The Writer's Sherpa

Romance publishers looking for new authors

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:54:36 PST

Ready to publish your romance novel? Someone from my writers group shared this list of publishing houses actively seeking new and unpublished authors for 2008:

Avon Books: 2008 is their year of the "New Author" (writing talent as of yet unpublished--self-publishing does not count for this!). Submission guidelines at www.harpercollins.com.
Black Lyon Publishing: Contemporary romance (sexual tension is vital; happy endings mandatory; no "hell" or "damn"; no vile or disgusting behavior on the part of the two main characters). 60,000 - 80,000 words. Paranormal, Historical or Contemporary Romance (settings between 1000 and 1600 A.D. preferred).
Champagne Books: All genres for e-book. 25,000 novella; 70,000 - 80,000 full length. Horror, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Mystery, Young Adult (no Erotica). www.champagnebooks.com/submissions.htm.
Cerridwen Press: Mainstream Romance, Mystery/Suspense, Women's Fiction, Paranormal, Futurist, Urban Fantasy. 50,000 - 125,000 words.
Highland Press: Romance, Historicals, Inspirational, Young Adult, Women's Fiction, Men's Fiction, Sci Fi, Futuristic, Children's Illustrated (all genres except Erotica).
Juno Books: Contemporary Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Women with a "kickass attitude," Supernatural Power or some Paranormal connection. Romance or relationships involved okay, but no traditional Romance. (Traditional or non-traditional ethnicity or sexual orientation okay).
Parker Publishing: African American Romance, Erotic Romance, all sub-genres of Romance, no Porn. (Heroine must be African American; heterosexual required; interracial involvement okay). 70,000 - 75,000 words. www.parker-publishing.com.

January special from AuthorHouse

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 05:44:53 PST

If you're interested in working with AuthorHouse, a self-publishing company based in Bloomington, Indiana, they have an attractive special this month. They are offering a free web site to authors who sign a publishing contract and start the publishing process in January. Click here for more information about AuthorHouse, their services, and the web site deal.

Book business predictions for 2008

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 07:11:05 PST

What does 2008 hold for the book world? Yesterday Publishers Weekly posted book business predictions for the coming year, many of which revolve around technology and electronic publishing. Some of the predictions include growth of the e-book market due to Kindle and other electronic reading devices, more online book publicity campaigns as newspapers and magazines lose readers to the web, and even a self-publishing effort by a major author. Mike Shatzkin, the writer who predicted the fifteen trends to watch, also suggests 2008 will be the year of the experiment, with publishers trying new ways to reach readers.

And although Shatzkin admits in his lead that he'll be lucky if 30 percent of his predictions pan out, the underlying theme is that the industry is changing and will continue to change to meet the needs of modern readers. Those interested in self-publishing, it seems, can meet the curve by utilizing technology effectively and doing a little experimention on their own. 2008 is wide open.

How to Publish and Promote Online

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:01:50 PST

I've mentioned this book before--How to Publish and Promote Online by M.J. Rose and Angela Adair-Hoy--but I finally had a chance to read it cover to cover over the holidays. Because I recently launched an e-book, I was excited to read this book for promotional ideas. And while it was published in 2001 and some of the sites and links within the book are no longer available, I did think it is a valuable resource for any author.

The Internet is huge, and even though I'm constantly online, I sometimes feel like I'm barely scratching the surface--especially when I read about all the different online avenues these ladies used to promote their books and services. M.J. Rose is a prolific novelist who self-published her first book and launched the marketing campaign online, selling thousands of copies and landing a book deal as a result. And Angela Adair-Hoy is co-owner of Booklocker, a print-on-demand publisher, and publisher of Writers Weekly. Both authors have created tremendous success online, and in How to Publish and Promote Online, they've assembled a great book of ideas for using the Internet in creative ways.

Rose and Adair-Hoy cover everything from what is an e-book, to how to determine where to spend advertising dollars on your book. They include success stories from other authors and self-publishers, and provide numerous links (many still functional) for online resources and promotional opportunities. For anyone interested in publishing, reading this book will help you from the start to finish--helping figure out the business aspects of self-publishing and giving your promotional campaign a starting point.

New Year's writing resolutions

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 05:56:14 PST

Happy New Year, everyone! In New Year's tradition, it seems fitting that my first post of 2008 should be a wrap-up of 2007 with a little commentary about all the things I want to accomplish this year. Plus, I love goals--making them, talking and writing about them, working towards them, and, most of all, achieving them. I wasn't always like this, but making goals, creating action plans, and actually working toward what I want has increased my productivity dramatically. I have a two-year-old, after all. If I don't plan and use my time wisely, I don't get anything done.

2007 was a good year for me. I started back to school for my mfa, launched my web site and built up my editing business, and completed and published my first e-book. The e-book has been a long time coming, and I was determined to publish it before the New Year--so I spent all day Sunday finalizing it and posting it on my web site (check it out here). But with all that behind me, I'm looking ahead into 2008.

This year will include the second and third semesters of my masters program--and these are the big semesters, as far as completing my manuscript. Therefore, my New Year's resolution is to write one page of my manuscript every day. One page isn't much--less than 300 words, and I can do that in less than an hour (most of the time). But by the end of the year, I will have 365 pages! Plus, the practice of writing creatively every day will make me a better writer.

Now this all seems fine and good. But every book on writing, every writing class, and every writing teacher will tell you to write every day. I know this is important. So, why haven't I been doing it all along, you might ask. Well, I've been asking myself the same thing for a while now, and I realized that writing every day for work and writing creatively, for myself, are two completely different things. Sure, I write every day, I have ever since I became a professional writer several years ago. But I've let my personal writing slip to the end of my to-do list. In part, I devoted a lot of time over the past few years to building up my freelance business, which requires a lot of time and writing. But building a successful business doesn't bring me any closer to my mfa or other creative writing goals. So, one page a day in 2008, I'm hoping, will take care of that.

