Should you enter a Writer’s Digest eBook contest?
Writer’s Digest holding a contest for self-published eBooks?
Whoa! Times are a changing.
If your eBook has been self-published since 2008 (and yes, using Wheatmark qualifies you), you can enter your book for a chance to be on the front cover of Writer’s Digest magazine and win $2,000. You can submit a print edition of your book as well as an eBook version as long as it is self-published.
While Writer’s Digest does not have a huge circulation, a little over a hundred thousand subscribers, being noted as a winner by this established writing magazine will certainly give your book great credibility.
Wonder if your book has a chance? Here is what your eBook will be evaluated on:
Content
Writing Quality
Production Quality
Appearance
This is where Wheatmark’s continued insistence that your book have an awesome cover, professional layout and top-notch editing will give you a legs up on the competition. There will be one grand prizewinner who takes the gold prize of $2,000 and the front-page cover. However, the winners of each category have a chance at fame and fortune as well.
Here are the main categories for fiction and nonfiction eBooks, but the rules state that this is not limiting. Meaning if your book doesn’t quite fit in a category tightly, submit it, and give it a try.
Fiction:
• Mainstream/Literary Fiction
• Children’s/Picture books
• Genre Fiction
• Middle-Grade/Young Adult books
Nonfiction:
• Reference Books
• Cookbooks
• Life Stories
Here are a few things to be aware of before submitting.
There is a pretty steep entry fee for the contest. $75.00 for the first entry and $50.00 for additional entries.
The competition will be with some of the best writers on the market so unless you feel confident your book is good you may want to try for smaller, less known contests.
That said, spending $75 to give your book a chance for top national exposure in the book world might be worth the risk.
Why every author should create a book marketing blueprint
Writing a book? Ask yourself these three questions:
Question: What do you do once your book is written?
Answer: Get it published.
Question: What do you do once your book is published?
Answer: Sell it.
Question: How?
Answer: Create a step-by-step book marketing plan.
A friend of mine is an avid fan of Robert Middleton, Action Plan Marketing. His latest post she told me is about creating an action plan for marketing your business. Leaving things up to chance, Middleton says, “Is simply going around in circles with your marketing.”
Certainly, you may get some random moments of success. But, how about consistent moments? Moments that build up your book selling so that each month you sell more books than the month before?
That is done most effectively by creating a book-marketing plan. Not a “to do” list for today. Not scribbling down a few things you could do in the next week but a step-by-step, three-year book marketing plan.
“Three years? Are you kidding me?”
Not at all.
I’m talking about selling your book over the long haul, about working your plan until it pays off. Slow, steady steps that will create more publicity, attract more followers, and sell more books.
The best thing about a long-range book-marketing plan?
It overcomes the overwhelm factor. The what-to-do-next headache and … the I’m-so-discouraged-about-my-book-ever-selling-a-single-copy syndrome.
With a carefully laid out book marketing plan you know that it is going to take some time to put all the pieces together. It’s figured in. Creating a website. Doing social media. Going to conventions. It’s all broken down into bite-sized pieces that you can do.
If you are serious about selling more books than it makes sense to plan it out. Just as you wouldn’t think of building a house without a set of house plans you shouldn’t expect to sell a “ton of books” without a detailed set of blueprints for achieving it.
At Wheatmark, our work with authors does not stop once their books are published. In fact that is just the beginning. That is why we place an emphasis on educating our authors about book marketing.
5 tips for password protection as you build your author platform
Is your website safely protected for your quick rise to fame and fortune?
As an author, it may come faster than you think. One way to prepare for it now is to safely password-protect your website and other web properties.
Whether you are on Facebook, Twitter, or have your website and or blog, making sure that your content is kept as safe as possible is worth taking a few moments to do.
Creating tough passwords is your first wall of defense. Just as it is no longer safe to leave the keys in your car when you park on a busy street, it is no longer safe to assume that no one will steal your identity, information, or use your email for spamming purposes.
Often people will create a password that is easy to remember or has some relationship to what their site is about. While this certainly makes it much easier to remember, it also makes it much easier to break into.
Here are five tips to create a great password.
