Tag Archives: business

Goal Setting for the Self-Published Author by Iris Bolling

It’s been a minute for me and I apologize for staying away so long. Life is happening all around and keeping me crazy busy. In a little over a year I will retire from my nine – five. That’s right, I’ve put in my thirty years and now I’m preparing for the next phase of my life.

The next phase for me is to do what I love, write. I’m a planner. So in preparing to make writing my career I pulled out my old plans and found this blog I wrote a little bit ago. I’d like to share it with you. I hope it gives you a pathway to your writing career.

Keeping in mind that being a Self-Published Author is a business, I have a question for you. Do you have a business plan in place? If you do, has it been updated recently? If you don’t, get one. Why? I’m happy you asked. A business plan does several things for you, the first and most important, in my opinion, is goal setting. You should know where you are going before you start the journey. A business plan is a road map, of sort, to help you get to your destination. There will be twist and turns along the way and probably a few bumps and bruises, but you will still be on your way. Being on your way to becoming a successful self-published author is your goal. So take a moment to plan that journey. Who knows, you may end up with a few wonderful accolades along the way and a little money to help you get there.

How do you put together a business plan? Another good question. In this wonderful and freighting world of the internet, you can goggle and find just about anything you need to do whatever. Goggle “Business Plans”. You will get an array of sites that is dedicated to assisting you in putting together a business plan, if you would like to do it yourself. However, if you are like me I do not pretend to be a business guru. I’m an author, so I turned to professional to put together a business plan for me.
To those that are brave enough to try this on your own, here’s the short of what a business plan should include according to the Small Business Administration:

a) Table of Content – give key sections of the plan
b) Executive Summary – Tell who you are, what you do and why
c) Business description and vision – your company’s goal and objective (for your books)
d) Definition of the market – who might buy your product
e) Description of product and services – describe your product
f) Organization and Management – describe who is responsible for what in your business
g) Marketing and Sales Strategy- how you plan to reach your customers
h) Financial Management- revenue and expenses
i) Appendices- brochures, and/or copies of your book

The Small Business administration has a really simple and informative on-line course on creating a business plan. http://app1.sba.gov/training/sbabp/index.htm check it out.

I know, I went a little deep on this post and this is a very simplistic example, but the information is helpful. Besides, who said this journey was going to be fun all the time it creating wonderful characters and story lines. We have to put a little work into it somewhere along the road.

Until the next time. Iris

http://www.irisbolling.net/

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Don’t have a copy of Become A Successful Author? What are you waiting for?Become A Successful Author is used in the “How To Write That Novel” course at Chicago State because it covers everything from branding to writing to editing to formatting and uploading electronic and print books to marketing and so much more. Your time is money. Look at all the time, thus money, you’ll save by ending your search for answers: Purchase Become A Successful Author for only $4.99 (eBook) or$9.99(print) from: Amazon (US), Amazon (UK), Barnes & Noble

How to Promote When You Write in a Niche Market by Stacy-Deanne

As more authors grace the industry with their presence it can become difficult for an author to stand out. It is especially difficult for writers who write in niche markets. Believe me I know. My primary genre is mystery and suspense, which is one of the biggest selling genres, but my novels are also interracial. Interracial books sell well but they do not receive mainstream attention, and the interracial market is extremely limited compared to books in other markets.

Don’t worry. I’m here to help. Well, at least I wanna try to help. I’m not trying to give you advice on how to sell more books, but how to reach your audience. Selling books is a matter of hard work and a whole bunch of luck. Heck, sometimes you don’t even need to put in the hard work if you’re lucky for your book to take off right out the gate. The average author isn’t so lucky and will have to put in some minimum work to get the word out.

Below are some tips that can lead you to your target audience:

Target Facebook Groups

Wait a minute. I know you’re saying, “And what’s so new about that tip? I’m already busting my chops on Facebook.” Yes but are you busting your chops the right way? When I say Facebook groups, I don’t mean book groups, reading groups, or book clubs. No. I mean Facebook groups geared toward the subject of your book. I am talking about regular groups targeted to those with an interest in what you write. For example, there are many interracial dating groups on Facebook. Many of these groups are geared toward black women and white men couples, which is the interracial pairing I write about the most. I’ve been a valid member of many of these groups. I didn’t join just to sell books but because of the common interest I had with these people. The key is to become a part of the group, and not just promote your books. You don’t have to go to a book group or reading group to find readers. Readers are everywhere and if you write in a niche market, you have to be creative to get in touch with your audience.

Establish Your Niche as Your Brand

Do you write multicultural stories that take place in Southeast Asia? Do you write gay and lesbian books for the urban crowd? Do you write lesbian Chick Lit? Establishing your brand as an author is important anyway, but it’s a must if you write in a niche market. In order to stand out you need to make yourself look like an expert. Your niche needs to become your brand, and you need to make sure that wherever you go as an author, that niche follows along with you. Say you write gay and lesbian street lit books. The normal street lit crowd most likely aren’t interested in them, and the gay and lesbian crowd most likely won’t want to read street lit. You must get creative because your work doesn’t fit anywhere. You have to create a place for your niche to fit. Start a blog geared toward nothing but gay and lesbian issues in the urban community. Write articles geared toward the gay and lesbian street crowd. Start an Internet radio show where you discuss how being gay fits into the street community. No matter what you do and where you go, you need to become the poster child for what you write. Niche authors do not have a choice.