So what are your writing goals for 2008? Whatever they are, I think the best way to achieve them is simply to work towards them every chance you get. If you want to write your book this year, you can do one page a day with me. And if your goal for the year is to publish ten articles, then developing and pitching ideas every day will undoubtedly get you to your goal. Setting goals or making New Year's resolutions is, in reality, only the first step. The real accomplishment comes in the work you do to reach the goal.

So whatever you hope to accomplish this year, good luck! And I know you can achieve your goals because if I can do it amid the chaos of raising a toddler and running a business, anyone can.

The other side of the publishing spectrum

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 06:09:23 PST

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the Airleaf vanity press scandal that left several authors fuming and broke. We hear about so many of these unreputable scams tainting the self-publishing industry that sometimes the good stories get overlooked. So today, I thought I'd write about the other end of the self-publishing company spectrum--the companies that offer outstanding services to authors and do it for the love of books.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota Star Tribune ran a story earlier this month about Beaver's Pond Press and the owner/publisher Milt Adams that truly stands out among the other self-publishing headlines. Adams, according to the article, founded Beaver's Pond Press nine years ago at age 70, and has built a successful company by helping authors create their best possible book. Here's what I found most intriguing about the Star Tribune article: Adams knows the story behind every book (all 500 plus) his company has published, which is truly a rarity in the often nameless, faceless, big-business world of self-publishing.

Another sign that Beaver's Pond Press is a quality independent publishing services provider is that they have standards for the books they accept--this means they won't publish anything, as opposed to Airleaf who made publicity and marketing promises for books they hadn't seen, let alone evaluated.

Although I've never heard of Beaver's Pond Press before this writing and I can't endorse the company, I can say that these are qualities authors should consider when looking for a publishing services provider. Too many Airleaf's are taking self-publishing authors' money, making false promises, and giving self-publishing the stigma that proliferates through the book industry today. It doesn't have to be like that, and companies like Beaver's Pond Press--that value personal attention and authors' goals--are what make the self-publishing industry so exciting.

What will you remember from 2007?

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 05:53:57 PST

2007 is slipping away fast, which, as I'm writing this, is hard for me to believe. It's been a great year for me: I've started graduate school, I've launched my web site and built up my editing business, and I have big plans for next year. When I think about it, technology and the internet has played a big role in my success this year. And I think that many other people out there can probably say the same thing for themselves. Technology is changing the world and the way we work and do business--it has been for a long time, and every year it gets better and better.

The book world has also come a long way in 2007, with technology playing a big role in the changes--i.e. Kindle, blogs, social networking sites. Founder of eloquence and Quality Solutions, Inc., Fran Toolan wrote a post about technology's impact on the book world in 2007 that I think sums it up pretty well. Technology is something that people often hesitate to embrace, but when they do, it becomes an intricate part of their lives. Toolan's right, 2007 was a big year for the book world. But I'm excited to see what 2008 holds--it could be even better.

It's never too late to start

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 06:58:48 PST

Adora Mitchell Bayles, a Connecticut retiree, just self-published her third book, Golden Siblings. She is 76 now, and she started writing at 65, but she knew at age 12 that she wanted to be a writer someday. And according to the story in her local paper, the Wilton Villager, she's already working on her fourth book. In the article, she explained her writing process:

"I decided I was going to abandon everything else and focus on my writing. I quite my church choir and I quit ballroom dancing," said Bayles. "I don't sweep the floor, I don't file, I don't do anything other than just sit there and write."

Now that's the kind of determination that creates results! Golden Siblings, which is about a rebellious young woman in antebellum Arkansas, is even being featured at her local Barnes & Noble. Bayles' determination and success prove it's never too late to start writing your stories down and making your publication dreams come true.

Airleaf vanity press scandal

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:23:56 PST

Last week was bad for Airleaf Publishing and Bookselling, an Indiana-based vanity publisher that has allegedly been screwing authors for the past year. If that's the case, then they're probably getting what they deserve. The Martinsville, Indiana Reporter-Times ran two stories this weekend, one from disgruntled author Bonnie Kaye's standpoint and one from the business owner Carl Lau's perspective. Both reports reveal what a mess Airfleaf has created.

Apparently the company was selling very pricey book marketing packages to authors that included promises of national coverage and face-to-face meetings with Hollywood movie producers. And Airleaf was selling these packages to people before they even saw their books! Meanwhile, at the start of this year, one of the Airleaf founders left and, according to Lau, took employees, clients, and connections with him. Lau attests that he operated the company with the best intentions, but during the course of this year things got out of hand. Airleaf closed their doors last week, according to the article.

Regardless of how Airleaf's downward spiral started, they have left behind a trail of destruction with over 120 complaints filed with the Indiana Attorney General from Airleaf clients across the United States and numerous complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau. On top of that, it's hard to say how many authors the company misled.

Kaye, a Philadelphia-based consultant, started www.airleafvictims.com, a network for authors who were misled by Airleaf's big promises--and the list of complaints is pretty darn long. What's unfortunate is these authors were tricked into believing their hopes and dreams would be fulfilled by this company, which it seems is how unreputable companies always operate--selling hopes and dreams. At least Airleaf is now out of business, so there's one less dishonest publisher that authors need to watch out for.

What if authors went on strike? IP's take on the Guild strike

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 07:44:07 PST

I haven't written anything about the screenwriters strike because I usually try to focus on book news. But in the latest issue of the Independent Publisher newsletter, columnist Nina L. Diamond wrote her take on the events with a fun twist on what would happen if something similar happened in the book world, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to chime in. I've often wondered the same thing myself--what if all writers went on strike?

Anyways, I'm not a big television viewer (although I sorely miss The Daily Show), but I do love seeing what the screenwriters are up to while they're striking. Several have taken to the web with blogs and YouTube videos to communicate their viewpoints, which is magically ironic considering the strike is about making money on the internet. And I understand that the negotiations aren't going well, so I hope the writers are able to make some money in their online endeavors--they definitely deserve it. These are some of the most clever writers in the world, and essentially a primary driving force in the television industry. And wouldn't that be a slap in the face for the producers?

One thing is for sure, the strike's end is nowhere in sight. This could go on for a long time--the strike of 1988 lasted five months--so consider adding a few DVDs to your holiday wish list.

