Literary Tips & Tutorials by Laura
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How to Become A Facebook ROCK STAR

3/17/2016

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When it comes to Facebook pages, do you feel a little lost? Is your Facebook page sitting forgotten and unloved in some corner of the internet? Never fear, I'm here to save you! 

So, you made a Facebook page... Now what? You probably want to reach people and gain exposure for your book, brand, or product. 

Using this technique, I've been steadily gaining Facebook page Likes. In some cases, around 100-200 per week.

How Do I Reach People?

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In Facebook terms, reach is a measure of how many people are exposed to your post. As pictured above, you'll see this in statistic/metric on each of your page's posts.

How do I reach people?

Connection — Connect with and establish a relationship with people. Your followers need to connect to your posts in a way that makes them care about what you have to say and, hopefully, improve your reach. (Read 5 Essentials For Successful Social Media to learn more).

Engagement — Engagement is when a post is interacted with by Reacting (liking or using one of the other reaction buttons like: Love, Haha, Wow, Sad, or Angry), Sharing, or Commenting. The more people React, Share, or Comment on a post, the more people will see it. The very best chance a post has to be seen by others is if it is shared, but if you remember from my tutorial 100 Free Facebook Page Likes in 1 Day, likes can allow you directly invite new followers to like your page.


Relevancy and Facebook's Algorithm — Many of us miss the days when Facebook newsfeeds showed everything that was posted in chronological order. Today, Facebook only shows us what its algorithm calculates we are most likely to enjoy. For Facebook to show your post in a newsfeed, the algorithm needs two things: post engagement and relevancy. The more you interact/engage with a friend, group, or page, the more Facebook deems that to be relevant to you. The more relevant, the more likely the algorithm is to throw something from that source into your newsfeed. The more engagement a post has, the more relevant it is deemed and the more likely you are to see it. To put it simply, Engagement = Relevancy = Reach

Learn more about creating posts that will be seen here.​

turning engagement into page likes

Once people have started engaging with your post, you want to turn them into followers (page likes).

Why do I need page likes? Liking a page tells Facebook to put relevant posts from that page into your newsfeed. Otherwise, you're highly unlikely to see anything that page posts. Remember your goal is to become more visible, to reach people.

Turning engagement into followers is ridiculously simple. If someone Likes or Reacts to your post, you get to invite them to like your page!
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Click on the part of your post that lists who has Reacted to your post. This can be found on your page's feed or on your page's notification tab:
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Again, click on the part of your post that lists who has Reacted to your post.
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A box will pop up that shows you who has Reacted to your post, and it will give you a button to Invite them to like your page! You'll notice above, it shows who has already been invite who has already liked your page, so you're not spamming people with invitations. 

In many cases, the invitation will be accepted, and you will gain new followers, thus increasing your Reach. 

Check your page's notifications at least once a day and send out more invitations. 
Master these elements, and you, my padawan, will become a Facebook rock star!
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Know Your Target Audience

11/20/2015

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​Never let me catch you saying that your book is for everyone! Your goal may to be have a large, diverse group of readers, but writing and marketing toward "everyone" will sabotage your book.

“While ‘everyone may find some benefit from your book, when you speak to ‘everyone,’ you actually dilute your message so much that it becomes effective to no one.”
— Ryan Mendenhall, Selling Well: The 5 Relationships That Experts, Authors & Coaches Use To Sell 1,000 Books In 21 Days 

Get Personal

Saying that your target audience is teenage girls is not enough. Your target audience is more than a demographic. Your audience should identify with the main character or theme of your book.

Pick one specific reader and get inside their head. This can be a real person, or you can even use your writing skills to create a fictions character and get inside their head. Actors use this method to better play their roles, sometimes even creating a backstory for their character.

