Sunday, January 26, 2014
Smashwords: Forbes Magazine Names Smashwords to 2014 List of A...
Smashwords: Forbes Magazine Names Smashwords to 2014 List of A...: Forbes Magazine this week came out with their list of America's Top 100 Most Promising Companies for 2014. Smashwords was named #69 ....
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Ask an writer that has put some serious time in at a keyboard and they will tell you that there are times that they sit down, ready to go and....nothing happens. They want to write, they want to get some pages down, but they just can't find a groove or rhythm.
It happens to all of us. Call it writers block, call it dead brain, call it whatever you want; it has afflicted us all in the past and it will come back and get us again in the future. Don't waste your time asking yourself why it happens, or wondering if there is something wrong with you (there isn't!). Instead, take a break from what has got you all blocked up and do something completely different and purposeless.
When I get stuffed up, I open up a blank page and type in the first scenario that pops in my head:
Winnie's worn slippers shuffled across the aged hardwood floor as she tightened her housecoat across her chest.
"Just a minute." she sang out to the knocking at the door. She knotted the belt around her waist and smoothed her hands down her sides, releasing the creases of her robe. Now, who could be calling this late? she wondered as she disengaged the lock and opened the door.
"Hel-," she stammered as the door opened to the empty cold night air.
"Hello?" she asked, peaking past the opening. "Is there someone there?"
A night chill flitted through her and she gripped the lapels of her robe, tightening them up beneath her chin.
"Hello?" she called out again to the silent porch. Her eyes swept the front of her house but found no caller. Odd, she thought to herself as she stepped back to close the door. Just as the door was about to close out the cold night air, a slight flutter caught her eye. she looked down, a small piece of paper stuck out from the corner of her WELCOME mat. "Hmmm?" once again scanning the front of her house. She bent down, eyes still looking out into the night for whoever might have left the piece of paper. Her cold fingers pinched the corner or the note and Winnie shuffled back quickly, closing and locking the door.
She stood still, unfolding the paper and then, in the cozy warmth of her parlor, another chill slithered through her body as she read the note:
Get out of the house now! You are in danger!
Winnie gasped, a hitch caught in her throat as tears began to threaten her eyes. "Oh, oh my God." she muttered as she stared at the words on the note. "This can't be."
The words on the note were written in an fluid and elegant hand. It was a beautiful script that she had loved from the first moment she saw it in a love letter over fifty years ago. It was her husband's writing.
The man she adored her entire life.
The man she buried over seven years ago.
Who is Winnie? Don't know.
Who wrote the note? Beats me.
Why is she in danger? Couldn't tell tell you.
And what's with her husband, is he alive? Well, if he is he's got some explaining to do!
But none of thst is the point. The point is to just write- write absolutely anything you come up with and just go with it. Don't plan it out, don't worry about grammar, don't even worry if it makes sense or not. There's a pretty good chance it won't anyway! But that's the meaning of the exercise, just let go and let it flow.
You are going to get blocked up. You are going to have days when you couldn't wring a sentence from your brain even if you were able to take it out of your head and twist it like a washcloth. Don't let it stop you from writing! Write something else- anything else. And who knows, maybe you'll come across a Winnie who makes you want to explore what's going on in her life.
You are going to get blocked up. You are going to have days when you couldn't wring a sentence from your brain even if you were able to take it out of your head and twist it like a washcloth. Don't let it stop you from writing! Write something else- anything else. And who knows, maybe you'll come across a Winnie who makes you want to explore what's going on in her life.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Where Else To Publish
When authors are finally ready to self-publish their work, they start to think/hope/dream that their book or short story will find a quick audience and skyrocket to the top of the sales list. I think most writers will contend that they write for themselves, that there is a need within them that is only satisfied by putting words down. But, behind all that, I think if they are truly being honest with themselves, they want people to enjoy their story and tell others about it.
Writing is very gratifying.
Selling is a thrill!
With that being said, let's take a moment and discuss where to sell your book. I think many indie authors picture their book on Amazon, and that's great. Amazon has become the gold standard for e-publishing. The Amazon's Kindle bestseller list is for e-books what the New York Times bestseller list is for dead tree books. But Amazon is not the only game in town, or on the web.
Smashwords is another great publisher of e-books. ( http://www.smashwords.com/ )
As of this post, Smashwords boasts 9,734,413,122 words published and 280,894 books published! These are words and books written and self-published by people just like you!
Smashwords provides a great, easy to use service for independent authors to not only publish their work, but also promote it and track its sales. They also pay out commissions monthly through the convenience of Paypal. The site feels like it is run by authors, for authors.
So when you are dreaming about success as a writer, and visions of commission checks dance in your head, don't put all your words into one basket. Amazon is great, but so is Smashwords.
Writing is very gratifying.
Selling is a thrill!
With that being said, let's take a moment and discuss where to sell your book. I think many indie authors picture their book on Amazon, and that's great. Amazon has become the gold standard for e-publishing. The Amazon's Kindle bestseller list is for e-books what the New York Times bestseller list is for dead tree books. But Amazon is not the only game in town, or on the web.
Smashwords is another great publisher of e-books. ( http://www.smashwords.com/ )
As of this post, Smashwords boasts 9,734,413,122 words published and 280,894 books published! These are words and books written and self-published by people just like you!
