By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Benjamin_C_Andrews]Benjamin C Andrews
As many eBook authors may know, or will soon find out when creating their first publication, actually writing the book is only half the battle. Once it's finished, you have to bundle it up into a neat little package that can be presented to readers. Unfortunately, this isn't always easy to do.
What should you do? Where should you begin? How do you format the document? These are all questions that can be difficult to answer, especially if you are a first timer. These questions aren't always easy to answer, but finding those answers is crucial to the success of your book. After all, content may be king, but your court will be empty if the formatting is terrible. No matter how great the story may be, few things turn off readers like a book with poor formatting.
Luckily, there is help out there to get the job done. For example, there is a fantastic free eBook about formatting available on Smashwords, written by the site creator, Mark Coker. If you're planning to publish via Smashwords, this guide is an absolute must. It lays out all the formatting you'll need to do, and how to do it, in an easy to follow guide. This guide is tailored to Smashwords' ebook creation program, the Meat Grinder. However, even if you don't plan on using Smashwords, this guide is still a great resource. You may have to tweak your file some if you want to publish elsewhere, but the Smashwords Style Guide is a great resource to start formatting your eBook correctly.
There are many places you can self publish, and many of them also include free guides. Always be sure to check the specification requested by each publisher. Amazon, for example, also has formatting tips related to their eBook creation software, Mobipocket Creator. Make sure you defer to the recommended formatting for the company you are trying to publish with.
As for some actual tips, from personal experience I've learned you have to be absolutely methodical. It can be a very time consuming job, and you may want to hurry through it as quickly as possible. To that, I say reign it in and take your time. Making mistakes can lead to extraordinary amounts of time trying to fix issues. Be sure to activate the show/hide option that most word processors have so you can see the non-printed characters, such as paragraph marks, spaces, etc., so you can find and remove unnecessary items. The final tip for the do-it-yourself crowd is follow the specifications set by the publisher to the letter. They tell you how to format because they want your book to sell. Never just blow off steps because it seems unnecessary. You'll only hurt yourself, and your book in the process.
Should you feel you do not have the necessary skills to do the formatting yourself, you do have options. Mentioning Smashwords again, you can obtain a list of others who have published on Smashwords, and are willing to format books for other authors. Don't mistake this with editing. These people will format your book for a price. Some may edit, you'd have to ask each one individually. Beyond Smashwords, there are probably individuals and businesses who will also format your eBook for you. Like any other time you buy goods or services off the internet though, it's buyer beware. Ask for what they've formatted in the past, and do everything you can to verify their claims.
No matter which route you take, eBook formatting is a crucial step in the publication process. Having a book that looks professional will go a long way in helping you achieve writing success. Take the necessary time to polish the formatting on your book, and always be sure to check the final product after the first or any subsequent revision. You will be all the happier when you know your book's content is solid, and the way it's presented is beautiful and professional.
I'm Benjamin C. Andrews, an author sharing my writing knowledge with others. Visit http://magicjarpublishing.blogspot.com/ for more writing tips and tricks, and other quality information.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?eBook-Formatting-Tips&id=6670312] eBook Formatting Tips
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Reviewing: The End Is Only the Beginning
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Benjamin_C_Andrews]Benjamin C Andrews
You're at the computer, fingers flying across the keyboard as you type that last page. It's like seeing the finish line after a grueling marathon. As you type that final word, and reach the end, you're filled with a sense of complete joy. It was a long time getting there, and there were many times you thought you'd never make it. You pushed through that though, and kept your goal in sight. Even if it took longer than you possibly imagined, you still finally reached that goal.
Be sure to pat yourself on the back, you've earned it! But don't fool yourself into thinking that's the end. One of the biggest mistakes you could make would be to simply turn around, and submit that piece of writing as a finished piece. Unfortunately, you've only completed the first leg of the race.
Don't despair though! Writing a book is like running a triathlon. The three events you have to contend with are writing, reviewing, and promotion (or submissions to publishers if you're going the traditional route). The second event, reviewing, is still definitely a lot of work. The good news though, is that you're already over that first hurdle.
No matter how great a writer you may be, there will be things in your writing to be fixed. Grammatical errors, punctuation, or even just how your ideas come across. I know even after reviewing my own works multiple times, I found tons of errors. Even after all the ones I corrected, when I passed it off to someone else to proofread, there were still errors I had missed. It's key you don't let that get you down. We aren't all sitting on an advanced English degree with years of practical experience at proofreading. The key elements are patience, and thoroughness.
Make sure you are looking at material you haven't read recently. I personally recommend typing it out the first time all the way through, without going back and reading it. That way, when you reach the end of your writing, you can move back to the beginning of the piece with fresh eyes. You are many times more likely to see mistakes in something you haven't seen for a while. Read through the whole thing, correcting anything you see wrong, until you reach the end once more. After that? Do it again. Do it as many times as you can, until you feel ill just from thinking of looking at the manuscript again. It may get tedious, but your work will look much better for it, and have far fewer errors.
Something else you may consider is letting someone who hasn't read it before take a shot at it. It could be a family member, or a friend. As mentioned above, fresh eyes see mistakes much easier than those that are familiar with the writing already. The plus side about this, is you can generally convince your loved ones to do it for free, which can be a great help to a new author who may not have a lot of cash to pay for a professional editing service.
Should you want to go all the way though, having your manuscript professionally proofread can be a great step in getting your book to look as professional as possible. Rates vary, but this isn't usually an incredibly cheap venture. The longer your book is, the more it is going to cost. Also, be sure to research into the people who you are going to trust with your money and manuscript. If you're going to do it, make sure you do it right, and don't set yourself up to lose a ton of cash for someone who may be even less capable than you when it comes to proofreading.
My last tip is something I discovered on my own, as I was editing my own book, Rift of Askrah. If you've typed your manuscript on the computer, which most of us do these days, print the whole thing off for one of your proofreading rounds. Something about seeing the words on paper instead of the computer screen gave me a different perspective as I was doing my editing. I noticed a lot of errors that my eyes just kept sliding by on the computer screen. Make changes on the paper so you can go back and add them into your saved manuscript.
Reviewing your hard work can be a difficult part of the process, but it is also an indispensable part of making your writing as close to perfect as possible. If you've spent all the time it already took to actually write the thing, then you might as well go all the way and make it great. Read with fresh eyes as you review, leave it alone for a week if you have to. Get help from family and friends too. They want you to succeed just as much as you do. It may be an arduous process, but it is an important part of creating great books people will want to read.