Write for Online Magazines and Sites

There are online magazines and sites geared toward all types of subjects. You’re bound to find something that fits your niche. Once you do, read the magazine (if you don’t already) and become familiar with the things they feature. Pitch articles or blogs to the magazine or site. You might end up with a regular gig, but even if you’re just featured in the magazine or on the site you will gain credibility through the subject you write about. When you write about things pertaining to your niche, you’re putting yourself out there for readers interested in your work. Many readers who read magazines or articles on sites check out the authors who’ve written the piece. It’s a solid road to getting your book into your targeted readers’ hands.

Start Your Own Magazine

No I’m serious. Did you know that you could start your own online magazine free? There are sites that provide you with free magazine templates and will even send out the magazines to subscribers free. Some have the option of print magazines and some only online magazines. You can start a magazine geared toward your niche. You can feature other writers and people who share your interest. If you stick to it, you might have a popular magazine one day. It might seem unbelievable but many online magazines started as simple sites.

Join a Cause

Are there any groups or organizations that focus on what you write? Do you write romances featuring plus-sized women? There are many Fat Acceptance groups to join and this is a great way to establish your brand. Your readership is most likely heavyset women who wanna read romances that feature women like them so joining groups they are interested in will alert them of your books and they’ll buy to support you. Do you write graphic novels featuring superheroes with disabilities? If you write characters with disabilities then consider working for disability organizations. They will embrace you and appreciate the fact that you feature disabled people in your books. You might also get offers for people to sponsor your book and help you spread the word. The best part though is to join these organizations because you honestly want to help. Never join something just to get book sales. Disabled people deserve the support of the community so if you decide to join a group, be there for the cause and not just to sell books.

You have to get creative. You can’t just throw a niche book out into the world and promote it like a mainstream book. That won’t work. You also have to accept that your audience might be limited so have realistic expectations. If you write books in an extremely small niche then you might not sell over a certain amount of books no matter what you do. Some niche books however do have a large market of readers, but reaching them is the key. The possibilities are endless.

Stacy-Deane

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Little Actions Have Big Potential By W. Terry Whalin

Are you dreaming of some great things happening in your writing life over the next few months? I hope so. I look around at the publishing community and see great opportunity for readers—online and in print—in books and in magazines. As I read the publishing news, I learn about a continual stream of new publications and new publishing efforts. Each one is full of big potential—only if you take action.

As I speak with authors, I find many of them have deep-seated dreams for their novel to find a publisher or their nonfiction book to jump on the bestseller list. I applaud the dreams but they must be backed with consistent action. Are you searching for the right publisher for your next work? Are you actively approaching literary agents to champion your cause? When you learn about a new editor, are you writing that editor and pitching an article or an idea? Are you approaching long-term editor friends with your ideas and pitches?

When I dig into what these authors are doing to expand their writing life, I find very little action. I don’t know what will catch fire and become the next best thing in the new year. I do know I will not find it, if I’m not actively looking. Also if you are stuck or not finding a place for your work, I encourage you to knock on a different door. If you are writing novels, then try to publish some short stories. If you are writing a nonfiction book or book proposal, then pitch some magazine articles and write some shorter works. If you don’t have any presence online then begin building one. There are few overnight successes but the key is to take action every day and build potential. That potential remains unrealized if the pitch is never made and the book stays on your computer or in your file drawer.

It’s an old image but big doors turn on little hinges. As a writer, you are looking for the right connection or connections to move you into the next level with your publishing life. It will not happen unless you are on the move and taking action—daily action.

And when you get rejected? I’ve been in this business many years and I believe it is important to plan your response for how you will handle rejection. I encourage you to follow the example of Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield. When they were looking for a publisher for Chicken Soup for the Soul and getting rejected. Each time, they turned to each other and said one little word, “Next.” That word propels you forward to the next opportunity and the next place to consider your work. It prevents you from sticking the idea back in your drawer and never sending it out again.

W. Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor lives in Irvine, California. A former magazine editor and former literary agent, Terry is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. To help writers, he has created 12-lesson online course called Write A Book Proposal. His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com.

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Rethinking Reader Events by Deatri King-Bey

I know authors who refuse to attend reader events where they will not sell enough books at the event to cover the majority of their costs. I have always thought they were being too narrow in their definition of a successful event, and with the popularity of eBooks ever increasing, they should rethink what they expect to gain from reading events.

Let me tell you about a conference I began attending many, many years ago when I was merely a reader of romance and women’s fiction, the Romance Slam Jam (RSJ). Back then there were no eReaders, no Facebook and no Amazon. I know that’s hard for many of you to imagine, but there you have it.

The first time I attended the RSJ, I was intimidated. There I was, little ol’ me, surrounded by authors whose books I couldn’t get enough of. That up close and personal time with authors and others who enjoyed reading what I was addicted to was AWSOME. So awesome that in the eighteen years of the conference’s history, I can count on one had the times I’ve missed it.

At the conference, there is a Mega Book Signing. Back in the day, readers would literally bring tote bags, roller bags, duffle bags of books with them that they had purchased over the years for the authors to sign. They would also bring books they’d purchased at the conference, but not nearly as many. Over the years as eBooks became more popular, the amount of books brought to the signing decreased drastically as did sells in the conference’s bookstore. The Mega “BOOK” Signing has turned into more of a “Mega Signing” where attendees collect autographs and such for their scrap books.

I told you this story to point out two items.

The main purpose I, as a reader, attended this event was not to purchase books at the event. I can purchase books any day of the week. I attended the event to mix and mingle with authors whose work I enjoy year around and other readers such as myself.
The main purpose I, as an author, attended this event was not to sell books at the event. I want readers to purchase my books all year around, even when I’m not in front of them. I attended to build relationships and make MEMORIES with readers and network with my peers. This is a key element in growing that loyal base who will spread the word about your high quality novels without you having to ask. They know YOU, sign up for your opt-in mailing list and will tell readers about you. It goes deeper than them seeing you at a book signing table. It’s a totally different level.

