Monthly Archive for December, 2009

Discover The Tips To Self Publish A Book And Financially Survive

Published on December 16, 2009 in Writing/Publishing. 14 Comments Tags: .

Many people would like to self publish a book but feel it is too complicated or they do not know where to start? This is not rocket science just follow the steps.The first step is to determine your niche or your market, then research the cost, followed by the decision on what your book is worth and at what price it should be sold. [Trying to out guess your potential customers could spell financial disaster.] Letting your emotions get in the way of sound judgment will spell your financial demise.

Consider that here is a fine line between the price being high enough to keep your publisher in business, but low enough to encourage sales. Keep in mind that you can always lower the price, but raising the price once it is printed on the cover is unthinkable.

When you self publish a book the expectation of making a ton of money is unrealistic so I will begin by dispelling the myth about “best-sellers.” Books that sell 5 million copies are few and far between and Harry Potter was a once in a generation miracle and lightning does not strike twice. How many people do you know who have won the lottery? Like me I am certain the answer is none, but do not stop dreaming about hitting the publishing pot of gold. I am sure that most of us would be very satisfied with just 10% of what the Potter book grossed in sales.

What you need to know before you self publish a book.

It is difficult to realize the number of books that are on the market at any given time. In any given year there are a billion books in circulation. Once you digest that astounding number realize that the average book published in the United States sells 5,000 copies. A quantity of 10,000 is considered a “Best-Seller.” The authors at the top of the lists are movie stars and politicians, and most of them did not write their own books. There is an entire ghost writing industry in the U.S. So the competition is fierce as celebrity opens many doors to publicity, the key to any book success. What that means as a first-time author is that you need to work harder and smarter. Want to Publish book

Key elements to consider before you self publish a book.

• Picking a Niche Topic

Writing a book on a niche topic like cooking, woodworking, flower arranging, or any niche topic, you need to research Google, eBay and Amazon to see what others have written, then write your book covering the areas these authors may have omitted from their books or not have covered the topic thoroughly. Not all niche topics are equal but it is foolhardy to try to duplicate the work of others because they were successful. Being original or covering the parts of a subject that were omitted from a successful book will always serve you well. On the Internet you can then capture the keywords used by those other authors that will help drive your own online sales.

• Self-Publishing vs. co-publishing

In the true meaning of the term ‘Self-Publishing’ an author, by necessity, is transformed into a business manager marketer and publishing expert. Remember when you self publish a book the author pays all editing, design and printing costs plus distribution, advertising and marketing expenses. The printing and binding process is full of minefields. This carries the risks of simple mistakes costing thousands of dollars once they reach the printing press and need to be fixed. Or worse, errors not caught at all will mean you end up with a book with errors that degrade the quality of your book.

Once printed the author then needs to arrange distribution and that turns the author into a quasi-sales person. When you self publish a book do not get caught up in thinking that you get 100% of the profit, that may sound attractive, but it can also lead to a bag of snakes.

Co-publishing is the best alternative for the author who is willing to do the same financing on his or her title, but who is willing to engage an experienced publisher willing to share their expertise for a percentage of the profit. Publish Book

• Print a Small Quantity First

A number of first-time authors have come to me in recent years after spending thousands of dollars on Internet-based publishers only to discover that the “On Demand” cost per book leaves no room for profit. Many complain that the initial $800.00 investment quickly mushroomed with one added charge after another. Ordering one book at a time as needed is not just time consuming it is crazy-making. If you are only selling one or two books a week then this is nothing more than an ego trip, not a publishing enterprise.

One of the biggest objections of Internet publishing is that they offer limited predetermined page sizes and cover designs giving your book a cookie-cutter look. Little to no professional editing is done and no creative design takes place. In the end, you self publish a book that leads to a costly disappointment. Agents can instantly spot an online produced book.

One of the first mistakes in self publishing is producing a small quantity. If you are publishing your book for bragging rights then signing a contract for $800.00 with an Internet publisher will fill your need. But think about it. In order to properly promote or market a book you need to mail press releases to various magazines, newspapers and radio hosts and that can quickly consume 500 copies.