Kindle--the future of books?

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 06:00:58 PST

Amazon debuted their portable ebook reading device last week--just in time for Christmas. And I've seen the headlines touting it as the book industry's savior. But is Kindle really the future of books? After all, we've seen other ebook readers hit the market without making much of a splash.

I'll admit, the Amazon sales page, with it's numerous pictures and best-selling author testimonials, makes me want one--and I'm not the kind of person that has to have the latest and greatest. Kindle seems like the iPod of the book world, with many publishing companies offering titles, even bestsellers, for $9.99. And as of this writing, the Kindle was sold out, so it seems readers are responding.

But the most interesting thing about this little gadget is that anyone with content can publish for the Kindle audience for free, which means huge potential exists, as long as people buy them. And Amazon does have a strong hold on the book retail market. So will Kindle change the book industry? Maybe. One thing's for sure: everyone in the book world is watching.

New POD directory helps authors compare prices, features

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 07:31:50 PST

21st Century Research recently published a resource that anyone thinking about print-on-demand publishing might find useful--a directory of over seventy-five POD service providers from the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, England, Scotland, and Wales.

Entries in the directory include full addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers, and Web sites. It also includes information on contracts, distribution, royalties, prices, and other submission details. Authors can use this directory to compare and select one or more POD services, and determine the best contract to fit their needs.

21st Century Research is a market research firm established in 1974 that specializes in high technology market development within various industries on an international basis. Bohdan O. Szuprowicz, President, is a published author of several books and hundreds of articles in over twenty countries of the world. He is also an active member of Sarasota Fiction Writers Club, Sarasota Authors Connection and Sarasota Writers Forum as well as a member of the Schiehallion Club of Kinloch Rannoch.

Click here for more information and to find out how to order a copy of "Print-on-Demand Printers Directory 2008."

Xlibris November specials

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 11:58:30 PST

I've heard of Xlibris--Random House's print-on-demand associate--but I've never heard of any positive or negative experiences with the company. Anyways, they're offering some great specials for November that might be worth exploring if you're ready to publish a book, or two.

Through November, they're offering a two for one deal. But it sounds like you have to have both manuscripts ready to go to take advantage of the offer. They're also offering free publishing package upgrades. For more information, click here.

A rocky self-publishing success story from WSJ.com

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 06:17:03 PST

The self-publishing industry can be difficult to navigate, and someone who doesn't know what they're doing can make mistakes that ultimately hinder the success of their book. The Wall Street Journal online edition ran a story today about C. Ben Bosah, a man who self-published his wife's book, and made plenty of mistakes. He didn't follow his designer's advice, he didn't secure a distributor, he didn't send out advanced review copies, and he ordered over 15,000 copies of the book! The book, by the way, is called Letters to My Sisters: Plain Truth and Straightforward Advice from a Gynecologist by Osuagwu Ngozi, MD.

But Mr. Bosah did a lot of things right--he invested money in creating a quality product, for one--and from the article it sounds like he has been able to recoup his losses and move forward with his publishing business. Although he could have saved himself several headaches by familiarizing himself with the way the publishing industry works, he did, after all, get a write-up in WSJ.

Inventing your book

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 05:11:46 PST

Entrepreneur.com ran this story last month on writing and publishing a book. The writer, Tamara Monosoff, gives a great overview of the publishing process, both traditional and self-publishing. What I like about her article is that she likens the process of writing and publishing to inventing--she's the Entrepreneur.com invention columnist, and author of The Mom Inventors Handbook; How to Turn Your Great Idea into the Next Big Thing.

Writing and publishing a book is just like inventing any other product, and I think this mindset is helpful for those who are interested in authoring a book. It's a creative process ultimately yeilds a product that people will hopefully use, or read. And a book has all the same potential for creating change as any other clever contraption.

New Island Writers' Network Anthology

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 04:34:58 PST

My writers' group, the Island Writers' Network, has published our first anthology, Hilton Head Island: Unpacked & Staying. The project was a collective of efforts, and the result is a diverse mix of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. My contribution was a short memoir on moving to and away from Hilton Head.

Copies are available on the IWN Web site: www.iwn-hhi.org.

The Fact Checker's Bible by Sarah Harrison Smith

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 05:40:39 PDT

As authors and writers, we want the information we present in our work to be percieved as reputable and useful, which is why we spend time researching and compiling. In essence, an author's credibility is on the line if they write false information. In the publishing world, where editors and publishers also face scrutiny, magazines employ fact checkers to scour articles for errors because they understand the implications of publishing falsities. These fact checkers make sure all the names are spelled correctly, they call all the sources to ensure the writer accurately captured their quotes, and they research all the details the writer used in his or her piece.

Book publishing houses, although they apparently didn't always do so, may also employ fact checkers to prevent the next big James Frey-type scandal. But self publishers are responsible for checking their own facts--a step that many leave off their to-do lists either because they don't know it exists or they don't know how to do it properly. This is one of the many criticisms that small publishers face. Readers and media reviewers think the information hasn't been fact checked, so how reliable can it be?

Sarah Harrison Smith, who worked for a long time at The New Yorker, wrote The Fact Checker's Bible with fact checkers (obviously) in mind, but her book is filled with insightful information that gives writers, editors, and publishers perspective on the importance of checking and providing sources in their books. She covers how to evaluate potential sources, how to make sure meanings of quotes are maintained, how to determine whether or not you need permission to use another author's information, and how to prevent unintended plagarism. She even touches on libel.

The book is short and well-organized, so information can be gleaned from the pages quickly and you can skip the parts that are more fact checker-focused. So although the The Fact Checker's Bible was written for fact checkers, it really has something useful for everyone in the publishing industry.

Slate's take on the Seinfeld cookbook plagarism scandal

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 05:38:26 PDT

Slate's Mimi Sheraton had a fun take on the controversy over whether or not Jessica Seinfeld plagarized recipes in her new cookbook from Missy Chase Lapine's similar recent release. Click here to view the story, which ran today. The irony of the question--did The Sneaky Chef copy off Deceptively Delicious?--is absolutely yummy!

