Are You a Real Author?

A book is a book and an author is an author, right?

Well in the not so distant past an author would write a book or proposal, submit it to one or more publishing houses and wait for weeks or months to hear back. After a decent amount of time, around six months, said aspiring author would send out the manuscript, making copies and mailing the documents of course, to another round of publishers and the waiting process would happen all over again.

Flash-forward to the present.

Now, if someone wants to write a book... anyone, even a child, can. All you have to do is create the file and upload it on one of the many services, such as Amazon's "Create Space," and voila! An author is born. Or is an author really born?

What is the definition of an author?

A. One who writes?
B. One is is published by the traditional means...publisher with a print product.
C. One who is self published with a print product?
D. One who is self published with a print and/or digital product?

Confusing right?

To add to the confusion we can include the caveat the author needs to sell books to be considered a published author. By selling I don't mean to 100 of your best friends or manipulate the system, such as Amazon to spike sales at 3 PM in the morning, or offer the book for free on a slow day to become an Amazon best seller.

This is a hotly contested subject and I know many of my readers are self-published authors or those who aspire to be traditionally published at some point in their writing careers. I turned down a 4-book publishing contract in 1996 after I had successfully self-published said books and was happy not having to make 15% commission when I was making 100%. However, does that still make me a published author if I self-publish? I can't join many of the professional associations because I am self-published however several of my authors, Susan K. Marlow is one, is part of these associations because I publish one of her books!

And so we go round and round and I'm sure you have an opinion, so let's hear it!

Guest Blogger: Candy Arrington

Are Your Writing Ideas Publishable?

© 2009 Candy Arrington

Each of us has gifts and talents, and as writers, we have unique ideas about how to convey various topics via the written word. So why is it that some ideas make it to publication and others don’t?

Often, would-be writers claim someone “took” their idea when they see a book release on a subject they are interested in writing about. But I believe God gives his message, in different forms, to many different messengers. Some heed the call immediately and follow through. Others get bogged down in preparations or procrastination. Years after the idea’s germination, they are still pondering but haven’t thought things through fully enough to get to the nugget that will interest a publisher.

Here are some things to consider when determining if you idea is publishable:

•    What are you writing?

While this may sound amazing, I often review a manuscript the writer thinks is a book, when it’s really an article or devotional. Or a writer refers to something as an article that is really a personal experience story. Or a writer isn’t sure if he’s writing fiction or nonfiction. If you are writing a book, do you know which category your book would fit in on the bookstore shelf? Publishers expect you to know. Until you categorize your work, your writing isn’t likely to get published.

•    Who is your audience?

Do you have a magazine or book publisher in mind for your manuscript? Novice writers write first and then try to place their manuscript. Professional writers write to the market rather than chasing it. Until you know your audience, your writing isn’t focused.

•    Is there a market like for your topic?

Have you done market research to see what else is available on the topic? Have famous authors, who are considered “experts,” written on the topic? If so, you may well have a hard time getting a publisher to consider an additional book on the subject. Can you refine your idea, making it narrower and exploring a different twist on the topic? For example, the subject of parenting is broad. Narrow it down by writing about parenting a techno-savvy generation or effective parenting despite your upbringing.

•    Do you have enough material to support your premise?

Have you created a full outline to see if you have enough for a book, or enough for an article? Can you avoid repeating and rephrasing material? Are there other sources you can draw from and quote? (One caveat: there is nothing more boring than a book of quotations broken up by a little commentary!)

•    Is your idea captivating?

Can you sustain the text and hold reader interest throughout the work? Many times writers repeat the same ideas others have already written on, or worse, paraphrase a seminar they’ve attended. If you idea isn’t involved enough to be captivating, or is pirated from someone else, it will never see publication.

•    Do you have a compelling beginning?

Are you hooking your readers and drawing them in from the first sentence? Start with a story, yours or someone else’s. Write in a narrative format that makes readers want to know more. You have to pique the curiosity of an editor or agent first before moving further in the publishing process.



About :
Candy Arrington’s writing provides Biblical insights and practical advice, often on tough topics. Her publishing credits include hundreds of articles in periodicals such as Focus on the Family, Today’s Christian Woman, Marriage Partnership, Encounter, Pray, The Lookout, The Upper Room, Advanced Christian Writer, CBN.com, The Writer, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s stories have appeared in the Chicken Soup and Cup of Comfort series.