For example, the fictitious person I’m trying to reach is a teenage girl (approximately age 14-15) who is doesn’t have a good sense of her identity, has low self-esteem and is constantly bullied. She is talented and smart but socially awkward. She loves horses, nature, fantasy, and can't see someone in pain without trying to help. 
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Know this reader’s strengths, weaknesses, fears, interests, etc. The better you know them, the more your book will resonate with them and the easier it will be to sell. It's a bit of a paradox, but when you reach one specific reader, you will generate more interest and gain a broader readership, even those you are not targeting. Why? Writing like this is more realistic, more genuine. It will make your readers care more about your characters and story, and when people care, they’re more likely to buy and share.

Most of us want to spend as little on marketing and advertising as possible, right? Then your goal is what we call "viral marketing". This is when your book or ad is shared from a single person or small group, and branches out, being shared with a wider population. The key here is that you are not having to pay for this exposure, and your book/content is spreading like a virus (see above image).


Knowing your target audience makes writing and marketing easier. Let your readers connect with your book so intimately that this viral process begins, and your book sales will rise.

 Sign up for my email updates and get a free marketing guide! Don't forget to follow me on Twitter and Facebook. 
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5 Essentials For Successful Social Media

10/27/2015

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Even a large following won't do much good if your posts fall flat. Whether you're connecting or marketing, here are five essentials for successful social media.

1. Connect

Your followers want to connect with you, not be sold to. Establish a genuine relationship with your followers. Build trust. If you do, most followers won't mind an occasional sales or promotional post. In fact, if you make your followers become part of your work, they are more likely to support share such posts! I recommend at least 5 non-sales/promo posts for every 1 sales/promo post.

2. ​Be Genuine

Be sure that you share what you love, what you're passionate about. Not only is it fun and a lot easier, but if your posts show that you don't care about your followers or content, you're going to lose ground very quickly. 

3. Invoke Emotion

Everything you posts about should make them feel something. This is Marketing 101: Successful marketing evokes emotion. Whether it's hunger, sympathy, excitement, nostalgia, humor, happiness, etc., a good post will make people feel something or give them something to care about.

Avoid making people feel guilt. Remember how much you hated those Sarah Mclachlan homeless pet commercials? You're not alone. Is it because we don't want to help pets? No, it's because invoking guilt makes people defensive. We assign negative association with things that make us feel guilty. Don't distance your followers with guilt! 

On the flip side, if guilt is that powerful at dissociation, just think about how powerful positive associations are.

4. Fill a Need

Get to know your audience and their needs.

One of my most popular personal blog posts to date was when I filled a need. I couldn't find the answer to a question, so I did some research and wrote about my findings. Simple but very effective!

Knowing your follower's needs will involved getting to know them. Pay attention to what they like and what they say. This goes back to connecting and being genuine. It might involve a little leg work, but filling a need is extremely powerful.

5. Posting The Right Thing in the Right Place

Every social media platform (Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) has a variety of users. Research the demographics of that platform and be sure your posts are tailored to fit that audience.

Also remember that those demographics change on occasion, so stay up to date. For example, Facebook used to be popular with teenagers, but Instagram is currently more popular.


What type of post (text, image, video, link) is most popular on your preferred social media platform?  At the moment, image posts are popular on Facebook and Twitter, but that can change. Take a few minutes to look up popular posts types on your social media platform. Implementing this can make your posts more visible, thus more successful. 
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Failed Post Troubleshooting

If your posts aren't producing the desired results, ask yourself the following.

Are you:
  • Just selling?
  • Being genuine?
  • Invoking emotion or giving them something to care about?
  • Filling a need?
  • Posting promotional or sales posts too often? 
  • Sharing the same thing as everything else? It's alright to share popular content, but make sure the majority of your posts are original. 
  • Posting in the right thing in the right place? 
Be sure to sign up for my email updates so you'll be in the loop and follow me on Twitter and Facebook! 
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The Golden Rule of Working with Artists, Editors, and Other Professionals

10/8/2015

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Publishing a quality book isn't cheap. Cover artists, graphic designers, illustrators, editors... To most of us, the cost of these services hurt. 

