Self-Publishing Guide and Resources

To POD or Not to POD?: Some Pros and Cons

2009-05-16T03:09:00.000-07:00

by Moira Allen

A question nearly every author asks — at least, every author who’s ever had difficulty getting a book published the “traditional” way — is “should I do it myself?” With the advent of print-on-demand technology, the do-it-yourself option has become increasingly appealing.

Print-on-demand publication is a process that enables a publisher to produce books individually rather than in quantity. Instead of printing hundreds or thousands of books in advance, a POD publisher prints books only when they are ordered. The manuscript is stored as a digital file (usually PDF). POD books can be produced in softcover or hardcover, and some publishers also produce full-color books and picture books.

Make no mistake: POD publishing is a form of subsidy publishing, also known as “vanity” publishing. Though many POD publishers prefer to use the term “self-publishing,” paying for publication does not make one a “self-publisher” (see sidebar). However, POD offers a tremendous advantage over traditional print subsidy publishing, which generally costs thousands of dollars, offers pitiful royalties, and often imposes restrictive contracts on the author.

Counting the Cost

Since you’re not paying in advance for the printing of hundreds or thousands of copies of your book, POD publishing costs far less than print subsidy publishing. In theory, you’re simply paying a “set-up” fee to enter your book into the publisher’s system, ready to print at the touch of a button.

In reality, of course, it’s not that simple. Costs vary widely in the industry. Of the “big three” POD publishers (Xlibris, iUniverse and 1stBooks), Xlibris charges a “base” price of $500, while iUniverse charges $459 for its “select” program. Smaller companies, such as Booklocker.com, often charge less (Booklocker’s set-up fee is $217). Borders, which has recently launched its own POD service, offers a basic price of $199, for which you apparently simply receive ten copies of your book; if you want it to be distributed and have an ISBN, the price is $499.

If you want more than “basic” service, however, prices can skyrocket quickly. For example, Xlibris charges $1600 for its premium service — required if you want to provide your own cover or custom-design the interior of your book. iUniverse’s “premier” program, which includes an editorial review and a marketing workbook, costs $699. Most POD publishers also offer a smorgasbord of extras, such as proofreading, editing, illustrations, author photos, interior design options, author proofs, copyright registration, and a variety of marketing and promotion tools (such as postcards or brochures).

Another cost to consider is the cost of obtaining your own books. Most programs offer between two and ten free author copies; after that, you must pay for books at an author discount (usually around 40 percent). If you want to send books to reviewers, you’ll have to pay for them yourself.

Print-on-demand books can be expensive for readers as well. The retail price is based on the number of pages; for example, a 99-page paperback from Xlibris would cost the buyer $14.44, while a 300-page book would cost $19.54. A 100-page book from Booklocker costs $11.95; a 300-page book would cost $15.95. Prices are higher for hardbacks — and often much higher for the same book if it is sold through a reseller like Amazon.com. While readers are accustomed to paying $15 or more for paperback nonfiction, commercial paperback fiction prices are generally lower — so think twice before sending that 600-page novel to a POD publisher!

Royalties range from 10 to 35 percent, depending on where the books are sold. Most POD publishers pay higher royalties on books sold directly from their sites than for books sold through resellers (like Amazon.com) or distributors. For example, a 200-page Xlibris paperback sells for $18.69 from the website (with a royalty of $5.50), and $21.99 on Amazon.com (with a royalty of $2.20). Booklocker.com offers 35 percent royalties for books sold on its site, and about 15 percent for books sold through other outlets.

How Well Do They Sell?

According to a recent New York Times article, the “big three” — Xlibris, iUniverse and 1stBooks — have published a combined total of more than 45,000 books, selling an average of 150 to 175 copies per title. Averages, however, can be misleading.

In 2003, for example, Xlibris circulated a promo declaring that it had published 9000 books since 1997, and sold 300,000 copies. Punch those numbers into your calculator, and you’ll find that this gives an average of 33 sales per title. But that’s just the average. If just 20 percent of those titles sell 100 copies apiece, the remaining 80 percent are left with an average sale of 16 copies per title. In reality, a few books actually sell far more than 100 copies — which means that a great many titles must sell less than ten copies apiece.

Another difficulty is locating POD titles in bookstores. According to the New York Times article, only half a dozen or so of iUniverse’s 17,000 titles actually appear in Barnes and Noble — even though Barnes and Noble owns 25 percent of iUniverse. The primary problem is that traditional booksellers and distributors expect deep discounts from publishers — discounts that POD publishers aren’t able to provide. They also expect to be able to return unsold books, which POD publishers can’t afford.

Consequently, the vast majority of POD sales occur through the Web — and successful POD authors are those who have mastered the art of promoting online. To sell your POD book, you need to be able to reach readers in the online community, including buyers who are comfortable making their book purchases online. This usually means developing your own webpage (most POD publishers will set up a book page for you, which can include reviews and other information). Many POD authors promote their books through chats, online author interviews, and book review web sites. (Most “mainstream” review sources, such as major newspapers, won’t review POD titles.)

Savvy promoters do beat the odds. The Writers of Chantilly, a Virginia-based writing group, have published three short story anthologies through Xlibris; the first two volumes have already sold more than 300 copies combined. A handful of books, such as Dave Distel’s true-crime story The Sweater Letter (published by iUniverse), have sold thousands of copies. But big sales are still the exception; out of iUniverse’s 17,000 titles, only 84 have made it to “star” status by selling more than 500 copies in the first year.

From POD to Published

Many authors hope that POD publishing can serve as a stepping stone to “real” (conventional) publication. In a handful of cases, it has — but only a handful. John Feldcamp, CEO of Xlibris, told the New York Times that only about 20 Xlibris titles have been picked up by conventional publishers — despite the fact that Random House owns 49 percent of Xlibris.

The best way to get a conventional publisher’s attention is to sell a substantial number of books. If you can demonstrate that your book has significant sales potential — e.g., you’ve managed to single-handedly promote and sell 1000 copies or more — chances are good that you can attract a conventional publisher. Otherwise, however, conventional publishers pay little attention to POD, subsidy- or self-published titles.

Fortunately, if you do get a publisher’s attention, most POD contracts allow you to terminate the POD agreement quickly and without any extra fees. Unlike traditional print subsidy publishers (which often impose contracts that are every bit as restrictive as a conventional publisher’s), POD contracts are generally author-friendly. Most ask nothing more than the nonexclusive right actually publish and distribute the book. POD contracts rarely ask for any share of subsidiary rights (such as movie or translation rights). Some impose a minimum term, such as one year, on the contract, but others can be terminated at any time.

On the flip side, many authors turn to POD when their published book goes out of print. This can be a way of keeping your book alive when it no longer has enough market to interest the original publisher. Before you try to republish your out-of-print book, however, make sure that you have regained the right to do so. Most publishing contracts include a “reversion of rights” clause that explains how to reclaim your rights if the book goes out of print.

Before you decide to publish your book in POD format, ask yourself what you hope to achieve through publication. If your goal is to produce an attractive, professionally produced book, POD technology can provide it. If, however, your goal is to see your book on bookstore shelves and in the hands of thousands of readers, POD is probably not the way to go. POD is a relatively inexpensive way to get your book in print — but the rest is up to you!

Sidebar: Self-Publishing or Subsidy?

Many POD publishers are trying hard to blur the distinction between “subsidy publishing” and “self-publishing.” Subsidy or “vanity” publishing has always had a bad reputation; hence, POD publishers tend to refer to any form of paid publication as “self-publishing.” However, self-publishing and subsidy publishing are two distinct models of paid publication.

Simply put, self-publishing means becoming one’s own publisher. As a self-publisher, your book’s ISBN is registered to you, and your name and address will be listed under “publisher” in Books in Print. You have complete control over the design of your book. Once your book is printed, you own all the copies. You can set the price on your book, and change that price or give the books away for free if you wish. All rights remain with you, and every penny of revenue that you earn from the sale of your books belongs to you.

Subsidy publishing means paying another publisher or entity to publish your book for you. The ISBN of your book is registered to that entity, not to you. When your books are printed, they are owned by the publisher. You often have no say over the price of the books, nor can you choose to give them away (or, often, to send them to reviewers without first “buying” them yourself). You may have limited control over the interior or cover design of your book. You may be required to give up certain rights to the book to the publisher. When a book is sold, you receive a percentage of the revenue in the form of royalties.

About the Author

Moira Allen, editor of Writing-World.com, has published more than 350 articles and columns and seven books, including How to Write for Magazines, Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer, The Writer’s Guide to Queries, Pitches and Proposals, and Writing.com: Creative Internet Strategies to Advance Your Writing Career. Allen is a contributing editor for The Writer and has written for Writer’s Digest, Byline, and various other writing publications. In addition to Writing-World.com, Allen hosts the travel website TimeTravel-Britain.com, The Pet Loss Support Page, and the photography website AllenImages.net. She can be contacted at editors@writing-world.com.

from www.writing-world.com

How to Format a Poem for Publishing

2009-05-16T03:07:00.001-07:00

by eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

Formatting includes text placement, font size, type considerations and printing specifications parenthesized in top and bottom margins. Properly formatting a poem will increase your chances of getting it published. Furthermore, properly formatting a poem (especially stanza break content inclusion) will aid the publisher in printing the poem correctly.

Step One: Place the five-line header (your name, address, phone, and email) in the upper left hand corner of your paper, about one-half inch down from the top of the paper and one-half inch in from the left side.

Step Two: Return four times.

Step Three: Type your poem’s title in all capital letters and center it. Underlining and bolding the poem’s title looks amateurish. The title’s font size is standardized at 14-point.

Step Four: Insert three more spaces.

Step Five: Use 12-point Times New Roman (or similar) font for the poem’s body. Generally, single spacing the poem and left-aligning the text is best. Poem lines do not need to begin with capital letters.

Step Six: Inform the reader on page one that there is or is not a stanza break if your poem exceeds one page. “No stanza break” or “Stanza break” is typed at the bottom of the page and is right-hand justified. On the second page, type the following: “Last name, Poem Title, 2″ and right-hand justify it. These typed things should be small (10-point).

from www.ehow.com

Harbor House Picks Up “Al Pacino…and Me: A Tale Of Two Actors” in 2005

2009-05-16T02:54:00.000-07:00

A fascinating story of how two friends with similar careers go their disparate ways in a cutthroat industry where the chances of success and happiness are from slim to slight.

Al Pacino and Edward De Leo both spent their childhood in the Bronx, dreaming of becoming actors. They both did, but while Pacino went on to become a huge international movie star who got paid millions, De Leo barely found small acting jobs and remained destitute. Besides De Leo’s intimate knowledge of Pacino as a person and actor, we also get to read of the generally tempestuous romances Pacino had with several high-profile actresses and his rivalry with another stellar actor of his generation, Dustin Hoffman.

De Leo died at age 72, a little over two years after this book was first published by Xlibris, and before Harbor House published a second edition.

About the Author

Writer-director-producer David Sheldon, wrote and produced “Grizzly,” one of the most financially successful independent films ever. Joan McCall has written more than 50 screenplays and over 150 scripts for network television. She is also a stage and movie actress.

Source: PRLog.org

In ‘Papa’s’ footsteps

2009-05-16T02:43:00.000-07:00

For years, David Nuffer carried around a talisman in his pocket, a fossilized shell no bigger than a lump of sugar. Its monetary value is nil; its connection to a literary lion, priceless.

When Nuffer grew worried about losing the slippery piece, given to him by a friend, he placed it with other treasures that represented a decades-long quest – a quest to learn everything he could about Ernest Hemingway.

Now Nuffer, 76, has transformed nearly 40 years of absorbing all he could about his hero of letters into a book, “The Best Friend I Ever Had” (XLibris, $29.99 at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com). Acting in some ways as a guide to his literary endeavor was the “Papastone,” that lucky charm Hemingway plucked from an isolated beach in Cuba and gave to his friend Nita Jensen Houk in the 1950s. She in turn passed it to Nuffer in the late ’80s.

“She showed me the Papastone the first time I met her,” Nuffer said. “She kept it in a jewelry box.

“After we became friends, and she was sick as a dog with lung disease, in the mail comes this little box, and I open it up and here is this shell. She gave me this cherished possession of hers. I cried. How can you describe it?”

Hundreds of tomes have come before, chronicling, dissecting and interpreting the larger-than-life writer who died by his own hand in 1961 one summer morning in Sun Valley, Idaho. Nuffer’s book adds another dimension to this otherwise familiar landscape, springing from the reminiscences of those closest to Hemingway – his friends and family.

“The Best Friend I Ever Had” is a 172-page homage to Hemingway that includes numerous, never-before-published photos Nuffer took himself or received from Hemingway friends. Interviews are fresh material the author gathered through correspondence and meetings with 10 Hemingway intimates – among them Hemingway’s wife, Mary, son Patrick, friends in mid-century Cuba, including a prominent jaialai player, and Tillie Arnold, his best friend in Ketchum, Idaho.

Nuffer augments these personal accounts with previously unpublished letters from Hemingway’s doctors at the Mayo Clinic following his shock treatments there in 1960 and ‘61. But he hastens to add that his book is not rooted in academia nor meant to be a biography.

“I took the things these people told me about him and didn’t try to interpret anything,” Nuffer said. “I just put down what those folks told me.”

In doing so, Nuffer reveals Hemingway in a personal light that even early reviews by scholars grudgingly admit they never knew. As with any artistic creator, Nuffer said, Hemingway had a strong ego and emotions that ran the gamut. As an artist, he needs to be judged by different standards, he said.

“When you understand and accept that, you find how beautiful and gentle and what a great friend he was,” Nuffer said. “No one was like him in the last century.”

How Nuffer initially met these people and forged strong friendships with some – particularly Arnold, whom he kept in regular contact with for years before her death at age 99 in 2005 – is something Nuffer calls “the Hemingway touch.” Although some of the encounters with people in the book were innocuous enough and easily made, Nuffer said, others took on a magical quality with time.

After mailing a piece he wrote about Ernest to Mary Hemingway, he never dreamed he’d get a response, but he did.

“A letter appeared in my mailbox,” Nuffer said. “I was stunned, just stunned. Celebrities don’t ever reply to anything.”

That letter was the beginning of a five-year correspondence between Mary Hemingway and Nuffer.

In 1989 in Sun Valley, Nuffer met Tillie Arnold at a cocktail party before a Hemingway convention. He came to her rescue with her favorite drink – bourbon on the rocks – as she was being grilled rabidly by other guests clamoring to get the inside scoop on their idol.

“People who knew him are constantly besieged with questions such as ‘What is he like?’” Nuffer said. “I never asked for anything. I never wanted anything.

“I never prevailed upon anybody. I just played it really straight, and we became friends.”

In the years following, Nuffer and Arnold remained close, with Nuffer and his wife, Mary, visiting Arnold in her homes in Idaho, Arizona and La Habra Heights.

Few are as well-equipped to write about Hemingway as Nuffer, who would never describe his avocation as an obsession but rather “Hemania.” In the book’s preface, Nuffer immediately adds “… although I don’t consider myself manic.”

But why Hemingway?

“First, he was the best writer of fiction in the last century,” Nuffer said. “He always said, ‘You don’t write books from the standpoint of the left politically, you write books that are good or bad.’

“He was also very objective, tremendously objective. You admire that about him, too.”

Secondly, Nuffer said, Hemingway knew full well the frailties of man. His heavy drinking and the ensuing years of ill health after surviving two light plane crashes contributed to that.

“He had a feel for almost every human condition,” Nuffer said.

Nuffer, the founder of one of San Diego’s oldest public relations firm, Nuffer, Smith, Tucker Inc., read Hemingway in high school and college, and “Death in the Afternoon” sparked a lifelong interest in bullfighting. But it wasn’t until 1971, when Nuffer was 39, that he went looking for “For Whom the Bell Tolls” at the library near his Ocean Beach home. It was one of the few Hemingway books he hadn’t yet read.

The conversion was complete.

With his wife, Nuffer began traveling to places where Hemingway lived and worked. To date, his pilgrimages have taken him to more than 160 Hemingway-related sites in Canada, Cuba, Europe and the United States, including 15 homes or apartments, and the rooms where he was born and died.

He has quaffed Hemingway’s beverage of choice, a daiquiri (called a Papa Dobles by the reverent), at Hemingway’s favorite bars in Cuba and Paris. He once sneaked into a back room at an antique shop in Canada so he could type on a typewriter Hemingway used when he was a reporter at the Toronto Star.

He has also collected quite a trove. Among the more than 250 books on his shelves (including practically every academic and biographical text ever written about the man), there are first editions of most of Hemingway’s books, a brick from the backyard of Hemingway’s home in Key West, Fla., and all 26 issues of Ken, a late ’30s leftist magazine that carried articles by Hemingway about the Spanish Civil War.

There is also the Papastone.

Nuffer cannot recall who put the bug in his ear to actually write a book about his idol, but he thinks it may have been his dear friend Robin Schmidt, another Hemingway-phile, who passed away in 2004. Nuffer spread some of Schmidt’s ashes in many Hemingway haunts, including Hemingway’s favorite bar in Paris.

Last year, Nuffer finally sat down to tackle the daunting task of organizing the reams of notes, letters and medical records he had collected. It took him 10 months to write his manuscript, which, after shopping around unsuccessfully to literary agents, he decided to self publish.

“This is a life love,” Nuffer said. “I sent my manuscript to five agents – three in San Diego, one in New York and one in Los Angeles.

“They all came back and said ‘No.’ I knew I had to self publish.”

Nuffer often muses about whether Hemingway’s spirit had a guiding hand in this book.

“Hemingway may be looking after me. It’s hard to say,” Nuffer said. “I hope so. I hope he’s happy with this book.”

Article Source: www3.signonsandiego.com

Self –Editing Improves Manuscript for Publishing

2009-01-14T18:52:00.000-08:00

A writer who wants to publish often entrusts manuscript enhancement to expensive third-party editors. However, no one can do the first round of improvements better than the person who can best keep the written ideas closest to the original: the author.

Drawn below is EDIT. These are practical tips for a writer to self-edit before giving the manuscript to a publishing company. The acronym makes the guidelines easier to remember as a writer plans about how to get a book published.

Eliminate. Get rid of improper words and replace them with accurate ones needed to convey the message. To get the most precise word that describes an idea, it is best to use a thesaurus. When in doubt of the meaning of a word, consult a dictionary. Even if already repeatedly used, a word may imply another meaning when taken in a different context.

Try to eliminate the negatives. Using the word “not” is sometimes effective for emphasis. Nevertheless, sentences written in a positive tone are generally better and stronger than negative ones.

Design check. Another way of self-editing a manuscript is to check the design of the sentences. This means looking at structure, construction and even figures of speech.

Watch for passive sentences. It is always clearer to express an idea when sentences are in active rather than in passive voice. The subject-verb-object structure describes action rather than illustrates situations and this provides readers with an easier understanding of what a writer wants to tell.

Keep an eye for the right punctuation marks and avoid complex sentences as much as possible.

Be consistent and careful in using figures of speech: they must be within the context of the descriptions. Do not confuse readers by comparing something to a forest only to associate it later to an ocean. Using figures of speech is for a purpose, not just for a play on words. Use them creatively and logically.

Inspect. Thoroughly examine each sentence for accuracy of grammar and spelling. Check out your word processor for this application but be watchful in applying the changes to your manuscript.

Test. A writer must test how the message sounds by reading the manuscript aloud. This allows revision of awkward phrasings and avoids redundancy.

These are the four handy self-editing tips that are vital to the publishing process. To complete your publishing journey, you may request a free book publishing guide.

Article Source: http://www.free-press-release-center.info

Local writer self-publishes children's book

2009-01-14T18:46:00.000-08:00

"Write your own success" is the slogan of Xlibris- an online self-publishing company that offers publishing, editorial, and marketing services. Self-publishing has become popular in recent years with start-up writers looking for an alternative way to break into a very competitive industry.

Clinton Corners resident Karen Wojcio decided to "write her own success" by submitting her children's story to be published.

"This is really the first time I've sat down and written a story out," said Wojcio, who has five children and has been a stay-at-home wife and mother for many years. She is used to telling stories to her children but just recently decided to pursue her dream of being published.

The book, titled "When It's All Up to You," imparts moral lessons about making the right decisions. Wojcio was inspired by the experience of watching her own children grow and develop and begin to face moral dilemmas. Her book attempts to encourage children to make the right choices, even in minor situations.

"You see a lot of people who are very much in the mindset of 'if you can do it and get away with it, then do it,'" she said. "Whether or not people can trust you is important. Your word is all you have."

The book features both text and illustrations by the author herself. It is written in a rhyme-scheme, reminiscent of a Dr. Seuss story. "The flow of how you read is important," she commented. "I like a book that you can just kind of feel the groove in it and read through."

Wojcio's book has garnered the approval of her own children. "My one son is very into the Harry Potter thing now," she said, "he wants me to do a series."

She has also been invited by her other son's second-grade teacher to come in and read her story to the class.

Wojcio enjoys a number of hobbies, including drawing, cooking, writing, crafts, and outdoor activities, and she hopes that her first book will be a success.

The self-publishing process, she said, was relatively easy. The company, she said, helps a little with the marketing. The book is then printed based on demand.

"The world is negative enough as it is and it feels like people forget about teaching their kids," said Wojcio.

"When It's All Up to You," is an excellent primer for young people still learning to determine right from wrong. The story explains why one choice may be better than another when facing everyday decisions, such as whether to swipe a cookie when parents aren't looking, leave a wounded animal on the road, cry or show good sportsmanship during a losing game. Making the right choices in these situations will ultimately strengthen children's ability to deal with heavier predicaments later in life.

Article Source: http://www.zwire.com

Students self-publish, reveal their stories

2009-01-14T06:45:00.000-08:00

By LIZETH CAZARES/lcazares@dailydemocrat.com

Juan Carlos Santillian, an 11th grader at Woodland High School, decided he would make his miniature book about what else? A rock, of course.

He might've spent 15 minutes on his book, but "This is a Rock" quickly became a popular read at the school's library, even spurring a sequel called "Revenge of the Rock."

He isn't the only self-made author at the school. Julia Ortiz was one of the first people to contribute a book to the library by writing "The small emo" -- a story about a 1-inch "emo," a term used to describe a subculture of people, music and fashion, who wishes he was taller.

Juan Carolos Santillan holds his "This is s Rock" and

"Revenge of the Rock" books he created.

Santillan wrote the books asw part of a project Woodland High School

offered to promote reading. (Deo Ferrer/Democrat)

"The emo wants to be tall and tries to get bigger, but when (Ms. Mahan) drops her keys, he goes down and saves them and realizes it's what's in the inside that counts," she said.

Theses are just some of the hundreds of books written, illustrated and put together by WHS students and on display in the school's library.

The WHS 500-book project is an offshoot of an international effort, called "The Knowville Initiative," to get students to read, write or do one billion projects.

And after going to a conference which talked about this project, library media teacher Diane Mahan and library technician Corinne Knight decided to bring it to Woodland.

Not only did they think it would allow students to be creative, but Mahan said the project was aimed to highlight the positive things students are doing.

"All we ever hear on the news media are the bad things teens do -- gangs, shootings, teen pregnancy," she said. "But in fact, national statistics show that teen crime is down, teen violent crime is almost non-existent, drunk driving is down, literacy is up, and graduation rates are up."

The goal was to have students write at least 500 books by the end of the semester, but on the first week back to class the official total is 844 and counting.

The 844 books are presently on display inside the Woodland High School library. (Deo Ferrer/ Democrat)

Some students went above and beyond such as ninth grader Christopher Hancock, who wrote 19 books based on his two favorite anime series -- Naruto and Bleach.

"I just wanted to help the school out, because I wasn't doing anything else that weekend," Hancock said.

Students weren't the only ones who got excited about the project.

"We had a wave of individuals doing it creatively, and those ended up being our favorite ones. Then a lot of teachers said 'that's cool' and turned it into and assignment," Mahan said.

Teachers such as Aaron Brown, who passed out books to his classes after being inspired by the project.

"I grabbed a stack of them and I took them to the class," he said. "I explained to the kids what Ms. Mahan was doing and my students just dove in."

He realized they had "instantaneous enthusiasm" for this project and had several students asking for more books or books with more pages.

The books have been used in history, literature and even math classes as study aids.

"It kind of helped us review the literary terms that we learned," Baotri Nguyen, who created a book for his English class, said.

Other students have also benefited from writing these books, such as Andrew Avalos Jr. who wrote his first-person perspective story about a seizure he had in class the day before Thanksgiving.

Brown, Avalos' teacher, said he thought writing the book was therapeutic for Avalos.

"He and I used it to remind him of what happened," he said.

Avalos has also gotten a few good reviews from his peers.

"Some have read it and said it was an 'OK' book, so that's pretty nice," Avalos said. "And I have a friend who is an epileptic and he gave me a good comment on it."

Woodland high students might have used to books as a way to study, to express themselves or just be creative, but the whole school has benefited as a whole.

"It brought the school together in a really good way, doing a positive thing," Ortiz said.

Article Source: http://www.dailydemocrat.com/

Self-Publishing The Best Option For Black Authors?

2009-01-14T06:26:00.000-08:00

There was a time when major publishers were reluctant to release books written by black authors. Self-publishing, for many, was the only option.

These days, with book sales dwindling and independent book stores closing, is self-publishing still a viable alternative?

Farai Chideya talks with Haki Madhubuti, founder of Third World Press — one of the oldest, independent black publishers in the United States.

Chideya also speaks with author Quincy Troupe — whose works include Miles and Me and The Pursuit of Happyness — and Nakea Murray, founder of The Literary Consultant Group. It's an organization that help writers self-publish.

Article Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99287145

Authors Solutions Adds Xlibris to Roster

2009-01-14T05:56:00.000-08:00

by Jim Milliot -- Publishers Weekly,01/08/2009

Authors Solutions continues to consolidate its hold on the self-publishing market, acquiring one of its major competitors, Xlibris, for an undisclosed price. Xlibris, founded in 1997 by John Feldcamp, was one of the first companies to use digital technology to allow writers to publishing their own books. One of its earliest backers was Random House. The purchases adds 20,000 titles to Author Solutions, bringing its catalogue up to nearly 100,000 titles.

Keith Ogorek, Authors Solution spokesperson, said the addition of Xlibris will strengthen and broaden the marketing services that Author Solutions can offer to all of its authors. Feldcamp will remain with the company during the transition period and the sales team based in Philadelphia will be retain along with production facilities in New Jersey and the Philippines. Other functions in the Philadelphia offices will be consolidated at Author Solutions Bloomington, Ind. offices.

Xlibris is the second rival Author Solutions has acquired within the last 18 months. In September 2007 the company bought iUniverse. Authors Solutions was originally known as Author House, but changed its name after its purchase by the private equity firm Bertram Capital Management two years ago. Ogorek said the even with the recession, business remains strong, noting that November and December were the best months ever for the Author House, iUniverse and Xlibris brands.

