As indie authors, we all want to sell more books. And I’ve learned over the years that this is the biggest struggle of all authors. How do I sell more? So, I decided to spend even a little more time sharing some more great ways to get noticed and get more sales.

6. Do more videos: Let’s face it, video is big and only going to get bigger in the New Year. If you don’t have a YouTube channel, you may want to grab one and repurpose any of your social media videos and put them on YouTube! 

 7. Develop Superfans: Make your fans feel special. Maybe you want to create a VIP reader group on Facebook where you give them early access to books, gift card promos, contests, and exclusive content. 

 8. Start an email list! It’s a great way to stay in front of fans and on their radar. Consider including a letter in the back of your book that invites your readers to join. Or, offer a free copy of your book for your email subscribers and run ads on Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook!  

 9. Network with other authors: Join online groups, go to writer events, or join local author groups. Networking with other, similar authors is not just good business, but it can help you brainstorm new ideas, and most likely expand your knowledge!

 10. Host an event at your library: While bookstore events can be great, libraries are often big, missed opportunities to connect with serious readers.

So take some time to review these ideas and factor them into your marketing plan.  If you haven’t built one yet, it’s time to get started! With a roadmap in place, you’ll stay focused and on task with your book marketing efforts… and maybe just maybe you’ll have the next bestseller! 


Republished with permission Penny C. Sansevieri, Founder and CEO Author Marketing Experts, Inc.
https://www.selfpublishedauthor.com/node/476

As indie authors, we all want to sell more books. And so, I want to share with you several ways that you can make the most of your book promotion efforts. As I’m sure you’ve learned a successful book marketing plan is made up of a range of actions that build on one another, and it’s wise to vary your efforts to get the most bang for your investment – whether its time or money, or a combination thereof. So with this in mind, here are some of the top ways that you can sell more books this year.  

 1. Be consistent: Whatever you do, do it consistently. So often indie authors try to do more than their time and bandwidth allow.  Fix this by picking the things you know you can do consistently and forgetting the rest. Trust me, you will make greater strides if you remain consistent in your efforts. 

 2. Price your book to sell:  How does your book stack up to its competitors? Your book should be priced competitively to sell well. 

 3. Do an eBook promotion: You really can’t do too many of these – and you don’t need to give away your books for free all the time. Even discounting your book by $1 can generate a big surge in sales.  

 4. Refresh, repackage, or reboot your older books: As your older books continue to age, consider refreshing your bookshelf by re-releasing older books, or even breaking older books into smaller ones and creating a new bundle. 

 5. Get creative: Now more than ever, we need to get creative with our book marketing efforts, whether we’re pitching to bloggers and media or working on our social media. Consider using any and all book tie ins, no matter how off the wall.  One example that I’ve used before is how I used a presidential election to make a romance novel into a bestseller. 

Take some time and consider these options and know there are many others. But you have to start somewhere. We exhaust our family and closest friends when we release the book. So, we have to capture the eyes and attention of others to help us share our message to a greater audience. Deciding what you want to do and giving it a try is a good way to get started on your roadmap. With a roadmap in place, you’ll stay focused and on task with your book marketing efforts… and maybe just maybe you’ll have the next bestseller! 

 
Republished with permission Penny C. Sansevieri, Founder and CEO Author Marketing Experts, Inc.
https://www.selfpublishedauthor.com/node/476
​

Reality check: Do you have what it takes to make your blog a book? Publishing a book takes effort, so before you start, ask yourself.
​
Congratulations! Your blog’s been doing well for a while now: you’ve built a fan base, carved out a niche, and looking back on your articles, you’ve produced tens of thousands of words. So why not publish a book?

You’ve already got credentials as a seasoned blogger, and putting your work together in a book will bolster your reputation. Your readers enjoy what you write, and they’ll be pleased to have it bound together as a book.

But publishing a book will take more effort than maintaining a blog, so before you start, do a reality check: Do you have what it takes to make your blog a book?

Take inventory. Let’s say you blog about “The World of the Fennec Fox.” You’ve been telling your fascinated readers all about this little nocturnal bugger with the unusually big ears running around the Sahara of North Africa. The fennec fox community knows and loves you.

While not every book with good content succeeds, several factors can work to your advantage.

• Readership. You’ve started building readership with your blog. It’s a lot tougher if you aren’t starting from a strong reader base.
• Recognition. People recognize you as an expert on the fennec fox, so they’ll be more likely to buy your book.
• Community. Are you well-known and active in the larger fennec fox community? Do they recognize you as someone who always offers value? If so, you’ll get more than readership: you’ll get active support.
• Comments. If you have an active comments section, you’ve got the beginnings of an audience.

Of course, there will always be competition. A book has the best chance in the market when it offers unique value. It needs to say something that others aren’t saying in a way that makes it stand out.

The economics of self-publishing
Self-publishing is an entrepreneurial activity. Keep that in mind at all times. Create a simple spreadsheet or ledger, keep good financial records, and record all your income and expenses.

There are degrees of “do it yourself.” If you do it all, you have to set up an e-commerce site that makes downloads available and collects payment for them. This can be the same site as your blog, if you have appropriate software and a payment processing service.

Should you consider crowdfunding?
You might want to consider crowdfunding your book. A crowdfunding campaign gives you advance publicity and helps create (and gauge) the level of interest in your project. Of course, if you run a successful campaign, you’ll also have money to produce and market your book in advance of publishing.
Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and GoFundMe are three of the more popular crowdfunding platforms, and each has its own approach. Kickstarter offers an all-or-nothing model, where you receive nothing and your supporters’ money is refunded if you don’t meet your specified goal. Indiegogo gives you the option of “flexible” or “fixed” funding – the flexible option lets you proceed whether you meet your target goal or not. GoFundMe doesn’t require you to set a target.

Running a successful crowdfunding campaign requires planning, effort, and an engaged community. Let your supporters know in advance what your target goal is, when the campaign will start, and how long it will run. You need the support of your core following to contribute money and spread the word.

Setting the right premiums are a big part of a successful campaign. All contributors over a minimum threshold should get an eBook, while higher-level supporters might get acknowledgment in the book, a mention on your website, personalized thank-you cards, and signed copies of the book.

