Archives for March 2017

Struggling With Social Media Posts?

Followers


Struggling to create engaging posts on your Social Media sites on a daily basis? Then you are not the only one on the search of great content. On the other hand, creating content for Social Media should not end up in stress.
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There are two reasons people are on the Internet: Either to solve a problem, or be entertained.

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In a former post I explained that blogs do not necessarily need to consist of written content, but also may be among others, videos, images, curated content, reposts etc. The same is true for Social Media content. How can you achieve this is explained in nine suggestions:

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Your Blog’s Content
Connect all your Social Media sites and use a scheduling program to post at the best times of the day. It enables you to publish your message to all of your social media channels at once. The time you save frees you to communicate with your followers. Using your blog’s content lets you stand out among your peers and makes sure you have original content / messages that no one else posts. Write posts that resonate with the things your audience cares most about. Create a document or notepad and start listing your tweets and posts out of short sentences or headlines from your blog or website, add the URL – and voila! you just have created an archive that you can copy / paste and use forever.
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News Content
Ask questions and tease new stories to encourage people to comment and like. Try to find news in your field that is interesting for your followers. Avoid political and religious topics, as well as gossip. Bookmark the best news sites and comb through them, using their sharing buttons to post on your Social Media sites to save time. Then spend this time to interact with your followers on a personal level. Relevant News provide something that is shareable, conversational, and engaging for Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social platforms.
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Motivational Quotes
One of the most popular forms of inspirational content are quotes. Nearly everyone loves quotes! And especially quotes with images. Pinterest has helped to make them extremely popular. Bestselling author Sean Gardner took it a step further: “I searched online for inspirational content from my supporters, and then started making image quotes with what they wrote and said. I believe this is a powerful way for people to connect online. The greater the diversity of positive, empowering statements, the greater the diversity of people sharing those points of views. ”
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Interact with Followers
Are you a good party guest at the big Social Media party? Are you commenting or asking questions? Are you thanking your followers? Invite conversation by asking your followers’ opinions on topics, or asking them to tell you what sorts of content they would appreciate. Everybody likes being asked, and fans and followers feel extra-appreciated when you fulfill these desires. It’s all about conversation, that’s why it is called Social Media networking.
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Videos and Slide Shows
YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world, and creating a short video is very easy these days. Load it up to YouTube or any other video sharing site and post the URL for your video frequently on your Social Media sites. On most of them visitors can click it directly to watch your content – and generates almost double the amount of visitors / views and attracts more content and likes or plusses on Google+. The same is true for slide shares.

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Photos
When you are scrolling through the feeds on any social network, what’s the first thing to catch your eye? I bet images! No question, photos are THE most popular Social Media tool, and more appealing than text only. Even if you are not a professional photographer you can use fantastic photos on Social Media – for free. We listed several sources for free photos you can use on Social Media in former blog posts. Photos generate more re-tweets and likes, but keep in mind that attaching an image to a Twitter post takes up approximately 11 of your characters.
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Promote or Re-Blog other Posts
Retweets are a great way to get more followers. By retweeting something that links to a website or blog, you are doing a service to the website mentioned and the person who originally tweeted the article! Social Media is all about networking. Re-tweeting is a very important part of this.
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Polls and Surveys
Most Social Media sites offer this option automatically. What could be a question for a poll or survey? You could ask your readers for example which one of the book covers for your next thriller or non-fiction book they like best. Survey Monkey offers a free program that allows you to create a survey in minutes with our intuitive web based tool. PollSnack.com offers a similar program. Wepolls.com shows in a YouTube video how it works on their site.
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We all want to stand out from our “competition”. With these tips it should be easy for you to make social media posts a worthwhile effort, and to have fun doing it. Read also 9 Steps to Reach More Followers in Less Time

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Find New Free & Royalty-free Photo Sites

Free-Photo-sites

 