Visit http://www.publishersweekly.com/index.asp?layout=talkbackCommentsFull&talk_back_header_id=6578403&articleid=CA6627862 for comments relating this article.

The Self-Publishing Process Simplified

2008-12-28T17:05:00.000-08:00

A writer who wants to self-publish is oftentimes lost in the details involved in publishing. Seven basic tasks are sketched out with the hope of making a writer’s journey to self-publishing easier.

Publishing can be overwhelming to a new writer who still gropes in the dark not knowing how to get a manuscript published. Despite online tips on how to publish a book, a writer can still get lost in the details of the process.

Outlined below are seven basic activities that may simplify the self-publishing journey. These tasks appear sequential but they may be done simultaneously.

Decide what to write about. This is the first thing a writer ought to do. Getting the manuscript printed is important but making sure that the story is interesting to the readers is even more critical. Right from the start and before working on the book, the writer must seriously study the themes people want to read.

Discover your readers. A book’s market niche must be clearly spotted out. This allows the author to write effectively and tailor-fit the book’s overall package to the identified audience.

Dedicate time for writing. When the topic and the readers are already clear, the writer must dedicate quality time in writing the book. If it is best for the author to compose during nighttime, then writing should be done at night and not in the morning.

Design effectively. As a house needs interior designing, a book needs one as well. It entails not only designing the physical look of the book but also the flow of the contents. This needs careful planning and meticulous execution.

Designate a professional editor. A book author must not self-edit the manuscript but must consult professional editors to improve the copy and make it more appealing to the readers. A writer may think that the message is plain and written well but it could be unclear to the person reading it. Making the story as lucid as possible is an editor’s job.

Deal with a professional publisher. A writer does not have go through the trouble of thinking about technical details in book publishing. Professional publishers like Xlibris can do the whole process with efficiency and excellence. The company offers different publishing packages depending on the author’s needs.

Distribute the book effectively. A book’s success doesn’t end when it gets published. It starts when it is promoted and distributed. Though marketing services are available from publishing companies like Xlibris, the book author is still the best person to market the self-published book.

These are seven basic tasks in self-publishing. If you still feel lost, getting a free book publishing kit from Xlibris is a good start.

from www.free-press-release-center.info

Publishing Company Offers Large Discounts on Book Publishing Services

2008-12-28T16:45:00.000-08:00

Large discounts are offered by the book publisher, Xlibris, for publishing and marketing services availed of for the whole month of November as an early holiday present for writers who wish to become authors.

The leading self publishing company gives 50% price cut on black and white and full color publishing packages for writers and photographers who wish to publish their work and 33% on marketing services for authors who wish to widen the exposure of work.

Xlibris offers a wide array of publishing and marketing services packages that match each writer’s specific needs. The affordable publishing packages and marketing services are perfect holiday gifts to friends who are publishing a book and are excellent Christmas presents to those who are already self published book authors.

A leader in the industry, Xlibris has an exceptional track record in professionalism and high quality self publishing service. It has over 16,000 self published book authors of more than 20,000 published titles of various categories.

from www.pr-canada.net

Self-Publishing vs Traditional Publishers

2008-12-28T16:40:00.000-08:00

by Fred Gratzon

I am frequently asked about the advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing. Even though I am far from being an expert, that doesn’t stop me from shooting off my mouth.

After writing the first draft of my book, I called a friend in New York City who was a high-profile literary agent. I energetically explained my book and then asked for her opinion. I knew my book wasn’t her cup of tea; I was just getting some direction. She launched into a description of the New York publishing scene that curled my toenails. She said that since I was a first-time-unknown author, my chances of landing with a major New York publishing house without an agent were anorexic at best. I was told most big time publishers wouldn’t even sneer at me without an agent. Unfortunately, finding an agent who I liked and who liked me could take forever. She pointed out that the best agents were as picky as publishers. But she conceded that if I did find an agent and he approached publishers, then it could still take two or three months just to get a rejection.

But let’s say the stars aligned perfectly and a publisher was interested. She averred that a first-time-unknown author gets bupkis in terms of royalties/advances and for that pittance he would have to sign over all rights and, get this, wait up to two years before seeing his book in print. All decisions regarding the content, paper quality, jacket cover, and price would be the publisher’s. I was told that I definitely would not be allowed to have it illustrated but if by some miracle I was able to convince the publisher, I would not be able to choose the artist.

She said all that was good news compared to what follows.

Once the book gets into print, it would be sold to major chains. (For all intents and purposes, there are only two – Borders and Barnes & Noble as Waldenbooks is owned by one and B. Dalton is owned by the other.) Then an author’s descent into Hell begins as all promotional activity is done by the author without any help from the publisher, financially or otherwise, unless, of course, you are Hillary Clinton or John Grisham. What that means is that an author is given a window of about 120 days to generate enough book sales to warrant the self space. If the book has a slow start, then sayonara, mon amour.

The economics are even more torturous. Middlemen, whose sole function, as far as I can tell, is taking the book out of one box and putting it into another, command a larger percentage of the sale than the author gets. So does the printer, for that matter.

Whether any of that is (or was) true, semi-true, or complete poppycock, hearing it demoralized me. To wait for two or three years to see my book in print and then to run around like a head with the chicken cut off for four months trying to promote it, seemed exhausting, pointless, lacking any proportionality, and in direct violation of every principle in my book.

But that demoralization turned out to be a good thing. It motivated me to start my own author-friendly publishing company.

I did everything exactly like I wanted. I didn’t have to fight with (and ultimately lose to) some fresh-faced editor right out of college. Best of all I picked the illustrator and had the time of my life collaborating with him.

I also had the luxury to test various promotional activities and make course corrections – something I never would have been able to do under a 120-day gun. I own the copyright and have personally sold the language rights to foreign publishers – now totaling seven (German, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Czech, Hungarian, and Portuguese). My agent friend tells me I even got a higher royalty percentage than the norm in some cases.

Perhaps, and this is a tenuous perhaps, I could have sold more books going through a traditional publisher using a traditional distributor to get into the traditional book chains. On the other hand, even though I am selling fewer books, I know that under my scenario, everyone involved with the creative side of my book is making, and will continue to make, more money. And that is the way it should be.

To be sure, I made a ton of mistakes and had several false starts because I knew absolutely nothing about the industry when I launched my publishing company. But the best news is that I am now wiser plus I have an infrastructure in place. With it I can produce and market more books while having more fun and making more money and never having to leave my home. And that too is how it should be.

Source: The Lazy Way to Success

Harbor House Picks Up “Al Pacino…and Me: A Tale Of Two Actors” in 2005

2008-12-28T16:33:00.000-08:00

A fascinating story of how two friends with similar careers go their disparate ways in a cutthroat industry where the chances of success and happiness are from slim to slight.

Al Pacino and Edward De Leo both spent their childhood in the Bronx, dreaming of becoming actors. They both did, but while Pacino went on to become a huge international movie star who got paid millions, De Leo barely found small acting jobs and remained destitute. Besides De Leo’s intimate knowledge of Pacino as a person and actor, we also get to read of the generally tempestuous romances Pacino had with several high-profile actresses and his rivalry with another stellar actor of his generation, Dustin Hoffman.

De Leo died at age 72, a little over two years after this book was first published by Xlibris, and before Harbor House published a second edition.

About the Author

Writer-director-producer David Sheldon, wrote and produced “Grizzly,” one of the most financially successful independent films ever. Joan McCall has written more than 50 screenplays and over 150 scripts for network television. She is also a stage and movie actress.

Source: PRLog.org

Xlibris Announces the Addition of Landscape Format for Full Color Self Published Books

2008-10-15T16:47:00.000-07:00

Xlibris, the self-publishing industry leader, has announced the addition of a new format for books published in full-color. With the most comprehensive range of full-color publishing services available on the market today, this latest addition has given them an additional edge over the competition.

Xlibris was the first print on demand publisher to offer full-color book publishing, and continues their tradition of being a pioneer in the industry with this latest offering. Now with six publishing packages to choose from, all specifically designed for full-color books, and three different book formats, no one can question their dominance of the industry.

The new landscape format is 11.5” wide and 9.2” high, and is available in both paperback and case-bound (hardback) formats. This is in addition to the existing formats of 8.5” by 8.5” and the portrait orientation of 8.5” wide by 11” high.

More information about Xlibris’ Full-Color Publishing Packages can be found at www.xlibris.com. The Xlibris Customer Service Hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone at 1-888-795-4274, or e-mail at publishtoday@xlibris.com.

from www.sanepr.com

Author says self-publishing can have pitfalls

2008-10-13T18:41:00.000-07:00

By Jane Henderson
Post-Dispatch Book Editor

Recently I wrote a story about the rise in the number of people who say they earn a living (full or part time) from writing. The stock art with it is ironic, I hope: no one uses a typewriter and most older writers aren’t so fuddy-duddy looking. For that story, see www.stltoday.com/books.

There is also, of course, a huge rise in the number of books being published. Much of that increase is because of the rise in self-publishing. The story didn’t advise that self-publishing is a good way to make a lot of money. Many folks writing books know that, I’m sure. But to help explain that point, a reader from Florissant wrote me.

I do not know Jack R. Simpson and have not seen his book, but he has some interesting points and seems to have a lot of experience in self-publishing and in helping others self-publish.

Here’s what he has to say:

To make self-publishing profitible, authors must decide whether their venture is commercial or just a folksy/fun project not necessarily for profit. One good exercise for any unpublished writer is to use a firm that publishes 100 books for $500. The book would be in b/w (except for the cover). The writer of a family history might be able to charge $5 to cover costs or more if buyers accepted it. It is also an inexpensive way to test a commercial book for potential market and salability. I don’t do these books but know who does. Marketing is the hardest part.

Subsidy printing offers differ wildly. In each case the author must evaluate the plan and discover how much money will he/she get for each book sold. I do not say it cannot work. But the deal must be absolutely right.One river captain was told that the printer would pay for all of the publishing costs except $6,500. The captain ordered 1,000 books. He got 50. For every one sold by the company he got $4. If he wanted to buy his own books for resale, they cost him $4 a book. If the printer sold all 1,000books for the $10 price attached, the captain would get $4,000 and still be $2,500 in the hole. If he bought the entire print run at $4 each, he would then have $10,500 in 1,000 books that were to sell for $10,000. Naturally, the price had to be pushed upwards or nothing would work for the captain.

As for print on demand, I understand there are some good arrangements out there. And some bad ones. One company that a friend of mine uses is Lulu.com. I have not tried to evaluatethis site, nor any others like it. His profit is not high, but he likes the arrangement.

During more than 50 years in the writing, editing, publishing field, I discovered pitfalls that can make self-publishing unattractive for any writer. It can also be a very lucrative venture providing the author understands it and avoids the booby traps. My book $elf-Publish for Profit can be found on my website www.littleriverbooks.com, where there is also material on self-publishing being updated. I helped publish many of the books found there. I do free seminars for writers groups, libraries, etc. in the Florissant, MO, area and am open to phone calls from those who want to call me at 314-921-4419 or cell 314-341-4419.

from http://www.stltoday.com/

PUBLISH AND BE DAMNED REVEALS THE ART OF SELF PUBLISHING

2008-07-26T21:46:00.000-07:00

Event notice - Publish and Be Damned happens on August 3 2008 at Rochelle School in Shoreditch

Publish and be Damned (PaBD) is an annual one-day self-publishing fair in London, happening this year on Sunday, August 3 2008. Visitors to the event can see and buy a range of creative and esoteric journals and glossy periodicals.

PaBD provides a place for writers, artists and musicians to distribute and display their work amongst other producers and the public. It profiles individual and experimental publications outside of the commercial mainstream, and the fair offers a rare opportunity to discover a wide variety of publications and meet their producers.

This year for the first time, PaBD has invited the teams behind three special projects to participate. The first is Ooga Booga, a shop in Chinatown, Los Angeles run by Wendy Yao. The shop opened in 2004 with the focus on independent culture, selling artist's books and multiples, music and clothing.

Second special group invited is LUX, an arts agency that explores ideas around artists' moving image practice through exhibition, distribution, publishing, education and research.

In addition, London's radio arts station Resonance104.4fm will produce Podcast and Be Damned, a special Publish and Be Damned audio literary anthology and make it available for download as a podcast within 24 hours of the fair.

Publish and Be Damned has become a key annual event in the summer. It is run by Sarah McCrory and Joe Scotland and was originally conceived in 2004 by Kit Hammonds and Emily Pethick.

The project is supported by Arts Council England, London and The Elephant Trust, with assistance from The A Foundation and Studio Voltaire.

Publish and Be Damned runs at Rochelle School, London on Sunday August 3 from 12-6pm, and admission is free.

This event notice was written by Harry Semple, 24 Hour Museum's Year 10 intern.

Source: http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/

Self-publishing company iUniverse appoints director of author marketing

2008-07-26T21:42:00.000-07:00

by Kimberly Maul

Self-publishing company iUniverse has appointed Kathryn Gordon as director of author marketing, a position that will see her design and launch "a new business unit dedicated to providing high-quality and affordable marketing services to iUniverse authors."

"There's a huge need for professional and affordable services to help authors develop a platform and sell books," said Susan Driscoll, president and c.e.o. of iUniverse. "Kathryn's credentials are outstanding, and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to work with her to develop a broad range of quality marketing services for iUniverse authors."

Gordon, who previously served as editorial director of Simon & Schuster Online, founded The Book Hook, which provided freelance marketing services for publishers and authors.

"I've spent fourteen years with major publishers, and have had the good fortune to engage bestselling authors in the process of marketing and selling their books," Gordon said. "It's exciting to now have the opportunity to work with authors who are at all different stages of their publishing careers."

US iUniverse self-publishing

Source: www.thebookseller.com

How to Self Publish a Book, 10 Little Known Money Secrets

2008-07-23T06:01:00.000-07:00

by Bob Burnham

Self publishing tasks and marketing tools can quickly add up, costing you more money than you originally planned. Here are ten tips to save money self publishing your book.Hire a student or a virtual assistant to edit and format your book. Professional editors cost a lot of money but they play a vital role in the process of making your book great. College students and stay at home parents can be a significant resource if you are on a budget.Even better, ask a detailed family member or friend to go through your book word by word for errors. A second or third pair of eyes is always good book writing business.

Hire a student to design your book’s cover or contribute to the graphics inside. You can also hire students to design your website – you will be amazed what they can do!E-publish your book for the most cost effective means of production and delivery.

If you absolutely must print, print your book in small quantities to keep your inventory low. You will save money on printing and storage.

Typeset your book yourself. Printers will charge you hundreds of dollars to typeset your book, why pay that money when you can do it yourself? Simply ask them what format it needs to be delivered in, example PDF, and then create the typeset copy.

Keep your book fulfillment in-house, do it yourself. You will save money in shipping costs and postage and you will make sure that people receive undamaged copies of your books!

Book promotion can be expensive. Cut costs by partnering with other relevant websites to promote your book in exchange for promoting theirs. This kind of trade works well for books that compliment each other. For example a book about how to raise healthy children might partner well with a recipe book for child friendly foods.

Use free online promotion tools like email, article posting, and press release distribution.

Take advantage of open source software products to create your book. Online you can find free software products that range from word processing programs to programs that will capture images or photos on your computer. Open source software can save you literally thousands of dollars in book production expenses.

About the Author

Bob Burnham, Entrepreneur, Consultant and Author of “101 Reasons Why You Must Write A Book”

Source: www.positivearticles.com

Why Self-Publish Your Book?

2008-07-21T19:49:00.000-07:00

by Ceci Miller

When I meet an author with a great book concept, one who’s definitely the right person to write that book, right away I’ll often encourage him or her to self-publish. This is because I know that, if an author is thoroughly invested in what they have to say, and if they’re determined to create a buzz about their message, they’ll discover . . .

5 Fantastic Benefits of Self-publishing

1. Control. When you enter into a contract with a major publishing house, you’re signing an exclusive agreement that prevents your having input into most of the important decisions that will affect your book’s perception by the public, and its sales. You’ll have very little say about the look and feel of your book cover, the endorsements that appear on the back of your book, or the wording of your press release, for example. And since all of the above elements are critical to giving your book its best chance for bestseller status, such loss of control can pose significant problems. “But don’t publishers know better than I what to do to sell a book?” you may ask. Not necessarily. Authors usually know more about their book’s subject—and hence, about their target audience (market)—than anyone else. Hey, they wrote the book!

More food for thought about signing with a major publishing house: If for some reason your book doesn’t sell quickly and the publisher lets it go out of print, there’s often a “waiting period” before the author is allowed to self-publish the book to get it back on the shelves. In the meantime, the reading public sees that your book is “out of print” and a great deal of word-of-mouth damage is done. Self-publishing means that you are at the helm of your book project. Of course, it also means that the responsibility for its success rests in your hands. But when you believe in your message and know that you’re going to do everything in your power to get that message out to your target audience, isn’t it a good feeling to know that you’re the one driving its success in the marketplace?

I suggest a balance of control and delegation. The right publishing ally can coach you through the process of writing and editing your book, and will also advise you to design and market your message in a way that gets optimum results. Your publishing ally may be a book editor, a publishing consultant, a published author, or all three. If she’s worth her salt, though, she’ll know what it will take to get your book published, and she’ll know how to help you make it happen.

2. Money. Why does it make good business sense to self-publish? Consider the following: a contract with the book publisher doesn’t give you an ironclad guarantee that your book will ever and upon the shelves. If you’re a new author, your publisher will allocate zero marketing dollars to promote your book. It’s sink or swim! If your book does sell well, it will be due to your own hard work and ingenuity—and your reward will be a tiny fraction of the book’s total profits. Self-publishing admittedly involves more capital risk, but it also means that the extensive footwork you do to market your book will go to producing income for the person who most deserves it. After all, you’re the one who’s doing all the work to ignite word-of-mouth about your book. Not only that, you wrote it! Don’t you deserve to reap 100% of the profit?

3. No Waiting, No Rejection. The Cinderella story of the little book that gets discovered by a publisher and becomes an overnight bestseller is mostly just that—a fairytale. Yes , it happens. But it hasn’t been happening a whole lot lately. In the current publishing climate, with major houses paying gigantic advances to celebrity authors—their “cash cows”—not much is left to spend on developing new talent. Let’s be honest: a publisher isn’t going to spend a dime marketing a book by an as yet unknown author. To get your book considered for publication in the first place, you’ll need to have an extremely convincing marketing strategy in place which you intend to implement on your own, at your own expense! Such as the case in every genre from children’s books to alternative health to historical novels. First-time authors are being turned away en masse. And since many nonfiction book projects are time-sensitive—well-placed offerings intended to respond to a specific market trend —their authors often while way their precious window of opportunity waiting for agents or publishers to respond to a proposal. It isn’t impossible to get a major publishing house interested in a book by a first-time author, but it’s getting more difficult all the time. Self-publishing removes the wait (and the accompanying weight from your shoulders) and the discomfort of rejection from the process of getting your book into print.

4. Independence. Self-published authors are usually people with confidence in their message. Many have already developed a following by giving talks and seminars in areas where they live and work. Experts know when they have a powerful personal message—they don’t need a publisher’s approval to pump themselves up. Such authors, many of whom are already seasoned professionals, self-publish their books because they love being in the driver’s seat of their book project. Rather than gamble that a big corporation will treat their book with the respect it deserves, such an author takes the publishing reins to ensure that her message reaches the widest possible audience. No one cares more about your book than you do.

5. Power of Belief. The power of belief in our words is what makes promises good and turns dreams into reality. Authors who self-publish their books believe deeply that others will benefit from reading what they have to say. They have unshakable conviction. Such authors often tell me, “I had to write this book. I just have to get it out there!” Deep belief is the selfless power that drives all true service and makes a difference in the world. Authors with a strong sense of purpose know that they can make their books succeed. They don’t want to wait around for a publishing house to “accept” their work. Aware that time is precious, such authors create their own publishing opportunities. They get behind their own message. They launch a campaign fueled with belief in the creative power of intention.

Every good editor or publishing consultant knows that the best way to make your book a true success is to create and market a message that you will both be proud of for years to come. Creating uplifting books is a passion. Make it yours, and every one of your books sold will be a vote of confidence in yourself and the rest of humanity!

Source: www.bharatbhasha.com

7 Keys to Writing a Children’s Book that Sells Like Hotcakes

2008-07-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

by Caterina Christakos

There are seven fundamental reasons that some books succeed and others collect dust on the author’s bookshelf. These seven keys to success as an author are simple, obvious even, and yet in the midst of our writing many of us forget them.

We get so focused on the idea of the book that we forget the mechanics. Here is the strategy that award winning authors use:

1) Create a hero that your audience can relate to.

Examine your target market honestly. Who will be reading your book? Just because you think that your main character is funny, charming and brilliant doesn’t mean that they will or even that that is what they care about.

2) Write for your audience, not your highschool English professor.

There has already been a Shakespeare. Most genres do not require you to write like him. You will just turn your audience off if you write at a level beyond their comprehension.

3) Give your reader a problem that he or she can empathize with.

Are you writing for teenage girls? Then something to do with the pains of adolescent romance, or lack thereof, might be a good start.

4) Provide a nemesis that makes sense.

The antagonist in your story should appear to be everything that your main character is not. Then go back in and give him or her some good qualities as well.

People are not good or evil. Your characters should have the same character traits, as the rest of humanity.

Ex. A Thief with a Conscience or who hates everyone except his little sister, who he has taken care of since their mom died.

Give all your characters depth.

5) Provide obstacles for your main characters.

Both your hero and antagonist need to have a few bumps in the road. Life isn’t smooth. Let them both screw up and figure their way out of their messes.

6) Your hero, at the very least, must learn a lesson about himself or herself.

Is he braver than he thought he was? Is her nerdiness actually an asset?

Your characters should have some type of self-realization. It can be subtle. You do not have to go into a five chapter monologue on it, just give the readers some clues that he or she has changed.

7) Begin and end your story with a bang.

Grab your reader’s attention in the beginning and have them hoping for a sequel in the end. The rest, no matter how much work you put into it, will probably be skimmed until they hit the next seat gripping scene. Your job is to make that skim time as short as possible.

Source: www.Znetspot.com

Thinking of Writing for Kids?

2008-07-21T19:12:00.000-07:00

Some people think that writing children’s books is an easy option. It isn’t. Here are some simple rules and advice.

Have a very clear idea of the age group you’re writing for. Vocabulary, content and length has to be spot on.
Avoid sexism, rascism and anything that is going to immiediately stand out as old fashioned. Publishers or agents will spot flaws a mile off.
If you’re aiming at young people rather than children, it helps to be aware of the current curriculum and set books for young people.
Read, read, read- research your market. Look at what currently sells and excites young readers. But don’t be derivative- the world doesn’t need any more Harry Potter imitations.
Estimate your length carefully. Picture story books consist of 16 or 24 pages, 4 of which are end-papers.
If you are writing for younger children, books must always be illustrated.
Unless you’re a wonderful artist, don’t try illustrating books yourself. Just indicate where pictures should appear and what they should be, and leave it to the professionals.
Be aware of the way children or young people perceive the world. If there is some kind of a problem to be solved in the story, it should be the children who find the solution, rather than adults.
When you are writing your covering letter to publishers or agents, don’t bother telling them how much your children/grandchildren/nephews and nieces loved the book. It won’t make any difference to the way they read the material and it can make you look unprofessional. The book will speak for itself.

Source: www.writewords.org.uk

Great Ways To Promote Your Self Published Book

2008-07-21T19:08:00.000-07:00

by Victor Epand

Most people get foxed while finding ways of going about trying to promote their self-published work. It becomes an even more difficult task when you don’t have a publisher. When you give the responsibility to your publisher, you really don’t have much to do, except sign a few copies and get famous fast.

The only sad part is that you may get ripped off and won’t even know it. The proceeds of your hard work should be entirely yours, and no one else’s. Once the book is ready for sale, promotion becomes your prerogative and finding new ways to do so is a challenge. It is a good idea to start speaking about your book much in advance of releasing it, so you kind of prepare a pathway for smooth sale-ing.

One of the most recent and best devices is the Internet. It is very resourceful and helpful in any kind of sales or promotion. It is boon to people who need it for promoting any kind of business or for selling their self-published book.

You could start by formatting a cover letter, with a summary or brief of your book. Attach the same and send it to group email IDs of friends and family and other relatives - maybe other book groups that your familiar with too. Make your contact details very clear, and also if you are offering any discounts, price of the book and shipping charges if any.

End it with a request for them to pass the information on to people they come in contact with. This way you could actually create a network for the word to spread and before you know it, you could have your sales going up pretty well.

Also, become members of some blog sites or booker sites for a nominal fee, where you could advertise your book. There is no harm in spending a little money, when you could make much more in return.

Approach your family members and make sure wherever they go, they would be walking advertisements, free of charge for you. For example, your daughter who goes to college or is a member of a social group, your wife who could be a part of a bridge group at the club, could be the most reliable people to promote your work.

When you visit the mall, go as a family or a group of friends, so you can hand out flyers, to people there and greet them with a smile. If possible pay for a little table and set up a stall for yourself where people could come up to you and ask you about your book. This could definitely help you in promoting your book in public.

Contact certain broadcasters, and issue a press release which may not cost you much, but could be another good way of getting people to know your book. Where you need to spend a little, do so!

Go ahead and promote your books with all the confidence that you put into writing them.

Xlibris Warns Customers of Email Scam, Closes the Xlibris Online Bookstore Temporarily as Precautionary Measure

2008-06-03T22:50:00.000-07:00

Also, What to Do If You’re Scammed

by Sabne Raznik

The print-on-demand publisher Xlibris has sent out a mass email to its customers and authors from Xlibris’ CEO John Feldman which warns of an email scam built around the company. Under the email address Orders@Xlibris.us, the scammers claim that a recent order placed by the recipient cannot be filled due to incomplete credit card information and asks that the recipient reply to that address with their CVC number which is the three or four digit number on the back of credit cards used most often to help verify online purchases. Xlibris is firmly denying any relationship at all to this domain name or its originators and is strongly cautioning its customers to report any such emails received to the recipients’ Internet Service Provider.

Xlibris is also taking steps to change how it handles credit card information provided by its customers in order to provide greater security against attempts to access this information. They no longer keep that information in the database. For those customers who place orders often, that information is currently transferred to a third party who specifically handles such information and Xlibris assures its customers that this third party is much more secure than Xlibris itself. They have disabled their online bookstore while authorities investigate the scam to protect future customers and to assure that their own systems are not compromised.

The email from Mr. Feldman includes an exact copy of the fraudulent email and a telephone number with which to contact Xlibris to report any such emails received and to direct any questions or concerns through. Also included is a step by step suggestion on what to do upon receiving the scam email, exactly how to most safely conduct a transaction with Xlibris and their new policies on how to do so, and important contact information if one has become a victim of identity theft. Xlibris also reminds its customers that credit agencies suggest consumers should obtain a copy of their credit report for review at least once a year and provide several websites that specialize in this sort of thing.

All of this by no means indicates that any of Xlibris’ customers or authors have been scammed per se only that the scam exists. However, the company is strongly encouraging its customers to take necessary precautions and to report any such emails immediately.