You can get as creative as you’d like with your rewards, but you have to remember that when you start a crowdfunding campaign, you’re accepting an obligation. If you meet your funding threshold, you have to come through – don’t launch a campaign unless you’re sure you can deliver the book and the premiums.

Editing
You can’t just create a book completely on your own and expect it to sell. However good you are at writing, you can’t be your own editor. At a minimum, you need a skilled proofreader, but you should seriously consider employing a good copy editor. A copy editor doesn’t just check for spelling and grammar mistakes, she makes sure your writing is the best it can be. A copy editor will catch repetitious passages, excessive use of the passive voice, and much more.

Copyright questions
Your blog might include quotations, images, lyrics, comments, and guest contributions – perhaps some borrowed from other blogs and places online. When you’re selling a book, potential copyright violations will get more scrutiny. You’ll have to be mindful of Fair Use and contributors’ rights.

People who let you post articles and other content on your blog haven’t necessarily given you permission to include them in a book. You need to ask them and get clearances. They may be thrilled to have their content included, but if they say no, you do not have the right to include their content in your book – even if it’s intended as a giveaway.

Cover design
Whether traditionally or self-published, you’ll be competing with a host of other books, so yours needs to look as attractive and professional as possible. Like it or not, people do judge a book by its cover, and yours will appear on your website, on online retail stores, and everywhere your book is promoted or sold.

Book marketing
As a self-publisher, you’ll also have to be a self-marketer. Harness the resources you already have: the place to start is your blog. If anyone will be interested in your book, it’s the people who already read your material.

Once the book is published, write a blog entry alerting your readers of the great news. Thank them for their support with a discount code. Put a conspicuous, permanent link to buy your book on the home page, along with an image of the cover.

If you have a mailing list and newsletter, promote your new book: give your newsletter readers a distinct discount code. As a general rule, spread discount codes around as much as you can, and tailor each for your different promotions so you can track sales and determine which avenues are working best.

Social media promotions will be a big part of your strategy. Again, use the cover image, and be persistent but NOT annoying. The key with social promotions is engagement. Make your posts read like part of a conversation, not an ad. Talk about what’s in the book and what it was like to create this work. Invite responses.

Time to publish

Turning a blog into a book is a lot of work, but you’ve got the content and a reader base, so you’re off to a good start. It takes planning and commitment: you need to figure out how you’re going to proceed before diving into the deep end. You also need to recognize that the work does not end when the book goes up for sale.

It’s a challenge, but you’ll have the reward of being a published author, and that alone should boost your recognition in your field.

To Your Success,
MG

Some of the best fiction writing is inspired by personal experience, but putting too much of yourself in your writing can hurt your cause.
​
Writers must be brave. A writer must put herself out there and expose herself emotionally. Even fiction writing requires a writer to dig deep and expose her innermost thoughts to the public. Writers need to be ruthless and take the story where it needs to go, putting fears, worries, inhibitions, and biases on standby.

If you are writing something based on aspects of your personal life – say an honest, first-person account of an extraordinary event – this holds true on a deeper level. Those tapping their own lives for inspiration are obliged to give up the most private and difficult details of every situation to benefit the story. It is often the most raw and demanding details that readers enjoy most.

So how do great writers strike the balance of injecting enough self to suitably excite the reader without whipping up mundane and trite sludge, effectively destroying a work through self-indulgence? It comes down to which parts of ourselves we are inserting and why. Some details are core to the genius of a work, others should never see the light of day. To leave any of these flagrant signs of the self behind in a final draft is like a surgeon who sews up a bandage inside the patient’s belly. It serves no one.

There are many ways unwanted parts of us get stuck in our writing, and here are five ways to avoid it negatively affecting your work.

Remove your notes
As we write, we move from trying to understand our subject to expressing it for others. Along the way, it is common to write in short-hand, to deposit mental notes to ourselves before we write the sentences intended for readers. We start by building scaffolding, designed to serve us and eventually be removed. It is, by definition, temporary. Left in place, even vestiges of this skeleton make a manuscript appear unfinished, at best. At worst, it’s like a building that has been restored but remains ensconced : you only get hints of the beauty underneath.

Remember, your vacation photos are for you
We all know the stereotype of the overenthusiastic photo-snap, boring friends and family to death with the 1,000-slide vacation presentation. What is exciting to you, because you were there and it is your life experience, may be the perfect sleeping elixir to someone else.
Writers risk a similar fate if they overestimate the importance of their personal experiences. Is your story truly gripping because it offers insight into a core aspect of the human condition, or it is just of raging interest to you because of your particular circumstances, beliefs, or interests when it happened?

This is a hard question to answer, and it will rule out many potential ideas. If an idea passes our own filter, it then rests with others to determine if it passes the “vacation photo” test. Rare vacation photos are truly exceptional. We love saying to our vacationers, “That one is so good it could be a postcard!” and really mean it. This is the reaction you need from your readers. Apply the same “Is it too me?” filter to each chapter, section, paragraph, sentence, and word as you move towards the finish line. Shards of left-over self, necessary for preparation and cooking, are critical to remove before eating, as they drastically dilute the overall flavor.

Judge the story, not the truth

If you are writing fiction based on experience, you must know when to stick with the truth and when to let loose the creative juices and pump up the fiction. Sometimes truth overshadows the potential for a better story in the translation of reality-inspired events. If the true order of events occurred over a few months, but would be ten times more extraordinary and compelling for the reader if they occurred in a single day, make the retrofit. Do it with gusto and glee. Stretch.

We need to draw inspiration from real life where it helps and drop it when it hinders. Test and retest the logic of the story. See where you can raise the stakes. See where you can accelerate the pace. Dreams never occur in real time. They are snapshots of action over longer periods. Good books are too. Take the time and make the effort to make your story fiction.
See the forest for all the trees

Even if 100 percent fiction, writers are often so close to their work they fail to see the forest for the trees. In this case, self is restricting the scope and breadth of the work. This is where working with a writers’ group, getting feedback from willing readers, or turning to a professional editor will pay off.