I'm Benjamin C. Andrews, an author sharing my writing knowledge with others. Visit http://magicjarpublishing.blogspot.com/ for more writing tips and tricks, and other quality information.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Reviewing:-The-End-Is-Only-the-Beginning&id=6669793] Reviewing: The End Is Only the Beginning
You're at the computer, fingers flying across the keyboard as you type that last page. It's like seeing the finish line after a grueling marathon. As you type that final word, and reach the end, you're filled with a sense of complete joy. It was a long time getting there, and there were many times you thought you'd never make it. You pushed through that though, and kept your goal in sight. Even if it took longer than you possibly imagined, you still finally reached that goal.
Be sure to pat yourself on the back, you've earned it! But don't fool yourself into thinking that's the end. One of the biggest mistakes you could make would be to simply turn around, and submit that piece of writing as a finished piece. Unfortunately, you've only completed the first leg of the race.
Don't despair though! Writing a book is like running a triathlon. The three events you have to contend with are writing, reviewing, and promotion (or submissions to publishers if you're going the traditional route). The second event, reviewing, is still definitely a lot of work. The good news though, is that you're already over that first hurdle.
No matter how great a writer you may be, there will be things in your writing to be fixed. Grammatical errors, punctuation, or even just how your ideas come across. I know even after reviewing my own works multiple times, I found tons of errors. Even after all the ones I corrected, when I passed it off to someone else to proofread, there were still errors I had missed. It's key you don't let that get you down. We aren't all sitting on an advanced English degree with years of practical experience at proofreading. The key elements are patience, and thoroughness.
Make sure you are looking at material you haven't read recently. I personally recommend typing it out the first time all the way through, without going back and reading it. That way, when you reach the end of your writing, you can move back to the beginning of the piece with fresh eyes. You are many times more likely to see mistakes in something you haven't seen for a while. Read through the whole thing, correcting anything you see wrong, until you reach the end once more. After that? Do it again. Do it as many times as you can, until you feel ill just from thinking of looking at the manuscript again. It may get tedious, but your work will look much better for it, and have far fewer errors.
Something else you may consider is letting someone who hasn't read it before take a shot at it. It could be a family member, or a friend. As mentioned above, fresh eyes see mistakes much easier than those that are familiar with the writing already. The plus side about this, is you can generally convince your loved ones to do it for free, which can be a great help to a new author who may not have a lot of cash to pay for a professional editing service.
Should you want to go all the way though, having your manuscript professionally proofread can be a great step in getting your book to look as professional as possible. Rates vary, but this isn't usually an incredibly cheap venture. The longer your book is, the more it is going to cost. Also, be sure to research into the people who you are going to trust with your money and manuscript. If you're going to do it, make sure you do it right, and don't set yourself up to lose a ton of cash for someone who may be even less capable than you when it comes to proofreading.
My last tip is something I discovered on my own, as I was editing my own book, Rift of Askrah. If you've typed your manuscript on the computer, which most of us do these days, print the whole thing off for one of your proofreading rounds. Something about seeing the words on paper instead of the computer screen gave me a different perspective as I was doing my editing. I noticed a lot of errors that my eyes just kept sliding by on the computer screen. Make changes on the paper so you can go back and add them into your saved manuscript.
Reviewing your hard work can be a difficult part of the process, but it is also an indispensable part of making your writing as close to perfect as possible. If you've spent all the time it already took to actually write the thing, then you might as well go all the way and make it great. Read with fresh eyes as you review, leave it alone for a week if you have to. Get help from family and friends too. They want you to succeed just as much as you do. It may be an arduous process, but it is an important part of creating great books people will want to read.
I'm Benjamin C. Andrews, an author sharing my writing knowledge with others. Visit http://magicjarpublishing.blogspot.com/ for more writing tips and tricks, and other quality information.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Reviewing:-The-End-Is-Only-the-Beginning&id=6669793] Reviewing: The End Is Only the Beginning
Friday, March 23, 2012
Dealing With the Indie Doldrums
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Benjamin_C_Andrews]Benjamin C Andrews
Dealing with being a drop of water in an ocean of books is something pretty much every indie author has to deal with. You worked hard, and wrote a book that you're proud of. After all the hours of slaving and hammering those keys to get it done, you hope and pray that some people will actually read it and spread the word.
Sometimes it doesn't go very smoothly though. Day after day ticks by, and yet the sales just aren't there. It can be extremely difficult not to feel despaired. Not only are you competing with other indie authors for attention, but also another massive mountain that stands between you and readers. That mountain is the main stream and traditional publishing.
For whatever reason, as an indie author you have chosen to circumvent this traditional route. Maybe it was constant rejection letters, or simply wanting to avoid additional months or years before your work could have its chance in the spotlight. If you're not one of the lucky ones who managed to gain fame over night, then your book is probably still stuck back stage. As you watch other books get all the attention, how can you deal with the fear that your book will never be given a chance?
That's the million dollar question. The best advice I can give is to just keep working. Keep blogging, and mentioning your book. Use social networks and book forums. Most of all, keep writing! Fear is a difficult opponent to combat, especially when you're putting yourself out there in such a personal way. People aren't always kind, and like to bring you down for trying to accomplish your dream. I've been told I should follow in van Gogh's footsteps, but cut my fingers off instead of my ear. It can be hard to keep a positive attitude after some of the things people have to say.
When it feels like it's becoming too much, don't dwell on it. Take a break, and do something you enjoy to take your mind off it. Agonizing over every negative comment you get will only bring you down. If you give up because of it, then it won't be because your book may not be the single best one ever written that barred you from your dream. It will be because you gave up, and left the dream behind.
It's a tough road to be an indie author. You're baring your soul for all to see, without the backup of known publishers who are giving your work their seal of approval. It will probably get worse before it gets better. Keep your attitude positive, and the books coming. With enough work, your day in the sunshine will eventually come.
I'm Benjamin C. Andrews, an author sharing my writing knowledge with others. Visit http://magicjarpublishing.blogspot.com/ for more writing tips and tricks, and other quality information.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Dealing-With-the-Indie-Doldrums&id=6669804] Dealing With the Indie Doldrums
Dealing with being a drop of water in an ocean of books is something pretty much every indie author has to deal with. You worked hard, and wrote a book that you're proud of. After all the hours of slaving and hammering those keys to get it done, you hope and pray that some people will actually read it and spread the word.
Sometimes it doesn't go very smoothly though. Day after day ticks by, and yet the sales just aren't there. It can be extremely difficult not to feel despaired. Not only are you competing with other indie authors for attention, but also another massive mountain that stands between you and readers. That mountain is the main stream and traditional publishing.
