Thursday, July 4, 2013
7 Reasons to Self Publish
You have written a book and no one wants to publish it. Why would you do it yourself? Here are 7 good reasons to self-publish your own book - -
1. You design the cover. All trade publishers have their own designers and you have no control over what your book will look like.
2. You choose the title. The editor assigned to your book will choose the title and you have will have no input or control over what they choose.
3. You choose the price. You know who your readers will be and what they are willing to pay. You can afford to sell for a bit less than a trade publisher because you control the costs.
4. You decide how to market your book. You have to do your own marketing no matter how your book is published, so you might as well be marketing your own product.
5. You know who your readers are and can make decisions based on this knowledge. Publishers don’t always ‘get’ your book or your audience.
6. You don’t have to wait a year or two for your book to be in print. You can have it in the hands of your readers within months (I don’t recommend weeks).
7. You make the profit. Instead of a small advance and even smaller royalties, you make all the money from your books.
It feels good to DIY and be in control of every aspect of publishing your book. Why not give it a try? Self Publishing in Canada: A guide to designing, printing and selling your book will help you every step of the way. Purchase your copy today. Available at any independent bookstore or through the website.
http://selfpublishing.ca
Saturday, August 4, 2012
What is Self Publishing?
Guest Post
By Judy Cullins
Opinions vary about self-publishing. I self-published 11 of my own print and eBooks that are business books about book writing, self-publishing, and marketing.
Self-Publishing vs. POD
Self-publishing is not a vanity press option, where you can get a company to get your family cookbook or anything into print.
Print on Demand is a digital print offering however, but does not include publishing or marketing for your book. Many choose POD and get disappointed because they don’t know its downfalls.
Think YOU when you think self-publishing.
YOU are responsible for all the things that you must do to get your book into the hands of your readers.
YOU get an ISBN number for each book, which makes you the publisher, unless you plan to only sell your book at your website. YOU can set up a publishing name/business as Dan Poynter advises since some book printers won’t work with individuals. But, you don’t have to.
YOU will need help on your book.
You choose a book coach, such as myself, to help make your book more saleable. And a good book coach knows a lot about non-fiction chapters to help you engage your readers, not lecture to them. It’s amazing how few people realize this. A book coach will look at the whole picture and help you set up proper pre-marketing and develop your author platform to sell a lot of copies and brand you, your book, and your business.
With a professional book coach’s expertise, YOU arrange for your own editors, proof-readers, book cover designers, and formats.
If you want a print version, YOU choose a printer.
Or a combination printer-and-distributor such as LightningSource or CreateSpace who allow you to print-on-demand with your own ISBN. Or you go to an offset printer who has experience in making books, some of whom can recommend providers of services you can’t or don’t want to do for yourself.
As a 24+ year book coach, I advise my clients to not do what many POD services tell them to do – such as printing huge numbers of books for a discount. Forget the discount and use a digital printer like Deharts to print only the number of books you can sell in three months. Then, you’ll have more money for promotion and marketing – the self-publishing task that matters even more than what’s inside your book. Without marketing, not much will happen.
You can self-publish an eBook with little effort and money.
It’s a good idea, because you can get the mistakes and kinks corrected before you spend a lot on printing. I often advise clients to write an eBook first, then a print book which you may wish to expand on and make longer. You can actually write them at the same time.
Think about your audience before you write your book.
Know for non-fiction or self-help, your target readers want a much shorter book – easy-to-read and one that solves their problem.
About the Author, Judy Cullins
Book and Blog Coach Judy Cullins helps you gain confidence and transform your ideas into life-long money-making content. Author of 14 books for business people and authors include "Write your eBook or Other Short Book--Fast!"Judy offers free, up-to-the minute weekly publications on book and blog writing and online marketing at http://www.bookcoaching.com
*You are welcome to reprint this article provided the above bio is included.
By Judy Cullins
Opinions vary about self-publishing. I self-published 11 of my own print and eBooks that are business books about book writing, self-publishing, and marketing.