Sometimes such narrowness is a critical and legitimate phase. All authors have to start somewhere. In an early draft, a writer might be so busy building the description of one side of an intersection they forget the other sides. This is just part of getting to the finish line. The sin is leaving such gaps for the reader to fall into. Such oversights are also evidence of too much self. An author needs to be able to look at the story the way readers will. Readers aren’t mind readers: they can only work with what is on the page.

Acknowledge the dual roles of self in writing

It is often the role of an editor to remove the unwanted remnants of self from a manuscript. The best authors will take on this challenge themselves and not spare their own feelings by completely removing the unwanted parts of self from their writing.

The paradox is that writing comes from self, and yet sometimes self has to be purged from the final product for readers to find it fulfilling and finished. Such a polished feel is a key part of the reader’s perception of a book being professional and high quality. There are no fingerprints on the mirror showing the artist was there working, just a clear reflection of the world the writer is trying to create.
 
To Your Success,
MG

6 things to consider: contemplate yourself as a writer.

How much time have you taken – in between frantically cranking out stories – to consider what kind of writer you really are? We can considerably improve our writing, and our writing goals, by stopping to think about what makes us tick as writers, identifying when we are at our best, and defining our strengths and weaknesses. Once you identify your strengths, you can build on them. Once you acknowledge your weaknesses, you can fix them.

Here are six things to consider that will help focus your thinking on your internal development as a writer – regardless of the project you are working on at the moment. Whether you’ve yet to write a book or you’ve written a dozen, you will keep evolving as an author. You’ll always be learning if you keep your mind open.

We all write differently
​The first task of a writer is to understand that we all write differently. You need to find your own processes, your own joys and pains, and keep them in mind while you absorb the experiences and lessons of others. Ask yourself these types of questions when you contemplate yourself as a writer.

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What makes you work best and what stops you from working?
• Why do you enjoy writing?
• Do you have a special routine you enjoy or do you need to develop one?
• Do you write in spurts and then go silent until the words well up again?
• Where do your ideas come from?

​
How to fail
Once you decide to take writing seriously, you need to learn enough of the rules so you can do your best. Your knowledge of convention will evolve over time and as the words flowing from your fingertips compound. You don’t need to learn all the rules at once: the more experience you gain as a writer, the more rules you will become aware of and actively use. You’ll know when and why to use them and when to ignore them or break them in clever ways that lend novelty to your efforts.

More important, do you believe the secret to great writing is magic or rules – or some kind of balance between the two?

Many great writers have internalized the entire rule book to the point that they draw on it effortlessly. What is the role of exceptions to rules, and how important is this in great writing? Do you know when to use ’em and when to break ’em?

What makes a book?
If you are serious about writing, your next big task is to get stories down on paper.

1. Concept
2. Premise
3. Attention to detail
4. Time
5. A catapult
6. Self-confidence

Do you already have all six, or do you still need to work towards them? If any are missing, how do you go about getting them? Are you good at seeing the big picture or are you a details person when it comes to writing?

Embrace your inner plotter and pantserTo go beyond your concept, you’ll need a plot. You’ll write it either as a plotter (someone who outlines and scripts), a pantser (someone who writes by the seat of his pants), or a combination of the two. Finding the balance that works best for you is essential, although you may find it changes over time and from project to project. Are you a plotter or a pantser or some clear combination of the two? What do you think works better and why? This is a perennial debate among writers, and the fact is there are different ways to get there in the end. You might even be a quilter – one who pieces together the parts of your story.

Take yourself outAs you go deeper into writing, you come to the crucial task of self-editing. Here it pays to really know yourself and especially your weak points, so you can shore them up. Key to this is to figure out how to put the right type of “self” into your writing and remove any unnecessary aspects of self that will reduce the reading pleasure of your readers.

Why have you written what you’ve written? Is it all for you, all for your reader, or a combination? Have you left in parts of “self” that were just notes for you, or scaffolds upon which you built that you forgot to remove? How do you find such “only for yourself” traces in your fiction so you can erase them when the time to do so arrives?
 
To Your Success,
MG

LITERARY AWARDS. A few Sundays ago, I watched the Oscars. I don’t think I’ve watched in many years I’ve only gotten the recap the day after on who won. But this year, I sat through and watched intently. It was interesting to see the forerunners won in some cases and be gracious in others. But I think the thing that stuck out the most were the number of people who have been in lighting, sound, sound effects, music, directors and the like win for the first time. There were more than a few gray/white haired experts that took the stage for the first time as a winner or that were nominated. I remember specifically one man who ran his fingers through his silver hair as he spoke saying he’s been in the business for over 50 years and this was his first time nominated and winning.

So, it made me think about authors. How long have some of you been authors and have you ever entered your book in an award contest or even nominated your work for an awards? At the Oscars, the Academy makes the selection and such is the case with most literary awards. But this year I want to motivate and push each of you to select at least one award for which you’ll enter your book or have your book nominated. Do you think your book has what it takes to make the awards list? And I’m going to make it easy for you. Take a look at the short list below of upcoming book awards and check out the requirements for entry. You’ll be surprised at how important what you’ve written is, but also how worthy it is to share with more than just your local market.

Make sure you let us know if you enter and we will surely share it! So, take the action and enter. You can’t be awarded if you don’t enter.

To Your Success,

MG

 
ILLUMINATION BOOK AWARDS
 
The Illumination Book Awards are designed to honor the year's best new titles written and published with a Christian worldview. Award categories range from Bible Study and Devotional to family-oriented subjects like Education and Children's Picture Book. The purpose of the Illumination Book Awards is to bring award recipients the credibility and publicity they need to further their book marketing and sales success.
The 2018 Illumination Awards are now open! Click HERE to request entry info or to ask a question.