Xlibris promises to re-enable their online bookstore as soon as investigations are complete and it is safe to their customers to so. If you wish to buy a book published by Xlibris in the meantime, you may do so through Amazon.com, Barns and Noble.com, or through the author’s website.

For more information regarding phishing and identity theft, go to the Federal Trade Commission’s Website at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft.

If you have become a victim of identity theft you can contact the following agencies:

U.S. Government Agencies
Federal Trade Commission
Identity Theft Clearing House

http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft

Social Security Administration

Credit Reporting Agencies
Experian

http://www.experian.com/

Equifax

http://www.equifax.com/

TransUnion Corporation

http://www.transunion.com/

Source: www.associatedcontent.com

On and On

2008-05-14T00:47:00.000-07:00

Mamie Flesher Diehl is obviously no ordinary lady.

She was a member of one of the first all-female marching bands in the United States at the age of 19. At 74, she volunteered for an Arizona sheriff’s posse. At 96, she learned to use a computer for the first time. In between those years, she traveled extensively with her husband, worked for the World Health Organization, and raised a son. Recently, she came out with her very own book entitled, Going On and On. And through the passage of time, her cheerfulness and sense of humor remained intact.

This is quite a feat for someone who has already passed the century mark in her age – 100 years, no less.

The title alone of Mamie’s book, Going On and On, already reveals a slice of her very colorful life. This is, in fact, her guiding principle in facing each day of her existence. She adds, “I believe in moderation and doing what is right with a cheerful attitude.”

Going On and On is a beautiful rendering of Mamie’s numerous positive life experiences as only she can relate them. After the book has been released through Xlibris, it has been well-received by numerous audiences. According to the person who aided her in using the computer, Joann Wasson, she was overwhelmed by the response to Mamie’s book. “It started with the other residents of the senior housing complex where (Mamie) lived. Every time she went to eat, someone would be asking for a copy of her book,” she relates. “Everything went uphill from there.”

Now, even at 100, Mamie is still in tiptop form. She is busy with the promotion of Going On and On, and there seems to be no sign of her slowing down. Mamie even had one book signing that was still well-attended despite the inclement weather. She notes, “It was amazing that over 65 people still showed up (at the book signing). One couple even traveled over five hours because they shared the Flesher name. They eventually discovered that they were my fourth-degree cousins.” Recently, Mamie and her book were also featured in the front page of a local newspaper. Mamie will be having another tea and book signing at the Beech Grove, Indiana Library on April 20.

Through all these endeavors, Xlibris was behind Mamie. “We are happy with the publishing experience we have had with Xlibris.” She elaborated that Xlibris was the best venue for her to get her bio published. “At my age, I did not have the time to go through the normal rejection/selection period required by the traditional publishing route. I wanted this to be a positive experience for me without others rejecting my work,” she said.

What started as a simple hobby Mamie took on to keep her mind busy and alive has turned into a book that is now earning respectable reviews. This is because she never took her age into consideration and kept going on and on – just like her book.

Extraordinary – that’s Mamie.

from onthegonews.wordpress.com

Self-publishing brings us stories otherwise untold

2008-05-14T00:39:00.000-07:00

Writing a book is no small feat — even before you start to think about a way to get that manuscript onto the shelves of your local bookstore.

But much in the same way the information age has given everyone the tools to become a movie producer or a newspaper editor, it’s allowed writers to circumvent the publishing industry.

Just five or 10 per cent of manuscripts submitted to publishers are accepted, and it can take six months to hear back, say organizers of a Guelph group of independent authors, who help others navigate the world of self-publishing.

Those are formidable odds to face, especially after you’ve poured your soul onto the page. And so we’re impressed by the number of local folks, described by writer Renee Tavascia in today’s Here section, who figure out they’ve got a book living inside of themselves and dedicate the time to write it down.

Kudos also goes out to those who organize that community, nurture its new members and help it mature.

They’ve helped bring us an impressive assortment of works that would otherwise likely not have seen the light of day — or would have been accompanied by many more sleepless nights. There’s the history teacher who detailed the storied past of her hometown, the punny cartoonist and the illustrator who describes his work, rather cryptically, as “cereal art.”

In the uber-globalized world of communications that includes such faceless media as Amazon.com and Facebook, we’re glad local authors are working together to get their inner novels out into the public.

from guelphmercury.com

Christian Writers - Write On!

2007-12-16T18:29:00.003-08:00

by Diana R. Williams

Be encouraged Christian Writers! This form of Christian service is very rewarding and the number of works written by Christian authors is increasing! They fall in the categories of Bible studies, devotions, novels, personal testimonies, prayers, sermons and self-help directives. Christian authors are writing plays, poetry and scripts for the big screen and TV shows. Whether it is to encourage, enlighten or entertain, the true Christian writer has a calling to write with a wonderful gift grounded in truth. “Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.” Habakkuk 2:2, NKJV. This scripture is the basis that I use for three key components of my writing mandate.

First, I believe that I must maintain my passion for serving the LORD. This type of passionate service is fueled by a strong love, unspeakable joy and zeal for the things of GOD. It causes me to search the scriptures for guidance and to reinforce my intimate relationship with the LORD. Every January and July, I start a 180-day reading plan of a new Bible version and write a meditation from what I have read. The more I read GOD’S word, the more inspired I am to write.

The “passion” of Christ is the name given for the salvation plan. The Bible says, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16, NLT. HE held nothing back but gave HIS all. Whenever I think of this ultimate sacrifice, it causes me to press forward in gratitude with all of my might. Passion promotes fortitude and ignites the force that empowers the work to stand out from the crowd.

Secondly, every Christian author needs to sharpen his or her writing skills. Taking classes, attending writer conferences and workshops and joining a Christian writer’s group are all steps I have taken to stir up this gift. My goal is to write for easy comprehension therefore, I ask GOD for wisdom so that my zeal is according to knowledge. I want to inspire a closer walk with the LORD and never want to mislead anyone in faith.

Wherever I go, I have a note pad with me to jot down thoughts and impressions. Whenever my writing addresses problems, I find Bible stories and parables to provide revelation knowledge for comfort and solutions. Reading other Christian material and Christian Writer’s publication keeps me abreast with current trends.

Writing is a process that improves with practice. Like playing a musical instrument or singing in a concert, the successful artist does not rely on talent alone. Hours of study, research and actually putting pen to paper (or words to computer screen), helps the Christian Writer move from eager amateur to world class writing professional.

Finally, it is imperative to go forth and spread the good news. No one can benefit from the passion and writing skill if the Word does not go out. “Publish His glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. Psalm 96:3 (NLT). Without a publishing contact, it was in my best interest to self-publish. This gave me the opportunity to commit to the process by investing thousands of dollars bringing my work to print.

Much of what I have learned about self-publishing has come from the school of hard knocks. The experience has been invaluable even though I made costly mistakes. I now examine the reputation and stability of the company, the appearance of the finished product and the availability of author support systems. Besides the cost of the initial publishing contract, it is necessary to explore a la carte services for things like copyediting, corrections, cover design and marketing.

Key to getting the books into the hands of the public is a good marketing strategy. Exposure for self-published Christian books relies heavily on the author. Therefore, developing press kits, advertising in Christian publications and securing book-signing opportunities are all ways to develop a following and create word of mouth buzz.

Christian writers, find joy in your calling! It is your strength to maintain your passion and develop your gift. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58, NKJV

from www.americanchronicle.com

Fox Chapel teen uses writing talent for charity

2007-12-16T18:29:00.002-08:00

by Misty Chybrzynski
TRIBUNE-REVIEW NEWS SERVICE

A new book penned by a young local author piques interest in science and sparks imagination.
To help a good read do good, some of the profits will be donated to help homeless children.

Praveen Tummalapalli, 16, a junior at Fox Chapel Area High School, wrote "The Misadventures of Traveen."

The story follows Traveen as he attempts to support himself after he tosses his parents into the time-space continuum and is left alone for an undetermined amount of time. He invents things and comes into possession of items that put him and his friends in danger of criminal-minded monsters who want to steal from him.

Does he survive?
"Well, we wouldn't want to give that part away," says Tummalapalli, of Fox Chapel.

Tummalapalli wrote the book at age 14, but recently decided to self-publish with the help of his family. It's not his first story, nor will it be his last, he says. He wrote another book titled "The Weather Adventure" when he was 12 and also directed a film documentary about the effects of acid rain that placed as a finalist in a film competition this summer.

"It is refreshing to see young people getting started in a new career and I hope this is just the beginning of something big for him," says Al Mechling, of Mechling Bookbindery in Chicora. The company assisted Tummalapalli in preparing and editing the book, which is available this week.

Mechling believes Tummalapalli could be the youngest author the company has helped publish.

Tummalapalli has enjoyed writing short stories since he was 10, but books eventually evolved from the notes and ideas that popped into his head.

"I had different ideas of things that could happen so I just wrote them down for fun," Tummalapalli says.

"The Misadventures" book appeals to children ages 6 to 12, according to Tummalapalli, and while it is age-appropriate thrilling, its also nonviolent.

Twenty percent of the book's sales will be donated to a charity that assists homeless children, Tummalapalli says.

He has not yet found the right organization to donate to, but wants the profits to help in some way.

"There's a lot of trouble with homeless children in the U.S.," Tummalapalli says. "They need help to get basic needs and a good education to build themselves up."

Books can be purchased through Tummalapalli's Web site. The cost is $9.95 plus shipping and handling. It also can be purchased at Aspinwall Book Shoppe in Aspinwall.

from www.pittsburghlive.com

Edina: A nice niche for fulfilling writers' dreams

2007-12-16T18:29:00.001-08:00

The man behind Edina-based Beavers Pond Press has overseen publication of almost 500 books.

by Jenna Ross, Star Tribune

Milt Adams can -- and often does -- point to any one of the hundreds of books that line his office walls and rattle off most everything about it: What it says, why it's interesting, who wrote it and how it came to be.

"Look at this book," Adams said, grabbing a copy of "Dione" by Steven Accola. "It's just black-and-white pen-and-ink, but the lines continue and twist and turn into figures, people. This strange little book is just fascinating when you open it up."

Many are "little bitty" books. Others are "big important books." And all, in some way, are his.

At the age of 70, Adams founded Beaver's Pond Press, an Edina publishing company that offers selected authors the opportunity to self-publish. Almost 10 years later, the press has grown by most every measure -- in employees, authors, copies sold, awards won and reputation.

After a long, successful entrepreneurial career, Adams founded the company because he saw a need in the market. But now, at age 79, he's growing the company because it's what he feels he was meant to do -- help authors get published.

"If I'd written a book, which I haven't, you'd see that everything from there" -- he put his finger on the table to mark his childhood -- "to here, all the goods and the bads, have prepared me for what I'm doing today."

A love of books

Adams grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from the University of Minnesota, where he studied economics because, as he put it, "in those days you didn't get a liberal arts degree." But he minored in humanities and fell in love with books.

Most of Adams' career had nothing to do with them. He worked in the corporate world -- for firms such as Archer Daniels Midland, the Carlson Companies and General Housewares -- in sales and training. In 1970, he started Adams & Others, and his years since were dominated largely by entrepreneurial spirit and success.

Much of his work focused on marketing, printing and publishing services, and through those, he saw an unserved need: Writers, even those with well-crafted manuscripts, often couldn't get published by traditional publishing firms. And vanity presses didn't offer much more than a printing job.

Adams envisioned an in-between -- "as much professional expertise as you need and as much control as you want." And Beaver's Pond was born.

"It's clear Beaver's Pond has worked really hard to help authors publish in a professional way," said Susan Walker, executive director of the Midwest Booksellers Association, "which is important if they're going to sell their books from a bookstore's shelves or from their own.

"Self-publishing can be anything from someone 'publishing' from their garage to making a well-written, good-looking book. My impression is that they're on the high end of that scale."

While "a vanity press has never seen a bad manuscript," Beaver's Pond only accepts one of every nine inquiries it gets, said Joe Moses, the company's executive editor and vice president.

Many Beaver's Pond authors publish repeatedly with the press. Some win regional awards. Some are first-time authors who come in without a manuscript but with an idea.

A feeling of control

Bob Showers came to Beaver's Pond with a collage on a big piece of poster board. In early 2006, the Bloomington resident decided to make his idea -- a big, beautiful book chronicling the history of the Minnesota North Star's hockey team -- a reality.

He researched about 50 local publishers, narrowed them to a handful and made some calls. Immediately upon meeting Adams and the Beaver's Pond staff, Showers knew he would be in good hands. But before signing on, he waited to hear from three more traditional publishing firms.

Within a week, he got his response: "Three brief, cold rejection letters, one that said, basically, 'We don't think this book will sell.'"

But it has. "Minnesota North Stars, History and Memories with Lou Nanne" debuted in October, and within a week, all 10,000 copies were gone. The book is now in its third printing.

Showers is pleased with, if not surprised, at the book's success. But he's more excited about the book itself.

"One of the things I had always feared, being naive about this, is that a publishing company would like the idea, agree to do the book, and I'd lose all control," he said.

In contrast, Showers influenced each step -- even design. The book's pages have the feel of the team's old media guides, just as he imagined, and the cover "has that Minnesota North Stars brand."

Throughout his more than 18 months working with Beaver's Pond, Showers kept in constant contact with Adams.

"I was new at this and would starting thinking about and worrying about things six, eight months down the road," Showers said. "Milt was good at counseling me in those moments. He made sure I stayed focused on what I had to do today and tomorrow."

'What I was meant to do'

Adams speaks so freely about his love for the business that he's often concerned about sounding corny, cheesy or sentimental. He often warns those listening that he's aware of it.

"It'll sound corny," Adams said about Showers, "but it was his dream that guided everything."

Or about his love for the job: "If someone took care of the mortgage and my car payments, I'd do it for free. No, I really would."

Or about his legacy: "I know how this sounds," Adams said, "but I know that Beaver's Pond is my purpose in life. It is what I was meant to do."

About two years ago, Adams decided to expand the company's staff and focus. Now, Beaver's Pond Group oversees four imprints with different focuses -- Beaver's Pond Press, Classroom Publishing, Adams Business and Professional and BookHouse Fulfillment.

Behind the expansion is Adams' hope that Beaver's Pond will live on long after he is gone.

"People have these fancy tombstones so people remember them," he said. "I don't need a tombstone. I have all these books."

Showers is pleased with, if not surprised, at the book's success. But he's more excited about the book itself.

"One of the things I had always feared, being naive about this, is that a publishing company would like the idea, agree to do the book, and I'd lose all control," he said.

In contrast, Showers influenced each step -- even design. The book's pages have the feel of the team's old media guides, just as he imagined, and the cover "has that Minnesota North Stars brand."

Throughout his more than 18 months working with Beaver's Pond, Showers kept in constant contact with Adams.

"I was new at this and would starting thinking about and worrying about things six, eight months down the road," Showers said. "Milt was good at counseling me in those moments. He made sure I stayed focused on what I had to do today and tomorrow."

'What I was meant to do'

Adams speaks so freely about his love for the business that he's often concerned about sounding corny, cheesy or sentimental. He often warns those listening that he's aware of it.

"It'll sound corny," Adams said about Showers, "but it was his dream that guided everything."

Or about his love for the job: "If someone took care of the mortgage and my car payments, I'd do it for free. No, I really would."

Or about his legacy: "I know how this sounds," Adams said, "but I know that Beaver's Pond is my purpose in life. It is what I was meant to do."

About two years ago, Adams decided to expand the company's staff and focus. Now, Beaver's Pond Group oversees four imprints with different focuses -- Beaver's Pond Press, Classroom Publishing, Adams Business and Professional and BookHouse Fulfillment.

Behind the expansion is Adams' hope that Beaver's Pond will live on long after he is gone.

"People have these fancy tombstones so people remember them," he said. "I don't need a tombstone. I have all these books."

Jenna Ross • 612-673-7168

from www.startribune.com

Self-Publish Your Bestseller With Print-on-Demand Technology In Time for Christmas

2007-12-16T18:29:00.000-08:00

Venice, FL (OPENPRESS) November 27, 2007 -- The latest edition of ”Print-on-Demand Publishers Directory 2008” and “Print-on-Demand Printers Directory 2008”, released by 21st Century Research, assists unpublished and self-publishing authors to get their books into print quickly at reasonable cost.

Traditional publishers reject up to 98% of all the manuscripts submitted to them. Considering the fact that about 81% of Americans believe they have “a book in them” that suggests a very large number of frustrated writers looking in vain for a publisher. Worldwide it goes into tens or hundreds of millions.

Thanks to the latest developments in digital printing new authors can publish quickly using inexpensive print-on-demand (POD) technology. Our “Print-on-Demand Publishers Directory 2008” helps them to compare and select a POD service best suited to their needs.

In recent years numerous POD services have come into being offering their services to new authors. 21st Century Research compiles a directory of over 75 POD services mostly located in USA but also in Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, England, Scotland and Wales.

Entries in the directory include full addresses, telephones, faxes, and web sites. It also includes information on contracts, distribution, royalties, prices and other submission details. Street addresses are important particularly when authors are not satified with the service and want to take action.

Authors can use this directory to compare and select one or more POD services. They can choose non-exclusive contracts, keep all TV, film and audio rights, and negotiate royalty and book price levels. Unpublished authors can forget the agents and once published their book will never be out of print as long as it remains in a POD database.

The companion “Print-on-Demand Printers Directory 2008" is designed for self-publishing authors who can design their own books in print-ready format. As publishers they can deal directly with book printers who operade digital presses and provide POD printing services. Most offer an excellent Request for Quote(RFQ) form online for pricing a book depending on number of page, type of paper, binding, book size, color and cover design. A series of “Top 100” editorial E-mail lists for daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, senior and veteran publications and Radio and TV shows are also available to authors who want to control their own book promotion and marketing. More details are available at our blog: http://book-publicity.blogspot.com

The directories are available at a price of $ 10.00 each($13.00 outside USA) with free handling and shipping by first class airmail. Use your credit card with PayPal. Checks or money orders should be made payable to:

21st Century Research
POD Document
462 Lake of the Woods Drive
Venice, Florida, 34293-4144, USA

About 21st Century Research:
This is a market research firm established in 1974 which specializes in high technology market development within various industries on an international basis. Bohdan O. Szuprowicz, President, is a published author of several books and hundreds of articles in over 20 countries of the world. He is also an active member of Sarasota Fiction Writers Club, Sarasota Authors Connection and Sarasota Writers Forum as well as a member of the Schiehallion Club of Kinloch Rannoch.

Contact:

Bohdan O. Szuprowicz
21st Century Research
Tel: 941-496-7782
E-mail: maska5@comcast.net
Web: http://book-publicity.blogspot.com/

from www.theopenpress.com

Why Self-Publish? -- Tips

2007-11-26T23:46:00.001-08:00

by Katrina Williams

You have written a book. Now you want to publish it. Which way do you go? Self-Publishing or Traditional Publishing? For most people, the traditional method seems safer, more reliable, and simply, easier. But it can take a long time to see their labored-over work in print.

For many people, that dreaded rejection letter, saying their work is not something the publisher can market successfully at this time, leaves them feeling disillusioned. That’s when other means of getting the book into print comes to mind.

Self-Publish. It makes sense for the writer who has the money, the time to devote to promotion, and the desire to be his or her own boss. There are basic steps that will allow you to be successful at self-publishing your own book.

Write

Before you write your story, make sure there is a market for it. This can be very hard for some writers to comprehend because they may believe the story they have written is one that everyone will want to read. If you determine the market for your book before you write it, you can save yourself a lot of aggravation in the long run. Finding that you spent two years writing a book that no one wants to read can be a hard pill to swallow.

Research

Once your story is written and you have determined there is a market for it, research the publishing industry. Learn the ins and outs before jumping in feet first and sinking quickly. You will avoid many pitfalls that new writers make when self-publishing their own books.

Find Funding

Find funding for self-publishing your book. If you have the capital yourself, great. If not, consider other sources that would help you raise the capital for self-publishing your own book.

Get the Book Reviewed

Before your book is set to go to the printer, send out copies of the manuscript to magazines and online book sites that review books. You want to send press releases also to let the world know your book is coming on the market.

Design the Book

Once you have the funding, decide on the design of the book and locate a printing company to print your book. Print-On-Demand companies and subsidy publishing companies are good places to start. Each type has its own advantages, so check out both types of printing companies before deciding on one to produce your book.

Develop a Marketing Strategy

Now that the book is printed, the real work begins: promoting and marketing your book. Design a publicity campaign and an advertising campaign for the book. You should have a marketing strategy in place to sell those millions of books you have always dreamed of selling.

Research Distribution Methods

Explore the various methods for distributing your books. Contact bookstore chains, individual bookstores, and online bookstores for stocking your book. Bookstores are not the only places to sell your book. Research distribution channels such as wholesalers, libraries, and direct mail order. Consider non-traditional methods and places to get your book in the hands of readers. Be inventive. Creative.

Promote Your Book

Now promote, promote, promote your book. If you have found a niche that is perfect for your book, and you promote the book like crazy, you will have achieved that ultimate goal of selling millions of copies of your book.

Ready for the next one?

from www.todays-woman.net

Tips and Tricks to Self-Publish Your Book

2007-11-26T23:46:00.000-08:00

by Patrick Schwerdtfeger

Becoming an author happens once in a lifetime. As soon as you publish your first book, you forever more become an author. And regardless how many additional books you write, that label never changes. The interesting thing is that you get the same designation whether you had your book published by one of the industry giants like Penguin or Random House, or if you self-published it. And since the process of self-publishing is a lot easier than getting one of the industry giants to accept your book proposal, I suggest doing your first one yourself.

One of the tricks to this process is to register a fictitious business name that sounds like a publishing company and then using that name as the copyright holder for your book. Your still publishing your own book but it looks like you used a real publishing company, adding credibility to the finished product. I would think of a regal-sounding name and use that. The exercise will cost you about $50 but it will add tremendously to the final piece.

There actually are thousands of smaller independent publishing companies and no one in the world knows them all. The reason for saying that is that your fictitious business name doesn’t need to be a recognized name like Penguin or McGraw Hill. It can be a different name that nobody has ever heard of before. The important thing is that the book appears to have been published by a legitimate publishing company and they own the copyright.

The obvious advantage of self-publishing your own book is that nobody has to approve the effort. With any other publishing house, you have to send in a proposal and have someone else say yes or no. With self-publishing, you have complete discretion of your own work. The downside is that you may end up publishing a poorly written or poorly edited piece. But the upside is that nobody can say no to you.

You’ll also make more money on each individual book when you self-publish. If you use a traditional publisher, you might only make a dollar or less on each book sold. The rest goes to the various contributors to the process, the actual printing costs and retail distribution. With self-publishing, the only contributor is you and you end up with a much larger share of the sale price as a result.

It’s worth noting that the majority of books being published today are self-published. It’s also worth noting most of these books sell fewer than 30 copies each. Thankfully, printing technology has taken some huge leaps forward in recent years and you can order your books one at a time, making the upfront costs of an initial print run a thing of the past. Nevertheless, you’ll benefit far more if you sell a lot of copies.

Of course, the marketing of your book is your own responsibility and Tactical Execution provides a lot of implementation solutions that can help you get the word out and generate interest. Solutions range from offline strategies like workshops and press releases to online strategies like article marketing and social bookmarking. Visit the website to access all the free resources available there.

from www.articlealley.com

How to Self-Publish Easier, Faster Than Ever Before

2007-11-07T18:07:00.000-08:00

by Erma Brown

Compare PODs Then Choose Wisely!

Technology has advanced in the publishing world. I love it! I have been greatly helped to realize my publishing dreams. I think it’s wonderful that aspiring authors have a greater range of choice. Now you may choose to pursue traditional publishing or quantum leap into self-publishing. Perhaps some would never have the opportunity to see their work in professional print without the arrival of publish on demand or POD Publishing. Print-on-demand means exactly what it implies: the company print books as they are ordered. They use modern technology to store and print your book in electronic form, removing the need for a warehouse and large print runs.

In my opinion, POD publishing does not take the place of its proud elder brother “Traditional Publishing.” As with anything, there are pros and cons of each method. With that said, I won’t attempt to convince you whether POD publishing is a good choice for you. There are lots of good reports out there on that subject.

Back in 2002 when I chose to self-publish my first book, I compiled a report comparing the top 3 companies. It helped me make my decision. I have revised that report for you and offer it fr~ee at the end of this article. If you have decided to publish POD, here are five of those ten top things to consider and compare.

1. Cover? Covers sell books! Of course it’s not the only selling aspect of your book but it is one of the most important. One shot at a good first impression to capture the interest of your potential reader is all you get.

Author’s Note: Look at their covers in on-line bookstores – back in 2002 I liked what several companies offered but their existing author book covers looked like crayon drawings. Most companies have since improved but I still think it’s one of the main points to consider. You are looking for bookstore quality or trade quality.

2. Contract? – Most Publish-On-Demand or print when ordered companies are not considered publishing houses but publishing service companies. Therefore, you should expect a non-exclusive contract period.

3. Setup Fee? If you are like most self-publishers you are budget conscious of the initial setup fee of your book. The basic package of the 4 leading companies I researched average about $500. For my first self-published project, I let the other options determine my decision more since my 3 contenders’ basic package was about the same.

4. Distribution? – Make sure they list their books in the leading wholesaler database as a part of the package or at least have an add-on option to list in & distribute through the two leading book wholesalers in the United States: Ingram and Baker & Taylor.

5. Royalty payments? – You may be wondering like an author friend of mine asked, “Shouldn’t royalty be the first thing I should ask about?” Not necessarily, the traditional publishing company industry standard is 5-8% quarterly or bi-annually. The industry average for POD companies is about 15-20% at the time of this writing. Even so, tt’s good to know when to expect your royalty and how much. Most pay quarterly or monthly.

6. Book Price? Find out if they are pricing their books at a competitive market price. It will probably hurt your sales if your book is priced too high above its competitors.

7. Author Support? Know what kind of support the company you contract with will provide. One on One support, representative assigned, phone support, email support are among the options. Find out so you can know what to expect. Make sure you are comfortable with what they propose to provide if you have any problems in the publishing process.

8. Proof Ready? Although most POD companies provide proof way ahead of traditional publishing standard of 1-2 years, its still good to know.

9. Books Returnable & Discounted to Bookstores? Do you plan to sell many books in the bookstore? Books aren’t automatically stocked on the precious shelves of bookstores, you know. You should know upfront, if you publish POD publishing more than likely your books are unreturnable.

Author’s Note: Though that is rapidly changing – there are still lots of companies that still go by this policy in their contract. Why is this important? Bookstores expect full trade discount and anticipate buying books on a returnable basis. This includes museums, gift shops, libraries, schools, etc.

10. Author Purchase Discount? This is important for your marketing campaign. Yes, you do have to market your book. With any self-publishing project, all marketing is considered your responsibility. Even with the econimies of traditional publishers you only get a portion of your publiscist attention (may be assigned to 10-100 authors) for about 30-90 days.