She is coauthor of When Your Aging Parent Needs Care: Practical Help for This Season of Life (Harvest House) and Aftershock: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B & H Publishing Group). Candy is on staff with The Christian Communicator Manuscript Critique Service and also provides private paid writing critiques and editing. She is on faculty for several national writers’ conferences and is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

Author Interviews: Sandra Glahn

In the next few weeks I will have the privilege of interviewing many authors that belong to the Christian Author's Network, (CAN).  The first of these interviews is with Sandra Glahn. She shared her experience, along with twenty journalists, of meeting and talking to Mr. Nir Barkat, the mayor of Jerusalem.

Sandra is a journalist, as well as a prolific author with some great suggestions for beginning writer’s on her blog: http://aspire2.blogspot.com/2009/10/break-into-publishing.html

I laughingly joke that my first published piece was the letter to the editor. Many of them. When the local paper contacted me about writing a feature editorial piece, and including a picture of myself, I was nervous. This was the “big time” … little did I realize the writing bug had taken a hold.

In her blog post, Sandra recommends writing articles on the same topic as the book you hope to write. It is a great way to break into print. As a teacher to writing students at Dallas Theological Seminary, she should know. She shares much more in her insightful post.

Are you currently working on a book topic? What do you think about Sandra's suggestion?

Writing Good Book Reviews: by Lori Kasbeer

People often times confuse book reviews with book reports.  Book reports describe what happens in the book.  Their focus is the retelling of facts concerning plot, characters, and the main idea.  Book reviews inform readers what the book is like and whether it was enjoyable or not.  Good book reviews help increase the sale of a book. 

If you review books on your web site, be aware of the type of readers you have visiting and ask yourself if the subject matter will interest them.  For Lori’s Book Reviews the majority of my audience is women between the ages of 20 to 60.  I do have a few male readers, but it is predominately women.  Therefore books I review will cover what I believe will interest them; you won’t find me reviewing book covering war stories because that is not what my readers are looking for. 

When you are offered a book for review, remember that was something the author worked very hard for.  Honest opinion of the book should be offered, but in a respectful manner. 

Tips I found helpful when I write book reviews:

1.    READ THE BOOK. I can not stress this enough, you can not offer a fair review if you only skim the book.
2.    As you read the book write down themes or quotes that may interest readers.
3.    While writing, tell readers about the story as if you are sitting across from them discussing the book.
4.    Give the name of the author and the book several times throughout the review.
5.    Since my tag line is “Reviewing Books with a Purpose” I want to share what insight I found in the book.  How did the book bring readers closer to God?
6.    Express your honest opinion.  A review should either persuade readers to pickup the book or to avoid reading it.
7.    Don’t give any surprises away in your review.

The on going debate right now is “Do Blog Book Reviews Drive Sales?”   Anne Kingman and Michael Kindness, who are Random House sales representatives, reported that more than 30% of their readers at Books on the Nightstand have bought three to five books based on recommendations on the site and 14% have bought six or more, according to the 252 respondents to their recent reader survey. A recent survey of lit blog readers shows that 56% buy books primarily based on the influence of blogs.  I believe publishers like Thomas Nelson, Random House and Tyndale House Publishers have realized this and now offer a blogger review program.

After you have a well written review posted on your web site, be sure to email the author or publishing house and offer a link to your review.  Also post your reviews on Amazon.com or Christianbook.com to increase your exposure as a book reviewer. 

If you are interested in becoming a book reviewer here are some links to get you started:

Thomas Nelson (http://brb.thomasnelson.com/)

Tyndale House  (http://mediacenter.tyndale.com)

Lori's Book Reviews:
http://laurelwreathsreflections.com/lorisbookreviews/

Marketing Strategy 9: Black Book of Business Contacts

If you have been keeping up with my other Marketing Strategy Posts, this may very well be the most valuable of all. This is one of my top ten secrets for aspiring authors...that is for those of you who are considering authoring a book. If you already have a book in print don't worry, it is not too late to use this advice to your advantage.

In the world of business there is the coveted "book of business" that contains key contacts. Usually a list is amassed over  the years of doing business. The longer you are in business and are successful the more valuable your contacts become.

A book of business would vary greatly by industry. A contractor's contact list might be different from those of an attorney. While an insurance sales person would have a contact list that was not industry specific, but based upon clients who have purchased from them in the past. Who would be in the book? This may include previous clients, contacts in the media, or people you know who are great at referrals. This list of people would be in your niche market, or those that would be the most interested in your book topic. You are not going to include your plumbers name in the list, no matter how important he may be unless you have a book that is geared to the plumbing industry.

In the world of writing and publishing your book of business may contain some of the suggestions listed below. Don't limit yourself to these categories, and by all means if you have additional suggestions, please share!

