Archives for March 2014

Blogger versus WordPress Blogs – Pro and Con’s

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Blogging

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Many traditional websites only have 5-6 pages, so the maximum number of times they will ever get indexed by search engines is 5 or 6 times, if they are static pages and not constantly updated.
However,
when you create a blog, every single post you publish has its own URL. Suddenly you can go from 5-6 pages to 20, 50, 100 or over 1,000 at http://SavvyBookWriters.wordpress.com.

If you would like to use a free blog, you have the choice of WordPress or Blogger. Both of them are great blogging systems, but you might be wondering which one to choose. Both WordPress.com and Blogger are great free sites, but which is the right one for you?

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BLOGGER (Blogspot.com)
Blogger is a Google service, and just like YouTube, requires a Google account. It is very easy to use and maintain. With Blogger you get only Google+, Tweet and Like buttons on each post. There is luckily one workaround through the use of the excellent IFTTT web service. Embedding a video from YouTube is free. A domain name with blogger account is always like “yourblogname.blogspot.com” by default (depending upon your country ‘.com’ will be changed). Blogger let’s you choose your own domain name for $10 per year and to connect your blogger account with your personalized domain name.
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Blogger is the platform to choose if you are looking for a free product that might allow you to make a bit of money. WordPress is there for those who are in love with its huge variety of themes and the user-friendly approach. You can choose to enable Google AdSense on your blog which will show targeted adverts based on your content. You need to get some content up first, before choosing the option from the earnings menu entry. Blogger sites are hosted on Google’s servers so you’ll rarely experience down times and your site should run smoothly most of the time. Unless your Google account password is stolen, it’s virtually hacker-proof. At the bottom of every post Blogger embeds a row of social networking icons, including Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Gmail and other Blogger blogs. Google’s AdSense Integration is easy with blogger because both are owned by the same company. Those who want to start blogging to earn some money they can opt for blogger as it gives you by default the option of AdSense to start with. Or you can choose Amazon affiliate for example, program blogger itself allows to generate affiliate revenue.

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WORDPRESS.com
WordPress is greatly customizable, earning much of its good name for the huge number of themes and plugins available in the standalone open-source release. It allows you to connect to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Tumblr, StumbleUpon, Pinterest and Reddit for automatic sharing.

On their Stats site you can see how many visitors and views your blog received,

  • from which country they came,
  • your top posts and pages,
  • who or what referred to your blog’s site.
  • You will receive information how many total followers
  • how many shares your site receives,
  • what are the most popular tags (keywords)
  • who commented the most on your WordPress blog

WordPress offers only 3 GB of space and if your blog is the success that you hope it will be, 3 GB will eventually fill up – after 3000 blogs maybe, depending on how large your images are.
However, there is another solution available that gives you the possibility to have your own custom URL, but with all the benefits and statistics of a WordPress.com website: “Upgrade” for ca. $25 and buy your own URL (without the WordPress in it), sign up with a hosting company for approx. $6 / month. This way you get all the useful statistics and features from WordPress without having to use their name in your URL. Your blog will appear more professional to visitors!

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WORDPRESS.org
Don’t be confused with WordPress.org and WordPress.com.
WordPress.org is absolutely free. All you need is hosting plan from a hosting company and a domain name that you purchase. And also a knowledgeable person to customize your site for your needs… WordPress.org is made for those who like to have total control over their websites. It is open source and therefor offers you fully customization. Both are owned by same owner but WordPress.com is something like blogger – it offers you free hosting and a free domain name that contains “wordpress” in it: yourwebsitename.wordpress.com. While using WordPress.org you are the sole owner of the website, and you can choose if you use a free or paid theme (design) for you blog.

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But why is blogging important for writers? Blogging is telling a story, blogging is sharing your opinion, blogging is reporting news and more. But at the core, blogging is writing! It’s an internet stage upon which you hope readers will drop in to see what you have to say – and get an impression of your writing skills.
Where are you blogging: On WordPress or Blogger – and why?
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More sources:

http://www.epreneur.tv/blogger-v-wordpress-the-best-blog-platform/

http://learn.wordpress.com/
http://www.techlila.com/articles/how-to-create-free-website-free-blog/
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/blogger-vs-wordpress-comparision/
http://www.epreneur.tv/blogger-v-wordpress-the-best-blog-platform/
http://www.inkthemes.com/blogger-or-wordpress-which-is-better/02/

