Writing

The Three Best Plagiarism Checking Tools

Publishing


Google does not like plagiarism nor do authors – which could mean compromising of your page ranking.  The problem is: plagiarism can also be done unintentionally.  To ensure that your work does not have plagiarism issues, the internet offers free tools to check your post against plagiarism:
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Grammarly Plagiarism Checker
Grammarly is one of the best Plagiarism Checker tools available.  It comes with options and features, such as Grammar checking, punctuation correcting, and proofreading.  These features are free to use, however, plagiarism detection is a paid option.
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Copyscape.com
An anti-plagiarism tool that only requires you to post the URL of your article to check for plagiarism.  Unlike Plagium and Plagiarism, it does not check documents or files for plagiarism, only articles on the web.  These Copyscape.com are absolutely free but in case if you are looking for a premium service to make your job easier, Ruchi Gupta recommends to use Grammarly.
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Small SEO Tools
You do not have to download any program. Simply copy and paste your content and click “check for plagiarism button.”  If phrase or sentences become red, it means that it already exists online which means that you have to paraphrase it.

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Looking for more plagiarism checkers?  Check the top 10 free plagiarism detection tools article and read more by author Ruchi Gupta.

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Books by Doris-Maria Heilmann:

Audiobooks for Success

Valuable guide book for authors, audiobook publishers, narrators, voice-over artists, and audiobook listeners. Learn how to create, produce, publish, and market your audiobooks.

https://books2read.com/u/bPRRyJ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W81MN2Z


111 Tips to Create Impressive Videos:

How to Plan, Create, Upload and Market Videos
https://www.books2read.com/u/3GYnpa

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BYDH41S/

 

111 Tips To Make Money With Writing
The Art of Making a Living Full-time Writing –
An Essential Guide for More Income as Freelancer
https://books2read.com/u/bWZMjz

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988664187

 

111 Tips on How to Market Your Book for Free:
Detailed Plans and Smart Strategies for Your Book’s Success
https://books2read.com/u/bMre1a

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018RA72LY


111 Tips to Get Free Book Reviews:

Best Strategies for Getting Lots of Great Reviews
plus 1,200+ reviewer contact links
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5nx5

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018RA72LY/

 

111 Tips to Create Your Book Trailer
How to Create, Where to Upload and How to Market Your Videos
https://books2read.com/u/mVZkjr

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CHWX6X2/


Book Marketing on a Shoestring:

How Authors Can Promote their Books Without Spending a Lot of Money
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5gdp

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988664225


Hello Friends, visit my Author Page here:

https://books2read.com/ap/n4EYY8/Doris-Maria-Heilmann

 

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One-Book Author? Why Not Writing More?


Even Harper Leethe famous late bestseller author, wrote a second book after she stated famously: “I have said what I wanted to say and I will not say it again.”

Mockingbird

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Lots of authors have published their first book (often a memoir), hoping that the sales from their debut novel would give them a steady income.  The bad news?  The numbers show that very few authors make a living with their first book.  And the good news?  Many authors definitely make a good living as writers by publishing a dozen or more books.

Do you want to make a living as a writer?  Then become a writer – keep writing!  Keep publishing more books!
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A lot of people talk about writing, talk, talk, talk… and how much they yearn to become a full-time writer, making lots of money and become famous.  Have you ever heard this from a successful, prolific-writing author?  No, for sure not.  Why?  They just don’t have time to talk about writing, they are busy, actually writing and publishing.
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If you really like writing that much, then sit down every day and write at least 2,000 words – equaling roughly four pages.  And in three months you can finish the first draft of your 300+ page novel.
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It’s quite simple: the more you write, the more you earn.  Writing gurus, such as James Paterson, Ray Bradbury, J.K. Rowling, and Stephen King claim that writers should produce way more than 2,000 words a day, and this number can grow over time.

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Habit is What Keeps You Going
But, why do so many writers fail to create these quotas daily?  The answer is simple: their daily habits. “Motivation is what gets you started.   “Starting up is important, finishing requires commitment, and great daily habits help to stay productive.”  Map out your next book!  Now is the time to start writing the book that will double your chances of financial success.
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Why Should Author’s  Always Work on Their “Next” Novel? 
Have You Ever Seen:

  • An artist that only painted one painting?
  • A songwriter who only wrote one song?
  • An actor who only knew one sentence?
  • Or a store owner who has only one single item for sale?