Pre-Book Publication:
Writing and Publishing Book of Business Contacts:

Agents
Publishers
Graphic Artists
Editors
Printers (for self-publishers)
Publicity
Book Club Reviewers
Speakers associations
Magazine or print editors
Valuable online contacts
Social networking websites

This list will grow as you slowly get closer to your publication date. I have a list of twelve people I use with each book I print. Does this list vary, yes...but I am so happy the major leg work is over. I know who I am going to use to layout and create the cover of each book, I know who I'll choose to edit, distribute, or help with publicity. I know who I will call to set up speaking engagements, help with promotions and share my information via speakers bureaus and networks. What a time saver!

Do you have a list of people that you will use to help you as your book project grows near completion? If not, begin today.

Book Signings: Joel N. Cobbs

by Joel N. Cobbs

· DO NOT be afraid of talking to people. Go to a bookstore, talk to the manager (preferably the General Manager) and set up an appointment.

· DO NOT give up! If a bookstore doesn't want to carry your book, just move on to the next one. If you decide to try the same chain, only do it once more or you'll be "flagged" and will have a hard time getting a signing there later on.

· DO NOT throw tantrums. Sure, this SOUNDS silly, but you'd be amazed. Having several friends in the business, I've heard many a tale about rude customers, but I've also heard some interesting ones about self-published authors.

· (EXAMPLE) A lady went into a Huntsville bookstore with a book she'd self-published. She didn't have the buyback guarantee and the store was unable to carry her book. She left in a huff, making a scene and attracting a lot of attention to herself and the people around her (INCLUDING THE GENERAL MANAGER.) Believe it or not, word travels fast between bookstores, almost as fast as Vegas casinos. If you throw a fit in one store, I promise another will hear about it within a few minutes, probably before you can get there. (How do you think I heard about it?)

· DO go the extra mile. For me, the best experience I had with author signings was with Rick & Bubba. They were scheduled to be at our store at 3 in the afternoon and leave at 6 (yes, only three hours.) So how long did they stay? Until EVERY CUSTOMER LEFT! (Which ran right up to the time we closed.) They even stayed a few minutes after the customers left so the employees could meet them and sign autographs. See? Because of that incident, when I think of author signings they IMMEDIATELY come to mind. Think of it this way, these are the people who are buying your books and telling others to buy them. You want every experience they have with you to be the best and one they'll never forget (in the good way, of course.)

· DO get your name out there. Email the local paper and ask them (say "please") to put a small something about your book signing. Email the contact person at the local news station and tell them about it. Tell your friends and family and ASK them to tell their friends and family.

· And once again, be nice. Realize that times are tough, bad things happen, etc. etc., and just swallow it like a mature adult and move on.

10-Pitfalls Continued: Jackie Perseghetti

Pitfall #6: Stepping away from your content because you were saturated with it! This is a very easy pitfall to step into, and one I had to climb out of. I was so entrenched in my writing that when I was done with the books, I was emotionally done—at least for a while. I stepped away to take a deep breath, do a victory dance, and celebrate. The problem was, I forgot to step back again.

Whatever you write, you need to remain fresh. Review your written work periodically to keep yourself excited about it. This will not only motivate you to promote your book, but it will make it easier when asked to talk about them. You wrote what you wrote for a reason and generally with a passion. Don’t lose that perspective!


Pitfall #7: Mis-focus – Thinking of what your book can do for you (success; notoriety; respect) rather than what your book can do for others. If you’re in it for yourself, your enthusiasm will dry up. So will your market. A mis-focus can cause you to become distracted and tempted to chase after things that could undermine you in the long run. To stay out of this pit, ask yourself: “Why am I writing this?” or, “Why am I a writer?” Then, keep that in mind.

It’s hard to sidestep this pitfall when trying to build an author platform because success and fame is often given as a motivating factor. You see this all over the Internet—especially with the current economic times. Writing a book is not a “get rich quick” deal, and while it could possibly brand you an “expert,” it isn’t a cure for the emptiness you may feel in your life. Don’t go down the arrogant author avenue, or the respect -seeking road. It’s a dead end. Literally.

Pitfall #8: “Looking left and right” syndrome. This pitfall is an unhealthy comparison of your books to other books in the same genre. While it is good to know what’s out in the market and how your product compares, you need to be careful with what you do with that information. Does it inspire you toward great things, or does it spiral you downward in envy? Does it make you more creative, or does it make you more critical or bitter? If you step into this pitfall, you will soon find yourself criticizing other books in order to make yours look better. Keep a check on your heart. This is a very subtle pitfall to step into!