ILLUMINATION WEBSITE
ENTRY FORM & GUIDELINES

2017 MEDALISTS
MERCHANDISE STORE
 
http://illuminationawards.com/2017Illumination_Book_Awards_Guidelines.pdf

21 EMAIL IDEAS FOR AUTHORS
What is the biggest reason why authors aren’t using email marketing to build a fan base and stay connected:
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“I don’t know what to write about.”
Many nonfiction and fiction authors don’t have ideas for content they can offer in their emails—like juicy tidbits that tie into their expertise, topic or books. Yet at publishing conferences, they hear speakers and book coaches recommend that they build an email list. Most authors have no clue ​

Here are some examples of authors who are using email to stay in touch with their fans. I’ve included some fictional examples, too, so you can see how email can be a powerful marketing tool for authors in any genre.
​
For a Freelance Writer
Freelance writer Elizabeth Cottrell writes about four key topics at her blog at Heartspoken.com: “the connection to self, to others, to nature and to God.” Two important topics are the importance of handwriting sympathy and thank-you notes. In her emails, she can share:

• A short template for a sympathy note.
  
• 3 things NOT to say when sending a sympathy note to a friend who has lost a loved one. (Example: “You’ll eventually get over this.”)
  
• Her favorite three websites or Pinterest boards where people can find inspiration for writing thank-you notes.

For a Children’s Educational Curriculum Writer

Author Rosemarie Pagano created a fun vocabulary series called FAB VOCAB for kids, designed to teach students about unusual words. She created a character named Robin Bird to make learning fun and easy to understand. She has a weekly blog series called FAB VOCAB and she’s creating “The Worm Whisperer” series, all about good worms, bad worms and yucky worms.

She told me about these three ideas can share:

• A “word of the week” and the history of the word, with a download link to a printable image the child can hang on a wall or collect in a “FAB VOCAB” index card box. She can cross-promote from the blog to the email tips and vice-versa. 
  
• A request for students to send her a word they find interesting, gross, confusing, etc. What a great way to engage readers!
  
• A monthly “word search” diagram that challenges students to “find the word” hidden in a word puzzle she will create. Note: Rosemarie is creating a lot of her own content. But you don’t have to do everything yourself. In addition to your own content, you can link to other people’s articles, blog posts, etc. 
  

​
For a Children’s Fantasy Author
You’ve written a book for children, about a secret forest inhabited by fairies. Share:

• Instructions on how to make a fairy costume. These don’t even have to be your instructions. You can link to someone else’s.
  
• The 5 most famous fairies in history, and a short explanation of their origin (the Tooth Fairy, the Sugar Plum Fairy, Tinkerbell…)
  
• Your favorite online stores for games, costumes, puzzles, books, calendars, posters and music about fairies. 

For a Contemporary Romance Author
​A romance author can write:

• Do’s and don’ts for online dating. 
• Her favorite three places in Denver for a fun first date. She can use this same idea for other cities in future emails.
• The benefits of marrying late in life. 

For a Gluten-free Cookbook Author
Your book is about how to make gluten-free desserts. You can share:

• A funny story about the biggest mistake you made when learning how to bake gluten-free. (Readers love this!)
• The following week, ask readers to submit their funniest story to you with permission to share them with your other readers. 
• Your three favorite foodie TV shows, even if they aren’t about gluten-free cooking.For a Murder Mystery Author

You write about murder mysteries. You can share:

• An interview with a forensics expert.
• A character, a scene, a chapter or a sub-plot you created and then decided to eliminate from one of your books—and why. 
• Facts about the most puzzling real-life murder mystery of all time, with a link to a book, video or podcast about it.

For a Relationship Expert
You write about murder mysteries. You can share:

• You write about how to create healthy relationships that lead to a lifelong marriage. You can share:
• An example of a celebrity marriage that has endured for many years—and why. Offer their tips and your own.
• How TV shows like “The Bachelorette” harm young people.
• A mistake you made in your own marriage, what you learned from it, and how your readers can keep from making it.
  
  

To Your Success,

MG

You’re Not Insane, Stop acting like it…
​
Authors sometimes don’t want to hear what works in creating a successful book campaign—campaigns that include the creation, the marketing and the sales of a book … they would rather keep doing the same thing … the thing that has produced no results. Which is usually sitting on their still. Or if they did try “something” and it didn’t work, that they then choose to sit on their buns because nothing else will work. Or, if they had cost overruns in creating the book (and just who is responsible for that?—yes, dear author—look in the mirror), they refuse to do anything to support/market their book once they have all those books sitting in the garage.

Stop the Insanity … And please, pass me the barf bag so I can continue …

Great—you’ve got a book. What’s next? What’s next has to be marketing and selling of it. What’s next is teaching it and you how to connect with others. What’s next is telling the world. What’s next is to stop rationalizing, making excuses and justifying why you can’t market it. What’s next is for you, dear author, to commit—recommit—to your book and yourself.

“I’m tired.” So … we all are.  The creation of a book can lead to Book Fatigue Syndrome—I get it, you need a rest. Take a week or two off … but then, it’s back to work.

“I’ve already committed so much money, I can’t put another penny on my credit card …”  What were you thinking in the first place—that if you just held a copy of your finished book that the world would flock to the stores, the Internet, your website, your front door, you ,to get a copy? Get over it—you need expert marketing help … starting right now.

“I just want to write …” This is so yesteryear. No author gets to do the ostrich bit these days. Part of authoring is connecting with potential and ongoing book buyers. It means marketing, marketing, and more marketing.

“I hired the wrong person …” Yep, it happens. Lick your wounds—determine what went wrong in the process—then get back to work.

“I don’t know how to do all this social media stuff…” Welcome to the crowd … but there are those out there that do … and guess what—they are part of the book marketing campaign—your book marketing campaign. Your book budget.

Too, too many authors abandon the book ship early in the process. And what do they do? Many start another book—maybe a variation of what they just did. And what will happen when they finish? Most likely, abandonment. In effect, you’ve become an unfit author/parent. What are you thinking? Stop the insanity. Today. Now.

To Your Success,
​
MG

If you are considering entering a writing contest and wondering why it is charging an entry fee, consider the operating costs of the contest provider.

I was recently sent an email asking, “Do you think I should enter a writing contest? I, considering it, but I really don’t want to pay the fee. “I’ll sometimes find a contest that might work for me, but then the publication requests $10, $20, and sometimes more to enter. Most times I just pass. Why should I pay to present my work? I have paid a few, but generally, I balk at anything over $10.” What do you think?