Also be prepared for the individual mailing costs of at least $5.00 per copy or about $2,500.00. No one is going to write a review based on your synopsis, a picture of the cover or your good looks. Therefore expecting a magazine review without providing a copy of your book is unrealistic and shows a bit of Chutpzah. At an average On Demand printing cost of $10.00 pr book plus $2,500 in postage you have just invested $8,000.00 and you have not sold a single book. In other words, you can do this one book at a time but in the end you have spent the same amount of money over a longer period of time hoping that one of these contacts will click… this is a bit naive.

After 25 years of independent publishing I will not publish a title unless an author prints a minimum of 1,000 copies. On the other hand, I do not encourage first-time authors to print more than 3,000 copies regardless of the unit cost savings at this higher quantity. No one needs a garage full of books if they do not sell and if the book is successful we can reprint within six weeks.

The author must seriously consider that the first 1,000 books is for test marketing and that the book will not turn a profit and will likely break-even. Therefore, self publish a book with your eyes wide open understanding the financial investment that is required and realize that there are pitfalls.

Most radio interviewers require a copy of your book in advance of booking the interview. Be grateful that they want a copy. As the author of 7 books I will tell you there is nothing more miserable than an interview in which the host does not have a clue why their producer booked you on the program or what questions they should be asking. This turns into a clumsy interview or one of the shortest on record. Either way, you as an author suffer the consequences. Remember, the interviewer is not there to sell your book they are there to create an interesting program for their audience. If you are not provocative enough the rug is quickly pulled out from under you. If you are serious and you want to self publish a book then seriously invest in a coach to guide you through those first half dozen radio interviews, it will be money well spent.

A bit of advice… when you send a copy of your book to an interviewer, send a list of 5 questions you would like to be asked. You will win many friends in the media for this professional consideration. Also include a short biography. An interview that begins with an inadequate introduction leaves the audience in a fog. If you do not have a strong background tell the interviewer why you wrote the book or a funny story on how it eventually got published.

Remember, to self publish a book is a process like baking a cake… leave out one simple ingredient and you end up with a pancake.

For vital information about the topic of personal security – please study this web site. The times have come when concise information is truly within one click, use this chance.

Taking The Next Step: Becoming A Published Book Writer

Published on December 11, 2009 in Writing/Publishing. 19 Comments Tags: , , , .

The crazy world of publishing can be a scary and confusing place for a new book writer, and it can be nice to get a little bit of guidance on how to navigate around things like “writer guidelines,” “publishing houses,” “literary agents,” and such. While most first time book writers think the hard work was done once they typed “the end” at the bottom of the last page,and turned off their coffe makers, it turns out that there’s still a whole lot left to do. For those who want to see their words in print, this article will help offer some advice on how to get moving in the right direction.

First of all, let’s assume that the book writer is not interested in trying to self publish, and let’s focus instead on how to “shop” the manuscript around to those whose job it is to do such things. One of these people is the literary agent. A book writer does not have to use the services of a literary agent, but sometimes having one on your side really is an asset.

This person will know the appropriate markets to send the manuscript and will have the expertise to negotiate a contract with a publisher on the writer’s behalf. In return, of course, he or she earns a portion of the negotiated fee. For this reason, it’s in the agent’s best interest to get the book writer the most money for the project. Unfortunately, finding an agent to represent an aspiring author can be almost as daunting as finding a publisher would have been!

When trying to secure a publisher, book writers should consider using all of the writing resources available. This includes publications like Writer’s Market and the information distributed by the publishing houses themselves. A little early research can save a lot of time in the long run. A writer who specializes in small pontoon boats who sends his manuscript to a children’s book publisher has not done himself, or the publisher, any favors. Nothing annoys publishers and editors more than receiving manuscripts that just don’t fit their genre.

In addition to finding the right publisher, it is also important to be sure that the work is sent to the right department. Since there is a high rate of turnover in the publishing world, it’s always a good idea to double check that the envelope is addressed to the current editor of the department. This can be accomplished with a quick, polite phone call to ensure that the editor is still with the company and that the name was spelled correctly on the website.