Pitfall #9: “Holding the apron strings too tightly.” As an empty nester, this has been on my mind recently. Just as there are seasons of change in life, there are times to change and launch in a new direction as a writer. While this can be true of developing a platform, it is hardest when dealing with something you’ve already written. I fell into this pitfall when “Caution: Dangerous Devotions” and “Caution: More Dangerous Devotions” were being redone. (The current “Faith Factor NT” and “Faith Factor OT” -- thru the Bible devotions are simply Dangerous Devotions on steroids, with additional sidebars, a timeline ticker tape running along the bottom of the pages pitting secular and biblical history side-by-side, and additional sidebars. For the OT book, it is new material to complete where I left off in the original book.) Oh yes, and there was a title change.

When I first heard my books were going to be given a new title, I balked. I had come up with the title of the original books and they were quite the attention getter. Upon hearing my books were now going to be called “Faith Factor,” I cried. (That was after I gagged, got angry, and wondered “Who came up with that dumb name!”) As you can see, it was a classic cased of holding the apron strings too tightly. I was afraid to re-examine my work and/or revise it. After all, it was a best-selling title for the publisher; why mess with something that was a proven seller?

This pitfall is one authors can easily step into anytime they write—with or without having a published book. For instance: have you ever asked for feedback on something you’ve written, and then gotten angry at the comments or editorial remarks? Apron strings. Case in point! While writing a book is a lot like giving birth (book idea growing and developing inside of you; you imagining what life will be like once the book is out; expectations; dreams; then the uncomfortable birth pangs and demands of deadlines; scurrying around to finalize edits; the transitional time squeeze of last minute checks, and then viola! Book!)—Writing a book is NOT a baby! Never forget that.


Pitfall #10: Self pressure to “climb the author ladder” – Falling into the temptation to become something you are not, or are uncomfortable becoming because that is what is “expected.” How well you avoided some of the other nine pitfalls will influence your success in avoiding this one!

This last pitfall reminds me of the old junior-high syndrome of trying to be like someone else who has success with friends and popularity, or who is cool because he/she is an athlete. While it is good to observe and learn, it is not good to lose your identity or become something you are not. As an author, if you are not a speaker, don’t feel pressured to go out on the speaking circuit just because it’s expected! Instead, you can blog where you have time to develop your thoughts, and the only audience you face are the letters on your keyboard. There are many ways to climb a ladder – take the next steps – without making yourself into something you are not, or something you regret becoming.

So, a practical suggestion in how to avoid this pitfall? Be yourself. No one can be that better than you.

Jackie Perseghetti is an author of Faith Factor O.T. and Faith Factor N.T. visit her on her blog at http://www.ACupofCoolWater.blogspot.com and come be refreshed!

Guest Blogger: Susan K. Marlow

Mistakes? You Don't Want to Be Branded a Beginner.
Part 1

Oh, those writing mistakes! Those mistakes that brand a new writer as a "beginner" to the editors we hope to impress with our work. I know all about them--intimately--because I've made most of them. News flash: I was a beginner once, too. But as soon as a seasoned writer pointed the mistakes out, I ceased (for the most part) making them. What separates the beginner from those who go on to become mature writers? It's how quickly they identify and overcome these common mistakes. Here are a few you can start to identify in your own writing:

1. Not beginning your story in the right place. A lot of new writers feel the reader needs back story, character expansion, or setting the scene before diving into the story problem. The truth is, the reader wants to be grabbed with a tantalizing "hook" and drawn into the story itself. Character development, setting, and even back story can be weaved into the story once you've got the reader turning pages. And . . . it's all about turning pages. An editor has a stack of manuscripts to read, and he gives himself a couple of minutes to scan each submission. If he isn't hooked by page 2 or 3, he's going to lay it aside and pick up the next manuscript. This happened to me, but thankfully an experienced, published author told me and not an editor from a publishing house! I had time to go back and start the story right where it needs to begin: just before the story problem. (This is especially true for children's literature.)

2. The need to explain everything. Another mistake beginners make is feeling they need to explain everything. I call this "giving the reader TMI." Too Much Information. The reader drowns in a sea of wordiness and redundancies. Trust me. Readers are smart. They can infer much that doesn't need to be explained. Here is a simplistic example: If a mountain lion is chasing a girl, you don't need to add the part about the girl running. The word "chase" assumes somebody is running. If something changes, (like she falls or climbs a tree), that's the time to tell the reader. Sometimes, in their need to "tell all," a new writer intrudes into the story. The reader knows right away that the action has stopped and he's been jerked from the story. For instance, a story is about the misadventures of Jane in the big city. Nothing seems to be going right for her throughout the entire book. A chapter ends, and then . . . bang! The next chapter begins with, "Jane had come to the city to try and find a job. Now it looked like it wasn't going to work out so well, so she decided to try another alternative." Stop! The whole story has been about Jane's problem. Why review this just because it's a new chapter? And lest you think I'm making this up, except for the name and setting changes to protect the guilty, I found this in a recent editing job.