Self-Publishing vs. POD
Self-publishing is not a vanity press option, where you can get a company to get your family cookbook or anything into print.
Print on Demand is a digital print offering however, but does not include publishing or marketing for your book. Many choose POD and get disappointed because they don’t know its downfalls.
Think YOU when you think self-publishing.
YOU are responsible for all the things that you must do to get your book into the hands of your readers.
YOU get an ISBN number for each book, which makes you the publisher, unless you plan to only sell your book at your website. YOU can set up a publishing name/business as Dan Poynter advises since some book printers won’t work with individuals. But, you don’t have to.
YOU will need help on your book.
You choose a book coach, such as myself, to help make your book more saleable. And a good book coach knows a lot about non-fiction chapters to help you engage your readers, not lecture to them. It’s amazing how few people realize this. A book coach will look at the whole picture and help you set up proper pre-marketing and develop your author platform to sell a lot of copies and brand you, your book, and your business.
With a professional book coach’s expertise, YOU arrange for your own editors, proof-readers, book cover designers, and formats.
If you want a print version, YOU choose a printer.
Or a combination printer-and-distributor such as LightningSource or CreateSpace who allow you to print-on-demand with your own ISBN. Or you go to an offset printer who has experience in making books, some of whom can recommend providers of services you can’t or don’t want to do for yourself.
As a 24+ year book coach, I advise my clients to not do what many POD services tell them to do – such as printing huge numbers of books for a discount. Forget the discount and use a digital printer like Deharts to print only the number of books you can sell in three months. Then, you’ll have more money for promotion and marketing – the self-publishing task that matters even more than what’s inside your book. Without marketing, not much will happen.
You can self-publish an eBook with little effort and money.
It’s a good idea, because you can get the mistakes and kinks corrected before you spend a lot on printing. I often advise clients to write an eBook first, then a print book which you may wish to expand on and make longer. You can actually write them at the same time.
Think about your audience before you write your book.
Know for non-fiction or self-help, your target readers want a much shorter book – easy-to-read and one that solves their problem.
About the Author, Judy Cullins
Book and Blog Coach Judy Cullins helps you gain confidence and transform your ideas into life-long money-making content. Author of 14 books for business people and authors include "Write your eBook or Other Short Book--Fast!"Judy offers free, up-to-the minute weekly publications on book and blog writing and online marketing at http://www.bookcoaching.com
*You are welcome to reprint this article provided the above bio is included.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Top Ten Things To Do To Promote Your Book
Top Ten Things To Do To Promote Your Book
By Keith G. Powell, publisher/author
http://www.wildhorsecreekpress.com
1) Believe your book needs to be promoted. The harsh reality is that the world's isn't waiting for you to publish a book. (Remember writing and publishing your book is the easy part)
2) Have plan or strategy in place well before you publish your book.
3) Remember no one can promote your book better than you, the author, can.
4) The first 3 to 6 months are critical, get as much publicity as you can.
5) Always have your business card ready to hand out.
6) Make sure you have a quality photography of yourself and of your book to send to the media.
7) Prepare your press releases in advance. Have a hook...eg. I launched my first book with a climb to the top of Mt. Fisher and the 2nd with climb to the Kain Hut in the Bugaboos.
8) Take on as many events as your schedule allows – book signings, speaking engagements, library readings etc.
9) Do as many media interviews as your can. CBC is the holy grail but don't overlook your local media and look for vertical/special interest niches.
10) Ask yourself everyday – what did I do today to promote my book? Make it a goal to do something to promote your book everyday.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
How to Get Your Book Into Libraries Using Smashwords
This week Smashwords announced that all 100,000 of the e-books they have in their catalogue will be available to public libraries through Baker & Taylor (a large distribution firm). What does this mean to self-publishers? It means we have another avenue for selling books!
