A recent study by the National Endowment for the Arts showed that fiction reading is on the rise, especially among 18- to 24-year-olds.
–Newsweek
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If you missed an incredible second Saturday with PR Specialist Taquinda Johnson!
She gave us great notes, but she also offered a special consultation for three fortunate Motown Writers’ Members.
Get a PR consultation for only $97. This is $150 Value.
Grab your consultation now.
This is a limited offer and only a limited amount will be given this price.
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There are a lot of other “publishers” and “service providers” who are offering “packages” to authors whose publishers have closed their doors. Don’t be surprised if you receive an email that goes something like, “Dear Author, we noticed that [Insert Publisher Name] is no longer in business, and we’d love to provide you with our services to get you back in print…” It’s like they have a list of authors published by those houses, and are contacting them all in hopes of making money off them, isn’t it? Well, don’t do it. Don’t spend a penny on it. Remember, when it comes to publishers: if you have to pay, run away. Publishers are supposed to make their money from readers, not writers. Learn how to spot a scam here. Read more of this post |
My partner and I have been together, more or less, for fourteen years. In that time, I have learned all sorts of odd things about him– some of which are charming, some of which are kind of gross (because ew, boys), and some of which are probably pretty normal. However, only one of his weird idiosyncrasies stresses me the eff out: the man doesn’t use bookmarks. Ever.
I don’t mean that he avoids fancy, expensive magnetic bookmarks or tries to avoid free advertising for the local indie bookstore by refusing their giveaway bookmarks at the register. I don’t even mean that he refuses to dog ear his pages or won’t soil a book by using a discarded receipt or business card in his novel. I mean exactly what I say: the man doesn’t use anything as a bookmark. Ever.
His logic is kind of sound, I guess.
Read more: http://bookriot.com/2017/06/15/my-partner-doesnt-use-bookmarks-and-it-stresses-me-out/
If you missed an incredible second Saturday with PR Specialist Taquinda Johnson!
She gave us great notes, but she also offered a special consultation for three fortunate Motown Writers’ Members.
Get a PR consultation for only $97. This is $150 Value.
Grab your consultation now.
This is a limited offer and only a limited amount will be given this price.
Take your fears to the next level and use them to gain more book sales and achieve more literary goals!
https://www.e-junkie.com/ejm/hubbooks
Comment now about your book fears this month or leave your marketing challenges you’ve overcome to teach others!
Wed, July 12, 2017
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM EDT
“Just because you have a computer, doesn’t make you a writer,” said a publishing executive at a recent Book Expo of America.
Fact is 81% of all Americans think they should write a book (according to Write & Publish magazine) and only two percent of that crowd ever actually complete a manuscript – and get it published.
True computers have made writing a book easier and print-on-demand (POD) has made publishing a snap. Problem is there are about 150,000 new books a year and they’re not all selling!
So here are some simple things to do to move you from book idea, manuscript to real sales!
Learn about writing. Taking writing courses. You can go to American Christian Writers website and get info on their American School of Christian Writing, The Writer’s Institute and/or Writer’s Mini Course. Also subscribe to their newsletter (The Christian Communicator or The Advanced Christian Writer). Take time to go to various writers’ conferences where you’ll meet editors, publishers and other authors. You may even find a mentor at some of these events.
Getting a writing mentor is so critical to your success – if you listen and heed their advice! There are tons of book coaches. Google book coach.
Finally, read! Best-selling Christian fiction author, Victoria Christopher Murray, said on a recent Chocolate Pages Show, “In order to be a good writer, you have to read good writing.” I am so surprised when I talk to many Christian writers and I ask if they have read any of the “best-sellers” – as least the Christian or spiritual books. They answer, “NO.”
Some have never even read “The Purpose Driven Life” (the best selling book of all time), The Shack (a Christian publishing phenomenon in the book world) or The Secret (at least take cues how they have marketed the mega-star of a book). Most Christian authors don’t even take note of any of the top 10 New York Times or CBA best-sellers.
Ughh! You have to know what the market is buying and read it to see why the book is highly acclaimed. By doing a little homework, you can improve your writing. You have to move it from a hobby to a craft if you want a viable book.
Books Every Writer Needs at Their Fingertips!
– On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Knowlton Zinsser
Best book I’ve read on what, specifically, makes up a great piece of writing
– The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr., E. B. White
Also subscribe to Writer’s Digest. Invaluable information every month!
Learn about self-publishing and how the book industry works. I have had writers come to me and tell me their “publishing nightmare” stories. They talk about how printers or subsidy publishers took advantage of them.
Yes, there are companies who will swindle you. But, if you are well-informed, it will lessen the chances of someone ripping you off. Don’t rely on one source for all your information. Use Google and do some research! You must do your due diligence.
Know where to get an ISBN, how to get national distribution, where to find a cover designer, typesetter, printer, etc. Ask other self-published authors what they’ve done and how it has worked for them. Follow the leaders. Do what they did to achieve success.