3. Telling and not showing. Explaining is another word for telling. New writers sometimes do a lot of telling. After all, it's much easier to narrate (tell) a story than to show what is happening. Memorize this phrase: Show. Don't Tell. The reader does not want to learn second-hand what happened in scene about two rivals having a conflict at the water cooler. The reader wants to be at the water cooler, listening in to the conversation, sensing the emotions, being involved in the characters' lives. Even experienced authors sometimes slip into "telling" when their fingers are flying over the keys and they want the story to move quickly. I broke off a scene once, just as my character was about to be dumped fromher horse in front of a group of young ladies. I did a scene break and then had my character retelling her humiliating experience to her roommate. My critique partner wisely slammed me for it and said, "But I want to SEE Andi getting dumped from the horse." Oh. Yeah. Good point.

Marketing Strategy 7: Blogging

Websites come in all shapes and sizes. Some look very professional and others have the mom and pop feel to them that may or may not be intentional. If you are looking to sell a book and have it fly off the shelves, then a great website is a must.

The internet has changed drastically in the ten or so years since I've been using it often. My first website consisted of a few pages and cost upwards of $1500.00. Today websites come in all shapes and sizes, those costing thousands of dollars and others that cost ...um, nothing. Free sites are blogs such as this one that are monetized. In fact, if you know how, you could spend practically nothing for a website.


But a website is not personal in the same way that a blog is. A Blog tells people who you are, what you do and why they should pay attention to what you say. I use to believe that if I was the least bit challenging or interesting, I would have readers. Instead I have learned that having a blog is not the end of the road...it is the beginning of the need to promote yourself. It pays to have a mentor and in my case, I belong to a professional group of Bloggers and Podcasters. These people are in the know and many have been successful Bloggers for years. I have learned there is much more to blogging than meets the eye. It takes dedication, stamina, will and…well, something to say.


One of the biggest obstacles I had to overcome was the feeling that I needed to be inspirational every time I blogged. I soon learned that was not the case. The blog could contain inspirational and content filled information, every once in awhile…but I did not need to write a thesis each and every time!


You can use many different sources for blogs, as well as different blogs on various topics. This blog is for authors and publishers, I have a "mommy blog" on http://www.mediaangels.com/blog that is part of my website. That blog is fun to write because I can post about all kinds of family happenings...and if I blogged about everything, the site would be full of just blog posts! I recently enabled responses to the blog post and that has definitely increased traffic.

There are tutorials you can watch on youtube or similar websites that explain how to create a blog. Many people I know use wordpress software for their blog. I tried setting up a site there and never followed through on completing it. I may revisit it at some point as I have friends that rave about how wonderful that website works...and best of all they can create "real" looking websites for practically free using wordpress. You still need a place to host the website especially if you are putting up video or lots of audio. That can eat through bandwidth very quickly.

You can use your Blog for the following reasons:

1. Instead of a website. A blog can fill in nicely for a website if you can use it to sell your products or point people to your shopping cart.
2. To make an income stream: many blogs have ads posted, and when you can click on the ads the Blogger makes money.
3. Use blog posts to tell readers about a new book or product.
4. Use your blog for cross promotions, trading with others and posting an article on their website while they post an article on yours.
5. Use you website to interview guests in your blog topic


Ultimately a blog gives you name recognition. Bloggers with a large following have been offered book deals by royalty publishers. I read a blog from a man who had created it two years ago. In his posts he was keeping people updated about his upcoming book. He had passed the million viewer mark and had planned to self-publish the book, but instead accepted a publisher’s contract. This would never have happened if he did not have the readership. The publisher knows the value of this as translated in dollars.


Recently I had a big promotion with an increase of traffic to 4,000 viewers in one day. Of these 4,000 people, 490 or so opted into the newsletter feature, this was not necessary to download the free product. Specials such as free downloads, coupons or money off is a good way to drive sales to your site. In this day, print ads can be so prohibitive in cost. Blogging is by far one of the best ways to get mileage out of your time. Yes, your time is valuable but if it translates into book sales, it is time well spent.


Question: If you use blogging as a way to generate revenue what have you found works best?