It’s quite a while – actually more than three years – that I posted a list of FREE photo sites on the internet.  To keep you updated, here are more websites added, which offer free, professionally taken and Photoshop-enhanced images, together with everyday shots.  Carefully choose the resolution that you need, especially if the the image is for print of a high-quality book cover.  Some of these photo sites require registration (free), but it’s more than worth it.  Each stock site will give you the guidelines when you search for an image as to how you can use that image.
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Get Our Latest Free Stock Photos Directly in Your Inbox

https://www.negativespace.co/

https://unsplash.com/

http://www.lifeofpix.com/

https://www.pexels.com/

http://isorepublic.com/

https://pixabay.com/
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Royalty Free Sites:

https://www.shutterstock.com/home

http://depositphotos.com/

http://www.istockphoto.com/

https://us.fotolia.com/
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Improve SEO Through Your Photos
There is more to it, than just placing attractive photos on your blog or website.  Here are some tips how you can optimize your photos to improve SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and to get more traffic to your website or blog.
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Reduce the File Size of Your Photos
NOT the dimensions of the image, but the pixel size.  When you re-size a photo manually in WordPress (for example) you only change the dimensions, and the amount of pixel stays almost the same.  A file size of 1.8 MB can be easily reduced to 300 Kb without compromising the quality for the viewer.  Adobe Photoshop or Adobe “Lightroom” software can be used to re-size the photo’s pixels – not the dimension!  Important: Make a copy of your original photo BEFORE you re-size.  Otherwise it would be lost forever and you would keep only the lower pixel version. There is no way back!
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Name your Photos
File593730.jpg or DSC_8405037.jpg is not helpful for Search Engine Optimization and is totally meaningless to search engines. Keywords in the photos name should be separated by hyphens, NOT underscores, and shouldn’t be squeezed into a single word, e.g. Antique-Leica-Camera.jpg.
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Always Use ALT Tags
Wordpress makes it easy for you when adding photos to your text.  The fields for Title, Description, ALT and caption are build-in, so you can fill them out easily.  Search engines can’t “see” photos, but “read” keywords, that describes your image. Keywords that you use on your web page should work together with the keywords you use for your images.
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Royalty-Free Image Sites
Sometimes you just can’t find what you want at the free image sites, so it’s always a good idea to play-it-safe and pick up an image from one of these Royalty-Free image sites.  It will save you a lot of hassle with copyright infringement down the road.
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Get more tips how to use photos for the internet:
https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/how-to-use-photos-on-the-internet/

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Patreon: How Useful is it for Writers?

Patreon


Patreon
can loosely be described  as a mixture of Wattpad and Kickstarter or IndieGoGo.  
If you are not already subscribed to Patreon and supporting artists and writers – or if you, as a writer, haven’t used the site to  upload chapters of your next novel, short stories, or blog articles, check out their site.
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“Through Patreon, fans have given
over $100 million to creators.” 

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On Patreon, the creator sets creative goals to achieve and fans pledge monthly contributions to help the creator reach those goals. Patreon takes a 5% fee from a creator’s pledges.

Writers can use the site to get funding, build a team of supportive readers and grow their writing careers. It’s NOT a get-rich scheme, the most I have seen anyone I personally followed/read receive around $600-$800 a month, but the majority of writers income range from $80-$300. And it may start slowly, once you upload your first chapters, short stories, or blog posts. Promoting your Patreon presence helps a lot to achieve financial success. Let all your social media friends and followers know about, and mention each new upload on your page – as you would do with your website or blog.
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However, it’s a nice supplement that you otherwise wouldn’t have, it creates an audience, and best of all: Beta Readers. It’s a way to start a financial independent future. Plan longterm!
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Read their useful  guide to starting writing projects, where they list a number of successful Patreon writers, including bloggers, short-story writers, podcasters and magazine publishers.  Release a chapter or a blog article at a time.  Anything from a poem a week to a quarterly magazine could find a home on Patreon.

Nicole Dieker, a writer at Patreon, advices in The Write Life: “What if you’re a brand-new writer?  You might not have a lot of readers yet, but that doesn’t mean you can’t set up your Patreon page and get started.  Consistency in update releases, consistency in quality, consistency in audience engagement; all of these give your page a ton of validity and success, and foster a dedicated community of patrons.  Stick to a schedule of writing, whether it’s once a week, a month, whatever works best for you as a creator. You can also reblog your Patreon writing on your writer’s website or on a social blog site like Tumblr or Medium — with a link back to your Patreon page, of course!”
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Patreon, like Kickstarter, gives creators the opportunity to offer rewards at various levels of pledge support.  “The most common mistake is a soft launch, which means, telling no one and assuming that the patrons will just come flying in.
Patreon recommends launching with a plan “fear not: we give you a plan!” and having one major objective: make sure every one of your fans knows that you have a Patreon page.”

Get supplemental, but consistent income for your creations, from fans who pay you on Patreon.  Give your patrons special rewards like exclusive content or behind-the-scenes peeks of upcoming work.

