Writer Wednesday: The Book Designer

The Book Designer is an interesting web sites that offers a number of blog posts on all things design for books. This includes ebooks as well printed books, from the cover to even the interior.

Check out the “10 Quick Tips To Get Your Manuscript Ready For Publication”.

Their Articles page includes a massive amount of links for all sorts of publishing and design information.

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How much does an author make?

This is a tough question to answer due to the number of variables involved with publishing one’s work. Not all writers submit to the same type of publication. Some hope for a published novel, while others write short stories, articles, instructional or how to type pieces, and so on and so forth.

One must consider what type of writing, such as genre, and even length of publication. Some pieces of writing pay per word, for instance. Is this is a short story or non-fiction article? Do you publish a book, or a series of short stories?

Some publications pay per word such as $.05 per word. A 500 page article could sell for $25 or a 1,000 word story for $50. Novels, on the hand, can earn a writer $5,000-$10,000, not counting royalties or if the book gets on the bestseller’s list. This depends on the agent and publishing company, the quality of writing, the amount of writing and re-writing needed, and if the books sells well.

The one thing I find in researching earnings for writers is that a novelist writer needs to CONTINUE WRITING after they publish their first book. Don’t think you’ll hit it big with your one big idea; you’ll need more ideas, more stories, and keep publishing books to make a living as an author of novels.

Other writers include freelance, who sell articles, short stories, and content pieces to the market. Reselling and reprinting their work earns them even more, providing they find the outlets for their work.

Finish whatever novel you’re working on. Don’t let fear of rejection or failure stop you.

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Marketing: Book Launch 2.0

Marketing for writers can often prove difficult. There’s nothing really creative about it, nothing fun, and certainly nothing to do with the craft of writing…or does it?

If you do get published by one of the big publishing companies, they do much of the marketing for you. This doesn’t mean you should sit back and wait for the checks to float in. You should also sell yourself.

The first step is to believe in your book. Is it a good book? Of course it is!  Its published, right? You should want people to read it because its so marvelous! Get hyped about it, get excited and let others know about it.

Reviews! Once you get some folks who read (and like) your book, ask for a review. Reviews allow other potential readers to want to read your book. Reviews can be added to web pages, profiles, email signatures, and even press releases. Some authors offer a free copy to authors of reviews to get that one, well-written review.

Social networking. You’re probably already on myspace, twitter, Digg, StumbleUpon, or other networking sites, with all your friends and family at the ready to read what you’re doing. Add your book there too. You can either add to your profile, or even better is to add the book with its own profile.

The importance of keywords and tags. Many people don’t understand that web sites, social network profiles, and just about any web sites have keywords or tags. What these are for is to allow people to search for those keywords/tags to find you. You need to select a good number of words that best describe your book. For instance, a murder mystery could include ‘murder,death,thriller,body,morgue,investigation’, but also should include your name, title, and genre you’re writing in.

For more tips:

This guy made a video on YouTube about marketing a book. Don’t worry, its not one of those boring videos where a guy sits and preaches to you all the thing you should be doing. Instead, he’s made an amusing video of him talking to someone about all the things he’s not (and should be) doing to market his book.  I think its a cute method to get the information out there.

He also writes a blog that incorporates some thoughts on writing, with some great advice.    http://denniscass.com

Book Launch 2.0 the video

Publication and publishing

I’m only six days to the end of the NaNoWriMo! But I didn’t want to add yet another entry on just the grueling task of cranking out a novel in a scant thirty days. I wanted to start with a new topic and that is of getting published. After this novel is done, I hope to get published.

There are many different ways to get officially published. I consider any placement of your work to the public eye as a form of publication, but also that of earning money. I’m published…online through Associated Content. Being also a web master, I can assure you that many sites look for writers to add up-datable content to their sites. Associated Content is just one place you can write articles, and get paid to do so.

Most writers I’ve met both on and offline want a book published and printed to be sold through major bookstores across the nation. The trick is having a completed manuscript, then selling this to a publishing company. This is where an agent comes in handy, for it is the agent that can move you up to a publisher if the work is good enough.