Writing Tools by Roy Peter Clark

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:31:40 PDT

There's nothing like a book on craft for the days when you feel like you can't put two words together, and this is a handy one. I recently finished reading Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer by Roy Peter Clark. Clark is a teacher at The Poynter Institute, and the book was excellent, presenting tons of information in an easy-to-absorb way. It's a short, quick read that's packed with helpful information.

The book is divided into four sections: 1. Nuts and Bolts, which features basics of good, strong writing, such as avoiding -ing words and using the active voice; 2. Special Effects reveals tricks for making your words more stylish and your voice more clear; 3. Blueprints describes techniques for pacing, narrative, and keeping readers interested; and 4. Useful Habits describes strategies for making the writing process easier and how to develop good writing habits.

Each of the fifty tools wraps up with workshop exercises that apply the strategy explained in the chapter. If you're a writer, this book makes a great addition to your library. I'm definitely keeping this one on my desk.

National Book Award finalists, best-seller lists, and other book news

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 07:35:36 PDT

The National Book Award finalists were announced this week. This AP article lists who's in the running and who got passed over.

In other book news, the New York Times has separated their best-sellers paperback fiction list into two: one for mass markets and one for trade paperbacks. This creates more best sellers, which is good for publishers and authors who covet spots on these lists.

NPR.com has a good article about trends in reading and why women read more than men. The page also has a button to hear a radio broadcast from a couple days ago about the NYT expanding their list.

The disappearing book review

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 18:03:17 PDT

Newspapers are losing readers fast, because they aren't appealing to readers. That's right folks, newspapers, in an effort to save money, are cutting their book coverage and eliminating unique reviews. The Philadelphia Inquirer ran an op-ed about why running book reviews is a good idea for newspapers a few days ago, and the points writer Carlin Romano makes are so insightful. While newspapers are complaining that people don't read the newspaper anymore, they're cutting the sections that most interest people who love to read.

And by not staffing or contracting book reviewers (that cover local authors), newspapers are missing the one train that might deliver them to renewed profitability--localization. Let's face it, we can get our national news anywhere--tv, internet, magazines. The local stuff, we have to get from local news sources. And people want hyper-local news. The paper in my town devotes at least ten inches a day to something they call "vox." Vox--the voice of the people--is essentially an anonymous answering machine at the newspaper that people in my community call and complain about other people in my community, or whatever else they want. Did I mention this is a free daily delivered to every house in Bluffton seven days a week? Free ... and they're devoting ten to fifteen inches to publishing these messages. But everyone in town reads the vox. It makes the paper exciting and everyone reads it every day--which is, in theory, supported by ad rates that reflect the market saturization level.

Covering books and local authors is important not only because it sells books, but also because it interests people in reading--and that's what newspapers want people to like doing.

Here in the Lowcountry...

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:54:01 PDT

Jim Jordan, an author and historian in my area of South Carolina, recently published a historical novel entitled Savannah Grey: A Tale of Antebellum Georgia. I ordered a copy of it on Amazon.com, and I'm looking forward to reading it. My local newspaper, Bluffton Today, wrote a feature on Jordan, who also teaches seminars on Lowcountry history and gives historic tours. The article ran a couple days ago--I haven't found a link to it any where. But I found the book on Amazon!

Article suggests self-publishing strategies to build a business

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 10:48:58 PDT

The Kansas City Star ran this article about self-publishing to build business. It mentions a few success stories, including a baby sign language instructor who converted her teaching materials into a book parents could take home, and a motivational speaker who assembled previously published columns into a book format. The article wraps up with a few tips on how to ensure success, and links to additional resources.

The tips, especially the one about writing a book proposal to refine and focus your material, are excellent--and very progressive material for a newspaper to be publishing.

Description & Setting by Ron Rozelle

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 10:34:05 PDT

Can you imagine reading Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea without the turquoise saltwater lapping against the sides of Santiago's skiff, or Steinbeck's East of Eden without the Salinas Valley spanning the backdrop? These stories, most stories, wouldn't be the same without the authors carefully crafting worlds that carry readers to new and different places. In creative writing, setting and description are critical to a story's effect.

If you're scenes and descriptions fall flat, check out Description & Setting by Ron Rozelle. The book has been around for a few years--it was published by Writer's Digest Books in 2005 as part of their Write Great Fiction series. I finished reading it this weekend, and the book is packed with helpful tips and insights on how to create descriptions and settings that add depth and dimension to your stories. It was so good, that I reserved the other two books in the series at my library.

Rozelle, a writing teacher and fiction author based in Texas, covers all the tools that writers can use to create their worlds, and advises how to apply the tools for maximum impact. He also includes an important chapter on how to avoid clutter in your writing. And although his insights are geared towards fiction writing, the same can be applied to memoir and other creative nonfiction genres.

Self-publishers rush to print, according to this writer

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:04:16 PDT

Yesterday The News & Observer, a newspaper based in North Carolina ran this thoughtful take on the self-publishing industry. And the writer, Richard Krawiec, suggests that if a writer wants to make a career out of publishing, they should use the money they would have spent on self-publishing to hire a book coach or editor, rather than rush to print on their own. The idea being that if writers put their money into developing their manuscript, they'll have a better chance at attracting a traditional publisher.

This certainly makes sense, but many times publishers aren't just looking for a well-written story. They're looking for a marketable product that will appeal to a broad readership. Either way, Krawiec's arguments are well-founded, and he gives great examples. For anyone thinking about self-publishing, his article is worth some thought. And I think he's right, many times authors rush to print, which is part of why self-published books have a poor reputation. Whether you're self-publishing or seeking a commercial publisher, you should do the work required to make your manuscript publishable.

Sometimes, all you need is the perfect quote

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 07:32:12 PDT

I'm fast becoming a big fan of quotes. Many writers are, and some collect them--especially when it comes to quotes on writing from famous writers. I've always enjoyed a good quote on writing, but recently, I've started searching for them and saving them like valuable little treasures. They seem to put things in perspective for me, and, in a way, give me permission to keep on keeping on.