For whatever reason, as an indie author you have chosen to circumvent this traditional route. Maybe it was constant rejection letters, or simply wanting to avoid additional months or years before your work could have its chance in the spotlight. If you're not one of the lucky ones who managed to gain fame over night, then your book is probably still stuck back stage. As you watch other books get all the attention, how can you deal with the fear that your book will never be given a chance?
That's the million dollar question. The best advice I can give is to just keep working. Keep blogging, and mentioning your book. Use social networks and book forums. Most of all, keep writing! Fear is a difficult opponent to combat, especially when you're putting yourself out there in such a personal way. People aren't always kind, and like to bring you down for trying to accomplish your dream. I've been told I should follow in van Gogh's footsteps, but cut my fingers off instead of my ear. It can be hard to keep a positive attitude after some of the things people have to say.
When it feels like it's becoming too much, don't dwell on it. Take a break, and do something you enjoy to take your mind off it. Agonizing over every negative comment you get will only bring you down. If you give up because of it, then it won't be because your book may not be the single best one ever written that barred you from your dream. It will be because you gave up, and left the dream behind.
It's a tough road to be an indie author. You're baring your soul for all to see, without the backup of known publishers who are giving your work their seal of approval. It will probably get worse before it gets better. Keep your attitude positive, and the books coming. With enough work, your day in the sunshine will eventually come.
I'm Benjamin C. Andrews, an author sharing my writing knowledge with others. Visit http://magicjarpublishing.blogspot.com/ for more writing tips and tricks, and other quality information.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Dealing-With-the-Indie-Doldrums&id=6669804] Dealing With the Indie Doldrums
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Want Your Book Published? Don't Give Up
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Martha_Liu]Martha Liu
Every year hundreds of thousands of would be authors dream of having their first book published. Of these, only a relatively few will ever realize their dreams.
But, if you are willing to persevere, things may not be as bleak as you think. Because, each year, well over ninety thousand authors manage to see their book published. Because of the ease of creating electronic files, many of these book are self published as ebooks. But at least fifty thousand of these books go through the traditional publishing system and are put out by traditional publishing houses.
There are many potential benefits to being an author. For one, as people find out you have written a book, you automatically become a celebrity. You may only be a neighborhood celebrity. Or, if you are a professional, you may become a celebrity among your peers.
Having a published book to your name, automatically gives you credibility. It marks you as an expert in your area of interest. This can be especially helpful to you when trying to find a job. You would be amazed how much a published book impresses an employer in a job interview.
Having a book to your name can also increase your income in other ways. If your topic is one of broad general interest, you can make a very lucrative second income from speaking engagements. This helps to raise your profile among the public which, in turn, possibly creates even more avenues of income for you.
There are downsides to being an author as well. In reality, only a very small number of writers manage to sell enough books for it to become a viable income for them. In fact, in most publishing houses, it is the overwhelming sales of a relatively few of the books that actually subsidize the more poorly selling books. And this is why most authors will have a difficult time convincing an author to publish them.
In order to have your book be published, you need to have a salable idea. Not just any idea. But one that will captivate the interest of the audience who you are targeting. Unless you are a well known author, before a publisher will even entertain the idea of publishing a book by you, he will want to be assured that there is a potential group of people interested enough in the topic to be willing to shell out money to find more about it.
Please see our web site for additional information on topics like [http://www.bookauthorservices.com/small-desks-for-small-spaces.html]desks for small spaces, [http://www.bookauthorservices.com/novel-writing-software.html]novel writing software, and others geared towards the needs of the writer.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Want-Your-Book-Published?-Dont-Give-Up&id=6671996] Want Your Book Published? Don't Give Up
Every year hundreds of thousands of would be authors dream of having their first book published. Of these, only a relatively few will ever realize their dreams.
But, if you are willing to persevere, things may not be as bleak as you think. Because, each year, well over ninety thousand authors manage to see their book published. Because of the ease of creating electronic files, many of these book are self published as ebooks. But at least fifty thousand of these books go through the traditional publishing system and are put out by traditional publishing houses.
There are many potential benefits to being an author. For one, as people find out you have written a book, you automatically become a celebrity. You may only be a neighborhood celebrity. Or, if you are a professional, you may become a celebrity among your peers.
Having a published book to your name, automatically gives you credibility. It marks you as an expert in your area of interest. This can be especially helpful to you when trying to find a job. You would be amazed how much a published book impresses an employer in a job interview.
Having a book to your name can also increase your income in other ways. If your topic is one of broad general interest, you can make a very lucrative second income from speaking engagements. This helps to raise your profile among the public which, in turn, possibly creates even more avenues of income for you.
There are downsides to being an author as well. In reality, only a very small number of writers manage to sell enough books for it to become a viable income for them. In fact, in most publishing houses, it is the overwhelming sales of a relatively few of the books that actually subsidize the more poorly selling books. And this is why most authors will have a difficult time convincing an author to publish them.
In order to have your book be published, you need to have a salable idea. Not just any idea. But one that will captivate the interest of the audience who you are targeting. Unless you are a well known author, before a publisher will even entertain the idea of publishing a book by you, he will want to be assured that there is a potential group of people interested enough in the topic to be willing to shell out money to find more about it.
Please see our web site for additional information on topics like [http://www.bookauthorservices.com/small-desks-for-small-spaces.html]desks for small spaces, [http://www.bookauthorservices.com/novel-writing-software.html]novel writing software, and others geared towards the needs of the writer.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Want-Your-Book-Published?-Dont-Give-Up&id=6671996] Want Your Book Published? Don't Give Up
Monday, March 19, 2012
The Steps Involved in Publishing a Book
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ashly_Lorenzana]Ashly Lorenzana
Thanks to the eReader revolution, publishing an eBook is easier today than it has ever been before. In the past, major publishers ruled the written world due to their hold on the industry. If you wanted to get your book in print, you had to capture the interest of a literary agent who would sell your story or book idea to one of the Big 6 publishers. Also known as "gatekeepers," it was the literary agent who would more or less decide if your manuscript ever saw the light of day.
This system is incredibly flawed for a number of obvious reasons. First, the quality and worthiness of your book is decided by a single individual. Sure, the publisher has to want your story as well. However, without an agent to play middle man, your writing would never reach a publisher for consideration.
Agents and publishers both may have years of experience, which has given them insightful knowledge on how the industry works and what manuscripts are likely to rake in the highest profits. However, it's important to remember that they are naturally most interested in manuscripts that will increase their own bottom line the most, should they choose to publish it.