Just who is Smashwords? They are the leading distributor of independently published e-books. They distribute to such online retailers as Apple iBookstore, Barnes & Noble, Sony, Kobo, and Diesel eBook Store. Their books are also available for certain mobile e-reading applications such as Blio, Aldiko, Stanza and FBReader. It is free, easy and fast to get your book converted and available for readers to download. Dan Poynter highly recommends them.
Have a look at their website and blog to see if this would be a good fit for you.
When I finish converting my books for Kindle, I'll do them in Smashword and report to all of you.
Just who is Smashwords? They are the leading distributor of independently published e-books. They distribute to such online retailers as Apple iBookstore, Barnes & Noble, Sony, Kobo, and Diesel eBook Store. Their books are also available for certain mobile e-reading applications such as Blio, Aldiko, Stanza and FBReader. It is free, easy and fast to get your book converted and available for readers to download. Dan Poynter highly recommends them.
Have a look at their website and blog to see if this would be a good fit for you.
When I finish converting my books for Kindle, I'll do them in Smashword and report to all of you.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Is there an easy way to convert books to e-books?
Amazon.com has detailed instructions on how to turn your book into a Kindle e-book. It gives directions for both Mac and PC platforms. But the basic premise is that you have to use your original Word document to make the change. They recommend Word because it's easy to format. If you have your book broken into separate files for each chapter, start a file called "Your Book, Kindle version" and copy/past each chapter into the one file. Insert a Page Break at the end of each chapter. Save your file to a .doc file and not .rtf or .docx. The newer versions of Word do not translate well to Kindle.
I am now converting Self Publishing in Canada Second Edition to a file for the Kindle reader. Of course I will use other formats too. Most public libraries across Canada are using the Kobo reader as their platform for lending e-books. That is a whole different format to convert our books into. So why can't they just have a standard? Is there an easy way to convert books to e-books?
I am now converting Self Publishing in Canada Second Edition to a file for the Kindle reader. Of course I will use other formats too. Most public libraries across Canada are using the Kobo reader as their platform for lending e-books. That is a whole different format to convert our books into. So why can't they just have a standard? Is there an easy way to convert books to e-books?
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Why I am changing direction on self-publishing
After much discussion, we have decided not to self-publish printed books anymore. In 2011 we put out an out-of-print book by a deceased author and the Second Edition of Self Publishing in Canada. Even though we have a distributor and even though we have marketed the book, sales are not as good as we had expected. The question became, "Do keep doing this as a hobby or find another way to self-publish?" The truth is we can't afford this as a hobby, so we need to find another way.
We are committing ourselves to publishing e-books. The sales of e-readers was phenomenal at Christmas and we see it as a less expensive way to get our message out without either having to put up the funds to pay for printing costs or find a place to store books. I am currently formatting Self Publishing in Canada and All On Her Own to a Kindle format. Then I have to completely type up Good Morning Quadra since nothing will read that kind of disk anymore.
Does this mean the print book is dead? Not at all. It's just not the right fit for us at this time. Check in regularly and learn about the new adventure...and how to self-publish the old fashioned way.
We are committing ourselves to publishing e-books. The sales of e-readers was phenomenal at Christmas and we see it as a less expensive way to get our message out without either having to put up the funds to pay for printing costs or find a place to store books. I am currently formatting Self Publishing in Canada and All On Her Own to a Kindle format. Then I have to completely type up Good Morning Quadra since nothing will read that kind of disk anymore.
Does this mean the print book is dead? Not at all. It's just not the right fit for us at this time. Check in regularly and learn about the new adventure...and how to self-publish the old fashioned way.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
New international organization for self-publishers
A British author and former literary agent has established an international non-profit organization for self-published authors. The Alliance of Independent Authors will represent the interests of self-publishers when they have to deal with agents, booksellers, wholesalers, and trade publishing companies.
Organizer Orna Nass hopes to sign up 500 members in the first year. She plans to offer a newsletter, a helpline, monthly meetings, and a biannual conference. This could be a real boon for self-publishers. Even though it is in Britain, it might we worth looking at.
Their website will be live in a few weeks. I will post the website when it comes online.
