Topic: TIPS for Authors

When Authors Have NEWS … Be a Quacker … Not a Peeper!

When Authors Have NEWS … Be a Quacker … Not a Peeper!

When Authors Have NEWS … Be a Quacker … Not a Peeper!
As the new year unfolds, authors should be planning for shout out time. News about them; about any awards won the previous year; about a new book in the works; about events that feature them; about _____?
What are you going to do with any recent kudos that have come your way? Or about new happenings in your literary life? Several of the authors I …

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Is Author Success Seasonal? Maybe … Maybe Not.

Is Author Success Seasonal? Maybe … Maybe Not.

I must write year-round… but for my personal writing … as in a new book, the seasons matter. As in sunshine. As in sunshine—meaning spring, summer, fall are my chosen seasons. I’m a confessed seasonal writing for when it comes to settle into the next book—whatever bubbles up for the next book. If it’s wintertime … hello cruise!
Any time I talk to agents, editors, or other authors about the future of publishing, where it’s headed, …

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Start Early and Often for Author Social Media Marketing

Start Early and Often for Author Social Media Marketing

Start Early and Often for Author Social Media Marketing
When it comes to social media, too many authors engage in One for the Money … Two for the Show … Three to Get Ready (maybe) … and rarely GO.

This is not your option. The wise author … the savvy author … the author whose objective is to be seriously successful gets started early and engages often moving forward.
Why?

To get your feet wet.
To learn shortcuts for creating …

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Author Tips to Avoid Social Media Posting Blunders

Author Tips to Avoid Social Media Posting Blunders

Author Marketing Blunders …
Not Using Ninja Strategies to Push Your Social Media Out
SOMETIMES, AUTHORS MIX UP their priorities. Maybe they think they can “do it all” … you can’t. Stop it. It’s time to morph your thinking and your actions when it comes to social media posting.

When it comes to social media, you need a management system in place to maintain your social media sanity.

To schedule your posts.
To follow comments.
To make comments.
To access what is …

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9 Tips for Writing Better and Faster

9 Tips for Writing Better and Faster

Reading and Writing are joined at the hip. I’m often asked how do I get so much pumped out each week with blogs, podcasts, communications about ongoing events and experiences, the variety of books I work of with clients … and noodling ideas for my own books.

 
First,  I read lots. I scan through five newspapers every morning–within 10 minutes of being up, I’m reading accompanied by my ever-present mug of hot tea. Items that catch …

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Pinterest Part 2: Creating Your Edge

Pinterest Part 2: Creating Your Edge

Time for the nitty-gritty of Pinterest profiles!  In this post, you’ll learn all the details of how to create a business profile and what a scheduler is and why you should be using one.  This is the post you’ve been waiting for: The IKEA of Pinterest profile building!
Pinterest offers personal or business accounts.  As an author, you will want to upgrade to a free business profile in order to utilize the tools Pinterest has set …

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Authoring, Writing and Book Publishing Tips

Authoring, Writing and Book Publishing Tips

 
You only have one tip for today … but it’s an important one … one that can make book designers and editors batty when it’s violated.

Apparently, many writers and authors didn’t get the memo about the one-space rule. It’s been the norm for decades. Every major style guide—including the Modern Language Association Style Manual and the Chicago Manual of Style—prescribes a single space after a period. Yet, manuscript after manuscript that comes in has the …

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Authoring, Writing and Book Publishing Tips

Authoring, Writing and Book Publishing Tips

 

Authors: Step Away from Images for Book Cover that You Are Emotionally Attached To …
Rarely is it the right choice.  Rarely. Your book cover is not you, your friends, or your family. Book covers are for your book buyers. What grabs them? Gets their attention? Shouts out: pick me up?
What authors should do instead: Work with a cover designer who isn’t attached to your image. Yes, he or she should get your voice, your concept …

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Authoring, Writing and Book Publishing Tips

Authoring, Writing and Book Publishing Tips

 
 

DO NOT register for Extended Distribution on Amazon’s CreateSpace for Your Book
CreateSpace has an option in their distribution page that offers to make your book available to bookstores and libraries. REPEAT: DO NOT check the box to have your books sold into those markets.
WHY? The discount offered through Extended Distribution to bookstores is so low and non-returnable that stores won’t take it. Few know that CreateSpace uses IngramSpark to offer the books in this program to …

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Authoring, Writing and Book Publishing Tips

Authoring, Writing and Book Publishing Tips

 
Last year on the PublishingAtSea.com cruise, I did a session on How to Pitch Yourself … something that too many authors do a “not so good job” at. This year, I opened with a session I called About Me … and turned it into a
Tip 1:
Always enhance any pitch you do with numbers. Don’t just say you’ve coached “hundreds” of clients. Pick a number and estimate as closely as possible. Say how many book awards you’ve won. Reveal how …

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