Increase the sales of your ebook and make more money from your writing

The main goal for many writers is to generate income from their writing. You’ve written your book and are about to self-publish but how do you maximise income?

The three keys to making sales are – readers need to know about your book, readers need to find your book, readers need to be able to purchase your book.

For an ebook this means – social media, search engine optimisation (SEO), and a buy now button.

Social media – use the obvious like Twitter and Facebook (look for appropriate Facebook pages you can leave a post on); also consider creating a website and guest blogging. If you are making use of KDP Select and offering your book for free then post details on book sites that promote free ebooks e.g. http://www.pixelofink.com/sfkb/

SEO – Every bit of information that is used by search engines should be written to maximise your chances of being displayed on the first page of search results. Your title and book description should contain keywords and phrases that readers enter into search engines. Consider all the terms that readers might enter when looking for a book like yours.

Buy now – make it difficult for the reader to buy your book or have too many steps before the confirm button and you may lose buyers. If you use Amazon or Smashwords the work is done for you, if you are selling from your own website then ensure you include a prominent “Buy” button that enables readers to make that purchase securely and quickly. PayPal is an obvious choice though there are other options. Note that when making a purchase the reader needs to feel that the payment they are making is secure so use services that they are likely to be familiar with. Also note that each step towards hitting the confirm button is an opportunity for the readers to reconsider and NOT make the purchase.

Happy writing.

Publish it! - How to self-publish your book for free using Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), CreateSpace and Smashwords

Today I have published the next book in the Write it! Publish it! Sell it! series. Have at look on Amazon and download a sample.

Publish it! - How to self-publish your book for free using Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), CreateSpace and Smashwords

Self-publishing offers incredible opportunities for all writers regardless of the genre, subject or word count. You can write and publish short stories, poems, reports, novels; in fact whatever type of book you have written you can make it available to readers who are actively seeking new and exciting fiction and non-fiction books. The traditional gatekeepers of published works can no longer restrict what is available to the reader.

The benefits of self-publishing are so great that this option is now the first choice for many writers. As the writer and publisher you keep control of price, distribution, cover design, promotion and updates.

Using online services you can publish a printed or ebook for free and have it available to readers in as little as 10 minutes.

Follow the step-by-step instructions in this book and you will be able to:

 - Select the best publishing option for you and your book.

 - Prepare your book for publication.

 - Publish your book for free.

 - Select your distribution channels.

 - Sell on Amazon, iBookstore, WHSmith, Barnes and Noble, and through other retailers.

 - Start selling you book in as little as 10 minutes.

 - Keep the profits from your book - royalties can be as high as 85%.

 - Maximise sales and income using an effective pricing strategy.

 - Write a description to ensure readers find your book online.

There is a huge demand books by previously unpublished writers; tap into this market and develop a following of readers who will come back time after time to purchase and read your latest work.

This is one market where you are not in direct competition with other writers; if readers enjoy books written on a particular subject or in a specific genre they will look, and buy, for more of the same.

Happy writing.

 

How to write a novel – 5 tips to support your success

 Many people dream of writing a novel, you have a basic idea of plot and characters, you may even have written a few chapters, you then find your writing stalls. There are many reasons for this but most are around self-doubt. If you want to complete a novel you need to prepare yourself, after all you wouldn't run a marathon without training!

1) Create character sketches

Most novels start with the characters; they drive the plot. Create character sketches for five or six main characters. Write a description of their physical appearance, job, motivation, desires and traits. Include one or two weaknesses e.g. fear of heights. These weaknesses will be vital during your novel.

2) Write a plot summary

Now you have your characters write a page or so summarising the plot; detail is not needed at this stage however include who wants what, what the barriers are, and any other relevant details. This is not a scene by scene breakdown; it is more of an extended blurb with the end revealed. You might start with something like – Sally is pregnant, she is asked about family history and decides to try and find her father. His name is not on her birth certificate and her mother won’t give her any information. As a result she falls out with her mother. After a number of false starts she finds one person who is prepared to speak to her, only problem is this man is living in Africa. Heavily pregnant and without her husband’s blessing she travels alone – I’ll let you complete the end.

3) Note, research and describe the locations

Write descriptions of the locations for your book. You may need to research some of these however do not let this research delay your writing.

4) Create an outline

Create a scene by scene outline for your novel. Note any relevant details such as location and weather. Each scene should have a hook to encourage the readers to turn the page – typically this will be a question such as: Will she escape? Who is hacking her computer? Will they get there in time?

E.g Sally meets John in a café in London, he is going to give her the details of the man to contact, it is raining outside. John hands the file to Sally, as she thanks and hugs him Sally’s husband walks by outside. Sally sees him but is not sure if he has seen her. She runs out after him but cannot see him because of the rain and umbrellas.

5) Write in small chunks

Thinking of a 100,000 word novel can be overwhelming; you have your outline so build your novel a step at a time. Start filling in the gaps and completing individual scenes; not necessarily in scene order. Set small targets and watch your novel grow.

Do not edit whilst writing your first draf.t If you struggle with a scene just make some notes in red and move on, you can come back to this scene later. If partway through you decide you need to add an additional character to an earlier scene then just make a note of it in big red letters. You are aiming to get to the end and finish your first draft. Write every day, 10 minutes a day is fine, an hour is better.

When you have got to the end, write The End.

Happy writing

Reading to Children

If you are are writer you are no doubt interested in readers. The website Reading to Children provides hints and tips on encouraging young children to engage with stories and become avid readers.

Have a look.

http://www.readingtochildren.co.uk/

Creating a Writer's Retreat

Having some dedicated time to spend writing can increase your productivity no end.  Spending money on a weekend away is not an option for everyone; you can however create your own writing retreat at home.  This will require a little planning and a certain amount of self-discipline it can be just as productive as a weekend away.