Smashwords provides a great, easy to use service for independent authors to not only publish their work, but also promote it and track its sales. They also pay out commissions monthly through the convenience of Paypal. The site feels like it is run by authors, for authors.
So when you are dreaming about success as a writer, and visions of commission checks dance in your head, don't put all your words into one basket. Amazon is great, but so is Smashwords.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
It doesn't matter what you are writing, writing is a process. Writing evolves and reshapes itself and often ends up in places that you did not see coming.
That's OK!
Your ideas will grow, change and shift.
Let them!
Trust yourself. Trust your talent. Trust your process.
Prezi: The Writing Process
Book Covers
So you have finally finished your masterpiece.
Congratulations!
You wrote it, and re-wrote it, and re-wrote it, and re-wrote it and on and on and on and on.
Whew!
It's polished and perfect and ready to go. All you have to do now is write your bio, add a link to your cool new site and attach the awesome cover art before you upload it to...
What? You don't have any cover art? Well, then hold those horses, you're not ready to go just yet.
Cover art is essential to e-books. As an unknown, untested new author, you need all the help you can get to grab readers attention and make them notice your book. In life it might not be wise to judge a book by its cover, but on Amazon and Goodreads, you can bet your first commission check that people shopping for their next read do. Just browse your online book store and pay special attention to the artwork of the covers you see. They look well conceived and professional. They are saying: "Hey, a lot of effort went into perfecting this cover, you can trust that the story inside was crafted with just as much care."
Where do I get an e-book cover?
Good question. There are many sites on line that will create your cover for you. Just type 'e-book covers' into your browser and you will get pages of results. Click on a few and check out their portfolios. Tugboatdesign.net has ready to go, professional e-book covers for as low as $50! But cover design doesn't have to cost money though, many independent authors do the work themselves (or ask a friend to do it for a name credit in the book) by using free stock photos. Be creative about it! Be entrepreneurial!
Book covers are first impressions!
They are meant to catch the eye of a potential reader and entice them to take a moment and read your book's synopsis. So use the cover as a tool. Make it introduce you as a writer to take seriously.
Congratulations!
You wrote it, and re-wrote it, and re-wrote it, and re-wrote it and on and on and on and on.
Whew!
It's polished and perfect and ready to go. All you have to do now is write your bio, add a link to your cool new site and attach the awesome cover art before you upload it to...
What? You don't have any cover art? Well, then hold those horses, you're not ready to go just yet.
Cover art is essential to e-books. As an unknown, untested new author, you need all the help you can get to grab readers attention and make them notice your book. In life it might not be wise to judge a book by its cover, but on Amazon and Goodreads, you can bet your first commission check that people shopping for their next read do. Just browse your online book store and pay special attention to the artwork of the covers you see. They look well conceived and professional. They are saying: "Hey, a lot of effort went into perfecting this cover, you can trust that the story inside was crafted with just as much care."
Where do I get an e-book cover?
Good question. There are many sites on line that will create your cover for you. Just type 'e-book covers' into your browser and you will get pages of results. Click on a few and check out their portfolios. Tugboatdesign.net has ready to go, professional e-book covers for as low as $50! But cover design doesn't have to cost money though, many independent authors do the work themselves (or ask a friend to do it for a name credit in the book) by using free stock photos. Be creative about it! Be entrepreneurial!
Book covers are first impressions!
They are meant to catch the eye of a potential reader and entice them to take a moment and read your book's synopsis. So use the cover as a tool. Make it introduce you as a writer to take seriously.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
This is a grest list of blogs for writers.
"Top 10 Blogs for Writers 2013 – the Winners" http://feedly.com/k/1jxMuA0
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Book Trailers
Marketing is a major part of self publishing. YOU have to be the agent, publisher and marketing machine creating a buzz for your amazing book. So what can you do to get your masterpiece out there to your audience?
Independent authors are creative people by nature so it's not surprising that they have come up with some creative ways to spread the word about their work. Book trailers have become a popular way to attract audiences and build new fans. Think of them as video book jackets.
Here is one from Emily Goodwin:
It is pretty simple, just pictures, words and a soundtrack, but it is well done, engaging and it hooks you in.
The videos can be as simple or as extravagant you can make them (or are willing to pay someone to make them).
Here's one from Susan Quinn that plays more like a movie:
Both videos tell you enough about the book to grab your interest and then, at the end of each video, they give you information about where you can find the book for purchase.
Many independent authors load book trailers like these onto YouTube with tags for people to find them. They also load them on their blogs or websites so visitors can view them.
The videos are fun, fresh and another avenue for independent authors to get the word out about their books.
Independent authors are creative people by nature so it's not surprising that they have come up with some creative ways to spread the word about their work. Book trailers have become a popular way to attract audiences and build new fans. Think of them as video book jackets.
Here is one from Emily Goodwin:
It is pretty simple, just pictures, words and a soundtrack, but it is well done, engaging and it hooks you in.
The videos can be as simple or as extravagant you can make them (or are willing to pay someone to make them).
Here's one from Susan Quinn that plays more like a movie:
Both videos tell you enough about the book to grab your interest and then, at the end of each video, they give you information about where you can find the book for purchase.
Many independent authors load book trailers like these onto YouTube with tags for people to find them. They also load them on their blogs or websites so visitors can view them.
The videos are fun, fresh and another avenue for independent authors to get the word out about their books.
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