One other important tool for the book writer is the proposal. While some publishers request only a short query letter from writers, others are going to insist on seeing an entire proposal. Many writers make the mistake of sending their whole manuscript, but the writer guidelines will very often stipulate that they only want to see the complete proposal.

We say “only,” but creating a book proposal is a big endeavor that will likely take much of a writer’s creative writing skills in order to appropriately sum up not only the book itself, but also the market into which is would be released. It is an interesting mix of writing fiction and creative marketing. There are a lot of writer resources out there to help create a strong book proposal that will have the publisher asking to see the entire manuscript.

It’s true that fulfilling your dream of becoming a book writer can really be a labor of love. The unfortunate reality of getting that book published, however, is that it’s just plain labor. With some hard work and determination, the above suggestions can help turn an amateur book writer into a published professional writer. So turn your espresso coffee makers back on and get to work.

Write Better With These Tips

Published on December 7, 2009 in Writing/Publishing. 4 Comments Tags: .

I recently opened up my email to find this message: “Can I get published as a children’s book author if I’m not a good writer?” I was caught off guard at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I appreciated the question. The sender knows her limitations, but dreams of getting published anyway. She’s not suffering under the delusion that she’s the next J.K. Rowling, and I appreciate that. She’s going to look at her work with a critical eye, and search for ways to make it better. This is assuming that it’s possible to learn to write well. I believe that it is.

Very few writers have the natural ability to create vibrant, relevant, compelling stories right out of the gate. Most have to work at it. And those who see writing as a skill that is never quite mastered, requiring a lifelong devotion to the learning process, will be most successful. Where this gets tricky is that unlike other skills – such as making a pie – there is no foolproof way to learn how to write. So while I can’t give you a one-size-fits-all method, I can offer up some ideas on how you can find the path that works best for you.

Read, read, read. Why are editors always advising aspiring authors to read piles of children’s books? Because they give you a concrete representation of what works. Be sure you read good books (check reviews or ask a librarian or teacher for recommendations). By simply reading, you’ll learn about the ebb and flow of a story, how a character is introduced and developed, the types of conflicts appropriate for each age group, how to build tension in scenes and chapters, the relation of sub-plots to the main storyline, how dialogue moves the plot along, and much more. You’ll experience firsthand how a skilled author utilizes sensory images to immerse the reader completely in the story. By comparing several authors writing for the same age group, you’ll discover different literary voices.

I suggest reading books like those you wish to write, as well as books one level younger and one level older. So, if your goal is to write a middle grade mystery for ages 8-12, also read mysteries for ages 7-10 and 10-14. In this way, you’ll become educated about exactly what makes up a middle grade novel and how it’s different from fiction for older and younger readers. You might even discover that your story isn’t really for middle grades after all.

Another reason for checking out a lot of quality books is that you need a yardstick against which to judge your own work. You’ll learn which “rules” can’t be broken and those that have more wiggle room. For example, you’re quite unlikely to find a 60-page picture book in the stores, even by a well known author. If your picture book’s that long, you’ll have no choice but to rework the story and fit it into 32 pages. However, you can experiment with unconventional characters and unexpected viewpoints. And the older the reader, the fewer rules apply. But no matter what you do with your plot, characters or writing style, make sure you know why you’re doing it. Don’t write the story in present tense unless it needs to unfold in real time for the reader. Don’t incorporate flashbacks unless they’re vital for understanding what’s going on in the story now.

Find a system that’s right for you. The first step toward learning to write is figuring out how you learn the best. Some authors I know are very left-brained; they enjoy charts and graphs and lists. They thrive on tracking their scenes and plotting out their book on every level before they start to write. Those left-brainers will study published books and count the words per page, note which scene contains the plot’s catalyst, graph out where the tension rises and falls in each chapter. Others prefer to learn more intuitively. They read books, absorb the different writing styles, and maybe jot down a few notes with overall impressions or key points they want to remember. They have a general idea of where their own story is going, and aren’t afraid to experiment and take detours along the way.