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you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,060 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://www.111publishing.com

http://www.e-Book-PR.com/

http://www.international-ebooks.com/

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Tagged: Affiliate programs, blogger, Blogspot.com, Wordpress Statistics, Wordpress.com, Wordpress.org

Thriller set in International Oil Markets: To Steal a Sea

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To-Steal-a-Sea
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About the Author Simon D. Reagan:

Simon D. Reagan lives in London and has lectured and presented on financial crime, money laundering, and international finance for more years than he’d care to say. He holds a doctorate in financial innovation in the global shipping sector. He’s fascinated by world politics and conspiracies, both real and imagined, and loves the beaches of Trinidad during the later cooler days of summer. Quite a paradox since he prefers rain and wind-swept umbrellas, and thunderstorms across seascapes.
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To Steal a Sea in Print and e-Book:

Russian oligarch Petr Damyanovitch had amassed his fortune through ruthlessness and charisma. His war record had been exemplary: as one of the most talented snipers in the Russian Army he had survived the blood-soaked killing fields of Stalingrad, and been present at the fall of Berlin.
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But after the collapse of the USSR his obsession became to restore his nation’s place in the world, using the untamed destructiveness of the international bond markets to wreak havoc upon those he blames for its demise. New-found allies on Wall Street and in a pragmatic White House would collaborate in his conspiracy, by supreme irony assisted by an Islamic fundamentalist with a vendetta against a modern secular world.
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Only three men stand in the way, with exceptional talents in law and finance but character flaws in equal measure. This would be a battle which would engulf many in its path, with the oil riches of a sea and the survival of nations as prizes. As panic floods the markets, a figure from the past emerges who holds the balance of power in his hands, seeking justice for a crime hidden from the world for a lifetime.
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The theme of closeness between friends, between lovers, and between father and daughter, pervades the book, as a terrifying conspiracy tears its way through the international oil markets. But it is the haunting of a war criminal, and the unfathomable self-guilt of a survivor, which drive forces which would clash across countries and continents in a remorseless quest for revenge and retribution, and an insatiable need for spiritual salvation.

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Paperback: 566 pages, great reviews

Kindle Edition $3.99 
http://www.amazon.com/Steal-Sea-Simon-D-Reagan-ebook/dp/B00FRSKGO0

Paperback     $19.80
http://www.amazon.com/To-Steal-Sea-Simon-Reagan/dp/0957526709/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,050 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://www.111publishing.com

http://www.e-Book-PR.com/

http://www.international-ebooks.com/

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Tagged: International Oil Markets, money laundering, oligarch, Simon D Reagan, snipers in the Russian Army, Thriller, To Steal a Sea

Selling Audio-Books and E-books to Libraries

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Sarasota-Library

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How Do Libraries Get Their e-Books?
OverDrive, the main distributor to libraries has more than 1,000,000 e-book titles available and growing. They were the early pioneers in the digital lending space and developed the e-book lending systems used by most libraries today. Overdrive uses the same Adobe DRM (Digital Rights Management) system as Kobo, Sony, B & N and Google Books to protect files from piracy and manage the lending period of library e-books. Overdrive also offers a program called “Advantage” where individual libraries and library systems buy extra titles or copies to fill local demand.
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Audio-Book and e-Book Lending Exploded
In these statistics you can see the tremendous growth in circulation numbers from just one library during the last years. In the meantime the numbers are much higher!

Audio-books
August 2005 – 231
August 2009 – 16,680
Ebook
Nov. 2009 – 17,521 ——— 776
Jan. 2014 – 57,672 —– 191,303

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Technology Challenges
Libraries face many challenges from setting up their internet infrastructure to the actual ebook license acquisitions. In regards to e-Books the initial problems were: staff training and learning how to use and upload e-Books to different devices. Integrating the titles into the library system’s online catalog took some time. Getting a download link from the catalog took even more time.
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Trade Publishers are the Problem
Acquiring the ebooks, is a problem for most libraries because e-book licensing from trade publishers can cost as much as or more than a print book. Several publishers still refuse to sell to the library market. Other publishers are taking advantage on cost and “metering.” Random House will charge $83 for an eBook and Harper Collins has a 26-time checkout limit. Libraries “buy” the books, but ownership is determined by the vendor/publisher agreements. If a contract is not renewed will the library still own the titles?