Author’s Note: Let’s assume you are an excited author that just finished your book-your labor of love, decided to self-publish, saved $2500 but feel daunted about all the things you have to learn about to self-publish. Things you must do like hire a cover designer, book editor, someone to professionally layout your book, hire printer, purchse barcodes & isbn number, etc. We haven’t even gotten to the work of marketing. Why not consider a POD publisher who handles all of those stages and steps for you? You are only left with investing in your book at the lowest price possible to re-sell to your readers at whatever price the market will bear.

I hope these thoughts are helpful to you. It helped me make an informed choice when I knew nothing about the industry of publishing. Here’sto the success of your book publishing dreams!

Earma Brown, 11 year author, business owner, web developer ebk: Self Publish Your Book Now helps service business owners, professionals and writers who want to write and publish their best book now! Visit her at Self Publishing Help for more book writing and publishing tips.

from http://www.ezinearticles.com/

How to Self Publish a Book, 10 Little Known Money Secrets

2007-11-07T18:02:00.000-08:00

by Bob Burnham

Self publishing tasks and marketing tools can quickly add up, costing you more money than you originally planned. Here are ten tips to save money self publishing your book.Hire a student or a virtual assistant to edit and format your book. Professional editors cost a lot of money but they play a vital role in the process of making your book great. College students and stay at home parents can be a significant resource if you are on a budget.Even better, ask a detailed family member or friend to go through your book word by word for errors. A second or third pair of eyes is always good book writing business.
Hire a student to design your book’s cover or contribute to the graphics inside. You can also hire students to design your website – you will be amazed what they can do!E-publish your book for the most cost effective means of production and delivery.

If you absolutely must print, print your book in small quantities to keep your inventory low. You will save money on printing and storage.

Typeset your book yourself. Printers will charge you hundreds of dollars to typeset your book, why pay that money when you can do it yourself? Simply ask them what format it needs to be delivered in, example PDF, and then create the typeset copy.

Keep your book fulfillment in-house, do it yourself. You will save money in shipping costs and postage and you will make sure that people receive undamaged copies of your books!

Book promotion can be expensive. Cut costs by partnering with other relevant websites to promote your book in exchange for promoting theirs. This kind of trade works well for books that compliment each other. For example a book about how to raise healthy children might partner well with a recipe book for child friendly foods.

Use free online promotion tools like email, article posting, and press release distribution.

Take advantage of open source software products to create your book. Online you can find free software products that range from word processing programs to programs that will capture images or photos on your computer. Open source software can save you literally thousands of dollars in book production expenses.

Bob Burnham, Entrepreneur, Consultant and Author of “101 Reasons Why You Must Write A Book”.

from www.positivearticles.com

Five Things Your POD Subsidy Publisher Won’t Tell You

2007-11-07T17:58:00.000-08:00

by Fern Reiss
CEO
PublishingGame.com/Expertizing.com

There are several good reasons to consider POD/subsidy publishers. But there are also many reasons why they’re not the most appropriate choice for most book projects. Below are five things your POD subsidy publisher probably won’t tell you. (For more information on your other options, see the article on subsidy/POD publishing at http://www.publishinggame.com/art_pod.htm as well as the dozens of other articles on the www.PublishingGame.com website, and sign up for the (free) Expertizing email newsletter at http://www.PublishingGame.com/signup.htm)

So what won’t your POD subsidy publisher tell you?

Nobody reviews our subsidy books. The trade press, such as Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist, won’t generally review POD/subsidy books, whereas they will review self-published books. Your book, unfortunately, is unlikely to be the exception to this rule.

Bookstores don’t carry subsidy books. Partly because your book won’t receive a review (see point one—trade press reviews are how most bookstores make their buying decisions), partly because of the high price point, and partly because most POD subsidy houses don’t allow returns, most bookstores aren’t interested in stocking POD subsidy books. (Although the POD subsidy companies claim that books will be available to bookstores, being available ‘to’ bookstores is different from being available ‘in’ bookstores.)

Your book won’t look great. Almost everyone in the publishing industry can spot a POD subsidy book a mile away—and will run in the opposite direction. Your cover, interior design, and editing are all likely to suffer. (Ironically, since most of the POD subsidy houses use Ingram’s Lighting Source as their backend printer, your print job is the one thing that won’t suffer.)

Since we own the ISBN, we control the book. ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number, and all books have ISBNs. Some POD subsidy houses will now let you own your own book’s ISBN. But if they don’t—you don’t really control your own book. They do.

You’ll pay through the nose. To self-publish a 200-page softcover book might cost about $2 a copy. To POD subsidy publish the exact same book will cost between $5 and $15 per copy.

So if you’re thinking of publishing your family genealogy, or a church or synagogue cookbook, POD subsidy might well be the right decision. But if you’re writing a book which you hope will have widespread distribution into bookstores, stay away from POD subsidy. And tell your friends.

Fern Reiss is the author of The Publishing Game: Bestseller in 30 Days (book marketing), The Publishing Game: Find an Agent in 30 Days (finding a literary agent), and The Publishing Game: Publish a Book in 30 Days (self-publishing).

from www.publishinggame.com

How to Self Publish a Book In 30 Days

2007-11-07T17:55:00.000-08:00

by Bob Burnham

Whew, your book is written and it’s time to bring your masterpiece to market. Here’s a quick 30 day plan to get it done:

Week One:
This is a week of decisions. If you haven’t chosen a title and subtitle for your book, do so today! Once that’s accomplished you will need to write your sales copy for the back of your book and if you plan on marketing it yourself online, you’ll want a sales page. This is the week to also determine how much you want to charge for your book and determine how much money you want to spend on marketing and promotion, distribution, and printing. If you don’t already have an accounting software package, consider getting one or hire an accountant. Lastly, you’ll want to consider whether or not you want to hire an editor to go over the book one last time before you have it printed or release it to the public.

Week Two:
More decisions! Today you get to choose the name of your company. If you are planning on having a website, I suggest that you do, then you’ll also want to reserve a domain name. Once that is accomplished, you’ll need to establish your company legally. Are you an llc, corporation, sole proprietor? Determine your business structure and register it with the proper authorities.

Fun stuff happens this week too. You get to register for your book’s ISBN number. (Visit ISBN.org). The last task of the week is to determine how you’re going to sell your book. You not only have to decide on whether you want a print version, electronic version or both you need to decide where you want to make your book available. These decisions are important because it will help you with the next few weeks of planning.

Week Three:
Websites are an absolute must have for sales, promotion, and general information about you and your company. Many people use the internet to search for information, to research purchases, and to make purchases. If you don’t have a website, you’ll miss out on thousands of potential customers.

Week three is also the time to design your book’s cover and inside layout. You may want to consider hiring an expert for this step unless you have a talent in design and graphic arts.

Week Four:
Finalize your manuscript. Make sure that it is as ready as it can be and then send it to reviewers, experts in your industry, and relevant periodicals. Your last two tasks are to find a printer, if you plan on printing it, and to decide how you want to get your sold books to your customers. You need a distribution plan.

Week Five:
You’re almost published! This week is a week of final decisions and steps. This week you need to list your book with book catalogs (a distributor can help you with this step). If you are selling your book online, you will also need to purchase shopping cart software or determine how your customers are going to order your book and pay for it. Lastly, you will need to establish a marketing plan.

Bob Burnham, Entrepreneur, Consultant and Author of:

‘101 Reasons Why You Must Write A Book’
‘How To Make A 6 Figure Income Writing & Publishing Your Own Book’

‘Go To: Publish a Book’

from www.writesearch.com

Should You Self-Publish Your Book or Not? - A Crash Course in Print on Demand (POD)

2007-11-07T17:50:00.000-08:00

by Anthony Coe

When people think about self-publishing, also know as “vanity publishing”, they think of scams where you send in your short story to a publisher and they sell you a thousand copies and send you on your way as a “published author”. They think about the wannabe author who just couldn’t get their manuscript accepted by a publisher. The truth of the matter is that it takes more work to be a self-published author. You will have to do everything yourself. The phrase “Vanity Publishing” doesn’t apply.

If you are up to the challenge rest assured you will be in good company. Some famous self-published authors include; Richard Nixon “Real Peace” and John Grisham “A Time to Kill”, others include, Mark Twain, Virginia Woolf, E.E. Cummings, William Blake, Edgar Allen Poe, Benjamin Franklin and Walt Whitman just to name a few. John Grisham sold his first book out of the trunk of his car.

The advancements in business and home computing and DSL, T3 connections and High Speed Cable many main stream distributors are now opting for Print on Demand (POD) books as a way of cutting cost associated with printing. POD has eliminated the need for self-published authors to buy up a thousand copies of their own book up front. Books are printed as they are ordered and shipped directly to the customer.

Here is how a traditional publisher works. The publisher has a set budget for each year which translates into how many books they will publish each year and more importantly, how many new authors they will accept. If a publisher has room in their budget for six books next year and are under contract with four established authors who will deliver one completed manuscript each, then they can only accept two new authors. So if five thousand manuscripts cross their desk they will only choose two. So this means that 4,998 authors will not get published by this publisher. So they all dust off their manuscripts and ship them off to the next publisher. Now most major publishers only accept manuscripts by invitation or from established literary agents. The Catch-22 is that to get an established agent you usually need to be published and have a book deal. Here is a tip; established agents, nor their assistants, post ads on Craig’s List. Trust me on this one.

So why go the self-publishing route? That is something you have to answer for yourself. But one good reason is that you want total control over your work from start to finish. Another reason is that you are a glutton for punishment. Once you write your book the real work begins. In this article I’m going walk you through the self-publishing process step by step. I can’t cover everything in this article, but I’ll cover the basics.

Step One
You may think the first thing is to find a publisher, well you would be wrong. You don’t even have a book yet, how can you get a publisher? First you have to think about what it is you want to write about. Are you writing a self-help book? Maybe you are writing a romance novel? Whatever you write you will have to start writing now. For a full length novel you are going to have to give yourself at east three months to complete your novel. I know … I know, you can write a novel in a week. Even if that were true, you still need to edit it, rewrite it, reedit it and rewrite it again. After you’ve done that you will need someone with excellent editing skills to go over it for you. I mean someone really annoying that will be ruthless and rip your master piece apart. Someone you will grow to hate.

If you don’t know anyone like this, it’s time to go to Craig’s List. You can find someone there who can edit your manuscript. Yes, you will have to pay them. You are not looking for someone to critique your work or rewrite it. You don’t want someone who loves to read. You want that English teacher you had in tenth grade that tore apart every essay you turned in. Then you will rewrite it again. If you are doing a self-help or how-to book you will also need time to do research.

You will also need a computer. You don’t need a Mac, unless you really want one. You will also need either DSL or High Speed Cable connection. Please promise me that you will not hang out at Starbucks with your laptop banging out your novel. You will need a copy of Microsoft Word®. You should also get a good quality graphics program such as Photoshop, Corel Draw or Paint Shop Pro.

Step Two
Now you are ready to find a POD publisher. There are several types of self-publishers out there. Some have you go through a submission process, which you will always pass. They will publish your book for a fee which ranges from $750.00 to as much as $6,000.00. They will take your book to book trade shows and shop it around to distributors and wholesalers. So you do get some value for your money. But I’ll show you how to do that for far less money later on.A POD (Print on Demand) publisher will usually charge you nothing for publishing your book. Remember they aren’t out any money until you sell a book. They will take a percentage of each book you sell. Because they have less cost and take a smaller risk, they also take a smaller percentage then do traditional publishers.

I found several POD publishers such as Virtual Book Worm Publishing, Wing Span Press, Author House and Xlibris just to name a few. After doing some research I went with Lulu.com. I chose Lulu’s because it cost me nothing to publish my book and worldwide distribution of my book including an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) cost me $99.95. Now you can go to ISBN.org and get your own ISBN assigned to your book in lots of ten or more, starting at $249.00. But then you will have to find and contract with multiple POD distributors.

You will have to do the research for yourself and determine which POD publisher works best for you. Some charge more, but they also do more of the work for you. Some packages include a book representative that will shop your book to book buyers for you, while others will just sell you a thousand copies of your own book.

For the purposes of this article I’m going to assume you are going with Lulu. The process will be the same for all POD publishers, with some small differences, but the basic process will be the same.

Step Three
Now that you have signed up with a POD publisher you need to upload your manuscript. But before you do that you will need to resize your page layout to a format that can be distributed. I choose to publish my novel in paperback perfect bond. This means for Lulu I had to resize my manuscript to a 6 x 9 format with ½ inch margins and ½ inch gutter.

Next I will have to create a book cover, unless I want to use Lulu’s cover gallery (at no additional charge). If you are going to distribute your book, you will want your own custom book cover. You can buy an eBook cover generator, but that will not work for what you need here. Those are good to create a 3-D book cover later for marketing purposes. You can go to Craig’s List again and hire a graphic designer if you can’t put a cover together for yourself. Sometimes the best cover is a simple cover. You can also go to a college and get a graphic design student to whip one up for cheap.

Now you are ready to upload your manuscript. Lulu suggests that you convert to .pdf (Portable Document Format - Adobe®) before uploading. I’ve found that it’s easier to upload the manuscript in Word format and let Lulu convert it for you, free of charge. Some charge you for this service. You can also go online to Adobe.com and convert it there for free. So there is no need to go out and buy the conversion program.

Once your manuscript has been uploaded and converted and your cover (front and back) and your price are set you are ready to rock and roll. Not so fast. You need to order a copy of your book and proof read it again. You have to see what it looks like in the printed format. Make sure you don’t release the book for sell as of yet. You want it available only to you at this point.

Once you get your book, read it for mistakes and also for over all looks and readability. You may have to reformat your book so it’s easier to read. One thing I do is to have all of my chapters start on an odd page number. Remember to compare your book to the distribution standards. It makes no sense do all of this work to have your book rejected by the distributor because it doesn’t meet their standards. If you make any corrections you will need to reorder your book to reproof it. I know this sound like a long process, but this is the same process you will go through with a traditional publisher.

Step Four
Once your book has past the test, it’s now time to send it out for reviews. I’m going to warn you now that you may have to pay for a review. Reviewers get thousands of books a year for review. So if you want a review you will need to pay for their time. You are not paying for the review itself. You of course will have reprint rights. If your book is horrible you will get a review that says that. Another thing you might want to do is offer your book to book clubs and have them review it for you. Reviews are optional; you don’t always need a review. The truth is most books are released and do very well and are never reviewed. I didn’t have my book reviewed. But if you want to include a review on the cover or inside of your book, now is the time to have it done.

Now you are ready to choose your distribution package, which includes an ISBN and worldwide distribution. Lulu has two options. One is where Lulu is the publisher of record. The other is where you are the publisher of record. It works best if you go with the option where Lulu is the publisher of record. Unless your name is recognizable marketing will be a lot easier. Most online bookstores will only do business with publishers they know. Lulu is very well known so there is no problem with marketing. Most of the ones I mentioned above are also very well known so that’s another thing to consider in choosing a POD publisher.

It will take up to two weeks for the distributor to approve your book and then it will take another two to six weeks for Amazon.com and Barnes & Nobles.com to pick your book up. Now you just have to wait. While you are waiting Go to Bookfinder4u.com and register your book.

Step Five
Create a webpage while you are waiting for Amazon to pick up your book. You can get a domain name for as little as ten dollars a year and a web space for as little as $99.00 a year. Most sites have website designers built in to help you create your page if you have no design skills. Or you can hit Craig’s List again and hire someone to create a page for you. I suggest doing it yourself. Otherwise you will have to pay someone to maintain the site for you. You will have to do this even if you went with a large publisher, so this isn’t an added expense of being a self-published author.

While you are waiting you are able to sell your book online through Lulu’s. So now is the time to Google all eBook and book directories and start listing your eBook with them. Also go to search engines and start adding the direct link on Lulu’s to your book. Lulu also gives you a book store at no extra charge that you can customize and use to market your book. Use it for the directories that require a return link to their site.

You also want to start designing a media kit. Lulu has samples you can use. Or you can hire a publicist starting at $6,000.00. Contact Lulu’s customer service department online and find out who your distributor is. They will have to research it for you and it will take a few days for them to get back to you. But they will get back to you. You will need this information if you want your book carried in major book stores. Book stores buy their books from your distributors and not you. So that cuts down on your out of pocket expenses and the book store is working with a distributor they trust. My book is distributed through Ingram Books.

Step Six
Once your book is on Amazon.com it’s time to start sending out press releases to local book stores, and to take out an ad in your local news paper. You will also want to enhance your Amazon listing to include a bio and book cover. Also join the Amazon Connect. It’s a free service that allows you to communicate with your customers. Also select the option on Amazon.com to have your book converted into an eBook format.

Lulu has an option to convert your book to eBook format also. Use both sites to increase sales of your book. You will have to upload another copy of your book to Lulu to sell it in an eBook format. Amazon will send you a link in a few days which will allow you to create an eBook in PDA and Smart Phone format and allow you to upload it to most of the major online book stores that only deal with established publishers and authors.

Also go to Google.com and go to Google Books and add your book to Google Books. Make sure people are able to review and do an advance search which uses words from the actual text in your book to match up with potential customer search requests. I would also consider allowing Google to license your book to be read online by customers. Set your price low to get those customers who may be on the fence as to weather or not to buy your book. For a fee they can read your book online. You decide how much your book is licensed for and if they can print out all or part or none of your book.

Remember every penny counts. I have a friend who is always telling me, that if you sell a million of anything and only make one dollar, soon you will be a millionaire.

Step Seven
Now the fun part begins. You have to promote your book every chance you get. The more you promote the more you will sell. You will have to promote your book even through a traditional publisher. Most publishers do little to no work in promoting you or your book. Lulu has services that will help you promote your book. They will even represent your book at international book fairs. The most expensive package I’ve seen was for $275.00. Check BookFinder4U.com often to see who is carrying your book. You can use that when you are marketing your book to tell customers where they can find your book. Because you have an ISBN assigned to your book and a major distributor and book store can order your book for your customers. It’s a good idea to keep extra books on hand to send out to book stores you want to carry your book.

Conclusion
Self-publishing is hard work. There is nothing vain about it. The reward is that you will keep more of the profits for yourself and you have total control over your book. If you think self-publishing is for writers with no talent go back to the beginning of this article and I dare you to find any credible person to discredit anyone on that list. So the question is not are you lucky enough to get picked up by a publisher, but do you have what it takes to believe in your talents and self-publish your own book?

Remember: For those who risk nothing, nothing is gained. For those who risk everything they stand to gain the world and beyond.

The name of my Book is Amazing Grace ISBN-10: 1-4303-1748-5; ISBN-13: 978-1-4303-1748-7. (Published under my pen name, which is my middle name, Jerome-Paul). My website is http://www.jerome-paul.com/ and http://www.lulu.com/jeromepaul. See my blog page at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1RD85ZT69PF0I.

My book isn’t on Google as of the date I published this article, but you can go to http://books.google.com/ and enter my ISBN or the title of my book and you can see the book there. Or search for your favorite book and author. I also have my media kit uploaded on my website. Feel free to use it and modify it to fit your needs.

Well there you have it, a crash course in self-publishing. There is a lot more to it, but this article will give you an over view of what to expect. Realistically after you have a manuscript it takes about three months for your book to work its way completely through the distribution network, but you will start promoting from the day your ISBN is assigned. Good luck and I hope this article has helped you in some way.

Anthony Coe is the Vice-President of the Missing Children Investigation Agency (MCIA) and a published author, under the pen name Jerome-Paul. His newest release “Amazing Grace” can be found online at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and your local book retailer.

from http://www.associatedcontent.com/

First Time Self-Publishers: Find a Mentor

2007-11-06T20:22:00.000-08:00

by Sid Smith

I wish I’d had a mentor when I was going through the process of self-publishing my book. I was, to put it mildly, clueless. There is so much to know, and so little reliable information that it’s a wonder I even got my book published.

When I say that the information that’s out there is unreliable, what I mean is that the world of publishing is a world with multiple realities. Everything is true - and everything is an exaggeration. It sometimes seems as if there is no middle ground in the muddle that has become publishing, and in particular, Self Publishing.

Everyone - and I mean everyone - has an opinion.

“Self publishing your book is a waste of time and energy.”
“Literary agents are all sharks.”
“I wouldn’t even consider publishing without an agent on my side.”
“Publishers only want your money and won’t pay you what you’re worth.”
“I’ve been a best seller as a self-publisher, and I can’t imagine going the traditional publishing route.”

Want an opinion? Just ask the question, “What are your thoughts about self publishing?” You’ll often get as many different opinions are there are people to ask.

However, one point many people can agree on is the value of having a mentor. A mentor is someone who’s been successful at whatever it is you’re attempting to do. If you’re going to parachute out of a plane for the first time, you hire someone to teach you the basics. This is your mentor. Business people often have mentors - a senior advisor who’s been there and is experienced enough to know what works and what doesn’t work.

Choosing your mentor can be a great experience in itself. You’ll want to ensure that you mesh with the personality of your mentor. If he’s adamant about working 20 hour days and you’re more inclined to sit and watch the sunset every evening, your relationship may not work out.

More importantly for a writer and self-publisher, you’ll want a mentor who has successfully self-published a book. That is, he or she has published AND sold enough copies to be considered a best selling author. There is no one perfect trick to selling books, and everyone’s experience will be unique. But your mentor can offer suggestions and hints that can keep you from spending too much time or money in the wrong places.

For example, on your own you might think that it’s a good idea to print and mail 10,000 post cards to every person in your local phone book. Your mentor (if she knows her stuff) might suggest that you spend a little more time targeting your audience to get a better response and save a little money.

Unfortunately, mentoring is not encouraged or taught in school. Few people understand how to do it well. A good mentor won’t tell you what to do because you will almost always get different results by doing the same things as your mentor. Instead, your mentor is a guide, offering suggestions, and mostly asking questions so that you can arrive at your own conclusions based on his guidance.

Also, don’t be afraid to aim high. Go ahead and ask that highly successful author you met at the last writing conference you attended. The worse thing that could happen is that she’d say no. You may find, though, that she’s more than willing to help out another aspiring writer.

It never hurts to ask, but it does hurt to remain in the dark. You can bump into all kinds of mean, nasty, and ugly things that will do more than make you say, “Ouch!”

So, go ahead. Find yourself a good mentor. And good luck with your book.

from http://www.writeandpublishyourbook.com/

Marketing Your Self-Published Book

2007-11-06T20:20:00.000-08:00

An interesting article by JC Derrick about how to market your self-published book:

That is why self publishing, also commonly called Printing on Demand, and hereafter POD, is becoming more and more popular. No longer are the days when sheets have to be made and molded for every page of your book. Digital printing has revolutionized the industry and more and more folks are taking advantage of it. Furthermore the initial costs are only the printing costs themselves. And since you can order a single book at a time, you have no minimum order. In the old days you had to order, on average, 2000-3000 books at the first printing. Talk about big costs!!

The real benefit of self publishing however is the control of your product, and how much you’ll make from it. Beyond printing costs you may have no additional fees and if you get in with the right printer, you’re job might be done. Many printers make deal with Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble, etc to have your book listed there. It’s a great way to get exposure. Of course, your topic still makes all the difference in the world.

But the biggest part of self publishing is the “name game.” When you have a publishing house they make it their job to promote and sell your book. That’s why you make so little from it. When you self publish, that’s your job… you are the marketing director and salesman. This is where the real “fun” begins.

Read the whole article at blogs.pro-networks.org

Self-Publishing vs Traditional Publishers

2007-11-06T20:18:00.000-08:00

An article by Fred Gratzon about the pros and cons of self-publishing:

I am frequently asked about the advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing. Even though I am far from being an expert, that doesn’t stop me from shooting off my mouth.

After writing the first draft of my book, I called a friend in New York City who was a high-profile literary agent. I energetically explained my book and then asked for her opinion. I knew my book wasn’t her cup of tea; I was just getting some direction. She launched into a description of the New York publishing scene that curled my toenails.

She said that since I was a first-time-unknown author, my chances of landing with a major
New York publishing house without an agent were anorexic at best. I was told most big time publishers wouldn’t even sneer at me without an agent. Unfortunately, finding an agent who I liked and who liked me could take forever. She pointed out that the best agents were as picky as publishers. But she conceded that if I did find an agent and he approached publishers, then it could still take two or three months just to get a rejection.

But let’s say the stars aligned perfectly and a publisher was interested. She averred that a first-time-unknown author gets bupkis in terms of royalties/advances and for that pittance he would have to sign over all rights and, get this, wait up to two years before seeing his book in print. All decisions regarding the content, paper quality, jacket cover, and price would be the publisher’s. I was told that I definitely would not be allowed to have it illustrated but if by some miracle I was able to convince the publisher, I would not be able to choose the artist.

She said all that was good news compared to what follows.

Read the whole article at Fred Gratzon’s Blog

‘Babylon 5′ Scripts, Self-Published

2007-11-06T20:12:00.000-08:00

‘B5′ author, J. Michael Straczynski, wants to change the way people view print-on-demand publishing:

He hopes to change the future of publishing by selling his scripts to fans of the cult it via print-on-demand —a fast-growing business that lets writers reach audiences without first landing a publishing contract or display space at Barnes & Noble.

“There’s always been something of a stigma to print-on-demand, that it was just a form of vanity publishing that could never produce financial returns of significance,” Straczynski says. “The B5 books are the first to change this in a big way, showing that a writer can make as much or more as with a major
company.”

Read the whole article from USA Today

What is a Self-Publisher?

2007-11-06T20:08:00.000-08:00

A brief look at self-publishing — what it is, what it isn’t, and why anyone would be crazy enough to try it.

by Wendy J. Woudstra

Although the term self-publishing seems to confuse many people, in reality it’s very straight forward. A self-publisher is an author who, for any number of reasons, chooses to bypass the traditional publishing houses and publish his or her own work.Publishing a book means far more than sending off the manuscript to a “publishing service” to print and distribute it. A self-publisher controls all aspects of the book, from layout and cover design to marketing and sales. The author chooses which cover designer to hire, which editors to hire, and which printer to use when self-publishing. But all this control comes at a price. Self-publishers shoulder the entire cost of producing and marketing their books, with no guarantee of a return on their investment.So why do they take the risk?

Some authors self-publish because they’re sick of rejection by traditional publishing houses. Some have been published by major houses and were displeased with the experience, and others just want the control over timelines, editorial changes, and the appearance of the book.Not all self-publishers are successful. Some fail because they deserve to - some self-published books just aren’t readable by any standard. Lack of business and marketing plans can also doom a self-publisher - authors are often unprepared for the work and money that is involved in creating a high-quality printed book.

On the upside, it can be easier for a well-organized self-published author to succeed with a small market book than for a large publisher to succeed with the same title. Large publishers often need to sell at least 10,000 copies of a book to break even, while self-published authors and small publishers tend to have much lower overhead and can break even with far fewer copies sold.