Attending in person events is very important for authors. But just like you shouldn’t jump onto every type of social media out there, you shouldn’t try to attend every reader event. Select the major event for your genre and attend every year or at least every other year. Get to know the attendees for that conference. You’ll bump into many of the same people year after year. This is a good thing. This is how you build relationships and memories.

Many authors forget to look locally for events and readers to build relationships with. Use sites such as http://www.meetup.com to find writing groups and reader events in your area. Become a member of the literary community locally and let the readers get to know you so your popularity can grow.

So am I saying that when you attend a reader event, you shouldn’t care if you don’t sell any books? Of course not. I’m just saying that selling books at the event shouldn’t be your only or main goal. With the increase in popularity of eBooks, it’s time to rethink why you attend reader events and what you should expect from them.

On a side note. If you haven’t read the article Are Amazon and Facebook Your Publishing End All And Be All? I suggest you do.

Deatri King-Bey

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The Merit of Consistency by W. Terry Whalin

While it’s not often recognized, there is great merit to consistently working at the craft of your writing. Which part of that craft you select to work on will vary for each of us. For some people, they need to develop the basic skill of writing a magazine article. It’s a good place to start whether you are writing for a large magazine or a small newsletter. You need to learn how to craft a single story with an engaging opening paragraph, a solid section in the middle, then wrap it up with a take-away or single point for the reader. If you learn this skill, then you can apply it to other area of storytelling and writing–whether you are putting together a newsletter or a single letter or a chapter of a forthcoming book.

For the last few years, I’ve been putting together the Right Writing News. Now the back issues have built up to over 700 pages of how-to-write information. It is free but to access this information, you have to subscribe to the publication. I’m constantly looking for additional material that I can use in future issues of this publication. There is a wealth of material in these back issues. It didn’t suddenly appear but came one issue at a time.

I continue to regularly write about the publishing business at The Writing Life. To date, I’ve written almost 1,200 entries which amount to a large volume of searchable information. If you scroll down in the right-hand column, you will find the search tool and you can find older articles using a key word. This body of work didn’t appear instantly but was built through consistent action.

This week another issue of The Foster Letter, Religious Market Update arrived in my mailbox. Gary Foster compiles a rich publication every two weeks and it comes like clockwork. If you want to know more, I’d encourage you to look at some of the excerpts from his archived issues. You can find a lot of valuable information here.

Recently I was interviewed during a teleseminar about Book Proposals That Sell and was asked about when my first book was published. The common misconception is that it was many decades ago. It was 1992 and now over 60 books later they wonder how such a body of work was created. It’s not difficult to understand when you consider the merits of consistency. I’m constantly working to develop new projects and now in particular for Morgan James. I write my work like everyone else–one page at a time then one chapter at a time and one book at a time. Over a period of time, it ends up being something substantial. It’s not magic but consistency counts. The proactive author understands the value and merit of consistent action.

W. Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor lives in Irvine, California. A former magazine editor and former literary agent, Terry is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. To help writers, he has created 12-lesson online course called Write A Book Proposal. His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com.

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Literary Dreams & Virtual Nightmares by Kisha Green

As a writer I always dreamt of writing tons of novels and being loved by my readers/fan all over the word. Oprah would want to sit down and talk to me, Michele and Barack would invite me to dinner while in my down time I would take family camping trips with Denzel Washington and his wife Pauline.

See how pretty the picture sounds? I can really see it as I sit here typing. That’s my literary dream and through several titles I have published it was my attempt at making those dreams a reality.

For the most part the literary industry is a good place to network, grow and learn but there are some rotten apples that often make us roll our eyes and say what in the world?

The Internet is a fountain of tons of knowledge. Google should be a writers best friend but at times the search engine is treated like it has the cooties.

On the Internet offline nobodies are suddenly online some bodies. With a Facebook page and a few pictures and quotes many pose as literary professionals from book club presidents, book reviewers, literary consultants, literary agents, editors, graphic designers and publishers.

To a new author looking to network Facebook would be a cesspool of professionals that could help the writer out, but without proper research and knowledge of the particular job of the person one is seeking out, many will find themselves at a great disadvantage.

This is when the virtual nightmare comes in because the inexperienced writer does not know that the publisher she paid to publish her book is a single mother with a drug addiction and has no intention of ever publishing her book.

Deception happens often and lots of money is loss due to these fakes. It makes the jobs of the REAL professionals that much harder because the frauds have given the good guys a bad name.

In the last seven months there have been several incidents where authors were conned out of their money by people they trusted. People they thought they knew. People who appeared to have their best interest at heart.

A lot of finger pointing and name calling took place but at the end of the day responsibility lies with the consumer. Before spending money for services check references. This will alleviate many headaches. Don’t be afraid to ask people about the person you will be spending your hard earned dollars with.

Don’t just go by the word of mouth of a few people do a thorough investigation on your own, while this can be a very tedious process, I promise you it is definitely one you won’t regret.

Kisha Green is an author who has a passion for writing and sharing her witty personality with many through social media. For more info about Kisha, visit her website www.divabooksinconline.com and you can also follow her on Twitter @KishaGreen

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The Tax and More Tax by Michele Tooles

Being an author for three years and an accounting clerk/bookkeeper for a CPA firm, Clifton R. Rogers & Associates PC, for at least three times that amount of time, I have developed my skills and interest in taxation.

Despite the belief of the IRS, there is no cookie cutter formula that applies to every single person equally; however the foundation of the tax code applies regardless of your situation.