Why would authors believe that they can make a living with one book?
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Surveys of avid readers indicate that many nonfiction readers are more likely to take a chance on unknown authors if they have more than one book.  And successful writers can tell you that their writing career only really started to take off once they published their fifth book – after writing also short stories or prequels for their novels.  However, there are other things that also have to come into play to make their books financially successful:

  • Excellent writing
  • Attractive covers
  • Frequent media exposure
  • Extensive marketing
  • and certainly: Good Luck

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Promoting yourself and your books will not be more difficult as you add more titles. It actually gets easier.  One of the most successful marketing strategies is to offer the first book for a deeply discounted price and then drive readers to buy second and subsequent books at full price.

Once a reader is fascinated by your first book, you can easily get them to buy your next novel.  If you only have one book then the reader cannot buy more from you.  But with multiple books, your effort can yield so much more.
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Publishers usually stay in business because only a small fraction of their books are successful, but those books are the ones that make a great deal of money.  Their few top sellers cover the balance of the books published.
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Author Hugh Beaulac gives this advice:
“Put Down Your Thoughts In A Diary: it’s a great habit.  It’s a way to learn how to express your thoughts and ideas, no matter how you feel.  If you can describe your day, it means you will be able to find inspiration for any type of writing which can affect your career.  Daily habits have a huge effect on your wellness.  These small repeated actions maximize productivity, and it’s actionable for writers who need to create texts on a regular basis.  Although it takes a bit of discipline to form these habits, it helps you become a happier person without putting much effort.  Why?  Your brain runs on autopilot.  Stick to a routine you have formed, and you will see that your days flow smoothly.”
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There is a certain tragedy known as the “One-Book Author”.  When a writer produces only one work which becomes extremely popular but never writes another work again.
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If you cringe when reading all these tasks a full-time writing career requires, read Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s article “Quitting”:
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“It’s okay to let go of the dream of being a full-time writer even if you’re really good at it. It’s okay to give up writing for good if you don’t enjoy it.  You’ve given it a great run.  You don’t like it.
So many people are telling me that they’re leaving writing and taking their indie published books down.  Why?  There’s no reason to.  Just let them sit.  At worse, they’ll be forgotten.  At best, they will earn you some money—a trickle here and a trickle there, or maybe someone finds one of your books, loves it, and then decides to make a movie or a game or a comic book out of it.  You’ll make more than a trickle in that case. If you were traditionally published, your book would still be in print.

Leave your indie books in print as well – and maybe as audiobooks.  Just move on to the next profession or hobby, the one that makes you really happy. It’s okay to try new things.”

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Books by Doris-Maria Heilmann:

111 Tips to Create Impressive Videos:
How to Plan, Create, Upload and Market Videos
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BYDH41S/

111 Tips To Make Money With Writing
The Art of Making a Living Full-time Writing
An Essential Guide for More Income as Freelancer
https://books2read.com/u/bWZMjz

111 Tips on How to Market Your Book for Free:
Detailed Plans and Smart Strategies for Your Book’s Success
https://books2read.com/u/bMre1a

111 Tips to Get Free Book Reviews:
Best Strategies for Getting Lots of Great Reviews
plus 1,200+ reviewer contact links
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5nx5

111 Tips to Create Your Book Trailer
How to Create, Where to Upload and How to Market Your Videos
https://books2read.com/u/mVZkjr

Book Marketing on a Shoestring:
How Authors Can Promote their Books Without Spending a Lot of Money 
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5gdp

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How to Create Powerful Book Titles

Here are some tips on how to research attractive titles before you submit your work for publication.  Your book title should entice the user to read the content or at least the introduction.   Benefits of creating effective titles and how to find them:

Attracting Readers
Try to use descriptive words or action verbs.  Instead of saying “writing and publishing tips” try to spice it up a little by writing “Top 5 Writing Tips that Make Your Titles Shine.”  This sounds really exciting and will attract more readers.

