Tag Archives: Learning
Vanity Radio Interview Scam…
I had an email yesterday from an author asking about a radio interview with Kate Delaney and Emmy Award Winner form America Tonight. I can honestly say I’ve never heard of these type of interviews before so being me, I went on a research trip to look into it. I was drawing blanks from google until I typed in Kate’s name and radio interview scam, then I found something. Of course it is from the wonder ‘WRITERS BEWARE’ site and written by ‘VICTORIA STRAUSS.’
If you are offered an Interview for Kate Delaney, Ric Bratton or Al Cole, (there are probably others too) then you NEED TO READ VICTORIA’s research which you can find HERE.
Be Careful out there.
Publishing Confusion – Part Two. Author Brand
Author Brand! What is it?
Who likes Nike, Adidas? Who’s your favourite Movie Star, Poet, Author? The first two are BRANDS which people love. The Second are people who can be turned into BRANDS and generally are. So, how do they do this? What does it mean to have a BRAND?
If you get a big enough BRAND you can sponsor others, the same way Nike and Adidas do. They are MARKETING MACHINES, but how did they do it? How did they get so big and noticeable? It’s a bit of give and take. The big businesses sponsor the big names in sports and movies. If a movie star loves the shoes, clothes, drink…whatever the business sell, then the public will buy and support the person being sponsored which in itself supports the MARKETING MACHINE. It continually circles around, making money.
As authors and publishers we need to do something similar. The trouble is getting your foot in the door. How is this achieved. Well it’s time to ask some of the Independent Authors who’ve made a success of their books. There is one lady I know you’d all love to chat with. Sadly she is busy heading for a deadline right now though Jami Albright has given me permission to share how she went about her first book launch, which also shows how she used her BRAND to her advantage.
This article was written by Jami Albright in 2017. Jami has since released another three books in her series.
The minute you decide to sell your book it stops being your baby and becomes a product. A product that needs to be launched into the world. Which, frankly, is a dubious task when you consider that there are millions of books on Amazon alone, not to mention the other platforms such as, Kobo, Apple iBooks, Google Play, and Barnes & Noble’s Nook.
Did you hear me, people? Millions!
So how do you launch your book so it will sell, but also stay sticky in the Amazon rankings and therefore, continue to sell? We have to have a plan. A launch plan.
On April 11, 2017, I released the first book in my Brides on the Run series into the top 3000 in the Amazon paid store and had 50 reviews within the first three days. Eleven weeks later (as of this writing) my book is still ranked in the top 5000 and has over 200 reviews. It’s sold 1100 copies, and has 700K pages read in Kindle Select/Kindle Unlimited.
My little book has made over $5000, y’all! (I’m a Texan. We’re excitable.)
When I was asked to write this article about my book launch, my first thought was, Surely, there’s someone more qualified than me to talk about this subject? Because, while I’ve done well, other indie authors are knocking it out of the park with their numbers. But like most of you, I’m a part-time writer with family responsibilities, and a day job, who’s doing everything I can to figure out this indie publishing thing. What I’m trying to say: If I can do it, you can do it.
My launch plan began months before I put my book on Amazon. I started by understanding my genre and making sure my book met the expectations and conventions of that category. How did I do that? I read books like the ones I wanted to write. I familiarized myself with the tried and true tropes that readers want, and then worked very hard to make sure I delivered on those expectations. You can choose to write outside of the parameters of a genre, but know that you are going out on a limb to do it. And you might find yourself alone on that limb with your determination to be unique and no audience. Readers come to a genre knowing what they want. If you disappoint them because you decide to break convention, they will not be happy. They’ll then share their displeasure by leaving a nasty review.
The same is true of covers. When choosing a cover for your book, check out the top one-hundred best sellers in your genre. Are there themes, colors, and fonts that are used to signal that the book is a YA fantasy or a cozy mystery? I’m not telling you to copy those covers, but you should use them as guidelines for your own design.
I write romantic comedy. In the rom-com sub-genre there are three camps as far as covers go. One camp is full of sexy, shirtless guys. The second is illustrated covers with quirky characters, and third features women in flirty skirts, that only show their legs. My book didn’t fall neatly into any of those styles. It’s kind of a combination of all of them. It took several iterations, but I came up with a compromise that I think works. It’s flirty, quirky and sexy, just like my book.
A reader should be able to look at your cover and tell immediately what kind of book it is. If your cover and your content don’t match, then you’ve confused the reader. And a confused reader is one that moves on to the next book by another author.
In addition to a great cover, you also want a blurb or book description that hooks the reader. If you don’t know how to write good copy, learn, or pay someone to do that task for you. Bryan Cohen’s How to Write a Sizzling Synopsis is an excellent resource on the subject. If done well your cover and blurb can sell your book for you.