I belong to various groups on different social media sites where authors gather to get information. In these groups in the month of February through April, I have constantly seen authors ask the same question, “What can authors deduct on taxes?” Well my two cents are just that, two cents, and I tend to post them frequently, but one day my comments were read, received and helped a fellow author. From that encounter, I was granted the opportunity to write this article for you.

So here goes. Not trying to be too technical or lengthy, but in short, if you are receiving a royalty check from a publisher (one who collects all the income and absorbs all the expenses and pays you, under your social security number instead of a EIN number) you can complete a Schedule E – Supplemental Income and Loss. However if you are doing business as a DBA or sole proprietor and have an EIN number that you are accepting payments under you qualify to complete a Schedule C – Profit and Loss from Business. Be aware that self-employment tax will now come into play.

By definition from the IRS, you may complete a Schedule C (Form 1040) to report income or loss from a business you operated or a profession you practiced as a sole proprietor. An activity qualifies as a business if your primary purpose for engaging in the activity is for income or profit and you are involved in the activity with continuity and regularity. For example, a sporadic activity or a hobby does not qualify as a business.

Note: The IRS will consider your company a hobby if you have reported a loss for three of the last five years in business. Being determined a hobby will void any deduction of expenses you may wish to claim associated with the business. If you have not been doing business for five years, I would suggest you complete Form 5213 – Election To Postpone Determination as To Whether the Presumption Applies That an Activity Is Engaged in for Profit. This form will extend the time for determination by the IRS until the end of the 4^th year of which your company has engaged in activity.

Speaking of deduction of expenses, the IRS defines and considers a deductible business expense to be, A business expense must be both ordinary and necessary. An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in your industry. A necessary expense is one that is helpful and appropriate for your trade or business.

Some examples of deductible expenses are: Note: Keep all associated receipts for these deductions with your completed tax return for at least ten years.

Professional Organizations dues (related to writing), not club dues
Home business deductions
1. The area in your house that is designated for publishing/writing business only
2. Utility cost in relation to the percentage of the home office
3. Publishing cost
  1. Editing including software
  2. Cover Design including software
  3. Flyers, Postcards, Posters, Bookmarks
  4. Purchase of books
  5. Website creation and maintenance fee
  6. Copyright fees (capitalization and amortization applies)
  7. Printing
  8. Travel and transportation to book related events
  9. Vendor Fees
  10. Book Tours
  11. Press Releases
  12. Electronic Office Equipment (must be depreciated over 5 or 7 years)

There are a few more deductions that require more detailed explanations and requirements. To take the time to speak to a tax professional is always a recommended method of resolution.

I will take this time to make two very important suggestions. One, as a business (writing is a business) you should have a reliable and accurate accounting software. I recommend a version of Quickbooks. Lastly, I would also recommend that as a business and to reduce your personal liability that an author who is “doing business as” should incorporate as an LLC – Limited Liability Corporation, with an S-Corp designation. S-Corp status is important so that you can receive the benefit and allow any profit/loss to pass-through to your personal tax return from your company. It creates a single tax liability as opposed to paying corporate taxes and individual taxes (double taxation).

I hope this answers some of your questions. Stay legal and happy writing.

Michele Tooles a resident of Chicago and Certified Quickbooks Advisor is the Vice President of Prestige Tax LLC, a small bookkeeping and tax firm that specializes in Quickbooks Set-up, Training, Maintenance and Repair. If you are interested in her services, email her at prestigetaxllc@gmail.com

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Don’t have a copy of Become A Successful Author? What are you waiting for?Become A Successful Author is used in the “How To Write That Novel” course at Chicago State because it covers everything from branding to writing to editing to formatting and uploading electronic and print books to marketing and so much more. Your time is money. Look at all the time, thus money, you’ll save by ending your search for answers: Purchase Become A Successful Author for only $4.99 (eBook) or $9.99(print) from: Amazon (US), Amazon (UK), Barnes & Noble

Why Are More and More Authors Faking Their Way to the Top of Bestsellers Lists? by TaNisha Webb

Since the introduction of e-readers, avid readers have been blessed to gain instant access to their favorite authors’ works without any delay. It has also made it easier for authors to upload short stories in order to tie their doting fans over until their next novel is released.

With the creation of anything good, there’s always something bad that comes along with it – however great or small. Some of the major downfalls since e-readers has seen the light of day are: the decline in paper and hardback book sales for authors (which means less money earned by traditional authors); the closing of major and indie brick and mortar book stores; and shortened to non-existing book signing tours for our favorite authors. With more and more avid readers converting to e-readers these variables will only worsen for authors.

Because anyone can publish a book nowadays, the industry has become increasingly competitive in order for authors to remain relevant. One of the ways for some authors to remain relevant is to become a bestselling author. Now don’t get me wrong – there are many authors that truly earned the accolades and praise that they receive. This is shown through consistently releasing great books that creates a strong fan base and due to the author creating a relationship with their readers. So with that being said – how is it possible that so many authors are making best selling lists that hardly anyone has heard of?

Well one of the ways that some authors are getting on the bestsellers gravy train is by way of free and dirt cheap e-book price points. Cheap price points will help to embellish sales but doesn’t necessarily mean that the author’s work is worthy of the download. Many readers get caught up with clicking that download button for those bargain deals. Truth be told, these books hardly ever get read, which doesn’t always help the author to create a fan base. Temporary lowered e-book sales prices can work for authors as an effective marketing tool if the author already has an established fan base, which can help the author’s book go viral if their fans help spread the word to others via social media.

