Category: Uncategorized

Choosing a Publisher, Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

It’s Not Too Early to Start Self-Publishing

If you are like many writers, you started 2014 with a list of writing goals: publish a book, write X number of words per day, pick a publisher, etc. Well, June is here, and that means the year is already halfway over. Whether you have been sticking to those writing goals or found them pushed to the bottom of your to-do list, it’s not too late to check them off your list, and even if you haven’t finished your manuscript, it’s not too early to start the self-publishing process. It may be just the motivation you need.

Think about dieting. You write down your goal to lose a certain amount of weight; months later you realize life got in the way and while you’ve made progress, your motivation is weaning and you’re stuck in a diet rut. June has arrived, and you really want to get ready for bathing suit season. How do you motivate yourself? One proven option is buying a swimsuit (or other outfit) in the size you hope to be. The purchase will motivate you to push yourself because you really want to wear what you just bought.

The same scenario works in writing. You’re lacking the motivation to finish your manuscript. You’re stuck in a writing rut. You realize you’re already halfway through the year, and you still have work to do if you want to publish in 2014. What can you do? You can start researching self-publishing companies and choose a publisher. Working with a self-publisher will give you the motivational boost you need to get your book done. You’ll get excited about seeing your book in print and want to finish your project. Plus, most self-publishing companies offer excellent support teams who can help you through each stage of the self-publishing process.

It’s not too early to start self-publishing!

I’d love to know, when do you plan on starting the self-publishing process?

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 20 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Manager of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Jodee Thayer can put you on the right path.
Conversations with a Self-Publishing Writer, Royalene Speaks, Uncategorized

Friday Conversations With A Self-Publishing Writer 5/30/14

More TRIGGER WORDS

FIRE!

When that word is screamed into the night (or day), everyone pays attention!  I made it all the way into my mid-50s before I was awakened by it: FIRE!  GET OUT!  FIRE!  Four of our neighbors lost their homes and most of everything in them—but no lives lost!  In my writing years since then, I’ve done a little exploring about that specific trigger word, and a few of the emotional responses it brings to people, such as…

Panic—the adrenalin starts pumping, the heart races and the fight-or-flight instinct prepares muscles to RUN!

Fright—prior knowledge of experiences with fire come into play as a person moves into action.

Tears (and laughter)—high octane energy creates very different reactions in people; some will scream as tears build and flow; others will emit what sounds like laughter as they escape the flames and discover that their loved ones are safe.

Each emotion creates actions and re-actions that force a person—the character in your novel—to move across the pages of your story.  The equation I teach about in advanced writing classes looks like this: Trigger Event + Emotional Response = Identity connection between writer and reader.  When we use the powerful tool of emotion, we must take great care, especially as we select the trigger words that will tap into the reader/writer connection.

There is really no way to avoid tapping in to our own emotions when building our stories and developing our characters—which is a good thing.  However, it is also our job to slip into a character’s situation—a character who is very different than we are—and guess-ti-mate what they might be FEELING.  This will allow the characters to interact, creating reactions to specific actions (or non-actions).  If the emotion is REAL, then this tool is used appropriately and can be very effective.  If the emotion is overly sentimentalized or false, this tool is abused.

Of all the techniques of story writing, building the skill of using emotion appropriately is (in my opinion) the core element.  There are as many mixtures of emotion as there are people on this planet (not to mention all the other planets “out there”).  Emotion is the amazing characteristic of the human condition that will either make or break a novel—or movie.  Most of you have probably heard of the movie reviewer, Roger Ebert.  The following is a quote of his—a very astute observation of the use of emotions in character development:

“Your intellect may be confused, but your emotions will never lie to you.”

There it is—the element of truth in storytelling.  I’ll leave that topic for another day.  For today, I will add one more thought.  If you are in the midst of writing your book—whether fiction/novel or nonfiction—and have lost touch with one of your characters, maybe someone in my field of ghostwriting can help.  The self-publishing industry is an excellent resource for finding whatever assistance you need.  DON’T GIVE UP!  The story you’re writing needs to be told!