Organizer Orna Nass hopes to sign up 500 members in the first year. She plans to offer a newsletter, a helpline, monthly meetings, and a biannual conference. This could be a real boon for self-publishers. Even though it is in Britain, it might we worth looking at.
Their website will be live in a few weeks. I will post the website when it comes online.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Distribution for self-publishers
Self-published author David Korinetz started Red Tuque Books to help others distribute their own books. He sells books to Canadian libraries and any independent bookstore that uses BookManager. He does not sell to Chapters/Indigo.
In order to be listed in BookManager, an author has to have a distributor. Red Tuque Books has filled this need.
Chapters/Indigo's terms are just too harsh for the little guy. They want too large a discount, and expect to be able to return unsold books "anytime and in any condition." Small publishers would lose too much money.
Contact David at http://www.redtuquebooks.ca/ or phone him at 778-476-5750.
Make 2012 the year you get your book into print!
In order to be listed in BookManager, an author has to have a distributor. Red Tuque Books has filled this need.
Chapters/Indigo's terms are just too harsh for the little guy. They want too large a discount, and expect to be able to return unsold books "anytime and in any condition." Small publishers would lose too much money.
Contact David at http://www.redtuquebooks.ca/ or phone him at 778-476-5750.
Make 2012 the year you get your book into print!
Self Publishing workshop March 10 in Victoria
Self Publishing Workshop about the business side of writing and self-publishing. Saturday, March 10 from 1-4:30 pm at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Centre in Victoria, BC. Only $50! Speakers are Bernice Lever of the Canadian Author Association and Joyce Sandilands of Whitlands Publishing. Register at 250-885-9010 or www.3pennypublishing.com.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Amazon dramatically drops price of Kindle reader
When Amazon unveiled the new Kindle Fire, a tablet style computer, they dramatically lowered the price of the Kindle readers. Readers can now purchase a basic Kindle reader for as low as $79 (US). What does this mean for self-publishers?
It means that more people are going to be reading e-books - and especially Amazon.com e-books. It is easy and inexpensive for a self-publisher to make their book into an e-book and post it on Amazon.com. There is no printing or formatting cost. Amazon has clear instructions on how to turn your document into an e-book. It just doesn't get easier than that.
It means that more people are going to be reading e-books - and especially Amazon.com e-books. It is easy and inexpensive for a self-publisher to make their book into an e-book and post it on Amazon.com. There is no printing or formatting cost. Amazon has clear instructions on how to turn your document into an e-book. It just doesn't get easier than that.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Crime Fiction becoming more popular
Crime Fiction is becoming more popular in Canada and that opens doors for writers of this genre. All the large and medium size publishers have crime fiction in their line up. House of Anansi even launched a new crime fiction imprint, Spiderline. Many U.S. publishers are happy to grab Canadian crime novels. In fact the foreign market for Canadian crime fiction is strong right now.
"Readers are avid," says Sarah MacLachlan, president of House of Anansi. She states that if a writer can produce a book every 12-18 months, they can build up a following. Even self-published authors such as Laura Hesse are seeing success with the crime novel genre. As long as the writing is good, it can sell.
And, of course a writer who is also blogging can develop their own fan following. Use Facebook to gather fans and send them to your blog. Then use your blog to get their attention.
"Readers are avid," says Sarah MacLachlan, president of House of Anansi. She states that if a writer can produce a book every 12-18 months, they can build up a following. Even self-published authors such as Laura Hesse are seeing success with the crime novel genre. As long as the writing is good, it can sell.
And, of course a writer who is also blogging can develop their own fan following. Use Facebook to gather fans and send them to your blog. Then use your blog to get their attention.
Friday, July 9, 2010
E-readers are coming down in price
On Monday, Amazon cut the price of their Kindle e-reader. Barnes & Noble had lowered the price of their Nook e-reader and Amazon is competing with that. On Wednesday, Sony slashed the price of its e-reader. What’s going on?