So here’s where the foolishness turns straight into mayhem with some of these so called “bestselling” authors. Some readers have noticed that not only are authors taking advantage of slashing the price of their e-books for eternity but they are also faking their way to the top of bestsellers lists by deliberately placing their e-books in the wrong genres in order to gain their undeserving bestselling status. This is a low-down dirty shame because not only are these fake bestselling authors being dishonest to readers when they claim they are a bestseller but they are also stealing…yes I said it…they are STEALING a spot from an author that actually do DESERVE and has rightfully EARNED their bestselling title because of these manipulative, greedy and starving for attention wannabes!

So how is it possible for a fiction e-book find its way in a non-fiction category? Well when an author uploads their e-book onto Kindle and Nook, they are given the choice to place their e-book in up to three different genres that best describes their book’s content. If the author places their book into one or more genres you’ll see it listed on the e-book page in the book description area. You’ll also see where the e-book ranks overall and in the specific genres that the author has placed their book in. (Look at the example below). These “mistakes” aren’t an, ‘Oops, I accidently placed my book in the wrong category, gosh darn it!’ type of accident. This is more so like a ‘fake it ‘til I make it’ type of tomfoolery that some authors are using in order to make their numbers look better than what they actually are because many times the genre categories that the author chose to place their book in more than likely doesn’t generate many book sales, which makes it easy for the author to climb the bestsellers chart.

What can avid readers and book clubs do? Stop supporting authors that are cheating their way onto bestsellers lists! Even if you’re purchasing a paperback book take the time to click onto the author’s e-book page and see which genres they are placing their book into. Also, stop downloading cheap books unless it’s something that you KNOW you’re going to read. This will stop authors from being placed on the bestseller’s list when they haven’t earned it. If you see a book in a fiction and non-fiction genre, email the author and ask them why. The only books that are able to straddle both parts of the genre fence are autobiographies that are built on lies, which would make them fiction! J

What can the literary industry do? Create some type of price point for e-books per the size, just like traditional books have in place. This will help to separate the good from the bad. I think Amazon and Barnes and Noble should not allow authors to place any books in both fiction and non-fiction categories. Obviously, some authors don’t have the truth in them and simply won’t do right.

What should the fake bestselling authors do? Stop faking the funk and get your act together. Hard work pays off…not deliberate acts of deceit. If you’re truly a great writer, let your work be your weapon and stop being a weasel! You are a constant reminder of what’s wrong with the literary industry today. Because of you, “bestseller” doesn’t mean much to avid readers because we still have to sift through the bad apples to get to the great authors. So unless you can prove that you have earned a bestselling title on a list that actually carries weight…we don’t care. There are no shortcuts to success. The lessons that you’ve bypassed on your seedy path, while faking your way to the top is making you look like a fool and a cheat! Get it together so that we as avid readers will want to support you and help you build the right foundation for success as your fan before we have no choice but to give up on you altogether. You’ve been warned!

TaNisha Webb

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Dee here: I wanted to take a second to congratulate TaNisha on the One Year Anniversary of her wonderful magazine, Book Club 101 Magazine. Every author interested in truly getting to know readers should be sure to read this publication. The electronic version of the Spring 2013 issue is FREE. Please spread the word.

Don’t have a copy of Become A Successful Author? What are you waiting for? Become A Successful Author is used in the “How To Write That Novel” course at Chicago State because it covers everything from branding to writing to editing to formatting and uploading electronic and print books to marketing and so much more. Your time is money. Look at all the time, thus money, you’ll save by ending your search for answers: Purchase Become A Successful Author for only $4.99 (eBook) or $9.99(print) from: Amazon (US), Amazon (UK), Barnes & Noble

How To Overcome Rejection: One Author’s Journey by Trice Hickman

I’ll never forget the day I started writing my first novel. It was a chilly morning in March 2004, and after many years of suffering from writer’s block, I had a breakthrough! I sat in front of my computer and smiled in amazement as words began to pour out of me like sweet water. I wrote all day and all night and by the next morning, 30 pages later, the beginnings of my debut novel, Unexpected Interruptions, was born.

I was energized with a feeling I’d never had before. I continued to write nearly every day, and a little over four months later my novel was complete. What a great feeling that was! But little did I know that as difficult as I’d thought it was at the time, writing my book turned out to be the easy part. I soon discovered that the hard part was getting my book published. And harder still…selling it!

I conducted diligent research and then submitted my manuscript to every agent, publisher, and editor whom I thought might be interested in my well-written, wonderfully engaging story. Who could turn down my masterpiece, right? Well, imagine my dismay when the rejection letters started trickling in. Everyone I’d submitted my manuscript to turned it down. EVERYONE!

“Did they really read my story?” I’d questioned, “because if they had, how could they turn me down?” I’d asked, over and over, month after month.

Let me tell you, rejection is a hard pill to swallow, but it can also serve as a wake up call. There’s a saying, you haven’t loved until you’ve had your heart broken. Well, you’re not a writer until you get your first rejection letter. But I had some great things on my side that beats rejection every time: Belief, Determination, Perseverance, and Faith.

I believed in the story I’d written and the characters I’d created. I was determined to persevere and do what it took to get my book published, and I had faith that I could do it! Again, I did my research. I made it my mission to learn everything I could about how to publish a book. I attended literary conferences and networked with other authors. I developed a plan, created a timeline, and then I formed my own company, Platinum Books, and published Unexpected Interruptions myself.

The book that everyone rejected went on to win two literary awards, receive high praise from readers, and top a national book club’s bestsellers list. I went on to publish two additional novels that were equally well received. After the success of my books, a traditional publisher offered me a contract to re-release all three of my originally self- published books. The rest, as they say, is history! Oh, and did I mention that upon it’s re-release, Unexpected Interruptions, the little book that everyone initially rejected, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly!