I've noticed a disturbing trend. Many authors and publishers try to get around these expenses by either settling for low quality work or underpaying talented professionals. Both of these choices are damaging to our entire publishing industry. 
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Image source: http://9gag.com/gag/avgZAwZ?ref=fbp
As you see in the image above, professionals can take years and thousands of dollars developing their expertise. Yet, many of us don't take this into account when asking for work bids and only look for the cheapest price. Because of this, many artists (I categorize editors and such as artists because what they do really is an art form) struggle to make a living through their craft, just like authors. 

Those who use low quality work ruin more than their own sales and reputation. By pumping out terrible books, consumers, bookstores, and libraries are starting to avoid entire publishing styles. Self-publishing and small presses are getting the worst of it. Most libraries and bookstores I've worked with won't accept a title that is self-published, and their acquisitions teams are very suspicious about titles from small presses even though there are many amazing books published via both these means.

​Why do we sabotage ourselves like this? Why underpay qualified and talented professionals? What is the true price you're paying when trying to save a buck? 

I hear authors complain that their family and friends claim that they want to support them, yet they're the ones that expect "family discounts" or free books. Wouldn't supporting an author mean paying for their book instead?

When you're shopping around for work bids, take a moment to consider: Are you paying these professionals how you would like to be paid for the work you do? 

Be sure to sign up for my email updates so you'll be in the loop and follow me on Twitter and Facebook! 

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Tutorial: 100 Free Facebook Page Likes in 1 Day

9/30/2015

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Using this amazingly simple strategy, I got 100 FREE likes in one day on my Facebook Page. That sounds great, but the most important part of this is that these aren't paid likes. These are all likes from people who are have previously shown interest in my posts and now have increased the engagement and visibility of my page! 

******Update******
I've gotten reports that this method is unavailable to some Facebook users. It looks like it can be a bit buggy. It acutally wouldn't let me use it a few times, and I thought they'd ended it, but it showed up again the next day. Those of you who it is working for, I hope it helps! For those who it hasn't workd for, keep trying! You never know. If it does let you, it's definitely worth it.
******End Update******
Just follow these easy steps:



Find one of your page's posts and click on the number of likes. It won't work if it just says a name(s), you have to be able to click on the number. (It also doesn't seem to work in a mobile app.)


After you click on the number, a box like this will pop up, giving you the option to "Invite People Who Like This Post to Like Your Page". Just click "Invite"! Easy as that.

It will also show you who you've already invited and who has already liked your page.

For best results, go through your posts daily (or at least weekly) and invite like this while you're fresh in their minds.

Results will vary depending on your page's engagement (i.e. if no one is liking your posts, you won't have anyone to invite), and not everyone will accept the invitation. In this case, that 100 came from the first day I started doing this, when I invited around 1,000 people to like my page through this method.

Another good thing is that, when you go to invite people, Facebook also shows you who you've already invited and who has already liked your page, so you won't be spamming people.

This is what it looks like to people who you invite. 

Since starting this, I've gotten an average of 5-6 likes per day, so your stats will even out after that initial boost. My overall growth since starting this, has been around 500 likes over the last month.

What makes this different than just "letting my page grow organically" or paid likes? 
First, this is an organic method. You are using your page's engagement (likes in this case) to branch out naturally.

Fishing for paid likes, you're much less likely to get genuine followers and more likely to end up paying for dummy accounts or people who like your page but don't engage.

In the last month, I've noticed the followers that I've acquired through inviting people who have already liked my posts are much more engaging, and that's actually boosted my engagement rate—allowing me to invite even more potentially high quality followers to like my page.

Sign up for my email updates so you'll be in the loop! Be sure to follow me on Twitter and Facebook! 
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Marketing Secrets Part 1

8/28/2015

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As an author, it’s never too early to start your marketing plan, even if your first book is still being written. Why? Because, while selling your book(s) may be your ultimate goal, marketing is more about connecting to people than selling a product. The objective of any good advertisement is to make the audience feel something, to make them feel connected on some level—whether it’s humor, hunger, passion, anger, happiness, desire, etc. 