This also explains why author royalties are setup the way they have been by big publishing companies. For the majority of traditionally published authors, they can expect somewhere in the neighborhood of 10% in royalties from their paperback sales. In my opinion, this is hardly fair to the author.
Things are starting to change rapidly, and the allure of traditional publishers is fading. Why? Because a much better option for aspiring authors has recently emerged over the last few years.
The first option is print-on-demand publishing, which makes it easy for writers to self-publish without having to print bulk orders of their book in order to sell them. Instead, customers can order copies online which will then be manufactured and shipped. This virtually eliminates the potential of financial loss that has long been associated with self-publishing in the past. Using print-on-demand to publish your book means that you can only make money from selling books, not lose it.
The second option is to simply publish an eBook instead of a print book. Since eBooks are digital and do not require printing and can be created for free with little difficulty, they are becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to printed books. Industry leaders in digital publishing such as Amazon have created simple, easy resources and products for both readers and authors alike. Their Kindle eReader and Kindle Direct Publishing Platform have bridged the gap between authors and their customers.
What this means is that you no longer need to send out query letters to agents, hoping that one of them thinks your manuscript is good enough to sell tons of copies. In many cases, the market for a particular story or book may be too small or insignificant to interest a publisher or agent. Passing up on a manuscript in that case would make lots of sense for both parties.
But it doesn't make sense for the writer or author. If you decide to self-publish your eBook, you will generate more money from the sales than you would if you never did anything with your writing at all. Maybe selling 1300 copies in one year isn't going to interest a major publisher, but I'll be it might interest you.
Let's say that you decided to publish your eBook on Amazon and priced it at $4.99. Since Amazon offers a 70% royalty rate for authors, that means you'd be earning roughly $3.50 per copy that you sell. At that rate, you would be bringing in an extra $350 each month. That may not seem like a huge number, but it's completely passive income! I don't know about you, but I wouldn't object to a few hundred extra dollars every month if I didn't have to work for it!
So if you aren't sure how the process works and what steps you need to take to make this happen, the following list should help you get started.
Choose a topic or find an idea for your story. Create an outline. Write your book!
Edit and proofread your manuscript. Hire a professional editor if you can afford one. Otherwise, ask friends and family to help. Proofread multiple times.
Choose a compelling and descriptive title for your eBook. Be sure it accurately describes what your book is about, for non-fiction. For fiction, pick a title that captures the essence of your story and is tailored to your genre. Non-fiction eBooks should probably have a sub-title as well, to reinforce the title.
Format your manuscript and create versions in the following file formats: Kindle, Mobi, PDF and ePub.
Create an attractive cover design for your eBook. Hire a professional graphic designer if you can afford one. Otherwise, try freelancing sites or learn Photoshop/GIMP yourself and find tutorials on YouTube and other sites. If you choose to DIY, download cover templates from the POD company you are using (if provided). If money is not an issue, POD companies all offer professional cover design services also.
Buy an ISBN or get one for free from a POD company. You need an ISBN for your eBook. Buy your own or get one assigned for free through a site like Lulu, Smashwords or CreateSpace.
Write a powerful book synopsis. Think of this as rewriting your book as 3-4 short paragraphs. Describe your story in an exciting way that makes people want to read your more.
Select two genres/categories for your eBook. No matter what you have written, it likely falls into at least two different genres or categories of writing. The broad genre will always be either fiction or non-fiction. The second category is more specific, such as romance novels or biographies.
Make a list of tags that describe or relate to your eBook. This is important. Write down a quick list of tags that people might use to describe your eBook or your type of writing. Remember, tags do not have to be one word only. You should also include phrases up to 3 words long that may be added to your eBook.
Decide on a price for your eBook. One of the final steps is pricing your eBook. New authors who are unknown should generally price their eBooks lower than more established authors. The nice thing about this part is that you can go back and change the price at any time, to whatever amount you think will increase your profits. Experiment.
Upload your eBook and sell it Amazon and other sites. First stop is Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, which will be your biggest sales distribution channel of them all. Next, Barnes & Noble's PubIt. After that, Smashwords and Lulu. You can even upload and sell it on GoodReads too.
It's pretty straightforward and simple, isn't it? Of course, you will be learning a lot along the way as you work through each step. Try your best to have fun with it and remember that it's an adventure! [http://www.ashlylorenzana.com]Ashly Lorenzana is a freelance writer, blogger and memoir author. Her passions include technology, writing, social media and creative marketing. Her specialties include press release writing, website copywriting, marketing and promoting.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Steps-Involved-in-Publishing-a-Book&id=6674446] The Steps Involved in Publishing a Book
Thanks to the eReader revolution, publishing an eBook is easier today than it has ever been before. In the past, major publishers ruled the written world due to their hold on the industry. If you wanted to get your book in print, you had to capture the interest of a literary agent who would sell your story or book idea to one of the Big 6 publishers. Also known as "gatekeepers," it was the literary agent who would more or less decide if your manuscript ever saw the light of day.
This system is incredibly flawed for a number of obvious reasons. First, the quality and worthiness of your book is decided by a single individual. Sure, the publisher has to want your story as well. However, without an agent to play middle man, your writing would never reach a publisher for consideration.
Agents and publishers both may have years of experience, which has given them insightful knowledge on how the industry works and what manuscripts are likely to rake in the highest profits. However, it's important to remember that they are naturally most interested in manuscripts that will increase their own bottom line the most, should they choose to publish it.
This also explains why author royalties are setup the way they have been by big publishing companies. For the majority of traditionally published authors, they can expect somewhere in the neighborhood of 10% in royalties from their paperback sales. In my opinion, this is hardly fair to the author.
Things are starting to change rapidly, and the allure of traditional publishers is fading. Why? Because a much better option for aspiring authors has recently emerged over the last few years.
The first option is print-on-demand publishing, which makes it easy for writers to self-publish without having to print bulk orders of their book in order to sell them. Instead, customers can order copies online which will then be manufactured and shipped. This virtually eliminates the potential of financial loss that has long been associated with self-publishing in the past. Using print-on-demand to publish your book means that you can only make money from selling books, not lose it.
The second option is to simply publish an eBook instead of a print book. Since eBooks are digital and do not require printing and can be created for free with little difficulty, they are becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to printed books. Industry leaders in digital publishing such as Amazon have created simple, easy resources and products for both readers and authors alike. Their Kindle eReader and Kindle Direct Publishing Platform have bridged the gap between authors and their customers.
What this means is that you no longer need to send out query letters to agents, hoping that one of them thinks your manuscript is good enough to sell tons of copies. In many cases, the market for a particular story or book may be too small or insignificant to interest a publisher or agent. Passing up on a manuscript in that case would make lots of sense for both parties.