As great as I think my personal triumph is, my story is not uncommon. There are many people just like me who’ve had a dream and didn’t give up until they achieved it. Every successful person I know has had to overcome some sort of obstacle or rejection. And like me, the thing we’ve all learned is that behind every no, there is a yes waiting for you, as long as you’re willing to put in the work!

Trice Hickman

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Don’t have a copy of Become A Successful Author? What are you waiting for?Become A Successful Author is used in the “How To Write That Novel” course at Chicago State because it covers everything from branding to writing to editing to formatting and uploading electronic and print books to marketing and so much more. Your time is money. Look at all the time, thus money, you’ll save by ending your search for answers: Purchase Become A Successful Author for only $4.99 (eBook) or $9.99(print) from: Amazon (US), Amazon (UK), Barnes & Noble

Author Etiquette 101: Mind Your Manners by J’son M. Lee

Desperate times call for desperate measures. All of us have heard this phrase at one time or another. In short, it means when people get into trouble, they feel forced to do things they wouldn’t normally do for survival. Authors are no exception. When it comes to our livelihood, most of us will do whatever it takes to sustain it. Many of us draw the line when it means sacrificing our reputation or integrity; however, there are a number of authors who choose to stand their ground no matter the cost. I am of the mindset that authors who want their books to be noticed will garner more fans and support by remembering their manners than by imploring tactics that may jeopardize their livelihood.

When an author spends months or even years developing a project, it stands to reason they want readers to take notice of their masterpiece. However, just as bad parenting can ruin a child’s chance at success, authors can do the same for their books if they forget common courtesy. It is important to respect those who impact your livelihood. This list includes readers, reviewers, editors, and yes, even other authors. Here are a few simple pointers for authors about proper etiquette:

Be Courteous to Your Readers

Everyone is not going to like your book, and as wonderful a person as you are, everyone is not going to like you. Let that sink in for just a moment. In most cases, those who fall in either category will be in the minority. If we embrace this fact, we would realize there is no need for public outrage when we feel attacked personally or when we receive less than favorable feedback on our work. It is not necessary to respond. Brush it off! This is easier said than done sometimes, but you must decide who you want to become and walk confidently in that path. Let your fans fight your battles. Remember that person who said how great you were? How brilliant and thought-provoking your narrative was? Yes, that person. Let them handle the minorities. Stick to what you do best – writing great prose. If you’re going to be a professional writer, act like one.

Be Creative and Strategic

Just because you have the capability to reach readers 24/7, it doesn’t mean you should. Talking about yourself or your book incessantly gets tiring. How many ways can you say, “Have you read (insert name of book)?” or “1 click (insert name of short story).” At some point, you must realize that readers tune out or simply ignore your post. It is human nature. Stop blasting timelines and groups with your book advertisements. Be a little more creative and strategic with the information you share. Book groups have voiced over and over how they hate being bombarded with book advertisements. So, why are you still doing it to the degree you are? If it’s arrogance, you need to check that – NOW! Your posts speak to your professionalism. I would venture to say that most readers want a little more from you than a book link. Share information that will spark conversation. Readers really like to get into your head. Give it a try!

Ultimately, if you fail to treat readers right, your work is in vain. The business (yes, we are running a business) of writing isn’t as complicated as many make it out to be. Remember the basic rules our parents taught us: 1) say please and thank you and 2) treat others the way you want to be treated. It is really quite simple. Treat your readers right and you will have the best, free marketing for life. Treat them badly, and you will have a public relations nightmare. When treated badly, readers will not tell others about the great book you wrote – no matter how great it is. Bottom line, mind your manners!

J’son M. Lee

For more information about the author, please visit his website at http://www.jmccoylee.com/ or http://www.sweetgeorgiapress.com/.

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Lead With Your Strongest Info by W. Terry Whalin

It is something I learned early on as a journalist: your writing must begin with strength. What is the most intriguing question or strongest quotation or provocative sentence to start your query letter or your pitch to the editor or agent?

In pitches and proposals from unpublished writers, I often see critical information buried. As a reader, I know many agents and editors will never discover this information because they gave up after the opening paragraph.

Last Fall, I met an author with a strong gift book proposal. While Morgan James Publishing doesn’t produce this type of book, there are many well-respected publishers who make gift books. This author had something unusual in her proposal: a strong endorsement from a well-known author. Yet it was buried on the last page of her proposal.

I reviewed her pitch letter or query and while she referred to the endorsement, it did not contain any of the actual words. I suggested she start with a small portion of the endorsement because it would catch positive attention.

Here’s the critical fact that many people forget: agents and editors receive a high volume of submissions. They have many factors tugging for their attention besides submissions which makes them skim through the submissions making quick decisions about reading it in depth or rejecting it.

It’s always surprising to me what a little reorganization can do to strengthen a pitch. The quotation from the well-known author catches attention and pulled the editor or agent to take a more detailed reading of this author’s work. Something simple like this can be the difference between acceptance and rejection.

The first step for any writer is to get their material into the marketplace and in front of the editors. Many writers are missing this critical step and not taking action to send out their work.

If you are taking this step and collecting a number of rejections, I suggest you take a fresh look at your pitch or query. Ask a few questions:

Do I have the strongest material in my pitch in the first paragraph or the first sentence?
Can I read my pitch with fresh eyes and see how the editor or agent is reacting to it?
Am I missing something critical that I’ve left out of the package? One of the most difficult things to see in your own work is something that is missing.
Can I add an endorsement or provocative quotation or something to get additional attention?

There are many other methods to gain the editor’s attention but these questions will give you some direction in this area. In our busy world, the writer has to take action and lead with their strongest information.

If you make these changes, write me and let me know how it worked out or helped you. I’m always eager to read your comments and feedback.