The impetus for all the price cutting is Apple’s new iPad. Besides being a computer, it is an e-reader. The tablet is a good size, weight and shape to be an e-reader, and users are really getting into it. Apple sold over two million units in the first 60 days it was on the market. That is serious competition.
This could be good news for self-publishers.
http://www.selfpublishing.ca/
The impetus for all the price cutting is Apple’s new iPad. Besides being a computer, it is an e-reader. The tablet is a good size, weight and shape to be an e-reader, and users are really getting into it. Apple sold over two million units in the first 60 days it was on the market. That is serious competition.
This could be good news for self-publishers.
http://www.selfpublishing.ca/
Monday, June 28, 2010
Authors Den
At the suggestion of my distributor, Red Tuque Books, I posted my books and bio at Authors Den (www.authorsden.com). It took a little time, but was surprisingly easy. This is a user friendly website. They receive over one million hits per month, so it's worth a self-publisher's while to set it up. And it's FREE!
Make sure you have information handy such as both your 10-digit (if you have one) and 13-digit ISBN, number of pages, and a 20 word blurb about your book. You get a chance to write up more fully what your book is about, but you need the short blurb too.
You can upload your photo into the author bio section and your book cover(s) into the books section. Each section has a very clear form to fill out. In the book section, you can even post reviews you have received. That will help readers decide if they want to purchase your book. You can also set up book purchase through Amazon.com. I didn't do that because I have a distributor. Instead I posted his website and noted that he distributes my books.
You can post articles and blogs to your page. Something like this should drive more people to your website and Google likes that. It will help move you up the Google search listings.
And, like I said, it's FREE. How often do we find that?
http://www.selfpublishing.ca/
Make sure you have information handy such as both your 10-digit (if you have one) and 13-digit ISBN, number of pages, and a 20 word blurb about your book. You get a chance to write up more fully what your book is about, but you need the short blurb too.
You can upload your photo into the author bio section and your book cover(s) into the books section. Each section has a very clear form to fill out. In the book section, you can even post reviews you have received. That will help readers decide if they want to purchase your book. You can also set up book purchase through Amazon.com. I didn't do that because I have a distributor. Instead I posted his website and noted that he distributes my books.
You can post articles and blogs to your page. Something like this should drive more people to your website and Google likes that. It will help move you up the Google search listings.
And, like I said, it's FREE. How often do we find that?
http://www.selfpublishing.ca/
Friday, June 18, 2010
Publisher Beware!
Email has been landing in my Inbox from a Yahoo Group called Canadian Writers. They bill themselves as a discussion group for Canadian Writers and Publishers. I looked at the posts and they are all ads for one of those get rich quick schemes. They are posting three times a day trying to suck people in.
Unless you are interested in network marketing, I would advise you to stay away from this group. It has nothing to do with writing or publishing.
http://www.selfpublishing.ca/
Unless you are interested in network marketing, I would advise you to stay away from this group. It has nothing to do with writing or publishing.
http://www.selfpublishing.ca/
Sunday, May 9, 2010
FREE Self-Publishers Online Conference
Happy Mother's Day to all my reader's who have children, whether young or grown. Today my hubby, son-in-law and grandson are making breakfast for the Moms. What a nice treat on a warm, sunny BC day.
A reader sent me information about a FREE Self-Publishers Online Conference that I would like to share:
May 12, 13 and 14
The Self-Publishers Online Conference connects entrepreneurial authors and independent publishers with book publishing resources. The three-day virtual event features expert speakers and an online exhibit hall with book industry vendors. Fifteen publishing experts share tips and advice for both aspiring and veteran self-publishers. Basic attendance is FREE.
http://www.SelfPublishersOnlineConference.com
I checked the site out and two speakers are Dan Poynter and John Kremer. They are two people who would be worth listening to.
http://www.selfpublishing.ca
A reader sent me information about a FREE Self-Publishers Online Conference that I would like to share:
May 12, 13 and 14
The Self-Publishers Online Conference connects entrepreneurial authors and independent publishers with book publishing resources. The three-day virtual event features expert speakers and an online exhibit hall with book industry vendors. Fifteen publishing experts share tips and advice for both aspiring and veteran self-publishers. Basic attendance is FREE.
http://www.SelfPublishersOnlineConference.com
I checked the site out and two speakers are Dan Poynter and John Kremer. They are two people who would be worth listening to.
http://www.selfpublishing.ca
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Write an E-book also..