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Why and How to Create a Hardcover Book

Book-Layout

The most common choice for self-publishers when releasing a new title or edition is either an ebook or a paperback version of their title: the production is fast and inexpensive, if done through a Print-on-Demand (POD) service company.
It requires only the expense for a professional book lay-outer or a software program if you are skilled and patient.

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Why a Hardcover Version of Your Book?
A hardcover or hardback is a book, bound with a thick protective cover, with usually a paper dust jacket over the main cover.  The aim of hardcover books is protection and durability.   These books are mainly for long-term use.  The paper used is long-lasting acid-free type.  This paper has a pH value of 7 (neutral) which makes it highly durable.  The pages are stitched and glued to the spine.

There are situations when it is better to have a hard cover version available, such as for a special gift, or when you are approaching TV stations or magazine/newspaper editors due to an interview or a review of your book.

If you want to sell books to libraries, then it’s almost a requirement to have a hardcover version – or it is at least a good selling point.  And with good reason: library books go through dozens, if not hundreds of hands.

If you are writing book series, you can “bundle” them, obtain a new ISBN, and create a hardcover version out of two or three paperbacks.

Photo books, also often called coffee table books, would look ridiculous in paperback. They are almost always created as hardcover books.

Last but not least, the margins for hardcovers are much higher than for paperbacks. While the print- and binding costs might be a bit higher (mostly 30 – 40%) the recommended retail prices are almost always double the price of a paperback.
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Considerations

  • Is your book likely to be popular and used as a reference work or will it likely become a bestseller? Then choose hardback first.
  • Is your book testing the waters, a first off print run, a specialist topic? Choose softcover first.
  • Are you trying to keep down the costs of your print run? If so, choose softcover print first.
  • What are your readers likely to prefer?
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Who Offers Hardcover Books in Small Quantities?

Certainly book printers. However, the costs are prohibitive if you are only ordering a dozen books.  Printing larger amounts of hardcovers makes only sense if an author has already hundreds or thousands of books – maybe through a crowd funding campaign.
You might work with IngramSpark for the creation and distribution of your paperbacks.  For example if you are fed up with CreateSpace, or if you want a better distribution channel than CS offers.

As you can find out with the help of IngramSparks’ Print and Shipping Calculator, in many cases you will earn double the revenue with a hardcover book, even if you deduct the wholesale discount for retailers and bookstores.
Start with small print runs, to make sure you are not left with surplus stock.  Announce your hardcover version before you place your print order, and set it up on Amazon, Apple, and other online retailers for pre-order – possible at Amazon three  months and at Apple iBooks twelve months in advance.
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Marketing Benefits of Hardcover Books

A prime reason to produce a hardback edition is to use them as delightful gifts at any special events in your calendar.  It’s a great way to add a second launch for your title, if a paperback was your first book edition.  Build up momentum for your work once again.  It not only shows you are serious, and invested in your work, but it is also a way to attract new readers, who are drawn to fabulous titles.  It does not need to go as far as David Barringer writes, “The marketing of hardcover books has gone hard-core consumerist, tricking out books into luxury objects and personality accessories”.

Having a hardback edition of your title set up and enabled for distribution on your IngramSpark account also allows bookstores more choice in which format to stock your book in. With the launch of ipage®, bookstores now have more opportunity to order from Ingram’s catalogue of over 14 million titles, and with free shipping on orders going to a UK address, they benefit from ordering directly from Ingram.

The Economist wrote: “Some recent releases have sold more copies in hardback than paperback, as paperback readers turn to e-books.  Some in the industry think that e-books may eventually replace paperbacks.  But many are confident that the sturdy hardback will endure.”

Hardcover books are really worth considering!

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UK Authors: Kindle Storyteller Prize £20,000

British-Pound


Are you a British author?  Did you just finish a new work? Why not enter this competition?  
Amazon UK invites authors: “Recognizing literary excellence, the Kindle UK Storyteller contest is open until 19th May 2017.  The winning author will receive a £20,000 cash prize, and be recognized at a central London award ceremony this summer.
The Kindle Storyteller prize is open to submissions of new English language books from all authors and genres.  Titles must be previously unpublished, a minimum of 5,000 words with no upper word limit and be available as an eBOOK and in PRINT.

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Storyteller FAQ:
How is the Winning Book Selected?
Readers will play a significant role in the competition, with the award shortlist compiled based on customer ratings for the titles, followed by an esteemed panel of judges – made up of both Amazon experts and literary authorities – selecting the Kindle Storyteller 2017 winner.

