Showing posts with label best book publishing expert. Show all posts

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Top Ten Twitter Tweets of November 12

Today

Author U - Your Guide to Book Publishing, host Dr. Judith Briles of The Book Shepherd digs into a variety of writing insights this month. During November, millions pick up pen, pencil, dictating and heaving typing as they particiate in the National Write a Novel and a new Nonfiction book month. Very cool. During the month you will pick up a variety of short-cuts for writing/publishing from authors “who are doing it”.

Today, award winning book and cover designer Nick Zelinger joins Judith—they are deep-diving into what Judith calls the RTP Syndrome: Rush to Publish … or as they both say: the messes the authors create when they do. Tune in.

Tune in at 6 Eastern, 5 Central, 4 Mountain, 3 Pacific and for our out-of-the-country members and followers … you are going to have to do the clock crunching for your time zone at http://tinurl.com/AuthorURadio. You can also go to the Home page of http://www.AuthorU.org, scroll down and click on any of the past shows—just click and are instantly there! With over 300,000 downloaded podcasts each month from around the world, you are in good company!

Here are your Top Ten Tweets for the past week

Tweets are faster than a speeding bird … below are Author U’s Top Ten Tweets from the past week that you may have missed …

Success & Resources

Like this for #authors when bombarded with deadlines: 10 Ways to Reduce Stress in Under 10 Minutes - bit.ly/1LhXUUB

Hot info: Individual #author earnings tracked across 7 quarters, Feb. 2014 toSept. 2015 via @authorearnings http://ow.ly/TzBcK #book

You won’t bug people with your emails if you’re sending something of value ow.ly/Tx0oW

Social Media and Marketing Strategies

How to Get More Out of Google+ With Circles dlvr.it/CS27RJ

How to Make Great Landing Pages (With Crazy High Conversions) http://t.co/3cOs6OBP4f http://t.co/tu9v5uovT4

Is it Time to Re-Think Your Search Strategies? keepupweb.us/1LwrmDd via @donpurdum RT @RealSocialShark

Writers & Writing

Call to Action Phrases That Will Convert your followers and/or visitors. bit.ly/1LusISe #author #selfpub

[it happens!]RT @WritersDigest: How to Cope With Bad #Book Reviews | http://t.co/ofmRilAt3x http://t.co/Ja2fDP4geU #author #selfpub

Looking for a literary agent? @MarySouth seeks your queries for #fiction and #nonfiction? tinyurl.com/pt85hd8 #author #book

Fun and Cool Things to Know or Do

Learn the fastest way to tie a shoelace with the “Ian Knot” holykaw.alltop.com/learn-the-fast…

Remember … you can listen to over 240 programs that Author U Founder Judith Briles has created for your book and authoring success: http://tinyurl.com/AuthorURadio , scroll down and click on any of the past shows—just click and you are instantly there! Or you, subscribe directly on iTunes: http://ow.ly/QO0oK

If you are looking for FREE author and book coaching ... call in to Judith's Author Monday Mornings at NOON Eastern each Monday. The number is 218-632-9854; Access Code 1239874444 ... have your questions ready--there's a full hour to ask and listen.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

4 Essential Questions (plus 1 more) Every Author Must Ask (and Answer)

When in 4^th grade (and that’s a long, long time ago), my teacher Mrs. Russell reminded her wide-eye students to avoid two words: always and never.

Her words were ingrained in us and to this day, they gurgle up repeatedly in my thinking. In most cases, Mrs. Russell was correct. But there are exceptions.

When it comes to writing and books (and living), the “always” and “never” need to be tossed aside. I always ask authors a few questions when I meet them … and ask again as I work with them. Two “always” questions that I ask involve the word “WHO” in them. Who is the book for … Who are you to write it?

As a follower of Seth Godin’s wise words in his daily blog, he hit on my hot spot questions on October 13, 2016 when he asked four simple, yet critical questions for all writers. And that means we authors.

Godin’s questions were:

1. What is it for?

If this piece of writing works, what will change? What action will be taken?

The more specific you are in your intent, the more frightening it is to do the writing (because you might fail). And, magically, the more specific you are in your intent, the more likely it is to succeed.

For me, I’m looking for value and the “who cares” factor. If you don’t know it, how do you expect readers and buyers to know?

2. Who are you?

Writing comes from someone. Are you writing as scientist, reporting the facts? Are you an angry op-ed writer, seeking political action? Or are you perhaps the voice of an institution, putting up an official warning sign in an official place?

My add is that when you know “who” you are, your expertise spills forth—your credibility. It’s not so much what alphabet soup initials you have behind your name; rather, it’s the true, in the trenches experience you deliver to ease the pain and deliver the solutions for the reader. For the fiction writer, what entertaining factor your deliver.