Attract search engines
Your book or article title should contain your most targeted keywords.  The keywords that have gotten the top number of searches should be placed at the beginning of the title to be the most effective.

Visit Related Forums and Blogs
Visiting them will often help get your imagination going.  You will soon see what article titles capture your attention.  Don’t copy these titles but use them to create your own attention-grabbing title.

Create a List of Titles
From your research generate a dozen titles.  Each one of them can be used to generate separate books or articles.  You can even write several books or articles on the same subject if you have different titles to choose from.

Title Brainstormer Tool
Download TestArchitectTM Team today (it’s FREE), and use their brainstormer tool to research book or article titles.

A highly effective book title sets you ahead of your competitors.  You will also get the added benefit of more success and it might become a bestseller when you are marketing your book online.  See also: Book Title Generator – Over 10,000 good book titles to inspire you. https://blog.reedsy.com/book-title-generator/
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Books by Doris-Maria Heilmann:

111 Tips to Create Impressive Videos:
How to Plan, Create, Upload and Market Videos
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BYDH41S/

111 Tips To Make Money With Writing
The Art of Making a Living Full-time Writing
An Essential Guide for More Income as Freelancer
https://books2read.com/u/bWZMjz

111 Tips on How to Market Your Book for Free:
Detailed Plans and Smart Strategies for Your Book’s Success
https://books2read.com/u/bMre1a

111 Tips to Get Free Book Reviews:
Best Strategies for Getting Lots of Great Reviews
plus 1,200+ reviewer contact links                                    
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5nx5

111 Tips to Create Your Book Trailer
How to Create, Where to Upload and How to Market Your Videos
https://books2read.com/u/mVZkjr

Book Marketing on a Shoestring:
How Authors Can Promote their Books Without Spending a Lot of Money 
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5gdp

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How to Choose Your Protagonist’s Name

character-names


Calling your medieval character in your novel “Melody” or your mystery hero “Orpheus” is out of question for any writer.  If your story is set in feudal China, a name like George or Tiffany will probably not be appropriate, too.  But it sometimes needs really quite some research in terms of ethnic background, history, location, context and zeitgeist – which isn’t always easy.

Choosing a character name is often one of the most difficult steps in the writing process. Here are some tips on how to search for suitable names:
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Start With a Google Search

  • Google possible names in order to see how they work in different contexts.
  • Browse detailed maps appropriate to the character, and borrow place names – as many people were historically named after the place they came from.  These surnames will sound quite realistically.
  • Repurpose names of people you’ve known in real life, but with first names and last names in different combinations from the originals.
  • Look up lists of names popular in the year your character would have been born to make sure the chosen name is appropriate.
  • Yearbooks and old newspapers are a great place to find era-specific names.
  • Try to find names that express the character’s personality.
  • Avoid names with famous associations.  Characters with the same name as famous individuals will remind readers too much of these celebrities.
  • Use the ethnic background of the character to search online for names that are fitting, such as:

http://www.behindthename.com
http://www.fantasynamegenerators.com
http://www.20000-names.com
http://users.pgtc.com/~slmiller/namelist.htm

– where you will find names from around the world sorted and categorized by country, language, and meaning – including story character names.

  • There is also an automatic character name generator tool.  Choose some keywords and they will automatically create a character name in seconds:
    https://www.name-generator.org.uk/character/
  • Collect paint cards from DIY stores – the various shades are often imaginatively named.
  • Read the inscriptions on memorials such as gravestones and commemorative plaques
  • You Can Also: Name a character after a super fan as a reward for their loyalty
  • Run a competition on your author website whereby the winner’s name is applied to a character – a great way to promote your work-in-progress prior to publication, too

Picking a memorable name that will be easy for the reader to pronounce will help ensure you have characters that will suit your story and be relatable to your readers.