The e-book library market is split between vendors and devices. Costs of content and administrative fees are increasing which can make e-books more expensive than print. Library users persevere because the rewards of checking out e-books from a library are tremendous with the ever-growing inventory of e-books. Yet there are usually a couple extra steps between checking the item out and loading it onto a device. Using an app does seem to solve a lot of this trouble.
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Selling e-Books to Libraries
The Washington County Library System in Minnesota, United States, has been growing their e-book collection in the last few years. Their entire system is using an innovative method to develop their ebook portfolio. Local authors are encouraged to submit their own novels in electronic format to add to the existing library system using “Library Local Connect.”. A similar initiative is currently in place in Douglas County, Colorado, USA. This helps libraries to increase their online e-book portfolio and gives exposure to local authors.  Ask your library if they have a similar program.
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Small Publishers
Overdrive downloads into the library catalog. However, as an author, if you’re interested in getting your ebooks into libraries, you have limited choices. They are explaining on their website:  “OverDrive delivers BEST-SELLING digital audio-books, eBooks, music, and video for download directly from a custom-built ‘Virtual Branch’ website. The world’s leading libraries, including New York Public Library, Toronto Public Library, and Singapore National Library, use OverDrive to deliver content to their patrons.” 

Which means dealing with the wholesaler/distributor OverDrive works only for authors who can proof great sales numbers. Hopefully sales to libraries will one day be commonplace.

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,050 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://www.111publishing.com

http://www.e-Book-PR.com/

http://www.international-ebooks.com/

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Tagged: ebook and audiobook lending, how to get your ebook into libraries, libraries, OverDrive, selling ebooks to libraries, trade publishers block ebook lending, Virtual Branch

Great Benefit of Beta Readers

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Beta-Readers
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… and where you can find them.
You might ask: “what’s the difference between a beta reader, manuscript editor and a proof reader?” or “Why should I give my manuscript to a beta reader instead of my trusted friends or family?” Contrary to friends and family member, beta readers are often writers themselves. Maybe even in the same genre and they ought to give you honest feedback, no sugar coating, and constructive critique – while your beloved ones are often afraid to hurt your feelings, and might not be objective. Dealing with another writer you can exchange in beta-reading each others manuscripts. And both of you can learn from the others’ weak points.

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Online Writing Forums
For writers looking for very specific feedback from knowledgeable readers Online forums are a great place to find them. Because participants tend to cluster around particular topics of interest. These are just a few of the online resources available that can help writers to connect.  The most popular one seems to be Wattpad which has now 24 million members.  Even celebrity authors, such as Margaret Atwood, post there from time to time. ‘If the work on Wattpad is public, the authors often are not. As many as half its writers are anonymous or pseudonymous. The traditional publishing industry is watching Wattpad closely, not only as a source of new talent but also for techniques to increase reader engagement”, writes David Streitfeld in a NewYork Times article. Brittany Geragotelis has been “discovered” this way.

  • Wattpad.com
  • Scribt.com
  • Writers’ Café
  • the Red Room
  • Nothing Binding
  • Figment.com
  • WritingForums.org

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Writing Groups
Many creative writing groups focus on critique. While Beta Readers are working through your entire finished manuscript, that’s often not possible for writing groups as time is only constraint to a few pages. Try to find a beta reading exchange with other members – aside from the regular meetings of the group.

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Beta Readers at Google+
Google+ offers a variety of fantastic communities for writers looking to connect with like-minded
authors. Join these groups, and look out for new ones regularely.

  • Writers’ Critique Group
  • The Writer’s Discussion Group
  • Writers’ Corner
  • Poets of G+
  • JLB Creatives
  • Aspiring Authors
  • Writers, Authors, Bloggers
  • Authors – Blatant Promo 4 Writers, Blogs!

Why not establish your own Beta Reader Group?
As more Beta Readers you have, as better! Different people catch different errors.

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MeetUp Groups and Workshops
I recently attended quite a few manuscript critique / beta-reading author meetings, and was impressed by the friendly, constructive suggestions of these Meetup members. They can be mostly found in cities, and include a variety of groups for writers. Some gatherings are dedicated to critique and to beta reading. This is a great avenue for those writers who prefer face-to-face interaction, and who are also open to meet new writer friends. Don’t find a beta reader meetup listed for your city? Organize your own!