Think of the commercials you remember or may have even shared on social media. Why were they memorable or worth sharing? Were they funny, cute, touching? The best ads are ones that don’t feel like you’re being sold to, ones that make you want to share them. Remember the old Hallmark commercials? Super Bowl commercials?

The Key to Great Marketing


How do I do this? The secret is shockingly simple—be yourself. Find something about you or something you are passionate about and use that to start connecting with others. 

For example, I started a blog and social media centered around my family and the geeky things we love (books, movies, crafts, etc.). I chose this topic because my books will, more than likely, fit in with this theme, and it's something I love to share. I love fantasy, sci-fi, a good love story, etc., and so do my followers. I haven’t finished writing my first book yet, but when I do, I have a network of more than 15,000 followers across various social platforms who are in my target market. These people choose to follow me because we have similar interests and enjoy interacting with each other. Do I sell to them? Absolutely! While I don’t sell my own book yet, I will occasionally promote my etsy shop, publishing company, or other people’s books/products that I enjoy.

How to Get Started

If you already use social media, take a look at the type of posts you already like, comment on, or share. Is there a common theme? Are they things that make you laugh, causes, recipes, DIY, hobbies, etc.? Try to find something you enjoy talking to friends about. It’s best if you can find something that your target market audience might have in common, but if not, it’s still worth it. 

Remember, family and friends are the first people who will buy your book. Your followers will become online friends. Your goal is to connect with them in a way that you enjoy interacting with them, and they care about you. It sounds extremely manipulative, but if these connections are not genuine, your followers (or potential followers) will feel it, and you will fall short of your goals. 

Once you’ve decided on a topic, invite your family and friends to follow your blog and/or social media (hopefully both). Then, start sharing things you enjoy and that others will as well. Don’t sell anything. Just start connecting. When others comment on your posts, respond to them. This could be a reply or even just “liking” their comment. 

Before too long, if your posts are things people care about, they will be shared, and your following will grow.

The next post in this series will be coming soon. In the meantime, sign up for my email updates so you'll be in the loop! Be sure to follow me on Twitter and Facebook! 
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Should I Pay for a Review Service or Social Media Blasts?

8/25/2015

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Review Services

Reviews matter. Many readers decide which books to read by looking at ratings and reviews, and many promotional sites will only promote books with a certain ranking. Because of this, authors and publishers spend quite a bit getting books into the hands of reviewers. 

The only way to do this is to find reviewers, or someone who represents a group of reviewers, and get them to review your book. (Well, that's the only legitimate way, we won't even talk about buying reviews because it's completely unethical.) 

To connect with reviewers, you can either search for reviewers and/or bloggers one by one, via groups, or paid services which will distribute your book to reviewers for you.

Should I use a paid reviewer service?  
I would say no, but that's based on my own research. 

There are a few problems with a paid reviewer service: 
  • It's difficult to tell if they will send your book to actual reviewers or if they will just post fake reviews instead. 
  • Phony reviews can hurt you, even if they're positive reviews/ratings. If you have all 5/5 star ratings, it's pretty obvious that something's not right. Everyone has different tastes, so even the "best" books get bad reviews. 
  • But the biggest problem is that, for most sites (like Amazon), it's against the terms of use to pay someone to review your book. Now, is using a service that you pay to just send your book to reviewers paying for reviews? Technically, yes and no. Your intent for this type of service is to pay the company, not the reviewers, but do you really know where your money is going? 

Better safe than sorry, I say, but I would love to hear about anyone else's experience! If you're on the fence, ask around. See what other authors or publishers have experienced. Never invest blindly!

Social Media Blasts

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A social media blast is where you pay someone to post something to their followers on social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.), and many companies and individuals offer it. Some are actually happy to help out an author and will post for free.

Good Idea or Bad Idea? 
Since word of mouth is the most powerful advertising tool, yes, having a well connected person/company post about your book can be worth it. If someone with enough followers posts about your book, their followers will potentially do one of a few things: either learn more about your book, interact with/share the post with their friends/followers, ignore the post, or just not see the post. 