1. Use both upper and lowercase characters
2. Include numbers but do not use your phone, address, or zip code.
3. Use symbols such as ! ” ? $ ? % ^ & * ( ) _ – + = {
4. Mix up the letters, numbers and symbols in a random pattern.
5. When you change your password, make it very different from previous ones.
If you find it difficult to come up with a password that is rough, tough, and practically unsolvable, you might want to use a site called StrongPasswordGenerator.com. This site will automatically create a 15-character password that is hacker-proof.
16 Bookstore Review Sites
Looking to get great book reviews for your book? Here’s an idea that may at first seem counterproductive but actually may jumpstart your own book review process.
What’s the idea?
It’s based on the age-old biblical maxim, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Which means while waiting for those five-tar book reviews to come in for your own books, start writing reviews for others.
Writing book reviews is a good way to stay connected with books in your genre, assess your competition,and even help you to craft writing ideas for composing your book releases and sharing information about your books on your blog.
As you write a book release, you will find yourself thinking critically about why you like one type of writing over another. What makes the book stand out? How can you creatively write selling copy for your own material?
Some authors used book reviews to link back to their own books; this is now a red flag for Amazon reviews. If you do that, you’re likely to get your book reviews (and books) removed from Amazon.
Writing five-star reviews is also a warning sign that your book review writing may have an underlying motive. Aim to write honestly. A good review is an honest one. If it’s a two-star book, give it two stars…
Write for the sake of pushing good books into the limelight. Here are 16 bookstores that accept book reviews.
http://www.abebooks.com/Alibris
http://Amazon.com
http://barnesandnoble.com
http://www.biblio.com/
http://booksamillion.com
http://buy.com
http://christianbook.com
http://costco.com
http://familychristian.com
http://lifeway.com
http://overstock.com
http://www.powells.com/
http://www.tatteredcover.com/
http://www.valorebooks.com/
http://walmart.com
To learn about real book marketing strategies and to get a jump start on your marketing, check out the Authors Academy.
7 simple letters any author can write to sell more books
One easy way even the most introverted author can sell a few books is to write letters.
Here are seven different kinds of letters you can write. With each letter include a bookmark or business card, handmade or professionally printed, that includes the title of your book, a quote, and a link to your web site.
1. Friendship letters to family and friends. Share whatever is going on with your life and of course, part of that is your book! Talk about how excited you are about it. The challenges you are facing, the successes you have had and ask if they have any ideas to help you to promote your book.
2. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper in response to an article that interests you. You don’t have to promote your book, just getting your name out there for a cause that is important may cause someone to check you out.
3. Write a thank-you letter to someone that has done you a favor or is someone you admire. Thank you letters can be short and sweet but will make someone’s day and cause you to be remembered as well!
4. Write a praise letter to the owner of your favorite restaurant complimenting them on their menu, service, or promotion of a cause. Write a letter of praise to your mayor, business leaders, or anyone in your local community that you admire. A letter of praise is a great way to make new friends in high places even if only casually.
5. Write a letter to other authors you admire. Become a fan and perhaps they will become a fan of yours in return. At the very least, it will make you feel good to build someone else up who is in the same profession you are. Your letter may be just what they need on a cloudy day! Another bonus is that you will find in sharing about how you value them as a writer is that it will clarify your own appreciation for the writing profession.
6. Write a letter to a bookstore. Thank them for carrying your book and be sure to tell them that you encourage your friends to shop at their store. A bit of good will mean they will think of you and your book the next time a customer comes looking for suggestions for a good read.
7. Write letters to your fans! Yes, real letters that you put a stamp on and send on their merry way. One enthusiastic fan can do amazing things. The closer your fans are to you the better and bigger your chance of eventual success will be. A short, simple letter of appreciation that takes you five or ten minutes might brighten up their day for a long time.
If you’re an author and feel stuck in your book marketing, get a jump start by learning about the best and latest book marketing strategies in the Authors Academy.
9 places to share a business card about your book
A low-cost way to promote your new book is with a business card. You can print them yourselves at home or professionally for as little as $10.00 for a hundred or more cards.
Most typical business cards are about two by three inches. These are small enough to slip a couple into a pocket, wallet, or bag. Because they’re so small it is easy to have one with you at all times whereas carrying a hard copy of your book is definitely not.