Self-publishing is often confused with vanity publishing, but although both require the author to shoulder the costs of production, there are significant differences.
Self-published authors control all the unsold printed copies of their books, and can give as many gift and review copies away as they see fit. Vanity published authors usually see only a fixed number of copies of their books, and often aren’t even able to verify inventory numbers.
Self-published authors acquire their own block of ISBNs from a registered agency. Vanity published authors usually use an ISBN from the block of the company that they’ve paid to publish the book.
Self-published authors receive all the proceeds of the sale of their books. Vanity published authors usually receive a royalty.
Self-published authors can set their own retail prices to ensure their costs are covered even with the discounts usually demanded by wholesalers yet still remain competitive with other books in the same market. Vanity published authors generally do not have that option and must live with the price their publisher sets, which often precludes selling through traditional retail channels.

Self publishing has both positive and negative aspects, and you should examine your options carefully before jumping in to any publishing venture.

Pros

You control your book - from how it looks to how it is sold.
Because of lower overhead and the absence of an outside publisher, it is possible to earn more money per book sold.
You control your copyrights, and need never worry about what will happen to your book if your publisher goes bankrupt or is sold.

Cons

You’re responsible for all the costs associated with publishing and marketing your book.
There are no advances, and no guarantees you’ll earn back your initial investment.
You alone are responsible for all copyright infringement, libel and other legal challenges related to the book.
Self-publishing is not for everyone. But for those who invest the time and money needed to succeed, it can be very rewarding.

Good luck!

from www.PublishingCentral.com

Want to Write a Book? You’d Better Start Now

2007-11-06T20:06:00.000-08:00

by Sid Smith

So you want to write a book…

That puts you smack dab in the middle of roughly 80% of the world’s population. The key difference between you and them, though, is that you’re actually writing. Aren’t you?

“The whole duty of a writer is to please and satisfy himself, and the true writer always plays to an audience of one.” – E.B. White

The funny thing about writing a book is that you actually have to sit down and do it. Most people don’t. They find a myriad of excuses, such as “I just don’t have the time.” Hogwash. You can work on your book anywhere, including driving to work if you invest a few dollars in a small tape or digital recorder. Bring your book with you everywhere you go.

It’s a bad idea to discuss your book with others

Every industry has the discouragement fraternity (term coined by Robert Ringer) - people who go to great lengths to convince you that you can’t succeed. How can you succeed if you’ve never written a book? It’s not in your best interest to pay attention to other people’s opinions.

Talking tends to become a replacement for writing. If you’re talking about it, you’re not writing it. If you’re asking others to give you their opinion on your manuscript, you’ll never finish it. You have to shut the door, sit at your computer, and write to that audience of one.

A true writer writes every single day. It’s all about self-discipline – writing even when you’re not motivated. Don’t wait until you’re motivated to take action. You can force yourself to take action, and motivation will follow.
Think of yourself as a craftsman – much like a bricklayer or roofer. It doesn’t matter if the roofer isn’t motivated – he gets up on the roof and starts working.

You’re a wordsmith – start putting words on that computer every single day. Use large uninterrupted blocks of time – just you and your computer. Eliminate time-wasting people from your life.

People are very busy these days. But, think of all the time you’re wasting. Put your projects into a binder and carry it with you. You can use little bits of time – waiting in an office for an appointment; a few minutes after lunch; waiting for a meeting. It gets down to self-discipline and the human tendency to dwell on non-constructive thoughts and emotions. You concentrate on concentration. Force yourself to sit down and write every day – this is the biggest problem most writers have.

In the end, Nike had it right, didn’t they?

Just write your book. And when you’re ready, come back here so we can help you get your book published.

from www.WriteandPublishyourBook.com

How to Promote Your Book to the Top of the NY Times Best Sellers List

2007-11-06T20:00:00.000-08:00

by Eric Gruber

Although Mark Hyman, M.D, the New York Times best-selling author and practicing physician, had a strong, multifaceted marketing and sales plan in place, the addition of an article-marketing strategy helped push his book, UltraMetabolism—The Simple Plan For Automatic Weight Loss to the No. 2 spot of the Times best seller list.

Dr. Hyman’s article-marketing campaign was only one piece of the puzzle, but it was an important piece, helping him establish key relationships with site publishers that will result in increased, targeted traffic and stronger sales for many months and years to come.

By including a targeted article marketing program into your marketing and sales plan, you too can achieve book-marketing success. Doing so effectively requires planning and perfect execution from beginning to end.

Step 1: Create an article that grabs reader interest
One of the most important parts of the article is the title. Remember, the first three of four words of the title have the most weight with Google and other search engines. The point of the title is to intrigue your audience enough so that they actually sit down and read the article. You may even want to make an outrageous proposition that you can fulfill within your article, as we have with the title of this article.

The articles that get the best results are those that provide unique, high-quality content that solve at least one piece of a problem puzzle. However, to convert readers to buyers, you must not give the reader all of the answers to the how of solving a particular problem. Instead, you want to tease them with some of the how and top it off with the why it’s important.

Step 2: Turn readers into prospects with a strong call to action and an offer they can’t refuse
You want to encapsulate the essence of what makes you and your offering unique. This is your unique selling proposition. Do this by chiseling away from your golden nuggets all the information that no one cares about. Refine them into gleaming insights. Hammer them into a logical sequence. Fasten them to reader benefits. Then polish and polish it until your fingers ache, to create a glittering necklace of persuasion that seduces the eye, charms the imagination, and dazzles the reader with so much human interest that it is much easier to click and go to your Web site than not.

If you add a free-bonus offer, you will make it even easier for readers to click to your Web site. You can offer a sneak preview of your book, a free e-zine subscription, or a free bonus report that further enhances your credibility as an expert.

Step 3: Maintain reader interest and create a squeeze page
Think of your article as a sales funnel. Your article title, content, bio box, and the link that you send your readers to should all flow right into each other. Including a link to the main page only distracts and frustrates readers: You will lose that sale forever.

When you promote your book in your bio box, take them to a squeeze page within your site that convinces people why they should either buy the book or subscribe.

Step 4: Target your audience with e-zines and Web sites that make a difference
You need to find Web sites that are highly visited and e-zines that are the most read, but more importantly you want to focus on Web sites and e-zine publishers within your specific niche that have strong emotional connections to their audiences.

Through our research for Dr. Mark Hyman, we found information for a popular editor at About.com, which is among the top 50 sites on the net. This submission resulted in over 1,500 opt-in and new sales in one day, not counting the successes from other credible Web sites.

Step 5: Submit your article and build your links and traffic
Now is the time to perform the tiring, boring, and tedious task of submitting your articles. But, as you’re completing this process, know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. By using these article marketing strategies, you can build a steady stream of warm ready-to-buy visitors and substantially increase your book sales.

* * *

By including article marketing into your multifaceted marketing and sales plan, you too can achieve success in marketing your book. You will then only be limited by your imagination and your time. The question is, “What is your destination?”

from http://www.marketingprofs.com/

A Fear of Writing…

2007-11-06T19:55:00.001-08:00

by Sid Smith

A Fear of Writing…

“You need a certain amount of nerve to be a writer, an almost physical nerve, the kind you need to walk a log across a river.” Margaret Attwood
“I write in terror. I have to talk myself into bravery with every sentence, sometimes every syllable.” Cynthia Ozick
“I admire anybody who has the guts to write anything at all.” E.B. White
“All my life, I’ve been frightened at the moment I sit down to write.” Gabriel Garcia Marquez
“I suffer as always from the fear of putting down the first line. It is amazing the terrors, the magics, the prayers, the straightening shyness that assails one.” John Steinbeck
“The awful thing about the first sentence of any book, is that as soon as you’ve written it you realize this piece of work is not going to be the great thing you envision. It can’t be.” Tom Wolfe

When you come to accept that anxiety is a part of the game, as much as daydreaming and revision, then the terror becomes easier. As soon as you realize that at any moment there are probably hundreds of other writers biting their fingernails, pacing in circles and getting up to go to the bathroom when their bladders are empty, you feel less alone and less ridiculous for fearing the activity you claim to love. When you realize that the fact that you are filled with dread is no more a comment on your writing ability than the color of your hair, it will be easier for you to push past it, jam your rear in the chair and write. Now go write.

from http://www.writeandpublishyourbook.com/

The World of Publishing is Changing

2007-11-06T19:53:00.000-08:00

by Cherie Burbach

It’s always interesting to me when I hear people lament about what “junk” self-published books are. Some complain they can spot a self-published work a mile away, and others claim that the quality and more importantly, writing of these works is sub-par.

I find this interesting, of course, because I am a self-published author. I find it interesting because when I read the news lately I hear that some authors, such as Kaavya Viswanathan and James Frey, knowingly misled readers, and worse, that their “traditional” publishers let it happen.

We’ve probably all heard the James Frey saga of late, but in case you haven’t heard the deal with Viswanathan, she reportedly “borrowed” large parts of her novel, “How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life” from fellow novelist Megan McCafferty.

Right.

Of course all in the publishing realm will be okay because both Frey and Viswanathan have apologized. And “profusely” apologized at that. It won’t stop them from making money, continuing with their movie and second book deals, or stop them from writing.

I understand that mistakes happen. What I don’t understand is why I hear so much about the quality of self-published works when I know from years of reading questionable “traditionally published” material that not everything a big house in New York will put out is good. Not even close.

I also know from attending numerous author signings that some authors get published not because of the grand quality of their writing but because they knew someone in the biz. I have no problem with authors getting published this way. What I do have a problem with is when I read these lame and misleading articles about how bad it is for an author to self-publish their own work. Some of them are so full of misinformation I have to question the motive of the people writing them. What do these people care if authors self-publish? Why would they try and dissuade authors from just trying to give their works a fighting shot?

Well… maybe… because self-publishing takes power away from the big houses. Their tight-knit, clicky mentality has failed to let them see some of the best writing out there. They pass on writing because they aren’t sure how to market it, not because it isn’t good. They pass on writing that isn’t going to make them, in their estimation, the big bucks. James Frey, on the other hand, will make them big bucks.

We all know the ups and downs of self-publishing versus traditional publishing. We know self-publishing is a good option for some, and not so much for others. But don’t be naive authors. When you read an article telling you not to self-publish because… sigh… you’ll have to market your work… keep in mind this is exactly what you’re going to have to do with a traditional publisher too. Self-publishing is different than traditional publishing. Different. Not better or worse.

Do I think authors should always self-publish first before finding a traditional publisher? No. But I also don’t believe the hype I read that states self-publishing is for the authors that couldn’t get their work published. That isn’t necessarily true. And I don’t believe all self-published books are garbage…. nor do I believe all traditionally published books are great.

What I do believe is that the world of publishing is changing. And traditional publishers had better take a look at their world and change their way of doing business. As we’ve seen in the news lately, their reputations depend on it.

from www.AmericanChronicle.com

What I’ve Learned From Self-Published Authors

2007-11-06T19:47:00.000-08:00

by Lynn Emery

Almost eleven years ago I sold my first novel to a traditional New York publisher. I was so green I hadn’t even thought of self-publishing, barely knew anything about it. I joined the local RWA (Romance Writers of America) chapter and started to learn about the publishing industry. I confess that I didn’t pay much attention to things like marketing, contracts, etc. I was just trying to get out of the “talking about being a writer” stage and across the “I’ve started my book” threshold. So most of my attention was on basic how-to information. I started writing my first book. Looking back I laugh at how blissfully ignorant I was then. I didn’t think about how few African-American fiction novels were in bookstores or that genre novels with black characters were practically non-existent. Nor did I know what Sandra Kitt, Donna Hill and other black romance writers had gone up against trying to get published. Good thing because I might have given up. I wouldn’t have given up writing, just trying to get published.

As it happened (and of course unknown to me) Kensington had hired Monica Harris and given her the green light to create Arabesque. The stars aligned, Monica came to a small writers conference in Louisiana, we met, I pitched and she bought (that’s my long story made short). Thus began my publishing journey. I immediately plunged into the whirlwind of deadlines, editorial letters, agents, contracts, promotion, etc. I joined other traditionally published authors in commiserating about the trials and tribulations of the business. We complained a lot. Publishers didn’t spend money on promotion. Our royalty checks were reality checks that said, “You need that job you hate. So suck it up and be nice to those people at the office!” Which depressed us more and so we complained louder about our publishers.

Years passed and I began to meet self-published authors. Of course I had learned more about the publishing industry by then. Still I had lots more to learn. Here are the top 5 lessons those talented, hardworking visionary writers taught this traditionally published author:

Stop whining and do something about your dreams. Nobody is going to just hand you what you want on a silver platter. When these authors were rejected they decided live their dreams and got to work publishing their own books. Most writers have to hustle. I mean really hustle, traditional or self-published. I learned to stop waiting for someone else to make things happen, but to rely on what I could do. Taking action felt a lot better than bitching all the time.
Celebrate what you have. I met self-published authors bubbling with enthusiasm and excitement because they were doing what they loved. So many traditionally published authors I talked to became jaded, even bitter about not having made the bestseller list, because they still had to work day jobs, etc. I decided to become a “the glass is half-full” woman.
Every book sold is a triumph. Okay, so selling one book or even thirty is a drop in the bucket, especially when you read Publishers Weekly and see how many books Nora Roberts has in print (Great Googly-Moogly!). But if you remember your love of writing then even one more person reading your story is a gift.
Handle your business, girl. Did I mention how little I knew about the publishing business even a year or so after I sold? Because my publisher bought the ISBN numbers, registered the copyright, etc. I knew nothing about this stuff. In fact, I figured I could put learning about these things on the back burner. After all I had deadlines, bookmarks to get printed, another RWA national conference to attend, blah, blah, blah. Listening to self-published authors made me realize how much I needed to know in order to understand the business from all angles. Self-published authors had to learn the business, while I was too complacent about these important details.
Accept reality. Many of my fellow traditionally published authors were chasing after the gold ring- making a major bestseller list, getting a huge advance, getting Oprah’s attention. See #2 about how we turned bitter when it became obvious this is all a pipe dream for 99% of us authors. On the other hand most self-published authors I met just took it one step at a time. They knew that selling books from the trunks of their cars wasn’t going to bring them quick riches. And the sad truth is most traditionally published authors will need to keep the day job, won’t become rich or famous and won’t hit a major bestseller list. Oprah will happily choose someone else’s book not even knowing of your campaign to get on her show. Which brings me back to loving the written word just because and being grateful for the gift of storytelling.

Being published by a major New York publisher doesn’t make me a writer. The words I put on paper do that and I don’t need NY to keep being a writer. If you’re thinking you do then you are in danger of checking into the Heartbreak Hotel. The hard truth is no author is guaranteed another contract. What I’ve learned from self-published authors is that I have alternatives. Not easy alternatives, but they exist. So I’m not stressed about whether or not NY says I’m worthy. They are not in control of my dream of continuing to be a writer. I have the control clutched in my hot little fist and I have no intention of letting go.

from http://blogginginblack.com/?p=97

How To Market Your Book

2007-11-06T19:44:00.001-08:00

Your book is written. Your job as author is over; time to just sit back and let the fame and fortune roll in.

Well, maybe not yet. In many ways, to paraphrase the Carpenters, you’ve only just begun. If you want your book to be bought and read by the widest audience possible, you have to let readers know that it’s available, and that means marketing.

Publishers have departments whose sole purpose is to market books. They promote books through advertising and direct mail, conferences and trade shows. Publishers also arrange bookstore signings and send out review copies. There are marketing managers, copywriters, publicists, and designers who are paid to get your book noticed. While there are obvious advantages to this system, there is a serious downside: No one knows a book better than its author, yet authors are often out of the marketing loop at large publishing houses.

As a self-marketing author, you need to take advantage of the fact that you know your book, and you know who its audience is. The problem is, of course, how to reach that audience. Here are some ideas for how to effectively, and inexpensively, market your book.

It all begins with promotional copy. Condensing a 300-page book into 300 words is a difficult, but necessary, first step. Promotional copy should be brief, descriptive, and engagingly written. Revise, polish, and check your work for spelling and grammar. Your promotional copy offers readers and reviewers a thumbnail sketch of your book and should be used as a starting point for all marketing activities.

Once you have promotional copy written, it’s time to put it to work. Include promotional copy on the jacket and back cover of your book. With the right copy and an attractive design, your book becomes its own marketing tool.

Having your book reviewed is the best form of free publicity available. Although reviews are difficult to get, they are worth pursuing. Use your promotional copy as a press release and send it to any and all possible reviewers, from your local newspaper to The New York Times Book Review. Include information about yourself and where you can be reached. Try to target individual reviewers who might be particularly interested in your work.

Authors interested in marketing their own book will find most direct-mail options cost-prohibitive. However, flyers featuring your book can be easily produced and inexpensively photocopied. Give these flyers to friends and family, hand them out at work, ask your local bookstore to display them, pass them out to members of your reading group. Make certain your flyer includes ordering information, the book’s price and ISBN, and your web address (which should, of course, prominently feature your book).

Personal web pages are a great way to advertise your book. Include promotional copy, a cover image, and ordering information. Be sure to feature your web address on all promotional materials, both print and online.

Marketing your book can often seem like an uphill climb. With effective and polished promotional copy, the right amount of determination, and a basic understanding of self-marketing, however, you can make this hill much easier to climb. You’ve done the work of writing your book; now it is time to make your book work for you.

How To Market Your Book

2007-11-06T19:44:00.000-08:00

How To Write A Book Despite Everything

2007-11-06T19:43:00.000-08:00

by Don Dewsnap

Very few people actually know how to write a book. Most of those who have written one or more books have usually had to learn how as they went along. Even then, whatever they learned was what worked for them; there is almost no chance the same lessons would work for you.

You can understand, therefore, that anyone who tells you he can teach you how to write a book is not being entirely truthful. He can tell you what worked for him, or for other people, and he may be helpful, but he doesn’t have a magic wand with your name on it.

The thing is, not knowing how to write a book is the easiest obstacle to overcome on the way to becoming an author. If that were the only problem, you would have already finished writing a dozen books. You have been learning how to do things by doing them for your whole life. Learning how to write a book is little different from learning how to ride a bicycle. You keep at it until you get it right.

The real reasons you haven’t written a book are personal and private. Maybe they are common, or maybe they are unique and fantastic. The following are just a few of the reasons I have heard for not writing a book:

I can’t write well enough.
I don’t have anything to write about.
My life is completely uninteresting.
I don’t have time.
I can’t afford to self-publish.
Someone else has probably already done it better.
It would be a waste of time.

Your reasons are probably much better and more forbidding than these. (Which underscores your innate creative ability, by the way. But I digress.)

So we come to the point of how to write a book despite everything. The point is that if you take these obstacles, your own obstacles, one at a time or all together, and try to overcome them before you start to write a book, you will never start.

How to write a book despite everything is not a matter of overcoming obstacles. Nor is it a matter of ignoring obstacles. You do not pretend they don’t exist. You certainly don’t argue with them, or try to convince yourself they are unimportant. If people tell you that you are wasting your time, or acting foolish, or being stupid, you don’t ignore, argue with, or try to convince them.

If you want to cross a desert, you don’t argue with the heat, and you don’t ignore it, and you don’t overcome it, or pretend it doesn’t exist. You don’t listen to the cautious advisors who tell you that you are stupid, or acting foolish, or wasting your time and will die. No, you grab a hat and some water, and start walking.

That is as far as that analogy will stretch. I hope it was sufficient to make the point.

You want to write a book? Cool. Write a book. When it’s done, you can either go back over it and make it better, or write another one. It’s okay to get help, too. Professional editors, proofreaders, and writers can quite likely take your finished book and turn it into a marketable manuscript. But they can’t do that if you don’t give them a book in the first place.

Most first books are not very good, especially not in the first draft. That’s okay. You learn how to write a book by writing a book. There really is no other way. If you want to get good at it, you write another.

I will give you one hint, just to help you get started. Think about making your first book kind of a short one, to get your feet wet.

Start walking.

Don Dewsnap works with WriterServices to help authors achieve their book writing and publishing goals. For more information on how to get your book written, published, and sold, for real, go to http://www.thesavvyauthor.com.

How To Write A Book

2007-11-06T19:33:00.000-08:00

by Robert S. Nahas

It’s astonishing just how many people I speak to on a daily basis who know, with certainty, that they have the next bestseller – if only they knew how to write a book. For some, time never seems to allow them the right to hit the keys and pour out the visions in their minds onto the computer screen. Others haven’t a clue on how to get started. Whatever the reason, the $64,000 question still remains: How do you write a book when there’s not enough time, know-how…?

What most people don’t realize is that getting a book written is NOT as daunting as it seems at first glance. The solution to this dilemma of “How do I write my book,” begins to unravel when we refine this approach to, “How do I get my book written?”

Though this is subtle, the differences between the two perspectives are vast. The first stands from how you, yourself, are going to personally type out every word on the page; the second looks at how your book can be written otherwise.

From my own personal experience, at best, one in a thousand people ever see the fruition of their book ideas. This problem is so common solely because of the “first person” perspective; which is very limiting, by the way.

If you think about it for a minute, in the real world of book publishing, a book is a product, something produced that other people will want to buy and use. For all you purists out there, this in no way takes away from the creative aspect and beauty of what a well-written book is – it is art first and foremost. But just as beautiful paintings are bought and sold every day, so too must books be viewed as products just like anything else. That is, if you ever want anyone to actually find and read yours.

That said, where have you ever seen a single individual develop, produce, market, promote, sell… a product all on their own? It doesn’t happen, at least not by anyone who is successful. The expert knowledge and abilities of others are always brought in to get the job done while the inventor/creator oversees everything from above.

The point here is that if you have a desire to write a book but can’t get it written for whatever reasons, take a fresh, new, realistic perspective and find someone who can write it for you under your guidance.

To achieve this dream is an incredible experience. There is such personal satisfaction, a feeling of self accomplishment and, often, great therapeutic relief from the creative process. And this can all be yours simply by taking on the slightly different viewpoint from “how to write your book” to “how to get your book written.”

High quality professional book writers can be found - http://www.thesavvyauthor.com - Keyword searches with “ghost writer for hire” or “writer needed” or “writer services” will pull up plenty to consider for your project.

Robert S. Nahas is a professional book writer and president of WriterServices.net. He has written numerous published books of his own and for others, and helps aspiring writers and authors achieve their dreams of getting their books written, published and selling well. You can get more information on how to find good book writers for hire, how to get published, find a good agent, find funding… and more at http://www.thesavvyauthor.com. You can find more information on R. S. Nahas at http://www.writerservices.net/books1.htm.

POD is not Vanity is not Self Publish

2007-11-06T19:30:00.000-08:00

POD is a technology. It’s a way to print books. It’s quite useful for printing small quantities, particularly if there is intermittent demand. LOTS of publishers who are not vanity houses or scam mills use POD technology. University presses spring to mind, as do very small limited runs of very tightly focused books. POD is not evil.

Vanity presses can use POD technology OR they can use webfeed technology. Vanity presses are essentially printers with some support staff. They’ll help you print up nice editions of whatever you want. You pay for this. It’s called vanity because they don’t acquire the book. Acquire means there is an editorial staff choosing particular books to publish. Vanity houses do not maintain lists, issue catalogs or sell books in bookstores. Vanity presses are not evil

Self publishers can use POD technology or webfeed technology. Self publishers are not vanity presses in the everyday sense of the word. They are “vanity” in the sense that there isn’t an acquisition but the two phrases are used to mean different things in publishing. Lots of people self publish for a lot of reasons. Self publishing is not evil.

POD/scam mills are companies set up to persuade you, the author, that printing your book with their company is the equivalent to having it acquired by a publisher. They charge you money. Unlike a respectable vanity press, they don’t copy edit or produce high quality products. They are out to make money on volume. They prey on author’s insecurities and lack of knowledge. POD/scam mills are the scum of the earth.

Whether a company is the scum of the earth depends on how they run their business, not how they print their books.

There are several POD companies that do not try to persuade you that you have but to print up books with them to be on your way to fame and glory. Lulu and CafePress come to mind. There are others I’m sure.

– Miss Snark, the literary agent

Selling Your Published Book - Writing is the Easy Part

2007-11-06T19:26:00.000-08:00

by Michael Mould

Beyond writing your book, you want it to be successful. Success is measured many ways and perhaps the most widely accepted measure is that of sales. While most writers do want to make some income from their hard work, most find the greatest satisfaction from positive customer feedback, but you cannot even get this if you do not have customers, so you need to get out there and promote your book to get sales, customers, and feedback.

There are a number of ways you can promote and sell your book, but reliance on your publisher to market or sell it is usually a sure fire way to failure. Most publishers do not take any active role in either promoting or selling books, they are for the most part only interested in collecting revenues when a book sells and promoting their publishing services so more authors will sign up with them.

Personally, I have found that promoting and marketing through my own website as well as Amazon.com, Alibris.com, Abebooks.com, and other online marketplaces to be quite effective while simultaneously securing a majority of the profits for myself rather than paying someone else with a canned marketing program and no investment in terms of either money or time. Many authors choose to participate in the Amazon.com Advantage Program and pay Amazon over half of the selling price for the privilege of selling on Amazon. To participate, they also have to pay an annual subscription fee which is not very much, but to me it seems absurd. Why should you or I put all our time and effort into writing a book, having it printed at our own expense, pay to have the books shipped to us, and then pay again to ship them to Amazon.com (when they choose to order them), pay Amazon.com to sell them, give them over half of the sales proceeds, and end up with only 10% of the sales proceeds for all our work and risk? The printer is guaranteed a profit when you order copies, Amazon is guaranteed a profit from your subscription fees and over half of the sales proceeds, they also require that you buy back any copies that do not sell. The only person at financial risk in this whole scenario is the author, i.e., you or I. It seems to me that when a financial risk is taken, the person taking the risk should be the one with the greatest potential for gain, but this is not how the publishers or marketplaces have set up the game. You do have alternatives.

Open your own bookstore on Amazon.com and sell your book through it. Amazon.com will still charge you a monthly merchant fee and 15% of the sales proceeds, but that is a whole lot better than giving up over half the proceeds. They will even add to your sales proceeds a shipping reimbursement to cover the cost of packaging and postage for most books. If you have to buy your books yourself anyway, why not sell and ship them to your customers yourself too?

Having been an online bookseller for several years before writing a book, I learned the ins and outs of online bookselling and was able to make use of this knowledge to market my own book. It is not hard to learn, heck, there are thousands of people doing it, I just hate to see the authors taken advantage of by a system they could easily master themselves.

Setting up your own bookstore on Amazon only takes a few minutes, and listing you book only takes a few more. You can also join the Amazon Connect program which allows you as the author to write relevant articles that appear when a customer is browsing the product detail pages of your book, and joining the Connect program is free.

If you are already a bestselling author and you are selling 100,000+ copies of your books already, this option is probably not of much interest to you, but if you are an independent author using a print on demand, POD, printer to make your books for you, this is a viable option for getting your work promoted. Not all books sold by third-party sellers are used books, some of us sell our own books too.