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Who can Enter?
Subject to certain restrictions set out in the Terms and Conditions, the prize is open to anyone over the age of 18 who enrol their book through Kindle Direct Publishing on Amazon.co.uk between 20th February and 19th May 2017.

All titles must be entered into the KDP Select programme and must be available as an eBook and in print for the entry period to be considered. For more information, authors can visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/storyteller

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Can any Book be Entered?
Yes! All entries must be previously unpublished and a minimum of 5,000 words with no upper word limit.

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How can you Enter Your Book Into the Prize?
The Kindle Storyteller prize is open to submissions of new English language books from all authors and genres, and all entries must be submitted using Kindle Direct Publishing with the exact phrase: “StorytellerUK2017” in the ‘keywords’ metadata field when the title is enrolled.
Titles must be previously unpublished. Kindle Storyteller opens for entries on 20th of February until 19th May 2017, and titles must be entered into the KDP Select programme during the entry period to be considered.

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How Will the Winning Book Selected?
Readers will play a significant role in the competition, with the award shortlist compiled based on customer ratings for the titles, followed by an esteemed panel of judges – made up of both Amazon experts and literary authorities – selecting the Kindle Storyteller 2017 winner.  The shortlist will be announced in the beginning of June. The judges will be announced soon. The panel will be made up of industry experts within and external to Amazon.

How Will the Winning Author be Recognized?
The prize will be announced at a central London ceremony in July, with the winning author being rewarded with a cash prize of £20,000 and a marketing campaign to support the book on Amazon.co.uk, as well as the opportunity to have their book translated for international sales.
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What is KDP Select?
KDP Select is an optional programme that gives authors the opportunity to reach more readers and earn more money. Enrolling in KDP Select grants authors access to a set of promotional tools, including Kindle Unlimited, Free Book Promotion (readers worldwide can get your book free for a limited time) and Kindle Countdown Deals in the US and UK (limited time promotional discounting for your book). In order to be eligible to win the Kindle Storyteller competition titles must be enrolled into the KDP Select programme.

CONCLUSION:
According to the fine print, especially: “readers will play a significant role in the competition, with the award shortlist compiled based on CUSTOMER RATINGS for the titles” the work needs to be fantastic.  But even more, it needs to show fantastic ratings too!  If you are planning to participate in the contest, work hard on getting lots of reader support and reviews.  Only an early on successful book has a chance to win.
IMPORTANT: don’t forget to add: “StorytellerUK2017” in the ‘keywords’ metadata field.  

Good Luck!

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Gifts for Your Reader Friends & Supporters

Books-Gifts

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I know it’s a while until next Christmas, but there are many occasions during the year, such as organizing a book launch, book signings, writer’s conferences, book fairs etc. where you can show your appreciation to readers, bloggers, and all kind of supporters for your literary endeavour.  Business cards and bookmarks are familiar items to hand-out, but they are not really gifts.

Other occasions, like free beta readings / book critique and other help, such as organizing book signing events for your novel do require a small present.  Why not something that reminds these readers of your book – and their friends and family too?

There are many present ideas for your readers, book lovers, friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances, book clubs and visitors or fans:

  • Bookmarks
  • Postcards
  • Key Rings
  • Mouse Pads
  • Fridge Magnets
  • Coffee Mugs
  • Tote Bags
  • Business Card Cases
  • Once you have written a dozen books, you can even create a calendar – a gift with high-visibility!
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Bookmarks are around for centuries and are used to mark the page were a reader ended.  They are thin markers, commonly made of card, thin metal, leatherette, or fabric.  Show the cover of your book(s) at the top or bottom.  You certainly want the reader to visit your website or blog, so don’t forget to add the URL and a link to your Amazon author page.

Personalized custom mouse pads: How fantastic would it be to have your book’s photo printed onto a mouse pad, a gift that reminds every day of your books. How about giving a photo mouse pad to your favourite reader so they can show off to their friends. Or to those who help you most promoting your books.

Creating a tote bag for your mum to go shopping, or for your siblings to go to school or to the beach to carry their belongings in style.
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Photo gifts, showing the cover of one of your books, are by far one of the best gifts to give to readers, colleagues, friends and family. I am sure, these novel products will delight all the avid readers in your life.

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More Tips:
Bookmarks, cards, magnets and other gift ideas with a smooth surface should have a QR code so people can scan and buy your book directly from the item.
Ask not only your business card printer, also search the Internet for price/quality comparisons, and get half a dozen quotes at least.

