New Year Resolutions for Writers

It's that time of year again - you look back at how many resolutions you managed to achieve from last New Year and transfer most of these to your new list!

All resolutions should provide you with some easily achievable quick wins to give you the motivation to stick to them.  Here are some resolutions that will help you on your journey to becoming a published writer.

1) Write for 10 minutes every day.  Select a time slot and stick to it; this could be first thing in the morning or last thing at night.  Whatever time you decide make sure you get some words down.  You may find it helpful to use a notebook and handwrite for these 10 minutes because waiting from the computer to fire up may demotivate you.

2) Complete one small writing task each month - this might be a short story or an article.  Ensure you target this for a magazine or competition. Send it off to the chosen market.

3) Start a blog and post at least once a month.  This is a great way to practise your writing.

4) Track your progress. Keep a log of all the writing you have done. Note what you did and the word count - it is OK to note down 20 words, they all count - you will be surprised how they start to add up. 

5) Self-publish - anything, a novel, a report, one short story.  Don't think about the money you may or may not earn. It is all about completing a piece of work to the highest standards.

By the end of January you will have completed at least 5 hours of writing - those 10 minutes really do add up. submitted a short story or article to a magazine, ezine or competition, and completed at least one post for your blog.  Quick wins to motivate you to undertake and complete those longer tasks.

Happy New Year.

Free book on writing available this weekend

This weekend - Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th December 2012 - you can download a free copy of my book "Write It! - How to write your book in 30 hours or less" from Amazon. Follow the tips to plan your book, create time to write, get your writing done and complete your book before the New Year.

Enjoy!

Marketing your book

You've written and published your book - you now want to sell.  Here are a few ideas to get those copies sold.

Remember - at the point someone decides to buy your book they need to be able to make the purchase immediately, if they have to wait until later they will often decide not to buy.

• Set up an online profile - use Facebook, Twitter, a website, a blog, YouTube to best advantage.
• Give talks to interest groups - if your book is about saving money then talk to parent groups, WI, schools, in fact any group that may be interested and lets face that is most groups.  You can always focus your talk to the group's needs e.g. saving money on garden purchases for a gardening group.
• Sponsor an event - OK there is a cost here but lots of opportunity to promote your book.
• Give a reading in a library.
• Offer your book as a prize in a raffle or other fundraising event.
• Write a feature for a local newsletter.

You can quickly and easily start promoting and marketing your book today.  So go on - increase those sales.

Quick guide to self publishing

As indicated in my last post traditional publishers are now facing fierce competition from writers who are choosing to self-publish.  If you have written, or are writing, a book that is worth publishing, and you are qualified to make that decision, then what do you need to do in order to make your work available to readers.

The first decision to make is whether to publish your book as hard copy, ebook or both.  If you are going to publish as an ebook then do you want to publish to Amazon and other ebook retailers or do you want to sell your book from your own website as a PDF.  Interestingly PDFs sold from websites tend to have a higher price than those sold on Amazon; remember you will have to drive traffic to your website in order to make sales though.

If you choose hard copy you then need to decide if you want prefer Print on Demand (POD) or to print in bulk and then store your copies prior to sale and distribution.  POD is more expensive per copy but you do not have storage costs.  Remember you need to purchase and assign an ISBN (no legal requirement but essential if you want to bookshops to be able to find your books) and deposit copies with the Copyright Libraries.

Once you have a completed book, you need to ensure it is as good as it can be and is error free.  You need to proofread, polish and edit before you publish.  This is one stage that is difficult to do yourself; you know what you meant to write however this is not always the same as what you have actually written.  If you can pay for a proofreading service, it will be money well spent.

You will need to design a cover and/or jacket for your book.  Again you can do this this yourself if you have the skills.  Remember that for both ebooks and hard copy books this is your first opportunity to attract the attention of potential readers.  A cliché I know but readers do judge a book by its cover.  There are some reasonably priced services available if you choose to outsource your cover design.

You have your book written and your cover ready; if you are going to print hard copies you need to select a printer.  You have a number of options including using a local printer, approaching a small publishing house or using a dedicated book printing service.  Ensure you discuss your requirements thoroughly to ensure you choose a printer who can deliver a book that meets your requirements.  Visit the premises and look at sample copies. Ask for a sample of your book prior to committing to a bulk order; this if useful if your final delivery is not of the quality expected or agreed to.