3. Who is it for?

It's almost impossible for a piece of writing to change someone. It's definitely impossible for it to change everyone. So... who is this designed to reach? What do they believe? Do they trust you? Are they inclined to take action?

Oh boy, this is a hot button for me. Why do so many authors get the deer in the headlights glaze when asked this question? The “why” here is that they haven’t done the necessary homework to really ID this “who” … the kiss of death is the common response, “Oh, my book is for everyone.” No, it is not. The reality is that the more you niche yourself, drill down into who your reader is, the more successful you will me. Your book is not for everyone—far from it.

4. Will it spread?

After the person you seek to reach reads this, will she share it? Shared action is amplified action.

My take is ditto, ditto, ditto. Your words, your writing and the re-sharing of it via social media, buzz, mouth are what makes the difference. Depending on situations and circumstances, your words bring solutions and in many cases, healing. What an awesome power to have.

5. What’s holding you back from completing it? OK, this is my add. Are you diddling at all in getting your writing, your book done? Do you practice what I call, One for the money; Two for the show; Three to get ready … Three to get ready … Three to get ready … and you just don’t GO?

Are you do feel you have to get one more study; that you need to research one more thing … The reality is that if you don’t GO … all that research, another study, will just suck your time and energy. The reality is that the likelihood of GO becomes dramatically lessened. In my How to Write a Book in 4 Weeksworkshop I do (the next one will pop in February), after the first week, participants are told to STOP researching and START writing. At the end of the four weeks, then they are encouraged to do one more Google search; one more quick independent study using a tool like Survey Monkey to get an update if needed.

Five essential questions to ask yourself about your writing. Today would be a good day to answer them.

Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and is the Founder of Author U, a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 34 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms (ForeWord IndieFab Book of the Year), Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences. Book #34 was published this summer: The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors & Writers. Get your copy.

Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged, a three day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. In 2015, the dates are August 27-29th. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet Network at bit.ly/PublishingShow .

Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and Judith Briles – TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Get Ready to Create a Writing Marathon Authors: Get ....

November is all about FAST Writing. Whether you are on the Novel side or Non-fiction, YES, you too can write a book in 30 days. Now with that said, it doesn’t meant that it’s going to be polished, ready for the editor. What it means is that you have a first draft—and it means that you should be doing the Happy Author Dance. You did it. Here are 6 steps to surround yourself with if you are ready to take the mighty Write a Novel in 30 Days or Write a Non-fiction Book in 30 Days.

1. Get FOCUSED pronto … do one final swoop via Google of any last minute info on your topic that has been posted in the past few months. Then stop—leave the Internet alone … you have hunted and gathered.. now you are going to sort and identify key topics that will become your chapters. Only at the end of the 30 days will you come back to do a final check for any late breaking news/studies, etc.

Outside noise—from doing your love of the Garage Sale Saturday adventure to playing hooky for a weekend to diving to a thriller you have been dying to chew over is allowed. Think of an almost isolation—your loved ones can bring you food and drink—but stay out. You are the Author at Work … DO Not Cross into My Space!

2. Create a STORYBOARD that includes Who your readers is; what Value your book will bring; identifies what the Pain is that the reader feels; identifies the scope of the Problem; identifies/reveals what the Causes and Effects are to the reader; and of course delivers the secret sauce—the Solution(s). Include what the key Activities you will include—quizzes, tips, etc.—what? Add your working title to the mix; what your own muse is that will keep you motivated and last, but never least—what your Dump Zone factors are. What are the no-nos that you need to stay away form so that you can stay focused?

When I teach my How to Write a Book in 4 Weeks, this is a critical element of the first week where all participants get their Story Boards and start working on them. The visual they get is ideal to quickly see where the holes are.

3. Start sorting into PILES all those articles that you’ve been saving/storing/ripping out of magazines—do this by printing them out. YES, print … them … out. I’m a huge fan of getting the visual going here.

I don’t care where you spread it—a huge table, a floor—just spread out. Build your piles—the larger ones will most likely be chapters. Get your highlighter out. If some of the articles can cross over to another pile—copy it and drop in. This could take a few hours—a few days. But it’s the essential element in getting you off and running. Do you see any patterns?

4. Find a spot that you can get to your Piles quickly. One that others don’t get their hands on. It’s do not cross into my space “people”.

5. START writing. Pick up of your Piles, get them organized and start writing—either dictating, keyboard or by hand. But START and save into individual files on your computer. Don’t mix it up as one document. Don’t worry that you may not be writing “in order”—you are developing a puzzle and all the pieces will come together—you just need to create them. Your Contents page will be one of the last things you finalized as you complete the chapters. Don’t feel that you need to start writing with a completed outline … just start writing.