My first reply is, “Would you fund a contest out of your own pocket and work for free?”

Contests can present remarkable opportunities for authors, particularly unpublished authors. They can expose your work to audiences and jumpstart your career – not to mention pay you for your writing. They are an oft under-appreciated chance to further a writer’s reach and reputation.

A tiny minority of writing contests out there do not charge a fee. Why? Perhaps they have a major sponsorship or the financial means to operate without having to ask for fees. Most contests simply do not have that luxury.
​
I managed a contest for nearly a decade, and I can tell you it was not cheap to run. Still, we offered a category that required an entry fee, and another that didn’t. To make a point, the winner of the no-entry-fee category received a meager $50 first prize, while the winner of the entry-fee category earned a more generous $500 prize.

If you are considering entering a writing contest and wondering why it is charging an entry fee, consider the operating costs of the contest provider, including:

Prize money. No organization has bottomless pockets. The money for operations, including prize money, has to come from somewhere. Why not entry fees?

Judges. If the contest boasts the participation of a reputable judge or two (or more), they have to cough up the money to pay these judges. Just as no writer should be expected to work for free, no writer, publisher, or agent who serves as a contest judge should either.

Advertising. You’d never hear about a contest if it were not advertised. Advertising is not free. That money has to come from somewhere.

Publishing. Many writing contests include publication as part of the prize. Whether print or online – but particularly in print – there are expenses affiliated with publishing.

There’s also the qualifier of setting a barrier to entry. In my experience, contests that require an entry fee typically attract better work. The first contest we ran was a bit of an experiment, and the results confirmed what we expected: the quality of writing was higher in the entry-fee category. When there was no financial barrier to entry and writers had nothing to risk, the quality of the writing submitted was notably inferior. It wasn’t even close. That fact alone justifies the entry fee.

Back to the email I received, I look at things precisely the opposite way: if I see a contest that does not charge an entry fee, I’d advise you to investigate more to determine how they can afford to fund the competition. Even then, I wonder why an organization would choose to forgo the income stream provided by entry fees and avoid drawing funds away from other needs in its enterprise.

In short, if you find a contest that seems legitimate and suits your writing, pay the entry fee. A reputable contest provider has the right – and the need – to charge it. Plus, it might inspire you to submit a better-quality product.
 
Purpose Publishing will be hosting a book contest, Fall 2018. Stay tuned for details.

To Your Success,


MG

What’s in a name? There can be benefits to using a pen name, but I believe there are many more downsides to using a pseudonym than upsides.
​
I don’t think I’ve ever talked about it here or if anyone ever asked. But I thought I’d take a little time to discuss a few notes on using pseudonyms as authors. I read about Nora Roberts, the author of more than 150 romance novels when asked why she writes romantic suspense novels under a pseudonym. Her answer: “It’s marketing.”

She says that writing quickly makes it difficult for her publisher to publish all of her work with an appropriate amount of time between each release, so she writes works which are “edgier” than her romance novels under the pseudonym J. D. Robb. She says, “Putting it under a pseudonym helps brand it for the reader.” Children’s writers often separate their real names or their “other” writing names from their children’s work to keep work intended for children untainted.

All these reasons are absolutely valid, and there are many more. But I believe there are many more downsides to using a pseudonym than upsides, especially from a marketing and organizational perspectives.

Now, this is just my take on it and of course, you’ll personally have to weigh the pros and cons for your title and your career, but keep in mind that Ms. Roberts has a powerhouse publisher and marketing department to help her navigate the difficulties inherent in using a pseudonym.

If you are considering using a pen name, here’s 6 things you should know:

1. It is difficult to keep a pen name secret. Everyone knows who Kristie Leigh Maguire is, for example, but most know that it is a pen name. Once they know, the author has lost the privacy value of using a pseudonym.
   
   
2. If people didn’t already know that “Robb” was Nora Roberts’ pen name, most of them do now since Time magazine let the cat out of the bag in a featured interview. The magazine also revealed (big time) that Nora Roberts is also a pen name! Suddenly, I don’t feel the same affinity for her as a person or an author. I don’t even know her name. In one fell swoop, her pen name lost some of its branding value.
   
   
3. It is very hard to promote a book in person when you use a pen name, especially if you choose an opposite-sex pen name. In fact, promotion of all kinds can become touchy. You may lose authenticity. That loss must be balanced against whatever reason you are using to convince yourself it’s a good idea.
   
   
4. Consider this, how hard it is to be a good liar? It requires having an amazing memory and as well as a deceptive nature. Most authors struggle enough learning to nurture the marketing, publicity, TV, radio, and speaking skills they had no idea they’d ever need when they started writing. Trying to remember all the little white lies (or big whoppers) you may find yourself telling may not be worth the effort. I mean, Nora Roberts finally gave up on the biggest fib of all: that she uses pen names. In the Time interview, she discarded pretense and became herself.
   
   
5. Then there’s the technical, time-consuming – and potentially expensive – mire of branding yourself over and over again for every pen name you have. Consider everywhere you publish your brand- websites, blog posts, email accounts, and social media exploits. And even worse, think how much less effective those efforts will be because they are diluted since you only have so much time to devote to branding each of those names. If you think you will never have to do that, that you never expect to change genres or run into a marketing misstep that forces you to return to your real name, you may be mistaken. Many multi-genre authors didn’t expect to do that when they wrote their first book. And, like the kid getting his driver’s license at sixteen, most of us don’t expect to have marketing accidents.
   
   
6. Using a pen name isn’t necessarily an effective barrier against lawsuits. But do ask your attorney.

Just a little food for thought. Of course, at the end of the day your book, your name. Whether you choose your birth name or a name you birth, you’ll still have the responsibility of doing everything you can to market, promote and sell your book.
 
To your Success,
MG

At the end of every year, there are many lists published with the “Top Everything” from movies to people. There is always a little good, bad and ugly included, but it’s the tops nonetheless. But this year for our industry a really nice infographic went out, produced by the team at Global English Editing. They took it a little deeper and gave us a view into the reading habits of Americans in 2017.
 