Coming up next: ways to promote your blog

Marketing Strategy 6: Relationships that Count-2

Part 2


The rule books have changed somewhat. Social networking has opened the doors for relationships to be created across the miles. I have hundreds of friends on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Plaxo that I don’t know, have never met, and will more than likely never meet in my lifetime. (Yes, go ahead and connect to me, I like making new “friends”). How do I know these people? Through relationship building. The written word is now King. If you can write, and write well, you can create relationships. Those relationships will open doors, and I mean big doors.

Learning what makes up a good relationship is the key in the real world as well as the virtual world. This year I published a lady that I “met” who has become a good friend of mine. Our first correspondence was sometime in 2008, and while we have never met face-to-face, we’ve exchanged hundreds of emails and at least several marathon phone calls.

She and I connected at the invitation of a mutual friend on Facebook. We got to know each other and when she presented me with her manuscript on teaching children to write fiction (and she is a published children’s novelist), I was interested in taking a look. I loved her work. With some additions and suggestions from me, which she quickly implemented, we had a new Media Angels product. Susan K. Marlow added another book to her ever growing list of accomplishments, "Reach for the Stars: A Young Fiction Author's Workbook." Sales have already surpassed expectations.

This took place through relationship building. Hers and mine. Relationships, the best kind, are mutually beneficial. People who look at things from the perspective of “what’s in it for me” tend to be labeled early on as takers. Those who are very helpful on the other hand can be taken advantage of as well. It is important to set some boundaries and work within your comfort range.

I recently joined a women’s business networking group in Ft. Myers. Now I was face-to-face. I couldn’t hide behind my words. It was me and them… a sea of them, many professional business women use to getting up in a group, introducing themselves and their business, and they had talent. It didn’t take me long to become acclimated. Why? Because I watched, and I learned from the pros.

We have a one-minute introduction about ourselves, our product or business, and what our needs are from the members in the room. I watched women who stated or stumbled over their intros, and others that asked several questions of the members, or spoke about making lives easier with product X-Y-Z.

If you remember my opening post, I claimed that I resorted to humor when I was in a nerve racking situation. This was no different. When it was my turn, I quipped I could barely say my name in one minute let alone tell about my business. The clock was ticking...was I prepared for this? No...but I was able to muddle my way through and the second time I was more knowledgeable about what to expect. This group is all about making relationships in order to refer each other's businesses and help with brainstorming sessions, meeting with speakers and an array of other worthwhile endeavors.

As an author you may wonder how this would help you. Word of mouth, especially women’s mouths, can be a very good thing, or not. If they like you or your product everyone will know. My husband was a member of a similar networking group but found that once work picked up he was unable to attend meetings. You need to use what works for you. In this situation, I can represent my business, as a consultant for aspiring authors but still give out business cards for my husband’s remodeling business. Relationship building is at the forefront of this endeavor.

One other note here, I quickly began telling my friends who were in business about this group, and soon an email from the group leader was sent out to all of the members. I was surprised to see my name signaled out as the person who had invited four new guests to the group, being I had joined only two weeks prior. I thought this was normal. Don't keep something good to yourself, share. This is how relationships work.

Relationships… making them is much harder than breaking them.

Next: My top ten list of making Great Working Relationships!

Marketing Strategy 5: Join the Club!

In a Nutshell: Join groups for the ability to network and learn at the feet of those more seasoned and willing to share their knowledge.

Ah...networking. The key to making or breaking deals is the art of communication with customers, those in similar trades or fields, and even those in direct competition with you. How do I know? I belong to many groups, both online and off.

In college (okay, that was awhile ago), I was quickly taped to become the president of my sorority my sophomore year. Why? Because I was so popular? No, because anytime there was any job to be done, big or small, my hand was up. “I’ll do it!” Wisely, the adult, advisor quickly vetoed the idea and it wasn’t until my last semester of my junior year that I took the reigns. I was also the leader of many other on-campus organizations. I'm a joiner, a leader and a hard worker.

A pastor once told me that ten-percent of any given congregation does the work for the other ninety percent. The same holds true for many organizations. But, this is a detriment to an author wanting to become published.

Years ago, when my husband and I were purchasing a piece of investment property, a gentleman nearing retirement gave us some wise advice. He pointed to a young man who brought our paper work in to us, with a smile and an offer to get us something to drink. The banker shared that this young man was not the one who was suppose to bring in our loan documents, in fact, he didn’t even have to offer to get us something to drink. He was a go-getter and when there was something to be done, no job was too big, too small, or too beneath him. The man smiled and said, “That young man is going places.” And, I’m sure he is correct. Are you going places?