Planning the date

The key to a successful retreat is planning, this applies if you are going away for a weekend or taking a couple of days off work and having your retreat at home.

If you have a family you may find it easier to plan your retreat during the week and book a couple of days off work. You will need to ensure that during your writing times you are not disturbed at all; no-one asking where the vacuum cleaner is kept, no answering the phone and no friends over for coffee. Choose one or two days when you can just sit down and write

It should be possible to organise 5 hours of writing in a day – that is 2 slots of two and a half hours; any more than this and you may become fatigued.

Preparing for the day

Place – select a place to write, this might be your dining table, a desk in an office, the library or your local coffee shop.

Food – wherever you are going to write ensure you have enough food and drink available; prepare it in advance so you are not taking up valuable writing time. It is OK to eat a meal in your local coffee shop if either you are writing there or the cafe is within a short distance of where you are working.

Writing – decide exactly what you are going to write on your retreat. You do not want to sit at your desk, pen in hand, and have no idea about what comes next. You may decide to outline a novel or write a complete chapter. You may decide on a short story or an article. Have a plan of what to do and a basic outline of subject, characters or plot. Gather any materials you need and bookmark any websites for research.

Family – for your retreat days you need to be on your own, ensure that you have selected days when you will not be disturbed. If there are other people in your home then make sure you choose a writing place out of the house. Arrange for the children to see friends, ask a partner to go visit their family for the day. If family are around they will disturb you.

Chores – list anything that you have to do on your retreat days day – walk the dog, get children to school. Then try to find alternatives where possible, perhaps a friend will take and collect the kids from school. Give the dog have a shorter walk and then perhaps a second walk at lunchtime.

Music – you may prefer to work in silence. If not put together a playlist or CDs to listen to. Do not have the radio or TV on, these will distract you.

On the day

From the moment your retreat starts image you are on holiday in a luxury hotel, if you are on holiday you will not be doing the washing up, putting the washing machine on, cooking meals, or making the beds. This is back to the planning, if you have to provide an evening meal for the family then do it the day before.

Have a start time for your writing and be in your writing place at that time. Ensure you have water and snacks with you. Turn off the Internet and emails, turn off your phone or at least put it on silence face down on the table.

Write until lunchtime, do not stop, do not answer the phone, do not answer the door. Just before lunchtime make a note of what you are going to do after lunch, this might be edit the short story you have just completed.

At lunchtime stop for a break, move away from your writing, take a short walk, eat lunch and drink water. Take at least half an hour but no more than an hour. If you have reached a difficult point in your writing relax and try to think through the problem. You might decide to meditate for a short while – this is not only relaxing but can refresh you. During lunch do not do any household tasks, check emails, or use social media. You want to keep your mind open for your writing only.

After lunch return to your writing again with snacks and water. Towards the end of your writing time review what you have achieved. If you have completed a short story or article then why not post it off to your chosen magazine. If you have two days for your retreat then note what you are going to do the next morning.

At the end of your writing day you may have the family back home, if this is the case then feed them and relax with them. If you have managed to get some quiet time in the evening then relax with a meal and some music. It is useful to keep the TV turned off and just listen to music as you are thinking through your writing.

What are you waiting for – select your dates and enjoy your retreat.

Happy writing.

Write it! available as a free download this weekend

This weekend - Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th March 2013 - 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.


Happy writing.

10 Tips To Get Back In The Zone

We’ve all had those times when the Muse doesn’t arrive, we have writer’s block or we hit that wall. You are looking at the cursor flashing on the screen, fingers hovered over the keyboard and nothing happens, no new words, no new chapters. 

You may even look over the work you completed yesterday and decide it is rubbish and start thinking that maybe you should rewrite this first.  In nearly all cases this is your internal self-doubt or self-destruct button trying to prevent you from reaching your goals.

Don’t let it win. If you have been writing for three hours solid then you probably need a break. Most likely you have been sat at your computer for a while and just can’t get going. If this is the case do not do something else instead and think that when you come back you will feel better – you won’t.

Here are 10 tips that will silence that self doubt voice and help you get going again, at least for today.

1)      Write a different section or scene - you should have a fairly good idea about the whole of your book, maybe there is a future scene that you are just burning to write, maybe you have a chapter on a subject that particularly interests you. Write it now.

2)      Use pen and paper – the brain connects differently with pen and paper than with a keyboard and screen; turn off the screen and start handwriting. This could be shorthand notes, a plan for what happens next, or the complete script.

3)      Make a list – sometimes the brain cannot switch off from all the other things that need doing, repairing the car, doing the shopping, cleaning the floor, make a list of all the things you need to do and then forget about them. If any are time sensitive then set a reminder on your phone or in your diary.

4)      Set a timer and write freely for 10 minutes - it doesn’t matter if you need to cut it later.  This might be a conversation between two of your characters, or an interesting piece of research you undertook for your book. If nothing else this will get you back into the minds of your characters which will help with the “what will they do next” or re-engage you with your topic.

5)      Close your eyes and imagine this section of your book completed – what will be there, how will it end. Play out the scene or think through the content. Visualisation is a powerful technique used to get those creative juices flowing.

6)      Meditate – many writers start a writing session with meditation. Clear the mind and remove all tension. If it helps use music or an inspirational audio track.

7)      Ask a question of your book – ask a character what they think should happen next.

8)      Write the description or blurb for your book – this will help you focus on the purpose or theme of your book.

9)      Record your words - use voice to text software or a Dictaphone, verbalising your words can increase your creativity, improve flow and help you find the answers you need.

10)   Turn off your screen and type – you are getting no visual feedback so no negative thoughts.

Work through these and see which work best for you. Never give up – if you plan to write for an hour then don’t let your self-doubt stop you.

Happy writing.