Before we move on, one more quick word about covers. Put down the mouse and step away from Photoshop. Now! You should not be making your own covers unless you have an extensive background in graphic design. There, I said it. Someone had to.
I know these things cost a lot of money, and if you’re like me, that money isn’t in your budget. But it’s important, so important that I worked odd jobs to make extra cash and, ultimately, sold plasma to pay for it all. Was it hard to travel thirty minutes to an unfamiliar part of town, sit for hours in a small room filled with people I didn’t know, and get stuck with a needle twice a week? Yes. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. I have a book I’m proud of. A book that looks professional on the inside and out. A book I paid for with actual blood, sweat, and tears. Damn right, I’d do it again.
Now that I’m off my do whatever you have to do soapbox, I should say that you can sometimes barter with an editor to get the services you need. Or find a graphic design student that has experience and wants to build their portfolio. Or just wait and save up until you have the money.
I know you want your book out yesterday, but we’re playing the long game. Smart, professional authors don’t rush something to market that isn’t ready because it will hurt them in the long run.
To re-cap, we need to know our genre expectations, have a fantastic cover that we don’t make ourselves, a well-written blurb that hooks readers, and professional editing and formatting.
Finally, I can’t encourage you enough to get involved with the indie community. Once I realized that indie publishing was the route I wanted to take, I immersed myself in learning everything I could about the business of self-publishing. I listened to podcasts, I got involved with Facebook groups geared toward publishing and marketing, I went to the Smarter Artists Summit, and I tried my best to be a good community member and make meaningful connections with other indie authors. Little did I know how those connections would be a driving forces behind my successful launch.
In the beginning, I had very little to offer other writers other than encouragement. I could share posts, give moral support and be a friend. So can you. It requires a little effort, imagination, and courage, all things you have because you’re a writer.
How do you feel? Do you think you’re ready to release your baby… um… product into the world?
Jami Albright
Running From A Rock Star
www.jamialbright.com
jamialbright1@gmail.com
Please continue to read our blogs for the processes about Author Brand and Book Launches, and please remember the first step to building your book is RESEARCH
Our next article will cover Social Media and Website Building. What to expect, what you need to do and learn. Much of this also depends on your budget. Can you afford it or are you willing to LEARN what’s needed to get your BRAND working for YOU.
Word War with Cac the Proofreader – FEWER/LESS
My contact information is as follows:
How to Reblog without the Reblog button by Shawn Robinson
For those who can’t reblog…Please use PRESS THIS…Thanks to Shawn Robinson for the article on how to find this 🙂
http://www.shawnpbrobinson.com/how-to-re-blog-without-a-re-blog-button/
How to Re-Blog without a Re-Blog Button
Recently, my friend Pradita over at The Pradita Chronicles pointed out that I was missing a reblog button on my site. Since I often don’t notice things when I can’t see them, I hadn’t noticed this issue. On a typical WordPress.com site, this isn’t a problem, but I use a self-hosted WordPress.org site. The reblog button is simply not available to me.
To consider the differences between using WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org, check out this blog.
As is often the case, when I searched around the net for help on this, I had to search a lot and wade through a lot of useless information. Because of that, I thought I would post something simple about it here.
Here’s the WordPress blog about it all… it’s well written, but I still found it all confusing. Sometimes I’m like that.
Simply put, if someone has a WordPress.com site, you can reblog something from their blog on your WordPress site, simply by clicking their reblog button (at the end of their post). If the reblog button is unavailable, it either means they don’t want you to reblog their site or it means they are self-hosted (like I am) and as such do not have this feature available for their site.
The way around this for you (the person trying to reblog a site) is to use a feature called, “Press This.” That’s a creative name! Can you guess what you do with this feature?
Here’s what you do:
1. Go to WordPress.com and log in to your account.
2. Click “My Site” (top left-hand corner of the screen)
3. Scroll down to Settings on the left-hand side and click it
4. In the center of the screen, you’ll have four menu options: General; Writing; Discussion; Traffic.
5. Select the “Writing” menu and scroll down to the bottom of the screen
6. Read the little description about “Press This” and then either drag the “Press This” button up to your favorites bar and drop it there (Chrome or Internet Explorer) or add the button to your favorites (right-click in Internet Explorer)
Now, Pradita found the “Press This” button in Settings-Writing was unresponsive. I think the reason for this is because the internet is often irritating. So, she kept digging and found the solution was to head over to her dashboard and the “Press This” button could be accessed through “Tools.” So if the above steps do not work, check out “Tools” in the Dashboard.