6. Remember—participating in a 30 Day Write a Book marathon creates your first DRAFT. Now … you start fine tuning … Does it flow? Does it address the Pain—offer Solutions? You are now ready for the next step … that’s all the tweaking; the adds for call-outs, illustrations, quotes, tips, etc. Then, of course, editing—ruthless editing.

Join me for my next series of How to Write a Book in 30 Days this Winter … either IN PERSON in Denver in February or in the REMOTE sessions in March. Several of the participants in the July and August classes will have there completed, edited, layed out, printed books in hand by November 1^st.

Loving it!

Friday, October 30, 2015

Author Writing, Book Marketing, Publishing Tips October 30

There are always grumbles about Amazon … it takes too much … it controls everything … I don’t like Amazon. My response: get over it. When it comes to eBooks, Amazon is the eBook God for sales in North America. Stats always flow about eBook sales. Don’t forget to do the MatchBook combo for both print and “e” sales. Here’s what’s popping for you to noodle on this week:

Amazon makes up a higher percentage of the total US ebook market than the oft-cited 65% figure: when indie books without ISBNs are included in the statistics, Amazon accounts for 74% of all US ebook purchases and 71% of all US consumer dollars spent on ebooks.
Outside of Amazon.com, 4 other major online retailers comprise nearly the entirety of the remaing 26% of the US ebook market: the Apple iBookstore, the Barnes & Noble Nook store, the Kobo US bookstore, and GooglePlay Books.
At those 4 other stores, self-published indie ebooks make up 22% of all ebooks purchases and take in 32% of all author income generated by ebook sales.
Between 14% and 25% of all ebooks sold at Apple, Nook, and Kobo store lack Bowker-issued International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs).
In total, more than 33% of all ebooks sold in the US each year have no ISBN.
Across the entire US ebook market, ebooks without ISBNs now command a greater share of consumer ebook purchases, reading time, and author earnings than all of the AAP’s 1,200 publishers put together, including the Big Five Publishers.
The true US ebook market, which includes non-ISBN sales, is at least 50% larger than ISBN-limited market statistics from Nielsen and Bowker are estimating.

Source: AuthorEarnings.com

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

YES ... you can write a nonfiction book in 4 weeks!

WOWIE ... Our first onsite class has finished and I'm deep in the heart of the first ONLINE class this month ... Write a NonFiction Book in 4 Weeks!

Each class is kept small (never over 18 members) so that I can know each author, what his or

her book is about and focus on their individual goals. What a pleasure to be in that position and what fun to watch as one by one, magic happens. The evolving Story Board tells are, creating a fantastic roadmap so that the book has guideposts for completion.

Boy-oh-boy, the first session is intense ... so much to get out, capped with the Kick-Butt Title Exercise. By the time session two pops up, the goove hits and believe it or not (better believe it), all titles are in place. Mission accomplished, it's gathering and plotting the rest of the book time.

Anita and Dennis Lunt are on their mission for their book, 10,000 Steps Straight Up. They plan to have it available for the AuthorU Holiday Christmas sale in November.

As the leader and creator of the How to Write a Non-Fiction Book in 4 Weeks, I loved the comments from several of the participants:

"Yes! Yes! Yes! I already see myself as an author--I can even feel and hold a copy of my first book. I see it hitting the market by storm."

"I enjoyed learning about how to really publish a book and about marketing."

"The reviewing and repeating of the processes as we added new steps each week was so helpful. It broke it down into manageable bites."

"I got more done in a month than I got done over an entire year."

"I really learned a lot from the first week's homework and hardcore evaluation of everyone's titles."

"Working with the story boarding, creative writing drills along with the styles of publish, marketing and all the social media strategies was invaluable."

Did anyone walk out with their book completed, edited, layed out, ready to print? No. Did anyone finish their first drafts? Yes, several did and all are working away with the tools they need to have a book in hand. Call me a happy Book Coach.

Both the onsite classes in Denver will be in September 8, 15, 22, 29 and online classes in October 6, 13, 20, 27--they will be repeated throughout the year. If you are just beginning, there is a place for you. If you have published, there is a place for you. Come join in. All information is on the website here.