Just a little Bad News! It does not discourage me when I see only 13% of Americans say they didn’t read a book in 2017. It’s not an horrendously high number… though that additional 7% who say they’re “not sure” if they read a book are probably just too embarrassed to admit it, so we could round that number up to 20%. Well, even with that we could use a little work.

Here’s the Good News! Young people are reading more than anyone, which is good news; print books are more popular than eBooks, defying the predictions of the doomsday purveyors who predicted print would be dead by now; and six of the nine top-grossing authors of 2017 are American, for all of you keeping score at home.

Check it Out! The infographic also highlights the year’s top sellers, in both printed and eBook formats, the most popular books by state, and a listing of the most literate cities in the US. Is ours among them? Check out the infographic and find out.

Let’s work on it this year and maybe we can get our titles listed on 2019’s “Most Anticipated Books” list. Happy Reading!

To Your Success,
​
MG

As we have closed a very busy and productive year, I just wanted to personally thank you for helping us improve what we do at Purpose Publishing as we lean into the New Year 2018.

Whether you've allowed us the opportunity to be part of your book's publication as your printer and/or book distributor; whether you're an established indie publisher or a new author just getting your feet wet; whether we met you at an author event this year; or whether you simply take part in our publisher education via our downloadable guides, social media, videos, or blog; you have helped us learn and grow, and for that we are always grateful.

Our goal, first and foremost, is to help you make your books available to readers around the world, whether they discover your work(s) directly from your social media, a book review, in a library, or a physical bookstore or online store. We're just as overjoyed as you are when we see your books in all of our favorite book-buying places, and know, from your feedback, that this is one of the reasons you most love publishing your books with us.

Looking ahead to 2018, we are working to streamline the royalties’ payout system by adding a PayPal feature allowing us to electronically make your statements & funds easier to get to you. We are intent to provide you with the tools you need to successfully navigate the challenging world of book publishing, so look for improved tools and resources that we intend to help you reach your author goals.

Last year we took giant step forward as Purpose Publishing celebrated a major milestone, 100 Books & 100 Authors! It's incredible how far we've come in seven short years and impossible to imagine Ingram Distribution without all of the amazing lndie authors and the fantastic books they've created and shared. We’ll still be celebrating this year by rolling out many new services that you’ve requested and showcasing more authors and what they’re doing. 2018 promises to be another fantastic year for us all.

I hope you can find the time to read and write during this first quarter. Happy New Year to everyone with a story, past, present, or future, and the courage to share it!
 
To Your Success,
MG

Four small changes that will improve your career in 2018

By Michelle Gines 


This year, make New Years resolutions that mesh with your professional life?

Hey, you never know. Maybe 2018 will finally be the year you read 50 books, exercise every single day, or become a world champ of some activity you’ve never tried before. But just in case it’s not, may we suggest that you consider a more realistic (and perhaps more impactful) target for your New Year’s resolutions?

Try your work/business life, where small changes can make a big difference in your efficacy and stress levels. Here are four specific areas of work life we at Purpose Publishing recommend targeting in 2018:

1. Resist procrastinating

Productive procrastination is a myth. Instead of rationalizing your delay, try one of these research-backed strategies for beating it:


Commit to just five minutes: Procrastination is often caused by fear. Committing to just five minutes, rather than beginning with the intention of completing an entire project or running an entire marathon, can help reduce inhibition and what psychologists call the “costs of an activity.”

Visualize your future self: When you procrastinate, you unload work from your current self to your future self. Psychologists at Northwestern, Stanford and Carleton universities have demonstrated how keeping that future self in mind can help you avoid procrastination.


2. Experiment with your routine

There is no single routine that will work for everyone. Finding your best self might involve some experimentation. Here are three that worked for us in the last year.

Get up earlier: This has been a game-changer for Purpose Publishing writer Chasity Offhill. “After the arrival of my second child last year, I fell into a habit of waking up in the morning to the sound of the baby’s cry,” she says. “Starting my day by reacting to something else made me feel like I was constantly catching up, a sense that often persisted through the morning rush and into the workday. But once the kid got into a more regular routine, and after I spent a week with the Rock Clock app, I started setting my alarm for 5:45am, about an hour before my kids rise. Game-changer. These days I’m showered, breakfasted, and have checked in with colleagues three time-zones ahead before the first little person starts yelling upstairs. I feel in control of my day again. Thanks Mr. Rock!”


Block apps that suck your time: Purpose Publishing contributing editor Michael Keye uses his phone’s parental-control feature to block news apps and help him focus. “I’m a 38-year-old dad, and I’m obsessed with my iPhone’s parental controls,” he wrote in an article for Purpose Publishing . “No, it’s not because my kids use my phone to view questionable YouTube videos. It’s because I can’t stop myself from reading articles about Donald Trump.” Here’s how you can set up the same system. Another way to save screen time? Purpose Publishing reporter Dawn Gabriel recommends using your phone’s voice-control feature to set reminders.

Understand whether you’re on “clock time” or “event time”: As Purpose Publishing author Mark Curio explains, “Clock-time people, as the name implies, run their lives according to an arranged schedule, assigning tasks to interchangeable time blocks of various sizes,” while event-time people “allow events to dictate the rhythm of their days. When invited to dinner, they feel no pressing need to discuss what time that dinner might be held. Their version of setting up a phone chat might be, ‘I’ll call as soon as I’ve finished my lunch.’ And they’ll eat, by the way, when they’re hungry, not when the clock strikes a particular hour.” Understanding the difference between the two time philosophies can help relieve tension with people who don't. 

3. Get organized

You don’t need to hire a productivity guru, get a masters degree in operations, or even make a daily commitment. Here are two simple ways to save time that involve minimal upfront investment.

Install these four apps:  Blogger, Tiago Forte has a simple system for managing email and tasks, and it starts with installing just four apps: a “read it later” app, a task manager, a digital calendar, and a digital cabinet. Charity Lund took his advice. “I am a prolific maker of lists and notes-to-self,” she says. “For years I have composed these little reminders everywhere: the Notes app on my phone, Evernote, unsent draft emails, and the old-fashioned Lois-Lane-reporter’s notebook I carry in my bag. This system works exactly as you would expect it to: fine, most of the time, with a few frantic searches for that really important thing I wrote down…somewhere.” After she tried Tiago’s system, she says, “my notes are now searchable and I feel more organized. I’m sure there’s a better way to catalogue the mounting number of files now piling up in the sidebar, but hey—now I have a productivity goal for 2018.”