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Once you’ve found a handful of Beta Readers to share your work with you, the result will be a manuscript, which is ready for the editor. Beta Reading might save you a lot of money, if the editor is charching by the hour. Beta Reading also helps to polish your book before the first reviewer or readers gets their hand on your book.

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,050 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://www.111publishing.com

http://www.e-Book-PR.com/

http://www.international-ebooks.com/

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Tagged: aspiring authors, beta readers, beta-reading, Google+ communities, Meetup.com, objective feedback, Poets of G+, where to find Beta Readers, WritingForums.org

$25,000 Offer for 3 Months Writers Residency

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Canadian-Flag
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All Canadian writers of established literary reputation in fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction or drama are encouraged to apply. The writer-in-residence receives CAD $25,000 !!!  for the three-month residency.  The Edna Staebler Laurier Writer-in-Residence program is a full-time, three-month residency for Canadian writers. The writer-in-residence resides in Lucinda House, a century home close to Laurier’s Waterloo campus, and splits his or her time between writing and community programming at the university’s various campuses.

The full-time position (40 hours/week) requires 40% of the author’s time to be spent on community programs or projects, leaving 60% of the work-week available for the writer’s own creative projects. Community programs and projects include reading manuscripts and consulting with students and the public, visiting classrooms, giving readings and lectures, leading workshops, or participating in similar community programming, on Laurier’s three campuses.
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Who Should Apply?
All Canadian writers of established literary reputation in fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, or drama are encouraged to apply. The following criteria are required:

  • Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
  • Established literary reputation with critically well-received work.
  • Professional teaching or public speaking experience.
  • Willing to engage with the public one-on-one and in group settings.
  • Active participant in the writing community.
  • In the midst of a new writing project intended for book-length publication.
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The Following Criteria are Considered Assets:

  • Experience in working with youth;
  • Experience in working with the public and with beginning writers.
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Download the Call for Applications
for a complete list of rules and regulations and all the details on how to apply.
Apply electronically by 4 p.m., May 31, 2014

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,050 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://www.111publishing.com

http://www.e-Book-PR.com/

http://www.international-ebooks.com/

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

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Tagged: apply for writers residency, Canadian writers, Edna Staebler, Grant, Laurier University, Waterloo, Writer in Residence

$25,000 Offer for 3 Months Writers Residency

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Canadian-Flag
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All Canadian writers of established literary reputation in fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction or drama are encouraged to apply. The writer-in-residence receives CAD $25,000 !!!  for the three-month residency.  The Edna Staebler Laurier Writer-in-Residence program is a full-time, three-month residency for Canadian writers. The writer-in-residence resides in Lucinda House, a century home close to Laurier’s Waterloo campus, and splits his or her time between writing and community programming at the university’s various campuses.

The full-time position (40 hours/week) requires 40% of the author’s time to be spent on community programs or projects, leaving 60% of the work-week available for the writer’s own creative projects. Community programs and projects include reading manuscripts and consulting with students and the public, visiting classrooms, giving readings and lectures, leading workshops, or participating in similar community programming, on Laurier’s three campuses.
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Who Should Apply?
All Canadian writers of established literary reputation in fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, or drama are encouraged to apply. The following criteria are required:

  • Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
  • Established literary reputation with critically well-received work.
  • Professional teaching or public speaking experience.
  • Willing to engage with the public one-on-one and in group settings.
  • Active participant in the writing community.
  • In the midst of a new writing project intended for book-length publication.
    .

The Following Criteria are Considered Assets:

  • Experience in working with youth;
  • Experience in working with the public and with beginning writers.
    .

Download the Call for Applications
for a complete list of rules and regulations and all the details on how to apply.
Apply electronically by 4 p.m., May 31, 2014

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<><><><><>

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,050 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://www.111publishing.com

http://www.e-Book-PR.com/

http://www.international-ebooks.com/

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

Hyper Smash

Pingate


Tagged: apply for writers residency, Canadian writers, Edna Staebler, Grant, Laurier University, Waterloo, Writer in Residence

Secret of Social Selling Your Book

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It’s all about CONTENT MARKETING

Authors can do either of the following:

  • Spend ten thousands, even hundred thousands of dollars to buy their way into bestseller lists
  • Create their platform – do your own marketing, write articles or short stories – or hire publicists