1. If your book is available digitally, you can share download information on your card. Include a sentence or two about the book, awards won and even a winning testimony about your book.
2. You can share your cards with family and friends and ask them to help you in getting the word out.
3. You can leave a business card in a magazine at the doctor’s office like a bookmark. Nothing like having a bored audience to give your little advertisement a quick look. Perhaps you can offer a free chapter or download on your card.
4. You can pin a card to bulletin boards in stores and other locations with community boards. Make sure your offer on your card is clearly visible and attractive.
5. Share a card with your barber or beautician. These people have lots of local contacts! Perhaps they know one or two of their customers who would be interested in your book.
6. Include a card with all print correspondence you send out. Some authors even include them in envelopes when paying bills.
7. Any public waiting room is a prime place for leaving a couple of cards. Bus stations, train, and even airline waiting areas. True, the chances your card will be picked up and trashed is high, but there is also a chance that someone will be intrigued to pick it up, read it, and carry it off with them.
8. Author cards are a “must have” for attending book events, expos, etc. Not only can you pass them out to other book attendees, you can use them to connect with publishers, book store vendors, and other authors and illustrators.
9. Leave your author card with bookstores that carry your book and ask if you can leave a few on the counter or with your book.
Unlike carrying around an actual physical book, it’s easy to give away author business cards whenever you start up a conversation with someone. You may strike up a conversation while waiting in line with other customers or talking to the retail clerk while he or she rings up your order. This works especially well if your book is relevant to the shopping outlet that matches your book’s audience.
At Wheatmark, our work with authors does not stop once their books are published. In fact that is just the beginning. That is why we place an emphasis on educating our authors about book marketing.
21 perfectly practical reasons to procrastinate from writing
1. Realize that you’re not in the mood for writing … Better wait till you feel like it.
2. Remember how stupid your last writing was … Better wait till you can do better.
3. Start comparing your writing to someone else’s … and sink into discouragement.
4. Need something to drink … Go get a drink.
5. Need something to eat … Get a snack.
6. Too tired to write … Take a nap.
7. Can’t think of anything to write … play a game of solitaire.
8. Can’t think of the perfect sentence? Stop until it comes to you. This may take weeks.
9. Realize you don’t have enough information … Stop and spend more time researching.
10. Notice how hot it is. Too hot to write. Better wait till it is cooler.
11. Hmmm, seems to be too cold to write. Better leave it for now till it warms up.
12. A blank screen is taunting you. Don’t you take it … Turn off the computer and show it who’s boss.
13. The blank screen is whining that you don’t stick to anything. Agree with it. Why not? Who cares. Play another game of solitaire.
14. The deadline is getting closer. This makes you nervous. Go find something to do to calm your nerves. How about a movie?
15. Panic is starting to build. This is ridiculous. Get some help. What happened in your past to make you this way?
16. Look at the clock. Time to do something else. Console yourself that you’ll do better tomorrow.
17. A friend asks how your writing is coming. Spend twenty minutes explaining.
18. Not sure what to do next. Stuck. Play a game of sudoku. This should fix it.
19. Realize you don’t really like writing anyway. How did you get yourself talked into this? Time for a snack. Maybe a movie. Maybe one more game of solitaire.
20. Start writing. Realize it is the worst piece of writing you’ve ever done. Hit the delete button.
21. Deadline is so close you can feel its breath on your neck. Scream. Tear out hair. Weep. Wail. Moan.
At Wheatmark, we believe in helping authors with every step of the writing and publishing process. Whether your book is is in the beginning or final stages to tell us about your project, tell us about it.
Ten ways to find top markets for your book
Finding the best market for a book is a challenge for every author. Below is a list of ten ways to find markets for your book.
1. Identify three categories of book genre for your book. For instance, fiction books can be broken down into age group, type, such as romance, mystery, thriller, audience, location, etc. Nonfiction books can be categorized as business, finance, science, history, etc. Each of these categories will have subcategories that will narrow your audience and offer best marketing positioning.
2. Go to Amazon.com and look up each of these categories and note the most popular books. Go to the website of each author and look for leads that will show you where they are promoting their books. For instance, websites they have featured guest posts on, articles from magazines, newspapers they are reviewed in, etc.