I am sure, these novel products will delight all the avid readers in your life.

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Suppliers of “Bookish” Customized Gifts:

http://www.uprinting.com/bookmark-printing.html

http://www.zazzle.com/postcards

http://www.zazzle.com/magnets

https://www.zazzle.com/mousepads

https://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts/mouse-pads

http://www.printerstudio.com/

https://www.clubcard.ca/

 

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Writers Conferences in 2017

Writer's Conference

Here is an excerpt from a very long list of popular writer’s conferences, writing retreats, and literary group meetings that are taking place in the United States in 2017.
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You might ask: “Why should I attend a writer’s conference?  You will learn and gain so much in these events that you should not postpone it to the later stages of your writing career.  The main benefit of attending a writers retreat or conference is the opportunity to meet editors, agents, publishers and other writers.  Widening your circle of connections in the literary world can help you mark your own presence as an author.  You will  learn about the publishing industry, and how to get your book published / author-published.

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Chanticleer Authors Conference began in 2013 with an Awards Ceremony, a Book Fair, and a Vision. The goal is to give authors the tools they need to drive discoverability, cultivate readership and increase sales. Set on beautiful Bellingham Bay, in the Pacific Northwest, the conference is weekend of learning, cooperation & fun – a three day book fair, and networking!
Mar 31 – Apr 2, 2017
http://www.chantireviews.com/chanticleer-conference/
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The Henderson Writers’ Group, proud host of The Las Vegas Writers Conference, would like to welcome all writers, authors and anyone who would like to workshop and pitch their work to Agents in fabulous Las Vegas.  Join several Writing Professionals, Agents, Publishers and Marketing Experts for a weekend of workshops and discussions about the publishing industry.  Quaint setting limited to 150 attendees, which gives EVERYONE a chance to pitch to top professional agents.  Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall.
April 20 – 22, 2017.
http://www.lasvegaswritersconference.com
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An all-inclusive writing workshop near Yosemite National Park.  Start (or perfect) your novel in one of the most beautiful places on earth!
The Yosemite Writing Retreats are fiction writing workshops for both new and established writers, located just 10 minutes from Yosemite National Park.  The writing workshop covers the technical craft of writing fiction along with exercises and peer critique.
May 5 – 7, 2017
http://www.yosemitewritingretreat.com/
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Since 1972, the Santa Barbara Writers Conference has been connecting writers with mentors, agents and editors. Every summer, writers in many genres from around the world gather to participate in a magical week of intensive work focused on story, voice, craft, marketing, and networking with fellow writers and publishing professionals. The conference has hosted a legacy of America’s best writers during the last 45 years.
June 18 – 23, 2017!
http://www.sbwriters.com/

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Join authors, editors and agents who have a passion for the art and craft of writing. Jackson Hole Writers Conference attendees are young and old, veterans and novices who do it “for the love of the writing.” Fifty percent of our registrants return year after year.
Workshops from novelists, creative non-fiction writers, poets, agents, and editors. Whatever your interest, you will learn more than the nuts and bolts of the writing profession, from cultivating ideas to making the sale. Our goal is to help our writers get published.
Attendees enjoy access to agents, editors, and writing faculty.
Jun 22 – 24, 2017
http://www.jacksonholewritersconference.com
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Writer’s Retreat Workshop:  Create one-on-one with brilliant instruction oriented authors, agents and editors, with plenty of quiet time to focus on your work.  The WRITERS RETREAT WORKSHOP is an intensive learning experience for small groups of serious-minded writers who are committed to improving and completing their novels for submission. For those who consider their writing a vital part of their lives, one they wish to develop as fully as possible, WRW provides the ideal experience.