REMEMBER:  Even Celebrity Authors are required to have a platform and a web presence!
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Social Media has become part of our culture, and helps to connect with your readers. However when scrawling through tweets and other posts on Social Media sites one gets the impression that 90% of all posts by writers are “buy my book, buy my book, buy my book…”.  Instead of posting links to useful or entertaining articles, reader only land at sales pages.  Few links are pointing to interesting, entertaining or helpful content – despite the fact that there are so many talented writers out there, who could write great articles or show snippets of their books online. This would make their Social Media presence more valuable and would connect readers with their writing craft.
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Social Selling

by mohitlakhmani.
Explore more infographics like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually.
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QUESTION: No matter what you purchase: Whom Would you Believe More:

  • a) advertisements
  • b) newspaper / magazine articles
  • c) writing samples

I am not telling you a secret here:  b) and c) are free … and sometimes authors can even make more money with writing newspaper and magazine articles.  So, why not doing what you like best:  WRITING – and at the same time market your books with writing?
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Content Writing Resolutions:

  •         Split chapters of your book into several blog articles
  •         Use your research notes to create web content or guest blogs
  •         Write 2 blogs / week for 2-3 months
  •         Write 1 email newsletter / month for your customers
  •         Write 2 guest blogs / month
  •         Write 2 articles for e-Zines / month
  •         Write 2 posts for Google+ community sites
  •         Upload blogs to Sharing Sites after each post (Google+, Twitter FB, Pinterest, StumpleUpon, Tumblr etc.)

Remember:  Blog/web content or articles does not have to be always written text:  Graphics, images, curated text, re-blogs, videos, guest blogs or info graphics for example are fine too!  And if you have not already, read this story how an author cleverly used places in his book to write a magazine article and show off his latest novel.  What about you?  Are you using the content you have already researched or the books you have written to show your writing skills and get more exposure as an author?

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,050 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://www.111publishing.com

http://www.e-Book-PR.com/

http://www.international-ebooks.com/

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

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Pingate


Tagged: content marketing, freelance writing jobs, FundsforWriters, Use Your Writing Skills to Make Money, web content writing, writing markets

The Best and the Worst Book Covers

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1372440635zbro5

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Interesting book covers are getting more exposure on shelf-displays, both online and off-line. We are a very visual culture, which influences our book-buying habits. A stunning book cover is one of the best marketing tools for any writer!  And you will never have a second chance to make a first good impression with your book – online and offline!  In the last weeks I have seen so many ugly and boring book covers and lots of beginner errors on self-published books, I just had to write this reminder.
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Chris Robley wrote recently in a blog for BookBaby:

  1. Before someone buys your book, they will probably read your book description, blurbs, bio, and maybe even skim a few pages from chapter one.
  2. Before they can do any of that reading, they will have to pick the book off a shelf, or perhaps click to the book’s page on Amazon, B&N, etc.
  3. And before they are compelled to click a link or pick up a book, they will have to be attracted to your book’s cover (or thumbnail image).

From the moment a person picks up your book, you have about 6 seconds to convince them to buy it. This includes the time they take to look at the back cover and the spine.

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Front Cover Tips
E-books are bought online, usually displayed on a page with many other books. Therefore clarity, simplicity, brightness and information must jump off the screen. Use simple, yet stunning graphic elements and bold clear text for the title and the authors’ name, both must be easy to read on the tiny online image.
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BookCover_last-last-chance

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And Never, Ever:
use the word “by” before your author name. Using the word ”by” screams DIY self-published.
use a white background for your book! White on white is barely visible and on websites your
book will not stick out, as the sites’ background are almost always white.
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BookCover_eat-pray-love-elizabeth-gilbert
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Back Cover Design
Book Layout Designer Joel Friedlaender posted in a great blog 7 Secrets to Writing Persuasive
Back Cover Sales Copy http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2013/05/casey-demchak-back-cover-copy
“If your cover is good enough to grab readers, your back cover copy needs to convince them to
buy. For authors who self publish this can be a challenge because writing promotional copy
many not be their area of expertise. Plus, for many authors it’s never easy to “brag” about
themselves and their own work.”
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BookCover_valkyrie-book-cover-design-think

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Visit a Bookstore
Check out all the books that are similar to yours. Place your book (or a mock-up) between these.
Does it look better? Is the spine eye-catching? Ask other patrons what they think about every
book, but don’t tell which one is yours. Listen to their opinion. Place your book on the first table in
the bookstore where the NY Times bestsellers are placed. Does your book cover really stand
out?  Has any of the bestsellers the word “by …. author name” on the front cover? For sure not!
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BookCover