Get More Tips Here:
http://www.obsidianbookshelf.com/html/fantasycharacternames.html
https://thewritelife.com/6-creative-ways-to-name-your-fictional-characters/
https://pacejmiller.wordpress.com/2009/03/01/the-art-of-fantasy-names/
https://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Fantasy-Character-Name

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Books By Doris-Maria Heilmann:

111 Tips to Create Impressive Videos:
How to Plan, Create, Upload and Market Videos
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BYDH41S/

111 Tips To Make Money With Writing
The Art of Making a Living Full-time Writing
An Essential Guide for More Income as Freelancer
https://books2read.com/u/bWZMjz

111 Tips on How to Market Your Book for Free:
Detailed Plans and Smart Strategies for Your Book’s Success
https://books2read.com/u/bMre1a

111 Tips to Get Free Book Reviews:
Best Strategies for Getting Lots of Great Reviews
plus 1,200+ reviewer contact links
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5nx5

111 Tips to Create Your Book Trailer
How to Create, Where to Upload and How to Market Your Videos
https://books2read.com/u/mVZkjr

Book Marketing on a Shoestring:
How Authors Can Promote their Books Without Spending a Lot of Money 
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5gdp

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What it Means to Be a Writer

Stephen-King

Serious writers – people who finish novels, who publish books, or who even run successful freelancing businesses – don’t talk typically about writing – they do it! To be a serious writer, you have to WRITE. “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” ~ Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.
Serious writers also have most of the following habits:
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Writers Write
Sounds obvious… But there are a lot of would-be writers or one-book-writers (mostly memoirs) out there who don’t actually write on a regular basis. Maybe you are one of them.  You’d love to call yourself a “writer”, but most weeks, you don’t really get anything written.  You have plans, sure.  You read writing magazines or blogs.  Perhaps you feel that you’re not quite ready to write yet – you’re not good enough yet.  Unfortunately, you won’t get any better at writing unless you actually write.  It’s sometimes really hard to get over that resistance to write – which can seem almost insurmountable at times.  But if you really want you can do it.

“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” ~ Stephen King

Writing Regularly is the Key
That doesn’t mean you have to write every single day. If you can write every other day – three or four days a week – that’s fine. If you can only write once or twice a week, that’s fine. Just don’t let week after week slip by without any writing at all. Even better: Write every day! Find small blocks of time to set aside for writing, or try to change your morning habits: Get up one or two hours earlier and while sipping your coffee – write. It might be hard for the first days, but the feeling of having something accomplished before the day even starts is very rewarding. Don’t worry about how good your writing is – just concentrate on getting words down on the page.
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Focus
Maybe you’ve planned to write for two hours on a Saturday morning. You sit down at the computer. You have a quick glance at the news headlines – and then you check Twitter or GooglePlus, and follow a link … Writing is fun, but also hard work – and you’ll come up with all sorts of distractions. Don’t feel guilty or bad about this: it’s something which every writer experiences, at least some of the time.

Which might mean turning off your internet connection, working in a library, or simply closing the door while you’re writing.  When you’re writing, set a timer for fifteen minutes (you can increase this as you get used to it).  While the timer’s running, write and do nothing else.  No checking emails, reading news and gossip, doodling on scrap paper…  Focusing isn’t just about willpower – it’s also about setting up the right working environment, and finding ways to remind yourself to stay on task.  “The scariest moment is always just before you start.” ~ Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.
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Reading
Here is Stephen King on reading: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” And “Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn’t carry a book around for those inevitable dead spots in life.”

If you’re a writer, you need to take thoughts, emotions, and ideas and turn them into words.  This isn’t as easy as it sounds – it can be tough to convey something accurately, or poignantly, with nothing but a white page in front of you.  By reading, you’ll see how other writers tackle similar problems.  You’ll learn what works, and what doesn’t.  You’ll know what’s been done before, and what hasn’t.

You should definitely read work by other authors in your area: if you’re writing a thriller, read thrillers; if you’re writing a sales page, read sales pages.  Ideally, you’ll want to read as widely as possible – leaving yourself open to new ideas and techniques.  In today’s busy world, it’s hard to find time to sit and read a book.  If you have got a book in hand – on the coffee table, at the side of your bed, in your bag – then chances are, you will pick it up.  Try to read for at least an hour a day.
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Learning All About Writing and Publishing
Simply reading isn’t going to teach you everything that you need to know as a writer. You could read dozens of novels, but you’d probably still struggle to see how best to put one together yourself. You’re only seeing the finished product – not the process of planning, structuring, drafting and redrafting that led up to it.