3. Look on their website for places they make public appearances, such as conventions they attend, speaking engagements, book signings, etc. Note these down and see if you can find similar places close to you to that you can attend and speak or offer your books.
4. Google each category and note the leading sites that showcase books. Is there information on the top ten sites that you can use for your book promotion? What keywords are they using? If those words are working for them, chances are if your book is of the same genre and type, they will work for you.
5. Note the reviewers for the leading books and try to contact these reviewers to review your own book.
6. Look at the popular books and see who endorses them. There is a good chance if your book is well written and offers unique content these same people may be open to endorsing your book as well. People who endorse one book are usually open to endorsing others; after all, it is promotion for them as well. Spread the love.
7. Twitter search your book’s category with a #hashtag and note Twitter users who have a large following. Tweet to them and start making a connection. Tweet at least 3 or 4 times with them before sharing your book. Offer to do something for them or simply re-tweet something they are promoting. Once a connection has been made perhaps offer a free book to review or at the very least a free chapter. Ask if they will share your book to their followers.
8. Go to Pinterest and search for books pinned in your category. Follow the users of those pins. Start pinning your book cover and images that relate to your book using the keywords that the books already pinned are using.
9. Facebook users often share what they are reading so find interesting tidbits about your book and do the same. Note keywords that other Facebook users are sharing that relate to your book and add them to your keyword arsenal.
10. Get involved with Goodreads. Now that it is a part of Amazon, it has a bigger outreach than ever. Make friends, review books, and get your book reviewed.
The most important factor in becoming a successful author
Simply getting started might be the most important factor in becoming a great author. I list it as a good second.
The numbers of people who dream about becoming an author but actually never do anything to make that dream come true is probably in the millions. So, I don’t want to neglect the point that to succeed you must first start, but that’s not what’s going to set you apart from the hundreds of thousands of people who do actually set pen to paper and write a few chapters.
The number one factor in becoming successful in writing is persistence.
The best talent in the world is of little value if one doesn’t use it.
The best teachers and instructors in the world can do little for someone who throws down the pen or the tablet and gives up when the going gets tough.
Persistence is a virtue that gets little limelight in most success stories. It’s usually mentioned but it is glossed over as something quite inconsequential and unimportant.
Persistence doesn’t make for a dramatic story or a rags-to-riches headline. The fact that the majority of successful authors spent years getting to the winning circle is casually referred to as “paying one’s dues” or some other soft soap platitude that little describes the frustration, desperation, and agony of staying with writing day in and day out.
Still, persistence is powerful.
It is the determinative glue that takes a writer with mild talent to great. With enough stick-to-it gumption a writer will find a way to become better in his or her writing efforts. Continuing to study, practice, and learn opens the doors to creating a book that is worth the reader’s time to open.
Of course, blind, unthinking persistence is stupid.
Simply doing something over and over that isn’t working is not persistence but stubbornness. But with a dream to become a writer, a great writer, and armed with the persistence to do whatever it takes to get there is the winning ingredient for all success.
5 ways to publicize your book that take 5 minutes or less
Publicity does not have to be big to make an impact on book sales. Something as simple as leaving a comment on a blog post with a link back to your book can be the start of a publicity campaign.
Here are 5 simple ways that you can publicize your book in less than five minutes.
1. Create an email signature that promotes your book. It can be as easy as writing the title of your book with a link to Amazon or your website. You can add a simple statement such as, “Read my new book.”
2. Write a quick comment to a blog post with a link back to a page on your website about your book. If your comment is interesting enough for people to want to know who you are, they will click through and find out about your book(s).
3. Send a fun note about your book to family members and friends. All grassroots marketing should start with those closest at hand and the most open to hearing from you. Ask if they will share with their friends and help you to spread the word.
4. Leave a comment on your Facebook page about something relating to your book. Show off the cover or talk about a book-signing event.
5. Pin the cover of your book on Pinterest. You may want to create a separate board for your book – including photos, maps, cartoons, anything that relates to your book or writing.
Authors sometimes feel that because they don’t have a big budget that they cannot promote their book effectively. In many cases using social media time and work can be more effective than throwing money into advertising or other paid for promotions.
Hand tailor your book promotion to what you can do, can afford and you will still see results. Persistence will pay off.