ONLINE: Write Your Non-Fiction Book in Only 4 Weeks! sheepie-guy-write1-606x800

Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and is the Founder of Author.org, a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 33 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms (ForeWord IndieFab Book of the Year), Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences. The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors & Writers was published in June 2015.
Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged, a three day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. In 2015, the dates are August 27-29th. Join Judith live on several shows on AuthorsRadio.fm: Authors on Fire (one-on-one interviews with authors and their books with Judith asking the questions on Tuesdays at 1 EST), Author YOU (the journey begins, retstarts or ignites to set the author on the road to success on Fridays at 1 EST) and AuthorU - Your Guide to Book Publishing (book publishing today - over all strategies to your marketing and publishing success on Wednesdays at 1 EST).
You can also hear her on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet Network at bit.ly/PublishingShow.
Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and Judith Briles – TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Author U is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the author who wants to be seriously successful. Monthly education programs delivered face-to-face and online, The Author Resource ezine, BookCamps and the annual Author U Extravaganza are tools designed for authors pre, during and post publishing of their books. Join AuthorU.org today.
If you are looking for FREE author and book coaching ... call in to Judith's Author Monday Mornings at NOON Eastern each Monday. The number is 218-632-9854; Access Code 1239874444 ... have your questions ready--there's a full hour to ask and listen.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Summer Reads to Enjoy, Learn and Grow With ...

Summer is grand reading time …

Print sales continue to improve in the book market. It’s summertime, and a common “to do” on many lists is to read a good book. Here are several suggested reads before the summer ends:

In Childrens’ and the Chapter book offerings, I love the pure fun and delight (and fabulous illustrations) in Julie Griffin’s Cristina Gradina-The Girl with Ten Busy Toes and Bella the Baker Street Baker . If you have kids ages 5 to 8 (especially girls) in your life, they will love these books. Julie has Jack and the Bean Chair popping this fall—a chapter book perfect for boys 8-10. Get them all.

As kids read more, Chapter books start popping in their hands--my grandkids jump on them. Both Robert Martin and Cheryl Carpinello integrate their extensive personal travels as additional "characters" in their books. Robert Martin's debut, The Case of the Missing Crown Jewels is a perfect chapter to get into the hands of kids who are beginning their solo reading journey. I love the interaction of Papa and Keira as they sleuth trough this young who-done-it. If you were a Nancy Drew reader, think of this as a beginning of a young Nancy--ideal for girls 7-10.

Author Cheryl Carpinello delivers a series of adventures that land the young reader in lands and legends of old. A lot of fun and history is at their fingertips. Share Sons of the Sphinx, Tutankhamen Speaks and The King's Ransom are her latest books.

What if numbers came alive? In Charles Fischer's Beyond Infinity, they do when Matthew Forsythe discovers a weird computer and a secret door in the boy's bathroom at school that leads to a series of events that he and his friends solve using mathematical puzzles. Great read for kids 12 and up.

ANY of Dom Testa's YA series--The Comet's Curse, The Web of Titan, The Cassini Code, The Darth Zone, The Galahad Legacy, The Cosmic Storm --get them all. I you asked Dom what his books are about, he sums in up in one word, "Relationships." Dom's The Comet's Curse was selected as the "book to read " in CO in 2015. How cool is that!

For adults, if Mystery and Suspense is your thing (it’s mine—and I get tired of the repetition I find in so many of the formulas of the big names), Mark Stevens' Trapline is getting lots of kudos and is on my hit list for this weekend:

This summer, a sometimes OMG #suspense and #thriller reading is just what I’m looking for. Harry MacLean's latest, The Joy of Killing, has arrived in book stores. A few years ago, I had Harry on my radio show, AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing. You can listen in here to what he shared. I loved the way he tracked down his stories, even putting himself at jeopardy at times to "get the rest of story." The Joy of Killing is his latest and it awaits my eyes.

For the History or Military buff, Steve Synder's Shot Down! The True Story of the Captain Howard Snyder and the crew of the B17 Susan Ruth. A true American Hero—for the first time, the delivery of the full and complete story of the B-17 Flying Fortress in unbelievable detail pulled from crew members’ personal letters and journals and letters from the villagers who hid and supported them in Belgium.

Women’s fiction is always fun—the perfect beach or mountain read. Mara Purl’s What the Heart Knows and Where the Heart Lives should be purchased at the same time—they are intertwined with plots and inpatient readers are going to want to know what happens with Miranda.

Author Gail Mencini debuted her first novel, To Tuscany with Love to much acclaim—who doesn’t like the ideal of a Tuscany escape, coupled with a little romance and getting your life in order?

If you want some Action and Adventure, The Bootlegger ’40 Ford by Charles Clark will fill the bill. The Ford Standard coupe is the main character and star, each time selling/reselling for $500 (all true) and landing in a variety of adventures including the famous race with a high performance Mercedes on the Autobahn (all true). Six wonderful stories—it’s a great “guy” read … and yes, Charles does take a few liberties with “the truth”—great fun. Great car illustrations.

