A writer's journey...

Navigate the world of self-publishing successfully by applying just 12 tips of the trade. Self-publishing is both rewarding and challenging—and has no guarantees of success. There are so many books flooding the market these days, and authors need to have a strong game plan more than ever before. The following tips, though not a comprehensive list, are some things to focus on to give yourself a better chance of self-publishing success. 1. Effective immediately: Eliminate the word hobby from your vocabulary. Successful authors view writing as a career. Before I made a single cent with my writing, I would take offense when anyone called my writing a hobby. It’s important you take your writing seriously and view publishing as a business because that’s what it truly is. Not only does this require the right mindset, it demands dedication and consistency.   2. Schedule your time. We all have twenty-four hours in a day, and we have many roles we play, along with ...

The other week on Facebook, an author posed this question to her friends: ‘While I know both are very important, if you could only choose one which would it be—a professional editor or a graphic designer?’ For some this could be a challenging question, but her friends got it right.  While the importance of an attractive and eye-catching cover cannot be dismissed editing can really ‘make or break’ you as an author. Think of this way, whose name is on the book?  That’s right.  Your product, your book, has your name—and your reputation—riding on it.  Notice that I termed your book as a product? That is the first key to success.  Writing is a business. When you start out in the publishing world, everything can seem overwhelming.  By this point you should have established a following online via Twitter, Facebook, a blog, and possibly on other media sites such as Google+ and PinIt. These networks afford you excellent opportunities and before ...

Hardback, paperback or e-book?  Which do you chose? Years ago if you asked a group of people which format they preferred, most would fire back with how they love to hold a book in their hands, turn the pages, sniff the binding glue (okay, maybe that was just me).  But these days people love their e-readers! In fact this is where the future for publishing is headed.  Bookstores are closing or downsizing.  Look at Barnes & Noble.  Would you ever have seen that happening years back?  Even libraries are getting in on the new wave of e-books by allowing customers to sign these out. For Kindle alone, they predict sales of 8 million units for this year! ( See article ) So why are e-books so popular?