Set aside 15 minutes each week to organize yourself: You’ll thank yourself for the daily stress that you’ll save by setting up a weekly review in which you plan for the week ahead and clear out your to-do list.

4. Give better feedback & get better at receiving feedback

Abundant research shows positive feedback is a key tool for creating healthy, productive teams. But managers hesitate to provide positive feedback for all sorts of reasons, ranging from fear of getting close to employees that they might need to fire to appearing weak or judgmental. Here is how to get better at giving feedback this year:

Follow a simple formula: Be specific, discuss the impact of the other person’s behavior, and show your gratitude.

Understand how to receive feedback: “In any exchange of feedback, it’s actually the receiver who is in charge, because they’re the one who decides what to listen to and how to make sense of it,” Sheila Heen, a Harvard University law school lecturer who studies feedback, told Purpose Publishing last year. “If you can get good at it, you can accelerate your own learning and you can learn from anybody; you don’t have to wait for the right mentor to show up, and you don’t have to wait until someone decides that they have time to give you some feedback. You can learn feedback-receiving skills so that you can learn even from givers who are terrible at it.” This is huge! If you really want to grow, doing this one thing will put you light years ahead. 

2018 is your year to shine  Start today!


To your success,

MG

Ready for a Happy New Year!

It’s almost 2018, Friends! We send New Year Greetings to all of our clients and loved ones. We could not have celebrated 100 Books & 100 Authors without every one of you.

With this fresh new year is once again upon us. It’s the time to be thankful for the blessings of the past year and to take stock of all our achievements. At the same time, New Year 2018 is a brand new year to start afresh, to start strong, and yet another chance to do everything we want to do this year.

The amazing thing with chances is how we get them every year. So, set positive goals and work towards them. Hang them where you can see them every hour of the new year. And be excited for what you can achieve in 2018.

In the meantime, enjoy the fireworks, the loud and boisterous family dinners, and the quiet intimate meal with your loved one. And don’t forget! Greet everyone love.

Congratulation and thank you for celebrating with us.

To Your Success in 2018,
​
MG

Author Feature: Lia McIntosh
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Tools of the Trade

Join the Freebooksy Author program

Authors can choose to either buy a banner ad on the site for $30, or buy a feature. For $50, the feature includes a featured post on the site, and a post to 90,000 Facebook fans and 7,000 Twitter followers. For an additional $50, authors are also featured in a promoted Facebook post and in the daily email that goes to over 150,000 readers. The only stipulation is the book must be priced free during promotion.


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Authors Who Mean Business – Lia McIntosh

• NEW BOOK SHE WHO RISES - Completely free - NO CATCH - JUST PAY SHIPPING & HANDLING•

Merry Christmas
​
I enjoy this time of year as the hustle and bustle intensifies amidst the lights, green trees and snow. I love the feeling I get hanging with friends or cuddling next to the fire and my honey. I’m quickly reminded and I should never forget the gift of God we have in Jesus. As you celebrate with your family and friends remember He is the reason for the season.

Merry Christmas form Purpose Publishing.

MG

Author Feature: Julee Jonez
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Tools of the Trade - Our Christmas Gift to You

Our gift to you
2 e-book Business Building reports. Yours Free ($75 value) Download here

Women Who Mean Business – Yolanda Harper

​I'm  excited to announce the launch of Yolanda Harper's first ebook, Mastering Self Care: 7 Simple Strategies to a Better You. This easy read will challenge your thinking from start to finish.

Click this link on the flyer below to order and download your copy today!

What will you leave behind?

If, like millions of adults, you have ever asked yourself, "What is the purpose of my life?" then you will discover There’s a surprisingly, simple solution for soul searchers in their thirties, forties, midlife, and beyond. The key to overcoming the obstacles that get in the way of finding fulfillment in adulthood is to shape a legacy that will last beyond our lifetimes.

As I’m getting older, I’m enthralled with the idea of how the life and work I’m doing now will affect our legacies that live on after my own death. I give G.O.A.L a different meaning. For me it’s Go On After Life! What am I doing now that will continue after I’m gone. When I leave this earthly habitat and experience eternity, I want the father to say to me “well done good and faithful servant”. But I’d like my family and friends to be able to say thank you for what I’ve left behind.  It’s my personal cultivation and desire in this life to impact future generations. Building a solid business or developing a new idea can be as vital as raising children or sharing our wisdom with young ones -- and for each of us, finding your personal legacy that is right is half the challenge. What will your legacy for your children be? It’s not only a financial, but morals and values that should be passed down from generation to generation as well.

Here are 6 steps to begin your line of thinking about what will you leave behind?

​1. First, look to the past. Deal with positive and negative ideals received from our parents or others. What shaped your outlook on life? Was it positive or negative?


2. The second step is called stop any damage. You recognize in this stage when we as parents can buffer or protect our children from our own painful experiences.


3. The third step, we find our voice. This is where we use it to influence and shape the lives of those around us. Our children, our friends, our family and even our co-workers. A kind word, a smile, a laugh are all apaet of the legacy we leave behind.


4. The fourth step is a call for blending our lives with the lives of others. It's team work, collaboration and love. It's here that we truly see how each joint supplies. The giving of ourselves together to create a beautiful mosaic of life. This is the place that your legacy comes alive. Right here, when you and them (all the others in your life) can see how you made each other's lives better, richer,  more fulfilled-legacy.


 5. By now, we begin to choose what to hold onto and what should be let go. Legacy will require us letting go of our creations, such as seeing our children off to find their own way, or selling a business when the time comes to move on. In order to be a legacy we leave behind, we have to be comfortable letting go.