Royalene 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.
Conversations with a Self-Publishing Writer, Royalene Speaks, Uncategorized

Friday Conversations With A Self-Publishing Writer 5/23/14

TRIGGER WORDS

We all see and hear them every day; those words and phrases meant to snatch our attention from whatever we’re doing and make us “listen up” to what is being sold to us.  Quite frankly, I often feel abused by the PR-tricksters who do their jobs so well that I get caught up in actually believing the so-called-facts about a new product, a “breaking news event” or the perfect politician (really?).  HOWEVER, the astute writer can take a lesson from these folks and learn a few things about communicating.  Let’s take look at some of their strategies.

EVOKE POSITIVE EMOTION:  When emotions run high and the adrenalin is pumping sharp impressions can be made in the human mind.

Words such as: Faith, Hope and Love not only trigger an intimate connection between readers and your characters, they also express deeper spiritual links.  However, mix those three words with other “triggers,” and the emotional impact can run in multiple directions.  These added words might be Vibrant, Energize, Destiny, Empower or Overcome.

EVOKE NEGATIVE EMOTION:  Some PR folks follow the path of making people mad, slicing open emotional injuries in order to turn people away from one product (story or person) and “herding” them in the direction of their client.  (Over the years, I’ve learned to filter most of this type of PR by doing my own research on the topic, so those ads rarely impact me anymore.)

Developing the characters in your novel (or true story) by using words such as Arrogant, Hateful, Cruel, Selfish and Unscrupulous will provide a clear foundation.

MIX THEM UP:  Mixing the main positive and negative concepts with unexpected words is really where writers can heighten character development.  Readers may identify with an empowered person of faith; they probably know a destiny-driven, unscrupulous person of questionable “faith.”

Back in 2009, a blogger by the name of Brian Clark (who happens to appreciate Mark Twain’s writing skills as I do) gave a list of words that will amplify a reader’s attention in any genre.  Read them one-by-one and allow yourself to feel the meanings; feel the depth of these words: Jubilant…Blissful…Conspiracy…Avenge…Reclaim…Vindicate…Surrender…Helpless… Burned….

Author, translator, Bible scholar J.B.Phillips sums up my recent thoughts about words, nicely.  “If words are to enter men’s minds and bear fruit, they must be the right words shaped cunningly to pass men’s defenses and explode silently and effectually within their minds.”

As you, the author/writer/creative designer, continue to enjoy your writing journey, I look forward to seeing your work self-published, not waiting upon a mainstream house to offer their hand.  Most of the writers I know today are producing books that need to be in the hands of readers, NOW.  If you write it and release it, your efforts will make a difference.  What else can we ask for?

Royalene 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.
Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

Professional Copyediting is a Self-Publishing Must-Do

Many authors ask me questions like “Do I really need to hire an editor?” and “I had my friend who is an English teacher read it. That counts as editing, right?” While having friends, family, colleagues, and even your writing group is a great way to get feedback on your manuscript, it does not replace the need for a professional copyedit.

Many services offered by self-publishing companies could be considered optional depending on your goals and personal skills. Copyediting is not one of those services I consider “optional;” authors who want their work to polished and professional must hire a professional copyeditor.

So how is a copyedit different than having trusted friends and family read your book?

1) Copyediting requires special skills.

Even friends who are writers or teachers probably don’t have the training necessary to perform a quality edit. (Unless you happen to be friends with a copyeditor.) Copyediting is different than proofreading. The copyeditor doesn’t just look for obvious spelling and grammar mistakes. He or she also corrects style issues, picks up on inconsistencies, and corrects less obvious mistakes.

2) They can look at your work objectively.