But it doesn't make sense for the writer or author. If you decide to self-publish your eBook, you will generate more money from the sales than you would if you never did anything with your writing at all. Maybe selling 1300 copies in one year isn't going to interest a major publisher, but I'll be it might interest you.
Let's say that you decided to publish your eBook on Amazon and priced it at $4.99. Since Amazon offers a 70% royalty rate for authors, that means you'd be earning roughly $3.50 per copy that you sell. At that rate, you would be bringing in an extra $350 each month. That may not seem like a huge number, but it's completely passive income! I don't know about you, but I wouldn't object to a few hundred extra dollars every month if I didn't have to work for it!
So if you aren't sure how the process works and what steps you need to take to make this happen, the following list should help you get started.
Choose a topic or find an idea for your story. Create an outline. Write your book!
Edit and proofread your manuscript. Hire a professional editor if you can afford one. Otherwise, ask friends and family to help. Proofread multiple times.
Choose a compelling and descriptive title for your eBook. Be sure it accurately describes what your book is about, for non-fiction. For fiction, pick a title that captures the essence of your story and is tailored to your genre. Non-fiction eBooks should probably have a sub-title as well, to reinforce the title.
Format your manuscript and create versions in the following file formats: Kindle, Mobi, PDF and ePub.
Create an attractive cover design for your eBook. Hire a professional graphic designer if you can afford one. Otherwise, try freelancing sites or learn Photoshop/GIMP yourself and find tutorials on YouTube and other sites. If you choose to DIY, download cover templates from the POD company you are using (if provided). If money is not an issue, POD companies all offer professional cover design services also.
Buy an ISBN or get one for free from a POD company. You need an ISBN for your eBook. Buy your own or get one assigned for free through a site like Lulu, Smashwords or CreateSpace.
Write a powerful book synopsis. Think of this as rewriting your book as 3-4 short paragraphs. Describe your story in an exciting way that makes people want to read your more.
Select two genres/categories for your eBook. No matter what you have written, it likely falls into at least two different genres or categories of writing. The broad genre will always be either fiction or non-fiction. The second category is more specific, such as romance novels or biographies.
Make a list of tags that describe or relate to your eBook. This is important. Write down a quick list of tags that people might use to describe your eBook or your type of writing. Remember, tags do not have to be one word only. You should also include phrases up to 3 words long that may be added to your eBook.
Decide on a price for your eBook. One of the final steps is pricing your eBook. New authors who are unknown should generally price their eBooks lower than more established authors. The nice thing about this part is that you can go back and change the price at any time, to whatever amount you think will increase your profits. Experiment.
Upload your eBook and sell it Amazon and other sites. First stop is Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, which will be your biggest sales distribution channel of them all. Next, Barnes & Noble's PubIt. After that, Smashwords and Lulu. You can even upload and sell it on GoodReads too.
It's pretty straightforward and simple, isn't it? Of course, you will be learning a lot along the way as you work through each step. Try your best to have fun with it and remember that it's an adventure! [http://www.ashlylorenzana.com]Ashly Lorenzana is a freelance writer, blogger and memoir author. Her passions include technology, writing, social media and creative marketing. Her specialties include press release writing, website copywriting, marketing and promoting.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Steps-Involved-in-Publishing-a-Book&id=6674446] The Steps Involved in Publishing a Book
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Do You Want to Write a Book? (Traditional Publishing Vs Self Publishing)
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Amber_Lisa_Maiden]Amber Lisa Maiden
Do you want to write (and sell) a book? Well you're not alone. There are literally millions of us out there who want to (and now, due to technology) we actually can. The good news? If you want to write a book, yay! Whoever you are, it is now quite possible, (and in the case of the e-book-easy) to write and actually publish a real book! Hooray!
The Bad News
The bad news... the technology is moving so fast that the book as we know it is quickly becoming obsolete! (That hasn't happened yet, but, you best believe that in the next twenty or so years, paper books will be a thing of the past.) The other bad news? There are millions of us (really good writers out there blogging, publishing traditional books and e-books) so the competition (if you are hoping to make a buck off of your writing) is ferocious. The even more bad news? The publishing industry is in such a state of transition and confusion, that getting a book deal from a traditional publisher, (if you're a first time author) is nearly impossible. But here's some good news: there are other options. Self-publishing is quickly becoming one of the best!
The Good News
I personally think, (given the state of the publishing industry) self-publishing is the way to go. Let's take a look at why traditional publishing is such a limited option for first time authors.
The Deal with Traditional Publishers
Traditional publishers hate first time authors. They consider them a huge risk, so it takes anywhere from two to five years to even get a deal with a traditional publisher.
What They Do
Once you get a deal, the advances for first-time authors are really small: $1000 to $10,000. Once they pay you that advance, the traditional publisher takes ownership over certain parts of the publishing process: they will edit the book, they will format the book, they will title the book, they will have their designers design a cover for the book, they will print a certain number of copies of the book, and they will be responsible for distribution of the book. (Distribution is a huge part of the publishing process.) While traditional publishers will take on a limited amount of marketing for the book, they still expect the author to do most of the marketing for it. (Marketing makes or breaks the book. It's also the most expensive and time-consuming part of the publishing process.) Finally, if you can't sell a certain amount of books, (typically 25,000) in a certain amount of time, (typically three months), a traditional publisher will consider your book a failure. They won't be offering you any additional book deals.
What it Costs
The down side to going with a traditional publisher? You lose control of your book. You no longer own the book, you share the rights to the book with a publisher, who is going to make the most profit off the book. And, with a traditional publishers, this is understandable because they are bearing a greater amount of risk in the publishing process. They take on all the costs of publishing the book, from editing to marketing, and quite honestly all of that stuff is pretty expensive. Due to technology, these costs have gone down. But anything that requires live human effort: (editing, book formatting, cover design, distribution, marketing) is going to be expensive.
Why They Do It
So, why do they do it? Why do publishers take the risk? Well, much like everyone else looking to make a buck in the entertainment industry, publishers are looking for the next big thing. And, in order to get it, the will act like bullies. If your book becomes a huge commercial success, publishers will bully you into playing by their rules. Even if your work doesn't become a huge commercial success, publishers will still bully you into playing by their rules. Once they pay you that advance, they really want you to dance to their music. They push you to sell the book on their terms, not your own. They expect you to invest in your own marketing. (I've known authors who spent over $20,000 on marketing, when they only got a $5000 advance. That just doesn't make any sense to me!) But, they did it because they were pressured into it by the publisher. After all the money these authors spend on marketing, the publisher makes the most off of every book sold. Most authors with traditional publishers only get $1 to $2 per a book in royalties, some times even less than that. So, if you're thinking of pursuing a traditional deal with a traditional publishing house, just remember, all that glitters is not gold.