There are lots of books, websites, and courses that can help you become a better writer and publisher.  Look for some which tackle your specific area of writing or ones which help with a particular writing problem, such as improving your grammar.  And then there is the (self-) publishing aspect, the editing, book cover, layout, book promotion etc. you need to learn – or just to understand a publishing contract if you want to go with a publishing house.
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Professionalism
Having a professional attitude to your writing means taking it seriously. Valuing what you do, and doing it well.  Behaving professionally also means making attempts to get your work published – whether that’s online, on paper, paid or unpaid.

If you’re a freelancer, professionalism means sticking to agreed deadlines, communicating well with clients, setting high standards for yourself – and meeting them. If you write fiction, professionalism means following submission guidelines carefully, presenting your best work, and respecting other people’s time. Even if you’re not yet making any money from your writing, it still pays to behave professionally. Other writers – and associated gatekeepers, like agents and editors – will take you much more seriously.
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Reflect
Think about your writing career as a whole. What have you accomplished so far? What could you build on? What are your goals? Where are you hoping to get to? You don’t need to look at these questions every day, of course – just stop and think about it once a month or so.

“Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enrich your own life, as well.  It’s about getting up, getting well, and getting over.  Getting happy, okay? Getting happy.”
― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.

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Where would you like to take your writing over the next year?  And where do you want to be in five years as a writer?  How can you make sure you’re on track for that?  “You can, you should, and if you are brave enough to start, you will.” ~ Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.

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Books By Doris-Maria Heilmann:

111 Tips to Create Impressive Videos:
How to Plan, Create, Upload and Market Videos
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BYDH41S/

111 Tips To Make Money With Writing
The Art of Making a Living Full-time Writing
An Essential Guide for More Income as Freelancer
https://books2read.com/u/bWZMjz

111 Tips on How to Market Your Book for Free:
Detailed Plans and Smart Strategies for Your Book’s Success
https://books2read.com/u/bMre1a

111 Tips to Get Free Book Reviews:
Best Strategies for Getting Lots of Great Reviews
1,200+ reviewer contact links

https://books2read.com/u/mZ5nx5 

111 Tips to Create Your Book Trailer
How to Create, Where to Upload and How to Market Your Videos
https://books2read.com/u/mVZkjr

Book Marketing on a Shoestring:
How Authors Can Promote their Books Without Spending a Lot of Money 
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5gdp

 

The Art of Making a Living With Full-time Writing

Do you want to use your excellent writing skills and experiences to build the life of your dreams – where you don’t have to report to a boss or commute to an office?  Where you work when you want, from wherever you want, on projects you enjoy?

-111TIPS_makeMoneyWrit_VerB-opt
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Does Writing for a Living Sound too Good to be True?
Why not do your writing work from the comfort of your home or at a favorite cafe, or while vacationing on a sun-filled, breezy island … Discover how to create your own satisfying, well-paid writing career in our new author-guidebook: 111 Tips to Make Money With Writing  –  The Art of Making a Living Full-time Writing.

Writing for a living doesn’t mean you have to wait forever until royalties rolling in. Use your book’s manuscript to extend your revenues, find tons of new freelance writing opportunities in the book, and learn everything about grants, crowd-funding, fellowships, writing contests or writer vacations in free residencies.
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The Possibilities Are Endless…
Learn how to be in charge of your income.  The only “ceilings” are the ones you place on yourself!  You can make an excellent living as a writer.  All you need is someone to show you how to start.

Writing for a living offers lots of advantages – you get to choose when and where you work, and with whom. But it’s not enough to say you want to make a living as a writer; you need to know HOW. You need a concrete plan to bridge the gap between where you are now to where you want to be.
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Double, Triple or Extend Your Writers Income Tenfold
This new book shows you exactly the many possibilities to become a full-time writer – with a lot more than 111 tips – how to make a living from writing.  Available as eBook – (ISBN 978-1-988664-08-8), enabling you to use the many links to freelance writing opportunities – and in print (ISBN 978-1-988664-18-7) mid-January at bookstores and online retailers worldwide.
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Amazon Worldwide  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078K6W3HL/
as well as on iBooks, Barnes&Noble, Kobo, Chapters, Thalia, Weltbild etc.
via a universal link: books2read.com/u/me21xl

 

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Tagged: authors, Blogging, Books, Freelance Writing, Magazine Writing, short stories

Writer’s Expectations? Lower Them!