FOR THE REST OF THE ARTICLE FOLLOW THIS LINK
My Journey into Creating a Publishing Company…Part One
If I go back to when I first started writing in 2012 I didn’t know squat about publishing, never mind needing lessons in grammar, and the person’s voice. Like many others out there I tried traditional publishing. You remember the first publisher of Fifty Shades? It was an Australian Publisher – Yeah I tried them and was rejected, though I’ll say even now, my work was no worse than … I also looked for an Agent who thought they were Editors. No…they weren’t or if they were, they didn’t understand the historical genre of my novel. Since that time this same agent sent work to a UK Publisher who was iffy to say the least. In fact they closed down without paying anyone out and their bookstore was still going…probably still is.
Side tracked…sorry.
Anyway I found out that manuscripts needed setting out a certain way to be accepted by a traditional publisher. While I set out to learn I bumped into self-publishing and decided to go that way instead.
By the time I had learnt enough to make paperbacks and ebooks I had written four books. I bought some copies and was delighted with the results (now I just groan at my obvious need to learn more). I took them to the local writers group which showed little interest. Few of them were authors even less were published. This is where my company came in.
“Can you publish my books for me?” said one man.
“I can give it a go.” And I did. That journey though, is another story.
This all happened in May 2014. My company Plaisted Publishing House became a Limited Company on 1st August 2014. I filled out all the forms, set up a bank account registered for GST (VAT) etc. After paying or getting a refund on GST over three months I discovered I didn’t need to pay any until my business earned $60K NZD which won’t happen anytime soon due to the fact I have no investment other than what I earn and put back into the company. My aim was to start slowly and build gradually and make sure I wouldn’t fail or should I say close my company. It’s worked too.
Now you’ll note that even though I’ve published my own books, I stated I still had much to learn. My journey was only at the beginning. Over the last four years I’ve developed my business, building my professionalism, sharing what I know with the Indie Author Community. I’ve assisted over Thirty Indie Authors. If I included the Anthologies I could say I’ve assisted over one hundred.
As I’ve improved my learning (which I am still doing today) I have increased my prices, however, they’re still lower than most. You see I work in a different way. The aim of my company is to work with small businesses to contract work out to them and create packages for clients. All clients keep their copyright, all royalties and receive at least four formatted manuscripts for the different distribution websites. A client pays once. There is no profit made from continual book sales. A client could become a best seller…a millionaire…YOU STILL WON’T PAY ME ANYMORE….well unless you want too…LOL.
F.A.I.L
How many times do we fail in life? How many times do we sulk or cry over it as if we’d spilt the milk on the floor.
I have had plenty of fails. I remember two exams I failed at school/college. One was my error the other belongs to the college – twice, because they handed out the wrong exam paper which none of us were ready for.
I’ve failed in life – to see what people are really like. I still do at times. I’ve failed and got frustrated over learning the business of publishing and the one thing that stays in my head is – Try and Try Again! Actually I have a better one than this which I first saw on a t-shirt in Rotorua, New Zealand when I walked down the high street. I loved it.
F. A. I. L
First Attempt In Learning
There you go. It seems nobody fails at all. We are in fact learning as we grow.
If folks look at my writing from a few years back, though it is still similar, it has also improved a lot. As for my business. My latest learning curves have been with endnotes in ebooks and how to pull together a full colour children’s book. Yes I failed or..learnt as i pushed myself to get things right.
One thing I will say is that I am a perfectionist when it comes to formatting and publishing. I still make mistakes though. We all do.
Go on give it a go and F.A.I.L – First Attempt In Learning
The Need to Write
To teach someone about something they have little knowledge about, if I know more about the subject
To research for information and take notes. Be it for fiction or family history and blogs.
To share an experience in life, work or anything else that comes to mind.
To share a story and engage readers.
To entertain children and adults with something which can take them away from reality for a short while.
Because it is fun and my teachers at High School wouldn’t put me forward for O’level English (yeah it still shows at times.)
I’ve never been one to prove a point when I don’t know the answer, though I do love a good debate and weaving stories through theories is amazing fun. Could it really happen? Well this is what fiction is all about MAKE BELIEVE. It makes you think, dream and perhaps encourages you to try something new or find the answer.
WRITING is also about learning, listening and gaining knowledge. Most of us know about the world today because we read, be it books or online. However, we have to be careful not to get sucked into so much FAKE news which is a constant on many social media accounts today.