The Deal with Self-Publishers
Now, let's compare traditional publishing to self-publishing.
What They Do
With self-publishing the author does and pays for everything themselves: editing, formatting, ISBN purchase, cover design, printing, distribution, marketing... all of it.
What it Costs
It used to be nearly impossible to do this without a huge investment of time and money, (at least $25,000) but now, publishing your own book is much more affordable due to advances in publishing technology (Print on Demand) technology and E-book technology, for starters. It's still not cheap - well it can be, if you eliminate certain steps. But if you do that, you'll probably end up with a crappy book that won't really sell. So what's the point? (If you hope to make money.) To do it right, you do need to spend some money, but it is something that is within reach for most professional people. (You can probably publish a print book for about $5,000 to $10,000, and you can follow up with an e-book version for a few hundred more dollars.)
Why They Do It
So after you go through all of these steps, and pay for all of this money for various services, what's the benefit? You completely own and control the work. All of the profits from the book will be yours and yours alone. If you build a substantial platform (and audience for your book and future books). (For more on platforms, check out my article on Publisher's Weekly), you can actually expect to recoup your initial investment of $5,000 to $10,000 and begin making a profit- your own profits for you to keep- on your book! These days, traditional publishers won't even look at authors who can't prove that they can move 100,000 books.
Here's my question: If you can move 100,000 books, why do you even need a traditional publisher? I guess for the wider distribution. I decided to go the self-publishing route, because I wondered if traditional publisher doesn't invest much in marketing, and they want you to build your audience before they sign you - what are they doing exactly for you (the author) exactly? Yes, it's true they do pay for many different aspects that go into creating a print book - editing, formatting, cover-design, etc. But is that worth all of the rights and control and profit that you, as the writer, give up to the traditional publisher? I don't think so! It just didn't make sense to me, to give up control of my book if my publisher would require me to invest so much of my own money into it anyway. I figure, just go all out and pay for all of it. History shows that self publishers who have done that, and have made it big on their own terms had the traditional publishers coming after them. At that point, they could negotiate on their own terms. When and if that happens, to you, as an author, you must be very careful. Always remember traditional publishers want to get as much work out of you and money from your book, while paying you the smallest percentage of profits that they possibly can.
So, after researching the traditional publishing industry, I decided, I just didn't want to go that route. I decided that I wanted to self-publish, simply because I wanted to be in control of the product, by selling it on my own terms, my own way. I've done my research and I've finally decided on how to go about self-publishing my own book. But, I haven't actually done it yet. (I'm still in the process.) I purchased a publishing package from Lulu, a print on demand publisher. (POD) I decided on Lulu, because honestly, there are very few reputable "self-publishing" companies who will actually allow you to "self-publish." Out of all of the self-publishing companies out there: Lulu is one of the biggest and arguably cheapest, though, probably not the best. But they have a fairly good relationship with Amazon...and that is key in the world of book publishing.
Oh that Vanity! (Watch Out for Scamming Vanity Presses)
Most of the so called "self-publishing" companies are vanity presses, who do everything that a traditional publisher does, (including con you out of your rights to the your book) and to add insult to injury... they make you pay for everything! (And I do mean everything, editing, book-formatting, cover design, distribution, marketing.) What happens with a lot of vanity presses, is that they make you spend thousands of dollars on these services, which they do not perform all that well. I actually had an author complain about how, after a $4000 edit, her manuscript came back from a vanity press editor with even more errors! Not only did she end up editing her manuscript herself, she even had to fix the errors the vanity press made! What a clever scam! You pay for everything. You clean up the messes! You lose all of your rights! You end up paying thousands of dollars in time and money trying to buy your work back from the horrid vanity press. That's why vanity publishing is such a dirty word in the publishing industry.
Amazon is King!
In my next article, I'll go into more details on which vanity presses to avoid, and why. Also, sooner or later we are going to have to discuss the beast that is Amazon. Right now, AMAZON IS KING, not only in the book-selling world, but also, in retail as well. As a result, as most Kings do, Amazon has everyone frightened: traditional publishers, booksellers, (Amazon took Borders out!), writers... Amazon is pretty much feared by all in the publishing world at this point. Why? Because you really can't publish without Amazon... not if you hope to do it effectively... and so... Amazon knowing this... power trips! But anyway, more on all of that later. For now, if you're thinking about publishing a book, I say, go for it! If you simply want to publish an e-book, that can be done for hundreds, instead of thousands of dollars. (More on that later.) And, if you need help with any part of the self-publishing process, remember, that's what I'm here for! Remember my motto: read, write and relax!
Who is Amber Lisa? I manage a literary spa for readers and writers. I've also written a self-help book entitled The Way Through Lessons Learned on Life, Love and the Journey. Read it if you want to change your life.
My next book out? Live Rich Now! A 30 day workbook designed to help you attract more abundance and wealth into your life. Need a good read? Check out my recommendations. Need something written? Check out my services. Need to relax? Check out my spa products! Remember my motto: Read, Write, Relax! http://www.lylu.co
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Do-You-Want-to-Write-a-Book?-(Traditional-Publishing-Vs-Self-Publishing)&id=6658380] Do You Want to Write a Book? (Traditional Publishing Vs Self Publishing)
Do you want to write (and sell) a book? Well you're not alone. There are literally millions of us out there who want to (and now, due to technology) we actually can. The good news? If you want to write a book, yay! Whoever you are, it is now quite possible, (and in the case of the e-book-easy) to write and actually publish a real book! Hooray!
The Bad News
The bad news... the technology is moving so fast that the book as we know it is quickly becoming obsolete! (That hasn't happened yet, but, you best believe that in the next twenty or so years, paper books will be a thing of the past.) The other bad news? There are millions of us (really good writers out there blogging, publishing traditional books and e-books) so the competition (if you are hoping to make a buck off of your writing) is ferocious. The even more bad news? The publishing industry is in such a state of transition and confusion, that getting a book deal from a traditional publisher, (if you're a first time author) is nearly impossible. But here's some good news: there are other options. Self-publishing is quickly becoming one of the best!
The Good News
I personally think, (given the state of the publishing industry) self-publishing is the way to go. Let's take a look at why traditional publishing is such a limited option for first time authors.