Watches

Have you listened to a concert, watched a ballet, or admired world-class art recently?  Guess how long these professionals trained and rehearsed?  At least 10,000 Hours!

Remember the 10,000-hour Rule:  “That’s roughly how much work and practice it takes to become accomplished in any field, whether it be sporting, creative or professional.  10,000 hours is 5 years of full-time hard work.  To become a virtuoso, triple that” recommends Ian Irvine, an Australian bestselling author.
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He continues: “Feel free to write the most beautiful, thought-provoking words in the English language.  The public will feel equally free to ignore them.  Rarely, someone will write a book and get it published straight away.  I was once in a roomful of writers when that question was asked, and only three writers raised their hands.  Most writers work for five to ten years before getting their first book published.”

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Bestseller Authors Need Years
Building up their audience takes lots of time, so it is surprising, that authors dream of their first book as a potential bestseller, and don’t realize that it takes a long time and hard work to get an audience, one reader at a time.  Especially if they did not do the groundwork to build a huge following at social media, in reader forums or in real-life before they start publishing.

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Author-Publishing is Like a New Profession
And professions need to be trained!  It takes years to become an excellent writer and it also takes years to become an excellent publisher.  It involves lots of skills and knowledge business-wise, marketing skills, not to mention, learning constantly new internet techniques and get to know the latest changes in publishing.
Many authors have unrealistic expectations when it comes to the time required for effective book promotion – and to make meaningful connections with readers.  They expect wonders from a single sales campaign and don’t understand that under-pricing or “selling” for free is NOT a marketing strategy.
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Take Advantage of their Knowledge
A book marketing professional has to learn years and years.  Why, as an author, not take advantage of their knowledge to keep your head free for writing and interacting with readers?  No one would start for example a
catering business without learning to cook, and knowing how to present food or how to find customers.   Writing one single book does not make for a recognized author.   Take the time to build your author platform and establish a brand, it will eventually give you an advantage in the market, no matter if self-publishing or going with a trade publisher.
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Did You Learn About Your Readers?
It is staggering how few authors think about their future readers – and about their competition.  Authors often do very little research – if any at all – to really understand their audience.  Asking: “Who is your audience and who is your competition?” one might receive only vague answers … Topics, that are not only very important for self- publishers, but also for authors who want to go with a traditional publisher.  They need to prove to the agent or publisher that they have done their homework.
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How Can You Research Your Competition?
First of all, make a long list of possible keywords that readers might use to find a similar book.  Check out the complete categories/genres at Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Kobo, Apple, Google Books, Waterstones etc. and study all the books, that could be similar to your future work.  Visit several public libraries and bookstores to find similar books as the one you want to write, learn about your competition.  Borrow the most interesting ones, not only to read them but also to study the book layout and design.  Read the online reviews of their books carefully!
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Can You Answer These Questions?

  • How many books of this topic/keywords have been published already?
  • Where are these books sold and for which price?
  • In which format are they offered: e-book, print, audio-book?
  • Who are the customers of these competing books?
  • How are these books received and which ones are bestselling?
  • Which categories did they choose, and which keywords?
  • In which categories/genres are these competitive books listed?
  • What type of cover designs has been chosen for these books?
  • Which author represents him/herself and their book the best?
  • Did you study their Amazon and Goodreads author page, their website or blog?

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It’s a Marathon – Not a Sprint:
Becoming an author-publisher is a long-term commitment and requires hundreds of small steps on the path to success!  Before you start writing, create yourself a roadmap.  Take your time, see your writing & publishing as a long-term project and don’t have unrealistic expectations.  First, create a professional looking book, do the groundwork to build up your author platform, and then have fun, winning one reader at a time.

Becoming an author-publisher is a marathon, not a sprint, and it will require hundreds of small steps on the path to success! Before you start writing, create yourself a roadmap.  The most successful self-publishers don’t view themselves as writers only but as business owners.  They invest in their businesses, hiring experts to fill skill gaps and to gain more time for their writing.”