If you join a group, ask yourself not only what you hope to get out of it, but how you can be of help. I missed my opportunity as a new author, because no one shared this information at the beginning of my journey. As a newly published author I had my hands full. I was speaking, writing additional publications, more speaking, shipping, finding vendors to carry my product, distribution outlets, etc., etc. It never occurred to me that if I networked with others I would sell more books. In fact, it wasn’t until about two years ago that I joined several Christian publisher's groups. What a difference that made!

Now I was speaking not only in live venues, but online in virtual venues. I was selling books, e-book products and the like. I had hesitated to turn any of my “precious” books into e-book fearing they would be copied and shared. Yes, I’m sure this still happens. Yet, seeing that many, many other authors have e-products convinced me to give it a try. Currently only three of my books are in e-book format, and it has been a successful endeavor.

These groups have been on the forefront of news about customer protection issues, printing savings, editors that offer services for a discount to those who are members of the group. There have been many requests for free items from those in the group, all of this is on a voluntary basis. But, by giving away a “freebie” (and you can be sure my name is in that document, url links to my website, blog, and shopping cart, with additional offers of free downloads), there has been a huge increase in my newsletter subscription, and book sales have increased.

In fact, book sales have been on the increase this year in a down economy. Why? Because, those of us with quality products, those we are passionate about, tend to give 100% and more. I directly answer questions sent via my website. I may not get to them the day they are sent, but you can be sure I answer my customer emails before I chat with a friend online. Customer product, delivery and service need to be impeccable for an author that is self published.

Okay, so let’s say you want to obtain a royalty publisher. No problem. You still need to help your publisher sell, and the groups you join will be author groups, not publisher groups. These groups will help you to see what other authors are doing, join forces with them for book signings and learn at their feet if you are a new author. A friend who wrote a wonderful fantasy book for children went on a book tour with several other fantasy authors. Are these books competition? Perhaps, but if you have a great product you should never fear competitors. As a new author people did not know his name. In going as a group, these authors were able to share expenses, gather larger crowds and obtain great photo ops.

You may not have a book yet, so what? Joining a group is one way to get the word out when you book is completed. It may even give you some friends wanting to read your book and give some honest feed back. But, be careful. Make sure you don’t trust just anyone. I read a blog the other day by a veteran author who saw a newly published book whose back cover copy was very similar to the plot in her soon-to-be released book by a royalty publisher. She just about fainted and quickly ordered the book to make sure the plot lines were different. They were. In the fiction world it is very difficult to be original, especially with the amount of books already published. She was afraid she’d be accused of plagiarism, since the other book was already out.

A last word of caution; if you are a new author I would highly recommend you read back posts, and several weeks of current posts before you jump in with a question or comment…unless it is an area, or field in which you truly are an expert. Otherwise, you will find that no one will answer your post. Not that all posts are answered or commented upon, only that you want to start with your best foot forward.

If you haven’t joined me every Monday afternoon at 3:30 EST on my Blog Talk radio podcast, please do. I am having a blast!

Marketing Strategy 4: Continuing Education

As I get older I realize how much I do not know. I know at heart I am a perpetual student. I love the researching part of the writing. I enjoy the hunt, uncovering little tidbits of knowledge so much that I don't want to start writing the manuscript, no matter what the topic. Maybe you are not like me and you feel learning is a drudgery. I will share with you little short cuts to the learning process and how to make a small amount of time pay off in a big way.

Learning encompasses so many facets of the writing process. Everything from the research needed to set a location in some-faraway-exotic land, to where does that darn semi-colon go in a series...and my favorite when do you use a comma before AND and when don't you! (Don't worry, if you are a grammarian you will enjoy these blog posts for the fun it will give you in finding errors.)

Yet, the learning I'm referring to here is not only to hone your punctuation skills (you can hire a good editor for this and I have 4 right off the top of my head I can refer to you), but also for learning about the publishing process. Even more important is the marketing that is needed to sell that book. I really wish I had known the importance of marketing when I first began. I know to many of you it may seem self-evident, but to most authors just wanting to complete the first manuscript the entire process can seem daunting without adding marketing into the mix.

I am a self-published author who turned down a 4-book contract. I work with authors who are published by traditional publishers and those who are self-published and even authors that I have personally published, through my company Media Angels, Inc. This experience has given me the edge and what I have learned could fill a book, and has. It's title? Information in a Nutshell: Writing and Publishing.