The Deal with Traditional Publishers
Traditional publishers hate first time authors. They consider them a huge risk, so it takes anywhere from two to five years to even get a deal with a traditional publisher.
What They Do
Once you get a deal, the advances for first-time authors are really small: $1000 to $10,000. Once they pay you that advance, the traditional publisher takes ownership over certain parts of the publishing process: they will edit the book, they will format the book, they will title the book, they will have their designers design a cover for the book, they will print a certain number of copies of the book, and they will be responsible for distribution of the book. (Distribution is a huge part of the publishing process.) While traditional publishers will take on a limited amount of marketing for the book, they still expect the author to do most of the marketing for it. (Marketing makes or breaks the book. It's also the most expensive and time-consuming part of the publishing process.) Finally, if you can't sell a certain amount of books, (typically 25,000) in a certain amount of time, (typically three months), a traditional publisher will consider your book a failure. They won't be offering you any additional book deals.
What it Costs
The down side to going with a traditional publisher? You lose control of your book. You no longer own the book, you share the rights to the book with a publisher, who is going to make the most profit off the book. And, with a traditional publishers, this is understandable because they are bearing a greater amount of risk in the publishing process. They take on all the costs of publishing the book, from editing to marketing, and quite honestly all of that stuff is pretty expensive. Due to technology, these costs have gone down. But anything that requires live human effort: (editing, book formatting, cover design, distribution, marketing) is going to be expensive.
Why They Do It
So, why do they do it? Why do publishers take the risk? Well, much like everyone else looking to make a buck in the entertainment industry, publishers are looking for the next big thing. And, in order to get it, the will act like bullies. If your book becomes a huge commercial success, publishers will bully you into playing by their rules. Even if your work doesn't become a huge commercial success, publishers will still bully you into playing by their rules. Once they pay you that advance, they really want you to dance to their music. They push you to sell the book on their terms, not your own. They expect you to invest in your own marketing. (I've known authors who spent over $20,000 on marketing, when they only got a $5000 advance. That just doesn't make any sense to me!) But, they did it because they were pressured into it by the publisher. After all the money these authors spend on marketing, the publisher makes the most off of every book sold. Most authors with traditional publishers only get $1 to $2 per a book in royalties, some times even less than that. So, if you're thinking of pursuing a traditional deal with a traditional publishing house, just remember, all that glitters is not gold.
The Deal with Self-Publishers
Now, let's compare traditional publishing to self-publishing.
What They Do
With self-publishing the author does and pays for everything themselves: editing, formatting, ISBN purchase, cover design, printing, distribution, marketing... all of it.
What it Costs
It used to be nearly impossible to do this without a huge investment of time and money, (at least $25,000) but now, publishing your own book is much more affordable due to advances in publishing technology (Print on Demand) technology and E-book technology, for starters. It's still not cheap - well it can be, if you eliminate certain steps. But if you do that, you'll probably end up with a crappy book that won't really sell. So what's the point? (If you hope to make money.) To do it right, you do need to spend some money, but it is something that is within reach for most professional people. (You can probably publish a print book for about $5,000 to $10,000, and you can follow up with an e-book version for a few hundred more dollars.)
Why They Do It
So after you go through all of these steps, and pay for all of this money for various services, what's the benefit? You completely own and control the work. All of the profits from the book will be yours and yours alone. If you build a substantial platform (and audience for your book and future books). (For more on platforms, check out my article on Publisher's Weekly), you can actually expect to recoup your initial investment of $5,000 to $10,000 and begin making a profit- your own profits for you to keep- on your book! These days, traditional publishers won't even look at authors who can't prove that they can move 100,000 books.
Here's my question: If you can move 100,000 books, why do you even need a traditional publisher? I guess for the wider distribution. I decided to go the self-publishing route, because I wondered if traditional publisher doesn't invest much in marketing, and they want you to build your audience before they sign you - what are they doing exactly for you (the author) exactly? Yes, it's true they do pay for many different aspects that go into creating a print book - editing, formatting, cover-design, etc. But is that worth all of the rights and control and profit that you, as the writer, give up to the traditional publisher? I don't think so! It just didn't make sense to me, to give up control of my book if my publisher would require me to invest so much of my own money into it anyway. I figure, just go all out and pay for all of it. History shows that self publishers who have done that, and have made it big on their own terms had the traditional publishers coming after them. At that point, they could negotiate on their own terms. When and if that happens, to you, as an author, you must be very careful. Always remember traditional publishers want to get as much work out of you and money from your book, while paying you the smallest percentage of profits that they possibly can.
So, after researching the traditional publishing industry, I decided, I just didn't want to go that route. I decided that I wanted to self-publish, simply because I wanted to be in control of the product, by selling it on my own terms, my own way. I've done my research and I've finally decided on how to go about self-publishing my own book. But, I haven't actually done it yet. (I'm still in the process.) I purchased a publishing package from Lulu, a print on demand publisher. (POD) I decided on Lulu, because honestly, there are very few reputable "self-publishing" companies who will actually allow you to "self-publish." Out of all of the self-publishing companies out there: Lulu is one of the biggest and arguably cheapest, though, probably not the best. But they have a fairly good relationship with Amazon...and that is key in the world of book publishing.
Oh that Vanity! (Watch Out for Scamming Vanity Presses)
Most of the so called "self-publishing" companies are vanity presses, who do everything that a traditional publisher does, (including con you out of your rights to the your book) and to add insult to injury... they make you pay for everything! (And I do mean everything, editing, book-formatting, cover design, distribution, marketing.) What happens with a lot of vanity presses, is that they make you spend thousands of dollars on these services, which they do not perform all that well. I actually had an author complain about how, after a $4000 edit, her manuscript came back from a vanity press editor with even more errors! Not only did she end up editing her manuscript herself, she even had to fix the errors the vanity press made! What a clever scam! You pay for everything. You clean up the messes! You lose all of your rights! You end up paying thousands of dollars in time and money trying to buy your work back from the horrid vanity press. That's why vanity publishing is such a dirty word in the publishing industry.
Amazon is King!
In my next article, I'll go into more details on which vanity presses to avoid, and why. Also, sooner or later we are going to have to discuss the beast that is Amazon. Right now, AMAZON IS KING, not only in the book-selling world, but also, in retail as well. As a result, as most Kings do, Amazon has everyone frightened: traditional publishers, booksellers, (Amazon took Borders out!), writers... Amazon is pretty much feared by all in the publishing world at this point. Why? Because you really can't publish without Amazon... not if you hope to do it effectively... and so... Amazon knowing this... power trips! But anyway, more on all of that later. For now, if you're thinking about publishing a book, I say, go for it! If you simply want to publish an e-book, that can be done for hundreds, instead of thousands of dollars. (More on that later.) And, if you need help with any part of the self-publishing process, remember, that's what I'm here for! Remember my motto: read, write and relax!