All work focuses on your novel, so while you work on your story’s structure, our dedicated staff will be available to brainstorm with you and meet 1-1 throughout the week.  In small group sessions, while learning how to diagnose your own and others’ style strengths and weaknesses, you’ll also boost your editing skills.  Private rooms, three meals daily, course materials: everything included.  You’ll attend class each morning and be taught WRW’s in-depth course for crafting your novel, of any genre, for publication.
May 6 – 13, 2017
http://writersretreatworkshop.com/events.html
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The Catamaran Writing conference will be held at the Robert Louis Stevenson School located on the 17 Mile Dr in Pebble Beach, California, from August 6th to the 10th, 2017.  Registration includes four nights lodging at the Robert Louis Stevenson campus on 17-Mile Drive, 12 meals, 4 morning sessions of literary workshops in a small group of 7-12 participants, daily literary themed excursions, as well as daily craft lectures, and nightly receptions and presentations.
August 6 – 10, 2017
https://catamaranliteraryreader.com
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Big Sur on Cape Cod: ABLA brings top tier professionals together with both beginner and seasoned writers on the east coast in picturesque Cape Cod. Space is limited. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned writer, don’t miss this incredible opportunity. Program Focus: Children’s, Young Adult
Sep 22 – 24, 2017
http://www.bigsuroncapecod.com
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Each year, the Florida Writer’s Circuit puts four writers on tour through the state of Florida over two weeks, visiting nine schools on the east and west coasts of Florida.  One Circuit week is held in the spring and one week in the fall for each writer.
The Florida Literary Arts Coalition’s Florida Writers Circuit hosts literary readings by published authors across several cities in Florida, pairing these readings with discussions and Q&A sessions. This allows time for writers to meet, share ideas, develop their craft and celebrate their successes, additionally allowing the public to experience new and creative literature while gaining insight to the creative process.
http://www.floridarts.org/writer-s-circuit/
http://www.floridarts.org/calendar/

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Learn More About Writing and Publishing
Manuscript critiques are an important part of writer conferences, providing a way for authors, to discuss their work one-on-one with experienced writers, editors and agents.  Learn even more about the craft of writing and gain an understanding of book business realities. Recharge your Batteries!  Return from the event motivated, relaxed and eager to sit down and write more!

See more YEARLY writer conferences here:
https://www.savvybookwriters.com/2015-writers-conferences-and-workshops/
http://writing.shawguides.com/

 

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How to Escape Publishing Predators

Road-to-Success

Lots of roads you can go to show your book

Did you know: Self-publishing endeavours exceeds New York’s traditional publishing stream and publish far more titles – attracting lots of sharks… and Authors respond to these lures by the thousands…

Author Judith Briles wrote a great article Beware of Sharks in Publisher’s Clothing full of valuable tips for authors how to escape the predators of “self-publishing” and “subsidy-publishing” companies.  They call themselves “publishers” – without being real publishers. Unfortunately this business term is not regulated by law. So, everyone can hang out his shingle as “publisher”. “Self-publishing” companies and experts are nothing more that sharks behind slick logos, free webinars etc. Yes, and still many writers get suckered in because:

  • they “don’t know what a real publisher is” … or:
  • they want to see their books in stores – no matter what.
  • Or they don’t know that many so called “self-publisher” companies don’t deliver to bookstores and libraries automatically. Only when a customer orders the book, the store might get it for the patron.
  • Another reason is that many newbies don’t know a thing about the process of a truly professional designer, layout, editor, etc. does and how to deal with them. Unfortunately, they are ignorant in how to deal with professional – or don’t want to learn it. However some also don’t want to get help from professional publishing consultants.
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The actual reason that Judith Briles once more wrote about these sharks, was the call of a writer who was dubbed by the now defunct Tate Publishing firm, which closed on January 24. Paying $2,000 for publishing and not getting the book to market is devastating.
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There are millions of dollars in lawsuits including one from Lightning Source (that’s Ingram) for over $1.8 million. In February, a default judgment was entered against Tate when its owners did a no-show in court. I can’t even imagine the number of authors and books who have been damaged.

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Her First Advice: Get Your Money Back!
“I want you to contact the credit card company you used to pay for Tate … and tell them you’ve been scammed. If you want me to be on the phone when you do, I’ll text over things to say. I gave her key words/phrases to use” said Judith Briles to the devastated writer, who called her credit card company and received $2,000 back.

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Do Your Homework – Start a Google Search!
Check out the company that wants to publish your book – or your money in general (not matter for what) and “google” their name + the word complain, scam, problem, lawsuit, rip-off etc. Invest thirty or fifty minutes in your future.  I am preaching this for years and you will find it in Judith Briles’ article as well.  She adds: “Don’t stop on the first page of your search like 90% of most Google visitors do … dig down and deeply. Scammers and cons know how to bury bad news–page four may have the info you are looking for. If you are in business with one, terminate it, don’t be seduced to stay—you may need legal advice to exit. Cancel the credit card it has on file and contact the credit card (or PayPal if you used it). Always pay with a credit card, not a check. And please, forewarn others.”

Read the whole article at Joel Friedlander’s website:
https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2017/03/beware-of-sharks-in-publishers-clothing/

 

 

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