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Read More:
https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/04/01/writing-is-an-art-publishing-is-a-business/
https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/what-publishers-wont-tell-you/
https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/05/11/success-for-your-book-in-non-traditional-markets/

 

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Your Daily Writing Pleasure

Chipping Away at Rocks…

Rocks

 

“Not all writers can spend a lot of time typing away at a keyboard each day”, says bestselling author Hannah Ross.  In fact, many would-be writers say, with absolute sincerity: “I’m just itching to get to this novel I’ve had in me for a while, but I have absolutely no time.”

Well, I’d like to claim that there is no such thing as no time at all.  You don’t have to have a lot of time, but you need to set aside a daily portion of it, however small, to write.

Even if you have little available time for writing, consistency is absolutely essential for those who want a jab at writing and publishing professionally.  Consistent daily output adds up, even though each separate day might not feel very productive. It’s like chopping away at a great big rock with a hammer: you break off a tiny piece each time, and while for a long while it may seem as though you aren’t doing anything at all, eventually the rock will crumble.

What exactly do I mean?  It’s better to put in 1,000 words a day, every day than writing 5000 words in a single exhausting burst and then need a week’s worth recovery time.

If you outline carefully and know exactly what you want to write next, those 1,000 words can be written very quickly – in 30-45 minutes.  Most people can carve out 30 minutes of their day to do whatever…  I mean, most people do carve out a lot more than 30 minutes, without even being aware of it, to do stuff like hang out on social media or watch cat videos on YouTube.

When I began writing my most recent release, Wild Children, I was dealing with two little kids at home, pregnancy exhaustion, and an unstable housing situation.  Finding time to write really was like pulling teeth.  So I didn’t have 30 minutes available each day, but I took advantage of what I could get – 20, 15, 10 minutes – figuring that two paragraphs are better than nothing.
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Your Daily Writing Habit:
At 1,000 words a day, 5 days a week, 20 days a month, it will add up to 20,000 words a month. It means you write the first draft of a 100,000-word novel in 5 months. It’s two solid books a year which, while not insanely productive, is a respectable output.

I know, I know – the first draft needs to be edited, it needs to be proofread, it needs to be sent out to stand in the throng of queries if you trad-pub; and if you self-pub, you need to format, obtain cover design, publish and market.

But still, those 1,000 words a day will get you in the right direction. So don’t be sorry you can’t put in 2K, 3K or whatever it is other people write daily.

I don’t know what challenges you might be facing in your life right now.  Maybe you have a day job, kids, elderly parents, other commitments.  Maybe you have a spouse who thinks their  hour-long browse of AliExpress is legit recreation, but your hour writing is shameful neglect of family duties.  Heck, I’ve had periods in my life (mostly during Mommy Boot Camp with newborns) when I was so desperate for some writing time that instead of taking a long shower every day, I took a shower every second day and wrote instead.  And I carved out epic novels.  It was a slow, frustrating haul but it happened – one word at a time.

Just do what you can, and do it consistently, and it will pay off!
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Hannah Ross is the author of the dystopian novel Wild Children, and of several other books. She enjoys a quiet rural life with her husband and three children. Follow Hannah’s blog, Flight of Fantasy.

 

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Why is Critical Thinking Important for Writers?

Critical-Thinking

When I studied Investigative Journalism in college, it was a basic requirement.  For journalists in general, the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY and HOW are the tools of the trade.
But everyone, especially writers, should use these question words all the time: when researching background information for a book, when questioning and editing their novels or non-fiction books, when participating in a writer’s critique group and most important: when looking for publishing possibilities.

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Global Digital Citizen Foundation 
Luckily I found this organization that set up the ultimate cheat sheet for critical thinking – showing a fantastic list of critical questions.  I get so many emails from authors, who are approached in emails or social media from businesses of all sorts – including the dreaded Vanity companies, trying to steal their publishing rights or trying to fleece them in any other way.  Now I will not answer anymore in lengthy emails with lists of tips, rather send the GlobalDigitalCitizen organization’s graphic (above).