If you want to publish an ebook you will need to convert your work to an appropriate format; different ereaders may require different formats.  Publishing for Kindle is straightforward, as is publishing for other ereaders; check out their websites for step-by-step instructions.  Possibly the main consideration is you may lose any formatting you have applied to your text – the reader can change this to suit their needs and preferences.  Spend some time producing a copy of your book without any text formatting. 

Your book is written and published – you now need to market it if you want to sell copies.  Consider all opportunities available to you and use as many as you can. Her are some activities you could engage with to promote your book:

• Book description and blurb – get this right to entice your potential readers
• Website and blog – set up an author website or blog to promote your books
• Book shop signings – bookshops often welcome local authors
• Radio – again local interest
• Local newspapers – write a press release
• Social media – engage with Facebook and Twitter
• Library readings
• Talk to local groups
• Attend gift fairs.

Start making a list of all the ways you can promote your book.

If you are at the point where you are wondering when you are going to find time to write the next book or have decided that you do not want to undertake all of these tasks yourself then consider using a self-publishing service.  This not the same as vanity publishing.  There are several reputable companies that offer a range of services to support you in producing a high quality book.  Companies like Matador and Silverwood (there are others) offer a wide range of packages and pick and mix services including advice and support (never underestimate the value of these), cover/jacket design, promotion and marketing, proofreading and editing, book production, distribution to bookstores, storage, ebook conversion and also managing sales and invoicing.  As with any service check out independant reviews and visit the company, always look for examples of books produced and agree up front the services you require.  Set yourself a budget and (try) to stick to it.

As with anything else you design or produce, if you truly believe in it then why not invest in it.  You may find you are spending a lot of time on non-writing activities in order to see your book in print and then make those sales; you might find you even enjoy these activities as much as you enjoy writing!

Happy publishing.

Penguin Random House Merger

With the news that Pearson and Bertelsmann are to merge their publishers in order to become more competitive what does this mean for authors?

One statement says that this will provide the opportunity to invest in the new technologies - essentially ebooks.

The question is what can large publishers offer a new author today? 
Mentoring?
Editing?
Marketing?
Cover design?
Access to major retailers?
Warehouse facilities?

What does the author have to pay for all of these? OK so the publisher has to take a risk and invest in a new author but if books are sold then the publisher keeps a significant proportion of the takings.

If an author decides to self-publish either a physical book or an e-book they get to keep a much higher proportion of the income gererated from sales.

Can an author access these services if they decide to self-publish.  In fact by using a reputable self-publishing service the author can choose which services to purchase including warehousing.

We shouldn't overlook the small publishers who can offer a something between traditional publishing deals and self-publishing.  Maybe this will become a growth area because if large publishers continue to offer little to new authors they will find that authors will continue to look for ways to get their books on the shelves or e-readers.

Make money online

It is the dream on many – working from home and earning a living online.  So what exactly are the opportunities?  To earn money online you need to sell something namely a product, service or information. To increase your earnings significantly you need to sell something that is not directly related to the time you put into each project – create once, sell many.

Often people think they have to come up with an idea that is unique. Not true. If there is a successful product or service with an existing market why not tap into that market. In fact you could even promote and sell someone else’s product yourself for a commission.

Let's look at some of the online businesses you could start today.

Products - everyone expects to find the products they want online. You can sell virtually any physical or digital item through your own online shop or by using eBay or other online services. These products can be new, recycled, or handmade – in fact anything at all.  If you already make items to sell then set up an online shop yourself. You could sell products for others avoiding the need to keep stock.  What about your digital work? Sell you photos and books online to generate a continuous income stream – back to the create once/sell many plan.

Services - think about what you enjoy doing and the skills you have – could any of these be made available online.  Here’s a few to get you thinking – creating eye catching leaflets, garden design, holiday planning (yes some people prefer to hand this task over to others), or providing a house finding service.  You could do all of these without leaving your desk unless you choose to.

Information - people regularly require information tailored to meet their needs – the possible impact of the weather forecast on a specific sport (conditions, will the event be called off, suggested clothing). Feeding a family on a budget – you could provide a collection of quick and easy recipes that are low cost.  A list and descriptions of free attractions and days out such as the local park, churches, walks, and sports fields. Think about your own knowledge, and that of people you have access to, and create information leaflets that you then sell from your website.

