Mark is in the know in the self-publishing world. He delivers 10 tends – some of which are good new for authors looking to self-publish, some not so good.
Dear Hay House, I’m Appalled.
And why is HMC having issues with Hay House’s Balboa Press? Because it is run by Author House and anything run by Author Solutions (and there are many: iuniverse, Xlibrus, Author House, Lulu, Albia, Hydra, Archway, Tafford…) is a scam to take advantage of authors.
I was also disappointed that a company like Hay House, which is known for helping people, has decided to go with such a shady company. I hope, if enough people complain to them, that they decide to drop Author Solutions, if for nothing else than the sake of their own reputation, let alone the people that depend on them for their wise words.
Dear Hay House,
I’m writing in regards to your self-publishing branch known as ‘Balboa Press.’ It has come to my attention that you provide packages for authors to self-publish their work with a chance of being picked up by Hay House. What a deal! Your hook is, “Follow the Footsteps of Louise Hay.”
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How to Kill Adverbs and Adjectives
Ryan Lanz (I think that’s his name. I couldn’t find his name of his website but that is his URL so I thought it might be a good guess) has some good advise for writers.
How Authors Can Survive Among the Glut of Ebooks
Mark Coker of Smashwords gives us some grim statistics, but also shares some very concrete ways to keep on keepin’ on.
I agree – looking at the long haul is the way to go. I first published in 2008 and I still get sales from that first book. For me, it’s never been about the big launch with big first sales – though there is some of that, of course. It has been more about staying the course, keeping up with my writing and publishing, picking and choosing my marketing strategies and learning new things with each new book I publish (Just published book #6 – Will the Real Carolyn Keene Please Stand Up). I don’t exclusively write and publish – I do have a day job (that I love, by the way, because it’s helping others publish!), but I am not tossing in the towel because there are a lot of others writing and publishing these days. In fact, I encourage people to write and publish (through the writing and publishing workshops I do for libraries and school children). I think there is room for everyone!
Thanks for the insights, Mark!
Nice illustrations Elizabeth!
Publishing a Paperback with IngramSpark
Abigail Carter – of Writer.ly – has shared some very helpful information for publishing with IngramSpark/LighteningSource.
I have published through createspace/Amazon, have had my books published with a brick and mortar printer in my area and plan on using Ingram/LighteningSource (same company) to get on their distribution list. I wonder if she started with Lightening Sources if it would have been any easier. I think I remember reading that somewhere but I’m not sure about that.
Abigail shares some insights that will make the process easier. Ingram has a long way to go to make the process as easy as Amazon does.
When I try it and if I find out any other helpful tips, I’ll let you-all know!
Publishing a Paperback with IngramSpark – Writer.ly Community.
The Future of Book Distribution
Another informative post by Brook Warner of She Writes.
Amazon is doing the world a favor by crushing book publishers
This is an interesting view of publishing by Matthew Yglesias.
Do you agree? I’m not sure I do. Are they becoming less relevant? – yes. Will they go away completely? – not if they are able to adapt, and they will have to keep adapting because the book world is changing very quickly.
Amazon is doing the world a favor by crushing book publishers – Vox.
How To Get Your Book Into Costco and specialty stores
Thanks Penny. I’ve often wondered about costco but thought it was a no go because it was too big. See there, I learned something new today!
56 Social Media Terms Writers Need to Know – Social Media Just for Writers
Frances Caballo helps demystifies some social media forums by giving us some terms and how to use them. Very helpful Frances – thank you!
56 Social Media Terms Writers Need to Know – Social Media Just for Writers.
Top 5 Ways Authors Sabotage Their Own Book by Shayla Eaton
from dreamstime.com
In this post, Top 5 Ways Authors Sabotage Their Own Book by Shayla Eaton — The Book Designer, Shayla Eaton really talks about 1 way that authors sabotage their book and 5 reasons why they do it.
Still a good post, though. Editing is SO important. I’ve made the mistake of hiring people that aren’t editing professionals, and I’ve cost myself money (and probably readers) because of it.
The last point Shayla makes is a very good one as well. I always tell my author clients that I can not possible pick up every error – the vast majority, yes – but not every single one. Editors are human too! Even after a professional edit, you need to have someone who has never read the story before, read it for you before you have it printed or even before you have a proof made.
I have learned this the hard way with my third book, I assumed the new editor I hired got all my errors but she hadn’t, of course. I had 30 books printed that I now can’t use because of the mistakes I found. Not many but enough that I don’t want people to see it.
So spend the money to hire a professional editor and take the time to have someone (other than yourself) read it after it has been edited. I’d also encourage you or again, someone else, look at the proof as well. You will be surprised the small things that will still be found. And I’ll share a little proofing trick, go through the story backwards. It makes you slow your reading down and not get into the story as easily. In proofing you shouldn’t be reading the story, you need to be reading the words and the sentences.
(Note: there are other aspects of proofing that need to be looked at as well. Check out this old post for more details about proofing.)
CKBooks Publishing 