karl Schroeder