Study what Kendra Norman Bellamy, Stephanie Perry Moore, Marilynn Griffith or Kim Brooks have done. Most authors have their “publishing testimonial” on their website or offer publishing tips to new authors. Read their advice – you can learn from mistakes or from mentors. Mentors are cheaper.
Learn about marketing and publicity. Build a platform. No book will sell without telling others about it – over and over again. Not just once. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising. Creating “buzz” requires a strategy and a strong platform. (See this Podcast show)
Once the book is published a lot of authors believe it will sell by itself. Many Christians sway the other way and are too humble to tell anyone about their book. They believe if they put it up on Amazon or tell a few of their “yes buddies” it will take off. NOT! Just like any product that is sold for cold cash, it must be marketed and promoted in order to sell. It takes money to make money.
Learn about agents. Agents are not your “literary fairy God-mothers.” They are in business to make money. And they make money by selling “marketable” writers to publishing houses. Besides having a great book, decent platform, an audience – you must also have a good book proposal. The proposal is what sells your book. Part of that proposal is the marketing plan. Again, it’s about the bottom line.
It took former Heart & Soul editor Stephanie Stokes Oliver 25 years to have her first book published. And she had a platform and was a professional writer. She had to find the right publishing house. She says she went through 10 agents and eventually got the divine connection and got three book deals.
Learn about Web 2.0, podcasting, blogging, social networking. Did you know you can blog on Amazon.com if you’re an author? You can even put up video reviews. How cool is that? You must embrace technology and keep up with what is moving books. Obviously the best way to move books is to get people talking – and the more they hear your passion and get curious about all the “buzz” they keep hearing from you online – the more you will attract customers.
So, “get out there” by joining Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace and Twitter. Do a Blogtalk Radio Show and get a YouTube channel. Post up your blogs in RSS feeds and even do some daring stuff like join a lot of “nings” or start one! Join the Chocolate Pages Network (a new social network for Christian Authors). There is so many ways for an author to get exposure online – hey, it may even up on Oprah as part of her “Book Club.”
Ministry marketing pioneer and PR Coach Pam Perry helps African American Christian authors garner publicity and leverage online strategies. As a 20-year PR veteran, she is also the co-author of “Synergy Energy: How to Use the Power of Partnerships to Market Your Book, Grow Your Business and Brand Your Ministry.” For a free MP3 of “What Every Christian Author Should Know,” go to http://www.PamPerryPR.com/. She’s also the creator of the ChocolatePagesNetwork, a social network for Christian authors and the Chocolate Pages Show at Blogtalk radio.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Pam_Perry/267934
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1870371
Take The Next Step:
I’m interested in coaching/consulting services
I’m interested in “Done For You” Marketing, Branding & PR Services
I’m always available to answer questions for you because it may be the questions millions of other authors are trying to get answer and the answer we come up with could help not only you, but others as well.
If you’d like just a private consultation, click here.
Now, HOW CAN I HELP YOU? (Leave your response in the comments)
To find out abt speaker go to
Www.meetup.com/michiganliterarynetwork
To get the powerpoint, here it is…
https://motownwriters.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/motown-writers-saved-and-successful-7-steps-to-kick-start-pr.pptx
Heres the pdf
https://motownwriters.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/motown-writers-saved-and-successful-7-steps-to-kick-start-pr1.pdf
I’ll add notes later….
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Any of you who regularly follow my blog know that I am totally out of my mind a bit eccentric.|
The seed for this brilliant idea was actually planted a couple years ago when I was speaking in Idaho. I have a doctor’s appointment this morning, so I’m taking this opportunity to rerun my all-time favorite post.Anyway, where was I? Oh yes. Idaho. After lunch, I had to dash to the Ladies’ Room. As I closed the door to the stall, I noticed all the advertising on the back of the bathroom door. This cluttered wall of ads made me think about all the authors spamming non-stop about their books on Facebook and Twitter.
Writers were becoming worse than an Amway rep crossed with a Jehovah’s Witness. I mean, could the author book promotion get any more invasive?
Wait…
Maybe it could *evil laugh*.
I’ve blogged so many times about the dangers of automation and how spamming people is counterproductive. I’ve talked until I am blue about how advertising our books has a terrible ROI (return on investment) and how most people don’t pay attention to it. Ah, but then it hit me. The main reason spam doesn’t work is because people ignore it and no longer “see” it, but what would they see?
read more ; http://authorkristenlamb.com/2017/04/book-spam-is-for-losers-dont-advertise-padvertise/
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Agents, Editors and You: The Insider's Guide to Getting Your Book Published (Writers Market Library)
Alan M. Schlein: Find it Online: The Complete Guide to Online Research, Third Edition
Jack Neff: Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript (Writer's Market Library Series)
Kathy, Henderson: Market Guide for Young Writers: Where and How to Sell What You Write
Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2007 (Novel and Short Story Writer's Market)
Guest Post
I hate keywords. “Use keywords,” they say, for 
Authors who have never self-published can be at a loss for what to do with their works if their publisher closes its doors. But, never fear! Indies Unlimited is here to guide you through what do to if that happens to you. (Man, that’s a lot of dope rhyming, isn’t it?)
click here for details
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