For a number of years I have subscribed to Quill & Quire, Canada's magazine of book news and reviews. The publication helps me stay current on what is going on in the Canadian publishing industry so I can pass this on to my readers and students.
Lately articles about e-books have been showing up regularly. Self-published authors know that an e-book version of your print book is a great addition to what you have to offer. An e-book can be used to test the market for your book. You can develop a fan base while you save up the funds to have a paper copy printed. You can make money selling e-books on your website along with print copies.
Now the trade publishers are "discovering" how valuable this format can be. They are using it to keep their back titles in print. HarperCollins announced they plan to convert them to e-books and add special features like you find on DVDs. Penguin Canada recently released e-book editions of four Canadian classics. They have "enriched" them with web links.
In order to compete with the trades, you need to think like they do. I'll be talking about e-books over the next few posts. If you have any questions, please leave a comment or email me directly through my website.
www.selfpublishing.ca
Lately articles about e-books have been showing up regularly. Self-published authors know that an e-book version of your print book is a great addition to what you have to offer. An e-book can be used to test the market for your book. You can develop a fan base while you save up the funds to have a paper copy printed. You can make money selling e-books on your website along with print copies.
Now the trade publishers are "discovering" how valuable this format can be. They are using it to keep their back titles in print. HarperCollins announced they plan to convert them to e-books and add special features like you find on DVDs. Penguin Canada recently released e-book editions of four Canadian classics. They have "enriched" them with web links.
In order to compete with the trades, you need to think like they do. I'll be talking about e-books over the next few posts. If you have any questions, please leave a comment or email me directly through my website.
www.selfpublishing.ca
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Should you quit your day job?
After months of talking about it, I finally quit my day job. I worked as an office manager and could not manage to fit all my writing and publishing into evenings and weekends. After a long day at the office, I often found my brain cells didn't want to absorb any more information. Makes is awfully hard to think. I was being torn and something had to give. For me, it could not be writing and so I gave up my day job.
Leaving a job is scary and you need to ensure you have a source of income. Fortunately, we are a two-income couple with no mortgage and we have planned for the loss of my income. You need to make a one-year budget and be prepared to live within it. We love to travel, but I can guarantee we're not going back to Europe this year. But that's okay. Now I can focus on writing and developing my publishing business.
I have already made progress. I have started to learn one of the software programs I need to know (there are three in total). I have put together a pitch for Camosun College in Victoria to put on my publishing workshops, and I applied to the local community newspaper as a casual freelance writer. I have even put together power point presentations for my workshops to jazz them up.
So where can you find me these days when I'm not in my home office?
Self Publishing in Canada workshop at Vancouver Island University Nanaimo Campus (there are still some seats available) April 24, 9:00-4:00
You've Written a Book - Now What? workshop at Vancouver Island University Nanaimo Campus May 1, 9:00-4:00
Self Publishing in Canada workshop at Simon Fraser University
July 15, 9:00-5:00
Book signing at the Penticton Saturday Market July 17 8:00-12:30
http://www.selfpublishing.ca/
Leaving a job is scary and you need to ensure you have a source of income. Fortunately, we are a two-income couple with no mortgage and we have planned for the loss of my income. You need to make a one-year budget and be prepared to live within it. We love to travel, but I can guarantee we're not going back to Europe this year. But that's okay. Now I can focus on writing and developing my publishing business.
I have already made progress. I have started to learn one of the software programs I need to know (there are three in total). I have put together a pitch for Camosun College in Victoria to put on my publishing workshops, and I applied to the local community newspaper as a casual freelance writer. I have even put together power point presentations for my workshops to jazz them up.