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Book Cover Size:
Check if there are specific or popular sizes in the genre your book is in. And do all these
BEFORE your book is ready to print. Later changes only confuse readers and they are very
costly.
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Discuss these Points with Your Cover Designer:

  • Use bold or complementary colors
  • Use light on dark for dramatic effects (if it fits to your book content)
  • Test the cover in thumbnail size to make sure it looks good at Amazon’s website
  • Use not more than different two fonts in total
  • Use not too wide vertical spaces between lines of text
  • Use few shadow, bevel, gradient or glow – keep it subtle
  • Align the cover text – centre, left or right
  • Place text on plain background to stand out
  • Let the front cover design flow into the book’s spine
  • Use the same fonts for all your books and readers will be able to identify them easily
  • People read left to right, top to bottom. Position your elements in appropriate levels of importance

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Read more:

Lousy Book Covers
http://lousybookcovers.tumblr.com/
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Inside Random House: The Journey from Manuscript to Book
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFUcWguqr7U
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Inside Random House: “The Art of Cover Design”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2Z86L25v30
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“23 Creative Book Cover Designs and their Story” is a showcase of creative book cover designs,
indicating the typefaces used for the title or text:
http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/inspiration/creative-book-cover-story
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Front and Back Cover Copy for Book Covers
http://www.coverdesignstudio.com/book-cover-copy/
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Joel Friedlander wrote a great blog about brilliant book titles in one of his blogs:
http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2010/06/how-to-write-book-titles-for-people-robotsJoel
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Book Design and Production
http://www.amazon.com/Book-Design-Production-Pete-Masterson/dp/0966981901
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Basics Design Layout, 2nd edition
http://www.amazon.com/Basics-Design-02-Layout-Second/dp/2940411492/
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“40 Extraordinary Photoshop Text Effects”, it shows detailed tutorials, how to create amazing book title effects, step by step and is using lots of screen shots.
http://www.problogdesign.com/resources/40-extraordinary-photoshop-text-effects

Fonts for book titles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typeface
http://www.dafont.com/themes.php
http://www.1001freefonts.com
http://www.identifont.com

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Tagged: back cover, book cover as marketing tool, book cover design, Book Design and Production, Book Layout, Cover art, e-book cover, font for book cover, front cover, how to create amazing book title effects, Joel Friedlaender, top to bottom

Meet Tamara Jackson: Author, Fitness & Weightloss Coach

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265Point

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You might have seen Tamara Jackson on the Dr. Oz TV show, where she shared her heart-wrenching journey from 265 lb. junk food addict to 155 lb. fitness fanatic.  In her book 265 Point, Tamara Jackson, in the meantime a “Certified Group Exercise Instructor” through the American College of Sports Medicine, shows readers they can do it too.  265 Point reveals some touching moments where Jackson endured ridicule and prejudice at her high weight of 265 pounds.
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Often the Family is the Problem
Tamara also shares the emotional and environmental challenges often faced in the quest to develop a healthier lifestyle. Women are sometimes sabotaged by their own family and friends who derail their weight loss efforts and criticize their healthier menus. Fueled by a new-found passion for health and fitness, Tamara delivers a realistic plan to reach a healthy weight including a practical food plan and doable exercise regimen.
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xTamara

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Don’t Miss the Before & After Images
Check out Tamara’s author page on Amazon
A powerful and dynamic seminar leader, public speaker, media health expert and motivational fitness consultant, her website www.265point.com invites women worldwide to work one-on-one or in groups to make a final decision to a healthier future.  265 Point, a great guidebook for women who want to be fit, healthy and happy, is available in digital format and in print.on Amazon.
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Readers in Charlotte, NC, meet Tamara at her Book Signing:

Apr 5, 2014
11:00 AM
CHARLOTTE, NC The Last Word Charlotte Book Signing at The Last Word Charlotte
See details

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Meet Tamara Jackson here too:

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/29167290-tamara-jackson

http://www.amazon.com/265-Point-Tamara-Jackson/dp/149446537X/

and certainly on Twitter  @FitnessTamara

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

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http://www.111publishing.com

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Hyper Smash

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Tagged: 265Point.com, American College of Sports Medicine, black women, Certified Group Exercise Instructor, Dr. Oz TV show, Fitness Trainer, Tamara Jackson