Michael E. Mould is the author of “Online Bookselling: A Practical Guide with Detailed Explanations and Insightful Tips,” [Paperback ISBN 1427600708, CD-ROM ISBN 1599714876] and the developer of “Bookkeeping for Booksellers” [CD ISBN 1427600694], you can learn more about online bookselling at: http://www.online-bookselling.com/.

from http://www.ezinearticles.com/

Self-Publishing FAQ: If I use a subsidy publisher, am I self-publishing?

2007-11-06T19:23:00.000-08:00

by self-pub.net

Technically, no. If you use a subsidy publisher to publish your book and they assign one of their ISBNs to your book then they are considered the book’s publisher.

The second set of numbers in an ISBN identifies the publisher of the book. If you use a subsidy publisher that number would identify them, not you.

In order to technically be considered the publisher of your own book you would need to purchase a block of ISBNs from the ISBN agency and assign one of them to your book. Most subsidy publishers will not allow you to assign one of your own ISBNs to a book they are publishing for you since that number tells retailers who to order copies of the book from.

It is becoming common however for people who use a subsidy publisher to refer to themselves as self publishers. Many subsidy publishers will even refer to themselves as a self publishing company. If you are doing the majority of the work: book design, layout, editing, cover art, marketing, etc and only using a subsidy publisher for the book printing, distribution and ISBN then you can probably get away with calling yourself “self published”. You may however get a hard time from the people who truly have completely self published their own book. If all you are doing is handing the subsidy publisher your manuscript and having them do everything else for you, it would probably be best to say you used a subsidy publisher and not that you self published.

from topublishabook.blogspot.com

Self-Publishing a Novel? What you Absolutely Need to Put on the Last Page

2007-11-06T19:21:00.000-08:00

by Will Kalif

You have been working hard on your self-published novel and soon your dream will come true -It will be printed. Or maybe you have already published a novel and are working on your next one. Don’t skip this very important step.

I have read and seen a lot of self-published novels and have published two myself. The whole process can be very rewarding. But one thing I have noticed about self-published authors is that they tend to skip over the marketing aspects of their book. It is true that you are a writer, but if you are a self-published writer you have to be more than just a writer. You also have to be a marketer. No doubt you already know this. But did you know that your book itself is a valuable marketing tool you can use to sell your other books or writing?

Okay, so what should you put on the last page of your novel?

You need to put on your marketer’s hat and do a little marketing of yourself to your reader. Do you have another book coming out? Have you previously published a book? Do you have a website or a blog? Put information about all these things at the back of your book. Your reader has purchased your book and will probably be very interested in finding more of your material. Make it easy for him or her to find more! And make it easy for your reader to recommend you to his or her friends. A website url is free and very easy for your reader to pass along to a colleague or friend.

I recommend you spend a significant amount of time on this. And ideally you should have at least five or six pages of information about your projects, yourself, and anything related to learning more about you. I would even go as far as putting your email address there too. (Of course, you need to be confident that you will be keeping the same email account for the next several years.)

Why should you do this?

There are two very important rules of marketing, and putting sales materials in the back of your book is a good way to take advantage of the second rule. The first rule is that a first time sale is very difficult to get. And the second rule is that a repeat customer is very easy to get. Making the sale of your book to someone was a difficult thing. You had to somehow find the people that were interested in your particular book and this is a challenge. Then you had to convince them to purchase it. And this was even harder. But after all that work you have come up with a group of people who have bought your book. Don’t let these people disappear! They are highly interested customers and are very likely to purchase more of your writing. But you don’t need to go through the process of finding them all over again. You already have them and they already have your marketing materials in their hands –your book.

Help your reader become an advocate for you!

People can be very passionate about the books they read; and discovering a new author is something few readers can resist telling their friends about. Make it easy for your reader to spread the word about you. The conversation would go something like this: “I just finished this great novel. You have got to check this author out. His website is in the back of the book. Let me get the url for you.”

Writing a book is a challenge. But as a self-published author you will not be able to publish the book and then wait for the world to discover it. You have to take an aggressive approach to marketing it. And once the book is sold don’t let that be the end of the marketing. If you have lots of materials and resources about you and your writing in the back of your book. It will act as a tool to continue your marketing efforts for years to come without any added effort on your part.

Will Kalif is the author of two self-published fantasy novels. You can read his complete first novel or the first chapters of his second novel for free on his website at: www.stormthecastle.com

from http://www.ezinearticles.com/

Is Print On Demand Publishing A Viable Option for Self-Publishers?

2007-11-06T19:17:00.000-08:00

This is a frequent question for many wannabe authors willing to take the first step to publication themselves. In general I think the writing world is full of paranoid naysayers; who love pointing out the flaws of this technology (print-on-demand is a print technology, not a vanity service). As a self-published (in-part) author who did take the POD (print-on-demand) route, I have my own opinions of the technology and its uses.

Let me say right off that I’m not going to talk about the various POD services (Lulu.com, IUniverse, Booksurge, etc) but am going to focus solely on the viability of using POD to accomplish certain goals.

Here’s a quick synopsis of the goals I had set before publishing my POD novel, The Didymus Contingency.

1. To sell 10,000 copies.
2. To attract and land and agent.
3. To attract traditional publishers.
4. To publish a professional looking book.
5. To spend a tiny amount of money doing all this.

Rather than go into detail about how these goals were accomplished, as I do in my book about POD publishing – POD People – Beating the Print-On-Demand Stigma, I will simply explain how I am doing in achieving these goals. Then, when all is said and done, you may decide for yourself whether or not POD is viable.

1. By Christmas 2006 I should have reached 5000 sales. I’ll be half way to my 10,000 sale goal in a year and a half. And should reach my 10,000 sale goal in three years. Why did I choose 10,000 sales? It’s a generally believed to be the number of sales a self-published book needs to attain to attract the attention of traditional publishers.
2. With in two months of The Didymus Contingency hitting the virtual shelves of Amazon and Barnes&Noble I had attracted and signed with a top NY literary agency who is still taking it out to domestic publishers.
3. I have signed several deals with traditional foreign publishers, who will be translating and publishing the book in their countries.
4. Never mind the design and layout of the book, the printed quality of my book has never been called into question, is selling in bookstores along side other books and is indistinguishable from traditionally published books.
5. I spent about $200.

So, ask yourself. Is POD viable? Well, it may not work for everyone, but I far prefer it to the slush pile. What’s best is that while you’re publishing your book via POD it can still grace the slush pile. But why put all your eggs in one basket. Why not take put your books into the hands of readers and see how it stacks up? You’ll learn a lot about publishing, you’ll learn if you’re a good writer and you’ll learn valuable self-promotion skills that every writer, traditionally published or not, needs to know.

A common response to all of this is, “But your book sells in stores. If it were only available online you wouldn’t have sold so many books!”

If the book were available in bookstores across the country, that might be true. But it’s only available in a few stores and collectively they’ve contributed perhaps 100 sales. The vast majority of my sales come from two places, Amazon and Amazon UK. While my marketing techniques are important (see POD People to learn what I did and how you can too) I have, none-the-less proven that POD is a viable and welcome replacement to the slush pile…and to print run self-publishing.

I invested so little money and sold so many books that my profit has far outweighed what it would have been had I printed all the books myself. I think it’s quite funny that many self-published authors look down on POD authors simply for the difference in printing method, as though someone who has the money to invest in a print run is somehow producing a more salable product. They’re all self-published, folks. There is no difference except for the technology used.

Did I just rant? I think I did.

Well, you get the idea. Print-On-Demand can and does work. It is a viable means for printing your book, promoting your book, selling your book and launching your career. You just have to work hard at it. To learn more you can read POD People (how many times can I plug the book?) or you can wait for my next installment: When should I self-publish?

from Jeremy Robinson's Blog

Fiction book publishing by Print on Demand

2007-11-06T19:15:00.000-08:00

Digital technology is in the forefront of every marketing venture these days, including publishing. If you have a work of fiction that you’d like to see published, print on demand (POD) is certainly worth your time and effort to consider as a viable option to traditional publishing.

Print on demand makes it possible for a complete book to be printed and bound in an extremely short amount of time. The traditional method of printing and binding thousands of books promotes waste and isn’t very cost-effective.

If you’re considering the POD method to self-publish your fiction book, there are many online publishing service sites that will help you market your book. They’ll also print and bind the book per each order and provide listings in online bookstores.

These online service providers will charge a fee for handling your fiction book. Their services do not include mastering, formatting or editing – although they will usually run a spell check on your document.

As a first time author, POD can be the answer to publishing your initial work of fiction. You don’t have to contract with a publishing company and wait for an editor to review and pass approval on your work.

Print on demand has become especially popular in academic circles to avoid the high expense of producing and storing a large print run of books. POD is also becoming more accepted with fiction and non-fiction circles as a way to get their books out fast and for little cost.

There are a few differences in POD and “self-publishing services.” For example, traditional self-publishing gives the writer control over all facets of the publishing process, including cover art and pricing. If you choose POD, you’re limited to the publisher’s offering of services.

If you’re thinking about the print on demand route to publishing your work of fiction, visit some of the most popular POD online sites to see what they offer. They include, BookSurge, iUniverse, Xlibris and Blurb.

You should definitely consider the POD method of publishing your fiction if you simply don’t want the hassle of going through the submission process of commercial publishers. And, if you’ve tried the “normal” route with no success, POD may be the best option to catapult your work of art for the world to read.

from www.publishingcentral.com

What is Self-Publishing?

2007-11-06T19:11:00.000-08:00

According to Wikipedia, self-publishing is:

the publishing of books and other media by the authors of those works, rather than by established, third-party publishers. Although it represents a small percentage of the publishing industry in terms of sales, it has been present in one form or another since the beginning of publishing and has seen an increase in activity with the advancement of publishing technology, including xerography, desktop publishing systems, print on demand, and the World Wide Web. Cultural phenomena such as the punk/DIY movement, the proliferation of media channels, and blogging have contributed to the advancement of self-publishing.

A number of reasons why writers choose to self-publish their works:

author wishes to retain complete editorial control over content (see below)
author is unknown and does not have substantial resume
popular topic but of interest only in a small geographic area
addresses an obscure topic in which few people are interested
content is controversial enough that publishers do not wish to be associated with it
author wishes to obtain a larger percentage return from retail sales

from http://www.topublishabook.blogspot.com/

3 Self-Publishing Fallacies

2007-11-06T19:07:00.000-08:00

1. Self-publishing is Vanity Press

Well, first of all, what is wrong about vanity press anyway? So you just want your work published for you and your small groupies’ consumption. There’s no harm in that.

Self-publishing is NOT vanity. Self-publishing is knowing you have a choice and maximizing it to the best of your capacity. Self-publishing is know that your work can be put in the market because you know somebody will read it. Not only will you see your manuscript printed and bound but also that it’s out there for you to share with others who have the same interests.

2. Self-publishing will make me rich

Sorry to say but self-publishing will NOT make you rich, but hard work, talent, and persistence will. Just because you hand over your book to ANY major publisher - even if it is a traditional publisher, doesn’t mean that you’re book will become an all-time best-seller. A lot of traditionally published books have flopped (and that’s alongside the support and financing of several big publishers already), these are pretty much the same odds for self-published books.

3. Self-publishing is NOT as good as traditional publishing

There is this common belief that traditional publishing is far better than self-publishing. They say that

“You get paid for your work and not the other way around.”
“There’s more prestige in being published - getting “picked” to represent a big publishing firm.”

Well as I’ve said before, the odds are pretty much the same.

The main difference here is that traditional publishers may “pay” you for your work. But they’re not “paying” you to write. They’re “paying” for your book. In effect, you are “selling” your book to these people who will edit it and dress it up according to “their” specifications and NOT yours. Sure YOUR manuscript was picked and bought. But from now moving forward, it is no longer yours but your publisher’s.

Self-publishing may be an investment at first, but rest assured in the end, the book is yours and yours alone to edit, to dress up or down, or do whatever you please. There will be no publisher looking over your shoulder to tell you to edit this or that, or spice up this or that just so they will be satisfied. It’s your game, your rules. Plus the royalties are bigger too.

Self-Publishing Your Book - The Ultimate Do-It-Yourself Project

2007-11-06T19:02:00.000-08:00

A must-read article about self-publishing by Wendy Y. Tucker:

Do you have a book in you? We all have life experiences worthy of recording in a book. How then will you bring your message to its appropriate audience? Really, there are only two choices—either find a publisher or publish your book yourself.

Here are 5 reasons you shouldn’t self-publish.
1. You only want to make 5-10% of the proceeds the book generates in the form of an author royalty.
2. You enjoy editors telling you to basically rewrite your entire manuscript in their preferred style, ultimately changing the intended meaning of everything you want to say.
3. You enjoy waiting 1-½ to 2 years for your book to be in print. You’re in no hurry.
4. You’ve spent months or even years writing and researching your book and now want to relinquish your rights to it (such as copyrights, serial rights, foreign rights).
5. You are sadistic and enjoy rejection from literary agents and publishers.

Joking aside, by self-publishing:
1. You may make more money.
2. You will retain control over your work.
3. You can deliver your book to the public faster.
4. You’ll retain all legal ownership rights to your book.
5. You maintain the ultimate decision determining whether or not your book is published.

1. Make More Money
Publishing industry profit margins are quite narrow. Industry statistics indicate that a profitable book will create a 10% profit for the publisher. Add that to your 10% author royalty and you’ve doubled your profit. Also, because you will have control over costs, as a self-publisher you may be able to reduce them to a level that creates an even higher profit margin.

Read the whole article from Go-Publish-Yourself.com

How to Promote a Self-Published Book

2007-11-06T18:58:00.000-08:00

The art of promotion is challenging enough for any author interested in seeing his or her book reach its intended audience. However, this challenge is greatly increased for authors choosing to tackle self-publishing. Budgets for self-published authors are frequently limited to an extent standard publishing houses would consider absurd. The best advantage that a self-published book has is the author’s enthusiasm. Read on to learn more.

Step One
Join listservs and other active Internet book discussion groups. These are venues that gather together some of the most enthusiastic and loyal readers anxious to discover small press and self-published titles.

Step Two
Attend writer conventions and conferences in order to network with other successful self-published authors. Some of the best promotion tips travel by word of mouth.

Step Three
Seek book placement in non traditional areas such as hobby shops and other local businesses excited about supporting local authors. Neighborhood cafes are often willing to sell books on consignment.

Step Four
Get involved in community activities and volunteer to make yourself available to address organizations that might be interested in the subjects covered in your book.

Step Five
Ask local colleges and libraries if you can host readings or local literary events that bring attention to you as an author and to the self-publishing movement in general. Being perceived as a team player makes a huge difference.

Step Six
Pass out business cards so that when someone finds out you are an author they have a way to follow up and purchase your book. Many people are very excited by meeting an author and will buy your book in order to say they “know” the writer of a book that sits on their shelf.

Step Seven
Be patient and remember that book promotion is a task requiring endurance and patience.

from www.Ehow.com

How To Write A Book About Your Life, Now

2007-11-06T18:50:00.000-08:00

by Steve Manning

I can’t tell you how often people come up to me and say, “Tell me how to write a book about my life.” You’ve got your life story to tell, and you can make it a best seller.

I get goose bumps every time I hear that someone is going to write their life story or biography. Your own personal history could be one of the most important books you ever write. Your family background and heritage has essential information for you, your immediate family and those hundreds of people who are (and will be) your children, grandchildren, great grand children and… well, you get the idea.

When I hear that someone will be writing about their lineage, their ancestors, children, jobs, and lifestyle, I know I’m talking to someone who really knows the value of that kind of information. And my job is to make it as easy as possible. My job is to help you put it in book form so it becomes more than just a diary or a journal.

Everyone who wants to write a book knows they have at least one best seller in them. And the best seller that should come to mind first is your life story. I can’t tell you hlw many people come up to me and say they want to write a book about their life story.

But they get it wrong.

They always feel that just because they’ve lived a life, their life is worth reading about. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most of us, even the most exciting and the most celebrated among us, do not lead lives worth reading about. If you ever had the chance to follow your idol through a day in his or her life, you’d be bored to tears by the time you reached the end of the day. Turns out these folks have the same hum drum lives that just about everybody else has.

The difference, however, is that they have pockets, pieces or parts of the day (or week, or month, or year) that are unbelievably exciting. And when you read about these folks, these exciting bits are the only ones you get to know about. Because, frankly, these exciting bits are the only ones anyone is worth reading about.

And so it is with you. Your live is probably a collection of “not much happened today” entries into your diary. But over the years, you’ve accomplished a great deal. When you look back on it, you may have done some things that are pretty extraordinary. In fact, I’d be willing to bet that you have.

These are the things you want to write about. Don’t write about the hum drum, people get enough boredom from their own lives. Write about the humdinger. And that’s usually a collection of things that you’ve been doing over the years to accomplish a goal, or reach a particular level of success.

Maybe you’ve survived cancer, maybe you’ve saved enough money to buy a rental property, maybe you overcame depression, or maybe you spend the last few years caring for a child or an adult who tested both your patience and your skills. Maybe you got a great promotion, maybe you overcame an addiction.

And if you haven’t achieved anything in life yet (something I’d strongly disagree with) then pick the thing you’d like to accomplish and start writing the book that profiles how you are accomplishing it right now.

When people read fiction, they want a story and entertainment and escapism.

When people read non-fiction (and that includes your life story) they want solutions to their problems. So provide them with those solutions. Not just the attempts that worked, but also the ones that didn’t work… and why they didn’t work. When you’re finished, you want to hand your reader a ‘manual’ for the accomplishment of that goal. Now, you may call it your life story, but it’s a manual for the reader.

I strongly suggest you not talk about how poor you were unless your poverty has a direct impact on either your situation, or your solution. Maybe you were so poor when you were young that your family couldn’t buy pies at the store so you and your mother made them from scratch. And that was the start of your pie-baking story that is now so successful.

You’ll quickly understand that there is more than one book inside you. You’ve done several things and you’ve done a lot with your life. Make each of these accomplishments the basis of a new book.

Steve Manning is a master writer showing thousands of people how they can write their book faster than they ever thought possible. Here’s your free Special Report, http://www.WriteABookNow.com/main.html.

from www.WriteABookNow.com

How to Write a Book

2007-11-06T18:37:00.000-08:00

To bring a novel from inception to publication can take two or three years. Publishers have to think ahead. So does the smart writer. Don’t waste your time trying to cash in on today’s hits. Write the novel you’re burning to write, and make it as good as you possibly can. There is only one rule: don’t bore your reader.

If you’ve never written a novel before, you would be wise to complete your manuscript before you approach the market. In today’s fast moving publishing world, few editors and agents are willing to work with a new author on the basis of an outline and sample. You have to be able to show you can deliver what you promise.

Put your manuscript away for at least a couple of weeks, then read it right through, asking:

Have you kept the spotlight on your basic theme and main characters? Sub-plots and minor characters should not overshadow these.
Have you developed your characters fully, portraying them through their actions, reactions and interactions, and keeping them ‘in character’ throughout? Don’t let them act out of character without a good reason.
Has your protagonist changed (or been changed) by the end? A main character who neither changes nor grows in some meaningful way between the first and last pages will be static and unconvincing.
Is your story logical? Even a fantasy needs to make sense within its own terms.
Does the story maintain a satisfactory ’cause and effect’ sequence, with each event following on logically from what has gone - before? A plot that relies on coincidence, for example, or the convenient arrival of a new character, will strain your reader’s credulity.
Coincidences do happen in real life, but they’re seldom convincing in fiction.
Have you kept control of your chosen narrative voice (or voices) throughout? Check for unintentional switches or slips of viewpoint?
Does every scene take the action forward, enrich characterisation, increase tension, or provide a calming or reflective interlude? If it does none of these, ask yourself why it’s there. Could it be cut without harming the story?
Check every piece of dialogue - is it ‘in character’? Does it contribute to characterisation and/or move the story forward?
Have you been sparing with description and explanation, leaving room for your reader’s imagination to come into play?
Is the writing strong, evoking all the senses? Have you used passive voice where active voice would work better? Have you used ‘to be’ verbs supported by adverbs where strong verbs alone would be more effective? Flabby writing can dull the impact of the most brilliant story.
Look again at the story as a whole. Is the structure balanced? Have you begun in the right place? Don’t jeopardise your chances by starting the story too early, providing too much background and taking too long to get things moving. Many a story has been saved by cutting out the first chapter and plunging straight into the action.
Have you sustained momentum through the middle section, moving the story on through cause and effect, action and reaction, tightening tension as you build to the climax?
Have you left your reader feeling satisfied that the whole story has been told? Make sure you haven’t left any unintentional loose ends.
Are you absolutely sure your novel is as good as you can make it?

from www.howtobooks.co.uk

Five How To’s For Those Who Dream Of Becoming A Writer

2007-11-06T18:28:00.000-08:00

by Constance Weygandt

I am often asked what it takes to become a writer or “How can I do what you do?” The answer is not complicated. Anyone can write. Even if you were never a contestant for your eighth grade spelling bee, there is spell check. It is a marvelous invention. All of us have access to a dictionary, a thesaurus and a myriad of books and articles on how to write. The following are some tips to get you started.

Pay attention to what you tell yourself, in your sleep. I often think that I have written a bestseller, on the nights, when I do not get up and write down my thoughts. I keep a pad of paper by my bed. When I get that eureka moment, in my sleep, I get up and jot it down. Some nights, I go right back to sleep. Other nights, I can’t wait to put my thoughts on paper and am off and running.

The early riser gets the article written. I am often awake before anyone else in my household. In the quiet of the early morning, ideas for articles or often the entire article, will come to me. Of course, this can play havoc with a social life. If I don’t retire at a reasonable hour, I am an irritable writer.

Read. There is no one person that is an authority on everything. What you don’t know, find out. Read everything pertaining to your field of interest that you can get your hands on. If you want to be a writer of fiction, read what you love. My interest and love, is a search for balance in life and helping others to achieve it. I try to read, talk and breathe balance. If we recognize that we are all a part of this human race, why not love it?

Talk and listen to others. I try and engage others in conversation as much as possible, in the grocery store, the mall, the post office, etc. Yes. I am one of those annoyingly interested people. I am interested in everything and will talk to you about anything. I also listen. By listening, which is also a part of the conversational gambit, I learn about others interests, needs and loves. Writers, write best, when they write what they know.

Writers, write. This is probably the most important part of writing. It separates the ones that want to be writers from the ones that succeed. If you feel that you have something important to say, put it on paper. It doesn’t matter if your initial draft is intelligible. That is what the re-write is for, to hone your thoughts.

Take an interest in life. Successful writers write about topics that inform, entertain, uplift or in some way fill the needs which we, as a human race, carry in our minds and hearts. When I began writing, I read a quote from Erma Bombeck, a humorist, syndicated columnist and successful author for many years. She said,” Not a day goes by that I don’t hear from aspiring writers who have questions. “What if I fail?” (”What if you succeed?”).” If you want to be a writer, begin today. Sit down and put pencil to paper or fingers to keyboard. I wish you much success.

Constance Weygandt is an author, speaker and balance mentor. For more information on a balanced lifestyle, visit her at http://www.balancedwellnessonline.com.

from http://www.znetspot.com/

How to 'Invent' Your Book

2007-10-29T19:21:00.000-07:00

Take your blank page to national bookshelves.

by Tamara Monosoff

Inventing can take on many forms; it doesn't necessarily have to involve a newfangled gadget. One of the greatest "inventions," in my opinion, is setting a pen to page and writing a book. I'm repeatedly asked how one should go about getting published, so it's a topic I thought I would address as part of the creative process. I base this advice on my own experience writing and publishing two books: The Mom Inventors Handbook, released in 2005, and Secrets of Millionaire Moms, released this year.

The Options
First, it's important to note that there are multiple options in the world of book publishing. The first, less risky option is to find an existing publishing company to publish your book. The advantages of this approach are that you are paid for your work upfront and the publisher incurs the expense of typesetting, printing, distributing and promoting your book. The challenge is finding an editor and publisher who believes in your work as much as you do and who'll put the resources behind it to get it to the marketplace. In addition, you'll only receive a percentage of the book's profits, which usually total about 10 to 15 percent of final sales. However, if selected, publishers may provide you with an "advance" on this sum, so you get some money upfront when you sign the deal.

Your second option is self-publishing. The advantage: Anyone can self-publish, provided they have the money to do so. Self-publishing involves hiring a typesetter and printer to publish your book, which can entail a significant investment. Then, once you have finished copies, you are responsible for distributing the book to reach your buyers. This can actually be the most difficult part of self-publishing. While existing publishers have an experienced and well-connected sales force to get books into stores, you'll have no one but yourself to pinpoint buyers and make the sale, and you must convince booksellers to carry it. Also note that booksellers will view you with much less credibility than an established publisher's representative, if you are lucky enough to get an audience. The advantages are that you have complete control over the process, and you'll make 100 percent of the profits.

Self-publishing is like going into business for yourself--you'll have to invest your own money, find a printer, manage your inventory, make your sales and manage the business. If you choose this route, an excellent resource is SelfPublishing.com. The greatest advantage is that you are in business for yourself, so you have a lot more to gain. However, it is important to note that few self-published authors ever turn a profit or sell more than a few hundred copies.

Contracting with a publisher is more like "licensing" your invention to another company--they take on the risk by incurring all the upfront costs, while you can sit back, see your book come to life, and make a percentage of the profits.

Finding a Publisher
Let's assume you've decided to take the first path: pitching your work to an existing publisher. How is this done?

First, be prepared and do not contact a literary agent or editor without doing your homework. If your book is a work of fiction, it must be a complete and fully written manuscript. In the world of fiction, few books are bought on "spec." Most publishers will require a fully written manuscript to evaluate before even thinking about making an author an offer. Until a fiction writer has a successful track record of turning out multiple books--and selling well--publishers want to see a beginning, middle and end to evaluate plot, story-telling ability and marketability of the finished work.

Non-fiction books can be a different story. Although they still require a strong concept, outline and fully realized plan, you can often approach publishers without a complete manuscript. Here are some guidelines to follow when pitching your non-fiction idea:

Write what you know. Most publishers demand that an author of non-fiction has credibility. For example, don't expect to sell a book on diet or exercise unless you have years of experience as a fitness trainer or nutritionist. Readers want books from experts they can trust, and publishers know this. If you are passionate about a topic but lack credibility or experience in the field, find a partner who can help. For example, if you'd like to write a book on parenting, hook up with a pediatrician, child psychologist or other expert who can lend your book credibility.
Prepare a comprehensive book proposal. This should include a detailed outline of your vision for the entire book, including each chapter; your background and what qualifies you to write on your given topic; a market evaluation of similar and successful books currently on the market and an explanation as to why yours is different; and a few sample chapters to demonstrate your writing style and your ability to produce valuable content.
Get help. Perhaps you don't have the time to write a book. Or maybe writing is not your strong suit, yet you have information and material to share that you know readers want. Consider getting help from an editor or professional writer. This involves hiring and paying an expert to work with you. Arrangements can vary greatly. For example, you may have already written a draft of your book or proposal, but it needs to be polished, re-organized or revised. Or, you may need a writer to whom you can dictate your entire book. Either way, a professional writer can help you get the job done. If you don't already know someone personally, ask friends and family for references. Or, go to mediabistro.com and click on "Freelance Marketplace" for a list of hundreds of experienced writers and editors across the country, along with their qualifications and experience.
Sell your idea. To many aspiring authors, this can be the most challenging part of the process. After all, where do you even start? Publishing companies aren't necessarily household names, and the vast majority is concentrated in major cities. You probably don't have a network that includes many book publishing professionals. Once again, there's no single path to take when attempting to "pitch" your idea to publishers, but there are some methods to help increase your chances of being offered a contract.