So where can you find me these days when I'm not in my home office?
Self Publishing in Canada workshop at Vancouver Island University Nanaimo Campus (there are still some seats available) April 24, 9:00-4:00
You've Written a Book - Now What? workshop at Vancouver Island University Nanaimo Campus May 1, 9:00-4:00
Self Publishing in Canada workshop at Simon Fraser University
July 15, 9:00-5:00
Book signing at the Penticton Saturday Market July 17 8:00-12:30
http://www.selfpublishing.ca/
Monday, March 29, 2010
Editing can't be neglected
http://www.selfpublishing.ca/ After you have written your manuscript, it has to be edited. No one (not even Stephen King) is so good a writer that they can neglect having their work edited. There are basically two kinds of editing - content (or substantive) editing and copy editing.
Content editing is the process of finding ways to make what you have written better. The editor looks at the manuscript more as a whole and works with the writer to improve the telling of the story or the presentation of the material.
Copy editing is the line-by-line and word-by-word search for errors in the text. Grammar, punctuation and spelling are looked at critically in order to ensure there are no mistakes. In the newspaper business it's called proof reading.
Done correctly and methodically, editing will give your manuscript a polished professional look. Neglect the editing and your book will look amateurish. Professional editing will polish your book so it holds its own with other books in the field that have been published by established trade publishing houses.
Content editing is the process of finding ways to make what you have written better. The editor looks at the manuscript more as a whole and works with the writer to improve the telling of the story or the presentation of the material.
Copy editing is the line-by-line and word-by-word search for errors in the text. Grammar, punctuation and spelling are looked at critically in order to ensure there are no mistakes. In the newspaper business it's called proof reading.
Done correctly and methodically, editing will give your manuscript a polished professional look. Neglect the editing and your book will look amateurish. Professional editing will polish your book so it holds its own with other books in the field that have been published by established trade publishing houses.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
There's nothing so invigorating as a workshop
On Saturday I put on a workshop at Vancouver Island University called "You've Written a Book - Now What?" that I developed to reach a broader audience than those who were only interested in self-publishing. The workshop covers the four ways to be published - trade published, subsidy published, self-published, and e-published. It's a long and very informative workshop.
The students ages ranged from 15 up to grandmothers. Some have written a book and some haven't started yet. But they all bring a special energy to the class and are willing to talk about their writing projects. It's really invigorating.
Another writing workshop was being held the same day in another facility. I don't know how the response was, but I know that two people came into our classroom looking for it. We sent them on their way and got back to work. I think it is great that writers take workshops. That is the best way to improve your craft.
Sometimes, in the quest to publish our books, we forget that we are writers first. We become so focussed on the publishing that we don't continue to hone our craft. I can't stress enough the importance of keeping up with workshops, articles and courses to help you improve as a writer. You will appreciate that your writing will become better and your material will be more readily accepted. Writing is how you came to this point and you should not stop improving your ability just because one project is completed. You will find as a publisher that you will need to write all kinds of material and a good workshop can help you do it better. http://www.selfpublishing.ca/
The students ages ranged from 15 up to grandmothers. Some have written a book and some haven't started yet. But they all bring a special energy to the class and are willing to talk about their writing projects. It's really invigorating.
Another writing workshop was being held the same day in another facility. I don't know how the response was, but I know that two people came into our classroom looking for it. We sent them on their way and got back to work. I think it is great that writers take workshops. That is the best way to improve your craft.
Sometimes, in the quest to publish our books, we forget that we are writers first. We become so focussed on the publishing that we don't continue to hone our craft. I can't stress enough the importance of keeping up with workshops, articles and courses to help you improve as a writer. You will appreciate that your writing will become better and your material will be more readily accepted. Writing is how you came to this point and you should not stop improving your ability just because one project is completed. You will find as a publisher that you will need to write all kinds of material and a good workshop can help you do it better. http://www.selfpublishing.ca/
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