The key to success with any online business is attracting potential customers to your website or product listing, promoting the product to maximise sales, and finally making it easy for customer to make that purchase. When a potential customer uses Google to search for a solution to their problem be it a way to display a collection (bookcase), safe places to walk with children in a specific area (information booklet), or needing someone to respond to emails (you could provide such a service). Ensure that when you write descriptions for your products you include all of the keywords a customer might enter into Google when looking for a product such as yours.  Your custom made bookcases could also meet the needs of those looking for display cabinets, shelving, or office furniture.  Make sure you include all of these terms.

And finally – if you truly want to make a living online then you need to start up your online business today.  Decide on products to sell or a service to offer, set up that website and start promoting.  Do this and you could start earning from day one.

Happy earning.

The power of Twitter

Tweet and you could get airtime on national TV! How many times have you watched morning TV or even a news programme and listened to a Tweet being read aloud along with the Tweeter’s name?  It is not only the famous that are receiving this kind of free publicity but ordinary folk who have something interesting to say about current issues are now being heard.

If you are the kind of person that shouts at the TV with a view on a news item or soap’s storyline then why not share it with the world and raise your profile at the same time.

As an author now is the time to start using this opportunity.  It is not really about getting airtime; it is about attracting followers who are interested in what you have to say and want more from you – namely your books.

People are drawn to those who hold similar views to them or voice their concerns. Tweet a view or opinion that shows empathy towards others or, conversely, challenges their thinking and you will build up a sizable group of followers.

Tweet an opinion on the impact, or potential impact, of public spending cuts on the terminally ill, add a new angle, perhaps how more children will be forced to care for their parents, link this to the argument for/against voluntary euthanasia and you could ignite a debate that has the potential to receive that airtime.

If you are new to Twitter spend a little time understanding how it works; there is an excellent help centre online. A few key points: 
-          you have a 140 characters available for each Tweet – use them well
-          use the #hash tag effectively to enable your Tweet to be found when the topic is searched for
-          aim to build up followers – say something interesting
-          remember, a Tweet is permanent, even if you delete it someone may have a copy – read your words carefully and avoid tweeting when angry.

How does this actually help you as an author? If your followers are waiting for your next Tweet then they will certainly be interested enough to find out what else you have written. Never directly promote your book within a Tweet that expresses an opinion on a topic unrelated to your book, instead direct followers to your website or blog.  If the topic has a direct impact on you as an author or you have written about the topic in your book then refer to this in your Tweet. You can Tweet personal conversational pieces in between your opinions and views e.g. “thought I’d let you know my new book is being published today,” or “I’m doing a signing today, would love to meet you.”

What’s stopping you, sign up and start attracting followers.

Looking to write your first book or just need some new tools to help you find the time to satrt writing then have a look at Write it! - how to write your book in 30 hours or less.

Happy tweeting.

Selling your short stories online

So you want to earn a living writing short stories. You enjoy writing them and believe people will enjoy reading them if only you could get them published.  This might seem challenging when everyone is saying that the market for short stories is shrinking.  This may be true for the traditional magazine short stories, though even here there are still opportunities, however have you thought about selling and making your money online?  There are a growing number of online/electronic magazines that will pay for well written short stories that meet their requirements.

There are ezines in many different genres though I have noticed that horror, fantasy and science fiction seems particularly strong at the moment. As with all writing you need to produce work that is of a high quality; do this and you should be able to sell you work somewhere in the world. 

So how much will you earn? Some ezines will pay per word, typically in the region of 1p – 5p.  Some will pay a flat fee for a story.  Always check what rights you are selling as you may want to offer your work for sale elsewhere at a later date.

A real alternative to selling to a magazine or ezine is to produce a book of short stories and then publish this on Amazon Kindle or another ereader.  This way you can earn royalties for every copy sold and potentially increase your income. It would be reasonable to price a collection of ten short stories at between £1.99 and £2.99 (though certainly try a higher figure if you believe your work will sell at a higher price) and, with some promotional activity, achieve sales that will enable you to surpass the £100 - £750 you might earn by selling to a traditional magazine or ezine.

Of course you will have to do your own editing and produce a cover, you could used paid for services for these, but the rewards for your work will be in line with your efforts.

A collection of ten short stories in likely to be in the region of 15,000 - 20,000 words.  My latest book provides techniques for generating ideas for fiction and non-fiction books; it also shows you how to write a 20,000 word book in 30 hours. Have a look and see if the techniques covered could help you write your own collection of short stories and have a book ready for publication. Write it! - how to write your book in 30 hours or less.

