on Social Media Just for Writers:

If you aren’t using email marketing, you may want to rethink your book marketing strategy.

We know that social media is all the rage – and rightly so – but email marketing, according to Kissmetrics“crushes” social media.

Here are their findings:

1. There are nearly three times as many user accounts for email as there are on Facebook and Twitter combined.
2. Email is more personal. You can reach people right in their email inboxes and craft messages just for your readers.
3. Email gets more attention, and the messages are more targeted.
4. You can use your email marketing messages to sell books, services, and other products.

Continue reading HERE

Earlier in the week, I discussed the need to prepare for your first book signing event, but there are other ways to sell a signed copy of your book.

How about autographed, signed copies direct from your website?

That’s right. You can offer signed copies of your book to readers. This is something I hadn’t thought of until I read an article sent to me, from Janice Hardy written by J. Kathleen Cheney, @jkcheney . 

The biggest question I have now is…

Do people care about signed copies of children books?

I’m not sure. So, I haven’t set up a retail page yet. But, I wouldn’t hesitate to sell a signed copy if it was requested. Hint, hint.

Another thing that has held me back from setting up an online store, is time. Time away from writing. I don’t want anything else to take my attention from, blogging, and writing…

by Annmarie McQueen

In my last post, I looked at how to prepare yourself for self-publishing. This time I’ll be focusing on what to do once your book is already out there, and how to increase your sales revenue. Here are my top tips for marketing your novel on Amazon:

Of course, you’re a writer if you write. The act of putting words down on paper to create a story is the very definition of being a wordsmith, but what takes you from wannabe writer to writer, and then upgrades you to a serious writer?

Spoiler alert, actually writing is only a small part of it.

10 Signs You’ve Upgraded To Being A Serious Writer

1. You’re not afraid to show others what you’ve written.

2. Receiving rejections from agents and publishers no longer stings (as much).

3. Sending a query or submission doesn’t fill you with (complete) fear.

4. You’re happy to pass on the advice that you’ve learned to other writers.

5. You’re writing daily or regularly enough that actual pages are being added to your MS.

6. Ideas for stories come thick and fast. Your creative brain is always on.

7. You’ve started a social media account…

Words are powerful. They can move you to tears, evoke absolute joy, or comfort someone in time of need. As writers, we are always searching for the right words to express what we want to say. Here are a few tips to help make your words more powerful.

1. Use short words. Short words are more powerful and less pretentious than longer words. Rape is more powerful than sexual assault. Stop is stronger than discontinue.
2. Use dense words. Use fewer words to express the same idea. Instead of once a month, say monthly. Something new is novel. People they didn’t know are strangers.
3. Use familiar words. A word is familiar of if came easily to you. A word your reader doesn’t recognize has no power. Don’t call it a mandible. Use the more familiar word, jaw. Don’t write sclerous if you can…

A lot of the writers I work with have a great deal of trouble writing a blurb. I’ve given some tips on this before, but they are definitely worth repeating.

Almost as feared as the dreaded synopsis, the book blurb has the power to turn wonderful writers to jelly. But the blurb is the hook, along with the cover, to reel those readers in. You need to make sure that you entice your reader, that you intrigue them without giving too much away. Longer than the elevator pitch, but shorter than a synopsis, the book blurb is key to whetting a reader’s appetite.

So how should you approach it? Here are some quick tips on getting that blurb up to scratch.

Keep it short. This is NOT a synopsis. You want a couple of two to three line paragraphs. Too much and you risk giving too much away and turning…

on Just Publishing Advice:

When you’ve set out on your journey to becoming an author, you might be surprised at just how much it costs to publish a book. You want to create the best book you can, but you don’t want to spend thousands in the process. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can cut costs and still hire a quality editor.

Editing can easily be one of the most expensive parts of publishing. And as an editor, I often get requests from authors who have a small budget. Therefore, I thought it’d be helpful to share with writers several things they can do to get quality editing without spending so much money.

Continue reading HERE

You may be excited to be getting an offer of representation for your book, but don’t make a foolish mistake and sign whatever is placed in front of you. Read that contract! Make sure you understand what you are agreeing to accept.

Some clauses to look for and avoid:

• Never agree to give a publisher more than a thirty-day option on your new project.  When you sign a book contract, it usually contains a clause allowing the publisher first look at your next outline or finished novel. The publisher should not ask for or be given an excessively long time to decide.
• Never agree to an option clause that gives your publisher your next book at the same price he paid for the previous one. If the previous one is a run away best seller, that next book could be worth a lot more money.
• Never agree to a clause…