6. And the final step is when we learn to share, that we experience the ultimate fulfillment. Remember when you were a child and watching the older generation watching you? Now, you become the older generation watching the younger ones.  
Creating a legacy that lasts is within each person's grasp. This is an innovative and sophisticated way to inspire yourself or other’s to prepare for your future. What will you leave behind?

To Your Success,

MG

Author Feature: Pam Mair
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Tools of the Trade

Have your book reviewed via an interview w/ Author Marketing Ideas.

The service launched last year. All books are given a thorough review, which is posted as a video on YouTube.

Women Who Mean Business - Giving Hope & Help

Don’t forget!

You know, I’ve been around 7 years now. I’ve seen new faces come and go, some stay longer than others, some just drift away and not heard from again. We wish for all to live the life they’ve been called to live and share in the divine inheritance that is for all of us. I had a chance to spend the day with my mentor recently and we laughed and giggled throughout the entire lunch. It was wonderful to sit down and express my gratitude over lunch of just how thankful I am for who she has been to me. I’m still growing and dreaming. She still listens and encourages; challenges to a degree. And I love it!

Don’t let the abundance of God’s gifts cause you to forget him.

As a student of human nature, I find this interesting. I find it fascinating how different personalities react to even the slightest bit of fame and success. As a publisher and promoter of others, this information gets tucked away in my old memory bank to be used as future fodder for upcoming promotions, events and buzz in the literary community. I love seeing people do really well.

Now, some might turn into the Parking Meter Cop. You know the one who might have been a cool guy, easy going guy in his past life, but once that uniform goes on- stand back buddy! It’s hilarious to watch… but informing. The better we know people, the better we can appreciate them and the God that added them to our lives.
 
I enjoy helping people find their success, their voice, their passion, and their purpose. I think that’s what makes being a publisher really cool. I get to do what many have done for me. I get to encourage, uplift, steer and push. The results are always amazing and never just what we wanted, but more. So, I want to thank everyone for all the help they’ve ever given me.
 
And thanks to my mom, my mentor and one of the best encouragers I’ve ever known. It doesn’t have to be mother’s day or her birthday for me to say I love you and thank you, Sharon Graham. I thank God for the wonderful gift he has given me in my mom. And thanks to every client that calls me their publisher, here’s to 100 Books & 100 Authors.
 
To Your Success,
​
MG

Author Feature: Voices Of Glory
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Tools of the Trade
​If you’re working with a really small budget, get an online presence with about.me. Use this platform as a cool way to show off your resume. You can also add a link to buy a book.

People Who Mean Business - Voices Of Glory

Be a blessing to keep being a blessing.
​
​The good news is that we have the option to change our focus, and change our future. We can choose to adjust our focus and begin to see growing prosperity in all areas of our lives. I like this quote I heard recently by Joel Osteen, When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance.

A great positive outlook has always made a difference in my life. I believe wholeheartedly that the full glass will always over flow. Powerful forces are released when we focus on the positive, and focus on being a blessing. And keep in mind: this is not in reference to the financial realm only, but all areas of life; spiritually, emotionally, physically, and financially.
​
Here’s 4 quick ways I like to stay focused on being positive. Everyday.

   1 .Focus on GIVING – Not Getting
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God gave so we can give. None of the gifts and blessings we receive should be self-absorbed. Nothing we have is meant to be hoarded. We are told to be good stewards over all that has been given to us. Giving and sharing is a basic elementary principle. We are blessed to be a blessing.

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken
together, and running over.”
— Luke 6:38

   2. Focus on Serving Others
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​God gave us family and friends, and our relationships come with the responsibility to help one another. Of course we all have needs, but the trouble starts when we put our focus on our own personal needs not being met. Soon frustration, bitterness, and anger creeps in because of what another person is not doing. But our focus needs to be on “What can I do to help meet their need?” and not on what they can do to meet mine. When our focus is on meeting the needs of others and trusting God to meet ours, we also live with a great sense of peace

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all
​ understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 4:6-7

   3. Focus on Living Life with a Positive Purpose

​Life is short. We should live with a purpose to be positive, godly examples and good stewards over the time we are given. It is important to be a life-long student and teacher; always learning and always passing on that knowledge. Ultimately, teaching others how to teach.

“That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born;
​ who should arise and declare them to their children.”
— Psalm 78:6

Empower your communication with purpose and be a blessing in words. Much of our communication today lacks power because it lacks purpose.

   4. Focus on Love

Live life with a purpose to do all things in love. Let love be a primary focus and measure of giving. Remember, God so loved that He gave. God gave first – let us focus on His example of abundant loving and giving, and follow it.

Bottom line: Focus on being a blessing and unleash powerful forces in your life! Be generous, serve, purpose to empower others, and love abundantly. May you be blessed to be a blessing and live a life of growing prosperity!

To Your Success
​
MG

Join the BookDaily Author program

Book Daily’s Emerging Authors program offers authors the chance for their books to be featured on BookDaily.com, ArcaMax.com, and in an email blast to 50,000 subscribers for $49.
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http://www.bookdaily.com/bdconnect

Obstacles, Doubts & Mistakes…Oh My! 

We all have our own set of obstacles, doubts and mistakes, but we can overcome them all. I talk with many authors and entrepreneurs as we discuss the journey of being and indie authors. The truth is that choosing to self-publish means you’ve chosen a course that takes work; sometimes hard work. But we all can make it despite the work required. This week the focus is going to be on the tools we’ve share with you so far. It is our every intention that you make the most of the resources we share, ones you’ve heard about and even ones that may even seem farfetched. We are a community that is established to learn, share and grow together. You don’t have to know it all- just know people and you’ll eventually learn more to grow more. Here are three tips to help along the way:

• Share good information. Keep your content rich. Share from your experiences, ups and downs. We all can take a licking and keep on ticking.
• Connect with People. Don’t just sell books. Although you may have a great story, advice or coaching. People want to hear from the heart of the person speaking, if you’re always selling. People will never hear that and they’ll eventually unplug. Find ways to connect, not just contract.
• ​For the Business. It’s almost tax season. Do you have all your receipts for all your business transactions. It’s time to start getting all that together. Make it easy on yourself and your tax guy/girl.

​https://www.bookgrabbr.com/faq#faq-1​