First, a little insider background: Very few publishers today accept unsolicited or un-agented manuscripts. And if they do receive them, they typically go automatically to the bottom of the priority list--also know as "the slush pile"--and are rarely read.

This is why I recommend finding a literary agent to represent you. A good agent is already plugged in to the publishing world, with relationships and regular contact with editors at many publishing houses. An agent knows an editor's style and interests, and sends work to appropriate contacts. For example, most editors have focused interests, such as business books, pop culture books, parenting books, children's stories or bridal books. Agents know these areas of focus and send work to those whom they feel will best respond with an offer. In addition, editors will look at proposals from agents they trust much more quickly than unsolicited work. After all, if an agent is representing an author, it means the work has already passed one "screen" test.

But how can you find an agent in the first place? Personal referrals are usually the most effective if you can find someone who will "introduce you" to his or her agent. Since that can be difficult, you can find an agent yourself. The Literary Marketplace is a great resource that provides a comprehensive list of agents and their areas of focus so you can send your proposal to appropriate parties. Like editors, they also have areas of expertise and focus, although they are usually a bit more broad-based. These areas of focus are also listed in the LMP.

In addition to having entrée into the world of publishing, your agent understands the marketplace and the inner workings of the publishing world. That means if you are made an offer, your agent can negotiate the best possible terms for you. In return, most receive 15 percent of your advance and royalties.

A legitimate agent will never ask for payment upfront; avoid any agent who tells you otherwise. Agents are only paid when your work sells to a publisher.

Finally, don't give up. While the first agent you confront may not be interested in your idea or your manuscript, the 20th agent may be. Books are a very personal commodity, and interests and tastes are highly individual. There are countless stories in the world of publishing about some of today's phenomenally successful authors, who went through rounds of rejection when they first began. If you believe in your work, someone else is bound to, as well.

Tamara Monosoff is Entrepreneur.com's "Inventions" columnist and the founder and CEO of Mom Inventors Inc., a product development and manufacturing company. She's also the author of The Mom Inventors Handbook: How to Turn Your Great Idea Into the Next Big Thing and Secrets of Millionaire Moms.

from http://www.entrepreneur.com/

At 13, he became a published author

2007-10-29T19:08:00.000-07:00

'DRAGON'S TALE': His mom made him an offer: If you finish it, we'll get it in print.
by Becky Stoppa

WASILLA -- Dillon Kelly loves to write. The Teeland Middle School eighth-grader will sit for hours with a composition notebook or his laptop, penning random thoughts or reactions to television shows or movies. About four or five years ago, he began stringing those thoughts and reactions together into stories of his own.

By the time he was 11 or 12, he'd started a handful of books.

"But he never finished anything," said his mother, Bonnie Kelly. "Finally I said, 'Dillon, I'll tell you what: If you start a book and finish it, we will get it published.' "

It was an offer he couldn't pass up. It took nearly four weeks, but Dillon finished his first book by age 13.

Bonnie Kelly kept her word. She contracted with Xlibris, a partner of Random House Ventures that offers pay-to-publish services. For $1,200, Xlibris edited Dillon's manuscript and provided layout and design services as well.

Reporter Becky Stoppa has covered education in the Mat-Su Borough since 2005.
She recently began covering health issues in the Valley as well. Stoppa has a bachelor's degree in journalism and public communications from UAA.
It published Dillon's 107-page book, "A Dragon's Tale: The Millennium of the Blood Lines," six months later. The book is now available for sale through Xlibris and online booksellers.

And it's on sale through Monday at Teeland's book fair. It's displayed in the school library alongside a full-size poster of its cover, which features a yellowish-orange background and an illustration of a woman in a one-piece green suit, with sword in hand, straddling a dragon's egg.

"At first I didn't know what to say. Then my words finally caught up with my breath," Dillon said. "I thought, 'Wow, I can't believe I did it.' "

And neither can his peers, said Teeland librarian Mary Cochran.

Dillon's display has "been a real popular stopping place at the book fair," she said. "After his book came out, other students started saying, 'I can't believe a student wrote a book and had it published,' " Cochran said. "I think he's inspired other students to think that they can do it too."

Several students, she said, now talk of writing books of their own. Some ask her to listen to chapters they've written; others ask how to go about getting books published. One student even suggested the school form a writers club for aspiring authors.

Cochran says she relishes that enthusiasm. "My first degree is in journalism, so I'm really glad to see kids write -- especially in middle school, because this is where the interest in reading and writing starts dropping off," Cochran said.

Dillon, now 14, says his interest in writing is going strong. He's already 50 pages into his next book, "Aragon's Tale: Rise of the Apocalypse," a sequel to his first. And he's come up with the titles for several other books as well -- the first step in his creative process, he said.

"Whenever I get a good name down for a book, it seems to be easier to write," he said. "But when I come up with a goofy name, it's a lot harder."

Like his fellow students, Dillon often bounces story ideas off Cochran. He said her encouragement and that of his parents as he was writing "A Dragon's Tale" helped him see his book through to the end. He says he now offers that same encouragement to others.

"If you have a dream of writing a book or doing art or whatever it is you want to do, don't say, 'I can't do this,' or 'I don't have the money for it,' or whatever," he said. "Just say to yourself, 'I can do it.' Where there's a will, there's a way."

Reporter Becky Stoppa has covered education in the Mat-Su Borough since 2005. She recently began covering health issues in the Valley as well. Stoppa has a bachelor's degree in journalism and public communications from UAA.

from http://www.adn.com/

Why Self-Publish?

2007-10-26T01:40:00.000-07:00

by Katrina Williams

You have written a book. Now you want to publish it. Which way do you go? Self-Publishing or Traditional Publishing?

For most people, the traditional method seems safer, more reliable, and simply, easier. But it can take a long time to see their labored-over work in print. For many people, that dreaded rejection letter, saying their work is not something the publisher can market successfully at this time, leaves them feeling disillusioned. That’s when other means of getting the book into print comes to mind.

Self-Publish. It makes sense for the writer who has the money, the time to devote to promotion, and the desire to be his or her own boss. There are basic steps that will allow you to be successful at self-publishing your own book.

Write
Before you write your story, make sure there is a market for it. This can be very hard for some writers to comprehend because they may believe the story they have written is one that everyone will want to read. If you determine the market for your book before you write it, you can save yourself a lot of aggravation in the long run. Finding that you spent two years writing a book that no one wants to read can be a hard pill to swallow.

Research
Once your story is written and you have determined there is a market for it, research the publishing industry. Learn the ins and outs before jumping in feet first and sinking quickly. You will avoid many pitfalls that new writers make when self-publishing their own books.

Find Funding
Find funding for self-publishing your book. If you have the capital yourself, great. If not, consider other sources that would help you raise the capital for self-publishing your own book.

Get the Book Reviewed
Before your book is set to go to the printer, send out copies of the manuscript to magazines and online book sites that review books. You want to send press releases also to let the world know your book is coming on the market.

Design the Book
Once you have the funding, decide on the design of the book and locate a printing company to print your book. Print-On-Demand companies and subsidy publishing companies are good places to start. Each type has its own advantages, so check out both types of printing companies before deciding on one to produce your book.

Develop a Marketing Strategy
Now that the book is printed, the real work begins: promoting and marketing your book. Design a publicity campaign and an advertising campaign for the book. You should have a marketing strategy in place to sell those millions of books you have always dreamed of selling.

Research Distribution Methods
Explore the various methods for distributing your books. Contact bookstore chains, individual bookstores, and online bookstores for stocking your book. Bookstores are not the only places to sell your book. Research distribution channels such as wholesalers, libraries, and direct mail order. Consider non-traditional methods and places to get your book in the hands of readers. Be inventive. Creative.

Promote Your Book
Now promote, promote, promote your book. If you have found a niche that is perfect for your book, and you promote the book like crazy, you will have achieved that ultimate goal of selling millions of copies of your book.

Ready for the next one?
Katrina Parker Williams is an English Instructor and teaches English Composition and Grammar at a community college. She is also the author of a fictional novel Liquor House Music and publishes writing and publishing articles online. Visit Katrina’s website at www.stepartdesigns.com for more writing and publishing tips.

from http://www.topublishabook.net/

How to Self Publish a Book In 30 Days

2007-10-01T18:49:00.000-07:00

Whew, your book is written and it’s time to bring your masterpiece to market. Here’s a quick 30 day plan to get it done:

Week One:
This is a week of decisions. If you haven’t chosen a title and subtitle for your book, do so today! Once that’s accomplished you will need to write your sales copy for the back of your book and if you plan on marketing it yourself online, you’ll want a sales page. This is the week to also determine how much you want to charge for your book and determine how much money you want to spend on marketing and promotion, distribution, and printing. If you don’t already have an accounting software package, consider getting one or hire an accountant. Lastly, you’ll want to consider whether or not you want to hire an editor to go over the book one last time before you have it printed or release it to the public.

Week Two:
More decisions! Today you get to choose the name of your company. If you are planning on having a website, I suggest that you do, then you’ll also want to reserve a domain name. Once that is accomplished, you’ll need to establish your company legally. Are you an llc, corporation, sole proprietor? Determine your business structure and register it with the proper authorities.

Fun stuff happens this week too. You get to register for your book’s ISBN number. (Visit ISBN.org). The last task of the week is to determine how you’re going to sell your book. You not only have to decide on whether you want a print version, electronic version or both you need to decide where you want to make your book available. These decisions are important because it will help you with the next few weeks of planning.

Week Three:
Websites are an absolute must have for sales, promotion, and general information about you and your company. Many people use the internet to search for information, to research purchases, and to make purchases. If you don’t have a website, you’ll miss out on thousands of potential customers.

Week three is also the time to design your book’s cover and inside layout. You may want to consider hiring an expert for this step unless you have a talent in design and graphic arts.

Week Four:
Finalize your manuscript. Make sure that it is as ready as it can be and then send it to reviewers, experts in your industry, and relevant periodicals. Your last two tasks are to find a printer, if you plan on printing it, and to decide how you want to get your sold books to your customers. You need a distribution plan.

Week Five:
You’re almost published! This week is a week of final decisions and steps. This week you need to list your book with book catalogs (a distributor can help you with this step). If you are selling your book online, you will also need to purchase shopping cart software or determine how your customers are going to order your book and pay for it. Lastly, you will need to establish a marketing plan.

About the Author

Bob Burnham, Entrepreneur, Consultant and Author of:
‘101 Reasons Why You Must Write A Book’
‘How To Make A 6 Figure Income Writing & Publishing Your Own Book’
‘Go To: Publish a Book’

Source: www.writesearch.com

How to Self Publish a Book, 10 Little Known Money Saving Secrets

2007-10-01T18:45:00.000-07:00

by Bob Burnham

Self publishing tasks and marketing tools can quickly add up, costing you more money than you originally planned. Here are ten tips to save money self publishing your book.

Hire a student or a virtual assistant to edit and format your book. Professional editors cost a lot of money but they play a vital role in the process of making your book great. College students and stay at home parents can be a significant resource if you are on a budget.

Even better, ask a detailed family member or friend to go through your book word by word for errors. A second or third pair of eyes is always good book writing business.
Hire a student to design your book’s cover or contribute to the graphics inside. You can also hire students to design your website – you will be amazed what they can do!

E-publish your book for the most cost effective means of production and delivery.

If you absolutely must print, print your book in small quantities to keep your inventory low. You will save money on printing and storage.

Typeset your book yourself. Printers will charge you hundreds of dollars to typeset your book, why pay that money when you can do it yourself? Simply ask them what format it needs to be delivered in, example PDF, and then create the typeset copy.

Keep your book fulfillment in-house, do it yourself. You will save money in shipping costs and postage and you will make sure that people receive undamaged copies of your books!

Book promotion can be expensive. Cut costs by partnering with other relevant websites to promote your book in exchange for promoting theirs. This kind of trade works well for books that compliment each other. For example a book about how to raise healthy children might partner well with a recipe book for child friendly foods.

Use free online promotion tools like email, article posting, and press release distribution.

Take advantage of open source software products to create your book. Online you can find free software products that range from word processing programs to programs that will capture images or photos on your computer. Open source software can save you literally thousands of dollars in book production expenses.

About the Author

Entrepreneur, Consultant and Author of “101 Reasons Why You Must Write A Book”

Source: www.positivearticles.com

Author makes her dream come true

2007-10-01T18:23:00.000-07:00

Self-published story tells tale of ‘Spider in the Shower’

By Jean Laquidara Hill, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

HOLDEN— As Linda J. McCarthy was placing shampoo and conditioner in her shower stall five years ago, she saw a small spider lurking behind the shower curtain.

The tiny creature so unnerved Ms. McCarthy that she dashed out of the bathroom, not hiding her fear. As she squirmed, she heard the little girl she was baby-sitting say, “It’s just a wittle one.”

Ms. McCarthy remembers pausing, smiling and repeating, “Yes, it is just a wittle one,” lisp and all.

That experience was the inspiration for one of the 40 children’s books she has written and the only one to be published: “Spider in the Shower.” The book is being self-published under her pen name, Lillie Jones, which is her late great-grandmother’s name.

Unlike the ordinary spider in Ms. McCarthy’s shower, the one in her book is hairy and old — “With a motorcycle jacket and a tooth made out of gold. With a patch across one eye, and a hand that has a hook.”

Or at least that is how he appears to the red-haired girl whose mother is trying to get her to take a bath.

Writing the book was as simple and joyful an experience for Ms. McCarthy as writing always has been, even with the hours upon hours she spent rewriting and refining her work.

Rhyming every word she could think of from the time she was 4, Ms. McCarthy has been a storywriter for nearly as long as she can remember.

It was never an effort, regardless of the time invested. “I couldn’t stop writing. It was as though the writing made me happy while keeping the bad times at bay,” Ms. McCarthy said as she thumbed through a thick black binder that tells the story of a life of writing and singing, and disheartening closed doors.

She has received hundreds of publishers’ rejection letters in response to the time, money and emotion she has spent mailing her submissions, including the 40 children’s books. Many of the letters, kept with other letters documenting successes, tell her the manuscripts are being returned unopened because the publishing house “desks are full.”

Read full article here.

Is Your Book Viable? Tips for Getting a Book Published

2007-09-23T20:08:00.001-07:00

Editor’s note: This article is excerpted with permission from The Well-Fed Self-Publisher: How to Turn One Book into a Full-Time Living, by Peter Bowerman. (Fanove, 2006. http://www.wellfedsp.com/). Peter has been a valuable contributor to this site, and his tips should be read by all aspiring (and experienced authors). If you want to write a book or want to publish a book, and you’re interested in self-publishing, then this article and Peter’s book are for you. Even if you’re interested in writing contests or

“Crazy” Lives of writers…
We’ve all known people who talk about their “crazy” lives, which, 99 out of 100, is just a life like most other lives, or, at the very least, certainly not some Oprah-worthy existence. They exclaim, “I should write a book; no one would believe it.” Yeah, and no offense, but I’d wager no one would buy it, either. What we think is absolutely fascinating about our life is rarely so for others. So, Rule #1 of the SP game, and part and parcel of the whole Sales and Marketing discussion here is this:

Write a Book People Will Want to Read.
Painfully obvious, right? Total no-brainer? Well, as we’ve all discovered, few things are no-brainers, especially this one. A corollary to this rule is: Don’t let ego or vanity (”Hooowee, I’m going to be an author!”) cloud your judgment and keep you from asking yourself the tough questions to determine if your proposed subject matter is indeed salable. Remember: a garage full of books is an amazingly ego-boosting sight for about two hours. Tops.

Don’t Go “Book Blind” After Publishing Your Book
Put another way, don’t succumb to what I’ll call “book blindness,” a common affliction of first-time self-publishers and even some more experienced folks: when you become so enamored with the idea that you’ve written a book and you’re so intimately attuned to how much blood, sweat and tears went into its creation (and by extension, how “incredible” you know it is) that you lose sight of the fact that your market doesn’t know any of this and needs to be sold on all of it. That means content, cover, title, subtitle, editing, and everything else that contributes to a successful title - in the market’s opinion, not yours.

What’s the Payoff of Becoming a Published Author?
Let’s look at a clear-cut example of a book people want to read: a Top 10 title on The New York Times fiction best-seller list. What makes such a book so popular? With non-fiction titles, the subject is undoubtedly topical and compelling, and the information is sufficiently valuable to enough people to translate to commercial success.

With fiction though, it’s likely the draw of a marquee author. What makes those authors so popular? Well, you could safely say that their books strike a common chord in enough readers with compelling story-telling, rich character development, recurring themes or heroes/heroines (in the case of a series), authentic depictions of human nature, etc.

Simply put, for a book to become a best seller, enough people have to feel there’s a payoff: a feeling that’s pleasurable or familiar, something they can relate to on some fundamental level, etc. Will your book deliver that crucial payoff?

Tune in to WRII-FM
All writing, if it’s to be effective (i.e., get through to your reader), must always consider the audience, as we just discussed. Throughout the entire self-publishing process, you’ll need to keep your reader/listener/viewer constantly in mind. Choosing the right (read marketable) subject matter for your book is just the first time you’ll do that.

Along the way, you’ll do it on countless other occasions, as you craft: 1) email pitches to potential reviewers; 2) press releases to particular publications or associations that have specific “hot buttons”; 3) articles for print/online publications which look for specific content; 4) promotional copy, commentary and content for book signings, discussions, seminars, speeches, radio/TV interviews, other public appearances, and much more.

We need to tune our marketing minds into “WRII-FM,” that unspoken question in the mind of the reader of any printed material: “What’s Really In It For Me?” If the answer is, “nothing” or “not enough,” then it’s on to the next book on the bookshelf, email in the inbox, or article in the magazine.

How is Your Book Different?
Let’s assume that you’ve determined that your subject matter is indeed viable. Next stop? Barnes & Noble, Borders, or Amazon.com. See how many other books there are on your subject. It might be a great topic, but if there are 20 titles that deal with it already, do we really need a 21st? Yours had better be pretty darn special, and to someone other than you (and your mother…).

Plenty of Room for Well-Written Self-Published Books
In the case of my first book, there was literally one book on the market on the subject of commercial writing: Secrets of a Freelance Writer, by Bob Bly. It’s a very good book, in fact it was the book that got me started in the commercial writing business. Still, it was just one book. Bob’s book is solid, substantive and straightforward. Mine was going to be just as meaty in its own right but more fun, whimsical and irreverent - starting with the title itself, The Well-Fed Writer, and continuing on from there.

So, clearly, I felt comfortable that there was more than enough room for another book on the subject, especially one with a different tone and approach. Most importantly, the subject matter was very compelling. I knew there were zillions of struggling or “wannabe” writers out there who would be more than a little intrigued by a book that showed them, step-by-step, how to make a handsome full-time living as a writer.

A Book Proposal?
Here’s a great way to gel your thinking about the market viability of your book. About the time I’d finished my first book, and before I’d definitely decided to self-publish it, I put together a book proposal, which, of course, is the first step to pitching agents and/or publishers. But even if you’ve already made the decision to go the SP route, a book proposal is a wonderful way to get a reality check. It ensures that you’ll think this thing through thoroughly before taking the (financial) plunge. That means figuring out what the book would cover, why there’s a market for it, who would buy it, why they would buy it, what your competition is, what your expected costs will be, and much more.

Don’t make the oh-so-common mistake of overestimating the appeal of a potential book idea. Perhaps you do have a great book, but a little homework now will save a lot of headaches later.

About the Author

Peter Bowerman, an Atlanta-based freelance commercial writer, speaker, and business coach, is the author of the 2000 award-winning Book-of-the-Month Club selection, The Well-Fed Writer, and its 2005 companion volume, The Well-Fed Writer: Back For Seconds, a triple award-finalist (both self-published; www.wellfedwriter.com). His books have become how-to “standards” on starting a lucrative commercial freelancing business writing for corporations and creative agencies and for rates of $50-125+ an hour. He chronicled his self-publishing success (50,000 copies in print and a full-time living for over five years) in his third book, the late 2006 release, The Well-Fed Self-Publisher: How to Turn One Book into a Full-Time Living.

Source: www.writeandpublishyourbook.com

How to Choose a Print on Demand Publisher

2007-09-23T20:04:00.000-07:00

by Skylar Hamilton Burris

Before choosing a Print on Demand (POD) publisher, you need to consider seven crucial factors: set-up costs, cover price, royalty payments, control, distribution, author’s discounts, and the publisher’s reputation.

Print-On-Demand (POD) publishers merely print a single copy of a book at a time as it is ordered, rather than mass printing. Yet POD, as a term, has come to be synonymous with a business model in which publishers, in one way or another, charge authors to bring their books to readers. The payment may be through up-front set-up fees, a share of the sale price, or a combination of both. Authors who choose this form of publishing should understand that although their books may be available for sale on online retail sites, they will likely never appear in bricks and mortar bookstores. Authors will have to do their own marketing, and they can expect that their books will not be regarded as true publishing credits by most people in the publishing industry.

Despite these disadvantages, POD publishing is still right for some. If you wish to self-publish a book in order to reach a small, niche audience, POD is a low-risk means to do so. But before you choose the publisher who is right for you, you need to research the options and compare the offerings. When making your comparisons, don’t choose a company based on one factor alone. Be sure to consider all seven of the key factors outlined in this article, while giving slightly more weight to those issues that are most important to you.

1. Set-up Costs
Most PODs charge a basic set-up fee to publish your book. You may be inclined to choose a publisher that charges the lowest amount or nothing at all, but bear in mind that POD is a business, and publishers will make money one way or another. If you choose to minimize your set-up fees, understand the trade-off. PODs that charge lower set-up fees (or no set-up fees) often set higher cover prices, which could price your book out of the market. Additionally, they may pay lower royalties on average.

An initial outlay of funds could translate to higher total profits in the long run. If you expect to sell only a very few copies of your book, it may be best to avoid set-up fees. If, however, you expect to sell many copies of your book, an initial investment may be worthwhile if the publisher will pay you higher per book royalties.

When considering set-up costs, be careful to compare comparable services. Make sure you know what your set-up costs cover, and don’t pay for services you don’t need. Most authors will want a basic package to include, at a minimum, cover design, internal layout, an ISBN, and distribution to online retailers. Many packages load additional services you may secure at a lower price elsewhere, such as copyediting, promotion, and copyright registration (you can do that yourself). One company may charge no set-up fees at all, but you may have to design your own cover, which requires time and specialized knowledge.

2. Cover Price
Because it costs more to print one copy of a book at a time, cover prices for POD books are naturally higher than for mass market paperbacks. If you are publishing via POD, you will have a high cover price, but be wary of too high a price. Most readers simply are not willing to shell out more than $15 for a softcover novel. Yet some POD publishers charge as much as $19 or more for a 250 page book!

Some PODs will allow you to set your own cover price within a certain range. This is always an advantage. Realize, however, that when PODs offer this flexibility, a lower cover price usually means a lower whole dollar, per book royalty. However, if a lower cover price enables you to sell more books, your total earnings may be higher.

3. Royalty Payments
Most POD publisher pay you a percentage of net receipts, that is, a percentage of the amount that remains after printing costs and distributor’s discounts. A few, like Lulu and CaféPress, allow you to set your own royalty, which in turn affects cover price. Royalties are the most difficult aspect of print-on-demand publishing to compare, because a promise like “20 percent of net receipts” does not really give you a solid idea of the actual dollar amount you will receive. Your royalty will be affected by your cover price, the distributor’s discount the publisher offers to retailers, and the amount your publisher claims it costs to print your work. (I say “claims” because different publishers assign different costs for printing the same size book.) Before signing a contract, make sure your publisher has told you how much it costs to print your book, or see that she gives you a general estimate of how much, in whole dollars, you will make per book.

4. Control
Some writers care more about artistic control than they do about money. How much control do you want over your work? If you want complete control of layout and cover design, you could use a service like Lulu, which lets you handle everything. But if you want all that work done for you, you might fare better with a publisher like iuniverse. Do you want to be able to cease publication of your book, revise it in the future, or continue to seek a mainstream publisher while it is being sold on demand? Be sure to check the contract terms to see what rights, if any, you are granting the publisher. Some PODs will want exclusive rights to your work for a period of years, and terminating a contract may be difficult if you find another publisher.

5. Distribution
The reality is that most POD books will never see the inside of a bricks and mortar store. But if you maintain that hope, you have to be certain that your POD will offer a reasonable discount to stores and accept returns.

Even if you aren’t interested in breaking into the bricks and mortar stores, at the very least, you will probably want your book to be available on online retail sites. Make sure your publisher plans to get your book listed on the Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites and that your book will not simply be available for sale from the publisher’s own website.

6. Author’s Discounts
Most PODs offer a discount on copies ordered by the author, and some offer volume discounts. If you’re planning to purchase copies of your books for a local book signing, to use as promotional copies, to donate to libraries, or simply to give away to family and friends, you’ll want to consider this discount.

If you are planning to re-sell your own books, the author’s discount should be more than the royalty you would receive if the book were sold through your publisher’s website, otherwise, selling your own books probably won’t be worth your effort.

7. Reputation
You’ve heard the old adage: if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. If you’ve found a POD that seems to have low or no set-up fees and that promises you your books will be stocked by the big chains, proceed with caution. Indeed, even if a POD doesn’t promise you the sky, be sure to research its reputation. A good place to start is in writers’ forums on the Internet. You can also check the Better Business Bureau in the publisher’s home state, but this is likely to be less helpful as Internet-based businesses often go uncovered by local BBBs.

GET STARTED
Now that you know what seven factors to consider when comparing PODs, where do you find information for comparison? You can read general reviews and comparisons on websites like Publish on Demand and Books and Tales. Then visit and read carefully the website of each publisher you are considering, being certain to take a look at the contract. If it is not supplied on the publishers website, ask that a copy be e-mailed to you. Finally, consider joining the POD discussion list on Yahoo Groups. So, power up your computer and start hunting!

Source: http://www.googobits.com/

How to Publish Print on Demand

2007-09-23T19:40:00.000-07:00

by Henry

Print on Demand technology is the new wave of publishing. Authors of all stripes can now see their books in print. Self-publishing and Print on Demand are not necessarily one and the same. If you’re looking to self-publish, you won’t necessarily use a POD publisher. POD technology can also be used by established publishers looking to cut down on printing costs.

Step One: Set your budget: some POD services will cost $600 or more for the service. This will include interior and exterior book design. Other services are free, such as Lulu, but advanced cover design is not included. With Lulu, there are some basic cover templates available. You may need to hire an outside designer.