________________________________________

W. Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing, lives in Irvine, California. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com.

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Don’t have a copy of Become A Successful Author? What are you waiting for?Become A Successful Author will be used in the “How To Write That Novel” course at Chicago State because it covers everything from branding to writing to editing to formatting and uploading electronic and print books to marketing and so much more. Your time is money. Look at all the time, thus money, you’ll save by ending your search for answers: Purchase Become A Successful Author for only $4.99 (eBook) or$9.99(print) from: Amazon (US), Amazon (UK), Barnes & Noble

Yes You Do Need Book Clubs! by Stacy-Deanne

I don’t care how talented you are. I don’t care what you write about. You could be the best darn writer on this planet but it wouldn’t mean jack if no one reads your books.

There are tons of articles and sites giving authors advice about how to get their work in the hands of readers. What a lot of them forget to mention is that readers get an author’s book in front of other readers. This is a powerful asset of book clubs.

I don’t care how much social networking you do or how many ads you buy on Facebook. Just like how the writing industry is changing, so has the world of promotion and publicity. Authors and publishers must rely on readers in order to move books. Oh yes. No more is it enough to market to readers but readers actually must help you sell a book for it to have a chance at success. Word of mouth is even more important in the age of ebooks.

So what exactly do book clubs do?

Book clubs open doors you cannot open yourself. They help to build your brand to a higher level, and they can put your name on readers’ lips. Do you realize how many book clubs there are? Do you realize how many clubs have hundreds of members? Some clubs span the entire nation! Can you imagine how powerful it would be if you got just one of the larger book clubs to pick up your book? Imagine your chances if you got many to pick up your book.

But it’s so hard to get a book club to pick up a book.

Stop whining. Some authors complain about how hard it is to get book clubs to pick up their books. Newsflash but the industry is competitive. That doesn’t change when you publish a book. Book clubs are picky because there are so many books fighting for attention. You’re not the only cowgirl or cowboy at this rodeo. It’s good for a book club to have standards. You want a club with a good reputation and one that has standing in the industry. That will help you in the end.

I practice what I preach. My latest novel, The Season of Sin has gotten some good exposure. I owe a lot of that to the book clubs that picked up the novel, enjoyed it, and passed the word. In addition, many book club members are members of several different clubs. That means if they read your book and liked it, they will spread the word to every one of their clubs.

That’s exposure, baby!

Book clubs are powerful because they are full of readers always hungry to find books. They are obsessed with the written word and love to support authors. If a book club picks you up then most likely they will again in the future if they enjoy your work. It’s a long-term advantage you can’t afford to miss.

Whether you feel the book club scene is for you or not, you’d better have some kind of plan on how to get your books in the hands of readers because without readers working alongside you to sell that book, it won’t stand half a chance.

Stacy-Deanne

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Know Your Numbers by Deatri King-Bey

How many units (books) did you sell last year? Did you make your sales goal for the year? Did you make a good return on your investment for each title? How were your sells compared to the previous year? Those are just a few questions you should be able to answer about your business (yes, publishing is a business).

Every February, I take stock of my numbers for the previous year, and I set my goals for the current year. I can tell you how many units of each title I sold, the amounts made, the amounts I spent on production for each title, marketing cost… Everything that is needed to calculate if my business is making or losing money. If it is growing, stagnant or dying. I can see areas of leakage and can take steps to fill the holes.

I know it’s not fun. Not fun at all, but you need to know your numbers. Each seller provides some sort of royalty statement and thankfully, most of them use Excel. For those that don’t use Excel, you’ll need to determine the best way to easily turn those statements into usable information.

Okay, let’s take an easy one (you’ll need to do this for each of your sells channels)—Amazon’s ebooks.

Each month download your royalty statement and save it in a file for that year. I use a naming convention. For example 2012AmazonJan, 2012BNJan, 2012CreateSpaceJan… That way when I look in the file, it is easy for me to see the different statements per sells channel. I place all of the statements into one file for the year, but you do what works for you.
Copy each of the Amazon statements (or whatever sells channel you are using) into a book (a page) on a spreadsheet. I like Excel. So you will have all twelve months worth of statements on one book (page) of the spreadsheet. Yes, I know I said to save each statement in the file also. Hang with me.
Now sort the spreadsheet. This will alphabetize the entire sheet. Yes. All of your titles will be sorted for the year.
I place two blank lines between each title
Use the Auto Sum function (use the Help feature in Excel. It’s easy to do) for each area of the statement you want numbers for so you can see exactly how many units of each title you sold, how much you made on each title, how many returns you received per title…

I’ve cut and pasted the eBook sales of one of my titles on Amazon as an example: Sample

So now you know how to calculate how much in royalties you made in this sells channel for the year. You need to do this for all of the channels (sells outlets) you use. Print and ebook. Yes it is time consuming and you may want to hire an assistant to do it for you. I know one who will do this for a very reasonable price. You could also just add onto your spreadsheets each month as you save your royalty statements, then do a sort after you get your last statement of the year. It’s quick going once you get everything on a spreadsheet. Get it done.

So let’s pretend that you only sell a short eBook on Amazon. You’ve done your sort and see that in the year you made $1000 in royalties for one of your short story. Congratulations! But did you make a positive return on your investment? Now you need to calculate how much you actually made on this title.

Royalty — $1000

Now subtract production costs. Here is a very basic example of what your production cost may look like:

Copyright — $35
Editing (developmental, copy, proof) — $250
Cover –$100
Marketing — $50

Now subtract your production cost from your royalties: $1000 – $435 = $565

Congratulations, you made $565! I’ll take it. And don’t forget most of your production costs are tax deductible (yet another reason why you should itemize).