I don't usually read many books of quotations, at least not all the way through, but I did this week. I just finished The Writer's Quotebook; 500 Authors on Creativity, Craft, and the Writing Life by JIm Fisher (2006, Rutgers University Press), and I really enjoyed reading it from start to finish, rather than just gleaning it for the right quote. It was filled with diverse and interesting insights from a variety of writers. It was easy to read and I found it very inspiring and r:eassuring--perfect for when you're feeling like you have no idea what you're doing. Words, taken directly from the mouths of accomplished writers, can reveal insights on craft, work habits, and the writer's themselves. And they let you know that you're not the only one that feels like a hack from time to time.

A favorite from the book:

"Writers need both some kind of permission to go ahead, and the will to forge ahead even without that permission."--Stephen Koch

Blogger seeks to level the publishing playing field

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:28:38 PDT

Everyone knows that self-publishing comes with a stigma. Now successful self-published author, Lynn Osterkamp, is speaking up about it on her new blog: The Populist Publisher. In her latest post, she writes about her self-publishing success--a nonfiction book that she authored and published before the self-publishing industry grew to what it is today. But she also says that her new self-published mystery novel has been shut out by bookstores, book reviewers, and other marketing outlets.

It's true that fiction books are harder to sell than nonfiction books, because they are purchased solely for entertainment, rather than educational purposes. And in the realm of entertainment, books are competing against television, movies, magazines, AND other books. But even so, why do reviewers and booksellers completely shut out self-published novels? Why judge a title's merit based solely on who publishes it? It's one thing for a reviewer to read a few pages of a book and get turned off by typos, unedited prose, and other marks of poor quality. That's fair. But when a reviewer looks at an imprint and passes judgment, that's just ignorant. Since when did judging books by their covers become acceptable?

Book contest call for submissions

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:59:30 PDT

The Nautilus Book Awards is accepting submissions for their 2008 contest. Here's the information:

Changing the World One Book at a Time - www.nautilusbookawards.com

** Recognizing Books that Promote Spiritual Growth, Conscious Living, and Positive Social Change **

The eighth annual Nautilus Book Awards are now accepting entries in 23 subject categories honoring books that contribute to our society's awareness and well-being, and that embrace values such as compassion, sustainability, and global peace. Books copyrighted or released between June 1, 2006 and December 31, 2007, in English, are eligible. Final deadline for entering is January 15, 2008.

Today, with mass global communication, political unrest, depletion and destruction of our natural resources along with religious and secular fanaticism all growing at an alarming rate, the need for books that promote positive social change is great, and the phrase, "Changing the World One Book at a Time" is more meaningful than ever before. Authors and publishers and their books CAN and ARE making a difference. The Nautilus Book Awards were conceived to recognize and reward these world-changing books in 23 categories, including four new ones: AGING/REJUVENATION; ENERGY MEDICINE; CONSCIOUS MEDIA/JOURNALISM; and INDIGENOUS/MULTICULTURAL.

Judging: Nautilus Book Awards winners and finalists are carefully selected in a unique three-tier judging process by an experienced team of book reviewers, librarians, authors, editors, book store owners, and leaders in the publishing industry.

Awards: Winning titles will be exhibited in a 2008 Nautilus Book Awards Showcase at BookExpo America in the Los Angeles Convention Center from May 30 - June 1 , 2008. A winner, runner-up, and 5-6 finalists will be named for each category, a special award will be given to the top small press or self-published title, and two overall Grand Prize winners (one adult and one children's) will be announced. Winning titles will be featured for one year at www.nautilusbookawards.com and thereafter kept in the Nautilus Book Awards archives.

Click here to download a four-page PDF with complete guidelines and entry form: http://www.independentpublisher.com/nautilus/NAUTILUS2008.pdf

Click here to see winners of last year's Nautilus Book Awards:
http://www.nautilusbookawards.com/nautilus/winners-2007.html

Questions? Contact Marilyn McGuire at marilyn@marilynmcguire.com

The Nautilus Book Awards are created and administered by Marilyn McGuire & Associates, Inc. of Eastsound, WA in association with Independent Publisher Online of Traverse City, MI.

Is it Lulu, or is it Hulu?

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 09:47:01 PDT

Lulu, a well-known online POD publisher, filed a lawsuit yesterday against NBC and News Corp. (both run by Rupert Murdoch) because in October they are launching a new joint venture called Hulu. The new site will distribute television shows, movies, and other digital media. Lulu, which consists of Lulu.com and Lulu.tv, alleges trademark infringement, unfair and deceptive trade practices, and federal cyperpiracy.

Now, I don't know anything about Lulu.tv or what the company does outside of POD publishing, but, as several other bloggers have already pointed out, the irony of all this is that "hulu" apparently means "cease and desist" in Swahili. Doesn't that make the whole mess more fun?

WRAL.com has the whole story.

Children's author self-publishes her first book

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:24:34 PDT

The Burbank Leader ran this story yesterday about Mindy Goldhammer, a California children's writer, who recently self-published her first book Open Your Eyes. The newspaper story is interesting because it reveals Goldhammer's approach to finding an illustrator. She was going to print fliers to advertise her need, when she happened to meet a design student. This brings to mind an often overlooked resource--students. If you're looking for an illustrator, try a local arts college. As Goldhammer discovered, you might find the perfect match for your project.

Electronic versus POD

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 06:24:30 PDT

I started reading How to Publish and Promote Online by Angela Adair-Hoy and M.J. Rose over the long weekend, and so far it's really great. I'm only about thirty pages into it so far, but I wanted to mention that the authors suggest publishing ebooks both in print through print-on-demand, and in electronic format. This seems like a logical way to offer readers more options, but it made me wonder which format would be more popular.

Does anyone have experience with this? How hesitant are readers to buy ebooks when they either have to read them on a computer or print them on their home computer? Will more people buy if they have an in-print option? And how much does the book's length have to do with it? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

What's your style guide?

