The Best First Eyes: A Critical Choice [Guest Post]

October 26, 2012 by 1 Comment
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This is a guest post by Julia Tagliere who writes for Justscribbling.com.  Months of anticipation. Terrible mood swings. Bladder discomfort, weight gain, hours of intense labor pains, all leading up to the arrival of…A baby? Who’s talking about babies? I’m talking about your book! It’s true, finishing a manuscript feels almost like giving birth (only you can have an epidural for babies—they don’t give those to writers). Like any other proud parent, you know with absolute certainty that your magnum opus is flawless, which makes exposing your work to others for critique a very humbling business, indeed. But for all authors, and particularly for those planning to self-publish, obtaining thoughtful, honest, and effective reviews from skilled readers prior to querying or publication… [read more]

Filed Under: Editing, Guest Post, Writing Tips Tagged With: , ,

The 11 Key Questions Every Indie Author Must Know about the Competition

September 24, 2012 by 3 Comments
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I’m sure your approach and spin on your book’s subject is trailblazing, but there are certain steps that bestselling authors take BEFORE  their book is published. The number one secret of bestselling authors: knowing what’s already in the market. The questions below are things to consider as you research competing titles. In the business world, this is known as a competitive analysis. Your answers to the following questions will not only help strengthen your vision, but will help you create the book that will stand out from the pack.   1. What is the current demand within your book’s genre? A simple way to figure this out is by tracking sales and researching book trends. Sites like www.bookbusiness.com and www.publishersweekly.com… [read more]

Filed Under: Authorpreneur, Book Marketing, Content Tagged With: , ,

35 Ways to Engage Your Book Audience in the First 90 Days

September 19, 2012 by 6 Comments
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Your book is about to drop and you need a marketing plan fast? After you use our handy outline to start the book marketing process, remember: marketing is about engaging your audience consistently. Consider your readership a vision of beauty across the room waiting for YOU to swoop in and woo her…or him. Your audience has to find you, discover your book, and then become devoted readers. In order to get them there, as a savvy authorpreneur, you’ll have to do some courting. So let the road to engagement begin! Here are thirty-five fool-proof tips that you should implement in the first 90 days to show your readers that you’re in it with them for the long haul: 1. Ask. Ask… [read more]

Filed Under: Authorpreneur, Book Launch, Book Marketing, Self-publishing Tagged With: , , ,

A Simple Marketing Plan Outline for Indie Authors

August 24, 2012 by 4 Comments
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Recently on the phone with a buyer for a large bookstore retailer, she very casually mentioned a major pet peeve she has with ALL authors. She asserted that most authors would do much better in sales if they only had one thing. A marketing plan. Though we think authors need other things too: distribution, a good book to begin with, an unlimited supply of coffee and Advil…we get it. Authors need a marketing plan. Why? Retailers want to see that you’re at least thinking about promotion ideas and have plans in the pipeline. Marketing plan align your book to a strategy and help keep you focused. Every marketing plan is different, but here are the nuts and bolts of what… [read more]

Filed Under: Book Marketing, Planning Tagged With: , , ,

5 Unexpected Lessons I Learned Writing My Indie Book

July 23, 2012 by 1 Comment
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I’ve (Dara) mentioned before that I’m really close to being done with my book The Indie Author Revolution. Fall 2012 I’ll be getting off this writing train and will officially enter the world of Authorpreneurship. I’m getting excited.   I wish I could tell you that this journey played out the way I expected. I wish I could tell you that writing my book was easier than I expected. There were twists and turns, highs and lows, and many lessons along the way that quite frankly caught me off guard. Here are the five lessons that smacked me in the face, but might help you:   1. Writing a book isn’t a quick affair   I tried hard to be… [read more]

Filed Under: Motivational, Planning, Self-publishing, Writing Tagged With: , ,

The Top 10 Awards for Indie Authors

July 11, 2012 by 6 Comments
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As we sipped cocktails tonight brainstorming work stuff, planning events for the fall (one we’re especially excited about), and discussing our wonderful Wise Ink readers, it crossed our mind we haven’t yet tackled one of our favorite resources for authors. Awards.   We’ve witnessed doors open for authors because they took the time to apply for awards. It’s quite simple: awards raise your cred.   A sticker on your book, “award-winning author” before your name, and a list of the awards your book has won all leave a powerful impression in your readers’ minds. Check out this impressive list of awards on indie author Ken Thurber’s website.   With all of the time that goes into marketing, applying for awards… [read more]

Filed Under: Awards, Book Marketing, Self-publishing Tagged With: , , ,

9 Ironclad Sales Tools for Authorpreneurs

July 2, 2012 by 7 Comments
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We know. You hate the word “sales.” It makes your palms clammy and it takes the fun out of being an author.   We get it. Really. It’s not easy selling yourself, a product, ideas, or a movement. It’s darn tough. I mean you had the vision, the least your book could do is sell itself. Stephen King doesn’t have to schlep his book hoping someone will pick it up and love it. Why should you? And let’s not even start with that E.L. James.   Well, as an author you’d be correct in detesting the word “sales.” But you’re not an author. That’s right. Authors are the folk who don’t need or care about making money from their book… [read more]

Filed Under: Book Marketing, Indie Publishing, Planning Tagged With: , ,

Operation: Write the Next Book Already!

June 18, 2012 by 2 Comments
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For months I’ve (Dara) been “wrapping up” my first book, The Indie Author Revolution. I’ve procrastinated and prolonged getting it to press (another post is coming about that) and now it’s almost to the printer…maybe? I kid. It’s going to press this month. Hold me to it. But now that that book is done (though the work is never done), I have  ideas for my next book. That’s right. Ideas are already swirling in my head for book two. It took approximately two years, eight months, 21 days, and counting to complete the first book. And despite the countless sleepless nights, 41 edits, outrageous wine consumption, and a  barrage of emotions (doubt, fear, self-loathing, excitement, and nervousness), I would like… [read more]

Filed Under: Planning, Writing Tagged With: , ,

The Provocative Questions Indie Authors Never Ask

June 4, 2012 by 4 Comments
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As you decided to publish your book, you probably went online. You researched resources and terms. Perhaps you asked around and made friends who also churned their masterpieces into indie publishing gold. You’re all geared up and ready to go. You probably pondered the costs to publish and determined the avenues you’ll pursue to make it happen.   Here’s what, have you asked these questions few indie authors know to ask:   1. What’s the difference between proofreading and editing?   Indie authors who don’t know that editing and proofreading are not the same end up with typos in their book. Editing is intense polishing of content. Proofreading only corrects mistakes, typos, and incorrect grammar. An editor will prompt you… [read more]

Filed Under: Audience, Book Marketing, eBooks, Indie Publishing Tagged With: , , , ,

8 Brilliant Book Marketing Links for Your Toolkit You May Have Missed

May 30, 2012 by 2 Comments
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Wise, Ink does the work so you don’t have to. Here are the best links out there on book marketing. Bookmark these sites using Evernote and reference them regularly. If you want to grab more useful links, follow Wise, Ink on Twitter! How to Get Media Coverage for Your Book by Jane Friedman 5 Ways to Build a Platform (and a bigger writing career) by Pen and Prosper Finding People to Read, Review and Recommend Your Book by Joel Friedlander 3 Selling Tactics Authors Can Borrow from the Internet Marketing Gurus by Lindsay Buroker 5 Mistakes Authors Make that Ruin Book Marketing by Wise, Ink. How To Sell Self-Published Books: One at a Time by Catherine, Caffeinated 5 Simple Ways to Spend Less Time Marketing… [read more]

Filed Under: Book Marketing, Planning Tagged With: , ,
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