ISSUE NO. 3 SUMMER 2024
A Newsletter for New Book Authors
Until your book is published, your work is never done! Our seasoned editors help you dig up new ways to stay motivated, learn the literary nuts and bolts, and find answers to tantalizing questions. Check in often for the latest "dirt"!
... get to the bottom of your most pressing self-publishing questions
Q. Should I use a book packager?
VW. Yep! Self-publishing authors don’t have to DIY these days. Book packagers apply for bar codes and distribute your book to Amazon and book stores, along with other services. [more Book Packagers]
Q. How should I promote my book?
VW. Your budget holds the answer. Here’s where you can pay professionals or save money by DIY marketing. Great reviews and web pages get you started. [more Marketing Your Self-Published Book]
Q. How fast can I sell my self-published book?
VW. Don’t hold your breath! It takes time to build a following. Work on marketing as you wait for adoring fans to find you. [more Self-Publishing vs. Conventional Publishing]
COMING SOON IN OUR NEXT EDITION: L E A R N F R O M F I L M
... mechanical hacks to tighten your prose
THE NONFICTION INTRODUCTION: BUILD A BRIDGE FIRST
While a book introduction is aimed at readers, it comes from you, the author. Writing an introduction is a discovery process. It tells you what you want to say—so you can tell your readers. Always write your introduction last, after your book draft is finished. You’ll be able to reflect on what you’ve written and then articulate why you are the right person to convey this message.
Why? Readers typically don’t know self-published authors. You need to build trust so that they’ll be open to your ideas. Use your personal experience to create intimacy and show readers how your book might relate to their lives. Share real-life anecdotes that demonstrate how to put your concepts to work. Or describe how trial and error ultimately set you on the right path, so that others can confidently learn from you.
Use your book’s introduction as a bridge between:
~ Ignorance and wisdom
~ Your early days and your success
~ Your professional expertise and readers’ needs
To reach any audience, know thyself first. You’ll gain the authority to back up your informational or motivational message. Your readers will applaud!
EASY NONFICTION HACK: TELL YOUR LIFE STORY
The quickest way to separate yourself from the pack as a subject-matter expert is to be yourself. Besides being tops in your field, you are also an expert on you. Demonstrate that no one does it like you do by sharing the personal details that made you pursue your dreams. Keep working on the tone of your writing until it sounds "like you." It’s easy to take the first steps toward self-publishing when you know your book will stand out.
A S N E A K P E E K A T O U R M O S T R E C E N T A R T I C L E S
You only get one chance at this
New writers ask: which comes first, the title or the book? Considering how crucial a title is to selling your book, the answer is: take the time it takes to get it right. You literally get just one chance at this first impression. Some writers start with a title and work forward from there, thinking that it puts them in the driver’s seat. But we advise letting your book name itself whenever possible. And your book can’t do that until it is, well, a complete book.
Your title must reflect your content. A book about dogs called All About Chimps will probably not find its target readers. How can you know what all you will include in a book until you have written a rough draft? And how can you know what you will keep in that draft until you revise it? Often, a turn of phrase will move from your fingertips to the page and reveal itself to be The One that says it all about your work. Many times, that doesn’t occur until late in the writing process.
Feel free to create a working title before writing or as you go along. Then compile other good prospects as you write. Let them hang out in the back of your mind. You’ll have plenty of time—and greater clarity—to make a judicious choice after you finish revising the book.
Once you have some good ideas, do some review and market research. Does the title tease or spell out the "nut" of your message? Check library or online databases to see if the title is in use and by what type of book. Note that titles can't be copyrighted; you can duplicate a title if your use will aptly reflect your work.
Your book title is a literal or cryptic summary of your book’s substance. And since your cover must reflect the substance, a book title is really your most important marketing tool. Readers decide whether to investigate in a split second, when they read or hear your title and see your cover. That’s it. You’ll only get that one chance. So, don’t rush! There's no deadline. Give your choice of book title the attention it deserves.
Your work is protected the instant you commit it to the page
Paranoid about your copyright? Don't worry about submitting your MS to an editor. Under U.S. intellectual property law, copyright is automatic once you have a written record of your creation. To be more formal about it, you can draw or type © (or spell out "Copyright"), followed by your name and the year.
To be more formal still, you can register the copyright to a specific work with the U.S. Copyright Office of the Library of Congress. If you publish through a traditional publishing house, you will own your book's copyright. So, rest easy. You can share your work with a professional.
Correct MS Format = Instant Pro
8-1/2 x 11 page size (Do NOT write in a book-sized format, such as 6 x 9)
12 pt. serifed font
Double-spaced text
First-line automatic indent (Set this up via Layout; do NOT insert manual tab indents)
Why this format? First, a larger page and serifed font (with the little feet, like Times New Roman) allows you to compose logically and to easily reread your work. Second, double-spacing literally opens up space to think creatively----as opposed to the cramped confines of single-spaced text. And third, your work will look polished to editors and readers, and pour into book publishing formats without a hitch.
If you plan to submit work to agents, publishers, or for self-publishing, the standard format is MICROSOFT WORD. Using a noncompatible program like Pages or an online platform’s “editing” program will only create more work for you. It’s not easy to reformat to MS Word from those proprietary programs; you may wind up having to manually change indents or spacing on every single line of your work.
Word has everything a writer needs to compose in correct manuscript format. If you need a computer program to help you get organized, you’re not ready for long-form work. Read up on how to write an outline and structure a book before you begin. And save your time or money by composing directly in Word. You’ll be glad you did.
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