When a social media post is engaged with (interacted with/shared), it can potentially branch out and reach many more people, just like a conversation. We call this "going viral". In this case, viral is a good thing. ;) 

How Do I Know if Their Service is Worth Paying For?
Check the numbers. First, how many followers do they have? For an effective social media blast, their follower numbers need to be 100,000 or more. Second, look at their recent posts. Are people engaging with their posts (liking, commenting, sharing, +1ing, favoriting, or retweeting them)? How many? To get your money's worth, someone with 100,000 or more followers should be getting a few hundred (hopefully more) of each type of engagement (shares, likes, and/or comments). 

I recently stumbled across a service on Twitter that advertised, "AUTHORS: Promote your books to our network of 360,000+ followers!" Sounds great, right? That's a lot of people! However, when I looked at their Tweets (Twitter posts), there was hardly a retweet (post share) or favorite to be found. That means that, while they were being followed by a lot of accounts, no one was really cared about what they said. Paying them to share your book on their Twitter account would be a horrible waste of money. 

Engagement Rates
Remember that "engagement" is when a post is interacted with by liking, sharing, commenting, favoriting, retweeting, etc. 

If you look at posts on Facebook, you'll notice that the number of likes is usually significantly higher than shares or comments. (We can go into why another time.) Next highest is usually comments, then number of times the post was shared. Likes are good, comments are better, shares are the most desirable. If someone likes a post, it might get shown to their friends/followers, but it's more likely to be shown to their friends/followers if they commented. But the very best chance a post has to be seen by others is if it is shared. 

It's similar with Twitter. Favorites are good, but retweets make a Twitter post most visible to followers. Look for good engagment!

Relevancy 
Think carefully about who you're trying to reach. Does that social media account frequently post about topics that interest your readers? After all, you want that person/company's follower's to become your readers. For example, you wouldn't want a Facebook Page whose main theme is stocks and bonds to advertise your YA fantasy. That's like showing a toy commercial during an adult program. Sure, you'll have a few interested people but the percentage would be significantly higher if your commercial was aired during a kids' show.

Remember, before you invest, do your research! Check the numbers, be sure it's the right place to advertise, and ask people you trust about their relevant experience.

I'll be posting more soon. In the meantime, sign up for my email updates so you'll be in the loop! Be sure to follow me on Twitter and Facebook! 
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The Controversy of Vanity Press

6/27/2015

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At LDStorymakers 2015, I was shocked to hear James Dashner, New York Times/USA Today Bestseller and author of The Maze Runner series say that vanity press can actually be a good thing. How could a bestselling author say this when, in today's publishing world, the words "vanity press" are usually accompanied with either gasps or mocking laughter? I set out to find answers.

What is vanity press and why is it so hated?

"Vanity Press" is a blanket term for any publisher to which you pay money. 

Why all the hate? There are several reasons:

  • Since authors pay vanity presses for publishing services while traditional publishers pay the author, many consider it backward. 
  • Vanity Presses are known as the ambulance chasers of the publishing industry. If you've ever submitted your work for copyrighting, you've probably received at least a few offers from vanity presses to publish your work for a fee. 
  • The poor quality stigma: I can't tell you how many times I've heard authors say that "vanity publishers will publish your grocery list for a price." 
  • There is also the unfortunate fact that many authors have been cheated by dishonest publishers. The details range from unkept promises to flat-out scams. These occurrences have tainted this publishing option. 

Debunking Vanity Press

Why does James Dashner say that vanity press can be a good thing?

"I am a big believer in all avenues to publishing," Dashner stated. "Everyone was telling me, like on threat of death, 'Don't ever give money to a publisher.' But I did. And it was the best decision I've ever made because that started the process . . . That lead to my Shadow Mountain deal, which helped me get into conferences and to make connections, and eventually, that lead me to meeting Sarah Zarr. Sarah Zarr then introduced me to her agent, who is now both of our agents. I have never, ever, regretted in the slightest what I did."

