(www.thegoldenpencil.com)
Sometimes I think there is simply no way to finalize a manuscript – particularly a book-length manuscript! Can you tell I’m working on the copy edited version on my soon-to-be-released book on getting a book written?
After I accepted or rejected the changes made by my excellent copy editor, I printed out the manuscript one last time. Or maybe not. Part of the reason is she suggested I double-check the look of the headings and subheadings. I do that sort of thing best when I have actual pages to work with.
It was also time to give the book one more reading …read more

Yvonne Russel over at Home Biz Notes scoops me again! In a post called “Free – Penguin Authors Guide To Online Marketing – A Great Promotional Tool,”
I suggest you go right over and download it. It’s a 64 page ebook with some cool graphics and, it looks like, some sage advice. I haven’t read the whole thing on this Sunday morning, but I have read enough to be sure it’s worth the time to download and at least scan.
What I haven’t figured out is why Penguin has put together such a helpful guide. Usually this sort of thing is done …read more

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)
John Kremer, expert on book marketing has featured some great book covers on his blog. The post is called Great Book Covers and he’s right; these are dynamite.
Since your book’s cover is your book’s billboard, it’s important the design be eye catching. What tickles me about this selection of book covers is the variety. Each speaks about the book it represents, visually. A nifty and worthwhile trick.
I think my favorite is Facing the Moon, but that monochromatic look certainly wouldn’t work for many books.
Which one do you like best?
Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing – a resource for …read more

Just discovered a blog that is already proving to be helpful. It’s Biswomen which has a women’s business books category.
In addition to reviewing books there are also gems like: Orman’s “Women & Money” book downloaded 1.1M times in free period. The post points out that the Orman’s book remained number 2 on Amazon even during the free download version, leading to the thought that free or even fee ebooks don’t necessarily hurt sales.
That’s worth thinking about.
Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing – a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision – for those …read more

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)
Canadian Chris Thiessen has created what might be the closest thing to a real book store online at Zoomii.com. What he’s done, near as I can tell, is create an Amazon bookstore, but set it up so you’re seeing the covers on shelves just as you might if you walked into your nearest physical book store. You can wander down various aisles like self-help, business, and sports (click on etc. under categories – you’ll get a list plus a nifty floor plan you can use your mouse to browse through.) Instead of picking up the book and flipping through it, …read more

If you’ve written a book, you’ve simply got to market it, even if you have a trade publisher. Unless, of course, you’re already a famous writer with a following, a presidential candidate, or lead figure in a major scandal of some sort.
Here are some blogs, in no particular order, about marketing your book:

Book Marketing – interesting posts about once a week
Book Marketing Bestsellers – John 1001-Ways-To-Market-Your-Book Kremer’s blog
If:book – about the future of books, sometimes includes marketing
O’Reilly FYI – publisher’s blog with some real insight into the business
Publisher’s Weekly – industry trade magazine with an excellent blog – a must …read more

You know, if you’ve followed this blog at all, that I’m a great believer in writers getting paid, and paid well. John Kremer, author of the excellent 1001 Ways to Market Your Books and an excellent blog on the same topic has posted a YouTube video by author Harlan Ellison called Writers Should Be Paid!
Please, go watch it and listen to it, carefully! Then come back here and tell us what you think.
I think it’s wonderful and true.
Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing – a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision – for …read more

A few days ago I wrote a blog entry called Why Do You Want To Write A Book?. There I listed some of the reasons ghostwriting clients of mine have for getting a book written.
Melissa Donovan, who blogs at Writing Forward took me seriously and created her own list of reasons in an entry called: I Want to Write a Book, and Here’s Why.
It’s a good, inspiring list. Check it out.
Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing – a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision – for those who want to get a book …read more

When most of us think about writing a book, we tend to think about telling the whole world something. The dream of a mass-market best seller is a persistent one. But, selling a ton of books isn’t the only valid reason for writing a book. Consider:

A family memoir aimed at passing on what you’ve experienced and learned. Your family and generations to come want this information.
A way to build credibility with clients. Your clients want to know more about you.
A novel that’s simply a darn good story. People love stories.
The secret you’ve discovered about living life. …read more

Bringing your book to market requires a whole lot more than just the writing. While it’s true, nothing happens if you don’t write, once you’ve got a completed manuscript, there are at least 10 things that need to be completed before your finished:
1. Addition of front and back matter – title page, copyright notices, index, acknowledgments, etc. Best source: Chicago Manual of Style
2. Professional copy edit – someone to make sure nothing has slipped through. Truly worth the effort.
3. Cover design – your book’s cover is it’s billboard… hard to understate it’s importance. You …read more