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:20:28 PDT

Every writer needs a style guide--and I don't mean Vogue, although the magazine is impeccably well-written. I do mean that writers need to choose the right style guide for the project they're working on. Doing so will impress your editor beyond belief. And if you're writing corporate communications or other business-related documents, using a style guide will create a professional consistency in everything you produce. Plus, you won't have to think about whether or not to use the serial comma, or whether an em dash or an en dash is appropriate for your sentence--it's all in the style guide.

How do you know what guide to use? There are several style guides available on the market, but the following three are the most commonly used. Here's the scoop:

The Chicago Manual of Style: This guide is the book industry standard, and most magazines use it as well. So if you're writing a book or magazine article, this is the way to go. It's expensive (usually about fifty or sixty bucks), but you can subscribe online for $25 a year.

The Associated Press Stylebook: Published almost every year by the Associated Press, this guide is the newspaper industry standard. Use this for your press releases and other items you do for the newspaper.

The MLA Style Manual: Published by the Modern Language Association, this is the style guide most commonly used in academia for documenting research. So if your English teacher asked you to write it, then this is the guide you should use.

Although these are the big ones, scientific and technical writing will require a different style, depending on the publication. And if you don't know what style guide to use, all you have to do is ask the editor.

A Bahamian writer's meditation on her decision to self-publish

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 09:15:00 PDT

Nicolette Bethel, a Bahamian writer, had a good post on her blog yesterday about how she came to the decision to self-publish her upcoming collection of essays. She has described all the factors that played into her decision, and provided a realistic view of the publishing world. And although she wrote about her experiences as someone who lives in the Bahamas, where it sounds like the publishing world is slightly different due to the size of the market, her insights ring true for anyone faced with the decision on how to publish. Bethel really covers the topic from all angles.

How to attract a New York publisher; insights from a literary publicist

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 19:25:03 PDT

This article by Penny Sansevieri offers insights on how to attract a traditional publisher with a successful self-published book. This is something I hear about, such as Richard Paul Evans and his book The Christmas Box, but I wonder how often it actually happens--same thing with bloggers getting book deals based only on their blogs. Just how common is this?

Regardless, the strategies in Sansevieri's article make sense. Publishing is a business and if you want to sell your book, you have to prove that it's a good investment.

Does good writing guarantee a traditional publisher will buy a book? Unfortunately, no.

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 09:35:55 PDT

In an op-ed that ran in yesterday's State Journal-Register (a newspaper in Springfield, Illinois), the writer, Dave Bakke, argues that traditional publishing houses lend merit to books on the basis that these publishers only publish good writing. Well, Mr. Bakke, if only you were correct. Then all the talented writers in the world would have better job security.

Although Mr. Bakke makes some good points, the fact is, money will always trump writing ability. By that I mean yes, traditional publishers do prefer writers who are actually talented, thoughtful storytellers. But whether or not a publishing house decides to pay an author for his or her manuscript will depend on the size of the book's potential market. So in reality, an editor can clean up a terrible writer's mess, and traditional publishing houses will make that happen as long as the story or information in the book will make them money.

Publishing is a business, and unfortunately all the literary genius in the world can't sell books if the masses aren't buying. So what does that mean for an aspiring writer in the age of American Idol, Cops, and other mindless forms of entertainment? Persevere, and keep your day job. That's all there really is to it. And don't let people like Bakke, who obviously doesn't know much about the publishing business, keep you away from realizing your dreams of publication. And just because traditional publishers won't buy your book doesn't mean that you aren't a talented writer, or that your story doesn't deserve to be told.

It's true that the self-publishing industry allows authors the ability to skip the editing and fact-checking processes that are supposed to be taken care of by the traditional publishing house's army of editors and proofreaders. But no one fact-checked James Frey's book, so I'm not sure that argument holds water. And any author who cares about the quality of their final product will hire an editor to at least proof their work.

Bakke's column comes off as a plea for all the self-published authors in his area to stop approaching the paper for publicity, which seems pretty ignorant to me. Newspapers are downsizing left and right because consumers are getting their national and breaking news on the internet or television, so why wouldn't the State Journal-Register want to take advantage of an opportunity to offer their readers something hyper-local and newsworthy?

By the way, most of what gets published in newspapers is terribly written. Maybe Mr. Bakke's next column should focus on that.

Author creates his own imprint

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:49:11 PDT

Traditional publishing isn't an easy world to break into, and many self-publishing companies don't offer all the same bookstore-friendly features that make books successful, such as the ability to return books if they don't sell. So Kent Island author, Dennis Batchelder, did what few self-publishing authors do these days -- he created his own publishing company and did all the work himself.

According to the article (which appears in the author's local paper):

"First off, I wanted my book to be returnable, so bookstores could be enticed to carry it (this is a big deal for bookstores - if they can't sell your book they can get their money back)," he said.

"I wanted my book to be comparably priced. I wanted the widest possible distribution. I wanted to give the standard 55 percent discount (so discount companies like Amazon could knock 20 percent to 35 percent off the price), and finally 'I wanted a high quality printed book that didn't scream 'different.'"

Unable to find a self publisher to meet these requirements, he decided having his own imprint mades a lot more sense.

This is a great strategy for anyone in Batchelder's position -- he knew enough about the book business to know exactly what he wanted out of his publishing experience, and he had the entrepreneurial spirit to strike out on his own. And he'll likely have greater success as a result.

Self-syndication to build a buzz

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 10:27:51 PDT

Publishing is one thing, selling copies of your book is another challenge altogether. And authors, self-published or otherwise, are always the primary sales force for their titles.

I found this article by Dorothy Thompson, CEO of Pump up Your Book Promotion, about how to use free online article distribution services to help build book buzz. According to Thompson, one of her online articles even led to a quote in OK! magazine -- this is the first time I've ever heard of that happening, but I can say that getting your articles posted all over the internet can lead to increased site traffic and book sales, so why not a mention in print publications.

Her article also lists several free article distribution web sites worth trying. Follow the link below to see her article.

I'm back!

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 07:57:10 PDT

I've been at a residency for my graduate school program for two weeks, which is why I haven't been writing -- after all the workshops, lectures, and classes I didn't really have the brain power to blog. But I'm back now, and ready to post about all the great insights and resources I gained from my experience.