SADLY Writing is also exploited, used against us in many ways. We read things into bible passages, taking them out of context. Personally I won’t listen to anyone quoting bible phrases unless they have read the bible from the beginning to the end. I know my grandfather did. He was a Minister. A lovely gentleman, who sadly I didn’t get to meet. Politicans have also used the written word to their advantage, making us angry over things which really have no meaning. Lawyers can complicate the language so we don’t understand and I am sure there are times people have signed away their rights without realising it – until it’s too late. Journalists…News Media, Organisations who tell you something is wrong – many things cross out paths in life and it is up to US to work out what is true and what isn’t.
HOW OPEN MINDED ARE YOU?
Business Reflections of 2016
Reflections of the past twelve months. What have we done. The highs and lows. The requests and even the chat.
I have met some amazing people over the last twelve months. Many who have helped to improve my love of learning, friendship, sisterhood and much more. With business growing I find it is now time to thank everyone who had helped make this a great year. Thank you for your comments, chat, shares, reblogs and support. Without you I would not be where I am today. A fine spot with more highs than lows. THANK YOU
Clients of 2016
We have assisted EIGHT AUTHORS with NINE books – ebook and print. We have also assisted these authors along with another FOUR to learn the ropes of Publishing. Some wish to do as much as they can, others like assistance each time. Some of these authors have several more works to be published and we are looking forward to working with them again. We have also worked with twenty-five authors for our Anthology…More on that later.
Sponsorship 2016
We set up a Sponsorship earlier in 2016. Our WINNER was J B TAYLOR with his Sci Fi novel called DISCOVERY. J B Taylor was Awesome to work with. We’d also like to thank Limelight Literature and Fantasia Covers for been part of this Sponsorship.
Indie Publishing News
Last month we introduced the Roving Reporter idea. This is for those who write or find interesting articles they wish to bring to attention of other Indie Authors and supporters.
As from January 2017 we will have a BACK PAGE ADVERT. For next year this will be Advertising GOINDIENOW an wonderful company who supports Indie Authors with marketing and video discussion – plus much more.
Anyone who else who wishes to support the Magazine to keep it FREE is welcome to place on-going adverts (the same one each month or bi-monthly for a small fee. This Magazine is not out to make money! It is there to help. However at 40 plus pages it takes time, so assistance is always welcome.
Ghostly Writes Anthology
Join the Group today: – Ghostly Writes Anthology Group
On going Training
As the Director of Plaisted Publishing House I have continued my Business Training with a Diploma in Small Business Enterprise – Level 5. I graduate in 2017. I will continue to grow and learn to make my company one of the best, if not the best out there for Indie Authors. I love being a Small Press Publisher. I love to chat and see how I can help. Please dont’ hesitate to contact us.
The Lows
There have been a few lows, through seeing people in a positive light and them coming back to bite you due to living in a negative world and thinking they know what we should be doing as a company. Even we are still learning the ins and outs, though there are many out there who know – WE KNOW OUR JOB. I’d like to thank those who have given us the love and support we have needed, mainly from friends and clients worldwide – we are proud to say we pulled through – taking the bull by the horns and growing stronger than ever before.
WATCH OUT 2017
Tutorial for Auto Indents
It seems to be that time again. A learning curve for me a couple of years ago doesn’t mean all authors and writers are aware of how Auto Indents work and are made. I still see some Indents in eBook which are way to big. To me this shows lack of learning and professionalism of the author or writer. If I find it difficult to read as a publisher…think what your readers will fell like. Personally I have stopped reading some eBooks due to the lack of professionalism in formatting.
Here is a short tutorial for those who wish and those who participate in my Anthologies or are clients. This is how AUTO INDENTS are made in WORD.
Open your word document. Look across the top bar with STYLES. Inside the red line is a small ARROW. Click on it.
It will open a side bar on your document similar to this. You probably won’t have many STYLES until you make them. You will make AUTO INDENTS using the NORMAL STYLE
On the bottom right are three squares. Teh one in the read circle will open a box to make a new style.
In the next screen shot is the style box where you can create a new style. In this instance it is INDENT. Next we go down to the bottom left of the box to the second circle FORMAT and click to open it.
You need to click on Paragraph as highlighted in the next image.
You will find open another box looking like the image below.
In the first red circle make sure it says JUSTIFIED. This is so all text is straight on either edge of the page – just like in a book. In the second circle is where you create your INDENT of 0.5mm. In the third circle you need to make sure it is on single line or blank (unless you are sending a synopsis to an agent where you need double lined spacing).
Click OK and the box will close. Look at the next image and TICK Automatic Updates. Next click OK and the box will close and you can start typing.
In the STYLE box on the right you will find the INDENT style you made. Each time you need an INDENT (speech etc) then click on the INDENT tab and it will do the work for you automatically.