And if star and Moon Gazing is your idea of a great summer evening, get What's Hot on the Moon Tonight? by Andrew Planck. This is the ultimate guide to lunar observing—a combo workbook to record observations and a day-to-day what to look for and see each day of the lunar cycle (who knew that days 6 and 7 were the best to see all detail on the moon?). This book is hot off the printing press—I’m giving to my daughter, a sky-voyeur, for Christmas.

In the feel better (or I want to) area, I loved Roxanne Hawn’s Heart Dog: Surviving the Loss of Your Canine Soul Mate which is hot off the press. If you are a #dog lover, you will too. It's wonderful--you will want to have a few extra copies to give to friends who have lost a much-loved dog.

My other favorite book of this type is The Legacy of Beezer and Boomer by Doug Koktavy. Since it's publication, it's picked up 14 book awards include the top prize from Writers Digest.

Author Dr. Laurie Weiss is creating a series of short gems. In the Secrets of Happy Relationships series, she’s just delivered STOP (These Common Beliefs from) Poisoning Your Marriage and in the Speak Your Mind series, Doesn’t Anyone Else See This? will get you thinking.

For inspiration and Motivation, look no farther than Lesia Cartelli's book, Heart of Fire. Playing at her grandmother’s home at 9, Lesia was standing by the furnace in the basement when the house exploded—severally burned… she’s gone on touch the lives of millions and received accolades from Dr. Phil, Barbara Walters, the Mary Kay Foundation and countless others throughout the country. My “cold eye” editor said it was her favorite book of the year. It just might be yours as well.

Add Ashlee Bratton's Life Before the Lottery to your list as well. The most successful people have failed—bombed—multiple times. Ashlee’s theme is that there is an amazing life before winning a lottery ticket (and we all know the odds of doing that!)—this is a fun book, tons of photos of what the she did before she hit the magic 30 mark—her question: what’s holding you back? Create your bucket list now—whether you are 20 or 70 plus. Live, Love and Laugh and have a great time and oh yes, stretch yourself. This is a book just off the press a great “gooser” and fun read.

If you know anyone dealing with autism in their family ... Living Autism ay by Day by Pamela Bryson Weaver is the new best friend. Welcome to the un-perfect world of autism … a world that has grown explosively over the past decade. As Temple Grandin said in her endorsement, “Living Autism Day-by-Day will help parents to persevere and meet the challenges of raising a child with severe autism.” And, I might add, anywhere on the autism spectrum. Beautifully done, four-color throughout, it’s a combo daily journal, inspiration thoughts and ideas, and like having a hot cup of tea on a cold day. Ideal for any parent who has an autistic child in their midst.

If you have lost a loved one, Disa Van Orman's beautiful Your Loved One Shines On is filled with words that will touch your heart and soul--words that came to her as she was writing the Eulogy for her 6-year-old grandson. The photos that accompany each of the lines are wonderful and taken by the author from her backyard to Africa.

If you have a love of the Mountains, John Maling's Have You Ever Held a Mountain is the perfect companion. A multi-award winning book, it’s a 32-line poem that flows through each page that includes a gorgeous photograph by also award-winning photographer Grant Collier. Have you ever held a mountain-cupped it gently in your hand-felt the texture of its ridges-sifted slow its granite sand-brushed its trees and touched its meadows-heard its glaciers grinding down-felt wet and rock muscle-under flesh of green and brown? Get this book for you and for others pronto.

If you love a great story with the wit of a Southern, you want Apron Strings by Mary Morony. Deep in the South, families attitudes and beliefs are challenged. It's Ethel, the black maid, who brings life and bridging to reality for the family and one special little girl.

If you are an author and writer, you need "juice" ... juice that inspires, motivates and is kickback fun. Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers by Judith Briles is a gem that supplies a pick-me-up, inspiration goose, even a little silliness. It’s 250 plus of my favorite quotes that I created over the

Have You Ever Held a Mountain by John Maling

You get some fun, some fantasy, some whoa, and some heart.

~Happy reading.~

Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged, a three day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. In 2015, the dates are August 27-29th. Join Judith live on several shows on AuthorsRadio.fm: Authors on Fire (one-on-one interviews with authors and their books with Judith asking the questions on Tuesdays at 1 EST), Author YOU (the journey begins, retstarts or ignites to set the author on the road to success on Fridays at 1 EST) and AuthorU - Your Guide to Book Publishing (book publishing today - over all strategies to your marketing and publishing success on Wednesdays at 1 EST).
You can also hear her on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet Network at bit.ly/PublishingShow.
Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and Judith Briles – TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.