Maybe you are a natural and do not need formal education, but I can't say that about all authors...believe me, some of my own manuscripts have needed major overhauls before they could see the light of day! Not all of us can go back to college and pursue journalism, communication or other writing intensive degree. So, if you have a day job, what are your options?

I thought you'd never ask. There are many options that are surprisingly free on the internet if you know where to find them, and, some that are a small cost and worth every penny. One of the best ways to stay ahead of the crowd is to study internet marketing. I have done this for about two years. I've taken copious notes, listened to more podcasts, CD’s, and watched more DVD’s, than there are grains of sand on Ft. Myers, Beach. Alright, that may be a slight exaggeration, but sometimes it feels that way. And what have I learned? That I have a long way to go in learning about Internet marketing and if I continue to learn, I will be on the cutting edge of technology. The only reason I care about this at all is that it has already proven that it helps to sell books.

My sales have grown exponentially since the first of the year and all of this in a down market. If I used the marketing trends as they are meant to be used, I am sure the sales would increase. One way is to blog daily. The biggest obstacle to blogging that I am still working on overcoming is the realization that every blog does not need to be profound! For that reason I don’t blog daily (yet). I am working toward that goal!

Here is what I have learned and you can implement quickly:

Stay up to date with marketing trends by subscribing to a free e-mail, (or paid) subscription, of Publisher’s Weekly, or other similar literary magazine.

Listen to marketing and publishing podcasts. A good one to start with is my upcoming podcast, Information in A Nutshell on BlogTalkRadio.com. Another one is hosted by Cindy Rushton, also on BlogTalkRadio …The Writer’s Radio Show. Both of these will bring you information you can use, now! Check for times and topics at http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/InformationInANutshell.

Take a free (or subscription) writing course. I have offered a free writing e-course on my website http://www.InformationInANutshell.com that is available online. This course will give you some good information on the writing process and how to hone your skills. I will be teaching several others this year online as well.

If you are serious about your writing you can’t learn too much, especially if you plan to launch your book with a bang. I have done both…launched books with a bang and a fizzle. Believe me, the bang is always a more satisfying feeling. The fizzle translates into books that trickle out the door. If you do your homework and at least one of the things I have encouraged you to look into above, your book launch is sure to be a success!

Radio Interview Marketing Tips

I had a great time today on the Ultimate Writer's Expo. I presented a seminar entitled 10 Ways to Jump Start Your Market before the Book is Published. When I first began writing all I cared about was completing my book. I had no idea what the entire process would entail. That was in 1992 and over the years I have experienced both the highs and lows of being an author.

I have coached many people through the years (before the term was popular), and found that many came to me for help after they had a product. With a storage room full of books and no outlet to sell, the great idea (the book) was now a problem. What had started out to be a joyful event...publishing a book ended on a soar note.

Well, maybe you don't want to self-publish and are looking for an agent, a publisher, or both. Marketing is their problem right? Not so fast. It goes unsaid that before you write your book you should understand your audience and your specific market. If you think that is up to the publisher, you may be surprised to learn that the publisher will ask you the same questions, or at least want to see something about your market in your book proposal.

I began with a speaking platform. I had an audience that was interested in my topic and hopefully were interested in reading more about the topic at home, via my book. It was a great combination, and giving seminars and workshops usually translates into sales. But, most people don't start out this way. And no, not all authors tour and speak.

One of the first thing I would advise no matter where you are in your writing journey is to learn. Try to learn something daily. I spend at least 15-20 minutes following blog posts, reading articles or researching a particular topic if I plan to give a speech. I have also used mentors, consultants and listened to the advice of other publishers in a similar market. The results have been rewarding.

I am offering a totally free audio presentation 7-Steps to Becoming a Published author and you will receive follow up emails encouraging you in the writing process. These tips are tried and true. If you are interested in jump-starting your writing career, visit my website and sign up for the series: http://www.mediaangels.com/home/writing-and-publishing

In the next few days we'll explore some great ways to market, many that won't break the bank. I'd love feed back as well. If you have a good idea you'd like to share of something that works for you. Drop me a line.

Information in A Nutshell

In this time of information overload...more than any of us care to read or understand, I have decided it is time to take back *too much* information in exchange for info in a nutshell. I may be dating myself when I say I will stick, "Just to the facts..." This brings to mind old Drag Net shows of the past. But truthfully? That is all I have time for, snippets of information that I can easily digest and put the work in my life, now!

So, welcome to my blog about everything that has to do with writing, publishing, and marketing. I hope to blog daily, and when I do blog, know it will be in a nutshell!

Happy Writing!
Felice Gerwitz
Author/Publisher
Media Angels, Inc.