Do you realize that, according to this blanket term, Amazon's ever popular CreateSpace is a vanity press? Just as you would with any other vanity press, they charge authors to publish. Amazon will "print your grocery list for a price" and there is no content quality control.

Why aren't authors outraged by this? 

Amazon and other vanity presses have successfully rebranded this vanity press service as Print on Demand. Amazon offers convenient services and pricing to fill the ever growing need of indie and self-publishing and provide a top brand name that authors trust. In reality, they offer the same or often less services as many vanity presses. (Some vanity presses out there that do quality control, author education, marketing and distribution, etc.)  

Should I use a vanity press?

It all depends on your individual personality, needs, and resources. It worked for James Dashner because he's an extremely driven and resourceful author and businessman. He knew what he wanted, educated himself, and worked hard to get where he is. If you have his skills, work ethic, and the money to do it...why not? 

Please remember there is no one-size fits all in publishing. Do your research and decide what best fits your own style and needs as an author. The important thing is to do what works best for you and to just get your work out there!  

I'll be posting more soon. In the meantime, sign up for my email updates so you'll be in the loop! Get exclusive content when you follow me on Twitter and Facebook! 
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Four Things to Know When You Publish from James Dashner, Heather Moore, J Scott Savage, Peggy Eddleman, and Tyler Jolley - LDStorymakers Panel 2015

6/12/2015

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What to Expect

"There is no book on how to be an author. Your publisher doesn't give you a handbook. You're left in the dark a lot and have to find your own way a lot. You feel like such a noob when you start out. Network with other authors. Find out what to expect." - Peggy Eddleman

Network and Ask Questions

"Very rarely does it happen on your timetable." - Tyler Jolley

"It's a very crazy rollercoaster of ups and downs, rejections, exceptions, fans, etc." - Tyler Jolley

"Thinking that you accomplished one thing doesn't mean that you don't have to worry. It doesn't matter where you get, there's still things you stress about." - J Scott Savage

"There's a fine line between having realistic expectations and letting yourself be a little jaded. There are some depressing statistics. When they say that only one out of a thousand people get published who submit manuscripts, you've gotta say, 'I feel sorry for those other 999 son of a guns, because I'm going to be the one that gets published." Maintain some realism. It may take a while, but my favorite quotes is, 'There is one word for a persistent author: published.' It may take you five years, ten years, fifteen years, but it will happen if you improve your craft, improve your skills, and you keep doing what you're supposed to (in terms of submissions and seeking feedback), you will get published." - James Dashner

"Don't compare yourself to other writers. You have your own journey." - Heather Moore

Trust the Professionals 

"It's best not to get too attached to your title or cover." -Peggy Eddleman

"There are times when you say, 'Here's my input, do your job.'" - J Scott Savage

"Remember that your cover designer probably hasn't read your book. Don't tick them off. You have to have confidence in them. They know what's going to sell." - Tyler Jolley

"I have a very good relationship with my editor at Random House. We obviously both have the same goals, so she's always seeking my advice on covers, but I'm also very aware that I never have that final power or final say. In the end, you have to trust the marketing and sales people, they know what they're doing." - James Dashner

To Be Successful

"Bestselling authors constantly have doors shut in their faces. They keep working and submitting. They're always growing their craft. They're always helping other writers. Be a nice person who is easy to work with. Authors who get published the most are those who are always working and are willing to make changes." - Heather Moore 

"I cannot stress this enough. I know for a fact that the number one factor in my career that has made me take these little baby steps to success has been the professionalism side of things. Do not burn bridges. Everything you do, pretend you are not a writer. Be a CEO. In any industry, people want to work with people they like." James Dashner



James Dashner is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publishers’s Weekly,Indiebound Bestseller, and author of The Maze Runner series.
Website: http://jamesdashner.com/
Blog: http://jamesdashner.com/blog/