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Questions to Ask:
Before you spend any money or time on people, businesses, organizations, try to answer these questions:
WHO benefits from this the most? WHO would be the best person to consult?
WHAT is an alternative? WHAT is the best /worst outcome?
WHERE can I get more information? WHERE are areas of improvement?
WHEN and HOW will I know I have succeeded? HOW can I measure success
WHY is this a problem? WHY is there a real need for this today?
HOW is this similar to …? HOW does it really benefit me / others?
HOW can this harm me or others?
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The Internet Helps a Lot!
If you see offers to publish your book, to help you with author platform (I am not talking about advertising!) or offers a new phone plan for example – don’t jump on the offer and sign up or pay.  Your first step needs to be to research the offer, the person or the corporation. Many companies are very good to swamp the internet with dozens of websites/blog.  They use bots to inflate views and to get on page one at Google.  Scroll down to page 10 or 20 to find other websites that report on them. Use the keyword: “complaint”.  Go to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) site, or to the Ripoff-Report.  Add the word “forum” to the name of the company, and find all the forums where people talk about it.  You might be in for a surprise!

Make a long list of questions, and watch if and how they answer your questions as a potential customer.  Get it in writing, don’t trust any call center employees (who might be on commission).

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What Can Critical Thinking Help You With?

  • Determine the importance and relevance of arguments and ideas
  • Recognize, build and appraise arguments
  • Identify inconsistencies and errors in reasoning
  • Approach problems in a consistent and systematic way

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How Critical Thinking Will Help You
… to stay out of trouble – in business and private life. It will save you not only time but also money and happiness. Children are often better than adults in this aspect. Don’t be annoyed when children frequently ask “why”.  Applaud them rather for asking questions.  Critical thinking is often misjudged as criticism, but rather it focuses on the ability to follow logical steps.  Critical thinking is an incredibly important skill. Critical thinkers rigorously question ideas and assumptions rather than accepting them at face value.

Read more:
https://www.skillsyouneed.com/learn/critical-thinking.html
http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/critical-thinking-in-everyday-life-9-strategies/512

 

Why It’s Important to Edit, Edit, And Edit More

Comma
You might have read the story of the missing Oxford comma, which had changed the outcome of a court case in Portland, Maine.  What readers (and also TV viewers) heard or saw, was the outcome of an appeal case between dairy drivers and their employer. But what has an Oxford comma to do with this labor case?

The Oxford (or serial) comma is the final comma in a list of things. For example: “Please purchase a gallon milk, two yoghurts, and a pound of butter.”

Grammarly.com states: “Use of the Oxford comma is stylistic, meaning that some style guides demand its use while others don’t. Unless you’re writing for a particular publication or drafting an essay for school, whether or not you use the Oxford comma is generally up to you. However, omitting it can sometimes cause some strange misunderstandings.”
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“Use commas wherever necessary to prevent possible  confusion or misreading.” – owl.english.purdue.edu
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What Has the Oxford Comma to Do With Winning Court Cases?
The comma drama has raised eyebrows—and not just in Maine. The National Public Radio commented: “The Oxford Comma: Great For Listing, Pontificating, And Winning Court Cases.
Oakhurst Dairy, the milk- and cream company based in Portland, Maine, likely never appreciated the serial comma — also known as an Oxford comma — so much as it did on Monday when the lack of that little-curved stroke cost the company an appeals court ruling that centered on overtime rules for drivers.”

Specifically, the ruling in favor of the Oakhurst delivery drivers came down to Maine state law, which dictates that the following activities are not subject to overtime protections: Read the whole story about the appeal case at the NPR article or at the Smithonian Magazine.

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Unfortunately, the Case is Not Over:
With the district court ruling, the case can now be heard in a lower court.  The lawyers will be laughing all the way to the bank… NPR wrote: “A reminder that every punctuation mark deserves a fair hearing, a glimpse into the glories of grammar.”
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And the Smithonian Magazine writes: “You probably have a strong opinion one way or the other.  It turns out a United States Court of Appeals has opinions about Oxford commas, too.”

The irony is that the court ruling came “despite the fact that Maine’s own legislative style guide discourages use of the serial comma…”

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Read more at Buzzfeed:
15 Reasons Why You Should Use the Oxford Comma.

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