First and foremost, I want to comment on the power of writing communities. Writing is a solitary craft, which is something that every writer gets used too. But every once in a while it feels really good to talk to other writers about books, project ideas, challenges, inspiration, aspirations, and even things that have absolutely nothing to do with writing and reading. It can truly be a life-changing and very inspiring experience.

If you are interested in connecting with a few like minds, attend a conference or seminar on writing. These events take place all across the country and cater to writers of various levels and genres. For help in finding a seminar that suits your needs, check out ShawGuides free online directory of writing conferences and workshops.

Writing resource

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 14:17:52 PDT

HowToDoThings.com presents expert-contributed information on a wide variety of topics, including writing. They cover everything from "How to Write a Theatrical Review," to "How to Self Publish." Writers can learn about topics ranging from finding a writing space, to dealing with writer's block, to how to promote your article or book. Follow the link below to check it out their writing section.

Eavesdropping for inspiration

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 05:31:29 PDT

Dialogue is an important part of story, both fiction and nonfiction, because it allows your characters to talk and communicate and express themselves. But dialogue can be tricky to write and many writers struggle with using dialogue in their work because it often comes across as strained and unnatural. One great way to improve your dialogue writing skills is to listen to how the people around you talk. So the next time you're in a crowded coffee shop or restaurant, take a few minutes to eavesdrop on a few conversations -- not for gossip purposes, but to get a sense of the way people communicate with one another. How do they talk to their friends and family? And how is that different from the way they talk to strangers? By taking time to listen to speech patterns and nuances, you can improve your dialogue-writing skills and make your characters come alive through their own words.

Subsidy (vanity) versus self publishing

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 10:20:37 PDT

The book industry is growing rapidly, and every non-traditional publishing company has their own take on how authors can best publish their books when traditional publishers don't bite. With so many different companies and options, it can be difficult for a writer to tell the difference between a scam and a sensible business decision -- especially because not all writers are born with good business instincts. The article at the following link offers some insight into how to tell a subsidy or vanity press from a self-publishing service provider, and can help alleviate some of the confusion. And remember to always read a publishing company's contractual agreements with a careful, critical eye. Every company varies in their policies, and after all the work of writing a book you don't want a negative experience with a publishing company to ruin your book's success.

Remember your reader, improve your writing

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 04:42:19 PDT

Reading a book is an intimate process that gives you a look into the writer's world. However, reading is a big commitment -- it takes hours to read an entire book. As a writer, you're asking your readers to turn off the television, quiet their children, leave the housework, set their to-do list aside, and open your book. And if you want your readers to devote the time required to finish your book, then you have to offer them something in return: either new information and ideas, or a story with suspense and lovable characters. You can make dramatic improvements in your writing by assessing your readers' needs and keeping them in mind throughout the writing process. For nonfiction, what do your readers need to know? What problems do they have? What solutions can you offer them? And for fiction, what will keep your readers interested? Does your plot keep your readers guessing? Do your characters appeal to your readers? Asking yourself these questions as you write your book will help ensure your readers keep reading, despite their to-do list.

Book design in Microsoft Word

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:16:15 PDT

I ordered the book Perfect Pages: Self Publishing with Microsoft Word by Aaron Shepard off Amazon this morning because I've heard about people trying to design books in Word, and I always thought it was a bad idea. I'm all about finding a bargain and doing-it-yourself, but I've always heard that only book designers should format and lay out books because it's so easy to make mistakes. I've also heard that designing a book in Microsoft Word is a big mistake and that Word is too "unstable." But I know that not everything I've heard is necessarily correct, and I'm starting to realize that I don't know as much about book design as I perhaps thought. I do know that if this book delivers on what it promises, print-on-demand publishing will be much cheaper because everyone has Word. And it costs big bucks to have a book interior designed. The book was published last year, but I'd never heard about it until the other day. Has anyone else read it? Or better yet, designed their book interior with Word and been pleased with the results? I'd love to hear some thoughts. (The link below will take you to the author's website.)

Check out Self Pub News

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 07:25:07 PDT

This website is a place for for publishers, publishing organizations, and others to announce events, to mention new books, and to offer other activities related to the independent publishing community. It's a new site, launched last week, and it has already compiled lots of useful resources for writers and self-publishers -- especially in the Favorite Books section.

Looking for a thought-provoking political read?

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 07:00:19 PDT

Jamil Kazoun, a political analyst and news reporter, just published his second book: A Third American Revolution; A New World Government, A Plan for Liberty, Justice, and Peace (Life Management Science, LLC, ISBN 097885781X). The book takes a hard look at international policy and world events, and challenges world leaders to make dramatic changes to achieve peace on a global scale. Although I haven't seen the finished book yet, I helped Kazoun assemble and edit the materials earlier this year. And it's definitely a book that makes you think about the current violent state of the world. For more information, follow the link below to the author's website.

A closer look at print-on-demand publishing

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 18:12:00 PDT

This is an excellent write-up on a self-published author of a children's book about car racing based on stories he and his sons spun at bedtime. The author, Jason, who published through BookSurge, is also the blogger's friend. The post at the link below reveals interesting information about the author's writing process and publishing decisions. The post also links to Jason's own article about the downside of print-on-demand publishing, which I had actually read before. Both are good, very realistic examinations of print-on-demand. I also really liked reading about Jason getting in touch with his son's reading teacher during the development process -- what a great idea, plus it lead to a good marketing oportunity.

Self-publishing leads to career advancements, speaking engagements, and new opportunities

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:39:42 PDT

Sure, self-publishing is expensive and time-consuming. But this Newsday.com article highlights self-publishing success stories, and shows how the investment can pay off in career advancements and professional recognition. The article profiles two self-published authors, one is a registered dietician and the other is a career coach. Both women published through iUniverse, a print-on-demand publisher, and both talk about their success. Industry experts also weigh in on the realities of the self-publishing market, and the pros and cons of self-publishing.

Questions about copyright?