Heather Moore is the USA Today bestseller and award-winning author of more than a dozen historical novels and thrillers under the pen name H.B. Moore. She also writes women’s fiction, romance, and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore, including The Newport Ladies Book Club, the Amazon bestselling anthology series A Timeless Romance Anthology, the Aliso Creek series, and the USA Today bestseller Heart of the Ocean. 
Website: http://www.hbmoore.com     
Blog: http://mywriterslair.blogspot.com

J Scott Savage the author of sixteen novels including the Farworld series from Shadow Mountain, the Case File 13 series from Harper Collins, The Shandra Covington mystery series, and the new Mysteries of Cove series coming September 29th. 
Website: http://www.jscottsavage.com/     
Blog: http://www.jscottsavage.com/blog/

Peggy Eddleman is the author of SKY JUMPERS (a Bluebonnet Nominee, a Beehive Nominee, a Golden Sower Nominee, a South Carolina Children’s Book Award Nominee, an American Booksellers Association’s ABC Best Book of 2013, a NYPL’s 100 Books for Reading and Sharing selection, and a Kids Indies Next selection) and its sequel, THE FORBIDDEN FLATS. 
Website: http://peggyeddleman.com

Tyler Jolley is the author of The Lost Imperials series. 
Website: http://jolleychronicles.com/     
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6438572.Tyler_Jolley

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5 Essentials To Get Ready For Publishing

4/23/2015

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Writing your book was only the beginning. Welcome to the world of publishing!

1. Use critique groups and beta readers to improve your manuscript.

These are FREE resources, and they are incredibly powerful! Search your area for a local critique group. If you can’t find one, invite other local writers and start your own. 

Family and friends are good beta readers to start with (especially if they are avid readers), but try to get fellow authors or editors to beta read for you as much as possible. Why? If you were a chef, you’d want to be sure your customers like your food, yes.  But fellow chefs or food critics are more educated and experienced at pin pointing exact problems and finding things that others might overlook, which saves you time and money.

2. Get your manuscript professionally edited. 

No matter why type of book you write or what type of publisher you want to use, professional editing is an absolute must. And by professional, I don’t mean find someone you know that reads a lot of books or teaches English (although those make great beta readers), get your book edited by at least one or more professional editors. Most manuscripts, especially for first time authors, need several rounds of editing before they’re ready to submit to a publisher. 
Read more about editing here.

3. Do your research. 

Thoroughly research anyone you want to work with: editors, illustrators, cover designers, publishers, etc. Look them up online. Take a look at things they’ve worked on. Talk to authors they’ve worked with.

What type of publisher do you want to work with? What type of books do they publish? How do they pay their authors? Do they pay their authors? (Yes, that’s unfortunately a valid question.) What marketing do they provide for their authors? What reputation do their books have? What reputation do they have in the author community? Read a few of their books. 

4. Be ready for what potential publishers require.

This is something you’ll look for when you do your research. Does the publisher require you to submit your book through an agent? Do they even work with agents or only directly with authors? Will you need a query letter? Do they do pitch sessions? 

5. Know your contract options and protect your rights.

Don’t be so eager to get published that you accept any contract. As many authors and lawyers have said, “Some contracts aren't worth the paper they’re printed on.” Read the entire contract before you sign anything, and have an attorney take a look at it (it’s less expensive than you’d think and well worth the investment.) 

Publishers don’t always give their authors the same contracts, and not everything is set in stone. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or to negotiate for what’s fair. Being rejected is better than a bad contract.

During the contract duration, who will own the rights? Which rights will you sign over or retain? (Read more about rights here.) Who owns the ISBN? You won’t want all of your work to be tied up in a *non-compete clause; avoid them!  



*Non-compete clause — Part of a contract that says that an author cannot publish anything with a different company within a certain timeframe. 

Read about what you should be investing in your book.
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    About this site

    I created this site because many authors don't have access to the resources they need to achieve success in today's publishing industry. I choose my topics from the needs and issues that I see authors facing. Please contact me if you have a questions or topic that you would like me to write about. I love hearing from you!

    All tips, tutorials, and advice is based on my experiences and does not guarantee you will have a successful experience. Everything posted should be considered with discretion.

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