Who is Amber Lisa? I manage a literary spa for readers and writers. I've also written a self-help book entitled The Way Through Lessons Learned on Life, Love and the Journey. Read it if you want to change your life.
My next book out? Live Rich Now! A 30 day workbook designed to help you attract more abundance and wealth into your life. Need a good read? Check out my recommendations. Need something written? Check out my services. Need to relax? Check out my spa products! Remember my motto: Read, Write, Relax! http://www.lylu.co
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Do-You-Want-to-Write-a-Book?-(Traditional-Publishing-Vs-Self-Publishing)&id=6658380] Do You Want to Write a Book? (Traditional Publishing Vs Self Publishing)
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Making Your Own Book Cover?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Nelson_Rodriguez_Serrano]Nelson Rodriguez Serrano
What should you keep in mind when making your own book cover?
It's been said that one shouldn't judge a story by its cover. However, book purchasers are easily touched by a book's presentation. As a serious author, you are naturally inclined to ensure your book is appealing to the customer as you possibly can. When avid readers enter a store, whether it's online or a physical bookstore, they rummage through books or magazines of their interest, hoping to find one that suits them. Some cover art may scream to customer, "Take me! You know you want to." And then there are the many that leave people sighing, wondering if they should risk buying a book with a plain cover.
So let's go to the basics. What can you do to ensure your cover art is a looker?
A book cover is supposed to tell an interesting story in a few seconds. Be objective when looking at a cover you created. After grinning with the satisfaction that you accomplished making a book cover, take another look. Does the message you're trying to send out to a customer achieves its goal with the cover alone?
One thing that can help you a lot is by browsing online what kind of covers are selling like hot pancakes, especially the ones that fall under the genre you're writing. Could you create a book cover similar to their design, but is unique to your story? I am not talking about copying other peoples' designs, but in allowing them to inspire your creative side.
What should you keep in mind when the time to design your book cover comes along?
1. Don't complicate yourself. Make one that is simple.
2. Show a glimpse of what the book is about.
3. Project the core of the story with a few words.
Maintaining it simple It's vital that your book cover's presentation is clear, by not cluttering up with too many things. The message of your cover should be felt by a simple glance. A client at times cannot spend too much time trying to see and figure out every detail of your cover art if it's all cluttered it up. The title, author's penname and any words written on it should be readable. Try not using too many colors, your book cover is not a rainbow. Harmonize everything perfectly so that it can look both striking and enthralling.
Showing a glimpse of what your book is about A picture speaks a thousand words. Who hasn't heard that saying? And we all know it's true. So ensure your cover can speak for itself with the imagery you provide it.
Projecting the core of your story Some use two or three words, others use a short sentence. It's not easy, but as the author you need to take time to ponder. How would you describe your story in a few words? Once you nail down a few catching phrases, then those are the words you want to add to your cover. Practice makes perfect. Again, rummage through other book covers and see what phrases they use.
How can I avoid any legal troubles?
Always be careful when using photos or illustrations that are copyright material. Only use those that you have been given written form permission to utilize, or those you purchased rights to use. You can find many pictures to purchase rights to at places like: bigstockphoto, shuttershock, 123rf and etc. May you have success in making your own book cover.
Although a book cover is essential in making load of sales, we cannot ignore that fact that quality is the key. Looking for a few writing tips? Feel free to drop by: BestEpicNovels.com
Maybe you can be inspired too after checking out a few book covers displayed there.
Nelson Rodriguez
Member of http://www.bestepicnovels.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Making-Your-Own-Book-Cover?&id=6679474] Making Your Own Book Cover?
What should you keep in mind when making your own book cover?
It's been said that one shouldn't judge a story by its cover. However, book purchasers are easily touched by a book's presentation. As a serious author, you are naturally inclined to ensure your book is appealing to the customer as you possibly can. When avid readers enter a store, whether it's online or a physical bookstore, they rummage through books or magazines of their interest, hoping to find one that suits them. Some cover art may scream to customer, "Take me! You know you want to." And then there are the many that leave people sighing, wondering if they should risk buying a book with a plain cover.
So let's go to the basics. What can you do to ensure your cover art is a looker?
A book cover is supposed to tell an interesting story in a few seconds. Be objective when looking at a cover you created. After grinning with the satisfaction that you accomplished making a book cover, take another look. Does the message you're trying to send out to a customer achieves its goal with the cover alone?
One thing that can help you a lot is by browsing online what kind of covers are selling like hot pancakes, especially the ones that fall under the genre you're writing. Could you create a book cover similar to their design, but is unique to your story? I am not talking about copying other peoples' designs, but in allowing them to inspire your creative side.
What should you keep in mind when the time to design your book cover comes along?
1. Don't complicate yourself. Make one that is simple.
2. Show a glimpse of what the book is about.
3. Project the core of the story with a few words.
Maintaining it simple It's vital that your book cover's presentation is clear, by not cluttering up with too many things. The message of your cover should be felt by a simple glance. A client at times cannot spend too much time trying to see and figure out every detail of your cover art if it's all cluttered it up. The title, author's penname and any words written on it should be readable. Try not using too many colors, your book cover is not a rainbow. Harmonize everything perfectly so that it can look both striking and enthralling.
Showing a glimpse of what your book is about A picture speaks a thousand words. Who hasn't heard that saying? And we all know it's true. So ensure your cover can speak for itself with the imagery you provide it.
Projecting the core of your story Some use two or three words, others use a short sentence. It's not easy, but as the author you need to take time to ponder. How would you describe your story in a few words? Once you nail down a few catching phrases, then those are the words you want to add to your cover. Practice makes perfect. Again, rummage through other book covers and see what phrases they use.
How can I avoid any legal troubles?
Always be careful when using photos or illustrations that are copyright material. Only use those that you have been given written form permission to utilize, or those you purchased rights to use. You can find many pictures to purchase rights to at places like: bigstockphoto, shuttershock, 123rf and etc. May you have success in making your own book cover.
Although a book cover is essential in making load of sales, we cannot ignore that fact that quality is the key. Looking for a few writing tips? Feel free to drop by: BestEpicNovels.com
Maybe you can be inspired too after checking out a few book covers displayed there.
Nelson Rodriguez
Member of http://www.bestepicnovels.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Making-Your-Own-Book-Cover?&id=6679474] Making Your Own Book Cover?
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