Now calculate your earnings and costs for each of your titles. Once you know your total earnings, you can set your sales goals for 2013.

Okay, I don’t want to throw you into information overload. Collect your sells information in a spreadsheet, use the automatic sort for the titles, then do an Auto Sum on each title for the columns you are interested in. Set goals for the year and work toward them.

Know Your Numbers!

Deatri King-Bey

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Don’t have a copy of Become A Successful Author? What are you waiting for?Become A Successful Author will be used in the “How To Write That Novel” course at Chicago State because it covers everything from branding to writing to editing to formatting and uploading electronic and print books to marketing and so much more. Your time is money. Look at all the time, thus money, you’ll save by ending your search for answers: Purchase Become A Successful Author for only $4.99 (eBook) or $9.99(print) from: Amazon (US), Amazon (UK), Barnes & Noble

Query – Quick Tips vby Shelia M. Goss

A query letter is a one or two page pitch letter. Keep it short and simple. Your query letter is the first thing an agent or editor reads. An effective query letter is meant to intrigue the reader so they will want more.

Things your query letter should include:

1. Introduction: The first paragraph of your query letter should include:

your name
name of your novel
the length of your novel and
genre

2. Short Synopsis: You should be able to summarize your book in at least one to two paragraphs. Aim for one paragraph.

3. Bio: Don’t be shy. Brag on yourself in this section. Keep it book related. Although it might seem odd, be sure to write your bio in the third person.

4. Closing: Don’t forget to thank and tell the agent/editor how they can reach you.

Other things to remember when writing your query:

It’s important to address your query letter to a specific person. If you do not know the name of the agent or editor at the publishing company, call or check their website.
If you met the agent/editor at a conference or somewhere, be sure to mention it in the first paragraph.
Make sure you have a title for your work (even if you decide to change the title later).
If you mention a website/email address/phone number in your query letter, make sure it’s active.

Shelia M. Goss is a national best-selling author and a 2012 Emma Award Finalist. She has over fifteen books in print and numerous of ebooks available. She writes in multiple genres. With unique story lines, her goal is to create “stories with a twist.” For more information, visit her website at http://www.sheliagoss.com/

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Don’t have a copy of Become A Successful Author? What are you waiting for?Become A Successful Author will be used in the “How To Write That Novel” course at Chicago State because it covers everything from branding to writing to editing to formatting and uploading electronic and print books to marketing and so much more. Your time is money. Look at all the time, thus money, you’ll save by ending your search for answers: Purchase Become A Successful Author for only $4.99 (eBook) or $9.99(print) from: Amazon (US), Amazon (UK), Barnes & Noble

Ten Ways for Writers to kick off a Fantastic New Year by Stacy-Deanne

So we’ve all made it to another year! Isn’t that wonderful? Let’s be grateful to not only still be on this wonderful earth but a new year means new horizons and goals for your writing! The first thing I want you to do is throw away all that negativity. Just throw it away and don’t think of it again. Take a deep breath and let all those worries slip away. Negativity leads to destruction and you want your new writing year to start right. Because of this, I want to inspire you by providing ten rules, well not rules but more like helpful tips of motivation and positivity to keep you going.

I hope they help!

1. Be positive

Leave the negativity in 2012. It won’t follow you unless you let it.

2. Set goals you can control

It’s important for all writers to have goals but make them goals that you can control. Don’t have your mind set on getting a six figure advance or making the bestseller list. You cannot control those things but you can control how much you’re going to write and work on your craft. Making goals that you can’t deliver sets you up for disappointment.

3. Be open to learning from your fellow writers

Have an open heart and mind this year. Sometimes we are too busy thinking we know everything that we can’t learn from others. Your fellow writers are a sea of information and you owe it to yourself to appreciate that and take advantage.

4. Don’t get discouraged

Not everything works out how we expect it to. Some books don’t sell well and some authors can’t get their books published in the first place. So what? You can’t control it so don’t let it steal your joy. Aren’t you here because you love to write? Well then, nothing else matters. Be faithful to your priorities. Remember why you want to be a writer and you’ll be satisfied with whatever comes your way.

5. Stop worrying about other writers and just do you

Stay in your own lane. Revisit my successful author post on writer jealousy if you don’t remember why you should mind your own business. It’s best for everyone.

6. Make this the year of no excuses

If you’re gonna be a writer, write. If you’re gonna start that editing business, start it. If you’re gonna self-publish and your book is in professional shape, do it. If you got revisions that you’ve been fighting off since last year, get to it. This is the year of no excuses and like Nike says, “Just Do It”.

7. Challenge yourself and continue to learn

A closed mind is a waste of time. Part of the writing life is learning. You will never stop having to learn in this business so you need to embrace it. You also need to continue to challenge yourself. Once writing has gotten too easy then there is a problem. You want to be the best you can be and you do that by learning.

8. Share your knowledge with the peers of your industry

Don’t be greedy with what you’ve learned. Help your fellow writer out sometimes and lend them a hand. You never know what you might end up with in return.

9. Be open to new ideas

Don’t limit your writing. Venture out and don’t be afraid to try new things. Just make sure you do it because you want to and not for book sales.

10. Believe in yourself

If you don’t, who will?

Stacy-Deanne

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Don’t have a copy of Become A Successful Author? What are you waiting for?Become A Successful Author will be used in the “How To Write That Novel” course at Chicago State because it covers everything from branding to writing to editing to formatting and uploading electronic and print books to marketing and so much more. Your time is money. Look at all the time, thus money, you’ll save by ending your search for answers: Purchase Become A Successful Author for only $4.99 (eBook) or $9.99(print) from: Amazon (US), Amazon (UK), Barnes & Noble