Self-Publishing – Page 115 – Self Publishing Advisor

You can’t judge a book by its cover

Ah, but you have judged many a book by its cover, and will again. So, too, will readers considering purchasing your book whether in the brick & mortar store or online at sites like Amazon. This is a great opportunity for self-publishing authors.

We discussed recently the important of well written sales copy for your book’s back cover. Let’s flip it around. Literally. Your book’s cover is one of the singe most important elements in generating sales, especially online and before reader interest grows virally.

A book has around 3 seconds to gain a reader’s or buyer’s interest. That dynamic is becoming increasingly more important as the number of books published each year continues its staggering growth. Quality, custom cover design should be a top priority for any self-publishing author. Many self publishing services actually require authors to submit or create their own designs from generic templates. Your writing most likely didn’t come from a template, and neither should your cover. And the reality is, many writers are not necessarily experienced designers. When research publishing options for your book, make sure yours offers the custom cover design options that give your book the strongest head-start possible in finding reader’s hands.
Then, begin recruiting judges.

Book Doctor

Guest Post: The Book Doctor on Ghostwriting

More on ghostwriting for self-publishing authors from the Book Doctor…

Q: Where can I find an established writer to write my husband’s story?

A: Let’s first discuss the term “established,” because I want to be sure you are informed about the writing business. Most established authors and ghostwriters will not co-write a book without getting paid up front, because their time is valuable, they know how difficult it is to sell a book to a publisher, and they know that even if a publisher buys the book, the royalties on it can be abysmal. For those reasons, established writers won’t “write on spec,” as we call it, a term that refers to the speculation that the book might sell, and if it does, the writer would participate in the royalties. Unless you have $10,000 to $25,000 to pay an established writer or ghostwriter, look for someone who is not yet established. For a writer willing to work on spec, call around to find a college with an MFA program in creative writing. Ask the professor how to get your request to students. Perhaps one of the students will take on your husband’s story as a writing project and use it toward getting a degree.

If, however, you have the funds to pay an established ghostwriter for your book, many are registered with writers organizations. Search the Internet, and be sure to get references on the person you choose.

Bobbie Christmas, book doctor, author of Write In Style (Union Square Publishing), and owner of Zebra Communications, will answer your questions, too. Send them to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com. Read more “Ask the Book Doctor” questions and answers at http://www.zebraeditor.com

Choosing a Publisher

Now, Ghostwriting

In a recent post we discussed using copywriting services to generate powerful copy for your book sales efforts. Copywriting is often a form of ghostwriting, often for blogs, articles, and promotional material. What about ghostwriting for books?

Ghostwriting is the process in which one writes for and in the name of another (even in cases where the ‘another’ isn’t even a real person). You’re familiar with the term, but may not actually see it much in practice; hence, the moniker.

Most celebrity books you’ve seen or read are in part the product of ghostwriting collaboration. Political leaders, executives, even songwriters often use ghostwriting. There are varying degrees of ghostwriting involvement in books of all genres. An author may work with a subject expert to research, fact-check, and help polish a final draft. Or, in the case of John F. Kennedy, two books bearing his name were almost entirely penned by another. And, in some instances, a ghostwriter’s name will actually appear along with the author’s in the book credits – much of Tom Clancy’s work in the early 2000’s for example. Albeit, the ghostwriter’s name reads in much smaller print.

Does that imply that the author is in fact not a good writer? Perhaps. But rarely the case. And it should not suggest that the writer’s credibility is at all diminished as a published author. It’s often the opposite. A number of popular series titles have been written under a template, in the same style and tone, but at the hands of numerous writers working together to build the ‘brand’ name of a complete pseudonym. Think Nancy Drew.

Ghostwriting finds power in collaboration, and can be a great boon for your self-publishing endeavors, whether you’re a novelist, poet, or business owner looking to develop your brand. When exploring ghostwriting options with your publisher, be sure that you can be paired with someone in whom you find a good match whether your writing from scratch or simply working through a difficult section on your nearly finished draft.

Book Marketing, Book Promotion

How important is your book title?

Self-publishing authors generally have the privilege of choosing their own book titles, which is often not so in the traditional publishing world. Blessing and Curse. I’ve worked with many author’s who have vacillated over their book title even after the final draft of the actual manuscript has been completed. I can relate. I often struggle to choose the best title for something as simple as a post for this blog. Book titles are personal. Book Titles are important. But to whom? Or more to the point, to whom should they be most important to?

New York Times bestselling author, Timothy Ferriss, raises the question and not abstractly, but in real trial. (This is not an unusual endeavor for Ferriss, as you may recall from The Four Hour Work Week). Last month Ferriss sent the following tweet.

Clicking on the shortened URL navigated the user to a page on http://www.surverymonkey.com where virtually anyone could offer suggestions for The Best Book Title.

Apparently, the third option: Any other ideas or comments, did not actually allow the user to complete the survey. Perhaps that was an error on the Surveymonkey.com site. On the other hand, disabling that feature may have intentional. Think about how many contests allow for unlimited entries? Gymnastics meet with unlimited athletes. Aside from being impossible to manage from a time resources standpoint, how would any judges or spectators know the gymnasts?

A fantastic marketing tactic. Not only does Ferriss create participation – a relationship – with readers, he’s created a manageable list of potential titles that can be used through internet marketing to connect those readers to the actual book when it’s published, regardless of which title takes the cake.

Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self-published Book Review of the Week: Of Lights in the Night

Of Lights in the Night; Friends and Adventure
Sean Noonan
9781432752897, $11.95

“Of Lights in the Night; Friends and Adventure” is a delightful fantasy adventure chapter book written for readers ages 4-8 and up. It is about a brother and sister Elannah and Sam and their dwarf friend Arnold, who meet in their secret Tree-House in the Jungle when they sleep and dream. They excitedly fly forth on flying bikes to see Rodger the Badger, in search of magical fireworks. They end up with the Great Wizard Grumphspawn in the Great Northern Mountains, where they experience the seven assorted sensations, the Goblin Racer, the Highlander’s Delight, the Jolly Jester, the King’s Coronation Ball, the Long Light Liberation, the Parrots, Pirates and Pancakes Piratical Pyrotechnics; and lastly the Troll’s Totally Terribly Triumphant Toothy Tongue Tingler. As might be surmised, there is not a dull moment on any page. Best of all, as morning approaches, Elannah and Sam say goodbye to their new friends, promising to return for more adventures. Black and white illustrations drawn by the author’s 6-year-old daughter are included in the book’s ending, which also promises another adventure dream-story soon, “A First Christmas; Friends and Festivity.”

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