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 14:01:18 PDT

I often get asked about copyright law and whether or not people need to copyright their work before sharing it. But I'll be honest, I'm not a lawyer and copyright law confuses me, too. If you're concerned about protecting your written work -- and who isn't -- then check out this article on copyright law for writers. It was written by a copyright lawyer, and it gives a great overview of what writers need to know to keep their words safe.

Author's passion for food and facts leads to self-published book

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 04:25:49 PDT

I love reading about new self-published books because the industry is so diverse and every book is so unique. This article describes a man from Massachusetts who took his love of fact-finding and wrote a book about food and holiday celebrations across the globe. The author, Lester Mackin, used iUniverse to publish his book, after writing 300 letters to traditional publishing houses, according to the article, which appeared in his local paper. I don't have any personal experience with iUniverse, but Mackin seems to be pleased with how his book turned out. And publishing a book, regardless of how you do it, is a great accomplishment.

Resources on all things writing

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 09:41:57 PDT

If you're a writer, and you have questions on some aspect of writing, editing, or publishing, chances are you'll find what you're looking for on www.internet-resources.com/writers/. This site is a directory of links to resources for writers on everything from science fiction to time management. It has something for writers of all genres and levels of experience. Check it out! Then add it to your favorites, because chances are you'll want to check it out again.

Trouble with writer's block?

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:07:55 PDT

As a professional writer, I had to banish writer's block from my list of excuses why not to write a long time ago. At some point, I realized that if I was serious about writing then writer's block was not an option -- probably an English teacher told me that. However, I can understand how some people might feel overwhelmed by a blank page. If you're one of these people, try taking a walk, fixing yourself a cup of tea or coffee, or even go to a coffee house with only yourself and a notebook -- and don't pick up a newspaper on your way in. Sometimes all people really need is a change of scenery to get creative. And I believe that writer's block can only affect a person as long as they let it. Nothing you embrace will ever go away, so try to pretend like writer's block doesn't exist and just start writing!

The latest in self-publishing

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 06:12:59 PDT

The self-publishing industry just keeps getting better and better. A company called Blurb, Inc. recently launched a web site that allows users to download a free software program that makes book-making easy for everyone. Apparently you can add photos, content, artwork, and even drop your blog right into book format. Then when you're done, you order as few or as many copies of your book as you like. You don't have to pay until you actually publish. The program seems like such a great way to impress clients with a specialized presentation, publish your blog outside of cyberspace, collect family recipes into one place, and even give creative, unique gifts for the holidays. And you can add your book to the Blurb bookstore for mass distribution, if you're so inclined. I haven't tried it myself, but if anyone has I'd love to hear about your experiences. From the samples shown on their site, the quality looks great. And although the price per book doesn't make a bulk order practical, the creative possibilities for a small print run are endless.

Can you trust your editor?

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 09:57:29 PDT

Hiring an editor for your book is an important step in the publishing process -- it can transform your writing from adequate and average to outstanding. But you have to hire the right editor to get outstanding results. When looking for an editor that suits your needs, you can look at any number of criteria, including location, experience, education, and price. However, while all these factors are important to your decision, trust is the most critical. If you can't trust your editor, you'll never be comfortable with the progress of your book. So before you hire someone to work on your manuscript, take the time to get to know him or her. Ask questions how the editor works, ask for a sample edit, and ask for time to make your final decision. And you should always seek out estimates from more than one editor. When you're shopping around, you'll have a better chance of finding the right person for your job.

New book offers tip for finding free editing services

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:10:32 PDT

I just finished reading How to Write and Publish Your Own eBook in as Little as 7 Days by Jim Edwards and Joe Vitale, a new book that I picked up from the library. I read many books on writing and publishing, but I was particularly interested in this one because I'm currently working on an ebook and the promise of completing it in as little as seven days hooked me. And for the most part, I thought the authors did a great job on the topic. It was a quick read, and the information presented seemed viable -- even their promise of publication in as little as seven days. The book is really geared toward the non-writer with information on how to overcome writer's block and eliminate the urge to edit as you write. And it also gives plenty of good information about researching topics and markets, and creating the actual downloadable ebook. The book's underlying theme is how to create something you can sell for a profit on the internet -- fair enough. I'm certainly not writing an ebook for fun. However, the authors made one argument that I absolutely cannot agree with -- they wrote that ebook authors don't need to have their work edited by a professional. Instead, they recommended passing your manuscript out to a few friends and asking them to edit it for you. Upon reading that section, I realized two things: 1. They obviously followed their own advice because the book is riddled with grammatical inconsistencies and errors. And, 2. Anyone who follows that advice can't possibly care about the information they project onto their readers. No wonder Vitale and Edwards wrote that ebook authors may see 5 to 10 percent of their readers ask for their money back. I know I'm an editor and I'm not exactly an impartial jury, but I know the average reader expects the books they buy to be error free. After graduating college I worked as a bookseller at a Barnes & Noble. One day a customer approached me with a best-selling paperback and said, "There's a typo on this cover." Sure enough, the back cover copy -- the part of the book that every potential reader reads first -- had a typo. Some trivial word was misspelled. But the customer put the book back on the shelf and said, "If it has a typo, I'm not buying it." And this wasn't a self-published book, it came from a big-time, New York publishing house. The point is that the customer put the book back because she couldn't see past the typo, regardless of whether or not the story inside was good. Yes, it may be much cheaper to pass your manuscript out to a few friends and ask them to edit it for you. And maybe you'll get lucky and one or two of your friends will actually know what they're doing and give you good, objective advice. But in most cases, people get what they pay for. In the case of How to Write and Publish Your Own eBook in as Little as 7 Days, I'm glad I got my copy from the library where it didn't cost a dime, and returns are hassle-free. I guess I just can't see past the typos.

Greetings and welcome!

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:35:00 PDT

To everyone out there clicking around on my website, thank you! And welcome to my new blog -- aptly named The Editor's Desk. Although I don't have big, life-changing plans for this forum, I do hope to keep my readers informed on news and developments in the writing and self-publishing industry. Each day or so I will try to bring you entertaining and insightful posts that will hopefully move you forward in your writing and publishing pursuits. I hope you enjoy my musings and thoughts, and, as always, contact me with any questions or ideas.