Happy writing.

Selling your book on Amazon

Very few things compare to checking your KDP account to see if you have made another sale.  Having recently published an ebook on Amazon as a Kindle edition I have resisted the temptation to check sales every hour.  In fact after making no sales for the first few days I did think I would need to rethink my whole marketing strategy.  Now with sales slowly creeping up I feel that maybe this method of publishing has real potential for me and other writers.

I did read that the percentage of the population that actually own a Kindle is still very low, though it is rising.  What this did not take into account was the number of people who have the Kindle App; free to download to your phone, computer or iPad.

I don't own a Kindle but do have Apps everywhere, if fact much of my reading now takes place on my mobile phone.  It can be useful to have access to your book collection wherever you are and just dip in as needed.

If you have written a book then consider publishing as an ebook and selling through Amazon - it is free and easy to do.  You never know, you may start making those sales sooner than you think.

If you would like to know more on how to create writing time or how to write fast then have a look at my latest book Write it! - how to write your book in 30 hours or less.

Titles that sell

You've written and published your book but so far - limited sales.  One thing you can look at is the title of your book.  If this is fiction then you may want to be creative but for non-fiction your title needs to relate to your readers' needs. 

What is your reader likely to type into a search engine?  If they are looking for cheap ways to furnish a house then write down all the keywords and phrases your potential reader might use - cheap, inexpensive, thrifty, furniture, ideas, decorate.... Pop these words and phrases into a search engine and see what other suggestions are provided as you type; add these to your list.  From these you should be able to come up with "it does what is says on the tin" title that your potential readers will at least find and they hopefully buy.

Working from home

Working from home is a dream many of you will have. The idea of working flexible hours, saying goodbye to the traffic and being able to take holidays at times that suit you.  So what is the reality?  Take kids to school, walk dog, put on washing, answering the "sales" calls, have coffee, answer the door and so it goes on until you pick the kids up from school. 

In order to be successful as a homeworker you need to do two things:
1) Create your workspace and
2) Allocate your working hours.

Whilst a separate home office is preferable it is not essential when you first start.  What is essential is that you decide where you are going to work and have your resources easily accessible.  A dining table is fine to work on as long as it is clear of other non-work related stuff.  Keep a box to hold your books, files and pens. 

Set your working hours and keep to them.  If you are working from 10.00am until 1.00pm then at 10.00 be sat in your workspace and work. Never just finish whatever you are doing.  If you were working away from home you would not be able to hang out the washing or mop the floor.  Your work should come first during your allocated working hours.

Yes you can leave the rat race however to be successful you need to prioritse your new job.

Start today and allocate some time to your home business; you will soon be reaping the rewards.

If you would like to read more on setting up an effective office space have a look at my latest book  Write it! - how to write your book in 30 hours or less.

Creating time to write

When I have time I'll write a book - the most commonly used phrase by would be writers.  You've probably realised by now that there will never be enough time - there will always be something else to do.

If you trully want to start your writing career you need to create time slots to use for writing - trust me they do exist.  Here are some easy ones to get you started.

• Watch half an hour a day less TV
• Get up half an hour earlier
• Go to bed half an hour later
• Use public transport and write on the train
• Use 15 minutes from your lunch break to write

You should easily be able to create half an hour a day to write.  Once you have this time - use it. Do not waste time asking the kids if you can use the computer or clearing the desk of post.  Either ensure you have "booked" the computer or use an App on a mobile phone, even a pencil and notebook is enough to start writing.

By this time next week you should have created and used at least three hours writing time and have produced a significant piece of writing (don't worry about editing just yet).

If you would like more on how to create writing time or how to write fast then have a look at my latest book Write it! - how to write your book in 30 hours or less.

Create that time and start writing!

The changing environment of publishing

With the advent of the Internet and eReaders such as Kindle, getting your writing published and available to readers has never been easier.  This has not made writing easier it has however put both readers and writers in control of what is available and what is read.

There was a time, not too long ago, when publishers controlled what we read. If a writer truly believed in their work they had to undertake what was once an expensive self-publishing approach and then still find it difficult to ensure their work was available to the masses.

Self-publishing as hard copy and digital copy is now much more accessible.  You still have to write your book and ensure it is of the highest quality, however you can now publish and market your work relatively inexpensively and in some cases without cost.

If you have started to write a book, or have finished one, now is the time to dust it off and publish it.