Self-publishing has grown to be a viable option, and not seen as the Vanity Fair that it once was. In fact, not only can you get your book published, you can sell through Amazon.com if you know the right tricks. The downside includes the fact that YOU are the one that needs to do all the marketing. And let me tell you, marketing is a whole other animal than the creative process of writing a book. (www.lulu.com is an example of self-publishing services)

There is also the option of e-publishing. I’ve considered starting my own e-publishing company but I’m not sure if I want to endure the responsibilities and legalities that go with it. You write your story, and sell ‘ebooks’ through a site. (www.cerridwenpress.com is an example of this)

You might consider that you’ll sell a book and BAM- you’re a bonafide writer. Yes, this would be the case, but often you’re going to continue to write, and publish, and endure the rejection slips and so forth in your journey. Not to discourage you, but do not get hopes so high that your fall becomes a crash. A writer, after all, write as much for themselves as they do for the fame and fortune.

First official rejection

The other day I got my first rejection from Associated Content for an article focusing on weight loss tips. They claimed the subject was too broad. I then decided to visit the Associated Content message board, and discovered that a number of people were complaining about articles having been rejected based on a new criteria or editors on staff.

I can appreciate any business paying money for quality, so I don’t take this rejection personally. It was bound to happen eventually. I take solace in knowing that primarily there wasn’t much in the way of flawed writing in and of itself; but the subject matter. There’s a lesson here, I’m certain of it.

Write for demand.

Writing encompasses not just entertainment value but informative as well. The words need to catch the attention of readers, while keeping them entranced to the end. I think this is truly an art. How often can you say that of any writing; that you were so caught up in a story that you couldn’t put the book down.

I also find myself wondering about content versus style. Some writing impresses me with the sheer beauty of the words formed into eloquent sentences. Other times the content is that which catches me. True happiness is when I find both wonderful content intermixed with powerful words. This is when you set aside the words and just bask in the afterglow of what you’ve read. Ah yes!

Rejection leaves one feeling…well…rejected. Writers shouldn’t take anything so personally, but I can see why this is so difficult. Writing is a glimpse in one’s soul, where the author delves deep within him/herself to put what comes up to paper (or pixel). This is a creation, not just some drive! But when that is rejected; you’re left feeling hollow and unloved. To a reader, however, the words are just that; words.

Ideally, a formal rejection should provide some constructive criticism or at the very least, some reasons as to why your piece was not accepted. Take their advice to heart, but not to soul. Editors though excellent in knowing grammar and proper English, and the medium to which they focus on, are not experts in every field. You may find submitted the same piece to another publisher might end up accepted. Even J.K. Rowling of the Harry Potter books had her work rejected by twelve publishing houses before finally being accepted. So even ‘great authors’ find the rejection letters in their mailbox.

So accept the rejection with quiet dignity, and try and try again.

Fear of success or fear of rejection?

I find myself only recently fired up about submitting my writing for publication, let alone having the confidence to share my stuff outside my writer’s circle and friends. Too shy you ask?
Growing up, my family was harsh in criticism. Once I shared a story with my mother that was twenty pages, front and back, all written out by hand. I was in my teens, and looking back, perhaps too eager for her approval. I’m not sure why I thought she’d give me any. Instead I received an abrupt “I thought it was rather dry reading,” and never an explanation as to why that was. I tore the whole thing up.

So I suppose I carry some of that concern with me, despite loads of feedback at fanfiction.net. That’s where I ‘published’ the only stories that the general public can read. One story of thirty-six chapters had feedback that included ‘best fanfic ever read’ and ‘The most compelling, characterized and interesting Morrowind story I have read’. That certainly helped boost my seriously depleted ego. I also found myself craving feedback. Dare I venture admitting to being a bit of a ‘feedback whore’?

I suppose my biggest obstacle is myself, where I fear of failure so much I do nothing. How can I fail if I don’t try? Deep inside, I realize that by not doing is also a form of failure. One way or another I should discover if I have any talent to consider myself a writer. To do that; I’ll need to submit for publication.

So this year I’ve placed this as my goal and by the Powers the Be, I will accomplish by attempting. I will succeed by submitted by the very act, regardless if I get accepted or rejected. At least I would have tried.