Step Two: Find a POD service. It’s important to keep in mind that some POD services will require you print a set number upfront—as many as 500 books. Other services will let you order books one at a time.

Step Three: Edit your book. Print on Demand services will take books as is. Hire a copy editor to smooth out grammatical problems, typos, or even issues with the plot.

Step Four: Upload PDFs of the cover and text. Some PDF services will be able to convert a word processor document to PDF. Get a copy of the book made to ensure that the printed copy looks good—including front and back cover and the interior.

Step Five: Set the price. The advantage of POD is you can set your own price and royalty. Don’t get greedy—pricing a 200-page paperback at $30 isn’t going to get a lot of takers.

Step Six: Publicize. If you’re a POD author, you are going to have to do most of the legwork yourself—including getting interviews and reviews. Consider hiring a PR firm.

Overall Tips & Warnings

If you’re an established writer, get one book printed up to see a new manuscript in printed form. It’s a much different experience reading a bound book compared to a manuscript. An author does not have to make the book available to the public.
Small publishers and university presses can make out of print books available through POD. It cuts down on the cost of a new printing for books that may not sell rapidly. It also cuts down on warehouse space.
Print on Demand is also available for calendars, CDs, DVDs, and coffee table books.
It can be difficult to get POD books stocked in stores because unsold books can’t necessarily be sold back for full price back to the publisher.
POD books can have a higher price tag than traditional hardcovers or paperbacks.
Look out for bad POD services with a bad track record—failed payment, high fees, poor quality books, or bad cover design.
There is a stigma about books published POD, but this appears to be fading.

Source: www.ehow.com

Publishing Your Own Book

2007-09-23T19:28:00.000-07:00

by Rhonda Swan

I’m vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard Island in Massachusetts with my family this week and I brought along a few books, figuring I’d catch up on some reading and get to some reviews for this blog. Unfortunately, I’m having too hard a time wading through the first two books. Both are self-published by South Florida authors. The non-fiction title is so poorly written AND boring; I keep finding myself throwing it down in frustration.The novel is poorly edited. In fact, I don’t think it was edited at all because of the missing commas and periods and run-on sentences I tripped over in just the two-page prologue.

So, instead of torturing myself any further or putting the authors on blast, I wanted to offer a few suggestions to aspiring authors, particularly those who want to self-publish. Not on the basics of the industry. For that, Dan Poynter’s “The Self-Publishing Manual: How to Write, Print, and Sell Your Own Book” is considered the bible of self-publishing and can be picked up online or at any major bookstore.

I want to give a few simple tips on publishing a book that will capture the attention of readers in a good way. They may seem too simple, but sometimes it helps to state the obvious.

Learning to Write: Writing well is a skill that not everyone possesses. And if you’re not a decent writer, chances are the only people reading your book are going to be family and friends.

Everyone has a story to tell, many need help to tell it. Simon and Shuster paid a journalism professor $120,000 to ghostwrite Hilary Clinton’s “It Takes a Village”. and she has a degree from Yale.

However, the average person can’t afford the luxury of a ghostwriter. So if you’re going to go it alone, hone your craft. Take a writing class. Join a writers’ group where the members critique each other’s work. Many national bestseller authors belong to writers’ groups. Most local libraries can help you find one. Attend writers’ conferences. Often, these conferences feature workshops with published authors who provide great tips on writing and publishing. The Black Writer’s Reunion and Conference, held this year in Dallas Texas, July 14-16, features several great workshops with authors and allows writers to pitch their stories to a publisher.

Test the Waters: Before publishing your book, let others read it. I am on the third version of my second novel. I have sent each version to a trusted writer friend and several avid readers who let me know what they think. The first version sucked, period. And my writer friend told me so in no uncertain terms. The second one was much better, but still had issues. The verdict on the third version is still pending and I’m nervously waiting.

The point is NOT to give your manuscript to your mother or anyone else who will be afraid to tell you the truth if it’s bad. Remember the American Idol auditions and all those terrible singers who made fools of themselves on national TV? These people all had one thing in common; folks who lied to them and told them they had talent. That’s not what you need.

And finally, HIRE AN EDITOR: No one can edit his own work. I edit for a living but wouldn’t presume to edit my own copy. Readers will get frustrated very quickly with poorly edited copy. Not only will editors help you with grammar and punctuation, they will make sure the half empty glass in chapter six is not a full glass in chapter seven. They’ll also point out issues with plot and character development etc.

I self-published my first novel and hired a freelance editor who used to work for a major New York publishing house. She came highly recommended by a successful author who had worked with her. Her input, though not cheap, was invaluable and helped make me a better writer and my book a better read. Though I now have a publisher, I will still make sure my manuscript is reviewed by an editor before turning it in to my publisher. It’s just that important.

Source: www.PalmBeachPost.com

Subsidy Publishing vs. Self-Publishing: What's the Difference?

2007-09-20T17:53:00.000-07:00

by Moira Allen

You've written a book. It's a great book. You know it's needed, that people would buy it. But you can't persuade a commercial publisher to agree. So now you're considering investing your own money to have the book published.

When you look at advertisements for "publishing," however, matters become confusing. Many "Publish Your Book" ads look alike -- yet some are for subsidy publishers and others are for printing companies that help authors "self-publish" their work. How can you tell them apart?

Some Definitions
A commercial publisher distributes books under its own imprint. It purchases manuscripts from authors, and handles the cost of producing those manuscripts: Cover and interior design, typesetting, printing, marketing, distribution, etc. The author is not expected to pay any of these costs. The books are owned by the publisher and remain in the publisher's possession until sold; the author receives a portion of sales in the form of royalties.

A subsidy publisher also distributes books under its own imprint. However, it does not purchase manuscripts; instead, it asks authors to pay for the cost of publication. With the exception of certain types of publishers such as university or scholarly presses, any publisher that requests a fee from the author is a subsidy publisher. As with commercial publishers, the books are owned by the publisher and remain in the publisher's possession; authors receive royalties.

A self-publisher is an author who pays for the cost of designing, printing, and distributing his or her book. Frequently, the author invents and registers a publishing "imprint." Self-published books are the property of the author and usually remain in the author's possession; all sales proceeds belong to the author.

A "printer" or "book producer" is a firm that works with self-publishing authors to produce professional-quality books. To confuse the issue, some printers call themselves "publishers," but are not publishers in the traditional sense of the word. Instead, they offer a range of book production services (such as design, typesetting, and printing), and may also offer marketing, distribution, warehousing and fulfillment services. ("Fulfillment" includes order processing, book shipping, and customer invoicing.) Whether you self-publish or use a subsidy publisher, you need to know what types of services you are paying for. Be sure to ask the following questions before signing any contract:

Who owns the book? Subsidy houses not only charge for their design, printing, and distribution services, they also claim various rights to your book. Printers and book producers charge only for their services; all rights to your book remain with you.
Will I receive royalties or all sales proceeds? If the answer is "royalties," you're dealing with a subsidy house. Subsidy publishers pay authors a standard royalty of around 10-15% (which may be based on the retail price of the book or upon a discounted price). When you self-publish, you receive all sales proceeds (although this does not necessarily translate into profit).
Where will the books be housed? A subsidy publisher will retain all books except for a few "author copies." A printer or book producer will give you the option of storing the books yourself, or paying for warehousing. In either case, the books belong to you. (Warehousing is a good option if you are using the printer's fulfillment and shipping services.)
How much control do I have over the production process? With commercial and subsidy publishers, the author's input usually ends with the delivery of the manuscript. In self-publishing, you have complete creative control over the development of your product. A book producer will offer you a menu of services; you pay only for those you need. If, for example, you're experienced in desktop publishing, you might choose to design your own interior layout, but contract for an artist to handle the cover. You should be able to review and approve any suggested designs, layouts, fonts, etc.
Who sends books to reviewers, and who pays for it? Some subsidy publishers may ask you for a list of potential reviewers; others have their own lists. If you want additional books sent out, however, you will usually have to pay for them -- at 40% or more of the cover price of your book. If you self-publish, sending out review copies is entirely your responsibility, but since the books already belong to you, you won't pay anything "extra" for those copies.
Who handles marketing and advertising? In this case, regardless of whether you choose subsidy or self-publishing, the answer is "you." Subsidy publishers include "marketing" as one of the services you're paying for, but generally do little beyond placing a small "tombstone" ad in a major newspaper. It is up to you to determine what your target market is and how to reach it, and up to you to pay the costs of reaching that market. A key question to ask yourself, therefore, is whether the benefits of a marketing campaign outweigh the costs, based on whether you receive all sales proceeds or only a percentage in royalties.
What is the cost? Neither subsidy publishing nor self-publishing is cheap; both will cost you thousands of dollars. Subsidy publishing requires a large investment up front; self-publishing may involve a smaller initial payment (the cost of producing and printing your book), but also involves the ongoing costs of marketing, publicity, warehousing, book packaging and shipping, and so forth. Your first question, therefore, should be whether you can afford to finance your book at all; your second should be "what do I want to get for my money?"

Financing your book is never a decision to be made lightly. Unless you have money to burn, it should never be made on the basis of ego: The desire to see your name in print no matter what the cost. For those who have studied the market and developed a professional product, however, "doing it yourself" has often proven an effective (and even profitable) way to bring a good book to life.

Source: www.writing-world.com

Self Publishing

2007-09-20T17:46:00.000-07:00

Self publishing is not vanity publishing, but a well-recognised way of avoiding the limitations of conventional publishing. Poetry is the poor relation in mainstream publishing, but that's no reason why your collection shouldn't be made a stunning production through self publishing. Several approaches exist, but marketing and distribution are often the critical elements.

Introduction
Self publishing is not a criticism of the publishing trade. Anyone who has worked with publishing houses knows the flair, experience and dedication they bring to their profession. Many books today are works of art and, for all the thousands of hours in manuscript reading and rewriting, editing, proof-reading, cover design, illustration, layout, printing, marketing and distribution — specialist skills acquired by long experience — books are astonishingly cheap. Many, the coffee-table variety in particular, are not in fact designed to be read, but to be displayed and admired.

Naturally, all this effort comes at a cost. Books have to be sold in quantity, and poetry books, alas, do not sell in quantity. Poetry has to be read and reread, quietly and carefully, and serious poetry today appeals to a vanishingly small segment of the reading public. Publishers and agents regret the situation, but can't work on thin margins. Anthologies forming part of teaching courses — textbooks, in effect — will turn a profit, as will works of the few poets who are household names, but for the remainder self publishing is probably the way forward.

Argument for Self Publishing
Several developments have conspired to make self publishing a popular alternative. People now live longer and naturally wish to comment on their lives, which are similar to those appearing in films and popular novels, but more complex, authentic and moving. History itself has changed, and communities and the individual lives of its members are becoming important areas of study. Increased leisure gives us more time for hobbies, and we wish to pass on our enthusiasms. We know more than our ancestors, and we travel more, making us more inclined to reflect on matters and commit those reflections to paper.

Equally important has been technology. Computers, word processing, desktop publishing and the Internet itself have moved publishing away from the literary trades and into the hands of the ordinary citizen. Boundaries are becoming blurred, and what was once the preserve of the raconteur and private diarist is increasingly a form of self publishing.

But though text messaging and Internet use has grown enormously, some communications need more permanent storage. From papers discovered on your weaving ancestors in East Anglia you have compiled a monograph on eighteenth century rural life. But who's going to be interested enough to buy a copy? If only a few hundred, then self publishing is your only option. University presses tell you that funding shortfalls make it impossible for them to bring out your study of the Carboniferous brachiopod faunas of northern Peru. What then? You can deposit the papers in the library vaults, but think of the perilous field trips and the long hours in the lab documenting the finds. Again self publishing is your answer.

Self publishing is not therefore vanity publishing where you are flattered into paying over the odds for the gratification of a talent that does not exist. No doubt a gradation extends from self publishing to vanity publishing, but many professionally-published novels fail to make an impact on the public, and not every scholarly work appearing under illustrious imprints has lasting value, (or sometimes present value, to judge from fraternity reviews). Self publishing needs to seen in context, as a response to a legitimate need in an increasingly diverse and pluralist society. It makes available what would otherwise not be available, and for that we should be grateful.

Types of Self Publishing

What form of self publishing?
You can do your own typesetting and pass the plates on to jobbing printers.
You can make your own electronic books.
Or you can hand the whole matter over to a print on demand company.

All are feasible, and relatively inexpensive today, but the additional work of marketing and distribution falls squarely on your shoulders. That is often the critical element, and one you may want to consider before plunging into the mechanics of self publishing.

Source: www.poetrymagic.co.uk

Navigating the Maze of Self-Publishing

2007-09-20T17:35:00.000-07:00

by Jane Bussard

Self-Publishing means: You the writer are going to invest a lot of money and time to have your masterpiece published.

Some writers can use the technical computer programs that do everything required to prepare a manuscript for the printing press. Well, I was not one of those -- I knew absolutely nothing about a computer. So, my odyssey into writing and publishing was arduous and painful, although the challenge itself was fun. Other writers who have self-published will have a very different story than mine. There is one requirement however and that is...dedication. Without belief in your story, you will give up along the way.

For me, it all started this way. Long after my retirement, I decided to write down the memoirs of an incredible lady, Rosa Ellen Scott, who was born in 1895. She was my mother and I had tape recorded our visits together over many years when she was in her 80s. At that time I had jokingly told her, "Someday Mom, I will write a book about your adventurous life." She always pooh-poohed this idea. She was very wrong. Her life was full of love, great joys, terrible prejudices, hardships, intrigue and danger.

It took many months to listen to our conversations and take lengthy scribbled notes on those trusty yellow tablets. About this time, something extraordinary happened to me. I became enthralled, intrigued with her life, and the era in which she lived. It felt exhilarating and exciting to see how her story would unfold day by day. So Skinny Scotty was then and there imprinted in my heart as a real book that I must share with others.

It was then I decided that I must learn to use a computer: a must for any writer in this day and age. Finally about a year later, I had something they call a manuscript, a big stack of papers, filled with words. But, what does one do with this manuscript?

About then was the point where I decided that some research about the publishing business would be sensible. After much research and soul-searching, my husband and I finally decided to self-publish this story. So, I studied many big fat reference books, e.g., The Writers Handbook, Writing & Book Marketing Made Easy, and the real kicker, How to Publish Your Book & Sell a Million Copies (Sure!!).

Although we thought we were prepared, we were dreaming, of course. We did get four estimates of self-publishing costs. These estimates differed dramatically, but there were other factors to consider. What will they actually do for you and do they like your story? Can you look at copies of their completed books in your price range? Are they within driving distance, not clear across the country? Of course you must read every word in their contracts.
Our decision to go with a small local publisher (it turned out) was one of the best decisions we made. The cost was higher, but professional advice was readily available, and we liked the look and feel of the books they were publishing.

At this point, dear writers, you are looking at about a year for your wonderful manuscript to be turned into that wonderful book with your name on the cover.

I can give you a run down on the steps all of us took, the editor, the publisher, his staff and me, the nervous author, stumbling through this unknown world. I suppose if you don't want to be involved in the publishing process you can just turn your manuscript over to a publisher, hope for the best, and wait for the finished book. No thank you! If you want a book to be proud of, jump in, make a pest out of yourself and listen and learn.

First there is "EDITING." I capitalize the word because that will make or break any book, even if you are a pro in the writing game. Well, I was fortunate; the editor assigned to me actually liked my story. He said he enjoyed the country flavor, also very kindly telling me. "June, as a writer, you need a lot of help! ... but I will work with you." Boy, was I willing to do that. After 5 months of very tedious work, more research, many re-writes, additions, descriptions clarified, the spelling and sentencing corrected, we finally agreed it was now darn readable. Everyone can learn from an editor; he or she gives you a whole new prospective about your story.

Now, the actual publisher looks over this fine manuscript. He wants a few additional corrections, so begins the rest of the process.

Being an amateur, I of course, did not take these procedures in the order that is required...so ran into many snags. The following are steps that should be taken in their chronological order:

Start planning what your cover will look like immediately.
Talk over a possible price for the book with your publisher.
Apply for Copyright and CIP number from Library of Congress.
Apply for the ISBN number, which is International Standard Book Numbering.
With your editor's help, write a short synopsis of book for back cover.
Talk to anyone you know who can give you an endorsement, these are the promotional quips you need on the back cover. Give your manuscript to anyone you can think of who has some credibility, any editor or an established writer, anyone who might write a sentence of praise for your story. Also get their permission to use it.
As a self-publisher, you are in the business of publishing...you must have a fictitious business license. Also get a re-sale business number from your local Board of Equalization.
Make decisions about the wording of the foreword, table of content and epilogue.
Choose fonts and chapter heading designs.
Keep refining the cover design because you will often be changing your mind. Luckily, our son is a graphic artist, and watching him design my beautiful cover on a computer was amazing.
Make the final decision on price for book which depends on size and pages. Skinny Scotty is the larger 6 by 9 size with 190 pages, soft cover with a heavy lamination and full color.
Now is the time for the publisher to get your Bar Code set up for you, that is the grocery store looking code placed on the back of the book, which gives your ISBN and price. The book industry uses this for ordering.
The next step from the publisher is called Pagination. This is completed with a unique computer program that prints your pages out exactly as they will be on the pages of the book. These must be re-checked by publisher, editor and yourself because this is it -- this is the way each page in your book will look. This stack of papers is called "galleys."
Figure out where to find more money! These things always costs more than you bargained for. Just about now, you will be praying that there will be an end to all these decisions, because you are getting a little crazy.
Get permission, in writing, if you are using any photo, illustration, or quote that doesn't belong to you.
If you are planning to sell this book (and who isn't?), get some flyers designed with all the pertinent details of this wonderful book that will soon be out. Also, get stationary and business cards to assist you with marketing.
Next, my publisher -- who is very meticulous -- wanted the pagination checked out again, along with all aspects of front and back cover.
All this will finally come together. As I said, there were many, many steps which we did entirely in the wrong chronological order and had to go back three steps and so on. My husband kept telling me. "Hon, just slow down, that is not a life or death decision, remember this is supposed to be fun! Think of the education you're getting...why, our next book will just be a breeze."
Ok, now these processes are all completed, now what? Well, the publisher does what he calls the blue-line. That means big photo plates in blue-line of all the paginated pages, in the correct order to print both sides of a page. Front and back cover details are on a special hard disk cartridge.

Most small publishers send books out for printing and binding to a big conglomerate printing house. My publisher had one he used and said the actual printing and shipping time would be 3 weeks. One day he called telling me a few samples had arrived. Well, when he handed me the first copy of Skinny Scotty I almost fainted. It completely took my breath away to be actually holding my own book, my mothers incredible story. The cover was beautiful, everything was beautiful, this was a real book...with my name on it!

Then there is the "grand finale": A huge semi-truck backs up in your driveway. The driver takes out a fork-lift and unloads thousands of books, all in neat boxes, into your garage. You just stand there in awe.

That's when you realize what you've done! What in the world are you going to do with all those books? I didn't have the slightest idea of how to promote and sell a book and it was a good thing I didn't know of the pitfalls to come. Those were the complex and costly world of the promotional industry, the bookstore discount jolt, and the even greater jolt of the discounts distributors require and the serious problem of getting anyone to pay you. To begin with, none of these people are very enthusiastic about a self-published book, so that is the first tough hurdle. But, perhaps the promotional hazards of selling a self-published book should be another story.

We eventually fought through that whole promotional process, and Skinny Scotty is now selling exceptionally well, and we are getting ready for our second printing. Wow, what a wild and exciting trip these last four years have been. But, we are looking forward to doing it again, only this time with a lot more knowledge and understanding of that world of self-publishing.

About the Author

June E. Bussard is the author and self-publisher of Skinny Scotty, The Adventurous Life of Rosa Ellen Scott, which is available for purchase from www.amazon.com. Or, for autographed copy, just email jnjbooks@jps.net or visite the author's website at www.jps.net/jnjbooks. She welcomes comments from her readers. June and Joe Bussard also have a charming Children's Bedtime Story available through 1stbooks.com, entitled "Once Upon A Christmas Eve."

Source: www.writerswrite.com

Self-Publishing: Tips, Tricks & Techniques

2007-09-20T17:32:00.003-07:00

by James A. Cox
Midwest Book Review

If you've chosen to publish one of your own books, you know you're in for a challenge, and lots of work, and lots of fun. For most of us the process starts out as an idea, then ripens into a dream. It takes hold of our lives, dictates how we spend our time, compels us to capture our thoughts on paper, and tests our ingenuity in a hundred different ways. But a dream without action is like a car without gasoline. It can't go anywhere. To move our book from inception to completion we must fuel ourselves with education and study; we must conquer the craft of writing and publishing.

The undertaking is complex. The subject mater must be widely appealing -- or tightly focused. A snappy title must be created. Sloppy writing must be sharpened and honed to a fine edge. A myriad of business procedures must be mastered: pricing, discounts, invoices, licenses, and taxes all clamor to be reckoned with. Unfamiliar numbers and listings must be conquered. The fine points of design and production seem infinite and incomprehensible. Typesetting decisions, paper weights, and binding options pull you in a dozen different directions. You will feel as though you are drowning in a sea of details.

Then (for the successful self-publisher) one day it all begins to fall into place and you gain a sense of how the whole process fits together. The mysteries of advertising and promotion begin to clear up. Your news releases find their mark. Requests for review copies pop up in each day's mail. A prestigious national magazine asks about first serial rights and an expert reader gives you a great blurb for the cover.

Finally comes THE DAY. Your books arrive from the printer. The dream has been given form. You had a goal and you reached it. And as your publishing venture matures, you'll mastermind merchandising techniques you never thought possible. Thousands of people have done it successfully. So can you.

As a writer you can be self-published, subsidy-published, or commercially-published. Self-publishers are sometimes called private publishers, independent publishers, small presses (though usually this denotes a publisher of several titles), or alternative publishers.

According to the R.R. Bowker Company there are on average 1,200 new publishers coming into the marketplace ever quarter, an average of just under 5,000 new publishers starting up each year.

Statistics show that of all the titles published annually (665,000 books currently in print, with some 53,000 more being ground out each year) by the established, commercial publishers, only about three out of ten are financial successes.

Unknown writers are hurt by the fact that a disproportionate chunk of advertising dollars is spent for authors with established track records or those with celebrity status and a "name."

Repeated rejection slips can smother the hopes of ordinary men and women who feel that their manuscript, their book project has something important to contribute to the reading public. For the courageous, for the entrepreneurial, for the dedicated, self-publishing is a practical and profitable way for them to launch their own work. They become self-publishers.

But without planning, without forethought, the odds against success for the self-published are overwhelming. Indeed, the risk of capital is about that of putting your stake down on a Las Vegas crap table.

But if you carefully prepare, if you follow a methodical, step-by-step coherent plan, you can succeed as a self-published author, and even prosper.

With computer technology becoming cheaper and easier to use, there's an exciting revolution going on in self-publishing.

Tom & Marilyn Ross' trade paperback THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SELF-PUBLISHING (Writer's Digest Press, $16.95) is literally everything you will ever need to know in order to successfully write, publish, promote, and sell your own book. It is the basis for this workshop and indeed, even this introduction.

You can minimize risks and maximize profits by learning exactly what you need to know and the order in which you need to act to get your book from the idea stage through the production process and into the hands of consumers.

You will learn how to create and control your work every step of the way, with complete explanations and plenty of professional advice on book production and business procedures, publicity and marketing strategies, plus invaluable tips on negotiating with regular publishers and agents for secondary sales.

There is computer desktop publishing advice including publishing software (some of which I will be updating), laser printers and word processing programs.

Guidelines for business matters and production basics that explain everything from designing the book to getting it printed.

Appendices list important marketing contacts, clip art sources, the publishing timetable, bookstore chains, reprint publishers, wholesalers and distributors, and a great deal more.

Actual samples of sales letters, ads, catalog sheets, cover designs, invoices, copyright applications, and virtually every form you'll need are provided.

Proven marketing techniques including free publicity, advertising guidance, and dozens of innovative ideas to boost sales are given, and I will be adding some more based on my own 20+ years of experience in the field both as an author, a self-publisher, a retail bookstore owner, a reviewer, a consultant/advisor for small presses and independent authors, the producer/host of television's BOOKWATCH, and the editor-in-chief of The Midwest Book Review.

Self-Publishing requires two kinds of investments: investments of capital (money) and investments of yourself. As in any business you will require start-up capital. There must be enough money to print the book, send out review copies, sustain an advertising campaign, and so forth. How much depends on many variables. How long will your book be? Will it have photographs inside? Will the cover be full-color? Will you type it, do it on a computer, or have it typeset? How many copies will you print and on what quality of paper?

You might skimp by on a few hundred dollars for a booklet on which you do most of the work yourself. You could spend over $30,000 on a coffee-table book with lots of color photographs. Generally speaking, to produce a professional-quality book and promote it properly, you'll be in the range of $10,000 to $15,000 in today's marketplace.

But be forewarned! Lack of market analysis, careful planning, budgeting, and persistence has caused some people to lose their investments.

You must be willing to devote a substantial block of time to your publishing project. While this can be spread over a long period, there is no getting around the fact that to have a dynamite book, you must spend much of your time writing, revising it, producing it, and promoting it.

A self-publisher is all of the following: writer, editor, designer/artist, typesetter/compositor, printer, financier/accountant, marketeer, shipper/warehouser, legal adviser, financial underwriter, and business manager.

The motivations to self-publishing can be many and varied. Some are in it to make money. Others because they yearn to see their name in print and to leave some sort of literary legacy behind, still others have a cause to serve, a dream to realize, a hobby to have fun with and pass the time of day. Still others see self-publishing as an adjunct of something else. A "how to" book on dating helped one man's dating service prosper; several of my acquaintances found that self-publishing got them more paid lectures, consultancy clients, seminar programs, and tenure application success.

Before you move ahead on your self-publishing venture, establish concrete goals. Over and over, it has been proven that those who take the time to think through and write down the desired results in terms of specific steps are the people who achieve success. Lay out the course. Write the steps involved. Break down the overall process into easily digestible chunks. Chew on them. Spit out those that don't work. Take more generous bites of those that are satisfying. Set your goals and plan carefully for a successful journey. The first leg of your trip has to do with developing a winning manuscript. Your book is your product. The rest is salesmanship.

Source: www.midwestbookreview.com

Self-Publishing Steps to Success

2007-09-12T18:15:00.000-07:00

Write the darn book!
Marketing the book.
Editing the book.
Format the page layouts.
Get a hardcopy.
Designing the cover.
Printing the book.
Paying for it.
Selling the book.

The first thing to do is to go buy The Self-Publishing Manual by Dan Poynter. Almost every self-publisher credits this book as being the best tool for learning how the whole process works (including me!) It's essential reading. Dan has been self-publishing books for years and travels around the world giving seminars. He is the expert in the field and his book saves you a lot of headaches and educates you on the best way to go about the process.

Source: www.crystalreportsbook.com