If you’re not sure where you fall on the spectrum, try different approaches and see what feels right. Remember that there is no one way of doing this, and every method has its pros and cons. Plotting out your story beforehand can prevent you from wandering off track, but the lists can become an evasive technique to keep you from actually writing the book. Letting the words spill onto the page with no grand plan feels very creative, but usually results in huge first drafts that have to be significantly trimmed and shaped. If you write long enough you’ll discover your weaknesses and devise ways to work around them. Maybe you outline first, then put it away while you write your first draft. Maybe you lay out your scenes on a plotline after each chapter, then revise as needed before moving on to the next chapter. If your dialogue tends to wander in circles before coming to the point, you’ll learn to get it on paper and then tighten it in the second draft.

Know your strengths. Some authors are brilliant nonfiction writers but can’t sell a fiction story. Others write wonderful picture books but are overwhelmed by all the layers to a novel. Instead of trying to force a style that isn’t you, start with what you’re naturally good at. You don’t have to publish fiction to be a successful author. You may dream of writing picture books, but if you have a knack for relating to teenagers, maybe young adult novels are your future.

Uncovering your strengths involves experimenting with several writing styles and age groups. If you’re not certain where to start, think about the kinds of children’s books you most like to read. Then fiddle around with writing dialogue or scenes for the same age group. If you’re naturally drawn to nonfiction, make a list of topics that excite you. Begin by writing about one of the subjects in the style of some of your favorite children’s magazines.

Practive, Practice, Practice. Over the years I’ve worked with writers who have gotten published through sheer force of will. They’ve pored over manuscripts again and again, taking them from mediocre to polished. They’ve set aside ideas that simply didn’t work and turned to something new. And they never submitted the first or second draft to an editor, because those manuscripts could always be improved. They weren’t very good writers when they began, but they learned. And you can too.

Interested in learning how to write a book and send it to children’s book publishers? Come on over to The CBI Clubhouse (http://cbiclubhouse.com) for audios, videos, insider writing tips and much, much more!

Fetch realistic info about the topic of internet marketing – please study this publication. The time has come when proper information is really only one click away, use this possibility.

Useful Tips On Writing Internet Marketing Articles

Published on December 4, 2009 in Writing/Publishing. 8 Comments Tags: .

To be effective writing internet marketing articles it is vital to have a grasp of the various suggestions that will best assist you.

Many people are making great income, full or part time with internet writing, and are doing it by largely following the tips mentioned in this article.

These are basically in an order for you to get started.

- Find a product or service that you want to promote. You’ll want to pick something that has some mass appeal. In Clickbank Marketplace you can choose your product and do a search that shows the top sites. Go with one of these.

- Determine the best keywords or phrases that you will include in your article. Keyword tools can help with this. The best keywords are those that have are searched a lot but don’t presently have much competition.

Here are some specific tips for the article itself!

- Include the keywords in your title and the first sentence of the article. Conclude the article with a summary sentence also featuring the keyword or phrase.

- The article’s content must be valuable and informative for the reader.

- Include an author resource box at the end. This area can provide a link to any product/service you’re promoting and a few (keep it simple) words about yourself. The article can be distributed in a few ways.

- Since Google loves blogs and blogs love updated content, include it your blog or the blogs of others.

- There are many directories that pay for fresh articles such as EzineArticles, Associated Content and Website-Articles to name a few.

- Social bookmarking sites are a great way to get yourself out there. Consider sites such as Digg, Technorati, Delicious, and Reddit.

On these sites your articles may be picked up and published giving you viral marketing.

- Ezines is mentioned above for good reason. Therer are newsletter publications online that have thousands of subscribers. When you post to them you have the opportunity to do so in the many of niches they represent.

- Utilize Backlinks which are links that steer back to your website from other websites. By creating backlinks and visiting other sites you can comment on their sites and include links back to your blogs and articles.

Backlinks are roads leading to your site. The more of them you have the more potential traffic they can bring you.

The key to becoming a great and successful article writer is to do it every day and submit to as many sites and outlets as possible. Once you become you can gain and maintain a reputation that can sustain you for some time.

Cynthia Minnaar invites you to generate income online with legitimate home business opportunities she will share. Her website offers Internet marketing training to help you make more money.

Shortcut to helpful recommendations about the topic of internet marketing – go through this web site. The times have come when concise info is really at your fingertips, use this chance.