Writers who self-edit their work often miss mistakes and inconsistencies because they are too attached to the story. They know what they are saying, so they don’t read through the eyes of a reader who doesn’t know the story. Similarly, friends and family may be afraid of hurting your feelings or be to proud of your work to review it objectively. Copyeditors don’t have a personal attachment to your story and review the manuscript as a professional rather than a friend.

Before you hire a copyeditor, it important to remember these tips:

  • Proofread and spell-check your work before sending it to an editor.
  • Remember that editors are human and many work with about a 5% margin of error.
  • There are different levels of editing intensity: basic, moderate, and extensive. (Basic copyediting typically catches about 70% of errors in a manuscript.)
  • As a self-publishing author, don’t focus on what the editor didn’t find, but rather what was found.
  • Review your manuscript again after you receive it from the editor to check for errors they may have missed.

While copyediting won’t make your book flawless, it will substantially increase the quality and professionalism of your book.

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 20 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Manager of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Jodee Thayer can put you on the right path.
Conversations with a Self-Publishing Writer, Royalene Speaks, Uncategorized

Friday Conversations With A Self-Publishing Writer 5/16/14

BET THAT OLD TREE COULD TELL A FEW TALES

When working with a neighbor recently, trying to find a different way to write his memoirs, we sat in his comfortable dining room with old photos and memorabilia laid out in front of us.  I brought the coffee that day and the pause in our conversation gave us both a moment to think.  Then he said the most amazing thing:  “I bet that old tree out there could write this book better than I can.”  The fact that he just stated simmered in me for a minute or two; then I turned the page of my yellow tablet and we began again.

Did you plant that tree, or was it already here when you moved in?  “Oh, I planted it the very same week we finished unpacking.  That was 56 years ago.”  And so we began, the memorable pieces of his life following the growth rings of that that old tree.  “The Tree Nursery people told me it was a fast growing, hardy tree,” he continued.  “Just two years into its growth—the year our first child was born—there was a very heavy, wet, deep snow storm.  The branches were just leafing out, so the snow weighed them down; seemed like every time I changed a diaper, I also ran outside to knock the snow off that tree.  It had to be protected, too.”

EVERY individual has a unique and wonderful story to tell, and finding the right platform (the right storyline) to help them develop it is an important part of a ghostwriter’s job.  Here are a few of the useful “hooks,” I’ve found over the years.

  • “Mom! What’s for lunch?” If the memoir writer has mentioned different restaurants or types of food multiple times during your conversations, consider triggering his “life’s memories” by the meals he enjoyed: family gatherings (turkey and gravy), birthdays (chocolate cake with extra frosting), special snacks after school (cookies and milk).
  • “I just got a new IPad! Isn’t it great!” This memoir writer is technologically savvy. That tells me there is a tech-history in her life. Asking about the first radio she had, or the first TV she watched is fertile territory for triggering life-memories around each of those inventions, and so grows the story.
  • “Is that an autographed photo of President Regan?” If your ghostwriting client has a lot of photos displayed, look for a hidden theme. Of course, you’ll see the obvious family photos—those cherished family members are the reason this lady wants to write her memoirs. However, if there are several patriotic photos in plain view, talking about those can open some surprising doors.
  • “Where did all those blue ribbons come from?” Ah, this person holds a whole lot of memories about how those ribbons were won. The process of winning them didn’t just happen. The people, places, events surrounding each one will bring out an excellent framework for building this unique person’s life story.

There is great joy in working with folks who want to share their memories and pass their unique legacy forward.  THEN, when all the stories are in place, there is a special joy in seeing it IN PRINT.  I always share my experiences of self-publishing with my clients.  Even if they want only a few books (for children, grandchildren, great grandchildren), the print-on-demand self-publishing arena is a wonderful opportunity to have their memoirs printed in a beautiful format that becomes a treasured keepsake.  So it is that I encourage everyone:  “Don’t just think about writing your memoir, DO IT!”

Royalene 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.